LEXIS 7 I 8

die out

to disappear or stop existing completely

dispose of

to get rid of something

draw on

to use something to achieve a particular result

go into

to be put into or utilised

keep from

to prevent someone from doing something or prevent something from happening

kick in

to start or to begin to have an effect

make up

to combine together to form a particular total or result

map out

to plan carefully how something will happen

smooth out

to get rid of problems or difficulties

speed up

to happen more quickly, or to make something happen more quickly

tap into

to manage to use something in a way that brings good results

track down

to find someone or something by searching for a long time

decompression sickness

a serious medical condition caused by returning too quickly to the surface of the sea when diving with breathing equipment

element

a simple chemical substance that consists of only one kind of atom

fluctuations in pressure

changes in the level of pressure

high-voltage

relating to or containing large amounts of electricity

oxidise

to combine with oxygen, or make something combine with oxygen, especially in a way that causes rust

pharmacological

relating to the branch of medicine concerned with the uses, effects, and modes of action of drugs

pollutant

a substance that makes air, water, soil etc dangerously dirty, and is caused by cars, factories etc

specimen

a small amount or piece that is taken from something, so that it can be tested or examined

stable atmosphere

a maintaned or steady atmosphere

vapour

a mass of very small drops of a liquid which float in the air, for example because the liquid has been heated

ventilated

made pleasant by having fresh air inside it

accolade

praise given to someone because people think they are very good, or a prize given to them for their work

bring to life

(with reference to a fictional character or inanimate object) cause to be alive or real

enrapture

to give someone very great pleasure

fatal flaw

a weakness that makes something certain to fail

narrative structure

a literary element generally described as the structural framework that underlies the order and manner in which a narrative is presented to a reader, listener, or viewer

personify

to think of or represent something as a person

pitch at

to aim a product at a particular type of organisation, group of people etc, or to describe it in a particular way, in order to sell it

recount

to tell someone a story or describe a series of events

yarn

a story of adventures, travels etc, usually made more exciting and interesting by adding things that never really happened

applicable

if something is applicable to a particular person, group, or situation, it affects them or is related to them

classy

fashionable and expensive

convivial

friendly and pleasantly cheerful

duplicitous

deceptive in words or action; deceitful

formative

having an important influence on the way someone or something develops

harmonious

harmonious relationships are ones in which people are friendly and helpful to one another

life-threatening

a life-threatening situation, illness, or injury could cause a person to die

lifelong

continuing or existing all through your life

near-perfect

almost perfect

patronising

speaking or behaving towards someone as if they are stupid or not important

sceptical

doubting whether something is true or right

sought-after

wanted by a lot of people but rare or difficult to get

speechless

unable to speak because you feel very angry, upset etc

allusion

something said or written that mentions a subject, person etc indirectly

asphyxiation

when someone is prevented from breathing

categorisation

the process of putting people or things into categories (= groups with the same features)

clarification

the act of making something clearer or easier to understand, or an explanation that makes something clearer

defection

the act of leaving your own country or group in order to go to or join an opposing one

displacement

when a group of people or animals are forced to leave the place where they usually live

diversity

the fact of including many different types of people or things

espionage

the activity of secretly finding out secret information and giving it to a country’s enemies or a company’s competitors

ignorance

lack of knowledge or information about something

incarnation

a particular physical form or condition of something or someone that is changing or developing

infiltration

the process of secretly becoming part of a group in order to get information or to influence the way that a group thinks or behaves

jingle

a short song used in advertisements

mortality

the number of deaths during a particular period of time among a particular type or group of people

onslaught

strong criticism of someone

premise

a statement or idea that you consider to be true and use to develop other ideas

principal

someone who is in charge of a school

principle

a moral rule or belief about what is right and wrong, that influences how you behave

sentiment

an opinion or feeling you have about something

sophistication

the quality of being complicated or made with great skill

upbringing

the way that your parents care for you and teach you to behave when you are growing up

wisdom

whether something is sensible

adhere to

to behave according to a rule, agreement etc

amend

to correct or make small changes to something that is written or spoken

ascribe

to claim that something is caused by a particular person, situation etc

complement

to make a good combination with someone or something else

deter

to stop someone from doing something, by making them realize it will be difficult or have bad results

