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Word of the week
Welcome to my Wednesday's Word of the Week page! Each Wednesday I'll be adding one of the more unusual or useful words that we've come across in our lessons that week - they will definitely be words that all native speakers know and use but they might be new to you and hopefully
you'll find it interesting to look at their pronunciation and see how we use them in a sentence.
swab (n, v) - a small piece of sterile cloth used to clean and cover a wound; you can swab or take a swab when you obtain a medical sample using a swab, which consists of a short stick with absorbent material (e.g. cotton) on the end (it looks like a long cotton bud). Note the past participle/past simple form of the verb has a double ‘b’ - swabbed and the ‘a’ is pronounced as an ‘o’, so it rhymes with ‘job’!
/swɒb/ from early modern Dutch zwabber
She cleaned the wound with a swab and decided it might need a couple of stitches
It’s normal practice for health care staff to count the gauze swabs before and after the procedure to ensure patient safety
The surgical scar look red and inflamed so he took a swab to see if she needed any antibiotics
Patients were routinely swabbed for MRSA prior to surgery
I've chosen today's Word of the Week because it's been a cause of confusion several times recently 🥴 It seems that we're quite unusual in the UK in that we refer to the tissue at the back of our throats as 'tonsils' and that when we suffer from 'angina' we have a heart problem and not a throat problem! I've also heard 'tonsils' confused with 'amygdala' and it was very concerning to hear that someone had had it removed! So, to clarify:
tonsils (npl) - lymphoid tissue around the pharynx (at the back of the throat) that helps prevent infection. When they become inflamed we call it tonsillitis (note the double ‘ll’) and when they are removed the operation is a tonsillectomy
/ˈtɒnsəlz/ of French or Latin origin
People don’t seem to have their tonsils out these days, but it was a common procedure when I was a child
She had tonsillitis so often the doctor decided to take her tonsils out
When you have tonsillitis you can often see white spots on your tonsils
The doctor may recommend a tonsillectomy if you have recurrent episodes of tonsillitis
stir-crazy (adj) - upset because you’ve been confined in one space for a long time
/stɜːr ˈkreɪzɪ/ of unknown, 19th century origin, referring to spending time in a prison cell
I’ll go stir-crazy if I have to spend another week stuck in this house!
The kids are going to go stir-crazy if we don’t take them out for some exercise today!
I’ve been busy all morning and haven’t had time to take the dog out yet. She’s going stir-crazy in the kitchen. She needs to run her energy off!
There’s lots of good advice online to stop you going stir-crazy whilst you’re self-isolating during the pandemic
quarantine (n, v) - isolation imposed to prevent the spread of disease. Note that it’s a noun and a verb. There are three things to remember about the English pronunciation - the ‘qu’ is a ‘kw’ sound, the ‘a’ is the ‘o’ sound heard in ‘dog’ and ‘opposite’, and the ‘ine’ is like the ‘een’ you hear in ‘fourteen’ (sounds like ‘kworrunteen’).
/ˈkwɒrənˌtiːn/ of Italian origin (from ‘forty days’)
The government decided to quarantine all new arrivals from abroad for 14 days to combat the spread of the virus If you have any of the symptoms, you’re advised to self-quarantine at home
You won’t have to put your dog in quarantine for six months if you bring it over from France
Today I want to explain the difference between shock and surprise. They're both unexpected events but essentially, a shock is more of a negative experience than a surprise. Look at these examples:
It was a total shock when he turned up on my doorstep and I wondered how he’d discovered my address
She was shocked by what he said and later felt guilty that she hadn’t challenged him about it
His acquittal was a complete shock to the families of the victims
Fetch some brandy! She’s had a nasty shock!
The shock announcement left most of the country feeling sad and bemused
Give him time to recover. He’s had some shocking news
The weather was shocking! I’m never going to Cornwall again!
You will be punished for your shocking behaviour!
😲
Oh what a lovely surprise! I didn’t expect to see you here!
She surprised him with a holiday for two in the Bahamas
I wouldn’t be surprised if they decided to get married next year
It was hard to organise the surprise party without his wife finding out
I actually enjoyed the concert. She was a surprisingly good singer
😃
fall out (phrasal verb) - to separate (away) from (lose), fall from a place it was attached to; to argue. The single word noun fallout describes the unpleasant results of an action and the radioactive dust generated after a nuclear explosion.
/fɔːl aʊt/ of Old English from Germanic origin
His drug use got so bad that his teeth began to fall out
All her hair fell out after her chemotherapy and she began to wear a wig
He fell out of a tree when he was six and broke his arm
They’ve fallen out over something and haven’t spoken for months
She fell out with her sister over her treatment of their mother
The fallout from the Chernobyl nuclear disaster spread over much of Europe
The political fallout from Brexit will probably last for years
hallucination (n) - something you experience if you see/hear/feel/smell things that don’t exist outside your mind. When this happens you hallucinate (verb). Something that induces hallucinations is a hallucinogen (noun) and the adjective is hallucinogenic. Note the changes in stress.
/həˌluːsɪˈneɪʃ(ə)n/, /həˈluːsɪˌneɪt/, /həˈluːsɪnəʤ(ə)n/, /həluːsɪnəˈʤenɪk/ of Latin origin from Greek
A really high fever can sometimes cause hallucinations
The combination of codeine coupled with extreme sleep deprivation caused her to hallucinate and the GP was called to the house
LSD is a powerful hallucinogen and can cause adverse psychiatric reactions like anxiety, paranoia and delusions
He drank some tea made from hallucinogenic mushrooms and laughed for two straight hours!
A tough one this week!
compliment (n, v) - praise, endorsement, recommendation, an expression of approval. If you compliment someone in English you often pay them a compliment
/ˈkɒmplɪmənt/ of French origin, via Latin and Italian
It was a great compliment to be asked to play the lead role in that year’s production
She complimented him on his successful application and told him she was looking forward to working with him
Could I go into the kitchen and compliment the chef on her amazing cooking?
We got free liqueurs, compliments of the owner following the meal
He paid her the compliment of telling her that she was his favourite author and proceeded to ask her about her next novel
compliment is often confused with complement - they are pronounced the same but note the spelling change
complement (v, n) - means to improve something by adding to it. It’s an augmentation or a counterpart to something. As a verb, it completes something
/ˈkɒmplɪmənt/ of Middle English origin from Latin
That new hairstyle complements your face perfectly
They’re perfect for each other! They complement each other in every way!
