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My Vocabulary Page

hot-air balloon   n(c)   //   PICTURE

a large balloon made of strong material that is filled with hot air
  or gas to make it rise in the air, usually carrying a basket for passengers

1/ "Experience the Taitung International Balloon Festival.
  Discover the magic of hot-air balloons in Taitung."

a hot-air balloon flies

2/ "How do hot-air balloons fly?"

3/ "Hot-air balloons fly low for a variety of reasons."

4/ "Hot-air balloons fly because the air inside the envelope is
  hotter than the outside air."

5/ "Many different hot-air balloons fly in the sky over a mountain valley."

watch a hot-air balloon fly

6/ "Visitors watch hot air balloons fly over the geopark."

7/ "I was sitting outside this evening and had the pleasure
  to watch a hot air balloon fly towards our house, directly over it,
  and then land at the lake nearby."

a hot-air balloon soars into the sky

8/ "A hot air balloon soars into the sky."

9/ "A vintage hot air balloon soars into the sky leaving
  a trail of smoke behind."

ride on a hot-air balloon

10/ "I rode on a hot-air balloon over Cappadocia, and the scenery was stunning."

11/ "The day you will ride on a hot-air balloon, the company will pick you up
  at your hotel around 5:00 am."

12/ "Ride on a hot-air balloon right at daybreak, giving you the most spectacular
  views as the sun crests over the horizon."

take a ride on a hot-air balloon

13/ "Let's take a ride on a hot-air balloon."

14/ "In order to have a lot of fun and yet spend less money, you should
  choose to take a ride on a hot-air balloon which will make you have
  an unforgettable moment."

get on/off a hot-air balloon

15/ "I got off the hot air balloon and got engaged!"

16/ "Sadly my anxiety would never let me get on a hot air balloon."

a hot-air balloon takes off

17/ "A hot-air balloon takes off sideways."

18/ "The hot-air balloon took off from Melbourne's northern suburbs
  early in the morning and was in the air for about 30 minutes before
  the man fell from the basket."

a hot-air balloon lands

19/ "How do hot air balloons land safely and not on top of schools?"

20/ "A hot air balloon landed on a residential street in Bedford on
  Saturday after people who lived in the neighbourhood guided it to safety."

a hot-air balloon bursts into flames

21/ "A hot-air balloon burst into flames mid-air in Brazil."

22/ "The hot-air balloon burst into flames only seconds from landing
  in a Egyptian sugar-cane field."

23/ "Witnesses looked on in horror as the hot-air balloon burst into
  flames and fell to the ground."

24/ "The family posed for a selfie just moments before the hot-air balloon
  burst into flames."

a hot-air balloon catches fire

25/ "The hot-air balloon caught fire during a sunrise flight over Luxor."

26/ "A hot-air balloon in Brazil catches fire and falls from the sky,
  killing 8 and injuring 13."

a hot-air balloon falls to the ground

27/ "A woman was killed when the hot-air balloon fell to the ground."

28/ "The hot-air balloon fell to the ground after crashing and losing control."

a hot-air balloon festival

29/ "Where is the hot air balloon festival in Taiwan in 2025?"

30/ "The Taiwan International Balloon Festival has become one of Taiwan's
  most anticipated summer events."

31/ "More than 300 angry customers are planning to take legal action against
  a trouble-plagued hot-air balloon festival in Hong Kong."

32/ "Hong Kong did not hold a successful large-scale hot air balloon festival
  in September 2025 due to a lack of proper government safety approvals."

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next up   adj   //

next in order to appear or happen, often in some form of entertainment

next up is ...

1/ "Next up is the guest bathroom!"

2/ Next up is a performance you won't want to miss.

3/ Next up is the latest news from the presidential campaign.

4/ "Next up is me to help close this out."

5/ Next up are tenor Mark Smith and soprano Julia Jones to sing two Haydn songs.

be next up to do something (= be next to do something)

6/ Harper is next up to bat for Philadelphia.

7/ "I am next up to bring a snack to my daughters."

(adv) next up

8/ Everyone please give another round of applause to our opening act.
  And now, next up, the main event.

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split   v(i,t)   //

divide, or make something divide, into two or more parts

split something

1.1/ "He split an apple with bare hands."

1.2/ He was a member of the team that split the atom in 1932.

1.3/ "He split a wooden plank with his bare hand."

split my legs

1.4/ "He tripped after I accidentally split my legs open."

1.5/ "Recently, I was able to split my legs fully and dance more fluently."

1.6/ "The older I get, the harder it is to split my legs in the air."

v(i) split

1.7/ If the nail you use is too big, there's a chance that the wood will split.

1.8/ "One woman apparently sustained a serious head injury when
  the mast split and fell on top of her and the others."

split something in half

1.9/ Split the coconut in half.

1.10/ "Can you actually split paper in half?"

1.11/ Split the aubergines in half and cover with breadcrumbs.

split something in two

1.12/ "The sea was split in two, and there was a pathway down the middle."

split in two

1.13/ Identical twins come from a single fertilized egg that splits in two.

1.14/ "The Mount of Olives will split in two, forming a deep valley
  that runs east and west."

split something (up) into something

1.15/ Each chapter is split into two parts.

1.16/ The corporation was split up into three separate companies.

1.17/ "The Civil War split the country into two."

1.18/ "The war split the country into supporters of the king and
  supporters of Parliament."

1.19/ "Can you split the work into smaller tasks for the team?"

split people/things (up) into groups

1.20/ She split the class into groups of four.

1.21/ The teacher split the children up into three groups.

split (up) into something

1.22/ Slate splits easily into thin sheets.

1.23/ The results split neatly into two groups.

1.24/ "There are three women and six men who will split up into three
  three-person teams."

split (something) from something

1.25/ "Yamaha Motor Company was split from the parent company."

1.26/ "Our ancestors' prenatal growth sped up after we split from chimps."

v(t) divide something into two or more parts and share it
  between different people or activities

split the money/cost

2.1/ "We have a deal, we split the money."

2.2/ The two men agreed to split the proceeds.

2.3/ "When riding with friends or groups, you can always split the cost."

split the work

2.4/ "Can we split the work?"

2.5/ "How can you split up work evenly on a team project?"

split the bill (see also: go Dutch)

2.6/ We share a house and split all the bills.

2.7/ "There were usually five or six of us and we split the bill evenly."

2.8/ "We split the bill evenly, but if someone orders extra drink shots,
  they cover their shots."

split something

2.9/ "You always have to split the food exactly evenly."

2.10/ "How do academics split the workload on a collaborative paper?"

split something with somebody

2.11/ She split the money she won with her brother.

2.12/ "We split the food with everyone and then the drinkers split the drinks bill."

split something between A and B

2.13/ His time is split between the London and Paris offices.

2.14/ "We split the reward between everyone who reported it."

v(i,t) divide, or make a group of people divide, into smaller groups
  that have very different opinions

split on/over something

3.1/ "Hong Kong split over political crisis."

3.2/ The committee split over government subsidies.

3.3/ The party finally split over the issue of gun control.

be split on/over something

3.4/ The party is deeply split on this issue.

3.5/ "In the time of Vietnam, the country was split over whether the country
  should have entered the war and whether the nation should continue to fight it."

3.6/ "As Dublin gears up for the visit, the city’s split over how (or even whether)
  to honour big international names who stir both admiration and criticism."

be split down the middle on something

3.7/ The community was split down the middle on this.

find something split on/over something

3.8/ The poll found the public evenly split on the issue.

3.9/ "In 1947, Gallup found the country split on whether this was worthwhile."

split something

3.10/ "Third parties will split votes."

3.11/ His candidacy split the Republican vote.

split (off) from something

3.12/ Several factions split from the party.

3.13/ "Protestants split from Catholics in 1517."

3.14/ "Protestants split from the Catholic Church back in fifteen hundreds."

3.15/ The sect split from the Mormon church more than a hundred years ago.

3.16/ A group of extremists split off from the Labour Party to form
  a new Workers Party.

v(i) leave somebody and stop having a relationship with them

split with somebody

4.1/ The singer split with his wife last June.

4.2/ "It's been three years since I split with my wife."

4.3/ "I recently split with my partner and have a hard time with it all."

split from a group

4.4/ She intends to split from the band at the end of the tour.

