General Eng

a short holiday; a place that is suitable for a holiday

getaway: a romantic weekend getaway in New York; the popular island getaway of Penang

a person whose job is to serve customers in a shop

clerk - shop assistant: The clerk at the counter gave me too little change.

​a formal agreement between two or more countries

treaty: Under the terms of the treaty, La Rochelle was ceded to the English.; to draw up/sign/ratify a treaty

to get out of a bus, a train or other vehicle

alight (from) - set down: Do not alight from a moving bus.; Passengers may be set down and picked up only at the official stops.

familiar with something and accepting it as normal or usual

accustomed - used to: My eyes slowly grew accustomed to the dark.; This was not the kind of behaviour I was accustomed to.

the fact that two or more things, ideas, etc. become similar or come together

convergence: The convergence of pop-cultural trends and technological progress gave us camera phones and the "selfie".

the state of being famous for being bad in some way

notoriety: She achieved notoriety for her affair with the senator.; This make of car has a certain notoriety for rust problems.

completely without something

devoid of: The letter was devoid of warmth and feeling.; The land is almost devoid of vegetation.

born and having grown up in a particular place with a particular background and education

born and bred: He was born and bred in Boston.; I'm a Londoner, born and bred.

to spend a lot of money on something, especially unwillingly

fork out: Why fork out for a taxi when there's a perfectly good bus service?; We've forked out a small fortune on their education.

Money that has not yet been paid and is still owed to someone.

outstanding account: Please find attached an invoice for your outstanding account.

aware of it but it is not what you are mainly thinking about

at/in back of one's mind: Calling Mike has been in the back of my mind for a while, but I haven’t done it yet.

not to know what to do or say (idiom)

be at a loss: It was unlike him to be at a loss for words.

to make yourself/somebody/something pure, healthy or clean by getting rid of bad thoughts or feelings/to remove people from an organization, often violently, because their opinions or activities are unacceptable to the people in power

purge: We need to purge our sport of racism.; Nothing could purge the guilt from her mind.; His first act as leader was to purge the party of extremists.

​a record of the number or amount of something, especially one that you can keep adding to

tally: He hopes to improve on his tally of three goals in the past nine games.; Keep a tally of how much you spend while you're away.

to discover something/somebody unexpectedly

stumble across/on/upon something/somebody: Police have stumbled across a huge drugs ring.; I stumbled across Thompson outside the hotel.; I stumbled across the place quite by chance.

that cannot be trusted; intending to harm you; dangerous, especially when seeming safe

treacherous: He was weak, cowardly and treacherous.; The ice on the roads made driving conditions treacherous.

not in a straight line; bent or twisted

crooked: a crooked nose/smile; Your glasses are on crooked

a meal to which each guest brings some food, which is then shared out among the guests

potluck: My friends Victoria and Steve often hosted potlucks

protection against damage or loss, especially in the form of a promise to pay for any damage or loss that happens

indemnity: Please use this link to complete our indemnity form prior to your arrival at the beach

to tell somebody officially that you do not approve of them or their actions

reprimand: The officers were severely reprimanded for their unprofessional behaviour.; The judge reprimanded him for using such language in court.

​ill and not improving

ailing: She looked after her ailing father.; The ailing company, succeeding in obtaining the necessary cash, was able to get out from under its financial burdens.

without previous thought or preparation

off the cuff: I'm just speaking off the cuff here—I haven't seen the results yet

to pay careful attention to somebody’s advice or warning

heed: They failed to heed the lessons of history.; If only they had heeded his warnings!; Calls for more legislation to protect tenants were not heeded.

to consider something such as somebody’s opinion or a fact and be influenced by it when you are deciding what to do or explaining something; to help somebody by doing what they want; to change your behaviour so that you can deal with a new situation

accomodate: Our proposal tries to accommodate the special needs of minority groups.; I’m sure the bank will be able to accommodate you.; I needed to accommodate to the new schedule

connected with a parliament; having a parliament (adj)

parliamentary: a parliamentary (presidential) democracy

to receive and send on information, news, etc. to somebody

relay: He relayed the message to his boss.; Instructions were relayed to him by phone.

an amount of money that is paid to somebody for selling goods and that increases with the amount of goods that are sold

commission: In this job you work on commission; He earned £2 000 in commission last month.

not aware of the possible dangers or problems of a situation and therefore likely to be harmed in some way (adj)

unwary: Exams are not designed to set traps for unwary students.

connected with a phrase or an idea that has been used so often that it no longer has much meaning and is not interesting

clichéd (cliched): a clichéd view of upper-class life

extremely unhappy because something is not interesting or because you have nothing to do (idiom)

bore sb rigid/stiff: We sat there, bored stiff, while the history teacher droned on.

able to show good judgement about the quality of somebody/something

discerning: The discerning customer will recognize this as a high-quality product.; To the discerning eye, the quality may seem quite poor.

