Word of the day

grow up EXAMPLE: He hardly ever saw his father while he was growing up.

dorastać, dojrzewać

bemused DEFINITION: [adjective] - slightly confused EXAMPLE: My father looked slightly bemused when he heard the news.

zdezorientowany, zakłopotany

carry sth through EXAMPLE: I don't think David will carry this project through.

doprowadzić coś do końca, zrealizować

passionate DEFINITION: [adjective] - having very strong feelings or emotions EXAMPLE: She has a passionate interest in animal rights and she got involved in campaigns against animal testing and experiments.

namiętny, płomienny, żarliwy

beg off EXAMPLE: Katie begged off rather early from the Christmas party because she was so tired.

wykręcać się, wymigiwać

to overrate DEFINITION: [verb] - to have too good an opinion of something EXAMPLE: That movie is very entertaining but highly overrated in my opinion.

przeceniać, przereklamowywać

pay sth in EXAMPLE: You can pay a cheque in at the bank or at the Post Office.

wpłacać pieniądze

rabble DEFINITION: [noun] - a noisy uncontrolled crowd of people EXAMPLE: The noisy rabble occupied Toronto's financial district on Thursday afternoon.

motłoch, hałastra

crash out EXAMPLE: We went home and crashed out very soon.

zasnąć, 'pójść w kimono'

scorching DEFINITION: [adverb] - very hot EXAMPLE: It is absolutely scorching here in Sydney and it is set to stay that way for quite a while.

upalnie, gorąco

make towards sb/sth EXAMPLE: She made towards the door but then she stopped and looked at me.

podążać w kierunku kogoś/czegoś, zmierzać

promptly DEFINITION: [adverb] - quickly, without delay or at the arranged time EXAMPLE: The ambulance arrived promptly and the injured man was taken to the nearest hospital.

szybko, niezwłocznie, punktualnie

enter into sth EXAMPLE: He refused to enter into any discussion on this matter.

wszczynać, podejmować (np. rozmowy)

immature DEFINITION: [adjective] - that behaves or thinks in a way that is typical of someone much younger EXAMPLE: Although my cousin's almost twenty, she's a bit immature for her age.

niedojrzały

bring sth up EXAMPLE: He gets upset when his girlfriend brings up her past relationships.

poruszać coś (temat rozmowy)

to sharpen DEFINITION: [verb] - to make something stronger EXAMPLE: Riots across England have sharpened criticism of social media tools which are helping criminals organize looting gangs.

spotęgować, zaostrzyć, wyostrzyć

push sb around EXAMPLE: Don't let your boss push you around like that.

dyrygować kimś

to excel DEFINITION: [verb] - to be extremely good at something EXAMPLE: Robert always excelled at sports when he was at school.

przodować (w czymś), wyróżniać się

fall about EXAMPLE: We all fell about when we heard Kevin's reply.

pokładać się ze śmiechu

to apprehend DEFINITION: [verb] -FORMAL- to catch and arrest somebody who has not obeyed the law EXAMPLE: The killer responsible for the murders of two women has not been apprehended yet.

zatrzymać, aresztować

drive at sth EXAMPLE: I really don't understand what you are driving at.

zmierzać do czegoś

to barter DEFINITION: [verb] - to exchange goods for other things without using money EXAMPLE: In Africa, guns can be bartered for gold, diamonds and other minerals.

wymieniać (towar na inny towar)

play around EXAMPLE: Stop playing around and start doing your homework!

wygłupiać się

heedless DEFINITION: [adjective] - FORMAL- that does not give attention to a risk or possible difficulty EXAMPLE: She has been involved in a collision caused by a heedless driver.

nierozważny, nieostrożny, nie zważający (na coś)

climb down EXAMPLE: The council had to climb down over proposed parking charges.

iść na ustępstwa (w jakiejś kwestii)

to avow DEFINITION: [verb] - FORMAL- to state or admit something EXAMPLE: He avowed that he was innocent of all accusations.

