Міністерство освіти і науки, молоді та спорту України
Мукачівський державний університет
Гуманітарний факультет
Кафедра англійської філології
та методики викладання іноземних мов
Методичні вказівки та рекомендації до лінгво-стилістичного
аналізу художніх творів. Зразок аналізу текстів публіцистичного стилю.
для студентів денної та заочної форми навчання
спеціальності 6.020303 «Філологія ( англійська)» ОКР “Бакалавр”,
7.010103 «Філологія ( англійська)» ОКР “Спеціаліст”
Мукачево – 2010
Методичні вказівки та рекомендації до лінгво-стилістичного аналізу художніх творів. Зразок аналізу текстів публіцистичного стилю для студентів денної та заочної форми навчання
спеціальності 6.020303 «Філологія(англійська)» ОКР “Бакалавр”, 7.010103 «Філологія( англійська)» ОКР “Спеціаліст”. - Мукачево: МДУ, 2010. — с. ( др.арк)
Укладачі: асистент кафедри англійської філології та методики викладання іноземних мов Кончович К.Т.
асистент кафедри англійської філології та методики викладання іноземних мов Савчинець Д.П.
Обговорено і схвалено на засіданні кафедри англійської філології та методики викладання іноземних мов, протокол № 6 від 28.01.2010р.
Рецензент:
Рекомендовано до друку методичною радою МДУ, протокол № від р.
Вступ
Дані методичні вказівки та рекомендації призначені для факультетів вищих навчальних закладів, що готують бакалаврів та спеціалістів з англійської філології.
Мета методичних вказівок та рекомендацій : розвивати, вдосконалювати необхідні навички лексичного, граматичного, синтаксичного,стилістичного аналізів художніх та суспільно-політичних аналізів текстів.
Завданням курсу є набуття навичок писемного та усного володіння лексикою аналізу художніх та суспільно-політичних текстів , оволодіння новітньою фаховою інформацією через іноземні джерела.
Завданням студентів спеціальності Філологія (англійська), ОКР «Бакалавр» при аналізі художнього тексту є зосередження на морфологічному аспекті мови, конструкцій певних граматичних явищ, акцентування на полісемії лексичних одиниць.
При інтерпретуванні текстів публіцистичного характеру значна увага приділяється вмінню студентів визначити та коментувати головну ідею публіцистичного тексту на основі суспільно-політичної англомовної термінології.
Завданням студентів спеціальності Філологія (англійська), ОКР «Спеціаліст» при аналізі художнього тексту є зосередження уваги на стилістичному аспекті мови, визначення ролі стилістичних засобів в розкритті головних авторських ідей.
При інтерпретуванні текстів публіцистичного характеру значна увага приділяється вмінню студентів коректно і адекватно передати зміст і головну ідею україномовної статті, англомовною суспільно-політичною термінологією.
Завдання:
- опанування лексики та термінології, їх застосування;
- володіти навичками лексичного, граматичного, синтаксичного,стилістичного аналізів художніх та суспільно-політичних текстів.
- реферувати та анотувати спеціальну літературу;
- опанувати системний підхід аналізів текстів
Методичні вказівки та рекомендації містять схеми аналізу текстів художнього та публіцистичного стилю, зразок аналізу художнього тексту та зразок аналізу публіцистичного тексту, перелік лексичного мінімуму необхідного для аналізу художнього тексту . Кожна схема та приклад аналізу включає пояснення лексико-граматичного, стилістичного та суспільно - політичного матеріалу текстів.
Тексти підібрані з англомовних сучасних джерел (друкованих і електронних) у відповідності з дидактичним принципом “від простого до складного” і повторюванням лексичних елементів, термінології та граматичних явищ. Кожна схема аналізу супроводжується прикладом аналізу текстів за поданою схемою, термінологічним словником для активного теоретичного та практичного аналізів текстів.
Методичні вказівки
Методичні вказівки щодо написання аналізів художніх та публіцистичних творів призначені для студентів денної та заочної форми навчання спеціальності «Філологія (англійська)» за кваліфікаційним рівнем ОКР «Бакалавр», ОКР «Спеціаліст» Аналіз текстів дозволяє повторити вивчений раніше матеріал та закріпити набуті навички на письмі. Написання аналізів текстів активізує письмову та комунікативну компетентність, виробляють у студентів вміння читати, розуміти та інтерпретувати оригінальні тексти, аналізувати вживання граматичних, стилістичних, фонетичних та лексичних структур.
Методичні вказівки для аналізу художнього тексту
Говорячи про лінгво-стилістичний аналіз художнього тексту,необхідно визначити художній текст як такий. Текст розглядається як закрита система складної внутрішньої організації, всі елементи та рівні якої знаходяться в тісній взаємодії і орієнтовані авторської точкою зору на передачу певної естетико-пізнавальної інформації. Художній текст відповідає всім загальнотекстокстовим дефініціям: він має структурно-смислову єдність, впорядковану послідовність одиниць, його складових, закінченість комунікативної цілеспрямованості. Відмінність художнього тексту від нехудожнього (наукового та офіційно-ділового) полягає в специфіці його функції --естетичному впливі: «Поетична функція мови спирається на комунікативну, виходить з неї, але споруджує над нею підлеглий закономірностям мистецтва новий світ мовних смислів і співвідношень ». Художній текст може бути принципово неоднозначним, авторське ставлення до описуваних подій може бути глибоко прихованим, явища підтексту часто виявляються більш значущими, ніж експліцитно виражені.
Основне завдання лінгво - стилістичного аналізу - виявлення загальної художньої ідеї тексту, тобто того узагальнюючого емоційного сенсу,який лежить в основі твору і домінантою якого є авторська точка зору щодо описуваної дійсності. Упроцесі аналізу розглядаються різні рівні тексту: фонетичний(визначення повних та скорочених форм слів,абревіацій),морфологічний(визначення граматичних особливостей тексту)лексичний (вивчення тематичних полів слів і особливостей окремого слова),синтаксичний (принцип поєднання слів, пропозицій, особливості структури складного синтаксичного цілого), композиційно-синтаксичний (визначення типу розповіді, взаємодії мовних структур, просторово -тимчасова і суб'єктивна організація тексту абзацу),стилістичний(визначення та характеристика стилістичних засобів,обґрунтування мети застосування їх автором). Крім того, особлива увага приділяється виявленню імпліцитних «елементів» тексту. Порядок розгляду названих рівнів систематичний, а не довільний. Важливо мати на увазі, що об'єктом аналізу є художній текст, а не художній твір «Текст - один зкомпонентів художнього твору, звичайно, дуже істотний компонент, без якого існування художнього твору неможливо »
Лінгво-стилістичний аналіз художнього тексту дуже важливий, перед читачем ставиться вузьке завдання уважного прочитання, витягу максимальної художньої інформації з самого тексту. Характеристика літературної, громадського життя епохи, вивчення біографії автора ідокладність створення даного твору, безумовно, розширює уявлення читача про конкретний текст, однак, це завдання літературознавчого аналізу.
Існує таке поняття як інтерпретація тексту. Більшою чи меншою мірою, інтерпретування тексту обов'язково має місце і при літературознавчому, і при мовностилістичному аналізі творів, бо художня творчість не є просто ще один спосіб самовираження, воно становить важливу, природну і необхідну сторону комунікативної діяльності людини.
Художній текст складний і багатошаровий. Завдання його інтерпретації - отримати максимум закладених у нього думок і почуттів художника. Задум художника втілений у творі і тільки з нього може бути реконструйований.
Інтерпретація тексту, таким чином, - це освоєння ідейно -естетичної, смислової й емоційної інформації художнього твору, що здійснюється шляхом відтворення авторського бачення і пізнання дійсності .
Аналіз (інтерпретація) тексту передбачає вміння студента визначати і коментувати:
1) внесок письменника у світову літературу;
2) історичне і соціальне тло, на якому розвиваються події;
3) тему уривка;
4) його ідею;
5) конотацію заголовка твору;
6) структуру уривка;
7) градацію і кульмінацію уривка;
8) тональність оповіді;
9) характеристику персонажів;
10) охарактеризувати мовні рівні тексту;
10) семантичні поля;
11) експресивні засоби і стилістичні прийоми.
Методичні вказівки до аналізу публіцистичного тексту
Публіцисти́чний стиль мо́влення використовується найчастіше в політичних, суспільних, освітніх масових виданнях та статтей. Він характеризується точністю, послідовністю, логічністю викладення провідних тез разом з їх емоційним забарвленням.
Метою публіцистичного стилю стає викладення та з'ясування певних соціально-політичних та філософських проблем, вплив на читачів, пропагування суспільно-політичних та освітніх ідей у газетах .
Публіцистичний стиль потребує попереднього відбору певних мовних засобів, матеріалу. Звичайною формою реалізації публіцистичного стилю є усний або друкований монологом.
У цьому стилі можуть використовуватись і нормативна лексика, високі, урочисті слова і фразеологізми, емоційно забарвлені лексеми, вигуки, частки, нескладні синтаксичні конструкції, риторичні запитання, окличні інтонації, повтори. Відповідно до провідного завдання цього стилю у ньому часто використовуються політичні та морально-етичні слова і фразеологізми.
Особливості публіцистичного стилю
Основні ознаки:
-доступність мови й формулювань (орієнтація на широкий загал),
-поєднання логічності доводів і полемічності викладу,
-поєднання точних найменувань, дат, подій, місцевості, учасників, виклад наукових положень і фактів з емоційно-експресивною образністю,
-наявність низки яскравих засобів позитивного чи негативного авторського тлумачення, яке має здебільшого тенденційну ознаку,
-наявність художніх засобів (епітетів, порівнянь, метафор, гіпербол тощо).
Основні мовні засоби:
-синтез складників наукового, офіційно-ділового, художнього й розмовного стилів,
-насичення лексики суспільно-політичними й соціально-економічними термінами, закликами, гаслами,
-використання багатозначної образної лексики, емоційно-оцінних слів, експресивних сталих словосполук, перифраз,
-уживання в переносному значенні наукових, спортивних, музичних, військових та інших термінів,
-різні типи питальних, окличних та спонукальних речень, зворотний порядок слів, складні речення ускладненого типу з повторюваними сполучниками та інше,
-влучні афористичні, інтригуючі заголовки.
В результаті опрацювання статті студент повинен знати лексичні одиниці та мовні взірці , різноманітні схеми інтерпретації суспільно-політичних текстів англійською мовою, суспільно-політичну лексику, а також вміти спілкуватися англійською мовою з дотриманням усіх фонетичних, лексичних та граматичних норм у межах програмного матеріалу, робити аналіз публіцистичних текстів, реферувати та анотувати англійською мовою наукові і публіцистичні тексти, викладати в усній і письмовій формі інформацію суспільного та загально філологічного характеру.
Аналіз тексту публіцистичного стилю передбачає вміння студента визначати і коментувати:
1) найменування джерела статті, дати та автора;
2) локальне та соціальне тло;
3) головну ідею статті;
4) зміст статті (факти,імена,особистості );
5) своє власне враження та бачення питання,проблеми.
Approximate Scheme of the Analysis of a Fiction Text
1. The text (extract, excerpt, episode, passage, piece, paragraph) under consideration (analysis) comes from
- (indefinite) a work of literature (novel, story, short story, tale, play, fable, poem) written by … name of the author,
- (definite) the book (novel, story, short story, tale, play, fable, poem) … name of the work… written by… name of the author.
- The author of the extract under analysis. The author of the extract under analysis / review is a famous / well-known / outstanding / celebrated/ prominent American / British writer / poet / dramatist / essay-writer ... (his name, some biographical fact about the writer, especially his ethical, esthetical, political etc. views, his belonging to a certain literary and cultural tradition) (4-5 sentences)
- The extract concerns (is devoted to, deals with) …
- The basic theme is …
- The central idea finds it’s particularization in …/is disclosed through the following collision (internal/external conflict) …
- The choice of the point of view. The extract / story is told from the point of view of the author / the chief character / the onlooker. (It is important to distinguish between the author, the person who wrote the story, and the narrator, the person or voice telling the story. The author may select a first-person narrative, when one character tells of things that only he or she saw and felt. In a third-person narrative, the omniscient author moves in and out of people’s thoughts and comments freely on what the characters think, say and do.)
From the point of view of presentation the text is :
- the 1st, 3rd person narrative
- rather a description than a narration
- rather a narration than a description
- a mixture of narration and description
With some a) insertions of direct/ interior/ represented speech; b) lyrical/ critical/ philosophical digression/ retardation/ foreshadowing/ flashbacks to the past.
- The form of speech. The extract is told in: a) direct speech;
b) indirect speech;
c) mixture type of speech.
(The form of speech of the text under analysis is prevailingly indirect. The author employs also the samples of direct speech.... (examples...))
- The plot of the extract under analysis. The scene of the extract is laid / takes place in ... The extract deals with .../ touches upon.../ dwells or describes... / shows... / depicts... / gives coverage to... (What is the text about? What is the focus of author’s attention? What aspects of the topic are touched upon in the text? Does the text have a simple, or complex, or intricate plot? Is the setting of events realistic/historical/fantastic/exotic/rural?)(Point out the exposition, the development, the climax and the denouement of the action (8-10 sentences))(The exposition usually contains the setting of the scene (i.e. the time and place of the action) and some preliminary information about the topic and subject of the story, its main characters etc. By nature it is a static part of the story and contains no action. The plot consists of a series of episodes relating to the development of the central conflict of the story. It usually starts with the so-called narrative hook, which introduces the conflict and begins the dynamic action aiming at the ultimate resolution of the conflict. The highest point in the development of the plot is called the climax. The post-climax events that are falling action coming to a resolution are called denouement.)
- The plot is simple/ complex/ intricate. It centres around … .
- 7. Character drawing. The character drawing is indirect / direct / of a mixture type. Direct character drawing is such a type when the author describes his characters, appearances directly through words. Indirect character drawing - through their actions, attitudes to other personages, their gestures and pantomime their speech and deeds, his attitude to them (examples...) (Traditionally, all characters are divided into principal (or main) and secondary ones. Those, who form the focus of the author’s (and, hence, the reader’s) attention, and take an active part in the central conflict of the story are the main characters; others serve as the background for the portrayal of the main characters and their conflict (secondary ones). The analysis of the characters should include their physical description, social background, some distinctive trains of the character, their typical ideas, attitudes, manner of speech, actions, relations with other characters and their role in the central conflict, and, finally, the author’s attitude them.)
- The setting of the events is realistic/ historical/ fantastic/ exotic/ rural.
- The span of time the extract covers is (obviously) …
- The narrative flow is straight/ complex/ circular/ frame-like.
- The climax of the plot development is presented in …
- The denouement is shown in …
13. Functional style of speech. Since the text under consideration presents a story it belongs to belles-lettres style, emotive prose substyle. Belles-lettres style includes poetry (the genres of short poem or verse or big poem), emotive prose (a piece of science fiction, a detective story, a love story, a psychological story) and drama
(drama proper and poetical drama, comedy, tragedy). Besides belles-lettre style there are such functional styles as publicistic, newspaper, scientific and the style of the official documents.
- Morphology: The extract under analysis is characterized by the use of … sentences. The spoken type of speech is characterized by the wide use of present and future tense-forms, while the written type of speech – by the wide use of past tense-forms. Past tense-forms are mostly used in author’s narrations or descriptions and present or future tense-forms are mostly used in conversations or dialogues; repetition of the root …/the prefix …/the suffix … /the inflexion … is used to denote; the morphological transposition of … characterizes;
(Exemplify your answers)
The student is supposed to analyze the use of articles as to their meaning, non-finite forms of the verb as to their form and function in the sentence, modals as to their usage and moods.
Grammar materials
The usage of the modal verbs and their functions in the sentence
The modal auxiliaries in English are can, could, had better, may, might, must, ought (to), shall, should, will, would.
Modal auxiliaries generally express speaker’s attitudes. For example, modals can express that a speaker feels something is necessary, advisable, permissible, possible, or probable; and in addition, they can convey the strength of those attitudes.
There are such basic modals: I can do it, You could do it, He had better do it, She might do it, It must do it, We ought to do it, You will do it, They would do it.
Also there are such phrasal modals: be able to, be going to, be supposed to, have to, have got to, used to.
Polite requests
May I and could I are used to request permission. They are equally polite.
NOTE: In a polite request, could has a present or future meaning, not a past meaning.
May I please borrow your pen?
Could I borrow your pen, please.
Can I is used informally to request permission, especially if the speaker is talking to someone s/he knows fairly well. Can I is usually considered a little less polite than may I or could I.
Polite requests with “you” as the subject.
The meaning of would you and will you in a polite request is the same. Would you is more common and is often considered more polite. The degree of politeness, however, is often determined by the speaker’s tone of voice.
Would you pass the salt (please?
Will you please, pass the salt?
Basically, could you and would you, have the same meaning. The difference is slight:
Would you— Do you want to do this, please?
Could you – Do you want to do this please, and is it possible for you to do this?
Could you and would you are equally polite.
Could you pass the salt, please?
Can you is often used informally. It usually sounds less polite than could you and would you.
Can you please, pass the salt?
Polite requests with WOULD YOU MIND
Asking permission:
NOTICE:
Would you mind if I closed the window?(asking permission) is followed by the simple past. The meaning in Would you mind if I closed the window? – May I close the window? Will I cause you any trouble or discomfort if I close the window?
Asking someone to do something :
NOTICE:
in Would you mind closing the window? Followed by –ing. The meaning in: Excuse me. Would you mind repeating that? – I don’t want to cause you any trouble, but would you please close the window? Would that cause you any inconvenience?
Expressing necessity: MUST, HAVE TO, HAVE GOT TO.
Must and have to both express necessity.
All applicants must take an entrance exam.
All applicants have to take an entrance exam.
In everyday statements of necessity, have to is used more commonly used than must. Must is usually stronger than have to and can indicate urgency or stress importance. In
I’m looking for Sue. I have to talk to her about our lunch date tomorrow. I can’t meet her for lunch because I have to go to a business meeting at 1:00. the speaker is simply saying: “I need to do this, and I need to do that”. In
Where’s Sue? I must talk to her right away. I have an urgent message for her—the speaker is strongly saying: “This is very important.”
Have got to also expresses the idea of necessity.
I have got to go now. I have a class in ten minutes.
I have to go now. I have a class in ten minutes.
Lack of necessity and prohibition: HAVE TO and MUST in the negative.
When used in the negative, must and have to have different meanings.
Do not have to – lack of necessity
Tomorrow is a holiday. We don’t have to go to class – it is not necessary for us to go to class tomorrow because it is a holiday.
Must not – prohibition (not to do this!!!)
You must not look in the closet. Your birthday present is hidden there— do not look in the closet. I forbid it. Looking in the closet is prohibited.
Advisability: SHOULD, OUGHT TO, HAD BETTER.
Should and ought to have the same meaning: they express advisability. The meaning ranges in strength from a suggestion (“This is a good idea”) to a statement about responsibility or duty (“This is a very important thing to do”). In
You should study harder/ You ought to study harder – This is a good idea. This is my advice. In Drivers should obey the special limit/ Drivers ought to obey the speed limit – this is an important responsibility.
In meaning, had better is close to should/ ought to or had better is usually stronger. Often, had better implies a warning or threat of possible bad consequences. In
The gas tank is almost empty. We had better stop at the next service station – If we don’t stop at a service station, there will be a bad result. We will run out of gas.
Expectations: BE SUPPOSED TO
Be supposed to expresses the idea that someone (I, we, they, the teacher. Lots of people. My father, etc.) expects something to happen. Be supposed to often expresses expectations about scheduled events, as in
The game is supposed to begin at 10:00
Or correct procedures, as in
The committee is supposed to vote by secret ballot.
Making suggestions
When shall is used with I or we in question, the speaker is usually making a suggestion and asking another person if s/he agrees with the suggestion. This use of shall is relatively formal and infrequent.
Shall I open the window? Is that’s OK with you?
Could can be used to make suggestions.
Why don’t we go on a picnic?
We could go on a picnic.
Both examples are similar in meaning, the speaker is suggesting a picnic.
Should gives definite advice. In
You should talk to your teacher
The speaker is saying :”I believe it is important for you to that. That’s why I recommend ”
Should have gives “hindsight advice” In
You should have talked to your teacher and gotten some help from her during the term.
The speaker is saying :”It was important for you to talk to the teacher, but you didn’t do that. You made a mistake”
Degrees of certainty
Must expresses a strong degree of certainty about a present situation, but the degree of certainty is still less then 100%. In
He must be sick. (Usually he is in a class every day, but when I saw him last night, he wasn’t feeling good. So my best guess is that he is sick today. I can’t think of another possibility) – the speaker is saying :”Probably John is sick, I have evidence to make me believe that he is sick. That is my logical conclusion, but I do not know for certain.”
May, might and could express a weak degree of certainty. In
He may be sick/ He might be sick/ He could be sick – the speaker is saying:” Perhaps, maybe, possibly John is sick I am only making a guess. I can think of other possibilities.”
Ability: CAN and COULD
Can is used to express physical ability, as in
Tom is strong. Ha can lift that heavy box.
Can is used to express acquired skill. In
Maria can play the piano. She’s been taking lessons for many years – knows how to play piano.
Can is used to express possibility. In
You can buy a hammer at the hardware store – it is possible for one to buy.
Can is used to give permission in informal situations, as in
I’m not quite read to go, but you can leave if you’re in a hurry. I’ll meet you later.
In informal situations, may rather than can is usually used to give permission, as in
When you finished the test, you may leave.
Expressing preference: WOULD RATHER
Would rather expresses preference:
I would rather go to a movie tonight than study grammar.
THE NON-FINITE FORMS OF THE VERB
(THE VERBALS)
THEIR FUNCTIONS AND CONSTRUCTIONS IN THE SENTENCE
The verb has finite and non-finite forms, the latter being also called verbals. The verbals unlike the finite forms of the verb, do not express person, number or mood. Therefore they cannot be used as the predicate of a sentence.
There are three verbals in English: the participle, the gerund and the infinitive.
THE INFINITIVE
The Infinitive developed from the verbal noun, which in course of time became verbalized, retaining at the same time some of its nominal properties. Thus in Modern English, the infinitive, like the participle and the gerund has a double nature, nominal and verbal.
The functions of the Infinitive
The Infinitive can be used in different syntactic functions. A single Infinitive occurs but seldom: in most cases we find an infinitive phrase, e.g. an infinitive with one or several accompanying words.
- The infinitive as a subject
To doubt, under the circumstances is almost to insult.
To acquire a knowledge and to acquire it unceasingly, is the first duty of the artist.
Even to think of it gave him ineffable torture.
From these examples we can see that the Infinitive as a subject can be rendered in Ukrainian by an infinitive, by a noun, r by a clause.
Though the infinitive as the subject sometimes precedes the predicate, cases when it follows the predicate are far more common: with the infinitive in the latter position, the sentence opens with the introductory it, which serves as an introductory subject. The introductory it is not translated into Ukrainian.
It is useless to discuss the question.
It was pleasant to be driving a car again.
- The Infinitive as a predicative
My intension is to get into parliament.
The infinitive can also be used as part of a predicative.
The abode of Mrs. Betty was not easy to find.
- The infinitive as part of a compound verbal predicate.
a) With modal verbs, modal expressions, and verbs expressing modality the infinitive forms part of a compound verbal modal predicate.
We must not leave him by himself any longer.
The train was to leave at midnight.
… intend to lead a better life in the future.
b) With verbs denoting the beginning, duration or end of an action the infinitive forms part of a compound verbal aspect predicate.
Imprisonment began to tell upon him.
Before daylight it started to drizzle.
Clare continued to observe her.
- The infinitive as an object.
Leila had learned to dance at boarding school.
After the verbs to allow, to order, to ask, to beg, to request, to implore, to teach, to instruct we often find two objects, one of which is expressed by an infinitive
After waiting some time, Mrs. Clements … ordered the cabman to drive back to her lodgings.
He asked me to walk in.
The infinitive used as an object can be preceded by the introductory object it, which is not translated into Ukrainian.
He found it utterly impossible to leave the spot
- The infinitive as part of a complex object.
I never saw you act this way before.
- The infinitive as an attribute.
The use of the infinitive as an attribute is far more extensive in English than in Ukrainian: in Ukrainian it modifies only abstract nouns, whereas in English it modifies both abstract and class nouns, indefinite pronouns (somebody, something, anybody, anything, etc.) ordinal numerals and the adjective last.
The infinitive as an attribute is rendered in Ukrainian by an infinitive (chiefly after abstract nouns), by a subordinate clause or by a finite verb serving as the predicate of a simple sentence (after ordinal numerals and the adjective last)
Batsheba was not a woman … to suffer in silence.
I have nobody to say a kind word to me.
He was the first to offer his hand to the Ukrainians.
- The infinitive as an adverbial modifier.
a) the infinitive can be an adverbial modifier of purpose.
Laws were not made to be broken, laws were made to stay within.
To pacify her I held the window ajar a few seconds.
The infinitive as an adverbial modifier of purpose can be introduced by in order and so as.
Sometimes you retreat in order to advance.
Soames put on his coat so as not to be cold.
b) the infinitive can be used as an adverbial modifier of result.
This chiefly occurs after adjectives modified by the adverbsenough and too.
His eyes were sharp enough to look after his own interest.
I was too busy to see anyone.
The infinitive as an adverbial modifier of result is also to be found in sentences of the following type.
He was so weak as to unable to work.
Mr. Rokesmith has been so polite as to place his sitting-room at our disposal to-day.
c) the infinitive can be an adverbial modifier of comparison (manner); in most cases with an additional meaning of purpose. In this function it is introduced by the conjunction as if or as though.
She nervously moved her hand towards his lips as if to stop him ….
d) the infinitive can be used as an adverbial modifier of attendant circumstances.
She was driven away, never to revisit this neighbourhood.
I am sorry to have raised your expectations, Mr. Blake only to disappoint them.
8. The infinitive as parenthesis.
Well, to cut the long story short, they thought it would be more economical to live at the villa.
To put it mildly, he was not up to the mark.
The infinitive constructions
In Modern English we find the following predicative constructions with the infinitive.
the Objective-with-the-infinitive construction
the Subjective-with-the-infinitive construction.
the For-to-Infinitive construction
The Objective-with-the-Infinitive Construction
The Objective with the Infinitive is a construction in which the infinitive is in predicate relation to a noun in the common case or a pronoun in the objective case. In the sentence this construction has the function of a complex object.
In translation the Objective-with-the-Infinitive Construction into Ukrainian we nearly always use a subordinate clause.
He’s a wonderful teacher and I’ve never seen him lose his temper or get angry about anything.
However, sometimes the sentence containing the Objective-with-the Infinitive Construction is rendered by a simple sentence.
… the bombing at night made the old walls shake to their foundations.
The use of the Objective-with-the-Infinitive Construction
1. The Objective-with-the-Infinitive Construction is used after verbs denoting sense perception, such as to hear, to see, to watch, to feel, to observe, to notice, etc.
I haven’t heard anyone call me.
I saw Brown enter the room.
I felt the blood rush into my cheeks, and then leave them again.
After verbs of sense perception only the Indefinite Infinitive Active is used. If the meaning is passive we use Participle II.
I saw the fire slowly conquered.
2. The Objective-with-the-Infinitive Construction is used after verbs denoting mental activity, such as to know, to think, to consider, to believe, to suppose, to expect, to imagine, to find, to feel, to trust.
After verbs of mental activity in the Objective-with-the-Infinitive Construction the verb to be is generally used. The use of this construction after most verbs of mental activity is more characteristic of literary than of colloquial style.
I know you to be the most honest, spotless creature that ever lived.
I believe him to have no conscience at all.
If you suppose that boy to be friendless, you deceive yourself.
Everybody expected her to marry Pete.
3. The Objective-with-the-Infinitive Construction is used after verbs of declaring: to pronounce, to declare, to report.
The surgeon pronounced the wound to be a slight one.
She declared him to be the most disobedient child in existence.
4. The Objective-with-the-Infinitive Construction is used after verbs denoting wish and intention: to want, to wish, to desire, to mean, to intend, to choose.
I want you to come and dine with me.
I particularly wished those books to be returned to night.
She desired me to follow her upstairs.
I did not mean you to learn the poem by heart.
He intended me to go with him to India.
I don’t choose you to go by yourself to an hotel.
5. The Objective-with-the-Infinitive Construction is used after verbs and expressions denoting feeling and emotion: to like, to dislike, to love, to hate, cannot bear.
I dislike you to talk like that.
I hate him to be flogged.
I can not bear you to speak of that.
6. The Objective-with-the-Infinitive Construction is used after verbs denoting order and permission: to order, to allow, to suffer, to hate.
Mr. Merdle ordered his carriage to be ready early in the morning.
She … had never allowed the name of John Gordon to pass her lips.
7.The Objective-with-the-infinitive Construction is used after verbs denoting compulsion: To make (in the meaning of - змушувати), to cause (in the meaning of “змусити”, ”розпорядитися”), to get (in the meaning of “добитися чогось”), to have (in the meaning of “змусити”)
Light steps in the gravel made him turn his head.
The noise caused her to awake.
She caused a telegram to be sent to him.
- Though the infinitive as a rule is not used with verbs requiring prepositions, the Objective with the Infinitive is widely used with the preposition for. Occasionally it occurs with the prepositions on and upon.
I rely on you to come in time.
I rely upon you to go over to the opposition.
The Subjective Infinitive Construction
The Subjective Infinitive Construction is a construction in which the Infinitive is predicate relation to a noun in the common case or a pronoun in the nominative case.
The peculiarity of this construction is that it does not serve as one part of the subject, the other forms part of a compound verbal predicate.
Edith is said to resemble me.
The use of the Subjective Infinitive Construction
The Subjective Infinitive Construction is used with the following groups of verbs in the Passive Voice.
- With verbs denoting sense perception: to see, to hear, etc.
Mr. Bob Sawyer was herd to laugh heartily.
The rider was seen to disappear in the distance.
- 2. With verbs denoting mental activity: to think, to consider, to know, to expect, to believe, to suppose.
He was thought to be the honest and kindly.
My father… was considered by many to be a great man.
Phillip Bosinney was known to be a young man with without fortune.
- 3. With the verb to make.
Little Abraham was aroused … and made to put on his clothes.
- With verbs to say and to report.
The gods had given Irene dark-brown eyes and golden hair, which is said to be the mark of a weak character.
From this example we can see that in translation sentences containing the Subjective Infinitive Construction after verbs in the Passive Voice a complex sentence is mostly used: its principle clause is of the type which in Ukrainian syntax is called “indefinite personal”
After verbs in the Passive Voice the Subjective Infinitive Construction is more characteristic of literary than colloquial style, except with the verbs to suppose, to expect, to make; with these verbs the Subjective Infinitive can be found in fiction and in colloquial language.
The Subjective Infinitive Construction is used with the word-groups to be likely, to be sure, and to be certain.
The parish is not likely to quarrel with for the right to keep the child.
But he is sure to marry her.
The Subjective Infinitive Construction is used with the following pairs of synonyms: to seem and to appear, to happen and to chance, to prove and to turn out.
They seemed to have quite forgotten him already.
Her eyes appeared always to gaze beyond, and far beyond.
Only yesterday, we happened to see Soames Forsyte.
The for-to-Infinitive Construction.
The for-to-Infinitive Construction is a construction in which the infinitive is in predicate relation to a noun or pronoun preceded by the preposition for.
In translating this construction into Russian a subordinate clause or an infinitive is used.
The construction can have different functions in the sentence.
It can be:
- Subject (often with the introductory it)
For me to ask would be treason, and for me to be told would be treason.
I sometimes think it is a shame for people to spend so much money this way
2. Predicative
That was for him to find out.
- Complex Object.
He waited for her to speak.
He asked for the papers to be brought.
- Attribute.
The best thing for you to do is to bide here with your load.
There was really nothing for him to do but what he had done.
- Adverbial modifier of purpose
Here’s the thermometer: they’ve left it for the doctor to see instead of shaking it down.
c) of result
The pleasure of accompanying you was too great a temptation for me to resist.
THE GERUND
The gerund developed from the verbal noun, which in course of time became verbalized preserving at the same time its nominal character.
The gerund is formed by adding the suffix –ing to the stem of the verb, and coincides in form with Participle I.
The functions of the gerund in the sentence.
The gerund may be used in different syntactic functions . A single gerund occurs but seldom; in most cases we find a gerundial phrase or a gerundial construction.
- The gerund as a subject.
Talking mends no holes.
Waiting for the Professor was a lame excuse for doing nothing.
My answer in the affirmative gave him great satisfaction.
- The gerund as a predicative.
The only remedy for such a headache as mine is going to bed.
- The gerund as part of a compound verbal predicate.
a) with verbs and verbal phrases denoting modality the gerund forms part of a compound verbal modal predicate.
We intend goingto Switzerland, and climbing Mount Blanc.
Joseph could not help admiring the man.
b) With verbs denoting the beginning, duration, or the end of an action, the gerund forms part of a compound verbal aspect predicate.
She began sobbing and weeping.
In the night it started raining.
Batsheba continued walking.
- The gerund as an object.
The gerund may be used as a direct object and as a prepositional indirect object.
I simply love riding.
She enjoyed singing and playing to him.
Predicative Constructions with the gerund form a complex object as they consist of two distinct elements, nominal and verbal.
Perhaps, you wouldn’t mind Richard’s coming in.
- The gerund as an attribute.
In this function the gerund is always preceded by a preposition.
Swithin protruded his pale round eyes with the effort of hearing.
He was born with the gift of winning hearts.
- The gerund as an adverbial modifier.
In this function the gerund is always preceded by a preposition. It is used in the function of an adverbial modifier of time, manner, attendant circumstances, cause, condition, purpose and concession; the most common functions are those of adverbial modifier of time, manner, and attendant circumstances.
a) As an adverbial modifier of time the gerund is preceded by the prepositions after, before, on (upon), in, at.
After leaving her umbrella in the hall, she entered the living room.
He was born to have three days at home before going back to farm
b) as an adverbial modifier of manner the gerund is used with the prepositions by and in.
She startled her father by bursting into tears.
The was spent in packing.
c) as an adverbial modifier of attendant circumstances the gerund is preceded by the preposition without
She was not brilliant, not active, but rather peaceful and statuesque without knowing it.
d) as an adverbial modifier of purpose, the gerund is chiefly used with the preposition for
… one side of the gallery was used for dancing.
e) as an adverbial modifier of condition the gerund is preceded by the preposition without
He has no right to come bothering you and papa without being invited.
f) as an adverbial modifier of cause the gerund is used with the prepositions for, for fear of, owing to.
I feel the better myself for having spent a good deal of my time abroad.
g) as an adverbial modifier of concession the gerund is preceded by the preposition in spite of.
In spite of being busy, he did all he could to help her.
ARTICLES WITH COUNTABLE NOUNS
NO ARTICLE
Countable nouns are used with no article:
GENERALIZING
- We use no article with plural nouns to talk about things in general – to talk about all books; all people, etc. This is the most common way of referring generally to a whole group. Compare:
Move the books off chair and sit down. (=particular books)
Books are expensive. (NOT The books are expensive. The sentence is about books in general – all books)
I’m studying the life of Beethoven. (=one particular life.)
Life is complicated. (NOT the life … The sentence is about the whole of life.)
- Most (meaning “the majority of”) is used without the:
e.g. Most birds can fly. (NOT the most…)
Most of the children got very tired. (NOT the most …)
HALF-GENERAL
- Some expressions are “half-general” – in the middle between general and particular. If we talk about African butterflies, British painters, European museums we are not talking about all butterflies, all painters or all museums, but these are still rather general ideas (compared with the butterflies I got before my exam, the painters I am fond of, the museums we visited in Europe). In these “half-general” expressions, we usually use no article.
e.g. African butterflies
- However, the is often used when the noun is followed by a limiting, defining phrase, especially one with of.
e.g. the butterflies of Africa
- This is common with abstract nouns as well. Compare:
e.g. eighteen century history – the history I did at school.
sixties music – the music we heard last night
poverty in Britain – the poverty I grew up in.
A/AN
Countable nouns are used with a/an
NOMINATING
- When the speaker denotes what kind of object he/she has to do with. In this case the indefinite article has the nominating meaning:
e.g. She has a watch of her own.
In the plural we normally express similar meaning with some/any or no article:
e.g. I liked the room because there were flowers in it.
Have you got any matches?
CLASSIFYING
- After a copular verb or as to classify people ort things – to say what group, class or type they belong to (the classifying meaning):
e.g. Her brother was an artist.
I am looking forward to being a grandmother.
He decided to become an engineer.
Don’t use plate as an ashtray. (NOT…an ashtray)
GENERALIZING
- When the noun is used in a general sense, i.e. to talk about any noun member of class (the generalizing meaning “every ,any, all”):
e.g. A spider has eight legs (=any spider)
A seagull is a large white and grey bird. (=all seagulls are…)
WATCH OUT! We can not use a singular noun with a/an in phrases that refer to the whole group:
e.g. A tiger is in danger of becoming extinct.
Tigers are in danger of becoming extinct.
The singular with a/an also loses its general meaning when it isn’t the subject of the sentence. We use the plural (or the …,see below):
e.g. I’ve been studying a seagull (=one particular bird)
I’ve been studying seagulls. (=seagulls as a group)
NUMERIC
- There are cases when the indefinite article preserves its old original meaning of “one” (“the numeric meaning”):
e.g. a stitch in time saves nine.
- This meaning is generally found :
1) with nouns denoting time, measure and weight:
e.g. A week or two passed.
sixty pens a kilo
thirty miles an hour
twice a week
2) with the numerals hundred, thousand, million and the nouns dozen or score.:
e.g. An hour in the morning is worth two in the evening.
- However, we use the in measuring expressions beginning with by:
e.g. Do you sell eggs by the kilo or by the dozen?
He sits watching TV by the hour.
Can I pay the month
THE
Countable nouns are used with the:
SPECIFYING
- When the noun denotes an object or objects which the speaker singles out from all the objects of a given class (the specifying meaning), e.g. when a listener / reader knows (or can work out) which particular person(s), thing(s) etc. we are talking about. Compare:
Did you lock the car? (The listener knows very well which car is meant).
We hired a car to go to Scotland. (The listener does not know which one)
15. Syntax: The extract under review is characterized by the use of … sentences. The spoken type of speech is characterized by the use of short simple sentences, even elliptical sentences may be used. In the written type of speech mostly long, compound, complex and composite sentences are used. Complex and compound sentences are mostly used in narrations and descriptions, and simple sentences are mostly used in conversations and dialogues. (examples …)
16. Vocabulary: As to the vocabulary common/ neutral words prevail …/ in spoken type of speech most of the words are neutral/ colloquial/ literary. In the written type of speech there are many bookish, literary words(mostly scientific words and also the words which are not understandable to uneducated people).
(Neutral words form the bulk of the English Vocabulary and are used in both literary and colloquial language. Neutral words are the main source of synonymy and polysemy. Unlike all other groups, neutral words don’t have a special stylistic colouring and are devoid of emotional meaning. Bookish or learned words – words of high flown stylistic colouring used usually in official or high flown style. Colloquial words - words used in private, unofficial type of communication but not violating the received standard.
Colloquial Neutral Literary
kid child infant
daddy father parent
get out go away retire
go on continue proceed
Barbarisms are words of foreign origin which have not entirely been assimilated into the English language. They bear the appearance of a borrowing and are felt as something alien to the native tongue.
e.g. chic (stylish)
bon mot (a clever witty saying)
tête-a tête (face to face)
Terms – words or word combinations used to express special notions, objects, phenomena, etc. characteristic to some branch of science: e.g. habitat, species.)
Phonetically all the words are … In spoken type of speech there are many contracted forms of modal verbs and auxiliary words or abbreviations. In written type of speech there are no contracted forms or abbreviations: all the words are full. (examples…)
Also, there are words which help the author to enclose the theme … .
All of the words are equally important, but there are some words which should be analyzed more dipper …..(part of speech, antonyms, synonyms, derivatives, collocations, set-expressions, examples).
17.Stylistics. The analysis of the stylistic devices of the text.
Types of Stylistic Devices
Phonetic Stylistic Devices
ALLITERATION is a deliberate repeated use of similar or acoustically close consonant sounds in close succession:
e.g. The possessive instinct never stands still. Throughflorescence and feud, frosts and fires it follows the laws of progression.
ASSONANCE is the repetition of similar or acoustically close vowels, e.g. Tenderly bury the fair young dead…
ONOMATOPOEIA is the correspondence of the phonetic structure of the word to the picture described. Writers deliberately repeat the sounds and their combinations which imitate original sounds.
e.g. “ Sh- sh-. But I am whispering.” This continued shushing annoyed him.
GRAPHON is an intentional violation of the graphical shape of a word or word combination used to reflect its original pronunciation.
e.g. “ You do not mean to thay (say) that thith( this) ith( is) your first name.”
Lexico-semantic Stylistic Devices
(Figures of substitution)
HYPERBOLE is a deliberate exaggeration of a certain quality of an object or phenomenon.
e.g. Marry was scared to death.
I beg a thousand pardons.
MEIOSIS. This figure of quantity is opposite in meaning to hyperbole. Meiosis is a deliberate diminution of a certain quality of an object or phenomenon.
e.g. There was a drop of water left in the bucket.
It was a cat-size pony.
LITOTES – is a specific variant of meiosis.
e.g. After the brawl Julia was not dissatisfied with herself.
Martin is not without sense of humour.
METONYMY – is a transference of a name of one object to another object. Metonymic transference of names is based upon the principle of contiguity of the two objects.
e.g. I wish you had Gary’s ears and Jack’s eyes.
Linda gave her heart to the grocer’s young man.
SYNECDOCHE. This variety of metonymy is realized in two variants. The first variant is naming the whole object by mentioning part of it.
e.g. Caroline lives with Jack under the same roof (under the same roof= in the same house).
The second variant of synecdoche is using the name of the whole object to denote a constituent part of this object:
e.g. The school went to the zoo.
The blue suit bowed and left the room.
PERIPHRASIS – this variant of metonymy is the replacement of a direct name of a thing or phenomenon by the description of some quality of this thing or phenomenon.
e.g. “This is my better half (wife)” – he said.
When I was going to enter the university my mother wanted me to become one of those in a white gowns. (medical men)
EUPHEMISM – it is a word or word- combination which is used to replace an unpleasantly sounding word or word-combination.
e.g. Recently, green dragon became one of his best friend. (an alcohol drink)
According to our President, the life of the less fortunate elements (poor people) will change.
METAPHOR – metaphor like metonymy, is also the result of transference of the name of one object to another object. However, metaphoric transference is of different nature: it is based upon similarity of the objects (not contiguity).
e.g. One more day has died.
A witty idea has come to me.
EPITHET – epithets are such attributes which describe objects expressively.
e.g. Voiceless sands and helpless loneliness are the obvious characteristics of a thirsty desert.
There was a blank face on the picture.
ANTONOMASIA – this variety of metaphor is based upon the principle of identification of human beings with things which surround them.
e.g. John is a real Romeo.
The Snake entered the room (instead of Marry entered the room)
PERSONIFICATION – when the speaker describes human behavior, thoughts and actions to inanimate objects, he resorts to the stylistic device of personification.
e.g. Lie is a strange creature, and a very mean one.
The night was creeping towards the travelers.
IRONY – this figure of quality is realized when the speaker intentionally breaks the principle of sincerity of speech.
e.g. Cutting off chickens’ heeds! Such a fascinating process to watch.
It must be delightful to find oneself in a foreign country without a penny in one’s pocket.
Figures of combination
SIMILE – this figure of identity consists in expressive comparison of two objects which have something in common.
e.g. John behaves like his father.
Robin looked at Sibil as a mouse might look at a cat.
OXYMORON – this figure of contrast is a combination of words which are semantically incompatible.
e.g. That was a horribly beautiful lady.
I’d never say, that it is possible to feel a loving hate.
ANTITHESIS – this figure of contrast stands close to oxymoron. The major difference between them is structural: oxymoron is realized through a single word-combination, while antithesis is a confrontation of at least two separate phrases semantically opposite.
Compare: “wise foolishness” – oxymoron
“… the age of wisdom, the age of foolishness” – antithesis.
e.g. It was the season of light, it was the season of darkness.
Gilbert wears fine clothes, while I go in rags.
CLIMAX (GRADATION) – this figure of inequality consists in arranging the utterance so that each subsequent component of it increases significance, importance or emotional tension of narration.
e.g. I am sorry, I am so very sorry, I am so extremely sorry.
There was the boom, then instantly the shriek and burst.
ANTICLIMAX- counterpart of climax, where emotional or logical importance is accumulated only to be unexpectedly broken and brought to a sudden break, e.g. This was appalling – and soon forgotten.
ZEUGMA – a zeugmatic construction of at least three constituents. The basic word of it stands in the same grammatical but different semantic relations to a couple of adjacent words. The basic word combined with the first adjacent word forms a phraseological word-combination. The same basic word combined with the second adjacent word forms a free word-combination.
e.g. Freddy got out of bed and low spirits.
Marry dropped a tear and her handkerchief.
PUN- a stylistic device in which one word is deliberately used in two meanings.
e.g. There is one brand of tobacco allowed here – “ Three nons”. None today, none tomorrow, and none the day after.( nun- «черниця» , none- «жоден»)
Syntactic stylistic devices
ELLIPSIS – an elliptical sentence is such a syntactic structure in which there is no subject, or predicative, or both.
e.g. – Where do you go?
_ To the disco.
_Hullo! Who are you?
_The staff
_Where are the others?
_At the front.
APOSIOPESIS (BREAK-IN-THE-NARRATIVE) – like ellipsis, aposiopesis is also realized through incompleteness of sentence structure, though this incompleteness is of different structural and semantic nature.
e.g. If you go on like this ….
So, you just go, and what about ….
ASYNDETON – it is deliberate omission of structurally significant conjunctions and connectives.
e.g. John couldn’t have done such a silly thing, he is enough clever for that. Father, mother, brother, cousins.
We had heard planes coining, seen them pass overhead, watched them go far to the left, heard them bombing.
REPETITION – stylistic repetition of language units in speech (separate words, word-combinations or sentences) is one of the most frequent and potent stylistic devices.
e.g. I am weary, weary, weary of the whole thing!
Victory is what we need, victory is what we expect.
ENUMERATION – it is a syntactic device of naming object so that there appears a chain of homogeneous parts of the sentence.
e.g. There were cows, hens, goats, peacocks and sheep in the village.
The principal production of these towns appears to be soldiers, sailors, Jews,chalk, shrimps, officers and dock-yard men.
POLYSINDETON – it is stylistically motivated redundant repetition of conjunctions or prepositions.
e.g. The dog barked and pulled Jack, and growled and raged.
He no longer dreamed of storms, nor of women, nor of great occurrences, nor of great fish, nor fights, nor contests of strength.
PARALLEL CONSTRUCTIONS – parallelism is a stylistic device of producing two or more syntactic structures according to the same syntactic pattern.
e.g. Marry cooked dinner, John watched TV, Peter played tennis.
