The Most Dangerous Game - Part 3 :

by Richard Connell


In a cultivated voice marked by a slight accent that gave it added precision and deliberateness, he said, "It is a very great pleasure and honor to welcome Mr. Sanger Rainsford, the celebrated hunter, to my home."

Automatically Rainsford shook the man's hand.

"I've read your book about hunting snow leopards in Tibet, you see," explained the man. "I am General Zaroff."

Rainsford's first impression was that the man was singularly handsome; his second was that there was an original, almost bizarre quality about the general's face. He was a tall man past middle age, for his hair was a vivid white; but his thick eyebrows and pointed military mustache were as black as the night from which Rainsford had come. His eyes, too, were black and very bright. He had high cheekbones, a sharpcut nose, a spare, dark face--the face of a man used to giving orders, the face of an aristocrat. Turning to the giant in uniform, the general made a sign. The giant put away his pistol, saluted, withdrew.

"Ivan is an incredibly strong fellow," remarked the general, "but he has the misfortune to be deaf and dumb. A simple fellow, but, I'm afraid, like all his race, a bit of a savage."

"Is he Russian?"

"He is a Cossack," said the general, and his smile showed red lips and pointed teeth. "So am I."

"Come," he said, "we shouldn't be chatting here. We can talk later. Now you want clothes, food, rest. You shall have them. This is a most-restful spot."

Ivan had reappeared, and the general spoke to him with lips that moved but gave forth no sound.

"Follow Ivan, if you please, Mr. Rainsford," said the general. "I was about to have my dinner when you came. I'll wait for you. You'll find that my clothes will fit you, I think."

It was to a huge, beam-ceilinged bedroom with a canopied bed big enough for six men that Rainsford followed the silent giant. Ivan laid out an evening suit, and Rainsford, as he put it on, noticed that it came from a London tailor who ordinarily cut and sewed for none below the rank of duke.

The dining room to which Ivan conducted him was in many ways remarkable. There was a medieval magnificence about it; it suggested a baronial hall of feudal times with its oaken panels, its high ceiling, its vast refectory tables where twoscore men could sit down to eat. About the hall were mounted heads of many animals--lions, tigers, elephants, moose, bears; larger or more perfect specimens Rainsford had never seen. At the great table the general was sitting, alone.

"You'll have a cocktail, Mr. Rainsford," he suggested. The cocktail was surpassingly good; and, Rainsford noted, the table apointments were of the finest--the linen, the crystal, the silver, the china.

They were eating borsch, the rich, red soup with whipped cream so dear to Russian palates. Half apologetically General Zaroff said, "We do our best to preserve the amenities of civilization here. Please forgive any lapses. We are well off the beaten track, you know. Do you think the champagne has suffered from its long ocean trip?"

"Not in the least," declared Rainsford. He was finding the general a most thoughtful and affable host, a true cosmopolite. But there was one small trait of .the general's that made Rainsford uncomfortable. Whenever he looked up from his plate he found the general studying him, appraising him narrowly.

"Perhaps," said General Zaroff, "you were surprised that I recognized your name. You see, I read all books on hunting published in English, French, and Russian. I have but one passion in my life, Mr. Rains. ford, and it is the hunt."

"You have some wonderful heads here," said Rainsford as he ate a particularly well-cooked filet mignon. " That Cape buffalo is the largest I ever saw."

"Oh, that fellow. Yes, he was a monster."

"Did he charge you?"

"Hurled me against a tree," said the general. "Fractured my skull. But I got the brute."

"I've always thought," said Rainsford, "that the Cape buffalo is the most dangerous of all big game."

For a moment the general did not reply; he was smiling his curious red-lipped smile. Then he said slowly, "No. You are wrong, sir. The Cape buffalo is not the most dangerous big game." He sipped his wine. "Here in my preserve on this island," he said in the same slow tone, "I hunt more dangerous game."

Rainsford expressed his surprise. "Is there big game on this island?"

The general nodded. "The biggest."

"Really?"

"Oh, it isn't here naturally, of course. I have to stock the island."

"What have you imported, general?" Rainsford asked. "Tigers?"

The general smiled. "No," he said. "Hunting tigers ceased to interest me some years ago. I exhausted their possibilities, you see. No thrill left in tigers, no real danger. I live for danger, Mr. Rainsford."

The general took from his pocket a gold cigarette case and offered his guest a long black cigarette with a silver tip; it was perfumed and gave off a smell like incense.

"We will have some capital hunting, you and I," said the general. "I shall be most glad to have your society."

"But what game--" began Rainsford.

"I'll tell you," said the general. "You will be amused, I know. I think I may say, in all modesty, that I have done a rare thing. I have invented a new sensation. May I pour you another glass of port?"

"Thank you, general."

Apartment Words:

Condo
Condominium
Sky scraper
High rise
Low rise
Detached
Terrace
Terraced
Semi detached
Balcony
Row house

Topics:How we can say no !?

Essential Idioms 9,10 :

Grammer: If clause:

Idioms:

walk all over sb
to treat (someone) badly and without respect
If you don't want to work at the weekend, say so - don't let the boss walk all over you.
• Greg lets his older sister walk all over him
You shouldn't let him walk all over you like that.
-----------------------
lose your grip
to lose your ability to control or deal with a situation
He was losing his grip at work and knew it was time to retire.
It suggests that the ruling party is losing its grip on the middle classes in some of the bigger cities. [often + on]
• Unfortunately, lately her mother seems to have lost her grip on reality
get/keep a grip on yourself
to make an effort to control your emotions and behave more calmly:
I just think he ought to get a grip on himself - he's behaving like a child.
loosen your grip
If you loosen your grip on an object, or your grip loosens, you hold something less tightly:
He held my hand very tightly at first but gradually his grip loosened. loosen your grip/hold
If you loosen your grip/hold on a situation, or your grip/hold loosens, you decide to control it less:
The dictator's grip on the country has not loosened.
relax your grip/hold
to start to control something less:
The Mafia has relaxed its grip on local businesses.
-------------------------
pull yourself together (CALM) phrasal verb [R]
to become calm and behave normally again after being angry or upset: If you pull yourself together, you behave in a less emotional way and take control of what you are doing.
Just pull yourself together. There's no point crying about it.
Pull yourself together, now. There's no point in crying. [often an order]
• Bobby had to pull himself up out of the hole.
------------------------
Pulling The string
pull the strings

to be in control of an organization, often secretly
I'd really like to know who's pulling the strings in that organization, because it's not the elected committee.
I want to know who's pulling the strings around here.
Who is really pulling the strings at the White House?
pull strings
to secretly use the influence you have over important people in order to get something or to help someone: To pull strings is to use important or influential people to help you achieve something:
Wilson is a very important man who can pull strings from a long distance.
I may be able to pull a few strings if you need the document urgently.
Samuels pulled strings to get her daughter a job in Mitchell's office.
-----------------
Call the tune
call the shots (ALSO call the tune)
to be in the position of being able to make the decisions which will influence a situation
Here, democracy does not really exists. The generals call the shots.
He who pays the piper calls the tune. SAYING
said to emphasize that the person who is paying someone to do something can decide how it should be done

something that you say which means that the person who provides the money for something can decide how it should be done
You may not agree with Mr Brown but he funded this venture, and he who pays the piper calls the tune.
---------------------
To twist somebody round your little finger
twist sb around/round your little finger
to be able to persuade someone to do anything you want, usually because they like you so much:
He'd do anything for you. You've got him twisted around your little finger.
He'd do anything you asked him to. You've got him wrapped around your little finger!

‍Control Words:

dominate :verb [I or T] OFTEN DISAPPROVING
to have control over a place or a person, or to be the most important person or thing:
• Movie directing is a profession dominated by men.
• New Orleans dominated throughout the game.
• The murder trial has dominated the news this week.
• A pair of red-and-gold boots dominated the display.
He refuses to let others speak and dominates every meeting.
They work as a group - no one person is allowed to dominate.
It was the story that dominated the headlines this week.
The Rams dominated the football game in handing the Eagles their second loss.
dominating adjective OFTEN DISAPPROVING
a dominating personality
domination noun [U]
the state of having control over people or a situation
Her domination of the tennis world is undisputed.
The film was about a group of robots set on world domination (= control of all countries).
monopolize, UK USUALLY monopolise verb [T]
1 in business, to control something completely and to prevent other people having any effect on what happens:
The company had monopolized the photography market for so many decades that they didn't worry about competition from other companies.
Rockefeller monopolized oil refining in the 1800s.
• In Russia, Intourist no longer monopolizes the foreign tourism business.
• The 49ers monopolized the ball in the third period.
2 If someone monopolizes a person or a conversation they talk a lot or stop other people being involved or to demand or need a lot of someone's time and attention:
She completely monopolized the conversation at lunch.
She has a habit of monopolizing the conversation.
• Susan's children monopolize her time and energy.
monopoly noun [C or S]
(an organization or group which has) complete control of something, especially an area of business, so that others have no share:
The government is determined to protect its tobacco monopoly.
Is Microsoft a monopoly?
The drafting of a new constitution cannot be a monopoly of the white minority regime (= other people should do it too).
He does not have a/the monopoly on (= He is not the only one who has) good looks.
The Postal Service is guaranteed a monopoly on all first-class letters.
(FIG.)
California has no monopoly on strangeness (= is not the only strange place).
monopolistic adjective USUALLY DISAPPROVING
a monopolistic system
monopolization, UK USUALLY monopolisation noun [U]
suppress () verb [T]
1 (FEELINGS) to control feelings so that they do not show
• suppress a grin/laugh/burp etc.: "I grew it myself," he said, trying to suppress a smile.
I could barely suppress my anger.
She could barely suppress a smile.
She couldn't suppress her anger/annoyance/delight.
His feelings of resentment have been suppressed for years.
2 (KEEP HIDDEN INFORMATION) to prevent information from being known, especially by people who have a right to know:
• Some evidence had been suppressed by Spira's lawyers.
The police were accused of manufacturing confessions, suppressing evidence, and lying under oath.
to suppress evidence/news
3 (FIGHT or END BY FORCE) to stop someone or something by using force
They wanted to live in a country where religious freedom was not suppressed.
The governor called in the National Guard to help suppress prison riots.
The Hungarian uprising in 1956 was suppressed by the Soviet Union.
The government tried to suppress the book because of the information it contained about the security services.
• For 70 years the Communist government had suppressed all dissent.
[often passive] The rebellion was suppressed by government forces.
3 to prevent something from growing or developing, or from working effectively:
• The virus suppresses the body's immune system.
The virus suppresses the body's immune system.
suppression noun [U] compare REPRESS
brutal police suppression of the riots
suppression of evidence/emotions/free speech, etc.
the suppression of human rights
The police chief said there was no suppression of evidence.

