My Vocabulary Page
considerate adj //
always thinking of other people’s wishes and feelings;
careful not to hurt or upset others
1/ Try to be a bit more considerate.
2/ Louis was a kind, caring and considerate young man.
be considerate towards somebody
3/ She is always polite and considerate towards her employees.
4/ How often are we considerate towards others?
5/ Draw a picture of how you feel when you are considerate to others.
It is considerate of somebody to do something
6/ It was very considerate of him to wait.
7/ It wasn't very considerate of you to drink all the milk.
be considerate about
8/ It is important that you are considerate about the way that
she views the world.
9/ You are considerate about the satisfaction and safety of your customers.
10/ Everybody likes it when we are considerate about their feelings.
synonym: thoughtful, caring
antonym: inconsiderate, selfish
patient adj //
having patience
1/ Dinner will be ready in half an hour - just be patient!
2/ You'll just have to be patient and wait till I'm finished.
be patient with somebody
3/ Be patient with her - she's very young.
4/ She's very patient with young children.
It is patient of you to do something
5/ Also, it is very patient of you to offer to teach him Altai.
6/ It is very patient of you to come back here for me.
antonym: impatient
see also: gentle, forgiving, tolerant, understanding, reckless, rash, impulsive
patient n(c) //
(person) a patient
1/ a patient with heart disease
2/ I'm a patient of Dr Stephens; please could I make an appointment to see her?
3/ Hospitals are treating more patients than ever before.
4/ This doctor only takes private patients.
overload v(t) //
put too many things in or on something
1/ Don't overload the washing machine, or it won't get the clothes clean.
2/ Many companies limit personal downloads so that they don't
overload the computer system.
3/ His desk is overloaded with papers and books.
4/ The company had overloaded the truck, which was illegal.
v(t) give somebody more work or problems than they can deal with
5/ Try not to overload yourself with work.
6/ We are doing our best in a highly competitive environment
with an overloaded staff.
put too much electricity through an electrical system
7/ Avoid overloading outlets and extension cords.
overload n(c,u) //
the fact that something or somebody is overloaded
1/ People today suffer from information overload.
2/ There was an overload on the electrical circuit and the fuse blew.
an overload of something
3/ There is an overload of factors that confront consumers
in the marketplace.
4/ "Get ready for an overload of cuteness!"
5/ "Pass out from an overload of cuteness"
(see also: "Pass out from cuteness overload")
take after somebody v //
look or behave like an older member of your family, esp your mother or father
1/ Your daughter doesn't take after you at all.
2/ Most of my children take after my hushand.
3/ He takes after his mother.
4/ He takes after his mother's side of the family.
see also: resemble
resemble v(t) //
look like or be like somebody/something
resemble somebody
1.1/ You resemble your mother very closely.
1.2/ Several of the women resemble one another closely enough to be sisters.
resemble something
1.3/ So many hotels resemble each other.
1.4/ The plant resembles grass in appearance.
1.5/ After an earthquake, the city resembled a battlefield.
1.6/ Harry's eyes resembled his mother's."
1.7/ "Your eyes resembled your mother's eyes."
1.8/ "She had a hairstyle that resembled that of her mother and late aunt."
n(c,u) resemblance /rɪ'zem.bləns/
2.1/ There is a clear resemblance between the two breeds of dogs.
2.2/ The resemblance between the two signatures was remarkable.
bear (a) resemblance to somebody/something
2.3/ The movie bears little resemblance to the original novel.
2.4/ "Shanghai may bear a resemblance to Hong Kong – but looks can be deceiving."
screwed adj //
in very bad trouble or difficulty
1/ If we don't get this finished on time, we're screwed.
(v) screw up something: make a mistake, or spoil something
2/ I totally screwed up the chemistry exam.
3/ Just don't screw up this time.
n(c) a screw-up
4/ There has been a screw-up with our hotel reservation.
5/ There was a screw-up with my plane ticket.
screwed up: unhappy and worried because of bad experiences
6/ He's been really screwed up since his wife died.
7/ It really screwed him up when he saw his friend get killed.
fit v(i,t) //
be the right size or shape for somebody/something
a piece of clothing fits you
1.1/ That jackets fit you perfectly.
1.2/ The dress fit you like a glove.
1.3/ I can't find clothes to fit me.
1.4/ "How come Cinderella’s slipper didn’t fit more than her feet,
among the numerous ladies that tried it?"
1.5/ I had to have the dress altered to fit my slimmer body.
fit somebody
1.6/ "How come my shoes don't fit me anymore?"
1.7/ "The backpack fits me quite comfortably and has great space
for a laptop and other essentials."
fit something
1.8/ "My body doesn't fit my clothes."
1.9/ I couldn't find a key which fitted the lock.
1.10/ The screws fit the holes exactly.
1.11/ She fitted the last piece into the jigsaw puzzle.
1.12/ "I know my comforter doesn't fit the bed,
but I'm emotionally attached to it."
1.13/ "I won't buy phone that doesn't fit my shirt pocket."
1.14/ "The lift and door fit a wheelchair for a disable person."
1.15/ "The bathroom door doesn’t fit a wheelchair."
1.16/ "My car can't fit a wheelchair." The driver then cancelled the trip.
fit + adj/prep
1.17/ The plastic cover fits neatly over the frame.
1.18/ Most cookers are designed to fit level with your worktops.
1.19/ "The strainer basket lays on top and fits level with my current sink."
be fitted for something
1.20/ I'm going to be fitted for my wedding dress today.
1.21/ I'm being fitted for a new suit tomorrow.
1.22/ "I will fit you for a glass eye."
see also: have a fitting for my wedding dress; a fitting room
v(i,t) if something fits into a place, there is enough space for it
2.1/ I'd like to have a desk in the room but it won't fit.
fit in/into somewhere
2.2/ My car's too big to fit in this space.
2.3/ All the kids will fit in the back of the car.
2.4/ The refrigerator won't fit in our kitchen.
2.5/ This device is small enough to fit in a pocket.
2.6/ She admitted to having lost 16 pounds in three weeks to fit in the dress.
2.7/ I don't think another desk will fit into the room.
2.8/ I can't fit into my jeans. I think I put on weight!
2.9/ My foot doesn't fit in the shoe straight - it is tilted.
fit somebody/something in(/into) somewhere
2.10/ We should be able to fit one more in.
2.11/ "How do you fit an elephant in a refrigerator?"
2.12/ I don't think we’ll be able to fit any more people into the car.
2.13/ "Here we will delve into some great hacks to help you to
fit everything into your small fridge."
fit through a door
2.14/ Our new sofa doesn't fit through the door.
2.15/ "I have to climb into the bathroom because my wheelchair
doesn't fit through the door."
see also: store, accommodate
v(t) put or fix something somewhere
3.1/ They fitted a smoke alarm to the ceiling.
3.2/ uPVC windows have been fitted throughout the house.
3.3/ All the carpets we sell are fitted free.
3.4/ We're having a new bathroom suite fitted at the weekend.
fit something with something
3.5/ The rooms were all fitted with smoke alarms.
3.6/ "Fit the living Room with a statement fireplace."
3.7/ "We fit the bedroom with a telescoping grab bar that
extends between the floor and ceiling."
