My Vocabulary Page
volatile adj //
(unstable) likely to change suddenly and unexpectedly, or suddenly violent or angry
1/ Food and fuel /'fju:əl/ prices are very volatile in a war situation.
2/ The situation was made more volatile by the fact that people had been
drinking a lot of alcohol.
3/ He had a volatile temper and couldn't have been easy to live with.
4/ The stock market was highly volatile in the early part of the year.
5/ The society became volatile during the Occupy Central protest.
(chemicals) a volatile liquid or solid substance will change easily into a gas
6/ The substance is highly volatile.
7/ volatile compounds
alert adj //
quick to see, understand and act in a particular situation
1.1/ I'm not feeling very alert today - not enough sleep last night!
1.2/ Suddenly he found himself awake and fully alert.
1.3/ Although Granny was frail in her old age, but was mentally very alert.
1.4/ Doing puzzles and crosswords regularly keeps your mind alert and active.
(before noun)
1.5/ Two alert scientists spotted the mistake.
1.6/ A couple of alert readers posted comments on the website
pointing out the mistake.
alert for something
1.7/ A small animal must always remain alert for predators.
1.8/ "During cold weather, stay alert for signs of hypothermia /''haɪ.pə'θɜ:.mi.ə/."
stay alert
1.9/ When you’re driving, you must stay alert.
1.10/ There have been some thefts recently, so please stay alert
and don't leave handbags and valuables around.
(adj) be alert to something: be aware of something, esp a problem or danger
2.1/ Parents should be alert to sudden changes in children's behaviour.
2.2/ We had to be alert to any danger signs in the economy.
be alert of something ("be alert to something" is preferred)
2.3/ "Dr Chung advised that in order to prepare for the possible return
of SARS, the white-collars have to be alert of their health condition."
2.4/ "Facebook @Desktop is an application that will surely please all regular
Facebook users by allowing them to be always alert of what's happening
in their account."
alert v(t) //
warn someone of a possibly dangerous situation
alerat somebody, be alerted by something
3.1/ Neighbours quickly alerted the emergency services.
3.2/ If you hear a flood warning, please alert your neighbours
and make emergency preparations.
3.3/ Alerted by a noise downstairs, he sat up and turned on the light.
alerat somebody about something
3.4/ We encourage parents to alert the school about any concerns
or difficulties at home.
be alerted that ...
3.5/ The coastguard were alerted that a yacht had run into difficulties.
alert somebody to something
3.6/ An anonymous letter alerted police to the possibility of
a terrorist attack at the airport.
3.7/ We don't want to alarm people unnecessarily, but they should be
alerted to potential dangers.
3.8/ A note of formality in his voice alerted her to the fact
that others were listening.
alert somebody of something (see also: warn somebody of a danger)
3.9/ The auto company mailed letters to owners of that model car,
alerting them of safety risks.
3.10/ "After the city council was alerted of the free lunches, it ruled that
she would have to acquire a variance(= an official permission for something
usually not allowed) to give away food next summer - or pay a fine of $600 a day."
remark: the use of "alert...of..." or "be alert of ..." is not encouraged.
alert n(singular,u) //
a situation in which people are watching for danger and ready to deal with it
on high alert
4.1/ "UK police stay on high alert amid ongoing unrest."
4.2/ "We must be on high alert amid New Orleans attack."
4.3/ "Firefighters remain on high alert today, as waterbombing aircraft
back on-the-ground crews fighting several blazes in the Hunter Valley."
on alert
4.4/ More than 5 000 troops have been placed on full alert.
4.5/ The army was put on full alert as the peace talks began to fail.
4.6/ The army was yesterday placed on a state of alert in case of more riots.
on alert for somebody/something
4.7/ "Trump puts the nation on alert for terrorists posing as
peaceful seventy-five-year-olds."
4.8/ "Sightings of oarfish put Japanese on alert for earthquake and tsunami."
4.9/ "15 million Americans are on alert for a parade of potentially
dangerous storms out west."
4.10/ "South Korea's military said it was on alert for more trash-carrying
balloons possibly arriving from North Korea on Sunday."
on the alert (for somebody/something)
4.11/ The police were on the alert for any sign of trouble.
4.12/ The troops were on the alert for land mines.
4.13/ Police are warning the public to be on the alert for suspicious packages.
n(c) a warning to people to be prepared to deal with something dangerous
5.1/ "A bomb alert was sounded on October 14 at the historic Palace of Versailles."
5.2/ "A flood alert was issued to 30 villages along the banks of
the Thenpennai river in Tiruvannamalai on Wednesday, November 29 2023."
5.3/ "Because of the ongoing dry conditions, there is a fire alert
in effect for the state."
n(c) a message to alert you to something
6.1/ I get text alerts when I have used 80% of my mobile data.
6.2/ Sign up to receive news alerts in your area.
6.3/ You can set a vibrating alert to remind you.
6.4/ Receive regular email alerts about breaking news.
aware adj //
knowing that something exists, or having knowledge/experience
of a particular thing
be aware of something
1.1/ He was well aware of the problem.
1.2/ Were you aware of the risks at the time?
1.3/ I suddenly became aware of him looking at me.
1.4/ I became aware of someone following me.
1.5/ Are you aware of any reason why you cannot act fairly
as a juror /'dʒʊ.rər/ in this trial?
1.6/ If you have any problems, you should make management aware of them.
1.7/ I am fully aware of the fact that change needs time.
1.8/ I don't think people are really aware of just how much it costs.
make somebody aware of something
1.9/ We're just making the public aware of the issue.
1.10/ Everybody should be made aware of the risks involved.
be aware that ...
1.11/ I was aware that she was trembling.
1.12/ I wasn't even aware that he was ill.
1.13/ She was well aware that he was married.
1.14/ Were you aware that something was wrong?
1.15/ We were just not aware that garbage would be a problem,
that we ever would need to recycle.
be aware + wh-clause
1.16/ "I am aware why I was banned."
1.17/ "I am aware how far from the norm I am."
1.18/ "I am aware what to acknowledge and what to improve."
1.19/ "I am aware how I act and I make no apologies."
1.20/ "When there is a long line, I am aware who is next and
maybe wait 20 seconds."
as far as I am aware
1.21/ "This was never mentioned as far as i am aware."
1.22/ "Has Claude paid the phone bill?" "Not as far as I'm aware."
1.23/ "As far as we are aware, there are no other families with this surname."
see also: notice, be conscious of something
an aware person: be enthusiastic about and involved in something
2.1/ We are a lively magazine for aware and dynamic (= energetic) young people.
environmentally/politically/socially aware
2.2/ Young people are very environmentally aware.
2.3/ People are becoming more politically and socially aware.
2.4/ The charity aims to create a new generation of environmentally aware
consumers and producers.
2.5/ Food manufacturers are dealing with increasingly aware consumers.
2.6/ "Socially aware teenagers are compassionate, respectful and inclusive,
creating a positive and supportive environment for themselves and
those they interact with."
2.7/ "A group of environmentally aware hairdressers and barbers are encouraging
salons across the UK to recycle their waste, from plastic and metal packaging,
to hair itself which can be used for composting, to make energy
or even to clear oil spills."
awareness n(u, singular) //
knowing something; knowing that something exists and is important
awareness of something
1.1/ Public awareness of the problem will make politicians take it seriously.
1.2/ There is growing awareness of the link between diet and health.
1.3/ "There is an increasing awareness of just how much can be learned or
predicted about an individual from myriad data floating around the web."
1.4/ Recent campaigns have led to a dramatic increase in awareness
of environmental issues.
