Reading...
Play button
Play button
Use LEFT and RIGHT arrow keys to navigate between flashcards;
Use UP and DOWN arrow keys to flip the card;
H to show hint;
A reads text to speech;
427 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
|
he <b> renounced</b> the worldly life
|
If you <b>renounce</b> a belief or a way of behaving, you decide and declare publicly that you no longer have that belief or will no longer behave in that way(dem weltlichen Leben entsagen)
|
|
|
Jim<b> renounced</b> his party membership
|
sein Parteibuch zurückgeben
|
|
|
He is very sceptical about the value of<b> rote learning</b>
|
<b>Rote learning</b> or <b>learning by rote</b> is learning things by repeating them without thinking about them or trying to understand them
|
|
|
We have learnt how to <b>condense</b> serious messages into short, self-contained sentences
|
If you <b>condense</b> something, especially a piece of writing or speech, you make it shorter, usually by including only the most important parts.
|
|
|
a<b> vivid</b> blue sky
|
Something that is <b>vivid</b> is very bright in colour.
|
|
|
<b>from the cradle to the grave</b>
|
von der Wiege bis zur Bahre
|
|
|
<b>from the cradle</b>
|
<b>von klein auf</b>
|
|
|
The people <b>swayed</b> back and forth with arms linked...
|
When people or things <b>sway</b>, they lean or swing slowly from one side to the other.
|
|
|
<b>drainage hole</b>
|
<b>Wasserablaufloch</b>
|
|
|
Line the pots with pebbles to ensure good <b>drainage </b>...
|
Drainage is the system or process by which water or other liquids are drained from a place. /dreɪnɪdʒ/
|
|
|
I’m going take the dog down to the vet’s and have her <b>put to sleep</b>.
|
If a sick or injured animal is <b>put to sleep</b>, it is killed by a vet in a way that does not cause it pain. = put down
|
|
|
I will have to <b>sleep on it</b>
|
If you are trying to make a decision and you say that you will <b>sleep on it</b>
|
|
|
Children spend too much time on schoolwork, to the <b>detriment</b> of other activities.
|
If something happens to the detriment of something or to a person’s <b>detriment</b>, it causes harm or damage to them. (FORMAL)
|
|
|
<b>...a drunken lout</b>.
|
If you describe a man or boy as a lout, you are critical of them because they behave in an impolite or aggressive way.
|
|
|
He <b>raised the roof</b> at the conference when he sang his own version of the socialist anthem, The Red Flag.
|
If a group of people inside a building <b>raise the roof</b>, they make a very loud noise, for example by singing or shouting. (das Haus zum Beben bringen)
|
|
|
The more Sarah <b>nagged</b> her, the more stubborn Cissie became...
|
If someone <b>nags</b> you, they keep asking you to do something you have not done yet or do not want to do.
|
|
|
Aunt Molly is <b>a nag</b> about regular meals.
|
A <b>nag</b> is someone who nags.
|
|
|
It’s been <b>niggling</b> at my mind ever since I met Neville in Nice...
|
If something <b>niggles</b> you, it causes you to worry slightly over a long period of time.
|
|
|
So why is there a little <b>niggle</b> at the back of my mind?
|
(<b>Niggle</b> is also a noun) (Bedenken)
|
|
|
There’s a big difference between an amateur video and a <b>slick</b> Hollywood production...
|
A <b>slick</b> performance, production, or advertisement is skillful and impressive.
|
|
|
You must be <b>off your rocker</b>
|
verrueckt sein
|
|
|
I was a bit <b>miffed</b> about that...
|
If you are <b>miffed</b>, you are slightly annoyed and hurt because of something which someone has said or done to you. (INFORMAL)
|
|
|
<b>governing body</b>
|
<b>Dachverband</b>
|
|
|
<b>inflection point</b>
|
<b>Wendepunkt</b>
|
|
|
German leaders <b>denounced</b> the attacks and pleaded for tolerance...
|
If you <b>denounce</b> a person or an action, you criticize them severely and publicly because you feel strongly that they are wrong or evil.
|
|
|
...informers who might <b>denounce</b> you at any moment.
|
If you <b>denounce</b> someone who has broken a rule or law, you report them to the authorities.
|
|
|
The high divorce figures don’t seem to be <b>putting people off</b> marriage...
|
If something <b>puts you off</b> something, it makes you dislike it, or decide not to do or have it.
|
|
|
...an alarm to <b>scare off</b> an attacker.
|
If you scare off or <b>scare away</b> a person or animal, you frighten them so that they go away.
|
|
|
I don’t think that revealing your past to your boyfriend <b>scared him off</b>...
|
If you <b>scare someone off</b>, you accidentally make them unwilling to become involved with you.
|
|
|
Most traditional societies have transition <b>rites</b> at puberty.
|
A <b>rite</b> is a traditional ceremony that is carried out by a particular group or within a particular society.
|
|
|
<b>rite of passage</b>
|
<b>Erwachsenwerden</b> {n}
|
|
|
He could be <b>spiteful</b>.
|
Someone who is <b>spiteful</b> does cruel things to hurt people they dislike.(gehässig)
|
|
|
The rebels have declared a cease-fire in their war of <b>attrition</b> against the government.
|
<b>Attrition</b> is a process in which you steadily reduce the strength of an enemy by continually attacking them. (FORMAL) (Zermürbung )
|
|
|
<b>attrition of the workforce</b>
|
<b>Personalabgang</b>
|
|
|
<b>customer churn management</b>
|
<b>Vermeidung von Kundenabwanderung</b>
|
|
|
History and geography have <b>conspired</b> to bring Greece to a moment of decision...
|
If events <b>conspire</b> to produce a particular result, they seem to work together to cause this result.
|
|
|
She dismisses the reform process as an exercise in collective <b>navel gazing</b>.
|
If you refer to an activity as <b>navel-gazing</b>, you are critical of it because people are thinking about something for a long time but take no action on it.
|
|
|
She refused to <b>lay the blame</b> on any one party...
|
For example, if you <b>lay the blame</b> for a mistake on someone, you say it is their fault, or if the police lay charges against someone, they officially accuse that person of a crime.
|
|
|
If the case succeeds, it is <b>inevitable</b> that other trials will follow...
|
If something is <b>inevitable</b>, it is certain to happen and cannot be prevented or avoided.
|
|
|
<b>...a grain of sand</b>.
|
A <b>grain of something</b> such as sand or salt is a tiny hard piece of it.
|
|
|
<b>to take with a grain of salt</b>
|
<b>mit Vorsicht aufnehmen</b>
|
|
|
The bullets <b>ricocheted</b> off the bonnet and windscreen.
|
When a bullet <b>ricochets</b>, it hits a surface and bounces away from it.
|
|
|
The company was privatised with a <b>fanfare</b> of publicity...
|
If something happens with a <b>fanfare</b>, it happens or is announced with a lot of publicity. If something happens without a fanfare, it happens without a lot of fuss or publicity. (JOURNALISM)
|
|
|
<b>with much fanfare</b>
|
<b>mit großem Trara</b>
|
|
|
I have always liked <b>understated</b> clothes – simple shapes which take a lot of hard work to get right.
|
If you describe a style, colour, or effect as <b>understated</b>, you mean that it is not obvious.(dezent)
|
|
|
The government chooses deliberately to <b>understate</b> the increase in prices...
|
If you <b>understate</b> something, you describe it in a way that suggests that it is less important or serious than it really is.
|
|
|
<b>go-getter</b>
|
If someone is a <b>go-getter</b>, they are very energetic and eager to succeed.(Draufgänger)
|
|
|
He was a <b>daredevil</b> when young.
|
<b>Daredevil</b> people enjoy doing physically dangerous things.
|
|
|
...a <b>swashbuckling</b> adventure story.
|
If you describe someone or something as <b>swashbuckling</b>, you mean that they are connected with adventure and excitement.(draufgängerisch)
|
|
|
...this theological <b>conundrum</b> of the existence of evil and suffering in a world created by a good God.
|
A <b>conundrum</b> is a problem or puzzle which is difficult or impossible to solve.
|
|
|
to propose a <b>conundrum</b>
|
<b>ein Rätsel aufgeben</b>
|
|
|
...Branagh’s screen <b>adaptation</b> of Shakespeare’s Henry the Fifth.
|
An <b>adaptation</b> of a book or play is a film or a television programme that is based on it.
|
|
|
That's <b>a tall order</b>.
|
Das ist ein bisschen viel verlangt.
|
|
|
This has made many Americans conclude that business ethics is an <b>oxymoron</b>.