4.5/ "She chose to split from her family because they are troublemakers."

see also: split up (with somebody)

split   n(c)   //

an argument or disagreement that divides a group of people
  or makes somebody separate from somebody else

5.1/ Ten years after their acrimonious split, the band has reformed.

a split over something

5.2/ The union is desperate to avoid a split over this issue.

5.3/ "It caused a split over the issue of Islamic priorities."

5.4/ "When the war broke out, this caused a split over the issue of
  Cuban separatism, mainly along ethnic lines."

a split in/within something

5.5/ The argument could lead to a damaging split in the party.

5.6/ The move threatened to cause a split in the movement.

5.7/ A damaging split within the party leadership has occurred.

5.8/ "There's a split within the government over how to proceed."

a split with somebody

5.9/ She seems to be getting over her recent split with her fiancé.

5.10/ "I am going through a split with my wife and want nothing but
  to be the best dad possible."

5.11/ He found it difficult to cope in the years following his bitter
  split with his wife.

a split between A and B

5.12/ There is a split between the right and left wings of the party.

5.13/ There have been reports of a split between the Prime Minister
  and the Cabinet.

n(singular) a division between two or more things;
  one of the parts that something is divided into

6.1/ It's an even split; some love it, some hate it.

6.2/ In a publishing deal, the average split used to be 50:50 between
  writer and publisher.

a split in something

6.3/ He demanded a 50–50 split in the profits.

6.4/ "He expressed discomfort and asked for a 50/50 split, believing
  he contributed significantly by being there."

6.5/ "There was to be a three-way split in the profits."

6.6/ "I was the one who asked for a three-way split between those
  caramel cups, purple ones and toffee pennies."

n(plural) the splits: a position in which you stretch your legs flat across
  the floor in opposite directions with the rest of your body sitting straight up

7.1/ "The splits are a very challenging exercise."

do the splits

7.2/ "Is it normal if my legs hurt when I do the splits?"

7.3/ "I do the splits and post a photo with hashtag."

7.4/ "I would really love to learn to do the splits."

7.5/ "Even if you're not very flexible, you can still learn to do the splits."

7.6/ "Here is a way to learn to do the splits in two weeks."

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search   v(i,t)   //

look somewhere carefully in order to find something

search for somebody/something

1.1/ She searched in vain for her passport.

1.2/ "I searched for my keys in the morning."

1.3/ Police searched for clues in the area.

1.4/ "I ran amuck in the carnival crowd to search for my lost kid."

1.5/ "How do you search for a word in a dictionary?"

1.6/ "As a teenager, did you search for adult content?"

1.7/ "Should one search for the meaning of life or find meaning in their life?"

1.8/ "Officials are still searching for the missing 9-year-old girl."

search something for somebody/something

1.9/ "We search the world for talents."

1.10/ Police searched the area for clues.

1.11/ The police searched the woods for the missing boy.

1.12/ Firefighters searched the buildings for survivors.

1.13/ "You want to search the dictionary for a word you do not know."

search something

1.14/ His house had clearly been searched and the book was missing.

1.15/ "If a burglar searched your house, you should immediately call
  the police and remain in a safe location."

search something from top to bottom

1.16/ The detectives searched the house from top to bottom, but they
  found no sign of the stolen goods.

have something searched

1.17/ "I always have my bag searched upon leaving.

1.18/ "As a regular visitor, I've never had my bag searched on arrival."

1.19/ "She was one of the very few chosen to have her bags searched
  at the security checkpoint."

search through something (for somebody/something)

1.20/ The customs officers searched through our bags.

1.21/ He searched through his pockets for some change.

search in something (for somebody/something)

1.22/ She searched in the drawer for her passport.

1.23/ "They searched in the forest for a hollow tree."

search high and low

1.24/ I've searched high and low, but I can't find my birth certificate.

search for inner peace

1.25/ "I am searching for inner peace."

1.26/ "In today’s world, where we are searching for inner peace and happiness
  and looking to bring communities and cultures together, such places provide
  us the right answers."

search after inner peace

1.27/ People who are searching after inner peace sometimes turn to religion.

search your mind for something

1.28/ He searched his mind for something else to say.

1.29/ "It took me a long time to search my mind for the words."

search your memory for something

1.30/ "I search my memory for her name and come up blank."

1.31/ "She searched her memory for the man's name, but she couldn't
  remember it."

see also: look for somebody/something, seek somebody/something

v(t) (of the police) examine somebody’s clothes, their pockets, etc
  in order to find something that they may be hiding

search somebody

2.1/ "Why does airport security always search me?"

2.2/ "I was searched at the security checkpoint."

2.3/ Visitors are regularly searched as they enter the building.

2.4/ "A police officer searched me and my car."

2.5/ "A police officer searched me and then handcuffed me and placed me
  in the back of a police car."

search somebody for something

2.6/ The men were searched for drugs and then released.

2.7/ "A police officer searched me for a knife and found none."

2.8/ "As the officers searched him for any weapons or contraband, he allegedly
  kneed one cop in the face and continued to kick at them."

see also: interrogate somebody, be detained by the police

v(i) search for something: think carefully about something, esp in order
  to find the answer to a problem

3.1/ He searched desperately for something to say.

3.2/ We are continually searching for ways to cut costs.

3.3/ She paused, searching for the right word.

search for an answer

3.4/ They were still searching for answers about what had happened.

3.5/ We search for an answer to the question, "What is a superhero?"

3.6/ We search for an answer to the question "What Can I Do?" for my kids,
  for my friends, and for anyone affected."

search for a solution

3.7/ "I searched for a solution to a niche problem."

3.8/ "We search for a solution to the corresponding homogeneous equation."

3.9/ "We search for a solution to the Dirac equation for a particle at rest."

search for a response

3.10/ "As I've searched for a response to all this, what I've discovered
  is that words fall woefully short of my extreme remorse - I am so sorry."

v(i,t) look for information on a computer or on the internet

search for something

4.1/ You can search for any word or phrase in the text.

4.2/ "I've searched for more information on the internet."

search online (for something)

4.3/ "I search online for the name of the restaurant."

4.4/ I searched online today for more information on sonic booms.

search something

4.5/ The database can be searched by keyword, topic or source.

4.6/ "I can't see related images when I search an image on Google."

search something for something

4.7/ I searched the internet for recipes.

4.8/ I searched the internet for the best deal.

4.9/ "I want to search a dictionary for a key that matches exactly the last
  nine letters of the string."

search   n(c)   //

an attempt to find somebody or something

a search for somebody/something

5.1/ The search for a cure goes on.

5.2/ She began a search for new premises.

5.3/ "The search for the missing girl is still ongoing."

5.4/ "The search for the missing girl comes to a dead end."

5.5/ "The search for the missing girl was continuing on Tuesday evening."

5.6/ The police immediately launched a nationwide search for the killer.

5.7/ "The search for the lost plane is being coordinated by the ATSB and
  is expected to cost $60 million in the first year."

a search begins, a search is on

5.8/ The search is on for someone to fill the post.

5.9/ "My search for the meaning of life began with examining these
  Mediterranean sea pebbles, silent witnesses to millions of years of history."

a search ends, call off a search

5.10/ "The search ends here."

5.11/ Eventually the search was called off.

5.12/ "They just called off the ongoing search over the mountains
  because of the extreme weather preventing flight."

after a search

5.13/ After a long search, they finally found the lost child.

5.14/ After a long search, they eventually found the missing papers.

make a search (of something)

5.15/ The officers made a search of the garage.

5.16/ "They made a search of my house, showing interest in only manuscripts
  and typewritten letters."

carry out a search (of something)

5.17/ Detectives carried out a thorough search of the building.

5.18/ The police carried out a thorough search of the premises, but they
  failed to find any drugs.

conduct a search (of something)

5.19/ Police conducted a fingertip search of the garden.

5.20/ The school has the power to conduct a search of student lockers.

in search of something

5.21/ She was shot by a sniper when she went out in search of firewood.

5.22/ "In search of the missing boy, a well-armed trio of local strongmen sets out."

n(c) a body search

5.23/ "They began to do a body search on me."

5.24/ "I was asked to have a body search."

5.25/ "When you arrive at prison, you'll have a body search."

