random

He ran across the warehouse to the opposite end. The goods have been sitting in a warehouse for months because a strike has prevented distribution.

It's a kids' movie that seamlessly combines live action with computer-generated creatures.

They were trying to be pompous in front of everyone.

He was known to have a very strong business acumen. technical acumen

There's gotta be a lever or a button over here. The economic crisis was used as a lever to force people to vote 'yes'.

Tasteless:- Not be allured or tempted at all to any taste. But we got allured by the color ourselves. the allure of working in television sexual allure; The allure of the stage drew him back to acting.

I am working hard to get tenure at this university. We were a prosperous country during his tenure. An average tenure in IT companies is below two years.

Their governance was very harmful to our country.

We can only maintain a competitive edge if our workforce has the right training.

They despise each other. Did he want everyone to despise him?

to hone your skills

They lead a lavish lifestyle.

a preemptive air strike on an enemy base

He says they use the word "queer" to include anyone who wants to be included (gay, bi, trans, whatever). They strongly identify with queer culture. What a queer thing to say! I'm feeling rather queer (= ill), may I sit down?

Unfortunately, the subject is always largely ignored in the interim. We must know what the plans of the interim government there are.

"Will I be reimbursed for the cost of the call?" The airline reimbursed me for the amount they had overcharged me.

Rapid development is replacing old neighborhoods and tenements with modern office buildings.

Syphilis contracted late in the pregnancy, and tuberculosis, are contraindications, owing to the danger of the mother infecting the child.

The rules of the club are set down in the members' handbook.

The cab set us down a long way from our hotel, and we had to walk.

Petrol fumes always make me feel ill. cigar fumes

informal, also fire away

The company is in imminent danger of collapse. She should inform him of his imminent fatherhood.

We expect delays to both inbound and outbound trains.

Could you run an errand for me?

The other boy had no particular ambition and became an errand boy in a department store.

bike handlebars

I didn't do it, someone framed me! I want to frame Peter in murder - do you want to help me?

to toss a coin; The wind was tossing the branches. Don't toss on my carpet!; I don't want to talk about my ex, I toss her. I toss this test and this school.

I don't give a toss what he thinks.

~ connection, ~ relation, ~ relationship, ~ argument, ~ plan, ~ string, ~ branch, ~ difference

cultural/racial homogeneity

The extra cost of travelling to work is offset by the lower price of houses here.

He looked at them with contempt. I could hear the contempt in her voice. Cindy did not bother to attempt to disguise her contempt.

My brother disguised himself as a pirate. I have to disguise my accent. She disguised an ugly blemish. He disguises his feeling for her. He had to disguise his true identity.

freckles, scars, and other minor skin blemishes

Though she had spent hours fixing the computer, he belittled her efforts. Stop belittling yourself - your work is highly valued.

Vegetarianism is one cause she does not espouse. He espoused conservative political views.

Increasing the supply of weapons will only perpetuate the violence and anarchy. The aim of the association is to perpetuate the skills of traditional furniture design.

My husband was promoted because of merit, not because of friendship. I can't see any merit in his proposal.; This suggestion merits further discussion. This plan merits careful attention.

She had done her best to comfort him, insofar as she was able.

This book is an indispensable resource for researchers. His long experience at the United Nations makes him indispensable to the talks.

The news of the layoffs was a thunderbolt that left us all reeling.

We were reeling (in amazement/shock/delight, etc.) from/with the news that we had won all that money.

A stream of invective from some sectors of the press continues to assail the government. They tend to use the theological slogans as rallying points and as points of invective.

to pay for yourself rather than allowing someone else to pay

We had to jump through hoops to get my Dad admitted to hospital.

It's a wonderful experience but it's far removed from reality.

Most of these conjuring tricks depend on sleight of hand. ​ By some statistical sleight of hand the government has produced figures showing that unemployment has recently fallen. The argument seems plausible only through a sleight of hand.

He wormed himself into her affections without her ever suspecting he only did it for her money.

