My Vocabulary Page
crossroads n(c) //
(plural: crossroads) a place where two roads meet and cross each other
1/ Turn right at the first crossroads.
an important or central place
2/ Mulberry, a small town at the crossroads of agriculture in central Florida.
be at a crossroads
3/ They had reached a crossroads in their relationship.
4/ The company was clearly at a crossroads.
5/ "Every time you stand at a crossroads of life and death, you have two universes
in front of you; one loses all relation to you because you die, the other maintains
its relation to you because you survive in it."
blink v(i,t) //
an eye blinks
1/ You've got something in your eye - try blinking a few times.
2/ He stared at us without blinking.
3/ Now blink your eyes to say yes.
blink n(c, singular) //
in the blink of an eye: extremely quickly
1/ In the blink of an eye, he was gone.
2/ It happened so fast, and the resolve was in the blink of an eye.
underway adj(after verb) //
(also: under way) if something is underway, it is happening now
1.1/ Economic recovery is already underway.
1.2/ An investigation is underway to find out how the disaster happened.
1.3/ It was a cold evening, winter well underway.
1.4/ A full-scale security operation is now under way.
1.5/ The conference gets under way later today with a debate on the family.
1.6/ My application is still underway and it has been three weeks.
1.7/ "My application is still underway, but assuming all goes well I would
expect that the outcome will be what I expected."
1.8/ "Does anyone know what would happen if you quit or if you are laid off
from your employer while your application is underway?"
see also: in progress, going on, under review
adj(after verb) if an activity gets under way, it starts.
2.1/ The film festival gets underway on 11 July.
2.2/ It’s time to get this project underway.
2.3/ The court case got under way last autumn.
2.4/ "Club activity will get underway before June 1, Thompson stated."
2.5/ "An investigation got underway Monday after a person was stabbed
near Boston Common, police said."
ongoing adj // or //
continuing to exist or develop, or happening at the present moment
1/ an ongoing investigation(/project/process)
2/ an ongoing debate(/discussion)
2/ No agreement has yet been reached and the negotiations are still ongoing.
3/ There are a number of ongoing difficulties with the project.
4/ There is an ongoing investigation into the cause of the crash.
5/ Discussions between local residents and the developers of the new
shopping centre are ongoing.
see also: underway, upcoming
inquire v(i,t) //
ask for information
1/ He inquired her name.
2/ She inquired as to your whereabouts.
3/ "Where are you going?" he inquired politely.
inquire + wh-clause
4/ Phil inquired whether I wanted to meet his roommate.
5/ He inquired why you were so late.
6/ She called to inquire when her car would be ready.
7/ I am inquiring when the dinner will be ready.
inquire about somebody/something
8/ Shall I inquire about the price of tickets?
9/ Most callers are inquiring about train times and ticket prices.
10/ I inquire about the dinner.
inquire into: find out more information about something, investigate
11/ A committee was appointed to inquire into the allegations.
12/ When the authorities inquired into his background, they found
he had a criminal record.
13/ The committee had no right to inquire into his politics.
14/ Officers of the City of London Fraud Squad are inquiring into
the affairs of the company.
inquire something of somebody: ask somebody a question
15/ The police inquired of his neighbors if they knew where he was.
16/ And I assume it would be quite pointless to inquire his name of you.
17/ I shall not inquire of you whether I may eat mustard with my mutton.
18/ I'll inquire of my aunt when she is coming.
inquire of somebody
19/ 'Are you sure?' he inquired of Rose anxiously.
20/ 'Will you be staying for lunch?' she inquired of Charles.
21/ "I'm going to inquire of your mother and see if she knows
you snuck out last night."
inquire after somebody: ask for information about somebody,
esp about their health or about what they are doing
22/ She inquired after his grandfather's health.
23/ He also went to emergency and other wards to inquire after the patients.
inquiry n(c,u) //
(the process of asking) a question
1/ (+about/into something) I’ve made inquiries about the cost of a ticket.
2/ I've been making inquiries about(/into) the cost of a round-the-world ticket.
3/ A customer-relations service answers 2,000 inquiries from the public each week.
4/ Inquiry into the matter is pointless - no one will tell you anything.
5/ On further inquiry, the company was told that the contracts had been cancelled.
n(c) an official attempt to discover the facts about something
6/ A new team of detectives were called in to conduct a fresh inquiry.
7/ There is to be an official inquiry into the incident.
8/ Citizens have demanded a full inquiry into the government's handling of
the epidemic.
9/ The Council has set up an independent inquiry which will show the effect
of closure of the plant.
set out v //
start an activity with a particular aim
1/ She set out with the aim of becoming the youngest ever winner of the championship.
2/ They set out to discover a cure for cancer.
3/ He set out to become chief executive.
4/ I don't set out to annoy him - it just seems to happen.
5/ She set out to break the world record.
start a journey
6/ They set out on the last stage of their journey.
7/ We lead each child to set out for a wonderful life journey
set out something: give the details of or explain something, esp. in writing
8/ Your contract sets out the terms and conditions of your employment.
9/ The board has set out its goals(/plans/proposals) for the coming year.
10/ He set out his objections to the plan.
11/ She set out the reasons for her resignation in a long letter.
see also: list something on an article (don't use "list out")
set out something: arrange or prepare something for others to see or use
12/ Her work is always very well set out.
13/ The market was filled with fresh vegetables set out on tables.
14/ The farmers' market was full of brightly coloured vegetables set out on stalls.
set off v //
start on a trip
1/ What time do we set off tomorrow?
2/ We set off for Boston just after ten.
3/ We set off on a round-the-world crusi
(cause) cause an activity or event, often a series of events, to begin or happen
see also: cause, initiate
4/ The court's initial verdict in the police officers' trial set off serious riots.