suppressor noun [C]
a thing or person that prevents something bad from happening:
Plastic is a good weed suppressor (= a substance which stops them from growing).
suppressed adjective:
• suppressed rage
suppressible adjective
repress verb [T]
1 to stop yourself from doing something, especially something you want to do:
• Brenda repressed the urge to shout at him.
• I repressed a smile.
2 if someone represses feelings, memories etc., their mind has hidden them because they are too upsetting to think about:
• He had long ago repressed the painful memories of his childhood.
3 to control a group of people by force:
• Other nations condemned the ruler for repressing dissent. --compare SUPPRESS
oppress verb [T]
(LIMIT FREEDOM)to govern (people) in an unfair and cruel way and prevent them from having opportunities and freedom
"My people were oppressed by your people for three hundred years," Cavita commented.
He says that white society keeps black men oppressed and deprived and ignorant.
Women were oppressed by a society which considered them inferior.
For years now, the people have been oppressed by a ruthless dictator
2 (MAKE UNCOMFORTABLE) to make someone feel anxious and sometimes ill:
• The loneliness of her little apartment oppressed her.
The thought of tomorrow's interview oppressed him.
Strange dreams and nightmares oppressed him.
He's just as confused and oppressed by love as I am.

oppressed adjective
1 a group of people who are oppressed are treated unfairly or cruelly and prevented from having the same rights and opportunities as other people:
• oppressed minorities
• the oppressed (= people who are oppressed)
2 someone who is oppressed feels their freedom has been restricted
the poor and the oppressed
oppression noun [U]
the act of oppressing a group of people, or the state of being oppressed:
• the oppression of women
Every human being has the right to freedom from oppression.
War, famine and oppression have forced people in the region to flee from their homes.
the oppression of women
Several people had experienced the same feeling of oppression when they slept in that room.
There's less oppression and freer speech here now.

oppressive adjective
1 powerful, cruel, and unfair:
an oppressive government/military regime
an oppressive government
an oppressive sense of guilt
• an oppressive dictatorship
2 weather that is oppressive is very hot with no movement of air, which makes you feel uncomfortable:
We were unable to sleep because of the oppressive heat.
Oppressive weather is hot, with a lot of wetness in the air.
• Summers in Houston can be oppressive.
3 causing anxiety a situation that is oppressive makes you feel too uncomfortable to do or say anything:
• The silence in the meeting was becoming oppressive.
an oppressive silence
oppressively adverb
It was oppressively hot on the bus.
oppressiveness noun [U]
oppressor noun [C]
a person, group, or country that oppresses people:
Sisters, we must rise up and defeat our oppressors.
They're not the powerful oppressors that society says they are.
• Members of the minority community view the police department as their oppressor.
restrict verb [T]

to control something or keep it within limits:
• Many cities have restricted smoking in public places.
• Can the school board restrict teachers' rights to express their views?
measures to restrict the sale of alcohol
The government has restricted freedom of movement into and out of the country.
Having small children really restricts your social life.
restrict yourself to sth phrasal verb [R]
to limit yourself to one particular thing or activity:
• In this seminar, we will restrict ourselves to Plath's later poems.
If I'm driving, I restrict myself to one glass of wine.
I restrict myself to two glasses of wine most evenings.
The state legislature voted to restrict development in the area.
Efforts are under way to further restrict cigarette advertising.
They've brought in new laws to restrict the sale of cigarettes.
restricted adjective
1 limited, especially by official rules, laws, etc
• Since Dave's heart attack, he's been on a restricted diet.
• restricted parking
• Visiting hours are restricted to evenings and weekends only.
Many events are free, so families on restricted budgets can participate
Membership is restricted to (= It is only for) chief executive officers.
Our view of the stage was restricted (= objects prevented us from seeing the whole stage).
2 be restricted to sth to only affect a limited area, group etc.:
• The damage was restricted to the west side of town.
Building in this area of town is restricted.
Wellington Barracks is a restricted area and anyone who enters should have identification.
3 a restricted area, document or information can only be seen or used by a particular group of people because it is secret or dangerous:
• documents containing restricted data
4 limited in what you can do, or in your movements:
• ramps for people with restricted mobility
restriction noun
[C usually plural] a rule or system that limits or controls what you can do or what is allowed to happen [+ on]:
import/export/currency restrictions
speed/parking restrictions
At the turn of the century, Congress imposed/placed a height restriction of 13 storeys on all buildings in Washington.
The president urged other countries to lift the trade restrictions.
You can get a discount fare, but some restrictions (= rules about limits) apply.
• The U.S. is seeking tighter restrictions on weapon sales to the region.:
• Some border states have imposed restrictions (= made restrictions) on liquor imports from Mexico.
• Congress might lift restrictions (= remove restrictions) on foreign aid for birth control.
restrictive adjective OFTEN DISAPPROVING
limiting the freedom of someone or preventing something from growing:
He is self-employed because he finds working for other people too restrictive.
The college is not able to expand because of restrictive planning laws.
She campaigned against restrictive immigration laws.
• The labor laws are too restrictive.
• Some restrictive diets can be dangerous to your health.
restrictive clause also restrictive rel•ative clause
noun [C] TECHNICAL
a part of a sentence that says which person or thing is meant. For example in "the man who came to dinner," the phrase "who came to dinner" is a restrictive clause.
restrictive practices noun [plural]
1 unreasonable limits that one TRADE UNION puts on the kind of work that members of other trade unions are allowed to do
2 an unfair trade agreement between companies that limits the amount of competition there is
proctor US invigilate UK verb [I or T]
to watch people taking an exam in order to check that they do not cheat:
Miss Jekyll will be invigilating (your chemistry exam) today.

US proctor UK invigilator noun [C] ()
If you need more paper, please ask the invigilator.
doormat noun [C]
1 a thick piece of material just outside or inside a door for you to clean your shoes on
2 INFORMAL someone who lets other people treat them badly and who never complains about it
He may be selfish and insensitive, but she is a bit of a doormat
colony noun [C]
1 (COUNTRY) a country or area controlled in an official, political way by a more powerful country
a country or area controlled politically by a more powerful and often distant country:
• Fighting is continuing in the former Belgian colony. --see also DOMINION (3), PROTECTORATE
Australia and New Zealand are former British colonies.
a French/British colony
2 (GROUP) a group of the same type of animals,
insects, or plants living together in a particular place
an ant colony
a colony of ants/termites/bacteria
a colony of ants
3 (PEOPLE) a group of people with the same interests or job who live together
• an artists' colony on the East Coast
• a nudist colony
an artists' colony
2 one of the 13 areas of land on the east coast of North America that later became the United States:
• Many people who came to the colonies were escaping religious persecution.
protectorate noun [C]
a country that is protected and controlled by a more powerful country, especially in the areas of defense and foreign affairs --compare COLONY (1)
dominion noun
1 [U] LITERARY the power or right to rule people or control something:
• have/hold dominion over sb/sth: Alexander the Great held dominion over a vast area.
2 also Dominion [C] one of the countries that was a member of the British Commonwealth in past times:
• Canada became a self-governing dominion of Great Britain in 1867.
3 [C] FORMAL the land owned or controlled by one person or a government --see also COLONY (1), PROTECTORATE
colonial adjective

1 [before noun] relating to a colony or colonialism:
Turkey was once an important colonial power.
Various parts of Africa have suffered under colonial rule.
a colonial mentality

2 describes furniture or buildings in the style of a period when some countries were colonies:
colonial architecture
colonial-style houses

colonial noun [C]
a person from another country who lives in a colony, especially as part of its system of government
the former colonial rulers of South Africa
colonialism noun [U]
the belief in and support for the system of one country controlling another
colonialist noun [C]
a supporter of colonialism
the colonialist powers
colonialist ideology
colonist noun [C]
someone who lives in or goes to live in a country or area that is a colony
He arrived in Maryland with the first American colonists in 1634.
colonize, UK USUALLY colonise verb [T often passive]
to send people to live in and govern another country:
Peru was colonized by the Spanish in the sixteenth century.
colonization, UK USUALLY colonisation noun [U]
crown colony noun [C]
an area or country which is politically controlled by Britain and which has a British governor
penal colony noun [C] (ALSO penal settlement)
a type of prison, which is often in a place far away from other people

The Most Dangerous Game - Part 2 :

by Richard Connell


Rainsford heard a sound. It came out of the darkness, a high screaming sound, the sound of an animal in an extremity of anguish and terror.

