unit 6 2preibb

(be) at sb's beck and call

always ready to obey sb's orders

besiege

to surround a building, city, etc. with soldiers until the people inside are forced to let you in

clear-cut

definite and easy to see or identify

contract

an official written agreement

crush

a strong but temporary feeling of liking sb

deposit

a sum of money that is given as the first part of a larger payment

devotion

great love, care and support for sb/sth

distress

a feeling of extreme worry, sadness or stress

drive a wedge between people

to make people start disliking each other

drum up support

to try hard to get e.g. support or business

estate agent

a person whose job is to sell house and land for people

euphoria

an extremely strong feeling of happiness and excitement that usually lasts only a short one

eye-catching

immediately likely to attract attention because it is particularly interesting, bright or attractive

feel-good

making you feel happy or pleased about life

get on each other's nerves

to annoy each other

get on like a house on fire

to become friends quickly and have a very friendly relationship

have a change of heart

to have a change of attitude towards sth/sb, usually making you feel more friendly, helpful etc.

have a soft spot for sb

to like sb

have an old head on young shoulders

used to describe a young person who thinks and acts in a more sensible way than you would expect for a person of their age

have somebody to lean on

to have sb on whom you can depend for help and support

infatuation

very strong feelings of love and attraction for sb/sth, especially when these are unreasonable and do not last long

invade

to enter a country, town, etc. using military force in order to take control of it

keep your head

to remain calm in a difficult situation

landlord

a person or company from whom you rent a room, a house, an office, etc.

lease

a legal agreement that allows you to use a building, a piece of equipment or some land for a period of time, usually in return for rent

letting agent

a person whose job is to manage your affairs when sb pays money to live in your house for a period of time

level-headed

calm and sensible; able to make good decisions even in difficult situations

live in each other's pockets

used to refer to two people who are too close to each other or spend too much time with each other

long-lasting

that can or does last long for a long time

long-term

that will last or have an effect over a long period of time

love-struck

unable to think clearly or behave in a sensible way because you are in love with sb, especially sb who is not in love with you

loyalty

the quality of being faithful in your support of sb/sth

mania

an extremely strong desire or enthusiasm for sth, often shared by a lot of people at the same time

mass-produced

produced in large quantities, often using machines

mortgage

a legal agreement by which a bank or similar organization lends you money to buy a house, etc., and you pay the money back over a particular number of years; the sum of money that you borrow

much-copied

copied many times over

not have the heart to

to be unable to do sth because you know that it will make sb sad or upset

notice

a formal letter or statement saying that you will or must leave your job or house at the end of a particular period of time

pledge alliance

to formally promise continued support for a political party, religion, ruler, etc.

rally the troops

to bring people together in order to help or support sb/sth

rent

an amount of money that you regularly pay so that you can use a house, etc.

rose-tinted

used to describe an idea or a way of looking at a situation as being better or more positive than it really is

rout

to defeat your opponents completely in a competition, a battle, etc.

subdue

to bring sb/sth under control, especially by using force

take sth to heart

to be very upset by sth that sb says or does

tenant

a person who pays rent for the use of a room, building, land, etc. to the person who owns it

use your head

used to tell sb to think about sth, especially when they have asked for your opinion or said sth stupid

wage war

to begin and continue a war, battle, etc.

wear your heart on your sleeve

to allow your feelings to be seen by other people

widely-held

believed by a lot of people

wrap sb round your little finger

to persuade sb to do anything that you want