1.4/ "Complacency can be described as a feeling of self-satisfaction accompanied
by a loss of awareness of potential dangers."
have awareness of something
1.5/ Most people have little awareness of the problem.
1.6/ Politicians now have much greater awareness of these problems.
1.7/ Public need to have an awareness of the importance of eating a healthy diet.
1.8/ I seemed to have a heightened awareness of my surroundings.
1.9/ Raise public awareness of the importance of maintaining their health.
lack of awareness
1.10/ There was an almost complete lack of awareness of the issues involved.
awareness of somebody on something
1.11/ "UNICEF and partners raise the awareness of young people and
adolescents on cyberbullying and cybersecurity."
1.12/ "The aim is to improve awareness of adolescents on
overall health and well-being."
awareness that ...
1.13/ There seems to be a general awareness that this is not the solution.
raise/ heighten/ increase/ build awareness
1.14/ We launch a marketing campaign to increase brand awareness.
1.15/ The leaflet has been produced with the aim of increasing public awareness
of the disease.
1.16/ "While our operations do not have a direct and obvious impact on
the environment, we have launched a number of initiatives to reduce
our carbon footprint and raise awareness of environmental protection among
staff and stakeholders."
1.17/ "He hopes the Australia-wide initiative will heighten awareness of poverty
and encourage community involvement in combating it."
1.18/ The campaign has certainly succeeded in raising public awareness
of the issue.
1.19/ "Not only does this build awareness of the brand and its values,
but it also directly drives customers who share those values to
open their wallets."
1.20/ How can I raise awareness of the Hong Kong protests?
promote awareness
1.21/ Greenpeace works to promote awareness of the dangers that
threaten our planet today.
test awareness, assess awareness
1.22/ This task is designed to test the child's spatial awareness.
1.23/ "Can we assess students' awareness of cultural diversity?"
1.24/ "We conduct a survey to assess students' awareness of available
sexual health resources and services on campus."
bring awareness to something
1.25/ "Yakym introduces legislation to bring greater awareness to
lifesaving medical devices."
1.26/ His tragedy has brought a heightened awareness to the conditions
surrounding heatstroke.
n(u) interest in and concern about a particular situation or area of interest
awareness about something
2.1/ The group is trying to raise public awareness about homelessness.
2.2/ "Expand public awareness about personal safety and crime prevention."
environmental awareness
2.3/ We try to promote environmental awareness among local drivers.
2.4/ Schools undertake activities to promote environmental awareness
among students.
social awareness
2.5/ "These activities foster social awareness among young people."
2.6/ "The 2019 Demonstration led to the emergence of social awareness
in Hong Kong."
public awareness
2.7/ We work to raise public awareness on human rights.
2.8/ We work to raise public awareness and combat the prejudice
surrounding Hansen's Disease."
see also: raise public attention to an issue
beware v(i,t) //
used to warn someone to be very careful about something or someone
1/ Beware salespeople who promise offers that seem too good to be true.
2/ Beware anyone who offers you a second-hand car at a bargain price.
3/ It is icy on that pathway in the mornings, so beware.
4/ A red reflective triangle warns drivers to beware when there is a hazard ahead.
beware of something
5/ You should beware of undercooked food when staying in hot countries.
6/ Beware of falling asleep while sunbathing /'sʌn.beɪðɪŋ/.
7/ Beware of the dog.
see also: behold, watch out for something
the like(s) of which
the like(s) of which
1/ We achieve technological advances the like of which the world had
previously only dreamed of.
2/ We are dealing with an epidemic the likes of which we have never seen
in this century.
3/ A football festival, the likes of which come along once a decade.
4/ It offers an allround challenge, the likes of which you don't get
in any other game.
the like(s) of which has never been seen before
5/ (oral)
The Allies were preparing for a super massive crazy the likes of which
the Earth has never seen before invasion of Europe.
the likes of (same as: the like of)
6/ We haven’t seen the likes of Muhammad Ali since he retired.
7/ They’re competing with the likes of IBM and Unisys.
8/ We don't want the likes of you around here.
9/ Why would somebody like her want to spend an evening with the likes of me?
advocate v(t) //
to publicly support or suggest an idea, development, or way of doing something
1/ (+ v-ing) She advocates taking a more long-term view.
2/ We would advocate selling those shares at current levels.
3/ He advocates the return of capital punishment.
4/ He advocates universal free health care.
5/ Some people advocate teaching to the test.
v(i) advocate for something
6/ The organization advocates for human rights.
7/ According to its manifesto, the campaign advocates for an electoral system
in Hong Kong that is decided through a democratic process and satisfies
international standards of universal and equal suffrage.
8/ We advocate for cheaper prescription drugs.
remark: "advocate for" means "advocate" if the object is the idea or action
we are supporting. "Advocate for" acts on a person(/people)who is(/are) in need of
the support. E.g., "we advocate for the blind", means that we support some ideas or
actions for the blind. see also: "I advocate higher pay for teachers.”
advocate n(c) //
(a supporter)
an advocate of something/somebody
8/ She is a passionate advocate of "organic" clothes.
9/ She’s a strong advocate of women’s rights.
10/ He's a strong advocate of state ownership of the railways.
11/ Mary is an advocate of free school lunches.
an advocate for something/somebody
12/ He was an advocate for small businesses around Newark.
13/ He’s an advocate for the underprivileged.
devotee n(c) //
(supporter) a person who strongly admires a particular person or is extremely
interested in a subject
1/ (+ of) He is a great devotee of the prime minister.
2/ devotees of golf
3/ Devotees of jazz won’t want to miss this!
undermine v(t) //
(weaken) to gradually weaken or destroy someone or something
see also: chip away at something, compromise
1/ Criticism just undermines their confidence.
2/ If you continually criticize children you can seriously undermine
their confidence.
3/ Suddenly she just turned on me and accused me of undermining her.
4/ The president has accused two cabinet members of working secretly to
undermine his position(/him).
5/ The incompetence and arrogance of the city’s administration have undermined
public confidence in government.
6/ Believing in these worlds resolves moral dilemmas that undermine
social cooperation.
7/ Addictive substances alcohol, nicotine, caffeine undermine immunity
and mess with your energy levels.
8/ Eating a big meal before bed can undermine quality of sleep or cause insomnia.
chip away at something
to gradually reduce something so that it becomes smaller or weaker
1/ He gradually chipped away at her confidence. (= undermined her confidence)
2/ Fees will chip away at your small investment funds.
3/ Invaders chipped away at the fringes of their empire.
level off
if a rate or amount levels off, it stops rising or falling and stays at the same level
1/ Share prices are beginning to level off after the sharp rises of recent months.
2/ The price of gas has finally levelled off after rising for several months.
3/ Unemployment rose to ten percent and then levelled off.
(plane)
4/ The plane descended to 18,000 feet before levelling off.
5/ The jet levelled off at 10,000 feet.
level off/out at something
6/ The bank expects that growth will level off at 2.5% next spring.
7/ We assume rates will level out at 5.25%.
stagnate v(i) // or //
to stay the same and not grow or develop
1/ My music career had stagnated.
2/ Everyone needs new challenges. Otherwise you just stagnate.
3/ I felt like I was stagnating in that job.
4/ The electronics industry is showing signs of stagnating after 15 years of growth.
5/ Prices have continued to rise in the North, but to stagnate and fall in the South.
6/ Millions of people have watched their incomes stagnate.
7/ The company's core business is stagnating.
8/ The housing market stagnated as rising interest rates squeezed many buyers
out of the market.
