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The context - To move fast on foot

1. To move on one’s legs at a speed faster than walking .

Ex: I had to run to catch the bus. My children came running when I called them. The insect
ran up my leg. That litle boy ran off to get his brother. He’s got a gun! “Run for it” / “Run
for your lives”! (= to save yourselves).
2. (a) To move a distance by running;

Ex: How many miles did you run? I ran a mile in four minutes.

2. (b) To do or complete ( as if ) by running;

Ex: My son o�en runs errands for me .(= Goes on a short journey to get something ). (fig.)
The illness/ rio�ng“ran its course” .(=Started
,developed, and ended in the expected way ).
3. (a) To take part in (a race) by running;

Ex: He ran a fine race but only finished second.

3. (b) To cause ( an animal ) take part in a

race;

Ex: I won’t run this horse in any more races this

season.
3. (c) To cause ( a race ) to happen;

Ex: I’ll be run at three O’clock .

The context - To move or travel in some other way

1. To cause to move quickly or freely .

Ex: My car ran downhill out of control / ran off the road / ran into a tree ;

An alarming thought kept running through my mind ; A shudder ran through his body as he
died ; He ran his finger through his hair in confusion ; Please, run the videotape back to the
point where the ball bounces. “Can you run your eyes over this list”.(= Examine it quickly ).

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2. (a) To travel as arranged ( Of a public vehicle ) ;

Ex: The trains don’t run on Sundays / aren’t running today. My school bus runs between
Benfica and the City / runs from here to the sta�on .
2. (b) To cause ( a public vehicle ) to travel;

Ex: I am running a special train to school .

3. Infml to go or take in a vehicle ;

Ex: Can I run you home ?

#Context - To flow or make something flow

1. ( Of liquid, sand , etc.. ) To flow freely ;

Ex: The tears sudden ran down my face ; The salt won’t run out if it’s too damp ; The
terrible scream “made my blood run cold”. (= Frightened me ) ;
2. To cause ( Of liquid, sand , etc.. ) to flow, esp. from a Tap ;

Ex: Run the water un�l it gets hot ; Please, run me a nice hot bath.(= Fill the bath with
water for me );
3. ( esp. of a container ) to pour out liquid ;

Ex: Have you le� the tap/bath running ? The baby’s nose is running ;

4. To melt and spread by the action of heat or water ;

Ex: the buter will run If you put it near the fire ; I’m afraid the colours ran when washed
this shirt.

#Context - To operate or being in charge of –

1. (To cause) to work or be in operation;

Ex: Son, don’t touch de machine while it’s running ! . That machine runs on / by
electricity! ; To run a computer program; Can you just run the projector to check that it’s
working ? ; Despite the shortage of drugs and trained staff, they managed to keep the
hospital running ; This is an expensive car to run (= It costs a lot to keep it working , buy
petrol for it, etc.. ); (fig. ) Is everything running smoothly at the office? ; The new
computer has arrived but it won’t be” up and running “(= in full opera�on ) un�l next
week ;

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3. To control ( an organization or system ); Be in charge of and cause to work;

Ex: Who’s running this company / contest; I run a small hotel ; Don’t try and run my life ! ;
a well-run / badly-run company / The state-run na�onal airline ;

1. To pass or continue in the stated direction , way , etc..;

Ex: The boundary runs to the south of that forest ; The road runs along the river bank /
over the mountains / through a tunnel ;
2. To have official force during a period of time ; Remain valid ;

Ex: The licence runs for a year. ; The insurance has only another month to run ;

3. To continue without interruption ;

Ex: The play ran (= was performed regularly ) for two years in New York ; The story / poem
runs like this… ; I can’t remember how the rest of his speech runs ; Good looks” run in
their family” (= Tend to be passed from the parents to the children );

4. To be or remain at the stated level ;

Ex: The factory’s output is currently running at 50 car a day ;

1. To develop or pass into the stated ( usu. Undesirable ) condition;

Ex: The well has run dry ; Our supply of coal is running short / low ; Several people
shouted at the chairman, feelings were running high .(= People were ge�ng excited and
angry ); Since their parents divorced those children have been running wild .(= allowed to
do what they like, without any control ); Disease is running rife (= spreading quickly ) in
the shanty towns ;
2. To give in a newspaper , magazine , etc..; Print ;

Ex: “The Sunday �mes” ran a story about the discovery of Hitler’s diaries ;

3. [ against, for , in ] esp. Am.E To be or become a candidate (

) .; Stand ;

Ex: Johnson didn’t run a second �me; The Democrats chose Mondale to run against

Reagan / to run for President ;

4. To bring into a country illegally and secretly ;

Ex: To run drugs / guns across the border / into the country;

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5. esp Am.E ( Of a hole in a woven cloth ) to spread ; Ladder ;

Ex: This hole in my �ghts is star�ng to run .

6. To have an unusually high ( body temperature ) ;

Ex: Johnny’s running a temperature today, he may have flu ;

7. Infml “Run a mile”;

a. Run away quickly to avoid someone or something ;

Ex: I am so shy, I think if a girl spoke to me I’d run a mile.

- See also running , run amok ( amok ) , cut and run , run to Earth (Earth) , Run it
fine ( fine ), Run the gauntlet ( gauntlet ) , Run one’s head against a brick wall
( Head ), Run rings around ( Ring ), Run riot (Riot) , Run to seed (Seed ) ;

Run is the general word for moving quickly on one’s legs. Race, Dash, and sprint
all suggest running very fast for a short distance .
Ex: I raced / dashed / sprinted down the road to catch the bus.
To jog is to run in a steady unhurried way as a form of exercise.
Ex: I go jogging every morning

“ Run across “ –

- It means to find or meet someone or something ( pleasant ) by chance.

Ex: I ran across an old friend in the street.

“ Run after “ –

- It means to chase someone or something .

Ex: I don’t run after anyone !. My dog was running after a cat in the street.

- It means to try gain the aten�on and company of ;

Ex: If I didn’t run after her so much, she might be more interested in me.

- Infml To perform the du�es of a servant for ;

Ex: I can’t keep running after you all day.

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“ Run along “ –
[ O�en impera�ve ] Infml ( esp. to a child )

- Leave , Go away

Ex: Run along now, all of you ! I’m busy.

“ Run around “ –
[ I + adv/prep. With ]

- To go about habitually in company ( together or with ).

Ex: I found out you’ve run around with my sister! . My wife finds I’ve been run around

with you.

“ Run away “ –
- [ (from)] To go away (as if) escape ;

Ex: They ran away from that house! . The thief ran away to sea / I ran away from home

at the age of fourteen. ; The couple ran away together to get married ;

“ Run away with “

- To take and carry off secretly or illegally ;

Ex: Someone’s ran away with all my money! . He ran away with his friend’s girlfriend.

- To gain control of and carry away ;

Ex: Don’t let your temper / enthusiasm run away with you! ;

- [ usu. in nega�ves ] To believe too easily ( a false ideia ) ;

Ex: Just because you’re working for your father ,don’t run away with the ideia that you

needn’t any work ;

- Infml To win easily ( a game or compe��on ) ;

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“ Run down”
[ run sbdy./ sthg. down]

- To knock down and hurt ( a person or large animal ) with a motor vehicle , perhaps
inten�onally
- (esp. of a clock or an electric batery) to lose power and stop working ;
- (run sthg. Down) to (allow to) gradually stop working or be reduced in size; (allow to)
decline .

Ex: The coal industry is running down / is being run down ;

- (run sbdy./ sthg. Down) infml to say rude or unfair thing about ; Denigrate ;

Ex: Your’re jealous about my success, that’s why you’re always running me down .

- (run sbdy./ sthg. Down) To find by searching .

Ex: See if you can run down the book in the library for me .

“ Run in ”
- (run sbdy./ sthg. In ) to bring ( esp. an engine ) gradually and carefully into full use ;
- Infml ( of the police ) to catch ( a criminal ); Arrest ;

“ Run into ”
- (run into sbdy./ sthg. ) To hit forcefully with one’s vehicle ;

Ex: We went too fast round the corner and ran into a lamppost .

- Infml To meet ( someone ) by chance ;

Ex: Guess who I ran into in the street today? .

- (run into sbdy./ sthg. ) To begin to experience ( difficulty ) ; Get into ( a difficult or
unpleasant situa�on ) ;

Ex: A�er a promising start, the company ran into into trouble/ into debt .

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- (run into sbdy./ sthg. ) To add up to ; reach ( a length or amount ) ;

Ex: I have debts running into thousands of pounds .

“ Run off ”
- To make up, perform , or repeat ( a piece of music , poem, speech, etc.. ) quickly or
easily;
- To print ( copies ) ;

Ex: Wait a second, I’ll run off a hundred of these no�ces for you; .

- To get rid of ( unwanted weigt ) by running ;

Ex: You’re too fat, try and run off all those excess pounds .

“ Run off with ”

- (run off with sbdy./ sthg ) To run away with ;

“ Run on ”
- To con�nue , esp. beyond the arranged �me ;

Ex: The party ran on un�l midnight? .

- Infml To talk without stopping ;

Ex: I feel like I could run on English for hours . He’ll run on English for hours about his
computer if you let him .

“ Run out ”
- To come to an end, so that there is no more ; Be completely used up ;

Ex: unfortunately, the food will run out soon;Have you nearly finished?,�me is running out

- [(of)] To use all one’s supplies ; have no more ;

Ex: Can you give me a cigarete ? Sorry, but I’ve run out .; I’m afraid we’ve run out of

petrol ; I’m running out of pa�ence;

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- [ run sbdy. out ] ( in cricket ) To cause ( a player who is in the middle of making a run
(10a)) to have to leave the field by hi�ng with the ball the wicket toward which he is
running ;

“ Run out of ”

- ( run sbdy out of sthg. ) Infml To force to leave ( a place );

Ex: They ran me out of the room. The people ran him out of the town.

“ Run out on ”

- ( run out on sbdy /sthg. ) also “Walk out on” sbdy /sthg. ) Infml To leave or desert (
someone or something one is responsible for );

Ex: I ran out on my girl .

“ Run over ”

- ( run sthg./ sbdy. over ) also Run through ; ( Of a vehicle or its driver ) To knock
down and pass over the top of ;

Ex: My dog was run over and killed by a bus; I ran over a cat this morning.

- ( Of a liquid or its container ) To overflow ;

Ex: The water bath / bucket ran over .

“ Run through ”

- ( run through sthg. Also run over ) To repeat for prac�ce ;

Ex: Let’s run through the first scene again.

- ( run through sthg.) To read or examine quickly ;

Ex: I’ll just run through this list of figures with you ; .

- ( run through sthg.) To spend ( money ) fast and wastefully ;

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Ex: You ran through all your father’s money .

- ( run through sthg.) To be part of ; spread right through ;

Ex: A feeling of sadness runs through my poetry .

- ( run through sthg.) esp. lit To push one’s sword right through .

“ Run to ”

- ( run to sthg. [ not in progressive forms )] Esp. To be or have enough to pay for ;

Ex: My wages won’t run to a car / to buy a car.

“ Run up ”

- ( run sthg. up ) To raise (a flag ) ;

Ex: We ran up the na�onal on the queen’s birthday ; .

- ( run up sthg.) To cause oneself to have ( bills or debts ) ;

Ex: I ran up a large phone bill .

- ( run sthg. up ) To make quickly , esp. by sewing ;

Ex: My mom ran this dress up in only one evening ; .

“ Run up against ”

- ( run up against sthg. )Infml To meet or be forced to deal with ( something difficult );

Ex: We ran up against some unexpected opposi�on .

1. An act of running ;
Ex: My brother usually goes for a run / takes the dog for a run before breakfast; A cross-
country run is a run across the fields / a five-mile run ;

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2. A short journey in a car , esp. for pleasure ;
Ex: Let’s go for a run in the car ;
3. [ C usu. sing. ] A journey of the stated kind made regularly by a train , ship , Truck ,etc… ;

Ex: It’s 55-minutes run from here to there ; This old ferry used to be on the Felixstowe to
Stockholm run ;
4. [ C ] A con�nuous set of perfomences of a play , film ,etc… ;

Ex: The play had a run of three months ;

5. [ C ] A con�nuous set of similar events ; Sequence etc… ;

Ex: I’ve had a” run of bad luck” recently (=Lots of unlucky things have happened to me ) ;
6. [ C the + S (of ) ] The usual or average sort etc… ;

Ex: You’re different from the “common / general run “ of people ;_-see also run of the
mil
7. [ S + on ] (a) an eager demand … ;

Ex: There’s been a big run “on ice cream during this hot weather ;
7. [ S + on ] (b) a general desire to sell money or to take one’s money out… ;

Ex: The run “on the pound force the government to act ; a run on the bank ;
8. [ the + S + of ] The freedom to visit or use ( a place ) … ;

Ex: He’s given the run “of his garden ; I have the run of his extensive library ;
9. [ the + S + of ] An enclosed but usu. uncovered area where animals are kept;

Ex: A chicken run ; Sheep run ;

10. [ the + S + of ] A point won … ;

(a). In cricket , by two players running from one wicket to the other , passing each other on
the way ;

Ex: England scored/ made 301 runs “of his garden ; I have the run of his extensive library ;
(a). In basketball , by a player reaching the home base safely ;

Ex: A home run ;

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11. [ C ] A sloping course for a downhill sport … ;

Ex: A ski run ;

12. ( In card games ) , a set of cards dealt to a person, in which the numbers on all the card
follow on from each other ;_ compare “Flush”

(13). ( In music ) , a set of notes played or sung quickly up or down the scale (5) without a
break ;

14. [ AmE ] for ladder ;

Ex: I’ve got a run “in my new panty hose ;

15. [ C ] “a good run for one’s money”;

- (a) Infml Plenty of opposi�on in a compe��on ;

Ex: They may be a beter team than us , we’ll give them a run for their money ;
- (b) Infml Good or sac�sfactory results, treatment , etc.. ( esp. in return for one’s �me ,
money, or effort )

Ex: He lived to be 92 , so I think he had a good run for his money ;

16. [ the + S + of ] “At a run “;

(a) . Running “;

Ex: I le� my home at a run ;

17. [ the + S + of ] “ In the long run ;

(a) . A�er a long period ; in the end “;

Ex: It’ll be cheaper in the long run to use real leather because it will last longer ;
18. [ the + S + of ] “ In the short run ;

(a) . for the near future ;

Ex: Of course plas�c’s cheaper than leather in the short run , but it won’t last as long ;
17. [ C ] “ On the run ;

(a) . trying to escape or hide ,esp. from the police “;

Ex: The escaped murderer has been on the run for three weeks ; _ see also runs, dummy
run, fun run , milk run , trial run ;

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Run-a-round infml a small light car ;
Run-a-round [ the + S ] infml Delaying or deceiving treatment ;

Ex: They’ve been giving me the run-around for six months now ,they just won’t give me a
straight answer for a straight ques�on ; He’s been giving his wife the run-around. (=making
love to another womam ) ;
1. Run-a-way [ the + S ] Adj. Out of control ;

Ex: a run-away horse ; a run-away train ; We’re suffering from run-away infla�on ;
2. Having run away ;

Ex: a run-away child ;

3. Done by running away ;

Ex: a run-away marriage ;

Run away [ n ] a person or animal that has run away ;
Run-down [ (the ) S (of) ] the process of running something down ;

Ex: The phased run-down of the steel industry ;

(a) [ C (on) ] infml Detailed report of a set events ;

Ex: I want the complete run-down of everything while I was away ;

1. Run-a-way [ the + S ] Adj. ( esp. of a place ) Old and broken or in a bad condi�on ;
Dilapitated ;

Ex: An old run-down hotel ; a run-away train ; We’re suffering from run-away infla�on ;
2. ( Of a person ) Tired and weak and in poor health ;

Ex: You need a holiday, you look a bit run-down ;

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#To move on foot –

1. To move along on foot in a nature way, in such a way that one foot is always
touching the ground ;

Ex: Walk, don’t run ! .; When it’s a nice day, I walk to work, otherwise I go by bus; . We
must have walked ten miles today.; walking is a good form of exercise;. The old lady
walked slowly around the garden ; / I walked along the edge of a cliff ;. I walked up to him
and held out my hand ;
2. To pass over, through or along on foot ;

Ex: She’d walked the streets all night looking for somewhere to stay ; He does a circus act,
walking the �ghtrope ; How far is the sta�on, can I walk It (= Is the distance short enough
to walk ? ) or shall I call a taxi ?;
3. To go on foot with someone to a stated place ;

Ex: I’ll walk you home tonight / I’ll walk to the bus stop ;

4. To take ( an animal ) for a walk ; Exercise ;

Ex: I walked the dog this morning .

5. ( Of a spirit ) To move about in a form that can be seen ;

Ex: I’ll walk you home tonight / I’ll walk to the bus stop ;

6. To cause to move in a manner suggesting a walk ;

Ex: Let’s walk heaviest ladder to the other end of the room ;

7. infml “ Walk on air” - To be extremely happy ;

infml “ Walk someone off their feet / legs - To �re someone by making them
walk
Ex: too muchson pleased ?” Yea, He’s
“ Is your walking on air! ;
8. infml “ Walk someone off their feet / legs ” - To �re someone by making them
walk too much ;
9. infml “ Walk tall ” - To feel very confident ; Be justly proud of oneself ;

10. infml “ Walk the plank” - To be forced , esp. by pirates in former �mes , to walk
along a board laid over the side of a ship un�l ones falls off into the sea;

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walk - noun
To move on foot

1. A natural way of moving on foot in which a person’s feet are lifted one at a
time , in such a way that one foot is always touching the ground ;

Ex: He sat off at a brisk walk ;

2. The movement of creatures with four legs in which there are always at least
two feet on the ground ;

Ex He slowed a horse into a walk ;

3. A usu. short journey on foot, esp. for

exercise or pleasure ;

Ex: Let’s go for / take a ( short ) walk ; She’s

taken the dog for a walk ; a ten-mile walk ; a
sponsored walk ; a space walk
3. A place, path , or course for walking
;

Ex: There are some beau�ful walks here .

4. A distance to be walked ;

Ex: The sta�on’s just a few miles walk ; a ten-minute walk from here ;

5. The manner or style of walking ;

Ex: His walk is just like his father’s ; an odd walk ; _ See also walk of life ;

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“ “walk
walkaway
awayfrom sbdy./sthg
from“ “sbdy./sthg.

- To come out of ( an accident ) unhurt or almost unhurt ;

- Am.E Infml To run faster than or defeat without difficulty;

Ex:My horse just walk away from all the others in the race; _also walkaway; walkoff with

““ Run into “sthg.

walkafter –

- It means to get caught by ( something ) through carelessness.

Ex: He walked right into our trap ;

- It means to obtain ( a job ) very easily ;

“Ex: If I off
walk didn’t run after
/ away her so much, she might be
with sthg. more interested in me.

- Infml To steal and take away ;

- To win easily ;

Ex: He walked off with first prize.

“ walk out sthg. [ I ( of )]

- To leave suddenly , esp. as an expression of disapproval ;

- To go on strike ; _ see also walkout ;

““ walk out on sbdy. / sthg.

- Infml To leave suddenly, esp. in a �me of trouble ; Desert ;

Ex: He just walked out on his wife and family without saying a word ;

“ walk over sbdy. / sthg.

- Infml To treat badly ;

Ex: Don’t let your husband walk ( all ) over you like that , stand up to him ;

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- Infml To win without difficulty against ;

Ex: Our team just walked over the opposi�on ; _see also walkover ;

Ex: He just walked out on his wife and family without saying a word ;

“ walk up bdy. / sthg.

- [ I usu. impera�ve ] Infml ( Used when invi�ng people to come in and see a
performance , esp. outdoors , such as a circus ) To enter ;

Ex: walk up ladies and gentlemen ! ;

Walkabout – [noun]

1. A period spent, esp. by an Australian Aborigine , away from regular work

traveling about on foot through the country ;

2. Infml esp. BrE A walk though crowds by an important person , mixing

and talking informally with the people;

Ex: The Queen did her now-tradi�onal walkabout in the main square;

Walkaway – [noun]

1. Infml esp. Am.E An easily-won competition ;

Ex: That race was just a walkaway for my horse;_ see also walk away from;

Walker – [noun]

1. A person who walks, esp. for pleasure or exercise ;

Ex: A fast walker ; A keen hill-walker;

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2. An apparatus for helping someone to walk, esp. a frame used by babies or
people who cannot walk properly ;

Ex: A baby walker ;

Walkies – [noun]

1. Infml esp. BrE ( Used to dogs ) A walk ;

Ex: Come along, Spot , let’s go go walkies! (= go for a walk );

Walkie-talkie – [noun]

1. A two-way radio that can be carried , allowing one to talk as well as

listen ;

Walk-in – [Adjective]

1. esp. Am.E large enough to be walked into ;

Ex: A walk-in closet ;

1. Easy ( esp. in the phrase Walk-in victory ) ;

Walking – [Adjective]

2. Used in the process of moving of foot ;

Ex: walking shoes ;

2. Consisting of or done by traveling on foot ;

Ex: A walking holiday; walking tour ;

3. infml Human ;

Ex: She knows so many words that she’s a walking dic�onary !;

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Walking papers – [noun]

1. Infml [ P ] esp. Am.E for “Marching orders” ;

Walking stick – [noun]

1. A stick used for supporting someone while walking ; See picture At stick

Walk man – [noun]

1. tdmk for personal stereo ;

Walk of life – [n]

1. A position in society , esp. either one’s job or one’s social rank s;

Ex: The club’s membership includes people from all walks of life / every walk of life ;

Walk-on – [n]

1. ( Someone who has ) a small usu. non-speaking part in a play ;

Ex: A walks-on part

Walk-out – [n]

1. The action of leaving a meeting or organization as an expression of

disapproval ;

Ex: A walkout by / of the Russian delega�on ;

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2. A strike (1) , esp. at its start ;

Ex: The walkout was caused by a disagreement over pay and working condi�ons;The Union
staged a walkout over the issue ;_ see also walk out;

Walk-over – [n]

1. Infml [ n ] An easy victory ;

1. An advance from one part of a competition to the next without having to

compete against anyone , because of the sickness or withdrawal of one’s
opponent ; _ See also Walk over

Walk-up – [n & adj ]

1. Infml Am.E [ n & adj ] [ C ; A ] ( A flat , office , etc.. ) in a tall block with
no lift (2)
;

Ex: It’s not easy living in a 6th floor walk-up ;

2. ( A block of flats ) that is tall but has no lift(2) ;

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#To push oneself into the air
1. To push oneself into the air or away from a surface by the force of one’s legs
; spring ;

Ex: The children jumped up and down ! ; I jumped over the wall / out of the window /
into the river ; . She jumped to her feet and ran out of the room; We managed to jump clear
of the car before it hit the wall ;
2. To cross or go over by jumping ;

Ex: He jumped the stream ; the horse jumped the fence ;

3. To make a quick sudden movement as a result of strong feeling ;

Ex: My heart jumped when I heard the news.; / I nearly jumped out of my skin when
I saw a snack under my bed ;
4. To move suddenly from one point to another, often missing out what comes
in between ;

Ex: My lecture was hard to follow because I kept jumping from one subject to another; I
jumped (ahead ) to the last sec�on of the report to see what the commitee had
recommeded .
5. (Esp. of money or quantity) To rise suddenly and by a large amount ;

Ex: The price of the oil jumped sharply in 1983 ;The profits jumped from 3.5 million to
22 million in a single year ;

6. Infml Leave , pass , or scape from (something ) illegally or without

permission ;

Ex: The sailors jumped ship at Gibraltar ; To jump the (traffic ) light ; To jump the bail.

