unl1 1

lnepL acLlng or done wlLh no sklll She was lefL feellng lnepL and lnadequaLe an lnepL remark
Plghflyer a person who has Lhe deslre and Lhe ablllLy Lo be very successful ln Lhelr [ob or Lhelr sLudles
academlc hlghflyers
Cbllglng (formal) helpful very wllllng Lo help 1hey were very obllglng and offered Lo walL for us
ldloms wlLh change
A change of scene Lo see and experlence new surroundlngs 1hey wenL abroad for a change of scene
change hands Lo pass Lo a dlfferenL owner 1he house has changed hands several Llmes
change your/sbs mlnd Lo change a declslon or an oplnlon noLhlng wlll make me change my mlnd
change your Lune (lnformal) Lo express a dlfferenL oplnlon or behave ln a dlfferenL way when your
slLuaLlon changes WalL unLll lL happens Lo hlmhell soon change hls Lune
change your ways Lo sLarL Lo llve or behave ln a dlfferenL way from before Pe was ln Lrouble wlLh Lhe
pollce as a Leenager buL now hes compleLely changed hls ways
change places (wlLh sb) (usually used ln negaLlve senLences) Lo be ln sb elses slLuaLlon lm perfecLly
happyl wouldnL change places wlLh anyone
Change smb/Lhe baby Lo puL clean cloLhes or a clean nappy / dlaper on a baby 1he baby needs
changlng 1here are baby changlng faclllLles ln all our sLores
Change smLh/Lhe bad sLh Lo puL clean sheeLs eLc on a bed Lo change Lhe sheeLs Could you help me
change Lhe bed?
Change Lhe sub[ecL sLarL Lalklng abouL sLh else l wlsh youd change Lhe sub[ecL
A change of cloLhes eLc an exLra seL of cloLhes eLc She packed a change of cloLhes for Lhe weekend l
keep a change of shoes ln Lhe car
unl1 2
uerlsory (formal) laughable Loo small or of Loo llLLle value Lo be consldered serlously 1hey offered us
a derlsory 10 a week
unrlvalled (formal) unsurpassed beLLer or greaLer Lhan any oLher 1he hoLel en[oys an unrlvalled
poslLlon overlooklng Lhe lake an unrlvalled knowledge of anLlques
Speclmen 1 sample a small amounL of sLh LhaL shows whaL Lhe resL of lL ls llke AsLronauLs have
broughL back speclmens of rock from Lhe moon Can you glve me a speclmen of your handwrlLlng? 2 a
slngle example of sLh especlally an anlmal or a planL 1he aquarlum has some lnLeresLlng speclmens of
unusual Lroplcal flsh 8edwood Lrees can llve for a long Llme one speclmen ls 4r000 years old
CLA3L LC1A8n1LnL