5.26/ "A body search is a thorough hand search. You may be asked to loosen
  or take off some clothing."

5.27/ "We carry out a body search or a cursory body inspection when there
  is reason to believe that there are items in your clothes or on your body
  that can be seized.

n(c) a search warrant

5.28/ "The police wanted to do a body search on me without a search warrant."

5.29/ "Police do not have to have a search warrant if the vehicle was
  stopped for a valid reason."

5.30/ "In most cases, police require a search warrant to enter and search
  a private residence."

see also: n(c) a quest for something, in quest of something

n(singular) an attempt to find an answer to a problem

a search for somebody/something

6.1/ Bad weather is hampering the search for survivors.

6.2/ It has been suggested that the search for happiness is our
  sole purpose in life.

6.3/ "In the search for inner peace, we allow ourselves time to decide
  how we want to show up in our lives."

a search for an answer

6.4/ "A quest is a search, and a question is a search for an answer."

6.5/ "The search for an answer to this question leads the investigator into
  the circle of relatives and friends of the young beauty."

a search for a solution

6.6/ "The common tale implies a search for a solution to a problem,
  followed by a Eureka moment, and the transfer of technology from the
  wine press to the printing press."

a search of something

6.7/ Two more bodies were found after a search of the woods.

6.8/ "Four years ago, a search of my house at 5am ushered in a nightmare period
  that at times I felt would go on forever."

n(c) an attempt to find information on a computer or on the internet

do a search for something

7.1/ I did a search for yoga clubs in my area.

7.2/ I did an image search for "vinyl record".

7.3/ "I am going to do a search on Google."

7.4/ "If you do a search online, you are bound to find other books or resources
  to support you in this process."

a search on something

7.5/ A Google search on her name yielded nothing.

7.6/ "How do I remove my info when people do a search on my name?"

7.7/ "Is the searcher performing a search on the topic of Marfan's,
  or are they looking with an author with that last name?"

search results

7.8/ Our site is found on the first page of search results.

7.9/ "Let's take a closer look at how Google presents the search results to users."

a search engine

7.10/ "The most popular search engine in China is Baidu."

7.11/ "Google is the most famous and dominant search engine globally."

7.12/ "While Google is the most popular search engine in Japan,
  other notable Japanese search engines include Yahoo!Japan and Goo."

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shooting star   n(c)   //   PICTURE

(also: a meteor /'mi:.ti.ɔ/)

1/ "A shooting star flies across the night sky."

2/ "Where is the best place to watch shooting stars?"

3/ "Shooting stars can occur at any time, but they are seen more
  during star showers or meteor showers."

(a shooting star) streaks across the night

4/ "A shooting star streaks across the night sky."

5/ "Three friends sit together in awe as they watch a shooting star
  streak across the night."

make a wish on a shooting star

6/ "You can make a wish on a shooting star."

1/ "Have you ever made a wish on a shooting star?"

7/ "I made a wish on a shooting star. Will it come true?"

a meteor shower

8/ "How can I watch a meteor shower?"

9/ "How do you wish on a meteor shower?"

10/ "A meteor shower will be visible this weekend."

11/ "A meteor shower will peak tonight and early tomorrow morning."

12/ "A meteor shower occurs when the Earth passes through the trail of
  debris left by a comet or asteroid.

13/ "In such cases, a meteor shower will be observed annually when Earth
  reaches this point in its orbit."

see also: comet, asteroid, meteoroid

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mishap   n(c,u)   //

bad luck, or an unlucky event or accident

1/ There were a few minor mishaps, but we got it all done in the end.

have a mishap

2/ "I had a mishap while pet sitting for friends."/

3/ I'm afraid your son had a slight mishap in the playground.

suffer a mishap

4/ "She apparently suffered a mishap at the races!"

5/ "During the morning training session, Toni Bou suffered a mishap
  which affected his right knee."

a series of mishaps

6/ A series of mishaps led to the nuclear power plant blowing up.

7/ The group suffered an extraordinary series of minor mishaps.

n(u) without mishap

8/ The parade took place without mishap.

9/ I managed to get home without mishap.

10/ The parade was very well organized and passed without mishap.

see also: n(c,u) misfortune, n(u) bad luck

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pay off   v   //

if something you have done pays off, it is successful

1.1/ The gamble paid off.

1.2/ "Our game plan didn't pay off."

hard work pays off

1.3/ "All my hard work paid off!"

1.4/ "Keep in mind that hard work will pay off in the long run."

1.5/ All her hard work paid off in the end, and she finally passed the exam.

(v) pay something off: pay back money that you owe

2.1/ We paid off our mortgage after fifteen years.

2.2/ "I get a credit card and pay off the money before the month is over."

pay off a debt

2.3/ "Should I pay my debt early?"

2.4/ He managed to pay off his debts in two years.

2.5/ We should be able to pay off the debt within two years.

2.6/ "Why should I pay off my credit card debt?"

(v) pay somebody off: pay somebody what they have earned and
  tell them to leave their job

3.1/ "My boss paid me off and sent me away."

3.2/ The crew were paid off as soon as the ship docked.

3.3/ "Twenty-eight employees were paid off by four consulting firms."

3.4/ "My company paid me off without any notice and promised
  to pay for next two months."

(v) pay somebody off: give someone money so that they will not
  do or say something, or so that they will go away

4.1/ All the witnesses had been paid off.

4.2/ "He did the shooting but paid witnesses off."

pay somebody off to keep quiet

4.3/ There were rumours that key witnesses had been paid off to keep quiet.

4.4/ "Her husband paid me off to keep quiet as he didn't want all his
  rich friends knowing his wife slept with me and half the resort."

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lifetime   n(singular)   //

the period of time during which somebody lives or something exists

seem/feel like a lifetime

1/ College seems half a lifetime away.

1/ It seems a lifetime since we first met.

1/ Christmas feels like a lifetime ago.

in somebody's lifetime

1/ I've seen many changes during my lifetime.

1/ We'll see a tremendous number of technological changes in our lifetime.

1/ "I may not live to see Halley's Comet in my lifetime when
  it returns because I will likely be dead by then."

1/ "I have two young kids - I don't want them to have to experience
  a war in their lifetime."

during somebody's lifetime

1/ His diary was not published during his lifetime.

1/ I never imagined that such an event would be possible during my lifetime.

in the course of a lifetime

1/ "I have gained wisdom in the course of a long lifetime."

1/ "So much has happened in the course of a lifetime."

last a lifetime

1/ Memories can last a lifetime.

1/ A watch of this quality should last a lifetime.

live a lifetime

1/ "Many with ADHD live a lifetime being criticized."

1/ You can live a whole lifetime and not witness such an event.

spend a lifetime doing something

1/ He had spent a lifetime trying to please his father.

1/ "Father Stan Swamy spent a lifetime working for the dispossessed
  and the disadvantaged."

the ... of a lifetime

1/ It's hard to break the habits of a lifetime.

1/ She gave the performance of a lifetime.

1/ Winners of the competition will get the holiday of a lifetime

1/ "For most newlyweds, the honeymoon is the trip of a lifetime."

1/ "The wilful and eccentric Lola Quinlan is off on the trip of a lifetime."

the chance/experience/opportunity of a lifetime

1/ "This is the opportunity of a lifetime."

1/ When she was offered the job she knew it was the chance of a lifetime.

1/ The 25-year-old is just grateful for the chance of a lifetime.

1/ "Mount St. Helens is the experience of a lifetime, and it's a wonderful
  antidote to too many theme parks."

(idiom) once in a lifetime

1/ An opportunity like this comes once in a lifetime.

1/ That sort of thing happens only once in a lifetime.

(compound noun)

1/ "Wisdom is a lifetime endeavor."

1/ You could win a lifetime supply of toothpaste.

1/ Marriage is no longer always seen as a lifetime commitment.

1/ The veteran actor was honoured with a lifetime achievement award.

receive/get/be given a lifetime ban from something

1/ He received a lifetime ban from cycling after testing positive
  for a performance-enhancing drug.

1/ "A Paralympic athlete has been given a life ban from their sport
  after failing a medical classification test."

1/ "He allegedly got a lifetime ban from Disney World for viral video."

1/ "All it took was one sentence for Susan Sarandon to be slapped
  with a lifetime ban from the Oscars, but she ended up getting the last laugh."