He wasn't going to tell me, but I managed to worm it out of him.

~ president; In order to be a good mayor, the incumbent should care about their citizens. She felt it incumbent upon/on her to raise the subject at their meeting.

British companies have often made all the running in developing new ideas, but have then failed to market them. I could never make the running against such practised cyclists.

She urged young black people to stay woke.

I felt a shudder when he went into the room. I shudder to think what you write in your little diary.

a palpable effect Her joy was palpable. The tension in the room was palpable during the exam.

The water surface rippled after a stone fell into the lake. I heard a ripple coming from the lake. The ripple of the stream was calming. The crowd started to ripple after his speech.

The table held a veritable cornucopia of every kind of food or drink you could want.

He drove around the paddocks checking wethers, ewes and lambs.

The pigs were grunting contentedly as they ate their food.

I got home and flaked out on the sofa.; I'm tired of relying on other people - they keep flaking out on me.

The gasket has blown (= allowed gas, oil, or steam to escape).

When he told her how much it cost, she blew a gasket.

I'm afraid the fuse must have blown. (przepalił się) Do you know where the fuse box is? The atoms of hydrogen fuse to form helium atoms.

It takes true (= real) grit to stand up to a bully; Maybe you got some grit in your eye.

The problem resolved itself; I resolved to give you the money.; The plastic bag resolves for a few hundred years.; His resolve is admirable. She showed resolve when she started practising.

Her belief in the project has been unwavering.

After the storm homeowners came out to take stock of the damage.

I've tried moving the desk but it won't budge/I can't budge it. I've tried persuading her, but she won't budge.

The museum owns many fine 18th-century engravings.

He's definitely lost his mojo. He needs to get his mojo working if he's going to win the election.

What is the water pressure in the tap? The tap in the kitchen is dripping. the hot/cold faucet Turn the faucet on/off.

I hadn't prepared a speech so I just said a few words off the cuff.

Once again, technicians are inside the theatre and wear lead aprons, whereas radiographers work outside behind a protective screen.

I've got to open the window - it's suffocating in here! suffocating smoke/fumes; The book tells the story of a woman escaping from a suffocating marriage. It is a land of antiquated social rules and suffocating traditions.

It will take many years to modernize these antiquated industries. Compared with modern satellite dishes, ordinary TV aerials look positively antiquated. antiquated ideas/attitudes/values antiquated laws/machinery/technology

We could cut that down unilaterally, but we'd rather not... Britain can unilaterally halt Brexit process, EU's to court rules.

At the far end of the passageway was a door.

She donned a face as if she was disgusted. She dons a fake smile every single day. If you don your invisibility cloak, then...

He always wore a black cloak. Get him his armor and a red cloak.; When he was a spy, his cloak was being an investigative journalist.

traits that are invariant throughout all mammals

This church was built in 1897 and is thereby the town's oldest building.; She was late and thereby missed her train.

Some of the arguments in favour of shutting the factory are questionable and others downright spurious. They made spurious claims of personal injury.

The food at my grandmother's house was meager and barely edible. However, the evidence for their universal validity remains meager.

Keep an eye out for a new edition of the magazine.

Keep an eye on our suitcase!

I'm loathing to slow down our progress or disrupt our flow when I'm very happy with the way the team is working together. From an early age the brothers have loathed each other. "Do you like fish?" "No, I loathe it." I loathe doing housework.

Heavy snow disrupted travel into the city this morning.

Make your answers clear and concise. She wrote up a concise summary of the day’s events. The first answer contains concise and accurate information

Thousands of new businesses have sprung up in the past couple of years. A complete new industry in straw baling would spring up.

straw baling, hay baling

the elephant was tusked in the side by another male elephant in the fight

Queen Victoria mourned Prince Albert/Prince Albert's death for 40 years. She was still mourning for her brother. They mourned the passing of an older, simpler way of life (= felt sad because it had stopped existing).

