CPE_Unit 8

a bitter pill to swallow

a difficult fact to accept

a boon for

a great benefit or advantage for someone or something

a hindrance

something that prevents progress or makes things more difficult

able-bodied

physically fit and healthy, capable of normal physical activity

adornment

something used to decorate or enhance appearance

against all odds

despite difficulties

allow someone to vent something

let someone express their emotions, especially frustration or anger

attribute something to something

believe that something is the result of a particular cause

be adorned with something

to be decorated with something

be exposed as

be revealed as something, often negative

be fashioned from

made or created out of a specific material

be full of praise for/has nothing but praise for

speak very positively about someone or something

be in debt to

owe someone money or a favour

be in force/come into force

officially active (usually for laws or regulations).

be kept in

detain after normal hours as a punishment

be lost on somebody

have no effect on somebody/not to be understood by somebody

be out of practice

lacking practice

be the cause of

be the reason something happens

bring into line with

make somebody/something comply with a standard/behaviour

by and large

to a great extent/generally

bypass

to go around something instead of through it, or to avoid something

come to the point

reach the main point in a discussion

common knowledge

information that is widely known and accepted

depend on

rely on something or someone

deprive of something

to take something away from someone, preventing them from having it

devised by

created, invented, or planned by someone

do something at length

take a long time to do/do something in great detail

draw the line

refuse to do/tolerate something

engender

to cause or give rise to something, especially a feeling or situation

ennobled

given a higher status, honour, or dignity

express one’s opposition to/disapproval of

to make it clear that you disagree with or dislike something

extensive coverage of

a lot of reporting or attention on a topic, especially in the media

facial gestures

movements of the face that express emotions or reactions

fall into place

become clear

follow/obey to the letter

follow (e.g. instructions) exactly without question

forthcoming

happening soon or available soon

get the sack

be dismissed from one’s job

get the wrong end of the stick

misunderstand completely what has been said

get the wrong end of the stick

misunderstand something completely

give someone an outlet for something

provide a way for someone to express their emotions or energy

go in for

to choose to participate in or engage in something

golden opportunity

the best chance to gain something

grease somebody’s palm

bribe somebody

grow out of

stop doing something as you get older or bigger; become too big for clothes as you get older or taller

hurl

throw something forcefully, often in anger

immense

extremely large or great

impregnated with something

soaked or filled with something, often a substance

improve by/in leaps and bounds

improve/increase very rapidly

in public

in the presence of other people

in the offing

likely to happen

incomprehensible

impossible or very difficult to understand

indispensable

absolutely necessary, something you can’t do without

inescapable

impossible to avoid or escape from

inlay

insert a material into a surface, typically for decoration, to create a pattern or design

keep at

continue working at

keep back

hide

keep down

repress; to prevent a person, group, etc. from expressing themselves freely

keep in with

continue to be friendly

keep on

continue doing something

keep on at

continue talking in an irritating way

keep to

follow

keep up (with)

progress at the same rate

keep up with

1) be informed about, 2) stay at an equal level with

larger than life

exaggerated

lay aside

put to one side

lay into

attack (with blows or words)

lay it on thick

exaggerate

lay off

stop doing something irritating

lay out

spend

lay somebody low

make somebody ill or weak, confine to them to bed

leave somebody in the lurch

abandon/let somebody down

let down

1) disappoint, 2) lower something

let in for

involve in trouble

let in on

allow somebody to share a plan, secret etc.

let on

reveal a secret

let out

1) make a piece of clothing loose or larger, 2) utter a cry

let somebody off

not punish severely

let somebody through

allow somebody to pass an exam or a test

let up

become less in degree

let up on

treat somebody less severely

like it or lump it

whether you like it or not

make light of something

treat something as though it is not serious when in fact it is

make little progress with/not make much progress with

struggle to advance in something

mimetic action

an action that imitates or copies something, often in behaviour or movement

no explanation for

no known or given reason for something

no market for

there is no demand or interest in something

not allow for something

fail to consider something when making a plan

not for love nor money

by no means/for no reason

off the point

irrelevant

on its last legs

in weak or poor condition/needing replacement

on the level

sincere, truthful

once and for all

for the last time

onset of

the beginning of something, usually something unpleasant

out and out

complete, total

out in the open

(of secrets) revealed, known

out of print

(of books) not available anymore

out of the frying pan into the fire

from a bad situation to a worse/similar one

part and parcel of

basic part of

past one’s prime

growing old/not at your best

pelt someone/something with something

repeatedly throw things at someone or something