7. Infml , esp. AmE To travel on ( a train ) without paying ”

Ex: ”He jumped a freight ( train ) in Texas ;

8. infml To attack suddenly;

Ex: ”A gang of youths jumped me in the park ;

9. Infml , esp. AmE “ jump a claim ” ”To try to claim valuable land which someone else
already owns ;

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10. Infml , “ jump down someone’s throat ” ”To atack someone in words , strongly
and unexpectedly, esp. before they have finished talking ;
11. Infml AmE “ jump rope ” ; - skip rope

12. Infml“ jump the gun ” To take ac�on too soon or before the proper �me ;

Ex: ”I know he’s a suspect,but isn’t it jumping the gun a bit arrest him immediately ? ;

12. Infml BrE “ jump the queue ” To obtain an unfair advantage over others who have
been wai�ng longer ;
12. Infml“ jump to it ” To hurry ;

Ex: ”I’ll have to jump to it if I want to catch the bus ;

Jump at “
1. To accept eagerly ;
Ex: My tutor has jumped at” the idea of the project ;

Jump on “ –
1. To speak to sharply , showing disapproval ,esp. unfairly;
Ex: My brother jumps on” me every �me I make the slightest mistake ;

Jump “

1. An act of jumping ;
Ex: A good jump” ;

2. A thing to be jumped over ;

Ex: The horse cleared all the jumps” ;

Jumper” “

3. A person or animal who jumps;

4. A wollen garment for the top half of the body ;
5. AmE A dress without sleeves, usu. Worn over a blouse ;

Jumping-off place” also “jumping off point

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1. A point to start from ,esp. at the beginning of a journey or plan;

Be / stay one jump ahead “

1. Infml To do the right thing because one knows or guesses what one’s compe�tors are
going to do ; _ see also “High jump , Long jump , Running jump

Jumpy “
1. Infml Nervously exited ,esp. because of guilt or because one is expec�ng something
bad to happen _ ily adj. _ iness n. ;
2.

1. To take ( food ) in through the mouth and swallow it in order to feed the body;
Ex: If I don’t eat , I’ll get ill . ; please, eat your dinner .; Tigers eat meat .;
2. To have a meal;
Ex: What do you usually eat? , I’ll get ill . ; Shall we eat out tonight ? (= in a restaurant
rather than at home) .;
3. [ I + prep; T+ obj.+ adj ] To use up , damage or destroy ( something),esp,by chemical
ac�on .
Ex: The acid eat away the metal ;The acid has eaten into / through the metal ; All these
bills are ea�ng into (=gradually using up ) our savings;
4. Infml To cause to be annoyed or anxious .
Ex: My brother’s been in a bad temper all day, I wonder what’s ea�ng him ;
5. Infml AmE “ eat crow” .
1. To be forced to admit that one was wrong; Accept what one has fought against ;
6. “ Eat one’s heart out (for)” .
1. To be very unhappy (about) or have great desire (for someone or something )
without talking about it ;
Ex: Stop ea�ng your heart out for that stupid boy ;
7. “ Eat one’s words” .
1. To admit to having said something wrong ;
8. Infml “ Eat out of someone’s hand” .
1. To be very willing to obey or agree with someone ;

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Ex: We were angry at first, but I soon had him ea�ng out of my hand ;
8. Infml “ Eat someone out of house and home” .
1. To eat a lot of someone’s else supply of food ; _ See also ,I’ll eat my hat

Eat up
1. To eat all of ( something );
Ex: Come on,eat up ; There’s plenty le� ! ; Be a good boy and eat up your vegetables;
(fig.) A big car eats up money ;
2. “Be eaten up with “ To be completely and violently full of ( a feeling );

Eatable
( of food ) in a fit condi�on to be eaten; palatable_ compare Edible

Eater “ someone who eats in the stated way;

Ex : I am a big eater (= I eat a lot ) ; The children are rather fussy eaters ;
Ea�ng apple An apple that one eats raw _ compare Cooking apple;
Eats Infml food

1. [ To, with, About ] To use or to produce words ; speak ;

Ex: Human beings can talk, animals can’t ! ; Come here, I want to talk to you / Union
leaders have been talking with the president about the proposed new law ; . They were all
talking at once ; I don’t know what you’re talking about !(= I don’t understand what you
mean ) ;
2. To express thoughts as if by speech ;

Ex: People who cannot speak can talk by using signs ;

3. To copy human speech ;

Ex: Have you taught your parrot to talk ?

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6. Infml To give information, usu, unwillingly ;

Ex: In spite of the police interroga�on, the suspect refused to talk;

5. To speak about other people’s actions and private lives; Gossip ;

Ex: Don’t park your car outside my house, you know how people talk ;

6. To express in words ;

Ex: Don’t talk such a nonsense!

7. To speak about ; Discuss ;

Ex: ”Now the meal’s over ,It’s �me to talk business ;

2. infml “Now you’re talking” ( Used for expressing very eager agreement or
acceptance )
Ex: ”Instead of going home now, Why don’t we go to the cinema; Now you’re talking ;

9. Infml , “you can talk / you are a fine one to talk ” / Look who’s talking”! (
Used to suggest ,o�en humorously that someone should not find fault because they are
just as bad);
Ex: ”Don’t play your radio so loud, and you are a fine one to talk! ” ( = you play your own
radio even louder) ;
3. 10. Infml , “ talk of the devil ”( Used when someone who has been men�oned
actually arrives ) ;
Ex: My naughty cousin is coming today, and talk of the devil here he is now ;

4. 12. Infml talk through one’s hate ” To say something stupid; Talk about
something one knows nothing about ;
5. Ex: ” You said you understood well the theory, I am seeing you’re talk through your
hate though;
6. 12. Infml esp. AmE “ talk turkey ” To talk seriously and openly, esp. about business
maters ;
Usage :
Speak and talk are very close in meaning, but talk usually gives “the idea of a
conversa�on”, rather than “of a single person making statements”:
We talked four hours about our project . The boss Spoke to us about the company’s plan
; . Speak and talk are some�mes transi�ves, but can never have a person as their object:
Do you Speak English ? ;You’re talking nonsense!; _ see also Say ( Usage ) , Speak ( Usage )

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“ Talk sbdy./sthg. down “ –

- It means to guide ( a plan or its pilot ) safely to the ground, esp. when it is impossible
to see well, by giving instruc�ons by radio ;
“ Talk Down to sbdy./sthg. “ –
- It means Patronize ; to speak to as if one were more important, more clever, etc… ;

“ Talk sbdy. Into sthg. “–

- To persuade (someone) to do (something ).

Ex: My Dad refused at first, but I managed to Talk him Into give me the money needed ;

[ +v-ing ] She Talk me Into buying the �ckets for the film ;_ compare Talk out of

“ Talk sthg. out “ –

- To setle by talking ;

Ex: The Unions and employers usually try to Talk out their differences before taking ac�on

against each other .

- BrE To prevent ( law ) from being accepted by talking in parliament un�l there is no
�me le� for vo�ng ;

“ Talk sbdy. Out of sthg. “–

- To persuade (someone) not to do (something ).

Ex: See if you can Talk your brother out of go out today ; [ +v-ing ] She Talk me out of
buying the blue color shirt ; The police Talked the man out of jumping from the top of the
building_ compare Talk into

“Talk one’s way out of “To escape from ( trouble ) by talking ;

Ex: See if you can Talk your way out of that ;

“ Talksthg. over “ - To speak about thoroughly and seriously, esp. in order to setle a
problem or reach a decision ;.

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Ex: If you’re worried about this change of career , why don’t you Talk it Over with your
family ? ;
“ Talk round also Talk sbdy. round “ - To persuade one to change their mind ;.
Ex: Mom resisted at first , I was finally able to Talk her round ( to my point of view );

“ Talk round sthg. “ - To avoid speaking directly about ( a mater ) ;.

Talkative”

- Liking to talk a lot ;

3. Talker “
1. A person who talks , esp. one who talks a lot or in a persuasive way ;
Ex : What a good talker that man is , no one can get a word in ;

4. Talks “
2. A formal exchange of opinions and views ;
Ex : The two Presidents met for talks / peace talks ;

5. Talkie “ infml Old use a cinema film with sound and words , rather than a silent ;

6. Talk Show “ n AmE for Chat show ;

7. Talking -to “ Infml An angry talk in order to blame or cri�cize ; Scolding ;

8. Ex : Mom is going to give a good talking-to at you for breaking the cup;

9. Talking point “ A subject of argument or conversa�on ;

10. talker “ A bird who copy human speech ;

Talk “ [With, about] a conversa�on;

Ex : I ran across Mr Salua in the street and we had a long talk about her test (= We talked a
lot ) ;
- Talk “ An informal speech or lecture;

Ex : I gave a talk to a college student ;

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- Talk “ A par�cular way of speech or conversa�on ;

Ex : Baby talk / his slick sales talk / That’s figh�ng talk !(= a brave or threatening way of
talking )_ See also Small talk , Sweet talk;
- Talk “ Empty or meaningless speech;

Ex : Don’t worry, his threats are just talk ;

- Talk “ [the + S+ of ] a subject much talked about by everyone in a par�cular place;

Ex : You are the talk of the School ;_ See talks

1.

Ex: I like to sleep for an hour in the a�ernoon ! .; I didn’t sleep very well last night ; I
usually sleep late on Sundays ; As I’d missed my train , they invited me to sleep the night
with them.(= sleep in their house for that night );

Ex: The back seat of the car folds down to sleep two ;

sleep like a log

1. To sleep deeply, esp. without moving ;

a. Infml derog to have sex with a lot of different people ; Be promiscuous ;

a. To sleep later than usual in the morning ; Lie in ;

EX: I o�en sleep in on Sundays ;
b. To sleep at one’s place of work ; Live in ; _ Opposite “Sleep out”
sleep sthg. off

a. To get rid of ( a feeling or effect of something ) by sleeping;

EX: I went to bed to sleep off my enormous lunch ;

b. “ Sleep It off ” Infml To sleep un�l one is no longer drunk;

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sleep on sthg.

a . To delay deciding on ( a ques�on ) un�l the next day ; Spend a night considering ;

EX: Look, there’s no need to make a decision now, Why don’t you go home and sleep on it ?
sleep out

a. To sleep away from home or outdoors ;

b. To sleep away from one’s place of work ; _ Opposite “Sleep in”

sleep through

a. To fail to wake up during ; Be asleep and miss hearing , seeing , etc..

EX: I don’t know how you could have slept through that dreadful noise / thrilling
performance ;
sleep together

a. ( of two people ) to have sex ;

sleep with

a. ( of a person ) to have sex with ;

EX: I didn’t hear the explosion – I’m a heavy/ sound sleeper ; A light sleeper ;
Esp BrE. tie AmE

a. Any of the row of heavy pieces of wood , metals, etc.. , suppor�ng railway track ;

BrE

Esp AmE.

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couchette

Silent partner”
a. A partner in a business who takes no ac�ve part in its opera�on

sleeping tablets”
a. A pill which helps people to sleep ;

EX: An overdose of sleeping pills ;

b. A narrow raised part placed across a road to force traffic to move slowly ;

c. A serious African disease carried by the TSETSE fly , that causes loss of weight, fever,
and great �redness;

EX: I’ve spent many sleepless night worrying about what I should do ;

EX: I lay sleepless on my bed ;

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EX: A sleepy country town ; _ -ily adv. -iness n ;

EX: Wake up, sleephead !;

1. To make ( marks that represent letters or words ) by using a tool held in the
hand, esp. with a pen or pencil on paper ;

Ex: The children are learning to write; I always write with a pen / write in ink ; Please,
write the address on envelope _compare Draw ;

2. To think of and record, esp. on paper ; be the Author of ;

Ex: Write a leter ; Have you finished writing that report yet?; Charlote Brontê wrote
“Jane Eyre “ ; Elgar wrote “two symphonies “ ; To write a computer programme ; A
written Statement ;

3. [ obj.(i) obj.(d) ] To make or complete ( something ) by putting words on it ;

Ex: I wrote him a cheque for $15,000.00 ;

4. Infml To be a writer of books, plays, etc.., ;

Ex: I write for the stage ;

5.[ (to) ] To produce and send ( a letter ) ;

Ex: I write to him everyday ; I wish you’d write more o�en ; [ obj.(i) obj.(d) ]
I write him a leter everyday; I write a leter to him everyday ; [ ] I wrote
asking him to come ; [ ] I wrote to ask him to come ; [ ] He wrote
that he’d be coming on Tuesday him to come ;
6. Esp. AmE To produce and send a letter to ( someone ) ;

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Ex: I write him everyday ; [ obj. that ] My Dad wrote me that he couldn’t show
up to my birthday party ;
7. “ Be written on / all over “ ;

a. ” To be clearly showing because of the expression on ;

EX: Guilty was written all over his face ;

8. infml “Nothing to write home about”

a. ”Nothing special ;Not as good as it might be ;

EX: Infml , The food here isn’t anything to write home about ( = isn’t very good );

“ Write away [( for )]“ – to write off

“ Write back “ –

- It means to reply in a leter;

EX: I received his leter two weeks ago , but I forgot to write back ; [ +v-ing / to-v / that]
; He wrote back to say / saying that He couldn’t meet us today ;
“ Write sthg. down “–

- To record in wri�ng esp. in order to remember ; .

Ex: Please, write your idea down while it’s clear in your mind ; To write down a phone

number ;

“ Write sthg. / sbdy. in “ –

- To send a leter to a firm, asking for something or giving an opinion ;
Ex: We wrote in for a free book, but the firm never replied ;

- AmE To vote for ( someone ) by wri�ng their name on the vo�ng paper ;
- To add ( a name ) to a list in an elec�on ;

“ Write sthg. / sbdy. off “ as – Write sthg. off

1- Accept as lost , useless , or as a failure ;

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Ex: I may have been beaten in this fight, but don’t write me off yet, I’ll be back ;

She’d been written off as a failure at the age of eleven ;

2- To remove ( esp. a debt ) from the records or accounts; cancel ;
3- [( For )] To send a leter to a distant place , esp. in order to buy something one cannot
get near home ;

Ex: I wrote off for the book because the local shop didn’t have it ;

Ex: The company has written off $5,000,000 of the development costs of this project ;

in for a free book, but the firm never replied ;

4- Esp. Br.E To damage ( esp. a car ) so badly that it cannot be repaired ;

“ Write sbdy./ sthg. Out “–

- To write in full ;

Ex: The policeman was writing out his report ; Do it in rough before you write it out

properly ;

- To write ( something formal ) ;

EX: [ obj.(i) obj.(d) ] Shall I write you out a receipt, sir. ?

- To remove ( a character ) from a con�nuing set of stories or plays ;

EX: When the actor died, the character he played in the soap opera had to be written

out ;

“ Write sthg. Up “–

- To write ( again ) in a complete and useful form ;

EX: I’m going to write up my notes ;

- To write a report on ( goods, a play , an event, etc.. ) esp. giving a judgement ;

EX: I see they’ve written our play up in the local newspaper ;

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“ Write-in “

- AmE A vote giving by wri�ng the name of the person you voted for ;

“ Write-off “

- Esp. Br.E Something which has been so badly damaged that it cannot be repaired ;

Ex: The car was a write-off a�er the accident ;

Something, esp. a debt, that has been removed from the records or accounts; _see
also Write-off ;

“ Writer “

- A person who writes, esp. as a way of earning money ; Author ;

EX: I am a Writer , but I don’t make enough money to live from my books ; A So�ware
Writer ; A sports Writer ; One of the President’s speech Writers ;

“ Writer’s cramp “

S�ffness of the hand, a�er wri�ng for a long �me ;

“ Write-Up “ –

- Infml A writen report, esp. one that describes and gives a judgement about
goods, a play , an event, etc.. ;

Ex: The concert got a good write-Up in the local newspaper ;

“ Writhe “ –

- To twist the body ( as if ) in great pain ;

Ex: He was writhing on the ground in agony ;

“ Writing “ –

- Handwri�ng ;

Ex: I can’t read the Doctor’s writing ;

- A writen Work or form;

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Ex: A piece of writing ; You say you’ll lend us the money ; Can I have that in writing ? .(=
in writen form, so as to make it official );
- The ac�vity of wri�ng , esp. books ;

Ex: Writing is my life ! _see also Writings

“ Writing desk “ –

- A desk , esp. with a place for wri�ng materials such paper and pens ;

“ Writing paper “ – Notepaper

- Paper for wri�ng leters on, usu. Smooth and of quite good quality ,which can be
bought in various standard sizes ;

“ Writings “ –

- Works of literature or other writen material, produced by the stated person ;

Ex: Darwin’s scien�fic writings ;

1. To look at and understand ( something printed or writen ) ;

Ex: My litle boy can read quite well now ! ; He reads well for a six-year old child; To read
a book / music/map ; Read the instruc�ons before you start the machine; I can read French
but I can’t speak it ; a good form of exercise;. The old lady walked slowly around the garden
; / I walked along the edge of a cliff ;. I walked up to him and held out my hand ;
2. To learn ( the stated information ) from print or writing;

Ex: I read about the murder/ read an account of the murder in the paper ;[ +That ] I read
that the new director is spanish ;
4. [ I + adv. / prep.; L + n; Not in progressive forms ;] ( Of written words ) To have a
particular form or produce a particular effect when read ;

Ex: The name should read “Benson” , not “Fenton” ; Her leter reads as follows… ; I
rewrote the last paragraph because It didn’t read very well;
5. [( To )] To say ( printed or written words ) to others ;

Ex: The teacher read the poem aloud to the class .; She read a story to the children;
[ obj.(i) obj.(d) ] She read the children a story ; _ Compare Read out ;
5. ( Of a measuring instrument ) To show ;

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Ex: The thermometer reads 33 degrees ;

6. To study ( a subject ) at university ;

Ex: Paulo’s reading history / law at Oxford ;_ Compare Read for ;ladder to the other end
of the room ;
7. [ T( as )] To understand the meaning or nature of ( a statement, event,
experience, etc..) in a particular way ; Interpret ;

Ex: “ His speech about unity showed that he had accurately read the mood of the
conference; I read her reply as a refusal ; How do you read the latest trade figures?; I can
read your thoughts from the look on your face;

8. [ T( as, for ) usu. imperative ] fml To understand ( the stated printed or

written words ) to be a mistake for

EX: for 50KZ please read 15KZ ; Please read 50KZ as 15KZ ;

9. To obtain and use ( information ) from a computer storage system .

EX: The disk drive reads data from the disk into the computer’s memory ;

10. “read between the lines” - To find hidden meanings

EX: If you read between the lines, this leter is a request for money.
11. “take something as read” – Esp. BrE To accept something as true or right without
the need to hear it , talk about it , etc..
EX: We didn’t have �me to hear the secretary’s report, so we took it as read ;We can take it
as read that the newspapers will support our opponents;
12. “ -read” /red/–

a. ( Of a person ) having a stated amount of knowledge gained from books ;

EX: A well-read man ; You’re widely-read ;
a. ( Of a book, newspaper, etc.. ) read by a stated number of people ;
EX: A litle-read book story ; A litle-read novel

“ Read for sthg. – BrE. To study in order to gain ( esp. a university degree ) ;.

Ex: I am reading for a degree in Electrical Engineering ; _compare read (6)

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“ “ Read sthg. into. sthg. To believe ( something) to be meant though not expressed by
something else ;.
Ex: Don’t read more into her leter than she intended; It was just a causal remark , don’t
read too much into it
“ Read sthg. out “ - To read aloud for others to hear.

Ex: ”The announcer Read out the football results.; _ compare Read (4)

“ Read sthg. Over / through “ - To read completely, from beginning to end_read through.
/…/ n [s]
Ex: ”The announcer Read over the football results.; _ compare Read (4)

“ Read Up [ I ( on ); T ( = Read sthg. Up )] Infml To study ( a subject ) thoroughly; find out

about by reading ;
Ex: I need to Read Up the tax laws ;

“ Read infml esp. BrE. An act or period of reading ;.

Ex: Can I have a read of your paper ? ;

a. Something of the stated kind to be read ;

EX: It’s not great literature but it’s good read .

“ Reader .
1. A person who reads a stated thing or in a stated way .

EX: Are you a fast reader ? ; My brother’s a great reader/ avid reader (= he reads a lot ); (In
a newspaper) we have received many leters on this subject from our readers ;
2. A person who reads books to put mistakes right before prin�ng, or to decide whether
to print (publish) them
3. [ (In)] ( o�en cap. ) A senior University Bri�sh teacher just below the rank of
professor ;
EX: She’s a reader in English ;
4. A schoolbook for beginners, usu. Containing short passages for reading ;

5. “ Readership.
1. The par�cular number or type of people who read a newspaper or magazine .

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EX: The paper has a readership of 80,000 ; A very well-educated readership ;
2. [(In)] The posi�on of a reader ;

“ Ready [(n) the + S] also Readies pl.

1. BrE. Infml for ready money

EX: I’m a bit short of the ready this week ;

2. “To / at the ready” In/to the state of being ready;

EX: have your guns at ready men? ;

“ Ready Interj. BrE.
1. for ready , steady , go! -( Used when telling people to begin a race )
EX: I’m a bit short of the ready this week ;
2. for “On your mark(s), get set , go! -( Used when telling people to begin a race )

“ Readily adj.
1. Quickly and willingly

EX: He readily agreed to their sugges�on ;

2. With no difficulty ;

EX: This type of plug is readily avaliable ;

“ Readiness [n] fml.

1. [in] U (for) ] The state of being ready or prepared ;

EX: The defences are kept in readiness for an enemy atack ;

2. Willingness ;

EX: [ + to-v ] She shows (a) great readiness to learn ;

3. [ S; U+ of ] Quickness and ability to do something easily ;

EX: She shows (a) great readiness of understanding ;_see also ready
“ Reading [n] .

1. [U] The act or prac�ce of reading ;

EX: Children learn reading and wri�ng at school ;

2. [C (of)] An opinion about the meaning of a statement, set of events , etc.. )
Interpreta�on;

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EX: My reading of the law is that we needn’t pay ; What’s your reading of the latest trade
figures?
3. A figure shown by a measuring instrument ;

EX: What are the temperature readings for the week?