unl1 3
doom and g|oom a general feellng of havlng losL all hope and of pesslmlsm uesplte tbe obvloos
setbocks lt ls not o// doom ond q/oom fot tbe oqlooJ teom
the ||fe and sou| of the party etc (8rL) Lhe mosL amuslng and lnLeresLlng person aL a parLy eLc
g|ve and take 1 wllllngness ln a relaLlonshlp Lo accepL whaL sb else wanLs and glve up some of whaL
you wanL lf tbe Jlspote ls to be tesolveJ tbete most be some qlve ooJ toke Mottloqe ls o qlveooJtoke
telotloosblp 2 an exchange of words or ldeas to eocootoqe o llvely qlve ooJ toke
t|me and (t|me) aga|n ofLen on many or all occaslons 1lme ooJ oqolo we see tbls potteto of bebovlot
tepeotloq ltself
h|gh and dry 1 (of a boaL eLc) ln a poslLlon ouL of Lhe waLer 1belt yocbt wos left blqb ooJ Jty oo o
sooJbook 2 ln a dlfflculL slLuaLlon wlLhouL help or money
fame and fortune 5be weot to nollywooJ lo seotcb of fome ooJ fottooe
your (own) f|esh and b|ood a person LhaL you are relaLed Lo oo coot Jo tbot to yoot owo flesb ooJ
blooJ
at s|xes and sevens (|nforma|) ln confuslon noL well organlzed l boveot boJ tlme to cleot op so lm
oll ot slxes ooJ seveos
|n b|ack and wh|te ln wrlLlng or ln prlnL l oevet tbooqbt tbeyJ pot lt lo block ooJ wblte oo tbe ftoot
poqe
through th|ck and th|n even when Lhere are problems or dlfflculLles nes soppotteJ tbe teom fot ovet
teo yeots tbtooqb tblck ooJ tblo lo mottloqe yoo bove to stlck toqetbet tbtooqb tblck ooJ tblo
1ouch and go (|nforma|) used Lo say LhaL Lhe resulL of a slLuaLlon ls uncerLaln and LhaL Lhere ls a
posslblllLy LhaL sLh bad or unpleasanL wlll happen 5bes floe oow bot lt wos toocbooJqo fot o wblle (
tbete wos o posslblllty tbot sbe mlqbt Jle) lt wos toocbooJqo wbetbet tbeyJ ollow blm loto tbe
coootty ot oot
Safe and sound noL harmed 1bey totoeJ op sofe ooJ soooJ
f|rst and foremost more Lhan anyLhlng else ne Joes o llttle teocbloq bot fltst ooJ fotemost bes o
wtltet
Date as far back as smth Oot ftleoJsblp dotes os for bock os to tbe lote 70s keqloool ecooomlc
coopetotloo lo Aftlco dates as far back as tbe beqlooloq of tbe lost ceototy
put sth to good use Lo be able Lo use sLh for a purpose and geL an advanLage from dolng so 5bell be
oble to pot bet looqooqes to qooJ ose lo bet oew job
make use of sth]sb Lo use sLh/sb especlally ln order Lo geL an advanLage we coolJ moke bettet ose of
oot tesootces oo sboolJ moke ose of yoot cootocts
as yet unLll now or unLll a parLlcular Llme ln Lhe pasL an as yeL unpubllshed reporL As yet llttle wos
koowo of tbe cooses of tbe Jlseose
g|ven that lt wos sotptlsloq tbe qovetomeot wos teelecteJ qlveo tbot tbey boJ tolseJ toxes so mocb
D|scret|on care ln whaL you say or do ln order Lo keep sLh secreL or Lo avold causlng embarrassmenL
Lo or dlfflculLy for sb Lhe quallLy of belng dlscreeL 1bls ls cooflJeotlol bot l koow tbot l coo tely oo yoot
Jlsctetloo Iooe ls the sou/ of discretion ( yoo coo ttost bet) use tbe otmost Jlsctetloo wbeo yoo tolk to
bet LnAlCA3vMnL
D|screet tactfu| careful ln whaL you say or do ln order Lo keep sLh secreL or Lo avold causlng
embarrassmenL or dlfflculLy for sb ne wos olwoys vety Jlscteet oboot bls love offolts oo ooqbt to moke
o few Jlscteet eopoltles befote yoo slqo ooytbloq A Jlscteet qlooce ot tbe clock tolJ me tbe lotetvlew
boJ losteJ oo boot CL+APPLP 1A1n+PLP
remon|t|on a feellng LhaL sLh ls golng Lo happen especlally sLh unpleasanL a premonlLlon of dlsasLer
ne boJ o ptemooltloo tbot be woolJ oevet see bet oqolo L+v8C18nL
Synonyms of 8LPAvlCu8
Ways Lhe Lyplcal way of behavlng and llvlng of a parLlcular group of people Aftet teo yeots lm oseJ to
tbe sttooqe 8tltlsb woys
Conduct a persons behavlour ln a parLlcular place or ln a parLlcular slLuaLlon 1be spott bos o sttlct
coJe of cooJoct lmptovloq stooJotJs of ttololoq ooJ ptofessloool cooJoct
8ear|ng Lhe way ln whlch you sLand walk or behave net wbole beotloq wos olett o moo of optlqbt
mllltoty beotloq
Deportment (forma|) (8rL) Lhe way ln whlch a person sLands and moves lessoos fot yoooq loJles lo
Jepottmeot ooJ etlpoette ne bos qooJ Jepottmeot Jepottmeot closses
Demeanour (forma|) Lhe way LhaL sb looks or behaves ne molotoloeJ o ptofessloool Jemeoooot
tbtooqboot
nab|t usual behavlor l ooly Jo lt oot of boblt lm o cteotote of boblt ( l bove o flxeJ ooJ teqolot woy
of Joloq tbloqs)
Industr|ous (approv|ng) hardwork|ng busy loJosttloos stoJeot
Synonyms of SlCn
M|sg|v|ngs about smth feellngs of doubL or anxleLy abouL whaL mlghL happen or abouL wheLher or
noL sLh ls Lhe rlghL Lhlng Lo do l boJ qtove mlsqlvloqs oboot mokloq tbe ttlp 5be JeclJeJ to qo Jesplte
bet mlsqlvloqs PLxCCunL L+v8C18n+
nunch a feellng LhaL sLh ls Lrue even Lhough you do noL have any evldence Lo prove lL lt seemeJ tbot
tbe Joctots boocb boJ beeo tlqbt My boocb ls tbot tbe botqlots ote stlll lo tbe oteo
Iorebod|ng a sLrong feellng LhaL sLh unpleasanL or dangerous ls golng Lo happen 5be boJ o seose of
foteboJloq tbot tbe oews woolJ be boJ 1be lettet fllleJ blm wltb foteboJloq vPCL L+v8C18nL
Sure s|gn of smth lf oo lotetvlew ls too eosy lts o sote slqo tbot yoo boveot qot tbe job 8LPLP
n3PA
Sneak|ng lf you have a sneak|ng fee||ng for sb or abouL sLh you do noL wanL Lo admlL lL Lo oLher
people because you feel embarrassed or you are noL sure LhaL Lhls feellng ls rlghL l bove o sneokinq
suspicion tbot sbe koows mote tboo sbes tellloq osCMv1PCL CC3LPnL
Cmen a slgn of whaL ls golng Lo happen ln Lhe fuLure qood/bod omen on omen of deoth/disoster
1be omeos fot tbelt fotote soccess ote oot qooJ
unl1 4
foot the b||| (|nforma|) Lo be responslble for paylng Lhe cosL of sLh esp when lL should be done by
smb else Cnce agaln lL wlll be Lhe Laxpayer who has Lo fooL Lhe blll Who wlll be fooLlng Lhe blll for Lhe
parLy?
In vogue fash|onab|e
Nub Lhe cenLral or essenLlal polnL of a slLuaLlon problem eLc 1be oob of tbe mottet ls tbot bosloess ls
Jeclloloq 5bes too selflsb to belp 1bots tbe oob
the |c|ng on the cake someLhlng exLra and noL essenLlal LhaL ls added Lo an already good slLuaLlon or
experlence and LhaL makes lL even beLLer lts oo oJJeJ booostbe lcloq oo tbe coke
the app|e of sbs eye a person or Lhlng LhaL ls loved more Lhan any oLher 5be ls tbe opple of bet
fotbets eye
put a|| your eggs |n one basket Lo rely on one parLlcular course of acLlon for success raLher Lhan glvlng
yourself several dlfferenL posslblllLles lve opplleJ fot sevetol jobs l Joot woot to pot oll my eqqs lo ooe
bosket
have b|gger]other f|sh to fry Lo have more lmporLanL or more lnLeresLlng Lhlngs Lo do
a dogs breakfast]d|nner (8rL |nforma|) mess a Lhlng LhaL has been done badly nes moJe o teol
Joqs bteokfost of tbese occooots
take sth w|th a p|nch of sa|t Lo be careful abouL bellevlng LhaL sLh ls compleLely Lrue lf l wete yoo lJ
toke evetytbloq be soys wltb o plocb of solt
sp||| the beans (|nforma|) Lo Lell sb sLh LhaL should be kepL secreL or prlvaLe
se|| ||ke hot cakes Lo sell qulckly or ln greaL numbers
have egg on]a|| over your face (|nforma|) Lo be made Lo look sLupld 1bey wete left wltb eqq oo tbelt
foces wbeo ooly teo people sboweJ op
eat humb|e p|e (8rL) Lo say and show LhaL you are sorry for a mlsLake LhaL you made
have more ho|es than Sw|ss cheese
Descr|b|ng fru|ts
f|eshy (of p|ants or fru|t) Lhlck and sofL flesby ftolt/leoves
[u|cy conLalnlng a loL of [ulce and good Lo eaL sofL [ulcy pears 1be meot wos teoJet ooJ jolcy
f|brous
soft
pu|py
tender (of food) easy Lo blLe Lhrough and cuL 1bls meot ls exttemely teoJet 8oll tbe beoos ootll tbey
ote teoJet
tart havlng an unpleasanL sour LasLe tott opples
sour havlng a LasLe llke LhaL of a lemon or of frulL LhaL ls noL ready Lo eaL sour apples o soot flovoot
b|tter (of food etc) havlng a sLrong unpleasanL LasLe noL sweeL 8lock coffee leoves o blttet toste lo
tbe mootb
Sharp (f|avor sme||) sLrong and sllghLly blLLer 1be cbeese bos o Jlstloctlvely sbotp toste
watery (of food drlnk eLc) conLalnlng Loo much waLer Lhln and havlng no LasLe 1be veqetobles wete
wotety ooJ tosteless wotety soop 8C+PnC1LP
sweet
sugary 1 conLalnlng sugar LasLlng of sugar sugary snacks 2 seemlng Loo full of emoLlon ln a way LhaL ls
noL slncere o soqoty smlle soqoty pop sooqs CnAA8LP
overr|pe
|usc|ous de||c|ous havlng a sLrong pleasane LasLe (frulL wlne eLc) loscloos ftolt
sensuous glvlng pleasure Lo your senses 5eosooos moslc lm Jtowo to tbe poetlc seosooos poolltles
of bet polotloqs
neaven|y (|nforma|) wonderful very pleasanL o beoveoly motoloq/feelloq 1bls ploce ls beoveoly
exqu|s|te exLremely beauLlful or carefully made expolslte ctoftsmoosblp net weJJloq Jtess wos
obsolotely expolslte
b||ssfu| exLremely happy showlng happlness we speot tbtee bllssfol weeks owoy ftom wotk o bllssfol
smlle we ptefetteJ to temolo in b/issfu/ iqnoronce of ( oot to koow) wbot wos qoloq oo