|
If you describe a phrase as an <b>oxymoron</b>, you mean that what it refers to combines two opposite qualities or ideas and therefore seems impossible.(Widerspruch in sich)
|
|
|
<b>Don't fret!</b>
|
<b>Keine Sorge!</b>
|
|
|
<b>patio</b>
|
A <b>patio</b> is an area of flat blocks or concrete next to a house, where people can sit and relax or eat.(Terrasse)
|
|
|
<b>canopy bed</b>
|
<b>Himmelbett</b>
|
|
|
<b>cockpit canopy</b>
|
<b>Kanzeldach</b> [Flugzeug]
|
|
|
<b>canopy</b>
|
<b>Baumkronendach</b>
|
|
|
<b>canopy</b>
|
<b>Vordach</b>
|
|
|
<b>rod</b>
|
<b>Rute</b>
|
|
|
He <b>prodded</b> Murray with the shotgun...
|
If you <b>prod someone or something</b>, you give them a quick push with your finger or with a pointed object.
|
|
|
He gave the donkey a mighty <b>prod</b> in the backside.
|
= <b>poke</b> (anstupsen)
|
|
|
The report should <b>prod</b> the Government into spending more on the Health Service...
|
If you <b>prod</b> someone into doing something, you remind or persuade them to do it.
|
|
|
Opposition leaders said that the elections had been <b>tainted</b> by corruption.
|
If a person or thing is <b>tainted</b> by something bad or undesirable, their status or reputation is harmed because they are associated with it.
|
|
|
Her government never really shook off the <b>taint</b> of corruption...
|
A <b>taint</b> is an undesirable quality which spoils the status or reputation of someone or something.
|
|
|
<b>cork taint</b>
|
<b>Korkgeschmack</b>
|
|
|
Consultation is traditional in the <b>consensual</b> Belgian system of labour relations.
|
A <b>consensual</b> approach, view, or decision is one that is based on general agreement among all the members of a group.(einvernehmlich)
|
|
|
Your <b>windpipe</b> is the tube in your body that carries air into your lungs when you breathe.
|
<b>Luftroehre</b>
|
|
|
The <b>premise</b> is that schools will work harder to improve if they must compete...
|
A <b>premise</b> is something that you suppose is true and that you use as a basis for developing an idea.(Voraussetzung )
|
|
|
I tensed every muscle in my body in <b>apprehension</b>.
|
<b>Apprehension</b> is a feeling of fear that something bad may happen.
|
|
|
...information leading to the <b>apprehension</b> of the alleged killer.
|
The <b>apprehension</b> of someone who is thought to be a criminal is their capture or arrest by the police.
|
|
|
<b>text apprehension</b>
|
<b>Textverständnis</b>
|
|
|
They were slow to <b>apprehend</b> the danger.
|
to understand something (old-fashioned)
|
|
|
...processes of perception and <b>cognition</b>.
|
<b>Cognition</b> is the mental process involved in knowing, learning, and understanding things.(Erkenntnis)
|
|
|
<b>cognitive faculty</b>
|
<b>Erkenntnisvermögen</b>
|
|
|
<b>cognitive ability</b>
|
<b>Wahrnehmungsfähigkeit</b>
|
|
|
The book is <b>narrated</b> by Richard Papen, a Californian boy.
|
If you <b>narrate</b> a story, you tell it from your own point of view.
|
|
|
She also <b>narrated</b> a documentary about the Kirov Ballet School.
|
The person who <b>narrates</b> a film or programme speaks the words which accompany the pictures, but does not appear in it.
|
|
|
<b>narration</b>
|
kurze Wiedergabe des Sachverhalts
|
|
|
...a benevolent and <b>omniscient</b> deity.
|
/ɒmnɪsiənt, AM omnischent/ If you describe someone as <b>omniscient</b>, you mean they know or seem to know everything.(allwissend)
|
|
|
The <b>consensus</b> amongst the world’s scientists is that the world is likely to warm up over the next few decades...
|
A <b>consensus</b> is general agreement among a group of people.
|
|
|
<b>affordable</b>
|
(finanziell) tragbar
|
|
|
<b>Arbitrary</b> arrests and detention without trial were common.
|
If you describe an action, rule, or decision as <b>arbitrary</b>, you think that it is not based on any principle, plan, or system. It often seems unfair because of this.
|
|
|
The <b>ostensible</b> purpose of these meetings was to gather information on financial strategies.
|
<b>Ostensible</b> is used to describe something that seems to be true or is officially stated to be true, but about which you or other people have doubts.(angeblich)
|
|
|
His triumph was overshadowed by an uneasy sense of <b>foreboding</b>.
|
<b>Foreboding</b> is a strong feeling that something terrible is going to happen.
|
|
|
There was an <b>ominous</b> silence at the other end of the phone...
|
If you describe something as <b>ominous</b>, you mean that it worries you because it makes you think that something unpleasant is going to happen.(unheilbringend)
|
|
|
It’s difficult to <b>reconcile</b> the demands of my job and the desire to be a good father...
|
If you <b>reconcile</b> two beliefs, facts, or demands that seem to be opposed or completely different, you find a way in which they can both be true or both be successful.
|
|
|
He never believed he and Susan would be <b>reconciled</b>...
|
If you are <b>reconciled</b> with someone, you become friendly with them again after a quarrel or disagreement.
|
|
|
She had <b>reconciled</b> herself to never seeing him again.
|
If you reconcile yourself to an unpleasant situation, you accept it, although it does not make you happy to do so.
|
|
|
...an ashtray of cigarette <b>stubs</b>.
|
The <b>stub</b> of a cigarette or a pencil is the last short piece of it which remains when the rest has been used.
|
|
|
He pulled the <b>stub</b> of a pencil from behind his ear.
|
The <b>stub</b> of a cigarette or a pencil is the last short piece of it which remains when the rest has been used.
|
|
|
I <b>stubbed</b> my toes against a table leg.
|
If you <b>stub</b> your toe, you hurt it by accidentally kicking something.
|
|
|
Fans who still have their original ticket <b>stubs</b> should contact Sheffield Arena by July 3.
|
A ticket <b>stub</b> is the part that you keep when you go in to watch a performance.
|
|
|
<b>stub of a tree</b>
|
<b>Baumstumpf</b>
|
|
|
He’s the <b>lynchpin</b> of our team and crucial to my long-term plans.
|
If you refer to a person or thing as the <b>linchpin</b> of something, you mean that they are the most important person or thing involved in it.(Dreh- und Angelpunkt)
|
|
|
His lawyers are <b>arguing</b> that he is unfit to stand trial...
|
If you <b>argue</b> that something is true, you state it and give the reasons why you think it is true.
|
|
|
Atlanta has <b>shelved</b> plans to include golf in the 1996 Games...
|
If someone <b>shelve a plan or project</b>, they decide not to continue with it, either for a while or permanently.
|
|
|
The shoreline <b>shelves</b> away steeply.
|
If an area of ground next to or under the sea shelves, it slopes downwards.
|
|
|
...<b>startling</b> new evidence...
|
Something that is <b>startling</b> is so different, unexpected, or remarkable that people react to it with surprise.
|
|
|
I <b>ushered</b> him into the office...
|
If you <b>usher</b> someone somewhere, you show them where they should go, often by going with them.
|
|
|
He did part-time work as an <b>usher</b> in a theatre.
|
An <b>usher</b> is a person who shows people where to sit, for example at a wedding or at a concert.
|
|
|
...a unique opportunity to <b>usher in</b> a new era of stability in Europe.
|
If one thing <b>ushers in</b> another thing, it indicates that the other thing is about to begin.
|
|
|
I think it would be a gross <b>distortion</b> of reality to say that they were motivated by self-interest...
|
<b>Distortion</b> is the changing of something into something that is not true or not
|
|
|
Audio signals can be transmitted along cables without <b>distortion</b>.
|
<b>Distortion</b> is the changing of the appearance or sound of something in a way that makes it seem strange or unclear.
|
|
|
We are generally very <b>conscientious</b> about our work...
|
Someone who is <b>conscientious</b> is very careful to do their work properly.[conschientsches] (gewissenhaft)
|
|
|
People did not teach their children to be <b>wary</b> of strangers...
|
If you are <b>wary</b> of something or someone, you are cautious because you do not know much about them and you believe they may be dangerous or cause problems.
|
|
|
She studied me <b>warily</b>, as if I might turn violent.
|
(skeptisch)
|
|
|
...an ever increasing <b>scarcity</b> of water.
|
If there is a <b>scarcity</b> of something, there is not enough of it for the people who need it or want it. = shortage
|
|
|
<b>for want of</b> evidence
|
<b>aus Mangel an</b> Beweisen
|
|
|
<b>for lack of</b> a better word
|
<b>aus Mangel an</b>
|
|
|
Simon is <b><b>level-headed</b></b> and practical...
|
If you describe a person as <b><b>level-headed</b></b>, you mean that they are calm and sensible even in difficult situations. = sensible
|
|
|
A <b>broad</b> range of issues was discussed.
|
You use <b>broad</b> to describe something that includes a large number of different things or people. = wide
|
|
|
The term Wissenschaft has a much <b>broader</b> meaning than the English word ‘science’.
