Mistletoe and wine

This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Monkeys are very agile climbers. You need to have agile fingers to do this kind of work. For a man of 80, he has a remarkably agile mind.

The individual's needs are subordinate to those of the group. Her personal life has been subordinated to her career.

They are raising bilingual children. She works as a bilingual secretary for an insurance company.

a proficient swimmer, It takes a couple of years of regular driving before you become proficient at it.

The strong police presence only heightened the tension among the crowd.

My disability is a handicap, but I learned to overcome it. Despite his handicap, he lives a regular life.

I haven’t talked to her in years, so I wouldn’t know how to get hold of her anymore.

Where can I get hold of today’s newspaper?

This TV is my latest acquisition. Language acquisition is the basis of logical thinking and contextual understanding. The acquisition of huge amounts of data has helped our research enormously.

We want to expand the facilities of this computer. The government spent a lot of money on the new sports facilities. He has a facility for languages. He can write poems with facility.

That is certainly a novelty - something that I think virtually none of us have encountered before. The novelty of these toys soon wore off and the children became bored with them.

Poor health is accepted as an attribute of normal ageing. Conversely, youth is depicted as a time of vitality and good health. No matter what I say, he always takes a converse position.

There must be some rational explanation for what happened.

Virtually all of our stuff have been stolen at the airport.

She kicked back and fell asleep with a book in her hand. How can I kick back in a moment like this? What good is life if a guy can’t kick back and watch a good movie?

As children we were rather in awe of our grandfather. The audience was awed into silence by her stunning performance

We've got modern amenities like the elevator. Our facility needs the amenities for the disabled.

The senator has accused the media of bias. There was clear evidence of a strong bias against her. My son has a musical bias. We can't bias the judge in favour of us

The United States has a strong tradition of circumcising baby boys. 5% of intact adult males eventually get circumcised for medical reasons.

She stays up all night in unwholesome places. We avoid alcohol, tobacco, and other unwholesome things.

I've bought a pair of new sneakers for Adam

It grieves me to see how selfish you have become. He is still grieving for/over his wife.

Europe's population density is much higher than in the US. Density is a property that affects the weight of an element

Dark storm clouds loomed on the horizon.

My father never resorts to violence. She resorted to a lie.

We cruised to our destination. We cruised around the world. We cruised the city twice because we were bored. The plane was cruising and I felt calm. I was cruising around the car park looking for a space.

I wish I hadn't bought that house—the mortgage is a millstone around my neck.

She was omitted from the list of contributors to the report. The Prince's tour conveniently omitted the most deprived areas of the city.

He wasn't convinced in the slightest

There was no alcohol whatsoever

This industry does not deserve the environmentalist hostility which is often heaped upon it.

a ring of stiff plastic, metal, etc. worn around the wrist or arm as jewellery

worried and nervous

an introspective journey, She is famous for her introspective songs about failed relationships.

collective responsibility/leadership

the community-created loop path. I tied a loop at the end of the string.

I wrote a book about a divide in my personal life. We can't overcome the divide between us. They divided into 3 teams.

Treat minor ailments yourself. I have concocted remedies for almost every known ailment.

Unusually poor harvests have added to the country's woes.

I remember my carefree student days.

I had to answer the phone and meantime my cereal went soggy. The ground was too soggy to build a house on it. I hate it when cereal goes soggy.

The procession moved through the streets at a steady pace. Orders for new ships are rising, after several years of steady decline. You should steady your schedule. You can steady your daughter, she passed the exam. He walked steadily. he looked steadily

The campaign hasn't received any political endorsements. He hoped to secure quick endorsement of the plan from the president. I fully endorse everything the chairperson has said. I expect the boss to endorse these recommendations.

The company envisions adding at least five stores next year. He envisioned a partnership between business and government.

The main roof beams are given extra support by the smaller transverse beams. It transverses deep forests and mountains. The surgeon made a transverse incision across her abdomen.

The villagers were very hospitable to/towards anyone who passed through.