9/ While the volume of traffic soared during the past two decades,
transportation funding stagnated.
antonym: boom
10/ Their economy was stagnating, while Japan and Asia's "tiger economies"
were booming.
(adj) stagnating (see also: stagnant)
11/ Michigan is struggling with high unemployment and a stagnating economy.
n(u) stagnation /sdæg'neɪʃən/
12/ High costs have caused stagnation in the building industries.
13/ In this article, we will discuss the symptoms and causes of career stagnation
and share the steps.
v(i) (of a liquid or air) to not move or flow, often resulting in it becoming dirty
14/ For now, the strong currents mean water is relatively clean but when
the levels subside the water will stagnate.
15/ Valleys where air tends to stagnate often have high levels of pollutants.
stagnant adj //
not growing or developing
1/ Jobs become scarce /sgers/ in a stagnant economy.
2/ Why do countries that specialize in a stagnant primary sector fail to develop
a thriving secondary sector and thus sustain growth?
stagnant economy/growth/market
3/ a stagnant economy
stagnant prices/sales/wages
4/ Recently, the company's sales have been declining or stagnant.
stagnant academic achievement
5/ Yet important issues such as high drop out rates, hostile racial climates,
long bus rides, and stagnant academic achievement point out concerns in the
desegregation effort.
stagnant improvement
6/ I wish to write something to people who just started learning about
case interviews yet encounter frustration about stagnant improvement
or do not know where to start.
feel stagnant
7/ Why do I feel stagnant in my 20’s, but everything is going right?
8/ "Feeling stagnant in college"
remark: "in college" means that you are enrolled in a college;
"at college" means that you are physically there.
(of water or air) not flowing or moving, and smelling unpleasant
9/ a stagnant pond /pɒnd/
10/ Hot, stagnant air filled the subway.
flatten v(i,t) //
(physically) to become level or cause something to become level
1/ Several trees were flattened (= knocked down) by the storm.
2/ He was immediately flattened by a single punch to the head.
3/ A fight broke out and we had to grab Kevin to stop him flattening the other guy.
4/ The path flattens (out) as it reaches the top of the hill.
5/ That tent is not secure, you know. The first gust of wind will flatten it.
6/ In the road race, you go over a few steep hills but then the course flattens out.
to stop rising, falling, or changing so quickly, or to make
the rate of change slower
7/ Television advertisement rates have flattened, if not declined slightly.
8/ The economy hit a peak about a year ago and now it's flattening.
flatten the curve: (especially when a disease is spreading)
9/ These public health measures are designed to flatten the curve
in the spread of the disease.
10/ This sort of banking lowers long-term interest rates; it flattens the curve.
flatten off/out: to stop rising or falling, and stay at the same level
(synonym: level off)
11/ The use of a retardant coating on the surface of the powder slows
the initial burn rate and flattens out the rate of change.
12/ In the last decade we saw smoking rates flatten out and decline.
13/ If the housing market continues to flatten out or even decline,
we're in for some tough times.
14/ A fall in house prices is unlikely; prices are more likely to flatten off.
15/ n(singular)
There's been a flattening out of profit in Australia,
and the bad debts expenses were higher than expected.
v(i,t) to become level and thinner or to cause something to become level and thinner
16/ Flatten the pastry /'peɪsdri/ into a thin disc with your hands.
17/ The biscuits will flatten out as they cook.
18/ We are taking out a level of management and flattening the organization.
holiday n(c,u) //
(US: vacation)
1.1/ "We have a camping holiday planned."
1.2/ "Children enjoy the skiing holiday in a playful manner with
the mascot of the ski area."
1.3/ Have you had a holiday this year?
1.4/ I am looking forward to my holiday.
1.5/ How many days of holiday do you get a year?
1.6/ How many days' holiday do you get with your new job?
take a holiday, take a vacation
1.7/ "Just get on yer bike - and take a cycling holiday."
1.8/ "Or do you just take a holiday to experience somewhere real?"
n(u) on holiday: mentioning a period of time away from school or work
1.9/ Patricia is on holiday next week.
1.10/ James is on holiday. He has gone to Italy.
1.11/ Gabriella is away on holiday for the next three months.
n(c) on a holiday: same as "on holiday" but be more specfic
about the holiday which we are going on
1.12/ Last summer we went on a holiday to Thailand.
1.13/ I'm going on a holiday to Spain.
(use 'on a holiday' or equivalent when we are describing a holiday)
1.14/ We went on an all-inclusive holiday.
1.15/ You can go to Europe and have a successful holiday with your wife.
remark: don't use 'on holidays'
n(c,u) for a holiday/ for somebody's holiday:
use 'for a holiday' to express why we do something
2.1/ I went to Paris for a holiday.
2.2/ I need to save money for my holiday.
2.3/ He is still thinking about where to go for his holiday.
2.4/ Have you decided where you're going for your holiday(s) this year?
2.5/ We thought we'd go to France for our summer holiday.
'Holidays' is often used for the "long holiday" of the year.
Otherwise, we use the singular "holiday".
3.1/ "Happy holidays!" (a Christmas greeting equivalent to 'Merry Christmas')
3.2/ Where are you going for your summer holidays?
3.3/ Surely the school holidays start soon.
3.4/ We get five days' Christmas holiday this year.
3.5/ Next Monday is a public holiday.
3.6/ I did a lot of things on my Easter holiday last year.
except prep, conj //
"except" can be followed by a noun, a noun clause, a preposition,
a relative clause or a verb; "except for" can only be follwed by a noun
or a noun clause.
except (+ that)
1/ The dish you cooked was great except that it could use more salt.
2/ I want to go, except that I'm tired.
3/ The exam went pretty well, except that I misread the final question.
except (+ wh-clause)
4/ She rarely ventured outside, except when she went to stock up on groceries
at the corner shop.
except (+ to verb)
5/ Wilson seldom goes out except to work.
6/ The government has few options except to keep interest rates high.
except (+ preposition)
7/ It's cool and quiet everywhere except in the kitchen.
8/ You are allowed to smoke everywhere except in the lobby.
except + (infinitive) verb
9/ The boy didn't do anything except cry last night.
(remark: in the above cases, we must use "except")
"except" can be followed by a noun or a noun clause only when words like
"all"/"any"/"every"/"nobody"/"nothing" appear in the sentence. In these cases,
we can also use "except for".
10/ The museum is open daily except Monday(s).
11/ Everyone was there except Sally.
12/ There is nothing to indicate the building's past, except the fireplace.
13/ I hate all types of desserts except apple crumble.
14/ Nobody I know loves fishing except him.
replace "except" with "except for"
10'/ The museum is open daily except for Monday(s).
11'/ Everyone was there except for Sally.
12'/ There is nothing to indicate the building's past, except for the fireplace.
13'/ I hate all types of desserts except for apple crumble.
14'/ Nobody I know loves fishing except for him.
"except for" can be used at the beginning of a sentence, but not "except"
15/ Except for the service, I enjoy everything about this restaurant.
16/ Except for Louisa, who’s away in Berlin this weekend, we’ll all be at the party.
use "except for" + a noun/a noun clause when we cannot use "except"
17/ The soldiers slept at night, except for one who stayed awake to keep watch.
besides adv, prep //
in addition to; also
1/ Besides London, I’ve been to Manchester, Newcastle and Glasgow.
2/ She won't mind if you're late - besides, it's hardly your fault.
3/ Do you play any other sports besides basketball?
4/ The author's wife was a good editor, besides being a great writer herself.
5/ There's plenty of other things to do in Gothenburg at night besides drink.
6/ His real love, besides his guitar playing, is ultimately songwriting.
7/ We don’t have time to watch another episode tonight.