|
You use <b>broad</b> to describe a word or meaning which covers or refers to a wide range of different things. = general
|
|
|
They’ve been giving <b>broad</b> hints about what to expect.
|
A <b>broad</b> hint is a very obvious hint.
|
|
|
He was shot in the head by an air gun <b>pellet</b>...
|
A <b>pellet</b> is a small ball of paper, mud, lead, or other material.
|
|
|
A crumpled <b>scrap</b> of paper was found in her handbag...
|
A <b>scrap</b> of something is a very small piece or amount of it.
|
|
|
There’s always tons of <b>scrap paper</b> in Dad’s office.
|
<b>Scrap metal or paper</b> is no longer wanted for its original purpose, but may have some other use.
|
|
|
His <b>abrasive</b> manner has won him an unenviable notoriety...
|
Someone who has an <b>abrasive</b> manner is unkind and rude.
|
|
|
...a new all-purpose, non-<b>abrasive</b> cleaner.
|
An <b>abrasive</b> substance is rough and can be used to clean hard surfaces.
|
|
|
<b>abrasive</b> surface
|
<b>raue</b> Oberfläche
|
|
|
I walked on in a <b>reflective</b> mood to the car...
|
If you are <b>reflective</b>, you are thinking deeply about something.
|
|
|
The German government’s support of the US is not entirely <b>reflective</b> of German public opinion...
|
If something is <b>reflective</b> of a particular situation or attitude, it is typical of that situation or attitude, or is a consequence of it.
|
|
|
He has recurring <b>flashbacks</b> to the night his friends died.
|
If you have a <b>flashback</b> to a past experience, you have a sudden and very clear memory of it.
|
|
|
You can <b>pre-empt</b> pain by taking a painkiller at the first warning sign...
|
If <b>you pre-empt</b> an action, you prevent it from happening by doing something which makes it unnecessary or impossible.
|
|
|
<b>Pre-emption</b> was the only method of averting defeat.
|
If you <b>pre-empt</b> an action, you prevent it from happening by doing something which makes it unnecessary or impossible.
|
|
|
Talks with the teachers’ union over the weekend have <b>averted</b> a strike...
|
If you <b>avert</b> something unpleasant, you prevent it from happening.
|
|
|
The economy remains <b>sluggish</b>...
|
You can describe something as <b>sluggish</b> if it moves, works, or reacts much slower than you would like or is normal.
|
|
|
Mr Ying is one of those happy people who <b>derive</b> pleasure from helping others.
|
If you <b>derive</b> something such as pleasure or benefit from a person or from something, you get it from them.
|
|
|
The word Easter <b>derives</b> from Eostre, the pagan goddess of spring.
|
If you say that something such as a word or feeling derives or is <b>derived</b> from something else, you mean that it comes from that thing.
|
|
|
to <b>derive</b> a benefit from
|
einen Vorteil ziehen aus
|
|
|
Are you on any <b>medication</b>?
|
<b>Medication</b> is medicine that is used to treat and cure illness.
|
|
|
<b>local authority</b>
|
<b>Gemeindebehörde</b>
|
|
|
<b>council worker</b>
|
<b>Mitarbeiter {m} der Gemeindebehörde</b>
|
|
|
This provided a pretext for <b>the authorities</b> to cancel the elections...
|
<b>The authorities</b> are the people who have the power to make decisions and to make sure that laws are obeyed.
|
|
|
They wanted a <b>pretext</b> for subduing the region by force...
|
A <b>pretext</b> is a reason which you pretend has caused you to do something.
|
|
|
Parents are too <b>permissive</b> with their children.
|
A <b>permissive</b> person, society, or way of behaving allows or tolerates things which other people disapprove of.
|
|
|
I had a terrible <b>quarrel</b> with my other brothers...
|
A <b>quarrel</b> is an angry argument between two or more friends or family members.
|
|
|
We have no <b>quarrel</b> with the people of Spain or of any other country...
|
If you say that you have no <b>quarrel</b> with someone or something, you mean that you do not disagree with them.
|
|
|
At one point we <b>quarrelled</b>, over something silly...
|
When two or more people <b>quarrel</b>, they have an angry argument.[kworel]
|
|
|
If you <b>stash</b> something valuable in a secret place, you store it there to keep it safe.
|
to <b>stash</b> the money away (das Geld beiseite schaffen)
|
|
|
<b>articulated truck</b>
|
<b>Sattelschlepper</b> {m}
|
|
|
<b>mongrel</b>
|
A <b>mongrel</b> is a dog which is a mixture of different breeds.
|
|
|
<b>renegade</b>
|
A <b>renegade</b> is a person who abandons the religious, political, or philosophical beliefs that he or she used to have, and accepts opposing or different beliefs.
|
|
|
Three men were shot dead by a <b>renegade</b> policeman.
|
<b>Renegade</b> is used to describe a member of a group or profession who behaves in a way that is opposed to the normal behaviour or beliefs of that group or profession.
|
|
|
I find snooker <b>riveting</b> though I don’t play myself.
|
If you describe something as <b>riveting</b>, you mean that it is extremely interesting and exciting, and that it holds your attention completely.
|
|
|
...leaves that are often <b>downy</b> underneath.
|
Something that is <b>downy</b> is covered with very fine hairs.
|
|
|
<b>downy hair</b>
|
<b>Flaumhaar</b>
|
|
|
It was a <b>tad</b> confusing...
|
You can use a <b>tad</b> in expressions such as a tad big or a tad small when you mean that it is slightly too big or slightly too small.
|
|
|
When he went into retirement, he visibly <b>withered</b>...
|
If someone or something <b>withers</b>, they become very weak.
|
|
|
To see my body literally <b>wither</b> away before my eyes was exasperating.
|
<b>Wither</b> away means the same as wither
|
|
|
Hardie could be <b>exasperating</b> to his colleagues...
|
If you describe someone or something as <b>exasperating</b>, you mean that you feel angry or frustrated by them or by what they do.
|
|
|
The sheer futility of it all <b>exasperates</b> her.
|
If someone or something <b>exasperates</b> you, they annoy you and make you feel frustrated or upset.
|
|
|
They haven’t given us accurate information. We’ve been <b>screwed</b>...
|
If someone says that they have been <b>screwed</b>, they mean that someone else has cheated them, especially by getting money from them dishonestly. (INFORMAL, RUDE)
|
|
|
Parisian taxi drivers are threatening to mount a blockade to <b>turn the screw on</b> the government.
|
If you <b>turn or tighten the screw on someone</b>, you increase the pressure which is already on them, for example by using threats, in order to force them to do a particular thing.
|
|
|
...the dreams of democracy that have so <b>tantalized</b> them.
|
If someone or something <b>tantalizes</b> you, they make you feel hopeful and excited about getting what you want, usually before disappointing you by not letting you have what they appeared to offer.
|
|
|
His attempts to <b>peddle</b> his paintings around London’s tiny gallery scene proved unsuccessful.
|
Someone who <b>peddles</b> things goes from place to place trying to sell them
|
|
|
They even set up their own news agency to <b>peddle</b> anti-isolationist propaganda.
|
If someone <b>peddles</b> an idea or a piece of information, they try very hard to get people to accept it.(feilbieten)
|
|
|
Their daily diet consisted of a lump of <b>stale bread</b>, a bowl of rice and stale water.
|
<b>Stale food</b> is no longer fresh or good to eat.
|
|
|
Her relationship with Mark has become <b>stale</b>...
|
If you say that a place, an activity, or an idea is <b>stale</b>, you mean that it has become boring because it is always the same.
|
|
|
<b>stale beer</b>
|
<b>abgestandenes Bier</b>
|
|
|
<b>stale bread</b>
|
<b>altes Brot</b>
|
|
|
She is very <b>touchy</b> about her past...
|
If you describe someone as <b>touchy</b>, you mean that they are easily upset, offended, or irritated.
|
|
|
...the <b>touchy</b> question of political reform.
|
If you say that something is a <b>touchy</b> subject, you mean that it is a subject that needs to be dealt with carefully and in a sensitive way, because it might upset or offend people.
|
|
|
...the constant <b>onslaught</b> of ads on American TV.
|
If you refer to an <b>onslaught</b> of something, you mean that there is a large amount of it, often so that it is very difficult to deal with. = barrage
|
|
|
He was faced with a <b>barrage</b> of angry questions from the floor.
|
A <b>barrage</b> of something such as criticism or complaints is a large number of them directed at someone, often in an aggressive way.
|
|
|
Hughes was <b>barraged</b> with phone calls from friends who were furious at the indiscreet disclosures.
|
If you are <b>barraged</b> by people or things, you have to deal with a great number of people or things you would rather avoid.
|
|
|
This campaign is really gaining/losing <b>momentum</b>...