Let's sit down on the sandy river bank. I saw a bank of clouds in the sky. I have a bank of monitors in my office.

fostering cultural understanding

We are currently flying at an altitude of 15,000 metres. Mountain climbers use oxygen when they reach higher altitudes. altitude sickness

I used to see her all the time, on the circuit. Perhaps we could make one more circuit and be off. The guard finished his circuit. The circuit lasts precisely one hour.

You forgot to dot the j. He dotted pins next to my bed.

She stamped loudly to show that she's angry. This application needs a date stamp. I have a stamp on my left arm.

What prompted you to say that? Parents usually prompt their children to say thank you

What's most important all of our family are better off than rest of the society. Obviously we're better off now that we're both working. When his parents died, he found himself $100,000 better off (= he had $100,000 more than before)

We spent the day lazing around on the beach.

a weedy child, a weedy pavement

She made absolutely no pretence of being interested. They kept up (= continued) a pretence of normality as long as they could.

We visited a mouth of an old volcano, it was very interesting. The mouth of the bottle is dirty. The mouth of the river Vistula is a part of Gdansk's port. Because of noise, he mouthed something to me.

He slung the letter in the bin. She slung him the keys.

Tourists pressed their faces against the palace railings.

He jabbered (out) something about an accident further down the road.

Surely a diplomatic solution is preferable to war.

a steamy love scene, His new novel is advertised as his steamiest yet. steamy summer weather

Water the plants twice a week, preferably in the morning.

Jeeps are rugged vehicles, designed for rough conditions. rugged landscape/terrain/hills/cliffs

stunning scenic landscape, an area of outstanding scenic beauty, We took the scenic route home.

He was shy and unassuming and not at all how you expect an actor to be.

oracular divination

The empress outlasted all her children. The Orioles outlasted the Yankees, finally winning 10 to 9.

Pesticides are seeping out of farmland and into the water supply. Given the intense secrecy of the arms business, information only seeps out in company literature.

May I borrow this book?" "By all means

I made a resolution to give up chocolate. The United Nations passed (= voted to support) a resolution to increase aid to developing nations

They covered the floor with tiles. All they needed to do was tile the roof. roof tiles

As the centrepiece of the ceremony, the stadium floor filled with water and a young boy in a small boat sailed across it

Meeting his parents was the highlight of the evening.

eccentric behaviour. She was an elderly eccentric who lived with 25 cats.

He paints with photographic exactness.

Why do snakes hiss? The iron was hissing and spluttering. Shut up, Tom!" she hissed.

But, er ... when, um, ... how?" he spluttered. The old gentleman was spluttering with indignation

Iris recognition may be used to identify people.

There's a shortage of food and shelter in the refugee camps.

How old do I reckon she is? I'd say 38." "Spot on."

An old sailor sat on the dockside, whittling a toy boat.

Buying those shares was a very far-sighted move - they must be worth ten times their original value now.

a life of debauchery

a leaven of wit

I have achieved the knowledge sublime. What he said back then was stupidity sublime. The sublime was the main characteristic of all his works

We sat out on the porch to cool off.

The room is pretty crowded, so you'll have to wedge in.

She heard a faint splash down below. The kids splashed some water around.

The planet Jupiter contains large amounts of the primordial gas and dust out of which the solar system was formed.

The company is offering a sneak peek at the new software

It seems the expedition is predestined to fail because there have been so many problems.

We could hear the groans of the wounded soldiers. a complaining noise or phrase: He looked at the piles of dirty dishes and gave a groan of dismay.

He was an anchor for his family in those difficult moments. He quickly looked around for something to anchor her to. His views are anchored in a leftish vision of society.

I have some crafty ideas for getting around the regulations.

She squashed the can flat and threw it to the bin. He accidentally sat on her hat and squashed it.

Opening a company is a venture but I will support you. It will not be a trip but a venture. Those who venture into the forest do so at their own risk. I could hardly venture a question now.

boreal forest

His expression remained bleak.