Besides, I’ve got a lecture to attend tomorrow morning.
apart from
except for
1/ Apart from the low salary, it’s not a bad job.
2/ I bought all their products apart from that dress.
3/ Sally is a nice person apart from being a bit short-tempered.
4/ The room was empty apart from one man seated beside the fire.
5/ There were no others apart from me and the trainer.
as well as; besides
6/ Apart from this dress, I bought a hat and a pair of shoes.
7/ Apart from being a good husband, my father is also a good father.
know, know of, know about //
"know + object" talks about knowledge that comes from direct personal experience
"know about + object" (or "know of + object") are used otherwise.
1/ You don't know my mother, do you? ~No, I've never met her.
2/ We all know about Abraham Lincoln.
3/ I know about electrical engineering.
(= know more or less about the subject after reading books)
4/ I know electrical engineering.
(= probably have acquired a degree in the subject)
5/ Do you know the music shop just by the market square?
6/ She’s a really good teacher and knows the names of over
two hundred of her students.
know/know about + wh-clause
7/ I know where to go.
8/ Do you know where to buy batteries for the watch?
9/ Does he know how to play classical guitar music?
10/ The more international travelers know about what to expect,
the easier and quicker the process becomes.
11/ How much do people really know about what they don't know?
know of: know that someone or something exists and who/what/where they are;
know about someone or something, but not know any details
12/ I only know of one case in which this has happened.
13/ Do you know of anyone who's looking for a new car?
14/ I happen to know of an employment opportunity.
know about: to be knowledgeable about, familiar with, or skilled at something
15/ Sarah knows about all that tech stuff, you should ask her to help you set
the computer up.
16/ I knew a bit about plumbing, so I was able to fix the problem myself.
17/ I know about the man you've been seeing.
18/ The boss already knows about the issue and is sending someone to fix it now.
compare "know of" and "know about"
19/ I know of Albert Schweitzer.
(= I've heard of him; I know the name and some general information.)
20/ I know about Albert Schweitzer.
(= have a reasonably detailed knowledge of his life and work.)
hesitate v(i) //
pause before you do or say something, often because
you are uncertain or nervous about it
1/ She hesitated slightly before answering the detective's question.
2/ "Do you love me?" she asked. He hesitated and then said, "I'm not sure."
3/ She hesitated in the middle of the sentence.
4/ He sounded nervous, and kept hesitating as he spoke.
5/ He seemed to hesitate a second.
hesitate to do something
6/ If you need anything, don't hesitate to call me.
7/ Should you ever need anything, please don't hesitate to contact me.
8/ Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any queries /kwɪəriz/.
9/ She never hesitated to speak her mind.
10/ Don't hesitate to lay off employees.
11/ He hesitated to take the position at the company.
hesitate over/about something
12/ When she hesitated over her order, the waiter gave her an impatient look.
13/ She stood there, hesitating over whether or not to tell him the truth.
14/ I didn't hesitate for a moment about taking the job.
15/ I am afraid of everything and hesitate about everything.
16/ Kate was still hesitating over whether to leave or not.
see also: dither over something
hesitant adj //
If you are hesitant, you do not do something immediately or quickly because
you are nervous or not certain (see also: hesitate)
1/ She gave me a hesitant smile.
be hesitant about something
2/ You seemed a bit hesitant about recommending that restaurant
- is something wrong with it?
3/ She's hesitant about signing the contract.
be hesitant to do something
4/ Doctors are hesitant to comment on the new treatment.
learn, learn of, learn about
"learn + object" can be used if the object is able to be learnt;
otherwise, we have to use "learn about + object"(/"learn of object").
1/ We learnt about the production of coffee.
2/ We learnt about Steve Jobs.
3/ We learn about apples.
4/ We learn about George Bush.
If the object is able to be learnt, we use "learn" and "learn about"(/"learn of")
in different contexts.
5/ Let's learn Karate /kə'ra:ti/.
(= go through the process and be able to do moves.)
6/ Let's learn about Karate. (= be educated about Karate, i.e., knowing general facts about Karate.)
7/ We are learning French. (= studying French)
8/ We are learning jiu-jitsu /dʒu:'dʒɪtsu:/.
learn + wh-clause
9/ We are learning how to make coffee.
10/ First you'll learn how to use this machine.
11/ "learn how to learn."
learn + to verb
12/ I'm learning to play the piano.
learn about/of something: to hear facts or information that you did not know
13/ We only learned about the accident later.
14/ She's learned a lot about computers in the last three months.
15/ We were all shocked to learn of his death.
"learn about" is preferred if we are becoming knowledgeable about something,
or discovering/uncovering some particular information of something,
16/ I want to learn more about American English and American history.
17/ I learned something interesting about the way gravity works today.
18/ See if you can learn any dirty secrets about our opponent.
"learn of" is preferred if we are discovering the existence of something,
or acquiring the bare minimum information of something.
(see also: hear of, inform of)
19/ By the time I learned of his treachery /'tretʃəri/, he had already escaped
with the diamonds.
20/ I learn of the meteor /'mi:tiɔ:r/ shower tonight.
(= all I know is that there will be a meteor shower tonight)
learn by heart
learn something by heart: to learn something very thoroughly;
to memorize something
1/ Ask Becky to recite /rɪ'saɪt/ the poem — she learned it by heart.
2/ You don't have to learn these principles by heart, we just want you
to have a basic understanding of them.
3/ We were told to learn Portia's speech by heart.
hear of, hear about
hear about: to be informed, to gain knowledge about something
1/ Have you heard about Shelly? (= Did you hear the news about Shelly?)
2/ Wow, I'd heard about your injury from your mom, but I didn't realize
it was so grisly /'grɪzli/.
3/ Did you hear about Jade? She was in a car accident and broke her leg
in three places.
4/ That website gave me a survey, asking me how I heard about it.
hear of: to become aware of somebody’s/something’s existence
5/ Have you heard of the “Iris Restaurant? (= Do you know this restaurant?)
6/ Have you heard of the singer Jay Chou?
7/ I have never heard of that country.
use "hear" directly for sound or related context
8/ She heard a noise outside.
9/ You'll have to speak up, I can't hear you.
10/ I could hear someone calling my name.
11/ At eight o'clock Jane heard him go out.
12/ Have you heard the news?
13/ If you haven't heard by Friday, assume I'm not coming.
14/ Have you heard what's happened?
15/ I hear (that) you're leaving.
16/ I heard a really interesting program on the radio this morning.
17/ An audience gathered to hear him speak.
study v(i,t) //
learn about a subject, esp in an educational course or by reading books
1.1/ "It's time to study hard!"
1.2/ There's nowhere for the students to study quietly.
1.3/ I have two tests tomorrow, and I've barely had time to study.
1.4/ They are always on social media when they should be studying.
1.5/ She has been studying and working in Holland for the past four years.
study hard
1.6/ She's studying hard at the moment.
1.7/ "We study hard for a better future."
1.8/ "I studied hard but my grades dropped."
1.9/ "I studied hard, but my grades were never up to par."
1.10/ "I study harder than my classmates but they are the ones
who pass the exams."
study abroad
1.11/ "Why do you prefer to study abroad?"
1.12/ "Do you prefer to study abroad in Africa or the Middle East?"
1.13/ "Which semester would you prefer to study abroad?"
1.14/ "A year ago today, I was studying abroad at the University of Edinburgh
in Scotland, gallivanting across different countries in Europe
on the weekends and spending time with the incredible friends I made
through the program on the weekdays."
study for fun
1.15/ "I just want to study maths for fun."