oświadczać, wyznawać

pull sb/sth apart EXAMPLE: The men went for each other with their fists and had to be pulled apart by security guards.

rozdzielać kogoś/coś, odciągać na boki

obedient DEFINITION: [adjective] - doing what you are told to do by someone in authority EXAMPLE: The first step to having an obedient dog is to take it to a training course.

posłuszny

hang up EXAMPLE: Sharon hung up when Tom started shouting at her.

odkładać słuchawkę, zakończyć rozmowę telefoniczną

upcoming DEFINITION: [adjective] - happening soon EXAMPLE: I don't know who to vote for in the upcoming elections.

nadchodzący, zbliżający się

drive off EXAMPLE: He said goodbye, got in the car and drove off.

odjeżdżać

to inhabit DEFINITION: [verb] - to live in a place EXAMPLE: There are over 7000 islands in the Philippines but only about 4000 are inhabited.

zamieszkiwać

take against sb EXAMPLE: Jack took against me when I was promoted over him.

nabierać niechęci do kogoś, zrazić się do kogoś

to undercharge DEFINITION: [verb] - to charge somebody less than the real price for something EXAMPLE: The sales assistant made a mistake and undercharged us by £3.

za mało policzyć (komuś) za coś

kick sb out EXAMPLE: She kicked her boyfriend out after they quarrelled.

wyrzucać kogoś

overt DEFINITION: [adjective] - done or shown publicly or in an open way; not secret EXAMPLE: He decided to give his overt support to the Labour Party in its future election campaigns.

jawny, otwarty

set sth out EXAMPLE: The terms and conditions of your employment will be set out in the contract.

przedstawiać coś, określać

perishable DEFINITION: [adjective] - (of food) that decays quickly EXAMPLE: You must store perishable food in a cool place.

łatwo psujący się

tell on sb EXAMPLE: A couple of late nights began to tell on him and his work was suffering.

dawać znać o sobie (wyczerpywać, męczyć)

clutter DEFINITION: [noun] - a lot of things in a state of being untidy EXAMPLE: It took me an hour to clean out the clutter in the kitchen.

nieporządek, bałagan

catch on EXAMPLE: At first I didn't catch on to what he was saying to me.

chwytać (rozumieć)

enormity DEFINITION: [noun] - very great size, effect or importance EXAMPLE: I'm afraid she doesn't realize the enormity of the problem.

ogrom, wielkość, powaga

nag away at sb EXAMPLE: This thought has been nagging away at me for such a long time.

dręczyć kogoś, zadręczać kogoś

to entrap DEFINITION: [verb] - FORMAL- to put or catch someone in a place or situation from which they cannot escape EXAMPLE: She thinks that her daughter has been entrapped by this cult.

usidlać, wpędzać w pułapkę

ask around EXAMPLE: We didn't know where Regent Street was so we had to ask around.

pytać różnych ludzi

cosy DEFINITION: [adjective] - comfortable and pleasant, especially because small and warm EXAMPLE: She gave me some ideas how to make my room more cosy.

przytulny, wygodny

drop off EXAMPLE: After a glass of wine, Ann soon dropped off in front of the television.

zasnąć

to swing DEFINITION: [verb] - to move smoothly backwards and forwards or to make something do this EXAMPLE: The kids enjoyed swinging on the ropes through the trees.

huśtać (się), kołysać (się)

start over EXAMPLE: I've made a lot of mistakes – I have to start over.

zaczynać od początku/na nowo

upright DEFINITION: [adjective] - honest, responsible and moral EXAMPLE: He was a thoroughly good and upright man.

prawy, uczciwy

step down EXAMPLE: David is stepping down as chairperson at the end of June.

ustępować (ze stanowiska)

self-assured DEFINITION: [adjective] - having confidence in your own abilities EXAMPLE: The interview showed him as a competent and self-assured person.

