If we conceive of the meaning of a noun as a continuum from being specific to being general and abstract, we can see how it can move from being a count noun to a mass noun. Consider, for example, the noun experiences. When I say
I had many horrifying experiences as a pilot. I'm referring to specific, countable moments in my life as a pilot. When I say, This position requires experience. I'm using the word in an abstract way; it is not something you can count; it's more like an idea, a general thing that people need to have in order to apply for this job.
If I write The talks will take place in Degnan Hall. these talks are countable events or lectures. If I say I hate it when a meeting is nothing but talk. the word talk is now uncountable; I'm referring to the general, abstract idea of idle chatter. Evils refers to specific sins — pride, envy, sloth, and everyone's favorite, gluttony — whereas evil refers to a general notion of being bad or ungodly.
One more example: "I love the works of Beethoven" means that I like his symphonies, his string quartets, his concerti and sonatas, his choral pieces — all very countable things, works. "I hate work" means that I find the very idea of labor, in a general way, quite unappealing. Notice that the plural form means something quite different from the singular form of this word; they're obviously related, but they're different. What is the relationship between plastic and plastics, wood and woods, ice and [Italian] ices, hair and hairs?
Further, as noted earlier, almost all mass nouns can become count nouns when they are used in a classificatory sense:
- They served some nice Brazilian wines.
- There were some real beauties in that rose garden.
- We had some serious difficulties in this project.
But some things cannot be made countable or plural: we cannot have furnitures, informations, knowledges, softnesses, or chaoses. When in doubt, consult a good dictionary.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | | Jly | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
January 1 Republic of Slovakia National Day
22 Ukraine Independence Day
26 Australia Day
(c. 2001 by Paul McGough - The Hutchins School, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia)
February:
4 Sri Lanka Independence Day
6 New Zealand National Day
16 Lithuania Independence Day
24 Estonia National Day
March:
1 Wales, St. David's Day
6 Ghana Independence Day
8 International Women's
Day
12 Mauritius National Day
15 Hungary, Independence Day
17 Ireland, St. Patrick's Day
April
4 Senegal National Day
7
World Health Day
(Host school wanted)
16 Denmark National Day
17 Syrian Arab Republic National Day
18 Zimbabwe National Day
23 England, St. George's Day (unofficial)
26 United Republic of Tanzania
27 Sierra Leone National Day
27 South Africa Freedom Day
27 Togo National Day
May
3 Poland National Day
12 International Nurses Day
17 Norway
Constitution Day
25 Africa Day
25 Argentina National Day
25 Jordan National Day
30 Croatia National Day
30 Israel National Day
June
1 Samoa National Day
2 Italy National Day
5 World Environment Day
6 Sweden National Day
8 Norfolk Island Bounty Day
10 Portugal National Day
12 Philippines National Day
12 Russian Federation National Day
17 Iceland National Day
18 Seychelles National Day
23 Luxembourg National Day
25 Mozambique National Day
25 Slovenia National Day
27 Djibouti National Day
30 Democratic Republic of the Congo
July
1 Canada National Day
4 United States Independence Day
14 France National Day
20 Columbia Independence Day
21 Belgium National Day
28 Peru Independence Day
August 1 Switzerland National Day
2 Macedonia Independence Day
9 Singapore National Day
14 Pakistan Independence Day
15 India Independence Day
17 Indonesia National Day
20 Hungary, St. Stephen's Day
25 Uruguay National Day
31 Malaysia National Day
September
15 International Day of Peace
16 Mexico Independence Day
16 Papua New Guinea Independence Day
21 Malta Independence Day
23 Armenia Independence Day
October
1 International Day For the Elderly
3 Germany Unification Day
4 World Animal Day
10 Fiji Independence Day
12 Spain National Day
24 United Nations Day
26 Austria National Day
28 Czech Republic National Day
28 Universal Children's Day
29 Turkey National Day
November
18 Latvia National Day
22 Lebanon National Day
28 Albania National Day
30 Scotland, St. Andrew's Day
December
1 Romania Unification Day
5 Thailand National Day
6 Finland Independence Day
10 Human Rights Day
|
1-on a knife-edge in a difficult or worrying situation of which the result is very uncertain: if a person or organization is on a knife-edge, they are in a difficult situation and are worried about what will happen in the future
At the moment the election seems balanced on a knife-edge.
She's been living on a knife-edge since her ex-husband was released from prison last month.
The theatre is on a financial knife-edge and must sell 75% of its seats every night to survive.
2-be a drag on sb/sth INFORMAL
to slow down or limit the development of someone or something: a person or thing that is a drag on someone makes it hard for them to make progress toward what they want:
• Maggie thinks marriage would be a drag on her career.
She didn't want a husband who would be a drag on her career.
3-to get off one’s chest
get something off your chest: to tell someone about something that has been worrying or annoying you for a long time, so that you feel better afterward:
• People are able to get things off their chest in these meetings.
get off my back! INFORMAL
used to tell someone to stop criticizing you:
Why don't you get off my back! I'm doing my best.
4-to take an one's words
take sb at their word
to decide to believe exactly what someone tells you, even if it does not seem likely to be true
When he said he'd give me a job, I took him at his word and turned up the next day at his office.
If she says she's sick, you have to take her word for it (= believe her).
take my word for it SPOKEN used to say that someone should accept what you say as true:
• Take my word for it - she's really funny.
5- what is life in the fast lane
the fast lane
a) an exciting way of living that involves dangerous or expensive activities:
• McCravey lived his life in the fast lane for 27 years.
b) the part of a large road, especially a HIGHWAY, that is used by fast vehicles
life in the fast lane
a way of living which is full of excitement, activity and often danger:
Parties, drugs, and a stream of glamorous women - his was a life in the fast lane.
fast lane noun [S]
the part of a main road, such as a motorway, where vehicles travel at the fastest speed
6- play second fiddle to sb.
if you play second fiddle to someone, they are in a stronger position or are more important than you; to be less important or in a weaker position than someone else: to be slightly lower in rank or less important than someone or something else:
• He was never more than a B-movie actor, playing second fiddle to actors like Errol Flynn.
You'll have to choose between your wife and me. I won't play second fiddle to anyone. [usually + to]
I'm not prepared to play second fiddle to Christina any more - I'm looking for another job!
7- walk on air
to feel extremely excited or happy: to feel extremely happy:
• On my first day, I earned $190, and I was walking on air.
After the delivery of her baby, she was walking on air.
conformist noun someone who conforms --opposite NONCONFORMIST
• a political nonconformist
conformist adjective thinking and behaving like everyone else, because you do not want to be different:
• Lagrange's outspoken views have left him well outside the conformist political mainstream
conform verb [I]
1 to behave in the way that most other people in your group or society behave:
• Getting everyone on the team to conform has taken a long time.
At our school, you were required to conform, and there was no place for originality
2 to obey or follow an established rule, pattern etc. [+ to]:
• Most local buildings conform to an eight-story limit. [+ with]:
• Zach refuses to conform with school rules
conformer noun [C]
conformance noun [U]
conformity noun [U]
It's depressing how much conformity there is in such young children.