1.16/ "Sometimes I feel bad for studying for fun."
study a subject
1.17/ "I studied mathematics at university."
1.18/ "She is studying biology at college."
1.19/ "How long have you been studying English?"
1.20/ "I have been studying English for six years."
1.21/ Did you ever study any sciences?
1.22/ "What subjects are you studying in high school?"
1.23/ "I studied medicine but don't want to practice,
what medical related work can I do?"
study something
1.24/ Next term we will study plants and how they grow.
1.25/ In the third year a number of areas are studied in detail.
1.26/ The faculty offers students the opportunity to study dance.
1.27/ "Is it easier to study the theory than to do the
exercises related to the theory?"
1.28/ "I am currently studying differential geometry based on
Do Carmo's book and kind of struggling with it."
1.29/ "In Romania we study abstract algebra in our senior year in high school."
study (something) at somewhere
1.30/ She studied at New College, Oxford.
1.31/ "Can I study at HKU with a dependent visa?"
1.32/ I had a place to study engineering at Leeds.
1.33/ My brother studied photography at the Royal College of Art.
1.34/ "I am studying Mathematics at the University of Bath as an undergraduate."
be in school, be studying in school
1.35/ "I am in primary school."
1.36/ "Are your children in school?"
1.37/ "I have been in elementary school for seven years."
1.38/ "I have been in middle school for three years now
and let me tell you it's not easy."
1.39/ "When I was six years old, I started studying in school."
1.40/ "Are you studying in high school and looking for a CO-OP training?"
1.41/ "I am wondering if it is good idea to have both of our children
study together in primary school instead of being one year apart."
study (something) under somebody
1.42/ He studied under Wagner in Vienna.
1.43/ "I studied relativity under Wolfgang Rindler."
study (something) under somebody's tuition
1.44/ "It has been rewarding to have studied under his tuition."
1.45/ "I studied music under the tutelage of the late Harry Gomez."
1.46/ "She studied relativity under the direction of Peter Saulson
at Syracuse University."
study for a degree
1.47/ He began studying for a law degree.
1.48/ She's been studying for her doctorate for three years already.
1.49/ "Do you intend to study for a university degree?"
1.50/ "I've been constantly told and warned by my family that
I shouldn't study for a degree in history."
1.51/ "Can I work while studying for a PhD in business?"
1.52/ Why should I study for a bachelor's degree at Regent College London?
1.53/ "I studied for a master's degree at the University of the West of England
in Bristol."
study for something
1.54/ "Please study for tomorrow's quiz."
1.55/ "Is it too late to study for exams?"
1.56/ Don't disturb Jane, she's studying for her exams.
1.57/ "I have to stay up all night to study for an exam tomorrow morning."
1.58/ "I never study for quizzes or tests and usually just wing it,
which has worked pretty well so far."
study to do something
1.59/ Nina is studying to be an architect.
1.60/ "How should I study to be a doctor?"
1.61/ He is studying to teach children with special needs.
1.62/ "I study hard to meet my parents' expectations."
see also: learn, master, acquire a skill
v(t) examine something very carefully
study something
2.1/ Fran was studying the menu.
2.2/ He studied her face thoughtfully.
2.3/ She picked up the letter and studied it carefully.
2.4/ We will study the report carefully before making a decision.
2.5/ I want time to study this contract thoroughly before signing it.
study something for something
2.6/ Scientists are studying photographs of the planet for signs of life.
2.7/ "An international collaboration between a number of countries could
finally allow researchers to study Mars for signs of life."
2.8/ "These stations continuously record earthquakes and the collected data
that is studied for earthquake prediction and engineering studies."
study a subject/topic (see also: research)
2.9/ This area has not been well studied.
2.10/ He's been studying hedgehogs for many years.
2.11/ "For over ten years I have been studying and practicing meditation regularly."
2.12/ "I have been studying mathematics for my whole life.
I can offer you all kinds of complex proofs that are also facts."
2.13/ "Dale Cruikshank, of the NASA Ames Research Center in Mountain View,
has studied Pluto for years."
2.14/ "I studied superstitions and will tell you how some of them are not."
2.15/ She is studying the effects global warming could have on annual snowmelt.
2.16/ "I have been studying global warming for about 25 years at
the National Institute for Environmental Studies in Tsukuba City,
Ibaraki Prefecture."
study a problem/hypothesis
2.17/ "I study the hypothesis that males are more risk taking than females."
2.18/ "It is not just the physical experiments that beguile me, as last year
I had chosen to study a Millennium problem as an artefact for my EPQ.
I decided to study the history of the Riemann hypothesis, though I would
later read up on Fermat's last theorem and the Navier-Stokes equation
in my own time."
be studied (see also: be researched)
2.19/ The early modern world has not been extensively studied outside Europe.
2.20/ The influence of heredity is best studied in genetically identical twins.
2.21/ "The free energy of the Heyrovsky step is yet to be studied."
study + wh-clause
2.22/ "My really expensive bass speakers got damaged.
I studied what caused the problem."
2.23/ The group will study how the region coped with the loss of thousands of jobs.
2.24/ They are studying what happens to people who unexpectedly
win a lot of money.
2.25/ Researchers have been studying how people under stress make decisions.
2.26/ "Researchers at the Pratt Institute in New York studied how
the war was affecting adolescents in Ukraine."
2.27/ "As a doctor, I studied how a disease progressed and the possible ways
it manifested, but I didn't know when organ damage would appear."
study n(c) //
the activity of examining a subject in detail in order to discover new information
3.1/ "A Study in Scarlet" (Sherlock Holmes)
3.2/ Some studies have suggested a link between certain types
of artificial sweetener and cancer.
a study of something
3.3/ "A Study of Jane Austen's Novels (1971)"
3.4/ It is a five-year study of the relationship between wildlife and farming.
3.5/ We conducted a detailed study of how animals adapt to their environment.
(idiom) make a study of something
3.6/ "She has made a study of the problem."
3.7/ "We make a study of rules and regulations in force relating to
the production of natural gas at the wellhead and the metering of gas."
a study on something
3.8/ "I think you can conduct a study on the rules."
3.9/ He has recently done a study on the effects of traffic and aircraft noise.
3.10/ The environmental study on fish populations in the North Atlantic
demonstrates the effects of global warming.
3.11/ "We undertook a study on consumer behavior toward fish and meat."
3.12/ He carried out pioneering studies on sexual behavior by
interviewing large numbers of people.
3.13/ A study on bees shows how different species pollinate
the same plants over time.
a study is on something
3.14/ "My study is on developing an attitude questionnaire."
3.15/ "My current study is on the connection between the history
of robotics and Islamic technology."
[less common] a study about something: a study of/on something
3.16/ But I'm sure these issues will be touched upon in our study about
whether a capital gains tax in Hong Kong should be introduced.
do a study
3.17/ "I did a study of the average file sizes of fonts."
3.18/ "I did a study on cats and dogs regarding loyalty."
3.19/ He has recently done a study on the effects of traffic and aircraft noise.
conduct/undertake a study
3.20/ An independent study was commissioned by the department.
3.21/ "In 2003 the RIBA undertook a study on why women
were leaving architecture."
3.22/ "Roskomnadzor has conducted a study of quality of
mobile communication in Moscow."
the study shows/finds/suggests that ...
3.23/ A new study shows that fewer students are studying science.
3.24/ A preliminary study suggested that the product would be popular.
3.25/ "Likewise, the study found that boys were more likely to be encouraged
to focus on winning at all costs, and less likely to be taught to process
their disappointments after experiencing a defeat."
the purpose/aim of a study
3.26/ "The aim of the study is to evaluate the feasibility
of the training programme described here."