3.8/ "I was finding it really hard to find a wardrobe to
fit my bedroom with a sloping ceiling."
v(i,t) put or join something in the right place
4.1/ The glass fits on top of the jug to form a lid.
4.2/ If the top of the box fits badly, the contents will spill out.
fit (something) together
4.3/ How do these two parts fit together?
4.4/ We fitted together the pieces of the puzzle.
4.5/ He was messing with his bike and then he couldn't fit
the parts back together.
fit somebody/something with something
4.6/ She's been fitted with an artificial leg.
4.7/ He may need to be fitted with a hearing aid.
4.8/ He was recently fitted with a brace for his bad back.
4.9/ "The team manager took him off to the optician and
had him fitted with glasses."
v(i,t) agree with, match or be suitable for something;
make something do this
5.1/ Let the punishment fit the crime.
5.2/ The facts certainly fit your theory.
5.3/ Most organizations do not fit this model.
5.4/ We tailor our programs to fit their needs.
5.5/ With her qualifications, she should fit the job perfectly.
5.6/ I'm sure we'll have something to fit your requirements.
5.7/ The job fits him well. (same as: "The job suits him well.")
fit the company culture
5.8/ I recognized I don't fit the company culture.
5.9/ "Employees who don't fit the company culture may not stick around."
fit into something
5.10/ His pictures don't fit into any category.
fit with something
5.11/ The rhythm should fit with the meaning of a poem.
5.12/ We select individuals who are most likely to fit with the firm's culture.
fit together
5.13/ The organization and the people must fit together.
(see also: "The organization and the people must suit each other.")
fit somebody/something to something
5.14/ We should fit the punishment to the crime.
5.15/ She was well fitted to the role of tragic heroine.
fit somebody/something for something
5.16/ His experience fitted him perfectly for the job.
fit somebody/something to do something
5.17/ His experience fitted him to do the job.
5.18/ Natural selection will see to it that animals are well fitted
to survive in their environment.
fit adj //
healthy and strong, esp as a result of exercise
keep fit
6.1/ I jog to keep fit.
6.2/ "Keep fit every day and keep a perfect figure."
be fit to do something
6.3/ "I am fit to run a marathon."
6.4/ "He feels fit to climb the Himalayas."
6.5/ You need to be very fit to hike the Inca Trail.
suitable for a particular purpose or activity
7.1/ Spend the money as you see fit.
7.2/ Just do whatever you think fit - I'm sure you'll make the right decision.
be fit for something
7.3/ "Ensure the chair is fit for your body shape and size,
and supportive of various comfortable postures."
7.4/ She's not fit for the level of responsibility she's been given.
7.5/ "A chair fit for the pope and made by a group of day laborers
has been unveiled at New York City's Madison Square Garden."
in no fit state to do something
7.6/ "I am in no fit state to face the world today."
7.7/ He's very upset and is in no fit state to drive.
fit n(singular) //
the right size or shape for somebody/something
8.1/ These shoes are a perfect fit.
8.2/ These shoes are a terrible fit.
8.3/ The trousers were a good fit but the jacket was too small.
8.4/ Check the fit of the pieces before gluing them in place.
8.5/ It was a tight fit with six of us in the boat.
n(c) the way that two things match each other or are suitable for each other
9.1/ The two banks are a perfect fit.
9.2/ This role is a good fit with my experience in Asia
a fit between A and B
9.3/ There must be a fit between the environment and the organization.
a fit for somebody/something
9.4/ A financial product must be a good fit for the client's particular
needs and aspirations.
9.5/ You need to show the employer why you would be a good fit for the job.
fit in v //
feel you belong to a particular group and are accepted by the other members
1.1/ She fit in well at school.
1.2/ It's no surprise she's leaving - she never really fitted in.
1.3/ Potential board members need to understand that they must fit in.
1.4/ Being the only father at the mothers-and-toddlers group,
he struggled to fit in at first.
fit in with somebody
1.5/ How do you think she will fit in with the rest of the staff?
1.6/ "My daughter doesn't seem to fit in with classmates."
1.7/ "I think guys will always fit in with other teammates and players
if they have an unselfish attitude."
fit in somewhere
1.8/ "Do you fit in in the team?"
1.9/ "The whole point of this interview was to get a feel for me as a person
and how I would fit in in the company as well as assess my aptitude for the role."
1.10/ "Why do we feel we don't really fit in in the society and the world around us?"
fit in with something: be similar to something or goes well with it
2.1/ This chair doesn’t fit in with our furniture.
2.2/ It's a very nice sofa but it doesn't fit in with the rest of the room.
2.3/ I don’t know quite how this new course will fit in.
2.4/ Do these plans fit in with your arrangements?
fit somebody/something in: find time to do or deal with something/somebody
3.1/ The doctor can fit you in at three o’clock.
3.2/ I'll try and fit you in after lunch.
3.3/ I had to fit ten appointments into one morning.
suit v(t) //
be right for a particular person, situation, or occasion
1.1/ The restaurant suits people who like simple food.
1.2/ The job of a salesman seems to suit him.
1.3/ The city lifestyle seems to suit her - she looks great.
v(t) (of a color or style of clothes) make someone look more attractive
2.1/ That sofa suits the room really well - the colors match the walls.
2.2/ Black doesn't suit me; I look better in lighter colors.
2.3/ That new hairstyle really suits you – you look terrific.
2.4/ Short skirts don't really suit me - I don't have the legs for them.
v(t) be convenient and cause the least difficulty for somebody
3.1/ What time suits you best?
3.2/ Wednesday at ten o'clock for the meeting suits me perfectly.
3.3/ "Speaking from my personal experience, early morning suits me
and I find it very productive and peaceful to kickstart my day."
remark: (bbc.co.uk/learningenglish) fit vs suit vs match
'match': two things are the same or very similar.
1/ "Your blue shirt matches your blue eyes."
2/ "Our cars match! They're both red hatchbacks!"
'fit': something is the correct size. This is a fact, not an opinion.
'suit': something looks good on someone. It's used to pay someone a compliment.
suit n(c) //
[set of clothes] a business suit
4.1/ He was wearing a pinstripe suit.
4.2/ She wore a dark blue suit.
4.3/ a two-piece suit (/a three-piece suit)
4.4/ They won't let men into the restaurant without a suit and tie.
4.5/ He is dressed in a formal black suit.
remark: a two-piece suit consists of a suit jacket and suit trousers.
A suit is usually worn with a collared dress shirt, a necktie, a belt and dress shoes.
A skirt suit replaces trousers with a skirt.
A three-piece suit consists of a suit jacket, trousers and a vest.
n(c) a set of clothing worn for a particular activity
a diving suit
5.1/ "Why do deep-sea divers wear a diving suit?"
a suit of armour
5.2/ "The knight wears a suit of armour that provides some protection
from physical attacks."
a protective suit
5.3/ "Mandatory to wear a protective suit"
5.4/ His parents had bought him a new suit of clothes for the occasion.
[-suit] a swimsuit, a spacesuit
5.6/ "Why do astronauts wear spacesuits on the moon?"
5.5/ "A model wears a revealing swimsuit while filming a volleyball commerical."
n(c) a lawsuit
6.1/ He filed a $12 million libel suit against the newspaper,
claiming his reputation had been damaged.
6.2/ They agreed to pay $100,000 to settle the lawsuit.
n(c) [playing cards]
7.1/ The four suits in a pack of cards are hearts, spades, clubs and diamonds.
