Unit 1-3

Arouse someone's interest

Make someone interested.

Flatly contradict

Completely disagree with or deny.

Categorically

Absolutely, without doubt.

A lick of paint

A quick, light repaint.

Run up a bill or a debt

Let it grow larger.

Go on an economy drive

Make an effort to spend less.

Adhere to your principles

Stick to them.

Play the stock market

Buy and sell shares to make money.

Alight from a bus

Get off (formal).

Of paramount importance

Extremely important.

Of utmost importance

Of the greatest importance.

Of little importance

Not very important.

A wide range of

Many different kinds of.

Gain marks

Get marks.

Depart from convention

Stop following the usual way.

Create an effect

Produce an impression.

A secluded location

A hidden, private place.

A relaxing atmosphere

A calm feeling in a place.

Spacious rooms

Large rooms.

A picturesque village

A pretty village.

Stunning photographs

Very beautiful photos.

Taken aback by

Surprised or shocked by.

Mouth-watering

Delicious-looking.

Pop the question

Propose marriage.

Mitigating circumstances

Facts that make a crime less serious.

Aggravating circumstances

Facts that make a crime more serious.

Inclement weather

Bad weather (formal).

Auburn hair

Reddish-brown hair.

Deliriously happy

Wildly happy.

Blissfully happy

Perfectly, peacefully happy.

Adjourn a meeting

Postpone or pause it.

Pace to and fro

Walk backwards and forwards.

Be in broad agreement

Agree in general.

A broad accent

A strong regional accent.

A broad hint

A very clear hint.

Intricate

Complex, with many details.

Be an effort

Be hard work.

In an effort to

In an attempt to.

Time and effort

Work put into something.

Deliver a sermon

Give a religious speech.

A striking feature

A very noticeable feature.

A distinctive feature

A feature that makes something different.

Draw up a contract or list

Prepare it officially in writing.

Pass up a chance

Choose not to take an opportunity.

Withstand pressure

Bear it.

An opportunity arises

A chance appears.

Standards slip

Quality becomes worse.

A spate of attacks or thefts

A sudden wave of bad events.

A barrage of questions or insults

A large number all at once.

A stroke of luck

A lucky chance.

A snippet of gossip or information

A small piece.

An idle threat

A threat that will not be carried out.

Idle curiosity

Curiosity with no serious purpose.

A vain hope

A hope that will never come true.

Mounting concern, criticism, fury

Growing.

The plain truth

The honest fact.

Intensely personal

Deeply private.

Stunningly beautiful

Extremely beautiful.

Fail miserably

Fail completely.

Drive recklessly

Drive wildly, without care.

Burst into song or tears

Suddenly start.

Foam at the mouth

Be extremely angry.

Take it easy

Relax.