If you want a wine that goes with salty, fried fish, then sweet, citrusy Prosecco provides the perfect complement
And don’t forget the adjectives complimentary and complementary (note the stress change):
The critics were very complimentary about his latest film performance
My boss wasn’t very complimentary about me at my annual review. Apparently he wants me to go on a training course
My girlfriend got complimentary tickets for the exhibition because she knows a guy who works at the gallery!
You can wear orange and blue together because they’re complementary colours
Her experience in sales and knowledge of two other languages were complementary skills that enhanced her ability to do the job
Today we’re looking at a simple verb that causes lots of problems for learners when it’s followed by a preposition - arrive (v) - to reach (after a journey); appear
/əˈraɪv/ of Middle English from Old French origin
Arrive can be followed by several prepositions - at, in and on are the most common ones, but never 'to'!!! I think ’to’ often causes confusion because of its association with ‘motion towards’ which we have, of course, when we arrive somewhere! I arrived to Madrid on Monday is wrong I’m afraid, no matter how logical it sounds! Here are the rules:
We use at before places and buildings and before specific periods of time:
I arrived at the station in plenty of time for the train
She arrived at the hospital just in time!
He arrived at noon, which gave him time for a coffee before his interview at one
She arrived at 7 o’clock in the morning
The bus arrived at just the right moment. It had started to rain as I saw it approach
We use in before large places like towns, cities and countries, and months, years and seasons:
It was raining when we arrived in Manchester
I had arrived in Spain in the middle of a heatwave!
She arrived in October and stayed until the middle of November
He’d arrived in the summer and was unprepared for how cold it became in the winter
We use on for days and dates:
They arrived on Saturday
I’m planning to arrive on the 25th of June
You’ll also see other prepositions used, depending on context:
They arrived from Barbados early this morning
They arrived by taxi this evening
He arrived with a woman I’d never met before
However, erase ‘arrive to’ from your mind forever! Finally, if you hear something like The plumber arrived to fix the pipe or The taxi arrived to take him to the airport, this ‘to’ belongs to the following verb and not to ‘arrive’, and that’s a different grammatical problem altogether 😂
Two words this week so you can compare the differences as they often cause confusion. They're borrow and lend:
borrow (from, off) (v) - to receive something on loan, to use it temporarily. The direction is towards the subject:
/ˈbɒrəʊ/ of Old English origin
He borrowed some money from the bank to start his new business
Can I borrow your phone for a minute? Mine's run out of battery
He's always borrowing money off people and he never seems to give it back!
lend (to) - to give something on loan temporarily. The direction is away from the subject:
/lend/ of Germanic origin
Could you lend me your phone for a sec? I left mine in the kitchen
I lent my brother my car and he crashed it!
My father lent me £5,000 towards a deposit on a new flat
monitor (v, n) - to watch and check over a period of time to obtain information; an electronic screen, a person or machine that observes, tests or records
/ˈmɒnɪtə(r)/ of Latin origin
He was monitored by the doctors for 12 months and then discharged as fully fit
We decided to monitor his progress in the job for 3 months before we gave him a contract
The teachers monitored the students carefully during the exam
The international community will be planning to monitor the election process closely
The security guards were watching the monitors closely for any unusual activity
Staring at this computer monitor all day has given me eye strain!
The heart monitor showed that his pulse was 84 and regular
I’ve put the baby to bed, so switch the baby monitor on so we can hear him if he cries
Today's word is a common one with many meanings!
run-down/run down/rundown (adj; phrasal verb; noun) - not at the peak of physical health; in bad condition (adj). As a phrasal verb it means to run from a higher position to a lower one, to slowly end production, to use up the supply or to be hit by a vehicle. As a noun it is a quick, short description of the important points of an idea or situation
/ˌrʌnˈdaʊn/
I think I need a holiday - I’ve got a mouth ulcer and I’m feeling a bit run-down
He’s tired and run-down - he’s been working far too many hours at work and needs a break
He opened his first shop in a run-down old building near the railway station but by the time he was forty he owned a string of department stores!
Could you just run down to the shops and fetch me some milk? I’ve run out
He ran down the hill as fast as he could
The leak in the roof was so bad that water was running down the inside walls!
Coal production was gradually run down and nuclear energy heavily promoted by the government
I need a new phone. The battery seems to run down really quickly on this one
She broke her pelvis when she was run down by a police vehicle during a high speed chase
He gave the consultant a quick rundown of the situation over the phone and she said she’d come straight in
surgery (n) - the treatment of disease by cutting open a live body to repair or remove the problem; it’s also the building where a doctor or a dentist works (in the community)
/ˈsɜːʤ(ə)riː/ of Middle English origin from Old French
I had surgery on my leg and was in hospital for two days
She had surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy for her breast cancer
I’ve got an appointment at the surgery at 10.50
The dentist’s surgery stays open till 8pm on Tuesdays
tactile (adj) - the adjective that relates to the sense of touch. A tactile person is someone who touches other people a lot
/ˈtæktaɪl/ of Latin origin
She’s not a very tactile person - in fact, I can tell she’s very uncomfortable when I hug her!
He’s a bit too tactile for my liking - he’s always touching your knee or your arm when he’s talking to you!
It’s rare you have to resuscitate a healthy newborn baby. You can usually get them to breathe with tactile stimulation alone
In order to assess his level of consciousness, the nurse began by checking the patient’s response to verbal commands and light tactile pressure
nasal (adj) - the adjective for ‘nose’. The ‘na’ is the same sound in ‘say’ and ‘pay’ and the stress is on the first syllable - it rhymes with the nut ‘hazel’
/ˈneɪzəl/ of French from Latin origin
Can you go to the chemist’s for me and get me something for nasal congestion? I can’t breathe through my nose at all!
He spoke with quite a nasally sound and I wondered if he had a cold
The nasal septum separates the nasal cavity into two nostrils
Two similar words today that have recently caused confusion in class:
prescribe and proscribe. Prescribe is of course very familiar to healthcare professionals and the public alike; proscribe is much less commonly used. They seem to stem from the Latin for an ‘order’ or ‘direction’ (prescription) and ‘to publish in writing’.
prescribe (v) - to specify which medical treatment is needed. The noun is prescription
/prɪˈskraɪb/ of Late Middle English from Latin origin
The doctor prescribed some topical steroids for her eczema
We need to stop prescribing so many antibiotics because overuse is leading to their ineffectiveness in some cases
I need the dentist to prescribe me some pain killers for this tooth abscess
He complained loudly that the doctor was a complete waste of time when she prescribed more exercise and reducing his alcohol intake!