Ins|p|d (d|sapp) f|avour|ess o cop of loslplJ coffee
a|atab|e (of food and dr|nk) havlng a pleasanL or accepLable LasLe o vety polotoble locol wloe
De|ectab|e (of food and dr|nk) de||c|ous exLremely pleasanL Lo LasLe smell or look aL tbe Jelectoble
smell of ftesbly bokeJ bteoJ Jelectoble cbocolote ttoffles
Savoury havlng a LasLe LhaL ls salLy noL sweeL sovooty soocks
put sth down to sth attr|bute Lo conslder LhaL sLh ls caused by sLh wbot Jo yoo pot bet soccess Jowo
to? CLL+CP+1L +1CnnLC +LMPnLvL
noth|ng |f not exLremely very 1he Lrlp was noLhlng lf noL varled
Savour sth re||sh smth Lo en[oy a feellng or an experlence Lhoroughly l wanLed Lo savour every
momenL Pe saL for a few momenLs savour|ng Lhe memory to the fu|| CMAkC8A1b
ke||sh smth en[oy sth Lo geL greaL pleasure from sLh Lo wanL very much Lo do or have sLh to tellsb o
flqbt/cbolleoqe/Jebote to tellsb tbe lJeo/tbooqbt of stb l Joot re/ish the prospect of qettloq op eotly
tomottow PACnA+A1LC+ Cnv+A1L vC8CnLC18nL
Swa||ow smth Lo accepL LhaL sLh ls Lrue Lo belleve sLh l foooJ bet excose vety hord to swo//ow ne
tolJ bet o pock of lles bot sbe swo//owed it who/e
Devour smth Lo read or look aL sLh wlLh greaL lnLeresL and enLhuslasm 5be JevooteJ evetytbloq sbe
coolJ loy bet booJs oo books moqozloes ooJ oewspopets ClnCA1L +n1A1L CnvuA1L C
+APCC1Lk
Lffem|nacy (d|sapp) (of a man or a boy) Lhe quallLy of looklng behavlng or soundlng llke a woman or
a glrl +LPC18LPPCC1L
Iast|d|ous 1 meLlculous belng careful LhaL every deLall of sLh ls correcL vetytbloq wos ploooeJ lo
fostlJloos Jetoll ne wos fostlJloos lo bls ptepototloo fot tbe blq Joy 2 (someLlmes dlsapprovlng) noL
llklng Lhlngs Lo be dlrLy or unLldy 5be wosot vety fostlJloos oboot petsoool byqleoe LL1nnLPLP
1amperproof LhaL cannoL be easlly changed or damaged a Lamperproof ldenLlLy card
Lo return f|re Lo flre back aL sb who ls shooLlng aL you
unlL 3
D|sgrunt|ed annoyed or dlsappolnLed because sLh has happened Lo upseL you l left feelloq JlsqtootleJ
ot tbe woy lJ beeo tteoteJ PLC8CnLPLP A3A+LPPLP
1eeth|ng troub|es small problems LhaL a company producL sysLem eLc has aL Lhe beglnnlng New
cots ofteo soffet ftom teetbloq ttoobles L1CnL LCnL3Pn
Iu|cy story an lnLeresLlng sLory maybe wlLh some scandal/gosslp
1ake measures to do smth]aga|nst smth Lo do smLh Lo solve a problem
Meet dead||nes flnlsh smLh ln Llme
Concede Lo admlL LhaL sLh ls Lrue loglcal eLc ne wos fotceJ to cooceJe (tbot) tbete mlqbt be
Jlfflcoltles l boJ to cooceJe tbe loqlc of tblsn3PA1L vC1vn1L
hrasa| verbs
|ook |nto |nvest|gate
f|nd out d|scover
po|nt out ment|on
put up w|th to|erate
try out test
Set phrases w|th r|ght wrong
Do the r|ght th|ng morally good correcL accordlng Lo law or a person's duLy l bope wete doinq the
riqht thinq
two wrongs dont make a r|ght (say|ng) used Lo say LhaL lf sb does sLh bad Lo you Lhe slLuaLlon wlll
noL be lmproved by dolng sLh bad Lo Lhem
|n the wrong responslble for an accldenL a mlsLake an argumenL eLc 1be mototcycllst wos cleotly lo
tbe wtooq lt took o lot of cootoqe to oJmlt tbot sbe wos lo tbe wtooq
1he r|ghts and wrongs of smth Lhe Lrue facLs lL was dlfflculL Lo esLabllsh Lhe rlghLs and wrongs of Lhe
maLLer
1he r|ght way round u npauus nuu l totote my plctotes tbe tlqbt woy toooJ befote l
oplooJ tbem
8y r|ghts !usLly ln falrness lf [usLlce were done 8y tlqbts be sboolJ bove beeo cboseo fltst 8y tlqbts
we sboolJ spllt tbe ptoflts omooq tbe tbtee of os C+LC1PCMv
8y rlghL smb has a rlghL Lo lL 1he properLy belongs Lo her by rlghL C A8v
1o serve someone r|ght used Lo say LhaL sLh LhaL has happened Lo sb ls Lhelr own faulL and Lhey
deserve lL left yoo JlJ sbe? lt serves you riqht fot beloq so selflsb 1A n PAC
In the r|ght Lo be morally or legally correcL ln whaL you do or belleve Nototolly botb pottles tblok tbey
ote in the riqht ne woolJot opoloqlze ne koew be wos in the riqht A8
1o be r|ght under your nose (|nforma|) 1 lf sLh ls under sbs nose lL ls very close Lo Lhem buL Lhey
cannoL see lL l seotcbeJ evetywbete fot tbe lettet ooJ lt wos ooJet my oose oll tbe tlme! 2 lf sLh happens
under sbs nose Lhey do noL noLlce lL even Lhough lL ls noL belng done secreLly 1be pollce JlJot koow
tbe Jtoqs tloq wos opetotloq tlqbt ooJet tbelt ooses
As r|ght as ra|n (|nforma|) ln excellenL healLh or condlLlon A few Joys lo beJ ooJ yooll be os tlqbt os
tolo
1o make a|| the r|ght no|ses Lo say Lhlngs LhaL make people Lhlnk you are lnLeresLed ln someLhlng 5be
mokes oll tbe tlqbt oolses oboot ecooomlc tefotm
str|ke the r|ght]wrong note (espec|a||y 8rL) Lo do say or wrlLe sLh LhaL ls sulLable/noL sulLable for a
parLlcular occaslon lt ls o blzotte tole ooJ tbe ootbot blts jost tbe tlqbt oote of bottot ooJ Jlsbellef
8lghL on Llme
1he f||m]book r|ghts Lhe auLhorlLy Lo perform publlsh fllm eLc a parLlcular work evenL eLc ne solJ
tbe tlqbts fot 52 mlllloo
1o be w|th|n your r|ghts Lo have Lhe moral or legal auLhorlLy Lo do someLhlng oo ote polte within
your riqhts to soe tbem 8A8L
Mak|ng uncountab|e countab|e
A loaf of bread
A bursL of applause
A pane of glass
A sLroke of luck
A graln of sand
A gusL of wlnd
A speck of dusL
A sLream of abuse
A ray of sunshlne
A source of amusemenL
An lLem of cloLhlng/news
A rumble of Lhunder
A puff of smoke
A sLaLe of emergency
Damages an amounL of money LhaL a courL decldes should be pald Lo sb by Lhe person company eLc
LhaL has caused Lhem harm or ln[ury ne wos otJeteJ to poy Jomoqes totollloq IJ0000 1bey loteoJ to
soe fot Jomoqes vLL
Works 1 (ofLen ln compounds) acLlvlLles lnvolvlng bulldlng or repalrlng sLh kooJwotks 1bey
expooJeJ tbe sblpyotJs ooJ stotteJ eoqloeetloq wotks A coottoct coo eosote tbot looJlotJs cotty oot
tbe wotks fot wblcb tbey ote leqolly tespooslble 2 a book plece of muslc palnLlng eLc 1be
collecteJ/complete wotks of 1olstoy wotks of flctloo/lltetotote ALC1L
Irons chalns or oLher heavy ob[ecLs made of lron aLLached Lo Lhe arms and legs of prlsoners especlally
ln Lhe pasL CC8L
An |ron a machlne for smooLhlng garmenLs v1kl
A comfort a person or Lhlng LhaL helps you when you are sufferlng worrled or unhappy 1be cbllJteo
bove beeo o qteot comfott to me tbtooqb oll of tbls lts o comfott to koow tbot sbe ls sofe C1AA
Comforts a Lhlng LhaL makes your llfe easler or more comforLable 1be botel bos o// modern
comforts/evety moJeto comfott moterio/ comforts ( mooey ooJ possessloos) vCLC18A
Cap|ta| money
A cap|ta| chlef clLy
Cap|ta|s caplLal leLLers use block copltols ( sepotote copltol lettets) lleose wtlte lo copltols/lo copltol
lettets
|geonho|e sb (as sth) categor|ze |abe| Lo declde LhaL sb belongs Lo a parLlcular group or Lype
wlLhouL Lhlnklng deeply enough abouL lL and conslderlng whaL oLher quallLles Lhey mlghL have ne bos
beeo plqeooboleJ os o cbllJteos wtltet
Contend that (forma|) ma|nta|n Lo say LhaL sLh ls Lrue especlally ln an argumenL l woolJ cooteoJ
tbot tbe mlolstets tblokloq ls floweJ oo tbls polot v18L+A1L
Savvy (|nforma|) havlng pracLlcal knowledge and undersLandlng of sLh havlng common sense 5ovvy
sboppets Mote people ote cbolestetol sovvy toJoy tboo flve yeots oqo
Irant|c done qulckly and wlLh a loL of acLlvlLy buL ln a way LhaL ls noL very well organlzed 1bey moJe
ftootlc ottempts to tevlve blm 1bloqs ote ftootlc lo tbe offlce tlqbt oow
Cb|tuary an arLlcle abouL sbs llfe and achlevemenLs LhaL ls prlnLed ln a newspaper soon afLer Lhey
have dled oo obltooty colomo/ootlce PLCnCl
1|ptoe Lo walk uslng Lhe fronL parLs of your feeL only so LhaL oLher people cannoL hear you l tlptoeJ
ovet to tbe wloJow
Mut||ate smb]smth Lo damage sbs body very severely especlally by cuLLlng or Learlng off parL of lL
1be boJy boJ beeo boJly motlloteJ n3vCC8A1L n3v8L+n1L
r|de sth out Lo manage Lo survlve a dlfflculL slLuaLlon or Llme wlLhouL havlng Lo make greaL changes
uo yoo tblok we coo tlJe oot tbe tecessloo?
Intact undamaged
na|| smb (as smth) Lo say publlcly how good or lmporLanL someone or someLhlng ls 1be cootts tolloq
wos lmmeJlotely bolleJ os o vlctoty fot fteeJom
W8
put your feet up Lo slL down and relax especlally wlLh your feeL ralsed and supporLed Aftet o botJ
Joys wotk lts olce to qet bome ooJ pot yoot feet op
CosL of llvlng Lhe amounL of money LhaL people need Lo pay for food cloLhlng and somewhere Lo llve
a sLeady rlse ln Lhe cosL of llvlng Lhe hlgh cosL of llvlng ln London
overLy llne Lhe offlclal level of lncome LhaL ls necessary Lo be able Lo buy Lhe baslc Lhlngs you need
such as food and cloLhes and Lo pay for somewhere Lo llve A Lhlrd of Lhe populaLlon ls ||v|ng at or be|ow
the poverty ||ne
1reaL yourself (Lo smLh) Lo pay for sLh LhaL sb/you wlll en[oy and LhaL you do noL usually have or do
lm golng Lo LreaL myself Lo a new palr of shoes She LreaLed hlm Lo lunch

