UNIT 21-30

uphold

meaning: (v): to support something that you think is right and make sure that it continues to exist

age-old → the age-old tradition

meaning: (adj): having existed for a very long time

movable feast

meaning: (n) \[C\]: a religious festival, such as Easter, whose date changes from year to year

break with tradition

meaning: (idiom): to do something different from what is usually done

observe → observe a festival

meaning: (v): to celebrate festivals, birthdays, etc.

unrivalled → unrivalled service

meaning: (adj): better or greater than any other

long-lasting → long-lasting colours

meaning: (adj): enduring or existing for a long period of time.

pile on the pounds

meaning: (idiom): (of a person) to gradually get heavier and fatter

peckish → feel peckish

meaning: (adj): (of a person) to gradually get heavier and fatter

glossy magazine

meaning: (n) \[C\]: a magazine printed on shiny, high-quality paper, containing a lot of colour photographs and advertisements, and usually about famous people, fashion, and beauty

be in fashion

meaning: (idiom): fashionable

designer label

meaning: (n) \[C\[: a famous company that makes expensive clothes, bags, etc. and that is a well-known brand

high street

meaning: (n) \[C\]: a street where the most important shops and businesses in a town are

set the trend

meaning: (idiom): to start doing something that other people copy

hit the high street

meaning: (idiom): if a product hits the shops, it becomes available to buy

hugely popular

meaning: (phr): very popular

excruciatingly → excruciatingly uncomfortable

meaning: (adv): in an extremely bad or painful way

divert

meaning: (v): to make somebody/something change direction (and it often goes with roads, paths, streets,…)

die down

meaning: (phr v): to become gradually less strong, loud, easy to notice, etc.

get stuck in a traffic

meaning: (phr): can’t move during the traffic jam

tail back

meaning: (phr v): (of traffic) to form a tailback ( tailback (n) \[C\]: a long line of traffic that is moving slowly or not moving at all, because something is blocking the road)

build up

meaning: (phr v): to become greater, more powerful or larger in number

ease off

meaning: (phr v): to become less strong, unpleasant, etc.; to

reverse → get sth into reverse

meaning: (n) \[U\]: the machine in a vehicle used to make it move backwards

grind → grind the gears

meaning: (v): to rub together, or to make hard objects rub together, often producing an unpleasant noise

right-hand-drive

meaning: (adj): (of a vehicle) with the driver’s seat and steering wheel on the right side

bear left/right

meaning: (phr): to turn towards the right or left

hail

meaning: (v): to describe somebody/something as being very good or special, especially in newspapers, etc.

sideways

meaning: (adv): to, towards or from the side

get itchy feet

meaning: (idiom): to want to travel or move to a different place; to want to do something different

contain my excitement

meaning: (phr v): cannot hold back your excitement

arduous

meaning: (adj): involving a lot of effort and energy, especially over a period of time

break the journey

meaning: (idiom): To stop and rest somewhere in the midst of one's travels.

stopover → have a stopover

meaning: (n) \[C\]: a short stay somewhere between two parts of a journey

on standy → put sb on standby

meaning: (idom): ready to do something immediately if needed or asked

intrepid

meaning: (adj):very brave; not afraid of danger or difficulties

search party

meaning: (n) \[C\]: a group of people organized to look for someone or something that is lost.

sunny spells

meaning: (n) \[U\]:  a period of time during which the sky is mostly sunny, but with some clouds present.

spirits are high/ high spirits

meaning: (idiom): If someone is in high spirits, they are extremely happy and having a good time

grandeur → sheer epic grandeur

meaning: (n) \[U\]: the quality of being great and impressive in appearance

for the collocation, it means that sth of heroic or impressive proportions

keep sb’s eyes peeled

meaning: (idiom): be on the alert; watch carefully or vigilantly for something. or watch carefully for sb or sth

stretch to

meaning: (phr v): to manage to give or pay a particular amount, often a larger amount than you might expect

lull → lull sb to sleep

meaning: (v): to make sb relaxed and calm

leg of journey

meaning: (idiom): a particular stage or portion of a trip

acquire a taste for sth

meaning: (collocation): to gradually develop a liking for something

keep your balance

meaning: (phr): remain steady and do not fall over

take up → take up a challenge

meaning: (phr v): to accept something that is offered or available

have a whale of a time

meaning: (idiom): to enjoy yourself very much

jump at → jump at a chance

meaning: (phr v): to accept an opportunity, offer, etc. with enthusiasm

summon up

meaning: (phr v): to make a feeling, an idea, a memory, etc. come into your mind

fever pitch → reach a fever pitch

meaning: (n) \[U\]: a state of very strong emotion (usually excitement)

play a blinder

meaning: (idiom): To do something exceptionally well and with a great amount of skill. Primarily heard in UK.

