act
act in good/bad faith, act out of desperation/necessity, act the part/role of, act on sb's advice/orders/behalf, put on an act, get your act together, in the act (of doing)
Collocation
124 cards to learn, plus a reading text that puts the key phrases in context.
124 cards
act in good/bad faith, act out of desperation/necessity, act the part/role of, act on sb's advice/orders/behalf, put on an act, get your act together, in the act (of doing)
Collocation
behaviour towards, pattern of behaviour, on your best behaviour, aggressive/antisocial/violent/bad/ good/ exemplary behaviour
Collocation
accept/face the consequences, consequence of, serious/disastrous/dire consequences, as a consequence, in consequence, of no/little consequence
Collocation
cry with pain/happiness/relief, cry over/about, cry for help, cry yourself to sleep, cry your eyes/heart out, cry on sb's shoulder, have a (good) cry, cry of, a far cry from
Collocation
go dead, drop dead, dead (set) against (doing), in dead trouble, dead and buried, dead silence, dead centre, dead and gone, dead tired, dead ahead
Collocation
have an/no/little/some effect (on), come into effect, put/bring sth into effect, adverse/beneficial effect, for effect, in effect, with effect from
Collocation
get/have a feel for, feel free, feel like (doing), feel as if / as though, feel strongly about, feel the effects/ benefits of, feel guilty, feel your way, feel at home
Collocation
good/bad for your health, in good/poor health, ill health, health and safety, health hazard/risk, health centre, health club, health food, health service
Collocation
fall / be taken ill (with), critically/seriously/terminally ill
Collocation
kind of sb to do, respond in kind, kind(s) of, of some/any kind, of a/the kind, kind regards
Collocation
laugh at/about, laugh in sb's face, make sb laugh, have a good laugh, have the last laugh, don't make me laugh, for a laugh, a laugh a minute
Collocation
put sb's life at risk, lose a life, bring sth to life, come to life, not on your life, save sb's life, take your own life, that's life, this is the life, quality of life
Collocation
live a life of crime/luxury, live to the age of, can live with, live and let live, live and learn, live beyond/within your means, live in hope, live a lie, live to tell the tale
Collocation
take medicine, alternative/complementary/herbal medicine, medicine cabinet
Collocation
polite to, polite of, just/only being polite, polite conversation, polite company, polite society
Collocation
react to, react by doing, react accordingly/appropriately, react with, react against
Collocation
cause/produce/provoke/trigger a reaction (to), reaction against, adverse/gut/immediate reaction, chain reaction
Collocation
response to, in response to, response from, no response, response time
Collocation
call in sick, feel sick, make sb sick, sick as a parrot, worried sick, sick and tired (of), sick with fear/worry/etc, sick at heart, sick bag
Collocation
waste time feeling upset about something bad that has happened and cannot be changed
There’s no use crying over spilt milk.
suddenly become extremely angry without a good reason
He flew off the handle when he heard the news.
decide not to do something that you usually do
I’ll give the party a miss tonight.
accept a difficult situation without complaining or showing how you feel
I’ll just have to grin and bear it.
remain serious and not laugh
It was hard to keep a straight face.
used for telling someone not to get angry or upset
Keep your hair on, we’ll fix it.
be very annoyed because you have made a mistake, missed an opportunity, etc
I could kick myself for missing that opportunity.
shout or do something that allows you to get rid of anger
I need to let off some steam after that meeting.
leave a person or situation alone if they might cause you trouble
Don't mess with that guy! Just let sleeping dogs lie.
if you are given something good, you should not complain about it or try to find things that are wrong with it
It didn't cost any money. Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth!
angry and complaining about something
They’re up in arms about the new policy.
suddenly become unconscious
he had blacked out as his car hit the tree
make a place dark by turning off all the lights
the whole city was blacked out for nights on end during the war
become covered in spots
she can't eat shellfish without coming out in spots
go to a place where someone is
why don't you come round after work?
be persuaded to change your opinion or decision
we were sure she'd come round in the end
become conscious again after being unconscious
I felt sick when I came round after the operation
begin to realise or understand something
suddenly, I cottoned on, She'd been lying from the start
laugh a lot, or make someone laugh a lot
you really crease me up!