The cock is crowing,
The stream is flowing.
INVERSION – it is a stylistic phenomenon of intentional changing word-order of the initial sentence model.
e.g. In come Jack. Little chances Benny had.
ANADIPLOSIS (catch repetition) - repetition of the same element or unit at the end of the preceding and at the beginning of the following utterance,
e.g. With Bewick on my knee I felt happy:happy at last in my way.
ANAPHORA - repetition of the first word or group of words at the beginning of several successive sentences or clauses,
e.g. And everywhere there were people. People going into gates and people coming out of gates. Peoplestaggering and falling. Peoplefighting and cursing.
APOKOINU CONSTRUCTION - blend of two clauses through a word which has two syntactical functions, one in each of the two blended clauses,
e.g. There was a doorled into the kitchen.
BREAK - a sudden interruption in speech caused by some strong emotion or reluctance to continue or finish the sentence for some other reason,
e.g. "My God! If the police come -find me here!
CHAIN REPETITION - combination of several catch repetitions,
e.g. A smile would come into Mr. Pickwick's face: a smile be extended into laugh, the laughinto roar, the roarbecame general.
CHIASMUS - reversed parallelisism,
e.g. The public wants a thing, therefore it is supplied with it; or the public is supplied with a thing, therefore it wants it.
DETACHMENT - isolation of some parts of the sentence to make it more prominent,
e.g. A sound of singing came down the water to him, trailing, distant,high and sweet.
EPIPHORA - repetition of the final word or groups of words in several succeeding sentences or clauses,
e.g. Through the brain slowly shifted the things they had done together. Walking together.Dancing together.
RHETORICAL QUESTION - presentation of an affirmative or negative statement in the form of a question,
e.g. Is there not blood enough upon your penal codes that must be pored forth?
RING REPETITION - repetition of the same unit at the beginning and at the end of some utterance,
e.g. I ama good girl, I am...
SYNTACTIC TAUTOLOGY - repetition of some member of the sentence, usually the subject expressed by a noun or a pronoun,
e.g. "Miss Tillie Webster, sheslept forty-days and nights without waking up."
Art for heart’s sake
By R. Goldberg
Reuben Lucius Goldberg (1883-1970), an American sculptor , cartoonist and writer was born in San Francisco. After graduating from the University of California in 1904 he worked as a cartoonist for a number of newspapers and magazines. He produced several series of cartoons all of which were highly popular.
Among his best works are Is there a Doctor in the House?(1929), Rube Goldberg’s Guide to Europe (1954) and I Made my Bed. (1960).
“Here, take your pineapple juice”, gently persuaded Koppel, the male nurse.
“Nope!” grunted Collis P. Ellsworth.
“But it’s good for you, sir”.
“Nope!”
“It’s doctor’s orders”
“Nope!”
Koppel heard the front door bell and was glad to leave the room. He found Doctor Caswell in the hall downstairs. “I can’t do a thing with him”, he told the doctor. “He won’t take his pineapple juice. He doesn’t want me to read to him. He hates the radio. He doesn’t like anything!”
Doctor Caswell received the information with his usual professional calm. He had done some constructive thinking since his last visit. This was no ordinary case. The old gentleman was in pretty good shape for a man of seventy-six. But he had to be kept from buying things. He had suffered his last heart attack after his disastrous purchase of that jerkwater(1) railroad(2) out in Iowa(3). All his purchases of recent years had to be liquidated at a great sacrifice both to his health and his pocketbook.
The doctor drew up a chair and sat down close to the old man.
“I’ve got a proposition for you”, he said quietly.
Old Ellsworth looked suspiciously over his spectacles.
“How’d you like to take up art?” The doctor had his stethoscope ready in case the abruptness of the suggestion proved too much for the patient’s heart.
But the old gentleman’s answer was a vigorous “Rot”! (4)
“I don’t mean seriously”. Said the doctor, relieved that disaster had been averted. “Just fool around with chalk and crayons. It’ll be fun”.
“Bosh!”(5)
“All right.” The doctor stood up. “I just suggested it, that’s all”.
“But, Caswell, how do I start playing with the chalk – that is, if I am foolish enough to start?”
“I’ve thought of that too. I can get a student from one of the art schools to come here once a week and show you”.
Doctor Caswell went to his friend, Judson Livingston, head of the Atlantic Art Institute, and explained the situation. Livingstone had just the young man – Frank Swain, eighteen years old and a promising student. He needed the money. Ran an elevator at night to pay tuition. How much would he get? Five dollars a visit. Fine.
Next afternoon young Swain was shown into the big living. Collis P.Ellsworth looked at him appraisingly.
“Sir, I’m not an artist yet”, answered the young man.
“Umph?”
Swain arranged some paper and crayons on the table. “Let’s try and draw that vase over there on the mantelpiece”, he suggested. “Try it Mister Ellsworth, please.”
“Umph!” The old man took a piece of crayon in a shaky hand and made a scrawl. He made another scrawl and connected the two with a couple of crude lines. “There it is, young man,” he snapped with a grunt of satisfaction. “Such foolishness. Poppy-cock!”(7)
Frank Swain was patient. He needed the five dollars. “If you want to draw you will have to look at what you drawing, sir.”
Old Ellsworth squinted and looked. By gum(8), it’s kinda(9) pretty, I never noticed it before.”
When the art student came the following week there was a drawing on the table that had a slight resemblance to the vase.
The wrinkles deepened at the corners of the old gentleman’s eyes as he asked elfishly, (10) “Well, what do you think of it?”
“Not bad, sir,” answered Swain, ”But it’s a bit lopsided.”
By gum, “ Old Ellsworth chuckled. I see. The halves don’t match.” He added a few lines with a palsied hand and colored(11) the open spaces blue like a child playing with a picture book. Then he looked towards the door. “Listen, young man,” he whispered, “I want to ask you something before old pineapple juice comes back.”
“Yes, sir,” responded Swain respectively.
“ I was thinking could you spare the time to come twice a week or perhaps three times?”
“Sure, Mister Ellsworth.”
“Good. Let’s make it Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Four o’clock.”
As the weeks went by Swain’s visits grew more frequent. He brought the old man a box of water-colors and some tubes of oils.
When Doctor Caswell called Ellsworth would talk about the graceful lines of the andirons. He would dwell on the rich variety of color in a bowl of fruit. He proudly displayed the variegated smears of paint on his heavy silk dressing gown. He would not allow his valet to send it to the cleaner’s. He wanted to show the doctor hoe hard he’d been working.
The treatment was working perfectly. No more trips downtown to become involved in purchases of enterprises of doubtful solvency.
The doctor thought it safe to allow Ellsworth to visit the Metropolitan (12), the Museum of Modern Art(13) and other exhibitions with Swain. An entirely new world opened up it’s charming mysteries. The old man displayed an insatiable curiosity about the galleries and the painters who exhibited in them. How were the galleries run? Who selected the canvases for the exhibitions? An idea was forming in his brain.
When the late spring sun began to cloak the fields and gardens with color, Ellsworth executed a god-awful smudge which he called “Trees dressed in white”. Then he made a startling announcement. He was going to exhibit it in the Summer show at the Lathrop Gallery!
For the summer show at the Lathrop gallery was the biggest art exhibit of the year in quality, if not in size. The lifetime dream of every mature artist in the United States was a Lathrop prize. Upon this distinguished group Ellsworth was going to foist his “Trees dressed in white”, which resembled a gob(14) of salad dressing thrown violently up against the side of a house!.
“If the papers het hold of this, Mister Ellsworth will become a laughing-stock. We’ve got to stop him”, groaned Koppel.
“No”, admonished(15) the doctor. “We can’t interfere with him now and take a chance of spoiling all the good work that we’ve accomplished.”
To the utter astonishment of all three – and especially Swain – “Trees dressed in white” was accepted for the Lathrop show.
Fortunately, the painting was hung in an inconspicuous place where it could not excite any noticeable comment. Young Swain sneaked into the Gallery one afternoon and blushed to the tops of his ears when he saw “Trees dressed in white”, a loud, raucous splash on the wall. As two giggling students stopped before the strange anomaly Swain fled in terror. He could not bear to hear what they had to say.
During the course of the exhibition the old man kept on taking his lessons, seldom mentioning his entry in the exhibition. He was unusually cheerful.
Two days before the close of the exhibition a special messenger brought a long official-looking envelope to Mister Ellsworth while Swain, Koppel and the doctor were in the room. “Read it to me, requested the old man.” “My eyes are tired from painting.”
“It gives the Lathrop Gallery pleasure to announce that the First Lathrop Prize of $1,000 has been awarded to Collis P. Ellsworth for his painting, “Trees dressed in white.”
Swain and Koppel uttered a series of inarticulate gurgles. Doctor Caswell, exercising his professional self-control with a supreme effort, said: “Congratulations, Mister Ellsworth. Fine, fine … See, see … Of course, I didn’t expect such great news. But, but – well, how, you’ll have to admit that art is much more satisfying than business.”
“Art’s nothing,” snapped the old man. “I bought the Lathrop Gallery last month.”
EXPLENATORY NOTES
- jerkwater (Am. colloq.): small, unimportant.
- railroad (Am.): railway. The lexical differences between the British and American English are not great in number but they are considerable enough to make the mixture of the two variants sound strange and unnatural. A student of English should bear in mind that different words are used for the same objects, such as can, candy, truck, mailbox, subway, instead of tin, sweets, lorry,, pillar-box, underground.
- Iowa: a north central state of the USA. The noun is derived from the name of an Indian tribe. Quite a number of states, towns, rivers and the lake in America are named by Indian words, e.g. Massachusetts, Illinois, Ohio, Kansa, Mississippi, Missouri, Michigan.
- rot (sl.): foolish remarks or ideas.
- bosh (sl.): empty talk, nonsense.
- umph: an interjection expressing uncertainty or suspicion.
- poppycock: foolish nonsense.
- by gum (dial.): by God.
- kinda: the spelling fixes contraction of the preposition “of” and its assimilation with the preceding noun which is a characteristic train of American pronunciation.
- elfish: (becoming rate) (of people or behaviour) having the quality or habit of playing tricks on people like an elf; mischievous.
- colored: the American spelling is somewhat simpler than its British counterpart. The suffix –our is spelled –or.
- the Metropolitan Museum of Art: the leading museum in America, was founded in 1870. Its collections cover a period 5,000 years, representing the cultures of the Ancient world and Near and Far East as well as the arts of Europe and America. Among the collections are the paintings, which include oils, pastels, water-colors, miniatures and drawings. There are over 5,000 exhibits, among which are the works of Italian, Spanish, Dutch, Flemish, English and American artists.
- the Museum of Modern Art: a repository of art peculiar to the twentieth century, was opened in 1929. It has several departments among which are the department of architecture and design, the department of painting and sculpture, the department of photography.
- gob(sl.): a mass of something sticky.
- admonish: to scold or warn gently.
The analysis of the text “Art for heart’s sake”
by Reuben Goldberg
The text under analysis comes form the novel “Art for heart’s sake” written by Reuben Goldberg, who was an American sculpture, cartoonist and writer. He is famous for his vivid style of writing. “There a doctor in the house”, “Reuben Goldberg’s guide to Europe” and “I made my bed” are in the list of his best literary works.
The extract deals with a new kind of psychological dependence’s treatment, that Is — an art therapy.
The basic theme of the text – is the power(influence) of money in American society.
From the point of view of presentation, the text is the 3d person narrative, it is rather a narration then a description with some insertions of direct speech.
Now, I would like to say a few words about the characters of the text. Of course, there are a lot of characters represented in the text, but some of them, such as: Doctor Caswell, Collis P. Ellsworth, Frank Swain are the main characters. What concerns Mr. Ellsworth, I can say that he was a man of seventy-six in a pretty good shape. It is known, that he had some problems with his health to be more concrete— with his heart and these problems were caused by his psychological dependence – shop holism. According to Doctor Caswell, who was treating Mr. Ellsworth, the young artist Frank Swain was supposed to help the patient with his problem by means of art therapy. And of course, it required a lot of patience from the young Swain.
From my point of view, the plot of the text is simple and intricate at the same time, because the reader can’t guess the end of the story.
As for me, the setting of the events is realistic, because an everyday life is described in the text.
I suppose, that the span of time the extract covers is obviously the beginning of the 20th century. To prove this fact I can say, that institutes and railroads existed already, as well as art galleries. The other proof is that the Prize the artist was awarded was $1000 and for the 19th or 18th centuries it was a fantastically huge amount of money, no matter in what kind of competition.
The narrative flow, from my point of view, is frame-like, because the problem we’ve meat at the beginning of the story (I mean the patient’s dependence) also arose at the end of the story.
As for me, the climax of the plot development coincides with it’s ending, because only in the last sentence we got to know the reason of Mr. Ellsworth’s victory and understood that the treatment didn’t help at all.
The sentence structure is predominantly simple, because the text consists of dialogues mostly, but some of them are complicated by the following homogeneous enumerations of the objects of the furniture, pictures on the walls, or the authors of the books on the shelves. It is aimed at evoking a feeling of being a witness of the story. (Даний абзац не відноситься до цього конкретного тексту, це лише можливий приклад однорідних членів речення, які можуть бути зображені в тексті)
What concerns morphology, I’d like to analyze the usage of the tense forms. The extract under review is characterized by the use of Present Simple, Present Perfect tenses as well as Past Simple, Continuous, Perfect and Past Perfect Continuous tenses. The spoken type of speech is characterized by the wide use of Present and Future Simple tense forms, while the written type of speech by – by the wide use of past tense forms. Past tense forms are mostly used in author’s narrations and descriptions, while Present and Future tense forms are mostly used in conversations and dialogues. For example:
Present Simple Tense: “It’s doctor’s order”, “He doesn’t want me to read to him”, “Sir, I’m not an artist yet” and many others , to express permanent facts and situations, to express things that happen regularly.
Present Perfect: “I’ve got a preposition for you” to express the situation which has not ended.
Future Simple: “It’ll be fun” – to denote possible future actions.
Past Simple Tense: "Koppel heard the front door bell and was glad to leave the room”, “Doctor Caswell received the information with his usual professional calm”— this tense form is used to express the past action.
Past Continuous: “I was thinking could you spare the time to come twice a week …”- it is used to describe an action in progress at a specific time in the past.
Past Perfect Continuous:” He wanted to show the doctor how hard he’d been working” – expresses events in progress before another event in the past.
What concerns the usage of the articles, it is known that there are definite and indefinite articles in English.
Indefinite article is used in it’s 4 functions:
In it’s nominating function – when the speaker denotes what kind of object we have to do with:
“I can’t do a thing with him”
“Doctor drew up a chair”
“Five dollars a visit”
“… made a scrawl”
Classifying function –is used to classify people or things, to say what group, class or type they belong to.
“Sir, I am not an artist yet”
“… Mr. Ellsworth will become a laughing-stock”
Generalizing function: when the noun is used in a general sense, to talk about any one member of a class.
“A spider in my room, has 8 legs” (Цей приклад не з тексту, просто для прикладу даної функції)
Numeric function: this meaning is generally found with nouns denoting time, measure and weight, and with numerals “hundred”, “million”, “dozen”.
“… here once a week”
“… twice a week”
What concerns the usage of the definite article. It is used in it’s specifying meaning – when the noun denotes an object or objects which the speaker singles out from all the objects of a given class.
“… the painting was hung in an inconspicuous place”
“He found Doctor Caswell in the hall downstairs”
“…and explained the situation”
“Swain arranged some paper and crayons on the table”
Generic meaning: this function expresses typical characteristics, the definite article is used with singular nouns referring to a class of objects as a whole.
“ The seagull is a scavenging bird” (Цей приклад не з тексту, в даному тексті така функція не вживається).
While analyzing the text I came across the repetition of the word suffixes, such as suffix –ly, for example: suspiciously, gently, appraisingly, unusually, quietly.
It is a well-known fact, that the Infinitive, Gerund, Participle I and Participle II are the representatives of the non-finite forms of the verb. As to the Gerund, there are a lot of gerunds in the a given text used in different functions.
Gerund performs the function of an object:
“He had done some constructive thinking since his last visit”
“But he had to be kept from buying things…”
The function of a predicative:
“…like a child playing with a picture book”
The function of a subject:
“Fortunately, the painting was hung in an inconspicuous place”
With verbs denoting the beginning, the duration or the end of an action the Gerund forms part of a compound verbal aspect:
“During the course of the exhibition the old man kept on taking his lessons, seldom mentioning his entry in the exhibition.”
“But Caswell, how do I start playing with the chalk – …”
As to the Participle I in the text it performs the function of an attribute:
“Doctor Caswell, exercising his professional self-controll…”
And of course, there are a lot of infinitives in the extract, such as:
“…the front door bell and was glad to leave the room”
“He doesn’t want me to read to him”
“Ran an elevator at night to pay tuition”
Now, a few words about the usage of modal verbs. Mostly, they are represented in the text expressing physical or mental ability or possibility:
“I can get a student from one of the art schools…”
Impossibility:
“…the painting was hung … where it could not excite any comment”
“He could not bear to hear what they had to say”
“Necessity:
“He had to be liquidated at a great sacrifice …”
“He had to be kept from buying things …”
Polite requests:
“Could you spare me the time?”
Also some conditional sentences are used in the text, such as the 1 type Conditional, to express true and factual ideas in the present or future: ”If you want to draw you will have to look at what you are drawing”
Syntax. The extract under review is characterized by the use of short simple, long compound, complex, and composite sentences. The spoken type of speech is characterized by the use of simple sentences:
“Old Ellsworth looked suspiciously over his spectacles”
“Next afternoon young Swain was shown into the big living room.”
It is also characterized by the use of short simple sentences:
“The doctor stood up”
“Read it to me”
In the written type of speech, mostly long compound, complex and composite sentences are used.
So, compound sentences which contain two independent clauses joined by a coordinator. The coordinators are as follows: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so.
“Young Swain sneaked into the Gallery one afternoon and blushed to the top o his ears”
“The doctor drew up a chair and sat down close to the old man”
“We can’t interfere with him now and take a chance of spoiling all the good work”
Complex sentences: this kind of sentence has an independent clause joined by one or more dependent clauses. A complex sentence always has a subordinator such as: “because”, “since”, “after”, “although”, “when” or a relative pronoun, such as “that”, “who”, or “which”. In a complex sentence there is one main “idea” and one or more subordinate “ideas” (clauses).
“He had suffered his last heart attack after his disastrous purchase of that jerkwater railroad in Iowa”
“Upon this distinguished group Ellsworth was going to foist his “Trees dressed in white”, which resembled a gob of salad dressing thrown violently up against the side of a house”
Complex and compound sentences are mostly used in narrations and descriptions and simple sentences are mostly used in conversations and dialogues.
As to the vocabulary common/neutral words prevail, such as: juice, door, room, a chair, the chalk, etc.
In a spoken type of speech most of the words are colloquial, for example: bosh, umph, jerkwater, poppy-cock, by gum, it’s kinda.
In the written type of speech there are many bookish and literary words (they are mostly scientific words and also words which are not understandable to uneducated people): the abruptness, a vigorous, to squint, to admonish.
The main sphere of words. Form my point of view, the text is devoted to the problems of art and also it has to do with the process of treatment. That is why, there are many words in the extract that help the author to enclose the theme. They are :
Treatment: the nurse, a heart, a patient, a doctor, treatment, heart attack.
Art: the first landscape prize, canvases, exhibitions, a drawing, the art student, galleries.
I believe that all the words in the extract are equally important, but there are some that contribute more to the purport and are worth to be analysed deeper. I’d like to analyse the verb “to draw”. This verb has a lot of meanings:
1. to produce a picture of something using a pencil, pen, etc.
“Katie had drawn a cottage with a little stream running next to it”
2. to get a particular kind of reaction from someone.
“His remarks drew an angry response from Democrats”
3. to give information in reply to questions about something.
“She refused to be drawn on the subject of her family”
4. to take air or smoke into your lungs.
“She drew a deep breath”
5. to choose by chance a card, ticket etc. that will win a prize.
“The winning ticket will be drawn at the Christmas Party”
There are many phrasal verbs with the verb “to draw”, for example:
Draw back, that means – to move backwards, especially because you are frightened- “Suddenly, she drew back, startled”
Draw in- if the days or night draw in, it starts to get dark earlier in the evening, because winter is coming.
“In October the nights start drawing in”
Draw sth up- to prepare a written document, such as a list or contract.
“Draw up a list of all the things you want to do”
The word “draw” can be used as a noun. The first meaning is like this:
- the final result of a game or competition in which both teams or players have the same number of points.
“The match ended in a draw”
- an occasion when someone or something is chosen by chance, especially the winning ticket in a lottery, or the teams who will play against each other in a competition.
“England has been selected to play Germany in the draw for the first round of the World Cup”
- a performer, place, event, that a lot of people come to see
“It is hoped that a new art gallery will be a big draw for the visitors”
There are also several derivatives, such as:
Drawer (n)- a part of a piece of furniture, such as a desk that you pull out and push in and use to keep things in it: “She took a file from her desk drawer”
Drawing(n)- a picture that you draw: “…a drawing of Canterbury Cathedral”
Form the point of view of stylistic, there are many stylistic devices in the text. Here are some of them:
Zeugma: “All his purchases of recent years had to be liquidated at a great sacrifice both to his health and his pocketbook”
Simile: “… the open spaces blue like a child playing with a picture book”
Personification: “When the late spring sun began to cloak the fields and gardens with colour…”, “An entirely new world opened up it’s charming mysteries”
Metonymy: “I want to ask you something before old pine apple juice comes back”
In general, I suppose that the tone of the piece of literature is informal, conversational, casual and ironical.
BRITISH AND AMERICAN NEWSPAPERS
Students of English Department before rendering the newspaper articles, editorials , brief newspaper items and other newspaper materials informational in character have to translate them. That is why it is absolutely necessary for the learners to be familiar with English newspapers and to understand their language peculiarities.
English newspaper writing dates from the 17th century. The first of any regular series of English newspapers was the Weekly News which first appeared on May 23, 1662. The 17th century saw the rise of a number of other news sheets. The first English daily newspaper The Daily Courant was brought out on March 11, 1702. The paper carried news, largely foreign, and no comment, the latter being against the principles of the publisher , as was stated in the first issue of his paper.
Thus the early English newspaper was principally a vehicle of information. Commentary as a regular feature found its way into the newspapers later. But as far back as the middle of the 18th century the British newspaper was very much like what it is today, carrying on its pages news, both foreign and domestic, advertisements, announcements and articles containing comments.
The rise of the American newspaper, which was brought onto American soil by British settlers, dates back to the late 17th, early 18th centuries.
Modern British and American newspapers can be classified into two main groups: quality and popular newspapers.
Quality newspapers are serious, national, daily newspapers. They concern themselves, as far as possible, with factual reports of major national and international events, with the world of politics and business, they give a comprehensive coverage of industry, technology, commerce, arts, sport and public affairs. In Great Britain these are The Time , The Financial Times, The Guardian, The Daily Telegraph, The Independent. The Times is the most famous British quality newspaper.
The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times , The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times are the American quality newspapers. The New York Times is ranked as” the world’s top daily”. The Wall Street Journal covers national and international news. It is the business newspaper with the largest circulation in the country. The Washington Post, a serious daily paper, is of national interest, in particular because it contains full coverage of Congress.
Popular ( tabloid) newspapers are in size and contain, many photographs. Unlike quality newspapers popular newspapers are not so serious and their stories tend to be sensational. Popular British newspapers are: The Daily Express, The Daily Mirror, The Daily Mail, The Daily Star, The Sun. The tabloids concentrate on more emotive reporting of stories often featuring violence, the Royal family, film and pop stars, and sport. It is often said that the popular press aims to entertain its readers than inform them.
It took the English newspaper more than a century to establish a style and a standard of its own. It is only by the 19th century that English newspaper may be said to have developed a system of language means which forms separate functional style – English newspaper style often referred to as newspaper English.
Not all the printed matter found in newspapers comes under newspaper style. The modern newspaper carries material of an extremely diverse character. On the pages of newspaper one finds not only news and comment on it, but also stories and poems, crossword puzzles, chess problems, and the like. Since these serve the purpose of entertaining the reader, they cannot be considered examples of newspaper style. Nor can articles in special field, such as science and technology, art, literature, etc. be classed as belonging to newspaper style.
Since the primary function of newspaper style is to impart information, only printed matter serving this purpose comes under newspaper style proper. Such matter can be classed as: brief news items and communiqués; press reports ( parliamentary or court proceedings, etc.); editorials and articles purely informational in character; advertisements and announcements.
To understand the language peculiarities of English newspaper style it will be sufficient to analyze the following bask features:
- Vocabulary parameters of English newspaper style.
It goes without saying that the bulk of the vocabulary used in newspaper writing is neutral common literary. But apart from this, newspaper style has its specific vocabulary features and is characterized by an extensive use of:
a) Special political and economic terms, e.g. constitution, president-elect, by- election, General Assembly, gross output, gross domestic product, per capita production.
b) Non-term political vocabulary, e.g. public, progressive, nation- wide, unity, peace. A characteristic feature of political vocabulary is that the borderline between terms and non-terms is less distinct than in the vocabulary of other special fields. The semantic structure of some words comprises both terms and non-terms, e.g. nation, crisis, agreement, member, representative, leader.
c) Newspaper clichés, stereotyped expressions, common- place phrases familiar to the reader, e.g. vital issue, pressing problem, well- informed sources, danger of war, to escalate a war, overwhelming majority, pillars of society, welfare state.
d) Abbreviations. New items, press reports and headlines abound in abbreviations of various kinds. Among them abbreviated terms – names of organizations, public and state bodies, political associations, industrial and other companies, various offices, known by their initials are very common; e.g. UNO ( United Nations Organization), NATO ( North Atlantic Treaty Organization), EEC ( European Economic Community),FO (Foreign Office ).
e) Neologisms. These are very common in newspaper vocabulary. The newspaper is very quick to react to any new development in the life of society, in science and technology. Hence, neologisms make their way into the language of the newspaper very easily and often even spring up on newspaper pages, e.g. a splash- down, a teach- in, stop- go policies, internet bank, e- marketplace.
f) Emotionally coloured words. English newspaper is characterized by an extensive use of emotionally- coloured vocabulary: “ The long- suffering British housewife needs a bottomless purse to cope with this scale of inflation”( Daily Mirror). Reporters tend to introduce emotionally coloured elements into the matter-of-fact, linguistically neutral news stories, e.g. “Health Minister Kenneth Robinson made this shock announcement yesterday in the Commons”.( Daily Mirror).
g) Elements of appraisal. The newspaper also seeks to influence public opinion on political and other matters. Elements of appraisal may be observed in the very selection and way of presentation of news, in the use of specific vocabulary such as allege and claim, casting some doubt on the facts reported.
h) Non- literary(special colloquial) vocabulary. Alongside political words and expressions, terms, cliches and abbreviations one can find colloquial words and expressions, slang, jargonisms and professionalisms, for example: “There is something fishy going on of the B.C. coast. Almost weekly, thousands of farm salmon are breaking stir and swimming into wide – open waters, where, environmentalists fear, they wreak havoc with the wild salmon”( The Globe and Mail).
2. Grammatical parameters of newspaper English.
The following grammatical peculiarities of newspaper English may be regarded as grammatical parameters of newspaper style:
a) Occasional disregard for the sequence of tenses rule and rules for reporting speech. These tendencies in newspaper writing modify the well-established grammatical norms. Nevertheless, what is ordinarily looked upon as a gross violation of grammar rules in any other kind of writing is becoming increasingly common as a functional peculiarity of newspaper style, e.g.: "It was announced in Cairo yesterday that elections will be held..." (The Daily Telegraph); "TransCanada Pipelines Ltd. said yesterday it has agreed to sell its Netherlands assets for net proceeds of $447-million, all but completing its divestment program." (The Globe); "After offering "the hearty congratulations of myself and the federation / represent" and expressing his wish for "every success in the future," Mr. Holt concludes..." (Daily Worker).
b) Attributive noun groups are another powerful means of effecting brevity in news items, e.g., 'heart swap patient' (The Times), the national income and expenditure figures' (The Times), 'Labour backbench decision' (The Daily Telegraph). 'Mr. Wilson's HMS Fearless package deal' (The Daily Telegraph), 'leap into space age' (The Globe).
c) Verbal (infinitive, participial, gerundial) constructions and verbal noun constructions, e.g.: "Mr. Nobusuke Kishi, the former Prime Minister of Japan, has sought to set an example to the faction ridden Governing Liberal Democratic Party by announcing the disbanding of his own faction numbering Al of the total of 295 conservative members of the Lower house of the Diet." (The Times).
d) Syntactical (predicative) complexes, especially the nominative with the infinitive (complex subject). These constructions are largely used to avoid mentioning the source of information or to shun responsibility for the facts reported, e.g.: "The condition of Lord Samuel, aged 92, was said last night to be a little better." (The Guardian); "A Petrol bomb is believed to have been exploded against the grave of Cecil Rhodes." (The Times)
e) Complex syntactical structure. As reporters are obliged to be brief, they naturally try to cram all the facts" into the space allotted. This tendency predetermines the peculiar composition of newspaper matter and the structure of sentences (syntactical structure).
Newspaper materials are characterized by complex syntactical structure: "There are indications that BOAC may withdraw threats of all-out dismissals for pilots who restrict flying hours, a spokesman for the British Airline Pilots' association said yesterday." (The Times); "Mr. Boyd-Carpenter, Chief Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster-General (Kingston-upon-Thames), said he had been asked what was meant by the statement in the Speech that the position of war pensioners and those receiving national insurance benefits would be kept under close review." (The Times)
f) Specific word order. Unconventional sentence patterns. Newspaper tradition, coupled with the rigid rules of sentence structure in English, has greatly affected the word order of newspaper items. The word order in one sentence news paragraphs and in what are called leads (the initial sentences in longer news items) is more or less fixed. Journalistic practice has developed what is called the "five-w-and-h-pattern rule" (who-what why-how-where-when) and for a long time strictly adhere to it. In terms of grammar this fixed sentence structure may be expressed in the following manner: Subject — Predicate (object) — Adverbial modifier of reason (manner) — Adverbial modifier of place — Adverbial modifier of time, e.g.: "The US Consul-General, Mr. Maxwell McCullough, snooped incognito round the anti-Polaris art exhibition "Count Down" in the McLellan Galleries here this morning". (The Daily Telegraph)
It is now obvious that the newspaper has developed new sentence patterns not typical of other styles. This observation refers, firstly, to the position of the adverbial modifier of definite time. Compare another pattern typical of brief news sentence structure: "Derec Heath, 43, yesterday left Falmouth for the third time in his; attempt to cross the Atlantic in a 12ft dinghy" (The Times); "Brighton council yesterday approved а & 22,500 scheme to have parking meters operating in the centre of the town by March". (The Times)
3. Stylistic devices.
The use of various stylistic devices, both lexical and syntactical, is largely traditional. Editorials abound in trite stylistic means, especially metaphors and epithets, e.g., international climate, a price explosion, a price spiral, a spectacular sight, an outrageous act, brutal rule, an astounding statement, crazy policies.
Genuine stylistic means are frequently used, which helps the writer to bring his idea home to the reader through the associations that genuine imagery arouses. Practically any stylistic device may be found in editorial writing, and when aptly used, such devices prove to be a powerful means of appraisal, of expressing a personal attitude to the matter in hand, of exercising the necessary emotional effect on the reader: "So if the result of the visit is the burying of the cold war, the only mourners will be the arms manufacturers who profit from it. The ordinary people will dance on the grave." (Daily Worker)
Satirical effect is frequently achieved by the use of irony, the breaking-up of set expressions, the stylistic use of word-building, by using allusions, etc. Two types of allusions can be distinguished in newspaper article writing: (a) allusions to political and other facts of the day which are indispensable and have no stylistic value, and (b) historical, literary and biblical allusions which are often used to create a specific stylistic effect, largely — satirical.
The emotional force of expression in the editorial is often enhanced by the use of various syntactical stylistic devices. Some editorials abound in parallel constructions, various types of repetition, rhetorical questions and other ' syntactical stylistic means.
Different papers vary in degree of emotional colouring and stylistic originality of expression. While these qualities are typical enough of the "popular" newspapers (those with large circulations), such as The Daily Minor and The Daily Mail, the so-called "quality papers", as The Times and The Guardian, make rather a sparing use of the expressive and stylistic means of the language.
Yet, the role of expressive language means and stylistic devices in the newspaper writing should not he overestimated. They stand out against the essentially neutral background. And whatever stylistic devices one comes across in newspapers, they are for the most part trite.
Broadly speaking, tradition reigns supreme in the language of the newspaper. Original forms of expression and fresh genuine stylistic means are comparatively rare in newspaper articles, editorials included.
4. Specific compositional design of newspaper articles.
Newspaper articles are divided into numerous paragraphs (practically each sentence is a separate paragraph). Several paragraphs usually make one main idea clear. Remember to combine such paragraphs in translation.
MIGRATION from the North to the South is not to
blame for the majority of new homes needed in the
South-East, a report by the Joseph Rowntree
Foundation said yesterday.
Instead it shows that movement from London,
a bigger than expected increase in the population and
incomers from abroad have brought regions nearest
the capital under pressure to extend.
The report concludes that even if there is the “urban renaissance”
in the North and Midlands that the Government hopes for,
there will be large increases in population in the South.
(The Daily Telegraph)
The specific conditions of newspaper publication, the restrictions of time and space, have left an indelible mark on newspaper English. For more than a century writers and linguists have been vigorously attacking "the slipshod construction and the vulgar vocabulary" of newspaper English. The very term newspaper English carried a shade of disparagement. Yet, for all the defects of newspaper English, serious though they may be, this form of the English literaly language cannot be reduced — as some purists have claimed — merely to careless slovenly writing or to a distorted literary English. This is one of the forms of the English literary language characterized — as any other style — by a definite communicative aim and its own definite system, of language means.
TRANSLATION OF NEWSPAPER HEADLINES
The headline is the title given to a news item or a newspaper article. It is the most concise form of newspaper information.
English newspaper headlines are short and catching, they compact the gist of news stories into a few eye-snaring words. A skillfully turned put headline tells a story, or enough of it, to arouse or satisfy the reader's curiosity. In most of the English newspapers sensational headlines are quite common. The headlines of newspaper items, apart from giving information about the subject-matter, also carry a considerable amount of appraisal, i.e. they show the reporter's or the paper's attitude to the facts reported.
To lure the reader into going through the whole of the item takes a lot of skill and ingenuity on the part of the headline writer. Accuracy of content, intelligibility, practicality, attractiveness of appearance and vigour are the necessary requirements and where every headline goes unerringly to the point with precision and wit the whole newspaper comes alive. But the first basic requirement for newspaper headlines is brevity. The headline must fit into space. The headline "World faces explosion of lifestyle illnesses" (The Guardian) meets the necessary requirements: it fits, it makes immediate sense, it attracts the reader's attention, it tells the story.
Very often the information is split into decks. The purpose of a deck is to cope with a more complicated or important story where several news points have to be made; but only the first deck needs to be completely self-contained. The first deck carries the most important news point; the second deck elaborates this with a significant detail or adds a further news point.
The functions and the peculiar nature of English headlines predetermine the choice of language means used. The vocabulary groups considered in the analysis of newspaper materials are commonly found in headlines.
Headlines often contain emotionally coloured words and phrases as the italicized words in the following examples: r\Unwilling flunkeys' (Daily Herald), 'Crazy Waste of Youth' (Reynolds News), "No Wonder Housewives are Pleading: 'HELP' (Daily Mirror), 'Roman Catholic Priest sacked" (The Daily Telegraph).
Furthermore, to attract the reader's attention, headline writers often resort to a deliberate breaking-up of set expressions and deformation of special terms, a stylistic device capable of producing a strong emotional effect, e.g.: 'Cakes and Bitter Ale' (The Sunday Times), 'Multilateral Fog' (Daily Worker), 'Conspirator-in-chief Still at Large' (The Guardian). Compare respectively the allusive set expressions cakes and ale, and the terms multilateral force and commander-in-chief.
Other stylistic devices are not infrequent in headlines, as for example, the pun (play on words), e.g., 'And what about Watt' (The Observer), 'WIPO wipes out domain name rights' (WIPO = World Intellectual Property Organization) (The Daily Telegraph), alliteration 'Miller in Maniac Mood' (The Observer), allusions 'All Quiet on Monty Front' (cf. All Quiet on the Western Front) etc.
The basic language peculiarities of headlines, however, lie in their structure. Syntactically headlines are very short sentences or phrases of a variety of patterns:
a) Full declarative sentences, e. g. 'They Threw Bombs on Gipsy Sites' (The Times), 'Allies Now Look to London' (The Times).
b) Interrogative sentences, e.g., 'Do you love war?' (Daily World), 'Who has never had it so good?' (Daily Worker)
c) Nominative sentences, e.g., 'Gloomy Sunday' (The Guardian), 'Atlantic Sea Traffic' (The Times).
d) Elliptical sentences: with an auxiliary verb omitted, e.g., 'Initial report not expected until June' (The Guardian), 'Yachtsman spotted' (The Guardian), 'South Vietnamese Company Wiped Out by Guerrillas' (The New York Herald Tribune); with the subject omitted, e.g., 'Stole luxury cars by photo' (Daily Worker), 'Fell 4 floors and walked in at a door' (Daily Worker); with the subject and part of the predicate omitted, e.g., 'Off to the sun' (The Guardian), 'Still in danger' (The Guardian).
e) Sentences with articles omitted, e.g., 'Frogman finds girl in river' (Daily Worker), 'Staff join teach-in by Bristol students' (The Times).’ Nurse attacked with own surgical scissors' (The Daily Telegraph).
f) Phrases with verbals: infinitive, e.g., 'To get US aid' (The Times); participial, e.g., 'Keeping Prices Down' (The Times); gerundial, e.g., 'Club stabbing' (Daily Worker).
g) Questions in the form of statements, e.g., The worse the better? (Daily World), 'Growl now, smile later?' ( The Observer).
h) Complex sentences, e.g., 'Senate Panel Hears Board of Military Experts Who Favoured Losing Bidder' (The New York Times).
i) Headlines including direct speech: introduced by a full sentence, e.g. 'Prince Richard says: "I was not in trouble" (The Guardian), 'What Oils the Whee's of Industry? Asks James Lowery-Olearch of the Shell-Мех and B. P. Group' (The Times); introduced elliptically, e.g., The Queen: "My deep distress" (The Guardian).
Rules for Translation. The headline in British and American newspapers is an important vehicle of both information and appraisal, and translators should give it special attention.
To translate the headline, first read through the article carefully. The main function of the headline is to inform the reader briefly of what the news that follows is about. That is why the source title may be slightly modified or completely changed in the translation to provide a deeper insight into the contents of the source article.
When you translate newspaper headlines, remember that verbal headlines containing a finite or non-finite form of the verb prevail in English newspapers whereas in Ukrainian and Russian papers nominal headlines in which the principal part is expressed by a noun are quite common, for example: Floods hit Scotland— Повінь у Шотландії, William Faulkner is dead — Смерть Уильяма Фолкнера, Johnson sends message —Послання Джонсона.
If the headline is lengthy, it is impossible to eliminate the verb in translation, e.g.: Bonn-Paris alliance causing some friction among ECM partners — Союз Бонн-Париж став причиною незгоди між партнерами по спільному Європейському ринку.
Verbal character of the headline will also be preserved in interrogative headlines: Will there be a major business slump in 2003? — Чи загрожує нам у 2003 році економічна криза?
Elliptical headlines with the subject omitted are especially difficult to translate. Literal translation of such headlines sounds artificial in Ukrainian. You have either to find the subject, reading the article closely or to render the headline by means of a nominal sentence, e.g.: Shun gov't order to end RR strike — 3алізничники відмовляются виконувати наказ уряду про припинення страйку, Demand jail for KKK'ers bombing Dallas home — Негри Далласа вимагають ув'язнення ку-клукс-клановських mepopucmie, Want no hysteria in Toronto schools — Протести проти поширення icmepii y школах Торонто.
Present Simple is often used in newspaper headlines with reference to the past to express vividness in narration. Such headlines are usually rendered into by means of verbs in the past tense, e.g.: Bell puts bandits to flight —Сигнал тривоги змусив злодіїв бігти.
Infinitival headlines are used in English newspapers to denote future actions, e.g.: GM Canada to shut Quebeck plant for week (GM Canada = General Motors of Canada Ltd.). To render such headlines into Ukrainian , use the words збираються, майбутні, наступні to express an action which will take place in the future, e.g.: America to resume testing — США збираютъся відновumu ядерні випробування.
Attributive noun groups, set expressions, abbreviations typical for newspaper headlines may also prove difficult to decode, e.g. Lung cancer deaths up again — Зріст смepmнocmi від раку легенів, Boy blue slung his hook —Пропав хлопчик: одягнений у синє (to sling one's hook — драпанути, втекти). Hip and square films — Ултрамодерністські та mpадиційні фільми, Get off Neddy (Neddy = NED = National Economic Development Council, рада з розвитку економіки), The purpose of Nick (Nick - NIC -National Incomes Commission), etc.
THE SCHEME OF RENDERING THE NEWSPAPER ARTICLE
- The article under the title "..."/ entitled "... "/under the headline is taken from the newspaper "..." in its issue of the 23rd of November 2010
- The article is written by...
- The article deals with / dwells upon /touches upon/tackles a very urgent problem of /covers/comments on/gives full coverage to (of) smth./gives full attention to/follows the developments/stresses/emphasizes/informs(of)/points out/reports on/carries information/reviews the latest events.
- Divide the article into several logical parts:
- in the first part the author dwells upon / writes / explains/ covers / raises a very important question;
- in the second part...
- in the third part ...
5.Summing up( the key-note and the message of the article):
- to sum it all up, the author comes to/ arrives at the conclusion that ...
- Own viewpoint on the article: I find this article very interesting / boring ... I consider the author’s way of interpretation is not to the point.
WORDS AND PHRASES USED IN THE RENDERING
affairs n (pl) – події
home foreign
national affairs international affairs
domestic world
internal external
події у межах країни події за кордоном, міжнародні події
article (on) n- стаття ( про)
a front-page article - стаття опублікована на першій сторінці
(reflects the most important news:economic,political)
a leading article – передова стаття
an editorial ( reflects the viewpoint of newspaper)
developments n (pl) - події
the developments
to follow the events - слідкувати за подіями
event n - подія
the latest – останні events- події
the current - поточні
the events at home and abroad – події у країні та за кордоном
issue n – номер ( газети),випуск
today’s - сьогоднішній issue – номер,випуск
yesterday’s - вчорашній
the issue of July 15 – номер від 15 липня
news n (pl) - новини
foreign
international news – новини із-за кордону
world
local news – місцеві новини,новини в країні
question ,issue, problem n – питання,проблема
a vital
an urgent question, problem- насущне питання,проблема
a burning
a disputable question – спірне питання
a key question – ключове, основне питання
an outstanding question - невирішене, спірне питання
situation n – ситуація, положення
the international situation – міжнародна ситуація
statement n – заява, твердження
to issue a statement – опублікувати , розміщувати заяву
to release
according to
in accordance with відповідно до, за словами, у відповідності з
in conformity with
agenda n pl (sing. agendum)– порядок денний
an item of (on) agenda – пункт,питання порядку денного
on the agenda – на порядку денному
to adopt the agenda – прийняти порядок денний
agreement (on) n- договір ( про)
to conclude - заключати
to sign - підписувати an agreement - договір
to cancel - скасувати
conclusion n – висновок, рішення
to arrive at
to come to a conclusion – дійти висновку
to reach
congress n – з’їзд
to convene a congress, conference, etc. – скликати з’їзд, конференцію
discussion n - обговорення
in the course of discussion – у процесі обговорення
face, confront n – зіткнутись із
face ( confront) a question – зіткнутись із питанням
to settle, solve a question(problem) – вирішити питання
meeting n – збори, засідання
a plenary meeting – пленарне засідання
to conduct ( to hold) a meeting, conference – проводити засідання, конференцію
to attend a meeting, conference – відвідувати збори, засідання
negotiation(s),talks n (pl) (on) – переговори ( про )
to hold( conduct) negotiations, talks вести
to negotiate переговори
to interrupt( break off) negotiations, talks – переривати переговори
to resume negotiations, talks – відновлювати,поновлювати перемовини
top-level(summit)- перемовини на вищому рівні
round-table – перемовини за круглим столом negotiations, talks
bilateral – двосторонні перемовини
multilateral – багатосторонні перемовини
round-the-clock – постійні перемовини
proposal n - пропозиція
to advance( put forward) – висунути пропозицію
to adopt(accept)- прийняти a proposal- пропозицію
to approve(disapprove)- схвалювати ( не схвалювати)
to reject - відхилити
treaty (on) n – договір ( про) rally n – масовий мітинг
understanding n- розуміння spokesman n- представник,делегат
mutual understanding- взаєморозуміння chairman n – головуючий (зборів)
THE SAMPLE OF RENDERING THE NEWSPAPER ARTICLE
Newspaper
The Day
External Tests or University Exams?
All eleventh-graders who wanted to participate in the first trial testing did it on March 13.
They all expect that they will enter higher educational establishments based on test results. But the recent statements of Volodymyr Semynozhenko , the newly-appointed vice prime minister for cultural issues, raises doubts about it. He said that already this year secondary education certificates will be considered while entering higher educational establishments and that, in addition to tests, high-school graduates will take exams again. In other words, tests are good, but exams are in force, too.
According to the data of the Ukrainian Education Quality Assessment Center, almost everything is ready for this year's entrance campaign — over 300,000 people are registered to take part in it (70 percent of the total population of high-school graduates); the tests have been printed; higher educational establishments have worked out the rules for the admission of high-school graduates; and tests dates have been set. Changing anything in this well-organized scheme is not only purposeless, but also unprofessional, experts suggest. If entrance exams are introduced in higher educational establishments, there is a question: Will they have enough time to get ready for them? In addition, what is the, point of the external independent testing if each university is to return to traditional exams? Another dilemma is this: Will students have enough time to prepare for the exams in the remaining two months until the end of the academic year? Thus the work of educators done in recent years is brought to nothing. Moreover, the opinion of 80 percent of parents and students who, according to sociological research, support the independent testing is ignored.
№17, Tuesday, 23March 2010 By Natalia Romashova
The Model
The article under the title “ External Tests or University Exams?” is taken from the newspaper “The Day” in its issue of the 23rd of March 2010.The article gives full coverage to the burning problem of implementation of external independent assessment ( EIA) into the system of education in Ukraine.
In the opening lines the author informs of the recent statements of newly-appointed vice prime minister for cultural issues Volodymyr Semynozhenko and states that on March 13 all the willing eleventh-graders participated in the first experimental testing and all of them are expected to enter university on the basis of test results. The reporter puts emphasis on the proposal of vice premier that while entering the university, the results of certificates about general secondary education will be taken into account and besides tests, school leavers will have to take exams.
