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My Vocabulary Page

watch out v //

be vigilant or alert; be on the lookout

1.1/ Watch out! It's rather wet over there.

1.2/ You had better watch out.

watch out for something

1.3/ Watch out for the tree!

1.4/ Watch out for bears!

1.5/ Watch out for thieves round here.

see also: doubt, suspect, suspicion

care for somebody/something v //

care for somebody/an animal:
provide for a person(/an animal)'s needs and to protect that person/animal

1/ Bob and his sister take turns caring for their elderly mother.

2/ "How do I care for my cat after neutering?"

3/ She can't go out to work because she has to stay at home
to care for her elderly mother.

4/ It's good to know that the dogs will be well cared for while we're away.

5/ "In many Asian societies boys are regarded as important because
they look after property; inherit land; have more opportunities to
get ahead in life than daughters; care for parents when they get old;
and perform important ceremonial duties when the parents die."

6/ "Through volunteers, we care for the elderly in the community,
cultivate a spirit of self-help and mutual assistance,
and establish a harmonious community."

be cared for by somebody

7/ The children are being cared for by a relative.

see also: look after somebody, watch over somebody, provide for somebody,
take care of somebody/something

look after somebody/something v //

look after somebody/something/yourself:
be responsible for or take care of somebody/something/yourself

1.1/ Who's going to look after the children while you're away?

1.2/ I'm looking after his affairs while he's in hospital.

1.3/ Don't worry about me - I can look after myself.

1.4/ "I always leave pretty detailed lists of what do to when family members
look after my cats and dogs."

look after something: make sure that things happen to somebody’s advantage

2.1/ He is good at looking after his own interests.

2.2/ "I have a spouse or a partner who can look after my interests."

obsessed adj //

unable to stop thinking about something;
too interested in or worried about something

be obsessed with something

1/ Why are people so obsessed with money?

2/ She's completely obsessed with him.

3/ She is obsessed with personal hygiene.

4/ "Dragonflight isn't being designed for players obsessed with
topping DPS meters."

be obsessed by something

5/ He is obsessed by computers.

6/ As a society we are obsessed by sex.

7/ Mankind has always been obsessed by power.

8/ Most journalists are obsessed by the need to produce the most
exciting newspaper story.

see also: be overwhelmed with/by something, be possessed, compulsive
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

resolution n(c) //

a promise to yourself to do or to not do something

1.1/ Have you made any New Year's resolutions?

(make) a resolution to do something

1.2/ I made a New Year resolution to give up smoking.

1.3/ She made a resolution to visit her relatives more often.

1.4/ I made a resolution to give up chocolate.

fulfil a resolution

1.5/ "I was determined and was prepared to do almost anything
in order to fulfill my resolution.

1.6/ "I wasn't able to fulfil my resolution last year but I will
certainly achieve it this year."

fail a resolution

1.7/ "I can't fail my New Year's resolution if I don't remember making one."

carry out a resolution

1.8/ "As a result, I lose motivation to carry out my resolutions and I end up
forgetting about them altogether."

n(u,singular) the act of solving or settling a problem or an argument.

2.1/ The government is pressing for an early resolution of the dispute.

a resolution to something

2.2/ It was a successful resolution to the crisis.

2.3/ Hopes of a peaceful resolution to the conflict were fading.

2.4/ "The result is a resolution to the conflict that is mutually agreeable
to all team members."

2.5/ "Six African leaders plan to travel to Russia and Ukraine as soon as possible
to help find a resolution to the war."

n(u) [determination] the quality of being resolute or determined

3.1/ Her resolution never faltered.

3.2/ The reforms owe a great deal to the resolution of one man.

3.3/ She showed great resolution in her dealings with management.

3.4/ He showed great resolution in facing the robbers.

see also: show determination in something/doing something,
show determination to do something

necessity n(u) //

the need for something

necessity for something

1.1/ We recognize the necessity for a written agreement.

1.2/ You can come early if you want to, but there's no necessity for it.

1.3/ (idiom) Necessity is the mother of invention.

necessity (for somebody) to do something

1.4/ Is there any necessity to reply to her letter?

1.5/ There is absolutely no necessity for you to be involved.

1.6/ There had never been any necessity for her to go out to work.

the necessity of something/doing something

1.7/ We were discussing the necessity of employing more staff.

1.8/ "The necessity of international aid was being evaluated."

1.9/ The report stresses the necessity of eating plenty of
fresh fruit and vegetables.

1.10/ "The vast increase of residents in Za'atari from 45,000 in November 2012
to 156,000 in March 2013 allowed the Jordanian state to highlight the strain
of the refugee influx and catapulted the necessity of international aid
to center stage."

1.11/ Don’t you understand the necessity of eating a balanced diet?

of necessity (= unavoidably)

1.12/ This is, of necessity, a brief and incomplete account.

1.13/ To alleviate labour shortages employers will, of necessity,
offer better deals for part-timers.

out of necessity (= because of necessity)

1.14/ I took the job out of necessity because we had no money left.

1.15/ He is changing job out of necessity, not because he particularly wants to.

1.16/ With a personal fortune of sixty million dollars, she certainly
doesn't work out of necessity.

if the necessity arises (see also: if need be)

1.17/ We'll employ extra staff to help out as and when the necessity arises.

1.18/ These animals don't like water but will swim if the necessity arises.

n(c) a thing that you must have and cannot manage without

2.1/ In my work, a computer is a necessity.

2.2/ Air-conditioning is an absolute necessity in this climate.

