English vocabulary - part one - 31.01

good luck luvs

back down

stop asking for something or stop saying that you will so something, because a lot of people oppose you

blend in

if someone or something blends in, they are similar to other people, objects, buildings, etc around them, and so they seem appropriate or you do not notice them

bring about

make something happen, especially to cause changes in a situation

crack down (on)

start dealing with someone or something much more strictly

get it

\n be elected for a political job

get off

not be punished severely or at all for something you have been accused of in court; have a particular period of time as a holiday, send something, for example in the post

give in

stop competing or arguing and accept that you cannot win; if you give in to something, you can no longer control feeling or wanting it

hit back

\n criticise someone who has criticised you; deliberately hurt someone who has hurt you

lock up

put someone in prison; lock the doors and windows of a building so that no one can get in

opt out (of)

decide not to take part in something, or stop taking part in it

phase out

gradually stop using something

push around

keep telling someone what to do in an unfair or inpleasant way

single out

choose one person from a group for special attention

stand up to

not allow yourself to be treated badly, especially by someone in authority

take over

take control of something; begin to do something that someone else was doing

talk down to

talk to someone as if you think they are not as clever or important as you are

bury your head in the sand

\n ignore the problem or an unpleasant situation and hope that it will disappear

gain/get/ have/take the upper hand

gain/ get/ have/ take control or advantage over a person or situation

get/have your way

be allowed to have or do what you want

live and let live

used for saying that you should accept other people's beliefs and way of life, even when they are very different from your own

pull a few strings

use your influence in order to get something you want or to help someone, especially when this is unfair

red tape

documents, rules or procedures that cause delays

take the law into your own hands

punish someone in your own way without involving the police or the courts, often by doing something illegal yourself

the powers that be

the people who control the situation

throw the book at sb

punish someone very severely

under sb's thumb

completely controlled by someone

aggression

aggressivness, aggressor, aggressive, aggresivly

argue

argumentative, argumentative, argumentatively, arguable, unarguable, arguably

charity

charitableness, charitable, uncharitable, charitably

crime

criminalise, decriminalise, criminality, criminally

dominate

domineer, domination, predominance, dominant, domineering, dominating, predominantly, predominant

duty

dutiful, dutifully

example

exemplify, exemplification, exemplary

govern

misgovern, governor, governess, governing, governmental, ungovernable

hard

harden, hardship, hardness, hardy, hardly

indicate

indication, indicator, indicative

institute

institutionalise, institution, institutional, institutionalised

might

might, mighty, mightily

moral

moralise, demoralise, morality, amorality, immorality, moralist, morale, immoral, amoral

office

officiate, officialdom, officer, officious, unofficially

permit

permission, permissiveness, permissible, permissive

persuade

dissuade, persuasion, persuasiveness, persuasive

power

empower, overpower, empowerment, powerlessness, powerfully, powerlessly

prejudice

prejudiced, unprejudiced, prejudical

provoke

provocation, provocative

signify

significance, insignificance, significant, insignificant

arm

arm sb with, arm yourself against, take up arms (against), lay down (your) arms, up in arms (about), arms control, arms race

authority

have the authority to do, grant sb the authority to do, have authority over, have sth on good authority, in authority, with authority, the authorities, local authority

charge

charge sb with, charge sb for, take charge, (put) in charge (of), overall charge

class

class sb/sth as, social class, working/middle/upper class, ruling class, class system, class differences, class war

crime

commit/report/witness/solve a crime, fight/combat crime, the scene of a crime, organised crime, crime prevention, crime rate, crime wave

deny

deny sb sth, deny a request, deny that, deny doing, deny having done, deny (all) responsibility for

example

make an example of, set an example, follow an example, give an example, an example of, classic/prime example

force

force sb to do, force sth on sb, force your way into/through, force a smile, with force, police force, armed forces

grant

grant sth to, grant sb permission/authority, grant a request, grant sb's wish

law

become law, break/follow/uphold the law, pass/amend/repeal a law, lay down the law, practise law, against the law, above the law, by/under law, law and order

lock

lock sth in, lock horns with, under lock and key, locksmith

peer

peer group, peer pressure

power

power take/seize/hold/exercise/exert/wield/abuse power, in power, beyond sb's power, power to do, power struggle, power structure, power base

prison

go to prison, send sb to prison, in prison, prison term, prison sentence, prison reform, prison officer, open prison

provoke

provoke sb into doing, provoke a reaction/protest/response, provoke outrage

right

have a/the/no/every right to do, give sb the right to do, right and wrong, right in saying/thinking/ believing, right (of sb) to do, equal rights, human rights, animal rights

rule

break/bend/follow the rules, against the rules, as a rule, rule of law, rule of thumb, rules and regulations

sentence

sentence sb to, pass sentence, serve a sentence (of five years, etc), prison sentence, death sentence

social

social conditions, social contact, social securiii, social services, social call, social worker, social club, social life

subject

subject sb to, bring up / get onto a subject, drop/change the subject, subject to, the subject of, British subject