answer
answer to sb, give sb an answer, answer charges/criticisms, answer a need, answer sb's prayers, answer the description of, (have a lot to) answer for, in answer to
Collocation
120 cards to learn, plus a reading text that puts the key phrases in context.
120 cards
answer to sb, give sb an answer, answer charges/criticisms, answer a need, answer sb's prayers, answer the description of, (have a lot to) answer for, in answer to
Collocation
have / get into an argument (with sb), win/lose an argument, argument about/over, argument for/against, without (an) argument
Collocation
ask yourself sth, ask sb a favour, ask a lot / too much (of sb), ask sb over/round, ask sb in, for the asking, asking for trouble/it/etc, if you ask me
Collocation
read sb like a book, (do sth) by the book, book about/on, a closed book, an open book, in my book, in sb's good/bad books
Collocation
(have a) discussion about/on, (have a) discussion with, discussion of, in discussion with, under discussion, heated discussion, discussion group
Collocation
(get/receive) a letter from, send/write sb a letter, letter of, follow/obey sth to the letter, the letter of the law, letter bomb, letterbox
Collocation
bring sth to sb's notice, come to sb's notice (that), escape sb's notice, take notice (of), at short / a moment's / a few hours' notice, until further notice
Collocation
piece/sheet of paper, (present/write/etc) a paper on, (put sth) on paper, paper over (the cracks), not worth the paper it's written/printed on, paper round, paper qualifications, paperwork
Collocation
put pen to paper, the pen is mightier than the sword, pen-pusher, pen friend/pal
Collocation
read sb's mind, read sb like a book, read between the lines, read sb's lips, take sth as read, a good/ depressing/etc read
Collocation
keep/maintain/compile a record (of), set/put the record straight, on record, on the record, off the record
Collocation
have your say, (have) the final say, go without saying (that), say the word, can't say fairer than that, say your piece, a horrible/stupid/strange/etc thing to say
Collocation
speak well/highly/badly/ill of, speak for yourself, speak your mind, speak out of turn, not sth to speak of, so to speak
Collocation
speaking broadly/generally speaking, on speaking terms, speaking of, speaking as
Collocation
talk sb into / out of (doing), talk your way into / out of (doing), talk sense into, talk the same language as, have a talk (with), be all/just talk, the talk of, talk is cheap
Collocation
tell tell the truth / a lie, tell yourself (that), tell the difference (between), tell the time, tell it like it is, there's no telling, you're telling me, that would be telling
Collocation
understanding come to / reach an understanding, have an understanding (with sb), an understanding of, on the understanding (that)
Collocation
put in a (good) word for sb, (have) a word with sb (about), spread the word, put words in sb's mouth, give/ say the word, from the word go, word of mouth, in other words
Collocation
write for a magazine/etc, have sth / be written all over your face, nothing to write home about, writer's block
Collocation
the way in which information spreads quickly from one person to another through conversation
I heard on the grapevine that they’re moving.
used as a criticism of someone when they say things they should not
Don’t tell him, he’s got a big mouth.
tell the truth about something that you have kept secret
It’s time to come clean about what happened.
talk to someone about something that has been worrying you, so that you feel better about it
I need to get something off my chest.
understand something completely wrongly
You’ve got the wrong end of the stick.
understand the basic meaning
I think I catch your drift.
regularly give someone information about something they are interested in, for example how a situation is changing or developing
Keep me posted on any updates.
keep something secret
Keep this under your hat for now.
tell people exactly what you are thinking or what you are intending to do
Let’s put our cards on the table.
provide a lot of information, especially in an indirect way
His silence speaks volumes.
tell someone in quthority about bad things that someone else has done, because you want them to be punished
Stop telling tales about your classmates.
say something suddenly and without thining about the effect it will have, usually because you are nervous or excited
she blurted out his name, the grasped as she realised what she's done
become popular or fashionable
sport drinks have caught on as consumers have become health-conscious
understand
he didn't catch on at first
have a particular result or end in a particular way
everything came out all right at the end
be removed from something such as clothing or cloth by washing or rubbing
the stain finally came out but I had to wash the skirt twice
say something suddenly, usually something that surprises or shock people
you never know what the children will came out with
stop talking because you have forgotten what you were going to say
I hope you won't dry up in the middle of the speech
if news get (a)round, a lot of people hear it
the rumors got around town very quickly, didn't they?