4. [U] Something of the stated type to be read ;

EX: Books like this are unsuitable / difficult reading for children ;
5. A gathering of peole at which literature is read aloud;

EX: A poetry reading .

6. Any of three official occasions in the Bri�sh Parliament or US Congresson which a
Bill (a suggested new law ) is read aloud and considered before it can actually
become law ;
EX: The third reading of the Industrial Rela�ons Bill .
“ Ready .[n]
1. [ The +S ]

Ex: The reading room at the library; A reading lamp;

“ Readable .
3. Apprec Interes�ng or enjoyable to read .
4. Legible _ opposite unreadable

“ Reading .

2. for reading

Ex: The reading room at the library; A reading lamp;

“ Ready-made.

1. (esp. of clothes ) not made specially for the buyer; able to be worn at once;

Ex: a ready-made suit ; (fig.) His second wife had three children already, so when he married
her he had a ready-made family ;
2. Useful and suitable for a purpose; convenient

Ex: the rain gave us a ready-made excuse for not going out ;

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3. Derog Not original

Ex: ready-made opinions ;

“ Ready-money. also ready-cash

1. Money that can be paid at once in actual coins and notes, and not owed;

“ Ready-to-wear. Adj.

1. ( Of clothes ) ready-made;

Ex: a ready-to-wear suit ;

“ Ready .

2. [ F (for)] Prepared and fit ( for use or ac�on );

Ex: Is breakfast ready ?; Come on ! aren’t you ready yet?; Is everything ready for the party?
; I’m not ready to go yet!; These apples are ready to eat (= ready to be eaten ); We’d beter
get ready to leave ; (fml) They made ready (=prepared ) for the atack ;
3. [ F ] ( Of a person ) willing to do or give something ;

Ex: [ +with ] She’s always ready with advice/ with an excuse ; You’re too ready to cri�cize ;

4. Fml ,usu. Aprec ( of the powers of the mind ) Quick ;

Ex: A man of ready wit/ a ready understanding of the problem ;

5. [ F +to-v ] Likely to do something ;

Ex: I felt ready to cry with frustra�on ; We marched un�l we were ready to drop ;_ see also
Readily , Readiness ;
“ Ready .

1. ( Used before a past par�ciple ) in advance ; Already ;

Ex: You can buy the bread ready cut ; A ready-cooked dinner;

“ Readdres [ T (to) ] v “ - To write a different address on ( a leter that has been delivered
to one’s own address ); Redirect.
Ex: I ask them to readdress my leters ( to the new house );

“ Read sthg. Over / through “ - To read completely, from beginning to end_read through.
/…/ n [s]
Ex: ”The announcer Read over the football results.; _ compare Read (4)

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“ Read Up [ I ( on ); T ( = Read sthg. Up )] Infml To study ( a subject ) thoroughly; find out
about by reading ;
Ex: I need to Read Up the tax laws ; *
“ Readjust [ I ; T (to) ] v “ - To get or put back into the proper state or posi�on ;

Ex: I ask them to readjust the driving mirror ; It’s hard to readjust (oneself) to school life
a�er the holidays ; _-ment (n) : A period of readjustment ; The mechanic made a few minor
readjustment ;

“ Ready [ v] .
1. Fml to make ready ; prepare

EX: Children learn reading and wri�ng at school ;

“ Read-out – A showing, e.g. in printed form or on a screen of informa�on that has been
processed by a computer ;
Ex: Using this program, you can get a read-out of all the areas where sales have increased.

1. To move the feet and body in a way that matches the speed or movement of music ;
Ex: I love to dance; they danced to the music of the band; would you like to dance with
me?
2. To perfom ( a type of dance );

Ex: We danced the waltz ;

1. [ T + obj.+ adv. / prep. ] To cause to dance;

Ex: She danced the baby round the room;

2. To move quickly up and down, or about

Ex: The branches of the trees danced in the breeze ; the figures on the computer screen
danced up and down in front of my eyes (= I couldn’t read them properly );

5. “To dance atendance on / upon someone”

1. BrE. To do what someone wants without asking ques�on, in a way that shows complete
obedience ;_ BrE. Dancer ;

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1. An act of dancing ;
Ex: Let’s have one more dance before we go home ; She did a dance in �me to the music;
to play dance music;
2. ( the name of ) a par�cular set of a movements performed to music;

Ex: The waltz is a beau�ful dance ; a tradi�onal tribal dance;

1. A social mee�ng or party for dancing;

Ex: They’re giving / holding a dance on New year’s day ;

2. A piece of music for dancing ;

Ex: The band played a slow dance;

5. [( the ) U ] ( some�mes cap. ) The art of dancing , esp. Ballet dancing _see also Country
dance , Song and dance , “Lead someone a dance”

1. To produce ( music, musical sounds , songs ) with the voice ;

Ex: birds sing loudest in the early morning ! ; We enjoy singing carol at Christmas;
[ +obj(i) + obj(d) ] Please, sing us a song ; She sang her baby to sleep (= sang to make it
go to sleep );
2. make or be filled with a high ringing sound ;

Ex: My ears are s�ll singing from the loud noise ; / an enemy bullet sang past my ear ;

3. [ (Of ); T ] lit To speak , tell about , or praise in poetry ;

Ex: Poets sang the king’s praises (= praised him ) ; they sang of his brave deeds; ~er (n):
She’s a good singer; an opera singer ;

1. Sing sthg. Out Infml to shout or sing loudly ;

Ex: sing out if you think you know the answer ;

1. writen abbrev. For : Singular.

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Ex: a sing. noun ;

1. To burn lightly on the surface or edge .

Ex: I’m afraid I’ve singed your shirt with the hot iron ; He got too near the fire and singed his
beard;

1. A slight burn ; an act or mark of singeing .

1. To move yourself forward through water by using the arms and legs, a tail , fins , etc..
Ex: We’re all going swimming ; She’s teaching the children to swim ;They watched the fish
swimming in the aquarium ; Some snakes can swim ;
2. To cross or complete ( a distance ) by doing this ;

Ex: To swim a river ; To swim 100 metres ;

1. To use ( a par�cular stroke ) in swimming ;

Ex: She can swim breaststroke, backstroke , and crawl;

4. [ (With , in ); T ] To be full or surrounded with liquid ;

Ex: the soup was swimming with fat / meat swimming in gravy ;

5. [ I ] To cause one to feel dizzy ; seem to spin round and round

Ex: He was hot and �red and his head was swimming ;

6. [ I ] “Swim with / against the �de” - to follow /not to follow the behaviour of other
people around one ;_see also Sink or swim (sink)_ ~er (n): She’s a strong swimmer

1. an act or occasion of swimming ;

Ex: let’s go for a swim ; She’s teaching the children to swim ;They watched the fish swimming
in the aquarium ; Some snakes can swim ;
2. “In the swim” – Infml knowing about and concerned in what is going on in modern life ;

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Swimming [n] The act or sport of one who swims

Ex: swimming is a good form of exercise ; swimming club; wearing a swimming cap;_see
Referee ( usage );
Swimming bath also swimming baths pl. [n] BrE. A public swimming pool, usu.
Indoors; _see also Baths; see Bath ( Usage )

Swimming costume also swim suit , Bathing suit pl. [n] BrE. A garment worn by
women for swimming ;_ Compare Swimming trunks; see also Bikini ;

Swimmingly adv. Old-fash Infml Easily and successfully ;

Ex: Everthing is going swimmingly ;

Swimming pool also pool [n] A large usu. outdoor container filled with water, and
used for swimming ;

Swimming trunks also swim suit , Bathing suit pl. [n] BrE. A man’s garment, like
very short or legless trousers worn for swimming ;_ Compare Swimming costume; see
also pair ( usage ) ;

7. [ (With , in ); T ] To be full or surrounded with liquid ;

Ex: the soup was swimming with fat / meat swimming in gravy ;

8. [ I ] To cause one to feel dizzy ; seem to spin round and round

Ex: He was hot and �red and his head was swimming ;

9. [ I ] “Swim with / against the �de” - to follow /not to follow the behaviour of other
people around one ;_see also Sink or swim (sink)_ ~er (n): She’s a strong swimmer

1. To go up towards the top of ;

Ex: They climb the hill ; The litle train climbed the mountain-side slowly ; teaching the
children to swim ;They watched the fish swimming in the aquarium ; Some snakes can swim
;
2. To rise or slope upwards con�nuously;

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Ex: The plane/the road climbed steeply ; The Sun climbed steadily in the sky ; The value of
imports has climbed (=increased ) sharply in the past year; He climbed to power slowly but
surely;

2. To go up, through ,into ,or out of , etc.., usu. moving from lower to a higher
posi�on , by using the hands and feet ;
Ex: To climb a ladder ; To climb a tree ; The old lady climbs (up) the stairs with difficulty ;
She climbed into the lifeboat ; He climbed onto the table ; He climbed out of the window;
They climbed down the side of the cliff ;
1. [ I ( up ); T ] ( of a plant ) to grow upwards along ( a suppor�ng surface ) ;
Ex: I have several climbing plants in the garden ;

10. [ ( I + into , out of ) ] Infml To get into or out of clothing quickly or with effort;

Ex: the firemen climbed into their uniforms;

11. [ I ] “ Go climbing “ - To climb hills, mountain, etc.. as a sport ;

Ex: We went climbing in the Alps last year ;

“Climb down “
1. Infml To admit that one has been wrong, has made a mistake, etc.. so as to make a
difficult situa�on easier ; _

Climb down [n] :

Ex: His last-minute climb down saved the country from war;
2. Climb [n usu. sing.] :

1. An act of climbing or a journey made by climbing;

EX: The climb down was even harder than the climb up ; The minister’s climb to power ;

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2 . A place to be climbed ; very steep slope ;

EX: There was a steep climb on the road out of Town ;

Climber [n usu. sing.] :

1. A person or thing that climbs;

EX: This plant is a good climber ; a famous mountain climber ;

Climbing frame BrE.// Also jungle gym AmE.// ;

1. A large frame made of bars for children to climb on ;

Climbing iron [n usu. pl.] a crampon ;

1. A crampon ;

1. To move or travel in ( a vehicle with more than two wheels ) while guiding and
controlling it;
Ex: To drive a car / train / bus ; Shall we stop for lunch or shall we drive on? (=con�nue driving
); They drove to the sta�on; He loaded the van and drove off; I’m learning to drive ; _compare
Ride (1) ;
2. [ T + obj + adv./prep. ] To take ( someone ) in a vehicle ;

Ex: Can you drive me to the sta�on ? ;

3. [ T + obj + adv./prep. ] To force to go ;

Ex:The farmer was driving his catle along de road; the bad weather has driven the tourists
away; the firemen were driven back by the flames; The shortage of bread will probably drive
prices up ;
12. To provide the power for ;

Ex: the engines drive the ship;

13. [ T + obj + adv./prep. ] To force to go somewhere by hi�ng ;

Ex: To drive the nail into / through the wood ;

14. [ T + obj + adv./prep. ] To produce by opening a way ;

Ex: To drive a tunnel through the mountain / under a river;

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6. To force ( someone ) into a usu. unpleasant condi�on or undesirable course of

ac�on ;
Ex: [ T + obj + adv./prep. ] Con�nual failure drove him to despair / to drink ; That noise is
driving me out of my mind ; [ + obj + adv. ] The pain nearby drove her mad ;
[ + obj + to-v ] Poverty and hunger drove them to steal ;

7. [ T + obj + adv./prep. ] To force to go somewhere by hi�ng ;

Ex: To drive the nail into / through the wood ;

8. [ I ] ( esp. of rain ) To move along with great force ;

Ex: driving rain ;

9. “Drive a hard bargain”

a. To get an agreement very much in one’s own favour ;

1. [ I ] “Drive something home ( to )”
a. To make something unmistakably clear ( to );

EX: The accident at the factory really Drove home (to us) the point that safety regula�ons
must be observed ;
Usage:
If you are in control of a car, you drive it ; If you are in control of a ship , you pilot it ; If
you are in control of a bycicle, you ride it ; . If you direct the course of a car, ship, or
bycicle, you steer it ; . But when talking about a plane , the word fly and pilot mean
both being in control of it and direc�ng its course .
EX: To fly / pilot an airplane ;_ see also Car (USAGE), Transport (USAGE)

1. “ Drive at “ [ T no pass.; in progressive form ] -

a. Infml to mean or suggest indirectly ; Hint ;

Ex: What are you driving at ?

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2. “ Drive off “ [ I ] ( Drive sbdy. /sthg. off )
a. To force away or back ; Repel ;

Ex: They drove off their atackers ;

1. [ I ] ( In a game of golf ) To make the first stroke ;

1. A journey in a vehicle ( esp. for pleasure );

Ex: They went for a drive along the coast;

2. [ c] also Drive-way “ – A road for vehicle that connects a private house or garage with
the street ;_ see picture at House ;
Ex: The house has the drive .

4. [C] An act of hi�ng a ball, the distance the ball is hit or the force with which it is hit;

Ex: To hit a long high drive to the right ;

15. A planned effort by a group for a par�cular purpose ; Campaign ;

Ex: the club is having a membership drive (= to get more members ); A big an�-smoking
drive ;
16. [ c ] An important natural human need which must be fulfilled ;

Ex: Hunger, thirst, and sex are among the strongest human drives ;

17. [ c ] A forceful ac�ve quality of mind that gets things done ; In�a�ve

Ex: He’s clever but he won’t succeed because he lacks drive ;

9. The apparatus by which a machine is set or kept in movement ;

Ex: This car has (a) front-wheel drive (= the engine turns the front wheels ) ;
10. [ c ] BrE. A compe��on of the stated type, esp. of a card game ;

Ex: a whist drive ; _ see also disk drive ;

1. AmE ; That people can use while remaining in their cars ;

Ex: a drive-in restaurant / cinema ;

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2. [ c] also Drive-in “ – [n] ;

Ex: Are you coming to the drive-in tonight ?

5. [C] -ll BrE // -l AmE // [ I (on) ] To talk nonsense ;

Ex: Don’t talk such a drivel _~er n ;

18. A person who drives ;

Ex: the driver of a car / special insurance rates for young drivers_see also L-driver ;

19. [ c ] A golf club with a wooden head ;

20. [ c ] Passing on or carrying power or force ;

Ex: a driving wheel;

11. Capable of producing strong or no�ceable effects ; dynamic ;
Ex: He’s the owner of the company, but his deputy is the real driving force behind it;
12. [ c ] Having a great force ;

Ex: a driving rain ;

21. [ c ] of or about guiding and controlling vehicles esp. cars ;

Ex: a driving school ; a driving test ;

13. “ In the driving seat” Infml in charge ; in control ;
Ex: Who’s in the driving seat of the company ?

6. [C] “ Driving licence BrE // Driver’s licence AmE // ;

A paper giving official permission to drive a motor vehicle , obtained a�er success in driving
test ;

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1. To prepare ( food ) for ea�ng by using heat; make ( a dish )
Ex: There various ways of cooking rice ; Do you want your vegetables cooked or raw? ; I
learnt how to cook at school; [ + obj.(i) + obj.(d) ] She cooked to us a marvellous dinner;
2. [ I ] ( of food ) To be prepared in this way ;

Ex: please, make sure the meat cooks for at least an hour ;

7. [ I ] Infml To change ( facts, numbers, etc.. ) dishonestly for one’s own advantage;
falsify ;
Ex: He was sacked for cooking (= stealing money by making changes in the
accounts ) ;
22. “ Cook someone’s goose “ Infml To ruin someone’s plan or chances of success ;

Usage:
A modern gas or electric cooker usually has three parts: the , the ( AmE.)
and the or on top . The is used for baking bread and cakes, or
roas�ng a large piece of meat. The is an apparatus for cooking by direct heat and can
be used , for example, for grilling ( broiling AmE.) meat or toas�ng bread (= making it hard
and brown ) . The or can be used for boiling food in a pot
with water, for stewing food (= cooking food slowly in liquid to make a stew ) or for frying
(=cooking food in a hot flat or oil ) . is very gentle slow boiling. is
cooking food in water but in a inner container so that the water does not directly touch the
food. , used usually of meat, means cooking slowly in a covered pot with a litle fat
and water.

1. “Cook sthg. Up” Infml To invent falsely; Concoct ;

Ex: They cooked up some excuse about an accident, but no one believed them ;

2. [ n ] A person who prepares and cooks food ;

Ex: John’s a cook in a hotel ; My mother’s a really good cook ; _compare Chef

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3. [ n ] esp. BrE // Stove esp. AmE // An apparatus on which food is cooked; _see
cook ( Usage ) , and see picture at kitchen
Ex: Put the pot on the cooker ;

4. A fruit, esp. an apple , suitable for cooking ;

1. [ n ] The art or skill of cooking ;

Ex: cookery lessons ;

1. [ n ] also cook-book - A book on how to prepare and cook food ;

Ex: My grandma has a great cookery book ;

1. [ n ] also cook-houses old-fash A kitchen in the open air , where food is cooked in a
camp ;

2. [ n ] also “cooky” esp. AmE - A sweet biscuit ;

Ex: We had cooky and coffe ; A chocolate-chip cookies ;

2. [ I ] ScotE for bun ;

3 . [ n ] also “cooky” _ AmE sl A person of a par�cular type ;

Ex: A tough cookie ; A smart cookie ;

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3. [ A ] Suitable for or used in cooking ;

Ex: A cooking sherry ; coffe ; A cooking oil

3. [ n ] An apple that one eats cooked ;_ compare Ea�ng apple ;

3 . [ n ] Infml esp. AmE _ A meal cooked and eaten outdoors ;

1. To ( cause to ) become clean , esp. by rubbing and o�en without water ;

Ex: Your shoes need cleaning ; To clean one’s nails / teeth / the windows ; To clean marks
off the table ;_ see also Dry- clean ; Spring- clean ;
2. [T] To cut out the inside parts of the body from ( birds and animals that are to be eaten
); _ compare Eviscerate ~ing [n]: to do the cleaning

Usage:
In order to clean a room and its contents, you can brush any surface at any level using a
brush, usually held in one hand. You can sweep the floor using a brush with a long handle.
You can dust surfaces above floor level using a so� cloth. You can scrub any surface by
rubbing it hard with a short, s�ff brush using water. You can wipe any surface by rubbing it
with a cloth, probably using some water. _ See also Wash ( Usage )

“Clean out” – (“Clean sthg./sbdy. out”) -

1. “ To make ( the inside of a room, box , etc.. ) clean and �dy ;
Ex: She cleaned out the rabbit’s hutch ;

2. Infml a. To take all the money of;

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Ex: If we have to get the car repaired, we’ll be completely cleaned out ;

2. “b. To steal everything from ( a place ) ;

Ex: the thieves cleaned out the store ;

“Clean up” – [ I; T ( = “Clean sthg. up”) ] -

1. “ To clean thoroughly and remove anything unwanted ( the inside of a room, box ,
etc.. ) clean and �dy ;
Ex: It’s your turn to clean ( the kitchen ) up ; clean up this mess at once! ; (fig.) The new
mayor has promised to clean up the Town by ge�ng rid of all the criminals ;
2. [I; T ( = Clean up sthg.)] Infml To gain ( a large amount of money ) as profit ;
Ex: we really cleaned up at races today; He cleaned up a fortune playing cards ; _ see also
Clean-up ;

“1. [ n ] An act of cleaning -

Ex: Give the windows / your shows a good clean ;

“1. Completely -
Ex: I clean forgot it was her birthday ; [ ( + adv./prep. ) ] The bullet went clean through my
arm; The bank robbers got clean away (= escaped easily );
2. “clean bowled”- ( in Cricket ) Bowled (2) by a ball which does not touch the bat ;

“1. Well shaped ; Regular ; -

Ex: A clean-cut hairstyle ;

2. Neat and clean in appeance ; presentable ;

Ex: A clean-cut college boy ;

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“1. [n] A person whose job is cleaning offices, houses , etc.. ; -
Ex: A house cleaner ;

2. A machine , apparatus , or substance used in cleaning ;

“1. [n ( the ) S ] A dry cleaner’s ; -

2. “Take someone to the cleaner’s” Infml To cause someone to lose all their money,
possessions, etc.. esp. by dishonesty ;

“1. Apprec. or humor ( esp. of a young man ) Tall , well-built ,and ac�ve-looking ; -

“1. [n] Habitual cleanness ; -

Ex: High standards of cleanliness ;

1. In a clean manner ( esp. clean (4)

)
Ex: The branch snapped cleanly in two ; The vo�ng was split cleanly along party lines;

2. fml careful to keep clean ; habitually clean ;

1. fml to make ( a cut , wound , etc.. ) clean and pure ;

Ex: The nurse cleansed the wound before s�tching it ; The vo�ng was split cleanly along
party lines;

2. [ ( of ) ] To make morally pure or free from guilt ;

Ex: He asked God to cleanse him of his sins ;

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1. [n] A substance such as chemical liquid or powder , used for cleaning ;
Ex: The nurse cleansed the wound before s�tching it ; The vo�ng was split cleanly along
party lines;

1. With no hair on the lower part of the face ;

Ex: He used to have a mustache and beard, but now he’s clean-shaven ;

2. [ ( of ) ] To make morally pure or free from guilt ;

Ex: He asked God to cleanse him of his sins ;

1. [ usu. sing. ] A complete removal or change ;

Ex: The company chairman has made clean-sweep and replaced his en�re management
team;
2. A Complete victory ;
Ex: The race was a clean-sweep for Germany – They finished first, second, and third ;

1. [ S ] The act of cleaning up ( clean up ) ;

Ex: A clean-up campaign against Industrial pollu�on ;

2. sl esp. Am.E A very large profit ;

1.a. free from dirt ;

Ex: Are your hands clean ? ; a spotlessly clean room; sweep the floor clean; I changed into
a clean shirt;
1.b [ I ] Free from bacteria or anything impure ;

Ex: A clean drinking water ;

2. [ I ] Not yet used ; fresh ;

Ex: A clean piece of paper ;

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3. a. Morally or sexually pure ;

Ex: Don’t worry about it, it’s all good clean fun ; a clean joke (= one not concerned with sex)
;
4. b. Not disobeying the rules or laws ; fair or honest ;

Ex: a clean fight ; She has clean a record (= is not criminal ); a clean driving licence ; All the
presiden�al candidates fought clean a campaign ; nail into / through the wood ;
5. Having a smooth edge or surface ; even ; regular ;
Ex: a clean cut ; the aircra�’s clean lines ; (fig.) To make a clean break with the past ;

6. sl Having no hidden weapons, illegal drugs , etc.. ;

Ex: The police searched him but he was clean ;

7. [ I ] “Come clean” _ Infml To admit one’s guilt or tell the ( esp. unpleasant ) truth ;

Ex: Why don’t you come clean about your involvement in all this ? ;_ see also Cleanly ,
Make a clean breast of _( Breast ) _~ness [n]