3.27/ "The purpose of our study is to better understand infant brain development."
3.28/ "The purpose of our study is to focus on understanding the
different ways in which undergraduate students can feel pressure from
transitioning to university."
the results/findings of a study
3.29/ "The findings of our study was published in
From Bureaucracy to Public Management on page 161."
3.30/ "The results of this study show, that the United States was the only
country that had a beneficial outcome from having smaller class sizes."
in a study
3.31/ In this section, we elaborate the methods used in the present study.
3.32/ In a recent study, 40% of schools were found to be understaffed.
according to a study
3.33/ "According to a recent study, in Texas, 27% of families have
at least one tablet in their home."
3.34/ "According to a recent study in National Geographic, 91 per cent
of our plastics are not recycled and are damaging our ecosystems."
n(u) study
3.35/ These proposals deserve careful study.
3.36/ "After in-depth study and careful strategic consideration,
the HKIC will sign a strategic partnership agreement with a tech unicorn
(i.e. a start-up with a market valuation of over US$1 billion)
founded in Hong Kong this Wednesday."
n(u) under study (see also: under investigation)
3.37/ The biochemical process is under study.
3.38/ "Specific pilot programs and approaches still is still
under study, not yet published."
see also: n(c,u) examination, n(c,u) investigation, n(u) research
remark: if the study means the act of learning a particular discipline
we would use "'a study of something'; if the study means a particular documented
investigation, we would use 'a study on something'. In other unspecified contexts,
we may also use 'study on'.
n(u) the act of learning about a subject, usually at school or university
4.1/ "We spend lots of time on English study every day."
4.2/ "Her study is so excellent that all teachers like teaching her."
4.3/ Students do a foundation year before specializing
in their chosen field of study.
4.4/ "My thesis guide want me to publish my study in a pubmed
related journal. My study is on radiology."
the(/somebody's) study of something
4.5/ Physiology is the study of how living things work.
4.6/ The study of medicine requires a lifelong commitment.
4.7/ He began the study of violin when he was only three.
4.8/ The scientific study of American dialects began in 1889.
4.9/ "Most students begin their study of economics by taking ECON 0110."
4.10/ "The study of English literature focuses mainly on analysis, debate
and critical theorising about a large number of published works, be they
novels, poems, plays or other literary works."
academic study
4.11/ The course integrates academic study and practical training.
4.12/ "Academic study determines what president was more effective on border."
private study, independent study
4.13/ This room is set aside for private study.
4.14/ "Staff will encourage private study and work closely with young people
and the educational facility they are attending."
4.15/ This grammar book is suitable both for classroom use and
for independent study.
study skills
4.16/ It is important to develop good study skills.
4.17/ "Good note taking is one of the most important study skills
students need to succeed in school."
a study room
4.18/ "Harry prefers to go to a study room, rather than revise at home,
because it helps him stay away from distractions."
n(u) study leave
4.19/ The company allows its staff to take paid study leave.
n(plural) studies: studying or work involving studying
5.1/ "Studies are harder than you expected."
5.2/ Many undertake further studies after college.
5.3/ Adam doesn't spend enough time on his studies.
5.4/ "I needed to put a lot of time in my studies."
5.5/ "I got over it and moved on with my life and put more time in my studies."
5.6/ "I didn’t want to waste my time on studies and sitting for
the civil services exams, but wanted to pursue a musical career in
Bombay at the earliest."
n(plural) studies: used in the names of some educational subjects and courses
6.1/ "He lectures in management studies."
6.2/ She's doing women's studies at Liverpool University.
liberal studies
6.3/ "Liberal studies courses help you explore a variety of learning
opportunities in psychology, sociology, religion, Canadian culture and more."
6.4/ "Liberal Studies has been established as a mandatory senior
secondary school curriculum in Hong Kong since 2009."
6.5/ "Liberal Studies in Hong Kong's senior secondary curriculum
marks its official end in 2023."
the department of ... studies
6.6/ "The Department of Business Studies at Uppsala University is
the largest department within the Faculty of Social Sciences."
6.7/ "Welcome to the Department of Media Studies! The offices of
the department are located in Garnisonen and The Film House."
n(singular) be a study in something: to be a perfect example of something
7.1/ His face was a study in fear.
7.2/ Browsing the computer bookshelves is a study in marketing psychology.
7.3/ Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt were a study in contrasts.
study about //
"study about something" indicates a generalized, nonspecific study;
it should be used only when "study something" has a prescribed meaning.
1/ We study about algebra. (= reading about algebra)
2/ We study algebra. (= studying how algebra works)
3/ He studies Rembrandt's paintings in the Springvale Art Gallery.
4/ He was studying about Rembrandt's paintings in books he had
borrowed from the library.
inform v(t) //
to tell someone about particular facts
1/ I informed my boss that I was going to be away next week.
2/ We'll inform you when a decision has been reached.
be informed by
3/ I was informed by my mom earlier today.
4/ He was informed by his boss that he has one week left.
5/ We were informed by our neighbors that we had to leave.
6/ She was informed by her father.
7/ I was informed by the teacher.
inform somebody of something: tell somebody about something,
in the way that information provided us at bare minimum
8/ Walters was not properly informed of the reasons for her arrest.
9/ We need to inform him of the schedule.
10/ He informed me of his decision yesterday.
11/ Will you inform me of your choice when you know?
12/ It would help if you kept informed of current trends.
13/ Am I informed of all I need to know?
inform somebody about something: tell somebody details about something
14/ Why wasn't I informed about this earlier?
15/ Companies publish annual reports to inform the public about
the previous year's activities.
16/ The industry had a duty to inform the public about the extent of the dangers.
17/ You need to inform him about the meeting.
18/ Would you mind informing me about what happened last night?
19/ Keep me informed about all decisions made over dinner.
20/ I informed the employees about all the new policies.
21/ We were informed about what happened.
inform on(/against) somebody: inform legal officers about
illegal activities or misconducts of somebody
22/ The terrorists said that anyone caught informing on them would be killed.
23/ He informed the state on the gang’s activities.
24/ She informed us on her former boss’s habits.
25/ The police recruited him to inform on the local gang.
prototype n(c) //
the original model of something from which later forms are developed
1/ a prototype of(/for) a new car
a prototype of/for something
2/ The firm and its industrial partners plan this summer to put a prototype
of an underwater power platform off the Florida coast.
build/develop/create a prototype
3/ Manufacturers have built a prototype which will be shown at the forthcoming
trade fair.
early/first/working prototype
4/ Our first prototype digital camera appeared back in 1976.
protocol n(u) //
n(u) the system of rules and acceptable behaviour used at official
ceremonies and occasions
1/ a breach of Royal protocol
2/ diplomatic protocol
3/ According to protocol, the new ambassador will present his credentials
to the president.
n(c) a formal international agreement
4/ The Geneva Protocol of 1925 prohibits the use of poisonous gases in war.
5/ Trade relations between the European Union's recent members are
governed by a strict protocol.
6/ the Kyoto protocol
n(c) a set of technical rules that control the exchange of information
between different computers or computer networks
7/ Companies that use a competitor's protocols in their products will pay 0.4%
of their revenue to that company.
8/ Each computer's Web connection has a unique internet protocol address.
(remark: an Internet Protocol address = an IP address)
n(c,u) the system of rules and acceptable behaviour that people or organizations
should follow in official situations, e.g. when they have formal discussions
9/ n(u) medical protocol
10/ a treatment protocol
11/ After last week's incident, officials in charge of airport security have been
ordered to review safety regulations and protocol.