5/ Cheap money set off a boom in personal borrowing, especially against homes.
6/ The proposed sale has set off an avalanche /'ævə''læntʃ/ of protest.
cause a device to explode or a signal to start
7/ Terrorists set off a bomb in the city centre.
8/ Somebody set the alarm off on my car.
9/ I accidentally set the alarm off. (=make it ring)
set somebody off: cause somebody to start doing something
10/ Every time I think about it, it sets me off laughing.
(see also: "It makes me laugh."/ "It causes me to laugh.")
11/ She's finally stopped crying - don't set her off again.
name after v //
name somebody/something after somebody/something:
give somebody or something the same name as another person or thing
1/ "Thomas was named after his grandfather."
2/ Paul was named after his grandfather.
3/ We named all our children after football players.
4/ "Charleston, SC was named after King Charles."
5/ The Austin station is named after Mount Austin, which is
also known as Victoria Peak.
6/ She told us about his brother, Apollo, born in 1969 and named for
the US astronauts' /'æs.trə.nɔ:ts/ mission to the moon.
7/ "The Nobel Prizes were named after Alfred Nobel because Alfred Nobel,
a Swedish industrialist and the inventor of dynamite, left his entire
estate to fund annual prizes in six areas: Physics, Chemistry, Medicine,
Literature, Peace, and Economic Sciences. This was stipulated in his will
in 1895, a year before his death."
stitch n(c) //
(thread) a piece of thread sewn in cloth, or the single movement of a needle and thread
into and out of the cloth that produces this
1/ Secure the two pieces together with a couple of stitches.
2/ Try to keep the stitches small and straight.
one of the small circles of wool that you make when you are knitting
3/ He cast on a stitch. (= added a length of thread from the needle)
4/ He cast off a stitch. (=removed a length of thread from the needle)
5/ I've dropped a stitch (=lost a length of thread from the needle)
a length of special thread used to join the edges of a deep cut in the flesh
6/ He got hit with a broken bottle and needed five stitches in his cheek.
]7/ Her head wounds needed 50 stitches.
8/ Dooley required up to ten stitches in the wound.
9/ A cut on his left ankle required six stitches.
10/ She had a dozen or so stitches on her forehead.
11/ He's having his stitches taken out this afternoon.
stitch v(i,t) //
(sew) sew two things together, or to repair something by sewing
1/ This button needs to be stitched back onto my shirt.
2/ Stitch the pieces together along the fold.
3/ His name is stitched onto the back of his boxing trunks.
4/ Her wedding dress was stitched by hand.
5/ A pocket was stitched to the front of the jacket.
6/ An agreement was hastily stitched together.
7/ (+up) I have ripped my trousers - can you
stitch them up for me?
(stitch up something) sew the edges of a wound together
8/ The cut will need to be stitched.
9/ The doctor stitched up his wound.
10/ The doctor stitched him up.
(see also: stitching n(u), suture a wound)
heartwarming adj //
making you feel happy because you see other people being happy
or kind to each other
1/ People have been so kind and helpful since Dan's been sick - it's really
heartwarming to see.
2/ a heartwarming tale of triumph over adversity
3/ It’s heartwarming to hear of the success you’ve had with the appeal.
4/ The response to our plea for more food and blankets has been heartwarming.
a heartwarming welcome
5/ "What a heartwarming welcome we were given by Siggiewi Primary."
6/ "A heartwarming welcome to all our guests at Sardella Seafood restaurant."
see also: touching, moving, pleasing, cheering, encouraging, uplifting
heartening, satisfying
hearten v(t) //
make someone feel happier and more positive about a situation
(be heartened by something)
1/ We were heartened by the news that Jason is feeling so much better.
2/ Anti-government protesters have been heartened by recent government promises
of free and fair elections.
3/ I was heartened by all the support I received.
(be heartened to do something)
4/ I was heartened to see her looking so well.
see also: cheer, cheer up, encourage, reassure
(adj) heartening: make someone feel happier and more hopeful
5/ It was heartening to see so many people at the rally.
6/ It is heartening to see the determination of these young people.
remark: heartening means "encouraging" while heartwarming means "touching"
wholehearted adj //
involving all your feelings, interest, etc
1/ The plan was given wholehearted support.
2/ "Looking ahead, I would like to call for continuing wholehearted support
from the Government, our trade partners, and our sponsors to showcase
Hong Kong's diverse appeal and unique culture to the world."
3/ The judges gave us their wholehearted approval.
see also: enthusiastic, devoted, dedicated
(adv) wholeheartedly
4/ She threw herself wholeheartedly into her work.
5/ "They are part of the bigger family and we are supported by the Government
wholeheartedly."
6/ The enforcement of the national security law is wholeheartedly
supported by the government.
heartfelt adj //
(before noun) showing strong feelings that are sincere
1/ Please accept my heartfelt apologies.
2/ Please accept my heartfelt thanks.
3/ He hugged her awkwardly as he said goodbye but his good wishes were heartfelt.
4/ Each 'Thank You Note' will allow you to express heartfelt gratitude
and appreciation.
5/ I wish to express my heartfelt sympathy to all those who have lost
their children, wives or husbands.
see also: earnest, sincere
hearty adj //
enthusiastic, energetic, and often loudly expressed
1/ a hearty welcome(/laugh/handshake)
2/ a hearty and boisterous fellow
3/ The Colonel gave me a hearty handshake.
4/ Her laugh was far too hearty to be genuine.
(adv) heartily
5/ "Both of the Chucks welcome me heartily to the history center
and agree to tell me the tale."
(food) large or in large amounts
6/ We ate a hearty breakfast before we set off on our hike.
7/ You have a hearty appetite.