try to find out more about something
the police are now following up some new leads
check the health of someone who has received medical treatment
the study followed up over 200 heart patients
make someone feel sad or lose hope
this bad weather really gets me down
start to feel happy or well again after something bad has happened
it can take weeks to get over an illness like that
speak angrily to or against someone
they lashed out at the council's move to stop free parking
try to hit or attack someone suddenly and violently
occasionally, the patients will lash out the nurses
die (used to avoid saying 'die' when you think this might upset someone)
he passed away in his sleep at the age of 84
cause difficulties or pain for someone
the printer's playing up again
behave badly
the children have been really playing up this afternoon
manage to stay alive after you have been very ill or very badly injured
don't worry, your dad's going to pull through
succeed in a very difficult situation, or help someone do this
he said the support of his fans pulled him through
become smaller and thinner and not look fresh and healthy
the leaves have shriveled up in the summer heat
become weaker or smaller
funding for the project eventually shriveled up
manage to produce a quality or a reaction that helps you deal with a difficult situation
he couldn't summon up the strength to cary on fighting
do something to prevent someone or something from harming you
sheila carried knife to ward of attacks
to accept o admit that something exists, is true or is real
he never acknowledges his mistakes
to give someone a drug or medical treatment
The drugs are administered intravenously
to spend a long time worrying and being upset about something
For years I agonised over whether I could have helped my daughter
great pain
William fell to the ground, writhing in agony
a substance that prevents a poison from having bad effects
It's a snake bite. Quick — get the antidote!
a feeling of having no interest in or enthusiasm about anything
Few people voted in the election, presumably just because of apathy
to try to prevent something from happening
Try to avoid confrontation
to choose not to do something in order to achieve a better result
When taking this medication it is advisable to avoid alcohol
the way that someone or something behaves
Anna was sick of her brother's behaviour
a quiet laugh
There were a couple of chuckles from one member of the audience
to laugh quietly, especially in a private or secret way
As she read her book, she chuckled softly
a physically relaxed state, without any pain or other unpleasant feelings
The airline is keen to improve passenger comfort
a pleasant way of life in which you have everything you need
Now he can live in comfort for the rest of his life
to make someone feel less sad, worried or disappointed
He went upstairs to comfort the baby
the way someone behaves, especially in relation to particular rules
Two players were sent off for violent conduct
to do something in an organised way
The agreement doesn't allow you to conduct business from your home
a result or effect of something
She said exactly what she felt, without fear of the consequences
a senior doctor in a hospital who is an expert in a particular medical subject
She's a consultant cardiologist
the happiness you feel when you have everything you want and you enjoy your life
He has found contentment and satisfaction in his work
angry
The neighbours got cross every time we put our music on
a statement about what disease someone has, based on examining them
Her doctor made a diagnosis of appendicitis
the impressive behaviour of someone who controls their emotions in a difficult situation
She faced all her problems with dignity
if something disgusts you, it is so bad or immoral that it makes you angry and upset
Your whole attitude disgusts me
a very strong feeling of not liking something
The idea of eating meat fills me with disgust
disappointed because you have discovered that someone or something is not as good as you had believed
Voters are very disillusioned with the democratic process
annoyed or bored with something that you feel you have accepted for too long
I'm fed up with this job
a high laugh, especially a nervous or silly one
The sound of giggles came from the girls' room
to laugh in a nervous, excited or silly way that is difficult to control
The children whispered and giggled all the way through the film
a quick look at someone or something
She had a quick glance at the newspaper as she gulped down her coffee
to look somewhere quickly and then look away
He glanced over his shoulder nervously
to see someone or something for a moment or not completely
He glimpsed a short white-haired figure heading for the back gate
an occasion when you see someone or something for a moment only
The crowd were anxious for a glimpse of the President
to show that you are happy and proud at your own success or at someone else's failure
He was there to gloat over their defeat
looking sad, as if you expect something bad to happen
You look a bit glum. Has something happened?