​to avoid a person or thing (a centre of a town) because they may cause problems (idiom)

keep/stay/steer clear (of somebody/something): Steer clear of the centre of town at this time of the evening.

a thing that alerts people to an unsatisfactory situation and prompts them to remedy it. (idiom)

wake-up call: maybe this will be a wake-up call for society to change

to make a decision to do something, especially after thinking about it for a long time (idiom)

take the plunge: They're finally taking the plunge and getting married.

to be in or get into a difficult situation in which you are in danger of being criticized or punished (idiom)

end up in hot water: He found himself in hot water over his comments about immigration

the traffic offence of driving faster than the legal limit

speeding: Max was fined £300 for speeding.; He was pulled over (= stopped by the police) for speeding.

To cause one to be in a situation or scenario that could prove risky, dangerous, or damaging (idiom)

put sb / sth in jeopardy: The colossal failure of our latest product has put the company's future in jeopardy.

something that is done in advance in order to prevent problems or to avoid danger

precaution: You must take all reasonable precautions to protect yourself and your family.

that can be won or lost, depending on the success of a particular action (idiom)

at stake: We cannot afford to take risks when people's lives are at stake.

(idiom) to not prepare or plan for

leave sth to chance: I'll leave it to chance (= wait and see what happens without planning).

​a very strong wind that moves very fast in circles and causes a lot of damage; ​a situation or series of events where a lot of things happen very quickly

whirlwind: I know it sounds like some crazy whirlwind romance.; To recover from the divorce, I threw myself into a whirlwind of activities.

the effect that an action, event, or decision has on something, especially a bad effect

repercussion: Any decrease in tourism could have serious repercussions for the local economy.; President Kennedy's assassination had far-reaching repercussions.

not go as far as (some extreme action); to be unwilling to do something because it may involve a risk, but to nearly do it (idiom)

stop short of sth: She stopped short of calling the president a liar.; The protest stopped short of a violent confrontation.

accept parts of both things in order to satisfy some of the demands of both sides in an argument, rather than all the demands of just one side (idiom)

strike a balance between: It's a question of striking the right balance between quality and productivity.

to admit, often unwillingly, that something is true

concede: The government has conceded (that) the new tax policy has been a disaster.; "Well okay, perhaps I was a little hard on her," he conceded.

to use a supply of something that is available to you; utilise (phrasal verb)

draw on: I'll have to draw on my savings.; The novelist draws heavily on her personal experiences.

the easiest but not the best way of doing something, esp. a way that does not involve much effort (idiom)

take the easy way out: As soon as things got difficult he took the easy way out.; If you take the easy way out and only do things you know you're good at, you'll never learn anything.

an idea or mental image of something; the ability to imagine how a country, society, industry, etc. could develop in the future and to plan for this

a vision: Everyone has a vision in their mind of the ideal home.; He didn't have the mental agility or vision required for a senior politician.; She had visions in which the angel Gabriel appeared to her.

large in amount, or impressive, and usually costing a lot of money

lavish: They lived a very lavish lifestyle.; a lavish house or apartment

to be considered serious and important enough to influence other people; to have respect, influence, trust, or importance

carry a lot of weight: The Senator's opinion carries a lot of weight in Congress.; His words obviously carried weight with them.; Such threats may carry no weight.

to beat something that somebody says or does by saying or doing something even better

trump - eclipse - outweight: They were trumped by another firm that made a lower bid.

to be someone's responsibility or decision (idiom) - it's your responsibility.

be down to sb: It's down to me to find a suitable person for the job.

