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to form or express an uncertain estimate or conclusion (about something), based on insufficient information start learning
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1. Guess what I did for the whole of the first week 2. He should have guessed what would happen
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If you ... a young animal, you keep and look after it until it is old enough to be used for work or food, or until it can look after itself 🇬🇧 start learning
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In 🇺🇸 = raise She spends a lot of time rearing animals.
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If something ... you, it makes you angry. start learning
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Cancellations and late departures rarely rile him
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If something such as someone's behaviour... on you or..., it makes you feel annoyed. start learning
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His manner always grated on me.
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When something..., it rubs against something else making a harsh, unpleasant sound. start learning
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His chair grated as he got to his feet
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If one thing... another, the first thing causes the second thing to start happening. start learning
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The proposals are expected to spark heated debate.
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If something ..., little visual signs of fire or light come from it. start learning
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If you ... someone or something, you make their movement, development, or progress difficult. formal start learning
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Fallen rock is impeding the progress of rescue workers
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If you say that a situation, problem, or feeling is..., you disapprove of the fact that it is being allowed to grow more unpleasant or full of anger, because it is not being properly recognized or dealt with. disapproval start learning
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Resentments are starting to fester.
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If something ... it makes a repeated sharp banging noise. start learning
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When you say that vehicles such as trains and buses ... from one place to another, you mean they regularly travel along that route. start learning
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A shuttle bus runs frequently between the Inn and the Country Club.
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If something ... an event or process, it prevents it or slows it down. start learning
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hinder/ inhibit/ crack down on something/ arrest
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If something such as clothing or cloth is... with a design, the design is stitched into it. start learning
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I have a pillow with my name embroidered on it
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If you ... with someone, you reach an agreement with them in which you both give up something that you originally wanted. start learning
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When you ... in a vehicle such as a car, you travel in it. start learning
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He prefers travelling on the Tube to riding in a limousine.
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To ... printed text means to adjust the spaces between the words so that each line of type is exactly the same length. start learning
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Click on this icon to align or justify text.
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to package again, esp. in or as in a better or more attractive package start learning
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If you are... by something, you are so interested in it or so attracted to it that you cannot think about anything else. also: to hipnotize 🇺🇸 start learning
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She has a mesmerising smile.
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to evade an obligation, duty, or the like; renege followed by "out of" start learning
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That's one invitation I'd like to weasel out of
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To ... a person or organization means to criticize them severely, usually in public. formal start learning
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He proceeded to excoriate me in front of the nurses
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If a situation, a rule, or a person ... you to do something, they force you to do it. start learning
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... the introduction of legislation to compel cyclists to wear a helmet.
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If you ... (away) from someone or something, you move away from them because you are frightened, shocked, or disgusted by them. start learning
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I shrink from the sight of blood.
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to make weak; deprive of strength start learning
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If someone ... you from something, they rescue or save you from it. Used in common prayer. old-fashioned start learning
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I have given thanks to God for delivering me from that pain
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If something interesting or surprising ... your attention, you suddenly notice it and then continue to look at it or consider it carefully. formal start learning
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The work of an architect of genius always arrests the attention no matter how little remains.
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If something ... a light or shadow somewhere, it causes it to appear there. also metaphorical start learning
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cast a shadow/ light over/on something
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indulgent in matters of sex start learning
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I told you that this girl is permissive.
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If one person ... with another person, the two people agree. You can also say that two people... formal start learning
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Both doctors concurred in this decision
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If you are... by an animal, you are violently attacked by it and badly injured. start learning
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The dog went berserk and mauled one of the girls
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If someone is..., they are attacked aggressively, and often harmed in some way. start learning
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The cable-TV and health-care industries are both being mauled by government
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If a situation, attitude, or custom ... in a particular place at a particular time, it is normal or most common in that place at that time start learning
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1. A similar situation prevails in America 2. How people bury their dead says much about the prevailing attitudes toward death
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If someone is... by a sports team or organization, they are no longer included in that team or employed by that organization. start learning
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The country's captain was dropped from the tour party to England.
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If you ... someone or something, you push them with a quick, violent movement start learning
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He was then shoved face down on the pavement
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If you ... on someone, you listen secretly to what they are saying. start learning
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The government illegally eavesdropped on his phone conversations
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to try too hard to please someone, especially someone in a position of authority, in a way that other people find unpleasant: start learning
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The rest of the class were sick of watching him brown-nose.
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If a person or vehicle ... somewhere, they move fast and in an uncontrolled way. start learning
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His car careered into a river.
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To ... doubt on something means to cause people to be unsure about it. start learning
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Last night a top criminal psychologist cast doubt on the theory.
