lesson two

pound/hit the pavement

to work very hard to get something, especially a job, by going to a lot of different places:
• For months, Garcia pounded the pavement for jobs.
rumor =noun [U]

1 information that is passed from one person to another and which may or may not be true, especially information about someone's personal life or about an official decision [+ about/of]:
• Rumors of war were everywhere. [+ that]:
• Knox denied rumors that he might be running for office.:
• Rumor has it that the romance is over between Ryder and Depp.
2 the rumor mill the people, considered as a group, that discuss something and pass rumors to each other:
• Skinner's name has come up in the rumor mill as a possible director for the project.
increase verb [I,T] Spoken: 2000 • Written: 1000

to become larger in amount, number, or degree, or to make something do this:
increase2 noun [C,U] Written: 1000
a rise in amount, number, or degree:
increased adjective
larger or more than before:
• Men as well as women are at increased risk for cancer from X-rays.
basically =adverb Spoken: 1000 • Written: 3000

[sentence adverb] SPOKEN used when giving the most important reason or fact about something, or a simple explanation of something:
• Basically, you just have to write what the teachers want.
• Well, basically, she's just a lot of fun to work with.
2 in the main or most important ways, without considering additional details or differences:
• Norwegian and Danish are basically the same.
3 in a very simple way, with only the things that are completely necessary:
• The office was very basically equipped.
Find out =phrasal verb

1 [I,T find sth<-> out] to learn information, either by chance or after trying to discover it:
• From the minute Joyce found out she had cancer, she lost all hope. [+ who/what/how etc.]:
• Can't you call those guys and find out where our pizza is? [+ that]:
• When I got to the airport, I found out that the flight had been canceled. [+ about]:
• You find out a lot about people on these trips. [+ if/whether]:
• I had some tests done to find out if I have any food allergies.
2 [T find sb out] to discover that someone has been doing something dishonest or illegal:
• After years of stealing from the company, Andrews was finally found out.



Worth= preposition

1 be worth to have a value in money:
• How much is the ring worth?
• sth is worth $10/$50 etc.: The vase is worth $3500.
• My stamp collection is definitely worth a lot.
• If the dolls are not in their original package, they're not worth anything.
• Haring's paintings are now worth a fortune (= extremely valuable).
Spoken phrases
6 for what it's worth used to say that you are not sure of the value or usefulness of what you are saying:
• For what it's worth, I think you did a fine job.
destroy

1 to damage something so badly that it does not exist anymore or cannot be used or repaired:
• Pollution may destroy the 17th century shrine.
• An accident destroyed her ballet career.

Walks of life=noun [C]

the position in society someone has, especially the type of job they have:
• from every walk of life/from all walks of life: People from all walks of life took part in the celebration.

monkey see

= monkey do SPOKEN used to say that people will often do what they see other people doing, even if it is silly or stupid --see also GREASE MONKEY


grease monkey =noun [C] INFORMAL


someone who repairs car engines or other machinery; MECHANIC

off the cuff = adjective [usually before noun]


an off-the-cuff remark, reply etc. is one that you make without thinking about it first:
• There were many hilarious discussions and off-the-cuff remarks.
off-the-cuff adverb

speak of sth phrasal verb [T] LITERARY


to show clearly that something happened or that it exists:
• The lines on her face spoke of her frustration.

be just doing sth

to be starting to do something:
We're just sitting down to eat - can I call you later?