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weep   v(i,t)   //

cry, usually because you are sad

1.1/ She started to weep uncontrollably.

1.2/ I could hear someone weeping.

1.3/ Claire shut herself up in her own room to weep.

1.4/ "I'm so unhappy!" she wept.

1.5/ The mourners followed the funeral procession, weeping and wailing.

weep openly, weep privately

1.6/ "I wept privately in the bed."

1.7/ "Have you wept secretly?"

1.8/ The bereaved parents wept openly.

1.9/ "A Nigerian man wept publicly while sharing a testimony
  of how his wife welcomed triplets."

weep with/for something

1.10/ He wept for joy.

1.11/ She wept for joy when she was told that her husband was still alive.

1.12/ People in the street wept with joy when peace was announced.

1.13/ "I weep with sorrow; encourage me by your word." (Palsm 119:28)

1.14/ "He wept with sadness when people he loved rejected him and
  refused to accept his message of peace."

weep at/over something

1.15/ She wept bitterly at the news.

1.16/ He wanted to weep at the unfairness of it all.

1.17/ I do not weep over his death.

1.18/ We had wept over the death of our parents.

1.19/ "The wary women wept over the war waifs and weakened widows."

make somebody weep

1.20/ "He made me weep like a son weeps for a father."

1.21/ "The old photo album made her weep as she reminisced about her youth."

v(t) weep tears

1.22/ He wept tears of rage when he heard the news.

1.23/ He wept tears of joy when he heard the news.

1.24/ She wept bitter tears of disappointment.

1.25/ "The unexpected gift made her weep tears of joy and appreciation."

weep doing something

1.26/ "I wept looking at this photo."

1.27/ "I wept seeing that old woman who couldn't walk well running for safety."

1.28/ I could have wept thinking about what I'd missed.

weep to do something

1.29/ I wept to see him looking so sick.

1.30/ "It has been 30 years since people in China wept to say goodbye
  to the late Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai."

see also: cry, wail, sob

weep   n(singular)   //

an act of crying

2.1/ Get the handkerchiefs out for a weep.

2.2/ Sometimes you feel better for a good weep.

2.3/ I recommend a glass of wine and a weep.

2.4/ There's nothing like a bit of a weep to make you feel better.

have a weep

2.5/ "I had a weep last night."

2.6/ It might help you to have a good weep.

2.7/ "Mary felt better after having a weep."

---

whisper   v(i,t)   //

speak very quietly to somebody so that other people cannot
  hear what you are saying

1.1/ "Why are you whispering?"

1.2/ Don't you know it's rude to whisper?

1.3/ He could only whisper in reply.

1.4/ "I'm sorry," he whispered softly.

1.5/ "Can you meet me tonight?" he whispered.

1.6/ "Where are the toilets?" she whispered.

whisper something

1.7/ "What are you whispering?"

1.8/ She heard him whisper her name.

1.9/ "Nervous and timid, he whispered the chorus of his favorite song."

1.10/ "If I whispered a song only you could hear, would you sing along?"

whisper that ...

1.11/ She whispered that she would tell me all about it later.

1.12/ "I held Kiki and whispered that everything was fine."

whisper (something) in somebody's ear

1.13/ "The devil whispered in my ear."

1.14/ "She gave me a hello hug and whispered in my ear."

1.15/ She leaned over and whispered something in his ear

whisper about somebody/something

1.16/ What are you two whispering about?

1.17/ What are you two girls whispering about?

1.18/ "In this strange standoff, the villagers secretly whispered about the war."

1.19/ I felt that everyone was whispering about me.

1.20/ "His family members whispered about a boy who had been sent away
  shortly after his mother died."

whisper (something) to somebody

1.21/ "Let's go," she whispered to Anne.

1.22/ I whispered words of comfort to him.

whisper to somebody that ...

1.23/ He whispered to me that he was afraid.

1.24/ "They whispered to her that she couldn't withstand the storm."

see also: murmur

v(t) suggest privately that something might be true

people are whispering that ...

2.1/ People are whispering that she's going to retire next year.

2.2/ "People are whispering that an evil wizard is the cause of it all."

it is whispered that ...

2.3/ "It is whispered that he intended to resign."

2.4/ It was whispered that he would soon die and he did.

2.5/ "It is whispered that he is heavily in debt."

  n(c)   //

a low, quiet voice or the sound it makes

3.1/ "I love your whispers."

3.2/ A barely audible whisper came from the closet.

hear a whisper

3.3/ "I heard a whisper in my left ear."

3.4/ I heard whispers outside my room.

3.5/ "I heard whispers in the room."

in a whisper

3.6/ "She said the word in a whisper."

3.7/ "I love you," he said in a whisper.

3.8/ "But it just feels so frustrating," I said in a whisper.

in whispers

3.9/ They spoke in whispers.

3.10/ "We talked to her in whispers on the landline."

3.11/ They spoke in whispers, not wanting anyone to hear them.

be above a whisper

3.12/ "I feel the same way," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

drop to a whisper

3.13/ Her voice dropped to a whisper.

n(c) a suggestion or piece of information that you hear
  privately from somebody

4.1/ I've heard whispers that he's leaving.

4.2/ I've heard a whisper that they're heading for divorce.

4.3/ If the whispers are to be believed, the two companies are
  talking about a merger.

see also: n(c) rumour

---

overhear   v(i,t)   //

hear, esp by accident, a conversation in which you are not involved

v(i) stop overhearing, can't help overhearing

1/ "Stay cool and stop overhearing."

2/ I'm sorry, I couldn't help overhearing.

overhear somebody/something

3/ I overheard a very funny conversation on the bus this morning.

4/ I overheard a conversation between two boys on the bus.

5/ "Recently, I overheard my parents on the phone with my half sister."

be overheard /''əʊ.və'hɜ:d/

6/ We talked quietly so as not to be overheard.

7/ "Even when we were sitting around and talking, she would caution us
  to speak softly or avoid saying too much lest we were overheard."

overhear somebody doing something

8/ We overheard them arguing.

9/ "I overheard my classmates talking about me, saying that despite
  my efforts, I still don't seem to get anywhere."

10/ He overheard his daughter telling her doll not to be so naughty.

11/ "A week before Christmas, I overheard my parents and sister plotting
  to spend my money without me."

overhear somebody do something

12/ "I overheard my parents say we're moving countries."

13/ I overheard him say he was going to France.

14/ We overheard them say that they didn't really like the food.

see also: v(i) eavesdrop on somebody/something, listen in on somebody/something

---

eavesdrop   v(i)   //

listen secretly to what other people are saying

1/ "I can't stop eavesdropping."

2/ We caught him eavesdropping outside the window.

3/ He beckoned me into a little side room where no one could eavesdrop.

4/ I sat at the next table trying desperately to eavesdrop.

eavesdrop on something

5/ He was eavesdropping on our conversation.

6/ Police need a warrant if they want to eavesdrop on telephone conversations.

7/ "Once or twice afterwards, I eavesdropped on my parents' conversation."

8/ "Should teachers be allowed to eavesdrop on student's conversations?"

9/ How many big companies eavesdrop on employees' personal e-mail conversations?

10/ Have you eavesdropped on any good gossip lately?

11/ "NBC camera crews eavesdropped on the news meetings, at which what will
  and what won't be included in the next day's paper or in the evening's newscast
  is debated and decided."

eavesdrop on somebody (doing something)

12/ "I eavesdropped on my parents one night when they thought I was asleep."

13/ "I sat at the bottom of the steps and eavesdropped on my parents."

14/ "I eavesdropped on them sharing their story with another guest."

15/ "I'm actually a media student and just eavesdropped on my classmates
  having a conversation with the teacher."

---

grab pole     //   PICTURE

also: a train pole

hold a grab pole

1/ "I was able to hold the pole on the train."

2/ "I am too cool to hold the train pole."

3/ "I see people use a napkin to hold the pole on the train."

4/ "A guy on MRT picked his nose and then held the grab pole with the same hand."

hold onto a grab pole

5/ "Please always hold onto the grab pole in our trains."

6/ "The bus driver reminded us to hold onto the grab pole on the crowded bus."

grab a grab pole

7/ "He grabbed the grab pole with both hands."