Her skin had the papery-thin translucence of great age. translucent plastic/glass

I can't fathom her at all. For years people have been trying to fathom (out) the mysteries of the whale's song. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge

She agreed to buy the car, but stipulated racing tyres and a turbo-powered engine. We have signed a contract which stipulates when the project must be completed. Is there any stipulation concerning the number of people attending the conference?

The colonisers killed the indigenous peoples of this island. Are there any species of frog indigenous to the area?

an adherent surface, She has long been an adherent of the Communist Party.

Elizabeth Quan is a London-based practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine.

After years of rivalry the two companies have agreed (US agreed to) a truce.

After years of rivalry the two companies have agreed (US agreed to) a truce. I was negotiating a truce between the two armies.

He watched the inauguration of his country's new president. In 1900 Paris saw the inauguration of the Metro. It was the inauguration of a new era in American life.

Something about his explanation didn't quite ring true.

haunting mystery, This bar used to be one of your old haunts, didn't it, Jake? A ghostly lady is said to haunt the stairway looking for her children. Fighting in Vietnam was an experience that would haunt him for the rest of his life.

Much of the region's verdant countryside has been destroyed in the hurricane. verdant beauty

She wrote several vignettes of small-town life.

Do you prefer ground or instant coffee? You are grounded, young lady! Our plane was grounded, we need to wait at the airport for the next one. Could you make a speech on that? We know it is your ground

It's sometimes easier to explain what you're trying to do when you break it up into bite-sized chunks.

We distinguish long term and short term memory span. Her research spanned much of the continent. Her acting career spanned almost six decades.

They carried lighted brands during the festival. He killed his brother with a silver brand. I like his brand of humour

unrequited love. Requited love is not enough to sustain a long-term relationship. She could wait awhile longer to requite her torment. She would requite them in similar coin.

Hot to stop ruminating: 10 tips to stop repetitive thoughts.

It's one of those whodunits where you don't find out who the murderer is till the very end.

The book delves into political issues. He delved into his pockets and found two coins

He might have tried to dose himself with something and had too much. I usually have to dose up to two times more medicine a day. Do not take more than 6 doses in a day

He was befriended by an old lady.

a safe house for young runaways, A runaway bus/horse caused chaos on the streets.

They plan to recreate a typical English village in Japan

He maintained a youthful exuberance. What I tried to create was a little of that energy and exuberance.

draw criticism of her latest writing as a deeply anti-christian work that promoted eco-terrorism

Despite the critical acclaim, the novel did not sell well. She is being acclaimed (= publicly recognized) as the greatest dancer of her generation.

Growing unease at the prospect of an election is causing fierce arguments within the party.

a horrendous accident/tragedy/crime, The firm made horrendous (= very big) losses last year

The two vans collided at the crossroads.

She has always been very vocal, she will surely tell us what she thinks.

I thought she showed remarkable fortitude during that period.

our colt was born on the night of the new moon. You played the game like a colt.

It was a disappointing performance that lacked finesse.

There are some commonalities between the different stories.

greasy food/dishes/skin/hair

The bike was splattered with mud.

This is a hand-to-mouth restaurant, let's not eat here. hand-to-mouth existence

The strap of my bag is too short. She was wearing a top with white straps. You should strap your keys to your belt. Can you help me strap my elbow? She's a strap, she sleeps with everyone.

Is there any prospect of the situation improving? There is no prospect of peace in this region. After 10 years of prospecting he still had no major success. I have no family prospects for the future because I don't even have a girlfriend.

moderateness, moderation, temperateness. The minister preached about temperance.

queer lodging, We were criminalized just for being queer. What a queer thing to say!

The price includes board and lodging (= meals and a room to sleep in).

I write with ink and parchment, ancient parchment

Her love for him was like a madness, and she was completely in its thrall.

roast beef and horseradish sauce

She treasured her jewellery for years, I will always treasure those eight years we had worked together.

The annual cost of a Roman legion was 1.25 million denarii.