2.3/ He regarded music as one of life's necessities.

2.4/ Policies which address these issues are an urgent necessity.

2.5/ "The tough gets tougher as more families are seeking necessities
from food banks and hoping to land a new job from the employers."

(the) bare necessities

2.6/ We brought only the bare necessities with us.

2.7/ I simply need enough income to cover the bare necessities.

2.8/ The shops in town are able to provide the bare necessities.

2.9/ They rely on credit cards to cover bare necessities such as
rent and emergency medical treatment.

basic necessities

2.10/ "We can only live on basic necessities."

2.11/ Many people cannot even afford basic necessities such as food and clothing.

2.12/ "Mahatma Gandhi took similar steps to live on basic necessities
and quit his law practice to fight for the people of India in a peaceful way."

a necessity for something

2.13/ Sleep is an absolute necessity for life.

2.14/ "Her YouTube channel is a necessity for gracious living!"

a necessity of life

2.15/ Food is a necessity of life.

2.16/ "Water is a necessity of life. It should not be bought and sold
or traded in markets."

see also: live on something, survive on something

remark: the phrasal verb 'live on something' is more often referring to
'living on' an amount of money or a type of food, but also accepts
the usage of 'living on resources'. Readers may prefer to say
'to survive on basic necessities' instead.

frown v(i) //

make a serious, angry or worried expression by bringing your eyebrows
closer together so that lines appear on your forehead

1.1/ She frowned with concentration.

1.2/ Don't frown so - it spoils your pretty face.

1.3/ "I don't understand," she frowned.

1.4/ Frowning, she started to search in her bag for the lost ticket.

1.5/ He frowned as he read the instructions, as if puzzled.

1.6/ The teacher frowned and drew her red pen firmly across the page.

1.7/ People who frown a lot or have very expressive faces usually
develop deep lines as they get older.

1.8/ For a moment he had frowned and looked annoyed.

frown at somebody/something

1.9/ What are you frowning at me for?

1.10/ She frowned at me, clearly annoyed.

frown about something

1.11/ What are you frowning about now? What have I done?

1.12/ "World markets frown about the Fed's caution."
('Fed' stands for the Federal government of the United States)

n(c) a frown

2.1/ A small frown creased her forehead.

2.2/ The boy gave a frown and scratched his head thoughtfully.

2.3/ His brows were drawn together in a deep frown.

2.4/ Seeing the headmistress's frown, the girl quickly sat down again.

2.5/ "He gave me a frown of disapproval."

a frown on your face

2.6/ The frown on his face showed that he was struggling
with a difficult problem.

with a frown

2.7/ She looked up with a puzzled frown on her face.

2.8/ "Leave me alone!" she said with a frown.

2.9/ Pierre’s mouth tightened with a small frown.

frown on somebody/something v //

(also: frown upon somebody/something) disapprove of somebody/something

1/ In her family, any expression of feeling was frowned upon.

2/ Smoking is frowned upon in many societies.

3/ You can wear jeans, but I think the restaurant frowns on shorts and sneakers.

4/ "Your father or mother may have frowned on your behaviour without
telling you what they really wanted or expected from you."

5/ "In the early years of high school, I hated alcohol and I frowned on
my friends who drank because I saw what it had done to my family."

see also: disapprove of somebody/something, look down on somebody,
be fond of somebody/something, approve of somebody/something

audition n(c) //

a short performance given by an actor or a singer so that somebody
can decidewhether they are suitable to act in a play or sing in a concer

1.1/ Auditions will be held from 9 to 12 on Friday.

1.2/ The boys' choir held rigorous auditions before each
new member was admitted.

1.3/ She sang really badly at her audition, so she didn't get into the choir.

1.4/ "I took my first audition ever."

an audition for something

1.4/ She had an audition for drama school.

1.5/ We are holding auditions for new actors.

1.6/ She had an audition for a small part in a soap opera.

1.7/ They have already held the auditions for the main parts in the series.

1.8/ Why don't you go along to the auditions for the school play?
You're a good actor.

an open audition, a public audition

1.9/ "At the beginning of October, some of my friends and I joined
the open audition for the Cyber Fair."

1.10/ "On another note, we will be opening our public audition
for the main characters soon, so stay tuned!"

1.11/ "People of any age can take part in the open audition,
but each child under 18 must be accompanied by their own parent or guardian."

1.12/ "Young women participate in the open audition for
Miss Russia 2019 beauty contest, in Moscow, Russia."

pass/fail an audition

1.13/ I had a letter four days later to say I had passed the audition.

1.14/ "Sorry boys, you failed the audition."

audition v(i,t) //

take part in an audition

2.1/ Hundreds of people auditioned.

2.2/ I auditioned and was given the part.

audition for something

2.3/ You will have to audition for the role.

2.4/ I'm auditioning for the part of Lady Macbeth.

2.5/ "Emma Watson auditioned for Hermione Granger only because
her friends were doing it and she thought it would be a good laugh."

2.6/ "Specifically, she talked about what it was like to audition
for a role in the movie."

2.7/ "She's about to audition for the main part in the play
of Northern Lights."

2.8/ "I then auditioned for Game of Thrones and I got a no for that."

audition somebody (for something)

2.9/ They auditioned 125 dancers before choosing ten.

2.10/ We auditioned several excellent musicians.

2.11/ We auditioned over 200 children for the part.

2.12/ "They audition actors and decide which actors to cast."

