My Vocabulary Page
threshold n(c) //
the level or point at which you start to experience something,
or at which something starts to happen or change
1/ I have a low(/high) boredom threshold.
remark: I do(/don't) feel bored easily.
2/ (+ of) She has a low threshold of boredom and needs the constant
stimulation of physical activity.
3/ (+ for) a low threshold for pain
4/ His secretary earns £268 a month, well below the threshold for paying tax.
5/ (reach/exceed) Insurers /ɪn'ʃɔ:.rɚz/
can make claims when
their own losses exceed certain thresholds.
6/ Income thresholds for audit exemption are being raised.
(remark: audit exemption is no longer true if you cross the income level)
7/ They will reduce inheritance tax by raising the £255,000 threshold.
8/ It was like crossing a threshold to a new life.
on the threshold of something
8/ The US economy was on the threshold of a boom.
9/ We are on the threshold of a new era in global relations.
10/ She felt as though she was on the threshold of a new life.
11/ (at) at the threshold of a new career
threshold of something
12/ "...because it is too expensive for the project to achieve the minimum threshold
of 30% sit/stand options at workstations, the AAP is to meet a threshold of 15%
instead." (AAP: alternative adherence path)
13/ Hidden tax increases are crossing the threshold of what is acceptable.
14/ You've crossed the threshold of what I will accept in my class,
go to the principles office now.
threshold for something
15/ Secondary school headmasters are calling on authorities to lower the threshold
for university admission to allow in students who pass the English and Chinese
language exams in the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination.
16/ "threshold for admission to university"
17/ Likewise when we encounter frustrations with schoolwork we instinctively think
the frustration is something intrinsic to the work itself, when it fact it simply
means our threshold for boredom has been exceeded.
18/ In addition, the threshold for winning seats used to be higher
for blocs than for parties.
19/ The Government is also to raise its minimum threshold for primary school
results next year.
20/ Fewer than forty per cent voted – the threshold for results to be valid.
restore v(t) //
return something or someone to an earlier good condition or position
1/ The badly neglected paintings have all been carefully restored.
2/ The church was recently restored after decades of disuse.
3/ The table had been lovingly restored.
4/ Ben's hobby is restoring vintage motorcycles.
5/ Power company crews were working yesterday to restore electrical service
to homes in the area.
6/ "How to restore deleted game data on Android device?"
restore something to something
7/ After a week in bed, she was fully restored to health.
8/ The former leader was today restored to power in the first free elections
for 20 years.
9/ They want to restore the castle to its former glory.
10/ The company was restored to financial health.
make it possible for someone to have a quality or ability again that
they have not had for a long time
11/ Doctors have restored his sight.
12/ Surgeons restored the sight in her right eye.
13/ The government is trying to restore public confidence in its management
of the economy.
14/ The move by the US Federal Reserve this week to cut interest rates
has restored a lot of public confidence.
15/ The firm is battling to restore its reputation after the scandal.
16/ They're trying to restore the good name of the manufacturer.
bring back into use something that has been absent for a period of time
17/ Some people are in favour of restoring capital punishment for murderers.
18/ We need to restore competition to the operating-system and browser markets.
19/ "Should France restore the monarchy /'mɒnərki/ ?"
give something that has been lost or stolen back to the person it belongs to
20/ The painting was restored to its rightful owner.
21/ If the economy picks up, he expects to restore funding to road projects.
see also: replenish, recover
hallmark n(c) //
a typical characteristic or feature of a person or thing
1/ Simplicity is a hallmark of this design.
2/ This explosion bears(/has) all the hallmarks of a terrorist attack.
3/ An independent press is one of the hallmarks of a free society.
4/ We have a system of open justice in this country that we believe to be one of
the hallmarks of a democratic society.
5/ Recent documentaries have embodied the pioneering spirit that has come to be
the channel's hallmark.
landmark n(c) //
a building or place that is easily recognized, especially one that you can use
to judge where you are
1/ The Rock of Gibraltar /dʒɪ'brɔl.tər/ is one of Europe's most famous landmarks.
2/ I couldn’t pick out any familiar landmarks in the dark and got completely lost.
3/ The International Finance Centre is a famous landmark in Hong Kong and
the city's second-tallest building.
an important stage in the development of something
4/ The invention of the silicon chip is a landmark in the history of the computer.
5/ The deal is a landmark in the company's rapid international expansion.
6/ The landmark deal secures 6,000 jobs and ends more than a week of
protests and strikes.
7/ In a landmark decision, the governor pardoned a woman convicted of killing
her husband, who had physically abused her.
waste v(t) //
use more of something than is necessary or useful
1.1/ Stop wasting time and just get on with it!
waste food/energy/resources
1.2/ Leaving the heating on all the time wastes electricity.
1.3/ "Your everyday habits can lead to wasting energy in your home."
1.4/ "When we waste food, we waste the natural resources used for
producing that food."
waste something on something
1.5/ Why waste money on clothes you don't need?
1.6/ Don’t waste your money on that junk!
1.7/ We got straight down to business without wasting time on small talk.
waste something (in) doing something
1.8/ He wasted no time in introducing himself.
1.9/ She wasted no time in rejecting the offer.
1.10/ You're wasting your time trying to explain it to him.
1.11/ If you'd got on with your work instead of wasting time chatting,
you'd be finished now.
v(t) not make good or full use of somebody/something
2.1/ His talents are wasted in that job.
2.2/ He felt that he had wasted his life.
2.3/ Hannah is wasted in that clerical job.
2.4/ You're wasted as a sales manager — you should have been an actor.
v(t) (not worth spending) waste something on something/somebody
3.1/ Don't waste your sympathy on him - he got what he deserved.
3.2/ Expensive wine is wasted on me.
3.3/ Her comments were not wasted on Chris.
3.4/ In the end her efforts were not entirely wasted.
waste n(u, singular) //
(not good use) the act of using something in a careless or unnecessary way,
causing it to be lost or destroyed
4.1/ I hate unnecessary waste.
be a waste to do something
4.2/ It seems such a waste to throw good food away.
4.3/ "It was a waste to dump things that could be re-used."
go to waste
4.4/ I hate to see good food go to waste.
4.5/ Don’t let all this food go to waste.
4.6/ It would be a terrible shame to see those years go to waste.
waste of something
4.7/ The report is critical of the department's waste of resources.
4.8/ Being unemployed is such a waste of your talents.
4.9/ Many believe that state aid is a waste of taxpayers’ money.
what a waste of something
4.10/ What a waste of paper!
4.11/ What a waste of all that good work!
n(singular) a situation in which it is not worth spending
time/money/etc on something
5.1/ These meetings are a complete waste of time.
5.2/ They believe the statue is a waste of taxpayers' money.
5.3/ The whole exercise is just a waste of effort.
5.4 waste of time/money/effort to do something
5.5/ It is a waste of time to wait any longer.
5.6/ "It's exhausting and a waste of time to chase attention while lying and
masking it as you are out for the greater good."