The doctor gave me a prescription for some blood pressure medication
The over-prescription of antibiotics is causing a rise in bugs that are immune to them
proscribe (v) - to forbid, prohibit, outlaw
/prəʊˈskraɪb/ of Late Middle English from Latin origin
Under the dictatorship the list of proscribed organisations grew longer and longer
The fact that the book was proscribed by law made more people want to read it!
The cyclist was banned for life when he was discovered to have been using proscribed drugs (i.e. these drugs are banned and haven’t been prescribed!)
pronounce (v) - to say a word in a particular way. The noun is pronunciation. Important note language learners: 'pronunciate' isn’t a word. Look at the different stresses and pronunciations of the two words:
pronounce - /prəˈnaʊns/ - the aʊ sound is also heard in ‘cow’ and ‘house’
pronunciation - /prəˌnʌnsɪˈeɪʃ(ə)n/ - the aʊ has changed to a short ‘u’ (ʌ) sound (‘butter’, ‘must’)
Origin - Middle English from Old French from Latin
How do you pronounce the English word ‘fruition’?
He can’t pronounce the letter ‘R’ properly - it sounds like a ‘W’
Her knowledge of Italian vocabulary is pretty good but her pronunciation is awful!
I get confused about the pronunciation of ‘B’ and ‘V’ in Spanish
expel (v) - to force a movement out. This can be to compel someone to leave an organisation or a country for example, or cause the movement of liquid or air
/ekˈspel/ of Latin origin
He was expelled from school for setting fire to the bike shed
I would imagine he’ll be expelled from the country if he’s found guilty of making hate speeches
Breathe in on a count of four, hold your breath for seven, and then expel the air forcibly through your mouth for eight
Two for the price of one today! Do you know the difference between raise and rise?
raise (v) - to lift something higher; increase
/reɪz/ of Middle English origin from Old Norse
Please raise your glasses and toast the bride and groom!
Can you raise the screen a little bit? We can’t see at the back!
Henry VIII raised Anne Boleyn up to be the Queen of England but he soon knocked her back down again!
They won’t vote for any party that threatens to raise taxes
He’s finding it difficult to raise funds for his project
Note: ‘raise’ is a regular, transitive verb - this means it must always be followed by an object. Compare it with rise (to move upwards, increase) - /raɪz/ - an intransitive verb - it doesn’t take an object and is irregular - rise, rose, risen:
The sun rose at five a.m.
The price of petrol has risen again
He never rises before ten a.m. at the weekend
Thomas Cromwell rose from blacksmith’s son to be Chancellor of England under Henry VIII
savour (v) - to really enjoy something. The adjective savoury - regarding food it’s the opposite of ‘sweet’ (i.e. salty or spicy); if something is unsavoury it means it’s unpleasant
/ˈseɪvə(r)/ of Middle English origin from Old French and Latin
It was a wonderful day and I savoured every moment of it!
He wanted to savour his moment of victory for as long as possible!
I won’t have a pudding, I prefer savoury things
I’ve got a very sweet tooth - I much prefer sweet things to savoury ones
He was a very unsavoury character - I was always very suspicious of his motives
vigorous (adj) - energetic, strong
/ˈvɪgərəs/ of Middle English from Old French from Latin
The baby gave a vigorous cry and appeared to be angry that he had been disturbed!
The horse gave the vet a vigorous kick on the shin and refused to be led into the yard
The president vigorously denied ever having been in a relationship with the woman in question
worsen (v) - to become worse. The opposite of to improve. The comparative adjective of bad is worse and the superlative is worst
/ˈwɜːs(ə)n/ of Old English origin
The longer he goes without treatment the quicker his condition will worsen
The weather was worsening by the minute and I started to worry I wouldn’t be able to get home!
His behaviour worsened whenever he stayed at his naughty cousin’s house
My father got worse overnight and we decided to call an ambulance
The weather didn’t get any better, in fact it got worse, so we decided to come home early
That was the worst meal I’ve ever had. I’m never going to that restaurant again!
You may never actually use this word yourself because it's very informal English, but you'll certainly hear native speakers use it a lot (probably because we're permanently knackered!)
knackered (adj, v) - (very informal) broken; exhausted. Note: the 'K' is silent.
/ˈnækə(r)d/ of unknown origin
I was knackered after my long shift and just wanted to go straight to bed
She went to the doctor for a blood test ‘cos she was feeling totally knackered all the time
He fell when he was running and knackered his Achilles tendon
My phone’s knackered - I think I’m going to have to get a new one
wrinkle (n, v) - small folds or lines in skin or cloth. Note: the ‘W’ is silent, and it loses its ‘E’ in the adjective wrinkly
/ˈrɪŋk(ə)l/ of Old English origin
Her face was covered in wrinkles - she must have been at least 90 years old
You need to straighten your skirt - it’s all wrinkled at the back
He wrinkled his nose up in disgust when she offered him a plate of snails!
I spent too long in the bath and now I’m wrinkled up like a prune!
If you spend too long in the sun your skin will go wrinkled and leathery
He was a wrinkly old man, completely bald, and walking with a stick
Three for the price of one today! I thought we ought to have a look at using your eyes 👀 in English because these three verbs are easily confused...
There are many verbs for using your eyes, for example: watch, look (at), see, view, regard, observe. The last three are more formal verbs, the first three more common. There is a slight difference between watch, see and look. When we watch we usually look at something for a period of time and we use it especially when we’re looking at things that are moving (like TV, activities). However, for some (stupid) reason, we don’t watch things at the theatre or cinema! We see them!
We use look when we’re talking about directing our eyes at something and paying attention to it. If it’s followed by an object we use at.
See just means using our eyes.
Here are some examples:
I couldn’t see very far ahead because the fog was so thick
I can’t see without my glasses
Have you seen today’s paper?
He hadn’t seen Tom for ages
I saw a fox in the garden this morning
I didn’t see it at the pictures, I saw it on DVD at home
I went to the pictures on Sunday to see the latest Harry Potter film
Turn the light on - I can’t see a thing!
Look! Over there! You’re not looking!
What are you looking at?
He was looking through his old photo albums in the kitchen
Don’t look at me like that! I’ve done nothing wrong!
I looked into the garden but couldn’t see anything unusual
I went to watch England play Brazil at Wembley. They lost 3-0!
He was sitting on the sofa watching the 6 o’clock news
Grandma really enjoys watching the children playing in the garden
Watch me daddy! I’m going to do a cartwheel!
tweak (v, n) - to change something slightly, especially to improve it; to pull or pinch and twist something
/twiːk/ of uncertain origin
I just tweaked the dial slightly and was able to get a clear radio reception
My presentation is OK - it just needs a few tweaks here and there to make it perfect
That picture looks crooked to me. Just tweak it up a bit on the left to get it straight
The proposal doesn’t just need tweaking. It needs tearing up and starting again - it’s absolute rubbish!