make people understand something
we've got to get the message across more clearly
make someone understand what you are trying to say
the teacher feels he's not getting through to some of the kids in the class
be connected to a place by telephone
I tried calling him but I couldn't get through for some reason
talk about something that is intended to be a secret
he knows more than he lets on
give someone something, for example a message, that someone else has given you
when you've read this message, please pass it on
explain an idea, belief, etc in a way that is easy to understand
television can be a useful way of putting across health messages
state officially how something should be done
these conditions were set down by the United Nations
write something on a piece of paper so that it will not be forgotten and can be looked at later
she set all those events down in her diary
make it difficult to hear what someone says by shouting while they are speaking
the minister was shouted down as he tried to justify the decision
state you opinion firmly and publicly about something, especially in order to protest against or defend something
he had always spoken out in favor ow women's rights
discuss a problem or a plan
I know you're still angry, let's talk it over tonight
succeed in persuading someone to agree to something
I'm sure I can talk her round
discuss something in a general way and without dealing with the most important issues
we're just talking round the problem, we should come up with concrete solutions
to say that something is true
The defence alleges that Jones was beaten up while in police custody
not clear or definite, capable of being understood in more than one way
The wording of the law is highly ambiguous
to present a television or radio programme, especially the news
The programme has been anchored by McDonald since 2005
someone who presents the news on a television or radio news programme
Diane Sawyer is co-anchor of ABC's Prime Time Live
to state firmly that something is true
He asserted his innocence
saying what is true or what you think, even if this offends or upsets people
It was a frank answer to a blunt question
to proudly tell other people about what you have done or can do
He's always boasting of his great sporting achievements
a programme that is broadcast
Channel 5's main news broadcast is at 9 pm
to send out messages or programmes to be received by radios or televisions
broadcast (something) on something
words printed near or on a picture that explain something about the picture
What does the caption beneath the photo say?
an explanation that makes something clearer and easier to understand
Please contact us if you require clarification of any of these matters
used in informal conversation rather than in writing or formal language
It's a colloquial expression
a journalist who writes a regular series of articles for a particular newspaper or magazine
She's a columnist for a Sunday newspaper
to understand something
How could you possibly comprehend the difficulties of my situation?
to tell someone a secret or discuss your private feelings with them
I hope you know that you can always confide in me
to tell someone that something will definitely happen at the time or in the way that has been arranged
The date of the meeting is still to be confirmed
to prove that something is true
The study confirms the findings of earlier research
the words surrounding a particular word that help to give it its meaning
In this context, 'development' means economic growth
to say that the opposite of what someone has said is true
He didn't dare contradict his parents
to communicate ideas or feelings indirectly or to give official information or a formal message to someone
A good photograph can often convey far more than words
a newspaper or television reporter, especially one who deals with a particular subject or area
And now, a special report from our political correspondent John Sergeant.
information about a range of things, for example in a book or course of education
The course offers good coverage of the subject
someone whose job is to write or broadcast their opinions about things such as books, films or plays
Michael is the paper's literary critic
to announce officially that something is true or happening
Australia declared its support for the agreement
to criticise someone or something severely in public
American trade policies have been denounced by some European governments
to give information to people, especially information that was secret
Most of the people interviewed requested that their identity should not be disclosed
to describe something in a way that makes it seem more (or less) than it really is
Don't exaggerate! It wasn't that bad!
to praise someone in order to get something you want, especially in a way that is not sincere
You're trying to flatter me, and it won't work
a note at the bottom of a page that gives more detailed information about something on the page
There's more information on this in the footnote at the bottom
someone who writes something for someone else whose name will appear on it as the writer
He didn't really write his autobiography himself — a ghostwriter did it
the main idea or most important point of something that someone has written or said
I only got the gist of what he was saying
a small book that gives information about a subject or instructions about how to use something
It's a very good handbook for those new to windsurfing
a useful suggestion or piece of advice
This leaflet is full of handy hints about safety in the home
to say what you are thinking or feeling in an indirect way
The Prime Minister hinted that the crisis could continue throughout the summer
difficult or impossible to read
Clare's handwriting is completely illegible!
a slight idea or small piece of information that tells you that something might exist or be happening
The first inkling that something was wrong came on Wednesday
to say very firmly that something must happen or be done
You must see a doctor immediately, I insist
special words and phrases that are only understood by people who do the same kind of work
Why do doctors use so much medical jargon in front of patients?