|
If a process or movement gains <b>momentum</b>, it keeps developing or happening more quickly and keeps becoming less likely to stop.
|
|
|
...the <b>bad press</b> that career women consistently get in this country...
|
If someone or something gets a <b>bad press</b>, they are criticized, especially in the newspapers, on television, or on radio. If they get a <b>good press</b>, they are praised.
|
|
|
<b>opposable thumb</b>
|
<b>opponierbarer Daumen</b>
|
|
|
Twenty million years ago, Idaho was populated by dense <b>primordial</b> forest.
|
You use <b>primordial</b> to describe things that belong to a very early time in the history of the world.
|
|
|
<b>primordial soup</b>
|
<b>Ursuppe</b>
|
|
|
...dogs like pit bulls which have to wear a <b>muzzle</b>.
|
A <b>muzzle</b> is an object that is put over a dog’s nose and mouth so that it cannot bite people or make a noise.
|
|
|
She was opposed to new laws to <b>muzzle</b> the press.
|
If you say that someone is <b>muzzled</b>, you are complaining that they are prevented from expressing their views freely.
|
|
|
I <b>gagged</b> him with a towel.
|
If someone <b>gags</b> you, they tie a piece of cloth around your mouth in order to stop you from speaking or shouting.
|
|
|
I knelt by the toilet and <b>gagged</b>.
|
If you <b>gag</b>, you cannot swallow and nearly vomit.
|
|
|
Girls everywhere are <b>gagging</b> for a car like this...
|
If you say that someone is <b>gagging</b> for something or is <b>gagging</b> to do something, you are emphasizing that they want to have it or do it very much. (INFORMAL)
|
|
|
The result devastated me at the time. Even now I <b>hark back</b> to it.
|
When people <b>hark back</b> to something in the past, they remember it or remind someone of it.
|
|
|
<b>back to back</b>
|
<b>nacheinander</b>
|
|
|
They are capable of the most <b>heinous</b> acts/crimes.
|
If you describe something such as a crime as <b>heinous</b>, you mean that it is extremely evil or horrible.[haeines] = evil, monstrous
|
|
|
<b>to come out of the closet</b>
|
<b>seine Homosexualität bekennen</b>
|
|
|
You have to <b>show your colours</b>. [Br.]
|
Sie müssen <b>Farbe bekennen</b>.
|
|
|
There is no <b>empirical</b> evidence to support his thesis.
|
<b>Empirical</b> evidence or study relies on practical experience rather than theories.
|
|
|
...a <b>pragmatic</b> approach to the problems faced by Latin America.
|
A <b>pragmatic</b> way of dealing with something is based on practical considerations, rather than theoretical ones. A <b>pragmatic</b> person deals with things in a practical way. = realistic, practical
|
|
|
30 per cent of psychiatric hospital beds are occupied by people of no <b>fixed abode</b>.
|
If someone has no <b>fixed abode</b>, they are homeless. (LEGAL)
|
|
|
<b>to stop sb. in midsentence</b>
|
<b>jdn. mitten im Satz unterbrechen</b>
|
|
|
<b>for what it's worth</b> [coll.]
|
<b>wenn Sie mich fragen</b>
|
|
|
Page is well <b>versed</b> in many styles of jazz.
|
If you are <b>versed</b> in or well versed in something, you know a lot about it.
|
|
|
In his first years as chairman he was <b>instrumental</b> in raising the company’s wider profile...
|
Someone or something that is <b>instrumental</b> in a process or event helps to make it happen.
|
|
|
<b>in so doing</b>
|
<b>auf diese Weise</b>
|
|
|
<b>in doing so</b>
|
<b>dabei</b> [währenddessen, während]
|
|
|
in a <b>head-in-the-sand fashion</b> [ostrich-like]
|
in <b>Vogel-Strauß-Manier</b>
|
|
|
You <b>are doing my head in</b>. [sl.]
|
<b>Du nervst</b>. [ugs.]
|
|
|
<b>My read is</b> ...
|
<b>Ich vermute</b>, ...
|
|
|
to be <b>oblivious</b> of sth.
|
etw. gar nicht <b>bemerken</b>
|
|
|
A <b>gorge</b> is a deep, narrow valley with very steep sides, usually where a river passes through mountains or an area of hard rock. = ravine
|
<b>Schlucht</b>
|
|
|
I could spend each day <b>gorging on</b> chocolate...
|
If you <b>gorge on</b> something or gorge yourself on it, you eat lots of it in a very greedy way.
|
|
|
The libel claim followed an article which <b>insinuated</b> that the President was lying...
|
If you say that someone <b>insinuates</b> that something bad is the case, you mean that they say it in an indirect way. = imply
|
|
|
It’s unlikely that you’ll be asked to do anything too <b>taxing</b>.
|
A <b>taxing</b> task or problem is one that requires a lot of mental or physical effort. = demanding
|
|
|
The allegations are serious enough to <b>warrant</b> an investigation...
|
If something <b>warrants</b> a particular action, it makes the action seem necessary or appropriate for the circumstances. = merit
|
|
|
Having the right equipment <b>at hand</b> will be enormously helpful...
|
If something is <b>at hand</b>, near at hand, or close at hand, it is very near in place or time.
|
|
|
The firm has <b>changed hands</b> many times over the years.
|
When something <b>changes hands</b>, its ownership changes, usually because it is sold to someone else.
|
|
|
He gave Stephanie <b>a free hand</b> in the decoration.
|
If someone gives you <b>a free hand</b>, they give you the freedom to use your own judgment and to do exactly as you wish.
|
|
|
Patty began reading everything she could <b>get </b>her<b> hands on</b>.
|
If you <b>get your hands on</b> something or lay your hands on something, you manage to find it or obtain it, usually after some difficulty.
|
|
|
For us, research and teaching go <b>hand in hand</b>...
|
If two things <b>go hand in hand</b>, they are closely connected and cannot be considered separately from each other.
|
|
|
Henry and Richard both <b>ruled with a heavy hand</b>.
|
If you say that someone such as the ruler of a country treats people <b>with a heavy hand</b>, you are criticizing them because they are very strict and severe with them.
|
|
|
Hughes finished with 15 seconds <b>in hand.</b>
|
If you have time or money <b>in hand</b>, you have more time or money than you need.
|
|
|
I can’t think of any <b>off hand</b>.
|
If you do not know something <b>off hand</b>, you do not know it without having to ask someone else or look it up in a book. (SPOKEN)
|
|
|
The Bridal Department will have experts <b>on hand</b> to give you all the help and advice you need...
|
If someone or something is <b>on hand</b>, they are near and able to be used if they are needed. = available
|
|
|
His drinking had got <b>out of hand</b>.
|
If a person or a situation gets <b>out of hand</b>, you are no longer able to control them.
|
|
|
I initially dismissed the idea <b>out of hand</b>.
|
If you dismiss or reject something <b>out of hand</b>, you do so immediately and do not consider believing or accepting it.
|
|
|
He is <b>playing into the hands</b> of racists.
|
If you <b>play into someone’s hands</b>, you do something which they want you to do and which places you in their power. (JOURNALISM)
|
|
|
You may want to keep this brochure safe, so you have it <b>to hand</b> whenever you may need it.
|
If you have something <b>to hand</b> or <b>near to hand</b>, you have it with you or near you, ready to use when needed.
|
|
|
...a person who can <b>turn his hand to</b> anything.
|
If you <b>turn your hand to</b> something such as a practical activity, you learn about it and do it for the first time.
|
|
|
He won the competition <b>hands down</b>
|
If you win <b>hands down</b>, you win very easily.
|
|
|
The ship was <b>bound for</b> Italy.
|
If a vehicle or person is <b>bound for</b> a particular place, they are travelling towards it.
|
|
|
The passion of Argentinian football fans <b>knows no bounds</b>.
|
If you say that a feeling or quality <b>knows no bounds</b>, you are emphasizing that it is very strong or intense.
|
|
|
For the last few days the area has been <b>out of bounds</b> to foreign journalists.
|
If a place is <b>out of bounds</b>, people are not allowed to go there.
|
|
|
After lunch, she watched, listened and <b>coaxed</b> Bobby <b>into</b> talking about himself...
|
If you <b>coax</b> someone <b>into</b> doing something, you gently try to persuade them to do it.
|
|
|
The new law will put official corruption on the same legal <b>footing</b> as treason.
|
If something is put on a particular <b>footing</b>, it is defined, established, or changed in a particular way, often so that it is able to develop or exist successfully. = basis
|
|
|
The movie is teeming with obvious and <b>trite</b> ideas...
|
If you say that something such as an idea, remark, or story is <b>trite</b>, you mean that it is dull and boring because it has been said or told too many times. = cliched
|
|
|
If the patient is poorly nourished, the drugs make them feel <b>nauseous</b>...
|
If you feel <b>nauseous</b>, you feel as if you want to vomit.
