Power Words - All Flashcards by Mr. Vig

You can take your dog for a walk or _____ your cat.

drag

DEFINITION: to pull something that’s on the ground

ALSO: if you have a hard time waking up in the morning you can say you had to drag yourself out of bed

ALSO: if you ask your kid how school was and he says “It was a drag” that means it was very boring

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______ testing of Pfizer’s 27th booster shot is going well.

Clinical

DEFINITION: the test (often called a “trial”) happens in a medical clinic, which means it’s tested on real people and not just in a laboratory

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________ is a hard pill to swallow.

Defeat

DEFINITION: to lose

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_______! I just missed the bus!

Goddamnit

Short for: God damn it
Also: Damn it (less vulgar)
Also: Darn it (not vulgar)

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“_______ a drink sometime?”

(not “want”)

Fancy

DEFINITION: do you want / would you like

NOTE: mostly British

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______ _____ time at the hotel was noon. Which was perfect for Bob because that’s when he wakes up.

Check out

DEFINITION: the process of leaving a hotel – you pay your bill and return your key

OPPOSITE: check in to a hotel

NOTE: you also check in with your airline when you arrive at the airport, but you don’t check out when you land….

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______ how many hours a week do you exercise?

Roughly

DEFINITION: approximately

ALSO: if someone asks you for a rough estimate that means very broad, not exact

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______ his injuries, Bob insisted he was ready to return to work.

Despite

Definition: even with; in spite of

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_____ solar panels

installing

DEFINITION: to connect, to set up so it can be used

NOUN: installation

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_______ how many hours do you sleep at night?

Approximately

DEFINITION: roughly, the estimate

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_____ real estate

commercial

DEFINITION: related to commerce, i.e. business

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_____ on a potato

choking

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_____ me. I think this is my stop. Hello… I need to get out please….

Excuse

DEFINITION: pardon me

ALSO: You can say “excuse me” when you sneeze or when you need to answer your phone or when you want to ask a question…

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______, Jennifer did not find Bob attractive. Then she discovered he drove a Honda.

Initially

DEFINITION: at first

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_____ energy
____money
_____ time

less

DEFINITION: not as many as before or compared to someone/something else

EXPRESSION: do more with less; less is more

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_____ arriving at Disney Land, it will be necessary to spend the first two weeks of your vacation in quarantine.

Upon

DEFINITION: soon after

ALSO: “Once a upon a time” is a classic introduction for childrens’ stories

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_____ an old building

restoring

DEFINITION: to bring back to a previous level of quality

NOUN: restoration

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________David McCullough, author of “1776,” “Truman” and many other books, died in 2022 at the age of 89.

Historian

DEFINITION: someone who researches and writes about history

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_____ a church

attend

DEFINITION: go to (usually regularly and not just once)

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_____ 1 of the U.S. Constitution say what the congress can and can not do.

article

DEFINITION: a section of a contract or document

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____-view mirror

rear

DEFINITION: when you want to say that something is located in the back of something else

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____, let me thank you for awarding me the Nobel Peace Prize. _____, I asked for a glass of water ten minutes ago. Do you see a glass of water here? I don’t.

Firstly / Secondly

DEFINITION: If you’re going to make several points, you begin with “firstly” then “secondly” then “finally…”

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____ ____! Ducks!

Look out!

DEFINITION: watch out! be careful

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____ to becoming a cop, Bob spent a lot of time at the gym.

Prior

DEFINITION: before

Also: If you say you can’t attend someone’s party because you’re already going to a party, you can say, “I have a prior engagement” (very formal)

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____ dong! Who is it? ____! Dinner's ready.

ding dong! Ding! DEFINITION: a sound made by doorbells, timers, etc.

___it!

Darn it! Also: Damnit!

Your fearless teacher's favorite summer hobby: ______ down the river.

floating DEFINITION: to stay on the surface of the water

You've got to be pretty ______ to work at the circus.

daring DEFINITION: he's brave and takes risks

You just lost a bet with a friend. Your friend says you have to wear one of these _____ to work. Which one do you choose?

caps DEFINITION: a type of hat ALSO: a baseball cap

You have _______ nine seconds to escape or deactivate the bomb.

precisely DEFINITION: exactly ALSO: Do you need to be precise in your job? Are you a surgeon? Or a pilot? Or an engineer?

You don't have to wear facemasks ______, but Bob's not taking any chances.

anymore DEFINITION: any longer, no longer

You don't have to be a college _______ to get a job working in the sewars, but it helps.

graduate DEFINITION: someone who completed their studies at a high school or university NOTE: this is the noun and it's pronounced just a little differently than the verb

You can get a good price if you shop for ______ fruit and vegetables.

decaying DEFINITION: it's old and it's rotting Also: tooth decay; societal decay; a decaying body

"You better have a good ______ for this."

reason DEFINITION: explanation, excuse

Yoga classes are a good way to _____ your flexibility and to pick up babes.

maintain DEFINITION: to keep, to continue ALSO: maintain your health, maintain your perfect record

Yes or no? A real man can remove a bottle _____ with his teeth.

cap DEFINITION: the top of a bottle

Years later, at his murder trial, Mrs. Jones would say Bob was always such a ______, little boy.

sweet DEFINITION: nice, kind

Years before covid, Bob's plastic barrier allowed customers to ________ without smelling his bad breath.

checkout DEFINITION: when you checkout at a store you bring your stuff to the front and pay for it ALSO: a checkout counter, a checkout clerk

Would you ______ for any of these jobs?

qualify DEFINITION: to meet the necessary requirements ALSO: to qualify for the Olympics; to qualify for a loan

Would you rather _____ or clean the bathroom?

iron DEFINITION: to take the wrinkles out of clothes using an iron and an ironing board ALSO: a metal and a mineral, ex. the Iron Age, Iron Man, liver is a good source of iron

Would you rather study grammar rules or spend time in _______?

prison DEFINITION: where you put criminals; similar to a jail except you can spend years in prison and maybe only hours in jail VERB: to imprison a criminal A PERSON: a prisoner

Would you rather own your own apartment or own some _______?

land DEFINITION: earth, ground

Would you rather live in this ______ or speak perfect English?

castle BEWARE: the silent "t"! IDIOM: a man's home is his castle

Would you rather discover this treasure _____ or five bitcoins?

chest DEFINITION: a large box with a lid

Would you rather be able to write beautiful poetry or ______ beautiful music?

compose DEFINITION: create by combining different pieces; ex. compose a speech, the neighborhood is composed of immigrants from many countries PERSON: a composer

Would you like to _____ ____ public office?

run for DEFINITION: to try to be elected

Would you like to spend the night inside this _____ potato?

massive DEFINITION: very large

Would you like to own an _____ car?

electric DEFINITION: something that uses / runs on electricity; ex. an electric stove, an electric toothbrush

Would you like to live _____? Where?

abroad DEFINITION: in a foreign country

Would you like to have lived in another _______?

century DEFINITION: a period of 100 years EXPRESSION: centuries ago....

"Would you like a little ____ more?" "No thanks, I'm stuffed. Plus, your cooking is terrible."

bit DEFINITION: a small amount or piece of something, ex. You'll need a bit of luck; Can I have a bit of your time?

Would you ever ______ _______ to buy a new product?

line up DEFINITION: to join a line with other people

Would you ever ____ to tell your boss the truth?

dare DEFINITION: to do something that requires courage VERB: if you dare someone to do something you challenge them to do it, ex. I dare you to go talk to that girl. EXPRESSION: If your wife tells you, "Don't you dare forget our anniversary" that means it would really be a bad idea to forget. EXPRESSION: If you want to show that you're shocked you can say, "How dare you say that to me!"

Would you drive to work in a _____ or take the day off?

flood DEFINITION: a lot of water

Would you date someone who has a _____ between their teeth?

gap Definition: a space Also: if a young person takes a gap year that means he/she takes a year off between high school and college to travel or work

Would you consider this a ____ or a major problem?

minor DEFINITION: small, not serious

Woops. He ____ the ball.

dropped DEFINITION: he couldn't hold it and it fell

Woops. He drove too fast around the ______.

curve DEFINITION: a bend IDIOM: If you stay ahead of the curve that means you work or study extra to stay ahead of the competition

Women with small children are usually _____ ______ while boarding.

given priority DEFINITION: they are allowed to go first because they are more important than the others

Women always say they prefer a ______ man.

confident DEFINITION: if you're confident you know you will succeed

With his new photo-editing software, Bob can _____ out all the unimportant people from his photos, like his wife.

crop DEFINITION: to cut, usually the top of something, ex. crop a dog's ears

With his new degree from Harvard and his job on Wall Street starting Monday, Bob's _____ looked good.

prospects DEFINITION: outlook for the future

Winning all the swimming medals in both the summer and winter Olympics is quite an _______

accomplishment DEFINITION: a success, he accomplished a lot

Will there ever be a ______ to the Rocky series?

conclusion DEFINITION: the ending, the final result

Will the new facial _______ technology turn out to be a good thing or a bad thing?

recognition DEFINITION: when you recognize someone you realize you've seen him before ALSO: you can recognize an employee for a job well done by mentioning him during a meeting or giving him a bonus

Will Rowan Atkinson be the next actor to be _______ as James Bond?

cast DEFINITION: to choose an actor for a role

Why ______ life when there's a simple solution?

complicate DEFINITION: to make something more difficult and less simple ADJECTIVE: complicated ALSO: if someone overcomplicates a problem that means he makes it more complicated

Why don't more books have interesting _______ like this?

illustrations DEFINITION: a picture, drawing, usually in a book VERB: to illustrate PERSON: an illustrator ALSO: an illustration can be an example which makes your point clearer; ex. Jesus illustrated his moral teachings through stories called "parables"

Who's a ______ celebrity you'd like to meet?

charming DEFINITION: when someone has an attractive personality and everyone likes them they have charm; think of a movie star or con artist ALSO: you can say a movie or a house is charming and that means you like it and it makes you feel good

Who's the youngest _______ you know?

retiree DEFINITION: someone who stopped working UK: a pensioner

Who's the most ____person you know?

moral DEFINITION: a moral person is someone who is concerned with doing the right thing; often, but not always, a religious person NOUN: morality OPPOSITE: immoral, ex. an immoral movie

Who ______ your laundry?

folds ALSO: if you're playing poker and someone says "I fold" that means they quit because their cards are bad; and if a business folds it goes out of business

Who ______ the temperature in your house?

regulates DEFINITION: to control, adjust NOUN: regulation; ex. government regulation is driving up costs

Who ____ ____ ____ _____ at your office? In your family?

gets on your nerves DEFINITION: annoys you, you find the person bothersome

Who would you like to see in ______? Living or dead.

concert DEFINITION: a musical performance ALSO: if your company is going to sell a new product in concert with another company that means they're collaborating and working together

Who won the last ______ in your country?

election DEFINITION: when people vote for a leader or political party VERB: to elect

Who were your ______ when you were a kid? Did they have a positive or a negative influence on you?

peers DEFINITION: your peers are people who are the same age or who have the same income level or are at the same status level as you ALSO: peer pressure

Who was your ______ when you were a kid?

hero DEFINITION: any person you admire greatly, usually someone who is brave and courageous ALSO: the main character in a story, usually an action / adventure story ADJECTIVE: heroic, ex. an heroic action

Who was your favorite _______ in Friends?

character DEFINITION: the person an actor plays; the role an actor plays EXPRESSION: If someone says "He's quite a character" that means he has a unique personality.

Who was Trump's _______ in the 2016 election?

opponent DEFINITION: the person on the opposite side in a contest or game or fight

Who was the _____ student in your school?

brightest DEFINITION: smart, clever ALSO: if you're optimistic about the future you can say, The future looks bright ALSO: a star can shine brightly; a fire can burn brightly; an actor has a bright smile EXPRESSION: But if someone is not very clever, you can say: He's not the brightest bulb.

Who was the last employee at your company to be _________? (not fired)

dismissed DEFINITION: fire (formal) ALSO: you can receive a dismissal notice (very formal)

Who was the best _______ you ever had?

flatmate DEFINITION: someone whom you share or do something with; ex. roommate, teammate, officemate, classmate

Who took a _____ out of my donut?

bite Noun: a bite, ex. I got a bug bite on my arm. Verb: bite/bit/bitten, ex. I've been bitten many times by mosquitoes.

Who knows what kind of treasure lies ______ the surface of the sea?

beneath DEFINITION: under, below ALSO: If you ask someone to clean the bathroom and they say, It's beneath me to do that, that means they think they have a high status and the job is too dirty for them

Who is your country's most famous ________?

poet DEFINITION: someone who writes poetry ALSO: if someone is good with words / uses words beautifully, but doesn't acually write poetry, you can still compliment him by calling him a poet

Who has more _____: movie stars from the past or from today?

class DEFINITION: style, grace, elegance ADJECTIVE: a classy person

Who does your country share its _______ with? Is it a friendly ____?

border/border DEFINITION: the line separating two countries or two properties VERB: If your boss says your performance is bordering on criminal that means it's so bad it's almost a crime. And you should probably try harder. ALSO: borderline criminal activity

Who does the ________ chores in your home?

household DEFINITION: related to the house and everything inside your house; ex. your household income is the income of everyone inside the house

Who do you know who likes to _______ a lot of attention?

attract DEFINITION: he / she draws attention to himself/herself, it can be either on purpose or not on purpose

Who do you know who is _______?

cheap DEFINITION: a cheap person is someone who inconveniences himself or even embarresses himself to save money ALSO: a cheapskate

Who do you know who is accident _______?

prone DEFINITION: likely to happen to; susceptible

Who do you know who has a ______ handshake?

firm DEFINITION: hard, solid ADVERB: he gripped his hand firmly ALSO: If you make an offer to sell something and you're firm that means you aren't willing to negotiate.

Who do you know who can play the _______?

guitar

Who did you _____ when you were a kid?

admire DEFINITION: respect, look up to NOUN: admiration

Who can you _____ __ at work to do a good job?

count on DEFINITION: depend on, rely on

Whiskey: the breakfast of ______

champions DEFINITION: a victor, the winner, one of the best ALSO: if you read that someone is a champion of the poor, that means they fight to help the poor NOTE: "Breakfast of Champions" is a famous advertising slogan for an American breakfast cereal that features famous athletes on its boxes

While vacationing in the Hamptons, Bob enjoyed many summertime activities, ___ _______, mud diving. (not "for example")

for instance DEFINITION: for example, such as

While on the golf course, Dr. Bob got a call from his lawyer informing him he was being sued for medical ______.

negligence DEFINITION: when something bad happens because you don't do your job or you're not responsible

While most businesses suffered during the lockdowns, business was _______ for e-commerce sites like Amazon.

booming DEFINITION: a sudden increase; ex. a baby boom is a sudden increase in births; if the market is booming sales are climbing

While his friends played video games, Bob worked on his evil _______ to take over the world.

scheme DEFINITION: a clever plan

Which ______ you more? Beauty? Intelligence? Or success?

impresses DEFINITION: it causes you to respect, admire them

Which ______ has the best music?

decade DEFINITION: a period of ten years

Which ______ did Harry Potter need to find to get to Hogwarts?

platform DEFINITION: the raised area beside the railroad tracks ALSO: a raised area for public speeches; that's why some websites like Twitter and Facebook are called platforms

Which ____ do you prefer when you go to the movies?

row DEFINITION: when people or things are in a straight line IDIOM: if your boss tells you to get your ducks in a row before starting the new project he wants you to get organized and prepare

Which would you rather have: More time for your hobbies and your family? Or a higher _____?

salary DEFINITION: how much an employer pays you; ex. your monthly salary, your annual salary

Which word has been _____ ____?

crossed out DEFINITION: to draw one or more lines through a word to show that it should be deleted ALSO: to strike through a word

Which vocabulary method gives you _____ results?

rapid DEFINITION: very fast, quick ALSO: In a river, when water moves very fast over rocks these are called "rapids." ALSO: you can get a rapid test result, ex. for Covid ALSO: a good investment has a rapid rate of return ALSO: a machine gun is a rapid-fire gun, and if someone asks you a lot of questions quickly they ask rapid-fire question

Which shooter was the most ______?

accurate DEFINITION: exact, correct ALSO: an accurate prediction; an accurate test

Which one doesn't _____?

belong DEFINITION: to be a member of, to be a part of ALSO: belong to a family, belong to a political organization ALSO: things that you own are your belongings,ex. (sign in a cafe: "Beware of thieves. Watch your belongings."

Which of these famous ______ was not involved in a sex scandal?

politicians DEFINITION: someone who runs for and is elected to a public office

Which is _____ leather and which is fake?

genuine DEFINITION: real, authentic Also: if a person is genuine it means he's not lying, not acting, he's real and honest

Which is your favorite ______ of shoes?

pair DEFINITION: two things that go together; ex. a pair of pants, a pair of glasses, a pair of legs VERB: to match two things /put them together; ex. this cheese pairs well with red wine

Which is your favorite season? Winter? Spring? Summer? Or ______?

autumn ALSO: a nice way to say that a person is old is to say "He's in the autumn of his life." NOTE: "fall" is more common with Americans and "autumn" is more common with Brits

Which is your favorite natural _____?

disaster DEFINITION: a very damaging and usually dangerou event, a catastrophe ALSO: if you have an interview for a new job and you get lost, forget your name and throw up on the boss you can say it was a disaster ADJECTIVE: disastrous, ex. a disastrous decision

Which is the ____ circle and which is the outer circle?

inner DEFINITION: on the inside ALSO: live in the inner city; seek inner peace; inner beauty; inner strength

Which is the proper and which is the _______ way to lift something heavy?

improper DEFINITION: incorrect

Which is the best seating _______ for a wedding?

arrangement DEFINITION: how the seats and tables are arranged/placed

Which is more _______: a cobra in your sleeping bag or an alligator in your toilet?

frightening DEFINITION: very scary

Which is a better investment? Stocks or ______?

bonds DEFINITION: a type of investment, usually issued by a government which needs to raise money for something, ex. war bonds

Which has a higher population _______? This city or this village?

density Definition: the number of something in a certain space, ex. a densely wooded forest is a forest with a lot of trees crowded together; a densely populated area is a city with a lot of people crowded together Adjective: dense Also: if you want to insult a person who doesn't understand what you're trying to explain you can call him "dense"

Which hand is clean and which hand is ______?

dirty DEFINITION: it has dirt on it, not clean ALSO: if your mom says she found a dirty magazine in your room she means a magazine with naked people (tip: just blame your older brother)

Which family _______ more stuff?

possesses DEFINITION: if you possess something you own it or have it; ex. Superman possess amazing strength

Which dog is _____ on going for a walk?

keen DEFINITION: eager, enthusiastic ALSO: if someone has keen eyes or keen hearing that means he/she has sharp eyes/shart hearing and notices things others don't

Which do you prefer? ____ snakes or ____ spiders?

giant DEFINITION: huge, very large ALSO: a giant in his industry (a leader, well respected) A PERSON: a giant

Which do you prefer? Photography ______ or going to the dentist?

exhibits DEFINITION: a public showing NOTE: you can also say "exhibition" VERB: to exhibit

Which do you prefer? A ______ amount of electricity or a _____ injection?

lethal DEFINITION: deadly

Which do you prefer: bar ___ or pie _____?

charts DEFINITION: data that is shown visually ALSO: sailors don't use maps, they use charts. So you may hear in a movie, "Let's chart a course for the island." Or "We're sailing in uncharted waters."

Which do you like best? Snakes? _____? Or giant spiders?

rats DEFINITION: a type of rodent, a large mouse ALSO: If you rat on someone it means you report them. ex. the drug dealer ratted on his partner to the police ALSO: If something bad and unexpected happens, you can say, "Rats!"

Which conversation topics _____ you?

bore DEFINITION: the opposite of "excite" or "interest" ADJECTIVE: boring NOUN: boredom PERSON: a bore

Which American chain restaurants are _____ their presence in your country?

expanding DEFINITION: growing

Whether or not we have the wedding outside is ________ on the rain.

dependent DEFINITION: it depends on ____, it's conditional, contingent

Wherever you find a McDonald's restaurant, you will find a ______ level of service and cleanliness.

consistent DEFINITION: the same, with no variation, standard

Where's the nearest _______ to where you live?

port DEFINITION: where ships go to load and unload their cargo

Where is the _____ government located in your country?

federal DEFINITION: the central government, not the local / town / state government ALSO: federal courthouse, a federal crime, a federal officer

Where do your out-of-town ______ sleep when they come to visit?

relatives DEFINITION: the people who are related to you; your extended family, ex. aunts and uncles, cousins, etc.

Where do you _______ the economy will be this time next year?

anticipate DEFINITION: expect

______ of data theft are on the rise.

incidents DEFINITION: a single event NOTE: a formal word you'll most likely just read or hear in the news

Where do you ____ ___ ___ your best ideas?

come up with DEFINITION: if you come up with an idea or solution you find it / discover it after thinking about it for some time

Where can you see the greatest ______ between rich and poor in your country?

contrast DEFINITION: a comparison that shows a great difference

_______ into the sunset

sailing PERSON: a sailor

Where can I put my hat? Just _____ it over there.

fling DEFINITION: throw a short distance PAST: flung

Where are Bob and Jennifer? I think they're hiding behind the _______.

curtain DEFINITION: cloth that covers a window or stage EXPRESSION: if your boss tells you "It's curtains for you", that means you should start looking for a new job

Whenever Bob ______ __ the past, he needed to call his therapist.

reflected on DEFINITION: to think about, usually a memory

Whenever Bob didn't start a fire at school, he got a special ______.

treat DEFINITION: something special, often candy or dessert

When _____ your car for a long trip, don't forget the kids.

loading DEFINITION: if you load a vehicle you put luggage inside it ALSO: load the dishwasher, load the washing machine, load the gun

When you’re a kid, summer seems to last for an _______

eternity DEFINITION: forever ALSO: eternal

_____, Bob. _____, Randy.

Howdy DEFINITION: Hi (informal)

When you're ready to check out, place your items on the _____.

counter DEFINITION: the area where you pay in a shop or cafe; the surface where you prepare food in a kitchen

When you're reading, do you ever write notes in the ______?

margins DEFINITION: in a text, the space between the words and the end of page; the border, the edge ALSO: if a political candidate wins by a small margin that means he got just a few more votes than his opponent; a very small margin is a razor-thin margin EXPRESSION: If your boss tells you you should allow for a margin of error that means you should plan on things not going exactly as planned, ex. If you think it will cost $1,000,000 you would budget for $1.2 million

When you're a dinner guest, is it polite to offer to ____ ____ and help clear the table?

pitch in DEFINITION: when you voluntarily help to do work

When you _____ _____ on your youth, what's something you wish you had done differently?

look back DEFINITION: reflect on, think about something in the past

When you ___ ____ to work after lunch do you feel sleepy?

go back DEFINITION: return

When you wrote essays in school, did you spend more time on writing or on the ______?

revisions DEFINITION: the re-writes, edits

When you were in school, did your parents provide you with financial _____?

aid DEFINITION: help, assistance (formal) VERB: to aid the poor

When you were in high school were you fond of your ______?

principal DEFINITION: the director of a high school, the headmaster NOTE: for a college or university this person is called a president ALSO: the most important, the first in rank, ex. The principal reason he was fired from his job was poor performance.

When you were a teenager, what did you do to be _______?

cool DEFINITION: popular, accepted by the crowd

When you were a kid, what were your ________ of how life would be as an adult?

expectations DEFINITION: what you expected, what you thought would be true or happen

When you were a kid, what were you _____ about?

curious DEFINITION: you wanted to know more about it NOUN: curiosity ALSO: if something strange happens that you can't explain, you can say "That's curious."

When you were a kid, did your parents _____ you to play with matches?

permit DEFINITION: allow (formal) VERB: to give permission NOUN: a government may only allow certain things if you have a document called "a permit", i.e. a permit to carry a gun, a permit to sell alcohol

When you were a kid, did your parents ____ you to culture?

expose DEFINITION: to put in front of, to present ALSO: if you open the back of a camera you expose the film; if you go to the hospital you expose yourself to disease

When you were a kid, did your parents send you to summer ______?

camp DEFINITION: a place for kids to go without their parents when school is out ALSO: to go camping means to sleep outside, i.e. in a tent

When you were a child, how did your parents _______ you when you misbehaved?

discipline DEFINITION: to punish

When you want to sell your home, a real estate ______ can help you by showing potential buyers where they can find the windows.

agent DEFINITION: someone who has permission to work for and represent another person ALSO: a travel agent, a secret agent (i.e. a spy), an author may have a literary agent

When you read the news, do you read the _____ or just the headlines?

articles DEFINITION: the complete text of a news story

When you read the news do you read the entire article or do you just ______ the headlines?

scan DEFINITION: to look at quickly

When you live in a big city, seeing strange people is an _______ event.

everyday DEFINITION: common, nothing special, usual

When you have a conversation, how much of a ______ do you need?

distance DEFINITION: the space between two objects, people, places ALSO: We saw a light in the distance = far away

When you go to the store, do you usually buy a ______ eggs or half a _____?

dozen Definition: 12 Note: You can say "dozens and dozens" and "hundreds and hundreds" but not "tens and tens"

When you go on vacation, who _______ you at work?

replaces DEFINITION: who takes over your job? who is your substitute? NOUN: replacement; ex. My grandfather had hip replacement surgery. ALSO: replace a lightbulb

When you get sick, how long does it take you to _______?

recover DEFINITION: get back to normal ALSO: if you lose money you want to recover your losses

When you fly to a foreign country you will be asked to fill in a passenger __________ form.

declaration DEFINITION: to state something publicly, often in writing, ex. The Declaration of Independence

When you don't want to forget an appointment, how do you _____ yourself?

remind DEFINITION: do something that causes you to remember NOUN: a reminder, ex. "This is a friendly reminder that you have your dentist appointment tomorrow at 1 pm."

When you chose your career, were you given an __________?

alternative DEFINITION: another option, something else you can choose

When we returned home we ______ that the dog might have been the one who damaged the walls.

suspected DEFINITION:to think that someone is guilty/responsible but you're not 100% certain

When was the last time your country (or one of your countrymen/women) won a ________?

championship DEFINITION: the final of many competitions to determine the winning team PERSON: a champion

When was the last time your car _____ _____?

broke down DEFINITION: stop working ALSO: if you have an emotional breakdown that means you're going to need a lot of tissues

When was the last time your boss ______ your work?

praised DEFINITION: to say good things about someone or something ALSO: When something good happens a Christian might say, Praise the Lord!

When was the last time you ______ with someone through the post, instead of through the internet?

corresponded DEFINITION: to communicate through writing

When was the last time you ______ out-of-town guests?

hosted DEFINITION: if you host someone you let them stay at your place

When was the last time you were under a lot of ______ at work?

pressure DEFINITION: when something pushes or presses against something else pressure is the force that is felt ALSO: air pressure in your tires, blood pressure, pressure at work

When was the last time you missed work because of an ________?

illness DEFINITION: sickness

When was the last time you made a ____ decision?

poor DEFINITION: bad ALSO: poor eating habits; poor eyesight

When was the last time you had ______ over to your house for dinner?

company DEFINTION: guests, visitors

When was the last time you had food ______ ?

delivered DEFINITION: when something you ordered is brought to your home or office ADJECTIVE: delivery, ex. the pizza delivery man ALSO: if a woman delivers a baby that means she gives birth, i.e. she doesn't bring it to your home or office

When Veronica looks angry, ________ she's just hungry.

apparently DEFINITION: it appears that way

When this dynamite goes off it will make a loud _______.

boom DEFINITION: a loud sound ALSO: someone can have a booming voice

When they first started dating her favorite _____ for Bob was "darling." Now she just calls him "shithead."

term DEFINITION: a word or expression, ex. the Latin term for "my fault" is "mea culpa"

When the Shackleton expedition got stuck in the ice and then ran out of ______, they had to eat their dogs.

provisions DEFINITION: supplies, usually food

When the police found out Bob wasn't wearing his face mask in the shower they ____ him.

arrested DEFINITION: when the police catch you for committing a crime

When the police found one million dollars in gold in Bob's office, he _____ the IT guy.

accused DEFINITION: to say that someone is guilty of a crime noun: accusation

When the paparazzi photographed Bob stealing cookies, it ruined his _____ for life.

reputation DEFINITION: what other people think about you

When the negotiations became intense, Nigeria sent Bob to ______ their nation.

represent DEFINITION: to act or speak in the place of someone else; ex. a lawyer represents his client in court,

When the government doesn't have the _______ to help people after a disaster they call the Red Cross.

resources Definition: money, material or people that can be used to solve problems, ex. HR/human resources

When the floor in his apartment ________, Bob decided it was time to go on a diet.

collapsed DEFINITION: to fall, to cave in WHAT ELSE CAN COLLAPSE? a bridge can collapse... the stock market can collapse... your argument against hiring someone can collapse... civilization can collapse.... the public transportation system can collapse... ALSO: if you buy a collapsible chair that means you have a chair that can fold up

When the factory decreased wages, thousands of workers ______ in a strike.

participated DEFINITION: they joined, they took part NOUN: participation A PERSON: a participant

When the diary of Anne Frank was discovered it gave a new ______ into the cost of war from a child's perspective.

insight DEFINITION: a deeper level of understanding ADJECTIVE: if someone gives a very thoughtful or original comment you can say it's insightful

When the cost of ______ becomes too high robots will replace people.

labor DEFINITION: work A PERSON: laborer ALSO: labor strike, Labor Day, the Labor Party, manual labor BRITISH ENGLISH: labour

When the company went bankrupt and everyone was unemployed, they ______ the IT guy.

blamed DEFINITION: to say someone is responsible for something bad

When Star Wars was released in 1977, it was an immediate _______

hit DEFINITION: a success ALSO: a hit song

When Se-ri Pak won the U.S. Open, it _____ many Korean women to take up golf.

inspired DEFINITION: to influence (usually in a positive way); ex. his kind words inspired me with confidence NOUN: inspiration

When saying the word "balloon", the _______ is on the second syllable.

emphasis DEFINITION: to stress a sound, or to stress the importance of some information, ex. "I want to emphasize that it will not be possible to go over the budget this year."

When Peter Parker was bitten by a radioactive spider he suddenly had the _____ to climb walls like a spider. And ride a bicycle like a spider.

ability DEFINITION: your power or skill to do something VERB: to be able to do something, ex. I'm not able to think today ALSO: if a person is in a wheelchair they're called "disabled"

When it gets hot, how do you _____ _____?

cool down DEFINITION: to lower your body temperature ALSO: a cool day (not cold but not warm)

When it comes to presents, which is better: ______ or quality?

quantity DEFINITION: the amount of something, ex. a large / small quantity or water

When is your rent or mortgage payment ______?

due DEFINITION: if a payment is due that means the date has arrived when you must pay it ALSO: if you didn't make your payment on time it is now "past due." ALSO: you can ask a woman "When is the baby due?" (but make sure she's really pregnant first)

When interviewed by the media, Bob reveal that the ____ to his success was his afternoon nap.

key DEFINITION: very important; an important part

When in a new city you should explore hidden ________; you might discover a Starbucks that you've never been to.

passages DEFINITION: a long, narrow space that connects two areas

When I told my doctor I smoke five packs of cigarettes and drink a bottle of whiskey for breakfast every day he looked ________

concerned DEFINITION: worried

When I go to the movies I like to sit in the first ________

row Definition: when people or things are in a straight line, ex. a row of seats, ducks in a row

When I first met my wife her beauty ________ to me.

appealed DEFINITION: found it attractive

When his boss asked him if he'd like to come to work on time, Bob ______.

refused DEFINITION: to not agree to do something

When hiking in the desert, be sure to pack an ______ amount of water.

adequate DEFINITION: enough; not too much and not too little, just enough ALSO: if your teacher tells you your test results were adequate that means you passed but you didn't do great

When he wasn't robbing graves, Indiana Jones was a ________.

scholar DEFINITION: an educate person ALSO: a student; a student who has won a scholarship (money to study at a university)

When he heard the bad news his head_______ exploded.

literally DEFINITION: when you want to say that a metaphor is not a comparison but actually happened; ex. A common expression is "I couldn't get out of bed this morning." That simply means you were very tired. But if you add "literally" that means maybe someone chained you to your bed or your legs didn't work. NOTE: This is one of the most misused words in English. 99% of the times I hear it, the person was using a metaphor (was not speaking literally) and should have used the word "practically."

When have you ______ the rules?

ignored DEFINITION: to pretend like something or someone doesn't exists, ex. ignore a ringing phone during dinner

When Google decided to buy Bob's app, he was _________ quite well.

compensated DEFINITION: paid

When everyone else is freaking out, are you able to _____ _____ ______?

keep your cool DEFINITION: stay calm

When entering a roundabout, you must _____ to oncoming traffic.

yield DEFINITION: if you yield power to someone you give your power to someone stronger than you; submit; give in

When elected, the mayor promised to ______ the police department.

reform DEFINITION: to change, to improve something, ex. political reform, tax reform ALSO: a person can be a reformer; Jan Huss and Martin Luther were part of the reformation to change the Catholic Church

When do you plan to ______? Or have you already?

retire DEFINITION: when you quit working NOUN: retirement PERSON: retiree

When did you have your biggest _____ period?

growth DEFINITION: an increase VERB: to grow ALSO: economic growth

When did you have a lot of ____ in your life?

tension DEFINITION: in physics, tension is a type of force; in life, it's similar to stress ALSO: a tension headache is a headache caused by stress

When deciding where to go on vacation, you should _____ everyone in the family. Unless, you want to actually go some place you'll enjoy.

involve DEFINITION: include ALSO: another way to say that someone is doing something bad (breaking the law, having a sexual relationship, etc.) is to say he's involved with someone/ in something, ex. Bob was kicked out of school for getting involved in drugs.

When couples were forced to _______ be together during the lockdown, divorce rates soared.

constantly DEFINITION: all the time ADJECTIVE: constant, ex. a constant headache

When Bob's glutten-free, vegan, organic salad didn't have enough sugar in it, he _______ to talk to the manager.

demanded DEFINITION: to insist

When Bob's mother-in-law said she was going to visit for a month, he decided to build an ______ on to the house.

addition DEFINITION: something new which is added VERB: to add

When Bob ______ his dog to sit he realized he still had a lot of training to do.

commanded DEFINITION: to give an order ADJECTIVE: a commanding voice is a strong voice PERSON: the President is The Commander-In-Chief of the army ALSO: if you're in command of a situation that means you've got it under control and there's nothing to be worried about

When Bob wasn't able to bill enough hours at the law firm, he knew he could always make a few extra bucks at the _____ club.

strip DEFINITION: to remove your clothes ALSO: strip mining is when they remove an entire mountain; if you strip the bed you remove all the sheets; if you strip the paint from the wall you scrape it all off

When Bob was unable to connect to the internet, he ____ _____ for help.

cried out DEFINITION: to shout, to yell ALSO: a cry for help, a cry for justice

When Bob was in love, he found it easy to ____ his lovers’ flaws.

overlook DEFINITION: to ignore, to look past

When Bob was a child he______ to eat his vegetables. Now he's rich and donates money to fight vegetarianism.

refused Definition: if you refuse to do something you say "No way! Absolutely not!"