unlL 6
Set phrases w|th take
1ake parL parLlclpaLe
1ake Lhe vlew
1ake place occur
1ake a sLand
1ake lssue dlsagree
1ake noLlce
1ake accounL of Lake lnLo accounL/conclderaLlon
1ake excepLlon Lo
1ake for granLed
1ake serlously
1ake by surprlse
1ake advanLage of
1ake second place
Degrees of probab|||ty
1he chances are
1here's every llkellhood of smLh
1here's a falnL chance
Co||ocat|ons
Serlously lll
SLrenuously worded
Slngularly unsuccessful
keenly prlced
Wldely belleved
Carefully chosen
SLaggerlngly expenslve
Mus|c |d|oms
lay second flddle Lo smb
8e ouL of Lune wlLh smb
Co for a song (lnformal)
SeLLle Lhe score wlLh smb
SLrlke a chord wlLh smb
SLrlke a noLe wlLh smb
have another str|ng]more str|ngs to your bow Lo have more Lhan one sklll or plan LhaL you can use lf
you need Lo 1be exblbltloo sbows tbot be bos otbet sttloqs to bls ottlstlc bow
nushed (of a place) quleL because nobody ls Lalklng much quleLer Lhan usual A bosbeJ cootttoom
llsteoeJ os tbe boy qove evlJeoce (of volces) speaklng very quleLly 1bey wete Jeep lo bosbeJ
coovetsotloo
Lxpectant hoplng for sLh especlally sLh good and exclLlng cbllJteo wltb expectoot foces woltloq fot
tbe fltewotks to beqlo A soJJeo toot come ftom tbe expectoot ctowJ
karef|ed (dlsapp) undersLood by only a very small group of people
Conduc|ve to smth pacnaaua u6
Lxtort|onate (|nforma| d|sapp) (of a prlce) much Loo hlgh
A r|poff (|nforma|) someLhlng LhaL ls noL worLh whaL you pay for lL 570 fot o 1sbltt! wbot o tlpoff!
A barga|n a Lhlng boughL for less Lhan Lhe usual prlce l plckeJ op o few qooJ botqolos lo tbe sole
unlL 7
V|nd|cate (forma|) [ust|fy l have every confldence LhaL Lhls declslon wlll be fully v|nd|cated New
evlJeoce emetqeJ vindicotinq blm completely
keep an eye on smth Lake care of smLh weve oskeJ tbe oelqbboots to keep on eye on tbe boose fot
os wblle we ote owoy
ut a stop]an end to smth Lo sLop lt ls tlme to put o stop to tbe vloleoce lets pot oo eoJ to tbese
tomoots ooce ooJ fot oll
add]g|ve]|end co|our to sth make lL brlghLer more lnLeresLlng eLc
||ken sth]sb to sth]sb (forma|) Lo compare one Lhlng or person Lo anoLher and say Lhey are slmllar llfe
ls ofteo llkeoeJ to o jootoey
Make a po|nt Lo express oplnlon or sLaLe a facL 5be moJe sevetol lotetestloq polots lo tbe ottlcle
make]avo|d eye contact w|th sb Lo look/avold looklng aL Lhem aL Lhe same Llme as Lhey look aL you
Int|m|date sb (|nto sth]|nto do|ng sth) Lo frlghLen or LhreaLen sb so LhaL Lhey wlll do whaL you wanL
1bey wete occoseJ of lotlmlJotloq people loto votloq fot tbem 5be tefoseJ to be lotlmlJoteJ by tbelt
tbteots
resort to sth Lo make use of sLh especlally sLh bad as a means of achlevlng sLh ofLen because Lhere ls
no oLher posslble soluLlon 1bey felt obllqeJ to tesott to vloleoce nLLlPv1L
Catch someone's eye Lo aLLracL sbs aLLenLlon coo yoo cotcb tbe woltets eye?
Cast an eye]your eyes over smth Lo look aL or examlne sLh qulckly coolJ yoo jost too yoot eyes ovet
tbls tepott?
nave an eye for smth Lo be able Lo [udge lf Lhlngs look aLLracLlve valuable eLc lve oevet boJ mocb of
oo eye fot fosbloo 5be bos oo eye fot o botqolo
1urn a b||nd eye to smth Lo preLend noL Lo noLlce sLh bad LhaL ls happenlng so you do noL have Lo do
anyLhlng abouL lL 1be ootbotltles wete eltbet ooowote of tbe ptoblem ot totoeJ o blloJ eye to lt
Not see eye to eye w|th smb Lo noL share Lhe same vlews as sb abouL sLh 1be two of tbem bove oevet
seeo eye to eye oo polltlcs
|n course of sth (forma|) golng Lhrough a parLlcular process 1be oew textbook ls lo cootse of
ptepototloo
Dazz||ng br||||ant o Jozzlloq Jlsploy of otleotol Jooce
I|amboyant brlghLly coloured and noLlceable flomboyoot clotbes/Jeslqos LCCnP
Gratu|tous (d|sapp) unnecessary done wlLhouL any good reason or purpose and ofLen havlng harmful
effecLs uooecessoty/qtotoltoos vloleoce oo televlsloo
Insp|r|ng exclLlng and encouraglng you Lo do or feel sLh oo lospltloq teocbet
Sensat|ona| (|nforma|) fantast|c exLremely good wonderful oo look seosotloool lo tbot Jtess!
Stunn|ng (|nforma|) beaut|fu| exLremely aLLracLlve or lmpresslve oo look obsolotely stoooloq! A
stoooloq vlew of tbe loke
recar|ous 1 (of a slLuaLlon) noL safe or cerLaln dangerous ne eotoeJ o ptecotloos llvloq os oo ottlst
1be moseom ls lo o floooclolly ptecotloos posltloo nCC8APPLP 2 llkely Lo fall or cause sb Lo fall
1bot loJJet looks vety ptecotloosPLvC1CP+n8LP
Gaze stare Lo look sLeadlly aL sb/sLh for a long Llme elLher because you are very lnLeresLed or
surprlsed or because you are Lhlnklng of sLh else ne sot fot boots jost qozloq loto spoce vC1A8n1LC+
Savour re||sh Lo en[oy Lhe full LasLe or flavour of sLh especlally by eaLlng or drlnklng lL slowly ne ote
bls meol slowly sovootloq evety mootbfol ne sot fot o few momeots sovourinq tbe memoty to the fu//
CMAC8A1L
Catch smb unawares when noL expecLed 1be cometo boJ cooqbt bet ooowotes 3AC1A1L 8ACnCx
Mer|t smth (forma|) deserve ne clolms tbot tbelt soccess wos oot metlteJ
ush back the boundar|es of smth exLend Lhe boundarles 5cleotlsts cootlooe to push bock the
boundories of bomoo koowleJqe ACun+1L lAPnL
S|av|sh (d|sapp) followlng or copylng sb/sLh exacLly wlLhouL havlng any orlglnal LhoughL aL all o
slovlsb oJbeteoce to tbe toles slovlsb obeJleoce lt wos o slovlsb lmltotloo of bls ptofessots wotk
1vCL LL3vMPCL
Deem (forma|) cons|der 1be eveoloq wos JeemeJ o qteot soccess
Smb's pet hate someLhlng LhaL you parLlcularly dlsllke
ne||bent on smth deLermlned Lo do sLh even Lhough Lhe resulLs may be bad ne seems bellbeot oo
Jtlokloq blmself to Jeotb
unlL 8
Astute shrewd very clever and qulck aL seelng whaL Lo do ln a parLlcular slLuaLlon especlally how Lo
geL an advanLage Ao ostute businessmon/po/iticion/observer lt wos oo ostote move to sell tbe sbotes
tbeo 5be wos ostote eoooqb to teollze tbot wbot Iock wooteJ wos bet mooey
Stagger|ng (|nforma|) astound|ng so greaL shocklng or surprlslng LhaL lL ls dlfflculL Lo belleve 1bey
polJ o stoqqetloq I5 mlllloo fot tbe boose
1urnst||e a gaLe aL Lhe enLrance Lo a publlc bulldlng sLadlum eLc LhaL Lurns ln a clrcle when pushed
allowlng one person Lo go Lhrough aL a Llme 1vPnL1
1oken 1 a round plece of meLal or plasLlc used lnsLead of money Lo operaLe some machlnes or as a
form of paymenL o potkloq tokeo +L1CP 2 expresslon mark someLhlng LhaL ls a symbol of a feellng a
facL an evenL eLc lleose occept tbls smoll qlft os o token of oot qtotltoJe 3PA
|n a tr|ce ln an lnsLanL very qulckly or suddenly ne wos qooe lo o ttlce
Want|ng (|n smth) (forma|) 1 |ack|ng noL havlng enough of sLh 1be stoJeots wete cettololy oot wootloq
lo eotboslosm 2 noL good enough 1hls explanaLlon ls wanLlng ln many respecLs 1be oew system wos
ttleJ ooJ foooJ wootloq PLCC1A1C+PLP
by a|| accounts accordlng Lo whaL oLher people say lve oevet beeo tbete bot lts o lovely ploce by oll
occooots
8ewa|| sth (forma| or humorous) Lo express greaL sadness abouL sLh
8ust (of a person or bus|ness) bankrupL falled because of a lack of money wete bost! we lost oot
mooey wbeo tbe ttovel compooy went bust
Contravene sth (forma|) |nfr|nge Lo do sLh LhaL ls noL allowed by a law or rule 1be compooy wos
foooJ qollty of coottoveoloq sofety teqolotloos
Contravent|on (forma|) |nfr|ngement 1hese octloos ote in controvention of otopeoo low
onder (forma|) conslder Lo Lhlnk abouL sLh carefully for a perlod of Llme 5be pooJeteJ ovet bls
wotJs 1bey wete left to pooJet oo tbe lmpllcotloos of tbe oooooocemeot 1be seootot pooJeteJ tbe
poestloo fot o momeot we loteoJ to pooJet oll tbe oltetootlves befote octloq
Dregs Lhe worsL and mosL useless parLs of sLh the dreqs of society
Mob a large crowd of people especlally one LhaL may become vlolenL or cause Lrouble mob ru|e ( a
slLuaLlon ln whlch a mob has conLrol raLher Lhan people ln auLhorlLy) oo exclteJ mob of foos
Scum (lnformal) an lnsulLlng word for people LhaL you sLrongly dlsapprove of uoot woste yoot
sympotby oo scom llke tbot utoq Jeolets ote tbe scum of the eorth ( tbe wotst people tbete ote)
Ab[ect (formal) Lerrlble and wlLhouL hope object poverty/misery/foi/ure
board sth up Lo cover a wlndow door eLc wlLh wooden boards Most bollJloqs olooq tbe stteet boJ
beeo bootJeJ op 3ACnA+n8A1L
I|or|d (usua||y d|sapprov|ng) havlng Loo much decoraLlon or deLall /orid poetty/speecbes
8L1AC1LP
G|ar|ng (of sth bad) b|atant very easlly seen q/orinq error/omission/inconsistency/injustice tbe most
q/orinq exomp/e of tbls ptoblem +8PLP
Vacuous (forma|) showlng no slgn of lnLelllgence or senslLlve feellngs o vocuous
expression/persono/ity UYC1CM
Iatuous (forma|) sLupld o fotuous remork/comment/qrin
nackneyed ]zhkn|d] c||chd used Loo ofLen and Lherefore borlng a hackneyed
phrase]sub[ect]|dea
1rep|dat|on (forma|) greaL worry or fear abouL sLh unpleasanL LhaL may happen ne koockeJ oo tbe
Joot wltb some tteplJotloo1LL1 C+L
k|ckety noL sLrong or well made llkely Lo break o tlckety cbolt we cllmbeJ op tbe tlckety wooJeo
stolts wblcb leJ to tbe tbltJ floot xnnnP
Stee| yourse|f for smth]to do smth Lo prepare yourself Lo deal wlLh sLh unpleasanL As sbe wolteJ sbe
steeleJ betself fot Jlsoppolotmeot ne steeleJ blmself to tell tbem tbe ttotb
burn your br|dges Lo do sLh LhaL makes lL lmposslble Lo reLurn Lo Lhe prevlous slLuaLlon laLer 1blok
cotefolly befote yoo teslqoyoo Joot woot to boto yoot btlJqes
get your f|ngers burnt Lo suffer as a resulL of dolng sLh wlLhouL reallzlng Lhe posslble bad resulLs
especlally ln buslness ne qot bls floqets boJly botot Jobblloq lo tbe stock motket
burn a ho|e |n your pocket lf money burns a hole ln your pockeL you wanL Lo spend lL as soon as you
have lL
burn the m|dn|ght o|| Lo sLudy or work unLll laLe aL nlghL
sbs ears are burn|ng a person Lhlnks LhaL oLher people are Lalklng abouL Lhem especlally ln an unklnd
way l bompeJ loto yoot exwlfe lost olqbt l tbooqbt l coolJ feel my eots botoloq!
(not) a bed of roses (noL) an easy or a pleasanL slLuaLlon 1belt llfe toqetbet bosot exoctly beeo o beJ
of toses
eat humb|e p|e Lo say and show LhaL you are sorry for a mlsLake LhaL you made
sp||| the beans (|nforma|) Lo Lell sb sLh LhaL should be kepL secreL or prlvaLe A3LCn1A1L
|n a nutshe|| ln a very clear way uslng few words 1o pot lt lo o ootsbell wete booktopt
be |n the bag (|nforma|) lf sLh ls ln Lhe bag lL ls almosL cerLaln Lo be won or achleved
str|ke (|t) |ucky (|nforma|) Lo have good luck we cettololy sttock lt locky wltb tbe weotbet
str|ke go|d Lo flnd or do sLh LhaL brlngs you a loL of success or money ne bos sttock qolJ wltb bls lotest
oovel
Str|ke a chord (w|th sb) Lo say or do sLh LhaL makes people feel sympaLhy or enLhuslasm 1be speoket
boJ obvloosly sttock o cbotJ wltb bls ooJleoce
be |n]out of the frame be Laklng parL/noL Laklng parL ln sLh we woo oot motcb so wete stlll lo tbe
ftome fot tbe cbomploosblp
the best of both]a|| poss|b|e wor|ds Lhe beneflLs of Lwo or more compleLely dlfferenL slLuaLlons LhaL
you can en[oy aL Lhe same Llme lf yoo eojoy tbe coost ooJ tbe coootty yooll qet tbe best of botb wotlJs
oo tbls wolk
the grass |s (a|ways) greener on the other s|de (of the fence) (say|ng) sald abouL people who never
seem happy wlLh whaL Lhey have and always Lhlnk LhaL oLher people have a beLLer slLuaLlon Lhan Lhey
have
unl1 9
Snap made or done qulckly and wlLhouL careful LhoughL or preparaLlon lL was a snap dec|s|on 1hey
held a snap e|ect|on l Lry noL Lo make snap [udgemenLs on people when l flrsL meL Lhem
speak vo|umes (about]for sth]sb) Lo Lell you a loL abouL sLh/sb wlLhouL Lhe need for words Pls
achlevemenL speaks volumes for hls deLermlnaLlon WhaL you wear speaks volumes abouL you
the t|p of the |ceberg only a small parL of a much larger problem 1hls flgure represenLs only Lhe Llp of
Lhe lceberg slnce as many as 90 of cases go unreporLed
narbour smth Lo keep feellngs or LhoughLs especlally negaLlve ones ln your mlnd for a long Llme 1he
arsonlsL may harbour a grudge aga|nst Lhe company
Ioster smth encourage promote Lo encourage sLh Lo develop 1he clubs alm ls Lo fosLer beLLer
relaLlons wlLhln Lhe communlLy 1hey were dlscusslng Lhe besL way Lo fosLer closer cooperaLlon
beLween deparLmenLs
Constra|n smth (forma|) Lo resLrlcL or llmlL sb/sLh 8esearch has been consLralned by a lack of funds
She felL consLralned from conLlnulng by Lhe LhreaL of loslng her [ob Men and women are becomlng less
consLralned by sLereoLyped roles
Detr|menta| (to sb]sth) (forma|) harmfu| damaglng Lhe suns deLrlmenLal effecL on skln 1he pollcy
wlll be deLrlmenLal Lo Lhe peace process
dressed (up) to the n|nes (|nforma|) wearlng very eleganL or formal cloLhes
SeL phrases wlLh come
come off |t (|nforma|) used Lo dlsagree wlLh sb rudely Come off lL! We donL have a chance
come c|ean Lo Lell Lhe LruLh abouL someLhlng LhaL you have kepL secreL clean abouL/on/over lL ls Llme
LhaL Lhe CpposlLlon came clean abouL Lhelr plans for Lhe selfemployed come clean wlLh lL was Llme Lo
come clean wlLh my moLher LeL me come clean l wear Lrousers because l Lhlnk my legs look faL
come forward Lo offer your help servlces eLc Several people came forward wlLh lnformaLlon ollce
have asked wlLnesses of Lhe accldenL Lo come forward
come to b|ows (over sth) Lo sLarL flghLlng because of sLh We almosL came Lo blows over whaL colour
Lhe new carpeL should be
come]go down]up |n the wor|d Lo become less/more lmporLanL or successful ln socleLy
come to terms w|th sth Lo accepL sLh unpleasanL by learnlng Lo deal wlLh lL She ls sLlll comlng Lo Lerms
wlLh her sons deaLh
come to terms w|th smb Lo reach an agreemenL wlLh sb Lo flnd a way of llvlng or worklng LogeLher
1he enemy was evenLually forced Lo come Lo Lerms
Neat 1 Lldy and ln order carefully done or arranged 5be wos weotloq o oeot block solt 1bey sot lo bet
neot ond tidy kltcbeo 2 (of people) llklng Lo keep Lhlngs Lldy and ln order looklng Lldy or dolng Lhlngs ln
a Lldy way 1ty ooJ be oeotet! ne boJ o oeot metboJlcol mloJ C+1PLP
Immacu|ate 1 spoLless exLremely clean and Lldy 5be olwoys looks lmmocolote 1be ptopetty ls lo
lmmocolote cooJltloo 2 perfecL conLalnlng no mlsLakes 1be loclJeot toloeJ oo otbetwlse lmmocolote
sofety tecotJ nls seose of tlmloq wos lmmocolote
nouseproud spendlng a loL of Llme maklng your house look clean and aLLracLlve and Lhlnklng LhaL Lhls
ls lmporLanL
Sp|ck and span neat and c|ean 1belt boose ls olwoys splck ooJ spoo
8edragg|ed made weL dlrLy or unLldy by raln mud eLc bedraggled halr/cloLhes l botely tecoqolzeJ
tbe beJtoqqleJ flqote wbo stoqqeteJ lo ftom tbe stotm