|
|
|
The judge described the offences as <b>nauseating</b> and unspeakable...
|
If you describe someone’s attitude or their behaviour as <b>nauseating</b>, you mean that you find it extremely unpleasant and feel disgusted by it. = sickening [noschiaeiting]
|
|
|
For most of the year, the area is <b>teeming with</b> tourists.
|
If you say that a place is <b>teeming with</b> people or animals, you mean that it is crowded and the people and animals are moving around a lot. = swarm
|
|
|
She lay in bed looking particularly <b>frail</b>.
|
Someone who is <b>frail</b> is not very strong or healthy. = weak
|
|
|
They <b>clambered</b> up the stone walls of a steeply terraced olive grove...
|
If you <b>clamber</b> somewhere, you climb there with difficulty, usually using your hands as well as your feet. = scramble
|
|
|
Sanctions are expected to be among the most <b>contentious</b> issues.
|
A <b>contentious</b> issue causes a lot of disagreement or arguments. = controversial [contentsches]
|
|
|
Local feeling does not necessarily <b>concur</b> with the press...
|
If one person <b>concurs</b> with another person, the two people agree. You can also say that two people concur. (FORMAL) = agree
|
|
|
It enabled its members to settle their differences without <b>recourse</b> to war...
|
If you achieve something without <b>recourse</b> to a particular course of action, you succeed without carrying out that action. To have <b>recourse</b> to a particular course of action means to have to do that action in order to achieve something. (FORMAL) (Zuflucht nehmen)
|
|
|
...another indication that the Government is <b>gearing up</b> for an election...
|
If someone is <b>gearing up</b> for a particular activity, they are preparing to do it. If they are geared up to do a particular activity, they are prepared to do it.
|
|
|
Testing patients without their consent would <b>constitute</b> a professional and legal offence...
|
If something <b>constitutes</b> a particular thing, it can be regarded as being that thing.
|
|
|
The club’s <b>constitution</b> prevented women from becoming full members.
|
The <b>constitution</b> of a country or organization is the system of laws which formally states people’s rights and duties.
|
|
|
She was told by her doctor that she was <b>malingering</b>.
|
If someone is <b>malingering</b>, they pretend to be ill in order to avoid working.
|
|
|
He <b>spun</b> his car <b>round</b> and went after them.
|
If something <b>spins </b>or<b> if you spin it</b>, it turns quickly around a central point.
|
|
|
My head was <b>spinning</b> from the wine...
|
If your head is <b>spinning</b>, you feel unsteady or confused, for example because you are drunk, ill, or excited.
|
|
|
He interpreted the vote as support for the constitution and that is the <b>spin</b> his supporters are putting on the results today.
|
If someone puts a certain <b>spin</b> on an event or situation, they interpret it and try to present it in a particular way. (INFORMAL)
|
|
|
The public is sick of <b>spin</b> and tired of promises. It’s time for politicians to act.
|
In politics, <b>spin</b> is the way in which political parties try to present everything they do in a positive way to the public and the media.
|
|
|
I'll take the car <b>for a short spin</b>
|
If you go <b>for a spin</b> or take a car <b>for a spin</b>, you make a short journey in a car just to enjoy yourself.
|
|
|
My wife’s solicitor was anxious to <b>spin </b>things<b> out</b> for as long as possible...
|
If you <b>spin </b>something<b> out</b>, you make it last longer than it normally would. = prolong
|
|
|
He rescued the company and later <b>spun off</b> its textile division into a separate company...
|
To <b>spin off</b> or <b>spin off something</b> such as a company means to create a new company that is separate from the original organization. (BUSINESS)
|
|
|
The owner was so <b>irate</b> he almost threw me out of the place...
|
If someone is <b>irate</b>, they are very angry about something. = furious [airate]
|
|
|
He takes <b>umbrage</b> against anyone who criticises him.
|
If you say that a person takes <b>umbrage</b>, you mean that they are upset or offended by something that someone says or does to them, often without much reason. (FORMAL) = take offence
|
|
|
Spain was <b>cited</b> as the most popular holiday destination.
|
If you <b>cite</b> something, you quote it or mention it, especially as an example or proof of what you are saying. (FORMAL)
|
|
|
Three admirals and a top Navy civilian will be <b>cited</b> for failing to act on reports of sexual assaults.
|
To <b>cite</b> a person means to officially name them in a legal case. To <b>cite</b> a reason or cause means to state it as the official reason for your case.
|
|
|
Herr Schmidt is certainly the most <b>odious</b> man I have ever met...
|
If you describe people or things as <b>odious</b>, you think that they are extremely unpleasant. = obnoxious [oudies]
|
|
|
...an <b>ostentatious</b> wedding reception.
|
If you describe something as <b>ostentatious</b>, you disapprove of it because it is expensive and is intended to impress people. (FORMAL)
|
|
|
Obviously he had plenty of money and was generous in its use without being <b>ostentatious</b>...
|
If you describe someone as <b>ostentatious</b>, you disapprove of them because they want to impress people with their wealth or importance. (FORMAL)
|
|
|
His wife was fairly quiet but she is not an <b>ostentatious</b> person anyway.
|
You can describe an action or behaviour as <b>ostentatious</b> when it is done in an exaggerated way to attract people’s attention.
|
|
|
We can use our eyes and facial expressions to communicate virtually every subtle <b>nuance</b> of emotion there is.
|
A <b>nuance</b> is a small difference in sound, feeling, appearance, or meaning. [njuans]
|
|
|
The Chinese <b>revered</b> corn as a gift from heaven...
|
If you <b>revere</b> someone or something, you respect and admire them greatly. (FORMAL)
|
|
|
...some of the country’s most <b>revered</b> institutions.
|
If you <b>revere</b> someone or something, you respect and admire them greatly. (FORMAL)
|
|
|
The soldiers were deployed to help paramilitary police <b>seal</b> the border...
|
If someone in authority <b>seals</b> an area, they stop people entering or passing through it, for example by placing barriers in the way.
|
|
|
The Court of Appeal has a <b>pivotal</b> role in the English legal system...
|
A <b>pivotal</b> role, point or figure in something is one that is very important and affects the success of that thing. = critical
|
|
|
...handling momentous diplomatic challenges with tact and <b>finesse</b>.
|
If you do something with <b>finesse</b>, you do it with great skill and style.
|
|
|
Our <b>field of vision</b> is surprisingly wide.
|
Your <b>field of vision</b> or your <b>visual field</b> is the area that you can see without turning your head.
|
|
|
I also conducted a <b>field</b> study among the boys about their attitude to relationships...
|
You use <b>field</b> to describe work or study that is done in a real, natural environment rather than in a theoretical way or in controlled conditions.
|
|
|
He was later shown on television, fielding questions.
|
If you say that someone <b>fields a question</b>, you mean that they answer it or deal with it, usually successfully. (JOURNALISM)
|
|
|
In our absence the office gossips are probably having <b>a field day</b>...
|
If someone is having <b>a field day</b>, they are very busy doing something that they enjoy, even though it may be hurtful for other people.
|
|
|
He gave up <b>playing the field</b> and married a year ago.
|
If someone <b>plays the field</b>, they have a number of different romantic or sexual relationships. (INFORMAL)
|
|
|
He <b>braced himself</b> for the icy plunge into the black water...
|
If you <b>brace yourself</b> for something unpleasant or difficult, you prepare yourself for it.
|
|
|
Penelope came forward and <b>embraced</b> her sister...
|
If you <b>embrace</b> someone, you put your arms around them and hold them tightly, usually in order to show your love or affection for them. You can also say that two people embrace. = hug
|
|
|
A <b>nimble mind</b> backed by a degree in economics gave him a firm grasp of financial matters...
|
If you say that someone has a <b>nimble mind</b>, you mean they are clever and can think very quickly.
|
|
|
Everything had been stitched by Molly’s <b>nimble</b> fingers...
|
Someone who is <b>nimble</b> is able to move their fingers, hands, or legs quickly and easily.
|
|
|
Leading companies spend time and money on <b>honing</b> the skills of senior managers...
|
If you <b>hone</b> something, for example a skill, technique, idea, or product, you carefully develop it over a long period of time so that it is exactly right for your purpose.
|
|
|
Store the peppercorns in an airtight container and <b>grind</b> the pepper as you need it.
|
If you <b>grind</b> a substance such as corn, you crush it between two hard surfaces or with a machine until it becomes a fine powder.
|
|
|
If you know you’re <b>grinding your teeth</b>, particularly at night, see your dentist.
|
If you <b>grind your teeth</b>, you rub your upper and lower teeth together as though you are chewing something.
|
|
|
Tanks had crossed the border at five fifteen and were <b>grinding</b> south.
|
If a vehicle <b>grinds</b> somewhere, it moves there very slowly and noisily.
