inside job

Abuse

To use something in a harmful, excessive, or unfair way.

• Some people _____ alcohol when they're stressed.

• He ____ed his power to get what he wanted

Captive

A person or animal that is kept somewhere and cannot leave.

The soldiers took hundreds of _____s

Cutback

A reduction in the amount of money, time, or resources available.

• The company announced _____s in spending.

• Because of budget _____s, several projects were cancelled.

Eliminate

To remove something or someone completely.

• We need to _______ unnecessary expenses.

• The new software helps us ______ errors in the system.

Elite

A group of people considered the best or most powerful in a particular field.

• Only the ___ athletes can compete at this level.

• She got a job at an ___ law firm.

Endanger

To put someone or something at risk.

• Driving too fast can _____ other people's lives.

• Pollution is _____ing many animal species.

Expose

To leave someone or something unprotected against something, or to reveal something hidden.

• Don't _____ your skin to the sun for too long.

• The investigation _____ed corruption within the company.

Frown

To move your eyebrows together to show worry, confusion, or disapproval.

• She ____ed when she saw the bill.

• He _____ed at me as if I'd said something stupid.

Insanity

A state of being mentally ill, or an informal way to describe something completely unreasonable or absurd.

• Spending all your savings on something you don't need is _____.

• The movie was about a man who slowly descended into _____.

Mean

When describing a person, it often means unkind or deliberately hurtful. It can also mean unwilling to spend money.

• Why are you being so ___ to your little brother?

• He's so ____ that he never buys anyone a coffee.

Redundancy

unnecessary repetition

There's too much _______ in this code; we should simplify it.

Prodigy

Someone, especially a young person, who has exceptional talent.

• Mozart was a musical _____.

• She's a computer ______ who started programming at the age of eight

Uptight

An informal word for someone who is anxious, tense, or too concerned about rules and details.

• Don't be so _____ about making a small mistake.

• He gets ____ whenever he has to speak in public.

Talk out of

to persuade someone not to do something.

I ____ed my boyfriend __ _ buying an expensive car.

My friend ___ed me __ _ quitting my job without finding another one.

Talk into

to persuade someone to do something.

I ____ed my boyfriend __ moving abroad

My friend ___ed me __ entering Chinese university

Find

to discover or reveal a result

A recent poll ___s that most people support the proposal.

A new study ____ (2 form) that people who sleep well tend to be more productive.

Exposure

Used when someone or something comes into contact with a substance, condition, experience, or information.

• ________ to heat can cause dehydration.

• ________ to sunlight

• ________ to chemicals

• ________ to stress

Be out of

Used when you have none of something left.

• We ___ ___ __ money, so we can't afford a holiday right now.

• I __ __ _ coffee. Could you buy some on your way home?

Call it a night

An informal expression meaning to stop an activity for the night, often because you're tired.

• I'm exhausted. Let's ___ _ _ ____.

• We've been working for six hours, so I think we should ___ _ _ ___.