The chief problem we have in the area now is the spread of disease. chief virtues. One of the chief causes of crime today is drugs

Should I leave a deposit? deposit fee, Do you want to make a deposit to your savings account? He deposited mud to the clean carpet

My dogs always drive me to get up early and go for a walk with them. Ambition can be a virtue when it drives us to excel. I think that drive may have triggered your abuse in the first place

We need resourceful people in our company.

Henry is going to run for president. Four companies are bidding on this contract right now.

The movie didn't live up to my expectations

There were many casualties of the bombing. Your child is the biggest casualty of your divorce.

We should not lament the fates of these inferior creatures. Is it a lament to the gods?

(Zachodzi pewna rozbieżność między ustaleniami naukowymi a działaniami politycznymi.

There is something of a discrepancy between scientific findings and political action

sth doltish, such as your gormless, unimaginative behavior

He's been cranky all day, She's a member of a group that promotes cranky ideas about food and exercise.

Everyone looked very solemn.

wdzieranie się, wyrzynanie się, naruszenie granic

The new censorship laws are serious encroachments on freedom of expression.[C ] Human encroachment threatens the birds’ nesting sites.

He limps because one of his legs is shorter. Her skin looks limp. My limp leg sometimes hurts me.

The last few bubbles rose from the sundered ship.

He used a deer antler as a coat hanger.

Most of the buildings were old and decrepit. A decrepit old man sat on a park bench.

A rise in interest rates would severely retard economic growth. She asked him to stall the guests, as the party wasn't ready yet.

ancillary staff/workers, Campaigning to change government policy is ancillary to the charity's direct relief work.

a chunk of cheese/meat, a substantial chunk of our profits, Three hours is quite a chunk out of my working day.

It's not my fault you own this dodgy stock. The weather might be a bit dodgy at this time of year.

I'll be with you in a jiffy. I've just got to fetch some books from upstairs - I won't be a jiffy (= I'll be very quick).

This ring is a family heirloom.

On this occasion we pay homage to him for his achievements.

One of the legs on this chair is a bit wonky. He gave a wonky speech about climate change. wonky teeth. The rules have been changed on the sale of wonky vegetables.

My passport expires next month. In 1936 the last Tasmanian tiger breathed its final breath and expired in a zoo in Hobart. He ceased to breathe, gently expiring without any struggle at the age of 90. people expire around 78% of nitrogen

What is the expiration date of your credit card? Breath intake and expiration were mostly active only in the upper half of her chest.

Viewing the battle scene up close is an eye-opening experience.

One of the documentary's many unsettling images is of a child playing with her father's gun.

He was drafted and had to report to boot camp three weeks later

He must have had some inkling of what was happening. I didn't have the slightest inkling that she was unhappy.

The audience was buzzing with excitement before the concert. The doorbell is buzzing, can you open it? A wasp is buzzing in my room. Stop buzzing around the house and sit down!

He had a stomach ulcer when he was 23 years old

well done guys. let's call it a day and have a drink

he spent his whole days in his room, headphones on lest he distrub anyone. They were afraid to complain about the noise lest they annoyed the neighbours.

strain a tendon

I was to play the doctor, reprising a role I’d done years earlier.

She encapsulates the stereotyped image that the British have of Americans. It was very difficult to encapsulate the story of the revolution in a single one-hour documentary.

Daddy, I need to wee!

a Y-shaped stick or piece of metal with a piece of elastic (= material that stretches) attached to the top parts, used especially by children for shooting small stones

I don't want to diminish her achievements, but she did have a lot of help. We've seen our house diminish greatly/sharply/substantially in value over the last six months.

The memorial to those who had died in the war was unveiled by the Queen. The company recently unveiled a test version of its new search engine.

The vote was rigged. They've been planning a major rig. We rigged up a tent between two trees.

In the book, Anna is forced to take care of her witless cousin.

The volcano spewed a giant cloud of ash, dust, and gases into the air. Paper came spewing from the computer printer.