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If you ... from doing something or ... at the idea of something, you refuse to do it or accept it because you dislike it so much. start learning
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People used to recoil from the idea of getting into debt
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If something makes you ..., you move your body quickly away from it because it frightens, offends, or hurts you start learning
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For a moment I thought he was going to kiss me. I recoiled in horror
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If a vehicle... the road well, it remains in close contact with the road and can be controlled safely and easily start learning
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I thought the car held the road really well
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... is used with nouns such as 'party', 'meeting', 'talks', 'election', and 'trial' to indicate that people are organizing a particular activity. start learning
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If you ... at something, you react to it angrily, and show this in your expression or the way you move. start learning
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Ellis bristles at accusations that Berkeley's experiment is ill-conceived
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If someone or something is... by problems or fears, they have many problems or fears which affect them severely start learning
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1. The country is beset by severe economic problems 2. The discussions were beset with difficulties
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If you... someone, you say or show that you are disappointed, upset, or angry because they have done something wrong. start learning
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She is quick to reproach anyone who doesn't live up to her own high standards.
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If you ... a particular policy, cause, or belief, you become very interested in it and give your support to it. formal start learning
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She ran away with him to Mexico and espoused the revolutionary cause.
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If you ..., you move slightly, for example because you are uncomfortable or beginning to wake up. written start learning
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If you do not ... from a place, you do not move from it. written start learning
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There's something you could study without stirring from this room.
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If something ... or if the wind ... it, it moves gently in the wind. start learning
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Palm trees stir in the soft Pacific breeze.
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If you ... yourself, or if something...... you into action, you move in order to start doing something. start learning
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Stir yourself! We've got a visitor
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If something ... you, it makes you react with a strong emotion. start learning
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I was intrigued by him, stirred by his intellect.
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If you are... by something, you find it very difficult to take action or to continue what you are doing. informal start learning
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Companies have been stymied by the length of time it takes to reach an agreement.
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When people ... somewhere, they walk together in a formal group or a line, usually with other people watching them. start learning
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More than four thousand soldiers, sailors and airmen paraded down the Champs Elysees
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When passengers ... from a ship, aeroplane, or bus, they leave it at the end of their journey formal start learning
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I looked towards the plane. Six passengers had already disembarked
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If you say that someone ... something such as a distinctive item of clothing, you mean that they wear it without any shyness. start learning
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1. He sported a collarless jacket with pleated black panels 2. He was heavily-built and sported a red moustache
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If you... your hopes or faith on something or you hope very much that it will produce the result you want. start learning
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The Democrats are pinning their hopes on the next election.
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to repair or mend, esp in a makeshift manner start learning
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If you ... something, you avoid it by quickly moving aside or out of reach so that it cannot hit or reach you. start learning
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He desperately dodged a speeding car trying to run him down.
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If you ... you feel that everything is wrong and that nothing will improve. start learning
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He does despair at much of the press criticism
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to yield (an advantage or concession) to (one's opponent 🇺🇸 start learning
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to spot someone a piece in chess
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When a plant or tree ..., it produces flowers. When a flower ..., it opens. start learning
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This plant blooms between May and June
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If you ... a picture, you copy it by covering it with a piece of transparent paper and drawing over the lines underneath. start learning
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She learned to draw by tracing pictures out of old storybooks
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If people are... somewhere, they are provided with accommodation for a short time, usually while they are working away from home. start learning
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Our soldiers are quartered in Peredelkino.
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If you ... something, you fail to do it properly, because you make mistakes or are clumsy. start learning
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... the FBI's bungled attempt to end the 51 day siege
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To be the victim of a conspiracy; to lose a seemingly fair contest because of deceit start learning
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The Marocco got jobbed in semifinal
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If you ... someone about something such as a possible danger or problem, you tell them about it so that they are aware of it. start learning
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He also warned of a possible anti-Western backlash.
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If you... your nose or teeth, you remove substances from inside your nose or between your teeth. start learning
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Edgar, don't pick your nose, dear.
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If you ... a particular thing as the reason for doing or not doing something, you give it as your excuse start learning
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I plead the fifth amendment, your honor
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When someone... a particular age, they pass that age. When it... a particular time, it passes that time. start learning
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1. It was his ambition to accumulate a million dollars before he turned thirty. 2. It had just turned twelve o'clock
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to hold, catch, carry, or balance precariously; almost drop and then catch hold again start learning
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The wide receiver juggled the ball but finally made the catch
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If you ... something that is closed, tied, or held together, you loosen or remove the thing holding it. start learning
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I undid the bottom two buttons of my yellow and grey shirt.
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If you are... on something, you are strongly determined to do or have it. If you are ... against something, you are strongly determined not to do or have it. start learning
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The talks are set to continue through the week.