2.13/ "We brought in a lot of professional actors as well as
non-actors we had auditioned and cast in the past."

see also: perform a role(/a part) in a play; play the role(/the part) of Jon Snow;
the cast of a play; be cast as the main character

bounce v(i,t) //

(cause to) move up or away after hitting a surface

1.1/ The ball bounced twice before he could reach it.

1.2/ The ball bounced high and she missed it.

1.3/ The stone hit the window but bounced off.

1.4/ Her hair bounced as she walked.

bounce off (something)

1.5/ The ball bounced off the basket.

1.6/ The ball bounced off the goalpost and into the net.

1.7/ "I tried to throw the ball in the bucket, but it bounced off the bucket."

1.8/ He threw from the three-point line, but the ball bounced off the bucket.

1.9/ The basketball bounced off the rim of the basket.

1.10/ Short sound waves bounce off even small objects.

1.11/ The light bounced off the river and dazzled her.

bounce into something

1.12/ Tom bounced into the room.

1.13/ He wheels away in celebration as the ball bounces into the net.

bounce up and down

1.14/ She bounced up and down excitedly on the bed.

1.15/ "The kids are bouncing up and down on a trampoline."

bounce + adv/prep

1.16/ The children had broken the bed by bouncing on it.

1.17/ The idea had been bouncing around in my head for some time.

1.18/ Her bag bounced against her side as she walked.

1.19/ "The puck deflected off the left post behind him
and bounced away from the net."

1.20/ The bus bounced down the hill.

1.21/ The car bounced its way along the dirt road.

v(t) bounce something (against/on/off something)

1.22/ She bounced the ball quickly.

1.23/ She bounced the ball against the wall.

1.24/ "How do you bounce the ball off the wall?"

bounce a baby on your knee

1.25/ He bounced the baby on his knee.

1.26/ I bounced the baby on my knee while Pete did the dishes.

see also: rebound from/off/into something,
deflect off/into something, deflect something away from something

bounce out (of something): rebound out of or away from something

2.1/ The ball bounced out of the net.

2.2/ The ball bounced out of the corner into my hands.

2.3/ The ball bounced out of the box it had fallen into.

2.4/ "The golf ball literally bounced out of the hole!"

bounce n(c) //

the action of bouncing

3.1/ In tennis you have to hit the ball before its second bounce.

3.2/ "A bounce of the ball and let Liverpool score!"

3.3/ "I want to be there, to actually catch the bounce of the ball
and take it forward."

3.4/ "Due to COVID-19, we haven't been able to hold a bounce
of the ball since 2019."

n(u) the ability to bounce or to make something bounce

4.1/ There's not much bounce left in these balls.

4.2/ This shampoo will give your hair bounce.

4.3/ "Ground staff check the bounce of a ball on Court Four."

4.4/ Players complained about the uneven bounce of the tennis court.

n(singular) a sudden increase in something such as how popular a leader is

5.1/ The city has seen a bounce in homicide.

5.2/ His speech to the convention may have given him a bounce.

5.3/ Typically, the economy gets a bit of a bounce coming out of a recession.

a bounce in something

5.4/ There has been a bounce in the property market over the past five weeks.

5.5/ "PSA International recorded a bounce in both revenues
and volumes last year."

bucket n(c) //

a container with an open top and a handle, often used for carrying liquids

1.1/ "I wash the floor with a bucket of soapy water."

1.2/ Armed with a bucket and a mop, I started washing the floor.

fill a bucket, empty a bucket

1.3/ I filled the bucket with water.

1.4/ "You fill a bucket full of water."

1.5/ "You can fill a bucket full of sweat."

1.6/ "The children filled the bucket full of water and poured it into the drum."

1.7/ "Just fill the bucket full, then these water cups will supply
drinking water automatically."

1.8/ "You have a five-litre bucket filled with water and five
smaller, one-litre buckets that are empty."

1.9/ "The first team to empty the bucket and get all of the soccer balls
back to the end line wins the race."

pour/scoop something in(/into) a bucket

1.10/ We walked along the beach collecting small crabs in a bucket.

1.11/ He scooped the sand into a bucket with his hands.

1.12/ "At first we pour water in a bucket of 3 litre. Then we put that
three litre water into the five litre bucket."

1.13/ "Parents put water in a bucket, dunk their chins and noses, and blow bubbles."

out of the bucket

1.14/ Water slopped out of the bucket as he carried it up the stairs.

1.15/ "Will the water flow out of the bucket?"

1.16/ "Scrabble tiles spill out of the bucket."

1.17/ "Water runs out of the bucket through a hole in the bottom."

put a bucket under something

1.18/ I put a bucket underneath to catch the overflow from the water tank.

1.19/ "Put a bucket under the sink drain to catch any water in the drain trap."

1.20/ "Wear rubber gloves first, and place a bucket under the sink."

n(c) a bucket and spade

1.21/ "People aren't going on bucket-and-spade holidays any more."

1.22/ "I took my two-year-old nephew down to the beach with
his bucket and spade."

1.23/ "Nice little common lizard in my buckets and spades today."

n(c) a burning bucket, a burn barrel

1.24/ "It was an exciting feeling watching everyone throw pieces
of their past in a burning bucket."

1.25/ "I tossed some paper money into a burning bucket in front of the table."

1.26/ "Building a fire in a burn barrel is similar to using a fireplace or woodstove."

1.27/ "The burn barrel can be used to burn folding gold ingot and
Chinese joss paper money at Spring Festival or Tomb-Sweeping Day."