C|uttered (up) (w|th sb]sth) covered wlLh or full of a loL of Lhlngs or people ln a way LhaL ls unLldy o
clotteteJ toom/Jesk (flqototlve) o clotteteJ mloJ 3AxnAMnLPPLP
In d|sarray a sLaLe of confuslon and lack of organlzaLlon ln a slLuaLlon or a place 1be peoce tolks btoke
op lo Jlsottoy Oot ploos wete tbtowo loto Jlsottoy by bet ottlvol wete Jecototloq so evetytbloqs lo
complete Jlsottoy ot bome 8 LLCC+L
D|sheve||ed (of ha|r c|othes or sbs genera| appearance) unkempt very unLldy ne lookeJ tlteJ ooJ
JlsbevelleJ
Unkempt (forma|) (espec|a||y of sbs ha|r or genera| appearance) d|sheve|ed noL well cared for noL
neaL or Lldy qteosy ookempt bolt 1be cbllJteo wete oowosbeJ ooJ ookempt o wllJ ooJ ookempt
qotJeo PLvxC+LPPLP
Messy chaot|c dlrLy and/or unLldy 1be boose wos olwoys messy 1be cbllJteo qot teolly messy ployloq
lo tbe wooJs
Scruffy shabby dlrLy or unLldy ne lookeJ o llttle sctoffy sctoffy polt of jeoos
W|ndswept looklng as Lhough you have been ln a sLrong wlnd wloJswept bolt AC1LAPPLL
Crder|y Lldy arranged or organlzed ln a neaL careful and loglcal way o colm ooJ otJetly llfe
veqetobles plooteJ lo otJetly tows o womoo wltb oo otJetly mloJ AvA1PLP ClAPn3C8APPLP
wean sb off]from sth Lo make sb gradually sLop dolng or uslng sLh 1be Joctot ttleJ to weoo bet off
sleeploq pllls C18An1L
concess|on someLhlng LhaL you allow or do or allow sb Lo have ln order Lo end an argumenL or Lo
make a slLuaLlon less dlfflculL 1be fltm wlll be fotceJ to moke concessions lf lt woots to ovolJ o sttlke o
mojor/on importont concession 5be moJe oo coocessloo to bls oqe sbe expecteJ blm to wotk os botJ
os sbe JlJ vC1vA
hoard smth Lo collecL and keep large amounLs of food money eLc especlally secreLly
n+1L8A1L
Converse|y (forma|) ln a way LhaL ls Lhe opposlLe or reverse of sLh oo coo oJJ tbe flolJ to tbe
powJet ot coovetsely tbe powJet to tbe flolJ
Morb|d havlng or expresslng a sLrong lnLeresL ln sad or unpleasanL Lhlngs especlally dlsease or deaLh
ne boJ o motblJ fosclootloo wltb blooJ My mloJ wos fllleJ wltb motblJ tbooqbts of Jeotb
LCnL3PLPPLP PL3CC8LP
Cp|n|onated (d|sapprov|ng) havlng very sLrong oplnlons LhaL you are noL wllllng Lo change lve oevet
met ooyooe so ottoqoot ooJ oploloooteJ
ompous (d|sapprov|ng) pretent|ous showlng LhaL you Lhlnk you are more lmporLanL Lhan oLher
people especlally by uslng long and formal words nls speecb soooJeJ vety pompoos ooJ self
cooqtotolototy
V|vac|ous (approv|ng) (espec|a||y of a woman) havlng a llvely aLLracLlve personallLy ne boJ tbtee
ptetty vlvocloos Jooqbtets +n8CP C+n8nLPPLP
Acqu|s|t|ve (forma| d|sapprov|ng) wanLlng very much Lo buy or geL new possesslons lL ls an
acqulslLlve company looklng for ways Lo expand
Met|cu|ous fasLldlous Lhorough paylng careful aLLenLlon Lo every deLall meticu/ous
p/onninq/records/reseorch 1belt toom boJ beeo ptepoteJ wltb metlcoloos cote 5be ploooeJ bet ttlp lo
metlcoloos Jetoll 1A1LnLPLP
D|scr|m|nat|ng (approv|ng) dlscernlng able Lo [udge Lhe good quallLy of sLh o discriminotinq
oudience/customer A3LC+n8LP
Comp|acent (about sb]sth) (usua||y d|sapprov|ng) Loo saLlsfled wlLh yourself or wlLh a slLuaLlon so
LhaL you do noL feel LhaL any change ls necessary showlng or feellng complacency o Jooqetoosly
comploceot ottltoJe to tbe locteose lo ooemploymeot we most oot become comploceot oboot ptoqtess
CAMCC8CnLPLP
Unobtrus|ve (forma| often approv|ng) noL aLLracLlng unnecessary aLLenLlon 1be setvlce ot tbe botel ls
efflcleot ooJ ooobttoslve PLPA8+3+n8LP
s|mp||st|c (d|sapprov|ng) maklng a problem slLuaLlon eLc seem less dlfflculL or compllcaLed Lhan lL
really ls o simp/istic opprooch/view/so/ution nls lotetptetotloo of tbe flqotes ls fot too slmpllstlc
vCLPPLP
man|pu|at|ve (d|sapprov|ng) skllful aL lnfluenclng sb or forclng sb Lo do whaL you wanL ofLen ln an
unfalr way monipu/otive behovior nes exttemely moolpolotlve so Joot let blm petsooJe yoo
8oastfu| (d|sapprov|ng) Lalklng abouL yourself ln a very proud way l ttleJ to empboslze my qooJ
polots wltboot soooJloq boostfol
unl1 10
St|r commot|on exclLemenL anger or shock LhaL ls felL by a number of people net teslqootloo coused
polte o stir 8CnPLPn+
not turn a ha|r Lo show no emoLlon when sLh surprlslng shocklng eLc happens 5be llsteoeJ to bls
coofessloo wltboot totoloq o bolt
turn of phrase parLlcular way of expresslng yourself As o lettet wtltet be boJ o qood/neot/nice turn
of phrose
not know wh|ch way to turn Lo noL know whaL Lo do ln a dlfflculL slLuaLlon 1be cbooqes bove left o lot
of people oot koowloq wblcb woy to toto
turn the c|ock back 1 Lo reLurn Lo a slLuaLlon LhaL exlsLed ln Lhe pasL Lo remember a pasL age l wlsb
we coolJ toto tbe clock bock two yeots ooJ qlve tbe mottloqe oootbet cbooce 2 (dlsapprovlng) Lo reLurn
Lo oldfashloned meLhods or ldeas 1be oew ceosotsblp low wlll toto tbe clock bock 50 yeots
turn a b||nd eye (to sth) Lo preLend noL Lo noLlce sLh bad LhaL ls happenlng so you do noL have Lo do
anyLhlng abouL lL 1be ootbotltles wete eltbet ooowote of tbe ptoblem ot totoeJ o blloJ eye to lt
1oss and turn Lo be unable Lo sleep or Lo sleep badly especlally because someLhlng ls worrylng you l
coolJot sleep bot kept tossloq ooJ totoloq lo beJ oll olqbt
1ake |t |n turns lf people take turns or take |t |n turns Lo do sLh Lhey do lL one afLer Lhe oLher Lo make
sure lL ls done falrly 1be mole ooJ femole bltJs toke totos lo slttloq oo tbe eqqs we toke lt lo totos to Jo
tbe boosewotk 1be klJs took totos oo tbe swloq
1urnup (|nforma|) someLhlng surprlslng or unexpecLed LhaL happens ne octoolly offeteJ to belp?
1bots o turnup for the books!
Appa||ed horr|f|ed feellng or showlng horror or dlsgusL aL sLh unpleasanL or wrong on oppo//ed
expression/si/ence we wotcbeJ oppolleJ os tbe cbllJ too lo ftoot of tbe cot
wade through sth Lo deal wlLh or read sLh LhaL ls borlng and Lakes a loL of Llme l speot tbe wbole Joy
woJloq tbtooqb tbe popetwotk oo my Jesk
Den|grate smb]smth (forma|) be||tt|e Lo crlLlclze sb/sLh unfalrly Lo say sb/sLh does noL have any
value or ls noL lmporLanL l JlJot loteoJ to Jeolqtote bet ocblevemeots
D|re (forma|) very serlous llvlng ln d|re poverty d|re warn|ngs]threats Such acLlon may have d|re
consequences Were |n d|re need of your help 1he flrm ls |n d|re stra|ts ( ln a very dlfflculL slLuaLlon)
and may go bankrupL
Lrode (sth) Lo gradually desLroy sLh or make lL weaker over a perlod of Llme Lo be desLroyed or made
weaker ln Lhls way net cooflJeoce bos beeo slowly etoJeJ by tepeoteJ follotes Mottqoqe poymeots
bove beeo etoJeJ ( JecteoseJ lo voloe) by loflotloo
aroch|a| (d|sapprov|ng) (C8lC relaLed Lo parlsh) only concerned wlLh small lssues LhaL happen ln
your local area and noL lnLeresLed ln more lmporLanL Lhlngs 1bey oeeJ to be bettet lofotmeJ ooJ less
potocblol lo tbelt tblokloq
D|ssem|nat|on (forma|) dlsagreemenL beLween people or wlLhln a group Jlsseosloo wltblo tbe
qovetomeot
Immeasurab|e (forma|) Loo large greaL eLc Lo be measured to coose lmmeosotoble botm net
coottlbotloo wos of lmmeosotoble lmpottooce
Ind|spensab|e essent|a| Loo lmporLanL Lo be wlLhouL cots bove become oo loJlspeosoble pott of oot
llves 5be moJe betself loJlspeosoble to tbe Jepottmeot A qooJ Jlctloooty ls loJlspeosoble fot leotoloq o
fotelqo looqooqe
Conso|e comfort Lo glve comforL or sympaLhy Lo sb who ls unhappy or dlsappolnLed Notbloq coolJ
coosole blm wbeo bls wlfe JleJ 5be pot o coosolloq otm otoooJ bls sboolJets v1LuA1L
Lnrage |nfur|ate Lo make sb very angry 5be wos eotoqeJ ot bls stoplJlty 1be oewspopet ottlcle
eotoqeJ blm
Innocuous (forma|) harm|ess noL lnLended Lo offend or upseL anyone lt seemeJ o petfectly looocooos
temotkLL38LPLP
at the end of the day (8rL |nforma|) used Lo lnLroduce Lhe mosL lmporLanL facL afLer everyLhlng has
been consldered At tbe eoJ of tbe Joy bell stlll bove to moke bls owo Jeclsloo
a|| th|ngs cons|dered Lhlnklng carefully abouL all Lhe facLs especlally Lhe problems or dlfflculLles of a
slLuaLlon 5bes boJ o lot of ptoblems sloce bet bosbooJ JleJ bot sbe seems polte cbeetfol oll tbloqs
cooslJeteJ
|n the co|d ||ght of day when you have had Llme Lo Lhlnk calmly abouL sLh ln Lhe mornlng when Lhlngs
are clearer 1bese tbloqs olwoys look Jlffeteot lo tbe colJ llqbt of Joy
a|| |n a|| when everyLhlng ls consldered All lo oll lt boJ beeo o qteot soccess
When you come to th|nk of |t cu saasc
|ump |t (|nforma|) Lo accepL sLh unpleasanL because Lheres no oLher cholce lm sotty yoote oot
boppy oboot lt bot yooll jost bove to lomp lt 1bots tbe sltootloo/ike it or /ump it!
unl1 11
At smb's expense lf you make a [oke aL sbs expense you laugh aL Lhem and make Lhem feel sllly ne
tbooqbt sbe wos bovloq o looqb ot his expense
ut smth down to smth aLLrlbuLe puL sLh down Lo sLh Lo conslder LhaL sLh ls caused by sLh wbot Jo
yoo pot bet soccess Jowo to? ne put it down to bet beloq looely ooJ ooottocbeJ
ut smth |n Lo spend a loL of Llme or make a loL of efforL dolng sLh 5be ofteo puts in twelve boots
wotk o Joy ne wos puttinq in /onqer hours tboo be boJ Jooe
D|tch sth]sb (|nforma|) Lo geL rld of sLh/sb because you no longer wanL or need lL/Lhem 1be oew tooJ
bollJloq ptoqtomme bos beeo JltcbeJ ne JltcbeJ bls qltlftleoJ
Streak a parL of a persons characLer especlally an unpleasanL parL 1be cbllJ bos o stobboto stteok
1bete moy be o streok of losoolty lo tbe fomlly
Iend off ward off Lo proLecL yourself from dlfflculL quesLlons crlLlclsms eLc especlally by avoldlng
Lhem 5be moooqeJ to feoJ off poestloos oboot oew tox locteoses 1be ltlme Mlolstet feoJeJ off tbtee
cbolleoqes to bet leoJetsblp 1o fend off tbe ptoblem l tbtew myself loto my job
retence Lhe acL of behavlng ln a parLlcular way ln order Lo make oLher people belleve sLh LhaL ls noL
Lrue 1belt ftleoJlloess wos ooly pteteoce 5be wos oooble to keep up the pretence tbot sbe loveJ blm
ka||y a large publlc meeLlng especlally one held Lo supporL a parLlcular ldea or pollLlcal parLy to
ottend/ho/d o ro//y o peoce/protest etc ro//y o moss ro//y lo soppott of tbe sttlke
t|e the knot (|nforma|) Lo geL marrled Aftet Jotloq fot flve yeots we floolly JeclJeJ to tie the knot
cast your net w|de Lo conslder a loL of dlfferenL people acLlvlLles posslblllLles eLc when you are
looklng for sLh lts wottb costloq yoot oet wlJe wbeo opplyloq fot yoot fltst job
a bo|t from the b|ue an evenL or a plece of news whlch ls sudden and unexpecLed a compleLe
surprlse net Jlsmlssol come os o bo/t from the b/ue
have t|me on your hands (|nforma|) Lo have noLhlng Lo do or noL be busy oot ptoblem ls tbot yoo
hove too much time on your honds l Joot hove time on my honds l om bosy oll tbe tlme
(he who pays the p|per) ca||s the tune (|nforma|) Lo be Lhe person who conLrols a slLuaLlon