• Greg continued to resist conformity, later becoming a vegetarian.
Reprimand verb [T]
to tell (someone), esp. officially, that their behavior is wrong and not acceptable ; to tell someone officially that something they have done is very wrong: [+ for + doing sth]
• Breslin was sharply reprimanded for insulting an Asian-American reporter.
She was reprimanded by her teacher for biting another girl.
Watts has already been reprimanded for disclosing confidential information
The committee reprimanded and censured him for his uncooperative attitude.
reprimand noun [C]
His boss gave him a severe reprimand for being late again.
sordid adjective unpleasant, dirty, or immoral or dishonest behavior:
• a sordid crime
• The details of their affair were sordid and ugly.
• the sordid slums of modern cities
a sordid affair
There are lots of really sordid apartments in the city's poorer areas.
He told me he'd had an affair but he spared me the sordid details.
In the movie, Bickle tries to rescue a child prostitute from her sordid profession.
The sordid condition of many of the city school buildings was shocking.
sordidness noun [U]
sordidly adverb
abolish verb [T]
to put an end to (something, such as an organization or custom); to end an activity or custom officially: to officially end something, especially a law or system; to officially end a law, system etc., especially one that has existed for a long time:
• Welfare programs cannot be abolished that quickly.
National Service was abolished in Britain in 1962.
Massachusetts voters abolished rent control.
I think bullfighting should be abolished.
abolition noun [U] the official end of a law, system etc., especially one that has existed for a long time [+ of]:
William Wilberforce campaigned for the abolition of slavery.
the abolition of slavery
• As a judge, Marshall worked for the abolition of the death penalty.
abolitionist noun [C]
a person who supports the abolition of something
memorandum (DOCUMENT) (MESSAGE) noun [C] plural memoranda or memorandums
1 SPECIALIZED a short written report prepared specially for a person or group of people which contains information about a particular matter: FORMAL a MEMO
Michael Davis has prepared a memorandum outlining our need for an additional warehouse.
Ann will send a memorandum to the staff outlining the new procedures.
2 LEGAL an informal legal agreement:
The three countries have signed a memorandum pledging to work together.
memo (plural memos) noun [C] (FORMAL memorandum)
a message or other information in writing sent by one person or department to another in the same business organization: a short official note to another person in the same company or organization:
• A memo went around the office, reminding staff of the new dress code.
Did you get my memo about the meeting?
Itinerary noun [C] a detailed plan or route of a trip; a list of places that you plan to visit on a journey ;
We planned our itinerary several weeks before the trip.
The tour operator will arrange transport and plan your itinerary
The President's itinerary includes visits to Boston and New York
crude (SIMPLE) (RUDE) adjective
1 WITHOUT SKILL made or done in a simple way and without much skill ; not developed to a high standard, or made with little skill: simple and not skillfully done or made:
• a crude homemade bomb
• a crude map of the area
a crude device/weapon
He made a crude table out of an old crate.
a crude device/weapon
2 RUDE rude and offensive especially in a sexual way
a crude comment/remark
• crude pornographic pictures
• Rudy was loud-mouthed and crude.
Most of his jokes were crude and sexist
3 done without attention to detail, but generally correct and useful:
• The number of help-wanted advertisements can be used as a crude measure of the strength of the job market.
4 in a natural or raw condition, before it is made more pure:
• crude rubber
crudely adverb
a crudely made bomb
Crudely painted signs threatened trespassers.
I hope I'm not speaking too crudely when I say you're very attractive.
• crudely built
crudeness noun [U] (ALSO crudity)
crude oil (ALSO crude) noun [U]
oil in its natural state before it has been treated
Crude (oil) is oil that has not yet been treated. oil that is in its natural condition, as it comes out of an OIL WELL, and before it is made more pure or separated to be used for different products:
• About 700,000 gallons of crude oil spilled into Galveston Bay.
cryptic adjective
mysterious and difficult to understand:
I received a cryptic message through the post.
• Indovina's lyrics are mostly cryptic and obscure.
a cryptic message/remark
cryptically adverb
cryptic crossword noun [C]
a type of crossword (= word game) which has difficult clues that are not obvious in their meaning
gratify verb [T]
1to satisfy a desire, need etc.; to satisfy a wish or need
• Too many men believe that women exist mainly to gratify their needs.
We were gratified by the response to our appeal.
I was gratified by their decision.
a gratifying result
2[usually passive] to make someone feel pleased and satisfied [+ by]:
• She is gratified by all the public support. [be gratified (that)]:
• We are gratified that the court has agreed to hear our case. [be gratified to do sth]:
• I was gratified to hear that they like my work.
[+ to infinitive] He was gratified to see how well his students had done.
gratification noun [U]
sexual gratification
Some people expect instant gratification (= to get what they want immediately).
gratifying adjective
pleasing and satisfying
[+ to infinitive] It must be very gratifying to see all your children grown up and happy.
• It's gratifying to know that my work has helped so many people.
It was a big game for us, and a very gratifying win
gratifyingly adverb
The success rate in the exam was gratifyingly high.
1- we watched the life of the former communist leader on channel 5.
2- The bassist was a Peruvian young man accompanying a Norwegian one.
3- Salmon and beige are colors rarely picked by the adolescents.
4- The attitude of the amateur athlete towards his opponent was rather
disapproving.
5- The load siren of the ambulance woke us up
6- Carnivores like the leopard often hunt herbivores like the gazelle.
7- The sergeant saluted his soldiers back
8- He is mature enough to realize that he owes us a favor.
9- This custom roots in one of the ancient pagan rituals .
10- The committee condemned the book as blasphemy.
11- An increase in the use of fossil fuels could have catastrophic results.
10 Critical Success Clues
I don't need to be a gypsy fortune teller to tell your fortune. I can tell with a 95% certainty whether or not a person is (or is going to be) successful. All I need is 20 minutes of conversation or a few email interactions and I know. It is easy to do. You can do it too. Yes! You can actually predict whether or not someone will have the success they say they want. Better yet, you can tell if you are going to be a success OR not.
The best part about checking to see if you will be a success is that you don't have to 'beat around the bush' in a conversation to discover the clues, as you would normally have to do with another person. The worst part about checking in with yourself is that you will run up against an outright liar. Yes, you will attempt to deceive yourself. Now that you are forewarned about that, you can watch out for your attempts to obscure (or divert yourself from) the truth about yourself.
So, if you want to predict the future of anyone, including yourself, here are the ten most critical clues that you will need to uncover and clarify: 1) Attitude, 2) Intention, 3) Purpose, 4) Passion, 5) Plan, 6) Resolve, 7) Responsibility, 8) Words, 9) Actions and 10) Peers. Let's take a closer look at each.
-
Attitude:
There is a winner's attitude and there is a loser's attitude. Most people have a mix of the two. A winner's attitude is characterized by high self-esteem, a positive outlook on life, a general feeling of gratitude, a sense of great personal destiny, a willingness to learn and the will to do what is necessary. Losers have poor self-esteem, a negative (they say realistic) outlook on life, a general feeling of resentment about the trials and tribulations of life, a sense of impending negative fate, a stubbornness about what they 'know', and lousy will-power or self-discipline.