8/ "I can finally grab the train pole with confidence."

lean on(/against) a grab pole

9/ "Don't lean on the subway pole!"

9/ "Inconsiderate passengers lean on the grab pole for their own support."

10/ "Could you please not lean on the pole for God's sake?"

11/ "She leaned her entire back against a vertical grab pole on a crowded MRT train."

12/ "Busy commute to work and this woman is leaning against the pole,
  on her phone, taking up as much room as possible preventing people from getting
  on the train while leaning on my hand the entire commute."

see also: a handrail, a grab handle, a grab bar, a grab rail, a stanchion

see also: standing passengers

---

whim   n(c)   //

a sudden wish, desire or idea

do something on a whim

1/ We booked the trip on a whim.

2/ We bought the house on a whim.

3/ He bought the jacket on a whim, having seen it by chance in a shop window.

4/ "I guess I can't live life on a whim."

5/ "We take the gravest decisions of our lives on a whim."

satisfy a whim, fulfill a whim

6/ "We haven't come here to satisfy your whims."

7/ The whims of rock stars can be hard to satisfy.

8/ "You have to become my toy and fulfill my whims."

indulge a whim, pander to a whim

9/ "I'm just gonna indulge my whim for drugs."

10/ "I sometimes indulge my whims by ordering dessert first at restaurants."

11/ "Jenny knows that her mother refuses to pander to her whims so she
  tries her father first."

indulge your every whim

12/ "Sometimes I indulge my every whim."

13/ "Oh for a husband who would indulge my every whim!"

14/ "They indulged my every whim, and I grew up in luxury."

pander to your every whim

15/ He was forced to pander to her every whim.

16/ The child's parents pandered to his every whim.

at the whim of somebody

17/ My duties seem to change daily at the whim of the boss.

18/ Tenants could be evicted at the whim of their landlord.

n(u) at whim

19/ "You can change jobs at whim."

20/ She hires and fires people at whim.

21/ They seem to be able to change the rules of the game at whim.

see also: n(c) wish, n(c,u) desire

---

flight   n(c)   //   PICTURE

a journey made by air, especially in a plane

1.1/ "How was your flight?"

1.2/ Did you have a good flight?

1.3/ I hope you enjoy the flight.

on a flight

1.4/ "I watched a movie on the flight to Tokyo."

1.5/ "What can I do to not get bored on a flight to New York?"

1.6/ It is vital that people get up and walk about if they are on a long-haul flight.

1.7/ She is booked on the 8 am flight to New York.

a flight from A to B

1.8/ We met on a flight from London to Paris.

1.9/ "How long is a flight from Hong Kong to Macau?"

1.10/ "The cheapest round-trip flight from New York to Paris starts at $530
  from Sat, Apr 25 to Sat, May 2."

the flight time from A to B

1.11/ The flight time from Heathrow to Marseilles is less than two hours.

1.12/ "Why does the flight time from Hong Kong to Vancouver differ from
  the flight time from Vancouver to Hong Kong?"

a long flight, a short flight

1.13/ It is a long flight to Dubai from the USA

1.14/ "It was a short flight from Hong Kong to Japan, and we were served lunch."

an outward flight, an outbound flight

1.15/ The outbound flight was smooth but the return flight was held up by six hours.

1.16/ "I'll just book an outward flight to save any inconveniences."

1.17/ "An outward flight is only needed if you're entering as a tourist."

1.18/ "On the outward flight to Villeneuve-St.Georges, his aircraft
  was attacked by a fighter."

a one-way flight

1.19/ "As missiles light the sky, she boards a one-way flight to Dubai."

a return flight

1.20/ The first prize is a return flight to Delhi.

1.21/ "On the return flight, she perishes in an air crash."

a round-trip flight

1.22/ "I have a round-trip flight from EWR to MSP."

1.23/ "I booked a round-trip flight from Amsterdam to London on KLM."

1.24/ "A round-trip flight is when you buy tickets once and the company
  provides you with tickets to and from your destination."

a direct flight

1.25/ "Can I get a direct flight to Vancouver?"

1.26/ At present there is no direct flight to Egypt from Namibia.

1.27/ "A direct flight from Hong Kong to Vancouver typically takes around
  11 hours and 35 minutes."

a connecting flight

1.28/ "Can you get on a connecting flight without getting on the first flight?"

1.29/ "You have to fly somewhere and then get on a connecting flight
  to get to your destination."

somebody's or a plane's first flight

1.30/ I'll never forget my first flight.

1.31/ The Wright Brothers made their first flight in the Kitty Hawk in 1903.

1.32/ The aircraft made its maiden flight in January 2019.

book a flight

1.33/ "We already booked a flight to Hong Kong."

1.34/ Have you had any luck with booking your flight?

check in before a flight

1.35/ Passengers are requested to check in two hours before the flight.

a flight is late/delayed/cancelled

1.36/ My flight was cancelled.

1.37/ If the flight is late, we'll miss our connection.

1.38/ All flights to New York today are delayed because of bad weather.

1.39/ All flights between New York and Washington have been cancelled due to fog.

a flight is on time

1.40/ "Since the airline is telling me that our flight is on time, I really
  should start packing soon."

a flight ticket

1.41/ "If you can spring it, buy a business-class ticket."

1.42/ "I booked a first-class ticket to Dallas weeks ago."

see also: on a trip, on a journey, on a voyage

see also: a flight attendant

n(c) a plane making a particular journey

(flight number)

2.1/ "This is the final call for Flight 306."

2.2/ "Attention passengers, this is the final call for Flight 123
  to New York. Please proceed to the gate immediately."

aboard a flight

2.3/ Welcome aboard flight BA345 to Tokyo.

2.4/ "Accidentally brought a knife aboard a flight."

2.5/ "The female patient arrived in Hong Kong aboard flight CX831."

a flight is boarding

2.6/ Flight BA 4793 is now boarding at Gate 17.

2.7/ "Flight CX450 to Hong Kong is now boarding."

2.8/ "Flight 474 to Buenos Aires is now boarding at Gate 9."

board a flight

2.9/ After a few phone calls he boarded a flight to Bangkok.

2.10/ "I am boarding my flight back to London after the best three
  weeks back home."

take a flight to somewhere

2.11/ "I took a flight to Shanghai yesterday."

2.12/ They took a commercial flight to Vicenza, Italy.

take a flight for somewhere

2.13/ She took a flight for Los Angeles.

2.14/ If you don't want to waste too much time on transport, take a flight
  for New York.

catch a flight

2.15/ If we leave now, I can catch the earlier flight.

2.16/ "It's getting late, and I really need to catch my flight."

miss a flight

2.17/ You should leave now or you'll miss your flight.

a flight takes off

2.18/ "More than once my flight took off early from Hongqiao or Wuxi."

2.19/ "The flight took off at 6:00 AM, bound for Italy."

a flight departs

2.20/ "The flight will depart for Tawau as soon as possible."

2.21/ "The flight departed from Hong Kong after midnight on 1st January 2025
  and landed at Los Angeles on 31st December 2024 at approximately 8 PM."

a flight lands

2.22/ "The flight landed in Los Angeles at 8:55 PM on December 31, 2025."

2.23/ "The arrival time should be the actual time that the flight lands
  at the airport of destination, not its scheduled arrival time."

a flight arrives

2.24/ "The flight arrived at JFK Airport around 11:30 pm."

2.25/ "The flight arrived in San Francisco Wednesday evening."

get on/off a flight

2.26/ "Do you have to get off the plane during a layover?"

2.27/ "Why is everybody in a hurry to get off the flight?"

2.28/ "He's hoping to get on a flight tomorrow, although he hasn't yet
  bought a ticket."

n(u) an occasion when something flies or moves through the air

3.1/ The wings vibrate during flight.

3.2/ Barn owls are capable of flight at 56 days.

in flight

3.3/ "Come back to watch the birds in flight!"

3.4/ The bird is easily recognized in flight by the black band at the end of its tail.

3.5/ "I dream to be in the middle of migratory birds in flight and to migrate
  with them."

3.6/ "In the air, migratory birds are in flight, and in the swamp, the frogs
  are making a racket that usually conjures images of much later in the season."

take flight

3.7/ They watched the young eagles take flight.

3.8/ Suddenly the whole flock of geese took flight.

