Wordskill 30

Front 1

keep a record (of sth)

Back 1

have a written note of sth that you can use in the future.

Front 2

give sth a try

Back 2

test sth or make an attempt to do sth.

Hint 2

I gave it a try for a year, but came to the conclusion that it wasn't the right job for me, so I handed in my notice

Front 3

come to the/a conclusion

Back 3

make a decision after thinking about all of the important information.

SYN reach the/ conclusion.

Hint 3

I gave it a try for a year, but came tot he conclusion that it wasn't the right job for me, so I handed in my notice

Front 4

hand in your notice

Back 4

tell your employer that you are leaving your job soon.

Hint 4

I gave it a try for a year, but came tot he conclusion that it wasn't the right job for me, so I handed in my notice

Front 5

hold talks (of governments or other organizations)

Back 5

have formal discussions

Front 6

break the deadlock

Back 6

end a situation in which people have been unable to reach an agreement.

Hint 6

'The two sides have been holding talks for weeks, but they're still no nearer to breaking the deadlock:

Front 7

take action

Back 7

begin to do sth to solve a problem.

Hint 7

The manager needs to take action and set an example for the rest of t he staff.

Front 8

set an example

Back 8

do sth that is considered a good model for others to follow and copy.

Hint 8

The manager needs to take action and set an example for the rest of the staff.

Front 9

highlight a problem

Back 9

describe a problem in a way that makes people notice it.

Hint 9

I t ried to highlight the problem but the company didn't take any notice:

Front 10

take notice (of sb/sth)

Back 10

OFTEN NEGATIVE pay attention to sb/sth.

Hint 10

I t ried to highlight the problem but the company didn't take any notice:

Front 11

roar with laughter

Back 11

Laugh loudly laugh loudly

Front 12

devise a scheme

Back 12

invent a new way of doing sth. (Also devise a plan /method, etc.)

Front 13

bring an end to sth

Back 13

stop st h or make sth stop.

Front 14

settle an argument

Back 14

end a disagreement.

Front 15

make a difference

Back 15

have an important effect on sth, especially a good effect.

Hint 15

Even if they settle their argument, I'm not sure it will make a big difference:

Front 16

2. catch a bus

Back 16

get on a bus that is travelling somewhere. (If you miss a bus, you are ....; too late to get on it: catch/ miss a train/ plane.)

Front 17

obey the law

Back 17

do what a law says that you must do. OPP break the law = do sth illegal.

Front 18

keep a promise

Back 18

do sth that you agreed to do. (If you break a promise, you fail to do it.)

Front 19

keep an appointment

Back 19

go to a meeting that you have arranged. ( If you miss an appointment, you don't go as arranged.)

Front 20

gain control (of sth)

Back 20

achieve the power to influence a situation. SYN take control (of sth). OPP lose control (of sth)

Front 21

accept an offer

Back 21

say 'yes' to an offer. OPP reject an offer.

Front 22

support an idea

Back 22

agree with an idea and want it to succeed. OPP oppose an idea.

Front 23

show your feelings

Back 23

let people see and know how you think or feel about sth. OPP hide your feelings.

Front 24

adopt a policy

Back 24

decide to start following a policy. OPP abandon a policy.

Front 25

confirm a rumour

Back 25

say that a piece of information that is being passed around about sb/sth is in fact true. (If you deny a rumour, you say that the information is not true.)

Front 26

impose sanctions

Back 26

start an official order to stop communication, trade, etc. with a country that has broken international law. OPP Lift sanctions.

Front 27

admit a crime

Back 27

If you admit a crime or something you have done wrong. you say you have done something illegal or wrong: He admitted stealing the car. They admitted the charge of assault. OPP deny a crime: He denies murder. She denied taking the bag.

Front 28

3. great difficulty

Back 28

a lot of problems.

Front 29

pure luck

Back 29

luck alone, without the need for effort or ability. SYN sheer luck.

Front 30

a warm welcome

Back 30

a very friendly way of greeting sb.

Front 31

a brief visit

Back 31

a short stay at a place.

Front 32

clear evidence

Back 32

facts or physical signs that are obvious or impossible to doubt.

Front 33

sweeping changes

Back 33

changes that have a big effect. SYNS major/ radical changes

Front 34

a perfect example

Back 34

a perfect example a very good example.

Front 35

an adverse effect

Back 35

a negative or unpleasant effect. SYN a damaging effect

Front 36

a vivid memory

Back 36

a very clear memory.

Front 37

a real character

Back 37

INF sb with special qualities that makes them different and interesting.

Hint 37

I have a vivid memory of staying at my uncle's house as a child.He was a real character,though my mum always complained that his place was a complete mess.