The article stresses on the existence of dilemma – schoolchildren will have no time to prepare for exams because there are nearly 2 months left till the academic year, therefore several years work of people in the sphere of education is set at naught.
The message of the article is the facts of UkrainianEducationQualityAssessmentCenter that everything has been already ready for this year entrance campaign. There are all the pros and cons of the EIA stated in the article.
The article is interesting and to the point as far as the facts given in the article add much to what I have already known about External Independent Assessment. Needless to say that as every aspect in our life EIA has its advantages and disadvantages. On the one hand it is impossible to assess the knowledge of university entrants only by tests but certificates on general secondary education should also be taken into account and on the other hand it alleviates the school-leavers life as far as they have only to prepare for tests and do not trouble about the scores in the transcript of a certificate. Of course the problem stands if they have time to do it.
To my mind, the problem of implementation of EIA will be settled sooner or later and I feel very strongly that entrance campaign will be fair and transparent.
Lexical minimum for English practical course
comfortable adj
1. making you feel physically relaxed: a comfortable chair, room, bed, house: comfortable shoes
2. feeling physically relaxed: I'm sure you'll be very comfortable there.
3. comforting - making you feel less worried, unhappy or upset: comfortable words
4. having enough money to buy all the things you need or want, without having to worry about how much they cost: comfortable life/ retirement/ existence
Ant. uncomfortable
to make oneself comfortable - to make oneself feel physically relaxed: Sit down and make yourself comfortable.
comfort n
- someone or sth that helps feel calmer, happier or more hopeful after you have been worried or unhappy: The news brought comfort to all of us. He was a great comfort to his parents.
- a feeling of being physically relaxed and satisfied: to be fond of comfort, to live in comfort
Ant. discomfort
comfort v, t- to cause to feel less worried, unhappy or upset: Within hours of the news. Helen
arrived to comfort her heartbroken friend.
Note: convenient adj means suitable, handy, serving to avoid trouble or difficulty convenient time, method, toot, place, etc. Will this bus be convenient to/for you? Let's arrange a convenient time and place for the conference
Ant. inconvenient
convenience n
1.the quality of being convenient or suitable :at your earliest convenience, for convenience
2.(pi) useful or helpful devices: The house has all modern conveniences (central heating, hot water supply, gas)
Ant.inconvenience
bare adj
1.not clothed or covered (usu. about some part of the body), as bare feet/ legs/ shoulders, etc. She felt the sun warm on her bare arms.
Syn. naked - having no clothes on: Victorine was shocked when she learned she would have to sit for the painter quite naked.
barefoot adj predict, adv - with bare feet, without shoes and stockings: Children like to run barefoot.
bare-legged / armed adj - with bare legs (arms): She had a bare-legged baby in her arms
bare-headed adj - without a hat: It 's already too cold to go bare-headed.
2.empty, without the appropriate or usual covering or contents, e.g. a bare room (with little or no furniture), bare walls (without pictures or wallpaper), bare trees (without leaves), bare facts (only facts: nothing but facts): She looked round her tiny bare room.
a bare room (no furniture)
an empty room (no people)
a vacant room (a room in which either no one is living at present or no one is working: a room which can be occupied): After the piano was taken out. the room seemed quite bare. I thought I heard voices in the next room, but it was empty. "Won't you look for a vacant room in which we could have a consultation'.''"- "I'm told that all the rooms are occupied".
the bare bones - the most important parts or facts of sth without any detail: We have outlined only the bare bones of the method
to lay sth bare - to make known sth that was secret: historical writings which laid bare the true nature of the event
to refuse v. t/i- to say or show that one is unwilling to do or accept sth: She refused my offer.
Syn. to reject - to say firmly that one will not accept an offer, a suggestion, someone's friendship etc.: They have until December 19 to accept or reject the proposal.
to turn down (informal) - to reject: You'd be stupid to turn down such a good job offer.
to decline - to say politely that one cannot or will not accept sth: I'm sorry, but I'll have to decline the invitation.
Note: In the meaning of sacrificing sth., parting with sth., the English verb to give up is used: He gave up the idea of going there. Roger promised to give up smoking, but he didn't keep his promise.
refusal n - an act of saying or showing that one will not do, accept, or allow sth: He answered her invitation with a cold refusal.
like adj - similar in some way: They are as like as two peas.
like prep adv
- similar in some way to sth or sb else: I can't do it like you
.
- typical of a particular person or thing: It's not like Dad to be late.
What is sb/sth like? used when asking someone to describe sth or to give one's opinion:
What is he like? (= What sort of person is he?)
What does he look like? (= What kind of appearance has he got?)
to look like - to have the appearance of sb/sth: It looks like gold
Note: to act like means to do sth in the same way or in the manner of other people, e.g. She can play like a real pianist: to act as means acting in the capacity of sb. e.g. Some of our students work as guides during the summer:
there's nothing like - used to say that a particular thing is very enjoyable: There's nothing like a nice cup of teal
alike adj predic - almost exactly the same; similar: The houses in this street are alike. (=The houses in this street are like those in the next street.)
likeness n - resemblance: I cannot see much likeness between the twins
unlike adj - dissimilar or different from each other: She was unlike all other girls.
unlike prep
1.completely different from another person or thing: Unlike other girls she was not at all talkative.
2.not typical of someone: It's unlike Judy to leave us without telling us.
serve v, t/i
1.to perform duties or services for: He serves as gardener (no article!).
2.to be of use in fulfilling (a purpose): The sofa had to serve as a bed.
3.to present food or drink to; to work as a waiter: The waiter served the soup. Dinner is served.
4.to attend to (a customer in a shop): There was no one in the shop to serve me.
5.to be employed as a member of the armed forces: He served three years in the navy.
to serve sb right - to be someone's deserved punishment or misfortune: 'She kicked me!' 'Serves you right, teasing her like that.'
to serve one's/no purpose - to be (not) useful: A large cardboard box will serve the purpose
to serve with the same source - to return like for like (відплатити тією ж монетою): He will understand he is mistaken the day he is served with the same source.
No man can serve two masters - proverb
service n
1.a period of employment with the organization: He retired after 25 years of service to the company.
2.the organized supply of sth needed: The service was terrible, and so was the food
3.an act of assistance: I did her a service by telling her the truth
4.(pi!) work done for money: Why don't you offer your services as a tennis coach?7
5.duty, as jury/military/community etc service Her attacker was sentenced to 120 hours community service
6.a religious ceremony, as the Sunday/marriage/funeral/christening etc service:The service was held in the chapel.
to be at someone's service - to be at one's disposal: My room is at your service.
to be of service - to be of help/use: Can I be of any service?
to be in/out of service - (not) available for use: The escalator is still out of service.
to take sb into one's service = to take sb on - to hire sb: Think twice before you take him into your service.
serviceman / woman n - a person serving in the armed forces
obey v t/i
1.to submit to the authority of: Children must obey grown-ups.
But: слухатися поради- to follow one's advice
2.to carry out (an order / a command / the law / rules) Soldiers must obey orders.
Ant. to disobey
obedience n - when someone does what they are told to do. or what the law, rule etc says they must do: Parents demand obedience from their children Ant. Disobedience
in obedience to sth - He lived in obedience to the church's teachings.
blind / unquestioning / complete obedience - obedience without any thought
obedient adj- willing to obey an order or submit to another's authority: He is an obedient boy.
Ant. disobedient, naughty (of a child)
do( did,done) v,t/i
1.to perform or carry out (an action) as to do one's work, duty, shopping, morning exercises, etc.
to do a sum She was good at doing sums.
to do one's best: I must do my best to help him.
2.to have a specified result or effect: The scandal will do serious damage to his reputation
to do good: his medicine won't do you any good.
to do harm: It will do you more harm than good
.
3.to work on (sth) to bring it to a required state, as to do one's hair (room, bed, etc.) .
4.to visit a particular place, especially as a tourist: We often see foreigners in Kyiv doing the sights
5..to be suitable or acceptable: The room will do us quite well. that will (won't) do!
6.to succeed: He did well in the Bureau.
7.to work at for a living or take as one's subject of study: What do you want to do after school? I did French at school.
to do away with sth - to get rid of sth or stop using it: Smoking should be done away with.
to do down - to criticize someone, especially in an unfair way: I know you don't like him, but there is no need to keep doing him down in front of the boss.
to do out (BE) / over (AmE) - to make a place look attractive by decorating: The room was beautifully done out in pastel colours.
to do oneself up - to make oneself look attractive: She spent ages near the mirror doing herself up.
to be done up - to be dressed elaborately: She was done up as if she were invited to the President.
to have to do with sb (sth) - to deal with sb (sth): He has to do with all sorts of people.
Do or die - persist, even if death is the result
Dos and Don'ts - rules of behaviour: The booklet lists the dos and don'ts of caring for dogs.
That'll do! - enough
That does it! - used to say angrily that you will not accept a situation any more: Right that does it! I'm not going to listen to any more of this!
Whatever is worth doing at all is worth doing well. - proverb
What we do willingly we do easy. – proverb
If you want a thing well done, do it yourself. - proverb
Promise little, but do much. - proverb
Handsome is that handsome does. - proverb
Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today. - proverb
Do at Rome as the Romans do. - proverb
What is done cannot be undone. – proverb
Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today. - proverb
to make (made, made) v. t/i
1.to produce sth. for example by putting parts together or combining substances: I'm going to show you how to make a box for your tools
2.used with some nouns to say that someone does sth. as to make an arrest / an attempt / a (the) bed / a decision / an effort / a fuss / a joke / a list /a mistake /a phone call / a report/a start/a suggestion
to make oneself at home - used to tell someone who is visiting you that they should relax: Come in and make yourself at home.
to make friends with sb - to become friendly with someone: She easily makes friends.
3.to have the qualities that are necessary for a particular job, use, or purpose: I'm sure she'll make an excellent teacher.
- to force someone to do sth: We'll have to make him take the medicine
- to cook or prepare food or drink: When was the last time you made a cake?
- to cause sth to happen, or cause a particular state or condition: His attitude made him very unpopular with friends.
to make do - to manage with the things one has, even though this is not really enough: I hardly had any food in the house so I just had to make do.
to make oneself heard /understood / known, etc - to succeed in getting someone to hear you, understand you, or know that you are there: I had to shout to make myself heard above the music.
make or break - to be the factor which decides whether sth will succeed or fail: Critics can make or break a young performer.
to make up as a phrasal verb
- to prepare: Before packing make up a list of things you are going to take.
- to invent a new story, song, game, etc. by thinking: You are the fool to listen to his story. He has made it all up.
- to apply cosmetics to: She was so much made up that I didn't recognize her at first.
- to become friendly with sb again after an argument: I am sorry for what I said let's make up
- to compensate for. Won't you let me try to make up for all I've failed to do in the past
to make up one's mind - to decide: Have you made up your mind what to do?
to make up for lost time - to work more quickly, or at times when you do not usually work, because sth has prevented you from doing the work before: We rehearsed all day Saturday, to make up for lost time.
make up n - cosmetics applied to the face: The woman uses too much make-up
way n
1.a road, track, path or street: The way we took lay through the forest.
Syn road, path, track
2.a specified direction: Can you show me the way to Trafalgar Square?
WORD CHOICE: way is but seldom used to denote a specially built means of communication between two places, the usual word for which is road; way is more often used to denote direction, e.g. I can show you the way to the nearest village (I e. I can tell you what direction you should take in order to get to the village). But: I can show you a very good road to the village.', path denotes a track made by the feet of people who pass along (стежка) as a path through the woods Of the three synonyms abstract usages are most typical of way, as way to knowledge, way to happiness, etc : path is also sometimes used in such combination, as "The Path of Thunder, dangerous path. etc.
to make one's way - to go towards sth, especially when this is difficult or takes a long time: They made their way through the silent streets of the sleeping city.
to lead the way - to go first along a route to show someone the way: The guide led the way through the forest till we reached a narrow path. This way.please. – Проходьте сюди,будь ласка.
to lose one's way - to become unable to find the way: The children lost their way in the forest.
to be / stand in sb's way - to be blocking a road, someone's path, etc. so that one cannot move forward easily: Let me pass, don't stand in my way.
to be / get out of sb's way - to be/go somewhere where one cannot cause a problem, need attention, be annoying, etc.: I shall get her out for ten minutes, so that you can have the opportunity to settle the matter. Get out of my way!
to have / get one's own way - to do what you want to, even though someone else wants sth different: She likes to have her own way in everything. Have it your own way.
to go out of one's way to do sth - to do sth with more effort than is usual or expected: She went out of her way to make me feel welcome.
on the way - travelling towards a particular place: Let's discuss it on the way home.
by the way - used when saying sth what is not related to the subject you were talking about before: By the way. what was it she told you7
(in) one way or another, also one way or the other - used to say that someone does or will do something somehow, although you are not sure how: We'll find the money, one way or another.
in one's own way - to a certain extent: The music was unusual but quite beautiful in its own way.
way out - a way to escape a difficult or bad situation: That seems to me a very good way out.
Where there's a will there's a way – proverb
anxious adj
1.experiencing worry or unease: I am anxious about his health.
Syn. worried, troubled
2.very eager and concerned to do sth: He works hard because he is anxious to succeed.
Syn. eager, keen
anxious to do sth - keen to do sth: The company is anxious to improve its image.
anxiety n
1.the feeling of being very worried about sth: All these anxieties made him look pale and tired.
Syn. worry, concern
2.the feeling of wanting to do sth: That anxiety for truth made Philip rather unpopular with some of his schoolmates.
anxiously adv. She waited anxiously by the phone.
WORD CHOICE: the synonyms to be anxious, to worry, to trouble, to bother. The range of meaning of worry is wide: it can denote emotional states of different intensity whereas its synonyms are narrower in meaning. In the sentence His long absence worried his mother very much worry expresses a strong feeling of anxiety. It is also possible to say: It made her very anxious. The intensity of feeling is slightly weaker here; trouble denotes a still weaker emotion; bother describes rather a state of irritation and dissatisfaction than of anxiety. Sometimes either of the synonyms can be used in one and the same sentence. The difference lies in the intensity of the emotion expressed by each verb, e.g. Don't let that bother you (don't think about it; it is unimportant). Don't let that trouble you (nearly the same, but also: Don't get nervous about it). Don't be anxious about it (The feeling of fear and anxiety is stronger here than in the previous example). Don't let that worry you (don't let that spoil your mood: don't fear that sth bad will happen).
to hold (held, held) v, t/i
1.to have sth in one's hands or arms: She was holding a red rose in her hand.
to hold a meeting - to arrange or to take part in a meeting: A students' meeting was held in our department yesterday.
2.to contain or be capable of containing: How many people will this lecture- hall hold?
3.not to change (of the weather): Will this weather hold9
to hold on as a phrasal verb
1.to wait for a short time: Hold on, I'll just get my coat
2.used when one has just noticed, heard or remembered sth interesting or wrong: Hold on a minute! Isn't it your husband's car over there'!'
3.used to ask someone on the telephone to wait: Can you hold on? I'll try to find her.
to hold on to sth - to have one's hands or arms tightly around: Hold on to my arm
hold n - the action of holding sth with one's hands
to have / keep hold of sth - be holding sth: With every minute it became harder and harder to keep hold of the slippery ropes.
to get / take hold of sth - start holding sth: She got hold of the knife and stabbed him.
to catch / grab / seize hold of sth - take hold of sth quickly and firmly: He
nearly fell down, but managed to catch hold of his companion 's arm.
to lose hold of sth - accidentally let go of sth: It wasn't her nature to lose hold of anything she had got hold of.
gossip n
1.[C, U] conversation or information about other people's behaviour and private lives, often including unkind or untrue remarks: What's the latest gossip?
have a gossip Phil's in there having a gossip with Maggie. \ idle gossip (gossip not based on facts)
2.[C] someone who likes talking about other people's private lives: He is a famous gossip.
to gossip v. i - to spend time talking to someone about other people's behaviour and private lives or about other things that do not concern you (+ about) Julie was gossiping about Jane and Mick's affair
gossipy adj informal
1.a gossipy person likes to gossip.
2.talk or writing that is gossipy, is informal and full of gossip: a long, gossipy letter.
gossip column n [C] - a regular article in a newspaper or magazine about the behaviour and private lives of famous people
steady adj
1.firmly held in a particular position and not moving or shaking: Keep the camera steady while you take a picture. \ a steady hand You need a steady hand for such a delicate job.
2.moving, happening, or developing in a continuous gradual way: a steady decline in manufacturing output \ Paul has made steady progress this year | a steady stream of visitors/enquiries etc: Asteady stream of East Germans making their way through the new gap in the wall. Syn. Constant
3.not changing steady level, speed etc stays about the same: We were driving at a steady 60 mph.
4.someone who is steady is sensible and you can depend on them: a steady worker.
Syn. industrious
steady job / work / income a job or work that will definitely continue over a long period of time
steady boyfriend / girlfriend someone that you have been having a romantic relationship with
steady relationship a serious and strong relationship that continues for a long time
steadily adverb
steadiness noun [U]
to steady v. t/i
1.to hold something steady or make it steady: steady yourself (get back your balance in order to prevent yourself from falling): He tried to steady himself by grabbing the tree.
2.to stop increasing or decreasing and remain about the same: The dollar has steadied after early losses on the money markets
steady your nerves to make yourself calm: She had a brandy to steady her nerves.
steady adv - go steady (with sb) to have a long regular romantic relationship with a boyfriend or girlfriend
steady n [C] - AmE informal a boyfriend or girlfriend that someone has been having a romantic relationship with: Jill is Ray's steady.
spirit n
1.an inner part of someone that includes their thoughts and feelings, and is thought of as making them what they are: His spirit was untamable. \ strong in spirit | independent /proud/ free etc spirit (a person with a particular type of character): a toddler already showing an independent spirit
2.[C] the part of someone that is believed to continue to live after they have died: Although Laurie is dead, I can feel his spirit with me. Syn. soul
3.[C] a dead person who is believed to have returned to this world and has strange or magical powers, syn. ghost): Some people believe that evil spirits can be removed by exorcism.
4(PI!) the way someone feels at a particular time, for example if they are cheerful or sad. Syn. Mood
5.[C usually PI] especially BrE a strong alcoholic drink such as whisky or brandy
6.the attitude that you have towards something: You've got to approach this meeting in the right spirit. | a true spirit of friendship
7.[U] approving courage, energy, and determination: Our team played with great spirit.
be in good / low spirits - be happy or sad
be in high spirits - be excited: We started our journey in high spirits.
keep sb's spirits up - make sure someone does not become less cheerful)
raise / lift sb's spirits - make someone feel happier and more hopeful: long, hot summer days that lift the spirits
sb's spirits lift / sink - become more or less cheerful: My spirits sank when I saw the mess they'd left.
in spirit you say you will be somewhere in spirit or with someone in spirit, when you cannot be with them but are thinking about them: I can't come to your wedding but I'll be there in spirit.
get into the spirit/enter into the spirit BrE to start to feel as happy, excited etc as the people around you: Judith couldn't really enter into the spirit of the occasion.
fighting spirit - brave determination
break sb's spirit - make someone lose their courage and determination.
that's the spirit spoken used to express approval of someone's behaviour or attitude team / community / public etc. spirit a strong feeling of belonging to a particular group and wanting to help them
the spirit of the age / times the set of ideas, beliefs, and aims that are typical of a particular period in history
when / as the spirit moves you when you feel that you want to do something
to spirit v, t - spirit sb/sth away/off to remove someone or something in a secret or mysterious way: At the end of the press conference Jackson was spirited away through a back door
spirited adj approving, having energy and determination: Raphael is so young and spirited.
a spirited defense/debate: a spirited defense of her decisions
high-spirited, low-spirited, mean-spirited, public-spirited
spiritual adj
1.connected with your spirit rather than with your body or mind: As a priest I'm responsible for your spiritual welfare. \ spiritual values
2.connected with religion: the spiritual authority of the church
spiritual home a place where you feel you belong because you share the ideas and attitudes of that society
spiritually adv
taste n
1. [Sg, U] the special feeling that is produced by a particular food or drink when you put it in your mouth: Sugar has a sweet taste. | Has the milk gone sour? It's got a funny taste.
2.[U] someone's judgement about what is good or suitable when they choose clothes, music etc : have (good) taste - make good judgements: She has instinctive good taste. | have bad/no taste Mick has really bad taste in clothes
3.[C,U] the type of thing that you tend to like (+ for/in): His tastes in films and books were very different from her own.
have a taste for: I've always had a taste for jazz and blues music.
to sb's taste - in a way that someone likes: She had the whole house redecorated to her taste. \
have no taste for - not like something at all:
1.[Sg.] a small amount of food or drink that you put in your mouth to try it: Have a taste of this soup and see if it needs more salt.
2.[U] the sense by which you know one food from another: You need a good sense of taste to be a chef.
be in bad/poor taste jokes, remarks etc. that are in bad taste are unacceptable, especially because they upset someone: I thought your terrorist joke was in pretty bad taste.
a taste of fame/success etc. a short experience of something that you want more of
leave a bad/nasty taste in your mouth to feel angry or upset as a result of seeing or hearing something unpleasant: The way he spoke to those children left a nasty taste in my mouth.
to taste a phrase meaning as much as is needed to make something taste the way you like, used in instructions for cooking: Add salt and pepper to taste.
an acquired taste something that you like only after you have tried it several times: Olives are something of an acquired taste.
there is no accounting for taste used to say that you do not understand why someone has chosen something: He's so nice -1 don't see why you don't like him. But there's no accounting for taste.
to taste v, t/i
1.to have a particular kind of taste : taste delicious/sweet/fresh etc: The
mangoes tasted delicious. | This wine tastes too acidic. | taste like: This chicken tastes more like turkey. | What does pumpkin taste like? \ taste of: over-ripe cheese tasting of ammonia | sweet-tasting/strong-tasting etc - having a sweet, strong etc taste: strong-tasting coffee
2.to put a small amount of food or drink into your mouth to see what it is like: You'd better taste the soup to see if I put enough salt in it. | Come on, just taste it!
3.to experience the taste of food or drink: I can hardly taste what I'm eating because of my cold.
taste fame/freedom etc to have a short experience of something that you want more of: We had tasted success and wanted more.
WORD CHOICE: taste, try, sample, savour ( BrE ) / savor ( AmE ) If you eat or drink a little of something just in order to find out its taste or flavour, you taste it: Have you tasted this wine yet? However, taste is much more often used in other meanings, where you receive the taste of something but do not actively search for it: Can you taste the spices in this dish? | This wine tastes great (NOT This wine is very good taste ). In fact most often people use the word try for when they eat or drink something deliberately to see if they like it - not just what it tastes like, but also what it looks like, its smell etc: You must try this wine/our local dishes/the salmon. You may also sample food or drink, that is try just a little, perhaps not a full dish or meal: You'll have a chance to sample all the cheeses of the region. If you spend time enjoying the taste of something you savour it: Here you can relax, chat and savour a variety of local dishes.
tasteful adj - made, decorated, or chosen with good taste, a simple but tasteful arrangement of flowers
tastefully adv tastefully decorated
tastefulness n[U]
tasteless adj
1.food or drink that is tasteless is unpleasant because it has no particular taste: The vegetables were tasteless and soggy
2.tasteless joke/remark/comment etc. a joke etc that is unacceptable in a particular situation
3.made, decorated or chosen with bad taste: a tasteless outfit
tastelessly adv
tastelessness n [U]
tasting n [C] - an event that is organized so that you can try different foods or drinks to see :f you like them: a v/me and cheese tasting
tasty adj
1.food that is tasty has a good taste: a wide selection of tasty cold meats compare tasteful
2.informal tasty news, gossip etc. is especially interesting and often connected with sex or surprising behavior
3.informal a word meaning attractive, used especially by men about women She's well tasty.
advantage n [C. U]
1.something that helps you to be better or more successful than others (+ of): the advantages of a university education
2.a good or useful quality or condition that something has: one of the many advantages of living in the city | Is there really any advantage in getting there eaity? | have the advantage of: For children of this age, cereals have the advantage of being rich in iron.
3.to good advantage in a way that shows the best features of someone or something
4.TENNIS advantage X used to show that the person named has won the point after deuce: Advantage Agassi.
have an advantage (over): For certain types of work wood has advantages over plastic.
give sb an advantage: New tax regulations had given them an advantage over their commercial rivals
big / great / definite advantage: Her previous experience gives her a big advantage over the other applicants.
unfair advantage: Government subsidies give these industries an unfair advantage.
be to your advantage - give you an advantage
be at an advantage - have an advantage Candidates with computer skills will ha at an advantage.
gain / seek advantage - get or try to get something that will help you against your opponents: seeking political advantage by exploiting this sensitive issue
take advantage of sb. to treat someone unfairly to get what you want, especially someone who is generous or easily persuaded: Don't lend them the car-they're taking advantage of you!
take advantage of sth. to use a particular situation to do or get what you want: / took advantage of the good weather to paint the shed.
advantageous adj- helpful and likely to make you successful (+ to): terms advantageous to foreign companies
advantageously adv
temporary adj
1.lasting for only a limited period of time: A lot of work now is temporary or part-time. \ The accident caused a temporary disability.
2.intended to be used for only a limited period of time: The council have placed us in temporary accommodation.
Syn. permanent, provisional
temporariness n [U]
temporarily adv
to select v/t - to choose something by carefully thinking about which is the best, most suitable etc: I selected four postcards and handed them to the i:,ishier. | select sb to do sth: Simon's been selected to represent us at the conference in Rio.
select adj formal
1.a select group of people or things is a small special group that has been carefully chosen: The information was only given to a select group of reporters. | select cuts of beef
2.only lived in, visited, or used by a small number of rich people.
Syn. exclusive: a select apartment block
selection n
1.[U] the careful choice of a particular person or thing from among a group of similar people or things: the process of jury selection \ make a selection
Please make your selections and move along.
2.[C] something that has been chosen from among a group of things (+ from): a program of selections from Gilbert and Sullivan
3.[C, Sg] a collection of things of a particular type, especially of things that are for sale; syn. range (+ of): a fine selection of perfumes
selective adj
1.careful about what you choose to do, buy, allow etc. (+ about): We're very selective about what we let the children watch on TV.
2.affecting or concerning the best or most suitable people or things from a larger group: the selective breeding of horses
selectively adv
selectivity n [U]
to choose v, t/i
- to decide which one of a number of things, possibilities, people etc that you want because it is the best or most suitable: choose sth: The party has finally chosen a woman as leader. | choose to do sth He chose to learn German rather than French in school. | Eleanor was chosen to play the role of Juliet.
2/(+ between): Maria was forced to choose between happiness and duty. \ choose whether/which/when etc: You should choose where we eat -1 don 't mind. | choose from a story chosen from a collection of fairy tail
3/ to decide or prefer to do something or behave in a particular way: We can
if we choose, take the case to appeal. | choose to do sth: We chose to ignore her rudeness
there is little / nothing to choose between used when you think that two or more things are equally good and you cannot decide which is better: Then was little to choose between the two candidates.
to pick v/t (syn.)
1.to choose someone or something good or suitable from a group or range of people or things: Students have to pick three courses from a list of 15. \ pick your words - be careful about what you say: Trevor was picking his words with great care. \ pick sb as. The group picked me as their spokesperson. | pick sb/sth for Harris was picked for the England team. | pick sb to do sth She has been picked to represent us in Rome.
2.to pull off or break off a flower, fruit, nut etc from a plant or tree: The cotton was picked by teams of men. | We picked some blackberries to eat on the way. | pick sb sth: He picked her a single red rose. | pick a bunch / a basketful etc: Amy picked a small bunch of wild flowers. | newly / freshly picked: Runner beans should be eaten young and freshly picked. |
pick your way through / across / among etc to move slowly and carefully, choosing exactly where to put your feet down: She picked her way between the piles of books.
pick a quarrel / fight (with sb) to deliberately start a quarrel or fight with someone: He got drunk one night and picked a quarrel with his girlfriend.
pick sb/sth to pieces informal to criticize someone or something very severely and in a very detailed way
to pick up as a phrasal verb
1.to lift something up from a surface: She kept picking up magazines and putting them down again. | pick sth up by sth. The lioness picked up her cub by its neck. \ bend / stoop (down) and pick sth up Seth bent to pick up the papers. \ pick your feet up - used to tell someone to walk properly
2.to collect someone who is waiting for you or something that you have left somewhere or need: I'll pick my things up later. | She just dropped by to pick up her mail.
3.to get a skill, language, habit, idea or piece of information by chance rather than by deliberately trying to get it: If you sing it several times, your children will begin to pick up the words. \ There's a tip I picked up from a professional model.
4.to stop and let someone get into your car, boat etc: It is an offence to pick up or set down a hitchhiker on a motorway.
5.to become friendly with someone you have just met because you find them sexually attractive: I wish I could just go out and pick up a nice man
to confuse v, i
1.to make someone feel that they cannot think clearly or do not understand: Don't give me so much information - you're confusing me!
2. to think wrongly that one person, thing, or idea etc is someone or something else: confuse sb/sth with I always confuse you with your sister - you look so alike. | Donald Reagan, not to be confused with former President Ronald Reagan
confuse the issue/matter/argument etc to make it even more difficult to think clearly about a situation or problem or to deal with it: He kept asking unnecessary questions which only confused the issue. Syn. to embarrass
confused adj
1.unable to understand clearly what someone is saying or what is happening: I am totally confused. Could you explain that again? (+ about): If you're confused about anything, phone my office.
2.not clear or not easy to understand: There was an argument and a confused fight followed. I a lot of confused ideas
confusing adj - difficult to understand because there is no clear order or pattern: The instructions were so confusing I've done it all wrong.
confusingly adv
confusion n [U]
1.a state of not understanding what is happening or what something means because it is not clear (+ about/over/as to): There was some confusion as to whether we had won or lost. | create / lead to confusion: This complicated situation has led to considerable confusion.
2.a situation in which someone wrongly thinks that one person, thing, or idea is someone or something else: To avoid confusion, the teams wore different colours. (+ between): There is confusion between 'tax avoidance' and 'tax evasion'
3.a feeling of not being able to think clearly what you should say or do, especially in an embarrassing situation: His confusion at meeting her there was quite apparent. | in confusion: She stopped in confusion as everyone turned to look at her.
4.a very confusing situation, usually with a lot of noise and action, so that it is difficult to understand or control: a scene of indescribable confusion
concern n
1. a) [C] something that worries you: The main concern is that the health of the employees will be at risk Syn .worry, anxiety
b) [U] a feeling of worry, especially about something such as a social problem, someone's health etc: The recent rise in crime is a matter ot considerable public concern. (+ about/over): There is growing concern about the effects of pollution on health. \ concern for sb A government spokesman expressed concern for the lives of the hostages. | cause concern / be a cause for concern: The depletion of the ozone layer is causing widespread concern among scientists.
be of concern (to sb) if something is of concern to you, it is important to you and you feel worried about it: The use in unemployment is of great concern to the government.
2.[C: U] something that is important to you or that involves you: His main concern is to be able to provide for his family.
3.Sg, U] a feeling of wanting someone to be happy and healthy (+ for): parent's loving concern for their children
4.sb's concern if something is your concern, you are responsible for it: The money side of the business is your concern.
5.[C] a business or company: The restaurant is a family concern. | a going concern - a business that is financially successful
not sb's concern/none of sb's concern if something is not your concern, you are not interested in it and you do not need to worry about it or become involved in it: How much money I earn is none of your concern.
to concern v, t/i
1.if an activity, situation, rule etc concerns you, it affects you or involves you: The tax changes will concern large corporations rather than small businesses.
2.to make someone feel worried or upset: The fact that she spends so much time on her own really concerns me. Syn. to worry
3.if a story, book, report etc concerns someone or something, it is about them: This article concerns a man who was wrongly imprisoned.
Syn. to have to do with
concern yourself with/about sth to become involved in something because you are interested in it or because it worries you: More and more people are concerning themselves with environmental problems.
to whom it may concern an expression written at the beginning of a formal letter when you do not know the name of the person you want to communicate with
concerned adj
- involved in something or affected by it: The affair is greatly regretted by everyone concerned. | Divorce is very painful, especially when children are concerned. (+ in): Everyone concerned in the incident was questioned by the police (+ with): all the people concerned with children's education
2.worried about something: Concerned parents approached the school about the problem.
'syn. worried, anxious
(+ about): Ross has never been particularly concerned about what other people think of him. (+ for): Rescuers are concerned for the safety of two men trapped in the mine. | concerned that: He's concerned that he won't get his money back.
Syn. Nervous
3. believing that something is important (+ with): Congressmen seem to be far more concerned with getting elected than with passing legislation. | be concerned to do sth We are concerned to sort this out as quickly as possible.
where/as far as sth is concerned spoken used when saying what particular thing you are talking about: Where money is concerned, I always try to be vety careful
as far as I'm concerned spoken used when giving your opinion about something or saying how it affects you, especially when you do not care what other people think: As far as I'm concerned the whole idea is crazy.
4.caring about someone and whether they are happy and healthy (+ for/about): How can you expect me not to be concerned about my own son? Syn. love, care
be concerned with if a book, story etc is concerned with a person, subject etc it is about that subject: This stoiy is concerned with a Russian family in the 19th century.
concerning prep formal - a word meaning 'about', used to show you are talking or writing about a particular thing or person: Police are anxious to hear any information concerning his whereabouts.
Syn. about, regarding
favour n
1.[C] help, something that you do for someone in order to help them or be kind to them : ask a favour (of sb). Can I ask a favour of you? \ do sb a favour: Could you do me a favour and turn off that light?
2.[U] support or approval for something such as a plan, idea, or system : find/gain/win/favour. The idea may find favour with older people.
3.[U] unfair support - support that is given to one person or group and not to others in a way that seems unfair: show favour to sb Judges have to be careful not to show favour to either party in a dispute.
in favour of - if you are in favour of a plan, idea, or system, you agree with it and support it: Are you in favour of the death penalty?
in favour - popular, liked: be in favour with: She's very much in favour with the management at the moment.
out of favour - unpopular or not liked: Once a presidential candidate falls out of favour it is very difficult for them to regain popularity
to favour v. t
1.to prefer something: The president is believed to favour further tax cuts.
2.to give an advantage: A tax cut that favours rich people.
3.to provide suitable conditions for something to happen: The state of the economy does not favour the development of small businesses
to favour sb with sth - to give someone something such as a look or reply: The Captain favoured her with a salute.
favourable adj
1.making people like or approve of someone or something; favourable impression The young girl made a most favourable impression on them.
2.a favourable report, comment, or reaction :The film received favourable reviews.
3.suitable and likely to make something happen or succeed (+ for/to). The conditions are now favourable for economic recovery.
favourite adj- the kind that you like the most: Who's your favourite actor?
favourite n
1.something that you like more than other things of the same kind: my/your etc favourite I like all her books but this one is my favourite./ an old favourite/a special favourite: This dress is an old favorite of hers.
2.someone who is liked and treated better than others by a teacher or parent: You always were Dad's favourite.
3.the horse, runner etc that is expected to win a race or competition: Italy were favorites to win the World Cup.
to follow v i/t
1.to walk, drive, run etc behind someone else, going in the same direction as them: follow sb/sth: If you'll just follow me, I'll show you to the office.
2.to happen directly after an event or period: There was a major increase in immigration in the years that followed the First World Wat. \ be (closely) followed by The lightning was followed by a great crash of thunder. | in the days/weeks etc that followed: We saw a lot of each other in the months that followed.
as follows is used to introduce a list of names, things, instructions etc that come next: The results are as follows: First was Sweden, then Germany, then Ireland.
3.to obey rules, teachings etc; to follow sb's orders/wishes/advice etc:If
you'd followed my advice. none of this would have happened.
4.to understand something such as an explanation or story: I didn't quite follow what he was saying. | easy/hard to follow I must admit I found the plot a bit hard to follow.
5.to do the same thing as someone else after they have done it: We all had to follow the teacher.
follow sb into - do the same job as someone else especially a member of your family: None of my children seem to want to follow me into journalism. \ follow sb's example: They have an excellent childcare policy, and we're hoping other companies will follow their example.
follow (in) sb's footsteps: My father was a jazz player, and I wanted to follow in his footsteps.
6.to be interested in the way a situation or set of events develops: Have you been following that crime series on TV?
to follow through - to do what needs to be done after the main part of something is finished, in order to make sure it is complete or successful: The success of any healthcare program depends on its ability to follow through.
to follow up - to do something as a result of something you have found out, someone has suggested etc: The police were criticized for failing to follow up the complaint.
follower n - someone who believes in a particular system of ideas, or who supports a leader who teaches these ideas: Marx and his followers were convinced that capitalism would destroy itself
following adj something that go or will be mentioned next
the following afternoon/month/page/chapter etc: He was sick in the evening, but the following day he was better.
a following wind - a wind that is blowing in the same direction as a ship, and helps it to move faster.
to ignore v, t
1.to behave as if you had not heard or seen someone or something: Sam rudely ignored the question.
2.to deliberately pay no attention to something that you have been told or that you know about: As far as homelessness goes, the vast majority of people just sit back and ignore it.
WORD CHOICE: ignore, be ignorant of: if you ignore something, you know about it or have seen or heard it. but choose not to take notice of it. Some drivers simply ignore speed limits. If you are ignorant of something, you do not know about it. No driver can pretend to be ignorant of speed limits
Syn disregard, neglect, omit, overlook
disregard v. t - to ignore something or treat it as unimportant: The judge ordered the jury to disregard the witness's last statement
neglect v, t - to not look after someone or something properly: They were accused of neglecting the children, to pay too little attention to something that you should do: Many of these ideas have been neglected by modem historians.
omit v, t - to not include someone or something, either deliberately or because you forget to do it: leave out: Please don't omit any details, however trivial they may seem.
overlook v. t
1.to not notice something: It is easy to overlook a small detail like that.
2.if a building, room, or window overlooks a place, you can look down on that place from it: Our room overlooks the ocean.
ignorance n - lack of knowledge or information about something: My mistake was caused by ignorance, not malice.
keep sb in ignorance - not tell someone about something that they should know about: Adopted children shouldn't be kept in ignorance about their true origins.
ignorance is bliss is used to say that if you do not know about a problem, you cannot worry about it.
ignorant adj
1.not knowing facts or information that you ought to know: an ignorant and uneducated man; (+ of): They were ignorant of any events outside their own town.
(+ about): I'm very ignorant about politics.
2.caused by a lack of knowledge and understanding: What an ignorant thing to say!
to shout v, i/t
1.to say something very loudly: There's no need to shout, I'm not deaf! | shout at sb I wish you'd stop shouting at the children. | shout sth at sb' He'll be writing on the blackboard and the kids will all be shouting at him.
shout yourself hoarse - make your voice rough and weak by shouting a lot:
2.to call out loudly, for example because you are angry or in pain: My brother shouted in pain as the ball hit him.
shout sth from the rooftops - to tell everyone about something because you want everyone to know about it: But she was in love, and she wanted to shout the fact from the rooftops
shout sb down - to shout in order to prevent someone from being heard: Unpopular speakers were shouted down by the crowd.
shout out - to say something suddenly in a loud voice: Don't shout out the answer in class, put up your hand.
Syn. to yell, to scream, to shriek
to yell v, i/t - also yell out to shout or say something very loudly, especially because you are frightened, angry, or excited: The spectators yelled and cheered.
(+ at): Don't you yell at me like that! | yell at sb to do sth They yelled at him to stop.
to scream v. i/t
1.to make a loud high noise with your voice because you are hurt, frightened, excited etc: Shots rang out. and people stalled screaming. (+ with/in): The woman lay there. screaming with pain.
2.also to scream out - to shout something in a very loud high voice because you are angry or frightened: "Get out “she screamed. (+ for): / screamed for help.
(+ at): Calm down and stop screaming at me!
3.to make a very loud high noise' The police car approached, its siren screaming.
to shriek v. i - to make a very high, loud sound: Judith suddenly shrieked and looked to see what had bitten her. \ shriek with joy/pain/fright etc Everyone was shrieking with laughter in the bar.
mind n
1.[C, U] the part of a person, usually considered to be the brain, that he/she uses to think and imagine things: I don't know what's going on in her mind.
get sb/sth out of your mind to stop yourself thinking about someone or something: / just can't seem to get her out of my mind.
2.to decide: make up your mind ~ a) to decide which of two or more choices you want: / just couldn't make up my mind, so in the end I bought both .b) to become very determined to do something, so that you will not change your decision: I'm sorry but my mind's made up - I'm leaving.
change your mind - to change your opinion or decision about something: I've changed my mind - I'll have a beer instead. (+ about): Try and get her to change her mind about coming with us.
be in two minds about informal - to be unable to make a decision about something: We're in two minds about whether to sell the house or not.
3.to think about;
be the last thing on sb's mind - to be the thing that someone is least likely to be thinking about: One thing was for sure, marriage was the last thing on Nick's mind.
turn your mind to - to begin to think about a subject after you have been thinking about something else: Let's now turn our minds to tomorrow's meeting.
take your mind off sth - make yourself stop thinking about something that is worrying you: I decided to clean the car to take my mind off the events of the day.
set / put sb's mind at rest - to make someone feel less worried or anxious: Call your mom and tell her you've arrived safely, just to set her mind at rest.
be out of your mind / not be in your right mind informal to behave in a way that is crazy or stupid: She must he out of her mind to marry him.
be of sound mind law to have the ability to think clearly and be responsible for your actions.
out of sight, out of mind - used to say that if you cannot see someone or something, you stop thinking about them and forget about them.
put sth out of your mind - to deliberately try to forget about something unpleasant: Put the whole experience out of your mind and try to sleep.
bring / call sth to mind - a) to make yourself remember a name, fact etc: / couldn't quite call his name to mind. \ b) to remind you of something: These violent scenes bring to mind the riots of last year.
keep sth in mind - to remember a fact or piece of information because it will be useful to you in the future: It's a good idea - I'll keep it in mind.
bear sth in mind - to remember a useful or important piece of information: You should bear in mind that these exams affect your final result.
be of one mind I of the same mind / of like mind - to agree with someone about something: It's not often that / meet people who are of like mind in politics. (+ on/about): We're all of the same mind on this issue.
know your own mind - to be very clear about what your opinions or beliefs are and not be influenced by what other people think.
put your mind to - to decide to do something or achieve something by thinking and working very hard at it: It won't take long to sort it out once you put your mind to it.
keep your mind on to keep paying attention to something even if it is boring or if you want to think about something else: It was difficult to keep our minds on the job with all the talk of war.
it's all in your mind - used to tell someone that they have imagined something and it does not really exist: He is one of those doctors who say you're not really sick and it's all in your mind.
have sth / sb in mind - to be thinking about or considering a particular person, plan etc for a particular purpose: It's a nice house, but it wasn't quite what we had in mind.
to mind v, i/t
1.to feel annoyed or upset about something: We'll have to leave early. Do you mind? \ mind sb doing sth I hope you don't mind me bringing the dog with me. / wind that She didn't mind that lie ivas late as long as he got there.
2.not care which one not mind: I don't mind whether we see the film or not.
3.to be responsible for something or somebody for a short time; watch: Will you mind my bag while I buy my ticket? My sister minds the baby so I can go to my yoga class.
4.AmE to obey someone's instructions or advice: Mind what your mother says, Anthony.
mind your own business - to not get involved in or ask questions about other people's lives or personal details: Why don't you just mind your own business and leave me in peace?
mind your manners/language/p's and q's - to be careful about what you '.;iy or how you behave so that you do not offend anyone.
never mind - used to say that something is not important or serious, especially when someone seems worried or is saying sorry to you: "I'm afraid I have broken the chair." "Never mind. I can easily get it fixed."
would/do you mind - used to ask someone something politely: Would you mind opening the window please?
I wouldn't mind - used to politely ask for something: I wouldn't mind a drink it \ nil have one.
If you don't mind - used when checking that someone is willing to do something or let you do something: I'll come along if you don't mind.
Mind! BrE - used to warn someone to be careful because something bad or dangerous might happen: Mind the window! It's only just been repaired. | mind sh/sth doesn't do sth Mind you don't fall off the chair. Mind out! - Look out!
minded adj
1.serious-minded / evil-minded etc - having a particular attitude or way of thinking: She is a very serious-minded girl who studies hard.
2.safety-minded / efficiency-minded etc believing in the importance of safety etc: People need to be more safety-minded in the home.
3.be minded to do sth formal - to want or intend to do something: He has enough money to travel, if he were minded to do so.
face n
1.the front pail of the head from the chin to the forehead: She has such a pretty face. | Bob's face was covered in cuts and bruises.
pale-faced / round-faced etc - having a face that has a particular shape or colour; serious-faced / grim-faced etc - showing a particular expression on your face: Negotiators emerged grim-faced after the day's talks.
2. an expression on someone's face: The children's happy faces surrounded us.| make /pull a face (change your expression to make people laugh, or to show that you are angry, disappointed etc): Emma was making faces at me through the window. \ sb's face was a picture spoken (used to say that they looked very angry, surprised etc) | sb's face brightened/ lit up (they started to smile and look happy): David's face lit up when I mentioned her name. | sb's face fell (they started to look disappointed or upset): His face fell when I told him the news. \ a face like thunder (a very angry expression): Mr Neeson came striding towards us with a face like thunder.
3. .person: a) a famous/well-known face - someone who is famous from television, magazines, films etc.: b) new/different face - someone who you have not seen before: There are a few new faces in class this year.
4. the front of a clock.
5. one of the outside surfaces of an object or building: A cube has six faces.
face to face: I've never met her face to face. We've only talked on the phone.
come face to face with - suddenly meet someone who makes you very frightened, surprised etc: At that moment he came face to face with Sergeant Burke.
in the face of - in a situation where there are many problems, difficulties, or dangers: He displayed bravery in the face of danger.
on the face of it - used to say that something seems true but that you think there may be other facts about it which are not yet clear: On the face of it, Norman seems the ideal man for the job.
lose face - to make other people lose their respect for you: He doesn't want to back down and risk losing face.
save face - if you do something to save face, you do it so that people will not lose their respect for you: Rather than admit defeat, Franklin compromised in order to save face.
blow up / go up in sb's face - if a situation blows up or goes up in your face, it goes wrong, especially in an embarrassing way.
disappear / vanish off the face of the earth - to suddenly disappear: I haven't seen Paul in ages, he seems to have vanished off the face of the earth.
sb's face doesn't fit - used to say that someone is not the right kind of person for a particular group, organization etc.
put a brave face (on) - to make an effort to behave in a happy cheerful way when you are upset or disappointed: He was shattered, though he put on a brave face.
face v,t
1.to accept that a difficult situation or problem exists, even though you would prefer to ignore it: face the fact that Many couples refuse to face the fact that they have problems with their marriage. ] face the truth He had to face the awful truth that she no longer loved him.
2.to be opposite a person, building etc so that you are pointing towards them, or to point in a particular direction: They stood facing each other for a few minutes. | face north / east etc (point towards the north, east etc): My bedroom faces south. | south-facing / west-facing etc a south-facing garden.