Grandma gave my cheek a small tweak and told me how glad she was to see me
The teacher tweaked his ear sharply and told him to pay attention!
horizontal (adj) - parallel to the horizon, lying flat or level with the ground, at right angles to the vertical. Pronunciation point: the stress is on the third syllable, whereas in the word horizon it is on the second, i.e. the stress changes from the ‘o’ to the ‘i’, which is pronounced like ‘eye’ -
/həˈraɪz(ə)n/
/ˌhɒrɪˈzɒnt(ə)l/ of modern Latin origin
The shelving unit could be placed vertically or horizontally, depending on the shape of the room
The line graph demonstrated the years on the horizontal x-axis and the prevalence of the condition on the vertical y-axis
The horizontal bar used in gymnastics is parallel to the floor and held in place by cables and vertical supports
He was lying horizontally on the couch, watching football and surrounded by empty beer bottles
debt (n) - something owed, especially money. If you owe money you’re in debt or you’ve run up a debt, and if you’re in debt up to your eyeballs you’re in really big trouble! Note the pronunciation - the ‘b’ is silent
/det/ of Middle English from Old French and Latin origin
He’s in debt to the bank for £40,000!
I paid back that debt I owed my parents so now I’m broke!
He’s in debt up to his eyeballs; there are creditors chasing him all over town!
These days many young people are too worried about running up huge debts to go to university
A bit of a gruesome word this week! (See our very first entry at the bottom of the page for the meaning of this word if you don't know it!)
stab (v, n) - to pierce the skin or injure with a sharp object like a knife. The act is also known as stabbing and is sometimes used when describing sharp pains
/stæb/ possibly of Middle English via Old Norse origin
He stabbed his girlfriend to death and was sentenced to life in prison
The public are concerned that the number of stabbings in London seems to have reached epidemic proportions
She accidentally stabbed herself in the foot when she dropped the chopping knife
He was admitted to hospital with stab wounds but refused to talk to the police about the culprit
Unfortunately he was fatally stabbed when he tackled the thief
He stabbed at a potato with his fork but just caught the edge and it shot off the plate onto the floor
The patient was complaining of a twisting, stabbing pain in his abdomen
The stabbing pain in his eye made me wonder if he’d got a corneal infection
We also use this word in a common idiom for betrayal:
to stab someone in the back (idiom) - to harm someone who trust you
It was a real stab in the back for her when he ran off with her sister!
I felt like he’d stabbed me in the back when he told me he’d gambled all our savings away
Do you know the difference between the verbs listen and hear? They do mean slightly different things and it’s worth knowing if you want to take your English to the next level!
to hear is to physically be able to notice sound with your ears. It rhymes with ‘beer’, ‘near’ and ‘clear’. If you can’t hear you are ‘deaf’ or ‘hard of hearing’:
Speak up, I can’t hear you!
Did you hear a noise?
I couldn’t hear a word she was saying it was so noisy in the bar
I heard what you said, I just chose to ignore it!
Can you all hear me at the back?
to listen is to actively use that ability to hear in order to concentrate on the sound. The ‘t’ is silent, so it sounds like ‘lissen’. An important thing to remember is that when it’s followed by an object we say listen to:
I love listening to music
I listened to his lecture with great interest
You’re not listening to me!
What are you listening to?
I’m sick of listening to you two arguing all the time!
Listen! Did you hear that?
I stopped talking eventually because it was obvious they weren’t listening
compound (n, v) - something that contains two or more elements; an area contained by walls or a fence; as a verb it means to make something worse. Note: the noun has the stress on the first syllable and the verb has the stress on the second syllable! In medicine a compound fracture describes a broken bone that pierces the skin.
/ˈkɒmpaʊnd/ of Middle English from Old French and Latin origin
Carbon dioxide is a chemical compound containing carbon and oxygen
Nitrogen containing compounds are used commercially in the production of fertilisers, dyes, drugs and explosives
They believed that the rebel leader was hiding in a compound somewhere in the mountains
His stress levels were compounded by the fact that there was a train strike and he was late for work
Don’t compound your diabetes by over-eating and lack of exercise!
A compound fracture needs immediate treatment to reduce the risk of infection
to be on tenterhooks (expression) - to be waiting anxiously, in a state of suspense
/ˈtentəˌhʊks/ a mixture of Middle English and Old English from Latin and possibly Dutch
I’ve been on tenterhooks all morning waiting for them to ring about the job
He’s anxious and I know he’ll be on tenterhooks till he gets his test results
She couldn’t wait to hear his news. She’d been on tenterhooks ever since she found out he was back
Here’s a nice little web page that explains this expression in more detail, including what a ‘tenter’ actually is (or was)!
https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/on-tenterhooks.html
look forward (to) (phrasal verb) - to be happy about something that is going to happen
/lʊk ˈfɔːwəd/ both words are of Old English origin
I’m really looking forward to my summer holiday!
I’m not looking forward to Christmas at all! I find it very stressful!
See you Monday! - Yes, I’ll look forward to it!
He wasn’t looking forward to a week of working nights, that’s for sure!
Are you looking forward to starting your new job?
She isn’t looking forward to visiting her husband’s family next week
I’ve been really looking forward to meeting you!
Don't make the mistake of confusing scared and scary. They're both adjectives but describe different things.
Scared describes feeling frightened. Scary is ‘frightening’, i.e. causing fear.
/skeəd/ and /ˈskeəriː/ of Middle English origin from Old Norse
Look at these differences:
I’m really scared of spiders
She’s scared of flying
I felt quite scared the first time I jumped out of a plane - these three examples describe the feeling of being frightened.
For many people, being in hospital can be a scary experience
It was pretty scary waiting for the test results
He’s quite a scary character and I usually keep out of his way - these examples describe things that have caused fear.
You could also say Spiders are scary, flying is scary, jumping out of a plane is scary, I was scared when I was in hospital, I'm scared of him.
I wouldn’t be scared of Hagrid because he’s actually a nice guy, but I’d be terrified of Voldemort because he’s really scary!