He did not recognize the animal that made the sound; he did not try to; with fresh vitality he swam toward the sound. He heard it again; then it was cut short by another noise, crisp, staccato.

"Pistol shot," muttered Rainsford, swimming on.

Ten minutes of determined effort brought another sound to his ears--the most welcome he had ever heard--the muttering and growling of the sea breaking on a rocky shore. He was almost on the rocks before he saw them; on a night less calm he would have been shattered against them. With his remaining strength he dragged himself from the swirling waters. Jagged crags appeared to jut up into the opaqueness; he forced himself upward, hand over hand. Gasping, his hands raw, he reached a flat place at the top. Dense jungle came down to the very edge of the cliffs. What perils that tangle of trees and underbrush might hold for him did not concern Rainsford just then. All he knew was that he was safe from his enemy, the sea, and that utter weariness was on him. He flung himself down at the jungle edge and tumbled headlong into the deepest sleep of his life.

When he opened his eyes he knew from the position of the sun that it was late in the afternoon. Sleep had given him new vigor; a sharp hunger was picking at him. He looked about him, almost cheerfully.

"Where there are pistol shots, there are men. Where there are men, there is food," he thought. But what kind of men, he wondered, in so forbidding a place? An unbroken front of snarled and ragged jungle fringed the shore.

He saw no sign of a trail through the closely knit web of weeds and trees; it was easier to go along the shore, and Rainsford floundered along by the water. Not far from where he landed, he stopped.

Some wounded thing--by the evidence, a large animal--had thrashed about in the underbrush; the jungle weeds were crushed down and the moss was lacerated; one patch of weeds was stained crimson. A small, glittering object not far away caught Rainsford's eye and he picked it up. It was an empty cartridge.

"A twenty-two," he remarked. "That's odd. It must have been a fairly large animal too. The hunter had his nerve with him to tackle it with a light gun. It's clear that the brute put up a fight. I suppose the first three shots I heard was when the hunter flushed his quarry and wounded it. The last shot was when he trailed it here and finished it."

He examined the ground closely and found what he had hoped to find--the print of hunting boots. They pointed along the cliff in the direction he had been going. Eagerly he hurried along, now slipping on a rotten log or a loose stone, but making headway; night was beginning to settle down on the island.

Bleak darkness was blacking out the sea and jungle when Rainsford sighted the lights. He came upon them as he turned a crook in the coast line; and his first thought was that be had come upon a village, for there were many lights. But as he forged along he saw to his great astonishment that all the lights were in one enormous building--a lofty structure with pointed towers plunging upward into the gloom. His eyes made out the shadowy outlines of a palatial chateau; it was set on a high bluff, and on three sides of it cliffs dived down to where the sea licked greedy lips in the shadows.

"Mirage," thought Rainsford. But it was no mirage, he found, when he opened the tall spiked iron gate. The stone steps were real enough; the massive door with a leering gargoyle for a knocker was real enough; yet above it all hung an air of unreality.

He lifted the knocker, and it creaked up stiffly, as if it had never before been used. He let it fall, and it startled him with its booming loudness. He thought he heard steps within; the door remained closed. Again Rainsford lifted the heavy knocker, and let it fall. The door opened then--opened as suddenly as if it were on a spring--and Rainsford stood blinking in the river of glaring gold light that poured out. The first thing Rainsford's eyes discerned was the largest man Rainsford had ever seen--a gigantic creature, solidly made and black bearded to the waist. In his hand the man held a long-barreled revolver, and he was pointing it straight at Rainsford's heart.

Out of the snarl of beard two small eyes regarded Rainsford.

"Don't be alarmed," said Rainsford, with a smile which he hoped was disarming. "I'm no robber. I fell off a yacht. My name is Sanger Rainsford of New York City."

The menacing look in the eyes did not change. The revolver pointing as rigidly as if the giant were a statue. He gave no sign that he understood Rainsford's words, or that he had even heard them. He was dressed in uniform--a black uniform trimmed with gray astrakhan.

"I'm Sanger Rainsford of New York," Rainsford began again. "I fell off a yacht. I am hungry."

The man's only answer was to raise with his thumb the hammer of his revolver. Then Rainsford saw the man's free hand go to his forehead in a military salute, and he saw him click his heels together and stand at attention. Another man was coming down the broad marble steps, an erect, slender man in evening clothes. He advanced to Rainsford and held out his hand.

to be continued ..................

Topics: Ideal neighborhood

Living in an apartment is very different from living in a house, and being a good neighbor in an apartment building entails different considerations. Perhaps this is most obvious in the fact that walls, parking lots, laundry facilities, and more are shared with virtual strangers. While this situation may be intimidating at first and certainly can make for some difficult situations, there are steps you can take to be a good neighbor and make apartment living a pleasant experience.

Get to know your neighbors.
They don't have to become your best friends, but there are many reasons why knowing your nearest neighbors is a good idea. So, as you see them in the halls, laundry room, lobby, or by the mailboxes smile and say hello; if they appear to be receptive, introduce yourself, "Hi, I'm Joe, and I just moved into number 6."

Understand and follow the community rules.
Many apartment communities have rules for things like where you can park, where your pet can be, when certain facilities are open, quiet hours, trash pickup, and more. These should all be spelled out either in your lease or in a supplemental set of rules and regulations (these were discussed in our Lease Basics article). Know them and follow them. Your neighbors and landlord will thank you.

If you have children, understand that many of your neighbors don't.
And vice versa. Your childfree and childless neighbors probably are not used to tripping over toys, tuning out yelling, and other adjustments that come with living with children, so be considerate. For those of you without children, understand that your neighbors' children have a right to be there, and that they are, after all, children.

If you have pets, understand that not all your neighbors are animal lovers.
If your community allows pets, be aware of the rules concerning where they can be when they are outside your apartment. Don't let your dog roam free in the complex; promptly clean up any messes your pets make; and don't let your parrot practice his opera while you're at work. Be aware of any noise your pet(s) may make while you are at work or school. Ask a neighbor who's home during the day about it. And if your community doesn't allow pets, don't try to get away with it.

Observe reasonable hours for noisy activities.
Vacuuming, hanging pictures, moving heavy furniture, all these activities produce noise which can travel beyond the walls of your apartment. Make every effort to restrict these activities to daytime hours. A good rule of thumb is to restrict these extra noisy activities to the hours telemarketers can legally call you: 9am - 9pm. Check your lease and rental regulations, and follow any specified quiet hours for your community.

When it comes time to throw that party, remember your neighbors.
Let them know ahead of time when the party will be happening; though you needn't invite them, if it is going to be an open party, it would be a nice gesture. Make sure your guests understand the rules of your community -- including where it is okay to park -- and that they remain inside your apartment (or within your own personal area outside) during the party. And remember: even when you're having a party, quiet hours apply.

Be considerate, be ready to compromise a little, and keep the lines of communication open, and you will be able to live quite happily with your neighbors.

Noisy neighbors:
I have to admit that I have been quite fortunate in only once ever encountering a noise problem so annoying it sent me to the landlord for help. Many who live in apartment buildings, however, are not so lucky, and constant noise and disturbance can impair your quality of life, interfere with sleeping, and get in the way of work if you work from home.

So, what's the best approach when you've got a neighbor whose stereo, TV, pets, parties, etc. are driving you crazy? Following these simple steps (many adapted from an article by Nolo Press) can make your life easier.

Does the problem constitute a "nuisance"? Get a copy of your town's local noise ordinance. Acceptable noise levels are often defined in decibels, and many areas also have "quiet hours" during which acceptable noise levels are lower. If you are a "day sleeper" or early riser bothered by the everyday noises around you, please recognize that your situation might not constitute a nuisance as defined by the law. For example:

Probably not a nuisance

You go to bed at 8:00pm; children are on the playground until 9:00pm.
You sleep until noon; the landlord's lawn service starts mowing at 9:00am
Your neighbor's children/dogs play noisily on the lawn weekend afternoons while you're trying to work
Probably a nuisance
You are awakened after midnight regularly by the neighbor's stereo or TV
Your neighbor seems to do all redecorating and cleaning in the "wee hours"
The late night comings and goings of a neighbor's guests in their "altered" vehicles has your cat cowering under the bed
Speak with the neighbor. Make sure you approach him calmly without anger or excess emotion. If you're lucky, this can be both your first and your last step. If your problem falls into the first category above, speaking with the neighbor can alert him to your special situation and allow you to work out a solution together. Even if the problem qualifies as a nuisance, often the offending neighbor may not realize how much noise is escaping his apartment. Make a note of the date you spoke with the neighbor (you will want to document the entire process).

Speak with other neighbors. If the problem continues, perhaps complaints from other neighbors will help the situation. Ask others who are bothered to approach the offending neighbor and calmly ask him to do something about the problem. There is power in numbers, and it is good for the neighbor to know the problem is more than just one sensitive person.

