English

stumble across

to find something by chance

keep something back

to hide or withhold information or feelings

mull something over

to think carefully about something for a period of time

track down

to search for and find someone or something after effort

stake out

to watch a place secretly, especially for a long time

nose around

to look around curiously or in a way that seems intrusive

size up

to carefully assess or evaluate someone or something

root out

to find and remove something unwanted or hidden

sound out

to ask someone’s opinion or test their reaction before deciding

hit upon

to suddenly think of or discover an idea or solution by chance

vacant

empty; not occupied, or showing no expression

compliant

willing to obey rules or requests

repentant

feeling sorry for past wrongdoing

fraudulent

involving deception or cheating

abhorrent

extremely hateful or disgusting

reminiscent

reminding someone of something from the past

decipherable

able to be understood or interpreted

prevalent

common or widespread

mischievous

playfully causing trouble

repellent

causing disgust or strong dislike

laudable

deserving praise

merciful

showing kindness and forgiveness

blameless

innocent; not responsible for wrongdoing

irksome

annoying or irritating

dupe

a person who is easily tricked or deceived

hoodwink

to trick or deceive someone

confound

to confuse or puzzle someone

hustle

to move quickly and energetically or to work hard energetically

Soar

become much bigger, like a balloon or a crowd

spiral

keep increasing or decreasing more and more

plunge/plummet

fall by a huge amount very suddenly

hike sth up

raise prices sharply ( NB there may be a sense of being unfair on customers)

escalate

become faster

recede

fall gradually after a high point, like water after a flood or your hopes after initial optimism

slump

fall due to a lack of energy and then remain low for some time, like a person fainting or falling asleep in a chair

skyrocket/ soar

rise extremely high very fast, like a plane, etc taking off

surge

grow hugely and build energy, like a growing crowd or rising flood

magnify

make something bigger / more powerful (or at least, appear to be)

escalate

to become bigger, worse or more serious (NB usually negative things, e.g. anger, violence)

wane/dwindle

fall gradually, like a crowd drifting away or your enthusiasm after a long time

diminish (sth)

become smaller/less, or make something smaller/less

pay dividends(coll)

If something you do ______, it causes good results at a time in the future:

pay tribute to sb/sth

to praise someone or something:

pay it forward

to do something kind or useful for someone because someone else has done something kind or useful for you:

pay your way

to pay for yourself rather than allowing someone else to pay

I regret selling my shares in that company because they’d be worth a lot of money now. ONLY

I’d have made a fortune by now____________ hold my shares in that company.

if only i had kept

it'd be great to earn a regular salary, but it’s nice that i don’t have to work in an office. SAID

While i’d love to be paid more regular salary, __________ to work in an office

there’s a lot to be said for not having

I have no objection to advising you about business, but I don't think it's fair to expect me to do your accounts. LINE

I don't mind giving you some business advice, but what I_________ doing your accounts for you!

draw the line at is

Looking back, I realise I was fired because I wasn't fast enough. SLOW

In ________I wouldn't have been fired, I realise.

hindsight, if I hadn't been so slow,

extortionate

extremely expensive:

disgruntled

unhappy, annoyed, and disappointed about something:

double-cross

to betray or cheat someone, especially after gaining their trust

stump

to confuse or puzzle someone so they cannot answer or understand

swindle

to cheat someone out of money or property through deception

con into

to trick someone into doing something or giving something

3 The rumours of the head teacher hitting the jackpot are untrue. CONTRARY

Despite stories _________ hit the jackpot

to the contrary the head teacher didn't

The weather will stay bad for the next few weeks. LIKELY

The weather ________ better any time soon.

is not likely to get

Regardless of how difficult the exercise, you must keep trying. ACCOUNT

Despite the difficulty of the exercise,_______ give up

on no account must u

People weren’t surprised at all when the government added a pollution tax on cars. IN

When the government introduced the pollution tax nobody_________ slightest

was surprised in the

Jake thought he might like to grow his own vegetables even though he worried it might be too time consuming. UP

Although Jake was worried it might______, he was considering growing his own vegetables.

take up too much time

Louise was too busy to attend the climate conference despite the fact that it interested her. THOUGH

Louise was too busy to attend the climate conference,__________ seemed.

interesting though it

I didnt find the film that exciting, but it did make me think. THOUGHT-PROVOKING

For me,_________ exciting

the film was more thought-provoking than

The next service station was 30 kilometers away, and they were nearly out of petrol. LOW

They were___________, and there was still 30 kilometers to the next service station.

low on petrol

in the clear

free from suspicion, danger, or trouble

blood runs cold

to feel extreme fear or horror

rock the boat

to cause trouble or disturb a stable situation

make waves

to cause trouble or draw attention, often by challenging the status quo

out of line

behaving in an unacceptable or inappropriate way

in a tight spot

in a difficult or awkward situation

get out of hand

to become uncontrollable or difficult to manage