(idiom) kick the bucket

2.1/ "The Empress Dowager Cixi finally kicked the bucket in 1908."

2.2/ "The old guy kicked the bucket at the age of 102."

2.3/ "That old dog next door finally kicked the bucket. He was sixteen years old,
toothless, blind and could hardly get around."

overpass n(c) //

(UK: flyover /'flaɪ.əʊ.vər/) a bridge that carries a road or railway over another road

on an overpass

1/ "A train is moving on an overpass."

2/ "A bus is moving on an overpass."

3/ "When we moved to Capitol Hill in the mid-80s, we were delighted
and intrigued by graffiti painted on the overpass where one can
take the ramp from southbound Fourth Street SE onto I-395 toward Virginia."

4/ "He stopped on the Canal Road Flyover near Happy Valley racecourse
and jumped out of the car shortly before it burst into flames."

fall from an overpass

5/ "It's unclear how the woman fell from the overpass."

6/ "An electric bus fell from the overpass Vempa of Mestre
on the tracks of the railway station below."

an offshore overpass

7/ "Located in the Sai Kung District, the Tseung Kwan O Cross Bay Bridge is
the first offshore overpass in Hong Kong to feature a carriageway,
pedestrian way, cycle track and viewing platform."

a pedestrian overpass (see also: a footbridge)

8/ "A pedestrian overpass allows traffic to pass without
affecting pedestrian safety."

9/ "I was leaning on a pedestrian overpass rail in Hong Kong."

10/ "Graffiti is painted on the pesdestrian overpass."

11/ "Black Lives Matter is seen painted on a pedestrian overpass
in Warren, Michigan, in 2023. It was that kind of summer in America."

under the Canal Road Flyover

12/ "Villain hitting is widely observed under the Canal Road Flyover
on the day of Jingzhe (= the day of the awakening of hibernating insects)."

13/ "Villain hitters help their clientts curse those people who
are harmful to the latter under the Canal Road Flyover."

14/ "The area under the Canal Road Flyover, adjacent to Hennessy Road,
is known for the old ladies who offer villain hitting services."

15/ "You will probably find lots of people under the Canal Road Flyover today
as this is the day to hit your villains and the petty people around you."

bridge n(c) //

a structure that is built over a river, road, or railway to allow
people and vehicles to cross from one side to the other

1.1/ The bridge is the longest steel structure in the world.

1.2/ The island is joined to the mainland by a road bridge.

1.3/ The new railway bridge is an incredible sight to behold.

1.4/ They're building a new bridge across the river.

cross a bridge, go over a bridge

1.5/ We crossed the bridge over the River Windrush.

1.6/ To get to the restaurant, you need to go over the bridge.

across(/over) a bridge

1.7/ We drove across the bridge.

1.8/ We walked across the bridge and soon came to a hut.

1.9/ I don't have time to walk across the bridge.

1.10/ "You can walk over the Rainbow Bridge at Niagara Falls but will need
your passport to travel through the Niagara Falls border crossing."

1.11/ The children ran down the bank, over the bridge and along the path.

be spanned by a bridge

1.12/ The river was spanned by a railway bridge.

1.13/ "The narrow entrance to the harbour is spanned by a mighty bridge
resting on great stone piers."

a bridge connecting A and B (/connecting A with B)

1.14/ "Built next to Tsing Yi Bridge, Cheung Tsing Bridge is
the second bridge connecting Kwai Chung and Tsing Yi."

1.15/ The plan incudes a pedestrian bridge connecting the arena
with the convention centre.

1.16/ "A long suspension bridge, the Tsing Ma Bridge, connects Ma Wan
and Tsing Yi, bridging across the Ma Wan channel."

structure of a bridge: piers, abutments, piles, cables, an approach slab,
the superstructure of a bridge, the substructure of a bridge

1.17/ A row of reinforced concrete pillars supports the bridge.

1.18/ "The principal foundations of the Tsing Ma Bridge are the tower piers
and the massive gravity anchorages for the main cables."

1.19/ "The foundations of a bridge are built under the piers or abutments
and over the soil or rock that supports the entire weight of the bridge
and the traffic loads that it will carry."

1.20/ "The foundation (or base) of a bridge is the element that connects
the structure to the earth and transfers loads from it to the ground below."

1.21/ "Abutments are the elements at the ends of a bridge that support it."

1.22/ "The Tsing Ma Bridge is kept upright by cables anchored in large concrete
structures on either side of the crossing."

remark: the foundations of a building more often refer to the structure
below the surface of the ground which support it. In the case of a bridge, the foundations of a bridge may also refer to its substructure.

n(singular) a rainbow bridge

2.1/ "See you on the other side of the rainbow bridge."

go over the rainbow bridge

2.2/ "My beloved cat went over the rainbow bridge this year."

2.3/ The grief-stricken owner wrote that her cat had crossed the rainbow bridge.

2.4/ "When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here,
that pet goes to the rainbow bridge."

the Rainbow Bridge poem

2.5/ "There is a bridge connecting Heaven and Earth.
It is called the Rainbow Bridge because of all its beautiful colours.
Just this side of the Rainbow Bridge there is a land of meadows,
hills and valleys with lush green grass.
When a beloved pet dies, the pet goes to this place.
There is always food and water and warm spring weather.
The old and frail animals are young again.
Those who were sick, hurt or in pain are made whole again.
There is only one thing missing, they are not with their special person
who loved them so much on earth.
So each day they run and play until the day comes
when one suddenly stops playing and looks up!
The nose twitches! The ears are up!
The eyes are staring and this one runs from the group!
You have been seen and when you and your special friend meet,
you take him in your arms and hug him.
He licks and kisses your face again and again -
and you look once more into the eyes of your best friend and trusting pet.
Then you cross the Rainbow Bridge together, never again to be apart."

n(c) a thing that provides a connection or contact between two different things

a bridge between A and B

3.1/ The book serves as a bridge between ancient wisdom and modern science.