8/ She's got a hearty appetite.
(food) satisfying to the taste
9/ a hearty vegetable soup
10/ "This hearty and delicious corn chowder features tender chunks of
potato and creamy corn.
showing that you feel strongly about something
11/ Hearty congratulations to everyone involved.
12/ "I am in hearty agreement with you, and privately I am quite prepared
to subscribe towards it."
13/ She has a hearty dislike of any sort of office work
(adv) heartily
14/ He congratulated me heartily on my promotion.
15/ I heartily agree with her on this.
16/ The school heartily approves of parental involvement.
17/ His latest book is heartily recommended to all those who enjoy
historical mysteries.
18/ "I am heartily glad to give this gift to a humble celebrity like you."
see also: strongly, totally
signboard n(c) //
a board displaying the name or logo of a business or product
1/ There is a shop with its name painted on a signboard over the door.
2/ A signboard by the entrance proclaimed that the business had been
established in 1852.
3/ On top of the door, inscribed on a fluorescent signboard were the words
"Friends Indeed".
see also: an advertisement
billboard n(c) //
a very large board on which advertisements are shown, especially at the side of a road
1.1/ On the highway we passed dozens of billboards showing his smiling face.
1.2/ In the Moscow of today, advertising billboards line the avenues.
1.3/ They unveiled a billboard on First Avenue South saying "Welcome" in Japanese.
1.4/ Drivers were distracted by a huge billboard featuring an underwear ad.
see also: an advertising board, an advertising hoarding
a poster, often outside a cinema or theatre,
advertising a film, play, or other entertainment
2.1/ Those West End theatre billboards, full of superlatives and gushing praise,
are not always accurate.
display board //
a board or screen used for displaying signs, advertisements, etc
1/ A display board in the boardroom lists projects in development.
2/ Police have also put a radar display board on the street at various times.
3/ At the same time, LED scrolling message display board is
an indispensable tool for indoor and outdoor activities,
remark: a display board often means a vertical surface on which
information can be displayed to public view
bulletin board n(c) //
(noticeboard) a board on a wall on which notices can be put
1/ I've put the list of players up on the bulletin board.
2/ A bulletin board in the lobby is packed with notices of things for sale.
3/ Two old bicycles lean against a bulletin board on the street.
risk-averse adj //
unwilling to take risks or wanting to avoid risks as much as possible
1/ risk-averse investors
2/ He feels modern attitudes to children's play are too restrictive and risk-averse.
3/ If women are risk-averse, why do they start so many new businesses?
4/ This risk-averse approach explains why the yield is relatively modest.
see also: risky, risk-loving
risk-loving adj //
（risk lover) a risk lover is a person who is willing to take more risks while investing
in order to earn higher returns
1/ Risk loving gamblers, however, enjoy risky situations over certainty.
2/ One possible interpretation is that support from the MVP enables households
to adopt a risk loving attitude.
3/ Risk lovers are more likely to start businesses, and to fail in the attempt.
see also: risk-seeking
on par with //
be on (a) par with something or somebody:
be at the same level or standard as something or somebody
1/ In my opinion, none of the new jazz trumpeters are on a par with Miles Davis.
2/ The wages of clerks were on a par with those of manual workers.
3/ We will have Christmas decorations on a par with anything on show
at the Metro Centre.
4/ His new book is on par with his bestsellers.
5/ The new version of the software is on a par with the old one.
compromise v(i) //
give up some of your demands in order to reach an agreement after
disagreeing with somebody
1.1/ Neither side is prepared to compromise.
compromise with somebody (on something)
1.2/ They were unwilling to compromise with the terrorists.
1.3/ If your family is having a big get-together, try to compromise
with your parents on when you can go out and see your friends.
compromise on something
1.4/ After much argument, the judges finally compromised on
the 18-year old pianist.
1.5/ Republicans were refusing to compromise on health-care legislation.
1.6/ "Employers must compromise on wages to avert bus sector strike."
1.7/ Well, you want $400 and I say $300, so let's compromise on(/at) $350.
v(t) allow your principles to be less strong or
your standards or morals to be lower
2.1/ Don't compromise your beliefs(/principles) for the sake of being accepted.
2.2/ If we back down on this issue, our reputation will be compromised.
2.3/ His political career ended when he compromised himself by accepting bribes.
2.4/ His goal was to run a successful business without compromising his principles.
compromise on something
2.5/ We are not prepared to compromise on safety standards.
v(t) risk having a harmful effect on something
3.1/ We would never compromise the safety of our passengers.
3.2/ Users perform tasks every day that can compromise the security
of their computers.
3.3/ Alcohol and drug abuse can compromise your health, not to mention your life.
3.4/ "Ladies, don't let work compromise your health!"
3.5/ Defeat at this stage would compromise their chances of reaching
the finals of the competition.
compromise n(c,u) //
an agreement in an argument in which the people involved reduce
their demands or change their opinion in order to agree
reach a compromise
4.1/ After lengthy talks the two sides finally reached a compromise.
4.2/ It is hoped that a compromise will be reached in today's talks.
4.3/ Encourage your child to reach a compromise between what he wants
and what you want.
make a compromise
4.4/ In any relationship, you have to make compromises.
4.5/ "I wanted to go to Yale, but I made a compromise with my parents,
and now I'm going to a cheaper state school."
4.6/ Be ready and willing to make compromises between your needs
and those of your partner.
a compromise with somebody
4.7/ The government has said that there will be no compromise with terrorists.
a compromise between A and B
4.8/ In a compromise between management and unions, a four percent pay rise
was agreed in return for an increase in productivity.
(other examples)
4.9/ There is no prospect of compromise in sight.
4.10/ Both sides in the talks are willing to seek a compromise solution.