-
Intention:
As a general rule, things done with intent, produce intended results and things done without specific intent produce unintended results.It is my experience that most people think, say and do most things in life without any conscious and specific intent.I like to ask people (and especially myself) the following clarifying questions: what is your intent in holding that belief?; what is your intent in thinking that way?; what is your intent in doing what you do? Most can't answer. Winners can.More importantly, winners are always asking themselves, "what is my intended result for this chosen action, thought or way of being?"
-
Purpose:
This is so simple it is almost ludicrous... a life without a defined and stated purpose is a life of no purpose and no meaning.Winners have a purpose. Losers do not. Winners live a life of purpose and 'on purpose'. Losers live accidentally; victims of circumstance instead of creators of circumstance.The sooner you write down the succinct and true purpose of your life, the sooner you will discover success, happiness and personal fulfillment. Important caveat: your purpose does have to be altruistic or measure up to anyone's standards except your own.It can be entirely selfish.
-
Passion:
Passion is that fuel that drives you. Passion is also what attracts to you the people and resources that you need to achieve your success. Passion is magnetic. Desire is the metaphysical equivalent of gravity. It draws to you the elements that you need to succeed. Passionate people attract followers and supporters.Winners are passionate! ! ! ! !
-
Plan:
You've heard before. You've read it many times. Every personal empowerment teacher says it... You must have specific and written goals and a step-by-step plan to enact those goals. Every business needs a business plan. Your life needs a plan. You must create it. As Ben Franklin pointed out, "Failing to plan is planning to fail."Winners have a game plan. Losers are spectators and armchair quarterbacks. Do you have written goals? Do you have a specific game plan?
-
Resolve:
It is persistence that creates winners. It takes resolve to reach the top. There will be obstacles in your path and impediments to your success. Losers allow themselves to be defeated by these barriers. Winners use them to build up strength and/or to learn a better way to do something. I see it all the time... people quit just before the finish line. They lose focus and direction. Winners persist. Losers desist.
-
Responsibility:
Ask yourself this question, "Why don't I have all the prosperity, happiness, success and fulfillment that I desire?"If you blame any condition, circumstance, event, person or external thing, then you are a loser. Winners accept responsibility. Losers assess blame. Step up to the plate and accept responsibility for your life and you will become the winner that you desire to be in your secret heartfelt moments. The wonderful part about accepting responsibility for your failures is that you also get to accept responsibility for your successes. You don't have to say that you were lucky or blessed or had the right breaks... you can say, "I did this."
-
Words:
The words you speak and the way you speak them tell a lot about you. They tell the world what you believe, what you think, where you have been, who you hang around with and where you are likely to end up. Below average people talk about other people; average people talk about events and circumstances. above average people (winners) talk about ideas and ideals (especially their own). Winners say what they mean and mean what they say. Losers say what they think will please others or repeat what they have been told. -
Actions:
And yes, actions speak louder than words. The things you do are a reflection of your character. Most people tend to do what most others do, in some sort of willful ignorance of the plain fact that most people live mediocre lives and never achieve the success they had idealized for themselves. Actions produces results. If you want uncommon results, you must undertake to act uncommonly on purpose, with intent, with responsibility, with persistence, with resolve, with passion and according to your plan. Do what you love. Do what you will.
-
Peers:
Birds of a feather do flock together. If you want to be a winner, hang out with winners. Create your own 'mastermind group'. Try to be involved with people who are smarter than you, more successful than you, have greater aspirations than you. If you can't do it in person, read their books or read their biographies or visit their websites. Losers like to hang around with other losers, not just because misery loves company, but because their self-esteem is not threatened by comparison to their peers. If you can find the way to love yourself enough to always have a high level of self-esteem, then you won't need to compare yourself to others. Winners believe in themselves. Losers believe in the world around them. So now you know my secret to be able to predict the future. All I need to know about a person is: 1) who they hang around with, 2) what they do day-to-day, 3) the way they speak and what they say, 4) whether or not they assume responsibility or assess blame, 5) whether or not they have the resolve (the stick-to-it-tive-ness) to overcome obstacles, 6) if they have a plan to live by, 7) a passion for life and their plans, 8) a self designed purpose to live for, 9) if they act intentionally or in reaction, and 10) what their overall attitude is to life and their part in it. Now that you know, you don't need me, or some gypsy tea leaf reader, to predict your future. The GREAT good news is that, if you discover, through this self-analysis, that you do not have these 10 necessary characteristics of winners, you can change the way you are and the things you do. So there it is... your destiny is yours, by design or by default.
Intent is the essence of what drives you to your goals
“Intent is a powerful force; it isn’t your will, it is more like a focused current of magnetic energy, drawing you towards what you wish to create. You cannot command it but you can initiate it, invite it and prepare yourself for its actions in your life.”
— Heather Ash
We are exploring in this column going beyond the four primary strategies previously outlined and stepping into the realm of intent. Claiming your intent is a powerful journey that opens internal possibilities and new insights into how to be more authentic and effective in all aspects of life.
What is intent? Intent is not your will nor is it your mind.
It isn’t a new discipline. Instead, intent is the mysterious force that activates your capacity to create what you desire — to draw you towards your goal by accessing the support and resources to achieve extraordinary results. Intent is a force opening unseen possibilities in order to help you manifest what you most desire.
Intent is where you focus your attention, helping you manifest what you seek.
Carlos Castenada wrote of intent, and it has been a force recognized and identified by many groups of people including the Toltecs of South America, the Hindus of India and the Sufis of Persia. Intent is set in motion, invited to help you manifest your dream, when you take the time to really focus on what you want to create. You then boil that desired outcome down to it most primal core desire — taking out all unnecessary words and images and peripheral elements.
Intent is the convergence of conscious and unconscious realms of your mind, heart and spirit that is captured in a word or phrase that acts like a focused laser beam, cutting through all resistances, barriers and doubts to the realization or your desired outcome.
In prior columns I shared the four primary strategies of our society for minimizing pain, creating success and dealing with others. They were: “pleaser,” “controller,” “isolator” and “distracter,” and they work as ways of manipulating self and others. They really suboptimize our lives and what we can create.
The strategies don’t build in an authentic accountability when supervising or working with others. The strategies are means of manipulating and staying protected versus fully engaging and risking full commitment, connection and mutual responsibility.
They are less than authentic and become knee-jerk, automatic ways of responding, relating and managing versus alive, responsive and enlivening ways of leading and connecting. They deaden creativity, exhaust the spirit and lead to a sense of alienation.
A powerful means of breaking the pattern of suboptimal strategies in life is through mastering intent. You master intent by consciously identifying what you want to create or bring to life, express that desire in a focused, coherent word or phrase and then commit to it by consciously focusing on it at least several times a day in terms of what you do and think.
You state your intent to yourself and ask your psyche, your heart and the grace of God to help it become manifest in your life.