5.7/ "It is a waste of effort to just cast the scraps back into a chip cooker."
n(u, plural) materials that are no longer needed and are thrown away
household/garden/industrial waste
6.1/ "There are many easy ways to reduce household waste."
6.2/ "Excessive industrial waste is a global problem affecting our economy,
society and environment."
6.3/ "We provide containers to help you dispose of and recycle household waste."
hazardous/toxic/radioactive waste
6.4/ "Tokyo plan to release radioactive waste water is far too risky."
6.5/ "Would this open the door for any country to release radioactive waste
to the ocean that is not part of normal operations?"
dispose of waste/wastes
6.6/ "We help you recycle and dispose of waste correctly."
6.7/ "All countries that have ratified the convention must safely dispose of
wastes containing POPs."
solid waste/wastes
6.8/ Landfills for solid wastes have started reaching their capacity.
6.9/ "Every year, an estimated 11.2 billion tonnes of solid waste is
collected worldwide."
waste disposal
6.10/ "Landfill is the oldest and most common form of waste disposal."
(other examples)
6.11/ The private sector plays a significant role in waste management.
6.12/ Waste water going out into the rivers was reduced by 92 per cent.
n(u) solid or liquid material that the body gets rid of
7.1/ The farmers use both animal and human waste as fertilizer.
7.2/ "When body waste is stuck inside of your internal systems, it can cause
problems by releasing toxins back into your body."
n(plural) wastes: a large area of land where there are
very few people/animals/plants
8.1/ We live in the frozen wastes of Siberia /saɪ'bɪriə/
8.2/ "Some dragons escaped and went to live in the wastes of the far north."
benchmark n(c) //
a level of quality that can be used as a standard when comparing other things
1/ Her outstanding performances set a new benchmark for singers
throughout the world.
2/ Her performances set a new benchmark for classical pianists.
3/ Apple's iconic iPhone became the benchmark in the market.
4/ The new report provides a benchmark for food companies around the world.
5/ The catalog industry can discover new opportunities by comparing its own
business trends to industry benchmarks.
6/ They set the benchmark for ethical beauty packaging.
7/ The company sets the benchmark against which other businesses make
health care decisions.
benchmark adj //
used as a standard when comparing other things
1/ a benchmark case
2/ Teachers give the benchmark tests to see whether students are grasping
the new curriculum.
benchmark v //
v(t) measure the quality of something by comparing it with something else
of an accepted standard
1/ His reports said that all schools should be benchmarked against the best.
2/ Being able to benchmark performance is very important for new companies.
3/ The European Parliament has launched a programme to benchmark
employment laws across the EU.
v(i,t) use something as a standard in order to improve your own work,
products, or processes
1/ (+ against) The company continues to benchmark against the competition.
2/ The results allow the company to benchmark itself against other organizations
and identify areas for improvement.
sentence v(t) //
decide and say officially what a punishment will be
be sentenced to life in prison (/life imprisonment)
1.1/ He was sentenced to life imprisonment.
1.2/ The judge sentenced the defendant to life in prison.
1.3/ "Antonio Nuñez was convicted and sentenced to
life imprisonment without parole."
be sentenced to ten years in prison
1.4/ He was sentenced to three years in jail and fined $40,000.
1.5/ "Lee was sentenced to one year in jail suspended for two years."
1.6/ "Kevin M. Sullivan has been sentenced to six years, six months
in prison for downloading thousands of images of child pornography
from a server in Switzerland."
1.7/ "Hong Kong legal scholar Benny Tai was sentenced to 10 years
in prison on Tuesday for subversion, marking the longest sentence
handed down so far under the city's national security law."
be sentenced to a two-year jail term
1.8/ He was convicted and sentenced to a four-year jail term.
1.9/ "A man who spoilt 320 facemasks with saliva and mucus in February
has been given a 10-month jail term suspended for two years."
be sentenced to serve two years (in prison)
1.10/ The court sentenced him to serve nine months for the assault.
1.11/ "Simon Velazquez Hernandez, 35, a Mexican National living in
California at the time of his arrest, has been sentenced to serve
120 months in federal prison."
1.12/ "During 2020 and 2021, all activists were sentenced to serve
in prison between 10 to 33 months."
be sentenced to do community service
1.13/ She was sentenced to do 30 hours of community service.
1.14/ "Pryce was last week sentenced to do 100 hours of community service
for his involvement in an incident that also included the former
Warrington full-back Stuart Reardon."
1.15/ "You likely will be sentenced to do community service and pay a fine."
be sentenced to probation
1.16/ What can I expect after I am sentenced to probation?
1.17/ "In 2015 I was sentenced to probation and was released from
probation even though I hadn't paid my restitution in full."
1.18/ "I was sentenced to probation for reckless driving
and possession of marijuana under an ounce."
be sentenced for something
1.19/ The same judge had previously sentenced him for burglary.
1.20/ "Two women were sentenced to life imprisonment for murder."
1.21/ "Former Chinese football executive was sentenced to jail for bribery."
1.22/ "A Pinal County man was sentenced to 100 years in prison for
sexual exploitation of a minor."
1.23/ "The average sentence length for all individuals sentenced
for robbery was 111 months."
1.24/ "In October 1969, she was sentenced for treason and,
after two years in prison, received a presidential pardon."
1.25/ "Jack Bell, 32, was sentenced for arson, reckless as to the
endangerment of life at Cardiff Crown Court, on Tuesday, February 13."
1.26/ "A Worcester man has today (10 October 2023) been sentenced
to life imprisonment for attempted murder and sexual assault."
be sentenced to death
1.27/ "Two drug dealers were sentenced to death and several others
were given life in prison by the Appeal and Military Courts
in the enclave on Tuesday."
1.28/ "Any prisoner sentenced to death in Hong Kong has the right to
petition Her Majesty the Queen for clemency /'kle.mən.si/."
1.29/ "Hamida Djandoubi was sentenced to death in February 1977 and
executed by guillotine in September that year, and also the last person
to be lawfully executed by beheading anywhere in the Western world,
although he was not the last person sentenced to death in France."
sentence n(c) //
(punishment)
get/receive a sentence
2.1/ He got a light sentence.
2.2/ "In some countries, you will get a heavy sentence for Manslaughter."
2.3/ He received an 18-year sentence for attempted murder.
2.4/ "Longo soon got caught, but he received a light sentence
of probation and restitution."
be given a sentence
2.5/ He was given a non-custodial /kʌs'təʊ.di.əl/ sentence.
2.6/ He was given a suspended sentence.
2.7/ "He was given a death sentence on July 17, 2004 for
the murder of a fellow inmate."
serve a sentence
2.8/ She served a three-year prison sentence.
2.9/ The prisoner has served his sentence and will be released tomorrow.
2.10/ "He served a ten-year prison sentence for an arson
motivated by environmental concerns."
a five-year sentence
2.11/ "After explaining to the judges that he did not have
the money, he was then given a 6-year,6-month sentence which
was lowered to five years by the appellate court."
2.12/ "He appeared at Teesside Crown Court yesterday where
he was given a 2-year, 6-month sentence."