4.11/ Under the compromise, car manufacturers must use cleaner fuel but
have more time to do it.
n(c) a solution to a problem that makes it possible for two or more
opposite or different things to exist together
5.1/ This piece of equipment is the ideal compromise between
power and portability.
5.2/ This model represents the best compromise between price and quality.
5.3/ It was a fair compromise between the two sides.
pop up v //
appear, sometimes unexpectedly
1/ Her name keeps popping up in the newspapers.
2/ Click here, and a list of files will pop up.
3/ An error message pops up on the computer screen.
4/ When a problem pops up, my emotions rise and I tend to avoid it.
move quickly and suddenly from a closed or flat position to a vertical one
5/ This tent pops up fully formed in a couple of seconds.
6/ Liven up a handmade Christmas card with a tree or snowman that pops up!
pop-up adj //
adj, n(c) (computer)
1/ Block pop-up ads and windows in Safari.
2/ Allow or block pop-ups on one website.
3/ Select the option you want from the pop-up menu.
a shop or other business that opens quickly in a temporary location
and is intended to operate for only a short period of time.
4/ At the new pop-up restaurant that has appeared in the neighborhood,
diners pay what they think the meal is worth.
a pop-up store
5/ Pop-up stores are a great way for online retailers to gain new customers
who like to see, touch and test out products in real life.
6/ Most people visit pop-up stores because they want an opportunity to
experience a limited-time event.
stuffy adj //
a stuffy room or building is unpleasant because it has no fresh air
1.1/ It's really hot and stuffy in here - let's open the window.
1.2/ The bedroom gets a little stuffy in the summer.
1.3/ The office gets so stuffy in the afternoon.
1.4/ It's a hot and stuffy day here in Northern Minnesota.
n(c) a stuffy nose
2.1/ I have got a stuffy nose.
2.2/ My nose is congested.
2.3/ "It's normal to reach for the tissues when you have a stuffy nose."
a running nose
2.4/ "hree days ago, he began to cough, sneeze and have a running nose."
(adj) old-fashioned, formal, and boring
3.1/ She is trying to promote a less stuffy image of librarians.
3.2 Did you have a stuffy teacher with no sense of humour?
tighten your belt idiom //
spend less money than you did before because you have less money
1/ I've had to tighten my belt since I stopped working full-time.
2/ Many small businesses are tightening their belts because of the slow economy.
fasten v(i,t) //
make or become firmly attached or closed
1.1/ This skirt fastens at the back.
1.2/ The gown fastens down the front with Velcro.
1.3/ I was so fat that my skirt wouldn't fasten.
fasten a seatbelt
1.4/ Fasten your seatbelt and prepare for take-off!
1.5/ "Fasten the front seat belt, drive at 10 mph and make a very hard stop."
1.6/ "Only the most anal individuals will fasten a seat belt
everytime to drive 30 seconds."
fasten a belt
1.7/ She fastened her belt tightly around her waist.
1.8/ "I fasten my belt and speak nothing of the past."
fasten a button
1.9/ "Please fasten the buttons on your shirt."
1.10/ "I fastened the first button in the second hole."
1.11/ Emma shivered and fastened the top button of her coat.
1.12/ "Say encouraging words to your child as he works to fasten the button."
fasten a helmet
1.13/ "Saddle up, fasten your helmet, wear your goggles.
Get ready to enjoy your own moment of freedom."
1.14/ To ensure the safety of your child, please fasten the helmet
securely before they ride their bike."
fasten a zipper
1.15/ "The girl can not fasten the zipper on jeans."
1.16/ "Mary fastened the zipper on her trousers."
1.17/ "The woman fastened the zipper on her coat to keep out the cold."
fasten a strap/string
1.18/ "Fasten the strap until it is secure."
1.19/ To keep the helmet in position, fasten the strap beneath the chin.
1.20/ Could you help me fasten this strap around my suitcase?
1.21/ "In one scenario, you fasten the string at two points exactly
25 inches apart, and tune it to 440 Hz."
1.22/ "A safe and convenient way to fasten the watch strap is the tang clasp."
fasten something
1.23/ The door was securely fastened.
1.24/ "The girl tries to fasten a suitcase full of things."
1.25/ "Fasten the harness either side at the girth."
1.26/ "Make sure you fasten the safety harness for your baby."
1.27/ "She changes clothes in front of him and asks him to fasten her bra."
fasten up something
1.28/ He fastened up his coat and hurried out.
1.29/ "I stand up and fasten up my pants."
1.30/ "I dust my lips over her ear as I fasten up my pants."
fasten something with something
1.31/ The garment is fastened with a sash.
1.32/ "How to securely fasten the cable with a bolt?"
1.33/ "To do this, fasten the coiled cable with the strain relief clamp."
1.34/ "Fasten the wire with the thumbtacks and connect it to the switch thumbtack."
1.35/ "I sling the sack across my body and fasten my waist with a utility belt."
see also: do up something, tighten, loosen
v(t) fix something in a particular position
2.1/ He fastened back the shutters.
2.2/ A gold locket was fastened around Eleanor's neck.
2.3/ Each bundle of 100 votes was rolled up and fastened with a rubber band.
fasten something in somewhere
2.4/ "Fasten luggage in the trunk."
2.5/ Are the children safely fastened into their car seats?
2.6/ Use the special kit provided to fasten the child seat in the car.
see also: fix, secure
v(t) attach or tie one thing to another thing
fasten A and B together
3.1/ "I use a staple to fasten sheets of paper together."
3.2/ "The iron hand-cuffs fasten the slaves together by means of
a little bolt with a padlock."
fasten something with something
3.3/ Fasten the edges of the cloth together with pins.