pewny siebie

play down EXAMPLE: The government tried to play down the seriousness of the disaster.

pomniejszać (znaczenie), minimalizować

hilarious DEFINITION: [adjective] - very funny and causing a lot of laughter EXAMPLE: It's my favourite comedy. I think it is hilarious.

bardzo śmieszny, komiczny

sink in EXAMPLE: Wipe up that wine you spilled on the carpet before it sinks in.

wsiąkać

dour DEFINITION: [adjective] - unfriendly, unhappy and very serious EXAMPLE: He came out of the boss's office with a dour expression on his face.

oschły, surowy, srogi

hold out EXAMPLE: We don't know how long our supply of water will hold out.

wystarczać

to rotate DEFINITION: [verb] - to (cause to) turn in a circle, especially around a fixed central point EXAMPLE: The Earth rotates on its axis once a day.

obracać się, krążyć, wirować

show sb out EXAMPLE: I'll ask someone in the office to show you out.

odprowadzać kogoś do wyjścia

indigestible DEFINITION: [adjective] - (about food) difficult or impossible for the stomach to break down EXAMPLE: The steak was dry and nearly indigestible.

niestrawny, ciężki (do strawienia)

pass sth around EXAMPLE: Do me a favour and pass these pictures around for everyone to look at.

puszczać obiegiem, podawać coś z ręki do ręki

letdown DEFINITION: [noun] - a disappointment EXAMPLE: The film that we watched last night turned out to be a bit of a letdown.

rozczarowanie

fear for sb/sth EXAMPLE: She always feared for the safety of her two children.

bać się o kogoś/coś

to romp DEFINITION: [verb] - to play in a rough, happy and noisy way EXAMPLE: The children romped happily around in the snow.

dokazywać, hasać, figlować

live up to sth EXAMPLE: The performance was fantastic - it lived up to all our expectations.

spełniać czyjeś oczekiwania

forthright DEFINITION: [adjective] - saying what you think and feel honestly and directly, without being afraid of other people’s reactions EXAMPLE: I really appreciate your honesty and your forthright way of talking.

szczery, prostolinijny, bezpośredni

cut sth out EXAMPLE: She cut out the pictures of her favourite actress from the magazines.

wyciąć coś

respectable DEFINITION: [adjective] - considered to be socially acceptable because of your good character or behaviour EXAMPLE: She married a good man and led a respectable life.

przyzwoity, poważany, zacny

throw sth away EXAMPLE: I don't need these old magazines so I'm going to throw them away.

wyrzucać coś

freakish DEFINITION: [adjective] - very unusual or unexpected, especially in an unpleasant way EXAMPLE: She got fed up with Mark's freakish behaviour and broke up with him.

dziwny, dziwaczny

care for sb EXAMPLE: The children are being cared for by their grandparents.

opiekować się kimś, zająć się kimś

bystander DEFINITION: [noun] - a person who is standing near and watching something that is happening but is not involved in it EXAMPLE: Two bystanders were hurt when the gangs attacked each other.

naoczny świadek, obserwator, widz

bear down on sb/sth EXAMPLE: We could see the tornado bearing down on the town.

zbliżać się do kogoś/czegoś

observant DEFINITION: [adjective] - good or quick at noticing things around you EXAMPLE: With the help of an observant witness, the police tracked down a man suspected of setting fire to a store in London.

spostrzegawczy

touch sth off EXAMPLE: The plans to build a motorway through a forest outside Moscow touched off a storm of protest.

wywołać coś, rozpoczynać

to praise DEFINITION: [verb] - to express strong approval or admiration about the achievements or characteristics of a person or thing EXAMPLE: His parents never praised him, even when he did well at school.

chwalić, pochwalać

sniff sth out EXAMPLE: Dogs can be trained to sniff out substances such as drugs in passengers' luggage.