When Bob was a baby he was incredibly lazy and preferred to sleep most of the day. ________, his mother loved him.

Nevertheless DEFINITION: in spite of the fact, regardless

When Bob wakes up late he finds it necessary to _____ the speed limit in order to arrive at his job on time.

exceed DEFINITION: to go beyond/past what is allowed or expected; ex. the restaurant exceeded my expectations

When Bob took the job at Safari Pizza Delivery, he knew there would be _____ danger involved.

considerable DEFINITION: big, great, large, a lot of

When Bob suggested trading wives, the negotiation turned _______.

aggressive DEFINITION: threatening violence; ex. a dog showing its teeth is a sign of aggression NOUN: aggression ALSO: if someone is aggressive in business or sales, that doesn't mean they're violent, but rather that they are persistent, eager to win, determined to win

When Bob stepped on his bathroom ______ he realized it was time to start eating less.

scale Definition: a device used for weighing people or things

When Bob said he'd crawl across broken glass to get a date with Jennifer, he wasn't _______.

kidding DEFINITION: joking NOTE: "I would crawl across broken glass to _____" is a common expression to say you really want something.

When Bob said he didn't want dessert Jennifer thought he was ______ and decided to end the relationship.

lying DEFINITION: to give false information on purpose; to deceive with your words NOTE THE SPELLING: He lies often. He is lying right now. Yesterday he lied. He has lied. PERSON: a liar

When Bob refused to pull over, the police ______ him down the highway at slow speeds.

pursued DEFINITION: to follow, to try to catch ALSO: pursue a career, pursue your dreams

When Bob read that most car accidents _______ within 5 miles of home, he decided to move.

occur DEFINITION: to happen NOUN: occurence

When Bob moved out of the city his ______ to work became much more scenic.

route Definition: the way/course/road that you take to get somewhere

When Bob mastered ____ the goats he was promoted to buffalo ______.

milking / milker DEFINITION: to get / extract milk from a mamal COMMON EXPRESSION: if you milk someone or milk a situation that means you get as much value out of it as you can; ex. Parris Hilton really milked her famous last name to become a celebrity. IDIOM: If someone tells you "don't cry over spilt milk" that means don't be upset about the past

When Bob lost all his savings at the casino, he decided to _______ his house.

mortgage DEFINITION: a bank loan that places your home as payment security

When Bob interviewed for the job, he forgot to ______ he couldn't spell.

mention DEFINITION: to tell someone something, usually a short piece of extra information

When Bob heard that a giant asteroid was about to ____ ____ ____ the earth, he decided he would wait one more week to pay the rent.

make contact with DEFINITION: to touch ALSO: football is a contact sport because you touch the other players ALSO: if your credit card has a chip you can use contactless payment

When Bob got an email it was hard to contain his ________.

excitement DEFINITION: enthusiasm, joy VERB: to excite ADJECTIVE: exciting

When Bob found out his Tik Tok account was blocked for containing bad grammar, he was depressed for months; no one was able to ______ him.

comfort DEFINITION: to provide emotional support; to console

When Bob failed to return the book to the library after one month, the FBI launched an _________.

investigation DEFINITION: when the government examines an event to see if a crime was committed

When Bob and Jennifer couldn't ______ their differences in family therapy, they decided to try mud wrestling.

resolve DEFINITION: fix, solve their problems

When battling vampires, remember to bring your _______.

cross DEFINITION: a Christian religious symbol; anything that has the shape of a cross

When a ______ fish washed up on the shore, they called Bob to take a closer look.

rare DEFINITION: not common, not usual ALSO: rare coin, rare disease, a rare moment

What's your spouse's best physical _______?

attribute DEFINITION: trait, characteristic, feature

What's your country's #1 ________?

export DEFINITION: a product that's sold to another country

What's the worst ______ you've ever received?

advice DEFINITION: recommendation, suggestion, usually about something important, ex. marriage advice

What's the most amazing natural _____ you've witnessed?

phenomenon DEFINITION: an impressive, amazing, extraordinary event or person ADJECTIVE: phenomenal means the same as "amazing"; his test results were phenomenal

What's the largest ______ you've ever made?

acquisition

What's a restaurant in your town that's not just good, but truly ______?

excellent DEFINITION: fantastic, great

What's _______ attire at your office?

appropriate DEFINITION: suitable, acceptable OPPOSITE: inappropriate NOTE: attire is formal for "clothes" and it collocates / often goes with the word "appropriate"

What's your ________?

address DEFINITION: where you live, your mailing address

What's your ________ for the economy?

prediction DEFINITION: a guess about the future

What's your _______?

profession DEFINITION: your job (formal) ADJECTIVE: if you hear "He's a real pro" that means he's very good ADVERB: if your boss tells you to behave professionally that means formally, with business manners

What's your _______?

faith DEFINITION: belief, religion

What's your work _____? Have you always done the same job?

background DEFINITION: your past experience, education, personal history

What's your preferred _____ of transportation for long trips?

mode DEFINITION: method, way ALSO: you can switch your phone to "airplane mode"; if you lose your kid in a crowd you'll probably switch into panic mode

What's your job ______?

title DEFINITION: the official name of your job

What's your favorite _______?

grain IDIOM: if someone gives you advice and then tells you "take it with a grain of salt" that means you should consider if the advice is right for you before applying it

What's your favorite ______?

airline DEFINITION: a company that flies planes; ex. British Airways, Virgin, United

What's your favorite ______ of the last ten years?

invention DEFINITION: a new device, product IDIOM: Necessity is the mother of invention

What's your favorite ______ of Friends?

episode DEFINITION: one 30 min / 60 min story is an episode; a series of episodes released in the same year is a season

What's your favorite ______ movie?

funny DEFINITION: it makes you laugh

What's your favorite place to ____ ____ for a nap?

lie down DEFINITION: to put yourself in a horizontal position PAST: lay, lain

What's your favorite news ______?

publication DEFINITION: anything that is published, i.e. a magazine, a newspaper, a report

What's your favorite film________?

adaptation DEFINITION: a film that was made from / adapted from a book

What's your favorite dog _____?

breed DEFINITION: a category of dogs

What's your _____?

race DEFINITION: a way to classify people based on where their ancestors came from ADJECTIVE: racial

What's the ______ of your pants?

length DEFINITION: the noun of "long" COMMON EXPRESSION: if you go to great lengths to get a new job that means you do a lot to get it

What's the ______ for murder in your country?

penalty DEFINITION: a negative consequence, it could be a fine, a jail sentence, or death

What's the _____ of your country?

capital DEFINITION: the main city where the government is located

What's the secret to a happy _______?

marriage DEFINITION: when two people are married

What's the most ________ pair of shoes you own?

comfortable DEFINITION: they feel good on your feet NOTE: pay attention to the pronunciation -- you don't say it the same as you spell it! OPPOSITE: uncomfortable

What's the most _______ natural site in your country?

remarkable DEFINITION: extraordinary, unusual; something so interesting it should be seen

What's the most ______ site a tourist can see in your country?

impressive DEFINITION: awesome, amazing ALSO: If you want to pay someone a big compliment, tell him, "Very impressive."

What's the last good ______ you found?

deal DEFINITION: a bargain, an item with an unusually low price ALSO: when you pay a good price for something; a bargain

What's the largest _______ in your country?

industry DEFINITION: a general word for "business" or a sector of business, ex. the automobile industry, the steel industry

What's the first childhood memory you can _____?

recall DEFINITION: remember NOUN: recollection (formal); ex. It was my recollection that the victim was not home on the day of the crime.

What's the biggest tourist ______ in your country?

attraction DEFINITION: something that gets visitors VERB: attract

What's the best _______ for tourists to visit in your country?

region DEFINITION: area

What's on your _______?

mind DEFINITION: What are you thinking about; your mind can either be your brain or your thoughts

What's on your ______ for tomorrow?

agenda DEFINITION: schedule

What's in your _______ right now?

pockets DEFINITION: the storage space in your pants, shirt or coat ALSO: in an airplane you have a seat pocket in front of you ALSO: if you make a business deal and pocket a thousand euros that means you made a thousand profit (you put it in your pocket) ALSO: a pickpocket is a thief who takes things from your pockets

What's an offensive ______ in your culture?

gesture DEFINITION: a signal or a sign, usually made with your hand, fingers or body

What's a source of _____ in your life?

pride DEFINITION: if you're proud of something you're very satisfied with it; ex. a proud father ADJECTIVE: proud

What _______ does the government impose on your industry?

regulations DEFINITIONS: rules and restrictions

What _______ do you find attractive in the opposite sex?

characteristics DEFINITION: personality traits, parts of a person's character; ex. honesty, sense of humor, curiosity, bravery

What ______you?

frightens DEFINITION: to scare ADJECTIVE: frightening; ex. a frightening idea

What _____ is your oldest child?

gender DEFINITION: sex; male or female

What would you do if you _____ a wallet full of cash on the ground?

found DEFINITION: discovered Verb: find/found/found

What website do you use to ____ flights?

book DEFINITION: reserve ALSO: book a room, book an appointment, book a call AND: if someone tries to schedule an appointment with you and you're too busy you can say "I'm booked solid."

What was your ______ when you heard about the lockdowns? Shock? Surprise? Relief?

reaction DEFINITION: your response

What was the punishment in your school if you skipped _______?

class DEFINITION: a specific lesson in school

What was the last _______ you read?

novel DEFINITION: a fiction book

What was the last _______ movie or TV show or song to come out in your country?

controversial DEFINITION: it was the subject of debate because some people loved it and some people hated it

What was the last _____ you bought?

album DEFINITION: a collection of songs ALSO: a photo album is a collection of photographs, a wedding album

What was the last thing your spouse asked you to ___ ___ on your way home?

pick up DEFINITION: get ALSO: pick up a friend at the airport

What was the last nice thing you did for someone without asking for any ________?

compensation DEFINITION: reward, payment

What subjects did you _____ to study in school?

elect DEFINITION: to choose to do something (formal)

What store in your town has the ______ prices?

cheapest DEFINITION: very low prices ALSO: if a product is cheap that means the quality is low

What services are you _______ billed for each month?

automatically DEFINITION: it happens without you doing anything ADJECTIVE: automatic

What school did you _______ from?

graduate DEFINITION: to finish school, usually high school or college

What percentage of your monthly _______ goes toward housing? (i.e. the rent or mortgage payment)

budget DEFINITION: a plan for spending money

What methods does your company use to ______ the competition?

beat DEFINITION: to win over, to defeat NOTE: this is an irregular verb -- beat / beat / beaten

What makes you ______? Taking a test? Going to the doctor? Having an interview?

anxious DEFINITION: nervous

What kind of ________ do you need to do your job?

qualifications DEFINITION: training, education, certificates VERB: to qualify

What kind of jeans do you prefer? Loose or _____?

tight ALSO: I'm on a tight schedule today; We have a tight budget at work.

What kind of jeans do you prefer? Loose or _____?

tight Also: I'm on a tight schedule today

What kind of goods does your country ______ from abroad?

import DEFINITION: to bring things into a country to sell them

What kind of energy does your country use? Gas? Nuclear? Or ______?

coal DEFINITION: a type of rock that burns

What kind of detergent do you prefer? _____ or powder?

Liquid DEFINITION: not a solid, not a gas

What kind of an _____ motivates you to work harder? Money? Recognition? An interesting project?

incentive Definition: the reason why you do something verb: to incentivize

What is your _______ for learning English?

objective DEFINITION: goal (formal)

What is your _____ in life?

mission DEFINITION: an important task PERSON: a missionary; ex. a Christian missionary is someone who travels to a foreign country to convert the locals to Christianity IDIOM: if you're on a mission you're in the process of doing something important; ex on a mission to Mars ALSO: your company may have a mission statement: a text that states the purpose of the company (which usually no one knows or reads)

What is your ____ worth?

net DEFINITION: if you sold everything this is how much money you would have ALSO: when a company sells a product there is the gross profit (before taxes and overhead costs) and there's the net profit (the profit after you subtract expenses)

What is your most valuable ______.

asset Definition: more than just something you own, an asset is something which gives value or increases in value instead of costing you money; example, a property that you rent out is an asset while an apartment that you pay rent to live in is a liability

What is your main source of ______?

protein DEFINITION: plant or animal tissue that your body needs to be healthy and build muscle

What is your favorite _______?

possession (formal) DEFINITION: an object that you own

What is your country's _______ policy? Is it tight or loose?

immigration DEFINITION: when people move to another country; NOTE: immigration can be legal or illegal

What is the ________ party in your country?

opposition DEFINITION: the party not in power; the party that opposes the party in power

What is the ______ of water?

composition DEFINITION: what something is composed of / made of

What is 44 ________ by 11?

divided (the answer to the math question is: 4) DEFINITION: ÷

What have you been _____ with?

blessed DEFINITION: if God blesses you he gives you something very nice, ex. to be blessed with good health ALSO: if you give someone your blessing that means you approve of what they're doing, ex. a father gives his daughter his blessing to get married ALSO: when someone sneezes you can say "Bless you!"

What does your ______ holiday look like?

ideal DEFINITION: perfect ADVERB: Ideally, we wouldn't have to sell shares in the company to raise money.

What do you ______ to accomplish this year?

aim DEFINITION: to focus on something, to target a goal ALSO: aim a weapon, aim a gun, aim big (have a big goal)

What do you ____ will happen this year?

predict DEFINITION: to say what you think will happen in the future NOUN: to make a prediction ALSO: predictable / unpredictable ex. His behaviour was unpredictable.

What do you have a _____ for? Cooking? Travel? English?

passion DEFINITION: a feeling of extreme interest and desire ADJECTIVE: passionate; ex. he's passionate about classical music ALSO: if you're with a sexy man/woman, you may feel another type of passion

What do you do when you experience _________?

boredom DEFINITION: feeling bored; when you have nothing to do and you're not entertained and you're not interested

What do you do to _______ a headache?

relieve DEFINITION: to reduce or eliminate a bad feeling, ex. relieve stress ALSO: if your boss relieves someone of their duties he fires them; but if you're a shift worker (ex. a nurse or security guard) and you relieve your colleague that means you take over for him

What do you do to reduce your personal and household ______?

expenses DEFINITION: costs ALSO: a company might have an expense account for entertaining clients IDIOM: if you achieved something at great expense that means you really had to sacrifice to make it happen ADJECTIVE: expensive

What are your ________?

measurements DEFINITIONS: the numbers that tell what size clothing you wear, ex. pant length, waist, collar; or anything that's measured, ex. the measurements of the room are 12 x 15

What are your _____ at work?

duties DEFINITION: your obligations, your tasks, what you must do

What are your family ______ ?

obligations DEFINITION: something you must do, either because it is written in a contract or you feel it is your duty, i.e. a moral obligation ("bringing home the bacon" means supporting your family financially) ADJECTIVE: if something is obligatory it's not optional, it's mandatory

What are you _____ for?

grateful DEFINITION: when you feel very thankful, appreciative NOUN: gratitude

Fitness trainers say you shouldn't _____ the gym every day.

hit DEFINITION: go to (usually used for something that requires work, ex. hit the books = study for a test)

What are some ______ events you remember?

historic DEFINITION: important, a part of history; ex. an historic site, an historic date, the price of gas reached an historic high NOTE: historical simply means old, a part of history, ex. historical photographs

What a _____!

coincidence DEFINITION: two unplanned events happening at the same time and place ADVERB: coincidentally, we both wore red boots

What _________ of your budget goes toward housing?

percent DEFINITION: out of 100 (cent) ALSO: percentage

What _______ interests do you have with your spouse?

mutual DEFINITION: shared, in common ALSO: if you're friends with Bob and I'm friends with Bob then Bob is our mutual friend ALSO: the next time your husband/wife tells you "I love you", you can reply, "The feeling is mutual." (Warning: that's not very romantic) ALSO: a mutual fund is an investment where many people own the same stocks, i.e. they have the same investments in common

Were you ever _____ of your parents when you were a kid?

ashamed DEFINITION: feeling shame; very embarrassed

We're from the government and we'd like to _____ your tax returns.

examine DEFINITION: look at closely

Well, this looks like a _____ place to live .

pleasant DEFINITION: nice, agreeable; ex. pleasant news, a pleasant voice

"Weapons of mass destruction" was the ______ for the invasion of Iraq.

justification DEFINITION: it was the reason why they invaded; if you justify unusual or bad behavior you give an excuse / a reason why

We were working all night to meet the deadline. ________, the boss was at home sleeping.

Meanwhile Definition: happening at the same time

We tried logic. We tried fear. We even tried offering him money. But we could not _______ Bob to use the toilet instead of the bathtub.

convince DEFINITION: to use logic or reasons or pressure to change someone's mind NOUN: conviction ADJECTIVE: convincing, ex. a convincing argument is a good argument

We regret to ______ you that the flight has not been cancelled, but it will crash.

inform DEFINITION: tell, give information (formal)

We now know that the ______ for invading Iraq was false, which was that Saddam Hussein was a threat because he had weapons of mass destruction.

premise DEFINITION: this is a word from logic, it's a statement that must be true for your conclusion to be true Example: The judge allowed the divorce on the premise that the husband had not been faithful.

Water is ____ in the desert

scarce DEFINITION: it's hard to find noun: scarcity

Was your _______ a fun place to grow up?

neighborhood DEFINITION: the area where you live, either in a city, town or suburb

Was your education _______ or theoretical?

practical DEFINITION: something that can be used/put into practice; ex. practical shoes are comfortable shoes you can wear inside or outside ALSO: a practical solution is reasonable, doable and possible; the opposite is an impractical solution

Was this design ________ an improvement or not?

modification DEFINITION: a small change

Was the _____ industry affected by lockdowns in your country?

retail Definition: goods are bought wholesale from the manufacturer in large quantities and for a lower price, then they're sold to the consumer at retail (at a higher price), in a retail outlet (a store), and by a retailer (the store owner) Also: if someone says they work in retail it usually means they work in a clothing store

Was it a challenge to _____ to living with your partner?

adapt DEFINITION: to adjust, to modify ALSO: when you travel to a foreign country you may need to bring and adapter for your computer (so you can plug it into the wall and recharge it)

Want to look more _____? Wear glasses and read books in public.

intellectual DEFINITION: smart PERSON: an intellectual is someone who is highly educated and likes to discuss things like philosophy and literature ALSO: intellectual property rights refers to books, movies, inventions, etc.

Wake up earlier so you won't be in a _____ and you'll have time for English.

rush DEFINITION: in a hurry VERB: rush to catch a plane ALSO: rush hour is the time of the day the streets are most crowded; The California Gold Rush

using a ______ to cut his hair

bowl Also: to go bowling; to watch the Super Bowl on TV; I was bowled over by the news

using a ____ to catch a fish

hook DEFINITION: something that connects two thing, ex. a coat hook to hang your coat on the wall ALSO: if you say you're hooked on the new Netflix series that means you can't stop watching it

Unnecessary _______ brought Bob and Jennifer closer together. (formal)

expenditures DEFINITION: purchases (formal)

Unfortunately, everyone has died of covid; ______, tonight's performance will be cancelled.

consequently DEFINITION: as a result

Unemployment _____ reached a new high as a result of government lockdowns.

figures DEFINITION: numbers

Under the constitution, everyone is ______ to a fair and just trial.

entitled DEFINITION: it's your right

turning the door ______

handle

Try to ________ for a high salary when you start a new job.

negotiate DEFINITION: a discussion where you try to get a better deal for yourself

Trump ______ Biden by calling him "Sleepy, creepy Joe."

insulted DEFINITION: to say something rude about someone ALSO: an insulting remark

True or false? "Only a woman can ______ __ the problems of a mother."

relate to DEFINITION: if you can relate to someone’s problems you understand them because you’ve experienced them yourself

Toyota _____ their newest car last week at the car show. Surprisingly, it looked like all the other cars.

revealed Definition: to show something that was hidden Also: reveal the truth

too many computer _______

cables DEFINITION: a bundle of wires

to ______ a balloon

pop

To vote in your country, do you have to first _______ or can you just show up?

To see the Titanic you have to dive to a _____ of 12,500 feet. Or you can just watch the movie.

depth Definition: the noun from "deep" Adjective: deep

To reduce the spread of covid, the city will ______ a new personal bubble rule from next week.

implement DEFINITION: enact, begin; ex. implement a plan noun: implementation

To most people, a bear from China and an elephant from India seemed like an _____ friendship. But what people didn't know was that both Lee and Raj were big World of Warcraft fans.

odd DEFINITION: strange, different COMMON EXPRESSION: That's odd... (when you see something that's unusual or doesn't make sense)

To keep Bob out of jail, the lawyer argued that Bob only _____ murdered people.

occasionally DEFINITION: from time to time, not often

To join the army requires a three-year ________.

commitment DEFINITION: promise, dedication

To get an accurate picture, you need to put information in _______.

context DEFINITION: the information that surrounds an event or situation EXAMPLE: the media often give inaccurate information because they quote people out of context

To be successful in politics you need a lot of __________.

connections DEFINITION: contacts, people you know / people you're connected to ADJECTIVE: He's well-connected in Silicon Valley

To be a successful entrepreneur, it helps to have a high _______ __ risk tolerance.

degree of DEFINITION: a high level of, a high amount of

Time to ____ _____ for winter

gear up DEFINITION: prepare yourself; buy the gear / equipment / clothing that you'll need

Thunder storms are expected ______ the state of Mississippi.

across DEFINITION: from one side to the other

"Those are my 42 recommendations for increasing profits. _____, we need to invest in stronger coffee."

moreover DEFINITION: additionally

Thomas Edison _______ the light bulb.

invented DEFINITION: was the first person to create one NOUN: an invention PERSON: an inventor

This was a close _____.

race DEFINITION: a competition to see who is the fastest VERB: to race someone

This photograph is ____ that Bigfoot is real.

proof DEFINITION: information that says that something is true or real VERB: to prove

This pencil has a sharp _____

point DEFINITION: the end of an object or piece of land, usually narrower than the rest ALSO: someone can have a pointy nose

This might be a good time to ____ ____ ___ ______.

pick up the pace DEFINITION: the pace at which you do something is the speed at which you do something, ex. to walk at a slow/fast pace COMMON EXPRESSION: pace yourself = don't go too fast and use all your energy

This lucky fish is being ______ back into the water.

released DEFINITION: let go, given his freedom

This kid likes ______ eggs ____ bacon.

neither ....nor DEFINITION: not eggs and not bacon

"This is your captain speaking. I'm afraid I have some bad news. Now, there's no reason to ____, but we are out of coffee."

panic DEFINITION: to become very afraid very quickly; to lose control of your thinking and emotions because of your fear ALSO: to have a panic attack

This is what happens if you ______ your plants.

neglect DEFINITION: ignore, don't pay attention to, don't care for; ex. neglect a child, neglect a relationship

This is the correct way to ____ a Guinness.

pour Also: It's pouring rain; shoppers poured into the store

This is how thieves _____ credit card information.

steal DEFINITION: to take something that's not yours

This is how much land the Roman ______ controlled at its peak.

empire DEFINITION: a nation that controls many other nations ALSO: as a metaphor it can be used to say that a company or person controls many other businesses; ex. the Disney entertainment empire now includes Marvel Comics

This graph shows the ______ of the computer.

evolution DEFINITION: how something changes over time

This car comes in a _____ of colors.

range DEFINITION: if there's a range that means there are many people or things and there's variety, ex. an age range, an income range VERB: the test scores ranged from good to terrible

They’re ________to nuclear weapons.

opposed DEFINITION: against NOUN: opposition

"They say the neon lights are bright on _______way"

Broad DEFINITION: wide ALSO: someone can have broad shoulders, a broad smile

They say that lightning never ______ in the same place twice.

strikes DEFINITION: hit

They had to work all night because the ______ of the project was bigger than they expected. Or was it because Bob was actually playing Minecraft instead of working?

scope DEFINITION: size, extent; ex. the scope of the problem

These two make an interesting ______, don't you think?

couple DEFINITION: two people who are dating or married

These protestors in Hungary's October Revolution believed Stalin didn't ______ a statue.

deserve DEFINITION: if you deserve something you've earned it, either a reward or punishment

These days, _____ data is a full-time job.

analyzing DEFINITION: to examine closely NOUN: analysis ADJECTIVE: analytical, ex. an analytical mind COMMON EXPRESSION: in the final analysis, i.e. in the end/we've decided

These days, more and more forms do not require you to _____ your gender.

specify DEFINITION: to say exactly, to be specific

These days, it's hard for a band to receive _____, but Pussy Riot succeeded in Russia. .

controversy DEFINITION: a public debate, usually over a sensitive topic ADJECTIVE: controversial

These days, everyone can be a _____ online.

critic DEFINITION: someone who rates a product, restaurant or performance, ex. a film critic

There’s a clear _______ between a Ferrari and a Toyota.

distinction DEFINITION: a difference

There's only a _____ risk of fire

moderate DEFINITION: not extreme, in the middle ALSO: a moderate salary; you can be politically moderate;

There were many reasons Bob quit his job at the circus. The _______ reason was it kept him away from his family.

principal DEFINITION: the most important, the first in rank

There was a ______ height difference between Bob and his new girlfriend.

substantial Definition: big, great, large, significant Adverb: substantially

There used to be a lot more _____ in Eastern Europe during communism.

pollution DEFINITION: harmful gas or liquids adjective: polluted

There is an outsider _____ us.

among DEFINITION: included in a group

There have been many fast swimmers, but Michael Phelps' achievements have been _______

exceptional DEFINITION: amazing, at the highest level

There are 206 ______ in the human body.

bones

The ________ said it would cost approximately $10,000 to repair the damages. Bob promised he would drink less water before bed.

estimate DEFINITION: a guess, an evaluation, ex. cost estimate, tax estimate, a building estimate VERB: to estimate

The ________ of the US election was a surprise for most people.

outcome DEFINITION: result

The ________ of the earth is mostly water.

surface DEFINITION: the top or outside of something

The _______ for capturing or killing Butch Cassidy was $3,500.

reward The reward for capturing or killing Butch Cassidy was $3,500. DEFINITION: what you give someone for successfully doing something ADJECTIVE: rewarding = satisfying, ex. having a child is a rewarding experience

The ______ wanted to know Bob's favorite color.

press DEFINITION: the news media, reporters

The ______ that Bob could catch covid from his car was low. But he wasn't taking any chances.

probability DEFINITION: odds, likelihood, possibility ADJECTIVE: probably, ex. it's not very probably that I'll be able to pick you up at the airport

The ______ rockets separating from the Space Shuttle.

booster DEFINITION: If you give something/someone a boost you give them extra help. ex. after you get a vaccination you may need a booster shot ALSO: If you take a small child to a restaurant they may bring you a booster seat.

The ______ of teachers voted to get whiteboards for the classrooms.

majority DEFINITION: more than 50%

The ______ of eating in your car is something a lot of Italians can't imagine.

concept Definition: an abstract idea

The ______ of directors meet twice a year to decide on the direction of the company.

board DEFINITION: a group who makes high-level decisions ALSO: a board meeting; the chairman of the board

the ______ of a clock

mechanisms DEFINITION: machinery, moving parts of a machine

The ______ met at Yalta near the end of the Second World War.

allies DEFINITION: an ally is someone who is on your side, who supports you singular: an ally noun: alliance

the ______ city of Rome

ancient DEFINITION: very old

The ______ Canyon in Arizona. Also known as, the world's biggest hole in the ground.

Grand DEFINITION: great, large, the top position ALSO: your grandfather is your father's father; a grand piano is a large piano; a grand event is a big/important event, ex. like a 50th wedding anniversary

The _____ revolution gave us cheaper products, but it came at a human cost.

industrial DEFINITION: related to industry, i.e. business; ex. industrial waste is pollution from a factory; an increase in industrial production ALSO: If your boss says theft at your company is on an industrial scale that means it's a lot.

The _____ of men to women was 50:50

ratio DEFINITION: the proportion, the balance

The _____ met once a week to find a solution to the city's crime problem. After one year, they decided that they should meet once a month.

commission DEFINITION: a group of people who meet to discuss problems and make decisions; often they're members of government; ex. The UN Commission on Human Rights

The _____ is tied, 31 to 31.

score DEFINITION: the points in a game

The _____ goes at the end of a sentence

period DEFINITION: the dot at the end of a sentence ALSO: if you want to make your point stronger and say that the conversation is over and you're not willing to discuss it further, you can say, "I will not go. Period!" NOTE: the British say "full stop"

The _____ gave him a standing ovation.

audience DEFINITION: the people who watch a performance or listen to a speech

the _____ city of Athens

ancient DEFINITION: very old

The _____ broke.

chain DEFINITION: connected pieces or connected events ALSO: a chain smoker is someone who lights a new cigarette as soon as they finish the old one; a fastfood chain is a restaurant like McDonalds or KFC; a chain reaction is when one event causes another and another event and so on IDIOM: The chain is only as strong as its weakest link IDIOM: If you call your wife your "ball and chain" make sure she's in the other room.

The ____ of The Challenger Space Shuttle (before they blew up).

crew Definition: the people who work together on a ship or in a team, ex. a work crew repairing the road However: in a restaurant or store the employees are called "the staff"

The wood is rotten, the neighbors are gang members and the house is built on top of a cemetery for murderers. ________, it's a lovely property.

otherwise DEFINITION: it's true if you forget about the other stuff

The wolf is the _____ ancestor of all dogs.

common DEFINITION: it's shared ALSO: if you and your friend both like football you can say "we have sports in common" ALSO: the common room is a shared room in a school or hotel

The West sends a lot of_____ to the third world.

aid DEFINITION: : help or assistance VERB: to aid

The Washington Redskins are on _____ .

offense DEFINITION: they have the ball and they're trying to score, they're on the attack

The U.S. Declaration of Independence says everyone is born with the right to "life, liberty and the _______ of happiness."

pursuit DEFINITION: if you pursue something you go after it, ex. the pursuit of a goal

The TV show "Suits" is about a New York city law _______ where all the lawyers try to sleep with the Duchess of Sussex.

firm DEFINITION: a business that is owned by several partners ALSO: a real estate firm, an investment firm

The town ______ voted against having pizza for lunch.

council DEFINITION: a group of people who work together for a common goal, usually in government, similar to committee

The town was _______ after the storm

flooded DEFINITION: there was too much water ALSO: if your boss tells you the company was flooded with complaints after your last product release, that's not good

the toilet is dripping _____ the floor

onto

The test results said Bob was dead. But because Bob's an optimist, he decided to ______ the results.

contest DEFINITION: to argue that an answer or result is false: dispute NOTE: the pronunciation is a little different from the other contest; for the verb we say "cun-test"

The temperature today is 70 _____ fahrenheit.

degrees

The sofa has a very ugly ______.

pattern DEFINITION: a visual design or behaviour that repeats

The sight of her womanly _____ under the dress made the Prince burn with desire. "Hopefully, she will not mind my wicked little secrets," he thought. (synonym: form)

shape Definition: the form or outline of something, ex. a triangular shape

The shy movie star finally ____ ____ about his fabulous life.

opened up DEFINITION: spoke freely, didn't hide information

The runner in yellow is way ____ of the others.

ahead DEFINITION: in front of

The robber _______ open the door.

forced DEFINITION: to use power, strength

The red light ______ that Bob needs to change his oil.

indicates DEFINITION: signals, communicates NOUN: a headache can be an indication of stress

The Queen always makes her bed before the tour groups arrive at her bedroom _______.

chamber DEFINITION: a room Also: torture chamber; senate chambers; Chamber of Commerce; a chambermaid

The Prime Minister _______ Bob to head the Ministry of Getting Things Done.

appointed DEFINITION: he was given the job NOTE: this if formal and usually used for high-level corporate or government jobs

The priest ______ the troops before they invaded Vatican City.

blessed DEFINITION: he approved ALSO: a father can give his daughter his blessing to his child to get married ALSO: after someone sneezes you can say "Bless you."

The price of Apple's stock stayed ____ for decades before shooting up in the mid 2000s.

stable DEFINITION: without change NOUN: stability ALSO: a stable government; the foundation of a building can be stable; a hospital patient's condition can be stable

The Power Words give your English a strong _________

foundation DEFINITION: the first level of a building is the foundation, usually made of stone or cement

The police told Bob the meteor that destroyed his house was a ______ event; however, Bob insisted they investigate further.

random DEFINITION: without reason, no pattern, unpredictable, ex. a throw of the dice will give you a random number

The police searched the ______ of Bob's bag but only found a kilo of cocaine, a human head and three nuclear bombs.

contents DEFINITION: the things that are inside something (usually plural), ex. the bottle's contents VERB: to contain ALSO: a book has a table of contents, you can write content for the internet

The police finally ______ Bob after his escape car ran out of gas.

captured DEFINITION: to catch a criminal or put a wild animal in a cage ADJECTIVE: captive ALSO: if you capture an image that means you take a photo that's unique or difficult, ex. He captured the perfect sunset.

The police drew an _______ of the body on the sidewalk.

outline DEFINITION: the shape of something ALSO: if you outline a plan or a proposal you don't give all the details, you just give the main idea / the big picture

The plane ________ some problems immediately after takeoff.

encountered DEFINITION: met, ran into unexpectedly

The picnic will be ________ for an hour due to severe weather.

delayed DEFINITION: if something is delayed it will start at a later time, ex. a delayed flight NOTE: if something is cancelled that means it will not happen

The oldest cities in the Americas are built around natural ______, like Rio de Janeiro and New York.

harbors DEFINITION: a place where boats can safely stay ALSO: if a country harbors refugees that means they allow them to enter the country and they protect them ALSO: if you harbor a thought that means you keep an idea in your head; ex. Although the court said Bob was innocent, many people continued to harbor the thought that he was actually guilty.

The news has been ______ long before the internet.

inaccurate DEFINITION: not correct

The new ______ of Bob's book sold even worse than the first one.

edition DEFINITION: a new version, a new printing ALSO: some newspapers have a daily edition, some have an evening edition

The new Tesla ______ driverless steering.

features DEFINITION: (verb) when a company wants to highlight a special, unique part of their product they use "to feature"

The new Lamborghini Gallardo is _____ of reaching speeds of over 300 kilometers per hour.

capable DEFINITION: possible, able to do something OPPOSITE: incapable

The new app is designed to _____ children. And to destroy their attention spans.

engage DEFINITION: to attract and keep someone's interest ADJECTIVE: engaging

The National ______ in London. Be sure to wash your hands before you touch.

Gallery DEFINITION: where you can see and sometimes buy art ALSO: online you can see photo galleries which are collections of photos

The nation was ______. Half preferred dogs, while the other half preferred goldfish.

divided DEFINITION: split, not united NOUN: division

The mountains are not close, they are ______

distant DEFINITION: far away ALSO: You can say the mountains are off in the distance ALSO a distant relative is not a close relative; ex. not a parent or sibling or cousin, etc.