3.to have the possibility that something bad or unpleasant might happen to you: If he can't pay up. he's faced with losing his home.
4.to play against an opponent or team in a game or competition: Martinez will face Robeitson in tomorrow's final.
5.to deal with someone who is difficult to deal with, or talk to someone who you do not want to talk to: You're going to have to face him sooner or later
face sb down - to deal with someone in a strong and confident way: The police chief faced down reporters who were calling for his resignation.
face up to sth - to accept and deal with an unpleasant fact or problem: They'll never offer you another job; you might as well face up to it.
face sb with sth - to show someone evidence that proves they have done something wrong
to hesitate y, t
1.to pause before saying or doing something because you are not sure or nervous: Harriet hesitated a moment before replying.
2.to be unwilling to do something because you are not sure that it is right: Don't hesitate to contact me if you need any more information.
hesitation n [C. U] - the action of hesitating: After some hesitation one of them began to speak. \ have no hesitation in I would have no hesitation in declining the post. | after//without a moment's hesitation Without a moment's hesitation she kissed him.
to feel v, i/t
1. to experience a particular feeling or emotion: You can never tell what he's feeling. \ feel fine / sick / hungry / guilty etc I felt a bit awkward having to ask them for money. \ feel as if / as though I felt as though I'd won a million dollars.
2. if something feels smooth, dry, cold etc, this is the feeling it gives you. especially when you touch it" Her skin felt cold and rough.
3. to have a particular opinion, especially one that is based on your feelings, not on facts : feel (that): I can't help feeling that he deserved it. (+ about): How do you feel about all these changes in the curriculum? \ feel sure / certain (think that something is definitely true): She felt sure she'd made the right decision
4.to touch something with your fingers to find out about it: She could feel a lump on her breast.
feel like - a) to want to have something or do something: I felt like another glass of wine. | b) to give you a particular feeling: It's nice fabric - it feels like
velvet.
feel the force / effects I benefits etc of sth - to experience the good or bad results of something: The company is beginning to feel the effects of the strike.
feel your way - a) to move carefully, with your hands out in front of you because you cannot see properly: He felt his way across the room and found the light switch | b) to do things slowly and carefully, because you are unsure about a new situation: He hasn't been in the job long and he's still feeling his way.
not feel yourself spoken - to not fee! as healthy or happy as usual: Don't take any notice of hei - she's not feeling quite herself today
feel your age - to realize that you are not as young or active as you used to be: It was only looking at his son that made him feel his age.
feel the cold - to suffer because of cold weather: Old people tend to feel the cold more.
feel a death / a loss etc - to react very strongly to a bad event, especially someone's death: Susan felt her grandmother’s death more than the others.
feel for sb - to feel sympathy for someone- I really feel for the parents of that little boy who was killed.
' to relieve v. t
. 1.to make a pain, problem, unpleasant feeling less severe: Drugs helped to relieve the pain.
2. relieve the boredom / monotony etc to make something less dull and boring: I went for a walk to relieve the boredom of the day.
3. to replace someone when they have completed their duty or when they need a rest: The guard will be relieved at midnight.
4. to free a town which an enemy has surrounded.
relieve sb of sth - formal to help someone by taking something from them, especially a job they do not want to do or something heavy that they are carrying: Jessie could relieve you of some of the chores. \ relieve sb of their post / duties / command etc - formal to take away someone's job because they have done something wrong: After the defeat General Meyer was relieved of his command.
Syn. to lighten, to alleviate, to assuage, to mitigate
to lighten v, i/t
1.to reduce the amount of work, worry, debt etc that someone has. Maybe we should hire another secretary to lighten Barbara's workload
2.if someone's face or expression lightens, they begin to look more cheerful: His whole face would lighten when anyone mentioned Nancy.
3.to become brighter or less dark, or to make something brighter etc: As the shy lightened we were able to see where we were.
Ant. darken.
4.to reduce the weight of something or become less heavy
Lighten up! AmE spoken - used to tell someone not to be so serious about something: It was a joke, Kath - lighten up!
To alleviate v, t - to make something less painful or difficult: a medicine to alleviate cold symptoms \ measures to alleviate poverty.
to assuage v. t - literary to make an unpleasant feeling less painful or severe, relieve: Nothing could assuage his guilt.
to mitigate v. t formal - to make a situation or the effects of something less unpleasant, harmful, or serious: Measures need to be taken to mitigate the environmental effects off burning more coal.
to reduce v. i/t
1.to make something smaller or less in size, amount, or price: We were hoping that they would reduce the rent a little. | reduce sth by half / ten percent etc: The workforce has been reduced by half
2.to change something into a shorter simpler form' The report can be reduced to three main points
reduce sb to tears / silence etc - to make someone cry. be silent etc: David's extraordinary reply reduced me to silence
reduce sb to doing sth - to force someone into a particular kind of behaviour or way of life: Eventually Charlolte was induced to begging on the streets
reduce sth to rubble / ashes etc - to destroy something, especially a building, completely.
Syn. to decrease, to diminish, to lessen, to abate
to decrease v, i/t - to go down to a lower level, or to make something do this: In the last ten years cars have generally decreased in size. Ant. to increase
to diminish v. i/t
1.to become or make something become smaller or less important: The party's share of the electorate has diminished steadily.
2.to deliberately make someone or something appear less important or valuable than they really are: Don't let him diminish your achievements.
to lessen v, i/t - to become smaller in size, importance, or value, or make something do this: Garlic is supposed to lessen the risk of heart disease
to abate v. i/t formal - to become less strong or decrease, or to make something do this We waited for the storm to abate
keep v t/i
1.to stay in a particular state, condition, or position, or to make someone or something do this
keep (somebody/something) warm/safe/dry etc We huddled around the fire to keep warm. keep calm/awake/sane etc I was struggling to keep awake. keep something clean/tidy Keep your room tidy. keep somebody busy/amused/occupied Bring some toys to keep the kids amused You won't be able to keep it secret for ever .Peter cycles to work to keep fit .Don't keep us in suspense any longer!
2.keep on to continue doing something or to do the same thing many times
keep (on) doing something: I keep thinking about Joe, all alone in that place. I keep telling you, but you won't listen! She pretended not to hear, and kept on walking.
3. to leave something in one particular place so that you can find it easily: Where do you keep your tea bags? George kept a bottle of whiskey under his bed.
4. to do what you have promised or agreed to do: keep your word/promise How do I know you'll keep your word?
5.keep a secret - to not tell anyone about a secret that you know :Can I trust you to keep a secret?
keep as a phrasal verb
keep somebody at something- to force someone to continue to work hard and not let them stop
keep back - to deliberately not tell someone all that you know about something: I got the feeling he was keeping something back.
keep somebody/something down -to prevent the size, cost, or quantity of something from increasing or being too great: We need to keep costs down.
keep from something - to prevent someone from doing something or prevent something from happening: His ex-wife had kept him from seeing his children. I hope I haven't kept you from your work.
keep somebody in - to make someone stay in hospital because they are too ill to go home: They kept her in overnight for observation.
keep on - to continue doing something, or to do something many times: You just have to keep on trying. synonym go on
keepn
1.the cost of providing food and a home for someone
earn your keep (=do things in return for the things that are provided for you) It's time you got a job and started earning your keep.
- informal for ever: Marriage ought to be for keeps.
keeping n
1.matching something or suitable in a particular situation: In keeping with tradition, everyone wore black.
2 not matching something or not suitable in a particular situation: The cheerful cover of the book is out of keeping with the sad story told inside it.
3 in somebody's keeping: being looked after or guarded by someone
write v t/i
1 a) to produce a new book, article, poem etc: He wrote some very famous books. Who wrote 'Harry Potter'?I can't come with you - I have an essay to write
well/badly/poorly etc written The article is very well written.
b) someone who writes earns money by writing books, plays, articles etc: Sean decided he wanted to write, and quit his job.
write for: Maureen Dowd writes for the New York Time.
2. to write a letter to someone: I've written to my MP, and to the city council.
3 to state something in a book, letter, advertisement etc, or on a label: Isabella wrote that she was dying, and asked him to visit her for the last time.
3 to write a piece of music or a song: Mozart wrote the music. The song was originally written by Leonard Cohen.
4.write out: to write information on a cheque, form etc: Wouldn't it be easier if I just wrote a cheque for the lot? The doctor wrote me a prescription for sleeping pills.
have something/be written all over your face-to show very clearly what you are feeling or thinking: He had guilt written all over his face. I know you're lying, Tyrell - it's written all over your face.
have something written all over it -to show a particular quality or fact very clearly: This awful film has 'career-killer' written all over it for the actors involved.
nothing to write home about- informal not particularly good or special: The hotel was good, but the food was nothing to write home about.
somebody wrote the book on something- spoken used to say that someone knows a lot about a subject or is very good at an activity: Motorola wrote the book on quality control.
write back - to reply to a letter that someone sent you, by writing a letter to them: I sent them a card once, but they never wrote back.
write something down - to write something on a piece of paper.
writing n
1 words that have been written or printed: What does the writing on the back say? a T-shirt with Japanese writing on it
2 books, poems, articles etc, especially those by a particular writer or about a particular subject: Some of his most powerful writing is based on his childhood experiences.
3 the activity of writing books, stories etc: In 1991 she retired from politics and took up writing as a career.a short story that stands out as a brilliant piece of writing a class in creative writing (=a subject studied at school or college, where you write your own stories, poems etc) travel/feminist/scientific etc writing
4 the particular way that someone writes with a pen or pencil - synonym handwriting: Your writing is very neat.
5 the skill of writing: At this age we concentrate on the children's reading and writing skills.
6 in writing- if you get something in writing, it is official proof of an agreement, promise etc: Could you put that in writing , please?
7 writings [plural] the books, stories etc that an important writer has written: Darwin's scientific writings.
commit v t\i
1 to do something wrong or illegal: Women commit fewer crimes than men. commit murder/rape/arson etc Brady committed a series of brutal murders.
commit suicide - to kill yourself deliberately
2 to say that someone will definitely do something or must do something
commit somebody to doing something - He has clearly committed his government to continuing down the path of economic reform.
commit somebody to something - Meeting them doesn't commit us to anything.
3 to give someone your love or support in a serious and permanent way: Anna wants to get married, but Bob’s not sure he wants to commit.
4 to decide to use money, time, people etc for a particular purpose: commit something to something - A lot of money has been committed to this project.
5 British English to send someone to be tried in a court of law: The two men were committed for trial at Bristol Crown Court.
6 to order someone to be put in a hospital or prison: commit somebody to something- The judge committed him to prison for six months.
committed adj
1.willing to work very hard at something: The party has a core of committed supporters.
search n
1an attempt to find someone or something: search for- Bad weather is hampering the search for survivors.
2 a series of actions done by a computer to find information: a computerized search of 10,000 medical journals A search found 46 websites. an online search perform/run/do a search Do a search on 'rabbit' and see what it brings up.
3 in search of something- looking for something: Mark went in search of water.
4 an attempt to find an explanation or solution: search for - the search for a cure
searchv, t/i
1 to try to find someone or something by looking very carefully: It was too dark to search further. The area was thoroughly searched .
2 to use a computer to find information: Search the Web for cheap flights.
3 if someone in authority searches you or the things you are carrying, they look for things you might be hiding: He was searched by the guards for weapons.
4 to try to find an explanation or solution: Scientists are still searching for a cure. She paused, searching for inspiration.
5 to examine something carefully in order to find something out, decide something etc: Anya searched his face anxiously.
search out - to find something by searching: We were too tired to search out extra blankets.
searching adj
1 intended to find out all the facts about something: searching questions/investigation/examination etc Interviewees need to be ready for some searching questions.
2 searching look/glance/gaze: a look from someone who is trying to find out as much as possible about someone else's thoughts and feelings : She avoided his long searching look.
gain v t/i
1 to obtain or achieve something you want or need : gain control/power: Radical left-wing parties gained control of local authorities. After gaining independence in 1957, it was renamed 'Ghana'. gain a degree/qualification etc He gained a doctorate in Chemical Engineering.
2 to gradually get more and more of a quality, feeling etc, especially a useful or valuable one: She has gained a reputation as a good communicator. Many of his ideas have gained popular support . an opportunity to gain experience in a work environment The youngsters gradually gain confidence in their abilities.
3to get an advantage from a situation, opportunity, or event: There is much to be gained from seeking expert advice early.
4 to increase in weight, speed, height, or value: Carrie's gained a lot of weight recently. The dollar has gained 8% against the yen.
gain access/entry/admittance etc (to something): to manage to enter a place, building, or organization: New ramps will help the disabled gain better access. methods used by burglars to gain entry to houses
gain an understanding/insight/impression etc: to learn or find out about something: We are hoping to gain a better understanding of the underlying process. This enabled me to gain an overall impression of the school.
gain ground : to make steady progress and become more popular, more successful etc: The anti-smoking lobby has steadily gained ground in the last decade.
gain time: to deliberately do something to give yourself more time to think- opposite lose time
gain n
1 an advantage or improvement, especially one achieved by planning or effort: The party made considerable gains at local elections.
gain in: substantial gains in efficiency, gain from: the potential gains from improved marketing,gain to/for: There are obvious gains for the student.
2 an increase in the amount or level of something - opposite loss: Retail sales showed a gain of 0.4%.The Democratic Party needed a net gain of only 20 votes. Eating too many fatty goods could cause weight gain .
3 financial profit, especially when this seems to be the only thing someone is interested in: financial/economic/capital etc gain They are seeking to realize the maximum financial gain.
ill-gotten gains - money or advantages obtained dishonestly - used humorously
earn v t/i
1 to receive a particular amount of money for the work that you do: He earns nearly £20,000 a year. You don't earn much money being a nurse. He did all sorts of jobs to earn a living . I was the only person in the house who was earning . She was earning good money at the bank. Chris will pay - he's earning a fortune .
2 to make a profit from business or from putting money in a bank etc: The movie earned £7 million on its first day. You could earn a higher rate of interest elsewhere.
3a) to do something or have qualities that make you deserve something: I think you've earned a rest. He soon earned the respect of the players. He hopes to earn a place in the Olympic team. The company has earned a reputation for reliability.
b) if your actions or qualities earn you something, they make you deserve to have it: That performance earned her an Oscar as Best Actress.
4 earn your/its keep: a) to do jobs in return for being given a home and food: We older children were expected to earn our keep. b) to be useful enough to be worth the time or money spent: These aircraft are still earning their keep.
hard-earned adj earned or achieved after a lot of effort :hard-earned money/cash etc Don't be too quick to part with your hard-earned cash.
well-earned adj something that is well-earned is something you deserve because you have worked hard : a well-earned rest ,a well-earned drink
deal n
1 an agreement or arrangement, especially in business or politics, that helps both sides involved: They made a deal to sell the land to a property developer.
deal with rumors that the company had struck a deal with Microsoft to market its products, deal between Twelve US soldiers were released after a deal between the army and the guerillas.
2 a great deal ᅳsynonym a lot: It took a great deal of time and effort. His work has been attracting a great deal of attention.
a great deal more/less etc (=a lot more, less etc) He knew a good deal more than I did. She's married to a man a good deal older than herself.
3 treatment of a particular type that is given or received : a better/fairer etc deal a better deal for nurses The prime minister promised farmers a new deal (=a new and fairer system) . a rough/raw deal (=unfair treatment) Women tend to get a raw deal from employers.
deal v t/i
1 deal something out to give playing cards to each of the players in a game: Whose turn is it to deal?
2 to buy and sell illegal drugs :Many users end up dealing to support their habit.
deal a blow (to somebody/something) to cause harm to someone or something - used in news reports deal a heavy/severe/serious etc blow The sanctions have dealt a severe blow to the local tourism industry. This will deal a blow to consumer confidence.
deal in - to buy and sell a particular type of product
deal in shares/securities etc investors dealing in stocks and shares deal in drugs/stolen goods etc He then began dealing in heroin. deal in antiques/second-hand books etc
deal something out - to give playing cards to each of the players in a game: I began dealing out the cards.
3 to do business with someone or have a business connection with someone: Most travel agents do not deal directly with these companies.
4 to succeed in controlling your feelings about an emotional problem so that it does not affect your life ᅳ synonym cope with: How's he dealing with the whole thing?
dealing n
1 dealings [plural] the business activities or relationships that someone is involved in : an investigation of his financial dealings
2 the activity of buying, selling, or doing business with people: penalties for drug dealing plain/honest/fair dealing (=a particular way of doing business) a reputation for fair dealing
develop v t/i
1 to grow or change into something bigger, stronger, or more advanced, or to make someone or something do this: Knowledge in the field of genetics has been developing very rapidly. Corsica has developed its economy around the tourist industry.
2 to design or make a new idea, product, system etc over a period of time: Scientists are developing new drugs to treat arthritis. She should have developed her own style instead of copying him. Researchers are developing technology for the US military.
3 to start to have a feeling or quality that then becomes stronger: He had developed a certain affection for me. develop a sense/awareness/knowledge of something The children are beginning to develop a sense of responsibility. It was in college that he developed a taste for (=started to like) rugby football.
4 if you develop a skill or ability, or if it develops, it becomes stronger or more advanced: The course is designed to help students develop their speaking skills.
5 if you develop a disease or illness, or if it develops, you start to have it: Some alcoholics develop liver disease. Pneumonia can develop very quickly.
developed adj
1.a developed country is one of the rich countries of the world with many industries, comfortable living for most people, and usually an elected government : under developed energy consumption in the developed world developed countries/nations The charity works with children in less developed countries.
2 a developed sense, system etc, is better, larger, or more advanced than others: Dogs have a highly developed sense of smell. plants with well developed root systems Labour has a more fully developed programme for the unemployed.
developing adj
1a developing country is a poor country that is trying to increase its industry and trade and improve life for its people: developing countries/nations aid to developing countries poverty and hunger in the developing world developing economies/markets the developing economies in Eastern Europe
2growing or changing: the growth of the developing embryo, a developing crisis in Washington
Study verb
1. [intransitive and transitive]to spend time reading, going to classes etc in order to learn about a subject
I've been studying English for 6 years.
I can't study with that music playing all the time.
study at
Stephen is currently studying at Exeter University.
study to be a doctor/lawyer etc
My brother's studying to be an accountant. study for an exam/diploma etc
I've only got three weeks left to study for my exams.
study law/business/history etc (=study a subject at a school or university)
Anna is studying French literature.
study under somebody
(=be trained by a famous teacher)
a psychologist who studied under Jung in Zurich
2. [transitive] to watch and examine something carefully over a period of time, in order to find out more about it
Goodall was studying the behavior of chimpanzees in the wild.
study how/why/when etc
They're studying how stress affects body chemistry.
3. [transitive]to spend a lot of time carefully examining or considering a plan, document, problem etc
study how/why/when etc
Managers are studying what needs to be done to improve efficiency.
Study noun plural studies
1. RESEARCH
[countable]a piece of work that is done to find out more about a particular subject or problem, and usually includes a written report
More studies are needed before anything can be proven.
Recent studies show that women still get paid a lot less than men.
study of/into/on
a study of Australian wild birds
make/carry out/conduct a study
The study was carried out between January and May 1998.
ᅳsee also case study
2. LEARNING
[uncountable] when you spend time learning, especially at home or by yourself rather than during school
Set aside a period of time specifically for study.
ways to improve study skills (=skills that help you study efficiently and be successful in school)
3. SUBJECT
[uncountable] also studies
a) a subject that people study at a college or university
study of
Linguistics is the study of language.
Environmental Studies literary/historical/scientific etc study the scientific study of earthquakes
4. somebody's studies
the work that someone does in order to learn about a particular subject, especially the courses they take at a college or university
How are your studies coming along?
begin/continue/stop etc your studies
I gave up my studies when I had the baby.
5. CAREFUL CONSIDERATION
[uncountable] when you examine or consider something very carefully and in detail
a report that deserves careful study
6. ROOM
[countable] a room in a house that is used for work or study
ᅳsee also office
7. ART
[countable] a small detailed drawing, especially one that is done to prepare for a large painting
Renoir's studies of small plants and flowers
8. MUSIC
[countable] a piece of music, usually for piano, that is often intended for practice
9. be a study in something
literary to be a perfect example of something
His face was a study in fear.
10. a quick study
American English someone who learns things quickly
Learn verb
past tense and past participle learned or learnt / lɜːnt $ lɜːrnt / especially British English
1. SUBJECT/SKILL
[intransitive and transitive] to gain knowledge of a subject or skill, by experience, by studying it, or by being taught
ᅳsee also teach
What's the best way to learn a language?
learn (how) to do something
I learnt to drive when I was 17.
Hector spent the winter learning how to cope with his blindness.
The teacher's task is to help the pupil learn.
learn (something) from somebody
I learned a lot from my father.
learn about
Kids can have fun and learn about music at the same time.
learn what
Youngsters must learn what is dangerous and what is not to be feared.
The student will learn from experience about the importance of planning.
2. FIND OUT
[intransitive and transitive] formal to find out information or news by hearing it from someone else or reading it
ᅳsynonym discover
I didn't tell her the truth. She would learn it for herself soon enough.
learn of/about
He learned about his appointment by telephone yesterday.
learn (that)
Last week I learned that I was pregnant.
She was surprised to learn that he was a lot older than she had thought.
learn whether/who/why
I waited to learn whether I'd secured a college place.
We have yet to learn who will be the new manager.
3. REMEMBER
[transitive]to get to know something so well that you can easily remember it
ᅳsynonym memorize
The actors hardly had time to learn their lines before filming started.
4. CHANGE YOUR BEHAVIOUR
[intransitive and transitive] to gradually understand a situation and start behaving in the way that you should
learn (that)
They have to learn that they can't just do whatever they like.
learn to do something
Young hairdressers must learn to treat the client as a person, not a head of hair.
I've told him a hundred times not to bully people, but he never learns .
learn from
You have to learn from your mistakes (=understand why what you did was wrong) .
the lessons learned in the Gulf War
5. somebody has learned their lesson
used to say that someone will not do something wrong or stupid again, because they suffered as a result
I've learned my lesson; I've now got a burglar alarm and a guard dog.
6. learn (something) the hard way
to understand a situation or develop a skill by learning from your mistakes and bad experiences
7. that'll learn somebody!
Learned adjective
spoken used when something bad has just happened to someone as a result of their actions, especially when they ignored a warning
1. a learned person has a lot of knowledge because they have read and studied a lot
a learned professor
2. learned books/works etc
books etc that are written by people who have a lot of knowledge
learned works on natural history
ᅳlearnedly adverb
Learner noun [countable]
1. someone who is learning to do something
learner of
a new dictionary for learners of business English
the needs of slow learners attractive grammar books for adult learners
2. also learner driver
British English someone who is learning to drive a car
Teach verb past tense and past participle taught / tɔːt $ tɒːt /
1. SCHOOL/COLLEGE ETC
[intransitive and transitive]to give lessons in a school, college, or university, or to help someone learn about something by giving them information
ᅳsee also learn
teach at
Neil teaches at the Guildhall School of Music in London.
teach (somebody) English/mathematics/history etc
He taught geography at the local secondary school.
teach somebody (something) about something
We were never taught anything about other religions.
teach something to somebody
I'm teaching English to Italian students.
teach school/college etc American English (=teach in a school etc)
2. SHOW SOMEBODY HOW
[transitive] to show someone how to do something
teach somebody (how) to do something
My father taught me to swim.
different methods of teaching children how to read
teach somebody something
Can you teach me one of your card tricks?
3. CHANGE SOMEBODY'S IDEAS
[transitive] to show or tell someone how they should behave or what they should think
teach somebody to do something
When I was young, we were taught to treat older people with respect.
teach somebody something
No one ever taught him the difference between right and wrong.
teach somebody that
He taught me that the easy option isn't always the best one.
4. EXPERIENCE SHOWS SOMETHING
[transitive] if an experience or situation teaches you something, it helps you to understand something about life
teach somebody to do something
Experience has taught me to avoid certain areas of the city.
teach somebody that
It's certainly taught me that work and money aren't the most important things in life.
5. that'll teach you (to do something)
spoken used when something unpleasant has just happened to someone because they acted stupidly
That'll teach you to be late!
6. teach somebody a lesson
informal if someone or something teaches you a lesson, you are punished for something you have done, so that you will not want to do it again
7. you can't teach an old dog new tricks
used to say that older people often do not want to change the way they do things
8. teach your grandmother (to suck eggs)
British English to give someone advice about something that they already know
Teacher noun (countable)
someone whose job is to teach, especially in a school
a primary school teacher
language/history/science etc teacher
teacher training/education (=professional training to become a teacher)
Teaching noun [uncountable]
1. the work or profession of a teacher
She's thinking of going into teaching (=becoming a teacher) .
language/science etc teaching
criticisms of English teaching in schools
the teaching profession
teaching methods/materials etc
teaching practice British English student teaching American English (=a period of teaching done by someone who is training to be a teacher)
2. also teachings
[plural]the moral, religious, or political ideas of a particular person or group which are taught to other people
teaching of
the teachings of Gandhi
religious/Christian/Buddhist etc teachings
Assess verb (transitive)
1. to make a judgment about a person or situation after thinking carefully about it
ᅳsynonym judge
assess the impact/extent/effectiveness etc of something
a report to assess the impact of advertising on children
assess what/how etc
The technique is being tried in classrooms to assess what effects it may have.
be assessed as something
Many of the adults were assessed as having learning difficulties.
2. to calculate the value or cost of something
be assessed at something
The value of the business was assessed at £1.25 million.
Assessment noun [uncountable and countable]
1. a process in which you make a judgment about a person or situation, or the judgment you make
assessment of
What's Michael's assessment of the situation?
a reading assessment test
2. a calculation about the cost or value of something
a tax assessment
ᅳsee also continuous assessment
Assessor noun (countable)
1. someone whose job is to calculate the value of something or the amount of tax someone should pay
2. British English someone who decides how well someone has done in an examination
ᅳsynonym examiner
3. someone who knows a lot about a subject or activity and who advises a judge or an official committee
Get verb past tense got past participle got / gɒt \ gɑːt / British English gotten / gɒtn \\gɑːtn / American English present participle getting
1. RECEIVE
[transitive not in passive] to receive something that someone gives you or sends you
She got loads of presents.
What did you get for Christmas?
We get a lot of junk mail.
get something from somebody
We got a letter from Pam this morning.
get something off somebody
spoken informal
I got it off my Dad.
I got a few games free when I bought my computer.
see usage note gain
2. OBTAIN
[transitive] to obtain something by finding it, asking for it, or paying for it
We need to get help quickly!
It would be a good idea to get professional advice.
You may be able to get a grant from the local authority.
He cleared his throat to get our attention.
get something for somebody
I want you to get some information for me.
get somebody something
His father managed to get him a job at the local factory.
3. BRING [transitive] to bring someone or something back from somewhere
Run upstairs and get a pillow.
I went back into the office to get a pen.
Shall I go and get the phone book?
get somebody/something from something
She's just gone to get the kids from school.
get something for somebody
I'll get a towel for you.
get somebody something
I'll get you a chair.
see usage note bring
4. BUY[transitive]
a) to buy something
Where did you get that jacket?
get something for somebody
Joe's going to get tickets for all of us.
get somebody something
While you're out, could you get me some batteries?
get yourself something
He's just got himself a new van.
get something from something
I usually get vegetables from the supermarket.
get something for $20/£100/50p etc
You can get a decent PC for about £500 now.
It's a lovely coat, and I managed to get it cheap in the sales.
b) spoken to pay for something for someone else
I'll get these drinks.
c) to buy a newspaper regularly
My parents always used to get the Daily Telegraph.
5. MONEY [transitive]
a) to receive money for doing work
Hospital doctors get a minimum of £50,000 a year.
get £2000/$4000 etc for doing something
He gets £4 an hour for stacking shelves at the local supermarket.
b) to receive money when you sell something
get £100/$200 etc for something
You should get a couple of hundred pounds for your old car.
Did you get a good price for it?
see usage note gain
6. HAVE A FEELING/IDEA[transitive]
to start to have a feeling or an idea
She began to get an uncomfortable feeling that she was being watched.
I got a terrible shock when I saw how ill he looked.
I got the impression that everyone was fed up with us.
get pleasure from/out of something
She gets a lot of pleasure from her garden.
7. HAVE/EXPERIENCE
[transitive] to have, do, or experience something
You don't get enough exercise.
I never get time to read these days.
The west of the country gets quite a lot of rain.
We might get the chance to go to America this year.
8. ILLNESS
[transitive not in passive] to catch an illness
I got flu last winter and was in bed for three weeks.
She was worried she might get food poisoning.
9. ACHIEVE
[transitive] to achieve something
I got 98% in my last maths test. the person who gets the highest score
10. RECEIVE A PUNISHMENT
[transitive] to receive something as a punishment
He got ten years in prison for his part in the robbery.
11. ARRIVE
[intransitive always + adverb/preposition] to arrive somewhere
What time will we get there?
We didn't get home until midnight.
get to
We got to Paris that evening.
12. REACH A POINT
[intransitive always + adverb/preposition] to reach a particular point or stage of something
I've got as far as chapter 5.
I couldn't wait to get to the end of the book.
Where have you got up to in the story?
It was disappointing to lose, having got this far in the competition.
13. get (somebody) somewhere/anywhere/nowhere
if you get somewhere, or if an action gets you somewhere, you make progress
I think we're getting somewhere at last.
We didn't seem to be getting anywhere.
I've tried arguing, but it got me nowhere.
14. MOVE
[intransitive always +adverb/preposition] to move or go somewhere
Get out of my house!
We managed to get past the guards.
They shouted at us to get back. Peter got to his feet (=stood up) .
15. MAKE SOMETHING MOVE◀
[transitive always + adverb/preposition] to make something or someone move to a different place or position, especially with some difficulty
I couldn't get the disk out of the computer.
Could you help me get the wardrobe up the stairs?
We must get food and emergency aid into the area as quickly as possible.
16. TRAVEL
[transitive] to travel somewhere on a train, bus etc
You can get a bus to the station.
I got the 9:15 from London to Edinburgh.
17. BECOME
[linking verb]to change to a new feeling, situation, or state
ᅳsynonym become
Don't get upset.
get to be something
informal It's getting to be a problem. How did you get to be so smart?
see usage note become
18. MAKE SOMEBODY/SOMETHING BECOME SOMETHING◀
[transitive] to make someone or something change to a new feeling, situation, or state
Sometimes she gets me so angry! Don't get the children too excited.
19. BE HURT/BROKEN ETC
[linking verb, transitive]used to say that something, especially something bad, happens to someone or something
get hurt/broken/stolen etc
You might get hurt if you stand there. Mind the camera doesn't get broken.
get something caught/stuck etc
She got her foot caught in the wire.
20. MAKE SOMETHING HAPPEN TO SOMEBODY/SOMETHING [transitive]
a) to accidentally make someone or something experience something
You're going to get us all killed! Mind you don't get yourself burned.
b) to do something, or arrange for it to be done
I need to get the washing machine fixed. We must get this work finished on time.
21. MAKE SOMETHING DO SOMETHING
[transitive not in passive] to make something do a particular thing
get something to do something
I couldn't get the engine to start.
get something doing something
We got the lawn mower working again eventually.
22 MAKE SOMEBODY DO SOMETHING
[transitive not in passive] to persuade or force someone to do something
get somebody to do something
I'll get Terry to check the wiring for me. We couldn't get him to sign the agreement.
get somebody doing something
In the end, we got the children clearing the playground.
23. UNDERSTAND
[transitive not in passive or progressive] informal to understand something
I don't think she got the joke. I don't get it - it doesn't make sense.
get what/how/who etc
I still don't get how she knew about the meeting.
24. COOK [transitive not in passive] to prepare food or a meal
She's just getting lunch.
get somebody something
Shall I get you a sandwich?
25. RADIO/TELEVISION
[transitive not in passive or progressive] to be able to receive a particular radio signal, television station etc
Can you get satellite TV here?
26. ANSWER THE DOOR/TELEPHONE
[transitive] informal to answer the door or telephone
Can you get the phone for me?
27. CATCH SOMEBODY [transitive] to catch someone
The police got him in the end.
28. HURT/KILL SOMEBODY
[transitive] informal to attack, hurt, or kill someone
The other gang members threatened to get him if he went to the police. I'll get you for this!
29. TRICK SOMEBODY
[transitive] informal to deceive or trick someone
I got you that time!
30. ON THE TELEPHONE
[transitive] if you get someone on the telephone, they answer the telephone when you have made a call, and so you talk to them
I tried phoning him at work, but I just got his secretary.
31 get doing something
to begin doing something
We got talking about the old days. I think we should get going quite soon.
32. get to do something
informal to have the opportunity to do something
We got to meet all the stars after the show. She gets to travel all over the place with her job.
33. get to like/know/understand somebody/something
to gradually begin to like, know, or understand someone or something
It'll take a while for you to get to know everyone. After a while, I got to like him.
34. spoken you get something
used to say that something happens or exists
I didn't know you got tigers in Europe.
35. spoken you've got me (there)
used to say you do not know the answer to something
36. spoken it what gets me
used to say that something really annoys you
It really gets me the way he leaves wet towels on the bathroom floor.
37. spoken get this
especially American English used to draw attention to something surprising or interesting that you are about to mention
And the whole thing only cost - get this - $12.95.
ᅳsee also have got
get about phrasal verb
1. to go or travel to different places
She's eighty now, and doesn't get about much any more. He's got an old van which he uses for getting about.
2. if news or information gets about, it is told to a lot of people
I don't really want this to get about.
get across phrasal verb
to succeed in communicating an idea or piece of information to someone, or to be communicated successfully
get something ↔ across
It took him ages to get his point across. We must get across the simple fact that drugs are dangerous.
get across to
It is important that we get this message across to voters.
get ahead phrasal verb
to be successful and do better than other people in a job or work
She soon found that it wasn't easy to get ahead in the movie business.
get along phrasal verb
1. if two or more people get along, they have a friendly relationship
We've always got along quite well.
get along with
They seem to get along with each other.
2. to deal with a job or situation or to make progress
How's Sam getting along at university?
get along without
Don't worry, we'll get along without you.
3. spoken I must/I'd better be getting along
used to say that it is time for you to leave, for example because you have something else to do
get around phrasal verb
1. get around (something)
to go or travel to different places
We had to use public transport to get around. It's quite easy to get around London.
2. if news or information gets around, it is told to a lot of people
News of the accident soon got around. Word got around that the department might be closed.
3. get around something
to avoid something that is difficult or causes problems for you
I think we should be able to get around most of these problems. She was always very clever at getting around the rules.
get around to something phrasal verb
to do something that you have been intending to do for some time
I meant to phone her yesterday, but I never got around to it.
get around to doing something
We finally got around to clearing out the garage.
get at somebody/something phrasal verb
1. CRITICIZE
to keep criticizing someone in an unkind way
Why is he always getting at me? He felt he was being got at by the other students.
2. be getting at something
to be trying to say something in a way that is difficult for other people to understand
What are you getting at, Helen? Do you see the point I'm getting at?
3. REACH
to be able to reach something
We had to move the washing machine out to get at the wiring behind it.
4. INFORMATION
to discover information, especially the truth about a situation
I was determined to get at the truth.
5. THREATEN
informal to use threats to influence the decision of people who are involved in a court case
Do you think some of the jury have been got at?
get away phrasal verb
1. LEAVE
to leave a place, especially when this is not easy
The meeting dragged on, and I didn't get away until seven.
get away from
I like to get away from London at the weekend.
2. ON HOLIDAY
informal to take a holiday away from the place you normally live
Will you manage to get away this summer?
get away to
We're hoping to get away to Scotland for a few days.
3. ESCAPE
to escape from someone who is chasing you or trying to catch you
The three men got away in a stolen car.
get away from
We knew it wouldn't be easy to get away from the police.
get away with
The thieves got away with jewellery worth over £50,000.
4. get away!
British English spoken used to say you are very surprised by something or do not believe it
5. the one that got away
something good that you nearly had or that nearly happened
get away from somebody/something phrasal verb
1. to avoid something that is difficult or unpleasant for you, or something that limits what you can do in some way
I needed to get away from the pressures of work for a while. She wanted to get away from the traditional ideas of what theatre is about.
2. to begin to talk about other things rather than the subject you are supposed to be discussing
I think we're getting away from the main issue.
3. get away from it all
to have a relaxing holiday
You need to get away from it all for a couple of weeks.
get away with something phrasal verb
1. to not be caught or punished when you have done something wrong
Watch Frank - he'll cheat if he thinks he can get away with it. No one insults my family and gets away with it!
2. get away with murder
informal to not be punished for doing something wrong
Some of those children get away with murder!
3. to receive only a small punishment for something
The charge was reduced to manslaughter, and she got away with three years in prison.
4. to do something without experiencing any problems or difficulties, even though it is not the best thing to do
At school he had always got away with doing the bare minimum amount of work. The colour's not quite right, but I think you'll get away with it.
get back phrasal verb
1. RETURN
to return to a place
I'll talk to you when I get back.
get back to
He got back to the office just before lunchtime.
2. DO SOMETHING AGAIN
to start doing something again or talking about something again
get back to
Let's get back to the main point of the discussion. Well, I must get back to work.
get back into
3. BE IN STATE AGAIN
to change to a previous state or condition again
get back to
Life was beginning to get back to normal . I couldn't get back to sleep .
get back together
Do you think they'll get back together (=start having a relationship again) ?
4. GET SOMETHING AGAIN
get something ↔ back
to get something again after you have lost it or someone else has taken it
Did you get your books back?
5. PUNISH SOMEBODY
get somebody back
informal to do something to hurt or harm someone who has hurt or harmed you
get somebody back for
I'll get you back for this!
get back at somebody phrasal verb
to do something to hurt or harm someone who has hurt or harmed you
He'll probably go out with her just to get back at me.
get back to somebody phrasal verb
to talk to someone or telephone them later in order to answer a question or give them information
I'll find out the prices and get back to you.
get behind phrasal verb
1. if you get behind with a job, payments, rent etc, you do not do or pay as much of it as you should have by a particular time
get behind with
I don't want to get behind with my work.
You can always catch up later if you get behind.
2. get behind somebody
informal to support someone
The crowd really got behind them and cheered them on.
get by phrasal verb
to have enough money to buy the things you need, but no more
I don't earn a huge salary, but we get by.
get by on
Sometimes they had to get by on very little.
get down phrasal verb
1. MAKE SOMEBODY SAD
get somebody down
to make someone feel unhappy and tired
His lack of social life was beginning to get him down.
2. WRITE SOMETHING DOWN
get something ↔ down
to write something, especially something that someone is saying
He was followed by a group of reporters trying to get down every word he said. It's important to get things down on paper.
3. EAT/DRINK
get something down (somebody)
to eat or drink something, or persuade someone else to eat or drink something
I knew I'd feel better once I'd got some food down. Get that tea down you. He still says he's not hungry, and I can't get anything down him.
4.AFTER A MEAL
British English to leave the table after a meal - used by children or when you are talking to children
Please may I get down?
get down to something phrasal verb
to start doing something that is difficult or needs a lot of time or energy
It's time we got down to work. We need to get down to some serious talking.
get down to doing something
I always find it hard to get down to revising.
get in phrasal verb
1. ENTER
to enter a place, especially when this is difficult
We managed to get in through a window. The theatre was already full, and we couldn't get in.
2. ARRIVE
if a train, plane etc gets in at a particular time, it arrives at that time
What time does the bus get in?
get in to
We get in to Heathrow at ten o'clock.
3. GET HOME
to arrive home
We didn't get in until late. What time do the boys get in from school?
4. BE ELECTED
to be elected to a position of political power
The Conservatives have promised to increase spending on health and education if they get in.
5. COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY
to be allowed to be a student at a university, college etc
I applied to Bristol University, but I didn't get in.
6. BUY A SUPPLY
get something ↔ in
to buy a supply of something
I must remember to get some food in for the weekend.
7. CROPS
get something ↔ in
to gather a crop and bring it to a sheltered place
The whole village was involved with getting the harvest in.
8. ASK FOR WORKER
get somebody ↔ in
to ask someone to come to your home to do a job, especially to repair something
We'll have to get a plumber in.
9. GIVE SOMETHING TO SOMEBODY
get something in
to send something to a particular place or give it to a particular person
Please can you get your essays in by Thursday. It's best to get your insurance claim in as quickly as possible.
10. DO SOMETHING
get something ↔ in
to manage to do something even though you do not have much time
We're hoping to get in a game of golf over the weekend.
get in on something phrasal verb
to become involved in something that other people are doing or planning
Quite a few companies would like to get in on the project. The scheme has proved very successful, and now other local authorities are keen to get in on the act (=become involved in something exciting or interesting) .
get in with somebody phrasal verb
to become friendly with someone
He got in with a bad crowd and started getting into trouble.
get into something
1. ENTER
to enter a place, especially when this is difficult
The door was locked and we couldn't get into the house.
2. ARRIVE
to arrive at a place
What time do we get into New York?
3. BE ELECTED
to be elected to a parliament
He first got into parliament in 1982.
4. COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY◀
to be allowed to be a student at a university, college etc
She got into Edinburgh University.
5. TEAM
to be made a member of a team
Do you think you might get into the Olympic team this year?
6. START DOING SOMETHING
to start doing or feeling something, or being in a particular situation
He's started getting into trouble at school. My parents were always terrified of getting into debt.
7. BECOME INVOLVED
to begin to be involved in doing something
How did you first get into script writing? She was starting to get into politics.
8. ENJOY
informal to begin to enjoy something or be interested in it
I first got into jazz when I was at college.
9. CLOTHING
informal to put on a piece of clothing, especially when this is difficult because the piece of clothing is too small for you
I don't know how she managed to get into those trousers.
10. what's got into somebody?
spoken used to express surprise that someone is behaving very differently from the way they usually behave
I don't know what's got into Sally recently.
get off phrasal verb
1. LEAVE
to leave a place, or to help someone to leave a place
We'll try and get off straight after lunch.
get off something
Get off my land!
get somebody off
I'll phone you as soon as I've got the children off to school.
2. FINISH WORK
get off (something)
to finish work and leave the place where you work at the end of the day
I usually get off at six o'clock. What time do you get off work ?
3. SEND SOMETHING
get something off
to send a letter or package by post
I'll have to get this letter off by tonight.
get something off to
I'll get the forms off to you today.
4. CLOTHING
get something off
to remove a piece of clothing
Why don't you get those wet clothes off?
5. NOT BE PUNISHED
if someone gets off, they are not punished for doing something wrong, or they receive only a small punishment
In the end he got off because there wasn't enough evidence against him. The police felt he had got off very lightly.
get off with
If you're lucky, you'll get off with a fine.
6. HELP SOMEBODY NOT BE PUNISHED
get somebody off
to help someone avoid being punished for a crime
Her lawyers were confident that they could get her off.
7. SLEEP
get (somebody) off
to go to sleep, or to help a child go to sleep
I went to bed but couldn't get off to sleep . It took us ages to get the baby off.
8. get off to a good/bad etc start
to start in a particular way
The day had got off to a bad start.
9. STOP TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING
get off something
to stop talking about a subject
Can we get off the subject of death, please?
10. STOP TOUCHING SOMETHING
get off (something/somebody)
informal used to tell someone to stop touching something or someone
Get off me! Get off those cakes, or there'll be trouble. Get off (=stop touching me) !
11. tell somebody where to get off
informal to tell someone that they are asking you for too much or are behaving in a way you will not accept
He wanted £50, but I told him where to get off.
12. get off your butt/ass
American English spoken not polite used to tell someone that they should stop being lazy and start doing something useful
get off on something phrasal verb
to become excited by something, especially sexually excited
get off with somebody phrasal verb
to start a sexual relationship with someone
She spent the whole evening trying to get off with Phil.
get on phrasal verb
1. LIKE SOMEBODY
especially British English if people get on, they like each other and have a friendly relationship with each other
get on with
I've always got on well with Henry.
The two boys get on well most of the time.
2. PROGRESS
to deal with a job or situation or to make progress
How is George getting on at school?
get on with
How are you getting on with your essay?
get on without
I don't know how we'll get on without Michael.
3. CONTINUE DOING SOMETHING
to continue doing something
get on with
Be quiet and get on with your work!
4. BE SUCCESSFUL
to be successful in your job
You'll have to work hard if you want to get on.
5. CLOTHING
get something on
to put a piece of clothing on
I can't get my boots on!
6. be getting on
a) if time is getting on, it is quite late
Come on, it's getting on and we ought to go home. I realized that time was getting on and we would have to hurry.
b) informal if someone is getting on, they are quite old
7 getting on for 90/10 o'clock/2000 etc
almost a particular age, time, number etc
Mrs McIntyre must be getting on for 90 by now. The total cost was getting on for $100,000.
8. get it on
American English informal to have sex
9. get on with it!
spoken used to tell someone to hurry
Will you lot stop messing around and get on with it!
10. let somebody get on with it
informal to let someone do something on their own, and not help them or tell them what to do
She wanted to decorate her room, so I just let her get on with it.
get onto somebody/something phrasal verb
1. SPEAK/WRITE TO SOMEBODY
informal to speak or write to someone
I'll get onto my lawyer about this.
2. LEARN ABOUT SOMEBODY
informal to find out about someone who has been doing something wrong
How did the police get onto him?
3. BE ELECTED
to be elected as a member of a committee, a political organization etc
She was quite keen to get onto the management committee.
4. TALK ABOUT SOMETHING
to begin to talk about a subject after you have been discussing something else
After a few minutes they got onto the subject of the election.
5. DO SOMETHING
informal to start dealing with something
Right, I'll get onto it straight away.
get out phrasal verb
1. LEAVE
to leave a room or building
You ought to get out into the fresh air. Mary screamed at me to get out.
get out of
Get out of the kitchen!
2. ESCAPE
to escape from a place
Some of the animals had got out.
get out of
He was determined to get out of prison.
3. HELP SOMEBODY ESCAPE
get somebody out
to help someone leave a place or escape from a place
It's important to get these people out as soon as possible.
get somebody out of
We knew it was going to be difficult to get him out of the country.
4. TAKE SOMETHING FROM A PLACE
get something ↔ out
to take something from the place where it is kept
She got out her violin and started to play.
5. INFORMATION
if information gets out, a lot of people then know it although it is meant to be secret
We have to make absolutely certain that none of this gets out. It's bound to get out that he's retiring soon.
6. PRODUCE SOMETHING
get something ↔ out
to produce a book or other product that can be sold to people
We're hoping to get the new catalogue out next week.
7. SAY SOMETHING
get something ↔ out
to succeed in saying something, especially when this is very difficult
I wanted to tell him I loved him, but couldn't get the words out.
get out of something phrasal verb
1. AVOID DOING SOMETHING
to avoid doing something you have promised to do or are supposed to do
See if you can get out of that meeting tomorrow.
get out of doing something
He's trying to get out of tidying his room.