As a recovering “please-a-holic,” I have been using intent to create a more potent and authentic way of working and relating to self and others. I have focused my intent into the concept and phrase of “compassion.” I chose compassion because it cannot be manipulated and does not manipulate.
It is real, immediate, whole and indivisible. Compassion cannot be tricked, distracted or faked since it is real, powerful and engaging. I know when I have been compassionate versus a pleaser. The two are dramatically different.
Compassion leads to respectful confrontation and truth-telling because to do less would be to cheat self and others. The pleaser can let something go, overlook it, avoid what is real and it always leads to a feeling of regret, of not having been honest or true to myself.
Compassion is patient and open and yet very direct — relentlessly respectfully honest. I remind myself several times every day that my intent is “compassion” — not to please others. It is to be real, present and of service to what is highest and best, not what is “safe” or will make other people “like” me.
Are you being your best self? What is your intent?
alienate (LOSE SUPPORT) verb [T]
to cause someone or a group of people to stop supporting and agreeing with you:
All these changes to the newspaper have alienated its traditional readers.
• Jackson's comments alienated many baseball fans.
The government's comments have alienated many teachers.
All these changes to the newspaper have alienatedits old readers
alienate (NOT WELCOME & NOT INCLUDE) verb [T]
to make someone feel that they are different and do not belong to a group[+ from]:
Disagreements can alienateteenagersfrom their families.
• After divorce, don't alienate your child from the other parent.
Disagreements can alienate teenagers from their families.
alienate (CHANGE LEGAL RIGHT) verb [T]
LAW to give the legal right to a particular piece of land, property etc. to someone else.
alienation noun [U]
the feeling that you have no connection with the people around you:
Depressed people frequently feel a sense of alienation from those around them
This short-sighted alienation of their own supporters may lose them the election.
The alienation of young adults has lowered the number of people who vote.
• Minority students have a sense of alienation from the mostly white teachers.
separation from a person whom you used to be friendly with:
• the permanent alienation of father from son
alienated adjective
feeling separated from society or the group of people around you, and often unhappy [+ from]:
• Large numbers of Americans have become alienated from the political process.
secretive adjective
People who are secretive hide their feelings, thoughts, intentions and actions from other people:, intentions, or actions hidden from others: [be secretive about sth]:
• North Korea is a secretive nation.
• Saturn officials have been secretive about sales projections.
She's secretive about her age.
secretive dealings
He's being very secretive about his new girlfriend.
secret noun [C]
1 [C] a piece of information that is only known by one person or a few people and should not be told to others: If something is secret, other people are not allowed to know about it
Why did you have to go and tell Bob about my illness? You just can't keep a secret, can you?
A close couple should have no secrets from each other.
Aren't you going to let me in on (= tell me) the secret ?
There's no secret (= everyone knows) about his homosexuality.
She makes no secret of (= makes very clear) her dislike of her father.
That restaurant is one of the best-kept secrets in London.
We don't keep secrets from each other.
Don't tell anyone -- it's a secret.
What's the secret of your success (= How was it achieved)?
secret information
She has a secret boyfriend.
The President escaped through a secret passage underneath the parliament building.
We ought to keep these proposals secret from the chairman for the time being.
This is top (= extremely) secret information.
Do you think we'll manage to keep the surprise party secret from Mum until her birthday?
2 [C] a fact that is unknown about a subject:
the secrets of the universe
3 [S] the particular knowledge and skills needed to do something very well:
So what's the secret of being a good cook?
4 [before noun] describes someone who has a particular habit, hobby or feeling but does not tell or show other people that they do:
a secret drinker
a secret admirer
A government's secret police is a police organization that keeps information about its country's citizens and prevents opposition to the government.
The Secret Service is a US government organization responsible for the safety of important politicians, esp. the president.
secretly adverb
They secretly took photographs of Jack.
She said she didn't care about it, but I believe she was secretly delighted.
He was convicted on the evidence of secretly recorded telephone conversations.
secrecy noun [U]
What's the reason for all this secrecy?
The content of her report is shrouded in secrecy (= being kept secret).
I'd love to tell you about it, but Martin's sworn me to secrecy (= made me promise not to tell anyone).
There has been strong criticism of the secrecy surrounding the negotiations
secretively adverb
secretiveness noun [U]
dismal adjective
very bad or unpleasant and making you feel unhappy
What dismal weather.
That was a dismal performance.
• The couple lived in adismal apartment in the poorest section of town.
• a dismal, gray afternoon
• dismal economic news
• Mitchell called the policy a dismal failure.
The trip was a dismal failure.
dismally adverb
I tried to cheer her up, but failed dismally (= completely failed).
cavity noun [C]
1 a hole, or an empty space between two surfaces:
The gold was hidden in a secret cavity.
• The heart and lungs are located inside the chest cavity.
the abdominal/chest cavity
2 a hole in a tooth made by decay
cavity wall noun [C]
a wall of a building formed from two walls with a space, usually for air, between them. It is made in this way to keep out water and cold air.
Modern life and technology
As we grow older we learn different things and discover new technologies. Life these days depends on technology. Can you imagine yourself living without technology: cars computers, electricity, and machines.
Every moment we use the great technology, it make life so easy and comfortable, you can send messages around the world in seconds, and travel from country to country in a couple of hours.
If there was no technology, life would be very hard. The modern life is about how much the technology interferes in the human life. My point is: thank God for this blessing, because we don't appreciate it.
down payment, noun [C]
an amount of money that you pay at the time that you buy something, but which is only a part of the total cost of that thing. You usually pay the rest of the cost over a period of time:
I've made/put a down payment on a new TV and video.
a down payment on a house
·We almost have enough to make a down payment on a house
up front noun
1 if you give someone an amount of money up front, you pay them before they start a job before goods are supplied:
Did you pay up front or are you waiting till they've finished the job?
He wants all the money up front or he won't do the job.
• We've got to have the money up front before we can do anything.
2 directly and clearly from the start:
• I told you up front that I didn't want to be in a relationship with anyone.
UPFRONT adjective [not before noun]
behaving or talking in a direct and honest way:
• You need to be upfront with Val about your past.
Expenditure noun [C/U]
1 SPENDING the total amount of money that a government or person spends
a large expenditure of funds
It's part of a drive to cut government expenditure.
The government's annual expenditure on arms has been reduced.
The government's annual expenditure on arms has been reduced.
• The state's expenditure on welfare programs went down by 5% last year. --compare INCOME --see also PUBLIC FUNDING
2 USING SOMETHING when you use energy, time, or money ;the act of using or spending energy, time or money:
The expenditure of effort on this project has been enormous
There has not been enough expenditure of effort on this project.
• The new regulations will require unnecessary expenditure of time and money.
expend verb
to use or spend especially time, effort or money:
You expend so much effort for so little return.
Governments expend a lot of resources on war.
expendable adjective
If someone or something is expendable, people can do something or deal with a situation without them:
No one likes to think that they're expendable.
cough sth up (COUGH) phrasal verb [M]
to make something come out of your throat or lungs when you cough:
Doctors were worried when she started to cough up blood.