3.9/ The bird took flight when we tried to approach it.

3.10/ "A chicken took flight long enough to land on the latch to a glass door."

3.11/ He was flapping his arms like a bird taking flight.

n(u) flight: the ability to fly

3.12/ Flight is natural to birds.

n(u,singular) the act of running away from a dangerous or difficult situation

4.1/ The story tells of his flight to safety.

flight from somebody/something

4.2/ They lost all their possessions during their flight from the invading army.

4.3/ "The team analyse little-known stories of flight from the Nazi era."

4.4/ "Next time we will go on to talk about what can strengthen us in
  our flight from danger."

in flight from somebody/something

4.5/ The main character is a journalist in flight from a failed marriage.

take flight (= run away)

4.6/ The burglars took flight when the alarm sounded.

4.7/ The gang took flight when they heard the police car.

4.8/ As soon as they detected the cheetah it took flight.

4.9/ Fearing arrest, they took flight and hid in the mountains.

be put to flight

4.10/ The army was defeated and the king put to flight.

4.11/ The rebels were put to flight by the small regiment.

see also: (v) run away, a runaway

---

take flight   (phrase)   //

(US) begin a period of rapid activity, development, or growth

1/ "The Indian IT industry took flight in the 1990s."

2/ "The idea really took flight and soon it seemed everyone was copying it."

3/ The company took flight overnight in 2008, when Hong Kong actress and
  brand ambassador Carina Liu Jialing famously said "Yan Palace is my brand of
  choice for bird's nest products."

4/ "When the market took flight in 1933, so did Graham, whose partnership
  that year earned more than 50%."

the economy takes flight

5/ "In the 1960s, the Japanese economy took flight."

6/ In the 70s and 80s, the US watched in awe as the Japanese economy took flight.

7/ "The turning point for local fashion came in the 1960s when the economy
  took flight and the textile industry boomed."

see also: take off

remark: see 'flight' for other meanings of the phrase 'take flight'

---

stair   n(c)   //   PICTURE

n(plural) stairs: a set of steps built between two floors inside a building

a flight of stairs (/a flight of steps)

1.1/ We live up three flights of stairs.

1.2/ We had to carry the piano up three flights of stairs.

1.3/ She fell down a flight of stairs and hurt her back.

climb the stairs

1.4/ He climbed the stairs to his bedroom.

1.5/ "You have to climb the stairs to reach your positive goal."

on the stairs

1.6/ He remembered passing her on the stairs.

1.7/ "Are there rails to hold on to when walking on the stairs?"

1.8/ "Do you have unforgettable moments when you are on the stairs?"

up the stairs

1.9/ The children ran up the stairs.

1.10/ "I walked up the stairs every single day for a month."

1.11/ "Go up the stairs and her office is on the right."

(adv) upstairs /''ʌp'steəz/

1.12/ "My bedroom is upstairs."

1.13/ I carried her bags upstairs.

1.14/ She went upstairs to get dressed.

1.15/ I turned and walked back upstairs.

1.16/ He heard glass breaking and ran upstairs to see what had caused it.

down the stairs

1.17/ "I didn't fall down the stairs."

1.18/ "You fell down the stairs into my arms."

1.19/ "I fell and rolled down the stairs when I was a kid."

1.20/ "I'm gonna come down the stairs and grab some stuff."

1.21/ "I struggle to walk down the stairs safely."

1.22/ "The elevator was out of order, so I went down the stairs."

(adv) downstairs /''daʊn'steəz/

1.23/ I heard someone coming downstairs.

1.24/ Wait downstairs in the hall.

1.25/ She rushed downstairs and burst into the kitchen.

1.26/ I couldn't sleep so I went downstairs and watched TV.

see also: a staircase, a ramp, n(plural) railings

n(c) stair: one of the steps in a set of stairs

2.1/ "Guess the number of stairs!"

2.2/ How many stairs are there up to the second floor?

the top stair, the bottom stair

2.3/ He sat waiting on the bottom stair.

2.4/ "Sit on the top stair with both feet two steps below you and slightly apart."

2.5/ The top stair creaked as she went upstairs and the noise woke up her mother.

---

predict   v(t)   //

say that something will happen in the future

predict something

1/ Astronomers can predict the exact time of an eclipse.

2/ "Predict the finals of the UEFA champions league. Me: Liverpool vs Madrid."

3/ It's still not possible to accurately predict the occurrence of earthquakes.

4/ We can predict changes in climate with a surprising degree of accuracy.

predict the outcome/result

5/ Nobody could predict the outcome.

6/ "I attempt to predict the result of an NBA game."

7/ "Can you predict the weekend's Premier League results?"

8/ "This lecture will teach you how to predict the result of a speed race.

predict an increase/decrease

9/ They predict a 2% to 4% sales increase.

10/ "Experts predicted an increase in sunflower seed harvest in the
  Russian Federation to 19.1 million tons by 2030."

11/ "World Economic Outlook has predicted a decrease in global inflation
  rate to 7% in 2023."

predict the degree(/extent) to which ...

12/ It is still too early to predict the degree to which prices will rise.

13/ "Who could have ever predicted the extent to which we would miss
  so much human connection in our day to day lives?"

14/ "None of the factors significantly predicted the extent to which men
  would visit their primary care physician in response to physical health concerns."

predict a victory, predict a lost

15/ "I predict a lost to Ohio."

16/ Few would have dared to predict such a landslide victory.

predict the winner

17/ "Anyone dare to predict the winner of this contest?"

18/ "Predict the champion of this World Cup boldly?"

19/ "A supercomputer has predicted the winner of the 2026 FIFA World Cup
  after all 48 teams confirmed, but the race remains wide open."

predict the weather

20/ Heavy snowfalls are predicted for tonight and tomorrow.

21/ "How hard is it to predict rain in Guernsey?"

22/ "How do some people predict rain just by looking at the sky?"

23/ "I heard the weatherman predict a sunny day."

predict the future

24/ "Simpsons predicted the future of USA in war."

25/ "We predicted a doomed future for all of humanity."

26/ He predicts a bright future for the business in the next financial year.

predict + wh-clause

27/ I cannot predict what will happen next year.

28/ "Predict who will win the FIFA World Cup 2018."

29/ No one can predict when the disease will strike again.

30/ We can predict with absolute confidence how the newspapers will react.

31/ It is not possible to predict with any certainty what effect this will have.

32/ A few brain scans predicted how many people would watch The Walking Dead.

33/ "ChatGPT has predicted how much money all three movies might make
  in theaters."

predict (that) ...

34/ "My parents predicted I would work for Hallmark one day."

35/ He predicted that it would be a bestseller.

36/ She predicted that the election result would be close.

37/ Who could have predicted that she would win the election?

it was predicted that ...

38/ It was predicted that inflation would continue to fall.

39/ It was predicted that a comet would collide with one of the planets.

be predicted to do something

40/ The trial is predicted to last for months.

41/ This figure is predicted to rise to one billion by the year 2030.

42/ The hurricane is predicted to reach the coast tomorrow morning.

be easily predicted (see also: predictable)

43/ Every step in the movie is easily predicted.

44/ "Our moves are easily predicted by enemies."

be hard/impossible to predict

45/ "My mood is hard to predict."

46/ "It is hard to predict the current of the river."

47/ "Technology is developing exponentially, so it is impossible to predict
  the future confidently."

see also: forecast, make (a) prediction

---

obstacle   n(c)   //

something that makes it difficult to achieve something

1/ "The obstacle is the way. What stands in the way becomes the way."

2/ The area was full of streams and bogs and other natural obstacles.

an obstacle to something

3/ Fear of change is an obstacle to progress.

4/ This issue is a major obstacle to a successful peace treaty.

5/ "A not-good-enough mindset is an obstacle to success."

6/ The huge distances involved have proved an obstacle to communication
  between villages.

7/ "Failure should be considered an essential learning experience
  instead of an obstacle to success."

an obstacle to doing something

8/ "There are still numerous obstacles to ending the war in Ukraine."

9/ A lack of qualifications can be a major obstacle to finding a job.

an obstacle to somebody doing something

10/ "The biggest obstacle to me learning more is myself."

11/ "My social media accounts and the stuff I posted in the past could
  be an obstacle to me studying in the States."