Notify the neighbor in writing if the problem persists. Send the offending neighbor a copy of the local noise ordinance and a copy of any community rules and regulations noting noise restrictions with a letter requesting that the noise problem be taken care of. Let the neighbor know you will be speaking with the landlord. Keep a copy of the letter.

Speak with the landlord. Write to or speak with the landlord, outlining the specific problem and letting him know what steps you and other neighbors have taken to alleviate the situation. If other neighbors are bothered, ask them to contact the landlord at the same time -- again, there is power in numbers. When we were having a problem with some new neighbors, the management company didn't act until it had received complaints from a number of tenants in the same building. The landlord does have a legal obligation to provide you with a habitable dwelling, and that includes complying with local noise ordinances.

One can only hope that if the problem even gets that far, a reminder from the landlord and possibly a threat of eviction will stop the problem. If it doesn't work, however, speak again with the landlord. If the landlord doesn't live on premises and/or the community is managed by an outside company, there is no way for the landlord to know if a problem continues unless a tenant alerts him (and keeps alerting him as long as the problem persists).

Other approaches. If the neighbor doesn't respond even after repeated requests from the landlord and/or the landlord doesn't respond to your requests that something be done, there are further steps you might take:

Call the police. If you choose this approach, try to do so when the noise is happening so they can assess the situation. As with contacting the landlord, calls to the police from many neighbors can be more effective than a single complaint.
Sue the neighbor and/or the landlord. Before taking this step, please contact a lawyer who is familiar with this type of law and can advise you of your specific rights and redresses available.
Move. You might not like it, but if neither the neighbor nor the landlord are inclined to do something about the nuisance, you probably don't want to live there anyway. Consult a lawyer and see if you might be eligible to break your lease without penalty because of the ongoing nuisance.
Good luck dealing with your problem. And remember: don't resort to retaliation; that can just get you in trouble and rarely produces any positive results.
How to Be a Good Neighbor

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
How To Be a Good Neighbor
Love thy neighbor ... or at least try to be a considerate one.

Steps:
1. Welcome new neighbors with an introductory note or a friendly chat.
2. Maintain the area around your home so that it's neat and attractive.
3. Be conscientious about noises that might disturb your neighbors, such as vacuum cleaners, music, loud talk and barking dogs.
4. End parties at a reasonable hour. While you're at it, invite your neighbors to come, too.
5. Return anything that you borrow from your neighbor, such as tools or appliances, as soon as possible. Express your gratitude when you do so.
6. Replace anything that belongs to your neighbor that you, your children, or your pets break or soil.
7. Respect your neighbor's privacy.
8. Offer to collect mail, water plants and watch the pets while your neighbors are away on a trip.
9. Learn from neighbors with cultural backgrounds different from your own.
10. Invite your neighbor over for a leisurely cup of coffee to discuss any problems you may have, or to share good news.
11. Throw a house party once a year on a weekend or holiday to socialize with your neighbors.

Tips:
If you have approached your neighbors about any problems you have with them and they do not respond to your polite requests to respect those around them, try contacting the appropriate officials, such as the rent board or your landlord (if you share the same landlord).
If they still don't comply, consider calling the police if you think your neighbors are breaking the law with respect to you or your property.
Recognize your neighbor
Say hello to your neighbor and smile even if the neighbor doesn't smile back at you. This is more true of the neighbors who live right next to you. Don't get too involved with the neighbors who live right next to you. There may me a misunderstanding later which cannot be resolved. Just say hi, smile, and nod your head. Possibly have a quick chat about the weather, but don't get real personal.

Words:

alone
1 alone (WITHOUT PEOPLE) adjective [after verb], adverb
without other people: Compare lonely.
He likes being alone in the house.
She decided to climb the mountain alone.
Do you like living alone?
At last, we're alone together (= there are just the two of us here).
The Swedes are not alone in finding their language under pressure from the spread of English.
I don't like the man and I'm not alone in that (= other people agree).
• Dorothy lives alone.
• Suddenly they found themselves
We're alone together at last, my darling.
• She lives alone.
We're all alone.
2 alone (ONLY) adjective [after noun]
only or without any others:
She alone must decide what to do (= no one else can do it for her).
These facts alone (= even if nothing else is considered) show that he's not to be trusted.
He won't get the job through charm alone (= he will need something else).
The airfare alone would use up all my money, never mind the hotel bills.
Price alone is not a reliable indicator of quality.
• Kim traveled alone through Europe.
• Josie was all alone in a strange city
3 UNHAPPY feeling very unhappy and lonely:
• He felt terribly alone when June left.
4 EMPHASIZE [only after noun]
a) used to emphasize that one particular thing or person is very important or has an effect on a situation:
• The price alone was enough to make me change my mind.
b) used to say that someone or something is the only thing or person involved:
• It's an expensive place - lunch alone was $20.
• Stevenson alone is to blame.
Last year alone the company made a million dollars.
You alone know how you feel.
I based my decision on her recommendation alone..
be alone in (doing) sth :e the only person to do something:
• You're not alone in wondering what's happening here
leave sth alone :o stop touching something alone to stop touching an object or changing something:
• Leave that alone - you'll break it!
Leave your hair alone!
You shouldn't pick at the scab, just leave it alone.See also: let alone
let alone
used to emphasize that something is more impossible than another thing
You couldn't trust her to look after your dog, let alone your child.
• I wouldn't work with my mom, let alone my whole family.
See also: let the cat out of the bag, let your hair down, get/let sb off the hook, let off steam
leave sb alone to stop talking to someone or annoying them to stop annoying or interrupting someone:
• Go away and leave me alone.
Leave him alone, he's tired.
He won't leave me alone -- he's always calling.
leave/let well enough alone to not change or try to improve something that is not causing any problems .
to allow something to stay as it is because doing more might make things worse:
It's going to get in a muddle if you carry on. I should just leave well alone if I were you.
In cases of back trouble, it's difficult to know whether to operate or leave well alone.
I'm not doing any more on that painting - it's time to let well enough alone.
So long as the machine still does what you want it to, my advice is to leave well alone.
Surgeons are aware that every operation carries some risk, and sometimes decide to leave well enough alone.

stand-alone adjective [before noun]
Something, such as a computer or a business, which is stand-alone can operate on its own without needing help from another similar thing. single, complete by itself if an object or building stands alone, it is not near other buildings or objects:
• The house stood alone at the end of the road.
Stand-alone houses have become too expensive for many people.

Man cannot live by bread alone. SAYING
used to say that people need not just food, but also poetry, art, music, etc. to live happily
something that you say which means people need things such as art, music and poetry as well as food, in order to live a happy life
This phrase comes from the Bible.
Our cultural heritage is important. Man cannot live by bread alone.

go it alone
to do something without other people:
to do something by yourself and without help from other people to start working or living on your own, especially after working or living with other people:
• After years of working for a big company, I decided to go it alone.
Honda has chosen to go it alone rather than set up a joint venture with an American partner.
He's decided to leave the band and go it alone as a singer.
lonely adjective
1 unhappy because you are not with other people:
She gets lonely now that all the kids have left home.
the lonely life of a farmer
• Jay was never lonely with Nurse Dees nearby.
• a lonely journey
She gets lonely now that the kids have all left home.
a lonely child
2 PLACE A lonely place is a long way from where people live.
(of someone) feeling sad because you are alone, or (of something) causing this feeling, A lonely place has no people, buildings, etc
a lonely stretch of Arizona highway
my lonely room
a lonely and deserted road
• She left me at a lonely crossroads.
loneliness noun [U]
the state of being lonely
Some elderly people live in isolation and loneliness.
lonely hearts (ALSO lonely hearts club/column, etc.)
a place or section of a magazine etc. for people who would like to make new friends or meet a sexual partner
lonesome adjective US
1 lonely
US lonely
• Beth is lonesome without the kids around.
• a lonesome song
• a lonesome desert highway
She was feeling lonesome for her family.
the lonesome whistle of a distant train
2 by/on your lonesome alone: INFORMAL alone:
I was just sitting here all by my lonesome
• Are you by your lonesome this weekend? --see also LONELY

on your own terms
If you do something on your own terms, you decide the conditions under which you will do it, because you are in a position of power.
I don't mind going to the movies on my own (= alone).
Bridget learned to tie her shoes on her own (= without help from anyone else).
• Did you build this all on your own?
be yourself
alone or without help from anyone else
The best thing you can do is to go into the interview and just be yourself.
I'm amazed you managed to move those boxes all by yourself.
So you've got the whole house to yourself this weekend?
• You can't go home by yourself in the dark.
• Do you think you can move the couch by yourself?
You're old enough to take the bus by yourself, aren't you, Joyce?
in yourself UK
used when asking someone about their state of mind when they have a physical problem:
I know you must still be uncomfortable, but how are you in yourself?

Grammer have to /must / should

must, have to and have got to: expressing the present

Must, have to and have got to are all used to express obligation or the need to do something.

They can be used interchangeably in the present tense, except that must suggests that it is the speaker who has decided that something is necessary, whereas have to and have got to suggest that somebody else has imposed the decision.

Have got to is characteristic of very informal speech. Have to sounds slightly more formal.