a large cupboard for hanging clothes in, which is either a piece of furniture or (in British English) built into the wall

a walk-in wardrobe (a closet AmE); a built-in wardrobe; a free-standing wardrobes

a piece of furniture with doors, drawers and/or shelves, that is used for storing or showing things

a cabinet: kitchen cabinets a medicine cabinet

piece of furniture with drawers (= parts like boxes built into it with handles on the front for pulling them out) for keeping clothes in

chest of drawers: She rose from the bed and crossed to the chest of drawers.; We bought a mahogany chest of drawers for £200.

an office or organization that provides information on a particular subject / a desk with drawers and usually a top that opens down to make a table to write on

a bureau: She works for an employment bureau.

a short period of time separating parts of a play, film or concert

an interval - intermission: There will be an interval of 20 minutes after the second act.

it is impossible to be certain about something (idiom)

there's no knowing: There's no knowing what she'll do if she finds out about this.

used to say that there is no chance of something happening or of someone doing something (idiom)

there's no question of sb/sth: There was no question of escape.; There was no question of his forgetting about what happened.

to have a duty to do something for someone (idiom)

owe it to someone to do something: We owe it to our students to prepare them well for college.

to not be useful; to have no useful effect; be no help in dealing with a situation. (idiom)

it's no good doing: It's no good arguing with him.; It's no good trying to change his beliefs.

Feeling somewhat disoriented, phased, or out of touch with the world; spaced out.; unaware of what is happening as a result of being uninformed.; unable to think or react properly, especially as a result of taking drugs or drinking too much alcohol

(a bit) out of it: Sorry I'm rambling so much tonight, I've been feeling a bit out of it lately.; He looks completely out of it.; I'm sorry I forgot to call you back – I'm completely out of it today.

covered with clouds; not bright

an overcast sky/day: Today it will be dull and overcast.; The sky was overcast and we needed to use artificial light

​a person who lives alone and likes to avoid other people

recluse: to lead the life of a recluse

a person who, usually for religious reasons, lives a very simple life alone and does not meet or talk to other people

hermit

an area where wild birds or animals are protected and encouraged to produce young

sanctuary - reserve: The island was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1969.

the state of being alone, especially when you find this pleasant

solitude: She longed for peace and solitude. I returned to the solitude of my room.

to want something very much especially if it does not seem likely to happen soon

long to - yearn: Lucy had always longed for a brother.; I'm longing to see you again.; the birth of a longed-for baby

go to the cinema

go to the movies (AmE) / flickers (BrE)/ pictures (AuE)

a situation in which you think that something good is going to happen but it does not (idiom)

false dawn: Setting up my own business proved to be something of a false dawn.

making success seem extremely unlikely (idiom)

impossible/overwhelming odds: They face impossible odds simply trying to get an education. They face overwhelming odds in their struggle to preserve the park.

a very strong need to do something (idiom)

a burning ambition: I have always had a burning ambition to be a rock star.

care in what you say or do, in order to keep something secret or to avoid causing difficulty for somebody or making them feel embarrassed; the quality of being discreet

discretion: Use the utmost discretion when you talk to her.; This is confidential, but I know that I can rely on your discretion.

making something perfect or complete (adj)

crowning: Walking on the moon was his crowning glory (= his most important achievement).; The cathedral is the crowning glory of the city.

to force somebody to do something, by law, because it is a duty, etc.

oblige: Parents are obliged by law to send their children to school.; I felt obliged to ask them to dinner.; He suffered a serious injury that obliged him to give up work.

to cause a particular reaction or have a particular effect; to say or do something that you know will annoy somebody so that they react in an angry way

provoke: The announcement provoked a storm of protest.; The article was intended to provoke discussion.; Be careful what you say—he's easily provoked.

to rely on or expect somebody to provide something or do something (e.g. information)

looked to for answers = learnt a lot from: We are looking to you for help.

to make somebody very interested and want to know more about something; to interest someone a lot, especially by being strange, unusual, or mysterious

intrigue by sth: The idea intrigued her.; You've really intrigued me—tell me more!; Throughout history, people have been intrigued by the question of whether there is intelligent life elsewhere in the universe.

to wait for the right time to do something

bide one's time: He decided to bide his time until he got an opportunity to talk to her alone.

to have nothing to do or not be busy (idiom)

have time on your hands | have time to kill: I retired last year so I have a lot of time on my hands.