12/ "The biggest obstacle to me learning more is myself."

an obstacle in somebody's way

13/ "I can see all obstacles in my way."

14/ The biggest obstacle in our way was a tree trunk in the road.

15/ "I am a hard-working person and enjoy handling the obstacles in
  my way to success."

an obstacle in the way

16/ "There may be too many obstacles in the way of progress."

17/ "They are the two most common obstacles in the way to healing
  and transformation."

put/pose an obstacle in the way of somebody/something

18/ "The Vatican cannot be allowed to put obstacles in the way of
  an active equality policy at home."

19/ The release of prisoners remains an obstacle in the path of
  a peace agreement.

20/ The tax puts obstacles in the way of companies trying to develop
  trade overseas.

21/ "The lack of community support services provided by the Government has
  also posed an obstacle in the way of women who wish to find a job."

be no obstacle

22/ Money seems to be no obstacle.

23/ "At Business Square, time is no obstacle on the path to success."

face/encounter an obstacle

24/ "In the past, some of them had faced obstacles to return."

25/ "Entrepreneurs have encountered obstacles to expansion."

26/ "Children's goals changed significantly when they encountered
  obstacles to conflict resolution."

overcome/remove an obstacle

27/ Women still have to overcome many obstacles to gain equality.

28/ This decision has removed the last obstacle to the hostages' release.

29/ We want to remove all obstacles to travel between the two countries.

succumb(/give in) to an obstacle

30/ "Love never basely succumbs to obstacles."

31/ "She was always truthful, very independent, strong-willed and
  never succumbed to obstacles or difficult circumstances."

32/ "We are less likely to give up or give in to obstacles and challenges."

see also: a hindrance to somebody/something

---

birthday   n(c)   //

the day in each year which is the same date as the one on which you were born

1.1/ Happy birthday, Flavio!

1.2/ Happy birthday to you!

1.3/ My birthday is on a Friday this year.

1.4/ They share the same birthday.

1.5/ Three of my friends have birthdays this month.

1.6/ "Birthdays kind of go downhill the older you get."

wish you a happy birthday

1.7/ I didn't even see her to wish her a happy birthday.

my birthday is on the first of July

1.8/ My birthday is on the second of October.

1.9/ My birthday is on the fourth of January.

1.10/ My birthday is on the fourth of December.

1.11/ My birthday is on the twenty-third of February.

1.12/ My birthday is on the twentieth of November.

1.13/ "The Queen's birthday is on April 21st."

1.14/ "Mr Keung's birthday is on the thirtieth of April."

1.15/ "The twins' birthday is on the thirteenth of May."

on my birthday

1.16/ "I took my daughter to McDonald's on her birthday."

1.17/ "I treated my mom to a buffet on her birthday."

1.18/ "My friend treated me to Saizeriya on my birthday."

1.19/ "My father treated me to dinner on my birthday."

1.20/ "My girlfriend gave me a present on my birthday."

1.21/ "My parents still expect me to do homework on my birthday."

for my birthday

1.22/ What do you want for your birthday?

1.23/ They sent her flowers for her birthday.

1.24/ "My friend gave me a gift for my birthday."

the twentieth birthday

1.25/ It's her twenty-first birthday.

1.26/ "My twelfth birthday is in eighteen days."

1.27/ "My twenty-first birthday is around the corner."

1.28/ "I'm getting close to twenty-first birthday."

1.29/ "Getting to my twenty-first birthday was a milestone for me."

1.30/ "In Japan, the sixtieth birthday is called Kanreki."

1.31/ She was joined by family on the occasion of her 65th birthday."

1.32/ The closer it keeps getting to my 30th birthday, the more depressed I feel.

turn eighteen years old

1.33/ "I am turning 18 this year."

1.34/ "I am about to turn 18 years old."

1.35/ "What advice would you give a young man about to turn 21 years old?"

know/remember my birthday

1.36/ "Do you know my birthday?"

1.37/ "I always remember her birthday."

1.38/ "Do you still remember your parents' birthday?"

forget/miss my birthday

1.39/ "Everyone forgot my birthday today."

1.40/ "My parents forgot my birthday. How should I react?"

1.41/ "My friends have missed my birthday a couple of times."

1.42/ "My parents travel a lot for work, but they never miss my birthday."

celebrate a birthday

1.43/ "No one wants to celebrate my birthday."

1.44/ "Sometimes we have to celebrate our birthdays alone.

1.45/ "How people with no friends celebrate their birthday?"

1.46/ "We wanted to celebrate my daughter's birthday in a restaurant."

celebrate a birthday witht somebody/something

1.47/ "I have no friends to celebrate my birthday with."

1.48/ "I prefer to celebrate my birthday with my family."

1.49/ She celebrated her 21st birthday with a party for family and friends.

have a birthday celebration

1.50/ He's having a belated birthday celebration at home.

spend your birthday

1.51/ "Would you spend your birthday on your own?"

1.52/ She spent her fiftieth birthday in Paris.

1.53/ "I would like to spend my birthday with my family."

1.54/ "I want to spend my birthday on a boat."

1.55/ "I spent my birthday on a solo trip to Scottsdale."

spend your birthday doing something

1.56/ "I spent my birthday playing Stardew Valley!"

1.57/ "I spent my birthday cleaning my house."

1.58/ "I spent my birthday doing chores and laundry."

see also: (somebody) was born in 1990, give birth to a baby

see also: n(u) childbirth, n(u) childbearing, a birthmark, a birth attendant

birthday-related terms

a birthday party

2.1/ "Jesus came to my birthday party."

2.2/ Thank you for coming to my birthday party.

2.3/ Are you going to Ellen's birthday party next week?

2.4/ "My friends didn't show up at my birthday party."

2.5/ "I missed my friend's birthday party."

2.6/ "How many of us never had a birthday party as a kid?"

host/throw a birthday party

2.7/ "We host a birthday party at home."

2.8/ We throw a fun birthday party at McDonald's.

sing the birthday song

2.9/ "People start to sing the birthday song to me."

2.10/ "Nobody sang happy birthday to me, so I sang it myself."

a birthday cake

2.11/ "I have never had a birthday cake."

2.12/ "I made a homemade birthday cake for my kid."

2.13/ "My son's girlfriend bought a birthday cake for my birthday."

a birthday gift, a birthday treat

2.14/ "I have received a birthday gift before."

2.15/ "I got a birthday gift from my husband in advance."

2.16/ "My husband gave me a gift today from him and the kids."

2.17/ We're taking him to see the new film for his birthday treat.

a birthday card

2.18/ "The birthday card is about them and their special day."

2.19/ "I wrote a birthday card to my wife once.

2.20/ "I am going to write a birthday card to a friend.

2.21/ "Why is it so hard to write a birthday card sometimes?"

2.22/ "What do you write in a birthday card?"

2.23/ "Writing the perfect message in a birthday card can sometimes feel daunting."

2.24/ It's Steve's birthday on Thursday - I must send him a card.

a birthday surprise

2.25/ "So touched he gave her a birthday surprise!"

2.26/ He had a portrait painted as a birthday surprise for his daughter.

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jellyfish   n(c)   //   PICTURE

(plural: jellyfish)

1/ "Jellyfish can't swim in the night."

2/ "Jellyfish are squishy and hard to pin down."

3/ "It sucks to swim like a jellyfish."

4/ "Jellyfish swim in the sea. They are poisonous and don't splash at all."

watch jellyfish

5/ "I like to watch jellyfish in aquariums."

6/ "We watch jellyfish in an aquarium at Ocean Park."

7/ "I specifically love to watch jellyfish in the water."

snorkel with jellyfish

8/ "I have never snorkelled with jellyfish before. ."

9/ "What an experience to snorkel with jellyfish in a lake!"

eat jellyfish

10/ "Can you eat jellyfish? Are jellyfish edible?"

11/ "Jellyfish are considered a delicacy in some Asian countries."

be stung by a jellyfish

12/ "I got stung by a jellyfish. What should I do?"

13/ "What should I do if someone has been stung by a jellyfish?"

a jellyfish sting

14/ "You shouldn't pee on a jellyfish sting."

15/ What's the best way to cure a jellyfish sting?

16/ "Lavender and tea tree essential oils may help soothe jellyfish stings."

17/ "It is important to debunk the myth that urine can relieve a jellyfish sting."