7.2/ "You must follow suit if you can, but may play any card if you can't."
(idiom) follow suit: do the same thing
7.3/ "All it takes is one municipality to take the lead,
and then everybody follows suit."
7.4/ When one airline reduces its ticket prices, the rest usually follow suit.
7.5/ "During 1977-1982 era, as discussed earlier, ground effect was
championed by Lotus and many other F1 teams followed suit."
befit v(t) //
be suitable or right for somebody/something
1/ She was buried in the cathedral, as befits someone of her position.
2/ As befits its rural mountain setting, the nine-room inn serves up
a huge country breakfast.
(adj) befitting
3/ They were greeted with befitting courtesy.
4/ A land area of more than 140 million people deserves a befitting
transport network.
5/ The museum's silver jubilee was celebrated in a befitting manner.
6/ "As a father acts for the benefit of his son, so it is befitting
for you to take action for me."
see also: suitable, appropriate
knowledgeable adj //
knowing a lot
1/ "A knowledgeable scholar may be able to answer many or most of our questions,
but a specialist can really go to the core."
2/ It is knowledgeable and skilled people that provide businesses with
a competitive advantage.
be knowledgeable about something
3/ He's very knowledgeable about German literature.
4/ She is very knowledgeable about plants.
5/ I manage the shop but because I am knowledgeable about making coffee,
be knowledgeable in something
6/ I am knowledgeable in C, C++ and Java.
7/ I am knowledgeable in many areas, but when someone asks my opinion on
these subjects I freeze up and my mind goes blank.
8/ I am knowledgeable in finding the best deals.
synonym: be versed in something
knowledge n(u,singular) //
the information, understanding and skills that you gain through education or experience
1/ It will be an opportunity to gain knowledge and experience.
2/ The details of the scandal are now common knowledge.
3/ People working in stores need better product knowledge.
(a) knowledge of something
4/ He has a limited knowledge of French
5/ Her knowledge of English grammar is very extensive.
6/ She has acquired a detailed knowledge of the subject.
7/ He had no prior knowledge of the language before visiting the country.
8/ He has a wide knowledge of painting and music.
9/ They enjoy sharing their knowledge of the business.
10/ They hold a surprisingly sophisticated knowledge of physics.
11/ But those with a deep knowledge of women's football history wouldn't
have been surprised.
12/ Despite its importance, many people in Ethiopia lack comprehensive
knowledge of HIV.
knowledge about something
13/ There is a lack of knowledge about the tax system.
14/ "Both boys and girls showed a good level of knowledge about
HIV infection and AIDS."
to my knowledge: judging from my personal experience and information
15/ She never, to my knowledge, considered resigning.
16/ To my knowledge, not one call was made to verify anything
in my application for the job.
n(u) the state of knowing about or being familiar with something
17/ They both deny all knowledge of the affair.
18/ It has come(/been brought) to our knowledge that several computers
have gone missing.
in the knowledge that ...
19/ I was happy in the knowledge that I had done my best.
20/ I went to sleep secure in the knowledge that I was not alone in the house.
21/ They could relax safe in the knowledge that they had the funding
for the project.
22/ Their delight in the win was tempered by the knowledge that
the competition would only get fiercer.
(before noun) information, considered as a resource to be used and supplied
in industry, rather than producing goods
23/ a shift toward a knowledge economy
24/ Knowledge workers are driving our economy today.
25/ The successful candidate will have experience in data and knowledge management.
responsibility n(c,u) //
(duty) something that it is your job or duty to deal with
It's my responsibilty to do something
1.1/ It's your responsibility to finish your homework on time.
1.2/ It's her responsibility to ensure the project finishes on time.
take responsibilty to do something
1.3/ "I take responsibility to score more."
1.4/ "I'm not guilty of previous generations' missteps,
but I take responsibility to make amends for future generations."
take(/have) responsibility for something/doing something
1.5/ They have responsibility for ensuring the rules are enforced.
1.6/ "I thought the custom was that customers attend a cafe and the staff have
the responsibility for keeping it clean and attractive!"
1.7/ "Brands and big companies should take responsibility for improving the world."
take(/assume) responsibility for somebody
1.8/ "Take responsibility for yourself(/your life)."
1.9/ Parent must assume responsibility for their children.
take responsibilities as somebody
1.10/ The father takes responsibilities as a mother.
1.11/ She takes her responsibilities as a nurse very seriously.
accept a responsiblity, take on a responsibility
1.12/ "Successful single parents accept the responsibilities and challenges
of single parenting."
1.13/ "When you take on a responsibility to teach, you also take on
a responsibility to set an example."
undertake a responsibility
1.14/ "We are seeking experienced Dairy Cattle Farm Operators to undertake
responsibilities associated with the daily operations of the farm and
management of the livestock."
face up to a responsibility
1.15/ "I acknowledge that I am not strong enough to face up to
my responsibility at this moment."
1.16/ "Until you face up to a responsibility you will let people down."
carry out a responsibility
1.17/ Regular training can help you better carry out your responsibilities diligently.
discharge a responsibility
1.18/ "I will discharge my responsibility with utmost dedication."
1.19/ "I undertake to be the Supervisor of the candidate and to discharge
my responsibilities as specified in the APC Rules and Guide."
fulfill a responsibility
1.20/ Success in life requires that you fulfill your responsibilities.
1.21/ How can you fulfill your responsibility as a father?
deny a responsibility
1.22/ I don't deny my responsibilities towards my family,
but take care of everyone carefully.
shrug off (a) responsibility
1.23/ "I wanted an independent wife‚ but that doesn't mean‚
as the man of the household‚ I wanted to shrug off my responsibilities."
1.24/ "Rather than hold oneself truly accountable, many people use deflection
to shrug off responsibility and pin poor performance a on someone else."
(other examples)
1.25/ "A single mother usually bear all the day-to-day responsibilities
in raising her children."
1.26/ "Carry on with the responsibilities of a single mother with a positive outlook
without letting your past weigh you down."
1.27/ "Seven ways to ease the responsibility of single parenthood"
n(u) have responsibility for something/doing something:
be in a position of authority over someone and to have a duty
to make certain that particular things are done
2.1/ Who has responsibility here?
2.2/ The class monitor has responsibility for collecting up
the books after class.
2.3/ "The local council had responsibility for collecting taxes
from households and businesses."
remark: the meaning of 'responsibility' here refers to somebody in authority
or somebody who possesses the authority to do something.
see also: be in charge of something
n(singular) have a responsibility to somebody
3.1/ "A government has a responsibility to its citizens to ensure their safety."
3.2/ "The government has a responsibility to collect, maintain, and disseminate
information to the public."
3.3/ We have a special responsibility towards our employees.
see also: be accountable to somebody
n(u) blame for something that has happened
4.1/ The oil company has denied responsibility for the leak.
4.2/ The manager took full responsibility for the disaster.
n(c,u) a moral duty to do something or to help or take care of somebody
because of your job, position, etc
5.1/ She feels a strong sense of responsibility towards her employees.
5.2/ We want to instil a sense of personal responsibility in children.
5.3/ The media has abdicated its responsibility to report the facts.
5.4/ I think we have a moral responsibility to help these countries.