Doctors were worried when she started coughing up blood.
She coughed up a lot of phlegm.
She'd started coughing up blood and was understandably worried.
• The woman was coughing up blood and was rushed to the hospital.
cough (sth) up (PRODUCE) phrasal verb [M] SLANG
to produce money or information unwillingly: to give money to someone although you do not want to
I've just had to cough up £10 for a parking fine.
It's your turn to buy the drinks - come on, cough up!
I had to cough up $35 for a parking fine.
I've already had to cough up £200 for his bike.
• Business owners who do not put up "No smoking" signs will have to cough up a $100 fine.
compensation noun [U]
1 money that is paid to someone in exchange for something that has been lost or damaged or for some inconvenience; money paid to someone because they have suffered injury or loss, or because something they own was damaged [+ for]:
• The fishermen have demanded compensation for the damage.
• The jury awarded Tyler $1.7 million in compensation.
• The parents are seeking compensation for the birth defects caused by the drug.
• People who are wrongly arrested may be paid compensation.
• The court awarded Jamieson $30,000 compensation.
She received £40 000 in compensation for a lost eye.
You should claim/seek compensation.
a compensation claim
2 [C,U] something that makes a bad situation better; something that makes you feel better when you have suffered something bad:
I have to spend three months of the year away from home - but there are compensations like the chance to meet new people.
Free food was no compensation for a very boring evening.
• One of the few compensations of losing my job was seeing more of my family.
3 [U] the money someone is paid to do their job:
• Board members will receive compensation in the form of stock options, as well as salary.
The chief executive's compensation package was worth $350,000.
He applied for unemployment/workers' compensation (= money paid to you by a government, usually temporarily, when you do not have a job).
4 [C,U] actions, behavior etc. that replace or balance something that is lacking or bad [+ for]:
• For some people, overeating can be a compensation for stress.
compensate (EXCHANGE) verb [I]
to take the place of something useful or needed with something else of similar value
;to reduce the bad effect of something, or make something bad become something good; to provide something good or useful in place of or to make someone feel better about something that has failed or been lost or missed:
Nothing will ever compensate for his lost childhood.
His enthusiasm more than compensates for his lack of experience.
I took her swimming to compensate for having missed out on the cinema.
We were late and I was driving fast to compensate.
When you have a disability, you learn to compensate by doing other things well.
compensate (PAY MONEY)verb [T]
to pay (someone) money in exchange for work done, for something lost or damaged, or for some inconvenience ;to pay someone money because you are responsible for injuring them or damaging something
Victims of the crash will be compensated for their injuries.
Our company tries to keep salaries low, and they compensate employees more with bonuses.
compensatory [Show phonetics]
adjective
MAINLY US He was awarded $3 million in compensatory damages.
damages [Show phonetics]
noun [plural]
money which is paid to someone by a person or organization who has been responsible for causing them some injury or loss:
She was awarded £400 in damages.
The politician was awarded £50 000 damages over false allegations made by the newspaper.
The police have been ordered to pay substantial damages to the families of the two dead boys.
They were awarded $500,000 in damages.
• The court awarded the families $33 million in damages.
claim damages
to make an official request for money after an accident, from the person who caused your injuries
• Steiner filed a lawsuit claiming damages against her former employer.
pay off noun
if something that you have done to try to achieve something pays off, it is successful ;a result that rewards you for your effort or work ; the result of a set of actions, or an explanation at the end of something: money paid to someone, especially so that they do not cause trouble or so that they will do what you want them to:
I was pleased to hear about your job offer - all that hard work has obviously paid off.
The pay-off, as far as I'm concerned, is the freedom to use my time as I wish.
He has been accused of making an illegal pay-off to the police to avoid prosecution.
After years of study, the payoff is supposed to be a good job.
He denied receiving any kickbacks or payoffs for giving a large contract to the company.
The payoff for years of research is a microscope which performs better than all of its competitors.
It has been alleged that the minister received a secret payoff from an arms dealer
an advantage or profit that you get as a result of doing something:
• With electric cars, the development costs are high but there is a big environmental payoff.
a payment that is made to someone, often illegally, in order to stop them from causing you trouble:
• It was alleged that union leaders had received huge payoffs from the company's bosses.
a payment made to someone when they are forced to leave their job
She left her job as chief executive of the company with a £50,000 pay-off.
pay off (SUCCESS) phrasal verb
If something you have done pays off, it is successful:to result in success
I hope this investment pays off.
All her hard work paid off in the end, and she finally passed the exam
• My persistence finally paid off when they called me in for an interview.
pay sth off (MONEY) phrasal verb [M]
to pay back money that you owe: to pay all of the money that you owe
We should be able to pay off the debt within two years.
I'm planning to pay off my bank loan in five years.
I expect to pay the debt off within two years.
The gang threatened to attack his business premises unless he paid them off.
There were rumours that key witnesses had been paid off to keep quiet. [sometimes + to do sth]
The city council has decided to pay off 50 of its employees and take on temporary staff instead
• Ed was driving a taxi on the weekends to pay off all his debts.
pay off obj, pay obj off (PAY FOR DISHONESTY) phrasal verb [M]
to give (someone) money, often illegally, as a reward for having done something dishonest to help you ; to pay someone to keep quiet about something illegal or dishonest:
He paid off the inspectors with bribes of $500.
• According to rumors, several witnesses in the trial were paid off
pay sb off phrasal verb [M]
1 If your employer pays you off, they pay you for the last time and then end your job, because now they do not need you or could not pay you in the future.
2 INFORMAL to give someone money so that they will not do or say something, or so that they will go away:
There were rumours that key witnesses had been paid off to keep quiet.
refund noun [C]
an amount of money that is given back to you, especially because you are not happy with a product or service that you have bought:
I took the radio back to the shop and asked for/demanded/got/was given a refund.
If you overpaid, you should demand a refund
The holiday company apologized and gave us a full refund.
• You can return it within 30 days for a full refund.
• Two cups were broken, so the store gave me a refund.
refund verb [T]
to give someone a refund: to pay back (money received or spent) ;to give back money that someone has paid to you; to give someone their money back, especially when they are not satisfied with the goods or services they have paid for:
The theater refunded our money when the performance was canceled.
When I went on business to Peru, the office refunded my expenses.
[+ two objects] The holiday was cancelled so the travel agency had to refund everybody the price of the tickets.
• Saturday's concert is canceled, and tickets will be refunded. --compare REIMBURSE
refundable adjective
bonus noun [C]
1 an extra amount of money that is given to you as a present or reward in addition to the money you were expecting; money added to someone's pay, especially as a reward for good work: an extra amount of money that you are given, especially because you have worked hard
The salary was $40,000, plus a bonus.
A bonus is also any result that is an unexpected benefit: After the heart transplant, every day is a bonus for me.
a productivity bonus
a Christmas bonus
The company used to give discretionary bonus payments.
• Did you get a Christmas bonus this year?
All employees received a bonus of £500.