full of people moving about in a busy way (adj)

bustling: The market was bustling with life.; a bustling city

it does not exist any more; disappear (idiom)

go out of the window: Then people start drinking and sense goes out of the window.

one means that something will be very successful; it is an important factor in achieving that thing; to help very much/a little in achieving something (idiom)

go a long way (towards doing): Although not a cure, it goes a long way towards making the patient's life tolerable.; A little mistrust goes a long way; The new law goes a long way towards solving the problem.

something that is very important for somebody and that they depend on; ​a line or rope thrown to rescue somebody who is in difficulty in the water

a lifeline: The extra payments are a lifeline for most single mothers.; He threw me a lifeline when he offered me a job.

(of a reason for doing something) that somebody keeps hidden and does not admit

ulterior: She must have some ulterior motive for being nice to me—what does she really want?

to become lost or absent, often under suspicious circumstances; disappear.

go missing: The ship went missing in the dense fog.

the loss of a person’s money, power, social position, etc.; the thing that causes this

downfall: The sex scandal finally led to his downfall.; Greed was her downfall.

​a sudden strong increase in the amount and speed of wind that is blowing

gust: A gust of wind blew his hat off.; The wind was blowing in gusts

making somebody feel healthy and full of energy

invigorating: an invigorating walk/shower; These yoga postures are invigorating and good for balance.

a person who enjoys taking part in extreme sports and other activities involving physical risk

thrill-seeker: I have always been a thrill-seeker.

seeming likely to cause you harm or danger

menacing - threatening: At night, the dark streets become menacing.; a menacing face/tone

very exciting and great fun

exhilarating: My first parachute jump was an exhilarating experience.; Young people often find danger rather exhilarating.; an exhilarating prospect

the possibility that something will happen; an idea of what might or will happen in the future

prospect: There is no immediate prospect of peace.; Travelling alone around the world is a daunting prospect.; I don't relish the prospect of having to share an office.

small pieces of rubbish such as paper, cans and bottles, that people have left lying in a public place; a dry substance that is put in a shallow open box for pets, especially cats, to use as a toilet when they are indoors

litter: There will be fines for people who drop litter.; There are two puppies in the litter.

the act of refusing to obey orders or show respect for somebody who has a higher rank (noun); refusing to obey orders or show respect for somebody who has a higher rank (adj)

insubordination; insubordinate: Two officers were reported for insubordination.

a street that is closed at one end

cul-de-sac / dead end road: We live in a quiet cul-de-sac.; This particular brand of socialism had entered a cul-de-sac (= could make no further progress).

a seat for swinging on, hung from above on ropes or chains

swing: The kids were playing on the swings.

possessive adjective + gerund

Your winning first prize in the photo competition was a bit of a shock.; Their singing of the famous chorus again was an inspiration to everybody in the audience.; Her approaching the bank for a loan was the right thing to do.

-ever: emphasis in questions

However will we get there on time in this traffic?; Whatever is that politician saying?

It and there clauses

I hate it when (people push in front of me in a queue.); I couldn't believe it when (I heard the news); There's no hope of (escaping from this dreadful situation.); There tends to (be a lot of arguing.); I wouldn't expect there to be (much money left.)

used to refer to one of several possibilities when the exact one is not known or not stated (idiom)

some ... or other: They found the painting in some antique shop or other.

an examination of a machine or system, including doing repairs on it or making changes to it

overhaul: A radical overhaul of the tax system is necessary.

not intended or likely to offend or upset anyone

innocuous: It seemed a perfectly innocuous remark.; The question appeared innocuous enough, but I still did not trust her.

filled with great pleasure (formal)

enchanted to (do)/with: He was enchanted to see her again after so long.; The children were enchanted with the present.; We were all enchanted with the mountain scenery.

little time; means you must hurry as fast as you can to do something

no time to lose - no time to waste - NOT a moment to lose: We need to get started immediately. There's no time to lose.; There is not a moment to lose.

be unwilling to make the effort needed to do something; too lazy or tired to do it

can't be bothered to: I can't be bothered to iron my clothes.; Most evenings I can't be bothered cooking.

a raised area of sand in a river or the sea (surfing)

sandbank: Our boat got caught on a sandbank as we returned home.

