take sth in phrasal verb UNDERSTAND

1. [ M ] to understand completely the meaning or importance of something

I had to read the letter twice before I could take it all in.
It was an interesting exhibition, but there was too much to take in at once.

diverse /d a vs/ /dvs/ adjective

varied or different
Students from countries as diverse as Colombia and Lithuania use Cambridge
textbooks.
New York is a very culturally/ethnically diverse city.
hand sth over phrasal verb [ M ]
to give something to someone else
We were ordered to hand over our passports.
See also handover
hand sth/sb over phrasal verb [ M ]
to give another person control of someone or something, or responsibility for dealing
with them
The hijacker was handed over to the French police.
If you'll hold the line a moment I'll hand you over to someone who might be able to
help.
See also handover

displace /dsples/ verb [ T ]

to force something or someone out of its usual or original position

The building of a new dam will displace thousands of people who live in this area.

displaced /dsplest/ adjective

aside /sad/ adverb EXCEPT

4. aside from
except for
Money continues to be a problem but aside from that we're all well.
I hardly watch any television, aside from news and current affairs.

procedure /prsi.d r / /-d/ noun MEDICAL TREATMENT

2. [ C ] a medical operation
It's a routine/standard surgical procedure.

betray /btre/ verb [ T ] SHOW

3. to show feelings, thoughts or a particular characteristic without intending to

If he is nervous on stage, he does not betray it.
Although she often seems quite cold and harsh, her smiling eyes betray her true
nature.

moron /m.rn/ /mr.n/ noun [ C ] INFORMAL

a very stupid person

Some moron smashed into the back of my car yesterday.
[ as form of address ] You moron!

tagger /tg. r / noun [ C ] SLANG

someone who paints their name or a special mark on buildings

project /prdekt/ verb THROW

2. [ T ] to throw or direct something forwards, with force

Ninety percent of the projected missiles will hit their target.
3. project your voice
to sing or speak loudly and clearly
It's a big theatre so you really have to project your voice if you're going to be heard at
the back.
lash out (sth) phrasal verb UK INFORMAL
to spend a large amount of money in an unnecessary or wasteful way

He lashed out 5000 on his daughter's wedding.

lash out phrasal verb
to suddenly attack someone or something physically or criticise them in an angry way
I was only teasing him and suddenly he lashed out ( at me) and hit me in the face.
Why's Tina in such a bad mood? She really lashed out at me when I was late for work.

tease /tiz/ verb [ I or T ]

to laugh at someone or say unkind things about them, either because you are joking or
because you want to upset them
I used to hate being teased about my red hair when I was at school.
I was only teasing, I didn't mean to upset you.

freak /frik/ verb [ I or T ] INFORMAL

to become or cause someone to become extremely emotional

My parents freaked when I told them I was pregnant.
He freaked out when he heard he'd got the job.
This song just freaks me out whenever I hear it.

sober /s.b r / /so.b/ adjective NOT DRUNK

1. not drunk or affected by alcohol

Are you sober enough to drive, Jim?
I'd had no wine all evening so I was stone cold (= completely) sober.
hit the nail on the head
to describe exactly what is causing a situation or problem
I think Mick hit the nail on the head when he said that what's lacking from this
company is a feeling of confidence.

convention /knven t . n/ noun MEETING

1. [ C ] a large formal meeting of people who do a particular job or have a similar
interest, or a large meeting for a political party
the national Democratic convention
Where are they holding their party convention?
make your presence felt
to have a strong effect on other people or on a situation
The new police chief has really made his presence felt.

grounded /gran.dd/ adjective SENSIBLE

1. Someone who is grounded has a very sensible way of thinking or behaving.

He's very grounded even though he has so much money.
lock sb up phrasal verb [ M ]
to put someone in a prison or a hospital for people who are mentally ill
Murderers should be locked up for life.
After what she did, they should lock her up and throw away the key (= lock her up
until she dies) .
See also lockup

rip /rp/ verb -pp- TEAR

1. [ I or T ] to pull apart; to tear or be torn violently and quickly

His new trousers ripped when he bent down.
I ripped my shirt on a nail.
[ + object + adjective ] She excitedly ripped the parcel open .
The wind ripped the flag to/into shreds (= into little pieces) .
2. [ T + adverb or preposition ] to remove something quickly, without being careful
I wish the old fireplaces hadn't been ripped out .
We ripped up the carpets and laid a new wooden floor.
poke around phrasal verb ( UK ALSO poke about ) INFORMAL
to search for something by moving things about, usually not in a very careful or
organized way
I was poking about in the drawer, looking for the key, when I found this!

dig /dg/ verb digging , dug , dug APPROVE

5. [ T ] OLD-FASHIONED SLANG to like or understand something

Hey, I really dig those shoes!
You dig my meaning, man?

heady /hed.i/ adjective

having a powerful effect, making you feel slightly drunk or excited
a heady wine/perfume
In the heady days of their youth, they thought anything was possible.

mind-boggling /mand bg.l. / /- b.gl. / adjective INFORMAL

extremely surprising and difficult to understand or imagine

She was paid the mind-boggling sum of ten million pounds for that film.

hitchhike /ht.hak/ verb [ I ]

to travel by getting free rides in someone else's vehicle

Women should never hitchhike on their own.
See also hitch

rebellious /rbel.i.s/ adjective

1. If a group of people are rebellious, they oppose the ideas of the people in authority
and plan to change the system, often using force
rebellious groups of southern tribespeople
2. If someone is rebellious, they are difficult to control and do not behave in the way
they are expected to
Her teachers regard her as a rebellious, trouble-making girl.