The most popular _________ for global warming is pollution.

explanation Definition: the details or facts or reasons that make something clear Verb: to explain

The Mona Lisa is famous for her ______. What do you think she's feeling?

expression DEFINITION: the look on your face

The Mississippi River _____ past New Orleans and into the Gulf of Mexico.

flows DEFINITION: to move smoothly and easily ALSO: work flow, cash flow, blood flow

The media _______ the events as a threat to the government, while others described the events as simply a protest.

characterized DEFINITION: to say that something is a characteristic / a quality of something

The media called the _____ project a "catastrophic environmental disaster." Bob called it a learning experience.

pilot DEFINITION: the first one which serves as an experiment, a test ALSO: the pilot episode of a TV series is the first episode

The main requirement for getting a job in customer support was a bad ________.

attitude DEFINITION: the way you think or feel about something

The judge said Bob was _____ of murder and had to go to jail from today till Tuesday.

guilty DEFINITION: a person who does something wrong, like a crime, is guilty NOUN: if you feel bad for doing something wrong you feel guilt

The jail cell where the famous mobster Al Capone was _____ for many years.

confined DEFINITION: to keep someone in a small space noun: confinement

The human body _________more electricity than a 120-voIt battery.

generates DEFINITION: creates

The Hardrock 100-Mile Endurance Run in the Colorado mountains is considered the most _____ foot race.

intense DEFINITION: extreme, to a high degree, ex. intense anger, intense heat, an intense schedule

The greatest _____ murderers in history all lived during the last century.

mass DEFINITION: a large number or amount of something; ex. a mass exodus

The government of Rome finally decided to ______ repairs on the Colloseum. Just in time for tourist season.

undertake DEFINITION: to begin something that will be difficult ALSO: undertake a journey, undertake training

The ghost told Bob to ____ ____, but he had already paid for three more nights so he decided to stay.

get out DEFINITION: to leave

The French who fought against the Nazis in their homeland were called _______ fighters.

resistance DEFINITION: they didn't obey: they resisted

the fence is on the ______ of our property

boundary DEFINITION: the edge of a space ALSO: in sports the ball can go out of bounds

The feedback Bob got from his boss made it _______ that the quarterly results were not good enough.

apparent DEFINITION: easy to see or understand, clear ALSO: If your boss fires you for no apparent reason that means he doesn't tell you why and you can't figure it out, either. ADVERB: apparently

The fall of the communist regime in Czechoslovakia in 1989 was the end of an _____.

era DEFINITION: a period of time, usually an historical period

The Enigma machine allowed the Germans to communicate in ______ .

code DEFINITION: an alternative way to communicate if you want your message to be secret or to save time, ex. Morse code ALSO: if you write code that means you're a computer programmer

The day the internet broke Bob went ______.

mad DEFINITION: crazy EXPRESSION: mad as a hatter

The correct way to perform a shoulder _______.

press DEFINITION: to push, usually against something stable/something that doesn't move ALSO: you can press a button, you can press a wrinkled shirt, you can send a book to the printing press

The Consumer Price _____ is a number which tells you if prices are rising or falling. In 2021 it rose 6%; the highest since 1981.

index DEFINITION: an indicator, a guide, a measurement; and did you know you have an index finger? It's the finger you use to point, i.e. to indicate PLURAL: indexes ALSO: you can find an index at the back of a non-fiction book ALSO: if you invest in an index fund that means you own stocks in the top 100 or so companies in a certain segment

The Coca-Cola bottle has a _____ shape.

distinct DEFINITION: unique, original ADJECTIVE: distinctive, ex. Sean Connery had a distinctive voice.

The Chevrolet Tahoe and the GMC Yukon are ______ the same SUV.

virtually DEFINITION: almost completely

The chances of winning the lottery are extremely low. In fact, you're more _____ to win an Oscar or be eaten by a shark than you are to win the lottery.

likely DEFINITION: it might happen, it might be true, probable Noun: likelihood Opposite: unlikely, not likely

The CEO _______ awarded Bob the prize for most sales. Later that week, he ______ fired him for lying about making the most sales.

personally DEFINITION: you do it yourself; in person

The car dealer gave me a choice between a Mitsubishi and a Toyota. I chose the ______.

latter DEFINITION: the second of two

The British ______ family and their funny hats.

royal DEFINITION: relating to a king or queen, ex. the royal palace ALSO: if you say that a person is a royal pain in the butt that means you don't like him

The British army ______ back to the U.S. after a long break.

marching DEFINITION: to walk in unison with others IDIOM: if you say that electric vehicles are on the march that means they're making progress, advancing

The brave rabbit and dog _____ the entrance to their master's home.

guard

The brain _______ didn't find Bob's brain tumor. But he couldn't ask for a refund because he was already dead.

scanner DEFINITION: to scan is to examine carefully; OR- to examine quickly, ex. I just scanned the headlines today. ALSO: a check-out scanner at a grocery store

The Black Death killed 1/3 of European citizens, _____ ___ their age.

regardless of DEFINITION: it doesn't matter; without regard to

The best thing about being an _______ investor is that Bob is able to work at night.

institutional DEFINITION: relating to an institution (ex. a bank, a university, a museum, an organization, a society, etc.); an institutional investor is someone who invests money for an institution ALSO: a belief or practice that has become normal / usual / customary over time; ex. institutional sexism, institutional racism

The best part of Bob's day? Checking the trash _____ .

bin DEFINITION: a container; ex. storage bin, trash bin, recycling bin

The bathroom is _______

occupied DEFINITION: busy, someone's in there

The American jackalope is a creature _______ seen by tourists.

rarely DEFINITION: almost never

The 18th ______ to the U.S. Constitution made it illegal to buy and sell alcohol..

amendment DEFINITION: an addition to a document or a contract

That's a pretty _____ laptop.

rugged DEFINITION: tough, able to endure a lot Also: a man can have rugged looks; you can travel through rugged country

"Thanks, Bob. You're such a gentleman." "Don't ______it, babe."

mention DEFINITION: another way of saying "You're welcome."

Thank you. We'll take your idea into _________.

consideration DEFINITION: they'll consider it, think about it

"Thank you for saving my life." "It was my ________."

privilege DEFINITION: you're welcome; it was my pleasure to help you

Tech companies follow us around online, ______ to show us better ads.

presumably DEFINITION: that's what they tell us but maybe it's not true

Talking about girls always made Bob's _____ turn red.

cheeks DEFINITION: the side of your face or butt ALSO: if you have a cheeky friend that means he likes to make jokes which are a bit rude

Take this quiz and find out if you know the ______ way to use a toilet.

proper DEFINITION:correct, appropriate, suitable ALSO: wear the proper clothing, speak properly, behave properly OPPOSITE: improper

Take a close look at this photo. ______ anything unusual?

Notice DEFINITION: see, usually something that's not immediately obvious; ex. I never notice when my wife gets her hair done

Switzerland has not been a ______ in a Euorpean war since 1499.

participant DEFINITION: to participate, to be a part of ALSO: to be a participant at a meeting, at a protest

Stores boarded up their windows in ______ of the violence that would occur if Bob was re-elected President.

anticipation DEFINITION: when you act now in preparation for the future

Still flipping hamburgers at age 89, Bob was passed over for ______ yet again last week.

promotion DEFINITION: when your boss rewards you for good work by giving you a higher position

Steve Jobs said a calligraphy course he took in college was the ______ for the beautiful fonts the first Macintosh used.

inspiration DEFINITION: something that influences you, usually in a positive way, ex. music, a speech

Staying awake during the meeting was Bob's greatest _________ of the week.

achievement DEFINITION: an accomplishment, something that you get after hard work Verb: to achieve, ex. to achieve success

Starbucks now sells food, but their main _____ is still coffee.

focus DEFINITION: their main target, aim

Sorry, you have ____ funds available. (not enough money)

insufficient Definition: not enough Opposite: sufficient (enough, adequate) Also: sufficient proof, a sufficient reason, self-sufficient (independent)

"Sorry, I can't ________ your English program." Sent from my iPhone

afford Definition: to have enough money to buy something Adjective: affordable Also: afford to spend time, afford to take the risk

Sorry to _____ you, but I would like some breakfast now.

disturb DEFINITION: bother, annoy, interrupt

Some _____ I need to do today: pick up the dry cleaning, go grocery shopping, pick up my prescription from the drug store...

errands DEFINITION: routine tasks, usually personal Also: to run errands

Some people _____ the glass as half full, others as half empty.

perceive DEFINITION: to interpret, to judge

Some people think that closing schools because of covid does more _____ than good. Do you agree or disagree?

harm DEFINITION: hurt, damage, injure

Some people say the planet is getting _______ hot.

increasingly DEFINITION: more and more; it's increasing

Some people like big hats. Other people prefer _____ hats.

enormous DEFINITION: very big ALSO: Have you ever heard someone call something "ginormous"? (it's a combination of two words: giant + enormous)

Some people have no ____ for others.

consideration DEFINITION: they don't show respect for others' feelings ADJECTIVE: to be considerate/inconsiderate ALSO: If your boss tells you he will take your idea into consideration that means he'll think about it (very formal)

Some people don't like the ____ in bikram yoga.

heat adjective: hot

Some people called the AMC Pacer ugly, while others thought it was ______

hideous DEFINITION: very ugly

Some of the tree's _____ are growing above ground.

roots Also: you can talk about the roots of a problem or a person's roots or the roots of your teeth

Some lawmakers in the U.S. want to make ____ in the office mandatory.

diversity DEFINITION: if there's diversity in a group of people that means they're from different races, ages, countries or maybe different religions

Some Christians believe that when you die you either go to Heaven or ____.

Hell DEFINITION: any place you don't want to be, ex. you're in line at the post office for two hours and you say, This is hell. ADJECTIVE: Hellish, ex. It was a helliish day ALSO: If a situation was really terrible, you can say, It was hell on earth. ALSO: If you just heard something or saw something incredible or shocking, you could say, "What the hell!" or "What the hell just happened?!"

Social media is one of the main _____ behind the mental health crisis in America. (Hey! Are you following me yet on Facebook?)

drivers DEFINITION: the cause VERB: if the weather is driving sales of airconditioners that must mean it's hot outside EXPRESSION: That music is driving me crazy!

Smoking can be ________ to your health.

harmful DEFINITION: it causes harm, damage; ex. a harmful drug, a decision that's harmful to your career

Slow and _____ wins the race.

steady DEFINITION: consistent, reliable ALSO: steady progress, steady growth, a steady income

Skin cancer is a _________ you can get if you spend too much time in the sun.

disease DEFINITION: a serious illness

Should not helping a victim _______ a crime?

constitute DEFINITION: to be the same as

Should foreign countries ________ when there are human rights abuses?

intervene DEFINITION: to come between two groups who are fighting, possibly to help them reach an agreement NOUN: an intervention ALSO: when you confront someone who is abusing drugs or alcohol it's called an intervention

She’s getting the length of her dress _______.

altered DEFINITION: to make a change (usually small and not major), ex. if you alter your opinion you change it slightly

She's having a small problem with the car's _______.

engine Also: a search engine

She's sitting on a _______.

fence IDIOM: If your boss asks you if the client has made a decision yet and you say, "He's on the fence," that means he hasn't decided yet.

She's missing her _____ teeth.

front Opposite: back

She ______ at Bob just for a moment. Either it was love or she noticed his zipper was down.

glanced Definition: to look at briefly

She _____ lay the baby down in its crib.

gently DEFINITION: if you're gentle your movements are slow and careful

She got the _____ for blue eyes from her mother.

gene DEFINITION: the part of you which determines which traits you inherit from your parents ADJECTIVE: genetics

Scientists use satellites to measure the _____ of polar ice melt due to global warming.

extent DEFINITION: how much something is affected VERB: extend=to make larger (we extended the back of the house); to reach out (I extended my hand to grab the rope.)

Scientists say global warming is ______ the result of human activity.

largely DEFINITION: mostly

Scientists are busy ______ research to stop the effects of aging.

conducting Also: conduct research, a survey, a test, a search

School _______ was very low in 2020.

attendance DEFINITION: how many people show up VERB: to attend school, church, a meeting, etc.

Scarlette: Rhett, if you go, what shall I do? Where shall I go? Rhett: _______ my dear, I don't give a damn.

Frankly DEFINITION: honestly Also: Can I be frank with you?

Sales of cigarettes have been ______ since Bob stopped smoking.

declining DEFINITION: to decrease, when something becomes smaller or when the numbers of something become less ALSO: prices can decline, your interest in something can decline, the birth rate can decline

Sadly, many scams target _______. (not retirees)

pensioners DEFINITION: someone who is retired and collects a pension NOTE: a "scam" is a trick / a lie thieves use / tell to get your money

Running a business can be stressful! One reason is because of company ______

liabilities DEFINITION: if your accountant gives you a financial report and you see you have some liabilities this is your debt / the money you owe

Rudy Giuliani was the famous ____ of New York City in the 1990s.

mayor DEFINITION: the top government official in a city

Rome now _______ car access to the center to reduce pollution and traffic.

restricts DEFINITION: to limit or prevent

Roman _______s

column NOTE: a newspaper column is a weekly or daily opinion article written by the same writer (probably called a column because in the old days the articles were long and thin, like a column)

Robotic _____ are no longer science fiction.

arms DEFINITION: an arm is a limb IDIOM: if something costs an arm and a leg it's very expensive IDIOM: You don't have to twist my arm - I would love more pie!

Research shows that _______ learning is much more effective than passively sitting in a classroom.

interactive DEFINITION: if you interact with an object you touch it and handle it

Reese's Peanut Butter Cups _____ chocolate and peanut butter.

combine DEFINITION: unite, merge NOUN: combination

Receiving the Most Afraid of Covid Award was the biggest _____ of Bob's life. Unfortunately, he immediately fell down some stairs and was crushed by a herd of elephants.

honor DEFINITION: an honor is something very special that gives you respect from others ADJECTIVE: honorable NOTE: the UK spelling is "honour"

Ready. Aim. ______.

Fire DEFINITION: shoot (formal) ALSO: a firing squad is group of soldiers who execute someone by shooting him

Ralph: When do you _______ this whole corona virus thing will finally come to an end? Bob: I don't know. But I _____ I just gave it to you.

reckon DEFINITION: think (informal)

Rabbits are famous for their ability to _______ frequently.

breed DEFINITION: to make babies (just for animals) ALSO: if a colleague breeds mistrust in the office that means he produces it ALSO: if your friend tells you your phone is a breeding ground for bacteria then it might be time to clean your phone

Quick! Take a ______!

picture DEFINITION: a painting, drawing or photograph

Queen Elizabeth II ______ longer than any other British monarch.

ruled DEFINITION: to govern, to be in a position of power

putting a plant in a ____ a ____ on the stove smoking ____

pot ALSO: if your city has many potholes that means the roads need to be repaired

President Reagan _______ worked as an actor.

previously DEFINITION: before now

President Obama was ______ with the Nobel Peace Prize eight months after entering office.

presented DEFINITION: to give, usually in a formal situation like a ceremony

Politics is known as the art of _________

compromising DEFINITION: to reach a settlement; an agreement that is not the first choice for either side VERB: to compromise COMMON EXPRESSION: if someone asks you to meet them half way they're asking you to compromise

"Please ____ ____! I promise I will never leave the toilet seat up again."

come back DEFINITION: return ALSO: if you're in a meeting and want to change the subject politely you can say, I suggest we come back to this topic later.

"Please ____ ____! I promise I will never leave the toilet seat up again."

come back DEFINITION: return ALSO: if you're in a meeting and want to politely change the subject, you can say, "I suggest we come back to this topic later."

Please clean up your doggie _____

doo DEFINITION: poo, poop, shit Also: doo doo

playing ______ with the dog

fetch DEFINITION: if your assistant fetches your coffee he leaves and then returns with coffee

playing with _______

blocks DEFINITION: something that usually has a rectangular shape ALSO: a block of flats (an apartment building); if block out time you reserve time; the building blocks of life

Phones that recognize speech _____ the blind to order a pizza delivery, instead of having to drive to the restaurant.

enable DEFINITION: make it possible

Phil Knight was a successful runner in college before he _____ Nike.

founded DEFINITION: if you found a company or institution (like a college) that means you start it

Phantom of the Opera is the longest-running Broadway show and has been on Broadway ________ since 1988.

continuously DEFINITION: without stopping, repeatedly

Perhaps ______ those mountains Bob would finally find freedom, and a Starbucks where he could use the bathroom.

beyond DEFINITION: past Also: It's beyond me. (when you don't understand the reasons why someone does something) Beyond comprehension.

Perhaps I could ______ you to take a test drive in this beauty.

persuade DEFINITION: convince ADJECTIVE: persuasive

People with bipolar _______can quickly change from happy to depressed.

disorder Definition: a disease, a mental problem also: eating disorder, personality disorder

People who have asthma sometimes find it hard to _____

breathe DEFINITION: take in oxygen through your lungs

Pamella Anderson _____ Chris Rock on the beach in St. Tropez. Unfortunately, Bob's invitation was lost in the mail.

wed Definition: to marry someone Noun: wedding

Our factory's _____ more than doubled after we stopped allowing employees to take bathroom breaks.

output Definition: the amount that is produced; ex. a worker's daily output Also: you can use output to talk about what is produced, ex. The output of coal was worth half of Prussia's GDP.

One ______ Two ______

foot / feet DEFINITION: the things at the end of your legs IDIOM: If you foot the bill that means you pay the entire bill, but you don't want to; ex. When my partner went bankrupt I had to foot the bill for the orders we placed IDIOM: If you have two left feet you're not coordinated and bad at sports and dancing

One of the _______ of smoking can be lung cancer.

consequences DEFINITION: results (usually negative)

one of the Queen's _________

guards Definition: someone who's job is to protect people, ex. a security guard Verb: to guard

One of the best things about sci-fi is seeing all the strange ______.

creatures DEFINITION: an animal, usually not human, often strange or frightening IDIOM: if someone is a creature of habit that means he likes his routine and doesn't like new things

One of a carpenter's most important tools is his ______

level DEFINITION: if something is level it's flat, it's parallel with the surface ALSO: when a plane reaches its top altitutude it levels out ALSO: if the government wants to level the playing field for new businesses they want want to remove advantages some businesses have over others EXPRESSION: someone who is calm and rational is level-headed

On your last trip, did you ____ ____ any souvenirs?

bring back DEFINITION: return with something

On which holidays do people in your country eat and drink to _______?

excess DEFINITION: too much ADJECTIVE: excessive

On which day is there a 60% ______ of rain?

chance DEFINITION: probability, liklihood

On what day does the government ______ taxes in your country?

collect DEFINITION: to ask or force someone to pay a bill; ex. a debt collector is someone who knocks on your door if you don' pay back your loan

On weekends, ______ Bob performed weddings to earn some extra cash. But on Monday morning, he would be back at work in the slaughterhouse.

Minister DEFINITION: a member of a church who can perform ceremonies ALSO: a high-ranking government official, ex. the Minister of Finance, the Prime Minister

On our last trip to the beach I guess we packed too much because Bob had to run _____ the car.

alongside DEFINITION: next to, at the side of ALSO: happening at the same time, ex. France is now asking its citizens to get the flu vaccine alongside the covid vaccine

On a scale of one to ten, most women would say a date with Bob is ______ painful: a 7 or 8:

fairly DEFINITION: to a high degree but not extremely so; quite, rather ALSO: fairly easy, fairly expensive

On a hot day, be sure to drink _____ of water.

plenty DEFINITION: a lot, more than enough IDIOM: If your boyfriend or girlfriend just broke up with you your friend might try to cheer you up by saying, "Don't worry, there's plenty of fish in the sea."

Oil is known as a fossil ______.

fuel DEFINITION: a source of energy; ex. wood, gasoline, natural gas, etc. ALSO: if you say that covid fuels debate that means it's a subject that creates strong arguments

Ohio State University was ______ in 1870. Are you impressed?

established DEFINITION: founded, started ALSO: establish a business

Officer Bob was not known for his ________.

accuracy DEFINITION: if you're an accurate shooter you hit the target; if your stock market prediction is accurate it comes true

Of course, the _____ reason to have kids is so that they'll buy you a big house when you're old

primary DEFINITION: the #1 reason, the most important reason

Of course, the day I forgot my umbrella, it started to rain ______

heavily DEFINITION: a lot ALSO: She depended heavily on her mother; The president was criticized heavily; a heavily armed guard stood at the door

Now that your vocabulary is HUGE, do you have more ______ when you speak English?

confidence DEFINITION: the feeling that tells you "I can do this"

No ____ person would wait till Dec. 24 to do his Christmas shopping.

sane DEFINITION: not crazy

No matter how high he made his fence, somehow Bob's pets always managed to get _____.

loose DEFINITION: not confined, free ALSO: You can wear tight pants or loose pants IDIOM: If you tell someone you need to tie up loose ends that means you need to finish/complete something that was not been finished

New digital thermometers tell you _____ if someone has a temperature.

immediately DEFINITION: right away, with no delay

Neo _____ing bullets.

dodge DEFINITION: avoiding ALSO: if you don't want to answer a question you can dodge the question

My younger siblings always complained that they weren't treated ______. I think they need to learn how to be more positive.

fairly Definition: justly, in a fair way

My wife drives me crazy; _______, I love her.

nevertheless DEFINITION: in spite of the fact, regardless

My plan to increase office productivity includes holding shorter meetings. _______, I would like to see fewer people watching porn on their phones during meetings. Bob...?

Furthermore Definition: in addition, also

My favorite Einstein ______ is "Imagination is more important than knowledge."

quote / quotation DEFINITION: the direct/exact words of another person VERB: a reporter can quote the person he's interviewing

Muhammad Ali is the _______ heavy-weight champion of the world.

former DEFINITION: previous, not the current champ

Mr. Lee was ______ a hungry man.

indeed Definition: when you want to stress that what you said is true Also: Yes, indeed.

Mother Theresa said she was absolutely stuffed and couldn't possibly finish her filet mignon. So Bob said he'd finish the _____

rest DEFINITION: the remaining, what's left over ALSO: you can go to prison for the rest of your life; you can relax for the rest of the day

Mother Teresa _____ her life helping the poor.

devoted Definition: to give time or energy or money toward something; if you devote your life to something that means it's your main focus Also: a devoted parent is a mother or father who cares a lot for and spends a lot of time with their kids

Most public schools these day ______ sex education in their curriculum.

incorporate DEFINITION: to include

Most people ______ Apple with well-designed, high-quality products.

associate DEFINITION: to make a mental connection NOUN: association

Most of Bob's friends agreed he was ______ evil; his mother, however, argued he was only 90% evil.

pure DEFINITION: 100%, totally, without any other ingredients; ex. 99.9% gold vs. pure gold ALSO: if a young woman is pure that means she's innocent and doesn't think about boys IDIOM: pure of heart - someone who has good intentions

Most little boys are _______by bugs. What were you ______ by when you were a kid?

fascinated DEFINITION: to be very interested in ADJECTIVE: a fascinating person, book, documnetary...

Most English students think an accent is a ________, but many actors have turned their accents into assets.

liability DEFINITION: a disadvantage

Most Americans _____ on their cars to get to work

depend DEFINITION: rely on, they're necessary to get to work

More people ______ from depression during the winter months.

suffer DEFINITION: to suffer from an illness means to have an illness; ex. suffer from cancer, suffer from migraines ALSO: to feel pain

More children suffered from ______ damage than from covid.

psychological DEFINITION: anything related to the mind (not the body); ex. mood, motivation, fear, phobia, etc.

More and more schools are beginning to _______ technology in the classroom.

incorporate Definition: to include, involve

More and more schools are beginning to _______ technology in the classroom.

incorporate Definition: to include, involve

Mom, you're _____ me in front of my friends!

embarrassing DEFINITION: an uncomfortable feeling you have about yourself VERB: to embarrass someone

"Mom, can I have more of that delicious spinach?" "_______!"

Certainly! DEFINITION: Yes! Of course! Absolutely! NOTE: use "certainly" if you want to make your answer stronger

Modern car ______ are too complicated to fix yourself.

engines ALSO: a search engine, a country can be an economic engine for a region

military _______

aircraft DEFINITION: planes

Microsoft _______ Linkedin for 26 billion USD.

acquired Definition: to buy, to get Noun: acquisition

Michael Jordan's performance in the game was _____________.

phenomenal DEFINITION: amazing, fantastic

Michael Jordan holds the record for most _____ scored in a playoff game (63).

points DEFINITION: in a game, the winner is the person or team with the most points

Michael Jackson was not an ______ singer.

ordinary DEFINITION: common, usual, ex. It was an ordinary day.

Mass produced medicines are made in modern, clean ________ like this one.

facilities DEFINITION: a general term for a type of building ALSO: a training facility; a work facility; a storage facility

Martin Luther King was an ______ for equal rights.

advocate DEFINITION: someone who speaks or writes for a cause or interest (usually to help people)

March was named National Kidney Month to raise _______ of kidney disease. Is it working?

awareness DEFINITION: if you're aware of something you know it exists

Many professional athletes use illegal drugs to ____ their performance.

enhance DEFINITION: to increase, to intensify, improve something that appeals to your senses, ex. enhance the flavor, the sound

Many politicians promise to ease the _____ on the poor by spending more on welfare.

burden DEFINITION: a burden is a heavy weight you carry or a big responsibility ALSO: a donkey is called a "beast of burden" because it's used for carrying heavy loads

Many people wrongly ______ money with happiness.

equate DEFINITION: to say that two things are equal, the same

Many investors in the 1920s had the false ________ that the market would continue to rise.

assumption DEFINITION: when you reach a conclusion without being 100% certain, without having all the facts or based on past evidence

Many governments tell people to stay at least one meter ______.

apart DEFINITION: used when you want to talk about distance between two places or the time between two events, ex. Our towns are five miles apart. Or... Our birthdays are three days apart. ALSO: If you take something apart that means you separate the individual pieces, ex. The repairman took the watch apart.

Many countries in Europe are now ______ burkas, headscarves and hijabs.

banning DEFINITION: to not allow, forbid

Many ancient buildings have a triangular _______. (synonym: shape)

form Definition: shape of something, ex. a triangular form; or how something appears, ex. the vampire changed into the form of a bat

Many actors have _____ ____ ___ ____ James Bond. But who was the best?

played the role of DEFINITION: when an actor plays a role he plays a part / a character; ALSO: if you play a new role at work that means you have a new job/ more responsibilities ex. In my new role as manager, I have to be in meetings all day.

Malaria destroys thousands of lives in the tropics every year. ________ in the world, it's not a problem.

elsewhere DEFINITION: somewhere else, in other locations

Lunch was served in a very unique ________.

manner DEFINITION: the way that something is done; method, fashion, means ALSO: in a quick manner, a professional manner, in a strange manner, the manner of death

Luigi was handsome, but unfortunately he ______ to his mother too many times.

referred DEFINITION: to talk about (in speech or writing)

Los Angeles _____ is not the biggest in California, but it has the most people.

county DEFINITION: an area of land smaller than a country and bigger than a city ALSO: originally, a county was an area of land in England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland that was governed by a count

Liberace was famous for his piano playing and his _____ clothes.

fancy DEFINITION: elaborate, something that's supposed to impress others; the opposite of plain and boring

Let's see, you ladies ate 12 chocolate cakes and 5 blueberry pies... ______ your total is $273.

altogether DEFINITION: in total ALSO: you can add "altogether" to make your point stronger; ex. she stopped eating at restaurants altogether (in this case it means the same as "entirely" and doesn't really change the meaning of the sentence)

Let me ____ into your eyes.

gaze Definition: to stare (usually positive) Also: if you go star gazing you go outside to stare at the stars

Leonardo DiCaprio won the Academy _____ for Best Actor in 2016.

Award Definition: a prize

Later in the day, when Bob accidentally walked in front of a bus, he said it was because of a ____ of sleep.

lack DEFINITION: not enough of something ALSO: lack of money, lack of time

Later in the day, when Bob accidentally walked in front of a bus, he said it was because of a _____ __ sleep.

lack of DEFINITION: not enough of something ALSO: lack of money, lack of time ADJECTIVE: lacking

kids ____ down a hill

rolling

Kids like to ____ ___ _____ when they eat.

make a mess DEFINITION: the opposite of keep things tidy/clean ADJECTIVE: a messy person

Keep your eye on the _____ ball.

bouncing Also: stocks are not expected to bounce back soon

Keanu Reeves' mom ______ him to the Oscars.

accompanied Definition: to go with someone, to escort Also: If you have friends who will visit you, you can say, "We have company coming over this weekend."

Kasparov moved his pawn to _____ Bob's brilliant attack.

counter DEFINITION: to oppose ADJECTIVE: something that's opposite; ex. a counter argument, a counter claim, a counter offer ALSO: "counter culture" means music, clothes, etc. that goes against mainstream culture

Justin Trudeau is the current leader of the ______ party in Canada.

liberal DEFINITION: a political party / ideology

John Kerry's private jet ______ two tons of CO2 every time he flies to a climate summit.

produces DEFINITION: creates, makes

Jews in Medieval Europe were _________ by society.

marginalize DEFINITION: pushed to the outside of society; excluded from the majority culture NOTE: think of the margins of a document or text file: they're near the edge

Jesus __________ his moral teachings through stories called "parables."

illustrated DEFINITION: to make a point or argument clearer by giving more information, by showing more, by telling more

Jesus keeps ______ but he can't come in.

knocking DEFINITION: to make a sound (usually with your knuckles) to get someone's attention ALSO: if you're talking about the future and someone says "knock on wood" that means they don't want what they said to not happen; ex. I'm starting the new job next week, knock on wood.

Jennifer's favorite movie _______ and Bob's favorite movie ______.

scene DEFINITION: a section of a play or movie, usually lasting for just a few minutes ALSO: if you have an argument in public with your partner and he / she causes a scene that means he/she is loud and draws attention to you

Jennifer: He says he loves me. Should I send him all my money so he can visit me? Bob: Oh, don't be so ______. He doesn't love you; I do. And how much money do you have?

naive DEFINITION: because of a lack of experience you make bad decisions

Jennifer's ______ for sugar is the only thing stronger than her ______ for Bob.

desire Definition: if you desire something you want it badly

Jennifer's friends thought she was a _____ for marrying Bob. What they didn't know was that Bob had his own car.

fool DEFINITION: a person who makes bad decisions IDIOM: If you think your friend is going to do something stupid you might warn him by saying, "Don't be a fool!" IDIOM: "A fool and his money are soon parted." i.e. a fool will lose his money by making bad decisions ADJECTIVE: foolish behaviour ADVERB: to behave foolishly VERB: if you fool someone that means you trick / deceive him

Jennifer was ______ ____ the men in her life, until she found Bob

bored with

Jennifer needed time to _____ the idea of getting married

reconsider DEFINITION: think again about something because you might change your mind

Jennifer made it _______ clear to Bob that there would be no second date.

abundantly DEFINITION: very, more than enough

Jennifer lost her slim ______ after her tenth child was born.

figure DEFINITION: the shape of your body

Jennifer gave an _____ of the accident to the police officer. Later, when they found Bob, he said he had been in church all day.

account DEFINITION: a story, a narrative (usually for official purposes like recording evidence)

Jennifer couldn't _____ being married to Bob for one more second. So she moved to Japan, changed her name, and just to be safe, became a lesbian.

fancy DEFINITION: imagine, believe, think COMMON EXPRESSION: "Fancy that..." said when you see or hear something unusual, the same as "Imagine that..."

Jennifer and Mrs. Williams had a small ______ over who would get the parking spot.

dispute DEFINITION: argument, disagreement (formal) VERB: if you see a charge on your credit card you don't recognize it you can dispute the charge

Jeff had a dangerous job. / Bob's job was _______ dangerous.

particularly DEFINITION: especially, very

It's _______ difficult to get into Harvard these days.

pretty DEFINITION: fairly, quite, rather

It's typical for ________ males to want to be the boss.

dominant DEFINITION: someone who likes to be in charge of others

It's true that people judge you on your _______ .

appearance DEFINITION: someone's appearance is how they look, ex. an attractive appearance, a professional appearance VERB: to appear, ex. he appears/looks drunk

It's hard to _______ the pain suffered as a result of war.

compute DEFINITION: to calculate ALSO: if your boss reads your report and tells you "That just doesn't compute" he means it doesn't make sense

It's easy to get ______ at work these days.

overwhelmed DEFINITION: you've got too much work, more than you can handle ADJECTIVE: overwhelming

It's common to ____ weight after you have a baby.

gain DEFINITION: put on weight, increase how much you weigh

It's better to _____ money to the bank than to these guys.

owe DEFINITION: First, you borrow money, then you owe it to the person you borrowed it from.

It _______ we put one too many sacks on the truck.

appears DEFINITION: it seems

It was ______ to meet you.

delightful Definition: full of delight (pleasure, joy) Also: the movie was delightful; I found her smile delightful

It was the steel _____ that made it possible to build the first skyscrapers in New York.

framework Definition: the skeleton of a building Also: an outline or a plan , ex. if your boss gives you a framework for a new project he tells you what he wants but not the details how to do it (think of a picture frame)

It was a rare opportunity to learn about the mysteries of the universe. So Bob raised his hand and asked the ______ of Nobel Prize winners about their favorite ice cream flavor.

panel Definition: a group of people who answer questions or give opinions Also: a panel of judges, a congressional finance panel

It is against international law to target _______ during a war.

civilians DEFINITION: a person who is not a member of the government or military

It doesn't ______ ______ to get out of the pool because it starts to rain.

make sense DEFINITION: it's not logical OPPOSITE: it's nonsense

Is ______ like this a problem in your country?

poverty DEFINITION: the noun of poor; if someone has no money he's poor

Is _____ in your country blind? Or do some people get away with the crimes they commit?

justice DEFINITION: the idea that wrong or illegal actions are appropriately punished

Is your home _____ against giant trees?

insured DEFINITION: to protect with insurance PERSON / COMPANY: Who is your insurer?

Is your education a cost or an ________?

investment DEFINITION: time or money spent that will provide a return

Is your country's _____ getting weaker or stronger these days?

currency DEFINITION: money (formal)

Is this the most _______ solution of all time?

impractical DEFINITION: not practical, not realistic, no able to be realized

Is there a part of your town where mostly _____ people live?

poor DEFINITION: they don't have much money

Is there a lot of ______ at your family gatherings?

laughter DEFINITION: the noun of "to laugh"

Is there a lot of _____ diversity where you live?

ethnic DEFINITION: your ethnicity is the group (cultural, religious, racial, etc.) your ancestors belonged to; ex. Barrack Obama is American but his ethnicity is Kenyan ALSO: ethnic food is another way to say "foreign food"

Is there a good ______ section where you shop?

produce DEFINITION: a more formal way to say "fruits and vegetables"

Is the population in your country increasing or _______?

decreasing DEFINITION: lessening

Is the news in your country allowed to show _______ images?

disturbing DEFINITION: upsetting, usually because they show violence

Is the media in your country ______ or are they neutral?

biased DEFINITION: if you have a strong opinion about something and it affects your behavior you can say your actions or your opinions are biased ALSO: to have a bias

Is it harder to ____ _____ your jeans after the holidays?

fit into DEFINITION: get inside of

Is he _______ __ walking or just lazy?

incapable of DEFINITION: it's not possible, he can't do it

Is good coffee a ______ or a necessity?

luxury DEFINITION: something that's expensive, high quality and not necessary; ex. a luxury hotel ADJECTIVE: luxurious

Is Anki part of your morning or evening ______?

routine DEFINITION: what you do every day ADJECTIVE: routine, ex. It was a routine inspection (normal, usual, nothing special), but what we discovered was incredible.