3.4/ He fastened the papers together with a paper clip.
fasten A to B
3.5/ She fastened the rope to a tree.
3.6/ I fastened the sticker to the windscreen.
3.7/ "I would use a cord to fasten my dog to a fence."
3.8/ "In the cellar at the Manor House is an iron ring in the wall,
used to fasten prisoners to."
v(i,t) close something so that it will not open; be closed in this way
4.1/ The window wouldn't fasten.
4.2/ Make sure all the exits are securely fastened.
4.3/ Fasten the gates securely so that they do not blow open.
4.4/ Make sure all the windows are securely fastened before you leave.
(v) fasten your eyes on somebody/something: look at them for a long time
5.1/ He fastened his gaze on her face. (= He was gazing at her.)
5.2/ Help me fasten my eyes on you, trusting in your vision for my life
and in your watchful care.
off the cuff idiom //
without preparation
1.1/ I hadn't prepared a speech so I just said a few words off the cuff.
1.2/ I should not like to answer the first part off the cuff.
1.3/ I cannot give that percentage figure off the cuff.
1.4/ I didn't have time to organize my thoughts, so I just spoke off the cuff.
1.5/ I would not dream of answering such a technical question off the cuff.
1.6/ I'm just speaking off the cuff here - I haven't seen the results yet.
1.7/ I could not answer your question off the cuff.
off the top of my head
1.8/ I can't tell you off the top of my head.
1.9/ Just off the top of my head, I’d say there were about fifty.
adj(before noun) off-the-cuff
2.1/ I raise that as an off-the-cuff thought.
2.2/ "Varadkar has apologised for an off-the-cuff remark he made about
former US President Bill Clinton."
see also: on the fly, think on my feet, impromptu, on impulse
peel v(t) //
remove the skin of fruit and vegetables
1/ Peel and chop the carrots.
2/ Peel, core, and chop the apples.
3/ Garnish with peeled, seeded and diced tomatoes.
v(i,t) if a layer or covering peels, it slowly comes off;
if you peel a layer or covering, you remove it slowly and carefully
4/ We peeled the wallpaper off the walls.
5/ Peel off the backing strip and press the label down firmly.
6/ The posters were peeling away from the damp walls.
7/ The new paint is already starting to crack and peel.
peel off
8/ Simply peel off the adhesive strip and press to seal.
9/ Paint peels off the wall.
see also: wear off, tear, rip
peel n(u) //
the skin of fruit and vegetables, especially after it has been removed
1/ apple peel
2/ potato peel
3/ The dessert was decorated with strips of lemon peel.
4/ What shall I do with the peel?
see also: rind
rip v(i,t) //
tear something quickly and with force, or break apart something
1/ I ripped my sleeve.
2/ He lost control of the car and it ripped down a fence.
rip something up: tear something into small pieces
3/ The letter made me so angry, I ripped it up.
4/ She ripped up his letters and burned the pieces.
rip something on something
5/ I ripped my shirt on a nail.
6/She ripped her dress on a nail that was protruding from the bench.
rip something into pieces/shreds
7/ The wind ripped the flag to(/into) shreds.
8/ Rip the basil leaves into pieces and sprinkle them over the salad.
rip something open
9/ She excitedly ripped the package open.
v(t) remove something quickly, without being careful
10/ I wish the old fireplaces hadn't been ripped out.
11/ We ripped up the carpets and laid a new wooden floor.
12/ The previous owner ripped out the fireplace.
v(i) (rip through) move quickly or violently
13/ A hurricane ripped through Rhode Island yesterday.
14/ The explosion ripped through the hotel.
v(t) copy pictures or sounds from a CD or DVD onto a computer
15/ How do I rip a DVD movie to my hard drive?
rip n(c) //
a tear in a piece of cloth or paper
1/ Your sleeve has a rip in it.
2/ Unfortunately this vintage magazine has a rip on the cover.
rip off v //
(rip something off) remove something very quickly and carelessly
1/ They ripped off their clothes and ran into the sea.
see also: take off clothes
(rip something off) steal something
2/ He rips stuff off from supermarkets to pay for his heroin.
3/ Some accuse the company of ripping off the programming language
from its competitor.
4/ "How artist who ripped off Gucci ended up collaborating with
the fashion label and holding an exhibition in Shanghai"
see also: "forge an iPhone 5"
(rip someone off) cheat someone by charging too much money
5/ We got ripped off buying our new car.
6/ Bob's tickets cost much less than ours - I think we've been ripped off.
7/ Their parents, or their grandparents, whoever, may not realize they're
being ripped off by a scalper when buying it as a Christmas gift.
8/ Get ripped off by a scalper with counterfeit tickets.
rip-off n(c) //
something that costs more than it is worth
1/ Loan protection is the biggest rip-off in banking today.
2/ rip-off prices
3/ Don’t eat in the museum restaurant – it’s a rip-off.
4/ $300 for that shirt? - That's a complete rip-off.
n(c) a cheap or bad copy of something
5/ He's fed up with the endless high-street rip-offs of his collections.
6/ All along the road there were market stalls selling rip-off Versace,
Gucci and Lacoste.
urge v(i,t) //
strongly advise or try to persuade someone to do a particular thing
urge somebody to do something
1.1/ She urged him to stay.
1.2/ Lawyers will urge the parents to take further legal action.
1.3/ Party leaders urged her to run for Congress.
1.4/ If you ever get the chance to visit this place, I strongly
urge you to do so.
1.5/ The charity urged the government to reconsider its decision.
1.6/ The authorities urged residents to stay indoors.
1.7/ The NFU is urging its members to support the proposed scheme.
1.8/ The police are urging anyone with new information to come forward.