18/ Jellyfish stings can be painful, but most are minor and can be treated easily.

19/ "To treat a jellyfish sting you should rinse the affected area with
  seawater and take pain relief. "

the bell of a jellyfish

20/ "A jellyfish has an umbrella-shaped bell and trailing tentacles."

21/ "Jellyfish push off a pocket of water under their bell to swim faster."

22/ "As a jellyfish extends and contracts its bell, it creates two vortices
  at the edge of the bell that move water away from the animal's body."

tentacles of a jellyfish

23/ "The tentacles of a jellyfish come in all shapes and sizes."

24/ "The tentacles of a jellyfish can reach up to 200 feet."

25/ "The lion's mane jellyfish's tentacles can reach over 30 metres in length."

26/ "Jellyfish tentacles are not some collection of dead cells that
  hang without control."

see also: squid, cuttlefish, octopus

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afford   v(i,t)   //

(no passive voice) have enough money to be able to buy or do something

(can/could/be able to) afford something

1.1/ Can we afford a new car?

1.2/ "I feel like I can't afford a house."

1.3/ "Young people can't afford homes anymore."

1.4/ "Obviously not everyone can afford a Switch 2.

1.5/ I'd give up work if I could afford it.

1.6/ "There are many bright students who can't afford school fees."

1.7/ "How do UK schools support students whose families can't afford
  school meals?"

1.8/ He is over 60 and can't afford his pension contributions.

1.9/ "Most of them can't afford the costs of books and other teaching materials."

can't afford school/college

1.10/ "I can't afford college."

1.11/ "Tell the children that their parents couldn't afford school back then."

1.12/ "How do I make more money when I can't afford school and I can
  barely pay my bills?"

afford $1,000 for something

1.13/ None of them could afford £50 for a ticket.

1.14/ "I can afford $100 for the delivery."

1.15/ "You can afford a million dollars for a picture with you and Trump."

1.16/ "The government can afford a million dollars for a New Year's bash
  on the St. John's waterfront."

afford something on your income

1.17/ "Can I afford a house on my income?"

1.18/ I don't know how he can afford a new car on his salary.

1.19/ "I had no idea how I was going to afford a new computer on my dismal
  freelancer's salary."

have saved up money and can afford something

1.20/ "I've saved up money and can afford a Switch 2."

1.21/ "If you've saved up money and can afford to invest it in stocks, ones
  that pay dividends can help make the most of your investment."

v(i) afford to do something

1.22/ We can't afford to have children.

1.23/ We can't afford to go abroad this summer.

1.24/ We can afford to go to Miami this year.

1.25/ She can well afford to pay for herself.

1.26/ "We walked because we couldn't afford to take a taxi."

1.27/ They couldn't afford to buy a house there.

1.28/ I couldn't possibly afford to eat in that restaurant.

1.29/ Debt is not necessarily a bad thing if the consumer can afford to pay it back.

afford the money to do something

1.30/ He couldn't afford the money to go on the trip.

1.31/ "People mocked me because I couldn't afford the money to take a cab."

1.32/ "If you can't afford the money to buy a gift, consider giving a gift of time."

see also: buy, pay for something

(no passive voice) cannot afford: if you cannot afford to do something,
  you must not do it because it would cause serious problems for you

cannot afford to do something

2.1/ We can afford to wait.

2.2/ We cannot afford to ignore this warning.

2.3/ We simply can't afford to take any risks.

2.4/ I can't afford to pay attention to any controversy.

2.5/ "We can't afford to waste time kissing."

2.6/ Can you afford to take any time off work?

2.7/ "President Trump says the war with Iran is one we can't afford to lose."

can/could least afford to do something

2.8/ They could ill afford to lose any more staff.

2.9/ The people who suffer most are those who can least afford to lose.

cannot afford something

2.10/ We cannot afford any more delays.

2.11/ She felt she couldn't afford any more time off work.

2.12/ "I couldn't afford more trouble, so I sneaked out of the office
  and drove home."

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put up with somebody/something   (v)   //

accept somebody/something that is annoying or unpleasant
  without complaining

put up with somebody

1/ I don't know how she puts up with him.

2/ "I can't put up with you any longer."

3/ "I have to put up with my parents all day."

4/ He's so moody - I don't know why she puts up with him.

5/ I don't know how you put up with John - he's such a loudmouth!

put up with something

6/ "She has put up with it this long."

7/ They have a lot to put up with.

8/ I can't put up with a leaky freezer.

9/ I put up with her tantrums for 30 years.

10/ I'm not going to put up with their nonsense any longer.

11/ " We had to put up with the inconvenience."

12/ I don't know how he puts up with their constant complaining.

13/ I can put up with the house being messy, but I hate it if it's not clean.

14/ I really like my job, for the most part, but I do have to put up with
  a lot of tedious busywork.

put up with somebody doing something

15/ " This will enable your dog to put up with your being absent."

16/ "He would not put up with you sleeping in his class either."

17/ "She is one tough cookie to put up with you running around in your underwear."

see also: tolerate, accept, be fed up with somebody/something,
  be done with somebody/something

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combine   v(i,t)   //

unite or join together to make a single thing or group

1.1/ "Let's combine together, then decide."

combine to do something

1.2/ Hydrogen and oxygen combine to form water.

1.3/ Several factors had combined to ruin our plans.

1.4/ These normally harmless substances combine to form a highly poisonous gas.

1.5/ "Available evidence combines to indicate that the attack on LIBERTY
  on 8 June was in fact a case of mistaken identity."

combine with something (to do something)

1.6/ Hydrogen combines with oxygen to form water.

1.7/ "The alternative flour combines with eggs, butter and cheese to create
  some seriously good eats."

combine something

1.8/ Combine all the ingredients in a bowl.

1.9/ None of us has much money so let's combine what we've got.

1.10/ I like to travel and make films, and I'm now able to combine the two.

1.11/ "On occasion these qualities are combined in a single person."

1.12/ "The couple can fill the cup with the drink of their choice, or they can
  combine two drinks together to further symbolize their union."

1.13/ "What happens when you combine a group of people together in a recording
  studio in Nashville to share in the love of music?"

combine A with B

1.14/ Combine the eggs with a little flour.

1.15/ "Combine milk with tea bags and zest in a medium saucepan."

1.16/ "Combine milk with unsweetened cocoa, cinnamon, sugar and a dash of
  chili powder for a new twist on hot chocolate."

combine A and B (together)

1.17/ Combine the eggs and the flour.

1.18/ "How to combine hard work and smark work for success."

1.19/ "What happens when you combine talents and a group of people with
  desire to tell stories?"

combine A into B

1.20/ "We combine advantages into the unique product."

1,21/ "Smaller pieces are combined into a bigger artwork."

1.22/ Small units, such as words, can be combined into larger units, such as clauses.

1.23/ "How can multiple PDF files be merged and combined into a single file?"

v(t) if somebody/something combines two or more qualities, they have
  both of those qualities

combine a group of things

2.1/ "The woman who combines all good qualities."

2.2/ The new councils combine the functions of district and regional councils.

2.3/ We are still looking for someone who combines all the necessary qualities.

combine A and B

2.4/ As a writer, he combined wit and passion.

2.5/ "She is a woman who combines beauty and wisdom."

2.6/ This model combines a printer and scanner.

2.7/ The other room was a kitchen and dining room combined.

combine A with B

2.8/ The hotel combines comfort with convenience.

2.9/ The band combines musical talent with brilliant showmanship.

2.10/ These materials combine enormous strength with light weight.

2.11/ She manages to combine a sharp mind with a sympathetic manner.

combine the old with the new

2.12/ "Asakusa is a vibrant town that combines the old with the new."

2.13/ They have successfully combined the old with the new in this room.

2.14/ "The renovation of the offices in the historic building combined
  the old with the new."

v(t) do two or more things at the same time

combine A and B

3.1/ "How do you combine working and studying?"

3.2/ She has successfully combined a career and bringing up a family.

3.3/ She manages to successfully combine family life and a career.

combine A with B

3.4/ The trip will combine business with pleasure.

3.5/ He successfully combines his career with family life.

3.6/ This exercise combines stretching with deep breathing.

3.7/ The courses allow students to combine their studies with employment
  or other activities.

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