|
|
|
The peace process has <b>ground to a halt</b> while Israel struggles to form a new government.
|
If a country’s economy or something such as a process <b>grinds to a halt</b>, it gradually becomes slower or less active until it stops.
|
|
|
It has the trappings of an election campaign in the United States, with slick television ads <b>touting</b> the candidates.
|
If someone <b>touts</b> something, they try to sell it or convince people that it is good.
|
|
|
Her office was <b>inundated</b> with requests for tickets...
|
If you say that you are <b>inundated</b> with things such as letters, demands, or requests, you are emphasizing that you receive so many of them that you cannot deal with them all. = swamp
|
|
|
We <b>devised</b> a scheme to help him...
|
If you <b>devise</b> a plan, system, or machine, you have the idea for it and design it.
|
|
|
Talent, hard work and sheer <b>tenacity</b> are all crucial to career success.
|
If you have <b>tenacity</b>, you are very determined and do not give up easily.
|
|
|
They drove around in Rolls-Royces, openly <b>flaunting</b> their wealth...
|
If you say that someone <b>flaunts</b> their possessions, abilities, or qualities, you mean that they display them in a very obvious way, especially in order to try to obtain other people’s admiration. = show off
|
|
|
...tourists <b>flaunting themselves</b> in front of the castle guards in bra and shorts.
|
If you say that someone <b>is flaunting themselves</b>, you disapprove of them because they are behaving in a very confident way, or in a way that is intended to attract sexual attention.
|
|
|
Were you just trying to <b>trap</b> her into making some admission?...
|
If you <b>trap</b> someone into doing or saying something, you trick them so that they do or say it, although they did not want to.
|
|
|
...the kind of lifestyle of the privileged <b>upper crust</b>.
|
The <b>upper crust</b> are the upper classes. (INFORMAL)
|
|
|
Seventeen prisoners held on death row are to be executed after their pleas for <b>clemency</b> were turned down.
|
If someone is granted <b>clemency</b>, they are punished less severely than they could be. (FORMAL)
|
|
|
He does not intend to <b>relinquish</b> power.
|
If you <b>relinquish</b> something such as power or control, you give it up. (FORMAL)
|
|
|
He was asleep before I <b>tucked </b>him<b> in</b>
|
If you <b>tuck </b>someone<b> in</b>, usually a child, you make them comfortable in bed by straightening their sheets and blankets.
|
|
|
You're <b>blocking</b> the TV
|
to <b>block</b> the TV = to obscure it from view
|
|
|
Four users complained of difficulty using the menus, and one was so <b>stymied</b> that I had to help him
|
If you are <b>stymied</b> by something, you find it very difficult to take action or to continue what you are doing. (INFORMAL) /staimid/
|
|
|
He said he'd be there, <b>come hell or high water</b>
|
If you say that something will happen <b>come hell or high water</b>, you mean that it will certainly happen, in spite of any difficulties that there might be.
|
|
|
Aside from that unfortunate business, everything is <b>hunky-dory</b>.<b>
|
hunky-dory</b> = fine (informal)
|
|
|
And then we're gonna <b>kick back</b>.
|
<b>kick back</b> = relax (slang)
|
|
|
She is an <b>anchor</b> for CNN International's World News.
|
the <b>main broadcaster</b> on a program of news, sports, etc., who often coordinates the reports of the program's other broadcasters
|
|
|
Those not attending the meeting may vote <b>by proxy</b>.
|
If you do something <b>by proxy</b>, you arrange for someone else to do it for you. ['prok si:]
|
|
|
Over time she <b>internalized</b> her parents' attitudes.
|
If you <b>internalize</b> a belief or a set of values, it becomes part of your attitude or way of thinking.
|
|
|
I admire the way she can just <b>shrug off</b> all her problems.
|
If you <b>shrug</b> something <b>off</b>, you ignore it or treat it as if it is not really important or serious.
|
|
|
My boss <b>delegated</b> me to approach the local press.
|
If you <b>delegate</b> someone to do something, you give them the duty of acting on your behalf by making decisions, voting, or doing some particular work.
|
|
|
There was a <b>shift </b>in the wind.
|
A <b>shift</b> is a slight change from one direction to another.
|
|
|
The mayor has the local police <b>in his pocket</b>.
|
If you <b>have someone in your pocket</b>, they are willing to do whatever you tell them (possibly because you have bribed them).
|
|
|
Unsold novels are sent to be <b>pulped</b>.
|
to make wood or old books and newspapers into paper
|
|
|
His body was <b>pulped</b> by the impact of the train.
|
To beat or hit someone’s face or body very badly
|
|
|
a field of <b>wheat</b>
|
<b>the grain that bread is made from</b>, or the plant that it grows on
|
|
|
<b>separate the wheat from the chaff</b>
|
<b>choose the good and useful things or people and get rid of the others
|
|
|
barley</b>
|
<b>Gerste</b>
|
|
|
She <b>glossed over</b> the details of her divorce.
|
If you <b>gloss over</b> a problem, a mistake, or an embarrassing moment, you try and make it seem unimportant by ignoring it or by dealing with it very quickly.
|
|
|
The refugees slept in <b>makeshift</b> tents at the side of the road.
|
<b>made to be used for a short time only </b>when nothing better is available
|
|
|
The <b>carcasses</b> of the infected animals were burned.
|
<b>the dead body of an animal</b>
|
|
|
<b>cartilage</b>
|
a strong substance that can bend, which is around the joints in your body and in your outer ear [kartilitsch]
|
|
|
She was afraid that if she spoke up her colleagues would <b>ostracize</b> her.
|
if a group of people <b>ostracize</b> someone, they refuse to accept them as a member of the group (aechten)
|
|
|
a bench made of <b>timber
|
</b>wood used for building or making things
|
|
|
</b>wood used for building or making things
|
a bench made of <b>timber
|
|
|
You have to <b>abide</b> by the referee’s decision
|
<b>to accept and obey a decision</b>, rule, agreement etc, even though you may not agree with it
|
|
|
Rick didn’t want to discuss his past, though he <b>alluded</b> darkly to ‘some bad things that happened.’
|
<b>to mention something or someone indirectly</b>
|
|
|
He bought a <b>barrel</b> of beer for the party.
|
a large <b>container</b> containing beer
|
|
|
He looked displeased but she <b>ploughed on</b> regardless.
|
<b>to continue doing something that is difficult or boring
|
|
|
</b>Most staff will never want to <b>plough through</b> the manuals that come with the software.
|
to read all of something, even though it is boring and takes a long time
|
|
|
He told us that the tour was <b>pencilled in</b> for the following March.
|
If an event or appointment <b>is pencilled in</b>, it has been agreed that it should take place, but it will have to be confirmed later.
|
|
|
When I eventually stopped and lifted the <b>bonnet</b>, the noise seemed to be coming from the alternator.
|
The <b>bonnet</b> of a car is the metal cover over the engine at the front. (BRIT; in AM, use hood)
|
|
|
...<b>titbits</b> of gossip gleaned from the corridors of power...
|
You can refer to a small piece of information about someone’s private affairs as a <b>titbit</b>, especially when it is interesting and shocking.
|
|
|
Witnesses are unwilling to testify through fear of <b>reprisals</b>.
|
If you do something to a person <b>in reprisal</b>, you hurt or punish them because they have done something violent or unpleasant to you. <b>=</b> retaliation
|
|
|
I cleaned the flat, which left me feeling <b>virtuous</b>.
|
If you describe someone as <b>virtuous</b>, you mean that they have done what they ought to do and feel very pleased with themselves, perhaps too pleased.
|
|
|
The train eventually <b>trundled</b> in at 7.54pm
|
If a vehicle <b>trundles</b> somewhere, it moves there slowly, often with difficulty or an irregular movement.
|
|
|
The old man lifted the barrow and <b>trundled it away</b>...
|
If you <b>trundle something somewhere</b>, especially a small, heavy object with wheels, you move or roll it along slowly.
|
|
|
After inmates submit and act <b>contrite</b>, they are often again treated kindly.
|
If you are <b>contrite</b>, you are very sorry because you have done something wrong. (FORMAL) <b>=</b> apologetic
|
|
|
Historians <b>annotate</b>, check and interpret the diary selections.
|
If you <b>annotate</b> written work or a diagram, you add notes to it, especially in order to explain it.
|
|
|
...his strategy for stopping the <b>carnage</b> in Kosovo.
|
<b>Carnage</b> is the violent killing of large numbers of people, especially in a war. (LITERARY) <b>=</b> slaughter
|
|
|
<b>Radio drama/dramatisation</b>
|
<b>Hoerspiel</b>
|
|
|
She was a very calm person. Nothing could <b>fluster</b> her.
|
If you <b>fluster</b> someone, you make them feel nervous and confused by rushing them and preventing them from concentrating on what they are doing.
|
|
|
We all start with <b>preconceived</b> notions of what we want from life.