Is a _______ job your idea of heaven or hell?

corporate DEFINITION: a large company is a corporation VERB: if you file the legal paperwork to start a corporation you "incorporate"

Iraq _______ was hiding weapons of mass destruction.

allegedly DEFINITION: if you allege something you say it might be true, but you don't have proof; ex. a newspaper will report that someone allegedly committed a crime, then after the trial they will say if the person actually committed the crime Also: to allege, to make an allegation

Investigators decided that the _____ of the crash was a bird. A terrorist bird.

cause Definition: something that produces a result, ex. A mistake was the cause of the war. Verb: to cause, ex. to cause pain, to cause global warming

inside a massive Amazon _______ center

distribution DEFINITION: if you distribute a product you send it to your customers or retail stores ALSO: a fim distribution company; distribution channels (do you sell directly to the customer or to a third-party?) NOTE: a distribution center can also be called a fullfillment center

Inflation _________ affects the poor.

disproportionately DEFINITION: not even, not balanced

In your opinion, which is the most ______ sport to watch?

boring DEFINITION: dull, not exciting

In your opinion, which country is the most ______ about football?

passionate DEFINITION: enthusiastic, full of positive energy

In your opinion, which country has the most beautiful_________?

coast DEFINITION: where the land meets the sea ALSO: coastal; ex. coastal waters

In your opinion, what was the most ______ invention in your lifetime?

amazing DEFINITION: incredible, fantastic

In your opinion, what was the most interesting _____ in history?

period DEFINITION: a section of time

In your office, which would be considered appropriate and inappropriate ________?

conduct DEFINITION: behavior NOTE: this is formal ALSO: a drunk person might be arrested for disorderly conduct; an organization like a university might have a code of conduct

In your country, how much should you tip a porter who ______ you with your bags?

assists DEFINITION: to help (formal) NOUN: assistance PERSON: assistant, i.e. a personal assistant, a virtual assistant

In your country, how do you politely ______ for the waiter to bring the bill?

gesture DEFINITION: to signal with your body or face

In your country, do men ask for _____ to marry?

permission DEFINITION: if someone gives you permission they allow you to do something VERB: to permit

In which country do you have permanent ______?

DEFINITION: where you reside is where you live (formal) ALSO: your residence is your home PERSON: a resident of Florida

In what kind of ______ was your house / apartment when you moved in?

condition DEFINITION: shape, state

In tonight's ______ we'll be taking you live to the center of the tornado.

broadcast DEFINITION: a communication that goes to a large / broad audience (i.e. not direct or 1-1)

In this rare photo we see the Icelandic army _______ to attack Luxembourg.

plotting DEFINITION: to plan, usually something big or evil, ex. a criminal plots his next crime

In this photo the _______ is out of focus.

background DEFINITION: what is seen behind the main image

In the winter you can see the _______ lights in Iceland.

Northern DEFINITION: in the north

In the US, schools were first ______ in the 1950s.

integrated DEFINITION: to bring together, to unite ALSO: if you integrate software you use different programs together NOUN: integration

In the US, offering a car wash in return for a donation is a popular way to _____ money.

raise DEFINITION: to collect money for a charity ALSO: an event to raise money is called "a fundraiser"

In the US, actors go on talk shows like The Tonight Show to ______ their latest movie.

promote DEFINITION: to encourage people to buy a product, attend a concert, watch a movie, or change their opinion (promote an idea)

In the U.S., the House of Representatives votes to pass _________.

legislation DEFINITION: law VERB: to legislate

In the U.S., the 12th ____ is the final year in high school. And in your country?

grade DEFINITION: your grade is your year, ex. He's in the first grade = He's in his first year

In the U.S., political ________ are becoming more and more expensive.

campaigns DEFINITION: the efforts to elect a candidate ALSO: an advertising campaign, a military campaign

In the old days, you could pay a quarter to see the ____ show.

freak DEFINITION: very strange ADJECTIVE: freaky

In the old days, women had no ______ in government.

representation DEFINITION: if you represent a group you speak for them and in their place PERSON: your representative at a meeting or in parliament speaks for you

In the old days, it was polite to _____ your hat when greeting a lady.

remove DEFINITION: take off a piece of clothing ALSO: a dentist can remove a tooth; the board of directors can remove the CEO

In the old days, families listened to the radio together after dinner. _____, they look at their phones together.

Nowadays DEFINITION: these days; currently

In the near-future, we'll be _______ our keypads onto surfaces.

projecting DEFINITION: to send light, an image, a signal ALSO: a projection-screen TV

In the modern world, too many options creates ________.

confusion DEFINITION: uncertaintly, you don't know what's happening, what to do, what to think....

In the film, Catch Me If You Can, teenager Frank Abagnale ______ ___ an airline pilot.

poses as DEFINITION: when you pretend to be something you're not

In the case of Mrs Bob vs. Mr Bob, the judge ordered the _______ to pay $10,000 a year for each of their 12 children. Bob said he would think about it while on his way to the airport.

latter DEFINITION: if you're talking about two things the latter is the second thing OPPOSITE: the former ADJECTIVE: latter=when you want to talk about something that comes at the end of something; ex. He was born in the latter half of the 19th century. Note: Americans sometimes pronounce the "t" like a "d"

In some states in the U.S., you must be 18 to _______ for a job.

apply DEFINITION: to say you're interested in the job and to submit an application

In some parts of Asia it's common to ____ people with a bow instead of a handshake.

greet DEFINITION: to welcome, to say "hello" ALSO: "Greetings! Welcome!" "Seasons Greetings"

In some countries it's not illegal to ____ a child.

abuse DEFINITION: to hurt, to harm ADJECTIVE: abusive, ex. an abusive relationship

In Russia, May Day used to be a grand _________. These days, it's becoming less and less important.

occasion. Definition: an event or time Also: a special occasion, ex. a birthday or anniversary

In Norway, prison ______ come with plasma screen televisions and jacuzzis.

cells DEFINITION: the room where prisoners are kept

In my professional _________, we should operate immediately after the golf game.

assessment DEFINITION: an estimate, an evaluation

In Japan, the ______ is to bow. How do you greet each other in your country?

custom DEFINITION: it's normal, everyone does it, it's tradition ADJECTIVE: It's customary

In his new job as a security ______, Bob did everything he could to prevent computer viruses.

analyst DEFINITION: if you analyze something you study it closely VERB: to analyze NOUN: analysis ALSO: a systems analyst, a psychoanalyst, a data analyst, financial analyst

In geometry, _______ lines are lines which can never meet.

parallel ALSO: if you hear someone say they have parallel interests that means they have similar interests PHRASAL VERB: My company is increasing their research budget in parallel with cutting back on staff. VERB: the road parallels the river

In Europe, it's illegal to publicly ______ that the holocaust happened. (Bob does it anyway.)

deny Definition: say that something isn't true Noun: denial

In conclusion, I'd like to once again ________, nothing was my fault.

emphasize DEFINITION: to stress, to point out, to draw special attention to

In 2006 Al Gore _____ everyone that pollution would destroy the world in ten years.

warned DEFINITION: to tell some that something bad will happen (so they can avoid it) ALSO: a warning sign is a sign that something bad might happen; ex. if you cough blood that could be a warning sign you're smoking the wrong brand of cigarettes

In 2001, Barry Bonds was ___ ___ ____ when he hit 73 homeruns in one season.

on a roll DEFINITION: a quick series of successes

In 1985, Reagan and Gorbachev _____ to meet in Geneva to discuss nuclear disarmament.

arranged DEFINITION: set up, make happen, plan ALSO: arrange a murder, arrange a wedding

In 1954, Senator Kennedy was on the October 18th ______ of Life Magazine.

issue DEFINITION: a specific magazine release / printing

In 18th century America, according to the law, slaves were ________ and not humans with rights.

property DEFINITION: something that you own Also: land, ex. to buy property in Florida, pay a property tax

Ikea makes furniture that's both stylish and _____

functional DEFINITION: it's useful, can be used for the purpose it was designed for ALSO: if something is functional it functions, i.e. it works; ex. the internet is not functioning today

If you're worried you're not getting enough _____ in your diet, try eating more coal.

carbon DEFINITION: the most abundant element in the universe NOTE: the reason this is one of the most common words in the English language is because of the climate debate, so you'll read in the news about carbon emissions from cars, carbon footprint, etc. EXPRESSION: a carbon copy is an exact copy

If you're caught, it's best to _____ your guilt.

acknowledge DEFINITION: to say that you did something wrong, admit it

If you're an archaeologist you're lucky if you find even a few bone _______.

fragments DEFINITION: small pieces; ex. pottery fragments, fragments of glass VERB: if a religion or political party fragments that means it breaks off into smaller groups and is no longer united

If your wife starts yawning that might be a _____ that she wants to go home

hint DEFINITION: indirect communication; a small bit of information to help you reach a conclusion; a clue ALSO: a small amount; ex. you can taste a hint of citrus in the beer

If your skin is naturally ______, you can always get a fake tan.

pale DEFINITION: very light

If you're on a diet can you still lick ________?

envelopes DEFINITION: a paper container for documents or letters IDIOM: if you read that Elon Musk is pushing the envelope in space exploration that means he's testing the limits of what is possible VERB: to envelop -- if you are enveloped in darkness / water /silk that means you are surrounded or covered completely with

If you win The Masters golf tournament you get to wear this ugly, green ______

jacket DEFINITION: a coat

If you want to _______ someone it's a good idea to first compliment them.

criticize DEFINITION: to tell someone the negative things about him; to complain

If you want to win a _______, it's important to never blink.

negotiation DEFINITION: a discussion where you agree on a compromise with another person or party

If you want to avoid risk you should ______ your investments.

diversify DEFINITION: make them different, invest in many different things ALSO: diversify your eating

If you visit Philadelphia you can see the famous Liberty ______

Bell IDIOM 1: if something isn't familiar to you, you can say "It doesn't ring a bell", ex. "Do you remember Bob?" "Hmm, the name doesn't ring a bell." IDIOM: if you ask someone if they understand and he says "Clear as a bell" that means "yes"

If you see a ____ of lightning, you know you'll soon hear thunder.

flash DEFINITION: a quick burst of light, ex. the flash on a camera, a flashlight (UK: torch)

If you ride the London underground, you should _____ the gap between the platform and the train.

mind DEFINITION: pay attention to, watch out for IDIOM: If someone tells you to "mind your Ps and Qs" they're telling you to behave, to watch your manners / not use bad language

If you park like this you may be ______ a parking ticket.

issued DEFINITION: given (formal)

If you need to make new friends in Southern California, try being _______.

rescued DEFINITION: saved, helped

If you need to buy a house the bank will give you a ______. If you need to build a drug lab, you should go to the mafia.

loan DEFINITION: money that you borrow which has to be paid back, usually with interest VERB: to loan someone money

If you look closely at the surveillance camera footage, you can see _____ that Godzilla really does exist.

evidence DEFINITION: proof

If you have difficulty focusing, more screen time will just _____ the problem.

compound DEFINITION: increase, multiply, make worse NOUN: something that has two or more parts, ex. in science, a molecular compound is two or more molecules combined together ALSO: if you put your savings in the bank and don't withdraw it then every year you will earn compound interest

If you have arthritis it's usually _________.

genetic DEFINITION: you inherit it / get it from your parents

If you have a lot to do you should start with the easiest _________on your list.

item Definition: something that's separate, an individual piece Also: Every item of clothing she wore had been carefully chosen, Every item on the menu looks delicious

If you had to, how could you _______ your reading time?

increase DEFINITION: to do / make / earn / spend / etc. MORE

If you had an ______, what would you ask him/her to do?

assistant DEFINITION: someone who helps you at the office or at home

If you grew up in the city your best friends probably lived on the same _______

block DEFINITION: the section of the street between two corners ALSO: a block party is a neighborhood party for people on you block

If you garden, you can recycle organic ______ to improve the garden soil.

matter DEFINITION: anything that's physical and not spiritual Pronunciation note: native speakers usually pronounce the "t" like a "d"

If you fake an ______ don't do it like this guy.

injury DEFINITION: the outcome of being hurt

If you don't know where you're going, _______ road will take you there.

either DEFINITION: A or B ALSO: either A.... or B...

If you don't _______ new words you will forget them.

review DEFINITION: look at again, study again

If you don't pay your electricity bill your power will be _____ _____

cut off

If you don't pay your bill your card can be ______.

declined DEFINITION: refused

If you don't have enough money to play the lottery you can always _____ for gold.

prospect DEFINITION: search for ALSO: to prospect for customers

If you ask "Why am I here?" you're questioning your _____. If you ask "Where am I?" you're lost.

existence DEFINITION: the verb is "to exist"

If you arrive at a formal ______ underdressed, don't act embarrassed.

affair DEFINITION: event

If you and your brother or sister are competitive then you can say you have a sibling ______.

rivalry DEFINITION: a long-lasting competition

If there's a politician you don't like you can be original and _______ him to someone from history whom you also don't like.

relate DEFINITION: : to make a connection between two things ALSO: your relatives are the people you're related to

If the water at the beach suddenly recedes, you should quickly ____ _____ higher ground.

head for DEFINITION: start to go toward

If someone tried to attack you, would you know how to _______ yourself?

defend DEFINITION: protect ADJECTIVE: defensive

If Plan A doesn't work out, we will have to _____ to Plan B.

resort DEFINITION: turn to the less favorable option; fall back on ALSO: resort to cheating; resort to stealing

If he had thrown it just a little bit _____ he would have won. Oh well.

further DEFINITION: farther NOTE: far / farther / the farthest

If elected, Bob promised to ______ a one-day work week.

implement DEFINTION: put into effect, make it happen NOUN: implementation

If elected President, I will _______ not steal all the nation's gold and move to Switzerland like the last guy.

certainly DEFINITION: surely, absolutely

If contracts were written in _____ English we wouldn't need as many lawyers.

plain DEFINITION: simple, clear

If Bob looks ______, don't make eye contact and back away slowly.

upset DEFINITION: not happy, angry, mad

If Bob likes you, he'll follow you ______ you go.

wherever DEFINITION: anywhere, everywhere

If a tourist asked you for directions in English, would you know how to _______ yourself?

protect DEFINITION: to keep safe

"I ________ allegiance, to the flag of the United States of America."

pledge DEFINITION: promise

I _______ you, I did not have sexual relations with that woman.

assure DEFINITION: if you assure someone of something you promise them NOUN: provide/give assurance

I _______ we should bring an umbrella just in case.

figure DEFINITION: to make a decision based on available information, to assume, to reckon

I won't give you the answer because cheating is against my ________

principles DEFINITION: your morals, the rules you live according to

I weigh 180 _______

pounds Definition: 45 kilos Also: the abbreviation is "lbs", ex. I weight 180 lbs

I was _____ by your latest text message.

distracted DEFINITION: not paying attention

I wanted to buy a simple phone only for calling but the salesman convinced me to buy one with more _______

features. DEFINITION: a function or benefit of a product that can be used to advertise it

I think I'm _____ _____ ____ a cold

coming down with DEFINITION: getting

"I think I can meet next Tuesday, but I'll need to _____ later."

confirm DEFINITION: to give a definite "yes" NOUN: confirmation

"I think Bob might be ______." "Really? How can you tell?"

gay DEFINITION: homosexual OPPOSITE: straight

I look forward to our next meeting with great _______

anticipation DEFINITION: hope, desire for the future, ex. children have anticipation VERB: if you anticipate a victory or a good outcome you expect it and look forward to it

I don't know how much money we lost. My accountant handles our financial ________

affairs DEFINITION: your finacial transactions ALSO: an ambassador handles the affairs of his country -- the matters, the concerns

I can't _______ it!

reach DEFINITION: touch, get to ALSO: humans first reached the moon in 1969 ALSO: if you try to call someone but you're unsuccessful you can say, "I tried to reach you on your phone."

I believe that the stars ______ your destiny. I also believe you should enter your credit card information below.

determine DEFINITION: decide, control

Hurricanes are a _____ type of storm in Florida.

common DEFINITION: typical, usual OPPOSITE: uncommon

Hurricaines _____ off the coast of Florida ever late summer and early fall.

occur DEFINITION: happen NOUN: occurence

How ____ are you? Can you touch your toes?

flexible ALSO: if you're trying to decide on a day and time for a meeting and the other person tells you "I'm flexible" that means they don't have a busy schedule and can meet you any time

How would you ______ this painting?

interpret DEFINITION: explain NOUN: interpretation

How would you _____ your English progress this year compared to last year? Better? Worse? About the same?

evaluate DEFINITION: measure, judge NOUN: you can get an evaluation from your manager at work

How will cities _______ to accommodate the next one billion people?

evolve DEFINITION: change NOUN: evolution

How well did you get to know your ________? (Or are they still alive?)

grandmothers DEFINITION: your mother's mother / father's mother ALSO: grandfather ALSO: great-grandmother; great-great grandmother, etc.

How was your day? ______. And yours?

Horrible DEFINITION: terrible, very bad ADVERB: horribly, ex. the plan went horribly wrong

How to defend yourself when someone ____ your hair.

grabs DEFINITION: to snatch, to take something quickly

How quickly do you _____ to emails?

respond DEFINITION: answer, reply NOUN: a response

How old were you when you became ______ from your parents?

independent DEFINITION: you didn't need them for money ALSO: not influenced by others, ex. independent journalism, independent research, an independent film

How old do you have to be to be _____ to vote in your country?

eligible DEFINITION: you're allowed to do it because you meet the qualifications or standards

How often does your boss _____ with employees?

interact DEFINITION: to communicate with (formal) ALSO: if you interact with a computer program you use it; if the program is interactive that means it's designed to be used actively, i.e. you talk to it, move things, it communicates with you... ALSO: if your doctor says your medicine may have a negative interaction with alcohol then you shouldn't drink while taking the medicine

How often do you get your oil ______?

checked DEFINITION: examined ALSO: if you check on the cake in the oven you look to see if everything is going well

How often do you (or did you) get a performance ______ at work?

evaluation DEFINITION: a report on how well or how poorly you're doing

How often did you _____ your notes before a test? (not review)

revise DEFINITION: review NOTE: this is British English

How much would you ____ for this modern art painting?

bid DEFINITION: when you offer a price, ex. to bid at an auction NOUN: to make a bid

How much time have you spent in ______? What was your crime?

jail DEFINITION: usually criminals go to jail for a short time and prison for a long time A PERSON WHO WORKS IN A JAIL: a jailer

How much has the value of your home _______?

appreciated DEFINITION: to increase in value OPPOSITE: to depreciate

How much fast food did you ______ this month?

consume DEFINITION: eat or drink (formal) ALSO: your car consumes fuel; a task at work can be time-consuming; the house was consumed by fire ALSO: a person who buys products is a consumer; consumer goods are products that are cheap and used quickly, ex. batteries, cleaning products, packaged food

How many ______ do you have?

cousins DEFINITION: the children of your aunts and uncles

How many ______ can you hold your breath?

minutes DEFINITION: 60 seconds

How many ______ are there in our solar system?

planets COMMON EXPRESSION: if you say that someone is from another planet that means you think he's strange

How many _____ in a foot?

inches DEFINITION: a unit of length in the empirical measurement system; twelve inches make up one foot IDIOM: if you come within an inch of something that's the same as saying "almost"; ex. He came within an inch of dying

How many _____ are in your family? (not children)

kids DEFINITION: a child (informal)

How many years has it been since your last _____ check up?

annual DEFINITION: yearly

How many words are you learning ____ day?

per DEFINITION: for each, for every ALSO: per cent (for every 100)

How many times a year does your family ______ together?

gather DEFINITION: come together, meet

How many social media _______ do you have?

accounts DEFINITION: a type of relationship you have with a bank or website ALSO: a bank account, a checking account, a savings account EXPRESSION: if you settle an account with a creditor (someone you owe money to), that means you pay them back BUT... If you hear your enemy say he needs to settle an account with you, that means he's going to get revenge

How many people does your company _______?

employ DEFINITION: they pay people to work for them THE COMPANY OR PERSON WHO EMPLOYS: an employer

How many pairs of ______ do you own?

boots ALSO: If you get / give the boot that's the same as being kicked out / expelled; ex. booted from the club ALSO: if you join the US Army, your first few weeks will be an intensive training called "boot camp" AN FINALLY... If you want to insult someone you can tell him "Your mother wears combat boots."

How many pair of shoes do you ______?

own DEFINITION: have, possess

How many of your friends are ______?

divorced DEFINITION: no longer married VERB: to divorce your husband / wife

How many candles will you _____ ____ on your next birthday?

blow out

How many Canadian ______ can you name?

provinces DEFINITION: an area of land inside a nation that has its own local government

How long could you ______ in the wilderness without checking your phone?

last DEFINITION: survive, endure ALSO: the movie lasts two hours

How long can you walk before you have to _____?

rest DEFINITION: to take a break to get your energy back / recover ALSO: R.I.P. stands for "rest in peace" (said about someone dead)

How is your ______ different from the younger one?

generation DEFINITION: a period of a decade or more where all the people born during that time share similar beliefs and traits

How far can you run before you get ____ ____ _____?

out of breath DEFINITION: it's hard to breathe, you have to stop and catch your breath ALSO: after you eat garlic you might have bad breath EXPRESSION: if there's a positive change you can say it's a breath of fresh air

How does your _______ of the world differ from your parents'?

perception DEFINITION: how you view something

How does your boss _______ you?

motivate DEFINITION: to encourage, to try to get someone to choose to do something NOUN: motivation

How does English rank on your list of _______?

priorities DEFINITION: the thing/s which are of highest importance VERB: to prioritize your tasks

How do you _______ couples who live together but who are not married? Positively? Negatively? Doesn't matter to you...

regard DEFINITION: how you regard something is your opinion/judgement about it EXPRESSION: If you say, "I hold him in high regard" that means you respect him.

How do you ______ your in-laws? Formally or informally?

address DEFINITION: if you speak to someone you address them; ex. the president addressed the media

How do you ______ when it takes you 20 times to remember a word?

react DEFINITION: act in response to an event NOUN: reaction

How do you _____ your time when you have to wait in line?

occupy DEFINITION: use your time ALSO: you can occupy space, ex. A large statue occupies the town square ALSO: if you occupy an address you live there and you are the occupant ALSO: if the sign on the bathroom door says "occupied" that means someone is already using it

How do you _____ your books? By size? By author? By genre?

arrange DEFINITION: to set up, to order

How do you _____ with stress?

cope Definition: to manage or deal with something difficult

How do you say this number? "3.14"

"three point one four " BUT: it's different at the end of a sentence and when you say ".com"

How do you prefer to _____ your email? On your phone or on your laptop?

access DEFINITION: to get to, to reach ALSO: if you have access to something that means you have permission to get inside/to see it, ex. The President has access to secret documents OR: It's available, ex. Teens now have access to pornography thanks to the internet.

How do you prefer to get your _______? Shaking hands? Kissing? Or having strangers sneeze on you?

infections DEFINITION: if you have a disease you are infected ADJECTIVE: an infected person; an infectious disease

How do the winter days ______ you?

affect DEFINITION: change (your mood, your feelings), alter

How do men in your country greet each other? Do they shake hands? Kiss? Or ________?

embrace DEFINITION: hug, usually formal ALSO: if you embrace an idea that means you accept it enthusiastically

How did your parents _______ your birthdays?

celebrate

How did you ______ your spouse? (i.e. based on looks? wit? intelligence? status?)

pick DEFINITION: to choose ALSO: if someone is picky that means he's hard to satisfy, ex. a picky eater pick out

How did you _____ your studies?

fund DEFINITION: to pay for (formal)

How did you find your university's _______? Interesting? Dull?

lectures DEFINITION: a type of class where the professor speaks to a large auditorium and there's little or no involvement from the students VERB: if your parents lectured you when you were young (for example, about safety or studying) that means they gave you long speeches and repeated what they'd already told you

How big is your computer ______?

monitor DEFINITION: the screen, usually separate from the computer ALSO: if a doctor monitors your blood pressure he watches it closely

"Honey, which shade of ______ do you prefer for the baby's room?"

gray ALSO: grey (UK spelling)

"Honey, do you want to go dancing?" "No, I'm _____."

beat DEFINITION: very tired, exhausted

"Honey, can you please step ________. I want to see what happens to Peppa Pig."

aside DEFINITION: to the side

Hmm, let's see, it's my _______ that I was at church on the morning of the murder.

recollection DEFINITION: a memory (formal)

Hmm, it seems there's a ______ good chance it will rain. Maybe I'll bring my umbrella.

reasonably DEFINITION: not 100% but good enough

Hey, can I give you a _____? I've got candy.

lift DEFINITION: a ride in a car, ex. give me a lift to the airport

Hey honey, while you're up, could you ______ me a beer?

grab DEFINITION: get ALSO: You can grab a bite to eat = get some fast food

Here's where you enter the ______ of heaven

gates Also: the gate keeper is someone who keeps you from talking to someone important, usually a secretary or assistant

Here's an interesting _______: chess and vodka shots.

combination DEFINITION: a mix of two or more things VERB: to combine ALSO: if you lock your bike you'll either need a key or a combination to unlock it, i.e. the correct sequence of numbers ABBREVIATION: combo, ex. get a combo mean at KFC (chicken + a drink)

Here comes Little Red Riding Hood walking down a ____ through the woods.

path DEFINITION: a route for walking, usually formed naturally by foot traffic; a trail

Here are some Canadians who are about to ____ the boarder into the US.

cross DEFINITION: go from one side to the other

"Hello. I'm with the FBI, CIA and INTERPOL. We're looking for Bob." "____ ____. I'll tell him you're here."

hang on DEFINITION: wait

"Hello, I'm here to tell you and your neighbours about how you can avoid Hell." BOB: "Oo, lovely. Please ____ ____."

come in DEFINITION: enter

"Hello, I'd like to make an ______ for a pedicure."

appointment DEFINITION: a scheduled meeting

He's _______ his hands behind his back

grasping DEFINITION: holding tightly

He's ______ to break the world record.

attempting DEFINITION: trying

He's wearing ____ glasses.

round DEFINITION: the shape of a circle

He ______ to a charity in Africa.

contributes DEFINITION: donate, give NOUN: contribution

He ______ a beautiful woman was around the corner.

assumed DEFINITION: to reach a conclusion without being 100% certain, without having all the facts

Have your pipes ______? Call Bob the plumber.

burst DEFINITION: to break or explode suddenly, usually because of pressure Also: the car burst into flames; sorry to burst your bubble; burst into tears; burst out laughing

Have you heard of Harry Houdini? He was famous for being able to ____ from any jail or any chains you put him in.

escape DEFINITION: to get out of, to be free from something bad; ex. go to the mountains in the summer to escape the heat

Have you had any ______ problems this year?

health ALSO: a health food store sells stuff like tofu and kambucha

Have you ever ______ food on your phone?

ordered DEFINITION: to tell someone what you want to buy, usually something that needs to be prepared or made, ex. order a custom kitchen from Ikea ALSO: place an order

Have you ever _____a job offer?

rejected DEFINITION: said "no" to NOUN: rejection ALSO: if a product is a reject it's quality is low and can't be sold; if a person is a reject he's not very popular

Have you ever _____? For how long?

fasted DEFINITION: when you choose not to eat, usually for a day or longer, usually for religious or health reasons NOUN: fasting, ex. fasting is healthy for you

Have you ever _____ one of your fears? What happened?

faced DEFINITION: to confront, not hide from

Have you ever _____ missed a plane?

barely DEFINITION: almost EXPRESSION: if you say you barely made it / barely passed that means you were successful but you almost failed

Have you ever written a love _______ to your sweetheart?

poem DEFINITION: PERSON: a poet THE CATEGORY: poetry; ex. to take a poetry class at college

Have you ever worked with a _______?

consultant DEFINITION: a professional expert who gives advice

Have you ever won a _______?

contest DEFINITION: a competition; ex. a beauty contest, a hot dog eating contest, a speaking contest

Have you ever wanted to visit a tourist site only to find out it was closed for _________?

restoration DEFINITION: work that is aimed at restoring / improving the condition of something old

Have you ever used an app that helps you ________ a lost phone?

locate DEFINITION: find (formal) NOUN: location

Have you ever tried _____ medicine? What was the result?

alternative DEFINITION: non-traditional, unconventional ALSO: an alternative lifestyle; an alternative newspaper

Have you ever taken a memory ______ drug or supplement?

enhancement DEFINITION: something that improves something

Have you ever read any of the ________ in English?

classics DEFINITION: something that remains valuable and popular despite being old; as we say in English, it stands the test of time ADJECTIVE: classical; ex. classical music

Have you ever paid to get your shoes _____? Or do you just throw them away?

repaired DEFINITION: fixed ALSO: you can take your car, your phone or your TV to the repair shop

Have you ever not been able to find_______in a hotel during a popular event?

accommodation DEFINITION: lodging, a place to stay for the night VERB: if you accommodate someone you let them sleep in your home

Have you ever met someone who was truly ________?

brilliant DEFINITION: very smart, a genius ALSO: if a fire is very large you can say it's burning brilliantly ALSO: If you want to be sarcastic you can say "Oh, brilliant idea" whenever you hear a really stupid idea.

Have you ever lived through an economic ______

crisis DEFINITION: an emergency

Have you ever kept a personal ______?

journal DEFINITION: a diary, a record of events or observations ALSO: another name for a newspaper or magazine, ex. Journal of Modern Medicine

Have you ever had your _____ painted? Would you like to?

portrait DEFINITION: a painting or photograph of a person, usually just showing the head and shoulders ALSO: a self-portrait is a painting an artist paints of himself

Have you ever had your back _____ by a chiropractor?

adjusted DEFINITION: a small change Also: businesses are adjusting to the new regulations

Have you ever had to ___ _____ another car?

flag down DEFINITION: to signal for help so that the other person stops ALSO: a flag is one of the symbols that represent a country or city ALSO: if the tax authority flags your paperwork that means they think it's suspicious and they will take a closer look - not good

Have you ever had to ask your boss to _______ a deadline?

extend DEFINITION: if you extend a deadline you add more time; if you extended the back of your house you make your house larger ALSO: if you extend your hand that means you reach out (usually to help someone or to grab something)

Have you ever had a ________ ____ death?

brush with DEFINITION: a brief encounter; a short experience ALSO: a brush with fame

Have you ever had a ______ banana dipped in chocolate? They're delicious!

frozen DEFINITION: it's been in the freezer or outside when it's below zero

Have you ever had a tooth _______?

extracted DEFINITION: removed, pull out ALSO: a policeman can extract information from a prisoner

Have you ever had a serious _________?

infection DEFINITION: when germs / micro-organisms spread in the body

Have you ever gone _____? Would you like?

hunting PERSON: a hunter ALSO: to go house hunting

Have you ever gone on a ______? Was it successful?

diet DEFINITION: a program where you eat less food or you eat only certain kinds of food in order to lose weight ALSO: if you talk about the diet of the French or your cat's diet that means the food that is typically eaten

Have you ever cracked the screen on your _______ ______?

cell phone DEFINITION: mobilie phone (U.S. English)

Have you ever climbed a mountain _____?

peak DEFINITION: the highest point VERB: to peak; ex. Bruce Willis' career peaked when he made the Die Hard movies

Have you ever called a company to _____ __ _________?

make a complaint DEFINITION: when you tell someone that you're not satisfied or there's a problem (formal)

Have you ever bought anything from the Ikea _______?

catalog DEFINITION: a book / magazine that advertises things you can buy, usually through the mail; ex. the famous Sears Catalog VERB: if you have to catalog your company's products that means make a list/record ALSO: if you read that The Beatles sold their song catalog that means all their songs

Have you ever been _________ into doing something you didn't want to do?

charmed DEFINITION: when someone uses their attractive personality to get you to like them

Have you ever been _______ at work?

promoted DEFINITION: when your boss gives you a higher position

Have you ever been ______? How did you get over it?

depressed DEFINITION: sadness that lasts for a long time

Have you ever been ______ playing a sport?

injured DEFINITION: hurt NOUN: an injury COMMON EXPRESSION: if you want to say that something got worse you can say "to add insult to injury"

Have you ever been ______ at work?

promoted DEFINITION: to be given a higher position ALSO: to get a promotion

Have you ever been treated by a __________?

specialist DEFINITION: a person who specializes in one area, ex. a podiatrist is a doctor who is a foot specialist

Have you ever been in an accident? Whose _____ was it?

fault DEFINITION: who is responsible? who's to blame? ALSO: you can say, Who's at fault?

Has your country's budget ______ increased or decreased in recent years?

deficit DEFINITION: the amount of money you spend that is more than what you earn, usually for countries and not people ALSO: If you say your company has a talent deficit that means you think there aren't enough talented people there ALSO: a trade deficit means the country imports more than it exports ALSO: if someone has Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) that means its hard for them to focus

Has your country ever received international _______ after a disaster?

assistance DEFINITION: help (formal)

Has your country done a good job at _____ your nation's history?

preserving DEFINITION: keep, maintain ALSO: preserve fruit in a jar, go for a walk in a nature preserve, buy organic food because you don't want to eat artificial preservatives; historic preservation

Has the weather ever ______ a special event you attended?

ruined DEFINITION: destroy, wreck, spoil ALSO: you can ruin a book for someone by telling them how it ends; you can ruin a sweater by washing it in hot water; you can ruin your life by taking drugs; you can be ruined financially if you lose all your money

Has anyone you met online tried to ____ you?

deceive DEFINITION: to lie, fool, trick noun: deception

Has anyone ever told you to wear your mask ________?

properly DEFINITION: correctly

Has a strange person ever sat _____ you?

beside DEFINITION: next to

hair _______ an _______ cord

hair extensions an extension cord DEFINITION: something that makes something else longer ALSO: if your university project is due on Monday but you get sick on Friday you can ask for an extension VERB: to extend

Guido was born in Italy, ____ the accent.

hence DEFINITION: therefore (note: formal)

Green is a _____ of blue and yellow.

mixture DEFINITION: a blend, a combination VERB: to mix

getting some _____ air on her lunch break

fresh DEFINITION: clean, new ALSO: fresh fruit; in the morning you can feel fresh

Getting into a good school has become _________ difficult.

increasingly DEFINITION: more and more

Get your _____ food bowl. This one's taken!

own DEFINITION: if you add "own" to a pronoun, it means it's that person's and no one else's SOME EXAMPLES: Do you have your own home or do you rent? I've got my own problems and don't care about yours. They don't have any children of their own.