a convincing victory

meaning: (phr): a victory in which the person or team that wins is much better than the person or team they are competing against

take the field

meaning: (phr): to go onto the field at the start of a game

startling

meaning: (adj): extremely and surprising

bold → bold experiment

meaning: (adj): (of people or behaviour) brave and confident; not afraid to say what you feel or to take risks

accomplished → accomplished actor

meaning: (adj): very good at a particular thing; having a lot lf skills

consummate → consummate professional

meaning: (adj): showing great skill; perfect

star-studded

meaning: (adj): including many famous performers

spectacularly → spetacularly successful

meaning: (adv): in a very impressive way

glowing → glowing review

meaning: (adj): giving enthusiastic praise

unmitigated → unmitigated disaster

meaning: (adj): used to mean ‘complete’, usually when describing something bad (=absolute)

dismal → dismal failure

meaning: (adj): causing or showing the feeling of being sad

all-star → all-star cast

meaning: (adj): including many famous actors, players, etc.

hold sb’s attention

meaning: (idiom): to keep one interested in or captivated by sth

lasting → lasting impression

meaning: (adj): continuing to exist or to have an effect for a long time

fire sb’s imagination

meaning: (idiom): to make someone very excited or interested in something

awaken sb’s interest

meaning: (phr v): If a wish, interest, or emotion awakens or is awakened in you, you notice it for the first time

long-standing → long-standing tradition

meaning: (adj): that has existed or lasted for a long time

get hitched

meaning: (phr): marry

tie the knot

meaning: (idiom): to get married

pre-wedding nerves/jitters

meaning: (n): all the feelings you have when you are on the verge of getting married. 

be join in the matrimony

meaning: (idiom): to become a married couple in an official ceremony (this phrase is commonly used in a formal way)

wedded bliss

meaning: (adj): legally married

meaning: (n) \[U\]: extreme happiness

toast → propose a toast

meaning: (n) \[C\]: the act of a group of people wishing somebody happiness, success, etc. by drinking a glass of something at the same time (_____to sb/sth)

call the election

meaning: (collocation): to decide that an election will be held

regime → topple a regime

meaning: (n) \[C\]: a method or system of government, especially one that has not been elected in a fair way

meaning (v):  to make somebody lose their position of power or authority

break out

meaning: (phr v): (of war, fighting or other unpleasant events) to start suddenly

call off

meaning: (phr v): to cancel something; to decide that something will not happen

enter into → enter into talks

meaning: (phr v): to begin to discuss or deal with sth

dispute

meaning: (n) \[C. U\]: an argument between two people, groups or countries; discussion about a subject on which people disagree

negotiate → negotiate a settlement

meaning: (v): to arrange or agree something by formal discussion

meaning (n) \[C\]: an official agreement that ends an argument between two people or groups

go-between

meaning: (n) \[C, U\]: a person who takes messages between one person or group and another

broker → broker an agreement

meaning: (v): to arrange the details of an agreement, especially between different countries

bow to

meaning: (phr v): to agree unwillingly to do sth because other pp want you to

prime-time → prime-time television

meaning: (n) \[U\]: to arrange the details of an agreement, especially between different countries

press conference → hold a press conference

meaning: (n) \[C\]: a meeting at which a person or organization makes a public statement and reporters can ask questions

censorship → impose censorship

meaning: (n) \[U\]: the act or policy of censoring books, etc.

abject → abject apology

meaning: (adj): showing no pride or respect for yourself

disorderly → disorderly behaviour

meaning: (adj): (of people or behaviour) showing lack of control; publicly noisy or violent

point-blank

meaning: (adv): ​in a very definite and direct way that is not very polite

disclosure → damaging disclosures

meaning: (n) \[C\]:  information or a fact that is made known or public that was previously secret or private

electorate

meaning: (n) \[C+singular or plural verb\]: the people in a country or an area who have the right to vote, thought of as a group

emerge

meaning: (v): (of facts, ideas, etc.) to become known

stance → take the firm stance

meaning: (n) \[C\]: a way of thinking about sth, especially expressed in a publicly stated opinion (stance (on something))

flatly → flatly reject

meaning: (adv): in a way that is very definite and will not be changed

critically → critically ill

meaning: (adv): in a way that is serious, uncertain and possibly dangerous

give leave to sb/sth

meaning: (phr): give permission to do sth; typically permssion to appeal a lower court’s ruling

take issue with (about/on/over sth)

meaning: (idiom):  to start disagreeing or arguing with somebody about something

gauge → gauge reaction

meaning: (v): to make a judgemetn about sth, especially pp’s feekings or attitudes