Unit 1-3

arouse someone's interest;make someone interested

flatly contradict;completely disagree with or deny

categorically;absolutely, without doubt

a lick of paint;a quick, light repaint

run up a bill or a debt;let it grow larger

go on an economy drive;make an effort to spend less

adhere to your principles;stick to them

play the stock market;buy and sell shares to make money

alight from a bus;get off (formal)

of paramount importance;extremely important

of utmost importance;of the greatest importance

of little importance;not very important

a wide range of;many different kinds of

gain marks;get marks

depart from convention;stop following the usual way

create an effect;produce an impression

a secluded location;a hidden, private place

a relaxing atmosphere;a calm feeling in a place

spacious rooms;large rooms

a picturesque village;a pretty village

stunning photographs;very beautiful photos

taken aback by;surprised or shocked by

mouth-watering;delicious-looking

pop the question;propose marriage

mitigating circumstances;facts that make a crime less serious

aggravating circumstances;facts that make a crime more serious

inclement weather;bad weather (formal)

auburn hair;reddish-brown hair

deliriously happy;wildly happy

blissfully happy;perfectly, peacefully happy

adjourn a meeting;postpone or pause it

pace to and fro;walk backwards and forwards

be in broad agreement;agree in general

a broad accent;a strong regional accent

a broad hint;a very clear hint

intricate;complex, with many details

be an effort;be hard work

in an effort to;in an attempt to

time and effort;work put into something

deliver a sermon;give a religious speech

a striking feature;a very noticeable feature

a distinctive feature;a feature that makes something different

draw up a contract or list;prepare it officially in writing

pass up a chance;choose not to take an opportunity

withstand pressure;bear it

an opportunity arises;a chance appears

standards slip;quality becomes worse

a spate of attacks or thefts;a sudden wave of bad events

a barrage of questions or insults;a large number all at once

a stroke of luck;a lucky chance

a snippet of gossip or information;a small piece

an idle threat;a threat that will not be carried out

idle curiosity;curiosity with no serious purpose

a vain hope;a hope that will never come true

mounting concern, criticism, fury;growing

the plain truth;the honest fact

intensely personal;deeply private

stunningly beautiful;extremely beautiful

fail miserably;fail completely

drive recklessly;drive wildly, without care

burst into song or tears;suddenly start

foam at the mouth;be extremely angry

take it easy;relax