|
If you have <b>preconceived</b> ideas about something, you have already formed an opinion about it before you have enough information or experience.
|
|
|
Spoon the mixture carefully into the <b>mould</b>... (in AM, use 'mold')
|
A <b>mould</b> is a hollow container that you pour liquid into. When the liquid becomes solid, it takes the same shape as the mould.
|
|
|
He was from the same <b>mould</b> as the men she had gazed at worshipfully when a child: rich, handsome, of impeccable social standing.
|
If a person fits into or is <b>cast in a mould</b> of a particular kind, they have the characteristics, attitudes, behaviour, or lifestyle that are typical of that type of person.
|
|
|
Memorial services have become tedious and expected. I would like to help <b>break the mould</b>...
|
If you say that someone <b>breaks the mould</b>, you mean that they do completely different things from what has been done before or from what is usually done.
|
|
|
Such lists are long and <b>tedious</b> to read.
|
If you describe something such as a job, task, or situation as <b>tedious</b>, you mean it is boring and rather frustrating. <b>=</b> boring
|
|
|
I didn’t want to be <b>typecast</b> and I think I’ve maintained a large variety in the roles I’ve played...
|
If an actor is <b>typecast</b>, they play the same type of character in every play or film that they are in.
|
|
|
Normal life is at a standstill, and the economy is <b>faltering</b>...
|
If something <b>falters</b>, it loses power or strength in an uneven way, or no longer makes much progress.
|
|
|
I have not <b>faltered</b> in my quest for a new future...
|
If you <b>falter</b>, you lose your confidence and stop doing something or start making mistakes.
|
|
|
When someone who is driving or walking along a road has <b>right of way</b> or <b>the right of way</b>, they have the right to continue along a particular road or path, and other people must stop for them.
|
<b>Vortritt</b>
|
|
|
He may <b>yield</b> control...
|
If you <b>yield</b> something that you have control of or responsibility for, you allow someone else to have control or responsibility for it. (FORMAL) <b>=</b> surrender
|
|
|
Many families must <b>skimp on</b> their food and other necessities just to meet the monthly rent.
|
If you <b>skimp on</b> something, you use less time, money, or material for it than you really need, so that the result is not good enough. <b>=</b> scrimp
|
|
|
<b>Scrimping</b> on safety measures can be a false economy...
|
If you <b>scrimp on</b> things, you live cheaply and spend as little money as possible. <b>=</b> skimp
|
|
|
I was <b>elated</b> that my second heart bypass had been successful...
|
If you are <b>elated</b>, you are extremely happy and excited because of something that has happened. <b>=</b> euphoric
|
|
|
The president said he had no intention of <b>deploying</b> ground troops.
|
To <b>deploy</b> troops or military resources means to organize or position them so that they are ready to be used.
|
|
|
...substances that <b>deplete</b> the ozone layer...
|
To <b>deplete</b> a stock or amount of something means to reduce it. (FORMAL)
|
|
|
Ferries <b>churn</b> the waters of Howe Sound from Langdale to Horseshoe Bay.
|
If something <b>churns</b> water, mud, or dust, it moves it about violently.
|
|
|
My stomach <b>churned</b> as I stood up...
|
If you say that your stomach <b>is churning</b>, you mean that you feel sick. You can also say that something <b>churns</b> your stomach. <b>=</b> heave
|
|
|
It took five strong men to <b>heave</b> the statue up a ramp and lower it into place...
|
If you <b>heave</b> something heavy or difficult to move somewhere, you push, pull, or lift it using a lot of effort.
|
|
|
A crane had to be used to <b>haul</b> the car out of the stream...
|
If you <b>haul</b> something which is heavy or difficult to move, you move it using a lot of effort.
|
|
|
He was <b>hauled before</b> the managing director and fired.
|
If someone <b>is hauled before</b> a court or someone in authority, they are made to appear before them because they are accused of having done something wrong.
|
|
|
Revitalising the Romanian economy will be a <b>long haul</b>.
|
If you say that a task or a journey is a <b>long haul</b>, you mean that it takes a long time and a lot of effort.
|
|
|
I shouldn’t <b>grumble</b> about Mum–she’s lovely really...
|
If someone <b>grumbles</b>, they complain about something in a bad-tempered way. <b>=</b> moan, whinge
|
|
|
It was quiet now, the thunder had <b>grumbled</b> away to the west...
|
If something <b>grumbles</b>, it makes a low continuous sound. (LITERARY)
|
|
|
Through doing this, the teacher will be able to <b>ascertain</b> the extent to which the child understands what he is reading...
|
If you <b>ascertain</b> the truth about something, you find out what it is, especially by making a deliberate effort to do so. (FORMAL) <b>=</b> establish
|
|
|
Tourists were <b>scrambling over</b> the rocks looking for the perfect camera angle...
|
If you <b>scramble over</b> rocks or up a hill, you move quickly over them or up it using your hands to help you. <b>=</b> clamber
|
|
|
This proposal will <b>incense</b> conservation campaigners.
|
If you say that something <b>incenses</b> you, you mean that it makes you extremely angry.
|
|
|
Many factories are so <b>antiquated</b> they are not worth saving...
|
If you describe something as <b>antiquated</b>, you are criticizing it because it is very old or old-fashioned.
|
|
|
Later she <b>scolded</b> her daughter for having talked to her father like that...
|
If you <b>scold</b> someone, you speak angrily to them because they have done something wrong. (FORMAL)
|
|
|
I haven’t been completely <b>candid</b> with him.
|
When you are <b>candid</b> about something or with someone, you speak honestly. = frank
|
|
|
Police <b>segregated</b> the two rival camps of protesters...
|
To <b>segregate</b> two groups of people or things means to keep them physically apart from each other.
|
|
|
She seems almost <b>impervious to</b> the criticism from all sides...
|
If you are <b>impervious to</b> someone’s actions, you are not affected or influenced by them.
|
|
|
More than six million youngsters <b>tune in</b> to Blockbusters every day...
|
If you <b>tune in</b> to a particular television or radio station or programme, you watch or listen to it.
|
|
|
I could hear the sound of a band <b>tuning up</b>.
|
When a group of musicians <b>tune up</b>, they adjust their instruments so that they produce the right notes.
|
|
|
Who would then <b>be calling the tune</b> in Parliament?
|
If you say that a person or organization <b>is calling the tune</b>, you mean that they are in a position of power or control in a particular situation.
|
|
|
You’ve <b>changed your tune</b> since this morning, haven’t you?...
|
If you say that someone <b>has changed</b> their <b>tune</b>, you are criticizing them because they have changed their opinion or way of doing things.
|
|
|
The danger of commercialism is that the churches end up <b>dancing to the tune of</b> their big business sponsors.
|
If you say that someone is <b>dancing to</b> someone else’s <b>tune</b>, you mean that they are allowing themselves to be controlled by the other person.
|
|
|
They’ve been sponsoring the World Cup <b>to the tune of</b> a million and a half pounds.
|
<b>To the tune of</b> a particular amount of money means to the extent of that amount.
|
|
|
<b>he who pays the piper calls the tune
|
Wer zahlt, befiehlt
|
|
|
</b>More and more victims turn to litigation to <b>redress</b> wrongs done to them.
|
If you <b>redress something</b> such as a wrong or a complaint, you do something to correct it or to improve things for the person who has been badly treated. (FORMAL)
|
|
|
They are continuing their legal battle to seek some <b>redress</b> from the government.
|
<b>Redress</b> is money that someone pays you because they have caused you harm or loss. (FORMAL) <b>=</b> compensation
|
|
|
So we’re trying to <b>redress the balance</b> and to give teachers a sense that both spoken and written language are equally important.
|
If you <b>redress the balance or the imbalance</b> between two things that have become unfair or unequal, you make them fair and equal again. (FORMAL)
|
|
|
The settlement ends more than four years of <b>litigation</b> on behalf of the residents.
|
<b>Litigation</b> is the process of fighting or defending a case in a civil court of law. (Rechtsstreit)
|
|
|
<b>Tar</b> is a thick black sticky substance that is used especially for making roads.
|
<b>Asphalt</b>
|
|
|
I am a football supporter and I have to often explain that I’m not one of the hooligan sort because we’ll all get <b>tarred with the same brush</b> when there’s trouble.
|
If some people in a group behave badly and if people then wrongly think that all of the group is equally bad, you can say that the whole group <b>is tarred with the same brush</b>.
|
|
|
Mr Lopez approached his task with a religious <b>zeal</b>.
|
<b>Zeal</b> is great enthusiasm, especially in connection with work, religion, or politics.
|
|
|
She was very <b>sympathetic</b> to the problems of adult students...
|
If you are <b>sympathetic</b> to someone who is in a bad situation, you are kind to them and show that you understand their feelings.