2.13/ He's representing Dante Martin, 30, who is serving a 6-year, 5-month
sentence for manslaughter and felony hazing in the 2011 death of
Marching 100 drum major Robert Champion."
2.14/ "The other charges each allow for an up to 10-year sentence
in prison, as well as an additional $250,000 fine and three years
of supervised release."
a sentence of something
2.15/ She could face a sentence of between seven and ten years in jail.
2.16/ I know perfectly well that the sentence passed is
a sentence of life imprisonment.
carry a jail sentence(/a life sentece/a five-year sentence)
2.17/ "The offence carries a jail term of up to two years."
2.18/ The charges carry a sentence of up to ten years.
2.19/ "If the offence carries a jail sentence of 14 years or less,
the extended remand period granted for the first application must not
be more than 4 days and the remand period granted for the second
application must not be more than 3 days. Total remand period granted
must not exceed 7 days."
2.20/ "Capital murder carries a life sentence in most states
and a death sentence in some."
[of a judge] pronounce sentence
2.21/ The judge will pronounce sentence on the defendant this afternoon.
2.22/ "Redditors that have been to jail, how long was your sentence and why?"
parole n(u) //
the release of a prisoner before that person’s period in prison is finished,
with the agreement that the person will behave well:
1/ He was released on parole.
2/ He was sentenced to life without parole.
3/ She hopes to be eligible for parole in three years.
v(t) parole
4/ He was paroled after serving ten years.
5/ He was paroled from prison last year after serving about four years.
6/ I am not happy with the possibility he could be paroled in 20 years.
bail n(u) //
a sum of money given to a law court by a person accused of a crime
so that the person can be released until the trial, at which time
the money will be returned
1/ He was released(/remanded) on bail of $100,000.
2/ The suspect is now out on bail.
3/ Because of a previous conviction, the judge refused to grant bail.
4/ Her parents have agreed to put up(/stand) bail for her.
5/ He was released on bail of $100,000.
6/ The Court of Appeals let him remain free on bail during the appeal
of his conviction.
7/ "If you have prior domestic charges or if the facts of the offense
are very serious, the prosecutor can request that you are held without bail."
v(t) bail
8/ Her lawyer bailed her out of the jail.
9/ She was yesterday bailed for three weeks on drink-driving offences.
10/ He was bailed to appear at the Magistrates' Court next month.
11/ She was bailed after being charged with fraud.
influence n(c,u) //
n(c,u) the power to have an effect on people or things,
or a person or thing that is able to do this
influence on somebody/something
1.1/ Helen is a bad influence on him.
1.2/ Helen is a good influence on him.
1.3/ The kid next door is a bad influence on Kevin.
1.4/ The kid next door is a good influence on Kevin.
1.5/ He had considerable influence on younger sculptors.
1.6/ My grandmother had a strong influence on my early childhood.
1.7/ We live in an increasingly secular society, in which religion
has less and less influence on our daily lives.
influence over somebody/something
1.8/ He has a huge amount of influence over the city council.
1.9/ "As I've mulled over the beneficial effects of his influence over me,
I've found myself wondering about the power of influence in general."
exert influence
1.10/ Peer group members can exert a strong influence on each other's activities.
1.11/ Christopher hoped to exert his influence to make them change their minds.
wield influence
1.12/ "By doing so, the company will still be able to wield a lot of
influence on the chip business."
exercise influence
1.13/ Such media pressure exercises influence on policymakers.
use influence, deploy influence
1.14/ She used her influence to get her son a summer job.
1.15/ "He deployed his influence to secure the funding."
be an influence
1.16/ His teacher described him as a noisy, disruptive influence in class.
the influence of somebody/something (on somebody/something)
1.17/ At the time she was under the influence of her father.
1.18/ His early work shows the influence of Cézanne and Matisse.
1.19/ What exactly is the influence of social media on children?
1.20/The country's great influence in the world is disproportionate
to its relatively small size.
under the influence of somebody/something
1.21/ "It is a misdemeanor to drive under the influence of
alcohol or other drugs."
influence v(t) //
affect or change how somebody/something develops, behaves, or thinks
2.1/ She's very good at making friends and influencing people.
2.2/ What influenced you to choose a career in nursing?
2.3/ She was influenced by the common-sense views of her grandparents.
2.4/ An organization's values have been shown to influence
how employees interact with each other.
2.5/ Businesses make large contributions to members of Congress,
hoping to influence their votes on key issues.
wholesome adj //
good for you, and likely to improve your life either physically, morally, or emotionally
1/ wholesome food
2/ Wholesome food helps keep you healthy.
3/ This movie is wholesome family entertainment.
healthy adj //
having, showing, or encouraging good health
1/ As long as the baby is healthy, I don’t care if it’s a boy or a girl.
2/ A healthy diet
3/ A healthy appetite
positive
4/ She had a healthy attitude toward life and was fun to be with.
successful and strong
5/ The real-estate market is much healthier today than it was ten years ago.
"healthy for you" is used more commonly than "healthy to you"
6/ Eating a high fibre diet can support a body weight that's
healthy for you.
7/ Is white rice healthy or bad to you?
8/ The thoughts you produce as a human being should be healthy to
you and others.
wear down v //
wear down (something): become flatter or smoother as a result of
constantly rubbing against something else
1.1/ Rabbits wear down their teeth with constant gnawing
1.2/ Extreme changes in temperature can wear down the top layer of
your skin.
1.3/ Elephants wear the tusk down faster than they can grow it.
1.4/ Notice how the tread on this tire has worn down.
1.5/ The machine starts to wear down, they don't make as many nuts
and bolts as they used to.
1.6/ "The soles of my shoes wear down quickly."
1.7/ "His heels always wear down on the outside first."
1.8/ "When shoes wear down, the tread on the sole is worn smooth,
making you more likely to slip on wet, soft or uneven surfaces."
wear down (something): reduce or impair by long wearing
2.1/ Wear down the heels of one's shoes.
2.2/ Eventually the parts start to wear down.
2.3/ "What can I do to prevent a laptop's battery wear down because
of persistent plugged-in use?"
2.4/ I am trying an experiment and I need to wear down my Droid Incredible's
battery as fast as possible.
wear somebody down:
make somebody feel tired and less able to deal successfully with a situation
3.1/ Both sides are trying to wear the other down by being obstinate
in the negotiations.
3.2/ All the stress and extra travel is beginning to wear him down.
wear out v //
be used so much that it becomes thin or weak and unable to be used any more
1.1/ Every time she consulted her watch, she wondered if the batteries
were wearing out.
1.2/ Horses used for long-distance riding tend to wear their shoes out more quickly.
1.3/ He wore out his shoes wandering around Mexico City.
1.4/ "But you can wear out someone's love, Harry, just like you can wear out
everything else."
1.5/ "I wore out five pairs of jeans last year."
make or become unfit or useless through wear
2.1/ He wore out two pairs of shoes last year.
2.2/ "Washing wears out clothes and shortens their usable lifetime."
wear out somebody: make someone very tired by demanding a lot of
that person's work or attention
3.1/ He wears me out with his constant complaining.