2. STOP DOING SOMETHING
to stop doing something or being involved in something
I wanted to get out of teaching.
3. MAKE SOMEBODY GIVE/TELL YOU SOMETHING◀
get something out of somebody
to force or persuade someone to tell you something or give you something
I was determined to get the truth out of her.
4. ENJOY SOMETHING
get something out of something
to enjoy something you do or experience, or to learn something as a result
I hope he got something out of his visit.
get something out of doing something
Children can get a lot out of being involved in community projects.
get over
1. ILLNESS
get over something
to become well again after an illness
It's taken me ages to get over the flu.
2. UNPLEASANT EXPERIENCE
get over something
to begin to feel better after a very upsetting never experience
She got over the death of her son.
3. IDEAS/INFORMATION
get something ↔ over
to succeed in communicating ideas or information to other people
get something ↔ over to
It's important that we get this message over to young people.
4. FINISH SOMETHING
get something over
also get something over with
to do and finish something difficult that you have to do
I'll be in touch once I've got my exams over. I can't wait to get the interview over with.
5. PROBLEM/DIFFICULTY
get over something
to successfully deal with a problem or difficulty
I don't know how we're going to get over this problem. Once we've got over the first few months, we should be making a reasonable profit.
6. can't/couldn't get over something
spoken used to say that you are very surprised, shocked, or amused by something
I can't get over how well you look.
get round phrasal verb
1. if news or information gets round, it is told to a lot of people
News like this soon gets round.
2. get round something
to avoid something that is difficult or causes problems for you
There must be a way of getting round this problem. Most companies manage to get round the restrictions.
3. get round somebody
to gently persuade someone to do what you want by being nice to them
I know how to get round Chris.
get round to something phrasal verb
to do something that you have been intending to do for some time
I keep meaning to put a lock on it, but I never get round to it.
get round to doing something
I haven't got round to unpacking from my holiday yet.
get through phrasal verb
1. DO WORK
get through something
to do an amount of work
We got through half the application forms this morning. We've got a lot of work to get through.
2. USE SOMETHING
get through something
informal to use a lot of something
You wouldn't believe the amount of food children can get through in a week!
3. SPEND MONEY
get through something
informal to spend a lot of money
He can get through £100 in one evening.
4. DIFFICULT TIME
get (somebody) through something
to come successfully to the end of an unpleasant experience or period of time, or to help someone do this
I don't know how we're going to get through the winter. It was their love that got me through those first difficult months.
5. TEST/COMPETITION
get (somebody/something) through (something)
to be successful in a test or competition, or to make sure that someone or something is successful
I finally managed to get through my driving test. I knew it was going to be difficult to get the car through its MOT test.
get (somebody/something) through (something) to
Liverpool have got through to the final of the FA Cup.
6. REACH A PERSON/PLACE
to reach a place or person that is difficult to reach
get through to
Aid agencies have been unable to get through to the thousands of refugees stranded on the border.
7. BY TELEPHONE
to succeed in speaking to someone on the telephone
I tried phoning her office, but I couldn't get through.
get through to
At last I managed to get through to one of the managers.
8. NEW LAW
get (something) through (something)
if a new law gets through parliament, or if someone gets it through, it is officially approved
Anti-hunting legislation will never get through the House of Lords. Once again we failed to get the Bill through Parliament.
get (something) through to somebody phrasal verb
to succeed in making someone understand something, especially when this is difficult
I couldn't seem to get through to her. How can I get it through to him that this is really important?
get to somebody/something phrasal verb
1. to make someone feel annoyed or upset
I'm under a lot of pressure at work, and sometimes it gets to me a bit. Don't let things get to you.
2. get to thinking/wondering something
informal to start thinking something
He got to thinking how disappointed his parents would be.
get together phrasal verb
1. if people get together, they meet in order to spend time with each other
We must get together some time for a drink.
2. if two people get together, they start a romantic or sexual relationship
3. get something ↔ together
to collect things together
I need to get some paperwork together for the meeting.
4. get somebody ↔ together
to bring people together to make a group
He got together a group of local businessmen to discuss the problem.
5. get something ↔ together
to succeed in getting enough money to do or buy something
We're trying to get together enough money to buy a flat.
6. get something together
informal to change your life so that it is organized and you are in control of it
He's just trying to get his life together at the moment.
get yourself together
I'm staying with my parents for a while, until I've got myself together a bit.
7. get it together
spoken to be organized and successful in your life, job etc
The government can't seem to get it together on the environment.
get up phrasal verb
1. get (somebody) up
to get out of your bed after sleeping, or to make someone get out of their bed
We didn't get up until lunch time. Get me up at seven, would you?
2. to stand up
He got up and walked over to the window.
3. if a wind or storm gets up, it starts and gets stronger
4. be got up as/in something
British English informal to be dressed in particular clothes
He arrived at the party got up as Count Dracula. The men were all got up in suits.
5. get it up
informal to get an erection(1)
get up to something phrasal verb
to do something, especially something slightly bad
Go upstairs and see what the kids are getting up to. What did you get up to at the weekend?
Fail verb
1. NOT SUCCEED
[intransitive] to not succeed in achieving something
It looks likely that the peace talks will fail.
fail in
He failed in his attempt to regain the world title.
fail to do something
Doctors failed to save the girl's life.
Millions of people have tried to quit smoking and failed miserably (=been completely unsuccessful).
2. NOT DO SOMETHING
[intransitive] to not do what is expected, needed, or wanted
fail to do something
The letter failed to arrive. Firms that fail to take advantage of the new technology will go out of business.
3. EXAM/TEST
a) [intransitive and transitive] to not pass a test or examination
I failed my driving test the first time I took it. Daniel failed maths but passed all his other subjects.
b) [transitive] to decide that someone has not passed a test or examination
Her work was so bad that I had no choice but to fail her.
4. I fail to see/understand
formal used to show that you are annoyed by something that you do not accept or understand
I fail to see why you find it so amusing.
5. COMPANY/BUSINESS
[intransitive] if a company or business fails, it is unable to continue because of a lack of money
6. MACHINE/BODY PART
[intransitive] if a part of a machine or an organ in your body fails, it stops working
The engine failed on take-off. The hospital said that his kidneys were failing.
7. HEALTH
[intransitive] if your sight, memory, health etc is failing, it is gradually getting weaker or is not as good as it was
Failing eyesight forced him to retire early.
8. never fail to do something
to do something or happen so regularly that people expect it
My grandson never fails to phone me on my birthday.
9. your courage/will/nerve fails (you)
if your courage etc fails, or if it fails you, you suddenly do not have it when you need it
She had to leave immediately, before her courage failed her.
10. fail somebody
to not do what someone has trusted you to do
ᅳsynonym let somebody down
I feel I've failed my children by not spending more time with them.
11. CROPS
[intransitive] if crops fail, they do not grow or produce food, for example because of bad weather
12. RAINS
[intransitive] if the rains (=a lot of rain that falls at a particular time each year) fail, they do not come when expected or it does not rain enough
ᅳsee also words fail me
Fail noun
without fail
a) if you do something without fail, you always do it
Tim visits his mother every day without fail.
b) used to tell someone very firmly that they must do something
I want that work finished by tomorrow, without fail!
2. [countable]an unsuccessful result in a test or examination
ᅳopposite pass
I got a fail in history.
Failed adjective
a failed actor/writer etc
someone who wanted to be an actor etc but was unsuccessful
Take verbpast tense took / tʊk /
past participle taken
/ teɪkən /
1. ACTION
[transitive]used with a noun instead of using a verb to describe an action. For example, if you take a walk, you walk somewhere
Would you like to take a look?Mike's just taking a shower.Sara took a deep breath.I waved, but he didn't take any notice (=pretended not to notice) .
take a picture/photograph/photo
Would you mind taking a photo of us together?
2. MOVE
[transitive]to move or go with someone or something from one place to another
ᅳopposite bring
take somebody/something to/into etc something
Barney took us to the airport. Would you mind taking Susie home ?
take somebody/something with you
His wife went to Australia, taking the children with her.
take somebody something
I have to take Steve the money tonight.
take somebody to do something
He took me to meet his parents.
see usage note bring
see usage note direct
3. REMOVE
[transitive] to remove something from a place
take something off/from etc something
Take your feet off the seats. Someone's taken a pen from my desk.
ᅳsee also take away
4. TIME/MONEY/EFFORT ETC
[intransitive and transitive]if something takes a particular amount of time, money, effort etc, that amount of time etc is needed for it to happen or succeed
How long is this going to take ?Organizing a successful street party takes a lot of energy.
take (somebody) something (to do something)
Repairs take time to carry out. It took a few minutes for his eyes to adjust to the dark.
take (somebody) ages/forever informal
It took me ages to find a present for Dad. take some doing British English informal (=need a lot of time or effort) Catching up four goals will take some doing. take courage/guts It takes courage to admit you are wrong. have what it takes informal (=to have the qualities that are needed for success) Neil's got what it takes to be a great footballer.
5. ACCEPT
[transitive]to accept or choose something that is offered, suggested, or given to you
Will you take the job? Do you take American Express? If you take my advice , you'll see a doctor. Our helpline takes 3.5 million calls (=telephone calls) a year. take a hammering/beating (=be forced to accept defeat or a bad situation) Small businesses took a hammering in the last recession. I take your point/point taken (=used to say that you accept someone's opinion)
take somebody's word for it/take it from somebody (=accept that what someone says is true) That's the truth - take it from me . take the credit/blame/responsibility He's the kind of man who makes things happen but lets others take the credit. take it as read/given (=assume that something is correct or certain, because you are sure that this is the case ) It isn't official yet, but you can take it as read that you've got the contract.
6. HOLD SOMETHING
[transitive] to get hold of something in your hands
Let me take your coat. Can you take this package while I get my wallet?
take somebody/something in/by something
I just wanted to take him in my arms.
7. TRAVEL
[transitive] to use a particular form of transport or a particular road in order to go somewhere
Let's take a cab. I took the first plane out. Take the M6 to Junction 19.
8. STUDY
[transitive] to study a particular subject in school or college for an examination
Are you taking French next year?
9. TEST
[transitive] to do an examination or test
British Equivalent: sit Applicants are asked to take a written test.
10. SUITABLE
[transitive not in progressive or passive] to be the correct or suitable size, type etc for a particular person or thing
a car that takes low sulphur fuel
What size shoe do you take? The elevator takes a maximum of 32 people.
11. COLLECT
[transitive] to collect or gather something for a particular purpose
Investigators will take samples of the wreckage to identify the cause.
take something from something
The police took a statement from both witnesses.
12. CONSIDER
[intransitive, transitive always + adverb/preposition]to react to someone or something or consider them in a particular way
take somebody/something seriously/badly/personally etc I was joking, but he took me seriously. Ben took the news very badly. She does not take kindly to criticism (=reacts badly to criticism) .
take something as something
I'll take that remark as a compliment.
take something as evidence/proof (of something) The presence of dust clouds has been taken as evidence of recent star formation.
take somebody/something to be something
I took her to be his daughter.
take somebody/something for something
Of course I won't tell anyone! What do you take me for? (=what sort of person do you think I am?)
13. FEELINGS
[transitive usually + adverb]to have or experience a particular feeling
take delight/pleasure/pride etc in (doing) something You should take pride in your work. At first, he took no interest in the baby. take pity on somebody She stood feeling lost until an elderly man took pity on her. take offence (=feel offended) Don't take offence. Roger says things like that to everybody. take comfort from/in (doing) something Investors can take comfort from the fact that the World Bank is underwriting the shares.
14. CONTROL
[transitive]to get possession or control of something
Enemy forces have taken the airport. Both boys were taken prisoner. take control/charge/power The communists took power in 1948.Youngsters need to take control of their own lives. take the lead (=in a race, competition etc)
15. MEDICINE/DRUGS
[transitive]to swallow, breathe in, inject etc a drug or medicine
The doctor will ask whether you are taking any medication. Take two tablets before bedtime. take drugs (=take illegal drugs) Most teenagers start taking drugs through boredom. She took an overdose after a row with her boyfriend.
16. do you take sugar/milk?
spoken British English used to ask someone whether they like to have sugar or milk in a drink such as tea or coffee
17. LEVEL
[transitive always + adverb/preposition] to make someone or something go to a higher level or position
take something to/into something
The latest raise takes his salary into six figures.
Even if you have the talent to take you to the top , there's no guarantee you'll get there.
18. MEASURE
[transitive] to measure the amount, level, rate etc of something
Take the patient's pulse first.
19. NUMBERS
[transitive]to make a number smaller by a particular amount
ᅳsynonym subtract
take something away/take something (away) from something
'Take four from nine and what do you get?' 'Five.' Ten take away nine equals one.
20. MONEY
[transitive] British English if a shop, business etc takes a particular amount of money, it receives that amount of money from its customers
American Equivalent: take in The stall took £25 on Saturday.
21. somebody can take it or leave it
a) to neither like nor dislike something
To some people, smoking is addictive. Others can take it or leave it.
b) used to say that you do not care whether someone accepts your offer or not
22. take somebody/something (for example)
used to give an example of something you have just been talking about
People love British cars. Take the Mini. In Japan, it still sells more than all the other British cars put together.
23. TEACH
[transitive] British English to teach a particular group of students in a school or college
take somebody for something
Who takes you for English?
24. WRITE
[transitive] to write down information
Let me take your email address. Sue offered to take notes .
25. take somebody out of themselves
British English to make someone forget their problems and feel more confident
Alf said joining the club would take me out of myself.
26. take a lot out of you/take it out of you
to make you very tired
Looking after a baby really takes it out of you.
27. take it upon/on yourself to do something
formal to decide to do something without getting someone's permission or approval first
Reg took it upon himself to hand the press a list of names.
28. take something to bits/pieces
British English to separate something into its different parts
how to take an engine to bits
29 be taken with/by something
to be attracted by a particular idea, plan, or person
I'm quite taken by the idea of Christmas in Berlin.
30. be taken ill/sick
formal to suddenly become ill
31. SEX
[transitive] literary if a man takes someone, he has sex with them
32. take a bend/fence/corner etc
to try to get over or around something in a particular way
He took the bend at over 60 and lost control.
33. HAVE AN EFFECT
[intransitive] if a treatment, dye, drug etc takes, it begins to work successfully
be taken aback phrasal verb
to be very surprised about something
Emma was somewhat taken aback by his directness.
take after somebody phrasal verb
to look or behave like an older relative
Jenni really takes after her mother.
take somebody/something apart phrasal verb
1. to separate something into all its different parts
Tom was always taking things apart in the garage.
2. to search a place very thoroughly
The police took the house apart looking for clues.
3. to beat someone very easily in a game, sport, fight etc
4. to show that someone is wrong or something is not true
Tariq takes several gay myths apart in his book.
take against somebody/something phrasal verb
to begin to dislike someone or something, especially without a good reason
Voters took against the relationship between the government and the unions in the 1970s.
take somebody/something ↔ away phrasal verb
1. to remove someone or something, or make something disappear
She whisked the tray off the table and took it away. He was taken away to begin a prison sentence. This should take some of the pain away.
2. to take away
British English if you buy food to take away, you buy cooked food from a restaurant and take it outside to eat it somewhere else
3. take your breath away
to be very beautiful, exciting, or surprising
take away from something phrasal verb
to spoil the good effect or success that something has
The disagreement between the two men should not take away from their accomplishments.
take somebody/something ↔ back phrasal verb
1. take something ↔ back
to admit that you were wrong to say something
You'd better take back that remark!
2. take something ↔ back
to take something you have bought back to a shop because it is not suitable
If the shirt doesn't fit, take it back.
3. to make you remember a time in the past
Having the grandchildren around takes me back to the days when my own children were small.
take something ↔ down phrasal verb
1. to move something that is fixed in a high position to a lower position
She made us take down all the posters.
2. to write down information
Can I just take some details down?
3. to pull a piece of clothing such as trousers part of the way down your legs
take somebody/something ↔ in phrasal verb
1. be taken in
to be completely deceived by someone who lies to you
Don't be taken in by products claiming to help you lose weight in a week.
2. take somebody ↔ in
to let someone stay in your house because they have nowhere else to stay
Brett's always taking in stray animals.
3. take something ↔ in
to understand and remember new facts and information
ᅳsynonym absorb
He watches the older kids, just taking it all in. His eyes quickly took in the elegance of her dress.
4. take something ↔ in
American English to collect or earn a particular amount of money
British Equivalent: take
5. to visit a place while you are in the area
They continued a few miles further to take in Hinton House.
6. American English old-fashioned if you take in a show, play etc, you go to see it
7. take somebody ↔ in
British English old-fashioned if the police take someone in, they take them to a police station to ask them questions about a crime
All five teenagers were arrested and taken in for questioning .
8. take something ↔ in
to make a piece of clothing fit you by making it narrower.
take off phrasal verb
1. REMOVE
take something ↔ off
to remove a piece of clothing
He sat on the bed to take his boots off. Charlie was taking off his shirt when the phone rang.
2. AIRCRAFT
if an aircraft takes off, it rises into the air from the ground
ᅳsynonym lift off
I felt quite excited as the plane took off from Heathrow.
3. SUCCESS
to suddenly start being successful
Mimi became jealous when Jack's career started taking off .
4. HOLIDAY
take something off (something)
to have a holiday from work on a particular day, or for a particular length of time
take time off (work/school) I rang my boss and arranged to take some time off.
take a day/the afternoon etc off Dad took the day off to come with me.
5. COPY SOMEBODY
take somebody ↔ off
British English informal to copy the way someone speaks or behaves, in order to entertain people
take somebody/something ↔ on phrasal verb
1. take somebody ↔ on
to start to employ someone
2. take something ↔ on
to agree to do some work or be responsible for something
Don't take on too much work - the extra cash isn't worth it.
3. take something ↔ on
to begin to have a particular quality or appearance
Her face took on a fierce expression. His life had taken on a new dimension.
4. take somebody ↔ on
to compete against someone or start a fight with someone, especially someone bigger or better than you
Nigeria will take on Argentina in the first round of the World Cup on Saturday. He was prepared to take on anyone who laid a finger on us.
5. take something ↔ on
if a plane or ship takes on people or things, they come onto it
We stopped to take on fuel.
take somebody/something ↔ out phrasal verb
1. take somebody ↔ out
to take someone as your guest to a restaurant, cinema, club etc
take somebody ↔ out for
We're taking my folks out for a meal next week.
2. take something ↔ out
to make a financial or legal arrangement with a bank, company, law court etc
take out a policy/injunction/loan etc Before taking a loan out, calculate your monthly outgoings.
3. take something ↔ out
to get money from your bank account
ᅳsynonym withdraw How much would you like to take out?
4. take something ↔ out
to borrow books from a library
You can take out six books at a time.
5. take somebody/something ↔ out
informal to kill someone or destroy something
The building was taken out by a bomb.
take something out on somebody phrasal verb
to treat someone badly when you are angry or upset, even though it is not their fault
Don't take it out on me just because you've had a bad day. take your anger/frustration etc out on somebody Irritated with herself, she took her annoyance out on Bridget.
take over phrasal verb
to take control of something
take something ↔ over
His only reason for investing in the company was to take it over.
Ruth moved into our apartment and promptly took over.
take to somebody/something phrasal verb
1. to start to like someone or something
Sandra took to it straight away . Charles was an odd character whom Kelly had never really taken to.
2. to start doing something regularly
take to doing something
Dee's taken to getting up at 6 and going jogging.
3. take to your bed
to get into your bed and stay there
He was so depressed, he took to his bed for a week.
take something up phrasal verb
1. take something ↔ up
to become interested in a new activity and to spend time doing it
Roger took painting up for a while, but soon lost interest.
2. to start a new job or have a new responsibility
Peter will take up the management of the finance department. take up a post/a position/duties etc The headteacher takes her duties up in August.
3. take something ↔ up
if you take up a suggestion, problem, complaint etc, you start to do something about it
Now the papers have taken up the story.
take something ↔ up with
The hospital manager has promised to take the matter up with the member of staff involved. I am still very angry and will be taking it up with the authorities.
4. to fill a particular amount of time or space
be taken up with something
The little time I had outside of school was taken up with work.
take up space/room old books that were taking up space in the office
5. take something ↔ up
to accept a suggestion, offer, or idea
Rob took up the invitation to visit. take up the challenge/gauntlet Rick took up the challenge and cycled the 250 mile route alone.
6. to move to the exact place where you should be, so that you are ready to do something
The runners are taking up their positions on the starting line.
7. take something ↔ up
to make a piece of clothing shorter
8. take something ↔ up
to continue a story or activity that you or someone else had begun, after a short break
I'll take up the story where you left off.
take somebody up on something phrasal verb
to accept an invitation or suggestion
take somebody up on an offer/a promise/a suggestion etc I'll take you up on that offer of a drink, if it still stands.
take up with somebody/something phrasal verb
old-fashioned to become friendly with someone, especially someone who may influence you badly
Take noun [countable] an occasion when a film scene, song, action etc is recorded
We had to do six takes for this particular scene.
2. somebody's take (on something)
someone's opinion about a situation or idea
What's your take on this issue?
3. be on the take
informal to be willing to do something wrong in return for money
Is it true that some of the generals are on the take?
4. [usually singular] American English informal the amount of money earned by a shop or business in a particular period of time
Practise verb
British English practice American English /prækts/
1 [intransitive and transitive] to do an activity, often regularly, in order to improve your skill or to prepare for a test
They moved the furniture back to practise their dance routine.
It gives students the opportunity to practice their speaking skills.
practise doing something
Today we're going to practise parking.
practise for
She's practicing for her piano recital.
practise something on somebody
Everybody wants to practise their English on me.
2 [transitive] to use a particular method or custom
a technique not widely practised in Europe
3 [intransitive and transitive] to work as a doctor or lawyer
medical graduates who intend to practise in the UK
practise as
Gemma is now practising as a dentist.
4 [transitive] if you practise a religion, system of ideas etc, you live your life according to its rules
They are free to practice their religion openly.
5 practise what you preach
to do the things that you advise other people to do
She didn't always practise what she preached.
Practised adjective
British English practiced American English /præktst/
1. someone who is practised in a particular job or skill is good at it because they have done it many times before
a practised performer
practised in (doing) something
He was already well practiced in giving acceptance speeches.
to the practised eye (=to someone who has seen something many times and knows a lot about it)
2 [only before noun] a practised action has been done so often that it now seems very easy
He faced the television cameras with practised ease.
Practising adjective
British English practicing American English /præktsɪŋ/
1. a practising Catholic/Muslim/Jew etc
someone who follows the rules and customs of a particular religion
ᅳopposite lapsed
2. a practising doctor/lawyer/teacher etc
someone who is working as a doctor, lawyer etc
Few practicing teachers have time for such research.
Watch verb
1. LOOK
[intransitive and transitive]to look at someone or something for a period of time, paying attention to what is happening
Do you mind if I watch? We sat and watched the sunset.
watch carefully/closely/intently etc
He watched helplessly as Paula fell into the icy water.
Watch carefully. You may learn something.
watch (somebody/something) with interest/amusement/delight etc
Harriet watched him with interest.
watch somebody/something do/doing something
I watched him go, then went home. Ruth could not bear to watch her parents arguing.
watch to do something
I watched to see how he'd react.
watch television/a film etc The debate was watched by 97 million viewers.
watch what/how/when etc
It's useful to watch how other pilots handle the glider.
see usage note see
2. BE CAREFUL
[transitive]to act carefully in order to avoid an accident or unwanted situation
watch (that)
Watch he doesn't run into the road.
She's a student and has to watch her budget closely.
watch what/how/where etc
Silly old fool! Why doesn't he watch where he's going ? Watch what you're doing ! It's spilling everywhere!
Watch yourself (=be careful) in Madrid; there are some rough areas.
watch what you say/your tongue/your language/your mouth etc (=be careful not to hurt or offend people by what you say)
Employees should watch what they say in personal emails.
watch your weight/watch what you eat (=be careful not to get fat) He may be a former athlete, but he still has to watch his weight.
3. PAY ATTENTION
[transitive]to pay attention to a situation that interests or worries you to see how it develops
watch closely/carefully
American companies are watching Japanese developments closely.
The government will watch the progress of these schemes with interest.
4. CARE FOR
[transitive] to stay with someone or something so that nothing bad happens to them
She watches the kids for us occasionally.
5. SECRETLY
[transitive] to secretly watch a person or place
I feel like I'm being watched.
6. watch your step
informal to be careful, especially about making someone angry
He soon saw he'd have to watch his step with some of these guys.
7. watch your back
informal to be careful because other people may try to harm you
8. watch the clock
informal to keep looking at the time because you are worried or bored
anxious mums watching the clock
9. watch the time
to make sure you know what time it is to avoid being late
10. watch it
spoken used to warn someone to be careful
Watch it, there's a car.
11. watch this space
informal used to tell people to pay attention in the future because things are going to develop further - used especially in newspapers
12. one to watch
someone or something that people should pay attention to because they are interesting or exciting
In the tournament so far, Italy’s Stefania Croce looks like the one to watch.
13. watch the world go by
to relax outside by just looking at the people around you
lingering in a pavement cafe, watching the world go by
14. you watch
informal used to tell someone that you know what will happen
He'll win this time, you watch.
watch (out) for something phrasal verb
to pay close attention in a particular situation because you are expecting something to happen or you want to avoid something bad
She stepped outside to watch for the cab.
What problems should I watch out for when buying an old house?
watch out phrasal verb
used to tell someone to be careful
You'll become an alcoholic if you don't watch out .
watch over somebody phrasal verb
to protect someone so that they are not harmed
There must have been an angel watching over me that day.
Watch noun
1. [countable]a small clock that you wear on your wrist or keep in your pocket
My watch has stopped . look at/glance at/consult your watch She glanced nervously at her watch. How do you keep track of time if you don't wear a watch ?
2. [singular, uncountable] when you watch someone or something carefully, or pay careful attention to them, so that you are ready to act if necessary
The police arrived to keep watch on the mouth of the tunnel.
watch on/over
He and his wife maintained a 24-hour watch over their son.
Security forces kept a close watch on our activities.
3. keep a watch out for somebody/something
also be on the watch for somebody/something
to be looking and waiting for something that might happen or someone you might see, especially so that you can avoid danger, trouble etc
Be on the watch for anything suspicious.
4. [countable] a group of people whose job is to guard or protect someone or something
We were arrested and held until the arrival of the night watch (=people responsible for keeping the streets safe at night, especially in past times) .
5. [uncountable and countable] a period of time when it is someone's duty to stay somewhere and look for signs of danger
The first watch is from now until midnight.
on watch
Who's on watch tonight?
See verb
past tense saw / past participle seen
1. NOTICE/EXAMINE
[transitive not in progressive]to notice or examine someone or something, using your eyes
The moment we saw the house, we knew we wanted to buy it.
He crouched down so he couldn't be seen.
can/can't see You can see the Houses of Parliament from here.
see where/what/who etc
Can you see where the marks are on the wall?
see (that)
He saw that she was crying.
see somebody/something do something
I saw him leave a few minutes ago.
see somebody/something doing something
The suspect was seen entering the building.
As you can see, the house needs some work doing on it.
2. NOTICE SOMETHING IS TRUE
[transitive not in progressive] to notice that something is happening or that something is true
More money must be invested if we are to see an improvement in services. After a month's practice, you should see a difference in your playing.
see (that)
I can see you're not very happy with the situation.
3. ABILITY TO SEE
[intransitive, transitive not in progressive]to be able to use your eyes to look at things and know what they are
can/can't see
From the tower, you can see for miles. I can't see a thing without my glasses.
not see to do something
His eyes are so bad that he can't see to read any more.
4. FIND OUT INFORMATION
[transitive]to find out information or a fact
see what/how/when etc
I'll call him and see how the job interview went. She went outside to see what was happening.
see if/whether
I've just come to see if you want to go out for a drink.
These chocolates are gorgeous. Try some and see for yourself (=find out if it is true) .
it can be seen that/we can see that
From this graph, it can be seen that some people are more susceptible to the disease.
As we have seen in chapter 4, women's pay is generally less than men's.
5. IN THE FUTURE
[intransitive and transitive]to find out about something in the future
see if/whether
It will be interesting to see if he makes it into the team.
see how/what/when etc
I might come - I'll see how I feel tomorrow. Let's try it and see what happens.
see how it goes/see how things go (=used when you are going to do something and will deal with problems if they happen)
I don't know. We'll just have to see how it goes on Sunday.
Things will work out, you'll see (=you will find out that I am right) .
6. WHERE INFORMATION IS
[transitive only in imperative] especially written used to tell you where you can find information
see above/below The results are shown in Table 7a (see below).
7. UNDERSTAND
[intransitive and transitive]to understand or realize something
see why/what/how etc
I can't see why he's so upset.
I see what you mean (=I understand what you are saying) .'
see reason/sense (=realize that you are wrong or doing something stupid)
I just can't get her to see reason!
8. WATCH
[transitive] to watch a television programme, play, film etc
Did you see that programme on monkeys last night?
We're going to see 'Romeo and Juliet' tonight.
9. CONSIDER SOMETHING
[transitive]to think about or consider someone or something in a particular way, or as having particular qualities
Having a child makes you see things differently.
Violence is seen in different ways by different people.
as somebody sees it/the way somebody sees it (=used to give someone's opinion)
As I see it, you don't have any choice. The way I see it, we have two options.
see somebody/something as something
I see the job as a challenge.
see yourself as something
He saw himself as a failure.
be seen as (being) something
The peace talks are seen as a sign of hope. This type of work is often seen as boring.
be seen to be something
Sexual discrimination is seen to be an important factor in discouraging women from careers in engineering.
Teachers need to be seen to be in control.
10. see what somebody/something can do
spoken
a) to find out if someone can deal with a situation or problem
see what somebody/something can do about
I'll call them again and see what they can do about it.
b) to find out how good someone or something is at what they are supposed to be able to do
Let's take the Porsche out to the racetrack and see what it can do!
11. I'll see what I can do
spoken used to say that you will try to help someone
Leave the papers with me and I'll see what I can do.
12. see you
spoken used to say goodbye when you know you will see someone again
see you tomorrow/at 3/Sunday etc
See you Friday - your place at 8:30.
see you later (=see you soon, or later in the same day)
see you in a bit British English (=see you soon)
see you in a while (=see you soon)
(I'll) be seeing you! (=see you soon)
13. VISIT
[transitive] to visit or meet someone
I'll be seeing her tomorrow night. I haven't seen her since we left school.
14. MEET BY CHANCE
[transitive not in progressive] to meet someone by chance
I saw Jane while I was out.
15. HAVE A MEETING
[transitive] to have an arranged meeting with someone
Mr Thomas is seeing a client at 2:30. She was seen by a doctor but didn't need hospital treatment.
see somebody about something
(=see someone to discuss something)
I have to see my teacher about my grades.
16. SPEND TIME WITH SOMEBODY
[transitive]to spend time with someone
They've been seeing a lot of each other.
see more/less of somebody (=see someone more or less often)
They've seen more of each other since Dan moved to London.
17. be seeing somebody
to be having a romantic relationship with someone
Is she seeing anyone at the moment?
18. IMAGINE
[transitive not in progressive] to imagine that something may happen in the future
He could see a great future for her in music.
can't see somebody/something doing something
I can't see him winning, can you? She's got a new book coming out but I can't see it doing very well.
see somebody as something
(=be able to imagine someone being something)
I just can't see her as a ballet dancer.
19. seeing as (how)
informal also seeing that
used before giving a reason for what you are saying
'I might as well do something useful, seeing as I'm back,' she said.
20. be seen to be doing something
to make sure that other people notice you working hard or doing something good
The government must be seen to be doing something about the rise in violent crime.
21. see something for what it is
also see somebody for what they are
to realize that someone or something is not as good or nice as they seem
They are unimpressed with the scheme and rightly see it for what it is.
22. MAKE SURE
[transitive not in progressive] to make sure or check that something is done
see (that)
Don't worry - I'll see to it . The hotel's owners see to it that their guests are given every luxury.
23. EXPERIENCE SOMETHING
[transitive not in progressive] to experience something
She was so sick that doctors didn't think she'd live to see her first birthday. I never thought I'd live to see the day when women became priests.
24. TIME/PLACE
[transitive] if a time or place has seen a particular event or situation, it happened or existed in that time or place
This year has seen a big increase in road accidents. The city has seen plenty of violence over the years.
25. let me see
also let's see
spoken used when you are trying to remember something
Let me see ... where did I put that letter?
26. I don't see why not
spoken used to say 'yes' in answer to a request
'Can we go to the park?' 'I don't see why not.'
27. GO WITH SOMEBODY
[transitive always + adverb/preposition] to go somewhere with someone to make sure they are safe
My mother used to see me across the road. I'll get Nick to see you home .
Let me see you to the door (=go with you to the door, to say goodbye) .
28. be seeing things
to imagine that you see someone or something which is not really there
There's no one there - you must be seeing things.
29. see double
if you see double, something is wrong with your eyes, so that you see two things when there is only one
30. have seen better days
informal to be in a bad condition
Her hat had seen better days.
31. be glad/pleased etc to see the back of somebody/something
British English spoken to be pleased when someone leaves or when you get rid of something, because you do not like them
I'll be glad to see the back of him. I won't be sorry to see the back of this place.
32. see the last of somebody/something
a) to not see someone or something again, especially someone or something you do not like
I thought we'd seen the last of him. It was a relief to see the last of them.
b) to not have to deal with something any more
Police had hoped they'd seen the last of the joyriding. We may not have seen the last of this controversy.
33. see the light
a) to realize that something is true
She finally saw the light and ended the relationship.
b) to have a special experience that makes you believe in a religion
34. see the light of day
a) if something sees the light of day, it is brought out so that people can see it
This decision will ensure that the Pentagon Papers never see the light of day.
b) to start to exist
This type of PC first saw the light of day in 1981.
35. see red
to become very angry
The thought of Pierre with Nicole had made her see red.
36. not see somebody for dust
British English informal if you do not see someone for dust, they leave a place very quickly in order to avoid something
37. see eye to eye [usually in negatives] if two people see eye to eye, they agree with each other
We didn't exactly see eye to eye.
see eye to eye with
I don't always see eye to eye with my father.
see eye to eye on/about
We don't see eye to eye on business issues.
38. seen one ... seen them all
informal used to say that something is boring because it is very similar to other things
When you've seen one of these programmes, you've seen them all.
39. see your way (clear) to doing something
formal to be able and willing to do something
Small companies cannot see their way to taking on many trainees.
40. (see and) be seen
to look at or be noticed by important or fashionable people
Royal Ascot is the place to see and be seen.
41. not see the wood for the trees
also not see the forest for the trees American English to be unable to understand what is important in a situation because you are thinking too much about small details rather than the whole situation
42. see something coming
to realize that there is going to be a problem before it actually happens
John's going to have a lot of trouble with him. You can see it coming.
43. see somebody coming (a mile off)
British English spoken to recognize that someone will be easy to trick or deceive
You paid £500 for that! They must have seen you coming!
44. see somebody right
British English spoken to make sure that someone gets what they need or want, especially money
Just do this for me and I'll see you right. Tell the landlord I sent you and he'll see you right.
45. not see that it matters
spoken to think that something is not important
I can't see that it matters what I think.
46. GAME OF CARDS
[transitive] to risk the same amount of money as your opponent in a card game
see about something phrasal verb
1. to make arrangements or deal with something
I'd better see about dinner.
see about doing something
Claire's gone to see about getting tickets for the concert.
2. we'll see about that
spoken
a) also we'll have to see about that
used to say that you do not know if something will be possible
'I want to go to Joshua's tonight.' 'Well, we'll have to see about that.'
b) also we'll soon see about that
used to say that you intend to stop someone from doing what they were planning to do
see something against something phrasal verb
to consider something together with something else
The unemployment data must be seen against the background of world recession.
see around phrasal verb
1. see somebody around
to notice someone regularly in places you go to, but not talk to them
I don't know who he is but I've seen him around.
2. see you around
spoken used to say goodbye to someone when you have not made a definite arrangement to meet again
3. see around/round something
British English to visit a place and walk around looking at it
Would you like to see round the house?
1. not know what somebody sees in somebody
also what does somebody see in somebody?
used to say that you do not know why someone likes someone else
I don't know what she sees in him.
2. see something in somebody/something
to notice a particular quality in someone or something that makes you like them
He saw a gentleness in Susan.
3. see somebody in
to go with someone to make sure they arrive at a building or room
He took her home and after seeing her in, drove off without a word.
4. see in the New Year
to celebrate the beginning of a new year
see somebody/something ↔ off phrasal verb
1. to defeat someone or stop them from competing against you
To see off the threat, the company will have to cut its prices still further.
to go to an airport, train station etc to say goodbye to someone
They've gone to the airport to see their son off.
3. also see somebody off something
to force someone to leave a place
Security guards saw him off the premises.
see somebody/something out phrasal verb
1. to go to the door with someone to say goodbye to them when they leave
I'll see you out. Don't worry, I can see myself out (=leave the building without anyone coming with me) .
2. see something ↔ out
to continue doing something or being somewhere until a particular period of time or an unpleasant event is finished
Connolly has promised to see out the remaining 18 months of his contract. She saw out her last years at Sudeley Castle.
see over something phrasal verb
to look at something large such as a house, especially in order to decide if you want to buy it
see through phrasal verb
1. see through somebody/something
to realize that someone is trying to deceive you
I saw through his excuses.
I could never lie to her because I know she'd see through me straight away. I can't bluff - she'd see right through me .
2. see something through
to continue doing something until it is finished, especially something difficult or unpleasant
It'll take a lot of effort to see the project through.
3. see somebody through (something)
to give help and support to someone during a difficult time
Setting goals should help see you through.
I've got enough money to see me through six months of unemployment.
4. see something through somebody's eyes
to see something or think about it in the way that someone else does
The world is very different when seen through the eyes of a child.
see to somebody/something phrasal verb
to deal with something or do something for someone
Go on, you go out. I'll see to the washing up have/get something seen to You should get that tooth seen to by a dentist.
Look verb
1. SEE
[intransitive] to turn your eyes towards something, so that you can see it
We sneaked out while Jessie's mom wasn't looking.
If you look carefully you can see that the painting represents a human figure.
look at
'It's time we left,' Ian said, looking at his watch. The men all turned to look at her as she entered the room.
look away/over/down etc
Dad looked up from his paper and smiled. 'We can't go out in this weather,' said Bob, looking out of the window.
2. SEARCH
[intransitive] to try to find something
I looked everywhere but Jimmy was nowhere to be found.
look for
Could you help me look for my contact lens? If you're looking for a bargain, try the local market.
look in/under/between etc
Try looking under the bed.
3. SEEM
[linking verb]to seem
From the way things look at the moment, the Republicans are unlikely to win this election.
look good/bad etc
The future's looking good.
it looks as if/as though/like (=it seems likely that) It looks as if it might rain later.
4. APPEARANCE
[linking verb]to have a particular appearance
How do I look?
look tired/happy/sad etc You look tired.
look as if/as though/like He looked as if he hadn't washed for a week.
5. look daggers at somebody
informal to look at someone with a very angry expression on your face
6 look somebody up and down
to look at someone carefully from their head to their feet, as if you were forming an opinion about them
7. look somebody in the eye
to look directly at someone when you are speaking to them, especially to show that you are not afraid of them or that you are telling the truth
Owen didn't dare look his father in the eye.
8. look down your nose at somebody/something
to behave as if you think that someone or something is not good enough for you
He looks down his nose at anyone foreign.
9. look the other way
to ignore something bad that is happening and not try to stop it
Prison guards looked the other way as the man was attacked by fellow prisoners.
10. look no further
used to say that something you are offering is exactly what someone has been trying to find
Want a quiet country retreat for your weekend break? Then look no further!
11. FACE A DIRECTION◀
[intransitive always + adverb/preposition] if a building looks in a particular direction, it faces that direction
The cabin looks east, so we get the morning sun.
12. look before you leap
used to say that it is sensible to think about possible dangers or difficulties of something before doing it
13. be looking to do something
informal to be planning or expecting to do something
We're looking to buy a new car early next year.
14. spoken look
a) used to tell someone to look at something that you think is interesting, surprising etc
Look! There's a fox!
b) used to get someone's attention so that you can suggest something or tell them something
Look. Why don't you think about it and give me your answer tomorrow?
15 spoken look out!
used to warn someone that they are in danger
16. spoken look at that!
used to tell someone to look at something that you think is interesting, bad etc
Look at that! What a horrible mess!
17. spoken look who's here!
used when someone arrives unexpectedly
Well, look who's here! It's Jill and Paul!
18 spoken don't look now
used to say that you have seen someone but do not want them to know you have noticed them
Oh no! Don't look now but here comes Tony.
19. spoken look what you're doing/look where you're going etc
used to tell someone to be careful
Look where you're putting your feet! There's mud all over the carpet!
20. spoken look what you've done!
used to angrily tell someone to look at the result of a mistake they have made or something bad they have done
Look what you've done - my jacket's ruined!
21. spoken look here
old-fashioned used to get someone's attention in order to tell them something, especially when you are annoyed with them
Look here, you can't say things like that to me!
22. spoken (I'm) just looking
used when you are in a shop, to say that you are only looking at things, but do not intend to buy anything now
'Can I help you?' 'No, thanks. I'm just looking.'
look after somebody/something phrasal verb
1. to take care of someone by helping them, giving them what they need, or keeping them safe
Don't worry, I'll look after the kids tomorrow. Susan looked after us very well.
2. to be responsible for dealing with something
ᅳsynonym take care of I'm leaving you here to look after the business until I get back.
3. look after yourself
spoken especially British English used when you are saying goodbye to someone in a friendly way
4 can look after yourself
to not need anyone else to take care of you
Don't worry about Maisie - she can look after herself.
look ahead phrasal verb
to think about and plan for what might happen in the future
Looking ahead, we must expect radical changes to be made in our system of government.
look around phrasal verb
1. to try to find something
look around for
Jason's going to start looking around for a new job.
2. look around/round (something)
to look at what is in a place such as a building, shop, town etc, especially when you are walking
Do we have to pay to look around the castle? Let's look round the shops.
look at somebody/something phrasal verb
1. to turn your eyes towards something, so that you can see it
The twins looked at each other and smiled.
2. to read something quickly in order to form an opinion of it
I really can't comment on the report - I haven't had time to look at it yet.
3. to examine something and try to find out what is wrong with it
You should get the doctor to look at that cut. Can you look at my car?
4. to study and think about something, especially in order to decide what to do
We need to look very carefully at ways of improving our efficiency.
5. look at somebody/something!
spoken used to mention someone or something as an example
You don't have to be smart to be good at music - look at Gary.
6. to think about something in a particular way
ᅳsynonym see I'd like to be friends again, but Richard doesn't look at it that way.
7. not much to look at
informal if someone or something is not much to look at, they are not attractive
look back phrasal verb
1. to think about something that happened in the past
look back on/to
When I look back on those days I realize I was desperately unhappy.
Looking back on it , I still can't figure out what went wrong.
2. never look back
to become more and more successful, especially after a particular success
After winning the scholarship he never looked back.
look down on somebody/something phrasal verb
to think that you are better than someone else, for example because you are more successful, or of a higher social class than they are
Mr Garcia looks down on anyone who hasn't had a college education.
look for somebody/something phrasal verb
1. to try to find something that you have lost, or someone who is not where they should be
ᅳsynonym search for
I'm looking for Steve - have you seen him? Detectives are still looking for the escaped prisoner.
2. be looking for somebody/something
to be trying to find a particular kind of thing or person
I'm sorry, we're really looking for someone with no family commitments.
be (just) what/who you are looking for 'Salubrious'! That's just the word I was looking for.
3. be looking for trouble
informal to be behaving in a way that makes it likely that problems or violence will happen
They walked into a bar looking for trouble.
look forward to something phrasal verb
to be excited and pleased about something that is going to happen
I'm really looking forward to our vacation.
look forward to doing something
My mother says she's looking forward to meeting you.
look in phrasal verb
to make a short visit to someone, while you are going somewhere else, especially if they are ill or need help
ᅳsynonym drop in, call in
look in on
I promised to look in on Dad and see if he's feeling any better.
look into something phrasal verb
to try to find out the truth about a problem, crime etc in order to solve it
ᅳsynonym investigate
Police are looking into the disappearance of two children.
look on phrasal verb
1. to watch something happening, without being involved in it or trying to stop it
Only one man tried to help us, the rest just looked on in silence.
2. look on somebody/something
also look upon somebody/something
to consider someone or something in a particular way, or as a particular thing
look on as
I look on him as a good friend.
look on with
Strangers to the village are looked upon with a mixture of fear and suspicion.
look something ↔ out phrasal verb
to search for and find a particular thing among your possessions
I'll look out some of my old books for you.
look out for somebody/something phrasal verb
1. to pay attention to what is happening around you, so that you will notice a particular person or thing if you see them
Look out for your Aunt while you're at the station.
2. to try to make sure that someone is treated well
My older brother always looked out for me when we were kids
look out for yourself/number one (=think only of the advantages you can get for yourself)
look something/somebody ↔ over phrasal verb
to examine something quickly, without paying much attention to detail
Do you have a few minutes to look these samples over?
look round phrasal verb
to look around
look through somebody/something phrasal verb
1. to look for something among a pile of papers, in a drawer, in someone's pockets etc
ᅳsynonym go through
I've looked through all my papers but I still can't find the contract.
2. to not notice or pretend not to notice someone you know, even though you see them
look straight/right through somebody
I saw Fiona in the street yesterday and she looked straight through me.
look to somebody/something phrasal verb
1. to depend on someone to provide help, advice etc
look to somebody/something for
We look to you for support.
look to somebody to do something
They're looking to the new manager to make the company profitable.
2. to pay attention to something, especially in order to improve it
We must look to our defences.
look up phrasal verb
1. if a situation is looking up, it is improving
ᅳsynonym improve, get better Now the summer's here things are looking up !
2. look something ↔up
if you look up information in a book, on a computer etc, you try to find it there
Look the word up in your dictionary. I'll just look up the train times.
3. look somebody ↔up
to visit someone you know, especially when you are in the place where they live for a different reason
Don't forget to look me up when you come to Atlanta.
look up to somebody phrasal verb
to admire or respect someone
I've always looked up to Bill for his courage and determination.
Admit verb past tense and past participle admitted present participle admitting
1. ACCEPT TRUTH
[intransitive and transitive]to agree unwillingly that something is true or that someone else is right
'Okay, so maybe I was a little bit scared,' Jenny admitted.
admit (that)
You may not like her, but you have to admit that she's good at her job.
admit to somebody (that)
Paul admitted to me that he sometimes feels jealous of my friendship with Stanley.
I must admit , I didn't actually do anything to help her. Admit it! I'm right, aren't I?
admit (to) doing something
Dana admitted feeling hurt by what I had said.
freely/openly/frankly etc admit (=admit without being ashamed)
Phillips openly admits to having an alcohol problem.