"Gertrude, we've been dating for seventeen years and you're the only woman I've ever loved. Will you marry me?" "Bob, because I love you, and because you're hurting my hand, I'll be ______ -- no way!"

brief Definition: lasting only for a short time, short; ex. A Brief History of Rome ALSO: if a lawyer gives you a brief that means he gives you a written summary

Genesis 1:1 is one of the most famous _______ in The Bible

passages DEFINITION: a section of a larger text

General Bob swore he had no ______ with the enemy.

involvement DEFINITION: he wasn't connected with them, did not work with them

Gandhi campaigned against ______ injustice.

racial DEFINITION: related to race

Galileo's ______ that the sun was the center of the universe turned out to be correct.

hypothesis DEFINITION: a theory ADJECTIVE: a hypothetical question is a question about something that hasn't happened, imaginary

Galileo was tried by the Church for his ______ ideas about the universe.

radical DEFINITION: extreme ex. a radical opinion, a radical idea, a radical political party

From your county's capital, are there good _______ to other major cities?

connections DEFINITION: a transportation link, where transportation lines meet; ex. a train connection, a plane connection, a bus connection ALSO: if you have to change planes that means you have to find your connecting flight

From the Empire State Building's _______ deck Bob could see that he forgot to lock his car.

observation DEFINITION: if you observe something you watch so you can learn; ex. a biologist observing animals

For the _____ of your health, you should really quit dating my wife, Bob.

sake DEFINITION: "for the sake of _____" means it's in the best interest of _____ COMMON EXPRESSION: If you want to ask someone to do something and it's very important you can say, "For God's sake, don't _____."

For people in the third world, life can be a ________.

struggle DEFINITION: if something is a struggle it's difficult; a fight

For many modern parents, the safety of their children is a _______ concern.

constant DEFINITION: it never stops, 24/7

For Bob, the ______ from child to adult was long and slow.

transition Definition: change (from one stage to another or from one place to another); ex. job transition, the new President's transition team

For an extra fee, you can pay to drive in the ____ lane.

express DEFINITION: something that's faster; ex. express shipping, express checkout

For a brief time, Americans ______ the sport of baseball. Now some of the best players come from Cuba, Japan and South America.

dominated DEFINITION: to be #1, at the top, in control ADJECTIVE: dominant

Food critic Bob did not ______ the restaurant highly.

rate DEFINITION: to judge, to score NOUN: to give a rating ADJECTIVE: the website uses a rating system ALSO: in the U.S. movies are rated according to how appropriate they are for children, ex. Disney films are usually Rated G

fishing _______

gear DEFINITION: equipment, tools

First and second place went to the US and China, ________

respectively DEFINITION: in that order, in the same order that was said

Finding the right person for a job can be a difficult _______

task DEFINITION: a specific job; your job or work is what you do every day but if you talk about a task it's just one specific thing you must do

Feeling chilly? Put another _____ on the fire.

log DEFINITION: a piece of wood for burning ALSO: a log cabin

Father Johnson ______ Bob to pray hard and get a good lawyer.

counselled Definition: to give advice Also: if you're fighting a lot with your spouse you can get help from a marriage counselor; if someone sues you then you need legal counsel

Experts tell us to wear masks so as not to ____ others.

infect DEFINITION: to give someone a disease NOUN: infection

"Excuse me, your music is kinda loud. Do you ______?" "No, I don't ______."

mind mind DEFINITION 1: You're bothering me, please stop. DEFINITION 2: It doesn't bother me.

"Excuse me, professor. Could you _______ ___ that?"

expand on DEFINITION: say more, to give more information

Everyone, please ____ ____. There's nothing to see here.

move on DEFINITION: keep going, don't stop ALSO: If you break up with someone and he / she moves on that means he / she has started dating someone else already.

Every year there's a ________ of the leaders of the world's richest nations at the G7 Summit.

gathering DEFINITION: a meeting

Every week you meet your ______ Speed System students on zoom.

fellow Definition: someone who belongs to the same group as others or is in the same situation Also: fellow classmates, fellow employees, fellow Canadians

Every time Bob creates a new virus the ______ for toilet paper skyrockets.

demand DEFINITION: the need ALSO: in economics you can talk about "supply and demand" (Note: if something skyrockets it increases very quickly)

Every summer Bob's family _______ in the forest for their annual reunion.

gathers definition: to come together, to bring together, ex. to gather flowers noun: a gathering

Every morning, the President receives a ________ on international security issues.

briefing DEFINITION: if you brief someone you give them information in a short and quick format

Every Christmas season, the ______ for shops increases.

revenue DEFINITION: the money a business receives from customers (but not the same as profit)

Even until the very end, Bob insisted that everything would _____ _____ just fine.

work out DEFINITION: reach a successful, satisfactory conclusion

Even if you stand at the ______ of the Statue of Liberty, it's still not possible to see up her dress.

base DEFINITION: the bottom part of something, ex. the base of his neck, the base of the tree

Even if it's your pet, all wild animals are _______ dangerous.

potentially DEFINITION: possibly

Even before covid, the staff had to disinfect Bob's table after he left their _____.

establishment DEFINITION: a business (formal)

Even as a little kid, Tiger Woods showed a lot of _____ for golf.

potential DEFINITION: he may be great or do great things

enjoying some _______ art in a museum

contemporary DEFINITION: modern ALSO: contemporary music, contemporary values

Employees had to share desks because of a budget _______.

constraint DEFINITION: a limitation, a restriction ALSO: time constraint, constraining clothing VERB: to constrain

Elon Musk's first _______ at launching a rocket was a failure.

attempt DEFINITION: effort

"Electronic _______ must be switched off before takeoff and landing."

devices Definition: any machine or equipment can be called a device; ex. an espresso machine is a device for making coffee

Einstein's most famous ______ was e=mc2.

equation DEFINITION: similar to a formula; the word is related to the word "equals" so if you see the "=" sign then it's an equation ALSO: you can say that your equation for happiness is health plus family; i.e. health + family = happiness

Einstein was a ____ of Germany, but lived his final years in the U.S.

native DEFINITION: where you're from

Einstein famously said, "_______ is more important than knowledge." Do you agree?

curiosity DEFINITION: the desire to know, to learn, to discover IDIOM: "curiosity killed the cat" (I don't think Einstein would have like this idiom...)

Eh? Can you ______ that?

repeat DEFINITION: to say again ALSO: anything that happens more than once; ex. a TV show that's on for the second time is a repeat; this year can be a repeat of last year

During World War Two, soldiers ____ _____ in Europe had a much better chance of surviving than those who were captured in Asia.

held captive DEFINITION: captured ALSO: a captive audience is an audience that must watch or listen, ex. a meeting at work

During the time of covid we saw many new and strange _______.

innovations DEFINITION: something new and different that solves a problem ADJECTIVE: an innovative person

During the pandemic, it seemed governments _______ the rules almost daily.

revised DEFINITION: change, alter, amend

During the pandemic, Bob wanted to stay safe so he asked his drug ______ if he could deliver.

dealer DEFINITION: a salesman who is also the middle-man, i.e. he sells someone else's product; ex. a car dealer ALSO: at the casino the dealer is the person who hands out the cards; ex. the dealer dealt me four aces ALSO: if you negotiate before you buy you can either get a good deal or a bad deal, i.e. you pay less or more than it's worth

During the lockdowns, ______ among young people became a major problem.

depression DEFINITION: extreme and long-lasting sadness ADJECTIVE: to be depressed; a depressing movie ALSO: there can be a depression in the earth, meaning an area that is lower than surrounding areas ALSO: an economic depression; The Great Depression

During the Cold War, the Warsaw Pact was ________ of the Soviet Union and several Easter-European nations.

comprised DEFINITION: made of, include, contain

Due to rising inflation, American teenagers now must_____ on their parents for drug money.

rely DEFINITION: to depend on ADJECTIVE: reliable, ex. a reliable car is a car that always works; a reliable friend is someone who is always willing to help you NOUN: reliability

driving _______

forward Also: The project is moving forward. COMMON EXPRESSION: Going forward, let's not make that mistake again, i.e. In the future... ALSO: someone who has vision is a forward-thinking person

driving in ______

reverse DEFINITION: backwards ALSO: if you read that the president reversed his position that means he changed his mind

Drinking one Red Bull is the _______ of drinking 1.3 espressos.

equivalent DEFINITION: the same as

Drinking a liquid breakfast at a typical English _____

pub DEFINITION: a business that serves alcohol and sometimes food In the US we call them "bars."

Drink too much and you'll have to make ______ trips to the bathroom.

frequent DEFINITION: something that happens, occurs or appears often / a lot ADJECTIVE: a frequent visitor to the cafe [sound:rec1665677732.mp3] VERB: he frequents the cafe ALSO: you can sign up for an airline's frequent-flyer program ALSO: the Power Words are high-frequency words.

Dr. Martin Luther King marching for ____ rights for blacks.

equal DEFINITION: if two things are equal they are the same

Don't ______ trying to change his mind, it won't work.

bother DEFINITION: don't do it (usually because it's not necessary or won't work), ex. Can I help you clean the kitchen? No, don't bother, I'll do it.

Don't _____ your feet when you walk; the baby's sleeping.

stamp DEFINITION: to walk with heavy feet ALSO: if a politician says he's going to stamp out crime that means he's going to end it

Don't know your wife's birthday? Just ________ it

admit DEFINITION: confess, be honest and say something that doesn't make you look good

Don't _______ me with your problems.

burden DEFINITION: trouble me, bother me

Does your town have many ______?

immigrants DEFINITION: someone who moves away from their home country, usually permanently

Does your president or prime minister need someone to _____ for him/her when traveling abroad?

interpret DEFINITION: to translate speech ALSO: how you interpret something is how you understand it; ex. I interpreted his yawn as a sign we should leave

Does your house get this much _____?

dust DEFINITION: very small particles, maybe of earth or skin or stone or something else IDIOM 1 - TO BITE THE DUST Your favorite race car driver just had a terrible accident and bit the dust (he died). IDIOM 2 -- WAIT FOR THE DUST TO SETTLE Your boss just had a loud argument with the bank. You need to ask him a question. But first you want to wait for the dust to setlle (for things to calm down).

Does your employer have an "escape" ______ in your work contract that lets him easily fire you?

clause DEFINITION: a section of a contract, treaty or bill

Does your country have any ______ on free speech? Or can you say whatever you want about whatever you want?

limitations DEFINITION: a limit, a restriction ALSO: physical limitations; mental limitations; a government can pass trade limitation laws

Does your country have any historic _______?

ruins DEFINITION: very old buildings that are crumbling/falling apart

Does your country have an _______ day? Or do other countries celebrate their _______ from your country?

independence DEFINITION: freedom ADJECTIVE: independent, ex. independent journalism

Does your country accept ______ from other countries?

refugees DEFINITION: a person who moves to another country to escape bad conditions in their home country ALSO: a refugee camp; to apply for refugee status

Does your company _________ star employees?

recognize DEFINITION: they publicly acknowledge, they give them attention

Does your company provide a _____ for retired workers? What about your government?

pension DEFINITION: the money you get to live on PERSON: a pensioner

Does your boss sometimes have an evil ____?

grin Definition: a type of smile,usually when someone his satisfied with themselves, ex. When playing poker, try not to grin if you have good cards. Also: to grin from ear to ear

Does the ______ wage in your country depend on the person's age or job?

minimum DEFINITION: the least number or amount that is necessary or required

Does the _____ of the waves make you ill?

motion DEFINITION: movement

Does the weather affect your ______?

mood DEFINITION: how you feel (emotionally, not physically) ALSO: a person who is often in a bad mood is "moody"

Does bad weather _____ you?

depress DEFINITION: make you sad NOUN: depression

Does anyone in your country still write _______?

checks DEFINITION: a method of payment instead of using cash BRITISH ENGLISH: cheque

Doctors say teenagers shouldn't smoke because it can slow their physical _______.

development DEFINITION: growing or becoming larger or more advanced Also: economic development, business development

Do you _______ pleasure from other people's suffering?

derive Definition: to get something from somewhere else, ex. Amazon.com used to derive most of its revenue from the sale of books Note: Did you see the dog smiling in the photo?

Do you ______ your clothes on the bed before packing?

lay DEFINITION: to put something down NOTE: irregular verb: lay / laid / laid ALSO: the chicken laid an egg; lay a baby in his crib

Do you ______ your clothes on the bed before packing?

lay DEFINITION: to put something down NOTE: irregular verb: lay / laid / laid ALSO: the chicken laid an egg; lay a baby in his crib

Do you ______ the number of desserts or sweets you eat during the week?

limit DEFINITION: to restrict ALSO: to drive the speed limit, break the speed limit

Do you ______ or own your home?

rent DEFINITION: to pay money to use something, i.e. rent an apartment, rent a bicycle

Do you _____ to get to work early and leave early? Or start late and leave late?

prefer DEFINITION: you like it better than other options

Do you watch _______ or do you take advantage of the opportunity to use the bathroom?

commercials DEFINITION: an advertisement on TV or radio

Do you vote in ______ elections or just national elections?

regional DEFINITION: when you want to say that something is local and not national or international; ex. a regional manager, a regional market NOUN: region

Do you vote in the _________ elections? Or just the national elections?

provincial DEFINITION: local; ex. a provincial newspaper, provincial dress, provincial customs ALSO: If you say someone's behavior or thinking is provincial that means you think it's simple or uncultured or narrow. The word is related to "province" which is similar to countryside. The opposite is "urbane" and "cosmopolitan" which mean sophisticated and modern, and also related to words connected to the city.

Do you usually have enough _______ to accomplish your goals?

discipline DEFINITION: self-control, the ability to say "no" to a temptation

Do you use the hand______ when going down the stairs?

rail DEFINITION: a bar, usually metal ALSO: if you're on a balcony you can find a rail / safety rail ALSO: if you drive your car off the road you may hit a guard rail ALSO: trains run on rails, ex. the railroad

Do you use software to block online ______?

ads Definition: an abbreviations for "advertisement" Also: adverts

Do you use a water ______ at home?

filter DEFINITION: a device that keeps out anything unwanted, ex. a cigarette filter, an air filter, a coffee filter ADJECTIVE: a filtration device

Do you think ______ children are happier than regular children?

privileged DEFINITION: fortunate, someone who has been given many advantages

Do you think your workplace or your country's culture treats everyone ______?

equally DEFINITION: if two things are equal they are the same

Do you think you'd be able to _______ your high school classmates now?

recognize DEFINITION: to know who someone is (or something or some place) ADJECTIVE: if someone is totally different you can say they're unrecognizable

Do you think you can control your personality? Or do you believe it's ______?

genetic DEFINITION: if something is genetic that means it's a part of your genes, something you got from your parents, and therefore out of your control

Do you think it's ____________ to check your phone during dinner?

inconsiderate DEFINITION: rude, impolite

Do you think it's easier to ______ your feelings in your native language or in English?

express DEFINITION: to communicate NOTE: you can express something in words, actions or through body language

Do you think economic ______ are effective against dictatorships?

sanctions DEFINITION: legal penalties; ex. not allowing a country to sell or buy oil ALSO: interestingly, it can also mean the exact opposite - to reward or encourage; however, in the news the negative meaning is more common

Do you support the _____ some countries in Europe made against women wearing burqas?

ban Definition: if something is not allowed it is banned, forbidden; a government can ban something but so can a school or an office, ex. phones are banned while taking tests Verb: Burqas are banned in Germany. Adjective: the banned song was played on the radio

Do you support or do you ________ genetically modified crops?

oppose DEFINITION: to be against

Do you support any _________ to your country's legal system?

alterations DEFINITION: changes

Do you remember where you were when you _____ _____ you were going to be a parent?

found out DEFINITION: discovered

Do you read the labels to see what kind of vitamins and chemicals your food _______?

contains? DEFINITION: what's in it NOUN: container

Do you prefer your coffee with milk or _____? Or just plain black?

cream DEFINITION: if you let unhomogonized milk sit for a while the fattiest part rises to the top and this is called cream IDIOM: If your boss says he wants to hire only the cream of the crop that means he wants the best ALSO: if you're a woman you might use beauty cream or face cream

Do you prefer to ______ on the phone or in person?

chat DEFINITION: an informal conversation ADJECTIVE: if you have a chatty friend that means he likes to talk a lot NOTE: these days you can also use "chat" to talk about sending online messages, ex. meet someone in a chat room

Do you prefer to read modern novels or _______

literature DEFINITION: a highly respected novel, a classic ALSO: Research papers (medical, scientific, etc.) are often called "the literature." This drives me crazy because the same word is being used for the best and worst writing in the world.

Do you prefer the office or _______ work?

remote DEFINITION: far, not near ALSO: you can operate a car or change channels on a TV with a remote control

Do you prefer the leg or the _____?

breast NOTE: when talking about humans (that's us!) women have breasts and men have chests

Do you prefer physical _______ or electronic ones?

reminders DEFINITION: something that prevents you from forgetting an appointment or a task

Do you prefer instant coffee or ______ coffee?

ground DEFINITION: it has been put inside a grinder and made smaller INFINITIVE: to grind ALSO: ground beef is used to make hamburgers

Do you prefer games of strategy or games of _______?

chance DEFINITION: luck ALSO: if you're on a date and you see your ex at the same restaurant that's a chance encounter

Do you need to ______ your behaviour when you're at work?

modify DEFINITION: to change, to alter

Do you listen to ____ music?

pop DEFINITION: popular ALSO: a pop song, a pop singer

Do you like your _________?

neighbors? DEFINITION: the people who live next to you or near you UK: neighbour ALSO: the area where you live is your neighborhood ALSO: to act neighborly is to be friendly

Do you like your _______?

profile DEFINITION: the image of a person from the side ALSO: if you read that a magazine or a news show will profile a celebrity that means they'll have an article or segment that will tell you their story

Do you like your country's ________?

flag ALSO: if the tax authority flags your paperwork that means they think it's suspicious and they will take a closer look - not good

Do you like to ______ guests at your home?

entertain DEFINITION: to have guests over for dinner ALSO: to sing, dance, tell jokes, i.e. provide entertainment

Do you like to ____ on sports? Or to go to the casino and ____?

bet DEFINITION: to gamble

Do you like to work on _____ by yourself, in a team, or as the team leader?

projects DEFINITION: a job or task that is not simple and not short

Do you like to work from a ______ list or are you not that organized?

check DEFINITION: to check off an item on a list is to mark it as completed; a check mark is the symbol of completion (see above)

Do you like the ______? Or would you rather have a tooth extracted?

opera DEFINITION: where rich people went on a Saturday night before Netflix

Do you know the ______ for any sports?

rules DEFINITION: what you can and can't do COMMON EXPRESSION: it's agains the rules COMMON EXPRESSION: If you're starting a new job and your boss says there are only two ground rules for meetings -- be on time and be prepared -- he's talking about the basic, most important rules

Do you know the weather _____ for this week?

forecast DEFINITION: prediciton VERB: to forecast the future

Do you know the punctuation rules for writing ________

dialogue? DEFINITION: conversation VERB: if you dialogue with someone you speak with them; Note: this is formal and usually just seen in written English ALSO: if you open a dialogue that means you start a negotiation on a difficult subject, ex. to open a dialogue with North Korea

Do you know the correct way to _____ a business letter?

format DEFINITION: to organize, plan, layout, style NOUN: how something is designed, styled or structured; ex. a book format, a letter format ALSO: a computer file format can be jpeg or pdf or txt...

Do you know someone who likes to ____ ____all your mistakes?

point out DEFINITION: when you want to draw special attention to something, to say "Look at this. This is important." ALSO: if you're in a business meeting and you want to make your point stronger you can begin by saying "I'd like to point out that..."

Do you know someone who gets a lot of ________ from Amazon?

packages DEFINITION: something that's boxed or wrapped up, usually because it's being sent through the mail ALSO: if you buy a software package or a vacation package that means you're buying several things for one price, i.e. a package deal

Do you know how to ______ anything by hand?

craft DEFINITION: a make something with a special skill, especially when you use your hands A PERSON: a craftsman is an artisan, someone who makes furniture or jewelery or shoes etc. the old-fashion way: by hand ALSO: if someone asks you if you're good at your craft they're talking about your work NOTE: this is a very popular adjective in advertising these days; you can see it used to describe everything from beer to burgers; basically, it means that it's a higher quality, made in small numbers, not mass-produced, possibly made by-hand

Do you know at what temperature water ______ in fahrenheit?

freezes DEFINITION: to get very cold ADJECTIVE: frozen ALSO: you put ice cream in the freezer

Do you know anyone who works in ________?

construction DEFINITION: you build houses/buildings ALSO: if a sign says a building is "under construction" that means it's still being built

Do you know anyone who suffers from severe ________?

anxiety DEFINITION: nervousness

Do you know anyone who stopped shaking hands to ______ getting sick?

prevent DEFINITION: stop from happening

Do you know anyone who lives in an apartment ______? Would you like to live in one?

complex DEFINITION: a place where you can find many of the same thing ALSO: a sports complex, a tennis complex, an entertainment complex

Do you know anyone who likes _____ songs or movies?

depressing DEFINITION: very sad ALSO: depressing news

Do you know anyone who likes to stare at their _______ in the mirror?

reflection DEFINITION: the image or the light that is sent back to you from a surface, ex. a lake, a mirror NOUN: if you ride a bicycle at night it's a good idea to have reflectors on your bike ALSO: if you ask your boss for a raise and he says "I need to reflect on it" that means he needs to think about it

Do you know anyone who likes being ______?

dramatic DEFINITION: the root word is "drama"; a person who is dramatic likes emotion and show ALSO: if you say "prices rose dramatically" that means they rose suddenly and a lot

Do you know anyone who is easily ________?

offended DEFINITION: if you offend someone you say something rude or vulgar which they don't like

Do you know anyone who had to self-______ after getting covid?

isolate DEFINITION: to separate, set apart so that the person or thing is alone ALSO: to isolate a problem means to identify the problem and separate it so you can solve it easier NOUN: isolation

Do you know any _______?

designers DEFINITION: anyone who designs professionally, ex. a graphic designer, a clothing designer VERB: to design ALSO: if you buy designer clothes that means you buy very expensive, trendy clothes

Do you know any _____ jokes?

offensive DEFINITION: it's shocking or rude

Do you know any kids who have _______ problems?

behavior DEFINITION: how someone acts NOTE: It's spelled "behaviour" in the UK

Do you know a movie that ____ ____ last weekend?

came out DEFINITION: it was released, put on the market

Do you have _____ in the ability of your colleagues?

faith DEFINITION: you trust their ability to do their job EXPRESSION: I have faith in you.

Do you have the _______ to achieve your English goals?

determination DEFINITION: dedication to a goal; someone who has determination doesn't quit ADJECTIVE: to be determined

Do you have sensitive feet? That's because you have 200,000 _____ endings down there.

nerve DEFINITION: fibers that communicate feeling to your brain EXPRESSION: if someone makes a comment that makes you upset you can say it struck a nerve with you EXPRESSION: "He had the nerve to ask for a raise after losing the sale" = boldness, rudeness EXPRESSION: "He must have nerves of steel" = very brave EXPRESSION: "I was a bundle of nerves before my interview" = very nervous EXPRESSION: "Bob really gets on my nerves." = he annoys me

Do you have full insurance _____? Or just for accidents?

coverage DEFINITION: if your insurance covers something that means you'll be reimbursed if that something happens; if your city has good internet coverage that means internet is available in many places

Do you have any _______ teeth?

golden DEFINITION: made of gold, the same color as gold ALSO: a golden retriever (dog), San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge ALSO: it can mean the best / greatest; ex. the golden age of television, a golden era ALSO: a golden opportunity is a very good opportunity

Do you have any ______ paintings or photos on your walls?

landscape DEFINITION: a view, usually of nature ALSO: a landscaper / landscape architect is someone who improves the area around a house; ex. adds a pond, builds a path, plants bushes, etc. ALSO: if you read in the paper about the political landscape that means the same as "the political environment" or "scene"

Do you have any _____ clothes?

pink

Do you have any credit card _____?

debt DEFINITION: money that you borrowed and must pay back NOTE: the "b" is silent ALSO: if someone tells you "I owe you a debt of gratitude" that means you did something nice for him and he's thankful for it

Do you have a _______? Or do you pay rent? Or do you already own your home?

mortgage DEFINITION: a bank loan specifically for a house or apartment

Do you have a _______ ____ for your building?

maintenance man DEFINITION: the person who repairs things when they break

Do you have a ______ for your phone?

case DEFINITION: a container ALSO: a briefcase

Do you have a university _____? What's it in? (ex. "My degree is in biology, history, engineering...)

degree DEFINITION: a qualification from a university

Do you have a favorite ______ to watch the news in English?

channel DEFINITION: a company or network that broadcasts TV content ALSO: now we have YouTube channels

Do you have a favorite ______ music composer?

classical DEFINITION: it was popular in the past, it's still popular, and it will be popular in the future ALSO: classical architecture refers to the architecture of ancient Greece and Rome

Do you have a driver _______? How about a ______ to kill?

license DEFINITION: a government document that gives you permission to do something ALSO: a hunting license; a car needs a license plate ADJECTIVE: he's licensed to practice medicine in this country

Do you have a device in your house to ______ smoke?

detect DEFINITION: discover, catch (a person doing something bad) ALSO: a smoke detector, a lie detector

Do you give any money to _______?

charity DEFINITION: a cause or organization that helps people in need ADJECTIVE: a charitable act

Do you get to choose your tasks at work? Or are they _____ to you by your boss?

assigned DEFINITION: given NOUN: an assignment is the same as a job or task, but it sounds a little more important

Do you follow ______ events?

current DEFINITION: recent, happening now

Do you find the third conditional ______?

confusing DEFINITION: complicated, difficult to understand NOUN: confusion

Do you find it hard to _______ when working in an open-space office or at home?

concentrate DEFINITION: focus NOUN: concentration

Do you find it difficult to _____ long sentences in English?

construct DEFINITION: build NOUN: construction; ex. if you work in construction that means you build houses/buildings

Do you find it difficult to work _______ from home?

efficiently DEFINITION: to get a lot of work done in a short time ALSO: a fuel-efficient car

Do you ever _____ ____ ___ your languages before going on a trip?

brush up on DEFINITION: to refresh your knowledge

Do you ever _____ before answering the phone?

hesitate DEFINITION: to pause before doing something, usually because you're not confident or you have second thoughts ALSO: a nice way to end a business letter/email is: If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact us. ADJECTIVE: hesitant

Do you ever walk up the stairs instead of taking the ______?

lift (UK) DEFINITION: elevator (US)

Do you ever shop at the airport to avoid paying _____?

duty DEFINITION: a tax; ex. a duty free store

Do you ever go to social events just to build your ______?

network DEFINITION: any group of things connect as if on a net; a social / professional network are your contacts, i.e. people you know ALSO: a computer network, the mobile network

Do you ever buy _______ food? Even if it costs more?

organic DEFINITION: natural, with fewer artificial ingredients ALSO: if something happens organically it happens naturally

Do you ever bring your own _____ when you go shopping?

bag DEFINITION: a sack ALSO: a bag by Louis Vuitton is a purse

Do you believe economic _______ can be controlled by governments?

cycles DEFINITION: a repeating pattern

Do you believe aliens ________?

exist DEFINITION: they're real

Do people in your country eat a healthy _______?

diet DEFINITION: the food that is typically eaten, ex. a low-fat diet, the Western diet

Do any political issues ______ your family?

divide DEFINITION: to separate into parts/groups, split NOUN: division ALSO: What is 44 divided by 11? i.e 44 ÷ 11=?

Do any of your country's politicians show _______ behaviour?

infantile DEFINITION: when you behave like an infant, i.e. a baby / a child

Do any families or groups or businesses in your country get _______ treatment from the government?

preferential DEFINITION: you treat them better than everyone else; they get special treatment

Do any businesses get special _______ in your country?

privileges DEFINITION: special rights

Did your parents make you finish your _________ when you were a kid?

plate DEFINITION: a flat dish for food EXPRESSION: if your colleague says "I've got a lot on my plate this week" that means he's busy

Did your parents ever make you stand in the ______?

corner DEFINITION: the intersection of two walls ALSO: a street corner ALSO: if an animal is cornered that means he can't escape ALSO: if you have the corner office that means you have a senior position in the company

Did your parents always ______ ___ your dates?

approve of DEFINITION: if you approve of something you think it's a good idea

Did your country _____ too many or too few covid restrictions?

impose DEFINITION: to force something on people, usually something unpopular ALSO: impose a tax, impose a curfew, impose a regulation

Did you _______ anything when you were a kid?

collect DEFINITION: to accumulate, ex. the rainwater collects in the reservoir; (as a hobby) to get more and more of the same thing NOUN: a stamp collection; the largest collection of Van Gogh paintings ALSO: if you buy an exercise bike and it collects dust that means you never use it

Did you ____ __ in the same town where you live now? Or did you move away?

grow up DEFINITION: to become an adult ALSO: If someone tells you "Grow up" that means they think you're acting immature / like a child.

Did you know, the Eiffel Tower was built as a temporary structure for the 1889 World's Fair? But it was so popular it became a _____ part of the Paris skyline.

permanent DEFINITION: forever

Did you know, in California you can have an early election if you ______ enough signatures?

collect DEFINITION: to gather; ex. the teacher collected our homework at the beginning of class

Did you know there were so many different types of ______?

lips ALSO: women can wear lipstick; if your lips are dry you can put on lip balm IDIOM: if a politician gives lip services that means he just talks about the problem but doesn't do anything about it

Did you know the _____ for Coca Cola is a secret kept inside this vault in Atlanta, Georgia?

formula DEFINITION: a combination of ingredients; instructions , ex. a chemistry formula: two H and one O make H2O ALSO: if someone buys baby formula that means artificial milk

Did you know that too much time alone can _____ you immune system?

depress DEFINITION: to weaken ALSO: a bad commercial can depress sales (lower, make worse)

Did you know that deer only see two _______?

dimensions DEFINITION: size, length in a certain direction; ex the dimensions of the bed are 13' x 44' x 154' ALSO: a 3D movie

Did you have to write research papers in school? Did you have to _____ your sources like this?

cite DEFINITION: to name the source of your information NOUN: citation

Did you go to university? What was your _____ of study?

field DEFINITION: area, category

Did you ever study ______? Do you wish you had? Where would you have gone?

overseas DEFINITION: abroad ALSO: an overseas investment fund; work overseas; overseas travel

Did you ever have to _____ __ the principal's office for being bad in school?

report to DEFINITION: to go to someone in authority who has asked you to come to them ALSO: a soldier must report for duty when there's a war

Did you ever go through a rebellious _____ in your teen years?

phase DEFINITION: a period of time that only lasts for a limited time; a stage PHRASAL VERB: if a company decides to phase out a product that means they'll let consumers buy the remaining stock and not continue to make more

Did you ever consider a non-______ career, like a musician or artist?

conventional DEFINITION: standard, mainstream; ex. conventional wisdom says you should eat a big breakfast ALSO: conventional warfare includes shooting, tanks, planes, etc.; non-conventional warfare includes cyber attacks, nuclear weapons, etc.

Did you enjoy writing _____ in school?

compositions DEFINITION: an essay

Did you country ever have a period of territorial _______?

expansion DEFINITION: growth VERB: to expand

Did you agree with all the ______ your city and country imposed during covid?

restrictions DEFINITION: limitations

Despite the accusations of theft, corruption, domestic terrorism and child slavery, Bob always managed to ____ ____ smelling like roses.

come out DEFINITION: the end result was, it was revealed; ex. after the investigation it came out that the election results were false ALSO: the new movie comes out in theatres next week, i.e. released, made public

Despite being _____ injured by pigeons on his Friday lunchbreak, Bob was back at work Monday morning.

badly DEFINITION: seriously, severely

Delays at the airport were made worse after the flight attendants decided to __ __ ___.

go on strike DEFINITION: to stop working so that they'll get paid more ALSO: to strike

Dating online? Don't say you're old, say you're ______.

mature DEFINITION: a nice way of saying "old" ADJECTIVE: wise, like an adult, someone who makes good decisions FINANCIAL ENGLISH: if you say that the bond/investment matures in ten years that means it becomes profitable

Danny and Sandy thought they'd just have a summer ____ and never see each other again. But then...

fling DEFINITION: a short romance

Dale Carnegie's classic book, "How To Win Friends And Influence People" is almost 100 years old, but the advice he gives is still ______ today.

relevant DEFINITION: relevant advice is advice that is appropriate-it's connected to the subject or situation or the current times ALSO: a relevant comment, a relevant example OPPOSITE: irrelevant

Covid-19 is sometimes called " ______" because it's a recently-discovered coronavirus.

novel DEFINITION: new

Could your stomach _____ a foot-long chili dog?

handle DEFINITION: cope with, deal with

cooling off with a ______

fan DEFINITION: a device for moving air ALSO: if you're in a group searching for someone and your leader says "Let's fan out" that means spread out

Cooking requires a lot of food _____

preparation DEFINITION: getting it ready ALSO: it requires a lot of prep / food prep / prep time VERB: to prepare

Considering that Bob had just learned to ride a bicycle the previous week, it was an ______ victory.

extraordinary DEFINITION: amazing, incredible

Concrete ______, like this one, are now common sites wherever you find pedestrians.

barriers DEFINITION: anything that prevents entry; a wall; an obstacle ALSO: If someone wants a job in an international company but has a low level of English that could be a barrier to being hired. ALSO: If you travel to a country where you don't speak the local language you may encounter language barriers.

computer _______ get smaller and more powerful every year

chips DEFINITION: a small piece of something ALSO: potato chips, chocolate chips

Compared to a billionaire, the average millionaire is only __________ wealthy

moderately DEFINITION: in the middle, not extreme

Company policy forbids discrimination against ______ groups or religions, including orange people.

particular DEFINITION: certain, specific (it's a word that is usually not necessary in the sentence but it's used to emphasize that the person you're talking about is seperate from the others)

Come. Let us go _____ ,settle new lands, tame the wild creatures, and build mini-malls.

forth DEFINITION: forward ALSO: From this day forth.... ; we exchanged emails back and forth NOTE: formal, not so common in conversation

Coke used to _____ that it was a health drink.

claim DEFINITION: to say that something is true, ex. The accused claimed to be innocent but the witness said he was guilty.

Coach Bob blamed their ______ on the nice weather.

loss DEFINITION: something that you lose or have less of, ex. hair loss, weight loss COMMON EXPRESSION: if you hear something incredible or unbelievable you can say, "I'm at a loss for words." ALSO: if your friend's family member dies you can say, "Sorry for your loss."