1.9/ Police are urging anyone who saw the accident to contact them immediately.
urge that ...
1.10/ The report urged that all children be taught to swim.
1.11/ Investigators urged that safety procedures at the site should be improved.
urge something into something
1.12/ The dogs are urged into fighting more fiercely by loud shouts from the crowd.
1.13/ "My CBVI counselor encouraged me to apply and all it took was
her gentle nudge to urge me into the next chapter of my life.
('CBVI' stands for 'Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired')
urge for something
1.14/ We will continue to urge for leniency to be shown to these prisoners.
1.15/ "A conservative columnist urged for a pardon for Woods as well
but Trump didn't offer one."
urge something
1.16/ Police urged continued vigilance in the fight against crime.
1.17/ The situation is dangerous and the UN is urging caution.
1.18/ "The UN Secretary-General has urged zero tolerance for net-zero
greenwashing - where corporations celebrate their ethical and
environmental initiatives in advertising and PR to divert attention
from more dubious activities."
1.19/ EU foreign ministers urged an independent inquiry into
allegations of human rights violations.
see also: advise, encourage, persuade, recommend
(phrasal verb) urge somebody on: encourage somebody
2.1/ The crowd was cheering and urging her on all through the race.
2.2/ She could hear him urging her on as she ran past.
urge me on to something
2.3/ His parents urge him on to greater and greater accomplishments.
2.4/ "May this desire urge me on to a noble generosity of heart,
so that I may accept everything which your Divine Providence has foreseen
and expects of me."
urge me on to do something
2.5/ "Sometimes the voices are comforting, and urge me on to try
new things and motivate me."
see also: cheer someone on
urge n(c) //
a strong wish, esp one that is difficult or impossible to control
3.1/ The two of them seem unable to control their sexual urges.
3.2/ Freud claimed that this behaviour was caused by the repression
of sexual urges.
3.3/ "Anxiety manifests as an overwhelming urge to control things that we can’t.
It’s a response to fear that creates physiological urges provoking you
to pull back from perceived danger."
an urge to do something
3.4/ The urge to steal is very strong in some of these young men.
3.5/ I felt a sudden urge to smash the teapot against the wall.
have/feel/get an urge (to do something)
3.6/ I had a sudden urge to slap him in the face.
3.7/ Sometimes I get an urge to go swimming at lunchtime.
3.8/ She felt an overwhelming urge to tell someone about what had happened.
resist/suppress/repress an urge (to do something)
3.9/ I can never resist the urge to laugh.
3.10/ She resisted the urge to kiss him.
3.11/ She felt a violent urge to laugh, but suppressed it, with difficulty.
3.12/ "As a dude I learned to repress my urges to cry a long time ago."
see also: urgent, urgency, a desire to do something, a desire for something,
(a) temptation to do something
tempt v(t) //
make someone want to have or do something, especially
something that is unnecessary or wrong
1/ The offer of free credit tempted her into buying a new car.
2/ They tempted him to join the company by offering him a huge salary
and a company car.
3/ Perhaps some caviar can tempt your jaded palate.
4/ They put out food to tempt the foxes into the traps.
5/ I’m trying to diet – don’t tempt me with that cake!
see also: temptation
(be tempted) want something or want to do something
6/ "Did you apply for that job?"
"Well, I was very tempted, but I decided not to."
7/ I was sorely tempted to resign after my boss screamed at me
for the second time.
8/ I was really tempted to take the money.
9/ I was tempted into ordering a whole new wardrobe.
tempting (see also:alluring, enticing)
10/ Any free offer is always tempting.
11/ That pie looks very tempting.
12/ It's tempting to blame video games for violent behaviour in young men.
(tempt fate) take a foolish risk because you depend too much on luck
13/ Leaving your door unlocked is just tempting fate.
lure v(t) //
persuade someone to do something or go somewhere by offering them
something exciting
1/ She was lured into the job by the offer of a high salary.
2/ He had lured his victim to a deserted house.
3/ Supermarket chains try to lure customers with price discounts.
4/ He was lured away from the US retailer by a French cosmetics company.
5/ The university hopes to lure a new coach with an attractive salary package.
lure somebody into doing something
6/ "How companies lure you into buying things you don't need"
7/ "Look at me trying to lure you into buying cute things."
8/ "Entrapment occurs when the police lure you into committing a crime
that you would not have otherwise committed."
lure n(singular) //
anything that attracts people or animals, or the qualities that make something attractive
1/ The lure of the city for creative people has existed for centuries.
2/ the lure of fame(/power/money)
3/ He could not resist the lure of easy money.
see also: allure
allure n(u) //
attraction, charm, or excitement
1/ The allure of the stage drew him back to acting.
2/ the allure of working in television
3/ sexual allure
4/ "Allure of Darkness"
5/ Unfortunately, that doesn't really work out, since I cannot resist the allure
of spoilers and new information ahead of time.
catch up v //
reach someone in front of you by going faster than them
1.1/ I ran after her and managed to catch up with her.
1.2/ Go on to the shops without me, I'll catch you up.
1.3/ He's lagging behind a bit - I think we'd better wait for him to catch us up.
v(i,t) reach the same quality or standard as someone or something else
2.1/ He was off school for a while and is finding it hard to catch up.
catch up with something
2.2/ Will Western industry ever catch up with Japanese innovations?
2.3/ After missing a term through illness, he had to work hard to
catch up with the others.
catch up to something
2.4/ We’re a young, growing company, and we’re trying to catch up
to the competition.
2.5/ In other words, people don't have to wait for development tools to
catch up to the standard before being able to use it.
v(i) catch up on/with something:
do something you did not have time to do earlier
3.1/ I have some work to catch up on.
3.2/ I need to catch up on some sleep.