2 SOMETHING PLEASANT another pleasant thing in addition to something you were expecting; a pleasant additional thing; something good that you did not expect in a situation:
I love the job, and it's an added bonus that it's so close to home
• The fact that the house is so close to the school is an added bonus.
The sunny weather was an added bonus.
no-claims bonus
noun [C] (ALSO no-claims discount) UK
an amount subtracted from the money paid to an insurance company, especially for motor vehicles, because no claims have been made for a particular period
perk (ADVANTAGE) noun [C]
1 INFORMAL an advantage or benefit, such as money or goods, which you are given because of your job:
A company car and a mobile phone are some of the perks that come with the job.
Free child care for preschool children of employees was a popular perk.
2 an advantage:
Having such easy access to some of the best cinema and theatre is one of the perks of living in Sydney
[usually plural] A mobile phone is one of the perks of the job.
• One of the perks of my last job was the use of a company car.
perk (MAKE COFFEE) (LIQUID) verb [I/T]
(of boiling water or coffee) to move up a tube in a percolator (= a type of coffee maker) when the coffee is being made
The coffee had begun to perk.
perk (sb) up (BECOME HAPPY) phrasal verb [M]
to become or cause someone to become happier, more energetic or active: to start to feel happier, or to make someone feel happ; to suddenly become happier or more energetic, or to make someone feel this way; (of a thing) to make or become more interesting or exciting, or (of a person) to make or become more active or energetic, or happier
I felt really tired when I woke up, but I'd perked up a bit by lunchtime.
A strong cup of coffee might perk you up.
She perked up at (= when she thought about) the prospect of lunch. [sometimes + at]
She perked up as soon as I mentioned that Charles was coming to dinner.
He perked up at the news.
Would you like a cup of coffee? It might perk you up a bit
A cup of coffee always perks me up in the morning.
The city is trying to perk up the business district by planting trees.
She perked up considerably when her sister arrived.
• The dogs always perk up when we walk in the room. [T perk sb<-> up]:
• She was taking some herbal energy pills to perk herself up.
perk up (IMPROVE) phrasal verb INFORMAL
to improve or become more exciting:
Share prices perked up slightly before the close of trading.
• Congress hopes consumer spending will perk up in the fall. [T perk sth<-> up]:
• You can perk up the sauce by adding a dash of fresh lime juice
perky adjective
happy and full of energy:
You look very perky this morning.
perkily adverb
"Does anyone want to come out jogging with me?" he said perkily.
perkiness noun [U]
1-she comes from the same country as me . She’s a comparator .
2-We carried on a friendship through letters. He was a pen-pan
3-I’d rather not make the journey alone . I need a traveling companion .
4- He and I own this business together .He’s my partner.
5- she didn’t know what the homework was so she asked a classmate .
6- I‘ve known George for ages . We’re really good old friends who spend a lot of time together . He’s my bosom pal .
7- henry somers wants the manager’s job and so do I .He’s my rival .
8- wanted: sensible, well-mannered girl to act as old lady’s companion .
9- She used to be john’s girl friend . She’s an old fame .
10-The assistant to a plumber ,electrician or lorry driver is known as his mate .
11-In the darkness the soldier couldn’t see whether the approaching figure was friend or foe .
12- She teaches in the same school as I do . she’s a collegue .
13- He seems a good friend when things are going well . but when I’m in trouble he’s nowhere to be seen . I’m afraid he’s a fair weather friend .
14- He’s the person to whom I tell my most personal. Thoughts ,problems and fears. He’s my confidant .
15- If you can’t afford to live on your own ,you’ll have to find a flatmate .
16-n I don’t really know him very well . He’s just an acquaintance .
17- I just meet him occasionally when his firm and my firmwork together .He’s just a business associate .
by Marie T. Russell
In the "old" days, fathers would query from their daughter's suitor "What is your intention towards my daughter?"
And also, throughout our school days we were asked what our intention was when we graduated... what we wanted to be when we grew up.
All of these questions were geared towards the future... our goal or vision of a later time. Yet, intentions are present in our moment to moment experiences -- in our "now" as well as in our future.
As children, many times our immediate intention was clear -- we'd be nice to "old Aunt Clara" so she'd give us a piece of candy or a Christmas gift. We'd behave a certain way in order to elicit a particular response.
We do the same now -- behave a certain way to elicit certain behavior -- but with the maturity of an adult, we also need to be clear about our motive or intent.
When we are seeking to "improve" or change or lives, we often set goals or have a vision of what we want to attain. Yet, the only way to attain that goal quickly is by "monitoring" our moment-to-moment thoughts, words, and deeds. In our goal to become a "better" or happier person, it might be necessary to examine our motives or our intent in every action we take.
One precept is "first do no harm". Anytime we are about to say or do something, a first question to consider is "will it be harmful?" Will it be harmful to myself, to others, to the environment?
Often times, small things pass unaware... Gossip is one to watch for... We may fall into gossiping just because we're standing around talking with the "girls" (or the "boys") and we repeat a story we heard. But before we do, it would be good to question our intent and also see if we are doing harm. Our intent may simply to be the center of attention, or to get a laugh, or to seem knowledgeable. However, if these things are gained at the expense of harming someone or their reputation, then we might reconsider and back off.
In the same vein, we might tend to criticize someone's actions. What is our intent? Is it to "boost our own self-esteem" by seeming better than an other? Is it to "lower someone down a notch"? Is it to truly help? If we really mean to help, then we might reconsider our methods. Does our method match our intent?
Even in regards to ourselves with our own self-criticisms, our intent is surely to "become a better person", but does our method attain the goal we want? When we criticize ourselves, we usually end up with feelings of dejection, not being good enough, being a failure... Sometimes criticism can lead to giving up ("I'll never get it right").
With the holiday season approaching, many of us will have the opportunity to be with family members that we may not have seen for a while. While we may feel we have changed immensely in the past year, our family remembers us "the way we were", and usually treats us the same way as they did in the past, tending to elicit the same old behavior from us.
Again, this is a situation where we need to remain focused on our intent. If our intent is to be a more peaceful and accepting person, we may need to mentally tattoo that to our inner eye so that we will remember it before we speak out (react) to whatever is being said or done around us. A good method is to take a deep breath before responding or to count (at least to three) before "lashing back" in self-protection... These three seconds or that one breath are just enough to remember your motive, and remind yourself "I choose to response with peace and acceptance".
It is easy to "fall back" on old behavior, yet it is also easy to get back up and go the next step. Sometimes we may need to apologize for our harsh retort, or critical comment. We need to remember our intent is of most importance -- our goal is more important than swallowing our pride for a few minutes and saying "Sorry, I shouldn't have said that. I was out of line." Or maybe, you just thought it and didn't say it-- then do a mental apology, since our thoughts also carry vibrations and communicate.
It is also helpful to ask ourselves what the other person's intention was... While we will never know for sure, I find it helps my own peace of mind to assume that their intention was of the highest. So even if the comment was "you have gained a lot of weight", I assume that the person's comment is motivated for concern about my well-being. In this way, I give them "the benefit of the doubt" as to their intention, and I keep my peace of mind (my intent).
