ENGLISH HK1

as luck would have it

by chance (favorably)

We ran out of petrol on the way home, but as luck would have it, we were very near a garage.

be passionate about

to have very strong feelings or emotions about something, especially because you think it is important

He is passionate about the need to educate these children.

be torn between

If you are torn between two possibilities, you and it’s very difficult to choose between them.

I was torn between the desire for freedom and loyalty to my family.

clued up

knowledgeable about something

Marisa will be able to tell you the problem — she’s really clued up about computers.

fascination with

the feeling of finding something extremely interesting

My fascination with opera started when I lived in Italy.

from the word go

from the time when something started

The project had problems with funding right from the word go.

glossy brochure

an expensive-looking short magazine that gives information about a product or a company

We spent ages looking at the glossy brochures advertising holidays all over the world.

have a passion for

to enjoy something very much

He has a passion for football.

have someone’s best interests at heart

to care about what is best for someone

I don’t feel that the company has the best interests of its staff at heart.

implement

to make a law, system, plan, etc. start to happen or operate

Our new computerised system will soon be fully implemented.

in a quandary

not able to decide what to do about a situation

I was in a quandary when they offered me the job.

in marked contrast to

used to emphasise that one thing or situation is completely different from another

His kindness was in marked contrast to the attitude of the other doctors.

make a (real) difference

to improve a situation (a lot)

Exercise can make a real difference to your state of health.

make something available

to provide something for people to buy or use

We had so many applicants for the course that we have decided to make another ten places available.

pass on knowledge

to inform other people about things you know

Through these books, he passed on his knowledge to future generations.

put effort into

to work hard to achieve something

She has clearly put a lot of effort into this work.

call (someone) up

to telephone someone

My dad called me up to tell me the good news.

demise

death

On his demise, the land will go to his son.

get your hands on

to be able to obtain something

I read anything I could get my hands on.

hasty judgement

an opinion or conclusion that you have formed too quickly, without knowing enough about the situation

You should avoid hasty judgements and get to know her rst.

impose a deadline

to tell somebody a date or time by which something must be done

If he’s working too slowly, you need to impose some deadlines.

inhospitable

An inhospitable place is not pleasant or easy to live in because it is too hot, cold,

etc.

We visited some of the world’s most inhospitable deserts.

intrepid

extremely brave and showing no fear of dangerous situations

He was tracked down by an intrepid reporter.

keep someone waiting

to make someone wait for you

The boss is ready to see you – don’t keep her waiting!

offer condolences

to tell someone that you are very sorry about something that has happened to them, especially when someone important to them has died

Please offer my condolences to your sister on her loss.

off the beaten track

in a place where few people go

Her cottage is a long way off the beaten track.

on the spur of the moment

If you do something on the spur of the moment, you do it suddenly, without planning it.

On the spur of the moment we decided to visit James.

open to

willing to experience something

You will learn a lot if you are open to new ideas.

plain sailing

something that is easy and without problems

I had revised for weeks, so the test was plain sailing.

put someone on hold

to leave someone waiting on the telephone before they can speak to someone

His line’s busy at the moment – I’ll put you on hold.

remote wilderness

an area of completely wild land that is far away from where people live

We walked through the remote wilderness of northern Scotland.

sponsored walk

a walk that people pay you to do in order to raise money for charity

I owe Saskia $10 for that sponsored walk she did.

starting price

the lowest amount of money that you can buy a particular thing for

These apartments have a starting price of £500,000.

stick around

to stay somewhere for a period of time

Stick around after the concert and you might meet the band.

take the rough with the smooth

to accept the unpleasant parts of a situation as well as the pleasant parts

In a long relationship, you have to take the rough with the smooth.

torrent

a sudden, large amount of something

He received a torrent of abuse from the crowd.

voyage into the unknown

a journey to a place that nobody knows about

Their expedition was a real voyage into the unknown.

within earshot

inside the range of distance where you can hear something or someone

Make sure the children are within earshot.

rise to the occasion

perform very well in response to a special situation or event.

a point in one’s favor

one’s advantage or exclusive benefit

sitting duck(s)

being easy to be attacked or defeated

on the horizon

likely to happen or exist soon

when push comes to shove

when someone have to use all their strength and resources to achieve something

in a pinch

be in a critical situation

take issue with

have problem with

superiority (complex)

the fact that something is better or in higher rank of something else (being dogmatic)

sustenance

food and drink regarded as a source of strength; nourishment.