an ugly expression that you make by twisting your face, for example because you are in pain
His tortured grimace showed he was in pain
to make an ugly expression by twisting your face, for example because you are in pain
She grimaced as she swallowed the medicine
a big smile that shows your teeth
'A great win,' Mike said with a broad grin
to smile showing your teeth
Ruth grinned at him as she waved goodbye
to take action to deal with a difficult situation
The government was criticised for the way it handled the crisis
annoyed because something is not happening as quickly as you want or in the way you want
'Come on!' said Maggie, becoming impatient
a situation in which something does not change for a long time
There's so much inertia on the committee that nothing ever gets done
to protect someone against a particular disease by injecting a medicine containing a small amount of the disease into them
None of the family had been inoculated against diphtheria
a painful feeling in a part of the body, often with red skin or swelling
Some drugs can cause stomach irritation
traditionally accepted ways of behaving that show a polite respect for other people
Children learn manners by observing their parents
to move someone or something in a situation that needs care or skill
Katherine's good at manoeuvring her car through heavy traffic
an action or movement that you need care or skill to do
Dexter tried every manoeuvre he could to overtake the truck
an annoying complaint, especially about something that is not important
I haven't got time to listen to your moans and groans
to complain about something in an annoying way
Ben was moaning about his job again
to make someone or something look stupid by laughing at them or saying something that is not kind
Are you trying to mock me?
the failure to give someone or something the care or attention they need
There's an important need to protect children from abuse and neglect
to fail to do something that you should do
He couldn't neglect his duties as an officer
a part of your body that is numb has no feeling
After hours of sitting on the floor, her legs had gone numb
an institution where old people live when they are too old or ill to look after themselves without help
My grandmother's moving into a nursing home next week
the loss of the ability to move your body or a part of it, usually because of an injury or illness
The syndrome can lead to sudden paralysis
a quick look at something
I'll just take a peep inside
to look at something quickly and secretly, usually from a place where you think you cannot be seen
She tried to peep through the gates to see the garden
to look very carefully, especially because something is difficult to see
She was peering through the window
if a part of someone's body is in plaster, it has a hard cover around it to protect a broken bone
One man had his leg in plaster, having broken it in an accident
if a doctor prescribes a drug or treatment, they say you should have it
The drug should not be taken unless prescribed by a doctor
to stop something from happening or stop someone from doing something
Regular cleaning may help prevent infection
medical examinations, treatments, advice, etc intended to prevent illness or discover it before it becomes serious
The government should invest more in preventive medicine
a doctor's opinion about the way in which a disease or illness is likely to develop
What's the prognosis, doctor?
to feel very happy about something, or to celebrate something in a happy way
Montaigne seemed to rejoice in the humiliation of others
to experience angry, unhappy feelings because you think you have been treated unfairly
The girls in the family resented all the attention that Peter was getting
extremely determined
We're resolute in our determination to oppose these measures
a period of time during which you do not work because you are ill
Mr Jenkins is away on sick leave today
to smile in an unpleasant way because something bad has happened to someone else
I know you've won, but there's no need to smirk
an unpleasant smile
Wipe that smirk off your face!
to speak to someone in a sudden, angry way
What do you want now?' he snapped angrily
a particular method or plan for achieving something
The governor's tactics involved accusing his opponent of being too liberal
a strong feeling of fear
Thousands of islanders fled in terror yesterday as the volcano erupted
A short text using 28 of the key phrases. Tap a highlighted phrase for its meaning.
The government is responsible for , and the courts and legal system are in charge of and .
When a person is , he or she must to . Both the prosecution and the defense will present their cases before the judge and jury. After consideration, the judge or jury will .
If there is , or , this means that it is very obvious that the person committed the crime, and it’s possible that the in their decision. However, if the , then the decision will be more difficult – it’s possible to have a , which cannot agree on the verdict.
Less serious crimes will receive a – for example, the offender may have to or do community service. For more serious crimes, the person will probably – and especially heinous crimes can result in a such as or, in some places, the .
After the decision is made, the lawyers can choose to , and the case may turn into a as the courts decide whether to or – “uphold” meaning to continue with the original decision, and “overturn” meaning to change the decision.
As a is , he or she should remember the possibility of being early for , as long as they are not deemed a . A criminal who is released early is said to be “,” meaning that he or she must comply with certain conditions after getting out of jail – such as getting a job and refraining from drug/alcohol use.