2. ACCEPT BLAME
[intransitive and transitive]to say that you have done something wrong, especially something criminal
ᅳsynonym confess
ᅳopposite deny
admit doing something
Greene admitted causing death by reckless driving.
admit to (doing) something
A quarter of all workers admit to taking time off when they are not ill. After questioning, he admitted to the murder.
3. ALLOW TO ENTER
[transitive]to allow someone to enter a public place to watch a game, performance etc
ᅳsee also admittance, admission
admit somebody to/into something
Only ticket-holders will be admitted into the stadium.
4. ALLOW TO JOIN
[transitive] to allow someone to join an organization, club etc
admit somebody to/into something
Drake was admitted into the club in 1997.
5. HOSPITAL
[transitive] if people at a hospital admit someone, that person is taken in to be given treatment, tests, or care
What time was she admitted?
be admitted to hospital
British English be admitted to the hospital
American English
6. admit defeat
to stop trying to do something because you realize you cannot succeed
For Haskill, selling the restaurant would be admitting defeat.
7. admit evidence
to allow a particular piece of evidence to be used in a court of law
Courts can refuse to admit evidence obtained illegally by police.
admit of something phrasal verb
if a situation admits of a particular explanation, that explanation can be accepted as possible
The facts admit of no other explanation.
Confide verb transitive
1. to tell someone you trust about personal things that you do not want other people to know
confide to somebody that
He confided to his friends that he didn't have much hope for his marriage.
2. formal to give something you value to someone you trust so they look after it for you
confide something to somebody
He confided his money to his brother's safekeeping.
confide in somebody phrasal verb
to tell someone about something very private or secret, especially a personal problem, because you feel you can trust them
I've never felt able to confide in my sister.
Confidence noun
1. FEELING SOMEBODY/SOMETHING IS GOOD◀
[uncountable] the feeling that you can trust someone or something to be good, work well, or produce good results
confidence in
Our first priority is to maintain the customer's confidence in our product.
The survey reveals a general lack of confidence in the police.
2. BELIEF IN YOURSELF
[uncountable]the belief that you have the ability to do things well or deal with situations successfully
confidence in
Minton is an outstanding boxer, with tremendous confidence in his own ability.
I didn't have any confidence in myself.
lack confidence/be lacking in confidence
She's a good student, but she lacks confidence.
Living on her own in a foreign country for a year gave her a lot of confidence .
confidence to do something
Good training will give a beginner the confidence to enjoy skiing.
gain (in)/lose confidence
You do lose confidence when you spend years and years at home with children.
somebody's confidence is growing/somebody is growing in confidence
I felt I was doing well and my confidence began to grow.
boost/increase etc somebody's confidence (=make someone feel more confident)
shake/damage etc somebody's confidence (=make someone feel less confident)
Julie's confidence was badly shaken by her car accident.
with confidence
Our goal is to prepare students to go into the business world with confidence.
3. FEELING SOMETHING IS TRUE
[uncountable]the feeling that something is definite or true
say/speak/predict etc with confidence
How can anyone say with confidence that the recession is over?
confidence in
I have complete confidence in Mr Wright's analysis of the situation.
have confidence (that)
I have every confidence that the job will be completed satisfactorily on time.
4. gain/win/earn somebody's confidence
if you gain someone's confidence, they begin to trust you
After a discouraging start, the young priest had begun to win the confidence of the villagers.
5. KEEP INFORMATION SECRET
[uncountable]if you tell someone something in confidence, you tell them something on the understanding that they will not tell anyone else
ᅳsee also confide
in confidence
I'll tell you about Moira - in confidence, of course.
in strict/the strictest confidence
Any information given during the interview will be treated in the strictest confidence . breach of confidence (=when someone tells someone something that they were told in confidence) Lawyers are satisfied that no breach of confidence took place.
6. take somebody into your confidence
to tell someone your secrets or private or personal details about your life
Elsa took me into her confidence and told me about some of the problems she was facing.
7. A SECRET
[countable]a secret or a piece of information that is private or personal
share/exchange confidences
They spent their evenings drinking wine and sharing confidences.
ᅳsee also vote of confidence, vote of no confidence
Confident adjective
[not before noun] sure that something will happen in the way that you want or expect
confident (that)
We are confident next year's profits will be higher.
He is quietly confident that there will be no problems this time.
confident of
The Prime Minister appeared relaxed and confident of winning an overall majority.
The company is confident of success .
confident about
I feel quite confident about the future.
2. sure that you have the ability to do things well or deal with situations successfully
Despite her disability, Philippa is very confident.
confident about
I feel much more confident about myself and my abilities these days.
confident smile/voice/manner etc
He began to read in a calm, confident voice.
3. sure that something is true
confident (that)
We are confident we have done nothing wrong.
ᅳconfidently adverb
ᅳsee also self-confident
Bring verb
past tense and past participle brought / brɔːt $ brɒːt /
[transitive]
1. a) to take something or someone with you to the place where you are now, or to the place you are talking about
ᅳsee also take
Did you bring an umbrella? It was the first time Joey had ever brought a girl home .
They brought news of further fighting along the border.
bring something/somebody to something/somebody
Is it OK if I bring some friends to the party?
bring somebody/something with you
For some reason, Jesse had brought a tape recorder with him.
b) to get something for someone and take it to them
bring somebody something
Can you bring me another beer? Robert asked the waiter to bring him the check.
While she was in prison, friends used to bring her books and writing materials.
bring something/somebody to something/somebody
He expects me to bring everything to him in bed.
2. a) to make a particular situation exist or cause a particular feeling
The strikes are expected to bring chaos.
The senator's speech brought an angry response from Civil Rights groups.
b) to cause someone or something to reach a particular state or condition
bring something to an end/a close/a halt/a conclusion (=make something stop)
The trial was swiftly brought to an end. It was the war that first brought him to power (=make someone have power over a country) .
3. [always + adverb/preposition] to make something move in a particular direction
bring something up/down/round etc
Bring your arm up slowly until it's level with your shoulder.
He lifted the axe above his head, then brought it down with a thud on the tree trunk.
4. [always + adverb/preposition]if something brings people to a place, it makes them go there
The discovery of gold brought thousands of people to the Transvaal. What brings you here?
5. to make something available for people to use, have, enjoy etc
The expansion of state education brought new and wider opportunities for working class children.
bring something to somebody/something
The government is launching a new initiative to bring jobs to deprived areas.
bring somebody something
It's a good sign - let's hope it will bring us some luck.
6. if a period of time brings a particular event or situation, the event or situation happens during that time
The 1930s brought unemployment and economic recession. Who knows what the future will bring?
7. bring charges/a lawsuit/a court case/a prosecution/a claim (against somebody)
to begin a court case in order to try to prove that someone has done something wrong or is legally responsible for something wrong
Survivors of the fire later brought a billion dollar lawsuit against the company.
The police say they are planning to bring charges against him.
8. bring a smile to somebody's lips/face
to make someone smile
Her words brought a sudden smile to his lips.
9. bring tears to somebody's eyes
to make someone start to cry
The pain brought tears to his eyes.
10. bring the total/number/score etc to something
used when saying what the new total etc is
This brings the total to 46.
11. cannot/could not bring yourself to do something
to feel unable to do something because it would upset you or someone else too much
She still can't bring herself to talk about it.
12. spoken used when saying that something is the next thing that you want to talk about
that/this/which brings me to ... This brings me to the main point of today's meeting.
13. if a programme is brought to you by a particular television or radio company, they broadcast it or make it
something is brought to you by somebody
This programme is brought to you by the BBC.
14. bring something to bear (on/upon something)
formal to use something, for example your power, authority, or your knowledge, in a way that will have a big effect on something or someone
The full force of the law was brought to bear on anyone who criticized the government.
15. bring home the bacon
informal to earn the money that your family needs to live
bring something ↔ about phrasal verb
to make something happen
ᅳsynonym cause
How can we bring about a change in attitudes?
A huge amount of environmental damage has been brought about by the destruction of the rainforests.
bring somebody/something ↔ along phrasal verb
to take someone or something with you when you go somewhere
You're welcome to bring along a friend. I've brought some pictures along to show you.
bring somebody/something around/round phrasal verb
1. bring the conversation around/round to something
to deliberately and gradually introduce a new subject into a conversation
I'll try to bring the conversation around to the subject of money.
2. to make someone become conscious again
I slapped his face a couple of times to try to bring him round.
3. to manage to persuade someone to do something or to agree with you
She won't listen to me. Let's see if Sue can bring her round.
bring somebody/something around/round to
I'm sure I can bring him around to our point of view.
4. to bring someone or something to someone's house
I'll bring the books around tomorrow.
bring back phrasal verb
1. bring something ↔ back
to start to use something again that was used in the past
ᅳsynonym reintroduce
The city council has decided to bring back the old electric trams.
Bringing back the death penalty has done absolutely nothing to reduce crime.
2. bring something ↔ back
to make you remember something
The trip brought back a lot of happy memories . Seeing those pictures on TV brought it all back to me.
3. bring something ↔ back
to take something or someone with you when you come back from somewhere
bring something back for somebody
Don't forget to bring something back for the kids.
bring somebody back something
If you're going to the store, could you bring me back a six-pack?
4. bring somebody ↔ back
to return someone to their previous job or position of authority
ᅳsynonym reinstate
Following their latest defeat, soccer fans are urging the club to bring back the former manager.
5. bring somebody back to something
if something that is said brings you back to a particular subject, it is connected with that subject, so you will start talking about it again
This brings us back to the question of funding.
bring somebody/something ↔ down phrasal verb
1. to reduce something to a lower level
The government hopes these measures will help to bring down inflation.
2. to fly a plane down to the ground
ᅳsynonym land
The pilot managed to bring the plane down safely.
3. to make a plane, bird, or animal fall to the ground by shooting at it
A bomber had been brought down by anti-aircraft fire.
4. to force a government or ruler to stop ruling a country
a crisis that could bring down the government
5. to make someone fall over
He was brought down by the goalkeeper and awarded a penalty.
bring something ↔ down on/upon somebody phrasal verb
to make something bad happen to someone, especially to yourself or to people connected with you
His recklessness brought down disaster on the whole family.
bring something ↔ forth phrasal verb
to produce something or make it appear
a tragic love affair that brought forth only pain
bring something ↔ forward phrasal verb
1. to change an arrangement so that something happens sooner
bring something ↔ forward to
The meeting's been brought forward to Thursday.
2. bring forward legislation/plans/policies etc
to officially introduce plans etc for people to discuss
The government has brought forward new proposals to tackle the problem of increasing crime.
3. to record the result of a calculation so that it can be used in a further calculation
The balance brought forward is £21,765.
bring somebody/something ↔ in phrasal verb
1. to introduce a new law
Harsh anti-Trade Union laws were brought in in the early 1980s.
2. to ask someone to become involved in a discussion or situation
I'd like to bring in Doctor Hall here and ask him his views.
bring somebody in to do something
The police were brought in to investigate the matter.
3. to earn a particular amount or produce a particular amount of profit
The sale of the house only brought in about £45,000.
4. to attract customers to a shop or business
We've got to bring in more business if we want the restaurant to survive.
5. bring in a verdict
to say officially in a law court whether someone is guilty or not guilty of a crime
ᅳsynonym return a verdict
The jury brought in a verdict of not guilty.
bring somebody/something into something phrasal verb
1. to cause someone or something to be in a particular situation
Most of the land has now been brought into cultivation.
2. to make someone become involved in a discussion or situation
The government is trying to bring teachers into the debate on education
There is a danger that this could bring other countries into the war.
bring something ↔ off phrasal verb
to succeed in doing something difficult
ᅳsynonym pull off
They managed to bring off the most daring jewellery robbery in history.
bring something ↔ on phrasal verb
1
to make something bad or unpleasant happen
ᅳsynonym cause Stress can bring on an asthma attack.
What's brought this on? Have I upset you somehow?
2. to help someone to improve or make progress
Teachers have to bring on the bright children and at the same time give extra help to those who need it.
3. to make plants or crops grow faster
Keeping the young plants in a greenhouse will help bring them on.
bring something on/upon somebody phrasal verb
to make something unpleasant happen to someone
You have brought disaster on the whole village!
bring something on/upon yourself
I've got no sympathy for him - he's brought this all on himself!
bring somebody onto something phrasal verb
if something brings you onto a particular subject, it is a good time for you to start talking about it
This brings me onto the question of pay rises.
bring something ↔ out phrasal verb
1. to make something easier to see, taste, notice etc
The spices really bring out the flavour of the meat. Fatherhood seems to have brought out the caring side of him.
2. to produce something that will be sold to the public
He's bringing out a new album next month. They've brought out a new perfume called 'Desire'.
3. to take something out of a place
Jenny opened the cupboard and brought out a couple of bottles.
4. bring out the best/worst in somebody
to make someone behave in the best or worst way that they can
Alcohol just brings out the worst in her.
5. bring somebody out of himself/herself
to make someone feel more confident and able to talk to people
Changing schools has really brought her out of herself.
bring somebody out in something phrasal verb
if something brings you out in spots, it makes them appear on your skin
Any foods containing wheat bring him out in a rash.
bring somebody/something round
ᅳsee also bring around
bring somebody through (something) phrasal verb
to help someone to successfully deal with a very difficult event or period of time
Both my children have brought me through extremely difficult times since my husband died.
bring somebody ↔ together phrasal verb
1. to arrange for people to meet and do something together
We brought together researchers from three different universities to work on the project.
2. to make people have a better relationship or feel closer to each other
Any attack by a foreign power will inevitably bring the people of a country together.
bring somebody/something ↔ up phrasal verb
1. to mention a subject or start to talk about it
ᅳsynonym raise
Why did you have to bring up the subject of money?
2. to look after and influence a child until he or she is grown up
ᅳsynonym raise
He was brought up by his grandparents.
bring somebody up to do something
In my day, children were brought up to respect the law.
be brought up (as) a Catholic/Muslim etc
I was brought up a Catholic.
ᅳsee also upbringing
3. to make something appear on a computer screen
Can you bring up the list of candidates again?
4. British English if you bring food up, it comes back up from your stomach and out of your mouth
I had a sandwich for lunch and promptly brought it up again.
5. to charge someone with a particular crime and make them go to a court to be judged
bring somebody/something ↔ up before
He was brought up before a magistrate, charged with dangerous driving.
6. bring somebody up short/with a start
to surprise someone and make them suddenly stop talking or doing something
Her question brought me up short.
Doubt noun
[uncountable and countable] a feeling of being not sure whether something is true or right
Ally was confident that we would be ready on time, but I had my doubts .
doubt about
Elizabeth had no doubts at all about his ability to do the job.
The incident raises doubts about the safety of nuclear power.
doubt as to whether/what etc
Some government ministers had serious doubts as to whether the policy would work.
There is an element of doubt as to whether the deaths were accidental.
2. no doubt
used when you are saying that you think something is probably true
No doubt you'll have your own ideas. She was a top student, no doubt about it (=it is certainly true) .
3. if/when (you're) in doubt
used when advising someone what to do if they are uncertain about something
If in doubt, consult your doctor.
4. be in doubt
if something is in doubt, it may not happen, continue, exist, or be true
The future of the peace talks is in doubt.
5. beyond doubt
if something is beyond doubt, it is completely certain
The prosecution must prove beyond reasonable doubt that the accused is guilty of the crime.
put the game/result/match beyond doubt (=do something which makes it certain that a particular player or team will win a match)
Ferdinand's second goal put the game beyond doubt.
6. without doubt
used to emphasize an opinion
Sally was without doubt one of the finest swimmers in the school.
7. open to doubt
something that is open to doubt has not been proved to be definitely true or real
The authenticity of the relics is open to doubt.
ᅳsee also self-doubt, give somebody/something the benefit of the doubt
Doubt verb (transitive not in progressive)
1. to think that something may not be true or that it is unlikely
Kim never doubted his story.
doubt (that) I doubt we'll ever see him again.
doubt if/whether You can complain, but I doubt if it'll make any difference.'
2. to not trust or have confidence in someone
I never doubted myself. I always knew I could play tennis at this level.
ᅳdoubter noun [countable]
Doubtful adjective
1. probably not true or not likely to happen
Prospects for a lasting peace remain doubtful.
it is doubtful if/whether
It was doubtful whether the patient would survive the operation.
it is doubtful that
It is doubtful that the missing airmen will ever be found.
2. not sure that something is true or right
'Everything's going to be all right, you'll see.' Jenny looked doubtful .
doubtful if/whether
I'm still doubtful whether I should accept this job.
doubtful about (doing) something
At first we were doubtful about employing Charlie.
3. unlikely to be successful
Already the whole scheme was looking increasingly doubtful.
4. probably not good
ᅳsynonym dubious Here the tap water is of doubtful quality.
ᅳdoubtfully adverb
Protect verb
1. [intransitive and transitive]to keep someone or something safe from harm, damage, or illness
ᅳsee also protection, protective
Are we doing enough to protect the environment?
protect somebody/something from something
The cover protects the machine from dust.
protect somebody/something against something
Physical exercise can protect you against heart disease.
protect against
Waxing your car will help protect against rust.
2. [transitive usually passive]if an insurance company protects your home, car, life, etc, it agrees to pay you money if things are stolen or damaged or you are hurt or killed
ᅳsynonym cover
Unemployment insurance means that you are partially protected if you lose your job.
3. [transitive] to help the industry and trade of your own country by taxing or restricting foreign goods
Protection noun
1. [uncountable] when someone or something is protected
protection of the protection of the environment
protection against/from evidence that vitamin C gives protection against cancer
protection for This law provides protection for threatened animals and plants.
for protection
The police were issued with body amour for extra protection.
2. [uncountable and countable] something that protects
as (a) protection (against something)
Magee pulled up his collar as protection against the breeze.
3. [uncountable]the promise of payment from an insurance company if something bad happens
ᅳsynonym coverage
4. [uncountable] contraception
Do you have any protection?
5. [uncountable] when criminals threaten to damage your property or hurt you unless you pay them money
protection money
Protective adjective
1. [only before noun] used or intended for protection
protective clothing
2. wanting to protect someone from harm or danger
protective towards
I can't help feeling protective towards my kids.
protective of
He's very protective of his younger brother.
3. intended to give an advantage to your own country's industry
protective tariffs
ᅳprotectively adverb
ᅳprotectiveness noun [uncountable]
Contribute verb
1. [intransitive and transitive] to give money, help, ideas etc to something that a lot of other people are also involved in
contribute to/towards
City employees cannot contribute to political campaigns.
contribute something to/towards something
The volunteers contribute their own time to the project.
2. [intransitive]to help to make something happen
Stress is a contributing factor in many illnesses.
contribute to
Alcohol contributes to 100,000 deaths a year in the US.
contribute substantially/significantly/greatly etc to something
Enya's success has contributed substantially to the current interest in Celtic music.
3. [intransitive and transitive] to write articles, stories, poems etc for a newspaper or magazine
ᅳsee also contributor
contribute to
one of several authors contributing to the book
Contribution noun
1. [countable]something that you give or do in order to help something be successful
contribution to/towards
Einstein was awarded the Nobel Prize for his contribution to Quantum Theory.
The school sees its job as preparing students to make a contribution to society. significant/substantial/valuable etc contribution
Wolko made outstanding contributions to children's medicine.
2. [countable] an amount of money that you give in order to help pay for something
a campaign contribution
contribution of
A contribution of £25 will buy 15 books.
contribution to/towards
Contributions to charities are tax deductible.
You can make annual contributions of up to $1000 in education savings accounts.
3. [countable] a regular payment that you make to your employer or to the government to pay for things that you will receive when you are no longer working, for example health care, a pension etc
income tax and national insurance contributions
contribution to
Have you been making regular contributions to a pension plan?
4. [countable] a piece of writing, a song, a speech etc that forms part of a larger work such as a newspaper, book, broadcast, recording etc
contribution from
a magazine with contributions from well-known travel writers
a Christmas album featuring contributions from Carly Simon, Amy Grant, and others
5. [uncountable] when you give money, time, help etc
All the money has been raised by voluntary contribution.
Contributor noun (countable)
1. someone who gives money, help, ideas etc to something that a lot of other people are also involved in
campaign contributors
contributor to
Dr Win was a major contributor to the research.
2. someone who writes a story, song, speech etc that forms part of a larger work such as a newspaper, book, broadcast, recording etc
contributor to
a regular contributor to Time magazine
3. formal someone or something that helps to cause something to happen
contributor to
Cars are still one of the principal contributors to air pollution.
Shiver verb [intransitive]
to shake slightly because you are cold or frightened
ᅳsynonym tremble
Jake stood shivering in the cold air.
shiver with cold/fear/delight etc She shivered with fear and anger.
see usage note shake
Shiver noun [countable]
1. a slight shaking movement of your body caused by cold or fear
ᅳsynonym tremble
A shiver ran through (=went through) me.
shiver of
She felt a shiver of apprehension.
2. give you the shivers
informal to make you feel afraid
ᅳsee also send shivers (up and) down your spine
Shivery adjective [not before noun]
trembling or shaking because of cold, fear, or illness
He felt shivery and nauseous.
Strain noun
1. WORRY
[uncountable and countable]worry that is caused by having to deal with a problem or work too hard over a long period of time
ᅳsee also stress
I couldn't look after him any more; the strain was too much for me.
Did you find the job a strain ?the stresses and strains of police life
strain for
The trial has been a terrible strain for both of us.
strain on
It's quite a strain on me when he's drinking heavily.
put/place a strain on somebody
The long working hours put a severe strain on employees.
under (a) strain
I know you've been under a lot of strain lately.
crack/collapse/buckle etc under the strain (=become unable to deal with a problem or work)
I could see that she was beginning to crack under the strain.
2. DIFFICULTY
[uncountable and countable]a difficulty or problem that is caused when a person, relationship, organization, or system has too much to do or too many problems to deal with
strain on
The dry summer has further increased the strain on water resources.
put/place (a) strain on something
The flu epidemic has put a huge strain on the health service.
strain in
The attack has led to strains in the relationship between the two countries.
under (a) strain
His marriage was under strain.
break/crack/collapse etc under the strain
The party split under the strain.
3 FORCE
[uncountable]a situation in which something is being pulled or pushed, or is holding weight, and so might break or become damaged
strain on
The strain on the cables supporting the bridge is enormous.
put/place (a) strain on something
Some of these exercises put too much strain on the back muscles.
These four posts take the strain of the whole structure.
break/snap/collapse etc under the strain The rope snapped under the strain.
4. INJURY
[uncountable and countable] an injury to a muscle or part of your body that is caused by using it too much
Long hours working at a computer can cause eye strain. The goalkeeper is still out of action with a knee strain.
5. PLANT/ANIMAL
[countable] a type of animal, plant, or disease
strain of
different strains of wheat a new strain of the flu virus
6. QUALITY
[singular] a particular quality which people have, especially one that is passed from parents to children
strain of
There's a strain of madness in his family.
7. WAY OF SAYING SOMETHING
[singular] formal an amount of a feeling that you can see in the way someone speaks, writes, paints etc
a strain of bitterness in Young's later work
8. strains of something
literary the sound of music being played
We sipped wine to the strains of Beethoven.
Strain verb
1. INJURE
[transitive] to injure a muscle or part of your body by using it too much or making it work too hard
I've strained a muscle in my leg You'll strain your eyes trying to read in this light.
2. EFFORT
[intransitive and transitive]to try very hard to do something using all your strength or ability
strain (something) to do something
She was straining to keep her head above the water.
strain for
Bill choked and gasped, straining for air.
strain your ears/eyes (=try very hard to hear or see)
I strained my ears, listening for any sound in the silence of the cave.
3. LIQUID
[transitive] to separate solid things from a liquid by pouring the mixture through something with very small holes in it
ᅳsee also sieve She strained the pasta.
4. DIFFICULTY
[transitive] to cause difficulties for something by making too much work or too many problems which it cannot deal with easily
The increased costs will certainly strain our finances.
The incident has strained relations between the two countries.
5. PULL/PUSH
[intransitive] to pull hard at something or push hard against something
strain against
Buddy's huge gut strained against the buttons on his shirt.
strain at
a dog straining at its lead
6. strain every nerve
to try as hard as possible to do something
He was straining every nerve to impress the judges.
7. be straining at the leash
to be eager to be allowed to do something
There are 30,000 troops in the area, all straining at the leash.
8. not strain yourself
to not work too hard or do too much physical activity
Don't strain yourself.
Strained adjective
1. a strained situation or behaviour is not relaxed, natural, or friendly
ᅳsynonym tense
I couldn't stand the strained atmosphere at dinner any more.
the increasingly strained relations between the French and German governments
2. showing the effects of worry or too much work
Nina's voice sounded strained. Alex's pale, strained face
Abandon verb [transitive]
1. to leave someone, especially someone you are responsible for
How could she abandon her own child?
2. to go away from a place, vehicle etc permanently, especially because the situation makes it impossible for you to stay
ᅳsynonym leave
We had to abandon the car and walk the rest of the way.
Fearing further attacks, most of the population had abandoned the city.
3. to stop doing something because there are too many problems and it is impossible to continue
The game had to be abandoned due to bad weather.
4. to stop having a particular idea, belief, or attitude
They were accused of abandoning their socialist principles. Rescuers had abandoned all hope of finding any more survivors.
5. abandon yourself to something
literary to feel an emotion so strongly that you let it control you completely
She abandoned herself to grief.
6. abandon ship
to leave a ship because it is sinking
ᅳabandonment noun [uncountable]
abandon noun (uncountable)
if someone does something with abandon, they behave in a careless or uncontrolled way, without thinking or caring about what they are doing
with reckless/wild abandon
They drank and smoked with reckless abandon.
Abandoned adjective
1. an abandoned building, car, boat etc has been left by the people who owned or used it
The car was found abandoned in Bristol. the demolition of abandoned buildings
2. [only before noun] an abandoned person or animal has been left completely alone by the person that was looking after them
3. literary behaving in a wild and uncontrolled way
Pain noun
1. [uncountable and countable] the feeling you have when part of your body hurts
pain in
The pain in her jaw had come back.
I had a nasty pain in my leg. Greg was in a lot of pain .
ᅳsee also growing pains
2. [uncountable and countable]the feeling of unhappiness you have when you are sad, upset, etc
the pain and grief of bereavement
cause (somebody) pain/inflict pain on somebody
She hated to say the words, for fear of causing pain.
3. be a pain (in the neck)
spoken also be a pain in the ass/backside/butt not polite
to be very annoying
There were times when Joe could be a real pain in the neck.
It's a pain, having to go upstairs to make the coffee every time.
4. take/go to (great) pains to do something
also take pains with/over something
to make a special effort to do something
He's taken great pains to improve his image.
5. be at pains to do something
to be especially careful to make sure people understand what you are saying or what you plan to do
Roy was at pains to point out that English was the only exam he'd ever failed.
6. for your pains
as a reward for something you worked to achieve - used especially when this is disappointing
I fetched the file, and all I got for my pains was a dirty look from Simon.
7. on/under pain of death
at the risk of being killed as punishment, if you do not obey
Communist activity was prohibited on pain of death.
pain verb [transitive]
it pains somebody to do something
formal used to say that it is very difficult and upsetting for someone to have to do something
painful adjective
1. making you feel very upset, or very difficult and unpleasant for you
ᅳopposite painless
painful memories/experience etc
He sobbed as he recalled the painful memory.
Venice was a painful reminder of her marriage.
painful to do something
It can be painful to leave the house in which you were born.
painful for/to
The divorce was painful for both of us. Even hearing his name was painful to her.
2. if a part of your body is painful, it hurts
stiff, painful joints
Is your arm very painful?
3. causing physical pain
a painful blow on the head
excruciatingly/extremely painful an excruciatingly painful death
painful to do something
He was finding it painful to breathe.
4. if someone's behaviour or a performance is painful, it is so bad that it embarrasses people
painful to watch/listen/hear to etc
It's painful to watch her making the best of a terrible script.
painfully adverb
1. very - used to emphasize a bad or harmful quality that someone or something has
painfully thin arms
As a teenager, I was painfully shy.
painfully obvious/clear/evident/apparent It was painfully obvious he'd rather not see her again.
2. with pain or causing pain
Robyn swallowed painfully.
3. needing a lot of effort
all the knowledge that he had so painfully acquired
Secure adjective
1. PERMANENT/CERTAIN
a situation that is secure is one that you can depend on because it is not likely to change
There are no secure jobs these days. We want a secure future for our children.
2. PLACE/BUILDING
locked or guarded so that people cannot get in or out, or steal anything
The house isn't very secure - we need some new locks. Keep your passport in a secure place . secure accommodation British English (=a type of prison)
In the last year only three children under the age of 14 have had to be placed in secure accommodation.
3. SAFE FROM HARM
safe from and protected against damage or attack
Companies can offer secure credit card transactions over the internet.
secure from
These elephants are relatively secure from poachers.
4. CONFIDENT
feeling confident about yourself and your abilities
ᅳopposite insecure
We want our children to be secure and feel good about themselves.
5. NOT WORRIED
feeling confident and certain about a situation and not worried that it might change
Workers no longer feel secure about the future.
It was enough money to make us feel financially secure .
6. FIRMLY FASTENED
firmly fastened or tied, and not likely to fall down
Are you sure that shelf is secure?
Secure verb [transitive]
1. GET/ACHIEVE
to get or achieve something that will be permanent, especially after a lot of effort
Boyd's goal secured his team's place in the Cup Final.
secure a deal/contract
The company recently secured a $20 million contract with Ford.
Negotiators are still working to secure the hostages' release.
2. SAFE FROM HARM
to make something safe from being attacked, harmed, or lost
Troops were sent to secure the border.
secure something against somebody/something
They built a 10ft high fence to secure the house against intruders.
3. TIE FIRMLY
to fasten or tie something firmly in a particular position
secure something to something
John secured the boat firmly to the jetty.
4. BORROWING MONEY
if you secure a debt or a loan, you legally promise that if you cannot pay back the money you have borrowed, you will give the lender goods or property of the same value instead
He used his house to secure the loan .
securely adverb
1. tied, fastened etc tightly, especially in order to make something safe
securely locked/fastened/attached/held etc
All firearms should be kept securely locked in a cabinet.
2.in a way that protects something from being stolen or lost
Customers can now buy products securely over the internet.
3. in a way that is likely to continue successfully and not change
By that time, democracy had become securely established in Spain.
Journey noun
[countable]
1. especially British English a time spent travelling from one place to another, especially over a long distance
American Equivalent: trip
journey to/from/between
my journey to China a long slow journey from Odessa
journey through/across etc
our journey across Europe
the friends they made on the journey I still use my car, but now I make fewer journeys .
see usage note travel
2. literary a long and often difficult process by which someone or something changes and develops
our journey through life
journey verb [intransitive always + adverb/preposition]
literary to travel
They left the town and journeyed south.
Go verb past tense went / past participle gone / third person singular goes / gəʊz \ goʊz /
1. MOVE/TRAVEL
a) [intransitive always + adverb/preposition]
to travel or move to a place that is away from where you are or where you live
ᅳsee also come There's nothing more we can do here. Let's go home .
b) [intransitive and transitive]to move or travel in a particular way or for a particular distance
It took us over an hour to go ten miles.
c) go and do something
also go do something American English
[not in past tenses] to move to a particular place in order to do something
Go wash your hands before lunch. I went and spoke to the manager.
2. go flying/laughing/rushing etc
to move in a particular way, or to do something as you are moving
The plate went crashing to the floor.
3. ATTEND
a) [intransitive] to be at a concert, party, meeting etc
go to
Are you going to Manuela's party? I first went to a rock concert when I was 15.
b) go to school/church/work etc
to regularly attend school, a church etc
He doesn't go to the synagogue these days.
4. LEAVE
[intransitive]to leave a place
What time does the last train go? Right, let's go! She turned to go.
be/get going It's late! I must get going.
5. DO PARTICULAR ACTIVITY
[intransitive and transitive]to leave the place where you are, in order to do something
go for a walk/swim etc Let's go for a walk. go shopping/swimming/skiing etc I need to go shopping this afternoon. go on a trip/tour/cruise etc My parents are going on a cruise.
6. be going to do something
a) to intend to do something
I'm going to tell Dad what you said.
b) used to talk about what will happen in the future
He looked as if he was going to cry. It's going to rain later.
ᅳsee also gonna
7. REACH
[intransitive always + adverb/preposition, not in progressive] to reach as far as a particular place or to lead to a particular place
The road goes through the middle of the forest. The belt won't go around my waist.
8. CHANGE
[linking verb]to change in some way, especially by becoming worse than before
The company went bankrupt last year. go bad/sour etc The bread's gone mouldy. go grey/white etc Her hair is starting to go grey. go mad/deaf/bald etc He went crazy and tried to kill her. go wild/mad/white etc with something The crowd was going wild with excitement.
9. HAPPEN
[intransitive always + adverb/preposition]to happen or develop in a particular way
How did your French test go?
go well/smoothly/fine etc The party went well. Everything's going fine at the moment.
10. how are things going?/how's it going?/how goes it?
spoken used to ask someone what is happening in their life, especially used as a greeting
'Hi Jane. How's it going?' 'Fine, thanks.'
11. USUAL POSITION
[intransitive always + adverb/preposition, not in progressive] if something goes somewhere, that is its usual position
Where do the plates go? The book goes on the top shelf.
12. FIT
[intransitive not in progressive] to be the right size, shape, or amount for a particular space
go in/under/inside etc
I don't think all that will go in the suitcase.
13. BE SENT
[intransitive] to be sent or passed on
go by/through/to etc
The email went to everyone in the company. That letter should go by special delivery.
14. BE IN A PARTICULAR STATE/CONDITION
[linking verb] to be in a particular state or condition, especially a bad one
Many families are forced to go hungry .
15. go unanswered/unnoticed/unrewarded etc
to not be answered, noticed etc
All my letters went unanswered. He hoped that his nervousness would go unnoticed.
16. START
[intransitive] to start doing something
The preparations have been completed and we're ready to go.
17. WORK WELL
[intransitive] if a clock, watch, or machine goes, it moves and works as it should do
My watch isn't going. I couldn't get the pump going (=make it work) .
18. MAKE MOVEMENT
[intransitive always + adverb/preposition] used when you are telling someone about what movement someone or something made
She went like this with her hand.
19. SAY
[transitive] spoken informal to say something
I asked her what she meant and she just went, 'Don't ask!'
20. MAKE A SOUND
[transitive] to make a particular sound
The balloon suddenly went bang.
21. don't go doing something
spoken used to tell someone not to do something, especially something that is wrong or bad
It's a secret, so don't go telling everyone.
22. have gone and done something
spoken used when you are surprised or annoyed by what someone has done
Kay's gone and lost the car keys!
23. to go
a) still remaining before something happens
Only ten days to go to Christmas!
b) still having to be done or dealt with before you have finished
Laura's sat six exams and has two more to go.
c) still to travel before you reach the place you are going to
only another five miles left to go
d) used for saying that you want to take food away from a restaurant and eat it somewhere else
Two chicken dinners with corn to go.
24. don't go there
spoken informal used to say that you do not want to think or talk about something
'John and Clare having children?' ' Don't go there!' 'What if the two of them...' Don't even go there !
25. STORY/DISCUSSION/SONG ETC
[intransitive always + adverb/preposition, transitive not in progressive] used to talk about what something such as a story or song consists of
The story goes that my grandfather saved his captain's life in battle.
26. WHISTLE/BELL ETC
[intransitive] to make a noise as a warning or signal
A bell goes to mark the end of each class.
27. here/there somebody goes again
spoken used when someone has annoyed you by doing something they know you do not like
There you go again, jumping to conclusions.
28. DISAPPEAR
[intransitive]to no longer exist or no longer be in the same place
ᅳsynonym disappear Has your headache gone yet?
The door was open and all his things had gone.
29. GET INTO WORSE CONDITION◀
[intransitive] if one of your senses such as sight, hearing etc is going, it is getting worse
Dad's eyesight is starting to go. I'd forgotten that. My mind must be going.
30. TO BE OBEYED
[intransitive] if what someone says goes, that person is in authority and what they say should be obeyed
Phil's in charge around here, and what he says goes.
31. BE DAMAGED
[intransitive] to become weak, damaged etc, or stop working properly
The bulb's gone in the bathroom. My jeans are starting to go at the knee.
32. DIE
[intransitive] to die - use this when you want to avoid saying the word 'die'
Now that his wife's gone, he's all on his own. When I go, I'd like to have my ashes scattered at sea.
ᅳsee also dead and gone
33. BE SPENT
[intransitive] to be spent
I don't know where all my money goes!
go on
Half her salary goes on the rent.
34. BE SOLD
[intransitive] to be sold
go for/at
A house like this would go for £250,000.
go to
The jewels will go to the highest bidder.
He bought me some CDs which were going cheap (=were being sold at a low price) .
35. PAY MONEY
[intransitive] to offer a particular amount of money for something
I'll give you $500 for it but I can't go any higher than that.
go to
I think we could probably go to £15,000.
36. going, going, gone!
spoken used to say that something has been sold at an auction
37. TIME
[intransitive always + adverb/preposition] used to say how quickly or slowly time passes
The day seemed to go so slowly.
38. there/bang goes something
spoken used to say that you are disappointed because something has stopped you doing or getting what you wanted
Well, there goes my chance of fame!
39. go to show/prove/indicate etc something
to help to prove something
It just goes to show how much people judge each other by appearances.
40. be going
informal to be available
Are there any jobs going at the café? I'll take that if it's going spare .
41. COLOURS/STYLES/TASTES
[intransitive] if colours, tastes, styles etc go, they look, taste etc good together
I don't think pink and yellow really go.
go with
Do you think this shirt will go with the skirt I bought?
go together
Pork and apple go especially well together.
42. as somebody/something goes
used for comparing someone or something with the average person or thing of that type
As marriages go, it certainly wasn't dull.
43. go all out
to try very hard to do or get something
go all out for
We're going all out for victory in this afternoon's game.
go all out to do something
The company will be going all out to improve on last year's sales.
44. have nothing/not much/a lot etc going for somebody/something
used to talk about how many advantages and good qualities someone or something has
It's a town that's got a lot going for it.
45. where does somebody/something go from here?
spoken used to ask what should be done next, especially when there is a problem
So where do you think we should go from here?
46. LEAVE A JOB
[intransitive] to leave your job, especially because you are forced to
He was becoming an embarrassment to the government and had to go. If Jill goes, who will take her place?
47. GET RID OF SOMETHING
[intransitive] if something goes, someone gets rid of it
The policies will have to go if the party is to win the next election. A hundred jobs are expected to go following the merger.
48. TOILET
[intransitive] informal to make waste come out of your body
go about phrasal verb
1. go about something
to start to do something
I want to learn German but I don't know the best way to go about it.
go about doing something
The leaflet tells you how to go about making a will.
2. go about something
to do something in the way that you usually do
The villagers were going about their business as usual.
She went about her preparations in a quiet businesslike way.
3. British English if a ship goes about, it turns to go in the opposite direction
go after something/somebody phrasal verb
1. to follow or chase someone or something because you want to catch them
Joe went after her to make sure she was unhurt.
2. to try to get something
I can't decide whether to go after the job or not.
go against somebody/something phrasal verb
1. if something goes against your beliefs, principles etc, it is opposite to them
This goes against everything I've been brought up to believe in.
2. to do the opposite of what someone wants or advises you to do
She was scared to go against her father's wishes.
3. if a decision, judgment etc goes against you, you do not get the result you want
His lawyer hinted that the case might go against him. The vote went against the government.
go ahead phrasal verb
1. to start to do something, especially after planning it or asking permission to do it
go ahead with
They've decided to go ahead with plans to build 50 new houses on the site.
go ahead and do something
I went ahead and arranged the trip anyway.
2. if an event or process goes ahead, it happens
A judge has ruled that the music festival can go ahead.
3. spoken used to give someone permission to do something, or let them speak before you
'Do you mind if I open the window?' 'No, go ahead.' If you want to leave, go right ahead .
4. also go on ahead
to go somewhere before the other people in your group
You go ahead and we'll catch you up later.
go ahead of
He stood back to let Sue go ahead of him.
5. to start to be winning a game or competition
Dulwich went ahead after 22 minutes.
ᅳsee also go-ahead
go along phrasal verb
1. if you do something as you go along, you do it without planning or preparing it
He was making the story up as he went along. I never had formal training, I just learned the job as I went along.
2. to go to an event or a place where something is happening
go along to
I might go along to the meeting tonight.
3. to happen or develop in a particular way
Things seem to be going along nicely.
go along with somebody/something phrasal verb
1. to agree with or support someone or something
I would be happy to go along with the idea. Often it was easier to go along with her rather than risk an argument.
2. go along with you!
British English spoken old-fashioned used to tell someone that you do not believe what they are saying
go around phrasal verb
1. DRESS/BEHAVE
also British English go about
to behave or dress in a particular way
go around doing something
You can't go around accusing people like that.
2.ILLNESS
go around (something)
also go about (something) British English
if an illness is going around, a lot of people get it
He had a bad dose of the flu virus that was going around. There are a lot of nasty bugs going around the school.
3. NEWS/STORY
go around (something)
also go about (something) British English
if news, a story, a joke etc is going around, a lot of people hear it and are talking about it
A rumour was going around that I was having an affair with my boss.
4. go around with somebody/go around together
also go about with somebody British English
to meet someone often and spend a lot of time with them
I used to go around with a bad crowd.
5. enough/plenty to go around
enough for each person
Is there enough ice-cream to go around? There were never enough textbooks to go around.
6. what goes around comes around
used to say that if someone does bad things now, bad things will happen to them in the future
7. go around in your head
if words, sounds etc go around in your head, you keep remembering them for a long time
That stupid song kept going around in my head.
go at something/somebody phrasal verb
1. to attack someone or argue with someone in a noisy way
The two dogs went at each other as soon as I opened the gate.
2. to do something, or start to do something, with a lot of energy
Mary went at the task with great enthusiasm.
go away phrasal verb
1. to leave a place or person
Go away and leave me alone! I went away wondering if I'd said the wrong thing.
2. to travel to a place and spend some time there, for example for a holiday
Are you going away this year?
go away for
We're going away for the weekend.
go away to
He's going away to college next year.
go away on
I'm going away on a business trip next week.
3. if a problem, unpleasant feeling etc goes away, it disappears
Ignoring the crime problem won't make it go away.
go back phrasal verb
1. to return to a place that you have just come from
I think we ought to go back now.
go back to/into/inside etc
I felt so sick I just wanted to go back to bed.
go back for
I had to go back for my passport (=to get my passport) .
2. there's no going back
spoken used to say that you cannot make a situation the same as it was before
I realized that once the baby was born there would be no going back.
3. [ always + adverb/preposition] to have been made, built, or started at some time in the past
It's a tradition that goes back at least 100 years.
go back to
The building goes back to Roman times.
4. if people go back a particular length of time, they have known each other for that length of time
Peter and I go back 25 years. We go back a long way (=we have been friends for a long time) .
5. to think about a particular time in the past or something that someone said before
If you go back 20 years, most people didn't own a computer.
go back to
I'd like to go back to the point that was made earlier.
go back on something phrasal verb
to not do something that you promised or agreed to do
go back on your word/promise/decision
Delors claimed that the President had gone back on his word.
go back to something phrasal verb
to start doing something again after you have stopped for a period of time
He went back to sleep.
go back to doing something
She went back to watching TV.
go before phrasal verb
1. to happen or exist before something else
In some ways this program improves on what has gone before.
2. go before somebody/something
if something goes before a judge, group of people in authority etc, they consider it before making a decision
The case will go before the court. The proposal is likely to go before the committee.
go beyond something phrasal verb
to be much better, worse, more serious etc than something else
Their relationship had gone beyond friendship. This goes beyond all limits of acceptable behaviour.
go by phrasal verb
1. if time goes by, it passes
Things will get easier as time goes by . as the days/weeks/years go by hardly a As the weeks went by, I became more and more worry. . in days/times/years etc gone by (=in the past) These herbs would have been grown for medicinal purposes in days gone by.
2. go by something
to form an opinion about someone or something from the information or experience that you have
You can't always go by appearances. If his past plays are anything to go by , this should be a play worth watching.
3. go by something
to do things according to a set of rules or laws
Only a fool goes by the rules all the time.
go down phrasal verb
1. GET LOWER
to become lower in level, amount etc
His income went down last year. Computers have gone down in price. go down by 10%/250/$900 etc Spending has gone down by 2%.
2. STANDARD
if something goes down, its quality or standard gets worse
This neighbourhood has really gone down in the last few years.
3. go down well/badly/a treat etc
a) to get a particular reaction from someone
His suggestion did not go down very well. The movie went down very well in America.
b) if food or drink goes down well, you enjoy it
I'm not that hungry so a salad would go down nicely.
4. GO FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER
to go from one place to another, especially to a place that is further south
go down to
We're going down to Bournemouth for the weekend. He's gone down to the store to get some milk.
5. go down the shops/club/park etc
British English spoken informal to go to the shops, a club etc
Does anyone want to go down the pub tonight?
6/ SHIP
if a ship goes down, it sinks
Ten men died when the ship went down.
7. PLANE
if a plane goes down, it suddenly falls to the ground
An emergency call was received shortly before the plane went down.
8. BECOME LESS SWOLLEN
to become less swollen
The swelling will go down if you rest your foot.
9. LOSE AIR
if something that is filled with air goes down, air comes out and it becomes smaller and softer
Your tyre's gone down.
10. BE REMEMBERED◀
[always + adverb/preposition] to be recorded or remembered in a particular way
go down as
The talks went down as a landmark in the peace process.
The carnival will go down in history (=be remembered for many years) as one of the best ever.
11. COMPETITION/SPORT
a) to lose a game, competition, or election
The Hawkers went down 5-9.
go down by
The government went down by 71 votes.
go down to
Liverpool went down to Juventus.
b) to move down to a lower position in an official list of teams or players
go down to
United went down to the second division.
12. COMPUTER
if a computer goes down, it stops working for a short time
If one of the file servers goes down, you lose the whole network.
13. LIGHTS
if lights go down, they become less bright
The lights went down and the curtain rose on an empty stage.
14. SUN
when the sun goes down, it appears to move down until you cannot see it any more
15. WIND
if the wind goes down, it becomes less strong
The wind had gone down but the night had turned chilly.
16. PRISON
informal to be sent to prison
He went down for five years.
17. HAPPEN
spoken informal to happen
the type of guy who knows what's going down What's going down?
18. LEAVE UNIVERSITY
British English formal old-fashioned to leave Oxford or Cambridge University at the end of a period of study
go down on somebody phrasal verb
to touch someone's sexual organs with the lips and tongue in order to give them sexual pleasure
go down with something phrasal verb
to become ill, especially with an infectious disease
Half the team had gone down with flu.
go for somebody/something phrasal verb
1. ATTACK
British English to attack or criticize someone
The dog suddenly went for me.
2. TRY TO GET SOMETHING◀
to try to get or win something
Jackson is going for his second gold medal here.
go for it spoken (=used to encourage someone to try to achieve something)
If you really want the job, go for it!