Implant - You may know the meaning of this common medical word, but did you know that it’s pronounced differently depending on whether you’re using the verb or the noun? The verb ‘to implant’ has the stress on the second syllable, whereas the noun ‘implant’ has the stress on the first syllable.
implant (v, n) - to insert into the body (a medical device, organ)
/ɪmˈplænt/ and /ˈɪmplænt/
The microchip with the owner’s details is implanted into the dog’s skin at the back of the neck
A fertilised human ovum generally implants in the endometrium 7-9 days after ovulation
The dentist offered the choice of a dental implant or a bridge to replace the missing tooth
The paediatrician suggested that a cochlear implant might be an effective solution for their child’s hearing problem
I think quite a few Hollywood actresses have had breast implants and other cosmetic procedures
This week it's two for the price of one!
Do you know the difference between win and beat in the context of competition? They do sometimes cause confusion. Have a look at the explanation and then read the further examples below.
win can be used with or without an object (as a transitive or intransitive verb):
Yes! We won!
We won the match 3-2
(The object is the game, competition, prize, trophy, election…whatever!)
beat must have an object when used to describe completing an activity before someone else, i.e ‘winning’ it (it’s only ever a transitive verb in this context) and the object is your opponent:
He beat me at chess
Angelique Kerber beat Serena Williams in the 2018 Wimbledon final
So, you can't say He won me at tennis or Yes! We beat on Saturday!
win (v, n) - to finish first in any sort of competition or to acquire something through some type of effort (e.g. a contest, a bet, a court case). Note that the past simple and the past participle is won (pronounced /wʌn/)
/wɪn/ of Old English origin
The runner from Kenya won the marathon race
If I win the lottery on Saturday I’ll stop working immediately!
If I won the lottery I’d stop working immediately!
The Labour Party won three elections in a row but the Conservatives regained power in 2010
‘The Shape of Water’ won the Oscar for best picture in 2018
I won the school prize for English when I was 13
The actress won her defamation case against the national newspaper
I had a good win on the horses on Saturday and came home £1,000 richer!
beat (v, n) - to defeat (do better than). Beat also has other meanings, both as a transitive and intransitive verb: to hit over and over again; to mix; a regular movement/sound (Note: it rhymes with ‘meet’ and ‘feet’)
/biːt/ of Old English origin
Barcelona beat Real Madrid 2-1 on Saturday
He was a terrible father who used to beat his children when they were small
Beat the eggs and then pour the mixture into the pan
I could hear his heart beating loudly through his shirt
The music was so loud I could feel it beating through the floor
The doctor checked him over but couldn’t find a heartbeat
collaboration (n) - a joint effort, team work, co-operation - working together to achieve the same aim. The verb is to collaborate, the adjective is collaborative and the participants are collaborators
/kəˈlæbəˌreɪʃ(ə)n/ of Latin origin
The surprising collaboration between the famous boy band and the esteemed orchestra worked really well!
I collaborated closely with two of my colleagues. I couldn’t have finished this project on time without their help
The research was an international collaborative effort between scientists from four different countries
Picasso’s chief collaborator in the development of cubism was Georges Braque
ginger (n, adj) - a tropical spice, usually either powdered or in root form; a red/orange/brown colour. Always used to describe cats with reddish fur but can sometimes cause offence when used to describe people with red hair (see article below), however it is still commonly used:
Note: the two ‘g’ sounds are pronounced as a ‘j’, like in ‘judge’ and ‘July’ - /ˈʤɪnʤə(r)/
‘Ginger’ has travelled a long way to reach the English language! Its origin is Middle English from Old English and Old French, from Medieval Latin and ultimately from the Sanskrit for ‘horn body’, which I guess describes the shape of the root!
I’m making stir-fried pork with ginger and honey for tea
I had ginger biscuits with my coffee and Jane had gingerbread
He bought himself a ginger ale from the bar and found a seat in the corner
The street was empty apart from a ginger cat prowling along my neighbour’s fence
She had ginger hair and sparkling green eyes (this woman may well prefer to be referred to as having red hair)
dash (n, v) - to sprint or move quickly; to beat, disappoint or frustrate; a very small amount of something, especially liquid;
the punctuation symbol -
/dæʃ/ of Middle English origin
We ran out of beer so Rob made a quick dash to the supermarket for some more
The meeting finished late and we had to dash for the train
We dashed across the road through the rain, dodging the traffic as we ran
All my hopes of playing in the final were dashed when I broke my leg
Could you put a small dash of brandy in my coffee? I’m still a bit shocked
The cocktail consisted of vodka, peach schnapps, cranberry juice and a dash of lemonade
D’you want milk in your tea? - Oh, not much, just a dash thanks
I’d just put a dash in there and continue the sentence, rather than a full stop
fasten (v) - to position or fix something firmly. It can be followed by many different prepositions, depending on the context. Here are a few examples:
/ˈfæsən/ (note the ’t’ is silent) of Old English origin
She fastened the brooch carefully onto her coat
Make sure the baby is fastened into his car seat properly
Fasten up your coat, it’s snowing outside!
The paramedics made sure he was fastened securely on the stretcher before they lifted him
He fasten the rope tightly round his waist and started to climb
I fastened the sun hat beneath my chin to stop it blowing of in the breeze
The dress fastens at the back so it’s hard to put on by yourself
Her trainers were fastened with sparkly silver laces and she was very proud of them!
They had pink ribbons fastened on their jumpers in support of women with breast cancer
chill (n, v) - coldness; a slight fever; to cool, make cold; very informally as a verb it also means ‘relax’. The adjective is chilly
/tʃɪl/ of obscure Middle English origin
There was a chill in the air so I put my jumper on
She caught a slight chill after she’d been out in the rain
A creaking noise outside the door sent a chill up my spine and I wondered in a panic if I’d locked it!
I put the wine in the fridge to chill
I’ve no plans for this weekend. I think I’m just gonna chill at home
Chill out man! Don’t get so angry all the time!
It’s a bit chilly out so I’d put a scarf on if I were you
There was a really chilly atmosphere in the room and I wondered if they’d had a row
clutter (n, v) - lots of objects in an untidy mess. It’s a noun and a verb. To tidy them up and throw them out is to de-clutter (very therapeutic!)
/ˈklʌtə(r)/ of Middle English origin (from clotter - ‘to clot’)
I can’t work with all this clutter on my desk! Let me tidy everything up, take a break and then come back to it
There’s that much clutter on his bedroom floor it’s like a bomb’s gone off!
I think most homes have at least one drawer full of bits of clutter people don’t know what to do with but daren’t throw away. In our house it’s known as the the messy drawer!
I’m sick of all your stuff cluttering up the house. Either put it all away or I’ll throw it in the bin!
She decided to de-clutter her wardrobe and filled four bin bags with clothes
I decided to go out for a walk and try and de-clutter my head
overweight (adj) - too heavy (‘weight’ is pronounced the same as ‘wait’ and rhymes with ‘plate’ and ‘hate’) - /ˌəʊvəˈweɪt/.