a raised area of sand in a river or the sea (surfing)

sandbank: Our boat got caught on a sandbank as we returned home.

a person who travels to a holy place for religious reasons

pilgrim; Muslim pilgrims on their way to Mecca; Christian pilgrims visiting Lourdes

a journey to a holy place for religious reasons

pilgrimage: Make a pilgrimage to the northern headland to visit a life-size statue of Duke Kahanamoku.

the belief that particular events happen in a way that cannot be explained by reason or science; the belief that particular events bring good or bad luck

superstition (n); superstitious (adj): According to superstition, breaking a mirror brings bad luck.; I'm superstitious about the number 13.

a warning that something is going to happen, usually so that you can prepare for it (idiom)

give someone a heads-up: This note is just to give you a heads-up that Vicky will be arriving next week.

to push something or someone gently, especially to push someone with your elbow; to encourage or persuade someone to do something in a way that is gentle rather than forceful or direct

nudge: He cleverly nudges us towards the conclusion he himself has reached.; The children were giggling and nudging each other.

not certain about something and suspecting that something may be wrong; not knowing whether something is good or bad

dubious: I was rather dubious about the whole idea.; Kate looked dubious, but did as she was asked.

to stop doing something that was a regular job or activity

chuck sth in: I've decided to chuck in my job.

people do not yet know the answer or have not yet decided if it is good or bad (idiom)

the jury is (still) out on something: The jury's still out on the safety of irradiated food.

to make a high, rough noise while breathing because of some breathing difficulty

wheeze: I could hear the old man behind me wheezing.; I know when I've been smoking too much because I start to wheeze when I run for a train.

the feeling of being unable to breathe easily, especially because you are ill

shortness of breath: The disease may cause sweating, nausea, vomiting, and shortness of breath.; The condition causes fatigue, shortness of breath, and swelling in the leg region.

so good that it is hard to believe, or seeming very good but not real

too good to be true: Her new job sounds too good to be true.; I'm not surprised the offer wasn't genuine, it sounded too good to be true.

the ability to produce babies, young animals, fruit or new plants; the quality in land or soil of making plants grow well

fertility: Anxiety and stress affect fertility in both men and women.; Improve the soil fertility by adding compost.

weak and unable to think or move well because you are ill or very tired

groggy: The sleeping pills left her feeling very groggy.

set of episodes of a television series, films, or recordings, presented as a single package, for example on a satellite or streaming service.

boxset (boxset-binge): We should have stayed in with a pizza and a boxset.

to get rid of something/somebody because you no longer want or need it/them

ditch: He ditched his girlfriend.; The new road building programme has been ditched.; Did you know that Sarah ditched (= ended her relationship with) her boyfriend last week?

having an effect that is strong enough to change someone's life

life-altering (life-threatening): The birth of a child is a life-altering experience.; His time as a young doctor was life-altering.

to make somebody poor; to make something worse in quality

impoverish: These changes are likely to impoverish single-parent families even further.; Intensive cultivation has impoverished the soil.

a natural system that makes your body need sleep, food, etc. at particular times of the day

body clock: I only arrived in London yesterday, and my body clock is still on New York time.

used to express the reasons why you have a particular opinion

judging by/from: Judging by what he said, I think it's very unlikely that he'll be able to support your application.; Judging from her recent track record, Watkins has every chance of winning the competition.

used to say what you have noticed or understood (idiom)

as/so far as I can tell: There's been no change, as far as I can tell.; As far as I can tell, we'd get no benefit from these changes.; They haven't done any research as far as I can tell.

the act of using rude or offensive words about somebody

name-calling: They were subjected to name-calling and jokes at their expense.

criticizing somebody/something in an unkind and indirect way (adj)

snide comments/remarks: She noted his slightly snide tone.

an action performed when everything else has failed, as a final attempt to avoid disaster, although it too seems likely to fail

a last ditch attempt: The President has been making a last ditch attempt to prevent the rebels taking over the city.

getting better after an illness or injury; improving after a difficult situation

on the mend: My leg is definitely on the mend now.; Does he believe the economy's

to become ill

be taken ill: He was taken ill at the party and was rushed to hospital.

suddenly got worse

take a turn for the worse: His health has taken a turn for the worse.