1. [ I ( With )] ( esp. of children ) To amuse oneself with a game , using toys , running and
jumping , etc … ;
Ex: Can Milù come out to play (with me )?; The children were playing with their train set ;

2. [ I; T ( on, for , to )] a. To produce sounds ( from );

Ex: The radio was playing very loudly ; He just sits in his room playing records on his stereo;

2. b. To perform ( a piece of music ) on ( a musical instrument )

Ex: A world-famous violinist is playing at tonight’s concert ; She plays the piano well ; He’d
writen a tune, and played it for / to us on the piano ; [ + obj.(i) + obj.(d) ] He played us a
tune on the piano ;
3. [ I; T ( against , for )] To take part in ( a sport or game ) ;

Ex: Our best defender is injured and won’t be able to play today ; He plays cricket for
England ; Can you play chess ? ; England are playing ( = playing against them ) France at
football tomorrow ;
4. [ I; T ( on )] To plan and carry out for one’s own amusement or gain ;
Ex: They played a joke on me ; (fig.) I thought my eyes must be playing tricks on me (=
deceiving me );

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5. [ I + adv./prep.; T ] a. ( of an actor or theatre group ) To perform ( in ) ;

Ex: (The part of) Othello was played by Olivier ; Olivier is playing in “Othello at the Na�onal
Theatre ; (fig.) The United States played a key role in ge�ng the hostage released ;
6. b. ( of a play or film ) To be performed or shown ;

Ex: “Gone with the Wind” is playing at the Odeon ;

7. [ I ] To pretend to be ;

Ex: She likes to play the great lady (= behave in a very grand way ); The children are playing
doctors and nurses ; He played dead ; (fig.) You’re always playing the fool (= behaving in a
silly way );
1. [ T + obj + adv./prep. ] To hit and send ( a ball ) ;
Ex: She played the ball just over the net ;

2. [T]. To place ( a playing card ) face upwards on the table ;

Ex: Shall I play my jack or queen ?;

1. [ I + adv./prep. ] often lit To move quickly, irregularly , or con�nuously ;

Ex: A smile played across her lips ; She watched the sunlight playing on the water ;

2. [ T + obj + adv./prep. ] To aim or direct , esp. con�nuously ;

Ex: The firemen played their hoses on the burning buildings ;

3. [ T + obj. + adv./prep. ] Infml To deal with ; Handle ;

Ex: I don’t know how you want to play this mee�ng, “it could be rather tricky , so we’d
beter play it carefully ;
4. b. ( of a play or film ) To be performed or shown ;

Ex: “Gone with the Wind” is playing at the Odeon ;

5. [ I ] “play ball “- Infml To agree to do what someone else has suggested; Cooperate;

Ex: We wanted to get the Union’s agreement on the new procedures, but they wouldn’t
play ball (with us );
6. [ I ] “play for �me “- To cause delay, in order to gain more �me ;

7. [ I ] “play hard to get “- Infml To pretend one is not sexually interested in someone in
order to make them more interested;

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7. [ I ] “play into someone’s hands “- To behave in a way that gives someone an
advantage over one ;

8. [ I ] “play it by ear” “- To act according to changing condi�ons, rather than making

fixed plans in advance ;

6. [ I ] “play it cool “- Infml To remain calm, in a difficult or dangerous situa�on;

7. [ I ] “play (it) safe “- Infml To act in such a way that one has the best chance of
avoiding troubles ;
Ex: It may not rain, but you’d beter play it safe and take a raincoat;

8. [ I ] “play someone’s cards close to one’s chest “- To keep one’s ac�ons or inten�ons
secret;

9. [ I ] “play one’s cards right / properly “- Infml To use well whatever chances,
condi�ons, facts, etc.. , one has ;
Ex: If you play your cards right you could make a nice litle pro� out of this job ;

10. [ I ] “play the devil with “- Infml To do a lot of harm to ;

Ex: Snow storms are playing the devil with food deliveries to the areas ;

11. [ I ] “play the field “- Infml esp. Am.E To go out socially with more than one partner
of the opposite sex ;

12. [ I ] “play the game “- Infml To be fair, honest and honourable ;

13. [ I ] “play the market “- To buy and sell business shares in order to try to make money;

1. [ I ] “play to the gallery “- Infml To do what will please most people in order to
gain popularity, even if it is not the most sensible course of ac�ons ;

“play about / around ” – -

1. “ To spend �me having fun ;
Ex: I don’t play around o�en ;

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1. [( with )] To have a non-serious sexual rela�onship ;
Ex: He’s always playing around with other men’s wives;

“play along ” – [“play sbdy. along ” ]

1. [( with )] To pretend to agree ( with one or one’s ideas ), esp. so as to gain an
advantage or avoid trouble ;
2. ( play sbdy. along ) To deceive ( someone ) by make them think one is soon going to
do something for them ;
“play at sthg.- [ T + obj. / v-ing ]
1. “ ( Of children ) To pretend to be or do for fun;
Ex: Litle boys playing at ( being ) sodiers ; clean up this mess at once! ;

2. To do in a way that is not very serious ;

Ex: His parents are so rich that he can just play at business/ being a business man ; (Showing
annoyance or impa�ence ) What ( the hell ) do you think you’re playing at ? – You can’t change
a wheel that way ! ;
“play sthg. back
1. [ T ] To play ( something that has just been recorded on a machine ) so as to listen to it
or look at it ;_ see also Playback;
“play sthg. down
1. To make ( something ) seem less important ;
Ex: The Government is trying to play down its role in the affair (= trying to make it seem that
it did not take an important part in it )_Opposite play up ;
“play sthg. in [ T ]
1. To get ( oneself ) used to playing at the beginning of a game ;
Ex: I need a few more minutes play myself in ; (fig.) She’s s�ll play herself into her new job
as sales director ;
“play off (“play sthg. /sbdy. Off )
1. [ ( Against ) ] (“play sthg. /sbdy. Off ) To set ( people or things ) in opposi�on esp. for
one’s own advantage ;
Ex: She played her two boyfriends off ( against each other ) ;

2. To play another match in order to decide who wins ;

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Ex: The losing semifinalists will play off for third place ;_see also Play off;

“play on / upon sthg.

1. [ T ] To try to use or encourage ( esp. the feelings of others ) for one’s own advantage;
Exploit ;
Ex: This film about handicappeyd people is just playing on people’s sympathy ;

“play sthg. out [ T ]

1. To con�nue ( a game or struggle ) un�l a result is gained ;
Ex: Shall we call it a draw, or play it down ;_ see also played out ;

“play up”
1. [ T ] (play sthg. up ) To give special importance to ; Emphasize ;
Ex: In the interview you should play up your experience of working abroad ;_ oppos. Play
down ;
2. [ T ] [(play sbdy. up )] To cause trouble or suffering (to) ;
Ex: My bad leg has been playing up again ; The class played the new teacher up ;

“play up to”
1. [ T ] [( play up to sbdy.)] ; To behave so as to win the favour of ;
Ex: She’s always playing up to the boss;

[ T ] [(play with sbdy./sthg. )];

1. ( play with sbdy./sthg. ) To consider ( an idea ) not very seriously ;

Ex: She’s been playing with the idea of star�ng her own business ;

2. play with oneself ” euph for masturbate ;

<

3. “ to play with ” That one can use ; Avaliable ;

Ex: We haven’t got a lot of �me to play with , so we’d beter hurry up ; _ see also Play2 (1)
, play with the fire ( Fire ) ;

“1. ( of a piece of ground used for sports ) fit to be played on ;_See also Unplayable – -

2. ( of music ) Not too difficult to be played ;

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1. [ T ] To behave in a non-serious way, esp. by pretending things that are
not true_ ~ing [n]

2. Also replay - A recording of something heard or seen, esp. on television, that is

played at once a�er it is made, so that one can study it carefully _See also play back

1. [T] A weathy man who lives a life of expensive pleasure, doing no

work ;
Ex: A middle-aged playboy ; His playboy lifestyle ;

1. [ Am.E for plas�cine ;

1. [T] Having lost one’s former powers , ability , etc..

1. [T] Of no further use ; Old-fashioned , ..

Ex: played-out ideas; _see also play-out

1. A person taking part in a game or sport ;

<

2. A person playing a musical instrument ;

<

2. esp. old use or pomp A actor _see also Record player;

1. [n] also Pianola tdmk; A piano that is played by machinery, the music being controlled
by a con�nuous roll of paper ( Piano roll ) with holes cut into it for the notes ;

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<

2. A play-mate;

1. Happily ac�ve ; full of fun ;

Ex: A playful litle dog ;

2. Not intended seriously ;

Ex: A playful kiss on the cheek ; _ ~ly _adv._ ~ness _[n]

“1. A person who goes to see plays , esp. regularly ;

1. A piece of ground kept for children to play on , esp. at school ;

2. An area where esp. the stated people go for enjoyment ;

Ex: The south of France is the playground of rich ;

3. Am.E for recrea�on ground ;

1. Also playschool ; esp. Br.E a kind of informal school for very young children, esp. of
three to five years old ;_ Compare Crèche , Nursery , Nursery school

1. n -houses ; ( o�en cap. as part of a name ) A theatre ;

Ex: The Oxford playhouse ;

2. A hut built to look like a small house , for children to play in;

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1. n fml for card ;

1. ; A large piece of ground with par�cular areas marked out for playing such games as
football and Cricket ;

1. also play-fellow old fashion A friend who shares in children’s games and play ;
Ex: The litle boy’s chief playmate was his dog ; We were childhood playmates;

1. A second match played to decide who wins, when the first has not done so ;_
compare run-off , _see also Play-off (2)
Ex: The litle boy’s chief playmate was his dog ; We were childhood playmates;

2. Play on word _ “Plays on words” [ usu. sing. ] A Pun ;

1. A frame enclosed by bars or a net and placed on the floor for a small child to play
safely in ;

1. A room for children to play in ;

1. A playgroup ;)

1. fml A toy ;
<

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2. esp. lit A person who is treated with no seriousness or considera�on by another ;
Ex: He was just her plaything ; Are we the plaything of fate ? (= Are we not free to decide
our own ac�on );

1. A ( short ) period of �me, esp. at school , when children can go out to play ;

2. A writer of plays;

1. [U] Ac�vity for amusement only, esp. among children ;

Ex: The happy laughter of children at play ; She only did it in play - She didn’t really mean it

2. [C]A piece of wri�ng ( to be ) performed by actors in a theatre or on television or radio;

Ex: One of Shakespear’s best-known plays ; He’s writen a new TV play ; The college drama
society are going to put on ( =perform ) a play;
2. The ac�on in a sport ;
Ex: We’ve had an interes�ng day’s play in cricket match ; Rain stopped play ; unfair play ;

1. fml The state of being in effect or opera�on ;

Ex: He had to bring all his experiences into play (= use all his experiences ) to beat this
difficult opponet ; Now that television has become important in elec�ons, a new set of
circumstances has come into play ;
2. [U] Freedom of movement given by slight looseness;

Ex: There’s too much play in the steering wheels ; (fig.) He gave full / free play to his feelings
and began to shout angrily ;
3. An act intended to bring about a par�cular result ;

Ex: He decided to make a play for the girl (= to try to atract her ) ;

4. [ ( the ) S] esp. lit Light , quick , not las�ng movement ;

Ex: The play of sunshine and shadow among the trees ;

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5. “ In / Into / out of play” – ( Of the ball in football, Cricket, etc.. ) in / into / not in
posi�on where the rules of the game allow it to be played ;
Ex: The defender kicked the ball out of play _see also Child’s play ;

1. [U] To spend �me in learning ( one or more subjects ), esp. as part of an educa�onal
course ;
Ex: He studies French ; She’s studying to be a doctor? ; A violinist who studied under (=was
taught by ) Yehudi Menuhin ;
2. [C] To examine carefully ; Scru�nize ;

Ex: She studied the report; He studied her face ;

1. Also studies pl. - fml The act of studying one or more subjects ;
Ex: I spent the en�re a�ernoon in study ; You must give more �me to your studies ; How are
your medical studies progressing?;
1. [C ( Of ) ] A thorough enquiry into a par�cular subject , esp. including a piece of
wri�ng on it ;
Ex: The university’s department of social studies ; She’s made a study of the language of
Shakespeare’s plays ; The Government has ordered a feasibility study in connec�on with the
proposed new airport ; A study group working on aspects of the company’s financial policy ;
2. [U] A room used for private work or study or as an office ;

Ex: The headmaster’s study ;

3. [C ( Of ) ] A drawing or pain�ng of a detail, esp. for combining later into a larger

picture ;
Ex: A study of a flower ;

4. [C] A piece of music for prac�ce

Ex: Chopin’s piano study ;

1. [C] “Brown study”_ Infml In deep thought ;_ see also Case study;

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The key contexts…
1. To use the power of reason ; make judgment or careful consideration ; Use
the mind to form ideas and opinions .

She thought long and hard before coming to a decision;

My headache was so bad I could hardly think straight; You
look very thoughtful ; What are you thinking about?;
thinking great thoughts;” /teaching children to think for
themselves ! (= to form their own opinions); I thought to
myself (=I had the thought ), he’s behaving very oddly ;_see
also think about ;
2. (a) To believe ; Consider ; Have an opinion ;

Ex: [ (+ that )] The police think That the bomb was planted
by terrorist; I think She’s wrong, don’t you ?; Do you think it
will rain ?, “Yes I think so ; Who do you think murdered the
old lady ? (= In your opinion, who murdered her? ); I don’t
think She’ll come (= I think she will not come ); I don’t think she’ll come, I know she’ll come
(= Not only do I think she’ll come , but I know she’ll come ); From the way he behaves, you’d
think he owned the company (=he behaves in a way that suggests this, though it is not true
); [+obj + n/adj.] ( fml ) He thinks himself a great government is thought to be planning an
elec�on in June (= This is what most people think );_see also think of (2);
2. [ T + wh- ; obj ] ( Used after cannot and could not ) To imagine ; Understand ;

Ex: I can’t think why you did it ; He’s a most unpleasant man - I can’t think why She married
him ;
3. [ T + wh- ; obj ] To reason about ; Bring to mind ; Remember ;

Ex: think how big and varied the World is ; Try and think where you last saw him ;

3. [ T + ( that ); obj ] To have as a half-formed inten�on or plan ;

Ex: I think I’m going to make some tea – Would you like a cup ? ; We thought we’d go
swimming tomorrow ; You’ll go swimming tomorrow, Will you ? , “Yes , We thought so” (=
That is my inten�on ); [ T + to-v ] ( old use ) They thought to deceive me, but I was too
clever for them ; See also Think of ;

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3. [ T + ( that ); obj ] To expect ;

Ex: She said she’d kill him, but I never thought She’d actually do it ; We didn’t think We’d
be this late ; Who would have thought that she’d end up as prime minister ? ( Shows
surprise ); He’s in trouble with the police again”, I thought as much”. (=That’s just What I
expected ) ;
1. [ T + to-v ; obj. usu. in nega�ves ] To be sensi�ve or though�ul enough ( to do
something ) .
Ex: I didn’t think to ask her if she had passed her exam ;

2. [ T + ( that ); obj ] ( used in requests ) ; ;

Ex: Do you think you could help with this box ?;

2. “Think aloud” – To speak one’s thoughts as they come

<<<

3. Infml “Think big” – To plan to do thing on a large scale rather than carefully or in a
limited way ;

2. “Think on one’s feet” – To think and make decisions quickly ;

<

. “Think twice” – To think very carefully about something ;

Ex: I should think twice before accep�ng that offer , It sounds rather suspicious ; See also
see / think fit to (Fit ) ;

Word Usage

 To make this word stronger, say I thought hard ; I thought deeply ; . In nega�ve
sentences, the nega�ve normally goes with think , not with the next verb.
Ex: I don’t think she’ll come ; They didn’t think I was good enough ; ,

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“think about” sthg.

2. “ To consider seriously before making a decision ;

Ex: Dad, will you buy me a new bike?””I don’t know, I’ll have to think about it ;

3. [( with )] To think of (1,2);

“think of” sbdy./sthg.

1. To have formed a possible but not firmly setled plan for ;

Ex: I’d thought of blue for this room;[ + v-ing ] We’re thinking of going to France for our
holidays, but we haven’t decided for certain yet ; _ see also think(1)
2. “ To have as an opinion about;
Ex: What do you think of / about the government’s latest offer to the teachers? ;_ see also
think(2) ;
3. To take into account ; Consider;
Ex: Do be careful, think of the risks you’re taking ; It’s a nice idea, but think of the costs ;

4. [ T ] To remember (Used a�er cannot and could not and in the infini�ve a�er Try, Want
, etc..)
Ex: I can’t think of his name ; I tried to think of her phone number, but I just couldn’t
remember it ;
” “Not think much of”

1. To have a low opinion of ;

Ex: I don’t think much of these so-called improvements to the Town centre ;

“
“Not think of”

4. Infml Not consider or not be able to ;

Ex: I wouldn’t think of le�ng you walk home on a night like this ;

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“ think beter of sthg.

2. To change one’s opinion about something ; Decide wisely against something ;

Ex: I was going to ask him to help, but thought beter of (doing) it ;

“ think highly / well / litle / poorly / etc.. of

1. [ T ] To have a good / bad / etc.. opinion of ( someone or something );

Ex: We all think very highly of her ; _see also Well thought of ;

“ think nothing of “

1. To regard as usual or easy ;

Ex: He thinks nothing of walking four miles to work and back everyday ;

“ think nothing of it“

2. ( A reply to thanks or an apology ) “I am glad I have helped you” ;

E “ think the world of “

3. [ T ] To care about very much ;

Ex: He may get angry some�mes, but really he thinks the world of you ;

“ think sthg. out / through

1. To consider carefully and in detail, esp. so that all the possible results of an ac�on are
understood in advance; Reach a decision about (something) a�er much careful thought;
Ex: I don’t think the government has really thought out / through all the consequences of
this decision ;_ see also thought out
“ think; sthg. over

1. To consider seriously ;
Ex: Your offer is very atrac�ve, but I need to think it over before I can let you know my
decision;

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“ think sthg. up
<

5. To invent ( an idea ) ;
Ex: The prisoners tried to think up a plan for escape;

Think – noun

1. [ S (about) ] Infml An act of thinking , esp. about a difficulty or ques�on ;

Ex: I’ll have to have a think about this before I give you an answer; If you think I’m going to
lend you a pound you’ve got another think coming.(= you’ll have to think of someone else
to ask, because I certainly won’t lend you a pound );

Thinking – noun

1. The act of using one’s mind to produce thoughts and ideas ;

Ex: I’ve been doing some thinking and I’ve decided to change my job ;

2. A way of thinking about something ; Opinion ; Judgment ;

Ex: What’s the administra�on thinking on this mater ? ; To my way of thinking (= in my
opinion ), they are making a serious mistake;

“Put on one’s thinking cap”

1. Infml To think seriously about something ;_see also Wishful thinking

Thinking – Adjective
.

1. [ A ] apprec Though�ul , able to think , esp. clearly and seriously ;

Ex: All thinking people agree that something must be done about World hunger ; Plans to
develop a thinking computer ;

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Think-tank

1. [ C + sing. / pl. v ] A commitee of people experienced in a par�cular subject , established

by an organiza�on, government ,etc.. , to develop ideas and advise on maters related to
that subject ;

The contexts-

1. [I (at) ] To express amusement , happiness , careless disrespect, etc.. by

breathing out forcefully so that one makes sounds with the voice , usu. while
smiling ;

Ex: It was so funny, we couldn’t help laughing; Don’t

laugh- This is a serious mater ; I told him not to be so
rude , but he just laughed ; No one laughs at my jokes;
(fig.) Her laughing eyes (= bright happy-looking );
2. [ T + obj. + adv/prep. ] To bring , put , etc..
with laughing ;

Ex: The pathe�c performance was laughed off the

stage ;
3. [ T + obj. + adj. ] To cause ( oneself ) to become by laughing ;

Ex: It was such a ridiculous sugges�on that we all laughed ourselves silly ( =laughed very
much ); He laughed himself hoarse;

“Laugh in someones’s face” –

1. To show clear disrespect or disobedience towards someone ; ;

Ex: I suggested that he should work late and he laughed in my face ;

“Laugh like a drain” –

1. Br.E infml To laugh loudly , openly and perhaps rudely;

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“Laugh on the other side of one’s face ” –

3. ( usu. said unkindly ) To experience disappointment , sorrow , failure , etc.. a�er

expec�ng success or joy ;
Ex: Wait un�l you see the exam results, you’ll be laughing on the other side of your
face !;
“Laugh something out of court ” –

1. To refuse to consider ( something ) because it is too silly ;

Ex: The idea was laughed out of court ;

“ No Laughing matter ” –

1. Serious ; Not a suitable subject for joke ;

Ex: Losing your job is no laughing matter ,I can tell you ;

“ Laughing up one’s sleeve ” –

1. To laugh secretly and o�en unkindly ;

#Word Usage

When you laugh , you produce sounds with the voice while smiling. To guffaw (rare) means
“ to laugh loudly “ chuckle means “ to laugh quietly , with pleasure or sa�sfac�on”. To
giggle ( used especially about young girls ) is “to laugh repeatedly in an uncontrolled” way .
To titter is to giggle quietly in nervous or silly way. If you laugh quietly in an unpleasant and
rude way, you snigger (AmE snicker ). All these words can be used both as verbs and as
nouns ._ see also smile ( USAGE ).

“Laugh at ” sthg./Sbdy.