carry a torch for sb Lo be ln love wlLh sb especlally sb who does noL love you ln reLurn nook sttoqqles
to tolse bls teeooqe Jooqbtet 8ecco wblle stlll corryinq o torch for bls exqltlftleoJ koteo
ro|| up your s|eeves Lo prepare Lo work or flghL lets ro// up our s/eeves ooJ qet to wotk
at deaths door (often humorous) so lll/slck LhaL you may dle l soppose yoo woot be comloq to tbe
potty lf yoote ot Jeotbs Joot!
g|ve sb the co|d shou|der (|nforma|) Lo LreaL sb ln an unfrlendly way wby Jo yoo olwoys qive my
motbet the co/d shou/der wbeo sbe comes to vlslt?
Get a gr|p (|nforma|) make an efforL Lo conLrol your emoLlons
have your hands t|ed Lo be unable Lo do whaL you wanL Lo do because of rules promlses eLc l teolly
wlsb l coolJ belp bot my booJs ote tleJ
|ose your gr|p (on sth) Lo become unable Lo undersLand or conLrol a slLuaLlon 5ometlmes l feel lm
losloq my qtlp
have sth up your s|eeve Lo keep a plan or an ldea secreL unLll you need Lo use lL Actoolly l Jo bove o
few lJeos op my sleeve
c|utch at straws Lo Lry all posslble means Lo flnd a soluLlon or some hope ln a dlfflculL or unpleasanL
slLuaLlon even Lhough Lhls seems very unllkely l koow lm jost clotcbloq ot sttows bete bot ls lt posslble
tbot tbe Joctots ote wtooq?
grasp the nett|e (8rL) Lo deal wlLh a dlfflculL slLuaLlon flrmly and wlLhouL heslLaLlng 1be qovetomeot
oow bos tbe oppottoolty to qtosp tbe oettle of ptlsoo tefotm
get to gr|ps w|th sth Lo begln Lo undersLand and deal wlLh sLh dlfflculL lm slowly qettloq to qtlps wltb
tbe looqooqe 1bey bove so fot folleJ to come to qtlps wltb tbe ecoloqlcol ptoblems
p|ay |nto sbs hands Lo do exacLly whaL an enemy opponenL eLc wanLs so LhaL Lhey galn Lhe
advanLage ln a parLlcular slLuaLlon lf we qet tbe pollce lovolveJ well be ployloq tlqbt loto tbe ptotestets
booJs
up for grabs (|nforma|) avallable for anyone who ls lnLeresLed 1bete ote I25000 wottb of ptlzes op
fot qtobs lo oot competltloo!
8|urt out Lo say sLh suddenly and wlLhouL Lhlnklng carefully enough 5be blotteJ lt oot befote l coolJ
stop bet 1o b/urt out o prob/em/secret 8LAnn1L
8ott|e up Lo noL allow oLher people Lo see LhaL you are unhappy angry eLc especlally when Lhls
happens over a long perlod of Llme 1ty oot to bott/e up your emotions 1o bott/e up o
prob/em/emotions CL8A1L
Choke back Lo Lry hard Lo prevenL your feellngs from showlng to choke bock teors/onqer/sobs
CL+A1L
Iend off ward off Lo proLecL yourself from dlfflculL quesLlons crlLlclsms eLc especlally by avoldlng
Lhem 5be moooqeJ to feoJ off poestloos oboot oew tox locteoses 1be ltlme Mlolstet feoJeJ off tbtee
cbolleoqes to bet leoJetsblp @o fend off criticism/o prob/em/b/ows/occusotions C1A3n1L
keep up appearances hlde Lhe Lrue slLuaLlon and preLend LhaL everyLhlng was golng well wbeo sbe
lost oll bet mooey sbe wos JetetmloeJ to keep up oppeoronces
Shoot down Lo be very crlLlcal of sbs ldeas oplnlons eLc nls lotest tbeoty bos beeo sbot Jowo lo
flomes 1o shoot down on orqument occusotions
Sweep as|de Lo lgnore sLh compleLely All tbelt oJvlce wos swept oslJe 1o sweep oside on
orqument/occusotions/criticism
1ease out Lo spend Llme Lrylng Lo flnd ouL lnformaLlon or Lhe meanlng of sLh especlally when Lhls ls
compllcaLed or dlfflculL 1be teocbet belpeJ tbem teose oot tbe meooloq of tbe poem to teose out o
prob/em/secret
1one down Lo make a speech an oplnlon eLc less exLreme or offenslve 1be looqooqe of tbe ottlcle
wlll bove to be tooeJ Jowo fot tbe moss motket 1o tone down criticism occusotions
Wh|p up rouse Lo dellberaLely Lry and make people exclLed or feel sLrongly abouL sLh 1be
oJvettlsemeots wete JeslqoeJ to wblp op pobllc oploloo ne wos o speoket wbo coolJ teolly wblp op o
ctowJ 1o whip up roqe/emotions
keve| |n smth Lo en[oy sLh very much 5be wos cleotly tevellloq lo oll tbe otteotloo ne tevelleJ lo tbe
fteeJom be wos olloweJ 5ome people seem to tevel lo ooooyloq otbets 5be tevelleJ lo Jefyloq tbe
ctltlcs
MendaclLy (formal) |y|ng Lhe acL of noL Lelllng Lhe LruLh polltlcloos occoseJ of bypoctlsy ooJ
meoJoclty n+n8CC1L
1enaclLy (formal) deLermlnaLlon PAC1CP+n8CC1L
Iurther smth Lo help sLh Lo develop or be successful 1bey bopeJ tbe oew veotote woolJ fottbet tbe
coose of coltotol coopetotloo lo otope 5be took tbe oew job to further her coreer {odvonce her
professiono/ /ife)
Conform (to smth) Lo behave and Lhlnk ln Lhe same way as mosL oLher people ln a group or socleLy
1bete ls cooslJetoble ptessote oo teeooqets to coofotm ne tefoseJ to conform to tbe locol
costomsnCCCALnn8A1LC+
coup|ed w|th sb]sth comblned wlLh Lo llnk one Lhlng slLuaLlon eLc Lo anoLher OvetptoJoctloo
coopleJ wltb follloq soles bos leJ to boqe losses fot tbe compooy
Cohes|on (forma|) un|ty Lhe acL or sLaLe of keeplng LogeLher Lhe coheslon of Lhe nuclear famlly
soc|a|]po||t|ca|]econom|c cohes|on CnC+LPPCC1L
Antecedent (forma|) prevlous ooteceJeot eveots
unl1 14
Decrep|tude (forma|) Lhe sLaLe of belng old and ln poor condlLlon or healLh Lhe decllne Lowards
decreplLude and deaLh
In moderat|on ln small quanLlLles Alcohol should only ever be Laken ln moderaLlon
1o excess more Lhan ls necessary or reasonable Pe sLarLed drlnklng Lo excess afLer loslng hls [ob
I|out smth defy Lo show LhaL you have no respecL for a law eLc by openly noL obeylng lL MoLorlsLs
regularly flouL Lhe law
nype (|nforma| d|sapprov|ng) adverLlsemenLs and dlscusslon on Lelevlslon radlo eLc Lelllng Lhe
publlc abouL a producL and abouL how good or lmporLanL lL ls markeLlng/medla hype uonL belleve all
Lhe hypeLhe book lsnL LhaL good
|f the truth be known]to|d used Lo Lell sb Lhe Lrue facLs abouL a slLuaLlon especlally when Lhese are
noL known by oLher people
||ve |n c|over (|nforma|) Lo have enough money Lo be able Lo llve a very comforLable llfe
||ve |t up (|nforma|) Lo en[oy yourself ln an exclLlng way usually spendlng a loL of money
||ve by your w|ts Lo earn money by clever or someLlmes dlshonesL means
||ve sth down Lo be able Lo make people forgeL abouL sLh embarrasslng you have done She felL so
sLupld Shed never be able Lo llve lL down
||ve up to sth Lo do as well as or be as good as oLher people expecL you Lo Pe falled Lo llve up Lo hls
parenLs expecLaLlons
narangue smb |ecture smb Lo speak loudly and angrlly ln a way LhaL crlLlclzes sb/sLh or Lrles Lo
persuade people Lo do sLh Pe walked Lo Lhe fronL of Lhe sLage and began Lo harangue Lhe audlence
keso|ve to do smth]on (do|ng) smth dec|de Lo make a flrm declslon Pe resolved noL Lo Lell her Lhe
LruLh We had resolved on maklng an early sLarL
Swear smth]to do smth Lo make a serlous promlse Pe swore revenge on Lhe man who had kllled hls
faLher
Crave smth]to do smth |ong for Lo have a very sLrong deslre for sLh She has always craved
exclLemenL
unearLh dlg up Lo flnd or dlscover sLh by chance or afLer searchlng for lL l unearLhed my old dlarles
when we moved house 1he newspaper has unearLhed some dlsLurblng facLs
by word of mouLh because people Lell each oLher and noL because Lhey read abouL lL 1he news
spread by word of mouLh
unl1 13
n|ghf|yer a person who has Lhe deslre and Lhe ablllLy Lo be very successful ln Lhelr [ob or Lhelr sLudles
academlc hlghflyers
kunofthem||| (often d|sapprov|ng) ordlnary wlLh no speclal or lnLeresLlng feaLures a runofLhemlll
[ob
Undue (forma|) excess|ve more Lhan you Lhlnk ls reasonable or necessary 1hey are Laklng undue
advanLage of Lhe slLuaLlon 1he work should be carrled ouL wlLhouL undue delay
In the fast |ane where Lhlngs are mosL exclLlng and where a loL ls happenlng Pe had a good [ob plenLy
of money and he was en[oylng llfe ln Lhe fasL lane Llfe ln Lhe fasL lane was provlng even more hecLlc
Lhan Penry had lmaglned
In the s|ow |ane noL maklng progress as fasL as oLher people counLrles companles eLc 8oLh
companles could end up ln Lhe slow lane due Lo lack of lnvesLmenL
Iasttrack a qulck way Lo achleve sLh for example a hlgh poslLlon ln a [ob Lhe fasLLrack rouLe Lo
promoLlon Male As are on a fasL Lrack Lo Lhe Lop
Stepp|ng stone someLhlng LhaL allows you Lo make progress or begln Lo achleve sLh a sLepplng sLone
Lo a more lucraLlve career
Ga|n ground (on smb]smth) Lo gradually geL closer Lo sb/sLh LhaL ls movlng or maklng progress ln an
acLlvlLy 1he pollce car was galnlng ground on Lhe suspecLs
I|rst]next]top rung on a carr|er |adder one of Lhe bars LhaL forms a sLep ln a ladder Men lncreaslngly
use supporL roles as a flrsL rung on Lhe career ladder
ch|va|rous (of men) ga||ant pollLe klnd and behavlng wlLh honour especlally Lowards women
|anky (of a person) gang||ng havlng long Lhln arms and legs and movlng ln an awkward way a Lall
lanky Leenager
f|edg||ng (usua||y before another noun) a person an organlzaLlon or a sysLem LhaL ls new and wlLhouL
experlence fledgllng democracles
|ean towards sth Lo have a Lendency Lo prefer sLh especlally a parLlcular oplnlon or lnLeresL 1be uk
leoot towotJs tbe u5 ptoposol
tend towards sth Lo Lake a parLlcular dlrecLlon or ofLen have a parLlcular quallLy nls vlews teoJ
towotJs tbe extteme ltlces bove teoJeJ JowowotJs ovet teceot yeots
unl1 16
Mode| (app) a person or Lhlng LhaL ls consldered an excellenL example of sLh o moJel stoJeot/cbllJ
Spunky (|nforma|) brave and deLermlned full of enLhuslasm 5be ls btlqbt tooqb ooJ spooky
Ardent passlonaLe very enLhuslasLlc and showlng sLrong feellngs abouL sLh/sb oo otJeot soppottet of
otopeoo oolty
Cutf|t sth]sb (w|th sth) equlp Lo provlde sb/sLh wlLh equlpmenL or cloLhes for a speclal purpose
equlp 1be sblp wos ootfltteJ wltb o 12beJ bospltol
reve| |n sth Lo en[oy sLh very much 5be wos cleotly tevellloq lo oll tbe otteotloo ne tevelleJ lo tbe
fteeJom be wos olloweJ 5ome people seem to tevel lo ooooyloq otbets 5be tevelleJ lo Jefyloq tbe
ctltlcs
D|smay a worrled sad feellng afLer you have recelved an unpleasanL surprlse 5be coolJ oot blJe bet
Jlsmoy ot tbe tesolt ne lookeJ ot bet in dismoy @o her dismoy bet oome wos oot oo tbe llst 1be oews
bos beeo qteeteJ with dismoy by locol bosloess leoJets
D|sconcert smb dlsLurb Lo make sb feel anxlous confused or embarrassed nls ooswet totbet
JlscoocetteJ bet l wos disconcerted to floJ tbot evetyooe else olteoJy koew lt 5be boJ tbe
disconcertinq boblt of soyloq exoctly wbot sbe tbooqbt
C|andest|ne (forma|) done secreLly or kepL secreL o clooJestloe meetloq/telotloosblp tbe clooJestloe
sole of weopoos
put a cr|mp |n]on sth (|nforma|) Lo have a bad or negaLlve effecL on sLh lm sotty to pot o ctlmp lo
yoot ploos
set]put (great etc) store by sth Lo conslder sLh Lo be lmporLanL 5be sets qteot stote by bet
oppeotooce lt ls oowlse to pot too mocb stote by tbese stotlstlcs
on the part of sb]on sbs part made or done by sb lt wos oo ettot oo my pott loetty coo be
ttoosloteJ bot JemooJs oJJltloool skllls oo tbe pott of tbe ttooslotot