3. CHOOSE
British English to choose something
I think I'll go for the chocolate cake.
4. I could/would go for something
spoken used to say that you would like to do or have something
A full meal for less than five bucks! I could go for that!
5. LIKE
informal to like a particular type of person or thing
Annie tends to go for older men.
6. the same goes for somebody/something
also that goes for somebody/something too
spoken used to say that a statement you have just made is true about someone or something else too
Close all doors and lock them when you go out. The same goes for windows.
go in phrasal verb
when the sun or the moon goes in, cloud moves in front of it so that it cannot be seen
go in for something phrasal verb
1. to do an examination or take part in a competition
I go in for all the competitions.
2. to do or use something often because you enjoy it or like it
I never really went in for sports.
3. to choose something as your job
I suppose I could go in for advertising.
go in with somebody phrasal verb
to join with someone else to start a business or organization
Ellie's going in with a friend who's just started a café.
go into something phrasal verb
1. JOB
[not in passive] to start to do a particular type of job
I always wanted to go into nursing. She's thinking of going into business (=starting a business) .
2. TIME/MONEY/EFFORT
[not in passive] to be spent or used to get, make, or do something
Years of research have gone into this book.
go into doing something
A great deal of time and effort has gone into ensuring that the event runs smoothly.
3. EXPLAIN
to explain, describe, or examine something in detail
I don't want to go into the matter now. I don't want to go into details now.
4. COMPUTER
[not in passive] to open a particular computer program, window, or file
Go into your D drive.
5. BE IN A PARTICULAR STATE
[not in passive] to start to be in a particular state or condition
She went into labour at midnight and the baby was born at 8 am. The company went into liquidation.
6. HIT
[not in passive] if a vehicle goes into a tree, wall, or another vehicle, it hits it
His car went into a lamppost in the high street.
7. DIVIDE
[not in passive] if a number goes into another number, the second number can be divided by the first
12 goes into 60 five times.
8. BEGIN TO MOVE IN PARTICULAR WAY
[not in passive] if a vehicle goes into a particular movement, it starts to do it
The plane had gone into a steep descent.
go off phrasal verb
1. LEAVE
to leave a place, especially in order to do something
He went off in search of something to eat. John decided to go off on his own.
go off to
He went off to work as usual.
go off to do something
Geoff went off to play golf.
2. EXPLODE
to explode or fire
The bomb went off at 6.30 this morning. Fireworks were going off all over the city. The gun went off and the bullet went flying over his head.
3. MAKE A NOISE◀
if an alarm goes off, it makes a noise to warn you about something
The thieves ran away when the alarm went off. I've set the alarm clock to go off at 7 am.
4. STOP LIKING
go off somebody/something
British English informal to stop liking something or someone
Many women go off coffee during pregnancy.
go off doing something
I've gone off cooking lately.
5. STOP WORKING
if a machine or piece of equipment goes off, it stops working
The central heating goes off at 9 o'clock. Suddenly, all the lights went off.
6. go off well/badly etc
to happen in a particular way
The party went off very well.
7. HAPPEN
British English spoken informal to happen
ᅳsynonym go on
There was a blazing row going off next door.
8. DECAY
British English if food goes off, it becomes too bad to eat
The milk's gone off.
9. SLEEP
to go to sleep
I'd just gone off to sleep when the phone rang.
10. GET WORSE
British English informal to get worse
He's a singer whose talent has gone off in recent years.
go off on somebody phrasal verb
to criticize or speak to someone in a very angry way
go off with something/somebody phrasal verb
1. to leave your usual sexual partner in order to have a relationship with someone else
She's gone off with her husband's best friend.
2. to take something away from a place without having permission
Who's gone off with my pen?
go on phrasal verb
1. CONTINUE
a) to continue doing something or being in a situation
go on doing something
He went on working until he was 91.
go on with
One of the actors was unwell and couldn't go on with the performance.
I can't go on like this for much longer.
b) to continue without stopping
The noise goes on 24 hours a day. The screaming went on and on (=continued for a long time) .
ᅳsee also ongoing
2. HAPPEN
to happen
I don't know what's going on. What were the children doing while all this was going on? Like all good resorts, there is plenty going on.
ᅳsee also goings-on
3. DO SOMETHING NEXT
to do something after you have finished doing something else
go on to do something
She went on to become a successful surgeon.
go on to
Go on to the next question when you've finished.
4. CONTINUE TALKING
to continue talking, especially after stopping or changing to a different subject
Go on, I'm listening. 'But,' he went on, 'we have to deal with the problems we're facing.'
go on with
After a short pause Maria went on with her story.
5. go on
spoken
a) used to encourage someone to do something
Go on, have another piece of cake.
b) used when you are agreeing to do something or giving permission for something
'Are you sure you won't have another drink?' 'Oh, go on then.' 'Can I go outside, Dad?' 'Yeah, go on then.'
c) also go on with you
British English old-fashioned used to tell someone that you do not believe them
6. USE AS PROOF
go on something
to base an opinion or judgment on something
Police haven't much to go on in their hunt for the killer.
7. START TO WORK
if a machine or piece of equipment goes on, it starts to work
The heat goes on automatically at 6 o'clock.
8. TIME
to pass
As time went on, I grew fond of him.
9. BEHAVE
British English informal the way someone goes on is the way they behave
The way she's going on, she'll have a nervous breakdown.
10. be going on (for) 5 o'clock/60/25 etc
to be nearly a particular time, age, number etc
Nancy must be going on for 60. She's one of those wise teenagers who's 16 going on 70 (=she behaves as though she is older than she is) .
11. GO IN FRONT
also go on ahead
to go somewhere before the other people you are with
Bill went on in the car and I followed on foot.
12. TALK TOO MUCH
informal to talk too much
I really like Clare but she does go on.
go on about
I got tired of him going on about all his problems.
He just went on and on about his new girlfriend.
13. CRITICIZE
British English informal to continue to criticize someone or ask them to do something in a way that annoys them
The way she went on, you would have thought it was all my fault.
go on at
Stop going on at me!
go on at somebody to do something
My wife's always going on at me to dress better.
go on at somebody about something
He's always going on at me about fixing the door.
14. DEVELOP
British English spoken informal to develop or make progress
15. to be going on with/to go on with
British English informal if you have enough of something to be going on with, you have enough for now
Have you got enough money to be going on with?
go out phrasal verb
1. LEAVE YOUR HOUSE
to leave your house, especially in order to enjoy yourself
Are you going out tonight?
go out for
We went out for a meal and then on to a movie.
go out doing something
Liam goes out drinking every Friday.
go out to do something
Can I go out to play now?
go out and do something
You should go out and get some fresh air.
2. RELATIONSHIP
to have a romantic relationship with someone
They've been going out for two years now.
go out with
Tina used to go out with my brother.
go out together
How long have you been going out together?
3. FIRE/LIGHT
to stop burning or shining
Suddenly the candle went out.
4. TV/RADIO
British English to be broadcast on television or radio
The programme goes out live at 5 o'clock on Mondays.
5. BE SENT
to be sent
A copy of the instructions should go out with the equipment. The magazine goes out to all members at the end of the month.
6. GAME/SPORT
to stop playing in a competition because you have lost a game
He went out in the first round.
7. MOVE ABROAD
to travel to another country in order to live and work there
8. NO LONGER FASHIONABLE
to stop being fashionable or used
Hats like that went out years ago. This kind of entertainment went out with the ark (=is very old-fashioned) .
9. SEA◀
when the tide goes out, the sea moves away from the land
ᅳopposite come in
10. MAKE PUBLIC
if news or a message goes out, it is officially announced to everyone
The appeal went out for food and medicines.
11. your heart/thoughts go out to somebody
used to say that you feel sympathy for someone and are thinking about them
Our hearts go out to the victim's family.
12. TIME
[always + adverb/preposition] literary to end
March went out with high winds and rain.
go over phrasal verb
1. THINK ABOUT
go over something
to think very carefully about something
I had gone over and over what happened in my mind.
2. EXAMINE
go over something
to search or examine something very carefully
In the competition, the judge goes over each dog and assesses it.
3. REPEAT
go over something
to repeat something in order to explain it or make sure it is correct
Once again I went over exactly what I needed to say.
4. CLEAN
go over something
to clean something
5. go over well
also go over big American English if something goes over well, people like it
That kind of salesman talk doesn't go over very well with the scientists.
go over to something phrasal verb
1. to change to a different place or person for the next part of a television or radio programme
We're going over to the White House for an important announcement.
2. to change to a different way of doing things
They went over to a computerized records system.
3. to change to a different political party or religion
the Labour MP who went over to the Conservatives last year
go round phrasal verb
ᅳsee also go around
go through phrasal verb
1. DIFFICULT/UNPLEASANT SITUATION
go through something
to experience a difficult or unpleasant situation, feeling etc
When you're going through a crisis, it often helps to talk to someone. He's going through a divorce at the moment. It is devastating for a parent to watch a child go through misery.
2. PROCESS
go through something
to experience a particular process
Candidates must go through a process of selection. Caterpillars go through several stages of growth.
3. USE
go through something
to use up money or a supply of something
We went through five pints of milk last week.
4. LAW
go through (something)
if a law goes through, or goes through Parliament, it is officially accepted
5. DEAL/AGREEMENT
if a deal or agreement goes through, it is officially accepted and agreed
He accepted the offer and the deal went through. The sale of the land went through.
6. PRACTISE
go through something
to practise something, for example a performance
Let's go through the whole thing again, from the beginning.
7. SEARCH
go through something
to search something in order to find something in particular
Dave went through his pockets looking for the keys. Customs officers went through all my bags.
8. READ/DISCUSS
go through something
to read or discuss something in order to make sure it is correct
We'll go through the details later on. Do you want me to go through this and check your spellings?
go through with something phrasal verb
to do something you had promised or planned to do, even though it causes problems or you are no longer sure you want to do it
He bravely went through with the wedding ceremony even though he was in a lot of pain. I had no choice but to go through with it.
go to somebody/something phrasal verb
1. to begin to experience or do something, or begin to be in a particular state
I lay down and went to sleep. Britain and Germany went to war in 1939.
2. to be given to someone or something
All the money raised will go to local charities. The house will go to his daughter when he dies.
go together phrasal verb
1. [not in progressive] if two things go together, they exist together or are connected in some way
Alcohol abuse and eating disorders often go together.
2. old-fashioned if two people are going together, they are having a romantic relationship
go towards something phrasal verb
if money goes towards something, it is used to pay part of the cost of that thing
The money will go towards a new hospice.
go towards doing something
All money raised will go towards renovating the building.
go under phrasal verb
1. if a business goes under, it has to stop operating because of financial problems
More than 7000 businesses have gone under in the last three months.
2. to sink beneath the surface of water
The Titanic finally went under. She went under, coughing and spluttering.
go up phrasal verb
1. INCREASE
to increase in price, amount, level etc
Train fares have gone up. Blood-sugar levels go up as you digest food. go up by 10%/250/£900 etc Unemployment in the country has gone up by a million.
go up from something to something
Spending on research went up from $426 million to $461 million.
2. BUILDING/SIGN
if a building or sign goes up, it is built or fixed into place
It was a lovely place before all these new houses went up.
3. EXPLODE/BURN
to explode, or be destroyed in a fire
He had left the gas on and the whole kitchen went up. The whole building went up in flames .
4. SHOUT
if a shout or a cheer goes up, people start to shout or cheer
go up from
A great cheer went up from the audience.
5. TO ANOTHER PLACE
British English to go from one place to another, especially to a place that is further north, or to a town or city from a smaller place
go up to
We're going up to Scotland next weekend. He went up to the farm to get some eggs.
6. LIGHTS
if lights go up, they become brighter
when the lights went up at the end of the performance
7. UNIVERSITY
British English formal old-fashioned to begin studying at a university, especially Oxford or Cambridge University
go with somebody/something phrasal verb
1. BE PART OF
to be included as part of something
The house goes with the job. He had fame, money, and everything that goes with it.
go with doing something
Responsibility goes with becoming a father.
2. EXIST TOGETHER
to often exist with something else or be related to something else
Ill-health often goes with poverty.
3. RELATIONSHIP
old-fashioned to have a romantic relationship with someone
4. HAVE SEX
informal to have sex with someone
5. AGREE
to accept someone's idea or plan
Let's go with John's original proposal.
go without phrasal verb
1. go without (something)
to not have something that you usually have
I like to give the children what they want even if I have to go without. It is possible to go without food for a few days.
2. it goes without saying (that)
used to say that something is so clearly true that it does not need to be said
The Internet, too, it goes without saying, is a good source of information.
Move verb
1. CHANGE PLACE
[intransitive and transitive]to change from one place or position to another, or to make something do this
Please keep the doors closed while the train is moving. 'Come on,' Sue said.
move away/out/to/towards etc
He moved closer to her. Becca moved down the steps and into the yard.
move about/around
I could hear someone moving around upstairs.
2. NEW HOUSE/OFFICE
[intransitive and transitive]if a person or company moves, or if you move them, they go to live or work in a different place
We've moved seven or eight times in the last five years.
move to/into/from
When are you moving to Memphis? They've moved into bigger offices in London.
move somebody to/into/from etc something
He had to move his mother into a nursing home.
move house/home British English (=go to live in a different house)
My parents kept moving house because of my dad's job.
3. CHANGE OPINION ETC
a) [intransitive]to change from one opinion or way of thinking to another
ᅳsynonym shift
Neither side is willing to move on the issue of territory.
move towards/away from
The two political parties have moved closer towards each other in recent months.
b) [transitive] to persuade someone to change their opinion
She won't be moved - it doesn't matter what you say to her.
4. PROGRESS
[intransitive]to make progress in a particular way or at a particular rate
Things moved quickly once the contract was signed.
get/keep things moving
The plan should boost employment and get things moving in the economy.
5. TAKE ACTION
[intransitive]to start taking action, especially in order to achieve something or deal with a problem
move on/against
The governor has yet to move on any of the recommendations in the report.
move fast/quickly/swiftly
You'll have to move fast if you want to get a place on the course.
6. CHANGE JOB/CLASS ETC
[intransitive and transitive]to change to a different job, class etc, or to make someone change to a different job, class etc
ᅳsynonym transfer
move somebody to/into/from something
Several students were moved from the beginners' class into the intermediate one.
7. EMOTION
[transitive]to make someone feel strong emotions, especially of sadness or sympathy
be deeply/genuinely/profoundly moved
Russell was deeply moved by what he heard. His speech moved the audience to tears .
8. CAUSE SOMEBODY TO DO SOMETHING
[transitive] to cause someone to do something
move somebody to do something
Seeing her there had moved him to think about the time they had together.
be/feel moved to do something
I have never before felt moved to write, but I feel I must protest.
9. TIME/ORDER
[transitive] to change the time or order of something
move something to/from something
Could we move the meeting to Thursday?
10. CHANGE SUBJECT◀
[intransitive] to start talking or writing about a different subject
move away from/off/to etc
We seem to be moving away from the main point of the discussion.
ᅳsee also move on
11. get moving
also move it
spoken used to tell someone to hurry
Come on, get moving or you'll be late for school.
12. it's time I was moving/we ought to get moving etc
spoken used to say that you need to leave or go somewhere
I think it's time we were moving. I ought to get moving - I have to be up early tomorrow.
13. GAMES
[intransitive and transitive] to change the position of one of the objects used to play a game such as chess
14. AT A MEETING
[intransitive and transitive] formal to officially make a proposal at a meeting
move that
The chairman moves that the meeting be adjourned.
move to do something
I move to approve the minutes as read.
move an amendment British English (=suggest a change)
They want to move an amendment to the bill.
15. GO FAST
[intransitive] informal to travel very fast
This car can really move!
16. BE BOUGHT
[intransitive] if things of a particular kind are moving, they are being bought, especially at a particular rate
The highest-priced homes are still moving slowly.
17. move with the times
to change the way you think and behave, as society changes
If the resorts want to keep attracting tourists, they need to move with the times.
18. move in ... circles/society/world
to spend a lot of time with a particular type of people and know them well
She spent time in England, where she moved in high society.
move along phrasal verb
1. if a process or situation is moving along, or if you move it along, it continues and makes progress
Construction of the bridge is moving along.
hope move something along
2. move somebody ↔along
to officially order someone to leave a public place
A queue formed by the gates, and a policeman tried to move people along.
move around phrasal verb
to change where you live very frequently, especially so that you live in many different parts of a country
My dad was in the army, so we moved around a lot.
move away phrasal verb
to go to live in a different area
My best friend moved away when I was ten.
move down (something) phrasal verb
to change to a lower group, rank, or level
Interest rates have moved down. A drop in wages has meant that these families have moved down the social and economic scale.
move in phrasal verb
1. also move into something
to start living in a new home
ᅳopposite move out
When are you moving in?
Mom and Dad had always planned to move into a smaller house when we grew up.
2. to start living with someone in the same home
move in with
Steve's going to move in with her.
3. to start being involved in and controlling a situation that someone else controlled previously
The big multinationals moved in and started pushing up prices.
move in on
Investors moved in on a group of car enthusiasts and took over the market.
4. to go towards a place or group of people, in order to attack them or take control of them
move in on
Police moved in on the demonstrators in the square.
move off phrasal verb
if a vehicle or group of people moves off, it starts to leave
Always check behind the car before you move off.
move on phrasal verb
1. CHANGE JOB/CLASS
to leave your present job, class, or activity and start doing another one
I enjoyed my job, but it was time to move on.
move on to
When you finish, move on to the next exercise.
move on to higher/better things (=get a better job or social position - used humorously) Jeremy's leaving the company to move on to higher things.
2. CHANGE/DEVELOP
a) to develop in your life, and change your relationships, interests, activities etc
I've moved on since high school, and now I don't have much in common with some of my old friends.
move on from
She has long since moved on from the roles of her youth.
b) to change, progress, improve, or become more modern as time passes
By the time the software was ready, the market had moved on.
3
move somebody on
British English to order someone to leave a particular place - used especially about police
The police arrived on the scene and began moving the protesters on.
4. CHANGE SUBJECT
to start talking about a new subject in a discussion, book etc
Before we move on, does anyone have any questions?
5. CONTINUE JOURNEY
to leave the place where you have been staying and continue to another place
After three days we decided it was time to move on.
move on to
The exhibition has now moved on to Edinburgh.
6. TIME
if time, the year etc moves on, the time passes
As time moves on, I'd like the children to play more challenging music.
7. time is moving on
British English spoken used to say that you must leave soon or do something soon, because it is getting late
Time's moving on - we'd better get back to the car.
move out phrasal verb
1. to leave the house where you are living now in order to go and live somewhere else
ᅳopposite move in
He moved out, and a year later they were divorced.
move out of
They moved out of London when he was little.
2. if a group of soldiers moves out, they leave a place
3. American English spoken to leave
Are you ready to move out?
move over phrasal verb
1. to change position so that there is more space for someone else
Move over a little, so I can get in.
2. to start using a different system, doing a different type of work etc
move over to
Most companies have moved over to computer-aided design systems.
3. to change jobs, especially within the same organization or industry
move over from
The company’s new publisher just moved over from Villard Books.
4. move over Madonna/Walt Disney/CD-ROMs etc
used when saying that something new is becoming more popular than something older - used humorously
Move over, Armani, there's a new designer taking the fashion scene by storm.
move up phrasal verb
1. to get a better job in a company, or change to a more advanced group, higher rank, or higher level
To move up, you'll need the right training. Share prices moved up this month.
move up to
The kids learn fast, and can't wait to move up to the junior team.
2. especially British English to change position in order to make more space for other people or things or be near someone else
There's room for one more if everyone moves up a bit.
move noun [countable]
1. DECISION/ACTION
something that you decide to do in order to achieve something
She's still thinking about her next move .
move to do something
the Board's recent moves to cut interest rates
Most of the council members are reluctant to make such a drastic move . a good/wise/smart etc/ there are moves afoot (to do something) British English (=there are plans, especially secret ones) It seems there could be moves afoot to close the centre.
2. MOVEMENT
[usually singular]when someone moves for a short time in a particular direction
Good gymnasts rehearse their moves mentally before a competition.
watch/follow somebody's every move
His green eyes followed Cissy's every move.
3.PROGRESS/CHANGE
a change, especially one which improves a situation
move towards/from/against/to
the country's move towards democracy a move away from traditional industries such as coal mining
Much more research is being done, which is a move in the right direction .
4. be on the move
a) to be travelling from one place to another
The rebel army is on the move.
b) to be busy and active
Roy is constantly on the move.
c) to be changing and developing a lot, especially in a way that improves things
Museums are on the move, adding exhibits that entertain and educate.
5. get a move on
spoken used to tell someone to hurry
6. make the first move
to do something first, especially in order to end a quarrel or start a relationship
Men say they like it when women make the first move.
7. GAMES
when you change the position of one of the objects in a game such as chess
Several moves later, Ron took his king. It's your move, Janet (=it is your turn to move an object) .
8. make a move
British English informal to leave a place
It's getting late - we ought to make a move.
9. GOING TO A NEW PLACE
[usually singular] when you leave one house, office etc, and go to live or work in a different one
The move to a larger office building is long overdue.
Run verb past tense ran / ræn / past participle run present participle running
1. MOVE QUICKLY USING YOUR LEGS◀
a) [intransitive] to move very quickly, by moving your legs more quickly than when you walk
run down/up/to/towards etc
I ran down the stairs as fast as I could.
run to do something
Several people ran to help her when she fell.
The children came running out of the house. Women ran screaming , with children in their arms.
b) [transitive] to run a particular distance
Firefighters are to run 500km to raise money for a children's charity. He ran the length of the corridor.
2. RACE
a) [intransitive and transitive] to run in a race
I'd never run a marathon before.
run in
Murray has said she will consider running in the 3000 metres.
b) [transitive usually passive] if a race is run at a particular time or in a particular place, it happens at that time or in that place
The Derby will be run at 3 o'clock.
3. ORGANIZE/BE IN CHARGE OF
[transitive]to organize or be in charge of an activity, business, organization, or country
For a while, she ran a restaurant in Boston.
well/badly run
The hotel is well-run and extremely popular.
a state-run (=controlled by the government) television station
4. DO SOMETHING/GO SOMEWHERE QUICKLY
[intransitive] to do something or go somewhere quickly
Run and ask your mother where she's put the keys.
run to
I need to run to the store for some more milk.
5. BUSES/TRAINS ETC
a) [intransitive] if a bus, train etc service runs, it takes people from one place to another at fixed times
The buses don't run on Sundays.
run to
The number 61 bus runs to the city centre.
b) [transitive] if a company or other organization runs a bus, train etc service, they make it operate
They're running special trains to and from the exhibition.
6. COMPUTERS
a) [intransitive] if a computer program runs, it operates
run on
The software will run on any PC.
b) [transitive] if you run a program, you make it operate
The RS8 system runs both Unix and MPX-32.
7. MACHINE/ENGINE
a) [intransitive]if a machine or engine runs, it operates
She got out of the car and left the engine running.
run on electricity/gas/petrol etc (=get its power from electricity etc)
Most cars run on unleaded fuel.
run off something
(=use something for power) It runs off batteries.
b) [transitive] if you run a machine or engine, you make it operate
You shouldn't keep the engine running when the car is standing still. I often run the washing machine more than once a day.
8. TAPE
a) [intransitive usually progressive] if a tape is running, it is recording
She didn't realize the tape was running as she spoke.
b) [transitive] if you run a tape, you make it move backwards or forwards
Run the tape back to the beginning.
9. NEWSPAPER/TELEVISION
a) [transitive] to print something in a newspaper or magazine, or broadcast something on television
The company is running a series of advertisements in national newspapers. A local TV station ran her story.
b) [intransitive] if a program runs on television, it is shown. If a story runs in a newspaper or magazine, it is printed
The series ran for 20 episodes and was extremely popular. Conan Doyle's stories ran in 'The Strand' magazine.
10. FAST/OUT OF CONTROL
[intransitive always + adverb/preposition] to move too fast or in an uncontrolled way
Her car ran off the road and into a tree. The truck ran out of control and hit a house.
11. USE A VEHICLE
[transitive] especially British English to own and use a vehicle
I can't afford to run a car. A bicycle is relatively cheap to buy and run.
12. TAKE SOMEBODY IN YOUR CAR
[transitive always + adverb/preposition] informal to take someone somewhere in your car
ᅳsynonym drive
Shall I run you home?
run somebody to something
Let me run you to the station.
13. IN AN ELECTION
[intransitive] especially American English to try to be elected in an election
British Equivalent: stand
run for
Salinas is running for a second term as President. an attempt to encourage more women to run for office
run against
Feinstein will win if she runs against Lungren.
14. SOMETHING LONG
[intransitive, transitive always + adverb/preposition] if something long such as a road or wire runs in a particular direction, that is its position, or that is where you put it
The road runs along a valley. Developers want to run a road right through his farm.
15. MOVE SOMETHING ON A SURFACE
[transitive always + adverb/preposition] to move something lightly along a surface
Charles ran his fingers through her hair. Run the scanner over the barcodes.
16. FLOW
[intransitive always + adverb/preposition] to flow in a particular direction or place
Tears started to run down her cheeks. Water was running off the roof.
17. TAP
[intransitive and transitive] if a tap is running, water is coming out of it, or if you run a tap, you make water come out of it
Did you leave the tap running? He ran the tap until the water was really hot.
18 run a bath
to fill a bath with water
I could hear her running a bath upstairs.
run somebody a bath
Could you run me a nice hot bath while I finish my meal?
19. SOMEBODY'S NOSE
[intransitive] if someone's nose is running, liquid is flowing out of it
20. OFFICIAL PAPERS
[intransitive] if something runs for a particular length of time, it can officially be used for that time
The contract runs for a year. My car insurance only has another month to run.
21. PLAY/FILM
[intransitive] to continue being performed regularly in one place
The play ran for two years.
22. HAPPEN
[intransitive] to happen in a particular way or at a particular time
Andy kept things running smoothly (=happening in the way they should) while I was away.
23. AMOUNT/PRICE
[intransitive] to be at a particular level, amount, or price
run at
Inflation was running at 5%.
run to
The cost of repairing the damage could run to $5000.
24. STORY/ACCOUNT ETC
[intransitive and transitive] if a story, discussion etc runs in a particular way, it has those particular words or events
The story runs that someone offered Lynch a further $500. 'President's marriage really over' ran the headline in a national newspaper.
25. run its course
if something runs its course, it continues in the way you expect until it has finished
Recession in the country has run its course and left an aftermath of uncertainty.
26. something will run and run
British English if a subject, discussion, event etc will run and run, people will continue to be interested in it for a long time
This a story that will run and run.
27. THOUGHTS/FEELINGS
[intransitive always + adverb/preposition] if a feeling runs through you, or a thought runs through your mind, you feel it or think it quickly
run through/down
A feeling of excitement ran through her body as they touched.
28. run high
if feelings run high, people are very angry, upset, excited etc
Tension ran high and fights broke out among the crowd. Feelings have been running high in the town, following the murder of a young girl.
29. run somebody's life
informal to keep telling someone what they should do all the time, in a way that annoys them
Don't try to run my life!
30. run for cover
a) to run towards a place where you will be safe, especially to avoid bullets
He was shot in the leg as he ran for cover.
b) to try to protect yourself from a bad situation or from being criticized
His success at backing winning horses has had the bookmakers running for cover.
31. COLOUR IN CLOTHES
[intransitive] if colour runs, it spreads from one piece of clothing or one area of cloth to another when the clothes are wet
The T-shirt ran and made all my other clothes pink.
32. PAINT/INK
[intransitive] if paint runs, it moves onto an area where you did not intend it to go
33. run a check/test/experiment etc
to arrange for someone or something to be checked or tested
run a check/test/experiment etc on
Ask your doctor to run a test on your blood sugar levels.
34. HOLE IN CLOTHES
[intransitive] if a hole in tights or stockings runs, it gets bigger in a straight line
35. run drugs/guns
to bring drugs or guns into a country illegally in order to sell them
36 run in the family
if something such as a quality, disease, or skill runs in the family, many people in that family have it
Diabetes appears to run in families.
37. run a temperature/fever
to have a body temperature that is higher than normal, because you are ill
38. run a mile
informal to try very hard to avoid a particular situation or person because you do not want to deal with them
If someone asked me to marry them, I'd probably run a mile.
39. run late/early/on time
to arrive, go somewhere, or do something late, early, or at the right time
I'm running late, so I'll talk to you later. If the train runs on time, we'll be there by ten.
40. be running scared
to feel worried because someone who you are competing against is becoming very successful or powerful
The party are running scared.
41 .come running
a) informal to react in a very eager way when someone asks or tells you to do something
He thinks he's only got to look at me and I'll come running.
b) especially spoken to ask someone for help, advice, or sympathy when you have a problem
come running to
Well I warned you, so don't come running to me when it all goes wrong!
42. run your eyes over/along etc something
to look quickly at something
He ran his eyes along the books on the shelf.
43. run before you can walk
to try to do something difficult before you have learned the basic skills you need
A lot of language students want to run before they can walk.
44 run a (red) light
informal to drive quickly through a red traffic light instead of stopping
run across somebody/something phrasal verb
to meet someone or find something by chance
I ran across him at a conference in Milan. I ran across some old love letters while I was clearing out a cupboard.
run after somebody/something phrasal verb
1. to chase someone or something
He ran after her, calling her name.
2. informal to try to start a sexual relationship with someone
He's always running after younger women.
3. spoken to do a lot of things for someone else as though you were their servant
I can't keep running after you all day!
run along phrasal verb
used to tell a child to leave, or to tell someone that you must leave
Run along now! I've got work to finish. Oh, it's late. I'd better be running along.
run around phrasal verb
1. to run in an area while you are playing
The children were running around in the garden.
2. informal to be very busy doing many small jobs
Maria was running around trying to get the house tidy.
ᅳsee also runaround
run around after somebody phrasal verb
to do a lot of things for someone else as though you were their servant
I've spent all day running around after the kids.
run around with somebody phrasal verb
to spend a lot of time with someone, especially someone that other people disapprove of
He started running around with a gang of teenagers.
run away phrasal verb
1. to leave a place, especially secretly, in order to escape from someone or something
run away from
Toby ran away from home at the age of 14.
2. to try to avoid dealing with a problem or difficult situation
run away from
You can't just run away from your responsibilities.
3. to secretly go away with someone in order to marry them or live with them
They ran away together to get married.
run away with somebody/something phrasal verb
1. to secretly go away with someone in order to marry them or live with them - usually used to show disapproval
His wife has run away with another man.
2. run away with you
if your feelings, ideas etc run away with you, they start to control how you behave
Don't let your imagination run away with you!
3. your tongue runs away with you
if your tongue runs away with you, you say something that you did not intend to say
4. run away with the idea/impression (that)
spoken to think that something is true when it is not
Don't run away with the impression that he doesn't care.
5. informal to win a competition or sports game very easily
The Reds ran away with the championship.
run something by/past somebody phrasal verb
1. to tell someone something so that they can give you their opinion
Let me run some figures by you. I just wanted to run it past you and see what you thought.
2. run that by me again
spoken used to ask someone to repeat what they have just said because you did not completely understand it
run down phrasal verb
1. run somebody/something ↔ down
to drive into a person or animal and kill or injure them
Their daughter was run down by a car.
2. run somebody/something ↔ down
informal to criticize someone or something in a way that is unfair
There's a lot of good things about homeopathic treatment. I'm certainly not running it down.
3. if a clock, machine, battery etc runs down, it has no more power and stops working
4. to make a company, organization etc gradually reduce in size, especially in order to close it in the future, or to gradually reduce in size
run something ↔ down
Many smaller local hospitals are being run down.
The business had been running down for a long time.
5. if a supply of something runs down, or if you run it down, there gradually becomes less of it
Crude oil reserves are running down.
run something ↔ down
Electricity generating companies are running down stocks and cutting purchases.
6. run down something
to read a list of people or things
Let me just run down the list of people who've been invited.
7. run somebody/something down
to find someone or something after searching for a long time
I finally ran him down at his new office in Glendale.
ᅳsee also rundown, run-down
run somebody/something ↔ in phrasal verb
1. to drive a new car slowly and carefully for a period of time so you do not damage its engine
2. old-fashioned if the police run a criminal in, they catch him or her
run into somebody/something phrasal verb
1. to start to experience a difficult or unpleasant situation
He ran into criticism after remarks he made in a television interview.
run into trouble/problems/difficulties
The business ran into financial difficulties almost immediately.
2. run into hundreds/thousands etc
to reach an amount of several hundred, several thousand etc
The cost of repairing the damage could run into millions. The list ran into hundreds of pages.
3. to hit someone or something with a vehicle
ᅳsynonym crash into
He ran into the back of another car.
4. informal to meet someone by chance
Guess who I ran into in town today!
run off phrasal verb
1. to leave a place or person in a way that people disapprove of
Amy's husband had run off and left her with two children to bring up.
2. run something ↔ off
to quickly print several copies of something
I'll run off a few more copies before the meeting.
3. run somebody off something
to force someone to leave a place
Someone tried to run me off the road. Smith had run them off his property with a rifle.
4. run something ↔ off
to write a speech, poem, piece of music etc quickly and easily
He could run off a five-page essay in an hour.
5. run off at the mouth
American English informal to talk too much
6. run something ↔ off
to get rid of weight by running
I'm trying to run off some of my excess fat!
run off with somebody/something phrasal verb
1. to secretly go away with someone in order to marry them or live with them - used to show disapproval
Liz shocked us all by running off with a married man.
2. to steal something and go away
a con-man who makes a habit of running off with people's savings
run on phrasal verb
to continue happening for longer than expected or planned
These things always run on longer than people imagine.
run out phrasal verb
1. a) to use all of something and not have any more left
I've got some money you can borrow if you run out.
run out of
They ran out of money and had to abandon the project. He'd run out of ideas.
b) if something is running out, there will soon be none left
We must act quickly because time is running out. My patience was running out.
2 if an agreement, official document etc runs out, the period for which it is legal or has an effect ends
ᅳsynonym expire
My contract runs out in September.
3. run out of steam
informal also run out of gas American English to have no more energy or no longer be interested in what you are doing
The team seemed to have run out of gas.
4. run somebody out of town
old-fashioned to force someone to leave a place, because they have done something wrong
5. run somebody ↔ out
to end a player's innings in the game of cricket by hitting the stumps with the ball while they are running
run out on somebody phrasal verb
to leave someone when they are in a difficult situation - used to show disapproval
He ran out on her when she became pregnant.
run over phrasal verb
1. run somebody/something ↔ over
to hit someone or something with a vehicle, and drive over them
He was run over and killed by a bus. She got run over outside the school.
2. run over something
to think about something
Mark's mind raced, running over all the possibilities.
3. run over something
to explain or practise something quickly
I'll just run over the main points again.
4. run over (something)
Join verb
1. GROUP/ORGANIZATION
[transitive] to become a member of an organization, society, or group
When did you join the Labour party? I decided to join the army.
2. ACTIVITY
[transitive] to begin to take part in an activity that other people are involved in
Many sacrificed their weekend to join the hunt for the missing girl. the benefits of joining our pension scheme Church leaders have joined the campaign to end fox-hunting.
3. GO TO SOMEBOD
[transitive] to go somewhere in order to be with someone or do something with them
She joined her aunt in the sitting room. The immigrants were soon joined by their wives and children.
4. DO SOMETHING TOGETHER
[intransitive and transitive] to do something together with someone else, or as a group
join somebody for something
I invited them to join us for a glass of wine.
join (with) somebody in doing something
I'm sure you'll all join me in thanking today's speaker.
join (with) somebody to do something
Parents have joined with health experts to produce a video for bereaved families.
join together
Three police forces have joined together to buy a helicopter.
5. CONNECT
a) [transitive] to connect or fasten things together
Join the two pieces of wood with strong glue.
join something to something
The island is joined to the mainland by a causeway.
b) [intransitive and transitive] if two roads, rivers etc join, they come together and become connected at a particular point
Finally we arrived at Dartmouth, where the River Dart joins the sea. the point where the two roads join
6. join a queue
to go and stand at the end of a line of people
He went in and joined the queue for the toilets.
7. join hands
if people join hands, they hold each other's hands
They joined hands and danced round and round.
8. join the club
spoken used to say that you and a lot of other people are in the same situation
'I'm having difficulty knowing what today's debate is about.' 'Join the club, Geoffrey.'
9. join battle
formal to begin fighting
10. be joined in marriage/holy matrimony
formal to be married
join in (something) phrasal verb
to take part in something that a group of people are doing or that someone else does
In the evening there was a barbecue, with the whole village joining in the fun .
join up phrasal verb
1. to become a member of the army, navy, or air force
2. British English to connect things, or to become connected
join something ↔ up
The dots are joined up by a line.
join up with somebody/something phrasal verb
to combine with or meet other people in order to do something
Three months ago, they joined up with another big company that sells arms.
Join noun [countable]
a place where two parts of an object are connected or fastened together
It's been glued back together so well you can hardly see the join.
Come verb past tense came , past participle come [intransitive]
1. MOVE TOWARDS SOMEBODY/SOMETHING◀
to move towards you or arrive at the place where you are
ᅳopposite go
Let me know when they come.
Can you come here for a minute? Come a bit closer and you'll be able to see better.
come in/into/out of etc
There was a knock on the door and a young woman came into the room.
come to/towards
I could see a figure coming towards me.
come across/down/up etc
As they came down the track, the car skidded.
come to do something
I've come to see Philip.
come and do something
I'll come and help you move the rest of the boxes. Come and look at this!
come running/flying/speeding etc
Jess came flying round the corner and banged straight into me.
come to dinner/lunch
What day are your folks coming to dinner?
here comes somebody/something spoken (=used to say that someone or something is coming towards you)
Ah, here comes the bus at last!
2. GO WITH SOMEBODY
if someone comes with you, they go to a place with you
We're going for a drink this evening. Would you like to come?
come with
I asked Rosie if she'd like to come with us.
come along
It should be good fun. Why don't you come along?
3. TRAVEL TO A PLACE
to travel to or reach a place
Which way did you come?
come through/across/by way of etc
They came over the mountains in the north.
come from
Legend has it that the tribe came from across the Pacific Ocean.
come by car/train/bus etc
Will you be coming by train?
come 50/100 etc miles/kilometres
Some of the birds have come thousands of miles to winter here.
4. POST
if a letter etc comes, it is delivered to you by post
ᅳsynonym arrive
A letter came for you this morning. The phone bill hasn't come yet.
5. HAPPEN
if a time or an event comes, it arrives or happens
At last the day came for us to set off.
be/have yet to come (=used when something has not happened yet but will happen)
The most exciting part is yet to come.
6. REACH A LEVEL/PLACE
[always + adverb/preposition] to reach a particular level or place
come up/down
She had blonde hair which came down to her waist. The water came up as far as my chest.
7. BE PRODUCED/SOLD
[always + adverb/preposition] to be produced or sold with particular features
come in
This particular sofa comes in four different colours. Cats come in many shapes and sizes.
come with
The computer comes complete with software and games.
8. ORDER
[always + adverb/preposition]to be in a particular position in an order, a series, or a list
come before/after
P comes before Q in the alphabet.
come first/second etc
She came first in the 200 metres.
9. come open/undone/loose etc
to become open etc
His shoelace had come undone. The rope came loose.
10. come to do something
a) to begin to have a feeling or opinion
He came to think of Italy as his home. I came to believe that he was innocent after all.
b) to do something by chance, without planning or intending to do it
Can you tell me how the body came to be discovered?
come to be doing something
I often wondered how I came to be living in such a place.
11. come and go
a) to be allowed to go into and leave a place whenever you want
The students can come and go as they please.
b) to keep starting and stopping
The pain comes and goes.
12. take something as it comes
to accept something as it happens, without trying to plan for it or change it
We just take each year as it comes. He takes life as it comes.
13. have something coming (to you)
informal to deserve to be punished or to have something bad happen to you
I do feel sorry for him, but I'm afraid he had it coming.
14. as nice/as stupid etc as they come
informal extremely nice, stupid etc
My uncle Walter is as obstinate as they come.
15. for years/weeks/days etc to come
used to emphasize that something will continue for a long time into the future
This is a moment that will be remembered and celebrated for years to come.
16. in years/days to come
in the future
In years to come, some of the practices we take for granted now will seem quite barbaric.
17. have come a long way
to have made a lot of progress
Computer technology has come a long way since the 1970s.
18. come as a surprise/relief/blow etc (to somebody)
to make someone feel surprised, pleased, disappointed etc
The decision came as a great relief to us all. The news will come as no surprise to his colleagues.
19. come easily/naturally (to somebody)
to be easy for someone to do
Public speaking does not come easily to most people. Writing came naturally to her, even as a child.
20. come of age
a) to reach the age when you are legally considered to be an adult
He'll inherit the money when he comes of age.
b) to develop into an advanced or successful form
Space technology didn't really come of age until the 1950s.
21. come right out with something/come right out and say something
informal to say something in a very direct way, often when other people think this is surprising
You came right out and told him? I don't know how you dared!
22. come clean
informal to tell the truth about something you have done
come clean about
I think you should come clean about where you were last night.
23. not know whether you are coming or going
informal to feel very confused because a lot of different things are happening
I don't know whether I'm coming or going this week.
24. come good/right
British English informal to end well, after there have been a lot of problems
Don't worry, it'll all come right in the end.
25. come to pass
literary to happen after a period of time
It came to pass that they had a son.
26. SEX
informal to have an orgasm
27. spoken come in!
used to tell someone who has knocked on your door to enter your room, house etc
She tapped timidly on the door. 'Come in!' boomed a deep voice from inside.
28. spoken how come?
used to ask someone why or how something happened
How come you've ended up here? 'Last I heard, she was teaching in Mexico.' 'How come?'
29. spoken come to think of it/come to that
used to add something that you have just realized or remembered
Come to think of it, George did seem a bit depressed yesterday.
30. spoken come July/next year/the next day etc
used to talk about at a particular time in the future
Come spring, you'll have plenty of colour in the garden.
31. spoken come again?
used to ask someone to repeat what they have just said
32. spoken don't come the innocent/victim/helpless male etc with me
British English used to tell someone not to pretend that they are something they are not in order to get sympathy or help from you
Don't come the poor struggling artist with me. You're just lazy!
33. spoken come (now)
old-fashioned used to comfort or gently encourage someone
34. spoken come, come!/come now
old-fashioned used to tell someone that you do not accept what they are saying or doing
come about phrasal verb
1. to happen, especially in a way that is not planned
The opportunity to get into computing came about quite by accident.
I don't know how this confusion has come about.
2. if a ship comes about, it changes direction
come across phrasal verb
1. come across somebody/something
to meet, find, or discover someone or something by chance
I came across an old diary in her desk. I've never come across anyone quite like her before.
2. if an idea comes across well, it is easy for people to understand
Your point really came across at the meeting.
3. if someone comes across in a particular way, they seem to have particular qualities
ᅳsynonym come over
come across as
He comes across as a very intelligent, sensitive man.
come across with something phrasal verb
to provide money or information when it is needed
I hoped he might come across with a few facts.
come after somebody phrasal verb
to look for someone in order to hurt them, punish them, or get something from them
She was terrified that Trevor would come after her.
come along phrasal verb
1. be coming along
informal to be developing or making progress
ᅳsynonym progress
He opened the oven door to see how the food was coming along. Your English is coming along really well.
2. to appear or arrive
A bus should come along any minute now. Take any job opportunity that comes along.
3. a) to go to a place with someone
We're going into town - do you want to come along?
b) to go somewhere after someone
You go on ahead - I'll come along later.
4. come along!
a) used to tell someone to hurry up
ᅳsynonym come on Come along! We're all waiting for you!
b) used to encourage someone to try harder
ᅳsynonym come on Come along! Don't give up yet!
come apart phrasal verb
1. to split or fall into pieces
I picked the magazine up and it came apart in my hands.
2. to begin to fail
The whole basis of the agreement was coming apart.
come around phrasal verb
1. also come round British English to come to someone's home or the place where they work in order to visit them
ᅳsynonym come over
I'll come around later and see how you are.
Why don't you come round for lunch?
2. also come round British English
to change your opinion so that you now agree with someone or are no longer angry with them
come around to
It took him a while to come around to the idea.
Don't worry - she'll come round eventually.
3. also come round British English
if a regular event comes around, it happens as usual
By the time the summer came around, Kelly was feeling much better.
4. American English to become conscious again after you have been unconscious
British Equivalent: come round
When she came around her mother was sitting by her bed.
come around from
You might feel a little sick when you come around from the anesthetic.
come at somebody/something phrasal verb
1. to move towards someone in a threatening way
Suddenly, he came at me with a knife.
2. if images, questions, facts etc come at you, you feel confused because there are too many of them at the same time
Questions were coming at me from all directions.
3informal to consider or deal with a problem in a particular way
ᅳsynonym approach
We need to come at the problem from a different angle.
come away phrasal verb
1. to become separated from the main part of something
ᅳsynonym come off
One of the wires in the plug had come away.
I turned some of the pages and they came away in my hand.
2. to leave a place with a particular feeling or idea
We came away thinking that we had done quite well.
come away with
I came away with the impression that the school was very well run.
come back phrasal verb
1. to return to a particular place or person
ᅳsynonym return
My mother was scared that if I left home I'd never come back.
2. to become fashionable or popular again
ᅳsee also comeback Who'd have thought hippy gear would ever come back!
High heels are coming back into fashion .
3. to appear or start to affect someone or something again
ᅳsynonym return
The pain in her shoulder was coming back again.
It took a while for my confidence to come back.
4. if something comes back to you, you remember it or remember how to do it
As I walked the city streets that evening, the memories came flooding back.
come back to
I can't think of her name at the moment, but it'll come back to me.
5. to reply to someone quickly, often in an angry or unkind way
ᅳsee also comeback
come back at
He came back at me immediately, accusing me of being a liar.
come before somebody/something phrasal verb
to be brought to someone in authority, especially a judge in a law court, to be judged or discussed by them
When you come before the judge, it's best to tell the whole truth.
The case is due to come before the courts next month.
come between somebody phrasal verb
1. to make people argue and feel angry with each other, when they had been friends before
Nothing will ever come between us now. I didn't want to come between a husband and wife.
2. to prevent someone from giving enough attention to something
She never let anything come between her and her work.
come by phrasal verb
1. come by something
to manage to get something that is rare or difficult to get
How did you come by these pictures? Jobs were hard to come by .
2. come by (something)
to make a short visit to a place on your way to somewhere else
He said he'd come by later. I'll come by the house and get my stuff later, OK?
come down phrasal verb
1. a) if a price, level etc comes down, it gets lower
It looks as if interest rates will come down again this month.
b) to accept a lower price
come down to
He's asking £5000, but he may be willing to come down to £4800.
2. if someone comes down to a place, they travel south to the place where you are
Why don't you come down for the weekend sometime?
come down to
Are you coming down to Knoxville for Christmas?