3.2/ Part-time work can provide a bridge between staying at home
and working full-time.

build bridges between A and B

3.3/ Cultural exchanges are a way of building bridges between countries.

3.4/ The aim of the project was to build bridges between communities
through joint events.

bridge v(t) //

bridge something: build or form a bridge over something

4.1/ The valley was originally bridged by the Romans.

4.2/ A plank of wood bridged the stream.

bridge the gap(/gulf) between A and B

4.3/ The new degree course aims to bridge the gulf between education and industry.

4.4/ "There is a need to engage scaffolding to bridge the gap
between teachers and students."

4.5/ "Technology can also bridge the gap between teachers and students
by allowing them to communicate without leaving their classrooms."

4.6/ "Blueocean Healthcare has launched apps and websites to
bridge the gap between doctors and patients.

scouring pad n(c) //

(also: scourer /skaʊə.rɚ/)
a small ball of wire or stiff plastic used for cleaning pans

1/ "Now scour the pans with a scouring pad."

2/ "I scour a cast iron skillet with a scouring pad."

3/ "Use a scourer to clean off any residual grime."

4/ "I wash dishes by hand with a scourer, a sponge and washing-up liquid."

5/ "Today I am painting mountains and flowers using a scouring pad and fork."

a stainless steel scourer, a metal scourer, a steel wool sponge

6/ "A stainless steel scourer is a kitchen appliance which is
very useful to clean dirty pans."

7/ "For burnt-on stains, never use a metal scourer, as this can
damage the oven surface."

8/ "Avoid using a steel wool sponge for this step - it can scratch the surface."

a synthetic scouring pad

9/ "3M's original synthetic scouring pad is a resilient, effective replacement
for steel wool sponges."

10/ "Gala features a synthetic scouring pad which is ideal for common cleaning jobs."

see also: a scrubber, do the washing-up, washing-up liquid

remark: 'scrubber' is a more general term, which indicates an object
for scrubbing thing to clean them

scrub v(i,t) //

clean something by rubbing it hard, especially with a brush
and usually with soap and water

1.1/ You scrub and scrub, but those marks never come off.

scrub something/yourself

1.2/ After the tomato sauce boiled over, I had to scrub the stove.

1.3/ I found him in the kitchen, scrubbing the floor.

1.4/ He stepped into the shower and scrubbed himself all over.

1.5/ He scrubbed the mud from his shoes.

1.6/ "This floor is crying out to be scrubbed."

1.7/ "There is so much to do:
mix the dough, let it rise, beat the dough, weave the dough, cook the bread;
prepare the lamb, roast the lamb, baste the lamb;
select the wine, gather the globets, pull the best plates from storage;
sweep the floor, fluff the pillows, scrub the table, dust the furniture,
fill the oil lamps, trim the wicks, polish the brass.
My head is spinning just thinking of all the details."

v(i) scrub at something

1.8/ The woman scrubbed at her face with a tissue.

1.9/ She scrubbed at the mark on the wall for a long time,
but it wouldn't come off.

scrub something down (see also: wipe something down)

1.10/ She scrubbed the counters down with bleach.

1.11/ "For my solution that I put on windows, I use Dawn dish soap,
vinegar, and water. I just mix those up, I scrub the windows down,
and then I squeegee /'skwi:.dʒi:/them."

scrub something clean

1.12/ The table had been scrubbed clean.

1.13/ Scrub the vegetables clean.

1.14/ He scrubbed the old saucepan clean, and it looked as good as new.

see also: (verb) clean, wipe, rub, scour, cleanse, sanitize

v(t) [cancel] decide not to do something that you had planned to do

2.1/ We had to scrub our plans when I lost my job.

2.2/ "We have scrubbed our holiday plans this year."

2.3/ "But HHS has since scrubbed the budget of the $11.5 billion appropriation,
substituting $25 million for risk corridor collections instead."

2.4/ "With revenue collections expected to fall sharply this year,
Inslee’s budget staff scrubbed the budget for ways to reduce spending
in the current budget and the next two-year budget."

2.5/ "Trump had scrubbed the meeting after reviewing the report
on Russia's actions against Ukraine."

hygiene n(u) //

the degree to which people keep themselves or their environment clean,
especially to prevent disease

1/ In the interests of hygiene, please wash your hands.

2/ Poor hygiene in nursing homes is a serious problem.

3/ Poor standards of hygiene mean that the disease spreads fast.

4/ "Good hygiene must be kept in the kitchen."

personal hygiene, dental hygiene

5/ "Fight the flu with good personal hygiene."

6/ Many skin diseases can be prevented by good personal hygiene.

7/ Poor dental hygiene can contribute to tooth decay.

8/ "Person hygiene demands 100% clean clothing and a healthy body routine."

9/ "We help the elderly to maintain oral health and keep
personal hygiene with a three-sided toothbrush."

with good(/poor) hygiene

10/ "People with poor hygiene may suffer from minor to major health conditions."

11/ "Access to water with better hygiene and sanitation is a human right."