He’s overweight and needs to go on a diet
She was overweight as a child and had to exercise hard to slim back down to a healthy weight
The vet told me my dog was overweight and at risk of diabetes
The NHS considers the measurement of BMI a useful indicator of whether a person is a healthy weight, overweight, or obese
Study the next two words together because they're often confused by English learners:
sensible (adj) - reasonable, practical, having good judgment
/ˈsensɪb(ə)l/ Middle English from Old French or Latin
She’s always been a sensible girl - she never stayed out late and always completed her school work on time
It wasn’t very sensible to go on a holiday to England without a raincoat!
She wasn’t a very glamorous woman - she always wore sensible shoes and practical clothing
sensitive (adj) - easily upset or influenced; a bit delicate
/ˈsensɪtɪv/ of Old French or medieval Latin origin
He was a sensitive child and cried very easily
He was always very sensitive to the needs of people around him so I’m not surprised he became a nurse
Don’t mention her father - it’s always a bit of a sensitive subject with her - he treated her really badly as a child
I have to be very careful with beauty products because I’ve got very sensitive skin
vibe (n) - very informal! The atmosphere given off by a place or a person
/vaɪb/ from vibration, of Latin origin
This club’s got a really great vibe - it’s the best place I've been to in London
I want to leave - I’m getting really bad vibes from this place, it feels dangerous
Manchester is full of students and there’s a really good vibe about the town
It’s hard work spending time with him! He gives off such negative vibes all the time! It’s so depressing!
There’s always such a positive vibe around her, she’s great company!
Lead #1
lead (n) - a heavy, grey, toxic metal (Pb) (pronounced ‘led’, rhymes with ‘bed’ and ‘said’)
/led/ of Old English origin
The thieves stole all the lead off the church roof
Thank goodness our water pipes are no longer made from lead!
Does the car use diesel or lead-free petrol?
Lead #2
lead (n, v) - note pronunciation - this rhymes with ‘need’ and ‘speed’. As a verb it means to convey or show the way to a group of moving people or animals; to govern or influence; to be winning (the past simple/past participle is ‘led’). As a noun it means the first position; the rope or chain attached to a dog’s collar to take it for a walk.
/liːd/ of Old English origin
If you follow the guide she’ll lead you along the safest path to the exit
She’s planning to lead the party to the next election
The people were tired of being led by a corrupt government
He led for the entire race and won easily
If she can only hold her lead she might just break the world record!
My horse was in the lead until the last minute and eventually came third!
I’m going to take the dog out but I can’t find the lead. - Oh, it’s hanging up on the kitchen door!
I have to keep him on the lead around other dogs, otherwise he runs away
He let the dogs off the lead once they arrived at the beach and they chased each other in and out of the waves
consolidate (v) - to make/become strong, to reinforce, to firm up; to join together, combine
/kənˈsɒlɪˌdeɪt/ of Latin origin
He thought an internship would consolidate the skills he’d learnt at uni but they just had him making cups of tea all day and he didn’t learn anything
I know the grammar and lots of vocabulary; now I just want to consolidate it all and be able to speak English fluently
The first year or two of working in healthcare is essentially consolidating all the theory and practice you learnt during your training
She thought having a baby would consolidate the marriage but it just made everything more stressful!
He decided to consolidate his investment accounts to give himself a clearer view of his finances
present (n, v) - gift; here and now (current time); in attendance, here. As a verb it means to give, to introduce and to host a TV or radio show.
/ˈprez(ə)nt/ and /prɪˈzent/ Of Old French and Latin origin
You may already know this word, but did you know that the pronunciation changes depending on whether you’re using it as a noun/adjective (present), or as a verb (to present)?
I need to get my sister a present for her birthday
I don’t see any need to change the treatment at present. We’ll review the patient again in a month
He was present for the births of all his children
I wasn’t present at the meeting so I’ve no idea what they discussed
She was presented to the Queen at the end of the show
May I present my nephew Charles? (Very formal English!)
A member of the International Olympic Committee presented the medals to the winning competitors
He’s a famous DJ who presents the breakfast show on national radio
manage (v) - to succeed, cope. In a work place it means to be in charge of the workforce and general day-to-day running of the company
/ˈmænɪʤ/ of Italian and Latin origin
I didn’t manage to finish everything today so I’ll have to do it tomorrow
He managed to eat the entire three course meal and finish off my dessert!
She doesn’t manage her finances well and is always broke at the end of the month
He manages his staff really badly - most of them hate working there
See also:
management (n) - the control/administration of an organisation; the body of people who do this in an organisation
He’s always late - his time management skills are useless!
I thought your management of the crisis was perfect - well done!
We need to speak to management about this new situation
I’m sick of all these emails from management! They’re just faceless bureaucrats who have no idea about what it’s really like to work here!
and:
manager (n) - the person who organises the management in an organisation; the person who is in charge of a sports team; the person who arranges the business side of life for a performer
If you want to make a complaint you need to talk to the manager
Alex Ferguson was the manager of Manchester United for about 100 years!
If you want to book her you’ll have to go through her manager and I’ve heard he can be really awkward!
See this vocabulary in action in this article:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-45260246
heatwave (n) - an unusual period of hot weather
/ˈhiːtˌweɪv/
The country was in the middle of a heatwave and water was running short
People still remember the heatwave of 1976 and the hottest temperatures the UK had ever experienced
A heatwave is defined as a period of above average temperature occurring for more than five consecutive days
Countries experiencing a heatwave should encourage citizens to take extra care of babies and the elderly
Practise your numbers and hot weather vocabulary with this newspaper article on the current hot weather:
And sing along with some burning vocabulary here!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJzI18ZUUnA
whereas (conjunction) - but; compared with the fact that
/weərˈæz/
I’m hopeless at maths whereas both my children are really good at it
She was a very organised person whereas her husband was really untidy
In Greece the heat is very dry whereas in Hong Kong is can be really humid
He says he was home all night whereas his wife says he went out for an hour at 9pm
learn (v) - to gain knowledge; to remember information by repeating it over and over again. The noun is learning. (Don’t confuse with teach which means to instruct or train, the past simple and past participle is taught)
/lɜːn/ of Old English origin
I didn’t learn anything at that school - it was a complete waste of time!
What did you learn at school today?
I really enjoy acting but it always takes me ages to learn my lines!
I learnt at an early age that adults don’t always keep their promises!
My dog has learnt to wait until I tell him it’s OK to eat his food
The baby is learning to crawl - we have to watch her every second!