Clear writing is a ______ communication skill.

crucial DEFINITION: very important ALSO: a crucial moment, crucial information, a crucial detail

cleaning his computer _____ a ______ door to keep bugs out

screen

City officials make ______ after local residence complain about Bob.

inquiries DEFINITION: they're investigating something VERB: to inquire

City Lights bookshop was the heart of the San Francisco _____ scene in the 1950s.

literary DEFINITION: related to literature ALSO: a literary review; a literary critic

Christmas dinner at Bob's always ended in a _______

row DEFINITION: a loud argument NOTE: there's another word with the same spelling, but this one is pronounced differently. Ex. If you cut your finger you say "ow", r+ow)

Christians believe that when you die your _______ either goes to heaven or hell.

spirit Definition: soul

Chocolate or vanilla? What's your _______?

preference DEFINITION: if you prefer something that means it's your first choice, you like it better than other options

Children are _____ on their parents for support.

dependent DEFINITION: some who relies on / depends on someone else ALSO: on your tax form you may be asked if you have any dependents, i.e. children living with you

Chemotherapy treatments attempt to _____ cancer from the body.

eliminate DEFINITION: get rid of completely, remove ALSO: an army can eliminate the enemy (kill); in a sports tournament if a team does well it advances to the elimination round

Chemistry is a ________ to graduate from high school.

requirement DEFINITION: something that is necessary verb: to require

CEO stands for chief ________ officer

executive DEFINITION: a person who is at the top level of a company

carrying a heavy _____

load DEFINITION: anything that you carry, usually heavy; cargo; freight VERB: if you load the car before a long trip you put all the bags in ALSO: trucks and ships are loaded and unloaded at the loading docks PHRASAL VERB: before running a marathon you may want to load up on carbs (carbohydrates)

Can you _______ what these words are?

guess DEFINITION: to try to know the answer

Can you ______ when someone is lying to you?

detect DEFINITION: to realize or discover something, usually something hidden

Can you ______ what the world will look like one hundred years in the future?

picture DEFINITION: see, imagine

Can you _____ your phone like this?

bend past: bent Also: a bend in the road

Can you spot the _______?

forgery DEFINITION: an illegal copy Verb: to forge a signature

Can you spot the English ______ on this map?

channel DEFINITION: a large body of water, usually connecting two seas VERB: if your boss tells you to channel all your energy on making more sales he wants you to focus more on sales

Can you name the ____ materials inside your phone?

raw (Answer: glass, steel, graphite, nickel, copper, etc.) DEFINITION: the materials that you find in nature - before they are manufactured into a product ALSO: raw meat is uncooked meet ALSO: if someone has raw talent it means he's naturally very good and hasn't even had lessons or training

Can you imagine anything more _____ than space?

vast Definition: very, very large Noun: the vastness of space Adjective: we hold vastly different opinions

Can you handle ______?

criticism DEFINITION: negative comments VERB: to criticize ADJECTIVE: critical

"Can I ask a question?" "Sure. ____ ____."

go ahead DEFINITION: yes, begin

"But I'm _____ five minutes late...."

merely Definition: only Also: you can also say "a mere ____" to show that the amount/number is small, ex. Bob was fired for being a mere five minutes late.

Bunny rabbits are cute, loveable vegetarians. But there are always _______

exceptions DEFINITION: an exception is the minority; an unusual person or outcome or result ALSO: If something is exceptional it's at the highest level.

building the _______ for a house

frame

Building the Panama Canal was a costly _____; both in terms of money and human life.

enterprise DEFINITION: a large, difficult project

Bob's test said he wasn't _______ with Covid. But he did have malaria, tuberculosis, leprosy, AIDS and pink eye.

infected DEFINITION: to have a virus ALSO: your computer can be infected ALSO: an infectious disease

Bob's family has ________views about how to solve the world's problems.

diverse DEFINITION: they're very different from each other, not the same

BOB: "Are you ready?" BOB'S TALKING DOG: "Yup. I'm ____ ____. Let's go."

all set DEFINITION: to be ready COMMON EXPRESSION: Ready. Set. Go!

Bob, you've got something on your _______.

face DEFINITION: the place where you find your eyes and nose IDIOM: a face-to-face talk means an in-person talk (not on zoom or on the phone) IDIOM: if you have a face off with your boss you have a major confrontation IDIOM: if your colleague tells you it's time to face the music that means it's time to tell the boss how your mistake costs the company millions

Bob, you _____ to have that looked at by a doctor.

ought DEFINITION: should

Bob, will you ____ me your llama? I want to see if it'll help me meet girls.

lend DEFINITION: to allow someone to use temporarily

Bob, now that you're a man, I have something to tell you. You're not our ______ son.

biological DEFINITION: by birth; related to biology ALSO: sometimes the word is shortened to "bio" ex. a biohazard

"Bob, it ______ me how you're able to run two companies, date three women, play golf every day, and still have time for your ten children. How do you do it?" "I took a time management workshop. And I use cocaine."

amazes DEFINITION: to surprise, shock ADJECTIVE: amazing NOUN: amazement

Bob, I really ______ you coming in to work on Saturday. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to get back to the golf course.

appreciate DEFINITION: to be thankful for

Bob, I can't ______ another minute with you!

bear DEFINITION: tolerate ADJECTIVE: unbearable conditions

"Bob, can I get your _____ on my new marketing plan?" "Yes. You should quit now."

Bob, as your lawyer, I _____ you to stop calling the judge a moron.

advise DEFINITION: to tell someone what you think would be best for them Pronunciation: s="z"

Bob's ________ was, smoking makes you look cool; and cool guys get all the chicks.

reasoning DEFINITION: if you reason you use logic to explain something

Bob's _______ for free foot massages for all members of parliament was accepted.

proposal DEFINITION: an idea or request or plan that is suggested to a person or group Verb: to propose

Bob's _____ meeting with the new team went well. Then he stole the company database, spilled coffee on his computer and slept with the boss' wife. But the ______ meeting went very well.

initial DEFINITION: at the beginning ADVERB: initially

Bob's weekend house was built on a ____ location at the lake.

prime DEFINITION: excellent ALSO: Prime rib steak, prime time, in the prime of his life

Bob's parking tickets were as ____ as the stars in the sky.

numerous DEFINITION: if there's a lot of something you can say it's numerous; plentiful

Bob's parents were very ______ . Bob apologized and promised them he would not get caught by the police next time.

disappointed DEFINITION: to let down; fail to meet someone's expectations

Bob's parents never told him he was ____

adopted DEFINITION: if you adopt a child you raise a child that is not your biological child ALSO: you can adopt a new name or a new style of dressing

Bob's parents are ______ but they still know how to have a good time.

elderly Definition: a more polite way of saying "old" Also: A parent might tell his child, "Respect your elders."

Bob's not a doctor. But when he reads medical _____ at the bar, he meets more nurses.

journals DEFINITION: an academic, professional publication

Bob's new car cost a ______. But it was worth it!

fortune DEFINITION: a lot of money

Bob's mother ______ him at the door of the rich family. The rich family gave him to some wolves. The wolves moved to a different town.

abandoned DEFINITION: when you leave something that you own or someone you're responsible for ALSO: an abandoned house, an abandoned car, when a ship is sinking people yell "Abandon ship!", and if you quit a project and never return to it you abandon the project

Bob's glasses and bow tie give him a real nerdy _______.

appearance DEFINITION: a nerdy / uncool look

Bob's friends said he _______ when he got married and had kids.

disappeared DEFINITION: no one could find him

Bob's first seven booster shots worked great, but the eighth was _______

ineffective DEFINITION: it didn't work

Bob's first and last assignment as a forester was to cut off the tree's dead _____.

branch DEFINITION: a limb of a tree ALSO: your company can have a main office and a branch office in another city VERB: If your business sells only to adults they could decide to branch out and start selling to teens as well.

Bob's dog had good ______. Unfortunately, it was the last time they ever played together.

intentions DEFINITION: if you intend to do something it's what you plan to do but not always what you actually do; it's your objective, aim, plan VERB: to intend ALSO: intent, ex. His intent was good.

Bob's doctor told him that because he was now 40 it was _____ to have a prostate exam once a year. Bob disagreed, died, but kept his pants on.

essential DEFINITION: necessary, very important Opposite: non-essential

Bob's comment about his favorite supermodel was entirely _______ to the discussion.

irrelevant DEFINITION: it had nothing to do with the topic, it was not relevant

Bob's application to join the _______ of African-American Business Leaders was rejected when it was discovered that his business was being investigated by the FBI. Plus, he's Chinese.

Association DEFINITION: a group of people with a common interest

Bob ______ to study medicine when he got to college.

intended DEFINITION: when you plan to do something, though it may or may not actually happen

Bob ______ misjudged his ability to multitask.

badly DEFINITION: poorly ALSO: your child can behave badly; you can perform badly on an exam

Bob ______ many disadvantages to become Paris' most famous fashion model, a Formula 1 driver, and a bitcoin billionaire.

overcame DEFINITION: if you overcome a difficulty or a bad situation it means you beat it, you are successful despite the bad situation ALSO: if someone says they were overcome with sleep that means they suddenly felt very sleepy

Bob ______ every problem as an opportunity to save money.

approached DEFINITION: to address, tackle

Bob _____ _____ again.

messed up DEFINITION: he made a mistake VULGAR: to fuck up

Bob would like to ______ you for the army. Would you like to have a seat?

recruit DEFINITION: to get someone to join your organization or company, ex. large corporations send their recruiters to job fairs to recruit new employees

Bob was _______ that he got to borrow his boss' convertible on the first sunny day of the year.

fortunate DEFINITION: lucky ALSO: if someone asks you to give money to the less fortunate that's another way of saying "poor"

Bob was _______ insane by the court and given life in an insane asylum.

declared DEFINITION: an official announcement NOUN: declaration

Bob was ______ to finish the race.

determined DEFINITION: he was very focused on and motivated to achieve the goal

Bob was ______ for bringing his marijuana plant to the office.

fired DEFINITION: sacked, terminated, you're told you aren't allowed to continue working

Bob was ____ famous until someone finished the race in 42.21 seconds.

briefly DEFINITION: happening for just a short time

Bob was so lonely he had to kiss the _______.

ground DEFINITION: the surface of the earth ALSO: if a person is grounded that means he's practical, sensible, as if his feet are on the ground OR: if you ground your child you forbid him/her from leaving the house

Bob was so focused on his swimsuit model, he wasn't even _____ that he had a visitor.

aware DEFINITION: when you know that something exists NOUN: awareness OPPOSITE: unaware

Bob was sick at home the day they taught them how to _____ the plane

land DEFINITION: when the plane returns to the ground NOUN: a rough landing, a smooth landing

Bob was relieved of his ______ for just sitting at his desk and staring at the wall all day.

post DEFINITION: a job, usually with the government NOTE: "relieved" is a formal way of saying "fired"

Bob was given his _____ to run the Department of Defense as a thank you for his billion-dollar campaign donation.

appointment DEFINITION: given a high position job, usually in government VERB: appointed Ambassador to Sweden

Bob was given a strict warning after it was revealed that he was ________ with the boss' wife.

involved DEFINITION: a nice way to say someone is doing something bad; in this example they were having a sexual affair ALSO: involved in crime, involved with drugs

Bob was afraid to ______ to one woman.

commit Definition: to make a promise, to say that you'll do something, ex. I'm committed to finishing this job.

Bob was able to ______ his habit because he only drank diet cola.

justify DEFINITION: to rationalize, to use logic to say why something is ok NOUN: justification

Bob was a bad _______.

employee DEFINITION: someone who works for someone else (usually in an office)

Bob waited for her to start a conversation before he realized he would have to _____ _____ ______. Or maybe he would just go home.

take the initiative DEFINITION: the first step ALSO: if you have initiative you make things happen; but if you lack initiative you're passive

Bob used to grow corn. Then he discovered that opium was a more profitable ______.

crop Definition: you grow fruit and vegetables in your garden but farmers grow crops Also: wheat crop, barley crop

Bob used his cool super hero costume to meet sexy babes at the comic book _________

convention Definition: a large meeting of people in the same industry or with the same hobby

Bob tried to get his money back but unfortunately the contract he signed was _______

binding DEFINITION: a contract where you must do exactly what's written in the contract, i.e. you're bound by law to fulfill your promise

Bob took every opportunity he could to fight against the political ______ .

establishment DEFINITION: the dominant group in a society

Bob told his teacher that his dog ate his homework. But she didn't believe his ______.

excuse DEFINITION: an explanation

Bob thinks he's a great guy. But ___ _____, he's just a jerk.

in reality DEFINITION: in real life, the truth is ALSO: reality TV show, virtual reality (VR)

Bob the developer: "This would be a great _____ for the new parking lot. What do you think?"

site DEFINITION: location

Bob spent too much time on Anki and got a bad ______ on his math test.

grade

Bob searched everywhere for his contact lens, but it was ______ to be found.

nowhere DEFINITION: not anywhere ALSO: nowhere to hide, a road to nowhere, going nowhere

Bob said he was at church at the time of the murders. The ______ found Bob guilty anyway.

jury DEFINITION: in a court case, the group of people who decide if someone is innocent (he didn't do the crime) or guilty (he did the crime) COMMON EXPRESSION: if someone tells you "the jury is still out" that means a decision hasn't been reached (at the end of a court case the jury leaves the room to vote, i.e. they're out of the room and haven't made a decision yet)

Bob really should have ______ ____ his mother.

listened to DEFINITION: if you listen to someone you obey them BUT: if you listen to the radio or listen to music you enjoy them NOTE: the "t" is silent ("Don't run with scissors" is a common warning mothers give their children.)

Bob quit Tinder when he discovered how many single women attended _______.

burials DEFINITION: the ceremony where a body is buried NOTE: In the US, the funeral is typically held in a church before the burial

Bob only has a vague ____ of how viruses spread.

notion DEFINITION: an idea or understanding of something; ex. Learning a language without a teacher is a strange notion for many.

Bob only asked for a dollar for a bus ticket, but got a very _____ donation for a plane ticket.

liberal DEFINITION: generous

Bob never started his novel because he ______ every idea he had. But his basketball skills improved greatly.

dismissed DEFINITION: reject ALSO: if a judge dismisses a case that means he refuses to hear the case (maybe there wasn't enough evidence or there wasn't a strong enough reason) ALSO: if a teacher says "Class dismissed" that means class is over and the students can leave the classroom

Bob made an ______ to break the world record. (He failed.)

effort DEFINITION: attempt, try

Bob loved his job as a customer service ______ because it allowed him to show off his handsome thumbs.

operator DEFINITION: a person who operates (controls) a machine; ex. a camera operator; a forklift operator; a telephone operator ALSO: a person or company which controls a business; ex. a franchise operator, a nuclear power plant operator

Bob liked to focus on the future and ______ his mistakes.

bury DEFINITION: cover with dirt ALSO: if you're really busy you can say you're buried in work NOUN: a burial

Bob is ____ __ the ____ Tower of Pisa

leaning on - Leaning Definition: to put your weight against something, ex. lean against the wall; or if something is not straight it's leaning Also: lean back in your chair to show confidence, lean forward if you don't hear the other person

Bob hoped that the flowers would _____ ______ for burning down the house.

make amends DEFINITION: to compensate someone for harm you caused

Bob had a strong imagination and didn't care for violence, so he used his ______ gun.

pretend DEFINITION: to act as if something is true; to make believe

Bob got his __________ for a vacation spot from his Hindu friend.

recommendation DEFINITION: a suggestion VERB: to recommend

Bob got his best ideas walking ______ Route 11

along DEFINITION: next to

Bob got bored with his job at the bank so he decided to try ______ dealing.

arms DEFINITION: weapons (formal) VERB: if you arm yourself you carry a weapon ADJECTIVE: armed/unamrmed, ex. "He robbed the bank armed only with a knife."

Bob gave a _______ to charity once but soon regretted it when he realized now he only had enough money for a limousine with five prostitutes.

contribution DEFINITION: when you give time or money without expecting anything in return VERB: contribute

Bob found it hard to _______ before his morning vodka.

function DEFINITION: to work, operate

Bob flew all over the world to campaign for the _______ of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

reduction DEFINITION: if you reduce something you lessen the amount / number of

Bob finally felt safe now that he was ______ vaccinated.

fully DEFINITION: 100% ALSO: a fully recovered hospital patient, a fully operational factory, a fully charged phone

Bob felt _________ when he heard his boss' wife wasn't pregnant. But he was still fired.

relief Definition: a positive feeling you get when stress or worry is gone Verb: relieve Also: pain relief

Bob enjoys long, romantic walks through the ______.

desert DEFINITION: the place with all the sand (not the beach)

Bob Dylan started his career as a _____ singer.

folk Definition: "people" Also: folk song, folk music, folk festival, folklore (i.e. legends)

Bob doesn't usually ______ at restaurants, but this didn't look like the milkshake he ordered...

complain DEFINITION: what you say when you're not happy or satisfied about something NOUN: a complaint

Bob didn't want to get married but Jennifer was very _________.

convincing DEFINITION: a convincing argument is a good argument; it convinces you

Bob didn't simply like the new Apple operating system; he thought it _______!

rocked DEFINITION: it's excellent; very, very good NOTE: the verb "to rock" comes from the musical genre "rock 'n roll"

Bob didn't say he wanted to give a bribe, but he did ____ that he was willing to negotiate.

imply Definition: when you says something indirectly through your words or actions, ex. When your wife asks you if that's your third hamburger this morning she may be implying you eat too much. NOUN: implication ADJECTIVE: implicit

Bob did everything he could to _____ he would win the gold medal.

ensure DEFINITION: to make something more likely to happen; ex. What are you doing to ensure your English gets better this month?

Bob delivered a great ______ for his business idea but no one wanted to give him a million billion dollars.

pitch DEFINITION: to propose an idea ALSO: in baseball it means to throw the ball at the batter

Bob ate the _____ steak and was so full he thought he might explode. And that's when he saw Death. Or maybe it was just the waitress...

entire Definition: he ate all of it, he completely finished it

Bob and Princess Evelyn wanted to get married right away, but ______ were not ideal.

circumstances DEFINITION: the situation, conditions

Bob and Jennifer’s first date became ____ when they found out they were related.

awkward DEFINITION: uncomfortable

Bob and Jennifer got married at the _____ of the ocean. But they got divorced in court.

bottom Definition: the lowest part of something Opposite: top Note: native speakers usually pronounce the "t" as a "d"

Bob and his hungry brothers took turns ______ their soup.

stirring ALSO: If you like to stir the pot in your conversations that means you like to talk about controversial subjects and to argue. IDIOM: if you spend too much time inside you can go stir crazy

Bob and Bill looked so similar, even their mother could not ______ who was who.

distinguish Definition: to recognize the difference between two things, people Opposite (adjective): indistinguishable

Bob always ____ Jennifer and Cindy_____, so he maried them both.

got... confused DEFINITION: mixed up; if you get two things confused you mistake one for the other

Bob always said his sense of humour was a key ______ of his success.

element DEFINITION: a part of a whole; an essential element or key element is a very important part ALSO: in chemistry, the elements are: carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, calcium, and gold; but in nature the elements are air, water, fire and earth

Bob always hated Gospel music so he decided to _______ to Judaism.

convert DEFINITION: to change ALSO: in your house you can convert a spare bedroom into an office; convert a Word document into a .pdf

Bob always finds love; even ____ a pandemic

amid DEFINITION: in the middle of a time or event; ex. amid the chaos

Bob always chose the worst moments to ___ ___ other women.

check out DEFINITION: to look, to examine

blood______ under a microscope

cells DEFINITION: the basic building blocks of life ADJECTIVE: she's studying Cellular Biology at college

Bill Clinton first entered _____ when he ran for Governor of Arkansas in 1978.

politics DEFINITION: the business of winning elections Also: political

Before you sell your home you should have a professional ______ its value.

assess DEFINITION: to judge, evaluate, estimate NOUN: get an assessment on your house before you sell it ALSO: assess an employee's performance, assess someone's English

Before the Wright brothers, most people _____ that it was possible for man to fly

doubted DEFINITION: to be uncertain, skeptical

Before making a major business decision, Bob always ________ an expert.

consulted DEFINITION: if you consult someone it means you ask for their advice

Before leaving for his 8 a.m. job interview, Bob forgot to ____ ____ morning traffic.

factor in DEFINITION: to consider an important fact/detail before making a decision; to take into account

Before landing, please ____ ___ your tray table.

put up DEFINITION: if you put up something you put it away, close it, remove it

Before joining Conversation Academy, Bob suffered from ______ sweating every time he had to speak English.

excessive DEFINITION: way too much ALSO: excessive demands, excessive heat, excessive complaining

Before it's a law, it's called a ______.

bill DEFINITION: a proposed law

Before he died, Bob _______ that his family spread his ashes over the sea. The sea was too far away though so they just dumped him in the backyard.

requested DEFINITION: politely asked (formal)

Before asking for money, Bob liked to create a romantic ______.

atmosphere DEFINITION: the ambiance, the mood, the environment

Because sitting in front of a computer all day is not healthy, it's important to incorporate some _______ into your day.

movement DEFINITION: the noun of "to move"

Because Prince had no children, it's not clear yet who will get his ________.

estate Definition: the total amount of what someone owns: property, investments, cash, etc.

Because of their blond hair, people are starting to ________ baby Prince William to baby Prince George.

compare Definition: to look at the similarities or differences Noun: comparison

Because of his high blood pressure, Bob's doctor told him it was _______ to listen to relaxing music while he drove.

important Definition: high value or significance Noun: importance

Because of her high ______, Jennifer had trouble meeting men. And then she met Bob....

standards DEFINITION: a level or grade that is expected/the norm, i.e. if the quality of a product is standard it's acceptable but nothing special ALSO: the standard approach is the usual approach; a standard reply is the usual/expected reply ALSO: if you're having a bad week your boss might say your work is not up to your usual standards

Because of Bob's high ______ in the military, no one told him about his bad breath.

rank DEFINITION:your position in a hierarchy Verb: rank; ex. Our company was ranked #1 for customer service

Because of Bob's daily _______to the sun, no one believed he was only 25.

exposure DEFINITION: he was in the sun without protection or cover

Because it's the highest and most respected office in government, voters prefer candidates who act __________.

presidential DEFINITION: refering to the president, ex. the presidential car NOUN: president ALSO: presidential elections, presidential vote

Because Bob was the __________ everyone was afraid to tell him his computer was not on.

chairman DEFINITION: the person in a committee or meeting or board of directors with the highest position ALSO: chairperson, chairwoman VERB: to chair a meeting = to lead a meeting

"At this _______ we'll never get there."

rate DEFINITION: the speed or frequency of something; ex. pulse rate=how many times your heart beats per minute, birth rate=how many babies born per year Also: heart rate, rate of return on your investment

At the last minute, a _______ was added to the law which would make Atlantis an EU member.,

provision DEFINITION: an addition to a law or contract

At the end of the Nuremburg _______, 19 Nazis were found guilty and 12 were hanged.

trial

At the end of his life, Bob had only one ______, he wished he had spent more time at the office.

regret DEFINITION: if you regret something you wish you hadn't done it, ex. I regret saying that. ALSO: if you need to deliver bad news a polite way to say it is, "I regret to inform you that..."

At the beginning of the recession, the CEO ordered a hiring _____.

freeze DEFINITION: to temporarily stop

At just 34 years old, Sanna Marin, Finland's Prime Minister, has already ________ quite a lot.

accomplished DEFINITION: achieved

Astronaut Alan Bean prepares to leave the landing _______.

module DEFINITION: a smaller, separate part; ex. there are twelve modules in the course ADJECTIVE: modular; ex. a modular house

As you grow older, your ________ declines.

flexibility DEFINITION: the ability to bend your body, ex. touch your toes

As travel costs continue to rise, more ______ are choosing to make their own airplanes.

consumer DEFINITION: the producer makes the product and the consumer uses / consumes the product (or service)

As the vikings attacked, Bob _____ he was serious about reading.

proved DEFINITION: if you prove something you show it's true with evidence; ex. in court a lawyer must prove someone is guilty

As the sound of the waterfall grew louder and louder, Captain Bob still ______ they were going in the right direction.

insisted DEFINITION: to demand that something is true even when others disagree ADJECTIVE: to be insistent

As the doctor _______ Bob's waist he thought it would be a great time to ask her for a date.

measured DEFINITION: to use a tool to learn the size or depth of something ALSO: measure height, measure success NOUN: measurement, ex. a tailor takes your measurements

As soon as the ten-hour operation started, Dr. Bob _____ regretted having drunk a gallon of water just a few minutes before arriving.

deeply DEFINITION: very ALSO: to be deeply upset, deeply troubled, deeply sorry

As soon as the bill came for the dinner, Bob was gone ___ ___ _____

in a flash DEFINITION: quickly (think of a flash of lightning) ALSO: a flash sale (a one-day sale); a flash flood; done in a flash

As soon as Bob got the iPhone 2, he ____ ____ ____ anyone who still had the iPhone 1.

looked down on DEFINITION: he thought they were not as good as him, he didn't respect them NOTE: it's short for "look down your nose at someone"

As CEO, Bob's main _____ in the company was to entertain the investors and keep them happy.

function DEFINITION: role, job

As Bob _______ the airport in Saudi Arabia, he remembered he still had some heroin in his pocket.

approached DEFINITION: to get closer

As Bob and Jennifer sat on the _____ of the cliff he asked her if she had remembered to pay her life insurance.

edge Definition: the end or limit of an area or object; ex. the edge of the table, the edge of the city

As a result of the Watergate scandal, President Nixon decided to ______ instead of going to trial.

resign DEFINITION: to quit; usually used for someone who has an important job; ex. a secretary quits her job but the CEO resigns NOUN: resignation; ex. if you submit your letter of resignation that means you give a document that says you're quitting

Arnold ______ Franco to do one more rep.

urges DEFINITION: to push, to encourage

Arnold Schwarzenegger used to be the _____ of California.

Governor DEFINITION: the political leader of a state or region

Are _____ in your country mainly positive or negative?

folks Definition: people (informal) Also: folk songs are songs of the common person (not the elite) Also: folklore is a story about the past that may or may not be true Also: the word comes from the German word "volk" and the car Volkswagen means "peoples' car"

Are your elected officials doing a good job of _______?

governing DEFINITION: unelected leaders rule over their citizens; whereas, elected leaders govern

Are you _______ ___ anyone famous?

related to DEFINITION: if you’re related to someone they’re a part of your family or they're an ancestor (a dead relative); ex. We’re related by marriage.

Are you ______ of your kids?

proud DEFINITION: very satisfied with NOUN: pride

Are you _____ you decided to focus on vocabulary?

glad DEFINITION: happy, satisfied

Are you _____ enough to be a good salesman?

persuasive DEFINITION: if you persuade someone you convince him / change his mind

Are you the type of person who reads _______before you buy?

labels DEFINITION: a paper sign on a package or product ALSO: if you label a person that means you put them into a category (it's like you're putting a label on them), ex. label someone a Trump-supporter or label someone a feminist AND... I like a good beer buzz early in the morning And Billy likes to peel the labels from his bottles of Bud He shreds them on the bar then he lights every match In an oversized pack letting each one burn Lyrics from "All I Wanna Do" by Sheryl Crow

Are you still __ ______ ___your childhood friends?

in contact with DEFINITION: if you're in contact with someone that means you communicate regularly OPPOSITE: to lose contact with someone means you haven't spoken in a long time

Are you saving money in a retirement _______?

fund DEFINITION: money collected for a specific purpose ALSO: a mutual fund, an education fund

Are you loyal to any fashion ______?

brands DEFINITION: a well-known consumer product, i.e. something you buy in a store from a well-known company

Are you in any ______? Marriage... Business...?

partnerships DEFINITION: a cooperation with another person, i.e. a partner

Are you having a good day or a _______ day?

fantastic DEFINITION: great, amazing

Are you good at _______?

drawing DEFINITION: to make a picture with a pencil or pen NOUN: a drawing IDIOM: "back to the drawing board" means you start over from the beginning, the same as "back to square one"

Are you good at ____ _____ solutions to riddles and puzzles?

figuring out DEFINITION: discover, find a solution

Are you good at handling ______?

conflict DEFINITION: a battle, a clash VERB: if your schedules conflict that means you're both busy and can't meet ALSO: in some countries government officials are not allowed to run businesses because it's a conflict of interest

Are you good at dealing with _____?

complexity DEFINITION: if something is complex it's not simple

Are you feeling pain at the ______ these days?

pump DEFINITION: a tool that draws liquid out of the ground or a container, ex. a gas pump, water pump VERB: if you pump up your car's tires you fill them with air

Are you ever embarrassed by how your kids _____ in public?

behave DEFINITION: how you act is how you behave ALSO: instead of "behave badly" you can say "misbehave"

Are you easily _____ by the news?

bothered DEFINITION: disturbed, annoyed, irritated ALSO: If someone tells you, "Don't bother", that means it's not worth your effort. Ex. Don't bother trying to change his mind, it won't work.

Are you able to ______ manage your time while working from home?

effectively DEFINITION: in a way that's effective, i.e. it produces the result you want OPPOSITE: ineffective, ex. the medicine was ineffective

Are you a _______ person?

patient DEFINTION: you can wait and keep your cool, you can tolerate other people's bad behavior and keep your cool OPPOSITE: impatient

Are you a ______ of any sports teams?

fan DEFINITION: a supporter

Are you a ______ investor? Or do you take risks with your money?

conservative DEFINITION: cautious, careful ALSO: if your style is conservative you don't follow fashion trends or wear bright colors or revealing clothes ALSO: in politics some parties are known as the conservative parties

Are weddings in your country _____ or boring?

fun DEFINITION: enjoyable, entertaining ALSO: Did you have fun? Yes, it was fun. / I had a fun time.

Are these cute kids _______ with Bob or at Bob....?

laughing NOUN: laughter

Are there any foods which make you feel ______?

ill DEFINITION: sick NOUN: illness IDIOM: if your boss tells you "you would be ill advised to do that".... that means he thinks it's a very bad idea

Are there any _____ roads near you

rough DEFINITION: bumpy, not smooth, not easy ALSO: if you have a rough day you have a very difficult day IDIOM: If someone says, "He has a rough road ahead of him" that means he can expect a lot of challenges and difficult work.

Are the little men on your shoulders sometimes too ________?

critical DEFINITION: to find fault with, to complain

Are restaurants in your area _______ new technology?

employing DEFINITION: to use, to apply

Are public _______ common in your country?

protests DEFINITION: a demonstration against something ALSO: to protest something you don't like

Are parks in your country free? Or do you have to pay a _____ to enter?

fee DEFINITION: money paid to access or use something

Are citizens in your country allowed to own a gun if they have a ________?

permit DEFINITION: a document that gives you permission to do something, usually provided by the government ALSO: a fishing permit, a parking permit, a business can have a permit to sell alcohol

Are any of your colleagues or family members overly _______?

critical DEFINITION: someone who likes to complain about others, judgemental VERB: to criticize

Are any electrical _____ manufactured in your country? Or _____for cars? Or computers...?

components DEFINITION: parts, the pieces that make up the whole ALSO: you can also talk about the components of your business plan

Arches National Park in Utah is famous for its amazing rock _______.

formations DEFINITION: the noun of "to form" ALSO: You can form a government... life formed billions of years ago... you can view a star formation with a telescope... geese fly in a "V" formation

another exciting rocket ______ at Space X

launch DEFINITION: when a rocket launches it leaves earth, it takes off ALSO: a company can launch a new product

An ______ hard drive.

internal DEFINITION: referring to something that's on the inside ALSO: internal medicine; an internal combustion engine

an ______

infant DEFINITION: a baby

An old fashioned captain's _____.

log DEFINITION: a written record, ex. the daily activity for a voyage, the performance of a machine, police activity ALSO: login to, logout of a website

an apple ______

core DEFINITION: the center of something ALSO: the earth's core, the core of an idea

an apple ______

core Definition: the center of something Also: the earth's core, the core of an idea

Amazingly, Crunch Berries cereal _______ of 0% berries.

consists Definition: to be made of, contain (formal)

Although usually very confident, Bob suddenly felt _______ ..

inadequate DEFINITION: not enough, insufficient, not up to the job

Although they ______ in many ways, love kept Bob and Jennifer together.

differed DEFINITION: to have differences ALSO: to be different

Although they look scary, attacks by sharks and alligator are ______ rare.

exceedingly DEFINITION: very, extremely

Although there were many things Bob liked about being CEO, free coffee was the main ____for choosing the job.

factor DEFINITION: one of the elements that cause a result

Although the hotel _____ last on TripAdvisor.com, Bob thought it was a great deal.

ranked DEFINITION: to judge, to place on a scale; ex. Our company was ranked #1 for customer service.