What is your intent today? With our busy, hectic lives, it is easy to get caught up in the "go, go, go" syndrome. There are many distractions, many choices, many challenges. We need to remind ourselves often of our goal, our mission, our intent. Maybe putting up a post-it note on your fridge, your computer monitor, your mirror, your desk -- somewhere where you will see it often -- will help remind you of your intent.
It is definitely a learning process. To quote an old cliché "Rome wasn't built in a day". Well, we weren't either. We're still a work of art in process. We are the artwork and the artist. And we get to choose what color, what style, what brush stroke we'll be using. We can choose to paint a picture of healing and love today and for all our tomorrows. And like any artist, we can correct our "errors" as we go, until we have a canvas that makes us proud.
We can make a difference in our lives and in the lives or the people around us. It is a question of making that our choice, our intention, and then reminding ourselves as often as we can of our intent.
What is Superstition?
According to Webster's dictionary, superstition is n. any belief that is inconsistent with the known laws of science or with what is considered true and rational; esp., such a belief in omens, the supernatural, etc.
Halloween is traditionally the time when common superstitions, folklore, myths and omens carry more weight to those who believe. Superstition origins go back thousands of years ago. Beliefs include good luck charms, amulets, bad luck, fortunes, cures, portents, omens and predictions, fortunes and spells.
Bad fallacies far outweigh the good, especially around Halloween when myths run rampant. When it comes right down to it, many people still believe that omens can predict our destiny and misfortune -- particularly for the worse.
Superstitions & Bad Luck Omens
Black Cats
Black cats have long been believed to be a supernatural omen since the witch hunts of the middle ages when cats were thought to be connected to evil. Since then, it is considered bad luck if a black cat crosses your path.
Broken Mirrors
An ancient myth our ancestors believed was that the image in a mirror is our actual soul. A broken mirror represented the soul being astray from your body. To break the spell of misfortune, you must wait seven hours (one for each year of bad luck) before picking up the broken pieces, and bury them outside in the moonlight.
Ladders
In the days before the gallows, criminals were hung from the top rung of a ladder and their spirits were believed to linger underneath. Common folklore has it to be bad luck to walk beneath an open ladder and pass through the triangle of evil ghosts and spirits.
Owls
If an owl looks in your window or if you seeing one in the daylight bad luck and death will bestow you.
Salt
At one time salt was a rare commodity and thought to have magical powers. It was unfortunate to spill salt and said to foretell family disarray and death. To ward off bad luck, throw a pinch over your shoulder and all will be well.
Sparrows
Sparrows are thought to carry the souls of the dead and it is believed to bring bad luck if you kill one.
Unlucky Number #13
The fear of the number 13 is still common today, and avoided in many different ways. Some buildings still do not have an official 13th floor and many people avoid driving or going anywhere on Friday the 13th.
Good Luck Superstitions
Horseshoes
To bring good luck, the horseshoe must lost by a horse and be found by you, with the open end facing your way. You must hang it over the door with the open end up, so the good fortune doesn't spill out.
Four Leaf Clover
Clover is believed to protect humans and animals from evil spells and is thought to be good luck to find a four leaf clover, particularly for the Irish.
Rabbit's Foot
These lucky charms are thought to ward off bad luck and bring good luck. You mush carry the rabbit's foot on a chain around your neck, or in your left back pocket. The older it gets, the more good luck it brings.
Wishbones
Two people are to pull apart a dried breastbone of a turkey or chicken and the one who is left with the longer end will have their wish come true.
Common Myths & Folklore
If the flame of a candle flickers and then turns blue, there's a spirit in the room.
If a bird flies through your house, it indicates important news. If it can't get out, the news will be death.
If you feel a chill up your spine, someone is walking on your future grave.
A person born on Halloween will have the gift of communicating with the dead.
A bat in the house is a sign of death.
If a bird flies towards you, bad fortune is imminent.
If your palm itches, you will soon receive money. If you itch it, your money will never come.
Crows are viewed as a bad omen, often foretelling death. If they caw, death is very near.
Many Romans wore lucky charms and amulets to avert the "evil eye."
If a person experiences great horror, their hair turns white.
A hat on a bed will bring bad luck.
Eat an apple on Christmas Eve for good health the next year.
The superstition of knocking on wood for good luck originates from pagan beliefs in regards to trees.
put your foot in your mouth
To make an embarrassing or tactless blunder when speaking:
to say something that is embarrassing or that upsets someone, because you have not thought carefully about what you are saying
“Rob tries to say nice things, but he always ends up putting his foot in his mouth.”
"Last night I was telling a joke, and I really put my foot in my mouth. I had no idea I was talking about Rob's wife."
"I am so embarrassed. Are you sure he could hear me when I was talking in the next room?" Reply: "Yes. You really put your foot in your mouth."
"Let's all be very careful what we say at the meeting tomorrow. I don't want anyone putting their foot in their mouth."
put your thinking cap on
to start to think seriously about how to solve a problem ; think seriously about a problem, in order to try and solve it
Let me put my thinking cap on and see if I can come up with an answer.
give sb the third degree informal
a situation in which someone tries to find out information by asking you a lot of questions ; to ask someone a lot of questions in order to get information from them:
• Look, I was out with friends - you don't have to give me the third degree.
Where have I been, who have I been with! What's this? The third degree?
If I'm even half an hour late she gives me the third degree.
I got the third degree from my dad when I got in last night.
a fifth/third wheel / feel like a third wheel INFORMAL
to feel that the two people you are with do not want you to be there;someone who is in a situation where they are not really needed or are ignored by other people
I don't have a role in the office any more - I feel like a fifth wheel.
• After Susan met Michael, I felt a little like a third wheel
put sb on the spot
to cause someone difficulty or make them embarrassed by forcing them at that moment to make a difficult decision or answer an embarrassing question ;to try to make someone do something or answer a question when they do not want to, by making them feel embarrassed not to do it:
• You shouldn't put friends on the spot by asking them to hire your family members.
Steve rather put him on the spot by asking when we were going to get a pay-rise.
Obscure:
obscure (UNKNOWN) adjective
not known to many people; not well known at all, and usually not very important:
an obscure island in the Pacific
an obscure 12th-century mystic
• an obscure Flemish painter
• obscure regulations
an obscure 18th-century painter
obscure (UNCLEAR) adjective
unclear and difficult to understand or see:
Official policy has changed, for reasons that remain obscure.
His answers were obscure and confusing.
• The connection between the studies is somewhat obscure.
obscure verb [T]
1 to prevent something from being seen or heard:
Two new skyscrapers had sprung up, obscuring the view from her window.
The sun was obscured by clouds.
• Parts of the coast were obscured by fog.
Bad writing just obscures your point.
Two large trees obscured the view.
The moon was partially obscured by clouds.
2 to make something difficult to discover and understand:
Managers deliberately obscured the real situation from federal investigators.