take ||bert|es w|th sb]sth Lo make lmporLanL and unreasonable changes Lo sLh especlally a book 1be
movle tokes cooslJetoble llbettles wltb tbe oovel tbot lt ls boseJ oo

take except|on to sth Lo ob[ecL sLrongly Lo sLh Lo be angry abouL sLh l toke qteot exceptloo to tbe foct
tbot yoo tolJ my wlfe befote yoo tolJ me No ooe coolJ posslbly toke exceptloo to bls commeots

try your hand (at sth) Lo do sLh such as an acLlvlLy or a sporL for Lhe flrsL Llme

str|ke |t |ucky w|th]by smth (|nforma|) Lo have good luck we cettololy sttock lt locky wltb tbe
weotbet

a|nstak|ng Lhorough needlng a loL of care efforL and aLLenLlon Lo deLall polostokloq teseotcb 1be
eveot boJ beeo ploooeJ wltb polostokloq otteotloo to Jetoll

Con[ecture (forma|) guess an oplnlon or ldea LhaL ls noL based on deflnlLe knowledge and ls formed
by guesslng 1be ttotb of bls coojectote wos coofltmeJ by tbe oewspopet tepott

penchant for sth a speclal llklng for sLh fondness 5be bos o peocboot fot cbompoqoe

W|th]|n regard to sb]sth (forma|) concernlng sb/sLh o cooottys lows lo teqotJ to bomoo tlqbts 1be
compooys posltloo wltb teqotJ to ovettlme ls moJe cleot lo tbelt coottocts

Apropos concernlng or relaLed Lo sb/sLh Aptopos (of) wbot yoo wete jost soyloq

Coup Lhe facL of achlevlng sLh LhaL was dlfflculL Lo do CeLLlng Lhls conLracL has been qulLe a coup for
us

1ake |ts to|| (on smb) Lo have a bad effecL on smb Lo cause a loL of damage sufferlng eLc

8ear smb no ||| w|||]fee||ngs

1|p (8rL lnformal dlsap) dump an unLldy place 1belt flot ls o tlp!

not t|p (|nforma|) a secreL or experL plece of advlce abouL whaL Lhe resulL of a compeLlLlon eLc ls
llkely Lo be especlally abouL whlch horse ls llkely Lo wln a race o hot tip fot tbe blq toce

oster|ty (forma|) all Lhe people who wlll llve ln Lhe fuLure 1helr muslc has been preserved for
poster|ty osLerlLy wlll remember hlm as a greaL man

dea| |n sth 1 Lrade ln Lo buy and sell a parLlcular producL 1be compooy Jeols lo compotet softwote 2 to
occept stb os o bosls fot yoot Jeclsloos ottltoJes ot octloos we Joot Jeol lo tomoots ot qoesswotk


unl1 17

SNCNMS
8llss exLreme happlness My ldea of bllss ls a monLh ln Lhe 8ahamas Swlmmlng on a hoL day ls sheer
bllss

LcsLasy bllss a feellng or sLaLe of very greaL happlness

ldyll (llLerary) a happy and peaceful place evenL or experlence especlally one connecLed wlLh Lhe
counLryslde

lleeLlng brlef lasLlng only a shorL Llme a fleeLlng momenL of happlness We pald a fleeLlng vlslL Lo
arls

1ranslenL (formal) fleeLlng Lemporary conLlnulng for only a shorL Llme Lhe LranslenL naLure of speech

Lphemeral (formal) shorLllved lasLlng or used for only a shorL perlod of Llme ephemeral pleasures
leafleLs handouLs and oLher ephemeral maLerlal

vlrulenL (of a dlsease or polson) exLremely dangerous or harmful and qulck Lo have an effecL a
vlrulenL form of lnfluenza

ConLaglous a conLaglous dlsease spreads by people Louchlng each oLher ScarleL fever ls hlghly
conLaglous

lnfecLlous an lnfecLlous dlsease can be passed easlly from one person Lo anoLher especlally Lhrough
Lhe alr Lhey breaLhe llu ls hlghly lnfecLlous

losLer smLh encourage promoLe Lo encourage sLh Lo develop 1he clubs alm ls Lo fosLer beLLer
relaLlons wlLhln Lhe communlLy

nurLure smLh (formal) fosLer Lo help sb/sLh Lo develop and be successful lLs lmporLanL Lo nurLure a
good worklng relaLlonshlp My faLher nurLured a love of arL ln me

IDICMS
8e on cloud nlne

8oseLlnLed specLacles used Lo descrlbe an ldea or a way of looklng aL a slLuaLlon as belng beLLer or
more poslLlve Lhan lL really ls Pe Lends Lo vlew Lhe world through roset|nted spectac|es

1he bee's knees (lnformal) an excellenL person or Lhlng She Lhlnks shes Lhe bees knees ( she has a
very hlgh oplnlon of herself)

uL yourself on Lhe llne (for smb) rlsk someLhlng bad happenlng Lo you l've already puL myself on Lhe
llne for you once and l'm noL golng Lo do lL agaln

1lp Lhe balance Lo glve a sllghL advanLage Lo someone or someLhlng 1hree facLors helped Lo t|p the
ba|ance |n favour of Lhe Labour leadershlp new evldence Llpped Lhe balance agalnsL Lhe prosecuLlon

LoLuseaLlng

ln my book (lnformal) used when you are glvlng your oplnlon 1haLs cheaLlng ln my book

lood for LhoughL an ldea LhaL makes you Lhlnk serlously and carefully 1he programme cerLalnly
provldes plenLy of food for LhoughL

CCLLCCA1ICNS
Surge (of sth) rush a sudden lncrease of a sLrong feellng 5be felt o soJJeo sotqe of ooqet o sotqe of
excltemeot A sotqe of pote joy

Cutbreak Lhe sudden sLarL of sLh unpleasanL especlally vlolence or a dlsease tbe ootbteok of wot oo
ootbteok of typbolJ

Wave of smth a sudden lncrease ln a parLlcular acLlvlLy or feellng o wove of
opposition/protest/vio/ence etc o ctlme wove

ropens|ty for smth]to do smth (forma|) |nc||nat|on a Lendency Lo a parLlcular klnd of behavlor ne
sboweJ o ptopeoslty fot vloleoce 5be bos o ptopeoslty to exoqqetote

Lucrat|ve produclng a large amounL of money maklng a large proflL o /ucrotive
business/controct/morket noJ tbe ploo wotkeJ lt woolJ bove ptoveJ blqbly loctotlve

1oken nom|na| 1be qovetomeot bos ooly moJe o tokeo qestote towotJs belploq tbe ooemployeJ we
cbotqe ooly o tokeo fee fot ose of tbe focllltles

1enuous a slLuaLlon or relaLlonshlp LhaL ls Lenuous ls uncerLaln weak or llkely Lo change lot oow tbe
booJs ttovel ploos ote teoooos teoooos llok/coooectloo etc 1be uolteJ leoce Alllooce boJ ooly o
teoooos coooectloo wltb tbe otqoolzeJ loboot movemeot 1be llok betweeo bet fomlly ooJ tbe kloqs ls
totbet teoooos

I||msy r|ckety badly made and noL sLrong enough for Lhe purpose for whlch lL ls used o fllmsy toble 2
(of maLerlal) Lhln and easlly Lorn o fllmsy plece of popet/fobtlc/plostlc

Cut corners (d|sapprov|ng) Lo do sLh ln Lhe easlesL cheapesL or qulckesL way ofLen by lgnorlng rules
or leavlng sLh ouL 1o be competltlve tbey polJ low woqes ooJ cot cotoets oo beoltb ooJ sofety

Down and out (of a person) wlLhouL money a home or a [ob and llvlng on Lhe sLreeLs o oovel oboot
beloq Jowo ooJ oot lo looJoo

keep your head above water Lo deal wlLh a dlfflculL slLuaLlon especlally one ln whlch you have
flnanclal problems and [usL manage Lo survlve lm oot sote bow mocb looqet well be oble to keep oot
beoJs obove wotet

Iee| the p|nch (|nforma|) Lo noL have enough money lots of people wbo bove lost tbelt jobs ote
stottloq to feel tbe plocb

In the b|ack Lo have money for example ln your bank accounL 1be compooy bos moooqeJ to stoy lo
tbe block fot tbe yeot eoJloq uecembet J1

Cn a shoestr|ng (|nforma|) uslng very llLLle money lo tbe eotly yeots tbe bosloess wos too oo o
sboesttloq

Cn your uppers (8rL |nforma|) havlng very llLLle money

1|ghten your be|t Lo spend less money because Lhere ls less avallable wltb ptlce locteoses oo most
qooJs evetyooe ls bovloq to tlqbteo tbelt belt 1bete ls o oeeJ fot fottbet belttlqbteoloq

Ausp|c|ous (forma|) promlslng showlng slgns LhaL sLh ls llkely Lo be successful ln Lhe fuLure oo
oosplcloos stott to tbe oew scbool yeot lt wos oo oosplcloos Jote fot o weJJloq 1belt fltst meetloq wos
botJly oosplcloos

unl1 18

Under the ausp|ces of smb]smth wlLh Lhe help supporL or proLecLlon of sb/sLh 1be commoolty ceotte
wos set op under the ouspices of o qovetomeot loltlotlve o peocekeeploq fotce under uolteJ Notloos
ouspices

W|e|d smth Lo have and use power auLhorlLy eLc 5be wie/ds eootmoos power wltblo tbe potty

ro||ferat|on Lhe sudden lncrease ln Lhe number or amounL of sLh a large number of a parLlcular
Lhlng ottempts to pteveot coocet cell ptollfetotloo o ptollfetotloo of petsoool compotets

rof||e Lhe general lmpresslon LhaL sb/sLh glves Lo Lhe publlc and Lhe amounL of aLLenLlon Lhey
recelve 1be Jeol wlll cettololy roise tbe compooys lotetootloool profi/e we woot to improve tbe profi/e
of womeos beoltb lssoes

1umb|e down Lo fall suddenly and ln a dramaLlc way 1be scoffolJloq come tomblloq Jowo

|aster cast a case made of plasLer of arls LhaL covers a broken bone and proLecLs lL net leqs lo o
cost

Ia|ter|ng walklng or behavlng ln a way LhaL shows LhaL you are noL confldenL becomlng weaker or less
effecLlve tbe foltetloq peoce tolks tbe bobys fltst foltetloq steps

S|deshow an acLlvlLy less lmporLanL Lhan Lhe maln acLlvlLy or evenL

dea| sb]sth a b|ow dea| a b|ow to sb]sth (forma|) Lo hlL Lo be very shocklng or harmful Lo sb/sLh
net soJJeo Jeotb deo/t o b/ow to tbe wbole coootty

I|agrant b|atant done ln obvlous way and showlng no respecL for people laws eLc f/oqront obuse of
bomoo tlqbts f/oqront breoch of copytlqbt

rem|t Lhe area of acLlvlLy over whlch a parLlcular person or group has auLhorlLy conLrol or lnfluence
5ocb Jeclsloos ote outside the remit of tbls commlttee lo fotote stoff tectoltmeot wlll fo// within the
remit of tbe Jlvlsloo moooqet

Subs|d|ary a buslness company LhaL ls owned or conLrolled by anoLher larger company 5bes wotkloq
fot oo ovetseos sobslJloty of tbe compooy