3. to fall to the ground
A lot of trees came down in the storm.
We were still out in the fields when the rain started coming down.
4. come down on the side of somebody/something
also come down in favour of somebody/something
to decide to support someone or something
The committee came down in favour of making the information public.
5. informal to start to feel normal again after you have been feeling very happy and excited
He was on a real high all last week and he's only just come down.
6. informal to stop feeling the effects of a strong drug
When I came down, I remembered with horror some of the things I'd said.
7. British English old-fashioned to leave a university after completing a period of study
come down on somebody phrasal verb
to punish someone or criticize them severely
We need to come down hard on young offenders.
I made the mistake of answering back, and she came down on me like a ton of bricks (=very severely) .
come down to somebody/something phrasal verb
1. if a complicated situation or problem comes down to something, that is the single most important thing
It all comes down to money in the end.
2. if something old has come down to you, it has been passed between people over a long period of time until you have it
The text which has come down to us is only a fragment of the original.
come down with something phrasal verb
to get an illness
I think I'm coming down with a cold.
come for somebody/something phrasal verb
1. to arrive to collect someone or something
I'll come for you at about eight o'clock.
2. to arrive at a place in order to take someone away by force
Members of the secret police came for him in the middle of the night.
come forward phrasal verb
to offer help to someone, or offer to do something
So far, only one candidate has come forward.
The police are appealing for more witnesses to come forward with information.
come from somebody/something phrasal verb
1. if you come from a place, you were born there or lived there when you were young
I come from London originally.
2. to be obtained from a place, thing, or person, or to start or be made somewhere
A lot of drugs come from quite common plants.
3. to happen as the result of doing something
come from doing something
Most of her problems come from expecting too much of people.
4. coming from him/her/you etc
spoken used to say that someone should not criticize another person for doing something, because they have done the same thing themselves
You think I'm too selfish? That's rich coming from you!
5. where somebody is coming from
informal the basic attitude or opinion someone has, which influences what they think, say, or do
I can see where you're coming from now.
come in phrasal verb
1. if a train, bus, plane, or ship comes in, it arrives at a place
What time does your train come in?
come in to
We come in to Heathrow at nine in the morning.
2. if money or information comes in, you receive it
Reports are coming in of a massive earthquake in Mexico.
We haven't got enough money coming in.
3. to be involved in a plan, deal etc
We need some financial advice - that's where Kate comes in.
come in on
You had the chance to come in on the deal.
4. to join in a conversation or discussion
Can I come in here and add something to what you're saying?
5. to become fashionable or popular
ᅳopposite go out
Trainers really became popular in the 1980s, when casual sportswear came in.
6. to finish a race
come in first/second etc
His horse came in second to last.
7. if the tide comes in, the sea moves towards the land and covers the edge of it
ᅳopposite go out
come in for something phrasal verb
come in for criticism/blame/scrutiny
to be criticized, blamed etc for something
The government has come in for fierce criticism over its handling of this affair.
come into something phrasal verb
1. to receive money, land, or property from someone after they have died
She'll come into quite a lot of money when her father dies.
2. to be involved in something
Josie doesn't come into the movie until quite near the end. Where do I come into all this?
3. come into view/sight
if something comes into view, you begin to see it
The mountains were just coming into view.
4. come into leaf/flower/blossom
to start to produce leaves or flowers
The early roses were just coming into flower.
5. not come into it
spoken used to say that something is not important
Money doesn't really come into it.
6. come into your own
to become very good, useful, or important in a particular situation
On icy roads, a four-wheel drive vehicle really comes into its own.
come of something phrasal verb
to happen as a result of something
I did ask a few questions, but nothing came of it.
That's what comes of not practising - you've forgotten everything!
come off phrasal verb
1. come off (something)
to become removed from something
The label had come off, so there was no way of knowing what was on the disk.
2. come off (something)
British English to fall off something
Dyson came off his bike as he rounded the last corner, but wasn't badly hurt.
3. informal if something that has been planned comes off, it happens
In the end the trip never came off.
4. informal to be successful
It was a good idea, but it didn't quite come off.
The performance on the first night came off pretty well .
5. come off something
to stop taking a drug that you have been taking regularly
It wasn't until I tried to come off the pills that I realized I was addicted.
6. come off best/better/worst etc
British English to gain or lose the most, more, the least etc from a situation
As far as pensions go, it's still women who come off worst.
7. come off it!
British English spoken used to tell someone that you do not believe what they are saying
Oh come off it! You can't seriously be saying you knew nothing about any of this.
come on phrasal verb
1. come on!
spoken
a) used to tell someone to hurry
Come on, we'll be late!
b) used to encourage someone to do something
Come on, you can do it! Come on, cheer up!
c) used to tell someone that you know that what they have just said was not true or right
Oh come on, don't lie!
d) used to make someone angry enough to want to fight you
Come on, then, hit me!
2. come on in/over/up etc
spoken used to tell someone to come in, over, up etc, usually in a friendly way
Come on in - I've made some coffee.
3. if a light or machine comes on, it starts working
A dog started barking and lights came on in the house.
4. if an illness comes on, you start to be ill with it
I can feel a headache coming on.
5. if a television or radio programme comes on, it starts
Just at that moment, the news came on.
6. if rain or snow comes on, it starts
The rain came on just before lunchtime.
7. to come onto a stage or sports field
He scored only two minutes after he'd come on.
8. to improve or make progress
The children are really coming on now. Your English is coming on really well.
9. come on somebody/something
to find or discover someone or something by chance
We came on a group of students having a picnic.
10. come on strong
informal to make it very clear to someone that you think they are sexually attractive
come on to somebody/something phrasal verb
1. to start talking about a new subject
I'll come on to this question in a few moments.
2. informal if someone comes on to another person, they make it very clear that they are sexually interested in them
ᅳsee also come-on The way she was coming on to Jack, I'm amazed he managed to get out alive!
come out phrasal verb
1. if something comes out, it is removed from a place
These stains will never come out!
2. if information comes out, people learn about it, especially after it has been kept secret
No doubt the truth will come out one day.
It's come out that several ministers received payments from the company.
3. if a photograph comes out, it shows a clear picture
I took loads of photographs, but most of them didn't come out.
Some of the wedding photos have come out really well.
4. if a book, record etc comes out, it becomes publicly available
When is the new edition coming out?
5. if something comes out in a particular way, that is what it is like after it has been made or produced
I've made a cake, but it hasn't come out very well. The cover has come out a bit too big.
6. if something you say comes out in a particular way, that is how it sounds or how it is understood
His words came out as little more than a whisper. That didn't come out the way I meant it to.
7. if someone comes out in a particular way, that is the situation they are in at the end of an event or series of events
The more experienced team came out on top.
come out of
She came out of the divorce quite well.
8. to be easy to notice
His right-wing opinions come out quite strongly in his later writings.
9. to say publicly that you strongly support or oppose a plan, belief etc
come out in favour of
The board of directors has come out strongly in favour of a merger.
come out against
Teachers have come out against the proposed changes.
At least he's got the courage to come out and say what he thinks.
10. if the sun, moon, or stars come out, they appear in the sky
The sky cleared and the sun came out.
11. if a flower comes out, it opens
The snowdrops were just starting to come out.
12. if someone comes out, they say that they are gay when this was a secret before
come out to
That summer, I decided to come out to my parents.
13. British English informal to refuse to work, as a protest
Nurses have threatened to come out in support of their pay claim.
We decided to come out on strike .
14. if a young woman came out in the past, she was formally introduced into upper class society at a large formal dance
come out at something phrasal verb
if something comes out at a particular amount, that is the amount it adds up to
The whole trip, including fares, comes out at $900.
come out in something phrasal verb
come out in spots/a rash etc
if you come out in spots etc, spots appear on your body
If I eat eggs, I come out in a rash.
come out of something phrasal verb
1. to no longer be in a bad situation
There are signs that the country is coming out of recession.
2. to happen as a result of something
One or two excellent ideas came out of the meeting.
3. come out of yourself
informal to start to behave in a more confident way
Penny's really come out of herself since she started that course.
come out with something phrasal verb
to say something, especially something unusual or unexpected
Some of the things he comes out with are so funny!
come over phrasal verb
1. a) if someone comes over, they visit you at your house
Do you want to come over on Friday evening?
b) if someone comes over, they come to the country where you are
come over to/from
When did your family first come over to America?
2. come over somebody
if a strong feeling comes over you, you suddenly experience it
A wave of sleepiness came over me.
I'm sorry about that - I don't know what came over me (=I do not know why I behaved in that way) .
3. if an idea comes over well, people can understand it easily
I thought that the points he was making came over quite clearly.
4. if someone comes over in a particular way, they seem to have particular qualities
ᅳsynonym come across
He didn't come over very well (=seem to have good qualities) in the interview.
come over as
She comes over as a very efficient businesswoman.
5. come over (all) shy/nervous etc
informal to suddenly become very shy, nervous etc
come round phrasal verb
to come around
come through phrasal verb
1. if a piece of information, news etc comes through, it arrives somewhere
We're still waiting for our exam results to come through.
There is news just coming through of an explosion in a chemical factory.
2. to be made official, especially by having the correct documents officially approved
I'm still waiting for my divorce to come through.
3. come through (something)
to continue to live, be strong, or succeed after a difficult or dangerous time
ᅳsynonym survive
If he comes through the operation OK he should be back to normal within a few weeks.
come through with something phrasal verb
to give someone something they need, especially when they have been worried that you would not produce it in time
Our representative in Hong Kong finally came through with the figures.
come to phrasal verb
1. come to a decision/conclusion/agreement etc
to decide something, agree on something etc after considering or discussing a situation
ᅳsynonym reach
We came to the conclusion that there was no other way back to the camp.
If they don't come to a decision by midnight, the talks will be abandoned.
2. come to a halt/stop
a) to slow down and stop
ᅳsynonym stop
The train came to a stop just yards from the barrier.
b) to stop operating or continuing
After the election our funding came to an abrupt halt.
3. come to something
to develop so that a particular situation exists, usually a bad one
I never thought it would come to this
4. come to something
to add up to a total amount
That comes to £23.50. The bill came to £48.50.
5. come to somebody
if a thought or idea comes to you, you realize or remember something
The answer came to me in a flash. I've forgotten her name, but maybe it'll come to me later.
6. to become conscious again after you have been unconscious
When he came to, he was lying on the floor with his hands tied behind his back.
7. when it comes to something
informal when you are dealing with something or talking about something
He's a bit of an expert when it comes to computers.
come under something phrasal verb
1. come under attack/fire/scrutiny etc
to be attacked, shot at etc
The government has come under attack from opposition leaders over proposals to cut health spending.
2. to be governed or controlled by a particular organization or person
The organization comes under the authority of the EU.
3. if a piece of information comes under a particular title, you can find it under that title
The proposals come under three main headings.
come up phrasal verb
1. if someone comes up to you, they come close to you, especially in order to speak to you
One of the teachers came up and started talking to me.
come up to
A man came up to him and asked for a light.
2. if someone comes up to a place, they travel north to the place where you are
come up to
Why don't you come up to New York for the weekend?
3. if a subject comes up, people mention it and discuss it
ᅳsynonym arise
His name came up in the conversation.
The subject of salaries didn't come up.
4. if a problem or difficulty comes up, it appears or starts to affect you
ᅳsynonym arise
I'm afraid I'll have to cancel our date - something's come up .The same problems come up every time.
5. if a job or an opportunity comes up, it becomes available
A vacancy has come up in the accounts department.
6. to be dealt with in a law court
Your case comes up next week.
7. be coming up
to be going to happen soon
With Christmas coming up, few people have much money to spare.
8. if the sun or moon comes up, it moves up into the sky where you can see it
ᅳsynonym rise
It was six o'clock, and the sun was just coming up.
9. if a plant comes up, it begins to appear above the ground
The first spring bulbs are just coming up.
10. if food comes up, it goes back through your mouth from your stomach after being swallowed
ᅳsee also vomit
11. coming (right) up!
spoken used to say that food or drink will be ready very soon
'Two martinis, please.' 'Coming up!'
come up against something/somebody phrasal verb
to have to deal with problems or difficulties
We may find we come up against quite a lot of opposition from local people. You've got no idea of what you're going to come up against.
come up for something phrasal verb
1. come up for discussion/examination/review etc
to be discussed, examined etc
This matter will come up for discussion at next month's meeting. The regulations come up for review in April.
2. come up for election/re-election/selection etc
to reach the time when people have to vote about whether you should continue in a political position
The governors come up for re-election next year.
come upon somebody/something phrasal verb
1. to find or discover something or someone by chance
We came upon a little cottage just on the edge of the wood.
2. literary if a feeling comes upon you, you suddenly feel it
A wave of tiredness came upon her.
come up to something/somebody phrasal verb
1. to reach a particular standard or to be as good as you expected
This doesn't come up to the standard of your usual work. The resort certainly failed to come up to expectations .
2. be (just) coming up to something
to be nearly a particular time
It's just coming up to 11 o'clock.
come up with something phrasal verb
1. to think of an idea, answer etc
Is that the best excuse you can come up with? We've been asked to come up with some new ideas.
2. informal to produce an amount of money
We wanted to buy the house but we couldn't come up with the cash. How am I supposed to come up with $10,000?
Differ verb [intransitive]
1. to be different from something in some way
The two systems differ in many respects.
differ from
People differ from one another in their ability to handle stress.
differ between
The symptoms did not differ between the two groups.
differ widely/greatly/significantly etc
We soon found that prices differed enormously. Experts have differing views on the subject.
2. if two people or groups differ about something, they have opposite opinions
ᅳsynonym disagree
differ about/on/over
The two lawyers differed about how to present the case.
3. agree to differ
to stop arguing with someone and accept that you will never agree
4. I beg to differ
spoken formal used to say that you disagree with someone
difference noun [uncountable and countable]
1. a way in which two or more people or things are not like each other
ᅳopposite similarity
difference between
The main difference between the groups was age.
There's a big difference between knowing that something is true, and being able to prove it.
difference in
Researchers found a number of important differences in the way boys and girls learn.
2. [singular, uncountable]the amount by which one thing is greater or smaller than another
difference in age/size etc
3. make a/the difference
to have an important effect or influence on something or someone
Whatever she did, it made no difference.
make a/the difference to
One more person wouldn't make any difference to the arrangements.
make a/the difference between
It could make the difference between missing your train and getting to work on time.
Having a good teacher has made all the difference for Alex (=had an important influence) .
4. it makes no difference to somebody
used to say that it does not matter to someone which thing happens, is chosen etc
Morning or afternoon. It makes no difference to me.
5. our/your/their differences
disagreements
We've had our differences in the past, but we get on OK now.
settle/resolve your differences (=agree not to argue any more)
6. difference of opinion
a slight disagreement
There have been some differences of opinion as to exactly how the money should be spent.
7. with a difference
informal used to describe something which is interesting or unusual, especially in a good way
an adventure holiday with a difference
different adjective
1.not like something or someone else, or not like before
ᅳopposite similar
different from
Our sons are very different from each other.
different to
Her jacket's different to mine.
different than
American English He seemed different than he did in New York.
2. used to talk about two or more separate things of the same basic kind.
. ᅳsynonym various
Different people reacted in different ways .
different types/kinds etc
There are many different types of fabric.
I looked in lots of different books but couldn't find anything about it.
3. [only before noun] another
I think she's moved to a different job now.
4. spoken unusual, often in a way that you do not like
'What did you think of the film?' 'Well, it was certainly different.'
ᅳdifferently adverb
I didn't expect to be treated any differently from anyone else.
Things could have turned out quite differently.
Odd adjective comparative odder superlative oddest
1. STRANGE
different from what is normal or expected, especially in a way that you disapprove of or cannot understand
It was an odd thing to say. an odd way to behave They're an odd couple.
it is/seems odd (that)
It seemed odd that he wanted a picture of me.
2. the odd occasion/day/moment/drink etc
especially British English a few occasions, days etc that happen at various times but not often and not regularly
ᅳsynonym occasional
Lack of sleep doesn't matter on the odd occasion.
I take the odd day off work. I like the odd glass of wine with my dinner.
Jo smokes the odd cigarette.
3. VARIOUS
[only before noun] not specially chosen or collected
Any odd scrap of paper will do.
4. NOT IN A PAIR/SET
[only before noun]separated from a pair or set
an odd shoe odd socks/gloves etc (=not a matching pair of socks etc)
He was wearing odd socks.
5. odd number
a number that cannot be divided exactly by two, for example 1, 3, 5, 7 etc
ᅳopposite even number
6. 20-odd/30-odd etc
spoken a little more than 20 etc
I have another 20-odd years to work before I retire.
7. the odd man/one out
British English someone or something that is different from the rest of the group or not included in it
Which shape is the odd one out? I was always the odd one out at school.
ᅳoddness noun [uncountable]
ᅳsee also oddly
Paint verb
1. [intransitive and transitive]to put paint on a surface
The ceiling needs painting.
brightly painted houses paint something (in)
blue/red/green etc
We painted the door blue.
Paint the walls in a contrasting colour.
2. [intransitive and transitive]to make a picture, design etc using paint
A white cross was painted on the door.
paint in oils/water colours etc (=paint using a particular type of paint)
He paints mainly in acrylics.
3. [transitive] to put a coloured substance on part of your face or body to make it different or more attractive
The children's faces were painted to look like animals.
She'd painted her toenails with red nail polish.
4. [transitive]to describe someone or something in a particular way
paint somebody/something as something
She's often been painted as a tough businesswoman.
paint a grim/rosy/gloomy picture of somebody/something
Dickens painted a grim picture of Victorian life. The article painted him in a bad light (=described him in a way that made him seem bad) .
5. paint the town (red)
informal to go out to bars, clubs etc to enjoy yourself
ᅳsee also not be as black as you are painted
paint something ↔ out phrasal verb
to cover part of a picture or sign with paint so that it can no longer be seen
The name of the firm had been partially painted out.
paint over something phrasal verb
to cover a picture or surface with new paint
Much of the original decoration was painted over.
Paint noun [uncountable]
1. a liquid that you put on a surface, using a brush to make the surface a particular colour
a can of blue paint
Wet paint (=used as a warning on signs when something has just been painted) The whole house could do with a fresh coat of paint .
peeling/flaking paint (=old paint that is starting to come off the surface) All this room needs is a lick of paint (=paint used to make a place more attractive) .
2. paints
tubes or dry blocks of a coloured substance, used for painting pictures
acrylic and oil paints
display verb [transitive]
1. to show something to people, or put it in a place where people can see it easily
shop windows displaying the latest fashions
All the exam results will be displayed on the notice board.
2. [transitive] to clearly show a feeling, attitude, or quality by what you do or say
She displayed no emotion on the witness stand.
ten piano pieces, each written to display the talents of individual players
3. [transitive] if a computer or something similar displays information, it shows it on its screen
I pressed 'return' and an error message was displayed.
4. [intransitive] if a male bird or animal displays, it behaves in a particular way as a signal to other birds or animals, especially to attract a female
display noun [countable]
1. OBJECTS
an arrangement of things for people to look at or buy
display of
a superb display of African masks
a dazzling display (=very good display) of flowers The window display caught her eye.
2. ENTERTAINMENT
a public performance of something that is intended to entertain people
a fireworks display
display of
a display of juggling
3. on display
a) something that is on display is in a public place where people can look at it
ᅳsynonym on show Mapplethorpe's photographs were first put on display in New York.
be/go on display
One of the world's oldest cars has gone on display in Brighton today.
b) if a quality, feeling, or skill is on display, it is very clear and easy to notice
The musical talent on display is extremely impressive.
4. display of affection/emotion/aggression etc
an occasion when someone clearly shows a particular feeling, attitude, or quality
Unprovoked displays of aggression cannot be tolerated.
5. ON EQUIPMENT
a part of a piece of equipment that shows information, for example a computer screen
This time the display flashed a red warning signal.
Art noun
1. [uncountable]the use of painting, drawing, sculpture etc to represent things or express ideas
an example of Indian art
contemporary/modern art
the Museum of Modern Art
ᅳsee also art form, fine art, performance art
2. [plural, uncountable] objects that are produced by art, such as paintings, drawings etc
3. [uncountable] the skill of drawing or painting
He's very good at art. an art teacher
4. the arts [plural] art, music, theatre, film, literature etc all considered together
Government funding for the arts has been reduced.
5. arts
also the arts
[plural] subjects you can study that are not scientific, for example history, languages etc
ᅳsee also humanities
6. [uncountable and countable]the ability or skill involved in doing or making something
Television is ruining the art of conversation.
Writing advertisements is quite an art (=it is difficult to do) .
have/get something down to a fine art (=do something very well)
I've got the early morning routine down to a fine art.
Colour noun
British English color American English
1. RED/BLUE/GREEN ETC
[countable]red, blue, yellow, green, brown, purple etc
What colour dress did you buy?
light/bright/pastel etc colour
I love wearing bright colours.
reddish-brown/yellowy-green/deep blue etc colour
The walls were a lovely reddish-brown color.
2. COLOUR IN GENERAL
[uncountable] also colours
the appearance of something as a result of the way it reflects (=throws back) light, especially when its appearance is very bright or is made up of a lot of different colours
Bright bold accessories are the quickest way to add colour to a room.
in colour
The wine was almost pink in colour (=was almost pink) .
blaze/riot/mass of colour (=lots of different bright colours)
In summer the gardens are a blaze of colour.
a splash of colour (=a small area of a bright colour)
The sky began to slowly change colour .
the fall colors (=the colours of the trees in autumn)
3. SOMEBODY'S RACE
[uncountable and countable] how dark or light someone's skin is, which shows which race they belong to
Everyone has a right to a job, regardless of their race, sex, or colour.
ᅳsee also coloured
4. people/women/students etc of color
especially American English people, women etc who are not white
I'm the only person of color in my class.
5. SUBSTANCE
[uncountable and countable]a substance such as paint or dye that makes something red, blue, yellow etc
Wash the garment separately, as the colour may run (=come out when washed) .
lip/nail/eye colour
our new range of eyeshadows and lip colours
6. in (full) colour
a television programme, film, or photograph that is in colour contains colours such as red, green, and blue rather than just black and white
ᅳopposite in black and white
All the recipes in the book are illustrated in full colour .
7. SOMEBODY'S FACE
[uncountable] if you have some colour in your face, your face is pink or red, usually because you are healthy or embarrassed
You look a lot better today.
8. SOMETHING INTERESTING
[uncountable]interesting and exciting details or qualities that someone or something has
The old market is lively, full of colour and activity.a travel writer in search of local colour add/give colour to something (=make something more interesting)
Intelligent use of metaphors can add colour and style to your writing.
9. lend/give colour to something
to make something, especially something unusual, appear likely or true
We now have independent evidence that lends colour to the accusation of fraud.
10. off colour
a) [not before noun] British English someone who is off colour is feeling slightly ill
b) [usually before noun] especially American English off-colour jokes, stories etc are rude and often about sex
11. colours [plural]
a) the colours that are used to represent a team, school, club, country etc
club/team/school colours
a peaked cap in the team colours
Australia's national colours are gold and green.
b) British English a flag, shirt etc that shows that someone or something belongs to or supports a particular team, school, club, or country
12. see the colour of somebody's money
spoken to have definite proof that someone has enough money to pay for something
'A whiskey, please.' 'Let's see the color of your money first.'
Fashion noun
1. [singular, uncountable] something that is popular or thought to be good at a particular time
fashion for
the fashion for so-called 'discovery methods' of learning
fashion in
The emerging science of photography was already changing fashions in art.
2. [countable, uncountable] a style of clothes, hair etc that is popular at a particular time
They sold the latest fashions from Europe (=the most recent fashions) .
3. [uncountable] the business or study of making and selling clothes, shoes etc in new and changing styles
a leading men's fashion magazine
the fall fashion shows in New York, Milan, and Paris
4. in a ... fashion
in a particular way
Please leave the building in an orderly fashion.
5. after a fashion
not very much, not very well, or not very effectively
'Can you speak Russian?' 'After a fashion.'
6. after the fashion of somebody
in a style that is typical of a particular person
Her early work is very much after the fashion of Picasso and Braque.
7. like it's going out of fashion
informal use this to emphasize that someone does something a lot or uses a lot of something
Danny's been spending money like it's going out of fashion .
ᅳsee also parrot fashion
To point verb
1. SHOW SOMETHING WITH YOUR FINGER◀
[intransitive and transitive] to show something to someone by holding up one of your fingers or a thin object towards it
'Look!' she said and pointed.
point at
I could see him pointing at me and telling the other guests what I had said.
point to/towards
She was pointing to a small boat that was approaching the shore.
point with
The driver pointed with his whip.
She pointed in the direction of the car park. He stood up and pointed his finger at me.
2. AIM SOMETHING
[transitive always + adverb/preposition] to hold something so that it is aimed towards a person or thing
point something at somebody/something
He stood up and pointed his gun at the prisoner. She produced a camera and pointed it at me.
3. FACE IN ONE DIRECTION
[intransitive always + adverb/preposition] to face or be aimed in a particular direction
The arrow always points north.
There were flashlights all around us, pointing in all directions.
point at
There were TV cameras pointing at us.
point to/towards
The hands of the clock pointed to a quarter past one.
We found footprints pointing towards the back door.
4. SHOW SOMEBODY WHERE TO GO
[transitive always + adverb/preposition] to show someone which direction they should go in
She pointed me towards an armchair.
Could you point me in the direction of the bathroom, please?
5. SUGGEST WHAT SOMEBODY SHOULD DO
[transitive always + adverb/preposition] to suggest what someone should do
My teachers were all pointing me towards university.
A financial adviser should be able to point you in the right direction .
6. SUGGEST THAT SOMETHING IS TRUE
[intransitive always + adverb/preposition] to suggest that something is true
Everything seemed to point in one direction.
point to/towards
All the evidence pointed towards Blake as the murderer.
Everything points to her having died from a drugs overdose.
7. WALLS/BUILDINGS
[transitive] British English to put new cement between the bricks of a wall
8. point your toes
to stretch the ends of your feet downwards
9. point the/a finger at somebody
to blame someone or say that they have done something wrong
I knew that they would point the finger at me.
I don't want to point a finger of blame at anyone.
10.point the way
a) to show the direction that something is in
point the way to/towards
An old-fashioned signpost pointed the way to the restaurant.
b) to show how something could change or develop successfully
point the way forward/forwards
This report points the way forward for the water industry.
point the way to/towards
a government paper which points the way towards reform
point something ↔ out phrasal verb
1. to tell someone something that they did not already know or had not thought about
He was always very keen to point out my mistakes.
The murder was obviously well planned, as the inspector had pointed out.
point out that
Some economists have pointed out that low inflation is not necessarily a good thing.
point something out to somebody
Thank you for pointing this out to me.
2. to show something to someone by pointing at it
Luke pointed out two large birds by the water's edge.
point somebody/something out to somebody
I'll point him out to you if we see him.
point to something phrasal verb
to mention something because you think it is important
Many politicians have pointed to the need for a written constitution.
point something ↔ up phrasal verb
to make something seem more important or more noticeable
These cases point up the complete incompetence of some government departments.
Appreciate verb
1. [transitive not in progressive]to understand how serious or important a situation or problem is or what someone's feelings are
ᅳsynonym realize
appreciate the significance/importance/value of something
He did not fully appreciate the significance of signing the contract.
appreciate that
We appreciate that caring for children is an important job.
appreciate what/how/why
It is difficult to appreciate how bad the situation had become.
2. [transitive] used to thank someone in a polite way or to say that you are grateful for something they have done
Thanks ever so much for your help, I really appreciate it.
3. [transitive] to understand how good or useful someone or something is
Her abilities are not fully appreciated by her employer.
I'm not an expert, but I appreciate fine works of art.
4. [intransitive] technical to gradually become more valuable over a period of time
ᅳopposite depreciate
Most investments are expected to appreciate at a steady rate.
Admire verb transitive not in progressive]
1. to respect and like someone because they have done something that you think is good
I really admire the way she brings up those kids all on her own.
admire somebody for (doing) something
Lewis was much admired for his work on medieval literature.
2. to look at something and think how beautiful or impressive it is
We stopped halfway to admire the view .
Sal stood back to admire her work.
3. admire somebody from afar
literary to be attracted to someone, without letting them know
ᅳadmired adjective
the widely admired boss of Channel 4
admiration noun (uncountable
a feeling of great respect and liking for something or someone
in admiration
Daniel gazed at her in admiration.
admiration for
I'm full of admiration for the crew who handled this crisis.
admiration of
Her riding soon drew the admiration of the older girls.
grudging/sneaking admiration (=that you do not really want to feel or express)
Despite her annoyance, she couldn't help feeling a grudging admiration for him.
Inspire verb [transitive]
1. to encourage someone by making them feel confident and eager to do something
We need someone who can inspire the team.
inspire somebody to do something
He inspired many young people to take up the sport.
inspire somebody to something
I hope this success will inspire you to greater efforts.
Inspired by the sunny weather, I decided to explore the woods.
2. to make someone have a particular feeling or react in a particular way
Gandhi's quiet dignity inspired great respect.
inspire confidence (=make people feel confident because they trust your ability)
His driving hardly inspires confidence.
The hospital's record does not inspire confidence .
3. to give someone the idea for something, especially a story, painting, poem etc
The story was inspired by a chance meeting with an old Russian duke.
a range of designs inspired by wild flowers
4. technical to breathe in
Turn verb
1. YOUR BODY
[intransitive and transitive] to move your body so that you are looking in a different direction
ᅳsee also twist
Ricky turned and walked away. She turned her head in surprise.
turn around/round/away
Dan turned away, hiding the fear in his eyes.
turn (your head/face) to do something
He turned around to look at Kim. 'No,' she said, turning her head to see David's reaction.
Brigitte glared at him, turned on her heel (=turned away suddenly because of anger) , and stomped out of the room.
2. OBJECT
[transitive usually + adverb/preposition]to move something so that it is pointing or aiming in a different direction
turn something around/over/upside down etc
You may turn over your exam papers now.
turn something on something/somebody
The firemen turned their hoses on the blaze.
turn something to face something/somebody
Could you turn your chairs to face this way ?
turn a/the page (=move a page in a book over so that you can read the next page)
turn something down/up
He turned down the corner of the sheet to peep at the baby.
3. DIRECTION
a) [intransitive and transitive] to go in a new direction when you are walking, driving etc, or to make the vehicle you are using do this
I watched until he turned the corner .
turn left/right
Turn left at the church.
turn into/onto/down etc
She cycled up the street and turned into Long Road.
Turning the car around , we headed home.
b) [intransitive] if a road, river etc turns, it curves and starts to go in a new direction
Further on, the river turns east. The road turns sharply at the top of the hill.
4. MOVE AROUND CENTRAL POINT
[intransitive and transitive]to move around a central or fixed point, or to make something move in this way
The wheels turned slowly, then picked up speed. For some reason, the key wouldn't turn.
turn the handle/knob/key/tap etc
She gently turned the handle of the bedroom door.
5. CHANGE [linking verb, transitive]
to start to have a different quality, or to make something do this
turn (something) red/blue/white etc
Rose's hair was already turning grey.
the weather turns cold/nasty etc also it turns cold/nasty etc
Then it turned cold and started to rain.
turn nasty/mean/violent etc (=suddenly become angry, violent etc)
The police are worried that the situation could turn violent.
see usage note become
6. ATTENTION/THOUGHTS
[intransitive and transitive]to start to think about, deal with, look at etc a particular person, thing, or subject, instead of what you were thinking about etc before
turn your attention/thoughts/efforts etc to something/somebody
Many investors have turned their attention to opportunities abroad.
Phil turned his gaze towards the older man.
turn to/towards etc something
As usual, the conversation turned back to her children.
7. turn your back (on somebody/something)
a) to refuse to help, support, or be involved with someone or something
How can you turn your back on your own mother? In his twenties he turned his back on his Catholic faith.
b) to turn so that your back is pointing towards someone or something, and you are not looking at them
Angrily, she turned her back on him.
8. AGE/TIME
[transitive]to become a particular age, or to reach a particular time
somebody turns 15/20/40 etc
My son's just turned 18.
it's turned 2 o'clock/5/midday etc
It's just turned three.
9. turn something inside out
a) to pull a piece of clothing, bag etc so that the inside is facing out
Turn the sweater inside out before you wash it.
b) also turn something upside down
to search everywhere for something, in a way that makes a place very untidy
Thieves had turned the house upside down.
c) also turn something upside down
or turn something on its head
to completely change the way that something is done, organized, thought about etc
New approaches to marketing turn old practices upside down.
Her opinion of him had been turned on its head.
10. have turned the corner
to start to improve after going through a difficult period or experience
The manager of the hotel chain claims that they have turned the corner.
11. MAKE/LET GO OUT
[transitive] to make or let someone or something go out from where they are
turn somebody/something out/outside/into etc (something)
Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured board.
There are some criminals who cannot be turned loose onto the streets.
12. TIDE
[intransitive] if the tide turns, the sea starts to come in or go out again
13. CHANGE DEVELOPMENT
[intransitive and transitive] if something such as a war, situation, game of sport etc turns, or someone turns it, something happens to change the way it is developing
Mills turned the game by scoring twice.
The victory turned the tide of the war in North Africa.
14 turn traitor
to be disloyal to a person, group, or idea that you have strongly supported before
15. turn your ankle
to twist your ankle in a way that injures it
ᅳsynonym sprain
Wright turned his ankle in the first minutes of the game.
16. an actor turned politician/a housewife turned author etc
someone who has done one job and then does something completely different
ᅳsee also poacher turned gamekeeper
17. turn somebody's head
to be attractive in a romantic or sexual way
She turned heads whenever she walked into a room.
18. turn (people's) heads
if something turns people's heads, they are surprised by it
It did turn some heads when he moved back to the village.
19. turn a profit
American English to make a profit
20. turn a phrase
to say something in a particular way
Cohen knows how to turn phrase in his lyrics.
21.LAND
[transitive] to break up soil so that it is ready for growing crops
a distant tractor turning the soil
22. WOOD/METAL
[transitive] to shape a wooden or metal object using a special tool
23. MILK
[intransitive] British English if milk turns, it becomes sour
ᅳ turn (somebody) against somebody/something phrasal verb
to stop liking or supporting someone or something, or to make someone do this
Many people had turned against the war.
Dave felt she was deliberately turning the kids against him.
turn around phrasal verb
1. if a business, department etc that is not successful turns around, or if someone turns it around, it starts to be successful
The company turned around from losses of £1.4 million last year to profits of £26,800.
turn something ↔ around
At Rockwell International he had turned around a badly performing division.
ᅳsee also turnaround
2. if a situation, game etc turns around, or if someone turns it around, it changes and starts to develop in the way you want
After I met him, my whole life turned around.
turn something ↔ around
Fender's batting could turn matches around in half an hour.
3. turn around and say/do etc something
spoken to say or do something that is unexpected or that seems unfair or unreasonable
You can't just turn around and say that it was all my fault.
4. turn something ↔ around
to consider an idea, question etc in a different way, or change the words of something so that it has a different meaning
Let's turn the whole idea around and look at it from another angle.
5. turn something ↔ around
to complete the process of making a product or providing a service
We can turn around 500 units by next week.
6. every time somebody turns around
spoken very often or all the time
Every time I turn around he seems to be checking up on me.
turn away phrasal verb
1. turn somebody ↔ away
to refuse to let someone enter a place or join an organization, for example because it is full
The show was so popular police had to turn people away.
Thousands of applicants are turned away each year.
2. turn somebody ↔ away
to refuse to give someone sympathy, help, or support
Anyone who comes to us will not be turned away.
The insurance company has promised not to turn away its existing customers.
3. turn (somebody) away from somebody/something
to stop supporting someone, or stop using or being interested in something, or to make someone do this
Consumers are turning away from credit cards.
turn back phrasal verb
1. to go back in the direction you came from, or to make someone or something do this
It's getting late - maybe we should turn back.
turn somebody/something ↔ back
The UN convoy was turned back at the border.
2. to return to doing something in the way it was done before
turn back to
The people are turning back to natural resources to survive.
We've promised to help, and there's no turning back (=you cannot change this) !
turn somebody/something ↔ down phrasal verb
1. to turn the switch on a machine such as an oven, radio etc so that it produces less heat, sound etc
ᅳopposite turn up
Can you turn the TV down? I'm trying to work.
2. to refuse an offer, request, or invitation
They offered her the job but she turned it down. I'm not going to turn down an invitation to go to New York! Josie's already turned him down (=refused his offer of marriage) .
turn in phrasal verb
1. turn something ↔ in
to give something to a person in authority, especially an illegal weapon or something lost or stolen
The rebels were told to turn in their weapons and ammunition.
turn something ↔ in to
My wallet was turned in to the police two days later.
2. turn something ↔ in
American English to give back something you have borrowed or rented
ᅳsynonym return
When do the library books have to be turned in?
3. turn in something
to produce a particular profit, result etc
Bimec turned in net profits of £2.4 million.
Last night the team turned in another dazzling performance.
4. turn somebody ↔ in
to tell the police who or where a criminal is
Margrove's wife finally turned him in.
5. to go to bed
I think I'll turn in early tonight.
6. turn something ↔ in
American English to give a piece of work you have done to a teacher, your employer etc
British Equivalent: hand in
Have you all turned in your homework assignments?
turn (somebody/something) into something phrasal verb
1. to become something different, or to make someone or something do this
The sofa turns into a bed.
A few weeks later, winter had turned into spring. Hollywood discovered her and turned her into a star.
2. to change by magic from one thing into another, or to make something do this
In a flash, the prince turned into a frog. The witch had turned them all into stone.
3. days turned into weeks/months turned into years etc
used to say that time passed slowly while you waited for something to happen
Weeks turned into months, and still there was no letter.
turn off phrasal verb
1. turn something ↔ off
to make a machine or piece of electrical equipment such as a television, engine, light etc stop operating by pushing a button, turning a key etc
ᅳsynonym switch off
ᅳopposite turn on
Don't forget to turn the lights off when you leave.
2. turn something ↔ off
to stop the supply of water, gas etc from flowing by turning a handle
ᅳopposite turn on
They've turned the gas off for a couple of hours.
3. turn off (something)
to leave the road you are travelling on and start travelling on another road
turn off (something) at/near etc
I think we should have turned off at the last exit.
turn off the road/motorway etc
Mark turned off the highway and into Provincetown.
ᅳsee also turn-off
4. turn somebody ↔ off
to make someone decide they do not like something
Any prospective buyer will be turned off by the sight of rotting wood.
ᅳsee also turn-off
5. turn somebody ↔ off
to make someone feel that they are not attracted to you in a sexual way
turn on phrasal verb
1. turn something ↔ on
to make a machine or piece of electrical equipment such as a television, engine, light etc start operating by pushing a button, turning a key etc.
2. turn something ↔ on
to make the supply of water, gas etc start flowing from something by turning a handle
He turned on the gas and lit the stove.
'I'm thirsty,' she said, turning on the tap .
3. turn on somebody
also turn upon somebody
to suddenly attack someone, using physical violence or unpleasant words
Peter turned on Rae and screamed, 'Get out of my sight!'
4. turn on something
also turn upon something
if a situation, event, argument etc turns on a particular thing or idea, it depends on that thing
As usual, everything turned on how much money was available.
5. turn somebody on
to make someone feel sexually excited
The way he looked at her really turned her on.
6. turn somebody on
to interest someone, or to make someone become interested in something
Science fiction just doesn't turn me on.
turn somebody on to
It was Walter who turned me on to vegetarian food.
7. turn on the charm
also turn it on
to suddenly start to be very nice, amusing, and interesting, especially in a way that is not sincere
Simon was good at turning on the charm at parties.
turn out phrasal verb
1. to happen in a particular way, or to have a particular result, especially one that you did not expect
turn out well/badly/fine etc
It was a difficult time, but eventually things turned out all right.
turn out to be something
That guy turned out to be Maria's second cousin.
2. turn the light out
to stop the flow of electricity to a light by pressing a switch, pulling a string etc
Don't forget to turn out the lights when you go!
3. if a lot of people turn out for an event, they go to watch it or take part in it
turn out for
About 70% of the population turned out for the election.
turn out to do something
Thousands turned out to watch yesterday's match against Ireland.
4. turn somebody ↔ out
to force someone to leave a place permanently, especially their home
If you can't pay the rent, they turn you out.
5. turn something ↔ out
to produce or make something
The factory turns out 300 units a day.
6. well/beautifully/badly etc turned out
dressed in good, beautiful etc clothes
elegantly turned-out young ladies
7. turn something ↔ out
a) to empty something completely by taking out the contents
The policeman made him turn out his pockets.
b) British English to take out everything in a room, drawer etc and clean the room etc thoroughly
Lea decided to turn out the attic.
turn over phrasal verb
1. turn something over to somebody
to give someone the right to own something, or to make someone responsible for dealing with something
He'll turn the shop over to his son when he retires.
turn the matter/problem/responsibility etc over to somebody
I'm turning the project over to you.
2. turn something over to something
to use land, a building etc for a different purpose
There is a new plan to turn the land over to wind farming.
3. turn somebody over to somebody
to take a criminal to the police or another official organization
Suspected terrorists are immediately turned over to the law.
4. turn over something
if a business turns over a particular amount of money, it earns that amount in a particular period of time
Within ten years the theme park was turning over £20 million.
5. if an engine turns over, or if someone turns it over, it starts to work
The engine turned over twice and then stopped.
6. British English to turn a page in a book or a sheet of paper to the opposite side
Turn over and look at the next page.
7. British English to change to another channel on a television
Can we turn over? There's a film I want to see.
8. turn something over
British English to search a place thoroughly or steal things from it, making it very untidy
Burglars had been in and turned the whole house over.
turn to somebody/something phrasal verb
1. to try to get help, advice, or sympathy from someone
I don't know who to turn to. The Namibian government turned to South Africa for help.
2. to start to do or use something new, especially as a way of solving a problem
Many people here are turning to solar power.
turn to drink/crime/drugs etc
addicts who turn to crime to finance their habit
3. turn (something) to something
to become a different quality, attitude, form of a substance etc, or to make something do this
Our laughter turned to horror as we realized that Jody was really hurt.
4. to look at a particular page in a book
Turn to page 655 for more information.
turn up phrasal verb
1. turn something ↔ up
to turn a switch on a machine such as an oven, radio etc so that it produces more heat, sound etc
ᅳopposite turn down
Turn the oven up to 220.Turn up the radio!
2. to be found, especially by chance, after having been lost or searched for
Eventually my watch turned up in a coat pocket.
3. to arrive at a place, especially in a way that is unexpected
You can't just turn up and expect a meal.
turn up late/early/on time etc
Steve turned up late, as usual.
4. if an opportunity or situation turns up, it happens, especially when you are not expecting it
Don't worry, I'm sure a job will turn up soon.
5. turn something ↔ up
to find something by searching for it thoroughly
The police investigation hasn't turned up any new evidence.
6. turn something ↔ up
British English to shorten a skirt, trousers etc by folding up the bottom and sewing it
turn upon somebody/something phrasal verb
1. to suddenly attack someone, using physical violence or unpleasant words
ᅳsynonym turn on
2. if a situation, event, argument etc turns upon a particular thing or idea, it depends on that thing
ᅳsynonym turn on
The court case turned upon a technicality of company law
Список рекомендованої літератури
1. Англо-український, українсько-англійський словник : Близько 70000 слів. – Харків : Торнадо, 2004. – 632 с.
2. Мамрак, А. В. Вступ до теорії перекладу : Реком. МОНУ як навч. посібн. для студ. ВНЗ / А. В. Мамрак. – К : ЦУЛ, 2009. – 304с.
3. Soars, J. Headway:Student's book(P-I) : Student's book / J. Soars. – Pre-intermediate. – Oxford : OUP, 2001. – 144.
4. Soars, Lis & John Headway: Workbook : Workbook. Pre-intermediate / Lis & John Soars. – Oxford : OUP, 2001. – 80 с.
5.Soars, Lis & John Headway: Workbook : Workbook / Lis & John Soars. – Elementary. – Oxford : OUP, 2001. – 80 с.
6.Soars, J. Headway:Student's book(E) : Student's book. Elementary / J. Soars. – Oxford : OUP, 2001. – 128 с.
7.Soars, J. Headway:Workbook(P-I) : Workbook / J. Soars. – Pre-intermediate. – Oxford : OUP, 1991. – 80.
8.Soars, L. New Headway English Course: Intermediate Student's Book : Student's book / L. Soars, J. Soars. – Oxford : OUP, 1999. – 159 с.
9.Soars, L. New Headway English Course: Upper-Intermediate Student's Book : Student's book / L. Soars, J. Soars. – Oxford : OUP, 1999. – 159 с.
10.Strut, P. Market Leader /Business Grammar and Usage : Busines English / P. Strut. – Harlow : Longman, 2000. – 221 c.
11.Акмалдинова, А. Н. Английский, немецкий, французский язык : Лексический и грамматический справочник на 3-х языках / А. Н. Акмалдинова, Л. В. Будко, Т. Д. Куксина. – Диал : КМУГА, 1997. – 216 с. – (В помощь поступающим в ВУЗы).
12. Английский язык для менеджеров туризма и гостиничного бизнеса. – Ростов-на-Дону, Харьков : "Феникс", "Торсинг", 2003. – 160 с. – (Учебники, учебные пособия).
13. Англо-русский словарь 40000 слов / СоставительМюллер В.К., Боянус С.К. – К. : Канон, 1996. – 688 с.
14. Англо-русский словарь. 20000 слов / Под ред.Ахмановой О.С., Уилсон Е.А. – 24-е изд., перераб. и доп. – М. : Русский язык, 1974. – 640 с.
15. Англійсько-український словник термінів і понять з державного управління. – К. : Основи, 1996. – 128 с.
16. Англо-русский тематический словарь : Около 30000 слов. Тематических приложений - 52 / Сост.Хмиль О. – Харьков : Единорог, 1995. – 512 с. – [Сост. не указан на титул. ст.].
17.Англо-український, українсько-англійський словник. – К. : Феміна, 1995. – 696 с. – [За ред. Жлуктенка Ю.Ю.].
18. Англійська мова : Навчальний посібник для студ. ВНЗ / За ред.Шпака В.К. – К. : Вища школа, 1995. – 239 с.
19. Англійська для повсякденного спілкування : Допущено Міністерством освіти і науки України як підручник для студетів ВУЗів / За ред.Шпака В.К. – 2-ге вид. доповнене
Навчально-методичне видання
Методичні вказівки та рекомендації до лінгво-стилістичного
аналізу художніх творів. Зразок аналізу текстів публіцистичного стилю.
для студентів денної та заочної форми навчання
спеціальності 6.020303 «Філологія ( англійська)» ОКР “Бакалавр”,
7.010103 «Філологія ( англійська)» ОКР “Спеціаліст”
Видрукувано у редакційно-видавничому центрі МДУ
89600 м. Мукачево
Вул.. Ужгородська,26
Тел.. 2-11-09
|
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