12/ "According to UNICEF estimates, 88 per cent of childhood fatalities
are caused by inadequate sanitation, unsafe drinking water with poor hygiene."

hygiene conditions

13/ "Many poor hygiene conditions lead to systemic diseases,
including periodontal disease, influenza and herpes."

14/ "Animals in good hygiene conditions are less likely to contract
bacterial, viral or parasite infections, as well as the illnesses
that come with them."

15/ "If residents live in poor hygiene conditions, they are more likely
to catch germs that can cause diseases and spread them to other
nursing home residents."

16/ "It should be kept in good hygiene conditions and at a cool temperature."

hygiene regulations

17/ The restaurant was in breach of food hygiene regulations.

18/ "Although food hygiene regulations are not mandatory, your business
must be able to show a certain level of competence in this area."

a hygiene habit

19/ "People with poor hygiene habits are seen as unhealthy
and often face discrimination."

20/ "Every time your mother, father, or teacher told you to wash your hands,
they were encouraging a hygiene habit that many people still don’t have
the knowledge to practice."

21/ "Select a student to start the game by acting out a hygiene habit,
such as brushing their teeth or washing their hands."

a hygiene practice

22/ "A lack of clean and safe water with poor hygiene practices
increases the spread of COVID-19."

23/ "It is important to develop and stick to good personal
hygiene practices to stay healthy and confident."

see also: sanitize, (adj) hygienic /haɪ'dʒi:.nɪk/

unprecedented adj //

never having happened or existed in the past

1/ "This invention is unprecedented and novel."

2/ Such an event was unprecedented in the 20th century.

3/ This situation is unprecedented in 21st-century life.

4/ We’ve entered an age of unprecedented prosperity.

an unprecedented level, an unprecedented step

5/ Unemployment has reached an unprecedented level.

6/ "Species are going extinct at an unprecedented rate."

7/ She took the unprecedented step of revealing the truth about the situation.

on an unprecedented scale

8/ Crime has risen on an unprecedented scale.

9/ This century has witnessed environmental destruction
on an unprecedented scale.

see also: the like of which has never been seen

fire n(c,u) //

the state of burning, or a burning mass of material

1.1/ Animals are usually afraid of fire.

1.2/ When did people start to cook with fire?

catch fire, catch on fire

1.3/ She had to be rescued when her house caught fire.

1.4/ "If your microwave oven catches on fire, you need to act quickly and calmly."

start a fire, light up a fire

1.5/ The fire was started by children playing with matches.

1.6/ "Missouri law requires that cigarettes contain certain features to
reduce the likelihood that those cigarettes will start a fire."

1.7/ "A 12-year-old boy started the forest fire in Manavgat."

1.8/ "It takes one single match to light up a wildfire."

set fire to something

1.9/ Several youths had set fire to the police car.

set somebody/something on fire

1.10/ "You can set my house on fire, baby."

1.11/ "A peace activist had set herself on fire in protest
over the government's involvement in the war."

1.12/ "Duke Wen ordered to set the mountain on fire to force out Jie Zhitui."

put out a fire, extinguish a fire

1.13/ Forty people helped to put out the fire.

1.14/ It took two hours to put out the fire.

1.15/ "The fire was put out by the fireman and water."

1.16/ "You should also be aware that hot oil can re-ignite, even if you think
you have extinguished the fire."

1.17/ "The method you use to extinguish a fire will depend on the class of fire."

a fire breaks out

1.18/ Fires were breaking out everywhere.

1.19/ "On 15 April 2019, just before 18:20 CEST, a structural fire broke out
in the roof space of Notre-Dame de Paris, a medieval Catholic cathedral in Paris."

(a fire is) burning, glowing, blazing

1.20/ "The fire is still burning."

1.21/ "The fire is burning fiercely."

1.22/ "The fire is glowing brightly in the dark."

1.23/ "The fire is blazing and threatens to burn my vegetables."

1.24/ "The fire burnt down shops, scrap material, cars on the ground floor."

1.25/ "Firemen rushed to the site, but the fire was blazing fiercely by that time."

1.26/ "The walls and roof of the building had collapsed and
the fire was blazing fiercely."

(a fire is) spreading, growing, dying out, under control

1.27/ "The fire is growing rapidly and crews haven't been able to contain it."

1.28/ " The fire is dying out, and Paradise Lakes is no longer in danger!"

1.29/ "When we arrived, the fire was under control."

1.30/ "The fire is contained by the walls of the wastebasket and won't spread."

1.31/ "The fire was contained by a water sprinkler and other fire extinguishing
gadgets installed at strategic places in the hospital building."

the fire is contained by a specific date and time

1.32/ "The fire was contained by 7:48 pm."

1.33/ "With the help of rain and snow, the fire was contained by September 11."

1.34/ "I hope that the fire is contained by now, else the wind tonight
is going to take it on a long ride."

be destroyed by a fire

1.35/ The warehouse was destroyed by fire.

n(c) a house fire

1.36/ Five people died in a house fire.

1.37/ At least one house was destroyed by a house fire southwest of Peachland.

n(c) a forest fire, a bush fire, a wildfire

1.38/ Forest fires raged all over Australia.

1.39/ Eight people died as bushfires swept southern Australia.

1.40/ A tourist appeared in court accused of starting a bush fire
with a cigarette.

n(c) a candle fire, a wax fire

1.41/ "Candle fires can spread like a wildfire."

1.42/ "An exploding candle fire can happen with just a minimal amount
of water and wax."