3.3/ We're trying to catch up on paperwork this week.
3.4/ She's staying late at the office to catch up with some reports.
3.5/ Sam drove straight to the office to catch up with the mountain of work
she had waiting for her.
3.6/ I find the backlog of freelance work sometimes builds up,
and I always seem to be catching up.
v(i) learn or discuss the latest news
4.1/ Let's have a coffee next week and catch up.
catch up on something
4.2/ Let's go for a coffee - I need to catch up on all the gossip.
4.3/ When I got home I phoned Jo to catch up on all the gossip.
catch up with something
4.4/ Let the elderly catch up with the society.
4.5/ He used the train journey to catch up with the morning news.
4.6/ Help the elderly catch up with inflation in living costs.
be/get caught up in something v //
become involved in something, esp when you do not want to be
1.1/ Innocent passers-by got caught up in the riots.
1.2/ How did you get caught up in this mess?
1.3/ Several members of Congress were caught up in the scandal.
1.4/ "I am caught up for a few days as baby number two just arrived home."
1.5/ I never thought I would get caught up in a soap opera,
but this one is just so good!
be caught up in doing something
1.6/ "I have been caught up in preparing for the coming competition."
1.7/ "If you aren’t caught up in doing the dishes, taking out the garbage,
and making a living, perhaps your waking hours could be focussed on
saying prayers endlessly."
be caught up in work
1.8/ I am caught up in my work.
1.9/ Wallace is caught up in his work and has little time for his son.
1.10/ "And I've been so caught up in my job; didn't see what's going on."
('Love Yourself', Justin Bieber)
be caught up in the minutiae /maɪ'nju:.ʃi.aɪ/
1.11/ "It's all too easy to be caught up in the minutiae of life sometimes,
worrying about all the little things without stopping to appreciate
what a beautiful world we live in."
1.12/ "One of the best lessons you can take on board when starting your
own business is not to get caught up in the minutiae. You've really got to
make sure that the big-picture problems are taken care of first and foremost."
excited about something and having trouble thinking about anything else
2.1/ Everyone was caught up in the excitement.
2.2/ Try not to get too caught up in the moment.
live up to something v //
be as good as something
1/ The concert was brilliant - it lived up to all our expectations.
2/ He never managed to live up to his parents' expectations.
3/ I feel it's impossible to live up to his mother.
4/ Did the holiday live up to your expectations?
5/ We expected a lot of her, and her performance lived up to our expectations.
keep up v //
keep something up: continue to do or have something
1/ Keep up the good work!
1/ Keep up your hard work! Your progress is amazing.
1/ The employees kept up their demands for better working conditions.
1/ The enemy kept up the bombardment day and night.
1/ When he lost his job, he wasn't able to keep up his loan repayments.
1/ "If I keep up my yougo practice, that stiffness is only a minor annoyance."
1/ "I can't continue working like this. If I keep it up much longer,
I'll get totally burned out."
(particular weather) keeps up
1/ The rain kept up all afternoon.
1/ "If the snow keeps up, we'll be having pow days sooner than we thought!"
1/ "If this drought keeps up and the shortage of hay continues, some farmers
may be forced to sell their cattle earlier than they had planned."
(v) stay level or equal with somebody or something
keep up
2/ Slow down - I can't keep up!
2/ You run too fast - I can't keep up.
2/ You'll have to walk faster if you want to keep up.
2/ You can follow me if you want, but try to keep up.
2/ He started to walk faster and the children had to run to keep up.
keep up with somebody/something
2/ She walks so fast I can never keep up with her.
2/ Supply of the goods is failing to keep up with demand.
2/ Wages are failing to keep up with inflation.
2/ He talks so fast, I can't keep up with what he's saying.
2/ My leg was hurt, but I was able to keep up with the rest
of the team during our run.
keep something up
2/ You must eat to keep your strength up.
2/ The high cost of raw materials is keeping prices up.
2/ Here are some tips to keep up your stamina as you age.
2/ We need to keep up the enthusiasm that we generated with
the first advertising campaign.
keep your head up (see also: hold your head up/high)
2/ "You inspire me to always keep my head up."
2/ "Keep your head up when you spend the rest of those days
facing your challenge."
keep your spirits up (see also: keep your spirits high)
2/ "I've been feeling quite mentally stressed. What should I
do to keep up my spirits?"
see also: catch up with somebody/something
(v) keep somebody up: prevent someone from sleeping
3/ I hope I'm not keeping you up.
3/ "If I consume it late, coffee keeps me up all night."
3/ He keeps yawning - I hope we're not keeping him up.
3/ Please stop shouting! You'll keep up your mother, and she has
an early day tomorrow.
3/ Thinking about all the problems in the world keeps me up at night sometimes.
see also: fall asleep, be/feel sleepy, be/feel drowsy
(v) keep up with something: be able to understand or deal with
something that is happening or changing very fast
4/ I can't keep up with all the changes.
4/ I can't be bothered to keep up with electronic devices.
4/ Technology changes so fast, it's hard to keep up with it.
4/ I read the papers to keep up with what's happening in the outside world.
4/ The medical profession is quite slow to keep up with modern technology.
see also: catch up with something
(v) [usual meaning] keep something up
5/ "Keep your hands up if you love soccer!"
5/ Do you think these pushpins will be strong enough to
keep up the posterboard?
5/ Hopefully these braces will keep the structure up until we can
come up with a more permanent solution.
5/ "I keep my camera up during the in-between moments because
I know that's where the magic happens."
see also: keep something high, hold something high(/up)
fall behind v //
leave behind somebody/something: go more slowly than other people
so that they gradually move further ahead of you
1/ His mother was chatting and didn’t notice that he had fallen behind.