ensure

to make certain that something will happen properly

fulfil

to do or provide what is necessary or needed

hone

to improve your skill at doing something, especially when you are already very good at it

outrun

to develop more quickly than something else

proscribe

to officially say that something is not allowed to exist or be done

face head on

to confront a problem directly and openly

fall into a category

to belong to or be part of a particular group, area of responsibility, range of things, or type of things

fulfil a need

to do or provide what is necessary or needed

hazard a guess

to say something that is only a guess

make an assumption

to think something is true although you have no definite proof

(be) under no illusion

to be fully aware of the true state of affairs

be in operation

to be functioning, operating or being active

have time to kill

to have nothing to do for a particular period

in pursuit of

when someone tries to get, achieve, or find something in a determined way

in some circles

in certain social or professional groups

(second) night running

if something happens for the second night running, it happens two nights in a row

blissfully unaware

to be be blissfully unaware is to be happier not knowing the truth about something

blisteringly hot

extremely hot

endlessly versatile

having an infinite number of different uses

exclusively used

used only (e.g. by a certain group)

fiercely competitive

determined or trying extremely hard to be more successful than other people or businesses

fully alert

able to see, understand, and act in a particular situation to a high degree

infinitely preferable

much better or more suitable

instantly recognisable

very easy to recognise

intricately carved

engraved with a lot of complicated details

notoriously difficult

if something is notoriously difficult, it is well known that it is not easy

painstakingly decorated

decorated in a very careful and thorough way

strikingly similar

unusually and noticeably similar

universally known

known by everyone

widely believed

according to most people's belief

button up

to fasten something with buttons, or to be fastened with buttons

derive from

to develop or come from something

dispose of

to get rid of something

freak out

to suddenly become very anxious, upset, or afraid, or to make someone do this

keep up with

to know about the latest facts, information, and products in a particular area

pass something on

to give something to your children through your genes

stick to (a routine)

to keep using or doing one particular thing and not change to anything else

take on

to acquire or be burdened with something

anaesthetic

a drug that stops you feeling pain

aversion

a strong dislike of something or someone

circuit/circuitry

electrical connections

commodity

a product that is bought and sold

cotton wool

a soft mass of cotton, used for cleaning the skin, wounds etc

detour

a way of going from one place to another that is longer than the usual way

loop

a shape like a circle in a piece of wire, string etc

occupant

someone who lives in a house, room etc

octave

the range of musical notes between the first note of a scale and the last one

pitch

how high or low a note or other sound is

suffrage

the right to vote in national elections

vapour

a mass of very small drops of a liquid which float in the air, for example because the liquid has been heated

doubtless

used when saying that something is almost certain to happen or be true

downside

the negative part or disadvantage of something

drawback

a disadvantage of a situation, plan, product etc

forego

to not do or have something pleasant or enjoyable

meantime

in the period of time between now and a future event, or between two events in the past

never-ending

seeming to continue for a very long time

outlook

what is expected to happen in the future

overcome

to successfully control a feeling or problem that prevents you from achieving something

overview

a short description of a subject or situation that gives the main ideas without explaining all the details

ownership

the fact of owning something

setback

a problem that delays or prevents progress, or makes things worse than they were

shortcoming

a fault or weakness that makes someone or something less successful or effective than they should be

troublesome

causing problems, in an annoying way

upbeat

positive and making you feel that good things will happen

viewpoint

a particular way of thinking about a problem or subject

affectionate

showing in a gentle way that you love someone and care about them

crippling

causing so much damage or harm that something no longer works or is no longer effective

detectable

that can be noticed or discovered

distressing

making you feel very upset

eligible

someone who is eligible for something is able or allowed to do it, for example because they are the right age

evolutionary

relating to the way in which plants and animals develop and change gradually over a long period of time

exquisite

extremely beautiful and very delicately made

fluffy

very light and soft to touch

heavy-duty

heavy-duty materials, pieces of equipment etc are very strong and not easily damaged

