dtuyen

to perform well enough to succeed in something:

Marvin wanted to be an actor, but he didn't make the grade.

make the grade

(a person who is) involved in or connected with improving people's lives and reducing suffering:

The prisoner has been released for humanitarian reasons.

humanitarian

acting in a way that does not cause offence:

Ask him nicely - be diplomatic.

diplomatic

an article in a newspaper or magazine in which someone gives their opinion about a performance, product, etc:

The film got a very good write-up in yesterday's paper.

write-up

to happen:

The pop festival passed off peacefully, despite the fears of local residents.

pass off

to pretend that something is a particular thing when it is not:

The dealer was trying to pass off fakes as valuable antiques.

pass sth off as sth

to start an activity with a particular aim:

She set out with the aim of becoming the youngest ever winner of the championship.

set out

to make someone unable to move because of fear, shock, etc.

Embarrassment rooted her to the spot.

root sb to sth

to have two choices that are both equally unpleasant or not convenient

be between the devil and the deep blue sea

good or quick at noticing things:

"That's a new dress, isn't it?" "Yes, you are observant!"

observant

extreme anger:

He could hardly contain his fury.

fury

to finally agree to what someone wants, after refusing for a period of time:

He nagged me so much for a new bike that eventually I gave in.

give in

to become well again after a serious illness, especially when you might have died:

They said the operation had been successful and they expected his wife to pull through.

pull through

to tell people that something is not important or interesting:

Bonds is doing everything possible to talk down his achievements.

talk down

to become too tall or too big to wear or use something:

Mom said she wasn’t going to buy me something I was going to grow out of next week.

to stop having an interest in something or stop doing something as you become older:

He wants to be a rapper, but I think he'll grow out of it.

to develop from something that happened or existed before:

The new law grew out of people’s dissatisfaction with the election results.

grow out 3

to kill someone or destroy something:

The soldiers said that they were trying to take out the snipers.

take out

in support of

I am in favour of a higher tax on cigarettes.

in favour of

to decide not to do something that you had said you would do:

You agreed to come. You can't back out now!

back out

not long ago, or at a time that started not long ago:

as recently as 200 years ago/ 1958

recently

to go in the direction of a place or thing:

They made for the centre of town.

make for

to provide someone with a place to stay temporarily:

Sally is putting me up for the weekend.

put sb up

to continue to employ someone:

We're sorry, but we can only keep you on for another month.

keep on

to see something only for a moment:

I caught sight of someone with red hair and knew it was you.

catch sight of

to take something, especially something necessary or pleasant, away from someone:

He claimed that he had been deprived of his freedom/rights.

deprive

to give a baby a name at a Christian ceremony and make him or her a member of the Christian Church:

She's being christened in June.

christen

to light something and make it brighter:

The streets were illuminated with strings of coloured lights.

illuminate

say or believe something that is completely untrue, especially because this is helpful to them:

Ministers still appear on TV telling viewers that black is white.

black is white

to travel somewhere by plane:

I'm jetting off to New Zealand next week.

jet

the act of expressing or feeling opposition to or dislike of something or someone:

Her objection to/against the plan is based on incorrect facts.

I have no objection except that it may cost more than expected.

objection

because you are worried that a particular thing might happen:

I didn't want to move for fear of waking her up.

for fear that/ of sth

to have angry arguments all the time:

As kids we used to fight like cat and dog.

fight like cat and dog

to give a small cough:

She cleared her throat nervously before she began to speak.

clear your throat

while someone or something is not present or does not exist, or because someone or something is not present or does not exist:

In the absence of proof the charge cannot be sustained.

in the absence of sth/ sb

used to give permission:

"May I borrow this book?" "By all means."

by all means

something that helps someone advance or achieve something:

I hope this job will be a stepping stone to something better.

a stone that you step on to cross a stream or wet area:

Flat stepping stones crossed the stream.

stepping stone 2

the situation in which people say or think that someone or something did something wrong or is responsible for something bad happening:

Health officials put the blame for the disease on (= say that the reason for the disease is) poor housing conditions.

blame