boom /bum/ verb MAKE A SOUND

1. [ I or T ] to make a very deep and loud hollow sound

The cannons boomed (out) in the night.
He boomed (out) an order to the soldiers.
beach bum noun [ C ] INFORMAL
someone who spends most of their time enjoying themselves on the beach

junkie , ALSO junky /d .ki/ noun [ C ] INFORMAL

1. someone who cannot stop taking illegal drugs

2. someone who wants to have or do something all the time
a computer/TV junkie
a publicity junkie
culture vulture noun [ C ] INFORMAL
someone who is very interested in music, art, theatre, etc.
He's a bit of a culture vulture - always out at galleries and theatres.

float /flt/ /flot/ verb MOVE

2. [ I or T usually + adverb or preposition ] to (cause to) move easily through, or along

the surface of a liquid, or to (cause to) move easily through air
We spent a lazy afternoon floating down/along the river.
He tossed the bottle into the waves and watched it float out to sea.
The children enjoy floating their boats on the pond in the park.
Fluffy white clouds were floating across the sky.
FIGURATIVE The sound of piano-playing floated out through the open window.
3. [ I usually + adverb or preposition ] LITERARY to move smoothly and attractively
She sort of floats around, like a ballet dancer.
4. [ I usually + adverb or preposition ] to move or act without purpose
Since he lost his job, he's just floated around/about doing nothing.
chill out phrasal verb ( ALSO chill ) INFORMAL
to relax completely, or not allow things to upset you
I'm just chilling out in front of the TV.
Chill out, Dad. The train doesn't leave for another hour!

bedlam /bed.lm/ noun [ U ]

a noisy situation with no order
It was bedlam at the football ground after the match was suspended.
dry sth up phrasal verb [ M ] MAINLY UK
to dry plates, cups, etc. with a cloth after they have been washed
dry up phrasal verb WATER
1. If a river, lake, etc. dries up, the water in it disappears.

overlook / .vlk/ / o.v-/ verb [ T ] VIEW

1. to provide a view of, especially from above

Our hotel room overlooked the harbour.
The house is surrounded by trees, so it's not overlooked at all (= it cannot be seen
from any other buildings) .

snowy /sn.i/ /sno-/ adjective

full of or like snow
We've had a very snowy winter this year.
I remember him as an old man with a snowy- white (= pure white) beard.
bundle ( sb ) up phrasal verb [ M ]
to put warm clothes on yourself or someone else
The kids were bundled up in coats and scarves.

vanish /vn./ verb [ I ]

to disappear or stop being present or existing, especially in a sudden, surprising way

The child vanished while on her way home from school.
We rushed out of the shop in hot pursuit, but the thief had vanished into thin air (=
had completely disappeared) .
Cheap rural housing is vanishing in the south of the country.

vulnerable /vl.n r..bl/ , /vn.r-/ /vl.n.-/ adjective

able to be easily physically, emotionally, or mentally hurt, influenced or attacked

I felt very vulnerable, standing there without any clothes on.
It is on economic policy that the government is most vulnerable.
Tourists are more vulnerable to attack, because they do not know which areas of the
city to avoid.

goodwill /gdwl/ noun [ U ]

friendly and helpful feelings

The school has to rely on the goodwill of the parents to help it raise money.
Releasing the hostages has been seen as a gesture of goodwill/a goodwill gesture .

compassion /kmp. n/ noun [ U ] APPROVING

a strong feeling of sympathy and sadness for the suffering or bad luck of others and a
wish to help them
I was hoping she might show a little compassion.

commute /kmjut/ verb TRAVEL

1. [ I ] to make the same journey regularly between work and home

It's exhausting commuting from Brighton to London every day.

commute /kmjut/ verb CHANGE

2. [ T ] FORMAL to change one thing into another

People used to believe that you could commute base metals into gold.
3. [ T ] SPECIALIZED to exchange one type of payment for a different type
I think I'll commute my life insurance into an annuity.
4. [ T ] LEGAL to change a punishment to one that is less severe
Her sentence was commuted from death to life imprisonment.
shower sb with sth phrasal verb ( ALSO shower sth on sb )
to give someone a lot of presents or praise
She only sees her niece occasionally, so she showers her with presents when she
does.
His boss showered him with praise .

arty /.ti/ /r.ti/ adjective

( US artsy ) INFORMAL USUALLY DISAPPROVING being or wishing to seem very interested in

everything connected with art and artists
She hangs out with a lot of arty types.
in person
If you do something or go somewhere in person, you do it or go there yourself
If you can't be there in person, the next best thing is watching it on TV.

overreact / .v.rikt/ / o.v-/ verb [ I ]

to react in an extreme, especially an angry or frightened, way

You must learn not to overreact to criticism.
get bent out of shape US INFORMAL
to become very angry or upset
I'm not getting bent out of shape because people don't respect my opinion. I'm used to
that.
stop by (somewhere) phrasal verb
to visit someone for a short time, usually on the way to another place
I was passing your house, so I thought I'd stop by for a chat.
stick to sth phrasal verb
1. to limit yourself to doing or using one particular thing and not change to anything
else
Could you stick to the point, please?
We'd better stick to the main road, because the other roads are blocked with snow.
2. If you stick to a law, rule or promise, you obey it or do what it states
If you make a promise, you should stick to it.
3. US FOR stick at sth
carry sb away phrasal verb
1. be/get carried away
to become so excited about something that you do not control what you say or do
There's far too much food - I'm afraid I got a bit carried away.
The manager warned his young players not to get carried away by the emotion of the
occasion.
2. [ M ] to cause someone to become very excited and to lose control
The crowd were carried away by his passionate speech.
blow sb away phrasal verb PLEASE
1. MAINLY US INFORMAL to surprise or please someone very much
The ending will blow you away.