Lxerc|se smth (forma|) Lo use your power rlghLs or personal quallLles ln order Lo achleve sLh wbeo
sbe oppeoteJ lo coott sbe exercised her riqht to temolo slleot ne wos o moo wbo exercised
considerob/e inf/uence ovet people

ressure group a group of people who Lry Lo lnfluence Lhe governmenL and ordlnary peoples oplnlons
ln order Lo achleve Lhe acLlon Lhey wanL for example a change ln a law tbe eovltoomeotol ptessote
qtoop Cteeopeoce

|ead sth (for sth) Lo glve sLh as an explanaLlon or excuse for sLh ne pleoJeJ fomlly ptoblems fot bls
lock of cooceottotloo

rop|t|ous for smth]smb (forma|) llkely Lo produce a successful resulL lt wos oot o propitious time to
stott o oew bosloess cltcomstooces coolJ botJly bove beeo less propitious for o sttlke

Sta|e someLhlng LhaL ls sLale has been sald or done Loo many Llmes before and ls no longer lnLeresLlng
or exclLlng stole jokes 1belt mottloqe boJ qooe stole 5tole otqomeots

aram|||tary 1 a member of an lllegal param|||tary (organ|zed ||ke an army) group or organlzaLlon 2 a
member of an organlzaLlon LhaL helps Lhe offlclal army of a counLry

Infr|nge sth (of an act|on a p|an etc) (forma|) Lo break a law or rule 1be motetlol coo be copleJ
wltboot loftloqloq copytlqbt 1wo of tbe ptojects ote JeemeJ to loftloqe u leqlslotloo

Lnshr|ne sth (|n sth) (forma|) Lo make a law rlghL eLc respecLed or offlclal especlally by sLaLlng lL ln
an lmporLanL wrlLLen documenL 1bese tlqbts ote eosbtloeJ lo tbe cooottys coostltotloo Novembet 4
2008 ls olteoJy eosbtloeJ os o key Jote lo Ametlcoo blstoty

romu|gate sth (forma|) 1 Lo spread an ldea a bellef eLc among many people 2 Lo announce a new
law or sysLem offlclally or publlcly 1be oew coostltotloo wos ptomolqoteJ lo 2006

reserve (of smb) an acLlvlLy a [ob an lnLeresL eLc LhaL ls LhoughL Lo be sulLable for one parLlcular
person or group of people lootboll ls oo looqet tbe ptesetve of meo lo tbe Joys wbeo ootsloq wos o
femole ptesetve

Irame sth (forma|) Lo creaLe and develop sLh such as a plan a sysLem or a seL of rules ltessote qtoops
oow ftome tbelt ospltotloos lo bomoo tlqbts tetms

ut |n smth Lo spend a loL of Llme or make a loL of efforL dolng sLh 5be ofteo pots lo twelve boots
wotk o Joy

set the record stra|ght Lo glve people Lhe correcL lnformaLlon abouL sLh ln order Lo make lL clear LhaL
whaL Lhey prevlously belleved was ln facL wrong 1o pot tbe tecotJ sttolqbt l Jo oot soppott tbot lJeo
ooJ oevet bove Jooe

ka|se an ob[ect|on (to smth) Lo oppose smLh no ob[ect|ons were ra|sed aL Lhe Llme

Ioot|ng Lhe poslLlon or sLaLus of sb/sLh ln relaLlon Lo oLhers Lhe relaLlonshlp beLween Lwo or more
people or groups 1be two qtoops most meet on on equo/ footinq 1bey wete JemooJloq to be tteoteJ
on the some footinq os tbe test of tbe teocbets PAA8PL

ka||y a large publlc meeLlng especlally one held Lo supporL a parLlcular ldea or pollLlcal parLy Lo
attend]ho|d a ra||y a peace]protest eLc ra||y a mass ra||y ln supporL of Lhe sLrlke

ka||y (|n tenn|s and s|m||ar sports) a serles of hlLs of Lhe ball before a polnL ls scored 1haL was a greaL
rally!

D|p smth (|n]|nto smth) Lo puL sLh qulckly lnLo a llquld and Lake lL ouL agaln Pe dlpped Lhe brush lnLo
Lhe palnL ulp your hand ln Lo see how hoL Lhe waLer ls 1he frulL had been dlpped ln chocolaLe MAA1L

d|p |nto sth Lo read or waLch only parLs of sLh l have only had Llme Lo dlp lnLo Lhe reporL

D|ft glsL Lhe general meanlng of whaL sb says or wrlLes uo you catch my dr|ft? My Cerman lsnL very
good buL l goL the dr|ft of whaL she sald

uarters rooms LhaL are provlded for soldlers servanLs eLc Lo llve ln We were moved Lo more
comforLable ||v|ng quarters marr|ed quarLers

At c|ose quarters very near flghLlng at c|ose quarters

uarters a person or group of people especlally as a source of help lnformaLlon or a reacLlon
SupporL for Lhe plan came from an unexpecLed quarLer 1he news was greeLed wlLh dlsmay |n some
quarters

8||| beak

Cn parole permlsslon LhaL ls glven Lo a prlsoner Lo leave prlson before Lhe end of Lhelr senLence on
condlLlon LhaL Lhey behave well She was released on parole

aL large (of a dangerous person or anlmal) noL capLured free Per klller ls sLlll aL large

on Lhe loose (of a person or an anlmal) aL large havlng escaped from somewhere free 1hree
prlsoners are sLlll on Lhe loose

Sllp creep Lo go somewhere qulckly and quleLly especlally wlLhouL belng noLlced

Mournful very sad l couldnL bear Lhe mournful look on her face

AssorLmenL mlxLure a collecLlon of dlfferenL Lhlngs or of dlfferenL Lypes of Lhe same Lhlng wlde
assorLmenL of glfLs Lo choose from Pe was dressed ln an odd assorLmenL of cloLhes

ConflnemenL Lhe sLaLe of belng forced Lo sLay ln a closed space prlson eLc Lhe acL of puLLlng sb Lhere
her conflnemenL Lo a wheelchalr years of conflnemenL as a pollLlcal prlsoner 3Ank+LPnL

lncarceraLe (formal) lmprlson Lo puL sb ln prlson or ln anoLher place from whlch Lhey cannoL escape
1housands were lncarceraLed ln labour camps

lmprlson [all Lo puL sb ln a prlson or anoLher place from whlch Lhey cannoL escape 1hey were
lmprlsoned for possesslon of drugs
ueLenLlon Lhe sLaLe of belng kepL ln a place especlally a prlson and prevenLed from leavlng a
senLence of 12 monLhs deLenLlon ln a young offender lnsLlLuLlon pollce powers of arresL and deLenLlon
allegaLlons of LorLure and deLenLlon wlLhouL Lrlal

unl1 19

lngenuous (formal someLlmes dlsapp) naive honesL lnnocenL and wllllng Lo LrusL people ?oure Loo
lngenuous lL ls lngenuous Lo suppose LhaL money dld noL play a parL ln hls declslon PAn8PLP

Slmple (of a person) noL very lnLelllgenL noL menLally normal Pes noL mad[usL a llLLle slmple

Culllble naive Loo wllllng Lo belleve or accepL whaL oLher people Lell you and Lherefore easlly Lrlcked
1he adverLlsemenL ls almed aL gulllble young women worrled abouL Lhelr welghL nLlC8LPLP

Credulous (formal) gulllble Loo ready Lo belleve Lhlngs and Lherefore easy Lo Lrlck nLlC8LPLP

1rusLlng Lendlng Lo belleve LhaL oLher people are good honesL eLc lf youre Loo LrusLlng oLher people
wlll Lake advanLage of you C8L+n8LP

Scornful (of smLh) contemptuous showlng or feellng scorn a scornful laugh Pe was scornful of such
'female' acLlvlLles as cooklng L3n1LnLPLP

ConLempLuous (of smb/smLh) scornfu| feellng or showlng LhaL you have no respecL for sb/sLh She
gave hlm a conLempLuous look 1he company has shown a conLempLuous dlsregard for Penrys
complalnLs Pe was conLempLuous of everyLhlng l dld L3n1LnLPLP

uprlghL (of a person) upsLandlng behavlng ln a moral and honesL way an uprlghL clLlzen
C+C+PLP

Creak cpuns (np ns)
Plss uns (s nap)
Crunch pcs (pauuu c)
eal sus (a c)
8umble ps (p ns n psca)
drlp anas (pa)
slam nas (ups)
squelch nas (pss)
screech cpuns (psa nnau)
slap nas (us 6p as n u)
Llnkle suas (su c)
growl psas (c6aa u)
slash psas ()
sllLher nsu (s)

lay down smLh lf you lay down a ru|e or a pr|nc|p|e you sLaLe offlclally LhaL people musL obey lL or use
lL ?ou canL lay down hard and fasL rules lL ls lald down LhaL all candldaLes musL submlL Lhree coples of
Lhelr dlsserLaLlon

ShorLly soon

unl1 20

Pallmark a feaLure or quallLy LhaL ls Lyplcal of sb/sLh ollce sald Lhe exploslon bore all Lhe hallmarks of
a LerrorlsL aLLack

come down Lo sLh Lo be able Lo be explalned by a slngle lmporLanL polnL WhaL lL comes down Lo ls
elLher l geL more money or l leave

1o flow (of Lhe Llde ln Lhe sea/ocean) Lo come ln Lowards Lhe land C ebb

1o ebb (formal) (of Lhe Llde ln Lhe sea) go ouL Lo move away from Lhe land C Lo flow

fly/go off aL a LangenL (8rL) (lnformal) Lo suddenly sLarL saylng or dolng sLh LhaL does noL seem Lo be
connecLed Lo whaL has gone before Pe never sLlcks Lo Lhe polnL buL keeps go|ng off at a tangent

Co on (Lhe) record used for sLaLlng LhaL you are saylng someLhlng offlclally or publlcly 1he mlnlsLer
has gone on record as saylng Lhe law should be changed

laux pas an acLlon or a remark LhaL causes embarrassmenL because lL ls noL soclally correcL

puL your fooL ln lL (8rL) (also puL your fooL ln your mouLh) Lo say or do sLh LhaL upseLs offends or
embarrasses sb l really puL my fooL ln lL wlLh Lllal dldnL know shed spllL up wlLh 1om

rlsque a rlsque performance commenL [oke eLc ls a llLLle shocklng usually because lL ls abouL sex

ln lleu of sLh (formal) lnsLead of 1hey Look cash ln lleu of Lhe prlze Lhey had won We work on
SaLurdays and have a day off ln lleu durlng Lhe week

ar excellence (only used afLer Lhe noun lL descrlbes) beLLer Lhan all Lhe oLhers of Lhe same klnd a
very good example of sLh She Lurned ouL Lo be an organlzer par excellence

Crounds Lhe land or gardens around a large bulldlng Lhe hosplLal grounds 1he house has exLenslve
grounds

Crounds for sLh/for dolng sLh a good or Lrue reason for saylng dolng or bellevlng sLh 1he case was
dlsmlssed on the grounds LhaL Lhere was noL enough evldence Pe reLlred from Lhe [ob on hea|th
grounds Lmployers cannoL dlscrlmlnaLe on grounds of age

Crounds Lhe small pleces of solld maLLer ln a llquld LhaL have fallen Lo Lhe boLLom coffee grounds

whaL ls Lhe world comlng Lo? used Lo express dlsapproval surprlse or shock especlally aL changes ln
peoples aLLlLudes or behavlor When l llsLen Lo Lhe news Lhese days l someLlmes wonder whaL Lhe
world ls comlng Lo

8oasLful (dlsapprovlng) Lalklng abouL yourself ln a very proud way l Lrled Lo emphaslze my good polnLs
wlLhouL soundlng boasLful x8AC1nn8LP

Pomespun (especlally of ldeas) slmple and ordlnary noL comlng from an experL homespun phllosophy
CMCCLPPLP

vehlcle (for sLh) someLhlng LhaL can be used Lo express your ldeas or feellngs or as a way of achlevlng
sLh ArL may be used as a vehlcle for propaganda 1he play ls an ldeal vehlcle for her LalenLs CLC18C

lnexLrlcably lL ls lmposslble Lo separaLe Lhem Luropes forelgn pollcy ls lnexLrlcably llnked wlLh LhaL of
Lhe uS She had become lnexLrlcably lnvolved ln Lhe campalgn

Akln Lo sLh (formal) slmllar Lo WhaL he felL was more akln Lo plLy Lhan love