3.2/ Walking around a museum all day really wears you out.
n(u) wear-out /'wer.aʊt/: the act or fact of wearing out; a worn-out condition
4.1/ wear-out at the knees of pants
4.2/ With market saturation, consumer wearout is a very likely outcome.
4.3/ Some advertisers get around the wearout factor by repackaging an old idea.
worn out adj //
no longer usable because of too much use
1.1/ My jeans are worn out because I have worn them so much.
1.2/ "Their car has worn out and it is gone. The television is worn out."
(before noun) worn-out
1.3/ "Can worn-out clothes be recycled?"
1.4/ "This worn out carpet looks worse than what I just got rid of!"
1.5/ The city is looking for a place to dump its worn-out equipment.
(adj) extremenly tired
2.1/ I've been working all night and I'm worn out.
2.2/ "I was dissatisfied, stressed out, and worn out by my job."
wear off v //
if a feeling or the effect of something wears off, it gradually disappears
1.1/ The vaccine wears off after ten years.
1.2/ Most patients find that the numbness from the injection wears off
after about an hour.
1.3/ The shine on the leather will wear off pretty quickly.
1.4/ The smell doesn't wear off the clothes after you dry them!
until the effects wear off
1.5/ "It's also common for cats to sit quite still after a euphoric reaction,
until the effects wear off."
1.6/ " If you think you may have taken too much Adderall, you should wait
until the effects wear off before drinking alcohol."
(v) peel off
2.1/ As a result, the aircraft's paint wears off, cracks, and loses its protective
characteristic over a period of eight to ten years.
2.2/ One of the biggest problems with painting your concrete garage floor
is that paint wears off easily.
brink n(s) //
the point where a new or different situation is about to begin
1/ Extreme stress had driven him to the brink of a nervous breakdown.
2/ Scientists are on the brink of (= extremely close to) a major new discovery.
on the brink of something
3/ These countries are on the brink of a disastrous famine.
4/ Many companies are on the brink of ruin.
5/ Negotiations between the two countries are on the brink of collapse.
6/ Not long ago the river otter was on the brink of extinction.
7/ Right now the company is poised on the brink of success.
8/ Debt crisis led many companies to the brink of bankruptcy.
teeter on the brink of something: be likely that something will happen soon
9/ What we are seeing now is a country teetering on the brink of civil war.
10/ They seem to be teetering on the brink of a major crisis.
the edge of a cliff or other high area
11/ She was standing right on the brink of the gorge /gɔ:rdʒ/.
(see also: on the edge of something, on the verge of something)
cache v(t) //
(hide) put something in a hidden or safe store
1/ We have supplies cached at sites all over the country.
2/ The squirrels pull off the cones and drop them to the ground, then collect
and cache them for winter.
3/ Weapons and explosives were cached inside the bag.
store information in a cache memory
4/ Links to cached pages are listed as well as links to live /laɪv/ web pages.
5/ Most service providers improve customer response times by caching.
6/ All browsers speed up your Web surfing by caching components of
Web pages you access.
cache n(c) //
a secret or hidden store of things, or the place where they are kept
1/ an arms cache
2/ a cache of explosives/weapons/drugs
3/ Authorities believe the robber was after a hidden cache of $2,500 kept in
a box under the counter.
n(c,u) cache memory
4/ 256 Kb secondary cache
5/ "Cache memory is a chip-based computer component that makes retrieving
data from the computer's memory more efficient."
confident adj //
feeling sure about your own ability
1.1/ It was a confident performance.
1.2/ She is a confident and practised speaker who always impresses her audience.
confident about something/ doing something
1.3/ I was actually fairly confident about my chances.
1.4/ The teacher wants the children to feel confident about
asking questionswhen they don't understand.
1.5/ "I don’t feel confident about speaking English because I know
that my pronunciation is different."
1.6/ "By the end of the course, you will have improved your English pronunciation
so you will feel confident about speaking English in different contexts."
1.7/ "It will help you feel confident about responding to a distressed student
in a boundaried, role-appropriate and effective way."
confident in something
1.8/ "I feel super confident in my physical appearance."
1.9/ "I was never confident in my body shape because I did not have
a tiny waist like the women in the movies."
1.10/ Be a bit more confident in yourself!
1.11/ He'd learned to be confident in his ability to handle
anything life threw at him.
(adj) expecting something to happen
confident of something/doing something
2.1/ Wales are supremely confident of winning the match.
2.2/ The team feels confident of winning.
2.3/ I'm 95% confident of success.
2.4/ I'm confident of my winning the match.
2.5/ "Best wishes to you, we are confident of your winning."
confident about something
2.6/ We are confident about the future.
2.7/ They don't sound confident about the future of the industry.
be confident that ...
2.8/ He said he remained confident that the dispute could be resolved.
2.9/ We're pretty confident (that) we can win the case.
2.10/ She was quietly confident that everything would go as planned.
2.11/ Are you confident that enough people will attend the event?
see also: be sure of/about something
exchange n(c,u) //
(an/the) exchange of something
1.1/ She proposes an exchange of contracts at two o'clock.
1.2/ Several people were killed during the exchange of gunfire.
1.3/ "Networking is more than just an exchange of contacts."
1.4/ "The third thing you should do is to do an exchange of information."
1.5/ "Is it also a glimpse of creativity? Do you believe that
an exchange of ideas is useful for everyone concerned?"
1.6/ "The frequent exchange of talents is of great significance to Dawan district."
in exchange (for something): in return for something
1.7/ They were given food and shelter in exchange for work.
1.8/ There's no doubt that stocks carry risk, and reward you with
the chance of higher returns in exchange.
1.9/ "Your minimum work is to deliver on your promise in exchange
for my trust and my money."
n(c) a short conversation or argument
2.1/ There was a brief exchange between the two leaders.
2.2/ The e-mail exchange between them was released to the court
along with other documents.
2.3/ Users can create pages with photos and personal information,
and exchange e-mail with other users.
n(c) an arrangement in which students from one country
go to stay with students from another country
3.1/ "I am a German exchange student."
3.2/ "Are you an exchange student? Where are you from?"
3.3/ Are you going on the French exchange this year?
an exchange programme/visit/scheme
3.4/ "I am Malaysian and I joined an exchange program via AFS
when I was in secondary school many years ago."
3.5/ "In Term 1, 2022-23, Becky Cheng, a fourth-year translation student,
l; went on an exchange visit to Vytautas Magnus University in Kaunas, Lithuania."
n(c) a stock exchange
4.1/ The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong is a stock exchange based in Hong Kong.
4.2/ As the demand for a stock rises and falls on the exchange,
the price for the stock will fluctuate.
exchange v(t) //
give something to someone and receive something from that person
5.1/ It's traditional for the two teams to exchange shirts after the game.
5.2/ Every month the group meets so its members can exchange their views.
5.3/ "We exchanged our opinions about the event at the meeting."
5.4/ We exchanged greetings before the meeting.