12/ For a junior officer to communicate such important information directly
to a senior officer in this way is considered a breach of protocol.
protocol for something
13/ What is the protocol for handling complaints?
(see also: course of action)
course of action n //
a way of proceeding
1/ This would be the best course of action.
2/ We have decided on this course of action for one reason alone.
3/ pondering the pros and cons before opting for a particular course of action
4/ My best course of action was to help Gill by being loyal, loving
and endlessly sympathetic.
5/ Somehow, Harry would have to persuade the headmaster that such a course of
action would not be wise.
6/ By the time I reached the centre I'd decided there was only one sensible
course of action.
7/ Tadeusz had sat through the third act, brooding /'bru:dɪŋ/ over his
course of action.
8/ GIBDD reminds drivers about the course of action in an accident.
frustrate v(t) // or //
to make someone feel annoyed or less confident because they cannot achieve
what they want
1/ It frustrates me that I'm not able to put any of my ideas into practice.
2/ Customer service is important, so businesses can't afford to frustrate customers.
3/ He was frustrated by the time and accommodation for music and in the end
only taught a few lessons.
v(t) to block something from being achieved; prevent the success of a plan or effort
4/ For now there are enough votes to frustrate the administration on
issue after issue.
5/ The continuing civil war is frustrating the efforts of relief agencies.
see also: frustrated
frustrated adj //
feeling annoyed and impatient because you cannot do or achieve what you want
1/ She sounded rather frustrated to me.
2/ This failure leaves the child depressed and frustrated.
3/ Airport workers were left to deal with the thousands of frustrated passengers.
4/ Frustrated (= unsuccessful) writers often end up in publishing.
be frustrated in something
5/ Are you feeling frustrated in your present job?
6/ It's very easy to get frustrated in this job.
be frustrated at/with something
7/ They felt frustrated at the lack of progress.
8/ Sometimes he gets really frustrated with his violin playing.
9/ People are frustrated with the politicians.
escape v(i,t) //
to become free or get free from, or to avoid something
(see also: run away from something, get away from something)
1/ v(i) Two prisoners have escaped.
2/ He had to jump out of an upstairs window to escape.
2/ v(t) She was lucky to escape serious injury.
3/ He narrowly escaped a fine.
4/ His name escapes me.
5/ Nothing important escapes her notice(/attention).
6/ In order to escape capture, he fled to the mountains.
7/ Refugees have been pouring into neighbouring countries to escape the civil war.
8/ In the end she left home just to escape the tyrannical /tɪ'rænɪkəl/
rule of her mother.
9/ The boy escaped punishedment by blaming his friend.
escape from something
10/ escape from prison.
11/ escape from a burning house.
12/ A lion has escaped from its cage.
13/ Both children escaped unharmed from the burning building.
there is no escaping the fact (that) : used to mean that something is certain
14/ There's no escaping the fact that we won't be able to complete these orders
without extra staff.
remark: "escape something": avoid something which hasn't happened yet
"escape from" something: run away (or get away) from an existing state of captivity.
"Tom escaped prison" would mean that Tom was proven innocent in a court;
"Tome escaped from prison" would mean that he ran away from prison.
escape n(c,u) //
the act of successfully getting out of a place or a dangerous or bad situation
15/ He made his escape on the back of a motorcycle.
16/ She gave a hair-raising account of her escape through the desert.
17/ We've got all the exits covered, so they've no chance of escape.
18/ an escape route
19/ They had a narrow escape when their car crashed.
20/ The blast knocked me down – it was a narrow escape.
21/ It was a daring escape.
22/ It sounds as if you had a lucky escape .
n(c) a loss that happens by accident
23/ an escape of radioactivity
n(singular) something that helps you to forget about your usual life or problems
24/ Romantic novels provide an escape from reality.
trouble n(c,u) //
problems or difficulties
1.1/ The trouble began when my father came to live with us.
1.2/ Their problems seem to be over for the moment,
but there could be more trouble ahead.
make/cause/spell trouble for somebody
1.3/ "Have trees ever caused trouble for you?"
1.4/ You're always causing me trouble!
1.5/ He could make trouble for me if he wanted to.
1.6/ "Beauty causes trouble for you or opens many doors you should choose."
1.7/ "We do not recommend Internet Explorer as it causes a lot of troubles."
trouble with somebody/something
1.8/ The tax forms were complicated and I had a lot of trouble with them.
1.9/ We're having a lot of trouble with the new computer system.
1.10/ The trouble with you is you don't really want to work.
have trouble doing something
1.11/ "I have trouble studying for a long period of time."
1.12/ Parents often have trouble finding good carers for their children.
1.13/ "I have some trouble with you putting blame on me even if
there was cheating going on."
the least of my trouble
1.14/ His birthday is the least of my troubles at the moment
- I don't even have enough money to pay the rent.
too much trouble
1.15/ We started holding meetings by phone, as travelling in and out
of the city became too much trouble.
1.16/ I should get it finished over the weekend without too much trouble.
(other examples)
1.17/ You'll only be storing up trouble for the future if
you don't go to the dentist now.
1.18/ She thought her troubles would be over once she'd got divorced.
1.19/ Most of the current troubles stem from our new computer system.
remark: the singular form 'trouble' means one series long of problems,
and we never say 'a trouble'; the plural form 'troubles' means many
different problems.
n(u) a situation in which you experience problems,
usually because of something you have done wrong or badly
2.1/ The camp is a great way of getting kids off the street
and keeping them out of trouble.
2.2/ The marriage ran into trouble because of her husband's heavy drinking.
2.3/ He's stayed out of trouble since he was released from jail last year.
in trouble
2.4/ He's never been in trouble with his teachers before.
2.5/ She'll be in big trouble if she scratches Sam's car.
2.6/ I hope I haven't landed you in trouble with your boss.
2.7/ The company will be in serious(/real) trouble if we lose this contract.
2.8/ He would have been in real trouble if he had been caught.
get into trouble
2.9/ He got into financial trouble after his divorce.
2.10/ I hope you won't get into trouble because of what I said to your dad.
2.11/ My friends keep getting me into trouble. What can I do?
see also: wrongdoing
n(u) a characteristic of someone or something that is considered
a disadvantage or problem (see also: a drawback)
3.1/ It's a brilliant idea. The only trouble is that we don't know
how much it will cost.
3.2/ Ron's trouble is that he's too impatient.
the trouble with someone/something: the problem with someone or something
3.3/ The trouble with this carpet is that it gets dirty very easily.
3.4/ The trouble with this place is they don’t care about
the people who work here.
n(u) problems or difficulties caused by something failing to operate as it should
4.1/ The plane developed engine trouble shortly after take-off.
4.2/ They have a good reputation for building reliable trouble-free cars.
4.3/ Her knee trouble is expected to keep her out of the game
for the rest of the season.
see also: a malfunction, a breakdown, a defect
n(u) problems in the form of arguments, fighting, or violence
5.1/ Listen, I don't want any trouble in here, so please just
finish your drink and leave.
5.2/ My parents said we had to leave at the first sign of trouble.
5.3/ My little brother's always trying to stir up trouble
between me and my boyfriend.
n(u) slight problems or effort; inconvenience
6.1/ I didn't mean to cause you any trouble.
6.2/ "I'd love some more coffee, if it isn't too much trouble."
"Oh, it's no trouble at all."
(compare: "if it isn't too much effort",
"if it is far too much effort")
6.3/ I don't want to put you to any trouble.
6.4/ If you took the trouble to listen to what I was saying,
you'd know what I was talking about.
