Innovations Upper-Intermediate - A Course in Natural English UNIT 1

mumble to yourself

[reporting verb] say something indistinctly and quietly, making it difficult for others to hear:[with object]: he mumbled something she didn't catch [with direct speech]:‘Sorry,’ she mumbled

nerd

noun informal a foolish or contemptible person who lacks social skills or is boringly studious: I was a serious nerd until I discovered girls and cars * a single-minded expert in a particular technical field: a computer nerd

never lift a finger

* Email * Cite * Text size: A * A Print options: Example sentencesSynonymsCategories lift(lift) Line-break: * On * Off Pronunciation:/lɪft/ verb * 1 [with object] raise to a higher position or level: he lifted his trophy over his head * move (one's eyes or face) to face upwards and look at someone or something: he lifted his eyes for an instant * [no object] move upwards; be raised: Thomas's eyelids drowsily lifted * [no object] (of a cloud, fog, etc.) move upwards or away: the factory smoke hun

obsessed with sth

verb [with object] * preoccupy or fill the mind of (someone) continually and to a troubling extent: he was obsessed with the idea of revenge I became more and more obsessed by him * [no object] be constantly talking or worrying about something: her husband, who is obsessing about the wrong she has done him

on and off

intermittently: it rained on and off most of the afternoon

pain in the arse

also pain in the neck or vulgar slang arse) informal an annoying or tedious person or thing: she's a pain

party animal

[with adjective or noun modifier] a particular type of person or thing: a regular party animal I am a political animal

pick on

repeatedly single (someone) out for criticism or unkind treatment in a way perceived to be unfair

pigeonhole

verb [with object] 1 assign to a particular category, typically an overly restrictive one: I was pigeonholed as a ‘youth writer’ 2 put (a document) in a pigeonhole -put aside for future consideration: she pigeonholed her worry about him