5.5/ We can exchange addresses when we see each other.
5.6/ Exchanging houses for a few weeks is a good way of having a holiday.
exchange something with somebody
5.7/ I shook hands and exchanged a few words with the manager.
5.8/ "Who knows if you've even exchanged contacts with her secretly."
5.9/ Mom wants us to save our money instead of exchanging
Christmas gifts with each other this year.
5.10/ "During this meeting, people exchanged phone numbers with each other."
exchange something between A and B
5.11/ He read the letters exchanged between Anna and her friend.
5.12/ "The scent of home arrived on a ship that exchanged prisoners
between Japan and the United States."
v(t)take something back to a shop where it was bought
and get something else instead
6.1/ If you don't like the gift, you can exchange it.
6.2/ "How do I exchange my shoes for another pair?"
6.3/ I exchanged those trousers for a larger size.
v(t) exchange A for B: give A and get B
7.1/ Do you want to exchange this toaster for another (one) or
do you want your money back?
7.2/ A cheque that is not negotiable cannot be exchanged for cash
and must be paid into a bank account.
7.3/ He talked about the humiliation of exchanging his clothes
for the prison uniform.
7.4/ In this way we will save on the costs of exchanging euro
for sterling and vice versa.
exchange with somebody (for something)
7.5/ Don't tell mom that I exchanged half of my sandwich with
one of the others kids for a bag of chips.
v(t) (less often used) exchange A with B: give B and get A
8.1/ Please Chelsea, don't exchange apples with oranges.
8.2/ Some girls and young women said that men with authority
at the camp were coaxing /'kəʊk.sɪŋ/ girls to
exchange food with sex.
8.3/ "I have never exchange money with sex and I will never do it."
parallel adj //
(position) parallel lines
1.1/ Draw a pair of parallel lines.
1.2/ The two roads are parallel.
1.3/ In a picture, the vanishing point is the point in the distance
where two parallel lines appear to meet.
be parallel to something
1.4/ Hills Road is parallel to Mill Road.
1.5/ The river is parallel to Green Street.
1.6/ The road and the canal are parallel to each other.
(adv) run/walk parallel to something
1.7/ Maple Street runs parallel to State Street.
1.8/ The road and the canal run parallel to each other.
1.9/ It's a quiet street running parallel to the main road.
1.10/ The plane flew parallel to the coast.
1.11/ "If we were to begin walking, we would walk parallel to one another,
and yet straight toward each other. As long as we are still,
we are both below each other. Where are we?"
(adj) similar or matching; taking place at the same time
a paralle example/case/experiment
2.1/ "Complile and run a parallel example on the HPC cluster using Gnu compiler."
2.2/ Parallel experiments are being conducted in Rome, Paris and London.
2.3/ Two poisonings have been reported recently in London and now
there has been a parallel case in the Netherlands.
(adv) parallel to something
2.4/ The team's findings run parallel to those of other researchers.
v(t) parallel something
2.5/ Their legal system parallels our own.
2.6/ The rise in unemployment is paralleled by an increase in petty crime.
2.7/ Her account of the incident closely parallels what others have reported.
parallel n(c,u) //
a person, a situation, an event, etc that is very
similar to another, esp one in a different place or time
1/ These ideas have parallels in Freud's thought too.
a parallel between A and B
2/ I'm trying to see if there are any obvious parallels between the two cases.
3/ It would be easy to draw a parallel between the city's history
and that of its theatres.
have no parallel, be without parallel
4/ This tradition has no parallel in our culture.
5/ These beautiful African churches have no parallel in Europe.
6/ This is an achievement without parallel in modern times.
see also: equivalent
unparalleled adj //
having no equal; better or greater than any other
1/ It was an unparalleled opportunity to develop her career.
2/ We have an unparalleled record of solid growth.
3/ The book has enjoyed a success unparalleled in recent publishing history.
be unparalleled by somebody/something
4/ They enjoyed success on a scale unparalleled by any previous rock band.
5/ "The Melbourne Cup Carnival creates a celebratory atmosphere
unparalleled by any other Australian major event."
6/ "Cristiano Ronaldo's dominance in the Champions League is
unparalleled by any other player."
v(t) parallel: be as good as something
7/ He attained a level of achievement that has never been paralleled.
8/ "Wurlitzer developed an instrument so vastly unique in its sound and power,
that it has never been paralleled by anything else in the musical realm."
in parallel idiom //
separately but at the same time and in a similar or related way
operate/run/develop in parallel
1/ The two sides of the business operated in parallel.
2/ Multicore chips enable many processes to run in parallel.
3/ These findings suggest that modern civilizations developed in parallel
in eastern Asia and the Middle East, starting around 10,000 years ago.
work in parallel
4/ "We start, and all branches work in parallel."
5/ "In Spain, employment services and social services work in parallel."
6/ "Let departments work in parallel as sought-after information
can be retrieved immediately and independently - without wasting time
on back-and-forth calls or emails."
7/ Our policy is to hire lots of smart people and organize them
into very small groups working in parallel.
in parallel with something
8/ We run the new system in parallel with the old one,
and check that the results match.
9/ "The task force would work in parallel with the continuing legal investigation
by prosecutors in Augsburg, the government said."
(an electric circuit) in parallel
10/ "The total available battery current is increased
when batteries are placed in parallel."
11/ "If you hook the speakers up in parallel, rather than in series,
you can control the volume of each one independently."
parallel imports n(plural) //
goods that are imported into a country without the permission of the company
that produced them, and sold at a lower price than the company sells them at
1/ The company has asked the government to deal with low-cost parallel imports.
2/ The government has adopted a labelling policy which requires distributors of
parallel goods to label the origins of the goods.
see also: counterfeit products, forged works of art
n(u) parallel trade, n(c) a parallel trader
3/ Brandowners are not entirely opposed to parallel trade.
4/ "Parallel traders buy products in countries where they are sold
at lower prices and sell them in high-price countries."
5/ "Parallel trade in Hong Kong can be traced back to the Qing Dynasty
(1644-1911), and forms a part of our intangible cultural heritage."
6/ "Parallel trade was prevalent in Asia and raised concern in the US
due to price differentials with Canada."
be made of something v //
use 'made of' when we talk about the basic material or qualities of something
1/ The shirt is made of cotton.
2/ The house is made of bricks.
3/ What's this table made of?
4/ She wore a beautiful necklace made of silver.
5/ This table is made of American white oak.
6/ "While Thailand has already some silk stamps, this is the first time
that we would be doing our stamp made of silk."
see also: be composed of
be made from something v //
use 'made from' when we talk about how something is manufactured
1/ Plastic is made from oil.
2/ "Steel is made from iron ore, which can be found in
the earth's crust at many locations."
3/ The earliest canoes /kə'nu:z/ were made from tree trunks.
4/ "Petroleum products are fuels made from crude oil and
the hydrocarbons contained in natural gas."
be made out of something v //
if something has been produced from another thing
in an unusual or surprising way, you usually use 'made out of'
1/ She was wearing a hat made out of plastic bags.