6.5/ They went to a lot of trouble for their dinner party,
but half the guests didn't bother to turn up.
go to the trouble to do something: make an effort to do something
6.6/ It's annoying, but I don't think I'll go to the trouble
of making an official complaint.
6.7/ If the police had gone to the trouble of looking up his record,
they would not have released him.
trouble v(t) //
cause somebody to be worried or nervous
1/ I asked her what was troubling her, but she didn't want to talk.
2/ Many of us are deeply troubled by the chairman's decision.
3/ It troubles me that you didn't discuss your problems with me earlier.
v(t) trouble somebody: cause pain
4/ My back has been troubling me again.
5/ He has been troubled by a knee injury for most of the season.
v(t) (bother) cause somebody a small amount of effort
6/ May I trouble you for some more wine, please?
7/ I hate to trouble you, but could you move your car?
8/ I promise not to trouble you again.
9/ Could I trouble you to open that window? I can't reach it.
10/ Let's not trouble ourselves about the details at the moment.
trouble somebody with something
11/ I don't want to trouble the doctor with such a small problem.
12/ I won’t trouble you with the details.
v(t) cause somebody problems or difficulties
13/ They look good enough to trouble most teams in the competition.
see also: cause trouble for somebody
troubling adj //
something that is troubling makes you worried or nervous
1/ Some troubling questions remain about the legal status
of frozen embryos /'embri.əʊz/.
2/ Perhaps most troubling is the information that some reporters
have simply made up stories.
troublesome adj //
causing a lot of problems for someone
1/ Her hip has been troublesome for quite a while, and she will
probably need surgery on it.
2/ The negotiations have proven more troublesome than any of us expected.
3/ His back has been troublesome for quite a while.
(US) causing worry or anxiety
4/ The troublesome(/troubling) fact is that we haven’t gotten much done.
remark: "troubling" means disturbing but "troublesome" means difficult.
disappoint v(i,t) //
to fail to satisfy someone or their hopes, wishes, etc., or to make someone
feel unhappy (see also: upset)
1/ I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I'm afraid I can't come after all.
2/ We don't want to disappoint the fans.
3/ Getting a B for that essay really disappointed me, as I was hoping for an A.
4/ He failed to turn up for the concert, disappointing the crowds of fans
waiting outside.
5/ I've promised my class cakes today as a treat and I don't want to
disappoint them.
6/ I hate to disappoint you, but we don’t have the book you wanted.
disappointed adj //
see also: disappoint
1/ She was disappointed that they hadn't phoned.
2/ He was disappointed to find they'd already left.
3/ Of course, he's disappointed not to have been chosen for the school team.
4/ We were extremely disappointed to receive this information.
5/ He was disappointed to see she wasn't at the party.
be disappointed by
5/ We were really disappointed by the hotel when we got there
- it was nothing like the description in the brochure.
6/ I’m disappointed by the way our team played today.
be disappointed at/about something
7/ We were deeply disappointed at(/about) the result.
8/ Fans of the original film will be sorely disappointed at this remake.
9/ Andrea was disappointed about the decision.
be disappointed about someone (not) doing something
10/ I'm disappointed about John not coming.
be disappointed in/with something
11/ His parents were bitterly disappointed in(/with) him.
12/ I'm disappointed in you—I really thought I could trust you!
13/ Nick seemed disappointed in her lack of response.
14/ I was very disappointed with myself.
15/ It is hard not to feel disappointed with the end result.
16/ Obviously, we were disappointed in the jury’s verdict.
advantage n(c,u) // or //
(usual meaning)
give somebody/something an advantage
1.1/ It gives you an unfair advantage.
1.2/ "I went first and it seemed to give me a huge advantage."
have/be an advantage
1.3/ Online advertising can have some major advantages.
1.4/ Qualifications are important but practical experience is always an advantage.
the advantage of something/doing something
1.5/ She had the advantage of a good education.
1.6/ What is the advantage of being a single child?"
1.7/ What are the advantages and disadvantages of outsourcing?
1.8/ The advantage of booking tickets in advance is that you get better seats.
1.9/ "The main advantage of owning a car is that it gives the freedom to travel."
be an advantage to do something
1.10/ For a goalkeeper, it's a great advantage to have big hands.
1.11/ "For all the vendors, it becomes an advantage to buy in bulk."
1.12/ "It's always an advantage to book via Airbnb app."
an advantage over somebody/something
1.13/ His height and reach give him a big advantage over other boxers.
1.14/ "As a global company, we are learning from more markets, which gives
us an advantage over competitors that are primarily in one country."
somebody's advantage (over somebody else)
1.15/ "My advantage over others is that I didn't have to
worry about frost burns on my feet."
1.16/ "I think their advantages are my disadvantages and my advantages
are their disadvantages, and that's the way I play."
1.17/ "Our brand gives us our advantage in the market by making us unique."
an advantage for somebody/something
1.18/ Test scores show no advantage for students in the new schools.
1.19/ There are advantages for both employers and employees
in flexible working hours.
1.20/ "Rice University tries to avoid unfair admissions advantages for rich kids."
(there is) an advantage in something/doing something
1.21/ "There is an advantage in abbreviating some things."
1.22/ There can be distinct advantages in having a dominant
individual presence in the boardroom.
see also: advantage/disadvantage, pro/con, strength/weakness
n(singular) (put somebody) at an advantage
2.1/ With the dollar weakening, US exporters will be at an advantage.
2.2/ Your experience as a legal secretary undoubtedly puts you at
an advantage in terms of legal knowledge.
2.3/ "Her lack of police and fire experience puts her at
an advantage for the role."
2.4/ Does it put me at an advantage if I work harder than everyone else?
(idiom) take advantage of somebody/something: make good use of
3.1/ I think she takes advantage of his good nature.
3.2/ We took full advantage of the hotel facilities.
3.3/ I took complete advantage of the situation.
3.4/ I thought I'd take advantage of the sports facilities while I'm here.
(exploit)
3.5/ He took advantage of my generosity.
3.6/ "Why do people take advantage of my kindness?"
3.7/ "She is determined not to give anyone the chance to take advantage
of her, to walk all over her and treat her poorly, men most of all."
take advantage of somebody/something to do something
3.8/ She took advantage of the children's absence to tidy their rooms.
3.9/ "They take advantage of her to make a profit but give her nothing in return."
(idiom) to somebody's advantage
to advantage
4.1/ The photograph showed him to advantage.
4.2/ May was the month to see the garden to best advantage.
4.3/ The bright lighting showed the jewels to their best advantage.
4.4/ You look beautiful. That color really suits you to advantage.
4.5/ You would be spending your time to better advantage
if you did what I suggested.
be/work to somebody's advantage
4.6/ It would be to your advantage to argree his demands.
4.7/ The bank thought e-commerce could work to its advantage because
these markets tended to be highly protected by regulation.
4.8/ "Learn how to make your body shape work to your advantage."
4.9/ I know you're disappointed about the delay, but I think
this can actually work to our advantage.
use/turn something to someone's (own) advantage
4.10/ She had some important contacts in the government,
which she used to her advantage.
4.11/ "She taught me how to use my figure to my advantage and
how it can be a disadvantage."
4.12/ They turned the buyout /'baɪ.aʊt/
deal to their advantage by
working in a clause whether they would receive pro rata compensation
for earnings from merchandising.
advantageous adj //
see also: favourable
1/ The lower tax rate is particularly advantageous to poorer families.
2/ How can we make economic growth more advantageous for small communities?
3/ Pre-selling is advantageous to both customers and stores.
4/ Unfortunately, we are no longer in the competitively advantageous
position we were in five years ago.