I saw a dog carcass in alley this morning. The vultures were eating a carcass of an animal; It can take weeks to fix the ship's carcass. Carcasses of burned-out vehicles lined the roads near the scene of the worst fighting.

When a company is in crisis like this, the vultures are always hovering.

hind leg, hind foot

With all these scavengers, what would be left of the body?

It is for my parrot Polly, to sharpen his beak.

House prices have plummeted in recent months. Several large rocks were sent plummeting down the mountain. She plummeted to the ground. The population of vultures has plummeted.

She claimed to be on a diet but I saw her chow down a whole chocolate bar. It’s just not the same as chowing down in your favourite eatery and being able to totally relax.

time-lapse photography a time-lapse camera/sequence

I like to keep tabs on my bank account so that I don't spend too much.

blatant lies/racism, It was a blatant lie, but what else could she say?

I can't put up with his behaviour anymore! To put up with a fact. He's so rude, I don't know how you put up with him.

condescending smile. Matt Mansplainer posts yet another condescending explanation to a subject matter expert in your slack.

a fair and equitable voting system, It's a very equitable deal for the both of us.

People think of him as a cruel man, an image perpetuated by the media.

Sunny weather exacerbates the effects of pollution. Their economic situation was exacerbated by a critical lack of water.

There are a disproportionate number of girls in the class. They paid a disproportionately low price for the car.

Wash your hands, they're filthy!, The weather is just filthy today.; filthy language/jokes Smoking is a filthy habit.; You shouldn't use filthy language in front of children.

The maid will come to clean your room when you go out.

He's become increasingly exasperated with the situation. One of the group made an exasperated sound and turned around. Trying not to sound too exasperated, I told her my name again.

There was a lot of gunk on my bike chain.

Let us not make them pay for the upkeep of the country. And of course the upkeep these days is quite high. The upkeep of larger old properties is very expensive.

"I just got that email saying you were going to write the backend for the TacoTruck web app? Is that true?" "Naw, I was just cookie licking, man."

You may sneer, but a lot of people like this kind of music. She'll probably sneer at my new shoes because they're not expensive. [+ speech ] "Is that the best you can do?" he sneered.

He had his business ran by a deputy while he was gone. a deputy chairman. the deputy editor. a sheriff’s deputy.; Only half of the deputies appeared on today's voting.

She shrugged her shoulders, but I thought she was annoyed.

There is a caucus in this party, and it's difficult to be a part of it.; They discussed the matter during the caucus.

UK /ˈprɒs.əl.ɪ. taɪz/ US /ˈprɑː. sə. lɪ. taɪz/ - to try to persuade someone to change their religious or political beliefs or way of living to your own:

What a fraught film! The atmosphere in the office is fraught.

There is infighting over how the money will be paid. political infighting Years of infighting among the leaders have destroyed the party.

A widower at fifty-two, childless, nongregarious, he seemed as unattached to ordinary passions as to his office.

Some mushrooms look innocuous but are in fact poisonous. an innocuous statement innocuous activities

n 1818, the town had serendipitously received formal city rights. Unless it turns up serendipitously we're out of luck. Reading should be an adventure, a personal experience full of serendipitous surprises.

This has come very fortuitously, when we most need it. Fortuitously for him, the company decided to employ him.

He lost the next page of his speech and floundered around/about for a few seconds. Although his business was a success, his marriage was floundering. Richardson resigned as chairman, leaving the company floundering.

She resented the fact that I got a better price for the same product. She bitterly resented her father's new wife. [+ -ing verb ] He resents having to explain his work to other people.

Petty restrictions easily raised/aroused the ire of such a creative artist. The new version has raised the ire of various groups.

It's merely a small scratch. It's merely a portion of the total profit. You're merely a child.

Your compassion is a boon in this troubled time. Whilst a sleeping tablet is a boon, many sleeping tablets can be fatal. Spring rains are a boon to local farmers

Soon we were like girls going through sorority rush together.

an avowedly feminist author They have avowedly lofty motives.

a lofty ceiling/mountain/wall

The influence of Rodin is discernible in the younger artist. There is no discernible reason why this should be the case.

część ciała

I take this ring as a sign of your love and fidelity; We measure complexity and fidelity of data in terms of polygonal count.