2/ In the 1970s, it was popular to have candle-holders made out of wine bottles.
3/ "I put together this adorable cat house made out of cardboard."
4/ "Some of the pens that you can buy are made out of recycled plastic bottles."
be made with something v //
use 'made with' when we talk about the ingredients of food and drink
1/ This dish is made with beef, red peppers and herbs.
2/ Mango pomelo sago is made with diced mango, pomelo,
sago, coconut milk and milk.
3/ The bagel is high in fibre because it is made with whole wheat flour.
4/ Is sushi always made with raw fish or do the Japanese use cooked fish too?
5/ "The cake is made with flour, eggs, ground walnuts, sugar,
baking powder and lemon zest."
cultivated adj //
having a high level of education and showing good manners
1/ a cultivated young woman
2/ His voice was pleasant and cultivated.
3/ "My best friend in college was what I believe someone who was cultivated.
She came from an affluent family, lived near Bridal Trails and rode horses,
went to a private school."
nag v(i,t) //
criticize or complain often in an annoying way,
especially in order to try and make someone do something
nag at somebody
1.1/ You're always nagging at me.
1.2/ If you stop nagging at me, I might actually do it.
nag somebody to do something
1.3/ My mum's always nagging me to get my hair cut.
1.4/ She had been nagging him to paint the fence.
nag somebody about something
1.5/ I'm always nagging him about his diet.
1.6/ She constantly nagged her daughter about getting married.
nag on about something
1.7/ I do wish you'd stop nagging on about the garden.
nag away at somebody to do something
1.8/ For weeks his father had been nagging away at him to get a job.
see also: pester
v(i,t) worry you or cause you pain continuously
2.1/ A feeling of unease nagged at her.
2.2/ Doubts nagged me all evening.
2.3/ The pain came back and nagged at him.
chivvy v(t) //
encourage someone to do something they do not want to do
1/ He kept putting off writing the report so I had to chivvy him along.
2/ I had to chivvy him into writing the report.
3/ "When parents chivvy their children into tidying their room,"
better off adj //
in a more satisfactory situation than you were before
1/ I know you're unhappy that the relationship ended, but you're
better off without him
2/ (+ing) He'd be better off working for a bigger company.
have more money than you had in the past or more money than other people
3/ Obviously we're better off now that we're both working.
4/ When his parents died, he found himself $100,000 better off.
reminiscent adj //
(reminiscent of) making you remember a particular person, event or thing
1/ That song is so reminiscent of my adolescence.
2/ "He was so reminiscent of Michael Jordan."
brace v(t) //
prepare yourself physically or mentally for something unpleasant
1.1/ "Brace yourself. I have some bad news."
brace yourself (for something)
1.2/ We're bracing ourselves for the first snow of winter.
1.3/ The weather forecasters told us to brace ourselves for a heavy storm.
1.4/ The passengers were told to brace themselves for a crash landing.
1.5/ She told me she had some bad news for me and I braced myself for a shock.
1.6/ Time seems to stand still as you brace yourself for the impact.
1.7/ The next few days might be quite challenging so I'd better brace myself.
v(t) support yourself or a part of your body
2.1/ She braced herself against the dresser.
2.2/ When the captain gives the signal, brace your arms against
the seat in front of you like this.
v(t) to brace an object is to support and strengthen it
3.1/ You will need to brace the walls.
3.2/ The side wall of the old house was braced with a wooden support.
3.3/ "There's a pocket on each outer side on which you can brace
the tent with your trekking poles."
brace n(c) //
n(c) a device that holds things together or holds and supports them in position
a neck brace
4.1/ He was recently fitted with a brace for his bad neck.
a leg brace
4.2/ He requires a leg brace to walk.
4.3/ This post will show you how to wear a leg brace with jeans.
an arm brace
4.4/ "I decided to put on an arm brace."
4.5/ "Can I wear an arm brace all day?"
a wrist brace
4.6/ "How tight should you wear a wrist brace?"
4.7/ "It is generally recommended to begin wearing a wrist brace immediately
after an injury or as soon as pain and swelling are noted."
a back brace
4.8/ "Do you have to wear a back brace to correct scoliosis?"
4.9/ "We discuss four critical situations in response to the question
of when to wear a back brace to reduce or prevent lower back pain
or to avoid back injuries."
4.10/ "People without a past history of pain should also use a back brace
to support their back during heavy exertion as a preventive measure."
have something in a brace
4.11/ "I have to have my neck in a brace now though."
4.12/ "My shoulder was dislocated, and I had to have my arm in a brace."
n(c) a brace for teeth
5.1/ My daughter has to wear a brace on her teeth.
5.2/ I had to wear a brace for my crooked teeth when I was a teenager.
a dental brace
5.3/ "The orthodontist might use a dental brace to gently open up the gap."
5.4/ "When you wear a dental brace, you should avoid eating hard chips."
5.5/ "Your dentist advises that you will need to wear a dental brace
for a small adjustment to your teeth."
5.6/ "The period of time required to wear a dental brace varies
from person to person since they all have different problems that need fixing."
n(plural) [clothing] braces, suspenders
6/ My grandad always used to wear a pair of braces.
6/ The braces held up his trousers.
6/ "By pressing a button on the suspenders, Conan can use them
to lift heavy objects via a pulley type system."
6/ "Braces are a great accessory to add to your outfits on casual days."
embrace v(t) v //
accept something enthusiastically
1.1/ This was an opportunity that he would embrace.
1.2/ He has wholeheartedly embraced life in south Louisiana.
1.3/ We are always eager to embrace the latest technology.
1.4/ "Xi Jinping calls on young Chinese to embrace hardship."
1.5/ "We should accept and even embrace hardships and difficulties
as a part of life."
1.6/ "How do you embrace failure in life and avoid depression?"
1.7/ "To learn how to achieve success, one must first learn to
embrace failure in life."
v(i,t) hold someone tightly with both arms to express love, liking, or sympathy,
or when greeting or leaving someone
2.1/ She saw them embrace on the station platform.
2.2/ He leaned over to embrace the child.
2.3/ They embraced each other before saying good-bye.
huddle v(i) //
come close together in a group, for example because it is cold
1.1/ It was so cold that we huddled together for warmth.
1.2/ Employees huddled round the television sets at the company headquarters.
huddle together
1.3/ "On the frozen landscape of Antarctica, emperor penguins huddle together
to shield against cold, windy, and harsh conditions."
1.4/ "To stay warm, the penguins huddle together, rotating from the inside
to the outside of the huddle, and back again, to make sure that no one
gets too cold - a seemingly simple solution to keep everyone cozy."
huddle each other
1.5/ "Penguins are known for their cute appearance, as they
huddle each other for warmth."
huddle in a group
1.6/ "We huddle in a group, shoulder to shoulder."
1.7/ "We huddled in a group next to the helicopter pad."
(adj) huddled
1.8/ We stood huddled together for warmth.
1.9/ She read the famous poem about the huddled masses.