5.5/ The job carries a lot of responsibility.
do something on your own responsibility: act without being told to
by someone in authority
6.1/ "You will decide on your own responsibility which lectures you will attend."
responsible adj //
(duty) be responsible for somebody/something/doing something
1/ I'd like to talk to whoever is responsible here.
2/ Mike is responsible for designing the entire project.
3/ Even where parents no longer live together, they each continue to be
responsible for their children.
4/ The management team is directly responsible for the day-to-day
operations of the company.
5/ Her department is responsible for overseeing the councils.
be responsible to somebody/something: be accountable to somebody/something
6/ The Council of Ministers is responsible to the Assembly.
being able to be blamed for something
7/ Who is responsible for this terrible mess?
8/ You mustn't feel responsible in any way.
9/ Everything will be done to bring those responsible to justice.
be responsible for your actions
10/ He is mentally ill and cannot be held responsible for his actions.
11/ The defendant was depressed and therefore not fully responsible
for her own actions.
be responsible for something: being the cause of something
12/ Last month's bad weather was responsible for the crop failure.
13/ Hormonal changes may be partly responsible for these mood swings.
14/ Cigarette smoking is responsible for about 90 per cent of deaths
from lung cancer.
15/ Man-made carbon dioxide is directly responsible for global warming.
(good judgement) a responsible person
16/ The child should be accompanied by a parent or other responsible adult.
17/ We need to teach our children to act as responsible citizens.
18/ They are not very responsible with money.
19/ a hard-working and responsible employee
20/ Many big companies are now becoming more responsible about
the way they operate.
21/ "Conduct yourself in a responsible manner at all times in the laboratory."
antonym: irresponsible
quell v(t) //
(put down) stop something such as violent behaviour or protests
1/ Police used live ammunition to quell the disturbances.
2/ Extra police were called in to quell the disturbances.
3/ Nepal needs to quell the mess.
4/ "Federal troops were sent to the region on Monday to quell the violence,
but the situation remains tense and shows no sign of improving."
5/ "Senior Constable Allen David Price, died of cardiac arrest attempting
to quell a street fight in Mataranka in 1981."
reduce or stop unpleasant feelings such as fear, doubt, or worry
6/ "How to quell your fears about relocating"
7/ Quell your friend's wrath with gentleness.
8/ "Trying to quell your girlfriend's insecurity by isolating yourself won't
make her less jealous because jealousy and insecurity are insatiable."
intelligent adj //
showing intelligence, or able to learn and understand things easily
1/ a highly intelligent woman
2/ He is a highly intelligent person who can think outside the box.
3/ Helen had a few intelligent things to say on the subject.
4/ a search for intelligent life on other planets
5/ Elephants are intelligent creatures and enjoy interacting with humans.
6/ "An intelligent masterpiece made by the hands of genius film maker
David Mamet."
have an intelligent conversation/ discussion/ debate
7/ She would like a partner with whom she can have an intelligent conversation.
It is intelligent of you to do something
8/ It is intelligent of you to answer this question.
see also: smart, clever, ingenious, brilliant, skilful
phobia n(c,u) //
a strong unreasonable fear of something
have a phobia (of/about something)
1.1/ He has a phobia about flying.
1.2/ He has a phobia of snakes.
1.3/ Owen has a phobia about snakes.
1.4/ She refused the injection because she had a phobia about needles.
1.5/ "She does have a bit of a phobia about heights, as she discovered when
faced with having to climb down from a pyramid in Teotihuacan, Mexico."
a phobia of/about something
1.6/ "Why is there this phobia about women doing so-called men's jobs?"
1.7/ "An example is a child having a parent with a phobia of insects who
later develops a fear of insects as well."
-phobia
1.8/ I have a severe needle phobia.
1.9/ One of the symptoms of the disease is water phobia.
1.10/ I think I've got supermarket-phobia. I just don't want to go there any more.
1.11/ "There are multiple reasons a teenager could have a fear of teachers,
also known as teacher phobia."
cure/overcome a phobia
1.12/ "Any tips to cure my phobia of spiders?
1.13/ "Can hypnotherapy cure my phobia of engine sounds?"
1.14/ Hypnotherapy is often used to overcome phobias.
a phobia develops, develop a phobia
1.15/ "A phobia develops when the mind has learnt to associate a certain
situation or object with the fight or flight fear response."
1.16/ "You might have read about a deadly plane crash and
developed a phobia of flying."
1.17/ "Around 20% of people involved in traumatic car accidents acquired
a phobia of travelling in cars especially at speed."
Types of Phobias
school phobia: scolionophobia
2.1/ Some children suffer from school phobia.
social phobia: social anxiety disorder
2.2/ For someone with social phobia, a conversation with a neighbour
can cause a paralyzing sense of dread.
crowded public place phobia: agoraphobia /''ægərə'fəʊbiə/
2.3/ People who suffer from agoraphobia may panic when they're in public places.
2.4/ She had agoraphobia and never wanted to go out of the house.
height phobia: acrophobia /''ækrə'fəʊbiə/
2.6/ Many people with height phobia think something bad will
happen when they are up high.
water phobia: aquaphobia /''a:.kwə'fəʊ.bi.ə/
2.7/ One of the symptoms of the disease is water phobia.
confined space phobia: claustrophobia /''klɒsdrə'fəʊbiə/
2.8/ "Claustrophobia is the irrational fear of confined spaces."
hole phobia: trypophobia
2.9/ "The bride has a hole phobia."
spider phobia: arachnophobia
2.10/ "If someone has a spider phobia, they might do everything they can
to avoid spiders and it can even start to consume their life."
insect phobia: entomophobia
2.11/ People with entomophobia have a fear of insects.
snake phobia: ophidiophobia
2.12/ "People with snake phobia may panic excessively and exhibit
some physical symptoms when exposed to the thought of a snake,
the word snake or any snake-related situation."
xenophobia n(u) //
a strong feeling of dislike or fear of people from other countries
1/ a campaign against racism and xenophobia
2/ 'La Red de Jóvenes sin Fronteras' was set up to combat the spread of
xenophobia among the country's youth."
(adj) xenophobic /''zenə'fəʊbɪk/
3/ There have been outbursts of xenophobic violence.
4/ The attacks have been described by police as racist and xenophobic.
5/ "Xenophobic attitude towards marginalized population"
be xenophobic to somebody
6/ "Singaporeans should not be xenophobic to foreigners."
see also: be hostile to somebody
discriminate v(i) //
treat one person or group worse/better than another in an unfair way
discriminate against somebody
1/ "Property law often discriminates against women in that only male
children are able to inherit the family land."
2/ She felt she had been discriminated against because of her age.
3/ "Does the Chinese patent office discriminate against foreigners?"
4/ Some local residents may discriminate against immigrants.
discriminate in favor of somebody
5/ "Female teachers are more likely to discriminate in favor of female students."
6/ "The application of the law discriminates in favor of the rich and mobile
and against the poor."
discriminate on the basis/grounds of something
7/ It is illegal to discriminate on the grounds of race, gender or religion.
8/ Make it illegal for employers to discriminate on the basis of appearance.
9/ "There are no federal laws on the books that make it illegal to discriminate
on the basis of body weight, so on the whole it remains legal."
be discriminated (against) by
10/ Middle-aged and new immigrants are discriminated by employers.
