arm
arm sb with, arm yourself against, take up arms (against), lay down (your) arms, up in arms (about), arms control, arms race
Collocation
114 cards to learn, plus a reading text that puts the key phrases in context.
114 cards
arm sb with, arm yourself against, take up arms (against), lay down (your) arms, up in arms (about), arms control, arms race
Collocation
have the authority to do, grant sb the authority to do, have authority over, have sth on good authority, in authority, with authority, the authorities, local authority
Idiom
charge sb with, charge sb for, take charge, (put) in charge (of), overall charge
Collocation
class sb/sth as, social class, working/middle/upper class, ruling class, class system, class differences, class war
Collocation
commit/report/witness/solve a crime, fight/combat crime, the scene of a crime, organised crime, crime prevention, crime rate, crime wave
Collocation
deny sb sth, deny a request, deny that, deny doing, deny having done, deny (all) responsibility for
Collocation
make an example of, set an example, follow an example, give an example, an example of, classic/prime example
Collocation
force sb to do, force sth on sb, force your way into/through, force a smile, with force, police force, armed forces
Collocation
grant sth to, grant sb permission/authority, grant a request, grant sb's wish
Collocation
become law, break/follow/uphold the law, pass/amend/repeal a law, lay down the law, practise law, against the law, above the law, by/under law, law and order
Collocation
lock sth in, lock horns with, under lock and key, locksmith
Collocation
peer group, peer pressure
Collocation
take/ seize/ hold/ exercise/ exert/ wield/ abuse power, in power, beyond sb's power, power to do, power struggle, power structure, power base
Collocation
go to prison, send sb to prison, in prison, prison term, prison sentence, prison reform, prison officer, open prison
Collocation
provoke sb into doing, provoke a reaction/protest/response, provoke outrage
Collocation
have a/the/no/every right to do, give sb the right to do, right and wrong, right in saying/thinking/ believing, right (of sb) to do, equal rights, human rights, animal rights
Collocation
break/bend/follow the rules, against the rules, as a rule, rule of law, rule of thumb, rules and regulations
Collocation
sentence sb to, pass sentence, serve a sentence (of five years, etc), prison sentence, death sentence
Collocation
social conditions, social contact, social security, social services, social call, social worker, social club, social life
Collocation
ignore a problem or an unpleasant situation and hope that it will disappear
Stop burying your head in the sand.
be allowed to have or do what you want
She always manages to get her way.
used for saying that you should accept other people's beliefs and way of life, even if they are very different from your own
We should all just live and let live.
use your influence in order to get something you want or to help someone, especially when this is unfair
He pulled a few strings to get the job.
documents, rules or processes that cause delays
There’s too much red tape in this process.
punish someone in your own way without involving the police or the courts, often by doing something illegal yourself
Don’t take the law into your own hands.
the people who control a situation
The powers that be made the final decision.
punish someone very severely
The judge threw the book at him for the crime.
completely controlled by someone else
He’s completely under her thumb.
Begin to like someone or something
I didn't take to living here straight away
stop asking for something or stop saying that you will do something, because a lot of people oppose you
I'm not going to back down just because a few people disagree with me
if someone or something blends in, they are similar to the other people, objects, buildings, etc around them, and so they seem appropriate or you do not notice them
The building doesn't really blend in very well with the others around it
make something happen, especially to cause changes in a situation
It's not something we can bring about overnight
start dealing with someone or something much more strictly
It's about time they cracked down on people who drop litter
be elected for a political job
If I get in, there will be a few changes around here
send something, for example in the post
I'll get those invitations off tomorrow
have a particular period of time as a holiday
Will you get Easter off?
not be punished severely or at all for something you have been accused of in court
I can't believe he got off when there was so much evidence against him
if you give in to something, you can no longer control the feeling of wanting it
I finally gave in and had a cream cake
stop competing or arguing and accept that you cannot win
In the end, I gave in and accepted that she was right
criticise someone who has criticised you
The minister hit back at his critics
deliberately hurt someone who has hurt you
If someone hits you, think before you hit back next time
put someone in prison
they should lock him up for a very long time!
lock all the doors and windows of a building so that no on can get in
I must have forgotten to lock up when I left this morning
decide not to take part in something or stop taking part in it
Quite a few of the students have opted out of the school trip
gradually stop using something
they are phasing out the old style driving license
keep telling someone what to do in an unfair or unpleasant way
You shouldn't let her push you around like that
choose one person from a group for special attention
The actor thanked everyone who had helped him and singled out his manager for special thanks
not allow yourself to be treated badly, especially by someone in authority
why don't you stand up to your boss a bit more?
take control of something
whenever we start organising something, you always want to take over
begin to do something that someone else was doing
When she got tired, I took over driving
talk to someone as if you think they are not as clever or important as you are
I hate the way she talks down to people
to officially get rid of a law, system, practice, etc
The law was abolished in 1963
to publicly support a particular policy or way of doing things
Do you advocate corporal punishment in schools?