Compare the following:

I must clean the house before mum gets back. I want her to find it all neat and tidy.
Sorry, I can't come out now. I've got to tidy up my room before I'm allowed out.
He has to attend the clinic every two weeks. He's really quite seriously ill.
You must come and visit us again soon. It's ages since we saw you.


With frequency adverbs such as always, often, sometimes, never, etc, have to is normally preferred:

I usually have to work on Saturdays so I hardly ever go away for the weekend.
They sometimes have to get their own suppers if their mother is working late.


must and have to: expressing the future and the past

Must and have got to have no future or past tense forms.

We cannot say: I had got to.../ I'll have got to.../ I'll must.../ I've must....

However we can also use must to express future as well as present intention, especially if it is the speaker who decides that something is necessary. But it cannot be used to express past intention.

Have to is the only one of the three that possesses past and future forms.

Compare the following:

To get to Leeds by ten, I shall have to leave London before six tomorrow.
To get to Leeds by ten, I must leave London before six tomorrow.
You'll have to put the scaffolding up before you go on to the roof. It's not safe otherwise.
You'll have to have that tooth extracted. It's very badly infected.
We had to leave the party early. Tom was obviously unwell.
We've had to cancel our holiday. Tom is just not well enough for a walking holiday.

must, have to and have got to in the interrogative

Have to and have got to are often preferred in the interrogative, especially if the obligation is imposed from the outside.


Compare the following:

What time have you got to be back? ~ Dinner's at seven. So by half past six really.
How often do you have to travel to America on business?
~ About once every six months.
Must you leave right now? Won't you stay a little longer?
Do you have to leave now? ~ I do, unfortunately. I've got to collect my son from school.


have to and mustn't

We have to use have to for the negative of must when there is no obligation or necessity to do something:

You don't have to drink champagne at the reception. You can have a soft drink.
I didn't have to play after all. Jane turned up and could partner Alice.
You won't have to drive Tom to the airport next Saturday. Julie's taking him.
We use mustn't to say that something is not allowed

You mustn't drink if you're going to drive afterwards.
You mustn't drink that water. It's contaminated.
You mustn't lie under oath. If you do, that's perjury.
I mustn't forget my keys. I'll put them here so that I remember them.



It’s not quite right syntactically, Hani. To express this idea, you need should have + past participle, so it should read:
'I should never have left my job.'
For the if clause, you need the past perfect. The main clause would then read:
'I should never have left my job. If I had stayed with BP, I would have won promotion and I would be a rich man now!'



Note that if we wish to give emphasis to the condition and make it sound more dramatic and formal, we can omit if in the subordinate clause and invert subject and verb:
'Had I stayed with my previous job, I would have won promotion and we wouldn’t be in this unfortunate position now.'
Consider the following:
'I shouldn’t have gone to Jane’s place for the weekend. If I’d stayed in London, we could have worked on that report and it would be finished by now.'

'I should never have agreed to take that parcel on the plane for him. But I had no idea what was in it. If only I had said ‘no’, I wouldn’t be in prison now.'



In the examples above, note that if only is used to express a strong wish or regret and that could have suggests a probable or possible outcome (cf. might have.)

Here are some further examples of the latter:

'We might have won the match, if Beckham had been playing from the beginning.'

'I might have gone to school in America, if my parents hadn’t moved to Singapore.'

'We could have finished that cup of coffee, if you hadn’t insisted on us being here five minutes early.'

'If cholera had been diagnosed earlier, his life could have been saved.'
Note the further variations in the above sentences. In the final example, it is convenient to use the passive voice instead of active voice: 'If they had diagnosed cholera earlier, he might not have died.' And in the David Beckham example, there is a slight preference for past perfect progressive rather than past perfect to emphasise the continuity aspect.


Finally, do you remember those first three uses of the conditional?

Conditions that are generally true, where we use the present simple in both subordinate and main clause I stay inside if the temperature falls below –25°C. I just don’t go out.
Situations where we are predicting a future event if the condition is met and where we use future reference in the main clause and the present simple in the subordinate clause You’ll feel much better tomorrow if you stay at home today
Conditions where something unreal is being discussed and
where we use would in the main clause and past simple in the
subordinate clause Would you accept a diamond ring if he offered it to you? I wouldn’t!

conditionals: future reference

I think that the grammatical rule that you are referring to, Bharat, is the one that states: when we want to talk about the future in a conditional way, the verb in the subordinate if-clause remains in the present tense and the verb in the main clause is in the future, normally will + infinitive. This is a very common pattern. Compare the following:

If it's cold and wet next Saturday, I shall stay at home. I shan't be playing golf.
( NOT: If it will be cold and wet next Saturday, I shall stay at home.)
If he doesn't let me know by tomorrow, I'm going to cross his name off the list.
( NOT: If he will not let me know by tomorrow, I'm going to cross his name off the list.)
If I see Jane at the lecture tonight, I'll tell her you want to speak to her.
If you want us to stay together, we'll have to show the world that we are responsible.
It is possible for the future will to occur in a subordinate clause, if it is reporting a question. Compare the following:

Will you be seeing Jane at the lecture tonight?
~ I don't know / I'm not sure if I'll see her / she'll be there.
But if I (do) see her, I'll tell her that you want to speak to her.
We can use do in the above sentence for contrastive emphasis, i.e.: It's not very likely that I'll see her, but if I do see her,…









conditionals: general condition

Note that if we are stating a general truth, the verb in both clauses normally remains in the present. This was probably Amy's intention, when she was talking about the things people need to do if they want to stay together. Compare the following:

If I drink coffee in the evening I cannot sleep at night.
You can walk on the grass if you want to.
We prefer to sleep outside at night, if the temperature stays above 30 degrees.
If you want us to stay together, we must demonstrate that we can keep this place tidy.
If you want to learn a musical instrument, you must be prepared to practice for an hour each day.
Note that when stating a general truth, we can sometimes replace if with when or whenever:

When I drink coffee in the evening I cannot sleep at night.
We prefer to sleep outside at night, whenever the temperature stays above 30 degrees.
When you are learning to play a musical instrument, you must practice for half an hour each day.



have got to / have to / must

Note that we've got to in your examples, Bharat, is not a reference to the present perfect. We've got to here is used as an alternative to we have to or we must to express obligation.

There is no difference in meaning and little difference in usage between must on the one hand and have (got) to on the other.

To some extent, must is used to talk about the emotions or wishes of the speaker or hearer, whilst have (got) to is used to discuss obligations that are imposed from outside by some external body. Compare the following:

We must try to save some money, if we want to buy a house next year.
Have I got to go to bed now? ~ Yes, you must, if you're going to get up early tomorrow to go fishing with Uncle Bill.
Can you come skating with me tomorrow? ~ Sorry, I can't. I've got to work.
Do you have to wear a suit to work, or can you wear casual clothes? ~ You have to wear a suit, I'm afraid.
Note also that past six months in your original sentence, Bharat, is a colloquial way of saying for longer than.

The Most Dangerous Game -Part 1 :

by Richard Connell


"OFF THERE to the right--somewhere--is a large island," said Whitney." It's rather a mystery--"

"What island is it?" Rainsford asked.

"The old charts call it `Ship-Trap Island,"' Whitney replied." A suggestive name, isn't it? Sailors have a curious dread of the place. I don't know why. Some superstition--"

"Can't see it," remarked Rainsford, trying to peer through the dank tropical night that was palpable as it pressed its thick warm blackness in upon the yacht.

"You've good eyes," said Whitney, with a laugh," and I've seen you pick off a moose moving in the brown fall bush at four hundred yards, but even you can't see four miles or so through a moonless Caribbean night."

"Nor four yards," admitted Rainsford. "Ugh! It's like moist black velvet."

"It will be light enough in Rio," promised Whitney. "We should make it in a few days. I hope the jaguar guns have come from Purdey's. We should have some good hunting up the Amazon. Great sport, hunting."

"The best sport in the world," agreed Rainsford.

"For the hunter," amended Whitney. "Not for the jaguar."

"Don't talk rot, Whitney," said Rainsford. "You're a big-game hunter, not a philosopher. Who cares how a jaguar feels?"

"Perhaps the jaguar does," observed Whitney.

"Bah! They've no understanding."

"Even so, I rather think they understand one thing--fear. The fear of pain and the fear of death."

"Nonsense," laughed Rainsford. "This hot weather is making you soft, Whitney. Be a realist. The world is made up of two classes--the hunters and the huntees. Luckily, you and I are hunters. Do you think we've passed that island yet?"

"I can't tell in the dark. I hope so."

"Why? " asked Rainsford.

"The place has a reputation--a bad one."

"Cannibals?" suggested Rainsford.

"Hardly. Even cannibals wouldn't live in such a God-forsaken place. But it's gotten into sailor lore, somehow. Didn't you notice that the crew's nerves seemed a bit jumpy today?"

"They were a bit strange, now you mention it. Even Captain Nielsen--"

"Yes, even that tough-minded old Swede, who'd go up to the devil himself and ask him for a light. Those fishy blue eyes held a look I never saw there before. All I could get out of him was `This place has an evil name among seafaring men, sir.' Then he said to me, very gravely, `Don't you feel anything?'--as if the air about us was actually poisonous. Now, you mustn't laugh when I tell you this--I did feel something like a sudden chill.

"There was no breeze. The sea was as flat as a plate-glass window. We were drawing near the island then. What I felt was a--a mental chill; a sort of sudden dread."

"Pure imagination," said Rainsford.