She cast an eye over the two drowsy children. The room is so warm it's making me feel drowsy. to grow drowsy

in relation to pelvis

The George Cross is a decoration that is bestowed upon/on British civilians for acts of great bravery. She bestowed a smile on me.

Grab hold of the rope and hold on tight!

One by one they were taken for interrogation. She was subjected to torture and lengthy interrogations.

o-premise software/requirements (used in IT)

The radio news reported power outages affecting 50 homes.

subsets with a small cardinality

The system will handle signals that need high bandwidth, for instance those that encode TV pictures. high-bandwidth services/applications; I don't have the bandwidth to read stuff I know isn't going to lead to productive discussion.

A new two-party coalition government was sworn in Tuesday in Estonia

a circuitous route/path a circuitous (= long and indirect) explanation

In the old days of two-party adversarial politics, voting was easy. Lawyers enjoy being adversarial.

Most of the old road has been superseded by the great interstate highways. The state law was superseded by the federal Family and Medical Leave Act.

She has so many facets to her personality.; one of the small flat surfaces cut on a precious stone

a very palatable wine The meal was barely palatable. The city council has tried to make property taxes more palatable by giving homeowners more time to pay them.

The car parts themselves are not expensive – it’s the labor that costs so much. skilled/unskilled labor, Hours after the explosion, rescue teams were still laboring to free those trapped.

He was held culpable (= blamed) for all that had happened. The landowner could be proved culpable for starting the fire

We might see a snow flurry or two tonight.; The prince's words on marriage have prompted a flurry of speculation in the press this week. a flurry of activity

Paul's so sloppy - he always spills something on the floor.

I knew he was being fair, but inside I cringed. Dennie cringed back from the screen with disgust. I cringed at the sight of my dad dancing.

The gauge said nineteen miles per hour. A poll was conducted to gauge consumers' attitudes.

The success of the event will be determined by the vagaries of the weather. She had her own style and was not influenced by the vagaries of fashion.

a clump of grass/daffodils; He found a clump of hair on the floor; She picked up a clump of dirt for analysis.; She could hear his clump on the stairs.

He enfolded her in his arms.

Many people live with artificial limbs.

Failure in one test shouldn't be regarded as a calamity.

This car is making so much din! the din of the traffic I had to shout to make myself heard above the din. The children were making a terrible din.

He proved his divinity with many miracles. This is Odin, chief divinity of the entire Norse pantheon.

Unfortunately the report was prepared in haste and contained several inaccuracies.

The troops were dispirited and disorganized.

It's just another poem on the pain of unrequited love.

She removed the bandage to reveal a red swollen wound oozing pus.

A pebble got into my shoe.

The government is already borrowing up to the hilt. The other three judges were in raptures, however, praising Lee to the hilt.

He listened to the music with an expression of pure rapture on his face. The prime minister's supporters greeted her speech with rapture.

High oil prices are making it difficult to keep the economy and inflation on an even keel.

The dead deer was impaled on a spear.

It's late - I'm going to sack out.

to take/have a sabbatical She's on sabbatical for six months. sabbatical leave

What is the freight for this cargo?; He paid me a lot of money for this freight. The ship carries both freight and passengers. a freight company

Bone marrow plays an important role in the constant replenishment of red blood cells. A recent sand replenishment project widened the beach by hundreds of feet.

Bone marrow plays an important role in the constant replenishment of red blood cells.

There were stockouts of the product at some locations over the summer holiday period. Can the retail industry really afford stockouts?

Light travels at the highest achievable velocity in the universe. He always used high velocity lead bullets in his rifle.

Such a large investment inevitably entails some risk. [+ -ing verb ] Repairing the roof will entail spending a lot of money.

Lili's left eye squinted slightly when she was tired.; The sun was shining straight in her eyes and made her squint.