an angry feeling that makes you want to attack or defeat someone else
You're going to have to learn to control your aggression
to make something less painful, severe or serious
These measures are designed to alleviate suffering among the elderly
the power to make decisions or tell people what to do
You don't have the authority to do that
kind and nice
He might seem benign, but keep an eye on him
to frighten or hurt someone who is smaller or weaker than you
The boss just tries to bully everyone in the office
a complicated and annoying system of rules and processes
I started to set up my own business but there was too much bureaucracy
an organisation to which you give money so that it can give money and help to people who are poor or ill, or who need advice and support
There are one or two charities that I make regular donations to
one of the groups into which people in a society are divided according to their family background
My family is very middle class in a lot of ways
to officially order someone to do something
The general commanded the army to attack
an official order
The dog understands my every command
the people who live in an area
Politics should begin in the local community
to take control of land or people using soldiers
The Spanish conquered South America in the sixteenth century
to gain control of a situation or emotion by making a great physical or mental effort
I tried hard to conquer my fear
to give approval for something
You can't go on the school trip unless your parents consent to it
a disagreement, especially about a public policy or a moral issue that a lot of people have strong feelings about
There's a lot of controversy surrounding the new law
to prove in a court of law that someone is guilty of a crime
He was convicted of murder
someone who is in prison because they have committed a crime
Two convicts have escaped from the local prison
dishonest or illegal behaviour by officials or people in positions of power, especially when they accept money in exchange for doing things for someone
They've started an investigation into corruption
something that makes people decide not to do something by making them realise that something unpleasant could happen to them
I think capital punishment serves as a deterrent
someone who uses force to take and keep power in a country
How did the dictator come to power?
to control something or someone, often in a negative way, because you have more power or influence
Don't allow him to dominate the conversation all the time
to get rid of something that is not wanted or needed
Will we ever eliminate the threat from pollution?
to make sure that a law or rule is obeyed by people
It'll be impossible to enforce the new law
having the right to do something
Students are entitled to a special discount on books
allowed to ignore something such as a rule, obligation or payment
At the moment, women are exempt from national service
used for describing someone or something that had a particular job, title, status, etc in the past, but not now
The former Prime Minister of India is visiting the UK
the art, buildings, traditions and beliefs that a society considers important to its history and culture
It's important that we preserve our national heritage
the process in which people enter a country in order to live there permanently
Is the level of immigration actually rising, or is it falling?
to introduce something such as a new law or new system, and force people to accept it
These rules are being imposed without anyone's opinion being asked
a protest in which workers show that they disagree with a policy of their employer, for example by striking
Unless something changes, we'll be taking industrial action
not as good as something else
Street markets often sell inferior quality electrical goods
to deliberately make someone feel frightened especially so that they will do what you want
Richard often tries to intimidate people
to use a word or phrase to describe someone or something, especially one that is not completely fair or true
Don't label all young people in the same way
a word or phrase that is used to describe someone or something, especially one that is not completely fair or true
I wish people wouldn't try to put a label on me
to give someone the freedom to do what they want
Leaving school and getting a job really liberated me
ideas, methods or people that are considered ordinary or normal and accepted by most people
Life can be more difficult if you're not part of the mainstream
considered ordinary or normal and accepted or used by most people
Most mainstream politicians have dismissed the suggestion
to learn something thoroughly so that you know it or can do it very well
It took me over ten years to master the piano
an official in charge of a government department in the UK and other countries
The Minister responsible for this decision should resign
a king or queen
The monarch represents the country abroad
an unreasonable opinion or feeling, especially the feeling of not liking a particular group of people
Many women have had to deal with prejudice in the workplace
changes intended to make the prison system fairer or more effective
I'm a great believer in prison reform
having advantages and opportunities that other people do not have, because you have a lot of money or high social status
I suppose I come from quite a privileged background
to officially stop something from being done, especially by making it illegal
The sale of lottery tickets to children is prohibited
to officially accuse someone of a crime and ask a court of law to judge them
The police decided not to prosecute and let him off with a warning.
if a king or queen reigns, they officially rule a country
Queen Victoria reigned during a time of great change
to make an idea, belief or feeling stronger
Stories like this in the media reinforce the idea that all young black men are criminals.
not willing to do something
I'm reluctant to invite Tracy to the wedding
to oppose or fight against someone or something
The Prime Minister resisted a lot of pressure to change his mind
to keep something within strict limits
Many parents restrict the number of hours their children watch TV
people in general living together in organised communities, with laws and traditions controlling the way they behave towards one another
People have much more freedom in today's society
an idea, problem, situation, etc that you discuss or write about
What subject have you chosen for your essay?
to make someone experience something unpleasant
They subjected the poor prisoner to torture
based on your own feelings and ideas and not on facts
That's just your subjective opinion
to accept that someone has defeated you or has power over you
The boy only stopped hitting me when I submitted
to officially order someone to come to a place, especially a court of law
She was summoned to appear before the court
better than someone or something else in quality or skill
His early work is vastly superior to the later pieces
to make something or someone become gradually less effective, confident or successful
This unfortunate incident undermines all the hard work we've put in.
angry or violent behaviour by people who are protesting against something
Politicians held a special meeting to discuss the unrest in the country
to treat someone in a deliberately unfair way
It's not right to victimise someone in that way
someone who is vulnerable is weak or easy to hurt physically or mentally
I felt quite vulnerable walking home late at night
A short text using 27 of the key phrases. Tap a highlighted phrase for its meaning.
When a war begins, we can say that or in the region. When one country officially enters into a state of war, then they have on the enemy country.
Sometimes, one country performs a against another – for example, if it suspects that the other country is that will be used for a future attack. The other country may view this as an , and until the area is – meaning that war is very probable.
Sending in the military is often called . The soldiers may in a certain area to protect it, or they may in which they . When the soldiers begin firing their guns, we say that they .
Unfortunately, the affect everyone, as innocent people are always . Both sides are sure to and there will be to the countries’ infrastructure. War also results in many by the violence; they may resettle in another area or to another country.
If a particular battle was an important turning point in the war, then it is called a . Sometimes another country intervenes and helps the two sides . If successful, this can – but it may be a . More work will still be needed to to the area and establish a . Often, remain in the region to try to .