That teacher really knows how to make learning fun - I love her classes!
My English teacher taught me the difference between the present simple and the present continuous
I’m teaching myself Spanish; I’m learning five new items of vocabulary a day
English proverb: You can’t teach an old dog new tricks!
bring (v) - to take/carry something in the direction of the person speaking (the opposite direction, away from the speaker is take). Note that the past simple and the past participle is brought
/brɪŋ/ of Old English origin
I asked the waiter if he could bring me another fork as I’d dropped mine on the floor
Are you bringing the children to the party?
I was pleased to see that he’d brought a pizza and some more beer
The waiter took the plates and asked if we’d like to see the dessert menu
I only took the children to the party for an hour because they soon got bored
He took the pizza box and put it in the recycling bin
If you want to read some examples of bring and take in natural English, you can see them on my blog here:
https://www.goforwardenglish.com/single-post/2016/06/04/Camino-Blog-and-Grammar-Guide
Scroll down to 2014, Pamplona to Puente la Reina
borrow (from) (v) - to receive something on loan, to use it temporarily. Note the difference with to lend (to) - to give something on loan temporarily.
/ˈbɒrəʊ/ of Old English origin
He borrowed some money from the bank to start his new business
Can I borrow your phone for a sec? Mine’s run out of battery
He’s always borrowing money off people and he never seems to give it back!
Could you lend me your phone for a sec? I left mine in the kitchen
I lent my brother my car and he crashed it
My father lent me £5,000 towards a deposit on a new flat
flop (v, n) - to drop heavily or appear to have no structural support. As a noun it’s a 'failure'. The adjective is floppy
She flopped into a chair and declared that she had run out of energy
His last book was a total flop so his editor is piling on the pressure for another bestseller
His wrist looked a bit floppy and I guessed it must be broken
The spaniel had lovely floppy ears that felt like velvet!
articulate (v, adj) - to speak or write clearly, coherently and easily. There is a slightly different pronunciation depending on meaning. When used as an adjective the ‘ate’ sounds like ‘ut’ but when used as a verb it sounds more like ‘ate’ - /ɑːˈtɪkjʊlət/ (adj) and
/ɑːˈtɪkjʊleɪt/ (verb) of Latin origin
She doesn’t articulate very clearly when she speaks and I often mishear her!
She was always very articulate, even as a child, so I’m not surprise she gives such good speeches!
tiny (adj) - very small.
Middle English (unknown origin) - It’s pronounced the same as ‘tie’, rhymes with ‘my’, and ‘knee’, rhymes with ‘see’ - /ˈtaɪnɪ/
The baby was tiny and he needed feeding every two hours
She had the tiniest feet I’d ever seen!
When my children were tiny they went to bed at 7pm
There is a tiny spelling mistake in the last paragraph
harbour (n, v) a place on the coast where boats moor; a place of safety; to shelter; to hide; to carry germs
/ˈhɑːbər/ of Old English origin from Old Norse
We had a wonderful meal of fresh fish on the harbour
The harbour was full of brightly coloured boats and the shrieks of the seagulls pierced the air
He believes that it’s morally wrong not to offer safe harbour to those refugees
The police have made it very clear that anyone harbouring this criminal will be severely punished!
Tom thinks Dan swindled the money from him and he’s harboured a grudge against him ever since!
Ew! Get that badger out of my kitchen! God knows how many germs it’s harbouring!!
suspect (v, n, adj) - to think it is likely; to think someone is guilty; a person thought to be responsible for something; as an adjective it describes something believed to be false or dangerous (in this respect it’s only slightly different from ‘suspicious’, which causes us to ‘doubt’ something).
As a verb the stress is on the ‘e’; as a noun and an adjective the stress is on the ‘u’.
I suspect he’s missed the train as he’s usually home by now
I suspect that the husband was responsible for the murder because it’s often a close relative
The police always suspected that he did it but couldn’t find the evidence to prove it
The police have a suspect in custody but he’s not been charged yet
The police have several suspects that they want to interview in connection with the case
The methodology was flawed, which in my opinion makes the results suspect
A suspect package was left at the railway station and later destroyed by the police
paste (n, v) - a thick, soft substance, often sticky, made from powder and liquid. It’s used to make glue or soft foods. It’s also a type of glass used in jewellery making to imitate expensive gemstones. As a verb it means to stick/glue something to something else, and to move a document on a computer.
/peɪst/ of Middle English origin from Old French from Late Latin from Greek!
Can you get some more wallpaper paste from the DIY store?
What type of sandwiches are these? - Fish paste. - Ew, yuk!
It looks like a real diamond necklace, but it’s only paste
The children pasted their cardboard pictures onto the classroom walls
Just copy and paste the different paragraphs to this document and email it to me
nuisance (n) - something that is annoying or troubling
/ˈnjuːs(ə)ns/ of Middle English origin from Old French
Don’t be such a nuisance! Go and play football where you won’t annoy the neighbours!
He was making a nuisance of himself by playing his music too loudly
This snow is such a nuisance! I’m sick of being cold all the time!
shed (n, v) - a (usually wooden) building used for storing things or for a specific purpose; to lose something you no longer need; to produce; to radiate or disperse
/ʃed/ as a noun, the origin is a variant of shade, as a verb the origin is Old English.
Dad’s in his shed, fixing your bike
The tennis racquets are stored in the garden shed
The farmer was in the cowshed supervising the milking
The headmaster was furious when he discovered the boys smoking behind the bike shed!
The average snake sheds its skin 2-4 times a year!
I’m going on a diet - I want to shed quite a bit of weight before my wedding
I shed a lot of tears over our relationship breakup!
This war has already caused too much bloodshed!
I was hoping you could shed a little light on this matter because I’m confused
subtle (adj) - noticeable in only a very small way. The noun is subtlety. The b is silent.
/ˈsʌt(ə)l/ Middle English from Old French and Latin
Sometimes the difference between the two tenses is so subtle you could use either
I kept dropping subtle hints about what I wanted for Christmas but they were obviously too subtle because she misunderstood completely and got me a lawn mower!
I think a subtle approach will be needed in the negotiations as we don’t want to offend anyone
There’s a subtlety in his painting that I like - it’s understated but you still get an idea of the character of the sitter
relentless (adj) - continuous, without end
/rɪˈlentɪs/
The pressure at work was relentless and I knew I had to leave or go mad!
The relentless heat of the Andalucian summer was exhausting and I was glad to get back to the UK rain!
mug (n, v) - a large cup; to rob someone (with violence) in the street. The perpetrator is a mugger and the victim has been mugged; the incident is a mugging and the verb is to mug.