very ill indeed and likely to die. (idiom)

at death's door: He told his boss a tale about his mother being at death's door.

very active, healthy or popular

alive and kicking: My mother is still alive and kicking.

a fact or an event that is unpleasant and difficult to accept (idiom)

a bitter pill (for somebody) (to swallow): The election defeat was a bitter pill for the party to swallow.

the same bad treatment that you have given to others

a taste/dose of your own medicine: Let the bully have a taste of his own medicine.

to make somebody feel comfortable in bed by pulling the covers up around them

tuck in/up: I tucked the children in and said goodnight.

to hide something somewhere or keep it in a safe place; to be located in a quiet place, where not many people go

tuck away: She kept his letters tucked away in a drawer.; The shop is tucked away down a backstreet.

to be able to think and react to things very quickly and effectively without any preparation; to make a quick decision or give an answer quickly

think on your feet: I’d never heard about the company before, so I had to think on my feet.

to think carefully before deciding to do something (idiom)

think twice about something/about doing something: You should think twice about employing someone you've never met.

to think about someone who is in a difficult or unpleasant situation

spare a thought for someone: Spare a thought for me tomorrow, when you're lying on a beach, because I'll still be here in the office!

used in speech to say that one has just remembered or thought of something (idiom)

come to think of it: The meeting is next Tuesday, which, come to think of it, is also the date of my doctor's appointment.

a series of connected thoughts or events

train of thought/events: What amazing train of thought led you from Napoleon to global warming?; The book describes the train of events that led up to the assassination.

having no strength or energy; not stiff or strong

limp: His hand went limp and the knife clattered to the ground.; The hat had become limp and shapeless.; Her hair looked limp and lifeless.

to start to burn

combust: The whole ship might spontaneously combust (= start burning without being set on fire)

a satisfying meal that fills you and provides you with all the different types of food that your body needs in order to stay healthy

square meal: You need a good square meal.

a thing or person that is the centre of interest or activity

focal point: In rural areas, the school is often the focal point for the local community.; He quickly became the focal point for those who disagreed with government policy.

a person or thing that has the same position or function as somebody/something else in a different place or situation

counterpart: The Foreign Minister held talks with his Chinese counterpart.; The women's shoe, like its male counterpart, is specifically designed for the serious tennis player.

in or into an important or leading position in a particular group or activity

at/in/to the forefront (of something): Women have always been at the forefront of the Green movement.; The new product took the company to the forefront of the computer software field.

suddenly remember or think of it (idiom)

come/spring to mind: When discussing influential modern artists, three names immediately come to mind.; I'm sure someone can help you, but no one immediately springs to mind.

slightly hungry

peckish: Is there anything to eat? I’m feeling a bit peckish.

to separate liquid food from solid food, especially by pouring it through a utensil with small holes in it; the separation of liquid from solids using a strainer or sieve

straining: Could you strain the vegetables, please.; The oil in which the fish is fried is strained off and used to cook potatoes.

(of a vehicle or its driver) to move away from the side of the road, etc.

pull out: A car suddenly pulled out in front of me.; Keep left at every intersection and every time you pull out on to a road.

a large bowl that has taps and is fixed to the wall in a bathroom, used for washing your hands and face in

basin / washbasin (BrE) / washbowl (AmE): He washed his hands in the basin.; She filled the basin with warm soapy water.

extremely bad or unpleasant

horrendous: He described it as the most horrendous experience of his life.; She had sustained horrendous injuries.

tasting very good

scrumptious: scrumptious food

a brief stop (slang)

pit stop: We made a quick pit stop in Denver before continuing our journey.

It’s used when the subject someone is bragging about is a little odd, funny, or not actually impressive but still true.

weird flex, but OK

to become healthier, stronger, etc. after a period of illness, weakness, etc.

rally: Let’s see if I can rally haha

boring and making you feel unhappy

dreary day: a dreary little town She had spent another dreary day in the office

a situation in which people eat and drink more than they need to

gluttony: They treat Christmas as just another excuse for gluttony.

to hurt someone or do something harmful to someone because they have done or said something harmful to you

retaliate: If someone insults you, don't retaliate as it only makes the situation worse. The demonstrators threw rocks at the police, who retaliated by firing blanks into the crowd. The terrorists retaliated against the government with a bomb attack.