|
|
|
She met people in London who were <b>sympathetic to</b> the Indian freedom struggle...
|
If you are <b>sympathetic to</b> a proposal or action, you approve of it and are willing to support it.
|
|
|
She sounds a most <b>sympathetic</b> character.
|
You describe someone as <b>sympathetic</b> when you like them and approve of the way that they behave.
|
|
|
Don’t <b>elevate</b> your superiors <b>to</b> superstar status.
|
If you <b>elevate</b> something <b>to</b> a higher status, you consider it to be better or more important than it really is.
|
|
|
The publicity could <b>detract from</b> our election campaign.
|
If one thing <b>detracts from</b> another, it makes it seem less good or impressive.
|
|
|
Mr Smith hurriedly sought to <b>retract</b> the statement, but it had just been broadcast on national radio...
|
If you <b>retract</b> something that you have said or written, you say that you did not mean it. (FORMAL)
|
|
|
She couldn’t <b>pin</b> him <b>down</b> to a date...
|
If you <b>pin</b> someone <b>down</b>, you force them to make a decision or to tell you what their decision is, when they have been trying to avoid doing this.
|
|
|
It has taken until now to <b>pin down</b> its exact location...
|
If you try to <b>pin</b> something <b>down</b>, you try to discover exactly what, where, or when it is.
|
|
|
We <b>jolted</b> along rough wet roads through an endless banana plantation.
|
to move suddenly and roughly, or to make someone or something move in this way
|
|
|
The phone <b>jolted</b> him awake.
|
to give someone a sudden shock or surprise
|
|
|
Osborne’s play <b>brought a breath of fresh air</b> to the British theatre.
|
something that is new and different in a way you think is exciting and good
|
|
|
The system’s due for an update, but <b>don’t hold your breath</b>.
|
used to say that something is not going to happen soon
|
|
|
<b>Save your breath</b>. She’s already made up her mind.
|
used to say that someone will not be able to persuade someone else, so there is no point in trying
|
|
|
‘Son of a bitch,’ he muttered <b>under his breath</b>.
|
under your breath in a quiet voice so that no one can hear you
|
|
|
Shares had a <b>bumpy ride</b> yesterday, falling by an average of 15%.
|
if something has a bumpy ride, it experiences a lot of problems
|
|
|
I’d just begun to realise he was <b>taking me for a ride</b>.
|
to trick someone, especially in order to get money from them
|
|
|
A couple of friends had <b>come along for the ride</b>.
|
to join what other people are doing just for pleasure, not because you are seriously interested in it
|
|
|
Don’t <b>advertise the fact</b> that you’re looking for another job.
|
to let people know something about yourself
|
|
|
These children need <b>a firm hand</b>.
|
a firm hand a strict way of dealing with someone
|
|
|
Taking money out of the hospital’s budget for this is simply <b>robbing Peter to pay Paul</b>.
|
to take money away from someone or something that needs it in order to pay someone else or use it for something else
|
|
|
The minute your back’s turned, they’ll <b>rob you blind</b>.
|
to steal everything someone has
|
|
|
His garden is his <b>pride and joy</b>.
|
a person or thing that someone is very proud of
|
|
|
rich people living in <b>humongous</b> houses
|
very big = enourmous
|
|
|
He was <b>huffing and puffing</b> by the time he got to the top.
|
to breathe out in a noisy way, especially when you do something that involves a lot of physical effort
|
|
|
After a lot of <b>huffing and puffing</b>, he eventually gave in to our request.
|
to show clearly that you strongly disagree with or are annoyed about something
|
|
|
Everything was very <b>hush-hush</b>
|
very secret
|
|
|
That meat smells a bit <b>iffy</b> to me.
|
not very good (Brit.)
|
|
|
The July date is still rather <b>iffy</b>.
|
not certain to happen = doubtful
|
|
|
<b>Eingeweide</b>
|
the parts inside your body (or machine), especially your stomach = guts
|
|
|
I’m dying for a <b>cuppa</b>!
|
a cup of tea
|
|
|
<b>antsy</b>
|
nervous and unable to keep still because you are waiting for something to happen
|
|
|
No amount of <b>arm-twisting</b> will get me to reveal who told me.
|
an attempt to persuade someone to do something that they do not want to do
|
|
|
The project has been <b>backburnered</b>.
|
to delay doing something, because it does not need your attention immediately or because it is not as important as other things that you need to do immediately
|
|
|
a very <b>ballsy</b> lady
|
brave and determined, and not afraid of other people’s disapproval
|
|
|
That’s a <b>barmy</b> idea.
|
slightly crazy
|
|
|
Since the <b>bean counters</b> took over the radio station, it’s become a boring place to work.
|
someone whose job is to examine the cost of doing something, and who is concerned only with making a profit – used to show disapproval
|
|
|
The whole team <b>went on a bender</b> and were arrested.
|
a time when people drink a lot of alcohol or take a lot of drugs
|
|
|
I was left sitting on my own, looking like <b>Billy no-mates</b>.
|
someone who has no friends
|
|
|
<b>blagger</b>
|
someone who gets something they want by lying to people in a clever way
|
|
|
He was always a bit of a <b>boffin</b>, even at school.
|
someone who is very clever
|
|
|
<b>booby prize</b>
|
a prize given as a joke to the person who is last in a competition
|
|
|
We’ve got two <b>cracking</b> games to look forward to.
|
very good, exciting etc = great
|
|
|
We’re at our hotel, and everything is fine and <b>dandy</b>.
|
very good – often used in a slightly humorous way (American English)
|
|
|
The weather was a bit of a <b>downer</b>.
|
a person or situation that stops you feeling happy
|
|
|
What’s up with Ruth? She’s been on a <b>downer</b> all week.
|
to be sad or experiencing a series of sad events (Brit.)
|
|
|
Browne claims that the company was simply looking for a <b>fall guy</b>. (American English)
|
someone who is punished for someone else’s crime or mistake = scapegoat
|
|
|
The boys get <b>fidgety</b> if they can’t play outside.
|
unable to stay still, especially because of being bored or nervous
|
|
|
simple advice to help you fight the <b>flab</b> (=lose weight)
|
soft loose flesh on a person’s body – used to show disapproval
|
|
|
The meeting left me feeling completely <b>frazzled</b>.
|
feeling tired and anxious, for example after a journey or because you are very busy
|
|
|
Lindy <b>poked</b> him in the ribs.
|
If you <b>poke</b> someone or something, you quickly push them with your finger or with a sharp object. <b>=</b> jab
|
|
|
He <b><b>poked</b></b> his finger into the hole.
|
If you <b>poke</b> one thing <b>into</b> another, you push the first thing into the second thing.
|
|
|
She <b><b>poked</b> fun at</b> people’s shortcomings.
|
If you <b>make fun of</b> someone or something or <b>poke fun at</b> them, you laugh at them, tease them, or make jokes about them in a way that causes them to seem ridiculous.
|
|
|
My father’s achievements really don’t <b>have any bearing on</b> what I do.
|
If something <b>has a bearing on</b> a situation or event, it is relevant to it. <b>=</b> influence
|
|
|
A sightseeing tour of the city is included to help you <b>get your bearings</b>...
|
If you <b>get your bearings</b> or <b>find</b> your <b>bearings</b>, you find out where you are or what you should do next. If you <b>lose</b> your <b>bearings</b>, you do not know where you are or what you should do next.
|
|
|
Many wildlife parks are regularly invaded by people <b>poaching</b> game.
|
If someone <b>poaches</b> fish, animals, or birds, they illegally catch them on someone else’s property.
|
|
|
The company authorised its staff to <b>poach</b> customers <b>from</b> the opposition.
|
If an organization <b>poaches</b> members or customers <b>from</b> another organization, they secretly or dishonestly persuade them to join them or become their customers. <b>=</b> steal
|
|
|
<b>Poach</b> the eggs for 4 minutes...
|
When you <b>poach</b> an egg, you cook it gently in boiling water without its shell.
|
|
|
Most people here cannot borrow from banks because they lack <b>collateral</b>.
|
<b>Collateral</b> is money or property which is used as a guarantee that someone will repay a loan. (FORMAL) <b>=</b> security
|
|
|
I <b>had a hunch</b> that Susan and I would work well together...
|
If you <b>have a hunch</b> about something, you are sure that it is correct or true, even though you do not have any proof. (INFORMAL)
|
|
|
Wes <b>hunched</b> his shoulders and leaned forward on the edge of the counter.
|
If you <b>hunch</b> your shoulders, you raise them and lean forwards slightly.
|
|
|
A week of <b>galavanting</b> about with the American crew was enough to harm my Japanese severely
|
To roam about in search of pleasure or amusement
|
|
|
An <b>aptitude for</b> computing is beneficial for students taking this degree.
|
Someone’s <b>aptitude for</b> a particular kind of work or activity is their ability to learn it quickly and to do it well.
|