1.10/ Everyone was huddled around the radio listening to the news.
see also: hug, cuddle
v(i) sit or stand in a bent position with your arms and legs
close to your body, especially because of cold or fear
2.1/ Sophie was so frightened by the noise of the fireworks
that she huddled up in a corner of the room.
2.2/ "I huddled up in a corner of the cage, and dozed off
for a couple minutes around midnight."
(adj) huddled
2.3/ He sat in his tent, huddled under a blanket.
2.4/ "He was cold and miserable, huddled up like a hedgehog in
a filthy black coat, only his eyes and the top of his head visible
above the turned-up collar."
carve v(i,t) //
make something by cutting into especially wood or stone,
or cut into the surface of stone, wood, etc
1.1/ This totem pole is carved from(/out of) a single tree trunk.
1.2/ He carved her name on a tree.
1.3/ Some of the tunnels in the cliff are natural, some were carved out
by soldiers for defensive purposes.
v(t) carve on/in/into something
cut a pattern or letter on the surface of something
2.1/ Someone had carved their initials on their trees.
2.2/ Don't carve your initials into your desk unless you want to get detention.
2.3/ "In Britain, people carve scary faces into pumpkins."
2.4/ "In Britain, people carve scary faces into pumpkins
and children go trick-or-treating, dressing up in fancy dress costumes
and visiting people's homes shouting 'trick or treat' for sweats and candy."
carve up something: divide something into parts
3.1/ The new owner carved up the company and sold off several divisions.
3.2/ The Nazi-Soviet pact carved up the Baltic states in 1939.
carve something out (for yourself): successfully create
or get something, esp a working position, by working for it
4.1/ He hopes to carve out a niche for himself as
a leading researcher in his field of study.
4.2/ She carved out a reputation for herself as aggressive manager.
engrave v(t) //
cut words, pictures, or patterns into the surface of metal, stone, etc
1/ The jeweller skillfully engraved the initials on the ring.
2/ The bracelet was engraved with his name and date of birth.
3/ The 2000-year-old ivories are intricately carved and
engraved with scenes of palace life.
get along, get on v //
get on/along: have a good relationship or deal successfully with a situation
1/ Alexis and her roommate are getting along better.
2/ She doesn’t get on well with her father.
get along: if you get along with sth/sby, it normally implies that you interact
at aleast reasonably well with it. The emphasis is on the nature of the relationship
3/ How do you get along with your colleagues?
4/ Ten ways to get along better with your coworkers
get on: getting on with someone is similar to getting along with them,
but usually the implication is that the relationship is good, rather than adequate
5/ How do you get on well with your family?
6/ How do you get on with your family members?
remark: "Get along with someone is the minimum requirement to have a friendly
relationship with him. If you don't get along with someone, you don't like being in
each other's company. Get on well implies more than that. It means that you like
and enjoy being together, having the same vibe, accord, etc."
reward v(t) //
give something to somebody because they have done something good
or helpful or have worked for it
1/ Our patience was finally rewarded.
2/ All his hard work was rewarded when he saw his book in print.
reward somebody with something
3/ He rewarded kindness with hostility and contempt.
4/ The club’s directors rewarded him with a free season ticket.
5/ Shareholders will be rewarded with a 12% return.
6/ She started singing to the baby and was rewarded with a smile.
reward somebody for something/doing something
7/ Bonuses are a management tool that reward employees for hard work.
8/ The company rewarded him for his years of service with a grand farewell
party and several presents.
9/ He was rewarded for his bravery with a medal from the president.
10/ The school rewarded pupils for good behavior.
11/ "We reward customers for loyalty, meaning you'll get the best price
signing up for 12 months."
reward somebody by something/doing something
12/ After a steep climb you will be rewarded by magnificent views
from the summit."
13/ Listed companies reward their shareholders by paying out a portion
of their profits.
see also: award
reward n(c,u) //
something that you get because you have done something good
or helpful or have worked hard
1/ The school has a system of rewards and punishments to encourage
good behaviour.
2/ Students hoped for more reward than the announcement in the school paper
of their achievement.
3/ Providing rewards to an entire group instead of to individuals can be
an effective way to encourage positive group dynamics.
4/ They're playing the game more for the love of sport than for
financial reward.
5/ Top corporate jobs are not without their rewards.
a reward for somebody
6/ There's a reward for whoever finishes first.
7/ "There is a reward for the winner and a consolation prize for the loser."
a reward for something/doing something
8/ You deserve a reward for being so helpful.
9/ Parents often give their children rewards for passing exams.
10/ The company won a reward for developing the successful patent.
11/ Two firms each received £20,000 as a reward for their continued participation
in the car-sharing scheme.
12/ The company won a reward for developing the successful patent.
the reward(s) of something
13/ The rewards of motherhood outweigh the anguish.
14/ To compete with bigger players, small firms will need to share more of
the risk and reward of the new market with partners.
15/ The company is now reaping the rewards of their investments.
n(c,u) an amount of money given to someone who helps the police
or who helps to return stolen property to its owner
16/ A reward of $20,000 has been offered.
17/ Anyone wanting to claim the reward should contact the city police.
a reward for something
18/ A £100 reward has been offered for the return of the necklace.
19/ The police offered a reward for any information about the robbery.
20/ Most police informers receive a reward for their information.
see also: a prize, benefits, a rebate
all-round adj //
(before noun) used to say that a person has many different types of skills and abilities
1/ She is a fantastic all-round sportswoman.
2/ He is a great all-round player.
3/ An all-round education
4/ We are looking at the all-round developement of the children and not merely
their academic progress.
5/ A box, on the other hand, offers all-round protection.
see also: versatile, a jack of all trades
all round
in every way
1/ It was a ghastly business all round.
2/ It's been a good day all round.
3/ Cuts in pollution could benefit our community all round.
4/ She felt that the evening was a triumph all round.
5/ This new model is an improvement all round on the old one.
from everyone, for everyone, or involving everyone
6/ There were smiles all round.
7/ He paid for drinks all round.
forget v(i,t) //
(usual meaning)
1/ I'm sorry. I've forgotten your name.
2/ I have completely forgotten about Jenny's party.
3/ I have forgotten what you do next.
4/ I have forgotten how to do it.
5/ We had forgotten that she doesn't come on Thursdays.
6/ I never forget a face.
not forgetting: including
7/ This is where we keep all the books, not forgetting the magazines
and newspapers.
forget doing something: not having a memory of something in the past
8/ I'll never forget meeting you for the first time in this café.
9/ She would never forget seeing the Himalayas for the first time.
forget to do something: not recalling that there is something
we need to do before we do it
10/ He forgot to lock the door when he went out.
11/ Dad's always forgetting to take his pills.
12/ "Director Cheung forgot to ask for permission from the students
involved in the film /fɪlm/."
see also: remember doing something vs remember to do somethig
remember v(i,t) //
(usual meaning)
1/ I can remember people's faces, but not their names.
2/ She suddenly remembered that her keys were in her other bag.
3/ Can you remember what her phone number is?
4/ I remember him as a rather annoying man.
5/ She will be remembered for her courage.