11/ People should not be discriminated by having a dog.
v(i,t) be able to recognize the difference between people or things
discriminate something
12/ When do babies learn to discriminate voices?
13/ "We explore on the use of DNA barcoding to discriminate fishes from
Antarctic Peninsula by compiling our results."
discriminate between A and B
14/ The computer program was unable to discriminate between
letters and numbers.
15/ We need to discriminate between stopgap methods and long-term solutions.
discriminate A from B
16/ Can malt whisky be discriminated from blended whisky?
17/ A number of features discriminate this species from others.
18/ He is old enough to discriminate right from wrong.
see also: differentiate, distinguish
zip n(c) //
(US) zipper
1/ I can't open my bag - the zip has stuck.
2/ Fix a zipper that comes off one side of the track.
3/ Fix a zipper that doesn't close.
4/ Fix a broken zipper on a handbag.
do up a zip, close a zip
5/ Ever struggled to do your zip up or close buttons on your top?
6/ "Trying to forcibly close the zipper of an overfilled bag will cause element
and tape breakage due to the excess load on the elements."
undo a zip, open a zip
7/ "Just as Charlotte knelt to undo his zipper, their daughter Lily
burst into the bathroom."
8/ How do you open a zipper that is stuck on the bottom stop?
a zipper is undone/down
9/ "Realising your zip is undone and quickly pulling it up"
10/ What if people will notice my zip is undone.
11/ I'm so lucky that I don't have any friends to notice my zip is down
now that I realize.
zip v(i,t) //
fasten something with a zip
1/ This bag's too full, I can't zip it shut.
2/ This dress zips up at the back.
3/ Zip your coat up, it's cold outside.
4/ I forget to zip my fly. (= I forget to zip my pants)
v(i,t) unzip
4/ Her skirt unzipped as she sat down.
5/ "Should I unzip my backpack before washing?"
button n(c) //
(clothing)
1/ The jacket is navy with gold buttons.
2/ I had to sew a new button onto my trousers.
3/ Why do jeans have snap buttons just above their pockets?
do up a button, fasten a button, close a button
4/ I did up the buttons on my blouse.
5/ "Fasten the button on the sleeve and the button on the front to the top,
and the neck and wrist will tighten tightly for a neat impression."
6/ "You shouldn't close the lowest button of your suit jacket,
but keep them open instead."
undo a button, unfasten a button, open a button
7/ I undid the buttons on my shirt.
8/ He unfastened his top button.
9/ I can't seem to open the button on my pants pocket.
10/ "I keep being told by people that my button is undone."
n(c) (on machine)
11/ He inserted the disk and pressed the 'play' button.
12/ Press the green button to start the machine and the red button to stop it.
13/ "Sometimes we need to push the button hard and harder to keep things going."
14/ Click the button on the screen as fast as you can,
15/ Click the save button to save your data.
16/ Always re-read your email messages carefully before you hit the send button.
button v(t) //
fasten something, usually a piece of clothing, using buttons
1/ Button up your coat, it's cold outside.
2/ "Me after quarantine when i won't be able to button up my pants"
3/ He struggled to button his shirt up.
4/ "Do I button my shirt from the top-down or bottom-up?"
v(t) unbotton
5/ He unbuttoned his jacket and sat back comfortably in his chair.
6/ He took off his tie and unbuttoned his collar.
shoelace n(c) //
same as: lace, (US) shoestring
1/ a pair of shoelaces
2/ Your laces are undone.
3/ My shoelaces came undone(/untied).
4/ "I took a fluorescent shoelace, looped it through a roll of toilet paper
and hung it on the bathroom knob."
do up your sholaces, tie (up) your sholaces
5/ Tie(/Untie) your shoelaces.
6/ Tie up your shoelaces, Rosie!
7/ Please do your laces up.
undo your sholaces, untie your sholaces
8/ When you undo your shoelaces, how often do they knot?
tie your shoes, do your shoes up
9/ "How to tie your shoes with a standard knot"
10/ There are several ways to tie a shoelace knot, all starting with a half hitch.
11/ Do your shoes up before you trip over.
do up v //
do up something: fasten something or become fastened
1/ Can you help me to do up my dress?
2/ These trousers must have shrunk - I can't do them up.
3/ These trousers won't do up.
v(t) undo: unfasten something that is fastened or tied
4/ Can someone help me to undo my seat belt?
5/ "Yes my trousers are undone, no need to shame me even more."
6/ "Can you undo my dress for me? I can't reach the button behind me."
see also: tie/untie, fasten/unfasten, snap up
buckle v(i,t) //
fasten something or be fastened with a buckle
1/ She buckled her belt.
2/ These shoes buckle at the side.
3/ "Tighten your tie, buckle your briefcase and puff up your shoulder pads!"
buckle up/on something
4/ Buckle up my seat belt.
5/ I can't even buckle up my bra!
6/ "Time to buckle up my shoes and hit the dash with it."
7/ "Karma put me on his horse without ado, buckled on my backpack
and started walking."
8/ "Now buckle up the parachute harness across your chest over the Mae Wes
and clip on reserve chute to chest harness over Mae West."
(remark: a Mae West is an inflatable life jacket)
v(t) unbuckle
8/ I unbuckle my belt and pants as soon as i get in the car.
9/ "Nordic-powered car seat safety solution alerts parents when child
is unbuckled or unattended."
(adj) buckled
10/ a tightly buckled belt
11/ He wore old-fashioned buckled shoes.
12/ She was wearing buckled boots.
v(i,t) bend something or become bent, often as a result of force/ heat/ weakness
13/ I felt faint and my knees began to buckle.
14/ Both wheels on the bicycle had been badly buckled.
15/ The crash buckled the front of my car.
16/ The intense heat from the fire had caused the factory roof to buckle.
buckle under something
17/ The steel frames began to buckle under the strain.
18/ "A gas plant buckled under heat this week in CA, driving blackouts,
while renewables delivered."
(adj) buckled
19/ The front of the car was badly buckled.
20/ A buckled gate hung from its hinges.
buckle under something: be defeated by a difficult situation
21/ A weaker man would have buckled under the pressure.
22/ "He has always had political courage, and he does not buckle under fire."
buckle n(c) //
n(c) a fastener for a belt 帶扣
1/ shoes with silver buckles
2/ I wanted to save some cash and use these as replacement buckles
on my backpack.
3/ "I unsnapped the front buckle on my bra, releasing my big girls
with my free hand."
4/ "Buckles are more than just a way to strap your shoes onto your feet.
Often, the buckles on shoes are as much about fashion as function."
do up a buckle, close a buckle
5/ I do up my buckle and I look at Jake who is grinning from ear to ear.
6/ Could you please do up my buckle, Otis?
7/ It is a effort to place the strap every time you close your buckle.
undo a buckle, open a buckle
8/ "I can open my buckle very easily by tugging on both sides with very
little force, without pushing the buckle release."
9/ I'll undo your buckle baby, If you don't mind.
buckle up v //
(buckle up your seatbelt) fasten your seat belt
1/ Get in the car and buckle up.
2/ Don't forget, buckle up before you start driving.
3/ "The reason you have to buckle up when landing is because the forces
on the plane during landing can be much greater than."
replenish v(t) //
(refill) fill something up again
1/ Replenish food and water supplies.
2/ Food stocks were replenished by(/with) imports from abroad.