wywęszyć coś

influence DEFINITION: [noun] - the power to have an effect on people or things EXAMPLE: I'm glad that Kevin is seeing Helen as she has a good influence on him.

wpływ

fall through EXAMPLE: We intended to go to Mexico for our vacation but the trip fell through.

nie dojść do skutku, nie wyjść, nie udać się

tart DEFINITION: [adjective] - sharp and unpleasant EXAMPLE: Her tart remarks can sometimes hurt people's feelings.

cierpki, zgryźliwy

tear sb away EXAMPLE: I'll bring Jack if I can tear him away from his computer.

odrywać kogoś (od czegoś)

fellowship DEFINITION: [noun] - an amount of money given to postgraduates to allow them to continue their studies at an advanced level EXAMPLE: I've heard that Kate's applied for a research fellowship.

stypendium (naukowe)

plan sth out EXAMPLE: She's planned out the whole day - train to New York, then some shopping and a show in the evening.

rozplanować coś, zaplanować

fleck DEFINITION: [noun] - a small mark or spot EXAMPLE: The method for removing paint flecks from a wooden table depends on what type of paint it is.

plamka, drobinka, pyłek

move on EXAMPLE: We've been in London long enough - it's time for us to move on.

posuwać się dalej, przejść dalej

to rerun DEFINITION: [verb] - to show a programme or film on television again EXAMPLE: The Indiana Jones films are always being rerun on television.

ponownie odtwarzać

talk sb out of sth EXAMPLE: We all tried to talk her out of the decision to get married.

wyperswadowywać (coś komuś)

gluttony DEFINITION: [noun] - when people eat and drink much more than they need to EXAMPLE: Many people think that Thanksgiving is a day of gluttony.

obżarstwo

hunt sb/sth down EXAMPLE: The terrorists had been hunted down in a large police operation.

wytropić, łapać kogoś/coś

grandly DEFINITION: [adverb] - in a way that attracts attention and admiration EXAMPLE: All rooms in the house are quiet, spacious and grandly furnished.

pięknie, świetnie

rub off EXAMPLE: Let's hope some of her enthusiasm rubs off on the rest of the group.

udzielać się komuś

intangible DEFINITION: [adjective] - that exists but cannot be described exactly or proved EXAMPLE: A good leader must have a certain amount of such intangible qualities as zeal, charm and charisma.

nieuchwytny, nienamacalny

keep sth back EXAMPLE: We both suspect that she's keeping something back.

ukrywać coś, zatajać

villainous DEFINITION: [adjective] - evil EXAMPLE: Throughout 'The Merchant of Venice' there are many examples of villainous acts performed by the characters.

nikczemny, łajdacki, wyrodny

roll in EXAMPLE: I was pleasantly surprised by how the offers of help kept rolling in.

napływać

wretched DEFINITION: [adjective] - unpleasant, of low quality or unhappy EXAMPLE: She had to live with her two sisters in one wretched room.

nieszczęśliwy, nędzny, nieszczęsny, żałosny

leave sb/sth out EXAMPLE: If you don't like nuts or peanut butter, you can simply leave those ingredients out

pomijać, opuszczać

purely DEFINITION: [adverb] - only EXAMPLE: He admitted that he made the decision for purely financial reasons.

jedynie, wyłącznie

drink sth in EXAMPLE: Just sit on the beach and drink in the splendid view.

chłonąć coś, rozkoszować się czymś

steeply DEFINITION: [adverb] - sharply or suddenly EXAMPLE: We were sitting on the black rocks that slope quite steeply down to the sea.

stromo, gwałtownie

call sb in EXAMPLE: Almost forty firefighters were called in to fight the flames at the offices and shops in Belfast this morning.

wezwać kogoś

stern DEFINITION: [adjective] - severe and serious EXAMPLE: He was given a stern warning and released without charges.

surowy, srogi, ostry

get away EXAMPLE: We're planning to get away for a few days in June.

uciekać, wyrywać się