"One superstitious sailor can taint the whole ship's company with his fear."

"Maybe. But sometimes I think sailors have an extra sense that tells them when they are in danger. Sometimes I think evil is a tangible thing--with wave lengths, just as sound and light have. An evil place can, so to speak, broadcast vibrations of evil. Anyhow, I'm glad we're getting out of this zone. Well, I think I'll turn in now, Rainsford."

"I'm not sleepy," said Rainsford. "I'm going to smoke another pipe up on the afterdeck."

"Good night, then, Rainsford. See you at breakfast."

"Right. Good night, Whitney."

There was no sound in the night as Rainsford sat there but the muffled throb of the engine that drove the yacht swiftly through the darkness, and the swish and ripple of the wash of the propeller.

Rainsford, reclining in a steamer chair, indolently puffed on his favorite brier. The sensuous drowsiness of the night was on him." It's so dark," he thought, "that I could sleep without closing my eyes; the night would be my eyelids--"

An abrupt sound startled him. Off to the right he heard it, and his ears, expert in such matters, could not be mistaken. Again he heard the sound, and again. Somewhere, off in the blackness, someone had fired a gun three times.

Rainsford sprang up and moved quickly to the rail, mystified. He strained his eyes in the direction from which the reports had come, but it was like trying to see through a blanket. He leaped upon the rail and balanced himself there, to get greater elevation; his pipe, striking a rope, was knocked from his mouth. He lunged for it; a short, hoarse cry came from his lips as he realized he had reached too far and had lost his balance. The cry was pinched off short as the blood-warm waters of the Caribbean Sea dosed over his head.

He struggled up to the surface and tried to cry out, but the wash from the speeding yacht slapped him in the face and the salt water in his open mouth made him gag and strangle. Desperately he struck out with strong strokes after the receding lights of the yacht, but he stopped before he had swum fifty feet. A certain coolheadedness had come to him; it was not the first time he had been in a tight place. There was a chance that his cries could be heard by someone aboard the yacht, but that chance was slender and grew more slender as the yacht raced on. He wrestled himself out of his clothes and shouted with all his power. The lights of the yacht became faint and ever-vanishing fireflies; then they were blotted out entirely by the night.

Rainsford remembered the shots. They had come from the right, and doggedly he swam in that direction, swimming with slow, deliberate strokes, conserving his strength. For a seemingly endless time he fought the sea. He began to count his strokes; he could do possibly a hundred more and then--

to be continued.........

Grammer : Tenses

Essential Idioms 8:

Legal word :

suspect verb
1 (THINK GUILTY) to think or believe that (someone) is guilty of something or someone has commited a crime
• Although they were in the area on the day of the robbery, no one suspected them. [suspect sb of (doing) sth]:
• Two of the bank's managers were suspected of fraud.
• Burton was suspected of poisoning her husband.
No one knows who killed her, but the police suspect her husband.
The police suspect him of carrying out two bomb attacks.
He was suspected of drug dealing.
2 to think or believe (something) is likely or probably true ,especially something bad [suspect (that)]:
• I suspect it's going to be a pretty difficult day.
• Inspectors suspected that chemical weapons were hidden somewhere on the site.:
• The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary said police did not suspect foul play (= think that murder was likely) in Noseworthy 's death.
Medical investigators suspect the outbreak was caused by bacteria in the water supply
So far, the police do not suspect foul play.
We had no reason to suspect (that) he might try to kill himself.
"Do you think she'll have told them?" "I suspect not/so."
They suspected that he was lying
3(DOUBT)to doubt or not believe in (something)
• We eventually began to suspect his loyalty.
There is no reason to suspect their loyalty.
I have no reason to suspect her honesty/loyalty.
We suspected his motives in making his offer.
Suspect noun a person believed to have committed a crime or done something wrong, or something believed to have caused something bad
• Two suspects were arrested today in connection with the robbery.
After the robbery, the usual suspects were rounded up.
Police have issued a photograph of the suspect.
The prime suspect in the case committed suicide.
No one knows what caused the outbreak of food poisoning, but shellfish is the main suspect (= is thought to have caused it).
He's the prime suspect (= the most likely suspect) in the murder case.
"Who was at the party?" "Oh, Adrian, John, Dave - the usual suspects."
suspicion noun [C]
a belief or idea that something may be true:
[+ that] I have a suspicion (= belief or idea) that he only asked me out because my brother persuaded him to.
She had a nagging/sneaking suspicion that she might have sent the letter to the wrong address.
"I'm arresting you on suspicion of illegally possessing drugs, " said the police officer.
MAINLY UK She is under suspicion of murder.
In this particular case, they are above/beyond suspicion (= cannot be thought to be guilty).
His strange behaviour aroused/raised his neighbours' suspicions.
suspicious adjective
doubt or lack of trust:
Since they discovered the truth about his background, his colleagues have regarded him with suspicion.
They feel that she harbours (= has) suspicions of their politics.
The fire at the bank is being treated as suspicious.
It's a bit suspicious that no one knows where he was at the time of the murder.
There were some suspicious characters hanging around outside.
There's a suspicious-looking van parked at the end of the road.
His new book bears a suspicious resemblance to a book written by someone else (= His book is so similar to the other book that it seems as if he has copied it).
His colleagues became suspicious (= thought that there was something wrong) when he did not appear at work, since he was always punctual.
They are deeply/highly (= very) suspicious of one another/of each other's motives.
My mother has a very suspicious nature (= does not trust people).
suspiciously adverb
She brushed away what looked suspiciously like (= looked as if it probably was) a tear.
The officers noticed two men acting suspiciously (= as if they were doing something wrong) in a car.
He looked at her suspiciously.
The children are suspiciously quiet (= are so quiet that they are probably doing something wrong).
His hair is suspiciously black (= looks darker than it should be, and is therefore probably not natural) for a man of his age.
Suspect adjective difficult to trust or believe : possibly false or dangerous:
• The health benefits of the treatment are suspect.
• Democrats have returned $1.5 million in suspect contributions.
• Police found the suspect package next to a trash can.
I can't understand why my reasons seem suspect to a number of people.
The study was carried out with such a small sample that its results are suspect.
A suspect parcel was found at the station.
His explanation was highly suspect.
suspected adjective
1 likely or believed to be something bad, illegal, or dangerous:
• Four men were arrested for their suspected roles in the bombing.
2 a suspected criminal/terrorist/spy etc. someone the police believe is a criminal, TERRORIST, SPY etc.
Three suspected terrorists have been arrested.
He has a suspected broken leg.
accused noun
the person who is on trial in a court, a person or people who may be guilty of a crime
The accused protested her innocence.
The accused were all found guilty.

accused adjective [only before noun]
an accused murderer/rapist/bomber etc. someone who has been officially CHARGEd with committing a crime:
• The accused batterer was fined $150 for disturbing the peace in the courtroom.
accuse verb [T] to say that someone has done something bad
"It wasn't my fault." "Don't worry, I'm not accusing you."
He's been accused of robbery/murder.
Are you accusing me of lying?
The surgeon was accused of negligence.
He was falsely accused of murder.
[+ of + doing sth] She accused Andrew of lying to her.
He was accused of failing to pay his taxes.
She accused me of lying.
Accusing adjective
an accusing look from someone shows that they think that you have done something wrong
accusingly adverb
accusation noun [C or U]
a statement saying that someone has done something morally wrong, illegal or unkind, or the fact of accusing someone:
You can't just make wild accusations like that!
He glared at me with an air of accusation.
[+ that] What do you say to the accusation that you are unfriendly and unhelpful?
He denied the accusation, saying he was innocent.

accusatory adjective FORMAL
suggesting that you think someone has done something bad:
When he spoke his tone was accusatory.
She gave me an accusatory look.
accuser noun [C]

accusing adjective
an accusing glance/look

accusingly adverb
"Has this dog been fed today?" she asked accusingly.
(from Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary)

witness
1 [C] someone who sees a crime or an accident and can describe what happened:
• Police have appealed for witnesses to come forward. [+ to]:
• One witness to the accident said that the driver appeared to be drunk.
Police are appealing for witnesses to the shooting.
According to witnesses, the car used in the robbery was a green van with Pennsylvania license plates.
If someone is witness to something, they see it: She was witness to the tragic event.

2 [C] someone in a court of law who tells what they saw or what they know about a crime:
• The witness was asked to identify the robber in the courtroom.
The witness was called to the stand.
Ten witnesses are expected to testify at the trial today.
The key witness for the prosecution was offered police protection after she received death threats.
Police are appealing for witnesses to the accident to come forward.
According to (eye) witnesses, the robbery was carried out by two teenage boys.
defense/prosecution witnesses
Five witnesses are expected to testify at the trial today.

2 expert witness a person who is allowed to give their opinion in a law court because of their knowledge or practical experience of a particular subject:
A psychiatrist was called as an expert witness for the defence.
3 [C] someone who is present when an official paper is signed, and who signs it too, to prove that they saw it happen [+ to]: someone who is asked to be present at a particular event and sign their name in order to prove that things have been done correctly: A witness is also someone who is asked to be present at a particular event and sign their name in order to prove that things have been done correctly:
The will has to be signed by two witnesses.
He signed the treaty in the presence of two witnesses.
They were married a year after they first met, with two friends acting as witnesses.
• His brother was a witness to the will.
4 witness to sth phrasal verb UK FORMAL
to see something happen, to state publicly, especially in a law court, that something is true or that it happened:
A handwriting expert witnessed to the authenticity of the letter.
[+ ing form of verb] She witnessed to having seen the robbery take place.
She was witness to the tragic event.
• We have been witness to the rapid transformation of the neighborhood.
5 [C,U] a public statement of Christian beliefs, or someone who does this

If something is/bears witness to something, it shows or proves it:
The latest sales figures are witness to the success of our advertising campaign.