1. To treat as foolish or as not worth serious considera�on ;

Ex: They’ll just laugh at you if you can’t think of a beter excuse than that ; Soccer
hooligans just laugh at the sort of sentences courts give them…

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2. To take no no�ce of ; not care ;

Ex: She laughs at ( the idea of ) danger ;

“Laugh sthg. off

1. To pretend, by laughing or joking, that ( something ) is less serious or important than it

really is ;
Ex: Publicly, They’re trying to laugh off this latest failure, but in private they’re very
worried ;

Laugh – [ noun ]

1. An act or sound of laughing ;

Ex: She gave a (happy) laugh ;

2. Infml Something done for a joke or amusement ;

Ex: Wouldn’t It be a laugh to �e his shoelaces together! ;

“Have the last laugh”

1. To win an argument , compe��on, etc.. esp. a�er earlier defeats ; Have one’s opinions ,
ac�ons , etc.. , proved to be correct in the end ;
“Have the laugh on”

1. To make a fool of someone who was trying to make others look foolish ;

Laughable – [ Adjective ]

1. derog so bad or foolish that it cannot be taken seriously ;

Ex: a laughable atempt to deceive the public ;

2. rare Amusing ; Funny ; _ - bly [ adv.] : The proposals were almost laughably

inadequate ;

Laughing gas - noun

1. Nitrous Oxide

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Laughing jackass - noun

1. Kookaburra ;

Laughingly - adverb

1. With a laugh;

2. Not seriously ; as a joke ;

EX: : He’s o�en laughably referred to as the forgoten man of Bri�sh poli�cs ;

Laughing-stock – [ noun ]

1. Someone or something that is regarded as foolish and causes unkind laughter ;

Ex: His silly behaviour made him a laughing-stock / made him the laughing-stock of
the office . (= everyone in the office laughed at him );

Laughter – [ noun ]

2. The act or sound of laughing ;

The contexts-

1. [I; T ] To produce ( tears ) from the eyes as a sign of sorrow ;

Ex: She cried biterly when she heard the news of her friend’s death ; A sad love story that
made me cry ; The baby was crying for milk .(=because
he was hungry ); to cry oneself to sleep.(= cry �ll one
falls asleep );To cry tears of disappointment ;_ compare
weep;

2. [ [ I (out) ] To make loud sounds, expressing

fear, pain , surprise , or some other feeling;

Ex: He cried out with pain when he burnt his fingers;

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3. [ I (for); (out) ) ] To call loudly ; Shout ;

Ex: It cried out for help ;aughed very much ); “Help!, he cried, as he fell into the water ;

4. [ I ] To make the nature sound of certain animals and birds ;

Ex: Can you hear the seagulls crying ? ;

5. [ I ] Old use To make known publicy by shouting ;

Ex: To cry the news ;

“cry for the moon ” –

1. infml To demand something impossible ;

“cry one’s eyes / heart out ” –

1. To cry very sadly and usu. for a long �me ;

Ex: When his dog died he cried his eyes out ;
“Cry over the spilt milk ” –

1. To wast �me being sorry about something which cannot be changed ; ;

Ex: It’s no use crying over the spilt milk,we’ve got to decide what to do next ;

“ Cry wolf ” –

1. To call for help unnecessarily, risking the possibility that a future real need will not be
believed ;

“ For Crying out loud ” –

1. sl ( Used to give a strength to a demand, request, etc.. )

Ex: for crying out loud, shut that door! ;

“Cry sthg. at ”

1. To express an unfavourable opinion of ;

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“Cry off
<

1. Br.E To say one will not fulfil a promise or agreement;

Ex: He tried to cried off at the last moment, but we held him to his promise ;

“Cry out against Sthg.

1. [ T no pass. rare ] To express loudly one’s strong disapproval of ;

“Cry out for Sthg.

[ T no pass. rare ] 1. To be in a great need of, Demand urgently ;

Ex: The Town is crying out for rain ;

Cry – [n]

1. [ c (of) ] Any loud sound expressing fear, pain , or other strong feeling ;
Ex: a cry of anger / pain / fear / delight / ;

2. [ c (for) ] A loud call ; Shout ;

Ex: a cry for help ; a cry of “ stop thief !“ ;

3. [ s ] A period of crying ;
Ex: You’ll feel beter a�er you have a (good) cry ;

4. [ c ] The natural sound of made by certain animals or birds ;

Ex: The warning cry of a mother bird to her chicks ;

5. [ c ] A call to ac�on ;
Ex: A batle cry (= To show or encourage bravery in a batle ); The demand for tax cuts is
the party’s favourite rallying cry (= used to encourage support ); See also War cry ;

“In full Cry “.

1. ( Of a group of dogs ) making loud noises as they hunt an animal ;

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Ex: (fig.) At the mee�ng, the parents were in full cry, demanding further government
spending on schools ; _ see also Hue and cry , a fair cry ( Far );

“Cry-baby “.[n]

1. Derog A person , esp. a child who cries too o�en ;

“Crying “.[adj.]

1. Infml (Of something bad ) That demands urgent aten�on ;

Ex: The state of roads is a crying shame ;

The contexts-

1. [I; (at) T ] An expression of the face with the mouth turned up at the ends
and the eyes bright, that usu. expresses amusement, pleasure, approval, or
sometimes bitter feelings ;

Ex: She had a proud / lovely smile on her face ; He was

wearing / his face creased into a broad smile ; a smile
of welcome ;
2. [ ] To“ express with a smile ;
All smiles”-

3. [ (on) ] Infml Very happy-looking ;

Ex: The winner was all smiles when he heard the

results of the vo�ng; .

USAGE

A smile is an expression of the face showing amusement or happiness. A grin is a very wide
smile which usually shows the teeth. A leer is an unpleasant smile sugges�ng cruelty ,
thoughts of sex, etc.. , and a smirk is a silly , sa�sfied smile ;_ see also Laugh ( Usage ) ;

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The contexts-

1. [I; (at) T ] To have or make ( a smile ) ;

Ex: The children’s happy smilling face;It’s rare to see him smile ; She smiled at me in a
friendly old fashion ; [ +to-v ] When I look back at mey
youth , I smile ( = I am amused ) to see how foolish I was
; She smiled a cheerful smile ;_compare Grin ;
2. [ ] To express with a smile ;

Ex: She smiled a gree�ng ;

3. [ (on) ] esp. lit To act or look favourably ;

Ex: The weather smiled on us .(= It was a fine day );_

smilingly adv.

The contexts-

1. [I; T ] To shut and open ( the eyes ) quickly , once or several times ;

Ex: She blinked (her eyes) as the bright light shone on her ; He blinked away his tears;(Fig.)
She didn’t even blink (=show any surprise ) when I told her how much it would cost ;
2. [ I ] ( Of distant lights ) To (seem to) go rapidily on and off ;

Ex: As the ship drew near to port , we could see the lights blinking in the darkness ;

3. [ I +at ; T ] To refuse to recognize or think about ( something unpleasant ) ;

Ex: It’s no use blinking at the fact that unemployment is s�ll rising us ;

4. [ I ; T ] Am.E for Wink (2) ;

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The contexts-

1. [I; T ] An act of blinking ;

“on the blink”

2. Infml ( Of machinery ) Not working properly ;

Ex: The radio’s on the blink again ;

Blinkers –[n]

1. [ P ] also “ Blinders” Am.E A pair of flat pieces of leather fixed beside a

horse’s eyes to prevent it seeing objects on either sides ;

Ex: (Fig.) Davi has blinkers when it comes to poli�cs ;

2. [ P ] Am.E Winkers ;

Blinkered –[adjective]

3. ( Of a horse ) Wearing blinkers ;

4. derog Showing an inability to understand or accept anything beyond one’s

own familiar ideas, customs, beliefs, etc..

Ex: Blinked opinions ; She’s so blinked ;

Blinking –[Adj]

1. [ A ] Adj Br.E euph infml for Bloody(2) ;

Ex: (Fig.) Don’t be such a blinking fool ! ;

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The contexts-

1. [I; T ] To give attention in hearing ;

Ex: We sat listening to music / listening to a play on the radio ; If you listening carefully
you can hear a funny sound in the engine ;
2. [ I ] To take notice ; Hear or consider with thoughtful attention ;

Ex: I warned him not to go but he just wouldn’t listen; She never listens to me ; He never
listens to my advice ; listen, I think we may be able to solve your problem ;_ See also
Hear ( USAGE ) ;

to listen - the phrasal verbs

“ “walk
Listen for “ sbdy./sthg

- To pay aten�on so as to be sure of hearing ;

Ex: Listen for the moment when the music changes ;

“ Listen in “ sbdy./sthg

- [ ( To ) ] To listen to a broadcast on the radio ;

Ex: To listen in to the news ; _ see also TUNE in ;

- [ ( on , To ) ] To listen to the conversa�on of other people, esp. secretly and without

permission ;
Ex: I think the police has been listen in on my phone calls ;

“ Listen out “

- [ ( for ) ] Infml To listen carefully, esp. for an expected sound ;

Ex: Listen out for the baby in case she wakes up ;

Listen – [ n ]

- [ S ] Infml An act of listening ;

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Ex: Have a Listen to this new album ! ;

Listenable – [ Adj ]

- [ ( To ) ] Infml Pleasant to hear ;

Ex: The music is quite Listenable ( to ) ;

Listener – [ n ]

- A person who listens or is listening , esp. to the radio ;

Ex: Good morning, listeners ! ; Regular listeners will remember that a few weeks ago… ; If

you’ve got any problems, I am a good listener;(= Listens paciently and sympathe�cally to
what you want to say );

The context -

1. To be separated ( from ) by no space at all ; Be in contact ( with );

Ex: They stood close together with their shoulders touching ; The branches hung down
and touched the water ; (fig.) The speedometer needle touched 90 mph ;
2. To feel , strike lightly , or make connection ( with ) , esp. with the hands or
fingers ;

Ex: Don’t touch! ; Visitors are requested not to touch the pain�ngs ; If I stand on a chair I
can touch the ceiling with a s�ck ;
3. (b) [ T usu. in negatives ] To handle ;

Ex: Don’t touch anything un�l the police arrive; “Who’s broken my pen?” “Not me – I never
touch it ; (fig.) He swore he’d never touch a drink (= drink alcohol ) again ; (fig.) You’ve
hardly touched your food - I hope you’re not ill ;. (fig.) Those cars are very low quality, I
wouldn’t touch them (= I would never buy one ) ; _see also Barge Pole ;

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4. [ T usu. in negatives ] To compare with ; Be equal to ;

Ex: Your work will never touch the standard set by Robert ; When it comes to making
speeches, there’s no one to touch him. (= no one else is as good ) ;
5. (b) To have an effect on the feelings of ; cause to feel pity, sympathy, etc..

Ex: His sad story so touched us that we nearly cried ;_see also Touched ,Touching
horse in any more races this season.
6. [ T ( in ) ] To mark with light strokes; put in with a pencil or brush ;

Ex: He drew her head, and quickly touched in the eyes, nose, and mouth ;_see also
Touch up ;

7. [ T ] Fml To concern ; .

Ex: A serious mater that touches your future ;

“Touch bottom”

8. [ T ] a. To reach the bottom ; .

Ex: The boat almost touched the bottom in the shallow channel ;

8. [ T ] b. To reach the lowest level ; .

Ex: A�er weeks of uncertainty, morale in the company has touched the bottom ;

“Touch wood”

7. [ T ] esp. BrE ( Used as if to keep away bad luck, so that something good
may continue ) ; .

Ex: I’ve never been without a job, touch wood ! ;_~ able [adj.]

to touch - the phrasal verbs

“ Touch down “

- ( Of a plane or spacecra� ) To land ;

Ex: Touch down the plane ;

- ( In RUGBY ) To press the ball to the ground behind one’s opponent’s goal in order to
win a try ;

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“ Touch sbdy. for sthg “

- [ ( To ) ] Infml To persuade to give one ( money ) ;

Ex: He tried to touch me for 10,000 AOA ;

“ Touch sthg. off “

- To cause to explode ;
- To start or cause ( esp. violent ac�vity ) ;

Ex: The government’s ac�ons Touched off a storm of protests ;

“ Touch on Upon sthg.

- To talk about shortly , and perhaps without enough detail ;

Ex: In her speech, she touched on the need for further economies ; The major problems
have hardly been Touched on in this debate;
“ Touch sthg./ sbdy. up

- To improve by making small changes or addi�ons ;

Ex: The car’s paintwork needs touching up ;

- Infml To touch someone in a sexually improper way ;

The context -

1. The sense of feeling by which an object is known to be hard, smooth ,rough,

etc.. by being brought into connection with a part of the body , esp. the
fingers;

2. [ S ] The effect caused by touching something ; Way something feels ;

Ex: The silky touch of so� velvet ;

3. (b) [ T usu. sing. ] An act of touching ;

Ex: He felt the touch of her hand on his shoulder ; With this new typewriter you can
correct mistakes at the touch of a button ; it ;

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4. [ U ] Connection , esp. so as to receive information ; Contact ;

Ex: I’m trying to get in touch with my brother ; He emigrated to Australia, and I lost
touch with him / We lost touch with ( each other ); I haven’t really kept in touch
with people I knew at school ; Goodbye for now, I’ll be in touch ; I’d like to go back to
teaching ,but I’m I out of touch with my subject now ; ( fig. , derog ) So many of these
poli�cians are out of touch (= do not know about the reali�es of ordinary modern life );
5. [ S ] A particular way of doing things ;

Ex: This delicate work needs a woman’s touch ; At this restaurant you get service with a
personal touch (=each customer is looked a�er in a careful friendly way );
6. [ S ] A small addition or detail that improves or completes something ;

Ex: That litle windmill in the corner of the pain�ng is a nice touch ; I’m just putting the
finishing touches to the cake;

7. [ S ] A special ability to do something needing skill, esp. artistic work ;

Ex: Your recent work’s been bad, I hope you’re not losing your touch ;

8. [ S ( Of ) ] A slight attack, esp. of an illness ;

Ex: She was off work with a touch of flu ; hand on his shoulder ; I think I’ve had a touch
of the Sun . (= slight Sunstroke ) ;

9. [ S ( Of ) ] A slight amount ;

Ex: This soup could do with a touch more salty ; There was a touch of frost in the night
; That seemed a touch ( = slightly ) unfair to me ;
10. [ U ] ( In SOCCER or RUGBY) The area of ground outside the field of play ;

Ex: He kicked the ball into touch ;

To the touch”

Ex: A cat’s fur is so� to the touch ; _ see also SOFT TOUCH ;

Touch-and-go [Adj .]

1. Risky ; Of uncertain result ;

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Ex: A touch-and-go situa�on ; It was touch-and-go whether the doctor would get there in
�me ;
“ Touch down “

1. [ S ] The landing of a plane or spacecraft ;

Ex: The silky touch of so� velvet ;

2. ( In RUGBY ) ] An act of touching down (Touch down (2)

) ;

3. ( In American football ) An act of moving the ball across the opposing

team’s goal line ;

“ Touché “

1. [ U ] ( An expression used when admitting the rightness or force of a

person’s argument, reply , etc.. , meaning ) “ That is a good point against me!”;

“ Touched “

1. [ S ] feeling grateful ;

Ex: I was deeply touched by their gi�; [ +( that )/ to-v ] I’m touched that you
remembered me / I’m touched to be remembered ;_ see also Touch1 (5) ;

2. [ S ] Infml Slightly mad ;

“ Touching [Adj.] “

1. [ S ] Causing a feeling of pity, sympathy, etc.. ;

Ex: The two lovers par�ng at the sta�on – what a touching scene it made ;_ see also
Touch1 (5) _~ly [ adv.]

“ Touching [Prep. Lit or old use ] “

1. About ; Concerning ;

“ Touching-line [n] “

1. A line along each of the two longer sides of a sports field, esp. in football ;

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“ Touch-paper [n] “

1. A piece of slow-burning paper fitted into a firework, which one lights in

order to start the firework burning ;

“ Touch-stone [n] “

1. [( Of )] Something used as a test or standard ; Criterion ; .

“ Touch-type [v] “

1. To type without having to look at the letters on the the typewriter; Read
and type what one is reading at the same time ;

“ Touchy [Adj.] “

1. derog Easily offended or annoyed ; Too sensitive ;

Ex: She’s in a touchy mood today ;

2. Needing skilful or delicate handling ;;

Ex: A touchy situa�on in Northern Irland;_ ily [adv]_ iness [n]_[ U ];

The context -

1. To get knowledge of by touching with the fingers; Handle in order to

examine, test , or find out something ;

Ex: just feel the quality of the cloth ! ; [ +wh ] I can’t feel where the light switch is ; The
nurse felt the child’s forehead to see if he had a fever;

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2. [ T not in progressive forms ] To experience ( the touch or movement of
something ) ;

Ex: It’s nice to feel the wind on your face ; He felt a sudden stab of pain in his chest ;
[ + obj + v-ing ] I can feel a pin s�cking into me ; She felt her heart bea�ng faster ;
[ + obj + to-v ] I felt something touch my foot ; He felt her hand tense up in his ;
3. [ L + adj ; I + adv ] To experience ( a condition of the mind or body ); Be
consciously;

Ex: Are you feeling beter? “yes” I feel fine now!; Do you feel hungry yet?; She felt cold /
cheated / happy ; I feel sure that’s him ; I feel a hundred. (= years old ) ; I felt as if / as
though (= It seemed to me that ) I was going to faint ;
4. [ I + adv/ prep. ] To search with the fingers rather than the eyes ;

Ex: She felt ( around ) in her bag for a pencil ;

5. [ L + adj ; I + adv/ prep. ; not in progressive forms ] To give or produce the

stated sensation ; Seem ;

Ex: Your hands feel cold ; It feels cold in this room ; How does it feel to be famous ? ; ; It
feels as if / as though there’s a pin in this cushion ; What’s this in my pocket ? “It feels like
a nut ;
6. [ L + adj ; I + adv ] To give one the stated sensation ;

Ex: My feet feel cold ; My leg feels as if It’s broken ;

7. [ T not in progressive forms ] To suffer because of ( a state or event ) ; .

Ex: Old people tend to feel the cold quite badly ;

8. [ L + n ] To think or believe oneself to be ;

Ex: I felt such a fool when I realized what I’d done ;

9. [ T ] To have as an opinion; believe esp. not as a result of reasoning ;

Ex: What do you feel about this idea ? ; [+ ( that ) ] I can’t help feeling ( that ) you haven’t
been completely honest with me ; The company feels that this is not a good �me to invest
a large amount of money ; [ + obj. + n / adj. ] ( fml ) She felt herself ( to be ) unwanted
there;

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10. [ T ] To have knowledge or consciousness of , but not as the result of
reasoning ; Sense ;

Ex: She ins�c�vely felt that there was someone else in the room / that someone was
following her ;

“Feel free to do something “

11. [ Often imperative ] To consider oneself welcome to do something ;

Ex: Please feel (completely) free make sugges�ons ;

“Feel in one’s bones “

12. To believe strongly ( that something is true or will happen ), though

without proof ; .

Ex: She’s going to phone tonight! I can feel it in my bones ;

“Feel like “

8. [ L + n ] To have a wish for ; Want ;

Ex: I don’t feel like dancing now ; Do you feel like a cup of coffee ? ; fool when I realized
what I’d done ;
“Feel one’s way “

9. [ T ] a. To move carefully ( as if ) in the dark ;

Ex: They felt their way down the dark passage ;

9. [ T ] b. To act slowly and carefully ;

Ex: He hasn’t been in the job long and he’s s�ll feeling his way ;

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to feel - the phrasal verbs
“ Feel for sbdy. “

- To be sorry for ; be unhappy about of ; feel sympathy for ;

Ex: I really feel for the parents of that boy who was killed in the crash ;

“ Feel sbdy. up “

- [ T ] Infml sl To touch ( a woman ) sexually , usu. without permission ;

The context -

1. The sensation caused by feeling something ;

Ex: I like the feel of this cloth ; it has a warm woolly feel ! ; I can’t feel where the light
switch is ; The nurse felt the child’s forehead to see if he had a fever;
2. infml esp Br.E An act of feeling ;

Ex: Your neck looks swollen - Let me have a feel ;

“ Get the feel of

3. To become used to ;

Ex: You’ll soon get the feel of job / car ;

“ feeler [n]

1. One of the two thread-like parts on the front of an insect’s head, with which
it touch things ;

“ Put out feelers

1. To make a suggestion as a test of what others will think or do ;

Ex: I’m putting out feelers to see if she’d like to come and and work for us ;

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“ feeling [n]

1. [ C + of ] A consciousness ( of something felt in the mind or body ) ;

Ex: A feeling of shame / danger / thirst / pleasure / relief / feelings of shame / doubt ;

2. [ C; U ] A belief or opinion , esp. one that is not based on reason ; .

Ex: There’s considerable division of feeling (= different opinion ) over the issue ; [+ ( that ) ]
I have a feeling we’re being followed ; There seems to be a general feeling that the elec�on
will be in June ; I don’t really know what to think – I’ve got very mixed feeling on the subject;
3. [ U ] The power to feel ; Sensation ;

Ex: He lost all feeling in his toes ;

4. [ U ] Excitement of mind, esp. in a bad sense ;

Ex: The new working hours caused / aroused a lot of bad / ill feeling at the factory ;his
idea ? ; [+ ( that ) ] I can’t help feeling ( that ) you haven’t been completely honest with me
; The company feels that this is not a good �me to invest a large amount of money ; [ +
obj. + n / adj. ] ( fml ) She felt herself ( to be ) unwanted there;

10. [U ( for )] Sympathy and understanding ;

Ex: She plays the piano with a great feeling ; You have no feeling for the beauty of nature
;_See also Feelings ;

“ feeling [Adj.]

1. [ A ] Showing strong feelings ;

Ex: She gave him a feeling look ; _-~ly [adv.]: “I hate him” – She said feelingly ;

“ feelings [n]

1. [ P ] The part of a person’s nature that feels, compared to the part that
thinks ; Sensation of joy, sorrow, hate, etc..

Ex: Maternal / na�onalist / antagonis�c feelings ; She has very strong feelings on this
subject; You’ll hurt his feelings (=make him unhappy ) If you forget his birthday ; I’m very
sorry I offended you - no hard feelings ? (= I hope you will forgive me ) ;

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The context -

1. [ I not in progressive forms ] To use the eyes ; Have or use the power of
sight ;

Ex: He doesn’t see very well with / in his right eyes ; It was so dark I could hardly see (to do
my work ) ; (Fig.) She claims to see into the future. (= Know what is going to happen );
2. [ T not in progressive forms ] To get sight of ; Notice, examine, or recognize
by looking ;

Ex: I looked for her, but I couldn’t see her in the crowd ; Can you see what’s going on over
there ? ; Let me see your �cket please ; For more informa�on, see (Look at ) page 153 ;
[+ ( that ) ] I could see that they’d been crying ; [+ wh- ] Can you see where I put my glasses
? ; [ + obj + to-v / v-ing ] I saw him to leave the house / I saw him leaving the house ;
[ + obj + to-v ; pass. ] (fig.) The dark-haired man was seen to leave the house ; It’s not enough
to make promises – they must be seen to be doing something about the problem ; [ + obj +
v-ed ] He saw his own brother murdered by the terrorist ; I’ll have to change my clothes
before we go out – I don’t want to be seen like this !;
3. [ T not in progressive forms ] To have experience of ; Undergo ;

Ex: You and I have seen some good �mes together ; This old house has seen better days
(= is in bad condi�on ) ; During the war he saw service in the far East ;
4. [ T not in progressive forms ] To understand or learn by looking , through
experience, etc.. ; Come to know ;

Ex: It took me a while to see the truth of her remarks ; seeing his confusion, I offered to
help ; [+ ( that ) ] I’m glad to see that you’re enjoying your work; I see in the paper ( that )
the government have done badly in the local elec�ons ; [+ wh- ] It’ll be interes�ng to see
how he reacts to this ; “ I’m afraid I’m a bit late” So I see “;
5. [ not in progressive forms ] To recognize the meaning, purpose, or
importance of, ; Understand ;

Ex: Do you see what I mean ? “Yes” now I see ; She laughed politely even though she didn’t
see the joke ; I can’t see the point of learning La�n if you’re never going to use it ; She
thinks it’s too risky, and I must admit I can see her point (= understand why she thinks that
); I’ve tried to explain that we haven’t got the money to do it , but he just won’t see the
reason (= Accept that what I say is right ); [+ wh- ] I can’t see why she’s so against the idea

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; [+ ( that ) ] the recipe says use cream, but I can’t see that it maters (= I don’t think it does
mater );
6. [ T + obj + adv / prep. ; not in progressive forms] To regard or consider in a
particular way ;

Ex: She sees this incident as further proof of his incompetence.(= Thinks that it is further
proof of this ) ; As I see it (= according to my view of the situa�on ), the blame lies with the
driver ; How do you see the current situa�on in the middle East ? (= What is your judgement
of it ?); He sees things differently now that he’s joined the management ; You must do
whatever you see fit (= consider right or sensible ) ;
7. [ T ( as ) not in progressive forms ] To form a picture of ( something or
someone ) in the mind ; Imagine ; Visualize ;

Ex: I can’t see her as (= don’t think it probable that she will become ) a ballet dancer ; I see
litle hope of any improvement ; I can see a great future for you in music ; He kept telling me
how useful his new inven�on would be, but I couldn’t see it myself .(= It did not seem to me
that it would be useful ) ;[ + obj + v-ing ] I can’t see her lending me any money . (= I am sure
She will not );
8. [ I ; T + wh- ; obj ] To ( try to ) find out ;

Ex: I’m not sure if I can lend you that much money – I’ll have to see it (= I’ll decide later ) ;
Can we go to the Zoo, dad? “We’ll see” (= Perhaps , but perhaps not ) ; I’ll see what I can
do / see what the trouble is ; If you can hang on for a moment , I’ll see if she’s in ; Let’s
see if we can (= let’s try to ) do it a bit beter this �me ;

9. [ T ( that ); obj.; not in progressive forms ] To make sure ; take care ;

Ex: See you’re ready at 8 O’clock ; I promise to see that the job is done on �me ;

10. [ T ] To visit , meet , or receive as a visitor ;

Ex: The doctor can’t see you yet , he’s seeing someone else at the moment ; We’re going
to see grandma in the hospital tomorrow ;

“See you later”! / See you”! / Be seeing you”!