3/ Does your glass need replenishing?
4/ Allow me to replenish your glass.
replenish stock(s)
5/ "Roles include sales assistants and night staff to replenish stock."
6/ "It was able to replenish stock quickly by buying closer to home."
7/ "The roles available are mainly customer service positions - working on
the sales floor replenishing stock and serving customers at the till."
8/ "Select a distribution point for which you want to replenish the stock."
9/ "They will use the ten-year hiatus /haɪ'eɪtəs/ to replenish
stocks, hoping to produce two to three generations of fish to alleviate
the current shortage."
10/ "Healthy companies are hoarding cash, sitting on their hands,
too worried about economic prospects to risk investing it in productive
capacity or even just replenishing stocks."
11/ "Three hundred thousand tons of cereals are needed to replenish stocks."
see also: refill, top up
stock n(c,u) //
a supply of goods that is available for sale in a shop
1.1/ We have a fast turnover of stock.
1.2/ It is important to carry out regular stock checks.
1.3/ This shop sells its old stock at very low prices.
1.4/ We'll be getting our new stock in on Friday.
1.5/ The company won’t let you return unsold stock.
n(c) a stock of something
1.6/ The local shop has a good stock of postcards and guidebooks.
1.7/ We don't carry a large stock of pine furniture.
1.8/ The shop carries a large stock of gift-wrapping paper around Christmas.
n(u) in stock
1.9/ New Video has 4000 titles in stock.
1.10/ The new edition is in stock in major bookshops.
1.11/ That particular model is not currently in stock.
n(u) out of stock
1.12/ That CD is currently out of stock.
1.13/ I am afraid we're temporarily out of stock.
1.14/ The new edition is out of stock in major bookshops.
take stock of something (see also: take inventory)
1.15/ "I take stock of the boxes and items."
1.16/ "You want to take stock of items that are traceable or serialized."
1.17/ "Once you've donated the unwanted items, take stock of the remaining items."
1.18/ "We are able to immediately take stock of the garments
currently in circulation."
see also: replenish stock(s)
n(c,u) a supply of something that is available for use
2.1/ Food stocks are running low.
2.2/ It is now halfway through winter and food stocks are already low.
2.3/ declining fish stocks in the oceans
2.4/ New regulations should preserve stocks of haddock and other fish.
2.5/ Much of the city's housing stock is over 100 years old.
2.6/ She's built up a good stock of teaching materials over the years.
see also: supply
n(plural) livestock
3.1/ "It was considered that dairy cattle, farm horses, and breeding stock
should have priority."
3.2/ "When the caretaker of the poultry counted the heads of the stock
in the farm, the number totalled up to 200."
3.3/ "Today, most breeding stock are selected and marketed using the
net merit dollars (NM$) selection index."
n(plural) livestock /'laɪv.stɒk/
3.4/ "Livestock are important assets for vulnerable communities."
3.5/ "He used to herd the livestock for 15 days and then travel to
the soum centre to be with his wife and children for 15 days before
returning to herding."
stock v(t) //
if a shop or factory stocks something, it keeps a supply of it
4.1/ Do you stock green tea?
4.2/ We stock a wide range of camping equipment.
4.3/ Most supermarkets stock a wide range of wines.
v(t) stock something with food/goods: fill something with food or goods
5.1/ a well-stocked library
5.2/ gift shops stocked with cheap souvenirs
5.3/ He has a part-time job stocking shelves in the local supermarket.
5.4/ The pond was well stocked with fish.
stock something up: fill something with goods/food/etc
5.5/ We need to stock up the freezer.
5.6/ I always stock up the fridge before my sister comes to stay.
stock up (on something): buy a lot of something so that you can use it later
6.1/ We ought to stock up on sun cream before our trip.
6.2/ "If you stock up on cans of tuna, sardines and salmon but do not normally
eat fish, you are wasting your money."
6.3/ "Always stock up on luncheon meat for your breakfast, lunch and dinner!"
store n(c) //
a large shop that sells many different types of goods
1/ a furniture store
2/ a hardware store
3/ "Located in the vibrant heart of Causeway Bay, Japanese-owned SOGO is
the largest department store in Hong Kong and has been around since 1985."
4/ "Established in 2004, Selffix is of the leading DIY hardware stores
in Singapore with 11 outlets islandwide."
5/ (UK) "Sainsbury's may be one of the biggest stores in UK but it does not
have any stores internationally."
(US) any type of shops
example: a clothing store, a convenience store, a liquor store
6/ a variety store
7/ an online store
8/ Best organic food stores in India
9/ After the grocery store I took a left.
10/ The store is open for late night shopping on Wednesdays.
11/ The company's flagship store is in New York.
12/ "Dollar General Corporation is a United States chain of variety stores
headquartered in Goodlettsville, Tennessee. As of January 2015,
Dollar General operated over 11,500 stores in 40 U.S. states."
n(c) chain store: a shop that is one of a series of similar shops owned
by the same company
13/ These small towns are dominated by chain stores.
14/ Best Mart 360 is a chain store in Hong Kong that sells snacks.
15/ "PARKnSHOP and Wellcome were the two largest supermarket chain stores
in Hong Kong." (see also: a supermarket chain)
16/ "Large chain stores are widespread throughout the United States that
wholesale stock of various types of merchandise."
n(c) an amount of something that is being kept for future use
17/ a vast store of knowledge
18/ He has an impressively large store of wine in his cellar.
19/ Food stores are reported to be running dangerously low in the capital.
20/ Gold remains one of the most reliable stores of wealth.
a place where goods of a particular kind are kept
21/ The grain store holds several thousand tonnes /tʌnz/.
22/ "The type and size of an ice store will depend upon the type of ice,
the demand for ice and the patterns of demands."
see also: a storehouse, storage
n(u) in store for somebody: waiting to happen to somebody
23/ We don't know what life holds in store for us.
24/ You never know what's in store for you.
25/ There's a shock in store for him when he gets home tonight!
see also: waiting for somebody
store v(t) //
put or keep things in a special place for use in the future
1/ We do not have adequate space to store these documents.
2/ Specimens /'sbesəmɪnz/ are stored at very low temperatures.
3/ Store your comforter under your bed.
store something in somewhere
4/ You can store coffee beans in the freezer to keep them fresh.
5/ I stored my possessions in my mother's house while I was living in Spain.
6/ We store the garden tools in a shed in the backyard.
7/ The fire damaged over 80% of the stock stored in the warehouse.
8/ How is energy stored in a battery?
store something away: put something in a safe place until you need it
9/ I've stored my thick sweaters and jackets away until next winter.
10/ He hoped the electronic equipment was safely stored away.
store something up: keep a lot of something in one place, to be used in the future
11/ Squirrels store up nuts for the winter.
12/ "Buddhist monks are not allowed to store up food and drinks."
keep information or facts in a computer or in your brain
13/ Store data/information.
14/ I listen in to their conversations and store it all up to tell you later.
store something in somewhere
14/ Lots of good memories are stored in my brain for sure.
15/ Thousands of pieces of data are stored in a computer's memory.
store something on somewhere
16/ Digital music files can be stored on your computer.
17/ The data is stored on a hard disk and backed up on a CD.
store up trouble/problems idiom //
not deal with problems when you have them, esp when this causes problems later
1/ If you don't deal with the problem now, you'll be storing up trouble for
yourself in the future.