the literal meaning of a word is its most basic meaning
He is clearly not using the word 'dead' in its literal sense
a formal statement expressing the aims and plans of a group or organisation
The Liberal Party has just published its latest manifesto
to say something in a way that is not loud or clear enough so that your words are difficult to understand
He mumbled something about not wanting to go to work
to say something in a very quiet voice
Frances murmured an apology as she left
something that is said in a very quiet voice
'Let's go,' he said in a low murmur
someone who writes novels
Several politicians are also successful novelists
a very thin book with a paper cover, usually given free to people
The nurse gave me a pamphlet about injections you need before going abroad
a document signed by many people that asks someone in authority to do something
More than 300 villagers have signed a petition against the building project
a large notice in a public place, used for advertising, protesting, etc
The Minister was surrounded by placard-waving demonstrators
music, television or radio programmes have been recorded so that they can be used later
The Prime Minister's announcement wasn't live —it was prerecorded
to argue or complain about things that are not important
There's no point quibbling about the bill
a long, loud and angry complaint about something
Dom was on a rant about the cost of eating out.
to complain or talk loudly and angrily for a long time, sometimes saying unreasonable things
Ned paced back and forth, ranting about some imagined injustice
to talk in an angry and uncontrolled way
The boss was raving about nobody doing any work
to speak or write in a very enthusiastic way about something or someone
The critics are raving about her performance
important and directly connected to what is being discussed or considered
Once we have all the relevant information, we can make a decision
someone whose job is to write articles in a newspaper or magazine giving their opinion about a new play, book, art exhibition, etc
Most of the reviewers loved the exhibition
to make marks or drawings with no meaning
A child had scribbled on the book
untidy writing or something written in an untidy way
The address was written in a scribble so I found it hard to read
slang words or expressions are very informal and are not considered suitable for more formal situations
In some areas 'scran' is a slang word for food
the edge of a book where all the pages are fixed together
Don't bend the book back — you'll damage the spine
to make a mistake when you are speaking
Children often stumble when reading aloud
a mistake while speaking
He read well, with only a few small stumbles
to repeat the sounds of words in an uncontrolled way when you speak
stuttered a reply and sat down, his face red
a translation of what people are saying in a foreign language film or television programme that appears at the bottom of the screen
Foreign films in Britain aren't usually dubbed; they have subtitles
a separate part of a newspaper or magazine
I love reading the colour supplement that comes with the paper on a Sunday
newspapers with fairly small pages mostly containing stories about famous people and not much serious news
I'd hate to be a tabloid journalist
a useful suggestion
The booklet gives a lot of useful tips on flower arranging
an advertisement for a film or television programme that shows a short part of that film or programme
Did you see the trailer for the new Samuel L. Jackson movie?
to say something or to make a sound
As soon as he'd uttered the words he regretted them
not clear or complete
Some aspects of the law were somewhat vague and ill-defined
A short text using 45 of the key phrases. Tap a highlighted phrase for its meaning.
Do you want to know if it’ll be sunny or rainy next weekend? Then you should check the – that’s the prediction of the weather in the near future. If the forecast says , with and , then it’s a good day to go to the beach and – these expressions mean to enjoy the sun’s heat and light.
However, if the forecast says it’ll be , or , then you might want to stay inside and turn up the air conditioning! Another common phrase is – that means hot with a lot of water in the air (so you will sweat a lot). The weather forecast might say it will be . Another way to say this is that there are . If there are heavy clouds, then you won’t be able to see the sun at all – and if there are , then it will probably rain very soon. One way to express this is to say “.”
We can have or – and if the rain gets REALLY intense, we can describe it as . If the rain continues without stopping, then we call it or – but if it’s the type of rain that starts and stops various times throughout the day, it’s called or . When it stops raining, you can say the .
Rain is usually accompanied by wind, which can be or [high/strong winds]. If the wind is especially strong and violent, you can say or – this last expression is usually used for winds at the level of a hurricane. When the wind is increasing in intensity, we say “,” and when it is decreasing in intensity, we say “.” Sometimes we describe the wind with an adjective that emphasizes the cold – such as or . Finally, a sudden instance of wind can be called a or a .
Snow, like rain, can be light or heavy. Light snow can also be called . When the snow is being blown around in the wind, we can describe it as or . It can be wonderful to walk through – but not so nice to drive on it. So we or with vehicles to remove it from the roads. You can also do this manually – that’s called . At the end of winter, when temperatures rise, the – it turns into water and disappears.
Sometimes the weather is unusual for a particular time of year. For example, in the winter, you might have a day that is , and in the summer, you might have a day that is . When the temperature reaches an extreme, we call that a or a . Here are some alternative ways of saying the weather was good. You can say the weather was , or . To say the weather was bad, you can say the weather was , or .