A helicopter hoisted the final section of the bridge into place.; The Bank of England hoisted its base rate to 3.75%.

an importunate beggar/crowd/demand

He argues that giving money to the poor infantilizes them and stops them from helping themselves.

terms of endearment such as "darling" or "sweetheart" Between kisses, he was murmuring endearments.

The office was a scene of frenzied activity this morning. As the evening wore on the dancing got more and more frenzied.

The course comprises a class book, a practice book, and a CD. The class is comprised mainly of Italian and French students. Visible light comprises only a minute fraction of the electromagnetic spectrum. Our staff comprises many nationalities.

I thoroughly enjoyed the performance. All the other teachers are thoroughly disillusioned with their colleague. I thoroughly approve of what the government is doing.

Hong Kong was ceded to Britain after the Opium War. She says that she is finally learning to delegate, though she's still reluctant to cede control. The United States has already ceded its dominance of mass production manufacturing to low-wage countries.

He has relinquished his claim to the throne. She relinquished control of the family investments to her son.; She relinquished her hold/grip on the steering wheel.

A glass of whisky has only a transient warming effect. The city has a large transient population (= many people who are living in it only temporarily).; It's an organization set up to provide money and help for transients.

She had done her best to comfort him, insofar as she was able.

The airline has been criticized for failing to heed advice/warnings about lack of safety routines. Perhaps they should have heeded their own advice. Voters are dissatisfied, and Congress should take heed (= consider this).

Artifacts more than 500 years old have been unearthed at the site. A private detective has unearthed some fresh evidence.

The sheep were grazing on the lush green pastures. Some fields are planted with crops for several years, and then returned to pasture for the cattle.

She was completely baffled by his strange behaviour.

The town finally succumbed last week after being pounded with heavy artillery for more than two months. I'm afraid I succumbed to temptation and had a piece of cheesecake.; Thousands of cows have succumbed to the disease in the past few months.

The police officer said that he had placed the man under arrest and that a scuffle had ensued. After his outburst, a long silence ensued.

any and all feedback or improvements will be welcome

The arrival of the fresh medical supplies was a welcome sight for the beleaguered doctors working in the refugee camps.; The occupants of the beleaguered city had no means of escape.

The news of his resignation came as a surprise to one and all.

The two cultures were so utterly disparate that she found it hard to adapt from one to the other.

Her refusal to answer was tantamount to an admission of guilt. His request was tantamount to a demand.

The tentacles of this octopus are going to stretch a very long way.

The shackles had begun to cut into his ankles. The press, once heavily censored, has managed to shake off its shackles

Was it just a figment of my imagination or did I hear John's voice in the other room?

You will need a good machete to cut through this thicket. It is not easy to go through the thicket of bureaucracy.

Have you managed to elicit a response from them yet? The teacher elicits definitions from the students.

Simplicity is a hallmark of this design. This explosion bears/has all the hallmarks of (= is likely to have been) a terrorist attack.

This knowledge exposes a lack of trust in collaborating objects and acts as a millstone around your object’s neck

She unequivocally denied the allegations. He unequivocally ruled out the possibility of military intervention.

They had reams of data to prove their point.

The opening of the superstore will sound/toll the death knell for (= cause the failure of) hundreds of small independent shops. Defeat of this bill sounds a death knell for consumer protection.

Tennis has a history spanning several centuries. Her acting career spanned almost six decades. An old bridge spans the river just outside the town.

He managed to fend off his attackers with a stick. She spent the entire evening fending off unwanted admirers. Somehow she managed to fend off the awkward questions.

The rebel army is attempting to subvert the government.

a club for model railway aficionados an aficionado of French cinema

He is one of the leading proponents of capital punishment.

The unmoored boat was drifting off to sea.; Paul is unmoored by his parents' divorce. Was he crazy or just temporarily unmoored by jealousy?

An honorary doctorate was conferred on him by Columbia University.; I need some time to confer with my lawyer.