2/ By ignoring your feelings you are only storing up trouble for yourself.
3/ They have stored up big problems for the future.
not express strong feelings, esp negative feelings, so that they get even
stronger and cause problems later
4/ She had stored up all her anger and eventually snapped.
5/ "When I smile lovingly and don´t say anything, I find I often store up
my feelings of not coping for later."
see also: not coping
storage n(u) //
the putting and keeping of things in a special place for use in the future
1/ a food storage facility
2/ a storage tank
3/ We need more storage now.
storage space
4/ There's a lot of storage space in the loft.
5/ We've had to build some cupboards to give us more storage space.
for storage
6/ This table can be folded flat for storage.
7/ All chairs collapse for easy storage.
8/ There must be proper plans in place for the storage of nuclear waste.
in storage: if things are in storage, they are being kept somewhere until
they are needed
9/ When we moved we had to put our furniture in storage for a while.
10/ Much of the art they’ve acquired is still in storage.
11/ There is a large amount of natural gas in storage for winter.
12/ Firms could run down the amount of goods kept in storage rather than
making new ones.
n(u) cold storage
13/ The strawberries are put into cold storage for several months.
14/ "Ice in cold storage melts at the rate of 3 kg per hour."
15/ A billion pounds of food is being held in cold storage.
put something into cold storage: the temporary postponement of something
16/ The project went into cold storage.
17/ I've had to put my plans into cold storage
n(u) the process of saving and keeping information/music/etc on a computer
18/ data storage devices
19/ For that price, customers of the web hosting service get 100 gigabytes
of storage.
stockpile v(t) //
store a large supply of something for future use
1/ She stockpiled chocolate bars in her car.
2/ Fears that shoppers would stockpile cash have so far proved unfounded.
3/ The government has stockpiled food in warehouses as a buffer against
economic crises.
4/ v(i) "How to stockpile for war"
5/ "His office determines the kinds and quantities of items the Government
should stockpile for war emergencies."
see also: stock up on something
n(c) a large amount of goods kept ready for future use
6/ a stockpile of wheat
7/ Stockpiles of grain are unusually low.
8/ Companies are beginning to see the benefits of a cash stockpile.
9/ "Europe is now stuck with a huge stockpile of natural gas after hoarding it
last year for a brutal winter that never came."
see also: a store of something
outfit n(c) //
(clothes) a set of clothes worn for a particular occasion or activity
1/ a wedding outfit
2/ That client's outfit is very trendy.
3/ That baseball cap and the cargo pants make a nice outfit.
4/ You should bring at least one extra outfit to the conference.
5/ She was wearing an expensive new outfit.
6/ Our reception staff all wear matching outfits.
7/ I'm going to wear my vampire outfit for Halloween.
8/ "Surprise my boyfriend in a Spiderman outfit."
9/ "You look great in your wedding outfit."
an outfit for something
10/ "When you need an elegant outfit for dinner with your family, wear it
with your favourite pair of heels and a chic clutch."
n(c) a set of equipment for a particular purpose
11/ She got a complete ski outfit as a gift from her parents.
12/ "I always wear my diving outfit so I can escape into the water
whenever possible!"
outfit v(t) //
outfit somebody/something with something: provide somebody or something
with equipment or clothes
1/ The ambulances have all been outfitted with new radios.
2/ The ship was outfitted with a 12-bed hospital.
3/ They had enough swords and suits of armour to outfit an army.
4/ I found a place that can outfit us for the canoe /kə'nu:/ trip.
see also: equip, be equipped with something, accommodate somebody
wear n(u) //
clothes designed for a particular use or of a particular type
example: casual wear, evening wear, bridal wear, sportswear, business wear
1/ She designed sportswear and very elegant evening wear.
2/ Women's wear is on the first floor.
3/ They have developed a full range of leisure wear, ranging from
trainers to tracksuits.
4/ The fashion world began to sell one-piece overalls as high-quality
leisure wear.
in casual/business/leisure wear
5/ "It is important to know what not to wear when dressing in casual wear."
6/ "Are ticket collectors of the Indian Railways allowed in casual wear?"
7/ Cheers to new color in your business wear!
8/ "In smart casual wear, T-shirts are typically selected with care to ensure
they maintain a neat and polished appearance."
9/ "If you are more courageous in your business wear and like to
make a statement at work, choose a selection of both notch and peak lapels
for your business suits."
10/ "Senior high school girls in my school wear flats or heels,
but why do some of them wear them barefoot?"
attire n(u) //
(wear) clothes, esp of a particular or formal type
1/ I hardly think jeans are appropriate attire for a wedding.
2/ "I dressed in evening attire for the inauguration ceremony."
3/ "Although she is dressed in business attire she is slightly disheveled."
4/ "There is no authority on what is and is not fine-dining attire
- most people would agree that a jacket is, and blue jeans are not."
see also: n(c) dress code
look n(c) //
(appearance) the way somebody/something looks
1/ I like her look. (see also: "I like the way she looks")
2/ Looks can be deceptive.
3/ I didn't like the look of the salad so I didn't touch it.
4/ "Get a refreshing look with a new hair cut."
by/from the look(s) of somebody/something
5/ It's going to rain today by the look of it.
6/ By the looks of it, someone's already staying in this room.
7/ From the looks of things, he was not at all happy.
8/ Joe isn't getting much sleep from the look of him.
n(plural) looks: a person’s appearance, esp when the person is attractive
9/ She has her father's good looks.
10/ He lost his looks in later life.
see also: good-looking
n(singular) a fashion or a style
11/ They've given the place a completely new look.
12/ Wear the top with jeans for a more casual look.
13/ "It should be a staple in your summer look."
n(c) an expression in your eyes or face
14/ He gave me a funny look.
15/ She had a worried look on her face. (compare with: a worrying look)
16/ There was a look of surprise on her face.
17/ I got a black look from Amy.
outlook n(singular) //
the likely future situation
1/ "The economic outlook of Hong Kong is gloomy."
2/ Tomorrow's outlook is for rain in the morning, clearing up in the afternoon.
the outlook for something
3/ The outlook for jobs is bleak.
4/ The outlook for today is cloudy and dry at first with showers later.
5/ The outlook for the weekend is dry and sunny.
see also: the prospect of something
n(c) (view) what you can see from a particular place
6/ From the top of the tower, the outlook over the city was breathtaking.
7/ The house has a pleasant outlook over the valley.
8/ "From Taipei 101 Observatory, visitors can enjoy the outlook
over the entire city."
see also: a view of the harbour
n(c) the attitude to life and the world of a particular person, group or culture
9/ Travel broadens your outlook.
10/ a positive(/optimistic) outlook
11/ a bleak(/gloomy/pessimistic) outlook
an outlook on something
12/ He has a fairly positive outlook on life.
13/ He had a practical outlook on life.
14/ " During my college experience, one course in particular helped shape
my outlook on foreign culture and the world as a whole."
n(singular) in outlook
15/ She is rather cautious in outlook.
16/ They value tradition and are basically conservative in outlook.
see also: an attitude towards something
remark: an oufit describes the clothing you wear;
a look describes your appearance;
but an outlook has no meaning about your clothing or appearance.