10. a. Goodbye ;

Ex: see you later”, Milù “. “Yes” see you / be seeing you”.

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11. [ T + obj + adv / prep. ] To go with ; Accompany ;

Ex: Someone ought to see the children safely home ; I’ll see you to the door ;

12. [ T ] ( Of a place or period ) To have ( an event or set of events ) happen in

or during it;

Ex: The fi�h century saw the end of the Roman Empire in the West ; (= that was when it
ended ); This year has seen a big increase in road accident ;
13. [ T ] ( In the card game of poker ) To answer ( an opponent ) by risking an
equal amount of money ;

“Let me see ”

14. [ T ] ( Used to express a pause for thought ) ;

Ex: Do you recognize this music?” let me see … Yes ,now I do ;

“Not see beyond the end of one’s nose ”

15. [ T ] Infml To think that one’s own affairs are the only ones that matters ;

Ex: Can you stop not see beyond the end of your nose ?

“Not see someone for dust ”

16. [ T ] Infml To be unable to see someone because they have left in a great
hurry ;

Ex: If he hears there’s work to be done, you won’t see him for dust .

“Not see the wood for the trees ”

17. [ T ] Infml To fail to understand something clearly or completely because

of giving too much attention to small details ;

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“ See eye to eye ( with ) ”

18. [ T ] Infml To agree completely ( with ) ; Have the same opinion ( as ) ;

Ex: He and his brother always see eye to eye .

“ seeing is believing ”

19. [ T ] Infml ( Used for expressing disbelief in something that cannot be

believed until one has actually seen it ) ;

“ See one’s way ( clear ) to ”

20. [ T ] esp. BrE To be able or willing to ( esp. lend money ) ;

Ex: I was wondering if you could see your way to lending me 10,000 AOA ;

“ See red ”

21. [ T ] To become very angry ;

Ex: Tell me, Do you wanna see me red ?;

“ See someone right ”

22. [ T ] old-fashion Infml To make sure someone is properly rewarded ;

“ See stars ”

23. [ T ] To see flashes of light , esp. as the result of being hit on the head ;

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“ See the back / last of ”

24. [ T ] Infml To have no further association with ( something or someone ),

esp. because it has finished or because they have gone ;

Ex: I haven’t enjoyed dealing with this company and I’ll be glad to see the back of them! ;

“ See the colour of someone’s money ”

25. [ T ] Infml To be shown proof that someone is willing or able to pay ;

“ See the light ”

26. [ T ] a. To understand or accept an idea or the truth of something ;

[ T ] b. To have a religious experience which changes one’s belief ;

[ T ] c. To come into existence ;

Ex: This sugges�on first saw the light ( of day ) as early as 1935 ;

“ See things ”

27. [T] a. Infml To think that one sees something when there is nothing there ;

Ex: I must be seeing things (= I cannot believe what I have seen ), they can’t have bought
another new car ! ;_ see also hear things ( Hear ) ;

“ You see ”

28. [ T ] a. ( Used in explanation ) ;

Ex: Why are you so late? “ Well, You see , the bus broke down . ;

28. [ T ] b. ( Used for softening a following statement ) ;

Ex: You see , there’s another side to what you’ve been saying… ;

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USAGE

Compare see , look at , and watch . To see is to experience with the eyes , and It does not
depend on what you want to do . In this meaning, you say:
“Can you see anything ? “ but not “Are you seeing anything?
“. When you use your eyes on purpose and with aten�on you look at something .
Stop looking at me like that !
To watch is to look for some �me at something that may move. You watch television or a
football match ;
Compare:

I saw him cross the road.

(= I saw the whole journey from one side to the other )
I saw him crossing the road
(= I saw him at a moment when he was in the middle )

Feel , hear and watch can also be used in these two ways .;_ See also Can ( usage )

to see - the phrasal verbs

“
“ see about sthg.

- To make arrangements for ; Deal with ;

Ex: [ + obj /v-ing ] It’s �me for me to see about dinner / to see about cooking dinner ;
the music changes ;
- To consider further ;
Ex: “ Dad, will you take us to the football match tomorrow ? “ Well , I’ll ( have to ) see

about that” (= Perhaps I’ll take you ) ;

We’ll ( soon ) see about that !

- Infml I will prevent that from happening or con�nuing ;

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“ see sthg. in sbdy.

- [ T usu. in questions and negatives ] To find atrac�ve in ;

Ex: I don’t know why she married that awful man; I can’t think what she sees in him ;

“ see sthg. of sbdy.

- [ T ] To see or be with ( someone ) to the stated degree ;

Ex: Where’s Dave ? “I’ve seen nothing of him (= Have not seen him ) all week ; They’re good
friends and see a lot of each other. (= are together a lot ) ;

“ see sthg./ sbdy. off

- [ T ( at ) ] To go to an airport, sta�on , etc.., with ( someone who is beginning a

journey ) ;

Ex: He saw his friend off at the bus sta�on ;

- a. To chase away ;

Ex: Her dog saw off the two thieves ;

- b. To remain firm and undefeated un�l ( someone or something dangerous ) stops

being ac�ve;

Ex: Our troops saw off three enemy atacks within three days ;

“ see sthg./ sbdy. out

- [ T ] To last un�l the end of ;

Ex: Will our supplies see the winter out ? ;

- b. To go to the door with ( someone who is leaving ) ;

Ex: Don’t worry , I’ll see myself out . (= So you need not to do so ) ;

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“ see round / over sthg.

- [ T ] To visit and examine ;

Ex: Would you like to see round the old castle ? ;

“ see through sthg. /sbdy.

- To recognize the truth about ( an excuse, false statement, deceiving person, etc.. ) ;
Not be deceived by ;

Ex: She knew him well enough to see through his laughter and realize he was upset about
what had happened ;
- [see sbdy. through ( sthg. )] To provide things for, support , or help un�l the end of (
a �me or difficulty ) ;

Ex: He had just enough money to see him through ( a year abroad );;

“ see to sthg. /sbdy.

- To deal with or take care of;

Ex: You ought to have your eyes seen to by a doctor; Will you see to the children ? ;

Will you see to it that (= make sure that ) this leter gets posted today ?

“ see [ n ]

- The area governed by a Bishop; Diocese _ see also Holy see ;

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The context -

1. [ I ; T not in progressive forms ] To receive ( sounds ) with the ears ;

Ex: I heard a funny noise in the middle of the night ; I can’t hear very well ;[+ obj +to-v-v ]
I heard her say so ; ( fml ) He was heard to observe that he did not agree with the verdict;
[ + obj + v-ing ] I can hear someone knocking ;_ Compare LISTEN ; see CAN ( USAGE ) ,
SEE ( USAGE ) ;

2. [ T not usu. in progressive forms ] To be told or informed ;

Ex: Have you heard the latest news ? ; [+ ( that ) ] I hear there’s going to be an elec�on in
March ; I’ve heard it said that she’s a tough businesswoman ; “ I’ve passed my driving test.”
“Yes” so I’ve heard ; We’ve been hearing quite a lot about that young tennis player recently
; Have you heard anything of Bob lately ? (= received any news about him ) ;_ see also Hear
about , Hear of ;

3. [ T ] ( esp. of a person in an official position ) To listen with attention ;

Ex: The Judge heard the case in court ; The priest heard my confession ;

Hear ! Hear !

4. ( A shout of agreement ) ;

Hear tell ( of )

5. infml To get to know by being told ;

Ex: I’ve o�en heard tell of the wonderful par�es she gives , but I’ve never been invited ;

Hear things

5. infml To imagine that one hears something that has not been said ;

Ex: I must be hearing things (= I can’t believe what I have heard ) , they can’t really have
given the job to that idiot !; _ see also see things ( SEE ) ;

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6. To refuse(s) to allow ;

Ex: I won’t hear of you walking to the sta�on – Let me give you a li� ! ~er [n] ;

HEAR - USAGE

Compare hear and listen (to) . To hear is to take in sound with the ears , whether
one wants or not. In this meaning, you say:
“I’m a litle bit deaf so I didn’t hear him knocking .
To listen is to pay aten�on in order to hear . In this meaning, you say:
We always listen to the six o’clock news on the radio ; If you listen hard , you can
hear what the neighbours are saying ;

So ,you hear something, but you listen to something.

to hear - the phrasal verbs

“
“ hear about sthg./ sbdy.

- To get to know ;
Ex: Did you hear about the party ? – It was a complete failure ; [ + obj + v-ing ] Have you
heard about Gatsby jumping into the pool with all his clothes on ? ;

“ hear from sbdy.

- To receive news from ( someone ), usu. by leter ;

Ex: I heard from him last week ; I look forward to hearing from you in the near future. (=

Writen at the end of a leter ) ; _ Compare hear of

“ Hear of sthg. / sbdy.

- [ T usu. in questions and negatives ] To have knowledge of or receive

informa�on about ( a fact, the existence of a person or thing, etc.. ) ;

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Ex: Who’s he ? – I’ve never heard of him ; [ + obj + v-ing ] ; I’ve never heard of anyone

doing a thing like that ; He disappeared in the Amazon region and hasn’t been heard of
since / and that’s the last we heard of him ;_ Compare hear of ; UNHEARD-OF.

“ Hear sthg./sbdy. out

- [ T pass. rare ] To listen to ( a person or their words ) un�l they have finished

speaking ;

Ex: Don’t interrupt , just hear me out ;

Hearing [n]

- [ U ] The sense by which one hears sound ;

Ex: Her hearing is ge�ng worse ;_ see also HARD OF HEARING ;at the bus sta�on ;

- The distance at which one can hear.; EARSHOT ;

Ex: Don’t talk about it in her hearing (= so that she can hear );

- An act or occasion of listening ;

Ex: At first hearing I didn’t like the music ;

- A chance to be heard explaining one’s posi�on ;

Ex: She felt that her proposal hadn’t been given a fair hearing ;

- A trial of a case before a judge or any official inquiry at which witnesses are heard ;

“ Hearing aid [n]

- Also / … / deaf aid BrE. Infml - A small electric machine fited near the ear ,
which makes sounds louder for people with weak hearing ;
- official inquiry at which witnesses are heard ;

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Hearken [v]

- Also / … / Harken - [ I ( To ) ] Lit To listen ;

Hearsay [n]

- [ U ] Things which are said rather than proved ;

Ex: I’m told he didn’t resign, he was fired – but It’s only hearsay the old castle ? ; hearsay
evidence is not acceptable to the court ;

Hearse [n]

- [ U ] A vehicle which is used to carry a body in its COFFIN to the funeral before being

put in the grave ;

The context -

1. [ U ] The special sense by which a person or animal knows one food from
another ;

Ex: I’ve got a cold, so I’ve lost my sense of taste ;

2. [ S ; U ] The sensation that is produced when a particular food or drink is

put in the mouth and that makes it different from other foods or drinks by its
saltiness , sweetiness , bitterness , etc.. ;

Ex: Sugar has a sweet taste ; This cake has no taste / very litle taste ; This milk has got a
funny taste – I think it may have gone sour ; ( Fig. ) an unpleasant experience that le� a bad
taste in her mouth ( = made her feel angry , upset , etc.. );

3. [ C ( of ) usu. sing. ] A small quantity of food or drink that is tasted ;

Ex: I had a taste of the soup to see if it needed more salt ; ( Fig. ) Once you’ve had a taste
of (= a short experience ) life in our country you won’t want to return home ;

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4. [ U ] The ability to make good or suitable judgements in matters such as
beauty , style , fashion , music , or social behaviour ; Discernment ;

Ex: His jokes about the President’s illness were in ( very ) bad / poor taste ; The
furnishings and pain�ngs had been chosen with impeccable taste;
5. [ [ C ; U ( for , In ) ] ] A personal liking for something ;

Ex: What are your tastes in music? (= What kind of music do you like ? ); I’ve always had a
taste for 19th century literature ; She has expensive taste in clothes ; Their house has not
been decorated to my taste (= in a way that I like ), but it’s very luxurious ; Their trip to
America gave them a taste for western consumer goods );

“To taste”

6. [ U ] ( Used in instructions for cooking ) in the quantity desired ;

Ex: Add salt and pepper to taste ; _ see also Acquired taste ; Aftertaste;

“Contexts

1. [ T ] To test the taste of ( food or drink ) by taking a little into the mouth ;

Ex: I always taste food before adding salt ; This cake is delicious – Would you like to taste
it? ;
2. [ T not in progressive forms ] To experience the taste of ;

Ex: I’ve got a cold, so I can’t taste what I’m ea�ng ;

3. [ T not in progressive forms ] To eat or drink ;

Ex: The escaped prisoner had not tasted food for three days ; I’ve never tasted such a
delicious beef ! ; ( Fig. ) Since tasting (= experiencing ) the excitement of big city life she
never wants to live in the country again ;

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4. [ I + adv/ prep. Esp. of , Like ; L + adj. ; not in progressive forms ] To have a
particular taste ;

Ex: These oranges taste nice; This meat’s been overcooked and doesn’t taste of anything;
This soup tastes of chicken ; I’ve never eaten Kiwi fruit – What does it taste like ? .; A
sweet-tasting berry ; _ see CAN ( USAGE ) ;

Taste bud [n]

5. A group of cells on the tongue which can tell the difference between foods
according to their taste ;

Tasteful [adj.]

5. infml Having or showing good taste (4) ;

Ex: A tasteful arrangement of flowers ; _ Compare Tasty (1) ; ~ly [adv.] ; ~ness [n] ;

Tasteless [Adj.]

6. Having not tast ; Not tasting of anything ;

Ex: A tasteless soup ;

6. Having or showing bad taste (4) ;

Ex: A tasteless remark ; ~ly [adv.]: A tastelessly furnished room ; ; ~ness n [U];

TASTE - USAGE

Compare tasteless and distasteful . When tasteless is used of food, it means “

having not taste . When it is used of people , furniture , clothes , etc.. it means “ having or
showing bad taste . In this meaning, you say:
“The potatoes were tasteless without salt . A tasteless , over-furnished room ;
Distasteful is not used in either of these meanings, but only of unpleasant things that
must be done. pay aten�on in order to hear . In this meaning, you say:
It is my distasteful duty to warn you …

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“
“ Taster [n]

- A person whose job is tes�ng the quality of foods, teas, wines, etc.. by tas�ng them ;
Ex: A wine taster ;

“ “ Tasty [Adj.]

- ( Not usu. of sweet food ) Having a pleasant no�ceable taste ; Full of flavour ;
Ex: A tasty meal ; Compare tasteful ;

- infml ( esp. of news ) Interes�ng, esp. when concerned with sex or improper
behaviour ;
Ex: A tasty piece of gossip about our neighbour ; Compare tasteful ;

- infml esp. Br.E( Used esp. by men of a woman ) Atrac�ve ( Usu. considered
offensive to women ) ; _ Compare ~ness n [U] ;

The context -

1. [ I; smelled or smelt ; not in progressive forms ] To have or use the sense of

the nose ;

Ex: I’ve got a cold and I can’t smell ;

2. [ T not in progressive forms ] To notice , examine , discover , or recognize by

this sense ;

Ex: smell these flowers – they’ve got a lovely scent ; I think I smell gas! [ + v-ing ] I can
smell burning ; [+ ( that ) ] I could smell that the milk wasn’t fresh ; [+ wh- ] My horse can
always smell when rain is coming ; [ + obj + v-ing ] ( fig. ) I could smell trouble / danger
coming , so I le� ; _ Compare SNIFF ; see CAN ( USAGE ) ;
3. [ T+ adv / prep. , esp. Of , Like ; L + adj ] To have an effect on the nose ;
Have a particular smell ;

Ex: The room smelt of stale beer / smelt as if It had not been cleaned recently ; A sweet-
smelling flower ; �mes together ; This book smells old ;

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4. [ T [ ( Of ) ] To have an unpleasant smell ;

Ex: His breath smells ; The meat had been le� out for days and had started to smell ; _
Compare STINK ;

Smell a rat

5. Infml To guess that something wrong or dishonest is happening ;

Smell fishy

6. ( Of an event , etc… ) To seem false ; Cause one to think that there is more
information than one has ;

Ex: He can’t be working late again! It smells very fishy to me ;

USAGE

Compare smelt is more common in british English than smelled , but smelled is more
common in American English . ; _ See also CAN ( USAGE ) ;

to smell - the phrasal verbs

“
“ smell sthg./sbdy. out

- To discover or find ( as if ) by smelling ;

Ex: The hounds smelt out a fox ; A good report must be able to smell out a news story ;

- To cause ( a place ) to be unpleasant because of a bad smell ;

Ex: That fish is smelling all the kitchen out ;

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The context -

1. [ U ] The power of using the nose to discover the presence of gases in the
air ;

Ex: A mole tracks Its food by smell alone ; These dogs have a marvellous sense of smell ;

2. [ C ( Of ) ] A quality that has an effect on the nose ;

Ex: Some flowers have stronger smells than others ; There was a smell of burning ;
A musty smell ;
3. [ C ] An unpleasant smell ; ODOUR ;

Ex: This new air freshener gets rid of smells fast ;_ See also SMELLY ;

4. [ C usu. sing. ] An act of smelling something ;

Ex: Have a smell of this wine ; does it seem all right ? ;

“ Smelling salts

- [ P] A strong-smelling chemical, esp. AMMONIA , formerly o�en carried in a small

botle, for curing faintness ;

“ Smelly

- [ P] Unpleasant smelling ;
Ex: Smelly socks ; -iness n [U]

“ Smelt

- [ P] Past Tense & Past Par�ciple of Smell ;

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“ Smelt

- [ T ] To melt ( ORE ) for separa�ng and removing the metal ; - er n ;

“ Smelt

1. ( Smelts or Smelt ) A small fish of lakes and coasts ;

“ Smidgin

2. [ S ] also “Smidgen” infml A small amount ; Bit ;

Ex: “More cheese?” “Just a smidgin , please “ ;

The context -

1. [ T ] To strick with the foot ;

Ex: The boy kicked the ball ; The horse kicked me ; (Fig.) I could kick myself for making
such a stupid mistake ; He kicked the chair over ; He kicked open the gate ; She kicked
sand in my face ; She kicked a hole in the door ;_ Compare Hit
2. [ T ] To score by kicking ;

Ex: He kicked two penalty goals in the rugby match ;

3. [ I ] To move the legs violently as if kicking something ;

Ex: Babies kick to exercise the legs ;

4. [ I ] ( Of a gun ) to move backwards violently when fired ;

5. [ T ] Sl To stop or give up ( a harmful activity ) ;

Ex: I’m trying to kick the habit ;

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Kick against the pricks

6. lit or Fml To complain uselessly about something that cannot be changed ;

Kick over the traces

7. [ T ] To free oneself from control ; unexpectedly start to act wildly ;

Kick someone in the teeth

8. infml To discourage or disappoint someone very much, esp. when they need
support or hope ;

Kick someone upstairs

9. ( infml ) To move someone to a job which appears more important than their
present one, but which really has less power ;

Kick the bucket

10. humor Sl To die ; _ See Kick one’s heel ; ( HEEL ) _-er n

to kick - the phrasal verbs

“
“ Kick about / around infml

- [ ( I ; T ( = Kick about sthg. ) ] To lie unno�ced or unused in ( a place ) ;

Ex: That old typewriter has been kicking about the house for years ; “Where’s my cap ?”
“Oh It’s kicking around somewhere . ;
- [ ( I ; T ( = Kick sbdy./sthg. about / around ) ] infml To treat roughly or give
unnecessary orders to ;

Ex: “ …You won’t have me to kick around anymore “ ( Richard Nixon );

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- [ T ] ( Kick sthg. about / around ) To talk about and compare infomally ;

Ex: Let’s kick around a few ideas and see if we can come up with a solu�on ;

- [ T ] ( Kick about sthg. ) To travel in ( a place ) with no fixed plan ;

Ex: He’s been kicking about Africa for years ;

“ Kick against / at sthg. / sbdy.

- [ T ] To be strongly unwilling to obey or act in accordance with ;

Ex: At school he always Kicked against authority ;

“ Kick off

- [ I ] To start a game of football ;

Ex: What �me do we kick off ? ; (fig.) The lecturer kicked off (= began his talk ) with a

few jokes ; _ See also KICKOFF ;

“ Kick sbdy. Out

- [ T ( Of ) ] Infml To remove or dismiss , esp. violently ;

Ex: He was kicked out of college for chea�ng in exams ;

“ Kick up sthg.