6/ "We went and had tea in that little café - you remember,
the one next to the bookshop.
remember doing something: having a memory of something in the past
1/ I don't remember signing the contract.
2/ I remember watching this film before.
remember to do something: recalling that there is something we need
to do before we do it
3/ Please remember to buy some milk on the way home.
4/ Did you remember to do the grocery shopping?
think about v //
think about(/of) doing something: consider doing something
1.1/ I’m thinking of moving to San Francisco.
1.2/ She's thinking of changing her job.
1.3/ "We always think about crossing the limits, but we never know
what the limits are and how to cross them."
think about(/of) something:
consider somebody or something when you are doing or planning something
2.1/ Don't you ever think about other people?
2.2/ I need to think about this problem.
2.3/ What did you think about the idea?
2.4/ "I've thought about their offer and I've decided to decline it."
2.5/ "In a changed world, it matters how we think about what to do next."
2.6/ "He wants you to think about what you are going to say."
think about somebody/something:
remember or imagine somebody/something
3.1/ I was just thinking about you when you called.
3.2/ She thinks about you all the time.
3.3/ He was thinking about the time he spent in the army.
come to think about(/of) it
4.1/ Come to think of it, add potatoes and carrots to the list.
4.2/ She always looked so frazzled, but come to think of it,
so would I if I have a full-time job and three small kids.
4.3/ When you come to think about it, she is far too carefree for her own good.
think of somebody/something v //
think of something: produce a new idea or plan
5.1/ We'll have to think of a pretty good excuse for being late.
5.2/ Can anybody think of a way to raise money?
5.3/ "What shall we do now?" "I'll think of something."
5.4/ Have you thought of a name for the baby yet?
5.5/ "I've thought of five possible explanations for her decision."
think of somebody/something:
have an image or idea of somebody/something in your mind
6.1/ What do you think of the new manager?
6.2/ What do you think of my sister's boyfriend?
6.3/ What did you think of the film?
6.4/ What do you think of my new dress?
6.5/ "Choose water over sugary drinks - try to think of the benefits
to your health."
think of somebody as something
6.6/ I think of him as someone who will always help me.
6.7/ "I am 21 years old and my Asian parents still think of me as a kid."
think highly of somebody/yourself
6.8/ She thinks very highly of her boss.
6.9/ "If you think too highly of yourself, you are focusing only on
the things you do well."
think much of somebody/something
6.10/ Audiences did not think much of the movie.
6.11/ Her parents don't think much of her new boyfriend.
think of somebody/something: remember somebody/something
7.1/ "I just thought of something that may help you."
7.2/ I thought of you immediately when they said they wanted
someone who could speak English.
7.3/ "I think of nothing important."
7.4/ "I think of nothing important to write you at this moment;
but shall make up another package for your erelong."
can/can't think of somebody/something
7.5/ "I can't think of anything."
7.6/ I can think of at least three occasions when he arrived late.
think of something: imagine an actual or a possible situation
8.1/ "People think of the expense of being in the neonatal unit."
8.2/ "Think of the cost to the automotive industry by failing to be more
proactive around software and technology."
think of doing something
8.3/ I couldn't think of letting you take the blame.
8.4/ It's hot! I am thinking of lying on the beach eating a big ice-cream.
remark: 'think of' is typically used for quick instances of thought,
such as when a person has an idea, or when an image or other mental impression
comes to their mind, either suddenly or after a period of consideration.
'Think about' is typically used for longer periods of contemplation and consideration.
When asking about opinions, 'think of' is used more commonly.
When discussing possible courses of action, both 'think of/about' are used.
When discussing something or someone who comes to your mind at a particular time,
'think of' has a quicker 'flash memory' feeling, and 'think about' has a feeling of
longer contemplation.
rail n(u) //
the system of transport that uses trains
1/ Environmentalists argued that more goods should be transported by rail.
2/ How far can I travel by rail from the UK?
3/ Why more of us are choosing to travel by rail?
4/ The question is whether road transit is cheaper than rail.
n(usually plural) each of the two metal bars that form the track that trains run on
5/ A train went off the rails and crashed into the bank, killing several passengers.
6/ The train thundered along the rails.
go off the rails (see also: go off track, derail)
7/ She went completely off the rails after her sister died.
8/ The company has gone badly off the rails in recent years.
get back on the rails (see also: get back on track)
9/ He has helped get the company back on the rails again.
see also: monorail, track, railway, railroad
n(c) a horizontal bar fixed in position, especially to a wall or to vertical posts,
used to close something off, as a support, or to hang things on
10/ Will spectators please stay behind the rail?
11/ Hold onto the rail so that you don't fall.
12/ The clothes rail in her wardrobe was crammed full of dresses.
13/ The bathroom has a heated towel rail.
handrail (see also: railing)
14/ I hold the handrail when walking down the stairs.
15/ Hold onto the handrail.
foot rail (see also: footrail, footrest)
16/ A customer is suing a store over claims she tripped and fell on a foot rail situated
at the bottom of a counter.
17/ a bar stool with foot rail
18/ I love a footrest on a stool and I also like that the back isn’t too high,
meaning it won’t block out or take away from the view of the kitchen.
railing n(c, usually plural) //
a fence made from a series of vertical metal posts, or one of these posts
1/ Tourists pressed their faces against the palace railings.
2/ She was impaled on a railing after falling 21ft from her hotel room.
3/ Don't lean on the railing of this balcony - it isn't secure!
4/ People lean against the railing on the Coney Island boardwalk in front of
a Coca Cola billboard and clock.
n(c) a row of posts and the wooden or metal bar on top of them, that are used on
stairs to hold on to
5/ Cleaning staircase railings is one of those jobs that are often overlooked
in so many of our homes.
6/ As a precaution, hold onto stair railings and pay attention to where
you're going.
see also: handrail, banister
railway n(c,u) //
(US: railroad) the metal tracks on which trains run
1/ We live close to the railway line.
2/ She travelled across Siberia on the Trans-Siberian railway.
3/ This area of the city is criss-crossed by railway lines.
4/ Only 2,262 miles of railway are being used, while 9,358 need repairs.
5/ Follow the path west along the old railway track.
6/ They are doing maintenance work on the railway.
n(c) a system of tracks, together with the trains that run on them,
and the organization and people needed to operate them
6/ a railway station(/timetable/siding)
7/ a railway worker(/company)
8/ There isn't any railway service on Sundays.
9/ Her father worked on the railways.
inscribe v(t) //
write or cut words, your name, etc onto something
1/ She inscribed the book, "To my number-one fan."
2/ The names of the king and queen were inscribed above the door.
inscribe A on(/in) B
3/ His name was inscribed on the trophy.
4/ The prize winners each receive a book with their names
inscribed on the first page.
5/ She signed the book and inscribed the words 'with grateful thanks' on it.
inscribe B with A
6/ The trophy was inscribed with his name.
7/ The wall of the church was inscribed with the names of the dead
from World War I.
(adj) inscribed
8/ She was presented with an inscribed gold watch.
see also: carve, engrave