Front 38

a complete mess

Back 38

a situation in which a place is very untidy or dirty.

Front 39

torrential rain

Back 39

rain that falls fast in large amounts.

Front 40

widespread damage

Back 40

damage that exists in many places. SYN extensive damage

Front 41

great care

Back 41

a lot of effort and atten t ion

Front 42

severe weather

Back 42

extremely wet, cold or wild weather. (Also severe pain = very unpleasant pain.)

Front 43

(the) main concern

Back 43

the thing causing most worry.

Front 44

(the) number one priority

Back 44

the most important thing that must be done.

Front 45

4. under pressure

Back 45

if sb is under pressure, there has been an attempt to persuade or force them to do sth.

Hint 45

Minister under pressure to quit

Front 46

at random

Back 46

without a particular method,pattern or purpose.

Hint 46

SOLDIERS ACCUSED OF FIRING AT RANDOM

Front 47

in retrospect

Back 47

thinking now about the past, using knowledge or information thatyou did not have at the time. SYN with hindsight.

Hint 47

PM admits in retrospect I was wrong

In retrospect, I wonder if we should have done more.

Front 48

in agony

Back 48

experiencing great pain. (Also in danger/in decline/in trouble.)

Hint 48

Doctors left patient in agony

It was agony not knowing if she would live.

Front 49

under investigation

Back 49

in the process of being examined officially to find out the facts of a situation. (Also under ctiscussion/under attack.)

Front 50

out of control

Back 50

if sth is out of control, you are unable to limit it or make it do what you want. OPP under control

Front 51

go on strike

Back 51

refuse to work as a protest about pay or conctitions of work.

Front 52

at short notice

Back 52

without very much warning. SYN at a moment's notice.

Front 53

by choice

Back 53

because you have chosen sth.

Front 54

in public

Back 54

when other people, especially people you do not know, are present. OPP in private.

Front 55

behind closed doors

Back 55

in private; without the public being allowed i n.

Front 56

5. quite sure

Back 56

completely sure. (Also quite right/impossible;1 quite understand.)

Hint 56

Are you quite sure you understand what you have to do?

Front 57

perfectly natural

Back 57

completely natural; often used to emphasize a particular quality. (Also perfectly reasonable.)

Hint 57

It's perfectly natural for pa rents to worry about their children.

When did they arrive? - I'm not entirely sure

Front 58

entirely different

Back 58

completely different.

Hint 58

The meaning is entirely different

Front 59

desperately unhappy

Back 59

extremely unhappy. (Also desperately sad/lonely.)

Hint 59

They're both desperately unhappy at the moment.

Front 60

desperately wants

Back 60

very much wants.

Hint 60

He desperately wants to win.

Front 61

clearly illustrates

Back 61

shows in a way that people can easily see, hear or understand. (Also sb/sth clearly states that ... .)

Hint 61

The example clearly illustrates the point.

Front 62

completely understood

Back 62

completely understood or recognized. ( Also I fully realize/understand.)

Hint 62

His talents are not fully appreciated

Front 63

Vitally important

Back 63

extremely important.

Hint 63

This information will be Vitally important

Front 64

utterly ridiculous.

Back 64

extremely silly or stupid. (Also utterly stupid.)

Hint 64

His comments were utterly ridiculous.

Front 65

bitterly disappointed

Back 65

extremely disappointed, especially showing feelings of sadness or anger. (Also bitterly upset/ashamed.)

Hint 65

The students were bitterly disappointed with his result

Front 66

highly unlikely

Back 66

very unlikely. (Also highly dangerous.)

Hint 66

My brother's highly unlikely to come.

Front 67

highly educated.

Back 67

very well educated. (Also highly paid.)

Hint 67

Most of the children are highly educated.

Front 68

directly opposite.

Back 68

exactly opposite. (Also directly above/below.)

Hint 68

The bank is directly opposite.

Front 69

directly responsible

Back 69

having full and complete responsibility.

Hint 69

Who's directly responsible for this?

Front 70

virtually empty.

Back 70

almost empty. (Also virtually full/impossible.)

Hint 70

The town was virtually empty.

Front 71

wildly optimistic.

Back 71

extremely optimistic. (Also wildly inaccurate.)

Hint 71

The manager's figures a re wildly optimistic.

Front 72

a fair chance

Back 72

a good or reasonable possibility that sth will happen.

Front 73

within reason

Back 73

accorcting to what is practical, possible or sensible.

Front 74

relatively easy

Back 74

quite easy. (Also relativel y difficult.)

Hint 74

I thought the exam was relatively easy.

Front 75

fatally injured.

Back 75

injured so badly that you die. (Also fatally wounded.)

Hint 75

Both men were fatally injured.