- Infml To cause or make ( trouble ) ;

Ex: He kicked up a fuss / a row about the broken furniture. ( = Complained forcefully

about it ) ;

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Kick [n]

1. [ C ] An act of kicking ;

Ex: Give the door a good kick to open it; I knocked him down and gave him a smart kick in
the ribs for good measure ; He’s so lazy ; he could do with a good kick up the rear ;
2. [ C ] Sl A strong feeling of excitement , pleasure , etc.. ;

Ex: He gets some kind of a kick out of making her suffer ; She drives fast ( just ) for kicks;

3. [ S; U ] lnfml Strength ; Power to produce an effect ;

Ex: This home-made whisky has a real kick to it ;

4. [ C ] An extremely strong new interest ;

Ex: She’s on a health food kick at the moment ;

Kick-back [n]

1. [ C ; U ] Sl Money paid, usu. secretly or dishonestly , to someone in return for

doing something ;

Ex: For arranging the contract he got a kick-back of 100,000 AOA ; ;

Kick-off [n]

1. [ C ; U ] The first kick of a game of football ;

Ex: The kickoff is at three O’clock today ; _ See also KICK off

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The context -

1. [ T ( in , on )] To hit ( someone or something ) hard with the fist (= closed

hand ) ;

Ex: He punched the man in the chest / on the nose ; _ see SLAP ( USAGE ) ;

2. [ T ] To use a punch3 to cut ( a hole ) in ( something ) ;

Ex: The �cket-collector punched my �cket / punched a hole in my �cket ; -er [ n ]

to punch - the phrasal verbs

““Punch in , Punch out

- [ I ] Am.E for CLOCK in , CLOCK out ;

“ Punch sbdy. up

- [T] Br.E infml To hit ( someone ) repeatedly ;_ see also PUNCH-UP

“ Punch [n]

- [ C ( in , on ) ] A quick strong blow made with the fist (= closed hand ) ;

Ex: I’d like to give that man a punch on the nose ; A straight punch to the jaw ; _see also

pack a punch ( PACK2 ) ;

- [ T ] apprec forcefulness ; effective power ;

Ex: His speech lacked punch ;_ see also punchy;

“ ¨Pull one’s punches

- [ I ] To express one’s bad opinion more gently than is deserved ;

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“ Punch3 [n]

- [ I ] A metal tool for cu�ng holes ;

Ex: A �cket punch ;

“ Punch4 [n]

- [ C usu. sing. ; U ] ( Often in Comb. ) A drink made from fruit juice, sugar, water,

etc…, and usu. wine or other alcohol ;

Ex: A bowl of rum punch ;

“ Punch4 [n]

- BrE “as pleased / proud as punch” Extremely pleased / proud ;

“ Punch-and-judy show4 [n]

- [ ] ( esp. in Britain ) A puppet show for children in which the main character

Punch fights humorously with his wife Judy ;

“ Punch-ball [n]

- [ ] ( Also punching bag AmE ) A large leather ball or bag, fixed on a spring or hung

from a rope , which is punched ( punch1 ) for exercise ;

“ Punch-bowl [n]

- [ ] A large bowl in which punch is served ;

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“ Punch-drunk [Adj.]

- [ ] ( Of a professional fighter ) Suffering brain damage from repeatedly blows on

the head in boxing ;

- [ ] Infml very confused , esp. by con�nual misfortune or bad treatment ;

“ Punched-card [n]

- [ ] ( Also punch-card ) A card with a patern of holes in it for pu�ng into a computer,

each of which carries a par�cular piece of informa�on to the computer ;

“ Punch-line [n]

- [ ] The last few words of a joke or story , that give meaning to the whole and cause

amusement or surprise ;

“ Punch-up [n]

- [ ] BrE infml A fight ;_ see also punch-up ;

“ Punchy [adj. ]

- [ ] Sl Having a forceful , effec�ve quality ; INCISIVE ; - iness n [ U] ;

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The context -

1. [ T ] To use sudden or steady pressure in order to move ( someone or

something ) forward, away from oneself, or to a different position ;

Ex: He pushed me, and I fell into the water. She pushed the chairs out of the way. You stop
the machine by pushing this buton. Don´t push: wait for your turn to get on the bus. From
chair over ; You push it from behind , and I’ll pull it . Please, push the door shut / push the
door to ( into a shut posi�on ) .
2. [ I + adv / prep ; T + obj + adv / prep. ] To make ( one´s way ) by pushing ;

Ex: She pushed past me . He pushed his way to the front of the crowd.

3. [ T ( into )] To try to force ( someone ) to do something by continual urging;

Put pressure on ;

Ex: I´m not pushing you; If you don´t want the job, don´t take it. He pushed Her into
making a decision . Don´t push yourself too hard (= work too hard ) or you´ll get ill.
[ ( + object + to-v )] His parents are pushing him to study medicine .
4. [ T ] Infml to try to draw attention to ( someone or something ) e.g. by
advertising , in order to gain costumers , support, approval, etc..;

Ex: The company are pushing their new produt . He used the sales conference to push his
latest ideas .
5. [ T ] Infml to sell to draw attention to ( drugs that are not legal ); _see
also pusher

“ Be pushing

6. [ T ] Infml to be nearly ( a stated age );

Ex: You wouldn´t think so to look at her, but she´s pushing 60.

“ Push one´s luck

7. [ T ] Infml to take a risk, esp. because of a previous success ;

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“ Push the boat out

6. [ T ] Infml BrE to make a special effort to make something enjoyable, esp.

by spending more money than usual ;

Ex: They really pushed the boat out for their daughter´s weeding. _ compare press1;
pull1 ;see also pushed

“ Phrasal verbs

“ Push ahead / forward / on [ ( with )]

1. [ T ] to continue one´s journey or march ; Advance ;

2. to continue with a plan or activity, esp. in a steady determined way ;

Ex: Despite opposi�on, they are pushing ahead with their scheme for a new airport.

“ Push along

1. [ T ] Infml to leave ;

Ex: It´s ge�ng late; we must be pushing along .

“ Push sbdy. around

1. [ T ] Infml to treat roughly and unfairly , esp. in order to force obedience ;

Order about ;

“ Push for sthg.

1. [ T pass. rare ] to demand urgently and forcefully ; Try to get ;

Ex: People living near the airport are pushing for new restric�ons on nights flights .

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“ Push sbdy. forward

1. [ T ] often derog to try to attract attention to ( someone, esp. oneself ) ;

2. [ I ] To push ahead ;

“ Push in sthg.

1. [ I ] Infml to join a line in front of other people already waiting ;

2. [ I ] to interrupt rudely ;

“ Push off

1. [ T ] usu. Imperative sl to go away ;

Ex: What are you doing in my garden ? push off !.

2. [ I ] to start a journey in a small boat ;

“ Push on

1. [ I ] to push ahead ;

“ Push sthg. out

1. [ T often pass. ] to dismiss or get rid of , often unfairly ;

“ Push sbdy./sthg. through (sthg.)

1. [ I ] to cause the acceptance or success of ( a person or thing ) by means

of forceful pressure or effort .

Ex: They pushed the legisla�on through ( parliament ) without much discussion. The
teacher pushed the students through the examina�on .

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“ Push sthg. up

1. [ T ] to cause to increase at a steady rate .

Ex: War in the Gulf pushed up the price of oil . discussion.

“ Push up the daisies”

1. [ T ] humor to be dead and buried .

Push – noun
1. [ C ] An act of pushing ;

Ex: They gave the car a push to start it .

2. [ C ] A forceful , often planned effort to gain a desired result ;

Ex: A big adver�sing push to publicize our new product .

3. [ U ] infml, usu. apprec the active will to succeed, esp. by forcing oneself
and one´s wishes on others ; _ see also pushy ;

“ At a push ”

4. [ T ] Infml esp. BrE If really necessary;

Ex: I can finish the work by next month at a push .

“ Give / get the push ”

5. [ T ] sl to dismiss / be dismissed from a job ; _

“ If / When it comes to the push ”

4. [ T ] “ If / When there is a moment of special need “;

Ex: If it came to the push we could always borrow a bit more money from the bank.
;compare pull

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“ Push-bike

1. [ N ] Br.E Infml A bicycle ;

“ Push-button

1. [ A ] Adj. Operated by a button ( push button ) that one presses with the
finger;

Ex: This machine has a push button starter. A push button car radio. (fig.) push button
warefare (= by means of explosives that can be fired over very long distances , not by soldiers
figh�ng with ordinary weapons ).

“ Push-cart

1. [ n ] A small cart pushed by hand, used, e.g. by a street tradesman ;

“ Push-chair

1. [ n ] Br.E // Stroller esp. Am.E A small chair on wheels for pushing a small
child about ; _see picture at PRAM

“ Pushed

1. [ F ] [( for )] Infml Adj. Having difficulty in finding enough ( money , time

etc..) ;

Ex: I´m always rather pushed for money by the end of the month . [ + to-v ] You´ll be
pushed to finish the job by this evening.

2. [ ] Having no free time ; Busy ;

Ex: I´d like to stop for a chat, but I´m rather pushed today .

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“ Pusher

1. [ n ] derog A person who sells illegal drugs ;

Ex: People living near the airport are pushing for new restric�ons on nights flights .

1. [ n ] infml A pushy person ;

1. [ n ] BrE A small tool for pushing food onto a spoon at meal, used by very
young children ;

“ Push-over

1. [ n ] Infml Something that is very easy to do or win ;

Ex: The exam was a push-over !.

2. [ I ] [( for )] Someone who is easily influenced or defeated ( by ) ;

Ex: Milu is a push-over for girls with blue eyes.

“ Push-up

1. [ I ] AmE for press-up

“ Pushy

1. [ Adj usu. derog. ] also Pushing Showing forceful determination to get

things done and make people accept one´s wishes; Assertive ;

Ex: He´s not really pushy enough to succeed in business._ -ily [adv] ; -ness [n] [U]

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The context -

1. [ T ] To bring ( something ) along behind one while moving ;

Ex: The horse was pulling a cart. The train is pulled by a powerful engine._compare DRAG

2. [ I ; T ] To use force on ( something ), esp. with the hands, in order to move it

towards oneself or in the direction of the force ;

Ex: Help me move the piano over here; you push and I´ll pull it. In an emergency pull the
cord to stop the train. Sailors pulling on a rope [ + obj.+ adv / prep. ]. She pulled her
chair up to the table. He pulled his socks on. The cupboard door is stuck and I can´t pull it
open. She pulled the fence apart / to pieces with her bare hands.
3. [ T ] To bring or press towards one in order to make an apparatus work ;

Ex: To fire the gun, just pull the trigger.

4. [ T ( out ; up ) ] to take ( something out of a place when it is fixed or

enclosed ), usu. with force ;

Ex: The decayed tooth should be pulled ( out ). To pull the cork from a botle. She went
into the garden to pull (up) a few onions for dinner .
5. [ T ] to stretch and damage, by using force ; Strain ;

Ex: He´s pulled a muscle trying to li� the piano.

6. [ T ] to win , gain or attract ;

Ex: The big match pulled in an enormous crowd . She´s unlikely to pull many votes at the
elec�on . ( Infml ) He´s hoping to pull the girls with his flashy new car.
7. [ T ( on ) ] to bring out ( a small weapon ) ready for use ;

Ex: He pulled a gun on me. (= took out a gun and aimed it at me ).

8. [ T ] esp. BrE to get ( beer ) out of a barrel by pulling a handle ;

Ex: To pull a pint.

9. [ T ( on ) ] ( Of a horse ) to struggle and press the mouth hard against the

BIT2 ;

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10. [ T ] Sl. , esp. Am.E to succeed in doing ( a crime , something daring ,
something annoying or deceiving , etc.. ) ;

Ex: They pulled a bank robbery . What are you trying to pull ?. (= What trick are you trying
to play ? ).
11. [ T ] tech to hold back ( a horse in a race , or a blow being aimed in boxing
) with the intention of avoiding victory ;_ see also pull one´s punches ( PUNCH )

12. [ T ] tech to hit ( the ball in cricket or Golf ) away from a straight course
and away from the side of the player´s stronger hand ;

13. [ I ] old-fash to row ; _ compare Push1

“ Pull a fast one ” “ Pull one´s finger out ”

“ Pull someone´s leg ” “ Pull something out of the bag

“ Pull to pieces ” “ Pull rank ”

“ Pull one´s socks up ” “ Pull the rug out from under ”

“ Pull strings ” “ Pull one´s weight ”

“ Pull the wool over someone´s eyes ”

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“ Phrasal verbs

“ Pull ahead

1. [ T ] [ ( of ) ] to get in front by moving fast ;

Ex: The taxi soon pulled ahead of the bus.

“ Pull at sthg.

1. [ T ] to seize and pull sharply and repeatedly ;

Ex: She pulled at the thread un�l it came out of the cloth ; The child pulled at his mother´s
coat, wan�ng to be li�ed up ;
2. [ T ] old-fash to cause tobacco smoke to flow from ( a pipe ) ;

3. [ T ] old-fash to take a long drink from ( a container ) ;

“ Pull away

1. [ T ] [ ( from ) ] ( esp. of a vehicle or its driver ) to move away :

a. from the side of the road ; b. from another moving vehicle ;

Ex: He jumped onto the bus just as it was pulling away . The thieves steadly pulled away
from the police car .

“ Pull sthg. / Sbdy. down

1. [ T ] to break in pieces and destroy ( something built ) ;

Ex: They are pulling down those houses to make room for a new hotel .

2. [ T ] to weaken in health ;

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“ Pull in

1. [ I ] ( Of a train ) to arrive at a station ;

2. [ I ] ( Of a vehicle or its driver ) to move to one side and perhaps stop ; _

compare PULL over ; PULL-IN

3. [ T ] ( pull sbdy. in ) to take ( a possible criminal ) to a police station ;

Ex: The police have pull him in for ques�oning .

4. [ T ] ( pull sthg. in ) infml to earn ( a lot of money ) ;

Ex: She´s pulling in quite a bite in her new job .

“ Pull off sthg.

1. [ T ] Infml to succeed in ( a difficult attempt ) ;

Ex: The trick looked impossible, but She pulled It off .

“ Pull out

1. [ I ] ( Of a train ) to leave a station ; _ compare Pull away

2. [ I ] ( Of a vehicle or its driver ) to move :

a. Away from the side of the road ; b. In front of another moving vehicle ;

3. [ I ] [ (= pull sbdy. out ) ( of ) ] to ( cause to ) leave a place or time of trouble;

Ex: The general pulled his troops out of the area. Milu saw that the firm was going to be
ruined, so he pulled out ; _ see also : ” Pull out all the stops “
s
“ Pull over

1. [ I ] [ (= pull sthg. over ) ] a. ( Of a vehicle or its driver ) to move over to

one side of the road ;

Ex: The policeman signaled to pull over .

b. To drive ( one´s vehicle ) to the side of the road ; _ compare Pull in 2

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“ Pull though

1. [ T;I ] [ ( = pull sbdy. though ) ] also pull round - to ( cause to ) live in spite
of illness or wounds ;

Ex: He´s very ill, but with careful nursing he´ll pull through. _ Compare Bring through .

2. [ T ] to ( help to ) succeed in spite of difficulties ;

Ex: Paulo had difficulty with his work for examima�ons , but his teacher pulled him
through.

“ Pull together

1. [ I ] ( Of a group of people ) work so as to help a shared effort .

2. [ T no pass. ] ( = pull sbdy. together ) to control the feelings of ( oneself ) ;

Ex: Stop ac�ng like baby , pull yoursef together ! .

3. [T] ( = pull sthg. together ) to cause to improve through proper organization;

Ex: We need an experienced man to pull the department together.

“ Pull up

1. [ T ] ] ( = pull sthg. up ) to ( cause to ) come to a stop .

Ex: The car pulled up at the traffic light . His unexpected cri�cism rather pull me up short
(= made stop and think ) .
2. [ T ] ] [ ( to , with ) ] to come level ( with another competitor in a race );

2. [ T ] ] [ ( on , for ) ] ( = pull sbdy. up ) to stop ( someone who is making

mistakes ) and express disapproval ;

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1. [ T ] ( An act of ) pulling ;

Ex: Give the rope a good / gentle pull. The moon´s pull on the sea._compare TUG

2. [ I ; T ] A difficult steep climb ;

Ex: It´s a long pull up this hill . In an emergency pull the cord to stop the train. Sailors
pulling on a rope. She pulled her chair up to the table. He pulled his socks on. The
cupboard door is stuck and I can´t pull it open. She pulled the fence apart / to pieces with
her bare hands.
3. [( at )] old-fash an act of taking in tobacco smoke or of taking a long drink ;

Ex: He took a pull at his pipe / beer .

4. [ T ( usu. in comb. ) ] A rope , handle , etc.. used for pulling something ;

Ex: A bell pull .

5. [ T ] Infml Special influence ; ( unfair ) personal advantage ;

Ex: The importance of his family´s name gives him a certain pull / lots of pull in this
town ;
6. [ T ] a stroke in Cricket or Golf that pulls1 (12) the ball ;

“ Pullet

1. [ n ] [ ( of ) ] A young hen during its first year of laying eggs ;

“ Pulley .

1. [ n ] an apparatus consisting of a wheel over which a rope or chain can

be moved, used for lifting heavy things ;

Ex: A system of pulley ;

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“ Pull-in .

1. [ n ] BrE infml a place by the roadside where vehicles may stop and the
drivers can get drinks and light meals ;_ see also Pull-in (2)

“ Pull-man

1. [ n ] tdmk also parlor car AmE - a specially comfortable railway carriage ,

esp. for sleeping in ;

“ Pull-on

1. [ Adj. ] ( Of a garment ) that is pulled on and fits tightly, without any

fastenings ;

Ex: A pull-on shirt .

“ Pull-out

1. [ n ] A part of a book, magazine , etc.. that is complete in itself and may

be taken out separately ;

“ Pull-over

1. [ n ] a sweater that is pulled on over the head .

“ Pullulate

2. [ v ] fml to breed or multiply quickly and in great numbers ; _ -ation [ n ]

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The context -

1. [ T ( up ) ] To bring from a lower to a higher level ; Raise ;

Ex: I can´t lift this bag – it´s too heavy. If you lift up the chair I´ll clean the carpet underneath
it. He was too weak even to lift his hands. ( fig. ) She lifted her eyes (= looked up ) from a
book. ( fig. ) The good news lifted my spirits.
2. [ I ] ( Of movable parts ) to be able to be lifted ;

Ex: The top of this box won´t lift ( off ).

3. [ T + obj.+ adv / prep. ] To take hold of and move to a higher or lower place or
position ;

Ex: I lifted the child down from the tree. She lifted the baby out of the cot .

4. [ I ] ( esp. of low clouds, mist , etc.. ) to move upwards or disappear ;

Disperse ;

Ex: The plane will take off once the fog has lifted .

5. [ T ] [ T + obj.+ adv / prep. ] to carry by air ; Airlift ;

6. [ T ] to bring to an end ; Remove ; Rescind ;

Ex: To lift an embargo / ban.

7. [T] Infml , usu. derog to take and use ( other people´s ideas , writings ,
etc.. ) as one´s own without stating that one has done so ; PLAGIARIZE ;

Ex: All his main ideas in this ar�cle are lifted from other works.

8. [ T ] infml to steal ( esp. something small ) ;

9. [ T ] tech to dig up ( vegetables that grow under the ground , or plants );

Ex: lifting potatoes.

10. [ T ( up ) ] lit. to make ( the voice ) loud, e.g. in singing ;_see also

“ lift a finger “

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“ Phrasal verbs

“ lift off

1. [ I ] ( Of an aircraft or spacecraft ) to leave the ground ; _see also

Take off

lift – noun
1. [ C ] An act of lifting ;

Ex: One more lift and it´s up !

2. [ I ] BrE // “Elevator” AmE – An apparatus in a building for taking people and

goods from one floor to another ;

Ex: He pressed the buton to call the lift . He took the lift to the 14th floor. The hotel lift.

3. [ C ] A free ride in a private vehicle ;

Ex: Can I give you a lift home ?.

4. [ C;U ] A lifting force, such an upward pressure of air on the wings of an

aircraft ;

5. [ S ] Infml. A feeling of increased strength , cheerfulness , etc.. ;

Ex: Passing the exam gave me a real lift .

6. [ T ] Any of various types of equipment for lifting ;

“ lift off

1. [ n ] the start of the flight of a spacecraft ; Take-off ;_see also lift off.

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The context -

1. [ T ] To have or hold in one’s arms, on one’s back, etc.. , while moving ;

Ex: She carried her baby on her back . I carried the book in a strong paper bag . We li�ed
the piano and carried it down the stair .; see also BRING ( USAGE );
2. [ I ] To act as the means by which ( a person or thing ) is moved from one
place to another ; Transport ; Convey ;

Ex: The railway system carries over 25% of the country’s goods traffic ; Pipes carry oil
across the desert ; The litle boat was carried out to sea on the �de. ( Fig. ) Her outstanding
ability carried her right to the top of her profession . He ran out of the burning building as
fast as his legs would carry him .

3. [ T ] To pass from one person to another ; Spread ;

Ex: Many serious deseases are carried by insects.

4. [ I ] To be able to support the weight of ( something ) without moving or

breaking ;

Ex: These two pillars carries the whole roof.

5. [ T ] to have with one or on one’s body ;

Ex: The police in Britain don’t usually carry guns. This is a dangerous area, don’t carry too
much cash on you .
6. [ T no pass. ] fml to move or hold ( oneself ) in a certain way ;

Ex: They carry themselves like soldiers .

7. [T] a. to support or keep in operation, esp. by providing money ;

Ex: Can the company afford to carry its loss-making overseas sec�on un�l the business
improves ? .
b. tech to support with food ;

Ex: This field can carry up to ten cows .

8. [ T ] to print or broadcast ; Contain ;

Ex: All the newspaper carried ar�cles about the pop star´s marriage . This radio sta�on does
not carry any adver�sing .

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9. [ T ] to keep a supply of ( goods ) for sale ; Stoke ;

Ex: The store carries a good range of sports equipment.

10. [ T ] to have as a usual or necessary part or result ;

Ex: All our products carry a 12-month guarantee . The plan carries with it the risk of
losing popular support . This is a serious crime and carries a long jail sentence . Her
opinion carry ( a lot of ) weight with me (= influence me greatly ).
11. [ I ] To be able to reach a certain distance ;

Ex: We couldn´t hear her at the back of the hall because her voice doesn´t carry ( very well
). How far does this gun carry ? (= How far will it fire ? ) .
12. [ T usu. pass. ] To give approval to ( esp. a law or plan ) , esp. by voting ;

Ex: The mo�on was carried by 310 votes to 306 . I declare the mo�on carried .

13. [ T no pass. ] To win sympathy, support , or agreement of ;

Ex: The government carried most of the country and won the elec�on.

14. [ T ] to put ( a number ) into the next upright row to the left when doing
addition ;

Ex: To add 9 and 5 you write down 4 and carry 1.

15. [ T ] to succeed in not showing the bad effects of;

Ex: He carries his age very well . He can´t carry his drink (= can´t drink much alcohol
without ge�ng drunk ) .

“ carry all / everything before one

16. [T] to be completely successful ; Win a complete victory ;

“ carry a torch for

17. tech to be in love with ( esp. someone who does not return the love ) ;

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“ carry something too far

18. [ T ] to do something for too long or to too great a degree ;

Ex: She carried the joke too far .