1.43/ "A wax fire is created when melted or boiling wax is doused with water."

n(c) an ocean fire

1.44/ "On the weekend of July 4th, 2021, a burst 12-inch pipeline
in the Gulf of Mexico, owned by Pemex, ignited an ocean fire."

n(c) a small controlled fire that is used for heating or cooking

2.1/ A bright fire was burning in the hearth.

light a fire, light up a fire

2.2/ It's very cold in here - should I light a fire?

2.3/ "I lit up a fire and cooked the fish."

2.4/ Sam had lit a fire to welcome us home.

2.5/ "One fine day, I lit up a bonfire."

2.6/ "Sivanta Greens performed the 'Lohri pujan' and lit up the bonfire
to mark the beginning of the celebrations."

cook on a fire

2.7/ They cook on an open fire.

2.8/ "Pour vegetable stock in a pot, bring to boiling and cook
on a small fire for about half an hour."

2.9/ "Trying to cook on a large fire usually burns the food on the outside
while leaving it raw on the inside."

build a fire, make a fire

2.10/ We built a fire on the beach.

2.11/ We put up our tents and made a small fire.

2.12/ "Fire embers can stay hot for hours, particularly if you have
built a campfire on the beach."

remark: a 'stove fire' refers to a fire accident caused by the stove.
A(/The) 'stove flame' would mean the steady fire ignited on the stove.
Similary, a candle fire is uncontrolled, but a candle flame is stable.

n(c) types of fires: a campfire, a bonfire, a match, a cigarette,
a candle, a chandelier, a Bunsen burner

3.1/ "I light up a cigarette in someone's house and blow smoke everywhere."

3.2/ "What happens when you light up a match or a cigarette lighter on an airplane?"

3.3/ "Last night, we lit up candles in memory of our dear friend."

3.4/ "We lit up candles in support of those affected by domestic violenc."

3.5/ "When lit up, the chandelier emits a soft checkerboard glow from behind
its surface of folded slits."

3.6/ "If you lit up the Bunsen burner correctly, you can touch the sliding collar."

(a fire is) bright, dim

3.7/ "The lights are low; the fire is bright."

3.8/ "Better close off here. My candle is getting dim, and it is getting late."

3.9/ "Your candle is dim, and can only light tiles that are directly adjacent
to your current location."

cast a shadow on somewhere

3.10/ "The fire cast shadows on the floor."

3.11/ "The fire cast shadows on the walls as the old men picked the bones."

3.12/ "A fire burns near the entrance of the cave, and objects and people
passing in front of the fire cast shadows on the cave wall."

n(u) the shooting of guns or other weapons

4.1/ He was hit by enemy fire.

4.2/ A young girl was in the line of fire.

4.3/ I will give you covering fire while you try to escape.

open fire

4.4/ The gunman opened fire as the police officers were getting
out of their patrol car.

4.5/ "Then the Japanese opened fire, and many in the first group of Marines
were killed by the machine guns."

open fire on somebody/something

4.6/ The police opened fire on the protesters.

4.7/ The trainees opened fire on the target.

4.8/ The gunmen opened fire on the police.

under fire

4.9/ Their vehicle came under fire.

4.10/ The men were under heavy fire.

hold fire, return fire, exchange fire

4.11/ He ordered his men to hold their fire.

4.12/ Protesters exchanged fire with the guards.

4.13/ The soldiers returned fire after being attacked.

cease fire

4.14/ "The command was given to cease fire."

4.15/ "At 18 42, Duke of York ceased fire, after having fired 52 salvos
and scoring at least 13 hits, but Scharnhorst was pulling away."

fire v(i,t) //

cause a weapon to shoot bullets, arrows, or missiles

5.1/ The officer ordered his men to fire.

5.2/ I just prayed that he would stop firing.

5.3/ North Korean shells could keep Russian guns firing.

5.4/ "All major armies of the time were utilizing mounted air or liquid-cooled
machine guns firing at up to 600 rounds per minute, which proved devastating
in the era's trench warfare."

fire something

5.5/ Missiles were fired at the enemy.

5.6/ A starter's pistol fires only blanks.

5.7/ The ambassador denied that any missiles had been fired across the border.

5.8/ "Hong Kong police fired bullets at protesters, leaving one person undergoing
emergency surgery, as the city’s morning commute descended into turmoil."

5.9/ "Musk founded SpaceX and fired rockets into space for just $100m."

fire (something) into something

5.10/ He fired into the air.

5.11/ He fired the gun into the air.

5.12/ Without warning he started firing into the crowd.

fire (something) at somebody/something

5.13/ She fired at her attacker.

5.14/ She fired an arrow at the target.

fire on somebody/something

5.15/ Soldiers fired on the crowd.

n(u) guns firing, gunfire

5.16/ We heard the sound of guns firing.

5.17/ The sound of gunfire echoed into the night.

5.18/ You could hear the noise of guns firing in the distance.

5.19/ "It is a technology supposed to detect guns firing."

v(t) force somebody to leave their job

6.1/ He was responsible for hiring and firing staff.

6.2/ She was fired after she was caught stealing from her employer.

6.3/ She has just been fired as editor of the newspaper.

6.4/ The company is reducing its workforce by firing 500 employees.

be fired for something

6.5/ We had to fire him for dishonesty.

be fired from something

6.6/ She got fired from her first job.

6.7/ He was fired from his $165,000 job for poor performance.

see also: sack somebody, lay off somebody, dismiss somebody

compare: "She resigned from the company." "He resigned as director."

v(t) heat a clay object to make it hard and strong

7.1/ My family used to fire bricks in a kiln. /kɪln/

7.2/ A large variety of kilns are used for firing bricks.