His unkempt beard is dirty and he looks like a beggar. We have to clean this unkempt house.

scabby

Harry's is a remarkable establishment in Yorkshire where a queue stretches around the side whereas tables are laid with simple blue-checked table cloths on which saucers are placed

sideburns are not appealing

Keri is generous to a fault.

The monument was hewn out of the side of a mountain. He never states his own opinion but hews to the party line.

Journalists do not divulge their sources. The CEO refused to divulge how much she earned.

a design which marries fun with function

it rings a bell

He can sometimes be abrasive in meetings. You'll need a strong abrasive for cleaning this sink.

I got out of bed and put on my bathrobe. Why are you wearing my bathrobe?

well-deserved piece of chocolate

electric/domestic/household appliances

I didn't learn a thing in that class. I snore real loud so I won't hear a thing

awfully beautiful, I could tell about a person by their shoes

The forester chipped branches from the tree. She started to chip paint from the walls. A chip got into my finger and I had to go to a hospital. This mug's got a chip in it/out of it. I wish my nail polish wouldn't keep chipping.

I don't feel like going out today. I feel like pizza tonight

I'm going to take few days off work and try to get my act together

bumper sticker, This car has got a crushed bumper. Farmers have reported a bumper crop this year.

In their heyday, they sold as many records as all the other groups in the country put together.

bizarre behaviour, That party was too bizarre for me!

Could you mend this hole in my shirt? The plumber came to mend the burst pipe. The country's president is seeking to mend relations with the United States. The bones in my broken wrist took eight weeks to mend.

My future career looks rosy. Your rosy cheeks always make you look so healthy. Our financial position is rosy

glossy aubergine

Hot water is piped to all apartments from the central boiler room. Do they have to pipe smells of freshly baked bread around stores? Look at his eyes, he's a pipe!

The wholesale price of food is sometimes even 50 per cent lower than retail.

I train my army unit. Centimeter is a unit of measure. The test will cover three units. I put together two units of furniture. Think of a unit and multiply it by 10.

It sounds like you get the better part of this bargain. That wasn't much of a bargain

The decor is rather gloomy.

We project a 5 minute break. I'm not going to project here and freeze to death. A way of projecting image out of the store. I can't project the presentation, so you will have to make notes. Don't project your ideas on me!

Why don't you drink your milk through a straw?

pitch the haystacks into the trailer. I can't use my trailer to transport this furniture because it's too small

Your fruit and vegetables will be weighed at the checkout.

be the last straw. The last straw was when the company fired most of the managers.

a trainee dentist/electrician

The dog growled and bared its fangs.

They started washing up, so that was our cue to leave the party. I was just wondering where Sarah was, when, right on cue, she came in.

Some camels have two humps, and some only have one. She's got the hump since you told her she looked fat.

She has a mole on her right breast, just below the nipple

a plausible explanation/excuse, I consider it plausible, a plausible salesman

If you were to exert your influence theySome managers exert considerable pressure on their staff to work extra hours without being paid. I was too tired to exert myself.

Everyone will benefit from the taxation of the trade routes.

a room with an ornate ceiling and gold mirrors

The terms "drinking problem" and "alcohol abuse" are often interchangeable.

This chair wobbles, repair it. She was so nervous that her knees wobbled.

Ogłoszenie było misternie opracowane.

She continues to choreograph new dances for her company, although she rarely performs anymore. The carefully choreographed ceremony emphasized the governor's focus on education. The announcement was elaborately choreographed.

Why will supermarket carts never move in the direction that you push them in? We were carted to the railway station

In some languages, the word order in questions is inverted (= the verb comes before the subject of the sentence). if you invert the coin, there's a picture of a buffalo on the back. the number 9 looks like an inverted 6

Wind and rain have eroded the statues into shapeless lumps of stone.

cupboard

The number one priority must be to protect the environment in the Danube basin. She put a basin under the leak in the roof.

Don't fluster her, or she will never finish this project. The speaker was obviously flustered by the interruption.

It was a slow and laborious process