2/ She hurt her ankle and had fallen behind the others.
v(i,t) become less successful than other people, companies, countries, an so on
3/ Companies that failed to modernize fell behind quite dramatically.
4/ Poor children fall behind classmates after two years of school.
5/ Students in Bolton from disadvantaged backgrounds have fallen further
behind their classmates during the pandemic.
6/ After her time in hospital, Jenny’s parents are afraid she has fallen
behind educationally.
7/ Companies that are not market-driven risk falling behind the competition.
v(i,t) fail to finish a piece of work or pay somebody money
that you owe them at the right time
8/ He fell behind in his work.
fall behind schedule
9/ The project has fallen behind schedule.
10/ If we fall behind schedule we may lose the contract.
fall behind with(/on) something
11/ He's fallen behind with his school work again.
12/ They had fallen behind on their mortgage repayments.
13/ He was ill for six weeks and fell behind with his schoolwork.
14/ We started to fall behind with our mortgage payments
when my husband lost his job.
fall behind by a period of time
15/ Severe weather conditions caused the construction project
to fall behind by over three months.
get ahead v //
be successful and do better than other people in a job or work
1/ It's tough for a woman to get ahead in politics.
2/ You’ve got to take risks if you want to get ahead.
3/ If you are willing to work hard, you will get ahead in this organisation.
4/ She soon found that it wasn’t easy to get ahead in the movie business.
get ahead of someone
5/ You're trying to get ahead of your competitors,
6/ "Get Ahead of Your Competitors with Market Research."
get ahead of the game
7/ Our industries have to keep ahead of the game in Europe.
8/ My term paper isn't due until next week, but I want to get ahead of the game
and finish it tonight.
9/ It's hard to get ahead of the game in network security when the landscape of
cyber threats is constantly changing.
synonym: stay ahead, keep ahead
see also: get ahead of yourself, have an edge on someone/something
give way to something v //
be replaced by something
1/ My excitement gave way to fear when I drove a car for the first time.
2/ In some areas, modern intensive farming is giving way to the
re-introduction of traditional methods.
3/ First he had been numb. Then the numbness gave way to anger.
4/ The last houses give way to soybean fields.
a give way sign: a yield sign
5/ Other vehicle drivers should give way to a bus displaying the give way
sign in a built up area,
6/ Try to give way to trams, particularly at junctions.
7/ In Australia, drivers must give way to other drivers on their right side
after coming to a stop.
name of n(c) //
the name of something
1/ What’s the name of the street?
2/ The name of the company has changed.
by the name of something: called
3/ He married a young lady by the name of Sarah Hunt.
4/ I need to talk to a professor by the name of Bin Said.
under the name of something: using a name that is not your real name
5/ HH Munro wrote under the name Saki.
6/ JK Rowling wrote 'The Cuckoo’s Calling' under the name of Robert Galbraith.
see also: alias, pen name, nom de plume
good name: the good opinion that people have of someone or something
7/ He didn’t want to do anything to damage the good name of the company.
8/ It threatened to damage the good name of the firm.
see also: reputation
in the name of something
9/ Cruel experiments on animals were carried out in the name of science.
10/ They do so all in the name of freedom.
11/ "I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you:
in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene — walk!"
name for n(c) //
the name for something
1/ Edo was the ancient name for Tokyo.
2/ Cathay /kæ'θeɪ/ is a historical name for China that was used in Europe.
a name for (doing) something: a reputation for (doing) something
3/ The company has a name for reliability.
4/ The restaurant got a bad name for slow service.
make a name for yourself: become famous for something
5/ He's made a name for himself as a talented journalist.
6/ He quickly made a name for himself in the Parisian art world.
in your name adj //
(in somebody's name) if something is in someone’s name, it officially belongs
to them or is for them to use
1/ The house is in my husband’s name.
2/ I’ve booked a table in the name of Steinmann.
3/ "You have a loan in your name."
on behalf of somebody
4/ I claim this land in the name of the King!
5/ He began to question what had been done in his name.
6/ If a scammer takes out a loan in your name and never pays it off,
you could have late payment penalties recorded on your credit score.
leave behind v //
leave a place without taking somebody or something with you
1/ We left in a hurry and I must have left my keys behind.
2/ The flood victims were forced to leave behind family photos and mementos.
3/ We left him behind to continue to help out.
4/ He died and left behind a wife and six-year-old twin boys.
5/ He was forced to leave the country, leaving behind his wife and children.
6/ They'd been forced to leave behind their businesses and possessions.
leave your childhood behind
7/ She knew that she had left childhood behind.
8/ "When friends started moving away to pursue their own dreams,
that's when I knew that I have left my childhood behind."
leave your past behind
9/ "It is hard to leave my past behind."
10/ "As this year ends, leave behind your past and move on."
cause a situation to exist after you have left a place
11/ "South side couple says contractor took their money and left rubble behind."
12/ "Wide scale floods have terrified many and have left ruins behind
in towns that need to be cleaned up before recovery efforts can begin."
13/ "The bombers left a ruined city behind."
14/ "The attack left behind a 3.5 cm wound on Leung's neck."
get behind v //
get behind (with/on something):
fail to do as much work or pay as much money as you should by a particular time
1/ You can always catch up later if you get behind.
2/ I'm getting behind with my work.
3/ He got behind with the payments for his car.
4/ She got behind with her mortgage and the house was repossessed.
5/ The agency had gotten behind with its work and needed outside help.
6/ The two got behind on bills, and negotiations with lenders led nowhere.
7/ During the pandemic, many people got behind on their rent.
synonym: fall behind (with/on something)
support somebody/something
8/ The crowd really got behind the team and cheered them on.
9/ If every member of the top management team doesn't get behind
this project, it's never going to work.