7.3/ "We fire pottery on the winter solstice." /'sɒls.tɪs/

flame n(c,u) //

a stream of hot, burning gas from something on fire

1.1/ The flames lit up the skyline.

1.2/ The flames grew larger as the fire spread.

1.3/ The flames were growing higher and higher.

1.4/ The room was filled with smoke and flames.

1.5/ Firefighters have been trying to control the flames.

1.6/ They watched the flames sweep through the old wooden barn.

in flames (= burning)

1.7/ The building was in flames.

1.8/ Everything went up in flames.

1.9/ When the fire engine arrived the house was already in flames.

1.10/ "Another Japanese city, the big factory and transport centre of Hamamatsu,
south of Tokio, was left in flames yesterday after British and American warships
had bombarded it with more than 1000 tons of shells."

burst into flames

1.11/ The plane burst into flames.

1.12/ The car crashed into a tree and burst into flames.

1.13/ She managed to scramble out of the vehicle as it burst into flames.

douse the flames, extinguish the flames

1.14/ Efforts to douse the flames were hampered by high winds.

1.15/ "Shortly thereafter firefighters arrived and found the structure
actively burning, and quickly extinguished the flames."

1.16/ "Firefighters put out the flames after a pickup truck caught fire in Chico."

a candle flame

1.17/ "A candle flame is always pointing up."

1.18/ The candle flame flickered and went out.

1.19/ "A candle flame is formed because wax vaporizes on burning."

1.20/ "Blue candle flames are the universal symbol of spiritual entities."

an orange flame, a red flame, a blue flame

1.21/ Orange flames were already licking around the foot of the stairs.

1.22/ "Methane burns with a blue flame when mixed with air."

1.23/ "If you have used a gas stove before or seen one in use,
you must be aware that the flame color is usually blue."

1.24/ "If the flame on your gas stove turns red, you should stop using
the gas stove immediately and get it fixed."

a moderate flame, a small flame, a large flame

1.25/ Heat the olive oil over a moderate flame .

1.26/ "A student took some water in a beaker and heated it over a small flame
for determining its boiling point."

1.27/ "A pot is prepared over a small flame and moderately heated."

1.28/ "In a dai pai dong, many dishes are cooked in a wok over a large flame."

a naked flame, an open flame

1.29/ Never smoke or use spray paint near a naked flame.

1.30/ "Long sleeves prevent their skin from getting burnt
should they get close to an open flame."

(idiom) fan the flames of something: make a feeling such as anger or hate worse

2.1/ His writings fanned the flames of racism.

2.2/ "In place of Confucianism, the instructors taught science, mathematics,
geography, and an anti-imperialist version of Chinese history that fanned
the flames of nationalism."

2.3/ "Lu Xun's writings fanned the flames of cultural self-reflection
across the country."

ignite the flames of something

2.4/ "Celebrate Iqbal Day by embracing the poetic wisdom of Allama Iqbal,
whose verses ignite the flames of self-reflection and resilience."

takeaway n(c,u) //

a meal cooked and bought at a shop or restaurant
but taken somewhere else, often home, to be eaten

1.1/ Let's have a takeaway tonight.

1.2/ "I had a Chinese takeaway last night in the village."

1.3/ "Should I worry about eating too many takeaways?"

1.4/ He had a weekend job delivering Chinese takeaways.

1.5/ "A new Indian food truck in a Christchurch seaside suburb is
making takeaways affordable - at just $10 a meal."

1.6/ "Not all curry takeaways are halal. It's best to check each restaurant
carefully to see which offer halal friendly options."

1.7/ "As you may already be aware, the majority of fast food
and takeaways are unhealthy."

1.8/ Curry houses and Indian takeaways account for €2.5bn of trade.

1.9/ We were too tired to cook so we ordered takeaway.

1.10/ "Eating takeaway is less of a treat these days. It is a regular occurrence."

1.11/ "Order online from the best restaurants in London and get fresh
Mexican takeaway delivered to your door."

an eat-in meal

1.12/ Would you prefer an eat-in meal or just a takeaway?

n(c) a shop or restaurant which offers only takeaway to customers

2.1/ We can get something to eat from the Chinese takeaway.

2.2/ "CCTV footage showing a hapless thief stealing from a Mexican takeaway
will soon appear on a BBC television series."

2.3/ "They have all you could want from a pizza takeaway."

a takeaway food truck, a takeaway stall

2.4/ "Takeaway Titans presenter James Kavanagh, along with
his partner William Murray, has put his money where his mouth is and
opened a takeaway food truck."

2.5/ "Successful takeaway stalls can also generate queues and these need
to be managed to prevent them blocking the frontages of other stalls."

see also: dine in a restaurant, a dine-in restaurant, dine out
eat in a restaurant, an eat-in meal, eat out

remark: to 'eat in' means to have a meal at home rather than in a restaurant

n(singular) a main message or piece of information that you learn
from something you hear or read

the takeaway from something

3.1/ The takeaway from the conference was how competitive the tourism
industry has become.

3.2/ "My biggest takeaway from the presentation on the budget process was
the importance of communication and collaboration."

3.3/ "You can encourage attendees to share a key takeaway from the presentation
on social media using a specific hashtag, fostering online engagement."

takeaway points

3.4/ At the end of the class, the teacher gives us the takeaway points.

3.5/ "At the end of the training, the coach gave us the takeaway points."