“ carry the can

19. [ T ] BrE Infml to take the blame ; Be responsible ;

“ carry the day

18. [ T ] to win ; be completely successful ; see also Cash and carry .

“ Phrasal verbs

“ carry away

1. [ T usu. pass. ] to fill with strong feeling or excitement , esp. so as to cause

unreasonable behaviour ;

Ex: Noemia got so carried away when arguing with her husband that she hit him. I got
rather carried away at the clothes sale and spent far too much money .

“ carry sthg. forward / over

1. [ T ] ( When adding up accounts ) to move ( a total ) from the bottom of an

upright row of figures to the next page for further addition ;

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“ carry sthg. off

1. [ T usu. pass. ] to perform or do ( a part , action , duty , etc.. ) easily and

successfully ;

Ex: She carried off her part in the plan with no difficulty. It´s a risky venture and I´m not
sure they´ll be able to carry It off.
2. to win ( a prize , honour , etc.. ) ;

Ex: Milú carried off all the prizes.

“ carry on

1. [ I ( With ) ; T (= carry on sthg. ) ] esp. BrE to continue , esp. in spite of an

interruption or difficulties ;

Ex: We can carry on our discussion a�er lunch . carry on with your work. [ v-ing ] Even
a�er the music started they carried on talking.
2. [ I ] infml to behave in a foolish , excited , or anxious manner ;

Ex: You should have heard her carrying on when we told her the news!. I wish you´d stop
carrying on (= complain ) about it.

3. [ I ( With ) ] infml to have a love affair , esp. an improper one ;

Ex: Did you know she´s been carrying on with the milk-man ? .; see also carrying-on ,
Carry-on

“ carry sthg. out

1. [ T ] to perform or complete ; Conduct ;

Ex: Our planes carried out a bombing raid on enemy targets . They are carrying out
urgent repairs. An inves�ga�on into the cause of the crash will be carried out by the
department of transport .
1. [ T ] to fulfill ( a promise , duty , etc.. ) ;

Ex: They have failed to carry out their obliga�on / orders / to carry out a threat.

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“ carry over sthg.

1. [ T ] to carry forward ; see also carry- over

“ carry through

1. [ T ] ( carry sbdy. through sthg. ) to help ( someone ) to continue in an

effective way during ( an illness , difficulty period , etc.. ) ; Sustain ;

Ex: His strong determina�on carried him through ( his illness ) .

2. [ T ] ( carry sthg. through ) to bring to a successful end ; Accomplish ;

Ex: Despite powerful opposi�on, they managed to carry their reforms through .

“ carry2 [n]

1. [ T usu. pass. ] The distance an object will travel or has travelled after being
fired , thrown , or hit ;

Ex: A Golf drive with a carry of 300 yards.

Carry-all [ n ]

1. [ n ] esp. AmE A large usu. soft bag or case ; Hold-all ;

Carry-cot [ n ]

1. [ I ] esp. BrE // “Portacrib” AmE tdmk – A small boxlike container in which a

baby can be carried ; see picture at Bed

Carrying-charge [ n ]

1. [ ] esp. AmE Money added to the price of things bought by installment plan ;

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Carrying-on [ n ]

1. [ S ] also “carryings-on” pl. Infml A foolish , excited , or immoral

behaviour ;

Ex: The police were called in to inves�gate the scandalous carryings-on. See also carry-
on

Carry-on [ n ]

1. [ S ] Infml esp. BrE A piece of silly , usu. annoying behavior ; Fuss ; _see
also carry on

Carry-out [ adj. , n ]

1. [ S ] Infml esp. AmE & ScotE for Take away ;

Carry-over [ n ]

1. [ usu. sing. ] A total that is carried forward ( carry forward ) ;

2. [ I( from )] Something that is left from an earlier time or situation ; Remnant ;

Ex: These regula�ons are a carry-over from restric�ons that were imposed during war�me.;
see also carry-over

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The context -

1. [I;T ( at , to )] To cause ( something ) to move rapidly through the air by a

sudden movement or straightening of the arm ;

Ex: It´s my turn to throw. I threw the ball 100 metres. Someone threw a stone at me.
throw the ball to me. [ ( + obj.(i) + obj.(d) ] throw me the ball.( fig.) She threw a angry
look (= looked angrily at me ). ( fig.) We can´t solve this problem simply by throwing money
at it (= by no other method except spending a lot of money ).

2. [ I ] ( + obj. + adv. / prep. ] To move or put suddenly or forcefully into a particular

position or state ;

Ex: If you keep breaking the club rules you´ll get thrown out.(= you´ll be forced to leave ).
The general threw a ring of soldiers around the area to prevent the riots from spreading. She
threw herself down on the bed. This new system has thrown us all into confusion. The
unexpected atack momentarily threw her off balance (= disturbed her ), but she quickly
regained control.
3.[ T+ obj. + adv. / prep. esp. off , on ] To put on or take off ( a garment ) hastily ;

Ex: She threw off her clothes and jumped into the water. She threw a shawl over her
shoulder.
4. [ I ] To move ( a switch, handle , etc.. ) in order to connect or disconnect
parts of a machine , apparatus, etc.. ;

5. [ T ] to send out or direct ;

Ex: The sun threw shadows on the grass . The single light bulb threw a dim light.( fig.) I
wonder if this new clue will throw any further light on the mystery. ( fig.) This new evidence
throws doubt on his explana�on (= suggests that it is not true ).

6. [ T ] to hit ( someone ) with ( a blow, stroke , etc.. ) ;

Ex: He was disqualified for throwing an illegal punch.

7. [T] to roll ( a dice );

8. [ T ] to get ( a particular number ) by rolling a dice ;

Ex: I threw a six.

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9. [ T ] to cause to fall to the ground ;

Ex: His horse threw him.

10. [ T ] infml to arrange or give ( a party , dinner , etc..) ;

11. [ I ] infml To confuse ; Shock ;

Ex: His unexpected answer threw me for a moment .

12. [ T ] To shape ( an object ) on a potter´s wheel ;

13. [ T ] To make ( one´s voice ) appear to be coming from somewhere other

than its actual place of origin ;

Ex: Ventriloquists have to be able to throw their voice.

14. [ T ] infml to lose ( a fight ) on purpose ;

15. [ T ] infml to have a sudden attack of ( usu. violent feelings );

Ex: I can´t tell my parents – They´d throw a fit!. The litle girl threw a tantrum / scene when
she was told to stay behind .

“ Throw something ( back ) in someone´s face “

16. [T] infml to mention to someone in a blaming way something bad they
have done ; Reproach someone with something ;

Ex: But all that happened years ago ; why do you throw It back in my face now ? .

“ Throw caution to the winds

17. [T] to behave intentionally in a way that shows no concern for the possible
( bad ) results of one´s action ; Take risks on purpose ;

“ Throw cold water on

18. [ T ] to speak discouragingly about ( a plan , suggestion , etc.. ) ;

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“ Throw good money after bad

19. [ T ] to waste money by spending it on something that has already failed

or is certain to bring no good result ;

“ Throw oneself at

20. [ T ] a. to rush violently towards ( someone ) ; b. to attempt forcefully to

win the love of ( someone )

“ Throw oneself into

21. [ T ] to do or take part in eagerly and actively ;

“ Throw one´s hat into the ring

22. [ T ] to ( declare one´s intention to ) join in and compete ;

“ Throw one´s weight about / around

23. [ T ] derog. to give orders to others , because one thinks one is important ;

“ Throw the book at

23. [ T ] Infml ( esp. of the police or a judge ) to make all possible charges
against ( someone ); _~er [n]

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“ Phrasal verbs

“ Throw sthg. away

1. [T] to get rid of ( something not wanted or needed ); Discard ;

Ex: You should throw away all those old clothes you never wear.

2. [T] to lose by foolishness ; Waste ;

Ex: This could be the best chance you´ll ever have ; don´t throw it away .see also throw
away

“ Throw sbdy./sthg. back on sthg.

1. [ T usu. pass. ] to cause to have to depend on ( something ) after something

else has failed.

Ex: Her friends had deserted her, and she was thrown back on her own resources.

“ Throw sthg. in

1. [T] infml to supply in addition to something else without increasing the price.

Ex: When I bought the house, I got the carpets and curtains thrown in.

“ throw in the sponge / towel

1. Infml Admit defeat ;

“ throw off

1. [ T ] to free oneself from ( something bad ); Recover from ;

Ex: It took me a week to throw off my cold.

2. to escape from ( someone or something chasing one ) .

Ex: We´ll throw them off at the bridge.

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2. to cause ( someone ) to lose their way , direction , etc.. .

Ex: The criminal dived into the river to throw the police dogs off the track. See also throw-
off1 (2)

“ Throw sthg. open

1. [ T (to) ] to allow the general public to enter ( a place )

Ex: The queen has thrown open her castle for the summer.

2. [ T ] to make open ;

Ex: The compe��on was thrown open to sportsmen from all countries

“ Throw sbdy./sthg. out

1. [ T ] to get rid of ; Discard or force to leave ;

Ex: You really should throw out that filthy old sofa and get a new one.

2. [ T ] to refuse to accept ; Reject ;

Ex: The commite threw out my sugges�ons .

3. [ T ] to say carelessly or without considering the results ;

Ex: The teacher threw out a few ideas (= offered some sugges�ons ), and asked the
students to write an essay.
4. [ T ] to confuse or worry ;

Ex: Her sudden resigna�on completely threw me out .

“ throw sbdy. over

1. [ T ] infml to end a relationship with ;

“ Throw sthg./sthg. together

1. [ T usu. pass. ] sometimes derog. To build or make hastily

Ex: I just threw the meal together so I hope it´s all right.

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2. [ T ] to bring together esp. into a relationship ;

Ex: Chance threw us together at a party.

“ Throw up

1. [ T ] ( throw sthg. up ) infml to stop doing ;

Ex: I hear you´ve thrown up your job.

2. [ T ] sl. for Vomit ;

3. [ T ] ( throw sbdy. / sthg. up ) to produce ; Bring into existence ;

Ex: The discussion has thrown up a lot of interes�ng ideas.

“ throw [n]

1. An act of throwing ;

2. The distance to which something is thrown ;

Ex: a throw of 100 metres . a record throw.

3. The result of throwing in DARTS , DICE, etc.. ; see also Stone´s throw

“ Throw-away [adj.]

1. [ T usu. pass. ] ( Of a remark ) Said with a false carelessness , seeming to

have no regard for the effect ;

Ex: The comedy script is full of throw-away lines.

2. [ T ] Intended to be thrown away after use ;

Ex: A throw-away paper cup. See also throw-away.

“ Throw-back [n]

1. [ T (to) ] ( An example of ) a return to something in the past ;

Ex: These modern fashions are a throw-back to the 1950s.

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“ Throw-in [n]

3. [ T ] ( in football ) an act of throwing the ball back on from the side of the
field after it has gone out of play.

The context -

1. [ T ] to get hold of and stop ( a moving object ) ;

Ex: I threw the ball , and the dog caught it in his mouth.

2. [ T ] To trap, esp. after chasing or hunting; Capture ;

Ex: the cat caught a mouse. To catch a fish in a net . They drove off a�er the thieves but
couldn´t catch them. The police are confident that the murderer will be caught .
3. [ I ] To discover suddenly and by surprise ( esp. someone who is doing
something wrong ) ;

Ex: I caught him in the act ( of reading my diary ) .[+obj+ v-ing ] The police caught him
stealing a car. You won´t caught me mending his socks for him. ( = I´ll never do that ). The
thieves were caught red-handed (= were found while actually stealing ). ;( fig.) This kind
of cancer can be cured, provided it is caught early .(= if its existence is discovered at an early
stage ) .
4. [ I ] to be in time for ;

Ex: We had to run fast in order to catch the train. If you post the leter now, you´ll just
catch the last collecton . If we go home now , we might just catch the 10 0´clock news.-
opposite Miss
5. [ T ] To get ( a illness ) ; Become infected with;

Ex: to catch a cold ;

6. [ T ] to ( cause to ) become hooked , held , fastened , or stuck ;

Ex: My skirt caught in the door / got caught in the door. I caught my dress on a nail. I got
my finger caught in the wire fence. (fig.) The company is caught between the need to invest
more money and the need to keep costs as low as possible.

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7. [ T ] To attract ( esp. interest or attention ) ;

Ex: the unusual paneling on the walls caught our aten�on. The idea caught her
imagina�on. I´d like another drink; try to catch the waiter´s eyes (= look at him to atract
his aten�on ) .
8. [ T not in progressive forms ] to get or notice for a moment ;

Ex: I suddenly caught sight of her in the crowd. The fans waited at the airport, hoping to
catch a glimpse of their idol as he passed through. Try to catch a bit of sleep on the
journey.
9. [ T not in progressive forms ] to hear clearly and / or understand ;

Ex: Sorry , I didn´t quite catch your last point – could you say it again ?

10. [ T ] To give a good representation of ( a quality ) in a picture , piece of

writing , etc.. ;

Ex: the novel catches the mood of prewar Britain very well. The photograph catches her
smile perfectly ;
11. [ T ] to start to burn ;

Ex: The wind was so strong that the fire caught quickly. – see FIRE ( usage )

12. [ T ( out ) often pass. ] ( in cricket ) to end ( a player´s ) turn to BAT by taking
and holding a ball hit off the bat before it touches the ground ;

13. [ T + obj.+ adv / prep. ] To hit ( a person or animal ) ; Strike ;

Ex: I caught him on the chin with a heavy punch .

Catch fire

14. [ I ] to start burning ;

“Catch it”

15. [ T ] infml To be in trouble for doing something wrong ;

Ex: We´ll really catch it from the teacher if we´re late again ;

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Catch one´s breath

16. [ T ] a. to stop breathing for a moment from surprise, shock, fear , etc..

Ex: The news was so unexpected I caught my breath from shock .

b. to return to one´s usual rate of breathing after hard physical effort ,

Ex: Let me sit down for a moment while I catch my breath .- er [n]

to catch - the phrasal verbs

Catch at sthg.

1. To try to take or hold ;

Ex: A drowning man will catch at anything , even a straw.

Catch on

1. [ T ] To become popular , or fashionable ;

Ex: It was a popular style in Britain , but it never really caught on in America.

2. [ T ( to )] To begin to understand ;

Ex: It was a long �me before the police caught on to what he was really doing .

Catch sbdy. out

8. [ T ( in )] To show ( someone ) to be doing something wrong or making a

mistake ;

Ex: The prosecu�ng lawyer tried to caught the witness out by clever ques�oning .

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Catch up

1. [ I ( with ) ; T ( =catch sbdy./ sthg. up )] To come up from behind and reach the
same point or level as ;

Ex: You walk on and I’ll catch up with you later / (esp. BrE ) I’ll catch you up later. At the
moment our technology is more advanced than theirs, but they are catching up (with us)
fast.
2. [ I ( on ) ] To do what needs to be done in order to come up to date ;

Ex: I have to catch up on my work tonight, so I can’t come out . I’ve been away from school
for two weeks , so I’ve got a lot of catching up to do.

Caught up in

3. Included in , often against one’s wishes ; Involved in ;

Ex: The government got caught up in a biter dispute between the miners and their
employers.

“ Catch [n]
“

1. [ C ] An act of seizing and holding something thrown or hit, esp. a ball ;

Ex: A good catch .

2. [ C ] ( the amount of ) something caught ;

Ex: The boat brought back a big catch of fish . ( infml ) her husband was a good catch –
He’s rich and atrac�ve . ;
3. [ C ] A hook , or other apparatus for fastening something or holding it
shut ;

Ex: The catch on this door is broken. _ see also safety catch ;

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4. [ T ] infml A hidden problem or difficulty ; Snag ;

Ex: That house is extremely cheap, there must be a catch in / to it somewhere ;

The salary is fantas�c, but the catch is that you have to spend six months of year in the
Arc�c; _see also catch-22 ;

5. [T] A simple game in which two or more people throw a ball to each other ;

Ex: Let’s play catch ;

Catch-22

1. [ I ] (Often cap. ) a situation from which one is prevented from escaping

by something that is part of the situation itself ;

Ex: I can’t get a job unless I belong to the union, and I can’t join the Union un�l I’ve got a

job – It’s a case of catch-22 / it’s a catch-22 situa�on !

Catch-all [adj.]

2. [ A ] Intended to include or take account of all types , situations , or

possibilities ;

Ex: A vague catch-all clause in the contract to protect the rights of the author;

Catch-crop [n]

3. A quick growing vegetable , crop planted between two rows of another

crop to use soil not otherwise used;_see also cash crop

Catching [adj.]

1. [ F ] infml ( of a desease ) Infectious ;

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Catchment area [ n ]

1. [ A ] the area from which a lake or river gets its water ;

2. [ A ] the area from which a school gets its pupil, a hospital get its
patients , etc.. ;

Catch-penny [adj.]

3. Derog. Cheap and worthless , but made to appear attractive ;

Catch-phrase [ n ]

5. A phrase , often with little meaning , which becomes fashionable and

widely used for a time ;

Catch-word [n]

2. A word or phrase repeated so regularly that it becomes representative

of a political party, newspaper , etc.. ; Slogan ;

Catchy [adj.]

2. [ C ; U ] ( Of a tune or song ) easy to remember ;

Ex: A catchy song ; _ -ily [adv]

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The context -

1. [ T ] To fall or let fall , esp. unintentionally , unexpectedly , or suddenly ;

Ex: She dropped her glasses and broke them. I dropped the box on my foot . The fruit
dropped ( down ) from the tree. Your buton has dropped off !. (fig.) She dropped into a
deep sleep. (fig.) They worked un�l they dropped (= un�l they were completely �red ). (fig.)
Her face dropped (=she looked shocked or disappointed ) when she saw the bill.
2. [ I ; T ] To ( cause to ) fall to a lower level , or amount ;

Ex: The price of oil has dropped sharply/dropped to 12,000 AOA a barrel . He dropped his
voice to a whisper . The motorist dropped his speed. The wind / the temperature has
dropped. an emergency pull the cord to stop the train. Sailors pulling on a rope [ + obj.+
adv / prep. ]

3. [ T + obj.+ adv / prep. ] infml to allow ( someone ) to get out of vehicle ;

Ex: Drop me ( off ) at the corner .

4. [ T ( out ; up ) ] to stop seeing , talking about , doing , or considering ; Give

up ;

Ex: Let’s drop the subject . When the fire alarm rang I dropped everything (= stopped
what I was doing ) and ran out of the building. I am going to drop history this year (= stop
studying it ) . They were planning to build a tunnel, but I think they’ve dropped the idea now.
5. [ T ( from ) ] to stop including ; Leave out ;

Ex: I’ve been dropped ( from the football team ) for next Saturday’s match . He o�en drops
his “h ’ s” ( doesn’t pronounce them ) when he talks .

6. [ I + adv ] to visit unexpectedly or informally ;

Ex: drop in and see us when you’re next in London . Drop round one evening next week.
Jane dropped in on me a�er supper.
7. [ T + adv / prep. ] to get further away from a moving object by moving
more slowly than it ;

Ex: Our boat started the race well, but soon dropped off /away (from the others)/ dropped
behind ( the others ) .

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8. [T] to add while talking about something else ( esp. in phrases drop a hint, a
suggestion ; _ see also “let drop ( Let )

9. [ T ] infml To lose ( money ) ;

Ex: I dropped a fortune over that deal.

10. [ T ] infml. Am.E to knock down with a shot or blow ;

Drop a brick / clanger

11. [ T ] BrE infml to do or say something foolish and socially uncomfortable ;

Ex: He dropped a brick in front of the president by calling her “sir.”

Drop dead

12. [ T ] infml a. to die suddenly ;

b. Sl. ( Used rudely in commands to express dislike, annoyance , etc.. )

Drop someone a line / note

13. [ T ] to write a short letter to someone ;

Drop someone / something like a hot potato

14. [ T ] infml to quickly stop dealing with someone or something that has
suddenly become unpleasant ;

Drop the pilot

15. [ T ] old fashion to get rid of a skilled or trusted helper _see also the
penny dropped / has dropped ( Penny )

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“ Phrasal verbs

“ Drop off / away

1. [T ] ( also drop away ) to lessen in amount , value , etc.. ;

Ex: Interest in the game has dropped off . Sales have dropped off this winter.

2. [T] infml to fall into a light sleep ; Doze off

“ Drop out

1. [ T ( of ) ] to stop attending or taking part ;

Ex: He dropped out of college a�er only two weeks.

2. [ T ( of ) ] to move away from or refuse to join ordinary society because of

not agreeing with accepted practices, standards , and ways of living ;_see also
Drop-out .

Drop [n]
1. [ C ] the amount of liquid that falls in one round mass ;

Ex: A drop of oil / rain . A tear drop. _see picture at PIECE .

2. A small amount of liquid ;

Ex: Would you like some more tea? “ Just a drop ,please“ . He had a drop too much (=of
acohool ) to drink. (fig.) There isn’t a drop of jealousy in her .
3. [ C ] A small round sweet of the stated kind ;

Ex: fruit drops / chocolate drops .

4. [ S ] a. A distance or fall straight down ;

Ex: A long drop to the botom of the cliff . A drop of nine metres.

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b. A fall in amount , quality , etc.. ;

Ex: A big drop in the temperature. Another drop in sales.

5. [ C ] esp. AmE A place where something can be dropped or left ;

Ex: A mail drop . So guy ,Is there a trash drop around here ? . ;

6. [ C ] Something that is dropped ;

Ex: A drop of grain sacks from an aircra� to the hungry people on the island.

“ a drop in the bucket / the ocean

7. [ T ] A very small amount , esp. when compared with a larger amount which
is needed or wanted ;

Ex: The money we collected for the famine vic�ms is really just a drop in the ocean .

“ at the drop of a hat

8. [ T ] Suddenly and needing almost no excuse ;

Ex: She expects me to rush over and help her at the drop of a hat._ see also drops.

“ Drop-let [ n ]

1. [ T ] A very small drop of liquid ;

“ Drop-out [ n ]

1. Someone who leaves a school or college without completing the course ;

2. Someone who leaves ordinary society because they do not agree with
accepted practices , standards , ways of living ;_ see also drop out

“ Dropper [ n ]

8. [ T ] Short glass tube with an air-filled part ( Bulb ) at one end , used for
measuring out liquids , esp. liquid medicine , in drops ;_ see picture at Medical
instrument .

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“ Droppings [n]

8. [ n ] waste matter from the bowels of animals and birds ;

Ex: Bird / sheep droppings .

“ Drops [n]

8. [ T ] ( Often in comb. ) Liquid medicine to be taken drop by drop ;

Ex: An eyedrops . These drops are administered orally.

“ Dropsy [n]

8. [ T ] A gathering of liquid under the skin, or in the organs because of

various diseases ; _sical [adj.]

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