Although the best detectives in the country spent months ________ the crime, they found no evidence that Bob was guilty. (He was.)

investigating Definition: when someone searches for information Noun: an investigation

Although the airline lost our luggage and we argued most of the time, _______ it was a memorable trip.

overall DEFINITION: in total ALSO: to give an overall impression

Although our phones get better each year, war, crime and corruption are ________ problems.

continuous DEFINITION: ongoing, it hasn't stopped ADVERB: continuously ALSO: if you don't eat for three continuous days that means you don't eat for three days in a row

Although normally very shy, the billionaire businessman _____ an interview to discuss his views on politics.

granted DEFINITION: to give, allow, permit ALSO: grant citizenship, grant permission, grant access

Although more people voted for Clinton, Trump won more state _______.

districts DEFINITION: a section of a city or state Also: school district, museum district, voting district; Washington D.C. stands for "District of Columbia"

Although Julie passed most of her classes, Harvard said she didn't meet their _______ for admission.

criteria DEFINITION: standards SINGULAR: criterion

Although Jennifer's boyfriend was fat, unemployed and drunk, it was still an ________ after dating Bob.

improvement Definition: better than before Verb: to improve

Although Jenifer was on a diet, she could not ____ Bob's cookies.

resist DEFINITION: if you resist a desire/urge/temptation it means you fight against it

Although it's now seen as one of the greatest films ever made, when Citizen Kane came out in theaters, it _______.

bombed DEFINITION: it had poor results, did poorly, made little money

Although it was raining, they ______ to play the game.

proceeded DEFINITION: to continue

Although his pitch was very professional, Bob was not able to raise enough _______ for his plan to build a brick wall between the U.S. and Canada.

capital DEFINITION: money (formal)

Although he was Chinese and owned a cat, the club still _____ Bob from joining because they didn't like his shoes.

excluded DEFINITION: to prevent access to a group ADJECTIVE: exclusive (note: this is often used in advertising to make something seem more valuable)

Although he was a hard worker, Bob did not _____ all the requirements for joining the NBA.

fulfill DEFINITION: to meet someone's demands, to carry out, finish ex. fulfill the requirements, fulfill a dream, fulfill your boss' wishes NOTE: NBA stands for National Basketball Association

Although graduation wasn't for another few days, after the last exam was finished, school was _______ over.

effectively DEFINITION: in actuality, in practice

Although Bob's parents _____ him to become a doctor like his father, he decided to follow his dream.

expected Definition: if you expect something you believe it will happen or be that way; ex. to expect rain Noun: expectation

Although Bob's new route to work was a bit risky, he decided to ___ ___ ____ because it saved him five minutes.

take his chances DEFINITION: you realize there's a risk but you go ahead anyway because the benefit is greater

Although Bob's first day in ______ resulted in a life sentence, everyone agreed he really looked good in orange.

court DEFINITION: the place where judges hear and decide about crimes

Although Bob's car was swept away in the ______, he still managed to deliver the pizza in forty minutes or less.

current DEFINITION: the flow of the river ALSO: an air current; an electrical current

Although Bob's battery was ______ low, he managed to check Britney Spear's Twitter feed one more time.

critically DEFINITION: very serious, the outcome could be very bad; ex. a critical shortage of food ALSO: if you're in critical condition after an accident that means you may not survive

Although Bob was ______ from school most days, he still managed to graduate before he turned 30.

absent Definition: when something/one is not present, not where it should be Also: absent from work

Although Bob totally destroyed his new car, he was ________ lucky to have not spilled his beer.

remarkably DEFINITION: extraordinarily, amazingly ADJECTIVE: remarkable

Although Bob read and re-read "The Seven Habit of ______ Effective People," it didn't seem to work.

highly DEFINITION: to the highest degree ALSO: highly regarded, highly qualified, a highly sensitive person, a highly dangerous substance, a highly anticipated movie

Although Bob made 1.2 billion dollars on the stock market, he felt like a ______ because Steve made 1.3 billion.

failure DEFINITION: the opposite of a success Verb: to fail

Although Bob filed a ______ complaint with his company, he still had to start work before noon.

formal DEFINITION: something that's done according to rules or customs ALSO: formal language, a formal request, formal dress

Although Bob bought a _______ insurance plan, it didn't cover some things.

comprehensive DEFINITION: thorough, complete, covering everything, ex. he made a comprehensive study of the problem

All plants need to ______ is sun, water and soil.

flourish DEFINITION: to thrive, to succeed Also: a student can flourish in school; art can flourish in a city; a civilization can flourish

All of a _____, Bob didn't feel well.

sudden DEFINITION: happening quickly and without warning ADVERB: suddenly

All military ______ must report to duty by the first of the month.

personnel DEFINITION: employees (formal), often government employees ALSO: the personnel department in a company is often called HR (human resources) ALSO: the plural for people (formal); ex. an armoured personnel carrier

Agassi and Sampras used to be ______ in tennis.

rivals DEFINITION: long-term competitors

After years of asking his neighbor to paint his ugly fence, Bob finally won the ______.

dispute DEFINITION: a disagreement, an argument Also: marital dispute, legal dispute

After two years of fighting the virus, problems continued to ______.

mount DEFINITION: increase; ex. charges against the criminal mounted, problems mount, questions mount PHRASAL VERB: "mount up" ex. We had to kill the project because costs were mounting up.

After twenty years online, Bob still found great ____ in receiving an email.

joy DEFINITION: extreme happiness ADJECTIVE: joyful EXPRESSION: sometimes when someone hears good news they jump for joy

After the 12th tequilla, Bob's ________ was no longer accurate.

judgement DEFINITION: the ability to make decisions

After three hours of negotiating, they finally came to a ________. They would order a pizza for lunch.

resolution DEFINITION: a decision (which resolves a question or debate)

After the zombie invasion, there was nothing _____ on the shelves except organic rice cakes.

left DEFINITION: remaining; past tense of "to leave" ALSO: if you have leftovers for dinner that means you eat the food that was cooked a day or more before but not finished

After the typhoon, the army _______ food and water to those without electricity.

distributed DEFINITION: hand out, give out NOUN: distribution

After the latest metro bombing, the President decided to increase the _____ of the military in the capital.

presence DEFINITION: to increase the numbers Also: to be present

After the latest budget report, the CFO decided to _____ spending.

slash DEFINITION: to cut, to make a big reduction

After the judge said Bob was guilty of murder, terrorism and unpaid parking tickets, his lawyers _______ the decision.

appealed Definition: when you disagree with a judge and ask another judge to change the decision

After the divorce, the judge gave the cats _____ ownership of the couch.

joint DEFINITION: split, shared ALSO: in business, if two partners finance a project it's called a joint venture ALSO: your body has joints (your elbow, your knee, your wrist, etc.) where two bones are joined

After the budget cuts, it became difficult to ______ employees.

retain Definition: to keep

After the 2016 U.S. elections, the world woke up to discover that the _____ were wrong.

polls Definition: a survey

After the 2008 financial crisis, homeowners saw the value of their investments decline _______.

rapidly DEFINITION: quickly

After the 2005 Tsunami, The Red Cross _______ for donations to help the survivors.

appealed Definition: asked for (usually a large number of people)

After ten years of marriage, Bob and Jennifer still experienced a lot of ______. Mostly when they were with other people's husbands and wives.

passion DEFINITION: sexual desire, lust

After receiving enough money for alcohol, Bob requested ______ funding for cigarettes.

additional DEFINITION: more

After presenting your department's financial report at the Monday morning meeting, try to ________ with a small joke.

conclude Definition: to stop of finish something noun: conclusion

After months of in-depth _______, Bob recommended buying high and selling low.

analysis DEFINITION: a deep study of something

After Jennifer told Bob she didn't want to go to the dance with him, Bob decided to withdraw from _______ and live alone in the woods.

society DEFINITION: people living together in a community, civilization Adjective: societal

After Jennifer got her MBA from Harvard she carefully _______ her career options. Then she married her boss and had ten kids.

considered DEFINITION: to think about options

After Janet got her MBA from Harvard she carefully _______ her career options. Then she married her boss and had ten kids.

considered Definition: to think about carefully noun: consideration

After I bought the car, problems started to ______. (not arise)

emerge DEFINITION: to appear, to become known

After his neighbor's apartment was robbed, Bob bought a gun for __________.

protection DEFINITION: something that keeps you safe VERB: to protect ALSO: a synonym for a condom, ex. Did you use protection?

After his 12th tequilla, Bob's ________ was no longer accurate.

judgment DEFINITION: the ability to make decisions

After hijacking the plane, Bob demanded all the money in the world. The hostage negotiator told him to be more _______

reasonable DEFINITION: if you use reason you use the logical part of your brain; moderate

After her date with Bob, Jennifer decided to take a self-______ class.

defense DEFINITION: if you defend something you protect it

After getting married, starting a business, and learning how to play golf, Bob's _______ was full.

schedule Definition: a plan of events

After four hours of discussions, the _________ voted 15 to 20 to order pizza instead of Chinese for lunch. (synonym: council)

committee Definition: a group of people who must make decisions, often they're members of government

After conducting _______ research, Bob discovered he had forgotten the question.

extensive Definition: a lot, to a great degree Also: extensive growth, and extensive area of land

After Bob's new haircut, he saves a ton on shampoo and ______.

conditioner DEFINITION: a gel that improves the condition of your hair ALSO: when an athlete trains for an event he conditions himself, gets in good condition

After Bob's first karate lesson, he decided to return to work and _____ what he had learned.

apply DEFINITION: to use, to put into practice

After Bob's anti-Christian and anti-monarch ________ he was not invited back to the palace for tea.

remark Definition: a comment, something someone says

After Bob won the election for President, there was _______ in the streets.

disorder Definition: chaos, the opposite of order Adverb: disorderly, ex. disorderly conduct/behavior

After Bob was caught talking on his phone during a movie, he was ______ from re-entering the country.

barred DEFINITION: prohibited, denied entry, not allowed

After Bob used his smart phone to post photos of the yacht he bought with the stolen money, the police were able to ______ his location.

trace Definition: when you want to discover the location or origin of something you can trace it by following whatever evidence or signs you have Also: disappear without a trace, trace your ancestory

After Bob took his new drone to the airport, new ________ were established.

restrictions DEFINITION: a rule or law that limits what people can do VERB: to restrict ALSO: parking restrictions, visa restrictions, noise restrictions

After Bob quit the car business, he discovered he could earn $100 ____ hour selling another type of product.

per DEFINITION: for each, for every ALSO: per cent (for every 100) Also: per ounce

After Bob mysteriously disappeared, no one wanted to date the police ______'s daughter.

chief Definition: the leader, the top person Note: usually you would say " my boss / manager" or "the company director, owner or president"; chief is very formal

After Bob moved in, it was too late to ______ his rental contract.

amend DEFINITION: to change by adding to

After Bob introduced his horse to Red Bull, they won with ____.

ease DEFINITION: without any difficulty ALSO: it's easy COMMON EXPRESSION: if life is going well you can say you're living on Easy Street

After Bob got our of jail, he quickly resumed his old job as a financial _______.

adviser DEFINITION: an adviser gives you advice, recommendations, wisdom ALSO: advisor

After Bob didn't return from his morning walk, the town decided to post a ________.

notice DEFINITION: a written public announcement, a warning; ex. before quitting your job it's polite to give your boss one month's notice

After Bob and Dr. Lee broke up and moved to seperate apartments, they made an _______ to share their dog.

arrangement DEFINITION: an agreement between people, a plan VERB: to arrange

After almost a two year __________ , many employees are reluctant to return to the office.

absence DEFINITION: they were not there MAXIM: Absence makes the heart grow fonder (translation: when you're away from someone you miss him/her)

After a long day of playing video games at work, Bob is _______.

exhausted DEFINITION: very tired ALSO: if you have a problem and you exhaust all your options that means you have used up all your options and have no more options left ALSO: when a car burns fuel the smoke that is produced is called "exhaust"

After a lifetime of boring burgers, Mick Jagger finally got some _______ when he tried the new double bacon barbecue burger from Burger King.

satisfaction DEFINITION: he was satisfied, please

After a big meal do you need to loosen your _____?

belt

After 81 exciting minutes, the score was ____, zero to zero.

tied DEFINITION: if the score is a tie both sides have the same number of points

Affectionate or just another _____ old man?

creepy DEFINITION: behaviour that is strange and makes the other person uncomfortable

According to the new U.N. ______, we only have one more year before the world ends.

report DEFINITION: a document or a statement that gives information about (usually) a current situation ALSO: in school you may have had to read a book and then write a book report ALSO: in the U.S., school children get a report card at the end of each semester which shows their grades

According to the new covid restrictions, Bob was denied _____ to the U.S. for wearing diapers, jeans, a jacket, a long skirt with a zipper, undergarments and a snorkel. But he was vaccinated.

entry DEFINITION: the noun of "to enter" ALSO: you may have to pay an entry fee to get in to a park

According to the law in your country, at what age do you stop being a _____ ?

minor DEFINITION: a young person, not yet an adult NOTE: this is a formal, legal word; in conversation you would say "child" "kid" "young person" or "teenager"

According to the government, how much alcohol you should drink _____ ___ your sex.

depends on DEFINITION: the answer is different if you're a man or a woman

According to the German fairy tale, the Pied Piper _____ the town of its rats.

rid DEFINITION: to expel, drive out ALSO: get rid of something/someone

According to one study, a large _______ of the work day is wasted trying to contact customers and colleagues.

proportion DEFINITION: a part of something larger

According to experts, ____ is a very good way to share your viruses with friends.

coughing Also: When would you hear someone say, "Cough it up!"

According to educational research, the best way to teach bomb making is to ________

demonstrate DEFINITION: to show

According to data from the dating app Tinder, men who_____ their arms wide in their photo are more successful.

stretch DEFINITION: to spread wide ALSO: an athlete stretches before a race PHRASAL VERB: you can stretch out on the couch, i.e. take up a lot of space and relax

According to a recent poll, 9 out of 10 foxes say that fox hunting is the most important _____ in the upcoming election.

issue DEFINITION: an important topic or problem NOTE: In the UK, some people want the government to make foxhunting illegal.

About 45% of English words have a French ______.

origin DEFINITION: beginning, source ALSO: if your ancestors are from France you can say, I'm of French origin; the origin of the river

a _______ of bananas

bunch Definition: many, several Also: Thanks a bunch!

a _______ dollar

quarter DEFINITION: 1/4 ALSO: a quarter of a century, a quarter of his life, a quarter of a tank of gas, a quarterly report, in a quarter of an hour

a _______ canal

narrow DEFINITION: not wide

A ______ sea.

calm DEFINITION: peaceful ALSO: a calm person, calming music COMMON EXPRESSION: Calm down!

a ______ road

flat

a ______ road

curvy DEFINITION: it has lots of curves, i.e. it's not straight ALSO: Sophia Loren was famous for her curvy / curvaceous figure

a ______ ritual of the flamingo

mating DEFINITION: if animals mate it means they have sex (only for animals) ALSO: If you go to the pub to watch the telly with your mates that means you go to the bar to watch the television with your friends (British English) ALSO: your mate is your partner / spouse / husband / wife (formal)

a ______ home a _____ hospital a _____ phone

mobile DEFINITION: something that can be easily moved NOTE: Americans say "cell phone"

a ______ girl walking down the street

pretty DEFINITION: nice looking NOTE: "beautiful" is just a little stronger

A _____ photo ____ jeans

faded DEFINITION: something that has lost its brightness or original color ALSO: a memory can fade

a _____ painting on a grain of rice

minute DEFINITION: very small, tiny ALSO: a minute chance of winning the lottery

a _____ of the road was closed to make repairs

portion DEFINITION: a section of the whole Also: the company donated a portion of their profits to charity

a _____ of papers

pile ALSO: if you hear on the news that there was a pile up on the highway that means a crash involving many cars

a _____ of flats to _____ out time in your schedule

block DEFINITION: the shape is similar to a block

A _____ of covid cases are now connected to Bob’s birthday party.

cluster Definition: a group of something Verb: the crowd clustered together on the street to be the first in line to buy the new iPhone

a _____ knife

sharp

a _____ in space

pig COMMON INSULT 1: If someone says you eat like a pig or dress like a pig that means very messy COMMON INSULT 2: If your boss says your office is like a pigsty (rhymes with "eye") you should consider tidying it up a bit COMMON EXPRESSION: If you go to the all-you-can-eat buffet and pig out that means you eat a lot COMMON EXPRESSION 2: "I'll do it when pigs fly" = never

A _____ choice test

multiple DEFINITION: many, several MORE EXAMPLES: the phone comes in multiple sizes; the victim was shot multiple times; I warned you multiple times!

a ____ road

wide OPPOSITE: narrow

A very _______ interior design

plain DEFINITION: simple, nothing extra ALSO: plain yogurt, a plain black dress

A very crowded swimming _____

pool DEFINITION: a small body of water ALSO: if you're interviewing for a job and you talk about "the pool of candidates" that means the available candidates; if you ride to work with your colleagues in the same vehicle it's called "a carpool"

a truly _______ hairstyle

awful DEFINITION: terrible, very bad BUT: if you say, I'm awfully tired, that means "very tired"

A soldier is expected to _______ obey orders.

faithfully Definition: loyally, he can be trusted to do it

A sculptor ______ ____ at a piece of stone.

chips away DEFINITION: he makes it smaller by cutting off chips (small pieces) ALSO: if you chip away at a task that means progress is steady but slow

a scientist's test _____

tube DEFINITION: anything with the shape of a cylinder and a hollow inside ALSO: in the old days televisions had vacuum tubes inside them and from that we got the slang expression "What's on the tube?"; that's also where YouTube got its name IDIOM: if you want to say that a situation is bad you can say "It's going down the tubes."

A right _______ is 90 degrees

angle DEFINITION: in geometry, the space between two lines ALSO: if a reporter says he has a unique angle on a story that means his point of view is new, different COMMON EXPRESSION: If your boss tells you, We need to approach this problem from another angle, that means you need to try a new way to solve it

a painting showing _____ life in a middle-class Victorian-era English home

domestic DEFINITION: related to the home ALSO: domestic terrorism is when someone commits a terrorist act inside their own country; domestic violence is when someone injures someone who lives with them, e.g. a husband/wife; domestic trade is trade within the country; and you can travel domestically or internationally ALSO: if an animal has been domesticated it's no longer wild and can live in your home

A new______ finds teens spend more time on their screens than they spend breathing.

survey DEFINITION: data taken by asking random people about their opinions or behaviour

A mouse in the pool is a problem; but this is a major ______ problem

league DEFINITION: a group of people with a common goal; a team, ex. a football league IDIOM: if something is "major league" it's big, significant; it's a reference to MLB which stands for Major League Baseball which is where the best players play IDIOM: If someone tells you "You're out of your league" that means you're not good enough to handle the problem.

A model's measurements must be _________.

proportionate DEFINITION: balanced, equal, even ALSO: if the response by the police or army is proportionate that means they didn't use too much force; a court can order compensation proportionate to the damage done, i.e. the person must pay just for the damage and not more OPPOSITE: disproportionate

A magazine ____ for Coca Cola

ad Also: advertisement, advert

A large ____ gathered to hear Bob read his poetry.

crowd DEFINITION: a large group of people ADJECTIVE: crowded

A good way to get a baby to sleep is to ____ him.

rock DEFINITION: to move back and forth

A good reporter must ______ all angles of a story.

cover DEFINITION: if a journalist covers an event that means he reports on it

A good murder-mystery novel has a _______ plot.

complex DEFINITION: it has many parts which are connected; intricate ALSO: a complex problem

A gold medal is the top _____ you can win at the olympics

prize DEFINITION: award

A goalkeeper can ______ the ball with his/her face, but it's not necessary.

block DEFINITION: to prevent something from entering or travelling or moving ALSO: if you block a caller you make it impossible for him/her to call your phone

A gentleman always opens the door for a ______.

lady DEFINITION: a woman who dresses well and has good manners

A free press is ______ for a democratic society

fundamental DEFINITION: part of the foundation; an essential part

a football _______

coach DEFINITION: the person who leads a sports team or athlete ALSO: if you coach someone on how to do something that means you advise them ALSO: business coach, fitness coach

a dog _______ a squirrel

chasing DEFINITION: to pursue IDIOM: If someone tells you "Cut to the chase" that means they want you to be direct and tell them what you want, get to the important part of your story and skip the details. IDIOM: If your son is fifty years old and still trying to become a famous rock star you might tell him, "Quit chasing rainbows." Translation: it's time to be realistic IDIOM: If the project you're working on at work is not making progress, or you're going in circles, or it's a big waste of time or money, you can say, "We're on a wild goose chase."

a doctor enjoying a conversation with a ______

patient DEFINITION: the person a doctor treats

a cup ______ in a car

holder DEFINITION: something that holds something; ex. a phone holder; a vaccine card holder

a cracked phone _______ screen. looking at artwork ____ ______.

display / on display DEFINITION: if you display something you show it, make it visible to the public

A common sales tactic is to offer a free _______ before pitching an offer.

consultation DEFINITION: a meeting where a professional gives you advice

a cat ordering a drink at the _____

a bar Definition: a pub

A car is the largest ______ most people will ever make.

purchase DEFINITION: something you buy

a business _______

betrayal DEFINITION: to act against someone who trusts you

A dictator rules with ______ power.

absolute DEFINITION: total

"Can I give you a hand with that?" "_______."

Absolutely DEFINITION: a strong "yes"

An _____ of food is a normal part of modern life in the first world.

abundance DEFINITION: more than enough

After the signing of the peace _____, there was no violence in the Middle East for the rest of the week.

accord DEFINITION: a formal agreement

Bob _____ the offer but soon quit when he found out he had to get out of bed.

accepted DEFINITION: say "yes" to, agree to ALSO: a school can accept a new student; you can accept a gift; accept an invitation to a party

Bob told the real estate agent that the radiation level was ______. But she would have to do something about that slow wi-fi.

acceptable DEFINITION: not great, not ideal, but tolerable, i.e. you're willing to accept it VERB: to accept

5 years after Japan's tsunami disaster, citizens are still living in _______ housing.

temporary DEFINITION: lasting only a short time

all right DEFINITION: safe, uninjured; ex. Are you all right? (said after someone falls) ALSO: Ok, I agree; Ex. "Do you want to work late Friday night?" "All right." ALSO: fine, acceptable; ex. How is your meal?" "It's all right." NOTE: it's often spelled "alright"

belongings DEFINITIONS: your possessions, things that you own, i.e. things that belong to you

certain DEFINITION: to be sure about something, to not have any doubt NOUN: certainty OPPOSITE: uncertain

DEFINITION: someone who is very interested in something that's uncool and not mainstream, ex. comic books, fantasy games, Star Wars before it became cool ADJECTIVE: geeky

innocent DEFINITION: not guilty, someone who didn't do anything bad, i.e. a crime ALSO: if you want someone to believe you're innocent you can give him an innocent look

inquire DEFINITION: to ask (formal), ex. I'm calling to inquire about the job opening.

draft Definition: an early version of something

offence DEFINITION: a criminal offence is a rule or law ALSO: offense (with an "s")

In the old days, they used to use wax to _____ envelopes.

seal DEFINITION: to tightly close ALSO: kings and queens used to have a "royal seal" which was their family symbol they put on documents ALSO: if someone gives their "seal of approval" they give their support / make their approval public, ex. the church gave the film its seal of approval ALSO: if a room or an area is "sealed off" that means it's blocked/closed to the public and you can't enter ALSO: if your boss tells you he just "sealed the deal" with a supplier that means they agreed on the deal

What spices do you use to _______ your food?

season DEFINITION: to make food taste better with spices (ex. salt, pepper, paprika, cumin)

The popular TV show ER lasted for twelve _______

seasons DEFINITION: TV shows produce 22 episodes every season / year

What's your favorite _______?

season DEFINITION: time of year

If bacteria manages to get past your skin, it will then have to battle your immune system's ______ line of defense.

secondary DEFINITION: after the first, second in order or importance ALSO: a secondary school is a high school; secondary education

After World War II, Berlin was divided into three _______.

DEFINITION: a part, a section ALSO: a sector of the market, ex. the automobile sector; you can be a lawyer in the public or private sector

Bob was able to ______ the loan from the bank by promising to give them his oldest son if he did not repay it.

secure DEFINITION: get; if you secure a new job you get a new job (and it's 100% sure that it's yours); if a manufacturing company secures raw materials they buy them

Do you worry about keeping your online data ______?

secure DEFINITION: safe VERB: to secure; if you secure a new job you get a new job; if a manufacturing company secures raw materials they buy them

Spring is the season to plant _______.

seeds DEFINITION: the small thing that becomes a bigger plant

According to the latest survey, most people agree with you. But one ______ thinks you're nuts.

segment DEFINITION: a part of the whole, a section, a division

When Bob forgot to pay his taxes, the government ______ his Ferrari.

seized DEFINITION: Take by force

Do you manually _____ your songs or choose "random play"?

select DEFINITION: choose NOUN: selection

Bob fled Cuba for freedom and for a wide _______of breakfast cereals.

selection DEFINITION: the products from which you can make your choice

Would you like to own this new kind of _____ that's also a smart phone?

brush DEFINITION: similar to a comb but usually for longer hair

In your opinion, at what age does someone become a _____ ______?

senior citizen DEFINITION: a polite way to say someone is old EXPRESSION: if someone forgets something you can say he's having a senior moment

Who is your ______ at work?

senior DEFINITION: someone who is above you in authority ALSO: a polite way to say someone is old, ex. a senior citizen

Some animals can _________ when there's going to be an earthquake.

sense DEFINITION: they feel when it's going to rain; they use their senses instead of their thoughts

The judge gave Bob a five-year ______

sentence DEFINITION: the length of a prison stay

Yoga is a _________ of movements to keep your body strong and flexible.

sequence DEFINITION: events which follow each other in a correct or logical order

When you learn the days of the week in ________ order it's easier to mix them up later.

sequential DEFINITION: in a sequence, ex. alphabetical, newest to oldest, etc.

What's your favorite TV ______?

series DEFINITION: a TV show that continues a story throughout many episodes

Would you rather have a personal ______ or a Ferrari?

servant DEFINITION: someone who serves you; a maid, a butler, a slave ADJECTIVE: if someone accuses you of acting servile that's not good and means you could be more independent

Hi, my name is Bob. And I'll be your ______ today. What do you want?

server DEFINITION: waiter

At the group therapy ______ Bob shared his fear of the third conditional.

session DEFINITION: a period of time ALSO: musician can book a studio for a recording session; an athlete can have a practice session LAW: If you're watching a court drama on TV you might hear someone say "Court is now in session" translation: the trial is starting

Do you know how to ____ ____ an online bank account?

set up DEFINITION: organize, arrange ALSO: set up a charity organization, set up stereo equipment, set up the Christmas tree

In the old days, gentlemen _______ their arguments with pistols.

settled DEFINITION: to decide who wins an argument ALSO: if you have a lawsuit against someone and you decide to settle out of court that means you forget the lawsuit and come to an agreement without the court

Bob wanted to sell his company for a hundred billion dollars. Jennifer wanted to buy it for one billion. They ______ on 50 billion.

settled DEFINITION: to reach an agreement, usually a compromise ALSO: if you read that someone settled out of court that means they made an agreement with someone without asking a judge to make the decision; the money you pay in this situation is called "a settlement"

After forty years of wandering in the wilderness, the Israelites ______ in the Promised Land.

settled DEFINITION: if you settle somewhere you stop moving and live there permanently

The first viking _______in Iceland was in the 10th century.

settlement DEFINITION: the first permanent houses in an area; before a city becomes a city it's just a settlement ALSO: if your friend tells you he's going to settle down that means he's going to get a house and get married and raise a family

The picnic will be delayed due to ______ weather.

severe Definition: extreme, intense Also: a severe storm, a severe headache, severe damage, a severe heart attack

Bob's past _____ hurt his chances of getting the kindergarten teacher job.

severely DEFINITION: greatly

He found the only ______ in the desert.

shade DEFINITION: protection from the sun VERB: to find shade; to shade your eyes from the sun SLANG: If you like someone's sunglasses you can tell him, "Hey, nice shades."

afraid of his own _______

shadow DEFINITION: the form that a person or object creates when it blocks the light ALSO: if someone shadows you at work that means they follow you around to learn your job

If you don't reply to Bob's email in a timely manner he'll call you on Zoom and _____ his fists at you.

shake DEFINITION: to move back and forth quickly, ex. a dog shakes off water after getting wet ALSO: shake hands; a milkshake is an ice cream drink that's made by shaking the container

When Steve Jobs left Apple in 1985 he was so angry he sold all his _______.

shares DEFINITION: when a company has many owners it's divided into shares PERSON: a shareholder ALSO: stock

Were you good at _____ when you were a kid?

sharing DEFINITION: to let someone else use what you have

In the words of ZZ Top, "Every girl's crazy about a ____ dressed man."

sharp DEFINITION: well dressed A COMPLIMENT: If you want to pay someone a compliment you can say, "Lookin' sharp today." ALSO: if a student is sharp he/she's clever

one _____, two ______, three ______

sheep NOTE: the singular and the plural are the same ALSO: if someone does what everyone else does you can say he's a sheep ADVERB: if you sheepishly do something you're shy and embarrassed; ex. he sheepishly apologized for the mistake IDIOM: if someone is the black sheep of the family that means he's different in a bad way; ex. the only family member in jail

a hotel maid changing the bed _______

sheets ALSO: a sheet of paper is one piece of paper

During a storm, the safest place to be is in a ________.

shelter DEFINITION: a building that gives protection VERB: to shelter

Have you ever had to work a night _____?

shift DEFINITION: a length of work time, ex. morning shift, afternoon shift ALSO: the night shift is also called "the graveyard shift"

Earthquakes are caused by the earth's plates ______

shifting DEFINITION: moving, usually a small/slight move

Have you ever gotten a shoe ______?

shine DEFINITION: to make bright, to polish ALSO: to give off a bright light, ex. a shining star ADJECTIVE: shiny; ex. shiny shoes VERB: to point a light, ex. Shine the light over here so I can see where I'm going ALSO: if a person shines that means he performs well; ex. the gymnast really shines in competition IDIOM: if you want to say something will happen no matter what, you can say, "We're going camping, rain or shine."

a sinking _____

ship DEFINITION: a large boat EXPRESSION: if you're leaving on a long trip you can say "I'm shipping out next week." ALSO: if a company ships a product that means you buy it and they send it to you through the mail

What was the biggest _____ you had in the last year?

shock DEFINITION: surprising news, usually bad but not always ADJECTIVE: shocking, ex. shocking news ALSO: if you touch an electric fence you'll get an electric shock ALSO: if you go shopping for a new coat and you look at the price and it's a lot higher than you expected you can get sticker shock

The news was ______

shocking DEFINITION: very surprising

Oh ______! There's no more room on the bus and I'm late for work.

shoot DEFINITION: a polite version of "shit"; say "Oh shoot" when something bad happens and you don't want to be rude or offensive

When was the last time you vacationed at the _______?

shore DEFINITION: an area near the sea (note: the beach is the area directly next to the water, while the shore includes a larger area), ex. the hotel can be at the shore but you sunbathe at the beach ALSO: the seashore ALSO: if a company wants to avoid paying taxes where it does business it can move offshore, which means its main offices are now officially in another country, maybe an island

______ in the head.

shot verb: shoot/shot/shot ALSO: if you say the transmission in your car is shot that means it's broken and can't be fixed IDIOM: "It was a shot in the dark" means you didn't have good chances of success but you tried anyway ALSO: if you want to be polite and don't want to say "shit" or "damn" you can say "shoot", ex. Shoot! It's hot out today.

Who's the person in your life who always ____ ___ late?

shows up DEFINITION: arrive

Do you like to sing in the _______

shower? ALSO: If you shower someone with praise or shower someone with gifts that means you give a lot of praise / gifts.

During the lockdowns, 20% of US businesses _____ ____ permanently.

shut down DEFINITION: closed

_____ the door! You're letting all the zombies in the house!

Shut DEFINITION: close

When Jennifer wakes up , ______ ______ drinking coffee, she reaches for the vodka.

instead of DEFINITION: in place of, rather than

In which countries do they drive on the left ______ of the road?

side DEFINITION: part, section, ex. paint the side of the house

When family members argue, do you stay neutral or do you _____ _____?

take sides DEFINITION: If you take someone's side that means you support him VERB: I side with the opposition.

There were only two things in the world that made Bob______: the thought of his one true love, Jennifer, and the thought of doing his taxes.

sigh DEFINITION: a sound you make when you exhale air, usually when feeling an emotion like stress or sadness ALSO: to breathe a sigh of relief

After Bob lost his ______ he had more time to sit in the park and do nothing.

sight Definition: the ability to see

What are the _____ most tourists want to see in your country?

sights DEFINITION: an attraction, something interesting to look at ALSO: sightseeing

Perhaps more than any other voyage, Columbus' journey across the Atlantic held great ________.

significance DEFINITION: importance ADJECTIVE: significant; ex. the game was a significant loss for the team

Can you make a _____ face like this?

silly DEFINITION: funny, not serious; ex. a silly joke, a silly movie, a silly person NOUN: silliness

Would you rather have ten ounces of _____ or one ounce of gold?

silver DEFINITION: a valuable metal IDIOM: if someone tells you "every cloud has a silver lining" that means the same as "look on the bright side"

They're ______ but not the same.

similar DEFINITION: almost the same; akin; alike NOUN: similarities

Bob and Jennifer reacted ______ when they found out they had been using the third conditional incorrectly their whole lives.f

similarly DEFINITION: almost the same

Can you tell if someone is fake or _____?

sincere DEFINITION: honest, truthful ALSO: sincerely yours

The Titanic _____ after it hit an iceberg.

sank DEFINITION: when a boat fills with water IRREGULAR: sink / sank / sunk

Richard Branson was a bad ____ in school but did very well in life. What kind of a ____ were you?

pupil DEFINITION: student (formal)

On one hand, Bob's house was ______ in an earthquake zone; on the other hand, he got a really good price.

situated DEFINITION: located

Were girls allowed to wear mini-____ at your school?

skirts DEFINITION: like a dress but shorter ALSO: if you say the highway skirted the town that means it's on the outside of the town, near the edge of the town AND: if you ask your boss for a raise and he skirts the issue that means he talks around it and not directly about it

According to some reports, China has over one million Uighur ________.

slaves DEFINITION: a person who is owned by another person and has no freedom VERB: to enslave; or, if you work a lot, you can say "Every night I slave away at my job." ALSO: if someone says you're a slave to fashion it means you're always buing the latest and trendiest clothes that are in style

Most people think _______ no longer exists.

slavery DEFINITION: when you force someone to work for you

Just cut me a small _______, please.

slice DEFINITION: if you slice something you cut it; a slice of something is the piece that you remove by cutting IDIOM: if you want to say that you like a new invention or innovation you can say "It's the best thing since sliced bread."

The Starbucks in Wuhan was just the same as back home. Except it did ______ in some ways....

differ DEFINITION: there was a difference

The iPhone Bob bought in China was incredibly cheap. Except there was just one _____ difference....

slight DEFINITION: small, little ALSO: a slight advantage, a slight change ADVERB: slightly

After Bob ______ again on the wet floor, he decided to learn to read.

slipped DEFINITION: to lose your balance on a wet or icy surface ALSO: if you accidentally say something it's called "a slip of the tongue"

How to camp on a _______

slope DEFINITION: an incline, an angle, a slant ALSO: if your friend asks you if you want to hit the slopes he's asking if you want to go skiing

How do you keep your skin so soft and ______?

smooth DEFINITION: not rough EXPRESSION 1: if things are going / running smoothly that means without any problems EXPRESSION 2: if your boss tells you it's going to be smooth sailing starting next week that means you can expect things go get easier

Do you know anyone who can't ______ their fingers?

snap Definition: a sound you make with your thumb and middle finger Also: if you make a snap judgement / decision you decide quickly, without thinking Also: If you ask someone "Was it difficult?" and he replies, "No, it was a snap." That means it was easy. Also: if you snap a branch or a piece of wood you break it in two (and it makes a snapping sound) Also: If you're depressed a friend might tell you to "snap out of it."

Bob is an expert at _____ past security guards.

sneaking DEFINITION: to move quietly so no one will hear or see you ALSO: sneaky behavior

Bob only uses the finest ______ for growing his award-winning potatoes.

soil DEFINITION: dirt; "soil" is usually used when talking about gardening or farming ALSO: If you soil your pants that's a nice way of saying you just went to the bathroom in your pants. Woops.