A witness stand is a raised place usually near the judge where a witness sits when being questioned.
the place in a court of law where a witness answers questions
witness box UK noun [C usually singular] (US witness stand)
the place in which a person stands in a law court when they are being questioned:
He showed no emotion as he walked into the witness box.
She was asked to take the witness stand and was then cross-examined by the state attorney.
witness verb
1 1 to see something happen, especially an accident or crime:
Did anyone witness the attack?
They were staying in the capital at the time of the riots and witnessed several street battles.
[+ ing form of verb] He arrived home just in time to witness his brother being taken away by the police.
• Several residents claim to have witnessed the attack.
2 EXPERIENCE STH [T] to experience important events or changes:
• Priests have witnessed an increase in religious intolerance.
3 TIME/PLACE [T] if a time or place witnesses an event, the event happens during that time or in that place:
This university has witnessed quite a few changes over the years.
The past few years have witnessed momentous changes throughout Eastern Europe.
• Recent years have witnessed the collapse of the steel industry.
4 OFFICIAL DOCUMENT [T] to be present when someone signs an official document, and sign it yourself to show this:
Her will was drawn up by a solicitor and witnessed by two colleagues.
• It is not legal unless the pastor witnesses the marriage license.
5 ..., as witnessed by... also witness...:to show or give proof of something:
This year's charity ball was the most successful one ever, as witnessed by the number of tickets sold.
The programme aroused strong feelings - witness the number of letters received
• There are alternative ways to teach children, as witnessed by Rosemont Elementary's program.
• Bad economic times can result in political dictatorships. Witness Germany in the 1930s.
6 CHRISTIAN BELIEFS [I] to speak publicly about your Christian beliefs
witness to sth phrasal verb [T] FORMAL
to formally state that something is true or happened:
• Her principal was called to witness to her good character.
We were there at the time of the riots and witnessed a lot of looting.
Rock music is becoming a health problem -- witness the loss of hearing (= for proof, look at the loss of hearing) in some of our youth.
bear testimony/witness FORMAL
1 to say you know from your own experience that something happened or is true:
She bore witness to his patience and diligence.
If something bears witness to a fact, it proves that it is true:
The numerous awards on the walls bear witness to his great success.
As last week's riots bear witness, the political situation is very unstable
The iron bridge bears testimony to the skills developed in that era.
.
eyewitness (ALSO witness) noun [C]
someone who saw something such as a crime or an accident happen
Eyewitnesses saw two men running away from the bank.





testimony
1 a formal statement that something is true, such as the one a WITNESS makes in a court of law:
• The grand jury today heard testimony from numerous witnesses.
• In his testimony, he denied that his company had ignored the safety procedures.
Some doubts have been expressed about his testimony.
the testimony of a witness
The value of their testimony is questionable
2 a fact or situation that shows or proves something very clearly [+ to/of]:
• War is a testimony to our lack of humanity.
The book's continued popularity is testimony to the power of clever marketing.

testimonial noun [C]
1 something that is said or given to someone to show thanks, praise, or admiration, especially in front of other people:
• Ed stood and gave a testimonial to (= said nice things about)his mother.
2 a formal written statement describing someone's character and abilities
3 a favorable statement someone makes about a product, used especially in advertising to encourage other people to buy and use that product




bear testimony/witness FORMAL
1 to say you know from your own experience that something happened or is true:
She bore witness to his patience and diligence.

2 If something bears testimony to a fact, it proves that it is true:
The iron bridge bears testimony to the skills developed in that era.
be (a) testimony to sth FORMAL
to be clear evidence of something:
The reports are testimony to the many hours of research completed by this committee.

guilty adjective guiltier, guiltiest
1 ashamed and sad because you know or believe you have done something wrong [+ about]: responsible for breaking a law:
The jury has to decide whether a person is guilty or innocent of a crime.
I feel so guilty about not going to see them
A person accused of a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
The company pleaded guilty (= They formally admitted their guilt in court) to the charge of manslaughter.
Compare innocent.
• I feel guilty about not inviting her to the party.:
• It's just that I have a guilty conscience (= feel guilty)whenever I skip practice.
I feel so guilty about forgetting her birthday
2 having done something that is a crime:
• The court found him guilty of (= officially decided that he was guilty of) fraud.

She must have done something wrong, because she's looking so guilty.
You've got a guilty conscience - that's why you can't sleep.

The jury found her guilty (= decided that she was guilty of a crime).
They found him guilty of rape. He pleaded guilty (= He formally admitted his guilt in court).
If you feel guilty, you feel that you have done something wrong: I feel so guilty about forgetting your birthday.
• He plans to plead not guilty (= say in a court of law that was not guilty)to the murder charges.
• Both defendants were found guilty as charged (= guilty of the illegal action that someone said they did). --opposite INNOCENT1
3 responsible for behavior that is morally or socially unacceptable or for something bad that has happened [guilty of (doing) sth]:
• These officials are guilty of arrogance and greed.
4 guilty party the person who has done something wrong or who has committed a crime


If someone has a guilty conscience, they are unhappy because of something they feel they have done wrong.
as guilty/miserable/ugly as sin INFORMAL
very guilty/miserable/ugly




guilt noun [U]
1 a feeling of shame and sadness when you know or believe you have done something wrong [+ about/at/over]:
• The guilt I felt over the way I had treated her was overwhelming.:
• Marta felt a sense of guilt about leaving home.
2 a guilt trip INFORMAL a feeling of guilt about something, when this is unreasonable:
• I wish my parents would stop laying a guilt trip on me (= stop trying to make me feel guilty) about not going to college.
He suffered such feelings of guilt over leaving his children.
She remembered with a pang of guilt that she hadn't called her mother.
Both suspects admitted their guilt to the police.
The prosecution's task in a case is to establish a person's guilt beyond any reasonable doubt.
3 the fact of having broken an official law or moral rule:
• The juror was sure of the defendant's guilt.
4 the state of being responsible for something bad that has happened:
• Most of the guilt for his poor academic performance lies with him. --opposite INNOCENCE
the fact or state of having done something wrong or committed a crime
In the US, people accused of a crime are presumed to be innocent until their guilt is proven.
Guilt is also a feeling of anxiety or unhappiness that you have done something immoral or wrong, such as causing harm to another person: She was tormented by feelings of guilt after putting her mother in a nursing home.
(informal) A guilt trip is a strong feeling of having done something wrong in a particular situation:
Hector is going through a major guilt trip over his divorce.
guilt verb [T] INFORMAL, NONSTANDARD
to try to make someone feel guilty, especially so they will do what you want [guilt sb into doing sth]:
• Her parents guilted her into not going to the concert.
guilt-ridden adjective
feeling so guilty about something that you cannot think about anything else [+ over/about]:
• Barkowski was guilt-ridden over the way she had treated her son.

guiltily adverb

guiltless adjective
not responsible for doing something wrong or committing a crime
convict verb
to prove or officially announce that someone is guilty of a crime after a TRIAL in a court of law [convict sb of sth]: to decide officially in a court of law that someone is guilty of a crime:
He has twice been convicted of robbery/arson.
He was convicted of murder.
There might not have been enough evidence to convict him.
• Smith was convicted of armed robbery.:
• a convicted murderer --opposite ACQUIT
convict noun [C]
someone who has been proven to be guilty of a crime and sent to prison: someone who is in prison because they are guilty of a crime:
an escaped convict
• Fifty-two convicts began a hunger strike on November 30th. --compare EX-CON
conviction noun Written: 3000
1 [C] a very strong belief or opinion:
• Americans held the conviction that anyone could become rich if they worked hard.
• a deep/strong conviction: The Dotens have a deep conviction that marriage is for life.
• religious/political convictions: Religious convictions have a strong influence on people's behavior.
2 [C] a decision in a court of law that someone is guilty of a crime:
• Mrs. Warren and her husband appealed the conviction. [+ for]:
• a conviction for driving while drunk
His criminal record includes convictions for robberies in several states.
3 [U] the feeling of being sure about something and having no doubts:
• "No,'' she said, but without conviction.
• He responded, "we will win," but his voice didn't carry conviction (= it showed that he did not feel sure about what he was saying).
4 [U] the process of proving that someone is guilty in a court of law:
• The trial and conviction of Jimmy Malone took over three months. --opposite ACQUITTAL --see also have the courage of your (own) convictions (COURAGE)
convicted adjective
a convicted murderer
a convicted criminal

acquit verb acquitted, acquitting
1 [T usually passive] to give a decision in a court of law that someone is not guilty of a crime: (DECIDE NOT GUILTY)
She was acquitted of all the charges against her.
Five months ago he was acquitted on a shoplifting charge.
men were acquitted of murder.
She acquitted herself well, finishing second.
She was acquitted.
The jury acquitted him.
• All the defendants were acquitted.