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To... a trap means to prepare it to catch someone or something. start learning
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They dug trenches in their path and set booby traps.
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If you ... a law or moral principle, you agree not to break it. start learning
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It is about time tour operators respected the law and their own code of conduct.
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To ... something means to improve its value, quality, or attractiveness. start learning
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We have to buy a new radio to enhance the value of our car.
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If you ... somewhere, you walk there in a slow, casual way. start learning
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He sauntered along the river to the mill.
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A place that is... with people or activity is full of people who are very busy or lively. start learning
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The sidewalks are bustling with people.
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If someone... a wild animal or bird, they train it not to be afraid of humans and to do what they say. start learning
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The Amazons were believed to have been the first to tame horses.
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If you... someone or something that is dangerous, uncontrolled, or likely to cause trouble, you bring them under control. start learning
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Two regiments of cavalry were called out to tame the crowds.
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If you ..., you cannot decide about something or you consider changing your mind about something. start learning
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Some military commanders wavered over whether to support the coup.
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If something..., it shakes with very slight movements or changes. start learning
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This time his voice wavered badly.
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If something ..., it makes a rapid series of short, harsh noises. start learning
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1. The radio crackled again. 2... a crackling fire.
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to confine, squeeze, or painfully press (toes, fingers, etc) because of lack of space start learning
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These shoes are pinching my feet.
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If you ... yourself or your reputation, you do something that makes people have a good opinion of you again after you have behaved or performed badly. start learning
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Casting famous actors wasn't enough to redeem bad screenplay.
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When something... an unpleasant thing or situation, it prevents it from being completely bad. start learning
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Does this institution have any redeeming features?
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to emphasize or reinforce (an argument, demand, etc) start learning
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Their behaviour only enforces my theory about children.
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If you ... a substance such as ink, paint, or make-up that has been put on a surface, you make it less neat by touching or rubbing it. start learning
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You won't clean it that way! You'll only smudge the dirt.
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If you say that you can or will ... for someone, you mean that you can guarantee their good behaviour. start learning
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If you say that you can... for something, you mean that you have evidence from your own personal experience that it is true or correct. start learning
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He cannot vouch for the accuracy of the story
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If you say that someone is ... for information or praise, you disapprove of the fact that they are trying to get it from someone in an indirect way. start learning
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He didn't want to create the impression that he was... for information
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If someone ... a particular feeling, attitude, or physical condition, they try to make other people think that they have it or are experiencing it, although this is not true. start learning
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One morning, I didn't want to go to school, and decided to feign illness.
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If you ... something such as a pair of shoes, you tighten the shoes by pulling the laces through the holes, and usually tying them together. start learning
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I have a good pair of skates, but no matter how tightly I lace them, my ankles wobble.
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To... a person or animal means to capture or confine them. 🇺🇸 start learning
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Within hours, police corralled the three men Lewis had named.
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If part of a plant, animal, or human... a liquid, it produces it. start learning
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The sweat glands secrete water
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To ... means to come out from an enclosed or dark space such as a room or a vehicle, or from a position where you could not be seen. start learning
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The postman emerged from his van soaked to the skin
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If a fact or result... from a period of thought, discussion, or investigation, it becomes known as a result of it. start learning
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It soon emerged that neither the July nor August mortgage repayment had been collected.
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If an organization ... members or customers from another organization, they secretly or dishonestly persuade them to join them or become their customers. start learning
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The company authorised its staff to poach customers from the opposition
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When you..., you suddenly take in your breath and then blow it down your nose noisily without being able to stop yourself, for example because you have a cold. 🤧 start learning
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If someone ... fish, animals, or birds, they illegally catch them on someone else's property. start learning
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Many wildlife parks are regularly invaded by people poaching game
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If you... a plot or a scheme, you think of it and work it out. start learning
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They hatched a plot to set fire to the house.
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If you... an area of grass, you cut it using a machine called a lawnmower. start learning
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He continued to mow the lawn and do other routine chores
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If cloth or clothing ..., it becomes smaller in size, usually as a result of being washed start learning
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Don't wash woollens in a washing machine, because they will shrink.
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If something..., it becomes smaller. start learning
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The vast forests of West Africa have shrunk.
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When someone... a cigarette, cigar, or pipe, they suck the smoke from it into their mouth and blow it out again. If you..., you regularly... cigarettes, cigars, or a pipe. start learning
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It's not easy to quit smoking cigarettes.
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If you... on something, you spend a lot of money, usually on things that you do not need. start learning
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We splurged on Bohemian glass for gifts, and for ourselves
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When something that you are looking at ..., it slowly becomes less bright or clear until it disappears. start learning
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1. They watched the familiar mountains fade into the darkness 2. We watched the harbour and then the coastline fade away into the morning mist.
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