Water is a liquid and ice is a ________.

solid DEFINITION: firm, hard

Sorry about the car. I was _________ distracted.

somewhat Definition: a little

It was a bumpy landing. And ______ Bob managed not to spill his cocktail.

somehow DEFINITION: when you want to say you don't know exactly how

What ______ ___ ID do you carry with you? A drivers license? A visa? Another government ID?

sort of DEFINITION: What kind? What type? NOTE: "ID" stands for "identification"

When was the last time you _____ your socks?

sorted DEFINITION: to put in order ALSO: if you sort out a confusing problem you work on creating order

After a long and satisfying life, Bob's _____ left his body. But then Bob's ____ remembered he left the oven on so he returned before the ambulance arrived.

soul DEFINITION: your spirit, the part of you that lives after your body dies ALSO: if you say that a city has no soul that's the same as saying it has no character / personality, i.e. it's lacking uniqueness

The true ______ of your Alpine bottled water.

source DEFINITION: where something comes from

If you visit a US city you'll probably hear this question, "Can you ______ a quarter?"

spare ALSO: if something is spare it's exta, ex. spare time; if you can spare something that means it's extra and you don't need it

putting on the _____ tire

spare DEFINITION: something that's extra ALSO: a spare bedroom; a spare pair of shoes; spare time; ALSO: if a homeless person asks, Can you spare a dollar?, they want to know if you have any extra money you don't need

In your studies or in your career training, did you _____ in one area or is your knowledge general?

specialize DEFINITION: to focus on one narrow area

Norman Rockwell's ________ was painting scenes of American culture.

specialty DEFINITION: a narrow focus of interest, expertise, work, etc. ; ex. the doctor's specialty is organ transplants

In your opinion, which is the most delicious endangered _______?

species DEFINITION: a category of animals

Should government hospitals have a _____ on spending?

cap DEFINITION: a limit

In every action movie, you know that _______ the good guy is going to win.

ultimately DEFINITION: in the end, finally ALSO: The ultimate driving experience = the best / highest level

During the lockdowns, there was a _____ in online food delivery.

spike DEFINITION: a sudden and sharp increase Also: spiky hair

____ the wheel of fish for a chance to win great prizes.

spin DEFINITION: to make something move around and around in a circle PAST: spun, ex. the aircraft spun out of control ALSO: if a polititian spins a story for the news that means he changes a negative event to sound positive

These sports fans have a lot of ________.

spirit DEFINITION: energy, enthusiasm

_____ logs is good exercise.

Splitting DEFINITION: to divide something into two parts ALSO: if you have a splitting headache it means you have a very painful headache which feels like your head may split

Marlboro is one of the _____ of the Ferrari Formula One team.

sponsors DEFINITION: to support financially

the black ____ on a cheetah

spots

Can you ____ the difference?

spot DEFINITION: identify, find

I guess we picked a bad ______ to fish. I haven't caught anything all morning.

spot DEFINITION: location

American cuisine at its finest: _______ peanut butter on white bread.

spreading DEFINITION: to cover with ALSO: if you're in a group and your leader tells you "spread out" that means move away from each other

getting water from a natural ______

spring DEFINITION: where water comes out of the ground ALSO: spring water

Where can you find a _____ in your home?

spring DEFINITION: a spiral piece of wire that can create tension and power VERB: if you're sick and you spring back that means you recover quickly; when a fireman gets a call that there's a fire he springs into action NOTE: the verb is irregular -- spring / sprang / sprung

Do you have an English podcast or audio book ready on your phone in case you have to _____ in line?

stand DEFINITION: if you're not sitting and you're not lying down you're probably standing

While Bob and Jennifer didn't have a lot of _______ in their relationship, they did get a lot of exercise.

stability DEFINITION: when something is not likely to change OPPOSITE: instability

a kitchen _____ meeting

staff DEFINITION: employees; ex. hotel staff, hospital staff, school staff

the ________ of evolution

stages DEFINITION: steps, phases

How do you remove a ketchup _______ from a white shirt?

stain ALSO: a scandal can stain a politician's reputation

These poker players are playing for high ______.

stakes DEFINITION: if the stakes are high there's a lot to lose and a lot to win; ex. Before making any business decision, always ask yourself, What's at stake? VERB: if you stake your reputation on an outcome you bet/gamble your reputation

Do you know how much one ______ cost in your country?

stamp DEFINITION: payment to send a letter ALSO: a hand stamp

Hugh Jackman is the _____ of the show.

star DEFINITION: he's the main actor ALSO: a star can be the best, ex. a star athelete, our star salesman

In many countries it's a bad idea to ____ __ someone -- you might start a fight.

stare at DEFINITION: to look at someone for a long time

Bob promised to _____ the truth. And he did. Except for the part about the dead bodies.

state DEFINITION: to say (formal)

Downing Steet is a popular location for British Prime Ministers to delivering prepared _______ to the media.

statements DEFINITION: an official announcement VERB: to state your opinion

________, you're more likely to have a heart attack if you already have cancer.

Statistically DEFINITION: according to the statistics/ the data

Here's an interesting _______: The average American eats nearly 13 pounds of ice cream per year.

statistic DEFINITION: data, a number that is a fact ALSO: people often says "stats" for short, ex. The stats prove I'm right and you're wrong.

For some people a Tesla is about the environment; for others it's a _____ symbol

status DEFINITION: your status is your rank in society / compared to others around you

a sword made of ______

steel DEFINITION: a very strong metal COMMON EXPRESSION: if you say someone has nerves of steel that means they can stay calm in very stressful situations

Does crime ____ from poverty or does it _____ from broken homes?

stem DEFINITION: the long part of a flower that comes out of the ground is the stem, so when you talk about something stemmimg from something you're talking about its origin

Michael Jordan wasn't a good basketball player in high school. But he ____ ____ ___ and became the greatest.

stuck with it DEFINITION: to persist, to keep trying although you're not successful right away NOTE: the present is "stick with it", ex. "Don't give up -- stick with it for another month."

Are any of your _____ stiff when you wake up in the morning?

joints DEFINITION: ALSO: the parts of your body where two bones are joined, ex. your elbow, your knee, your wrist, etc.

working at a computer all day can give you a ____ neck

How do you like to ______ your brain? Through interesting conversation? Reading? Doing puzzles?

stimulate DEFINITION: activate, excite ALSO: coffee, tea and alcohol are known as "stimulants" because they stimulate the brain; a documentary film that is very interesting is "stimulating" ALSO: when a government prints or borrows a lot of money it can be called an economic stimulus package because it should stimulate, or boost, the economy

After reports of the latest virus, stores were quickly out of _____ of life-saving toilet paper.

stock DEFINITION: it's not available ALSO: if you stock up on supplies that means you gather more than you need just to be prepared OPPOSITE: the item is in stock

Which is a better investment? _____ or bonds?

stocks DEFINITION: a type of investment where you can own a part of a private company ALSO: stockmarket, a stokebroker

Do you have anything you'd like to put in _______?

storage DEFINITION: if you store something you put it away for a later time; ex. store extra toilet paper in the storage closet

Squirrels _____ nuts in trees so they'll have food in the winter.

store DEFINITION: save for later, accumulate ADJECTIVE: storage, ex. a storage container

Money problems _____ marriages more than any other problem.

strain DEFINITION: create tension, stress ALSO: strain a muscle

kids playing in a ______

stream DEFINITION: a small river, a creek ALSO: watch streaming video; When she heard the news her eyes were streaming with tears.

How do you ______ your vocabulary?

strengthen DEFINITION: to make stronger

Who was the_______ teacher in school?

strictest DEFINITION: a strict teacher makes you follow all the rules; a strict diet means there's a lot of food you are not allowed to eat; a strict interpretation of the law means an exact/literal interpretation

Why don't dogs like to play with _______?

string DEFINITION: a small rope ALSO: "It's time to string up the Christmas lights" means to put up the lights so everyone can see them ALSO: a series of something, ex. Roger Federer had a string of wins before finally losing to Nadal. ALSO: the strings on a guitar

the world-famous Las Vegas _____

strip DEFINITION: a small section of land ALSO: a landing strip; a strip mall

Do you know anyone who has suffered a ________?

stroke DEFINITION: when the flow of blood to the brain is blocked

Don't ______ the cat in the wrong direction or you might get a face full of claws.

stroke DEFINITION: to pet ALSO: if you're in a boat you can stroke the oars, i.e. make the boat go forward with the oars

a building's ________ design

structural DEFINITION: related to structure (something that's built / structured - a building, an organization, a government, etc.)

______ collapse when builders are able to bribe inspectors.

Structures DEFINITION: a building, a dam, a bridge (formal) ALSO: how something is organize / connected together, ex. a company has an organizational strucuture; a DNA structure ALSO: if your day is structured that means everything is planned

the Beatles recording a song in their famous Abbey Road ______

studio DEFINITION: a place where an artist works, ex. a dance studio, a painter's studio, a recording studio ALSO: a studio apartment is a small apartment with just one room

When you finish a project, who do you _______ your work to?

submit DEFINITION: to send, give ALSO: sometimes online you can submit information or submit a form

Do you prefer men/women who are dominant or __________?

submissive DEFINITION: to give your power to someone else

The dominant male demands other wolves ______ to him.

submit DEFINITION:obey someone

As a child, Bob's only friend was the mud. ______, he also spent a lot of time in the bath.

Subsequently DEFINITION: as a result of; A happened and because of that subsequently B happened

What you find at fast food restaurants these days is not 100% beef but a meat-like ______.

substance DEFINITION: what something is made of; matter, material ALSO: if you read in the news that the police seized large amounts of a controlled substance that means illegal drugs AND: if you read that a celebrity has problems with substance abuse that means he/she parties too much

Have you ever tried a sugar _______?

substitute DEFINITION: a replacement VERB: to substitute, ex. I asked the waitress if she could substitute my side dish; I wanted a salad instead of french fries. ALSO: If your child's usual teacher is sick he/she may have a substitute teacher for the day. ALSO: in team sports, like football, there are the starting players and the subs, ex. Luigi subbed for Mario when he injured his knee

The twins looked so much alike you could ____ tell them apart.

hardly DEFINITION: almost not at all; ex. I can hardly hear you IDIOM: If you want to say that something is incredible or hard to believe you can say, I can hardly image... living with Bob / not knowing any English / what it would be like to live there...

While there’s a big difference between Coke and Sprite, most people say there’s only a ____ difference between Coke and Pepsi.

subtle DEFINITION: small, slight Note: the "b" is silent

______, Bob remembered he had left his family at the restaurant.

Suddenly DEFINITION: it happened quickly without warning

In the U.S., many lawyers ___ businesses when a customer has an accident.

sue DEFINITION: to file a lawsuit, to take someone to court so you can get money from them

How much sleep is ______ for you?

sufficient DEFINITION: enough ALSO: If someone is self-sufficient that means they don't need help from anyone else, maybe they have enough money or live alone and take care of themselves...

I'm sorry, this year doesn't _____ me. How about lunch next year?

suit DEFINITION: fits your schedule, is good for you

How many _______ do you own?

suits DEFINITION: a formal outfit where the jacket and pants match NOTE: women can also own suits, they're called "pant suits" or "power suits"

A lot of TV shows are not _____ for kids because they show sex and violence and bad grammar.

suitable DEFINITION: appropriate ALSO: if you go on a trip but didn't pack suitable clothing for a hike in the mountains then you don't have the proper shoes and pants, etc.

If you had to ____ ____ the year 2020 in one word, what word would it be?

sum up DEFINITION: summarize, give an overview, a brief explanation

a large _____ of money

sum DEFINITION: amount

What's the ______ of five plus ten?

sum DEFINITION: the total

Does your boss ever ask you to ______ information for him/her?

summarize DEFINITION: to give just the important information and not all the details

In school, did you ever read the ________ instead of reading the whole book?

summary DEFINITION: a brief, shorter version VERB: to summarize NOUN: a summation

China is the world's leading _______ of cheap, manufactured products.

supplier DEFINITION: a company or person or country which provides something that's needed VERB: to supply

Do you take any vitamin ________?

supplements DEFINITION: a supplement is something extra; ex. if you're studying for an exam and you don't find the text book helpful you may need to find supplemental material VERB: to supplement your diet

When the hospital's _____ of blood is low they call Bob. Everyone thinks Bob's great. But Bob doesn't tell them he has AIDS.

supply DEFINITION: the amount of something available to be used ALSO: power supply, oil supply, water supply

Ok, I ______ I'll have just one more.

suppose DEFINITION: think, assume

Poor Leo. It wasn't _______ ___ rain and he forgot his umbrella.

supposed to DEFINITION: it should not have rained, it was not expected to rain OPPOSITE: "I'm supposed to give you this letter" means I should / I'm expected to

surely DEFINITION: this word isn't necessary but it makes your sentence stronger ALSO: Surely you're joking. IDIOM: Slowly but surely, he finished his homework.

a ______ sound stereo system

surround DEFINITION: if something surrounds you it covers you, it's on all sides

The hockey game was _____ so they could find Bob's missing contact lense.

suspended DEFINITION: temporarily paused ALSO: if a student is suspended from school it means he's not allowed to attend school for a few days or weeks as a punishment ALSO: the man in the picture below is wearing suspenders; and the San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge

Bob found it difficult to _____ his good grades once he got to college.

sustain DEFINITION: maintain, keep, ex. sustain a conversation

Is _________ an issue that worries you?

sustainability DEFINITION: when something is harmful to the environment it's not sustainable NOTE: if a business is sustainable it's profitable and can survive

A company can lose money in the short term, but in the long term it's not ________.

sustainable DEFINITION: not able to survive/continue

What ______ words do you know in English?

swear DEFINITION: words that show anger or surprise, often vulgar and impolite, to curse ex. Holy shit! What the fuck!? God dammit!

______ the mess under the carpet

sweeping ALSO: She was swept away in all the excitement. (she let her emotions take control) ALSO: She was swept off her feet. (she fell in love) ALSO: Bob fired his entire staff in one clean sweep. (all at the same time)

sweeping the mess under the _____

carpet DEFINITION: a rug

Did you like to _____ when you were a kid?

swing ALSO: swing dancing; a swing state during an election is a state which could swing to one candidate/party or the other

When you leave a room, do you usually _____ off the lights?

switch DEFINITION: an electric switch changes where the electricity goes, i.e. on or off ALSO: if a salesman asks you to switch your phone plan that means he wants you to change plans

Is a wedding ring a _____ of security or slavery for you?

symbol DEFINITION: something visual that represents something abstract / not visible, ex. a flag, a logo, a cross ADJECTIVE: symbolic NOUN: symbolism

What's the _____ of your religion?

symbol DEFINITION: a visual or physical representation of something abstract or intangible ADJECTIVE: symbolic

Do you remember the last time you got sick? What were your ______?

symptoms DEFINITION: the signs or effects of being sick; ex. fever, aches, cough, runny nose... ADJECTIVE: symptomatic; ex. rising prices is symptomatic of an inflationary economy ALSO: you can speak metaphorically and say that crime is a symptom of a declining civilization

Do you prefer to _____ tough problems yourself, delegate them, or just ignore them?

tackle Definition: if you tackle a person you grab him and take him to the ground; if you tackle a project you begin it (usually a big, difficult project)

how to read a dog's ______ positions

tail ALSO: if the cops are tailing you that means they're following you

Do you ____ _____ your shoes before you walk into your home?

take off DEFINITION: remove

What time does your plane _____ ____?

take off DEFINITION: depart, leave; ex. It's getting late, I should take off.

The L.A. Lakers will _____ ____ The Miami Heat in the finals.

take on DEFINITION: compete against ALSO: if you ask your colleague how she feels and she says she feels like she can take on the world that means she's feeling good and probably already had some coffee

What's a hobby you'd like to _____ ____?

take up DEFINITION: to start

Many famous childrens' movies were originally fairy _____ written by Hans Christian Andersen.

tales DEFINITION: a story ALSO: if you tell tales that's another way of saying you lie

What do you have a ____ for?

talent DEFINITION: a natural ability ADJECTIVE: talented

"Excuse me," she said as she ____ his shoulder.

tapped DEFINITION: to touch lightly Also: If you read in the news that someone was tapped as the next CEO that means he was chosen ALSO: if a bar has a beer on tap that means it's from the keg/barrel and not in a bottle

turning on the _____

tap DEFINITION: faucet Also: this bar has Guinness on tap, i.e. not in a can or bottle

The kidnappers put _____ on his mouth.

tape

Many TV shows are _____ live before an audience.

taped DEFINITION: recorded NOTE: In these digital days when we use neither film nor video/audio tape, we still use these old words.

Do you have a specific _____ for your English this year?

target DEFINITION: goal, aim

As more people use air conditioners and heaters, it ______ the power system.

taxes DEFINITION: stresses, puts a burden on it ADJECTIVE: taxing; ex. He found the exam mentally taxing.

"Say it one more time, Bob, and I'll _____ _____ my hair."

tear out DEFINITION: pull out, rip out

When Bob's battery ran out, he shed large ____ out of fear of missing a Tweet.

tears DEFINITION: the liquid that comes out of your eyes when you cry NOTE: you can remember the pronunciation by remembering it rhymes with "fear"

Public _____ are an opportunity for corruption in many countries.

tenders DEFINITION: an auction for a government contract

The most ______ steak is the Rib Eye.

tender DEFINITION: soft; opposite of tough ALSO: if a person is tender that means he/she has a kind heart

Breakfast became extremely _______ after the last donut disappeared.

tense DEFINITION: there was a lot of tension, stressful, not calm

waking up in a ______

tent DEFINITION: a temporary shelter

After his final ______ in office, Bill finally had time to play some golf.

term DEFINITION: a length of time; ex. the final school term

Do you know anyone who reads the ______ and conditions?

terms DEFINITION: the terms in a contract are the rules you must obey

Bob: How do you like my sandwich? Jennifer: It's _______!

terrible DEFINITION: very bad

Are male dogs who mark their ______ a problem where you live?

territory DEFINITION: an area, land EXPRESSIONS: in familiar territory; in dangerous territory

The ______ for this TED event was "women."

theme DEFINITION: a central, unifying idea ALSO: a theme park; a theme song; a graphic theme

According to the ________ covid models from 2020, we should all be dead now.

theoretical DEFINITION: in theory, not proven

There is a new microbe in town; _______, we must buy all the toiletpaper.

therefore DEFINITION: because of A the conclusion is B

a ______ and juicy burger

thick DEFINITION: not thin ALSO: a thick book, a thick stack of papers ALSO: if you say a person is thick that means he/she isn't very clever and doesn't learn easily

What do you think of _____ mustaches?

thin DEFINITION: not wide, not fat

If you have a business meeting in the desert, be sure to bring enough water or you may die of _____

thirst Adjective: to be thirsty ALSO: if someone has a thirst for something that's not a liquid it means they have a strong desire for it, ex. a thirst for fame, a thirst for power

_________ it was Christmas, Bob still made his employees work a full day.

Although DEFINITION: even though, though

_________ it was raining, Bob still managed to train for the Tour de France.

Though DEFINITION: although

Is North Korea the biggest ______ to world peace? Or is it vegetarians?

threat Definition: something that could cause harm

When was the last time you had a sore ______?

throat DEFINITION: the part of your neck for your air, food and water ALSO: if your boss shoves the new safety regulations down your throat that means he forces them on you

Bob, I'm _______ ____ you! And I lied: I never liked your tree!

through with DEFINITION: finished, it's over

Woops. I threw the ball _____ your window.

through DEFINITION: from one side to the other ALSO: we're half way through the year

The contract was valid _________ the end of March 2020.

through DEFINITION: it was valid every day in March but not valid April 1 ALSO: You will get paid through the end of the month.

They searched ______ the house, but they never did find Bob's overdue library book.

throughout DEFINITION: in every part Also: throughout his life he was afraid of ice cream = during his whole life

Terrorism is a fact of modern life, ____ the need for tighter airport security and long lines.

thus DEFINITION: as a result of something; ex. You haven't paid me, thus I'm quitting.

The lockdown was extended ____ the end of the month.

till DEFINITION: until

a _______ dog

tiny DEFINITION: very small

When Bob's forklift ____ _____ after lunch, he knew it was time to start eating less.

tipped over DEFINITION: the weight shifts and it falls over ALSO: if you tip your glass back that means you take a drink

What we can see is just the _____ of the iceberg

tip DEFINITION: the end of, the top part, ex. tip of the pen, tip of your nose

Let me give you a _____ I got from my sensei in Japan: kick him in the balls.

tip DEFINITION: a piece of advice (note: a sensei is a karate teacher)

Is it usual to _____ in your country?

tip DEFINITION: the extra money you pay for good service, ex. tip your waiter at the restaurant

Can you hand me a _______?

tissue DEFINITION: a Kleenex ALSO: if you're watching a hospital or police show on TV you might hear "scar tissue" or "brain tissue" or "nerve tissue" which basically means "a small part of/piece of"

What ______ do you prefer to be called by?

title DEFINITION: the word(s) or letters in front of your name; ex. Mr., Mrs., Miss, Ms, Dr, Lord, Sir, Father, Professor.... NOTE: Americans write "Mr." and "Mrs."; the British write "Mr" and "Mrs" (without a period ".")

1979 was an exciting year for boxing fans when Rocky Balboa won the heavyweight ________.

title DEFINITION: the top prize in a sport, the championship

Does your company ______ its customers based on their behaviours or income?

segment DEFINTION: divide, put into categories

Which colleague or family member would you put in the "barely _______" category?

tolerable DEFINITION: if something is tolerable you don't love it but you don't hate it, you just tolerate it (usually because you have no other choice)

Who do you know who has an annoying voice ______?

tone DEFINITION: the quality of a sound, voice, music ALSO: if somone is tone deaf it means they don't hear all the sounds and as a consequence can't sing ALSO: If a teenager is being impatient a parent might say "I don't like the tone of your voice." IDIOM: if you set the tone for a meeting you establish how people will behave

a ______ from the stone age

tool DEFINITION: a device that makes work easier

What's your least favorite _____ of conversation? Sports? Politics? Celebrity gossip? Other people's kids?

topic DEFINITION: subject

Are you still __ ____ ___ your high school classmates?

in touch with DEFINITION: in contact with, you communicate with them regularly

Are you ____ enough to finish a race like this?

tough DEFINITION: a tough person can do difficult things and survive; a tough steak is difficult to chew; a tough vehicle can go offroad and not breakdown, ex. Jeeps are tough ALSO: a person can be physically or mentally tough

Have you ever played in a _______? Maybe in tennis? Or golf? Or poker?

tournament DEFINITION: a competition where the winner of each match or game progresses to the next round SLANG: tourney

If you need to go west, walk ______ the sun.

toward DEFINITION: in the direction of BRITISH ENGLISH: towards

By the time Bob was just eight years old, he already _____ ______ his classmates.

towered over DEFINITION: he was a lot taller than them, i.e. like a tower

She's _____ the drawing.

tracing Definition: if you trace a drawing you copy the original by drawing over it. ALSO: If you trace your ancestry you discover where your dead relatives lived and who they were. Also: "to disappear without a trace" means to suddenly vanish without any warning and without leaving any signs

Are you ____ ____ to reaching your English goals?

on track DEFINITION: everything is going according to plan NOTE: it's a metaphor that refers to train tracks, so if the project is "off track" that's not good ALSO: an athlete runs on a track

At work we ____ results with a dashboard.

track DEFINITION: follow, measure

I'll _____ you my fish for your grain.

trade DEFINITION: exchange

What's your favorite holiday ______?

tradition DEFINITION: a custom, something you do at a certain time because that's what you always do ADJECTIVE: a traditional dish, a traditional song

the hiking _____ that leads to Mount Everest

trail DEFINITION: a path IDIOM: if you call someone a trailblazer that's a compliment which means you think they're a leader (imagine someone who is the first person to create a trail and they make the trail with fire, i.e. a blaze)

After 14 years of negotiations, Bob and his lawyers were able to reach a ________ which allowed Bob to return to Starbucks, but this time with his pants on.

settlement DEFINITION: an agreement; in legal English this usually means an agreement was made outside the court system

Have you ever ______ money to a friend using your phone?

transfered DEFINITION: to send money from one account to another ALSO: you can begin studying at one college and then transfer to another school; you can transfer jobs within your company; a football player can transfer to another team

Caterpillars _______ into butterflies.

transform DEFINITION: change completely NOUN: transformation

At what age did you have your biggest _______?

transformation DEFINITION: a big change

Bob told the marriage counselor that he felt ______ at home.

trapped DEFINITION: caged, confined; i.e. to trap a wild animal ALSO: if your political enemy sets a trap for you that means the attractive blonde at the bar is working for him and doesn't really think you're cute

Bob _____ his car better than his wife. But he had a really nice car, so she understood.

treated Definition: the way you behave toward someone or something

Chemotherapy is a common ______ for cancer.

treatment DEFINITION: it makes it better (it might completely solve the problem or just improve it)

Is working from home a _____ that will continue?

trend DEFINITION: something new and popular ADJECTIVE: if a fashion is new and popular it's "trendy"

Are ripped clothes still ________?

trendy DEFINITION: new and popular

You can't teach an old dog new _______

tricks. DEFINITION: a clever, amusing action by an animal or human, ex. do a skateboarding trick

Do you like to be ______ by magicians?

tricked DEFINITION: fooled, deceived NOUN: a trick

Have you ever pulled the _____ on a gun?

trigger DEFINITION: the part of the gun that fires the bullet ALSO: if you say something triggered an event or triggered a reaction that means it caused it to happen IDIOM: If your boss tells you you need to pull the trigger that means you need to make a decision and take action.

Are there any American _______ in your country?

troops Definition: soldiers

Did you ever get a catchy _____ stuck in your head?

tune DEFINITION: a song, a melody

getting your piano ______

tuned DEFINITION: make small adjustments so it performs better; ex. take your car in for a tune up

______of turbulence on airplanes has increased.

Instances DEFINITION: a specific example, occurence ALSO: for instance = for example

Do you remember when you ____ _____ the clocks in your country?

turn back DEFINITION: to move the hands back, to reset the time ALSO: a skin cream can promise to turn back the hands of time ALSO: if you leave your house and forget your wallet you'll have to turn back

When you leave a room, do you usually ____ ____ the lights?

turn out ALSO: turn off the lights

How big was the _________ for the last election?

turnout DEFINITION: how many people showed up

two wires _______ together

twisted DEFINITION: to turn, spin, intertwine VERB: you can twist off the cap on a bottle ADJECTIVE: if you tell your artist friend he has a twisted mind that means you think his paintings are very strange ALSO: if a story has a twist that means something unexpected happens

Have you ever seen an _____ baby?

ugly DEFINITION: unattractive ALSO: if you want to say that the situation became very bad -- maybe there was a fight or a shouting match -- you can say, "Things got ugly."

When someone has an _____ baby, we say it has "a face only a mother could love."

ugly DEFINITION: not attractive

The doctor took a ____ of Bob's blood. Fortunately, the results were negative. Unfortunately, they were the results for another patient.

sample DEFINITION: a small amount of something that gives you more information/a better idea about the thing it was taken from, ex. When you go shopping sometimes you can get free samples of products

Agree or disagree?

ultimate DEFINITION: the highest level; ex. an ultimate challenge; an ultimate insult; What's your ultimate fantasy?

At what temperature does the heat become ________ for you?

unbearable DEFINITION: you can't tolerate it, it's too much

If you don't like ______ you can visit a psychic.

uncertainty DEFINITION: when you don't know, when you're uncertain

Bob was always confident about his appearance. But when he wanted to start modelling professionally, he felt it was necessary to _____ an operation to remove his third eye.

undergo DEFINITION: to have an operation (formal) ALSO: undergo surgery, undergo testing, undergo a financial depression

Religion ______ much of the violence in the world today.

underlies Definition: to be located under, ex. a layer of rock underlies the village; or to be the cause of something Also: the underlying problem

The government of Rome finally decided to ______ repairs on the Colloseum. Just in time for tourist season.

undertake Definition: to begin something that will be difficult Also: undertake a journey, undertake training

What's the longest you've been _________?

unemployed DEFINITION: You didn't have a job

When we bought the house we had to renovate the floor because it was so _______.

uneven Definition: not flat, not smooth Opposite: even

Have you ever had to wear a ______ to work?

uniform DEFINITION: clothes which are the same ALSO: if you have uniform beliefs that means your beliefs are all the same

In your country, is it common for workers to organize in labor ________?

unions DEFINITION: an organization of workers who threaten their company with a strike unless they get more money or better working conditions

The more apartment _____ you have, the more money you can collect from rent.

units DEFINITION: a single thing; a combination of things that form a single thing EXAMPLES: a military unit is a group of soldiers; a computer unit is a monitor plus hard drive plus keyboard plus mouse

If we want to defeat the alien invaders, humans of all nations must ________.

unite DEFINITION: to come together, to work together and cooperate

When we are ____ we are stronger.

united DEFINITION: together because of a similar belief or cause

Ironically, although many were alone during the lockdowns, knowing that people around the world were in the same situation gave them a sense of _______

unity DEFINITION: togetherness

Does your government provide _______ healthcare?

universal DEFINITION: something that works for everyone or that is for everyone,ex. a universal solution, a universal problem; universal experience

Bob, ______ one of us leaves this boat, we're all going to die.

unless DEFINITION: if the situation doesn't change; ex. I'll be on time unless the train is late.

______ other phones, you can drop a Nokia and it won't break.

Unlike DEFINITION: it's not like the other thing you're comparing it to

At many fast food restaurants in the U.S., you can get ______ refills.

unlimited DEFINITION: no limits, no restrictions

In your house, whose job is it to ______ the dishwasher?

unload DEFINITION: remove the dishes from ALSO: unload the car, unload the plane

What time of the year is the weather the most ___________?

unpredictable DEFINITION: it's difficult to predict/guess what it will do

It wasn't ______ for Bob to have at least one hamburger before breakfast.

unusual DEFINITION: strange, odd, out of the ordinary ADVERB: unusually; ex. it's unusually quiet tonight

Bob's onions this year were ______ large.

unusually DEFINITION: it's not usual / standard / normal

But first, we're going to bring you the latest _____ on the covid situation.

update DEFINITION: new information ALSO: if you keep someone updated you keep them informed; ex. get weather updates on your phone ALSO: automatic software updates

These days, is there ____ growth or decline in your country?

urban DEFINITION: related to the city ALSO: urban planning

In the U.S., states which prefer to wear stripes are in the _______

minority DEFINITION: there are fewer of them; they are outnumbered ALSO: a person whose race is not part of the majority; ex. a white person in Nigeria or a black person in Ireland

"Maybe" is an example of a _______ answer.

vague DEFINITION: not specific

You know you've made bad decisions in life when you find yourself living in a ____ down by the river.

van DEFINITION: a type of vehicle used for hauling or camping

It's hard to predict the weather because there are so many ________

variables DEFINITION: something that changes, i.e. varies; ex. variable wind, variable quality, variable speeds, a variable rate of return (for an investment)

How much _____ do you get in your diet?

variety DEFINITION: not always choosing the same thing EXPRESSION: variety is the spice of life

Prices for airline tickets often _____.

vary DEFINITION: if something varies it's not always the same, i.e. it changes, ex. temperatures in the desert can vary from freezing cold at night to boiling hot during the day NOUN: variation, variety

After their parents took away their phones, the boys _____ into the wilderness to start a new life.

ventured DEFINITION: to do something new that requires risk ALSO: venture a guess (i.e. take a guess); ; start a new venture (i.e. a new project or business)

Silicon Valley is famous for attracting ______ capital.

venture DEFINITION: money to start a new business, i.e. a new venture, usually a business with a high risk of failure

Mike Tyson ______ a great, white shark.... Who do you think would win?

versus DEFINITION: against ALSO: court cases are often named after the two sides in the case, such as: Kramer vs. Pepsi, Co. NOTE: sometimes it's shortened as "vs" or simple "v"

After Bob fell asleep with a cigar in his mouth, Maersk Line banned smoking on all its cargo ______

vessels Definition: a ship (formal)

Do you know any war ________?

veterans DEFINITION: someone who has served in the military; and a war veteran is someone who actually fought in the war; ex. a WWII veteran ALSO: anyone with prior experience; ex. Hillary Clinton was a political veteran but Trump was not COMMON ABBREVIATION: a vet

If you want to visit the Grand Canyon you'll have to travel _____ one of the hub airports, like Los Angeles.

via DEFINITION: by way of; to go from A to C you'll have to travel via B NOTE: this is actually a Latin word; what are some other Latin words that are often used in English?

Does your country have a _____ president?

vice DEFINITION: he /she acts in place of the President if the President is not available or dies NOTE: often called "the VP"

What's your favorite _____?

vice DEFINITION: something that's pleasurable but not good for you ALSO: the vice squad, Miami Vice (the part of the police force which fights drug dealers)

Would you rather live in the city or in a ______ village like this one?

rural DEFINITION: in the country

Do______ video games make children ________?

violent DEFINITION: something that shows fighting, injury, and death

Have you ever tried _____ reality game?

virtual DEFINITION: it's similar but not the same; it happens online; ex. a virtual meeting ALSO: a virtual assistant (VA) is someone who always works remotely via the internet

Do you have good _____? Or do you need glasses or contacts?

vision DEFINITION: sight ALSO: if a leader has vision that means he/she can imagine a positive future that doesn't exist yet A PERSON: a visionary -- a leader who has vision

If you have an important job interview it's _____ that you show up on time.

vital DEFINITION: very important ALSO: a vital person can be someone who has lots of energy and is full of life NOUN: vitality, ex. the vitality of youth ALSO: if you revitalize something you bring it back to life, ex. revitalize the film industry by providing tax incentives

In the 1920s, short hair was ___ ____

in vogue DEFINITION: in style

Do you have a nice singing ______?

voice DEFINITION: you can have a loud voice, a quiet voice, a strong voice, etc. ALSO: if you lose your voice that means you lost your ability to speak (usually temporarily)

The President used his five minutes to ______ his concern about catching Covid through Zoom.

voice DEFINITION: to give, say, tell

The Oxford English dictionary has 21,728 pages and 20 _______.

volumes DEFINITION: a book or magazine in a series

I can't hear it! Turn up the ______!

volume DEFINITION: the sound level

Is military service in your country mandatory or ________?

voluntary DEFINITION: optional ALSO: if you volunteer to do a job you do it because you choose to do it, not because someone is making you do it; ALSO: a volunteer worker is someone who works for free, usually helping people; ex. he works at the volunteer fire department

Are firemen in your country paid or are they __________?

volunteers DEFINITION: someone who chooses to work without pay ALSO: a volunteer firefighter

A rare photo of President Obama ______ for Donald Trump

voting DEFINITION: to choose a candidate in an election PERSON: a voter

The crime ________ pointed to Bob. Bob, of course, was innocent.

witness DEFINITION: a person who sees a crime or accident or an exceptional event, ex. witness a beautiful sunset

What _____ did you earn in your first job?

wage DEFINITION: how much you make per hour, usually for low-paying jobs, whereas an office employee has an annual salary ALSO: governments sometimes set a minimum wages which is the lowest amount an employer can pay per hour

jumping a boat's ______

wake DEFINITION:the waves that follow behind a boat EXPRESSION: in his/her wake, ex. The killer left a trail of dead bodies in his wake.

Is it traditional in your country to have a ______ the day before the funeral?

wake DEFINITION: the meeting of family and friends the day before a funeral, usually to view the body and great the family

When you travel to a new city do you like to take tours or just _____ the streets?

wander Definition: to walk around or travel without a specific destination a person: a wanderer Also: if a person has wanderlust he likes to travel a lot

Which is your _____ arm?