acquittal noun [C or U] an official statement in a court of law that someone is not guilty:
• Leckie told reporters he hoped his acquittal would give hope to other people in similar situations. --opposite CONVICTION

The first trial ended in a hung jury, the second in acquittal.
Of the three cases that went to trial, two ended in acquittals.
He hoped for an acquittal.
acquit yourself (PERFORM) verb [R] FORMAL
to do better than expected in a difficult situation: . FORMAL to do something well, especially something difficult that you do for the first time in front of other people:
• Although Perkins isn't known as a singer, he acquits himself admirably on
I thought that he acquitted himself admirably in today's meeting.
ex-con noun [C] INFORMAL
a criminal who has been in prison but who is now free --compare CONVICT2
lawsuit noun [C] Written: 3000
a problem or complaint that someone brings to a court of law to be settled, especially for money:a problem taken to a court of law, by an ordinary person or an organization rather than the police, for a legal decision: a legal complaint against someone that does not usually involve the police
The tenants have filed a lawsuit against their landlord.
Two of the directors have brought/MAINLY US filed a lawsuit against their former employer.
• Neighbors have filed a lawsuit to stop development.
suit (LEGAL PROBLEM) noun [C] (ALSO lawsuit)
a problem taken to a court of law, by an ordinary person or an organization rather than the police, for a legal decision:
He brought/MAINLY US filed a $12 million libel suit against the newspaper, claiming his professional reputation had been damaged by the paper's stories.
a malpractice/negligence/paternity suit

verdict noun [C]
1 an official decision made by a JURY in a court of law about whether someone is guilty or not guilty of a crime:
• a guilty verdict
• The jury reached a verdict after four days of deliberation.
• return/deliver/render a verdict (= give a verdict)
2 an official decision or opinion made by a person or group that has authority:
• The Ethics Committee will deliver its verdict next week.
3 INFORMAL an opinion or decision about something [+ on]:
• What's your verdict on the movie?


file1 noun
officially recorded:
• More than four million patents are on file in the U.S.

file verb Spoken: 2000 • Written: 2000
LAW [T] (ALSO file for) to officially state that you are going to take someone to court
The police filed charges against the suspect.
His wife's filing for divorce.
The police filed charges against the two suspects.
• I heard she decided to file for divorce.:
• The district attorney filed charges against him.
• file a claim/suit: O'Brien will file a $1 million civil damage suit against the Committee.
filing noun
[C] LEGAL an official record of something:
a bankruptcy filing
suspend verb [T]
1 STOP STH to officially stop something from continuing, especially for a short time:
• Any store that has had its license suspended for more than 30 days will have to apply for a permit.
2 FROM SCHOOL/JOB ETC. to make someone leave school, a job, or an organization temporarily, especially because they have broken the rules [suspend sb (from sth)]:
• Knight was suspended from her job for not following safety guidelines.
3 HANG STH to hang something, especially something heavy, from something else [suspend sth from sth]:
• Two large stainless steel frames were suspended from the ceiling.
4 TECHNICAL be suspended in water/air/space etc. if something is suspended in a liquid or in air, it floats in it without moving much
5 be suspended in time to seem as if no change or progress has happened after a long period of time:
• The town seemed suspended in time.
6 suspend (your) disbelief to forget or allow yourself to forget that something such as a performance, movie etc. is not real or true:
• The movie is a lot of fun, once you suspend disbelief. --see also suspend/reserve judgment (JUDGMENT (3))
suspended animation noun [U]
1 a state in which someone's body processes are slowed down to a state almost like death
2 a feeling that you cannot do anything because you have to wait for what happens next

suspended sentence noun [C]
a punishment given by a court in which the criminal will only go to prison if they do something else illegal within a particular period of time:
• a two-year suspended sentence

suspenders noun [plural]
two bands of cloth that go over your shoulders and fasten to your pants to hold them up
suspend (STOP) verb [T]
LEGAL Mr Young was given a six-month jail sentence suspended for two years (= If he commits another crime within two years, he will have to go to prison for six months for his original crime).
1 STOP to stop something happening for a short time
The semi-final was suspended because of bad weather.

2 suspend sth from/between, etc to hang something from somewhere
[often passive] A light bulb was suspended from the ceiling.

3 JOB/SCHOOL to not allow someone to go to work or school for a period of time because they have done something wrong
[often passive] She was suspended from school for fighting.
She was suspended from school for fighting.
He was suspended for four matches after arguing with the referee.
suspension []
noun [C/U]
Stevens will begin his three-day suspension Tuesday.
Students who are warned twice may face suspension.

let sb off (NOT PUNISH) phrasal verb [M]
to not punish someone who has committed a crime or done something wrong, or to not punish them severely:
Instead of a prison sentence they were let off with a fine.
You won't be let off so lightly (= you will be punished more severely) the next time.
I'll let you off this time, but don't ever lie to me again.
The judge let her off with (= only punished her with) a fine.
let sth off (EXPLODE) phrasal verb [M]
to fire a gun or make something such as a bomb or fireworks explode:
Don't let off fireworks near the house.

Bail noun [U]
money left with a court of law to prove that a prisoner will return when their TRIAL starts:
• Harrell will be released on bail (= let out of prison when bail was paid) until his trial.
• Carpenter is free on bail while he appeals his conviction.
• Veltman is being held without bail (= staying in prison because bail is not allowed or cannot be paid) after his arrest Thursday.
• post/stand bail (= pay the bail)
• jump/skip bail (= to not return to trial as you promised)
The judge set bail at $100,000.
He was released/remanded on bail (of $100 000).
Because of a previous conviction, the judge refused to grant bail (= allow the accused person to be released).
Her parents have agreed to put up/stand/US post (= pay) bail for her.

bail verb [T]
She was yesterday bailed (= released having paid a sum of money) for three weeks on drink-driving offences.
[+ to infinitive] He was bailed to appear at the Magistrates' Court next month.
stand bail
to pay money temporarily to a court so that someone can be released from prison until the date of their trial:
She can't be released from police custody until someone stands bail for her.
bail noun [U]
when money is paid to a court so that someone can be released from prison until their trial
He was released on bail.
She was granted bail.
affiliate
verb [T] be affiliated to/with sth to be officially connected to, or a member of, a larger organization
a college affiliated to the University of London
to cause a group to become part of or form a close relationship with another, usually larger, group or organization:
a college affiliated to the University of London
The school is affiliated with a national association of driving schools.
I'm not affiliated with any political party.
The two schools will affiliate next year.
affiliate noun [C]
Our college is an affiliate of (= is connected with or controlled by) the university.
The show is broadcast on most of the network's affiliates
affiliation noun [C or U]
a connection with a political party or religion, or with a larger organization:
The group has affiliations with several organizations abroad.
Their lack of affiliation to any particular bank allows them to give objective financial advice.
political affiliations
The group has affiliations with several organizations abroad.

custody 1 the right to take care of a child, especially when the child's parents are legally separated from each other [+ of]:
• Kephart got custody of his son after the divorce.:
• Mrs. Richburn has custody of their three children.
• Harper and Moore have joint custody (= they both have the right to take care of their child) of their six-year-old son.
• grant/award sb custody (= if a court grants someone custody, it gives that person the right to take care of a child)
• The twins were placed in the custody of their grandparents.
2 in custody being kept in prison by the police until you go to court, because the police think you are guilty of a crime:
• The youth was put in custody at juvenile hall.
• hold/keep sb in custody: The defendant will be kept in custody until the appeal.
• As soon as the plane landed, they were taken into custody by waiting FBI men.
3 in the custody of sb FORMAL if something is in someone's custody, it is being kept and taken care of by them:
• The records are
custody (CARE) noun [U]
1 CHILD the legal right to look after a child, especially when parents separate
When they divorced, it was Nicola who won custody of their two children.
The court awarded/granted/gave custody of the child to the father.
The mother got/received custody (of the child).
The parents were given joint custody (of the child).
2 PRISON when someone is kept in prison, usually while they are waiting for a trial in court
You will be remanded in custody until your trial.
He is being held in custody in Los Angeles charged with assault.
He was taken into custody by Mexican authorities.
The police have taken the suspect into custody.
custodial adjective
custodial care
custodial sentence a period of time that someone must stay in prison
protective custody noun [U]
a safe place, sometimes prison, where someone is kept by the police for their own safety

expel verb expelled, expelling [T]
1 to officially make someone leave a school, organization, country etc., especially because they have broken rules:
• The government is trying to expel all foreign journalists. [expel sb from sth]:
• Jakes had been expelled from the Communist Party. [expel sb for doing sth]:
• Leon got expelled for bringing a knife to school.
] He was expelled from school for hitting another student.
The new government has expelled all foreign diplomats.
My brother was expelled from school for bad behaviour.
He was arrested for purse snatching at age 12 and expelled from high school four years later
2 to force air, water, gas etc. out of something --see also EXPULSION
Slowly expel all the air from your lungs.
When you breathe out, you expel air from your lungs.

expulsion .noun [C or U]
1 the official act of making someone leave a country, school, organization etc. [+ from]:
They threatened him with expulsion from school.
This is the second expulsion of a club member this year.
• All the students responsible for the prank face expulsion from school.
2 the process of sending a person or group of people away from a place, often by using force [+ from]:
• the expulsion of rebel forces from the area
3 the act of forcing air, water, or gas out of something [+ from]:
• the expulsion of air from the lungs --see also EXPEL