/mʌg/ probably of Scandinavian origin
I always start the day with a mug of tea
I always worry about being mugged when I’m in large cities
My friend’s son has been mugged four times in London!
The muggers took his phone and his credit cards
The mugging took place in broad daylight and no-one came to help him
fault (n, v) - a mistake, a weakness
/fɒlt/ - the origin is Middle English from Old French from Latin!
Don’t worry, I know it wasn’t your fault
He has many faults but being hypocritical isn’t one of them!
There must be a fault on the line, I can’t hear a word you’re saying!
He’s annoying but I can’t fault his piano playing, I think he’s a genius!
alternate (v, adj) - as a verb, to change from one thing to another.
The stress is on the first syllable - /ˈɒltəneɪt/ - of Latin origin
I own two coats and I alternate between the two depending on the weather conditions
You should take it in turns - why don’t you alternate between the two of you?
At the gym I alternate between the rowing machine and the bike to exercise different muscles
As an adjective, every other or two things following each other; the stress is on the second syllable - /ɒlˈtɜːnət/
Angel cake has alternate layers of pink and yellow sponge
We visit my grandma on alternate days so she doesn’t get lonely
alternating is also an adjectival form of this word. It means interchanging, happening one after the other
His alternating moods were driving me mad - I never knew if he would be happy or sad!
We tend to have alternating governments - the right and left wings take it in turns every 5-10 years!
change (n, v) - to exchange; become different; swap transport; swap clothes; smaller units of money or exchanging one type of currency for another
/tʃeɪndʒ/ of Middle English origin
I’m going back to the shop to change this shirt for another one, I don’t like it
You’ve changed since you went to live in New York - you’re much more intolerant!
You need to change trains at York
I’m going home to change for the party
Have you got any change for the parking meter?
I need to change some pounds into euros before I go to Rome
despicable (adj) - very unpleasant, morally contemptible
/dɪˈspɪkəb(ə)l/ of Late Latin origin
He was a despicable man and I’m glad he’s dead!
You’ve behaved in a despicable way and I’m really ashamed of you!
stay in (phrasal verb) - remain indoors, usually your home; to remain in position
/steɪ/ of Anglo-French origin
I stayed in the whole time over Christmas, I didn’t go out once!
I think I’ll stay in on Saturday night - I don’t feel like going out
What are you doing for New Year’s Eve? - Oh, just staying in
He’s in hospital with appendicitis - he’s got to stay in for another 2 days
The dog will stay in the garden quite happily when it’s not raining
You need to use rawlplugs to hang pictures on these walls, otherwise the screws won’t stay in
appeal (v) - if something appeals to you, you find it attractive or interesting. You can also appeal to someone, with the meaning that you are making a serious and urgent request
/əˈpiːl/ of Middle English from Old French origin
Travel abroad doesn’t appeal to me at all, I worry about not speaking the language
The thought of spending the day in bed really appealed to me after my late night
I tried appealing to his good nature but he absolutely refused to help me
The prisoner has appealed against his sentence but I doubt the verdict will be overturned
insight (n) - accurate and deep understanding of a subject. The adjective is insightful
/ˈɪnsaɪt/ of Middle English origin
Spending time at the homeless shelter gave me some insight into what it must be like to live on the streets
He has no insight at all! He’ll never understand how difficult it is being me!
It was an insightful article that told me a lot about the subject
equipment (uncountable noun) - the items needed for a particular purpose. The ‘qui’ sounds like a ‘kwi’ sound. It’s uncountable so there is no plural form. If you want to specify only one you have to use it with the word 'piece'
/ɪˈkwɪpmənt/ of French origin
I haven’t got the right equipment for this job
You need a particular piece of equipment for that
I need to go back to the workshop to get some equipment
bunch (n) - a number of (similar) things tied/grouped together; a group of people
/bʌn(t)ʃ/ of unknown origin, Middle English
He brought me a bunch of flowers from his garden
I took him a bunch of grapes and a bunch of bananas when he was in hospital
They’re a bunch of idiots - just ignore them
tackle (v; n) - to make a determined effort to deal with a problem/difficult task; (we also say ‘to get your teeth into’ as well!) In sport it means to take the ball from an opponent and can be a noun and a verb. As a noun it’s also another word for equipment.
/ˈtak(ə)l/ of Middle English origin
I’m very keen to tackle more difficult problems
(I like a challenge - I like something to get my teeth into!)
I’ve cleaned the kitchen and now I’m going to tackle my son’s bedroom!
I tried to tackle those statistics examples but I was too tired last night
His leg was broken after a particularly vicious tackle during a football game
He keeps all his fishing tackle in the garage - there’s heaps of the stuff!
mutter (v) - to speak very quietly, especially when irritated
/ˈmʌtə(r)/ of Middle English origin
He was muttering something under his breath but I couldn’t hear the exact words
Stop muttering and tell me exactly what the problem is!
scrutinise (v) - to examine very closely
/ˈskruːtɪnaɪz/ of Latin origin
You’ll need to scrutinise the small print on that contract to make sure you understand everything
My new boss is driving me mad - he scrutinises everything I do and makes me feel quite inadequate
tie (something) up - (phrasal verb) - to make something secure by putting string, rope, ribbon around it
/taɪ ˈʌp/ of Old English origin
I always tie my hair up for work
He tied the dog up outside the shop
He’s no ready cash, all his money’s tied up in his business
I thought that the author tied up the loose ends really well and made a satisfactory ending to the book
trigger (v; n) - to cause to function; a small device on a gun that is pulled to fire it
/ˈtrɪgə(r)/ of Dutch origin
"What do you think triggered the riots in the city centre?"- "Oh, I think it was the unemployment levels"
I pulled the trigger and shot him!
Cheese and chocolate are well-known triggers for migraine
moan (n; v) - a long, low sound expressing suffering; to complain
/məʊn/ of Old English origin
The patient was moaning in her sleep - it was obvious she was still in pain
British people are always moaning about the weather - no wonder they like Spain so much!
Stop moaning and get on with it! The sooner you start the sooner it’ll be finished!
I heard a low moan coming from the top of the stairs and suddenly all the lights went out!
gruesome (adj) - extremely horrible/repugnant/grisly, often describing a murder
/ˈgruːsəm/ of Scottish and Scandinavian origin
The descriptions of the murder scenes in the book were so gruesome I stopped reading it
The Tower of London has a gruesome history but it’s well worth a visit
(Not to be confused with: We didn’t have any carrots so we grew some! Ha ha!)