squeaky

making very high noises that are not loud

stringent

a stringent law, rule, standard etc is very strict and must be obeyed

underlying

the cause that is the most important, although it is not easily noticed

unmanly

not thought to be suitable for or typical of a man

defy

to refuse to obey a law or rule, or refuse to do what someone in authority tells you to do

dodge

to move quickly to avoid someone or something

forgo

to not do or have something pleasant or enjoyable

peer

to look very carefully at something, especially because you are having difficulty seeing it

trigger

to make something start to happen

deprivation

the lack of something that you need in order to be healthy, comfortable, or happy

drop off

to go to sleep

hypersomnia

a sleep disorder in which someone sleeps for very long periods and is always very tired during the day

nap

a short sleep, especially during the day

nocturnal

being active or happening at night rather than during the day

restorative

making you feel healthier or stronger

shut-eye

sleep

tuck someone up

to make someone comfortable in bed by arranging the sheets around them

wind down

to rest and relax after a lot of hard work or excitement

bark an order

to tell someone to do something in a loud angry voice

be in good company

if you say that someone is in good company, you mean that they should not be ashamed of a mistake or opinion, because it is shared by many others, or by someone important or successful

for the time being

for a short period of time, but not permanently

glimmer of hope

a small sign of hope

it got me thinking

it made me think

no takers?

if there are no takers for something, no one accepts or is willing to do what is being asked

on a practical note

speaking in a practical way

run in families

if something such as a quality, disease, or skill runs in the family, many people in that family have it

spark an idea

to initiate or be the impetus of an idea

summon up the courage

if you summon up your courage, strength etc, you try to be brave, strong etc even though it is difficult

the heart of the problem

the most central and important part of a problem

solitude

when you are alone, especially when this is what you enjoy

sympathy

the feeling of being sorry for someone who is in a bad situation

discrete

clearly separate

discreet

careful about what you say or do, so that you do not offend, upset, or embarrass people or tell secrets

illicit

not allowed by laws or rules, or strongly disapproved of by society

elicit

to get or produce something, especially information or a reaction

alternately

happening in a regular way, first one thing and then the other thing

grumpy

bad-tempered and easily annoyed

(be) in the mood (to)

to feel that you would like to do something

cringe

to feel embarrassed by something

mend

to repair a tear or hole in a piece of clothing

reticent

unwilling to talk about what you feel or what you know

detrimental (effect on)

causing harm or damage

pane

a piece of glass used in a window or door

rattle

if you rattle something, or if it rattles, it shakes and makes a quick series of short sounds

rogue

a person who behaves badly, but who you like in spite of this – often used humorously

unpick

to examine the different parts of a subject, deal etc, especially in order to find faults

know-it-all

someone who behaves as if they know everything

counterpart

someone or something that has the same job or purpose as someone or something else in a different place

guideline

rules or instructions about the best way to do something

spokesperson

someone who has been chosen to speak officially for a group, organisation, or government

workshop

a meeting where people learn about a particular subject by discussing their experiences and doing practical exercises

breakdown

the failure of a relationship or system

strike without warning

to happen without warning

halo

a circle of light or something bright

chirp

the short high sound of a bird or insect

moped

a small two-wheeled vehicle with an engine

account for

to be the reason for something, or to explain the reason for something

arrive at

to reach a decision, solution etc after a lot of effort

be on to something

to have an idea or information that is likely to lead to an important discovery

bring about

to make something happen

boil down to

if a situation or statement boils down to something, that is the most important fact or the basic meaning

buy into

to accept or believe an idea

give off

to produce a smell, light, heat etc

narrow down

to reduce the number of people or things that you can choose from

actively involved

involved in a way that involves doing things or taking part in something

deeply offended

insulted or upset by someone’s behaviour or remarks to a very high degree

painfully shy

extremely nervous and embarrassed about meeting and speaking to other people, especially people you do not know

readily available

quickly and easily available

sorely missed

missed very much

strictly forbidden

not allowed according to a rule, law, or custom

strongly opposed

definitely believing that something is wrong and should not be allowed

vaguely familiar

slightly or distantly familiar