The accusation, she said, was trumped up in order to get rid of her. The whole story was trumped up by our competitors.

a team of intrepid explorers

She studied every evening and reaped the benefit at exam time. We sold them most of their modern weapons and now we are reaping the bitter harvest.

Member spent nearly ten minutes trying to heap abuse on just one official in the Treasury

The suspension is too tight to drive this car in the mountains. His lawyers have asked for a suspension.

sturdy walking boots, a sturdy table, sturdy little legs; They put up a sturdy defence of their proposal.

The shocks are busted. We'll need some time to fix them.

She came perilously close to getting herself killed in her attempt to break the world record. Mr McCain sometimes looks perilously near to losing his temper.

A child has a male progenitor and a female progenitor. Marx was the progenitor of communism. The progenitor of rock'n'roll was rhythm and blues.

I am the last descendant of the Mandarin.

They've set up a plan whereby you can spread the cost over a two-year period. It's put me in a position whereby I can't afford to take a job.

Foreign radio broadcasts were regularly jammed. He jammed the boxes into the back of the car.

Many businesses take liberties with personal information without having the clear legal right to do so

He carried on playing guitar despite a busted finger. He was busted for marijuana possession ten years ago. Were you ever busted for smoking at school?

the remnants of last night's meal remnants of the city's former glory a carpet remnant

The flavours intermingle to produce a very unusual taste. Fact is intermingled with fiction throughout the book.

a personality quirk It’s just one of the quirks of living there.

The club were threatened with demotion to the Second Division. Government employees are worrying about demotions or being removed from their jobs altogether.

They’re concerned about the buildup of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.; The circus always gets a big buildup when it comes to town.

The figure in the painting is in a reclining pose. The bus has air conditioning and reclining seats.

Traffic detours will be kept to a minimum throughout the festival; His anti-alcohol campaign was a rare detour into the field of public health. Barring any surprise detours, the governor is expected to sign both proposals.

something dangerous, especially a bomb, that is hidden inside somewhere that looks safe:

a devilish plot, a devilish grin

Police hope the public will help them to find the culprits. Children in this country are getting much too fat, and sugar and sweets are the main culprits.

The answers to these questions remain as elusive as ever. Success, however, remained elusive for her. elusive memories

to incur debts/fines/bills The play has incurred the wrath/anger of both audiences and critics. Please detail any costs/expenses incurred by you in attending the interview.

a somber atmosphere/voice/face The funeral was a somber occasion.; He wore a somber black suit.

The government will instigate new measures to combat terrorism. The revolt in the north is believed to have been instigated by a high-ranking general.

He sidestepped the blow/the tackle. The speaker sidestepped the question by saying that it would take him too long to answer it.

The instigators of the disturbance have not yet been identified.

The police have so far been unable to ascertain the cause of the explosion. I ascertained that no one could overhear us before I told Otto the news.

That song is so reminiscent of my adolescence.

The festival is to encompass everything from music, theatre, and ballet to literature, cinema, and the visual arts.

These diseases are more prevalent among young children. Trees are dying in areas where acid rain is most prevalent.

Turkey is expecting an influx of several thousand refugees over the next few days.

He struck me as an affable sort of a man. She was quite affable at the meeting.

It might be expedient not to pay him until the work is finished. The management has taken a series of expedient measures to improve the company's financial situation.

pre-emptive action/measure/move; The Treasury has decided to raise interest rates as a pre-emptive measure against inflation. The prime minister authorized a pre-emptive air strike against the rebels.

The length of this box is twice its breadth. The breadth of her knowledge is amazing.

He'll get short shrift from me if he starts complaining about money again, now that I know how much he earns!

They interleaved the pages with absorbent paper to dry them out. The film interleaves extracts from her father's autobiography with family interviews.

an ~ agreement/contract Some judges are of the opinion that there must be an express or ~ agreement between the parties. ~ duty/obligation There is an ~ duty upon partners to exercise reasonable care in the performance of their duties.