'Outlook' concerns more about your attitude towards life,
the prospect of something, or a view of somewhere.
sympathy n(u) //
the feeling of being sorry for someone who is in a bad situation
1/ I wish he'd show me a little more sympathy.
2/ Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to the victims of the war.
3/ The president has sent a message of sympathy to the relatives
of the dead soldiers.
have/express/feel sympathy for somebody
3/ I have a lot of sympathy for her; she had to bring up the children
on her own.
4/ I have no sympathy for Jan — it's all her own fault.
5/ I have absolutely no sympathy for students who get caught
cheating in exams.
6/ "At this time, Fantine was dying and in order to show sympathy for her,
Valjean promised to bring up her dear daughter — Cosette." /kəʊ'set/
(from Les Misérables /leɪ''mɪzə'ra:blə/)
n(plural) [formal] sympathies
7/ Our sympathies are with the families of the victims.
8/ May we offer our deepest sympathies on the death of your wife.
9/ I would like to extend our sincere sympathies to his family
at this sad time.
10/ "We all want to convey our condolences and express our sympathies
to someone dealing with the loss of a loved one."
n(u) support and agreement
11/ Her sympathies lie with the anti-abortion lobby.
in sympathy for something
12/ The seamen went on strike in sympathy with the dockers.
13/ The railway workers came out(=were on strike) in sympathy with the miners.
14/ "Yes one's heart beats in sympathy with Ukraine as they fight invasion
by a megalomaniac."
15/ "In sympathy with the French Revolution, he was elected to represent
Paris in the Legislative Assembly (1791–92), where he called for a republic."
sympathy with/for somebody or something
16/ Sullivan expressed sympathy for the striking federal workers.
17/ I must confess I have some sympathy with his views.
see also: show support for
n(c) a feeling that you understand somebody because you are similar to them
18/ There was no personal sympathy between them.
sympathize v(i) //
understand and care about someone's problems
sympathize with somebody
1/ I find it very hard to sympathize with him.
2/ I know what it's like to have migraine headaches, so I really sympathize
with you.
3/ "I sympathize with the victims of the fire disaster."
v(i) support and agree with someone or something
sympathize with something/somebody
4/ He has never really sympathized with the aims of Animal Rights activists.
5/ I sympathize with the general aims of the organization, but on this
particular issue I disagree.
6/ "Viewing animals as inferior, and simultaneously condemn violence,
so a religious person may sympathize with animal rights."
7/ "Some voters said they could sympathize with the right-wing."
sympathetic adj //
showing sympathy
1/ a sympathetic listener
2/ a sympathetic response
3/ She was very sympathetic when I was sick.
4/ I'm here if you need a sympathetic ear(=a listener).
be sympathetic to/towards somebody
5/ I did not feel at all sympathetic towards Kate.
6/ "They want to be sympathetic to the ill."
be sympathetic about something
7/ He suffers from back trouble too, so he was very sympathetic
about my problem.
agreeing with or supporting
8/ He was speaking to a highly sympathetic audience.
9/ Did he give your proposal a sympathetic hearing?
be sympathetic to somebody/something
10/ The party is considered to be sympathetic towards welfare reform.
11/ Russian newspapers are largely sympathetic to the president.
empathy n(u) //
the ability to understand other people’s feelings and problems
1/ One goal in the end is to develop victim empathy.
2/ "When you interact with people who have a lack of empathy,
you feel frustrated and disappointed."
have/feel/build empathy with somebody/something
3/ She had great empathy with people.
4/ He loves children and has certain empathy with them.
5/ "Today, we will analyze how you can build more empathy with
your customers to ultimate improve customer experience."
6/ Both authors have the skill to make you feel great empathy with their heroines.
show empathy to/towards somebody
7/ "Lastly, remember to show empathy towards yourself."
8/ "The interviewer is looking for evidence that the candidate
can show empathy towards a diverse group of individuals."
9/ "This episode shares how you can show empathy to someone
who is going through a hard time."
empathy for somebody/something
10/ "Demonstrate empathy for the underprivileged and
a strong sense of civic responsibility."
11/ "Have empathy for others, but do not excuse their bad behaviors."
12/ "I developed strong empathy for sick people."
13/ "Fasting is a good reminder to be grateful for the blessings
and feel empathy for the underprivileged."
empathy between A and B
14/ The empathy between the two women was obvious.
15/ "This is because of a lack of empathy between the newer buildings
and their older neighbours."
empathize v(i) //
be able to understand how someone else feels
empathize with somebody
1/ It's very easy to empathize with the characters in her books.
2/ A glamorous 20-year-old stylist is unlikely to empathize with
a working mother of three.
3/ "While empathy might be lacking in some, most people are able
to empathize with others in a variety of situations."
4/ "Parents need to continue to empathize with the child."
empathetic adj //
showing empathy
1/ an empathetic listener
2/ programmes training doctors to be empathic
be emapthetic to(/towards) somebody/something
3/ His personal history makes him especially empathetic to workers'
need for a fair wage.
4/ The medical profession requires doctors to be both clinically competent
and empathetic towards their patients.
5/ "My experience thus far has taught me to be more empathetic to others."
compassion n(u) //
a strong feeling of sympathy for people or animals who are suffering
and a desire to help them
1/ I was hoping she might show a little compassion.
2/ She was known as a hard woman with no compassion, no emotion.
3/ In an overworked doctor, feelings of compassion are soon lost.
have/feel compassion for somebody
4/ "True christians have compassion for AIDS patients"
5/ "Mother Teresa showed compassion for those who were less fortunate than
she was. She gave them food, lifted their spirits, and helped them survive."
remark:
empathy means that your feel what a person is feeling.
sympathy means you can understand what the person is feeling.
compassion is the willingness to relieve the suffering of another.
compassionate adj //
showing compassion
1/ a caring compassionate man
2/ He was a wonderful listener and a deeply compassionate man.
3/ One measure of a civilized and compassionate society is how well
it treats its prison population.
on compassionate grounds: a reason, esp in law, to allow someone to
do something out of sympathy for their suffering
4/ He was allowed to go home on compassionate grounds.
5/ The question was whether the court should release him on
compassionate grounds because of his health.
be compassionate to(/towards) somebody/something
6/ "More communal and agreeable people also tend to be more
compassionate to animals."
7/ "Saint John of God was passionate for God and compassionate towards
the sick and the poor."
see also: have a passion for something, be passionate for something
restock v(t) //
fill something such as a cupboard or shelves with food or goods again
1/ The storage jars have a transparent base so you can see what's
in them and at what point you need to restock.
restock something
2/ A man was restocking the vending machine in the hotel foyer.
3/ We managed to make a good catch of fish to restock the fridge.
4/ If you need to re-stock the kids' wardrobe, here's our pick of
the very best autumn fashion in the shops right now.
restock something with something
5/ "You need to restock the cupboard with your backup ham."
6/ "I would like to restock my wardrobe with fall items."
7/ She was vacuuming the hallways and restocking the bathroom
with clean towels.
8/ "Staff is needed only to restock the display racks with merchandise
drawn from the storeroom."
restock a lake/a river
9/ Environmentalists are planning to restock the river with fish.
10/ "Will they restock the lake with bass?"
restock a forest
11/ "These practices are used to restock the forest with desirable trees."
12/ "This generous grant has helped us to complete purchase, but is also
a huge contribution to our plans to restock the hill with broadleaved trees."