• Recent successes obscure the fact that the company is still in trouble.
obscurity noun [U]
1 [U] the state of not being known or remembered:
• Arbuckle died in obscurity in 1933.
He was briefly famous in his twenties but then sank into obscurity.
He deliberately obscured details of his career in the army.
2[C,U] something that is difficult to understand, or the quality of being difficult to understand:
• obscurities in the text
He rose from relative obscurity to worldwide recognition
The story is convoluted and opaque, often to the point of total obscurity.
She worked in obscurity for years
Many movie reviewers confuse obscurity with quality
3[U] LITERARY darkness
obscurely adverb
The minister's statement was obscurely worded.
Cryptic
cryptic adjective
mysterious and difficult to understand:
I received a cryptic message through the post.
• Indovina's lyrics are mostly cryptic and obscure.
a cryptic message/remark
cryptically adverb
cryptic crossword noun [C]
a type of crossword (= word game) which has difficult clues that are not obvious in their meaning
Pick on
pick on phrasal verb [T]
to repeatedly treat unfairly, criticize, or punish (someone); to treat someone in a way that is not kind:
• Stop picking on me!
• Pick on someone your own size!
He gets picked on because he's small.
He gets picked on by the other boys because he's so small.
Why don't you pick on someone your own size?
He just started picking on me for no reason.
Gratify
gratify verb [T]
1to satisfy a desire, need etc.; to satisfy a wish or need
• Too many men believe that women exist mainly to gratify their needs.
We were gratified by the response to our appeal.
I was gratified by their decision.
a gratifying result
2[usually passive] to make someone feel pleased and satisfied [+ by]:
• She is gratified by all the public support. [be gratified (that)]:
• We are gratified that the court has agreed to hear our case. [be gratified to do sth]:
• I was gratified to hear that they like my work.
[+ to infinitive] He was gratified to see how well his students had done.
gratification noun [U]
sexual gratification
Some people expect instant gratification (= to get what they want immediately).
gratifying adjective
pleasing and satisfying
[+ to infinitive] It must be very gratifying to see all your children grown up and happy.
• It's gratifying to know that my work has helped so many people.
It was a big game for us, and a very gratifying win
gratifyingly adverb
The success rate in the exam was gratifyingly high.
Deft
deft adjective
skilful, clever or quick:
Her movements were deft and quick.
She answered the journalist's questions with a deft touch.
He's very deft at handling awkward situations.
• The songs demonstrate Costello's deft wordplay.
a deft movement/touch
He cut some logs up for firewood with a few deft strokes of his ax.
deftly adverb
He deftly (= skilfully) caught the ball.
She deftly answered the tough questions
deftness noun [U]
Crud
crud noun [U] INFORMAL
something dirty and unpleasant ;something that is very bad or disgusting to look at, taste, smell etc.:
• What's this crud on my seat?SLANG
any offensive substance
You couldn't see a thing with all the crud in the air.
cruddy adjective INFORMAL
bad, dirty, or of poor quality:
• Some of the workmanship is pretty cruddy.
SLANG
a cruddy book
Subtly
Subtle adjective
1 not loud, bright, noticeable or obvious in any way ;not easy to notice or understand unless you pay careful attention:
• Some of the more subtle forms of malnutrition are difficult to identify.
The room was painted a subtle shade of pink.
The play's message is perhaps too subtle to be understood by young children.
subtle flavors
a subtle shade of pink
The subtle nuances of English pronunciation are hard to master.
2 a subtle taste or smell is pleasant and delicate:
• a subtle hint of almond
3 small but important; SENSITIVE:
There is a subtle difference between these two plans.
There are subtle differences between the two.
4 achieved in a quiet way which does not attract attention to itself and which is therefore good or clever:
a subtle plan/suggestion
subtle questions
5 a subtle person, plan, method etc. skillfully hides what they really want or intend to do or does it in a very indirect way:
• She wasn't ever subtle in giving her opinion.
• Linda was able to influence her superiors in subtle ways.
6 very smart about noticing and understanding things
• a subtle mind
subtly adverb
He subtly affects the lives of everyone he encounters.
This discovery had subtly changed/altered the way I thought about myself.
subtlety noun [C/U]
1 [U] the quality of being subtle:
Listening to the interview, I was impressed by the subtlety of the questions.
• At press conferences, he is a master of tact and subtlety.
Her acting was full of subtlety.
He's baffled by the subtleties of modern life.
2 [C] a small but important detail:
All the subtleties of the music are conveyed in this new recording
• Some of the subtleties of the language are lost in translation
Get back to
get back to (START AGAIN)
[Show phonetics]
phrasal verb [T]
to continue doing (something) that you started earlier
I'd better get off the phone -- I have to get back to making supper.
get back to
get back to sth phrasal verb
to start doing or talking about something again; to start doing something again after not doing it for a while:
Anyway, I'd better get back to work
• Laura found it hard to get back to work after her maternity leave.
get back to sb phrasal verb
to communicate with (someone) at a later time ;to talk to someone again, usually on the telephone, in order to give them some information or because you were not able to speak to them before:
I'll get back to you later with those figures.
He can't find the phone number right now, but promised to get back to me with it
• I'll try to get back to you later today
Get back at
get back at phrasal verb [T]
to punish (someone) because they have done something wrong to you
I think he's trying to get back at her for what she said in the meeting.Get somebody or something off
1[I,T get off sth] to finish working at your work place:
• What time do you get off work?
• Shelly gets off at 5:30.
2[I,T get (sb) off] to get little or no punishment for a crime, or to help someone escape punishment:
• I can't believe his lawyers managed to get him off. [+ with]:
• He got off with just a small fine.
3where does sb get off (doing sth)? SPOKEN said when you think someone has done something to you that they do not have a right to do:
• Where does he get off telling me how to live my life?
4get off on the wrong foot to start a job, relationship etc. badly by doing something that annoys people:
• We just got off on the wrong foot the other day.
5get off it! SPOKEN used to tell someone to stop talking about a particular subject because it is annoying you
6[I] VULGAR to have an ORGASM
Set back
set sth/sb back (DELAY) phrasal verb [M]
to delay an event, process or person; to delay or stop the progress of (someone or something) ;to make something happen more slowly or later than it should
The heavy traffic set us back about half an hour.
The opening of the new swimming pool has been set back by a few weeks.
A war would inevitably set back the process of reform
Then I needed a second operation, which really set me back.
• It is too early to say how much the fire has set back construction of the house.
set sb back (sth) (COST) phrasal verb INFORMAL
to cost someone a large amount of money:
Buying that suit must have set you back.
That new car looks as if it set you back a bit, Geoff.
Our vacation set us back over $3000
A car like that will probably set you back about £12,000
• Most of these wines will set you back $15 - $20.
set sth back (REDUCE) phrasal verb [M]
to reduce something to a weaker or less advanced state:
This result has set back their chances of winning the competition.
setback noun [C]
something that delays or prevents progress, or makes things worse than they were:
• Judge Cook's ruling will be a major setback for civil rights activists
Democrats suffered a serious setback in yesterday's election, losing all three contested seats
|
