cross hairs

plural noun a pair of fine wires crossing at right angles at the focus of an optical instrument or gunsight.

peek
verb
1 look quickly or furtively.
2 protrude slightly so as to be just visible.
noun a quick or furtive look.

rumble
verb
1 make or move with a continuous deep, resonant sound.
2 (rumble on) (of a dispute) continue in a persistent but low-key way.
3 British informal discover (an illicit activity or its perpetrator): it wouldn't need a genius to rumble his little
game.
4 North American informal take part in a street fight.
noun
1 a continuous deep, resonant sound like distant thunder.
2 North American informal a street fight between gangs.

DERIVATIVES
rumbler noun
rumbling adjective

sneak
verb (past and past participle sneaked or informal, chiefly North American snuck)
1 move, go, or convey in a furtive or stealthy manner. stealthily do or obtain: she sneaked a glance at
her watch.
2 British informal inform someone in authority of a person's misdeeds.
noun informal
1 British a telltale.
2 a furtive person.
3 North American short for sneaker.
adjective acting or done surreptitiously: a sneak preview.

USAGE
The standard past form of sneak is sneaked. An alternative past form, snuck, arose in US dialect in the
19th century. Although snuck was formerly regarded as non-standard its use has spread in the US,
where it is now regarded as a standard alternative to sneaked in all but the most formal contexts.

peninsula
noun a long, narrow piece of land projecting out into a sea or lake.

DERIVATIVES
peninsular adjective

USAGE
Do not confuse the spellings peninsula and peninsular. Peninsula is a noun (the end of the Cape
Peninsula), whereas peninsular is the adjectival form (the peninsular part of Malaysia).

ablaze
adjective burning fiercely.
newbie
noun (plural newbies) informal an inexperienced newcomer.

rundown
noun a brief analysis or summary.
adjective (run-down)
1 in a poor or neglected state.
2 tired and rather unwell, especially through overwork.

battered2
adjective injured by repeated blows. (of a thing) damaged by age and repeated use.

stench
noun a strong and very unpleasant smell.

foot
noun (plural feet )
1 the lower extremity of the leg below the ankle, on which a person or animal stands or walks. literary
manner or speed of walking or running: fleet of foot. [treated as plural] British infantry; foot soldiers.
2 a projecting part on which a piece of furniture or each of its legs stands.
3 the lower or lowest part of something vertical; the base or bottom. the end of a table furthest from the
host. the end of a bed where the occupant's feet normally rest.
4 a unit of linear measure equal to 12 inches (30.48 cm).
5 Prosody a group of syllables constituting a metrical unit.
6 Music a unit used in classifying sets of organ pipes or harpsichord strings by their pitch.
7 a device on a sewing machine for holding the material steady as it is sewn.
verb
1 informal pay (a bill, especially a large or unreasonable one).
2 (foot it) cover a distance, especially a long one, on foot. archaic dance.

PHRASES
feet first with the feet in front. dead, as in a coffin.
feet of clay a fundamental flaw or weakness in a person otherwise revered.
get (or start) off on the right (or wrong) foot make a good (or bad) start at something.
have (or keep) one's feet on the ground be (or remain) practical and sensible.
have (or get) a foot in the door have (or gain) a first introduction to a profession or organization.
have one foot in the grave humorous be very old or ill.
my foot! informal said to express strong contradiction.
on (or by) foot walking rather than travelling by car or using other transport.
put one's best foot forward begin with as much effort and determination as possible.
put one's foot down informal
1 adopt a firm policy when faced with opposition or disobedience.
2 British accelerate a motor vehicle by pressing the accelerator pedal.
put one's foot in it informal say or do something tactless or embarrassing.
put a foot wrong [usually with negative] make a mistake.
set something on foot archaic set an action or process in motion.
under one's feet in one's way.
under foot on the ground.

DERIVATIVES
footless adjective
yellow
adjective
1 of the colour between green and orange in the spectrum, a primary subtractive colour complementary
to blue; coloured like ripe lemons or egg yolks. offensive having a yellowish or olive skin (as used to
describe Chinese or Japanese people). denoting a warning of danger which is thought to be near but
not actually imminent.
2 informal cowardly.
3 (of a book or newspaper) unscrupulously sensational.
noun
1 yellow colour or pigment.
2 used in names of yellow butterflies and moths, e.g. clouded yellow.
3 (yellows) any of a number of plant diseases in which the leaves turn yellow, typically caused by
viruses and transmitted by insects.
verb become a yellow colour, especially with age.

PHRASES
the yellow peril offensive the political or military threat regarded as being posed by the Chinese or by the
peoples of SE Asia.

DERIVATIVES
yellowed adjective
yellowing adjective
yellowish adjective
yellowness noun
yellowy adjective

leap
verb (past or past participle leaped or leapt)
1 jump or spring a long way. jump across.
2 move quickly and suddenly. (leap at) accept (an opportunity) eagerly. (leap out) (especially of
writing) be conspicuous; stand out.
3 (of a price or figure) increase dramatically.
noun
1 an instance of leaping; a forceful jump or quick movement.
2 a sudden abrupt change or transition.

PHRASES
a leap in the dark a daring step or enterprise with unpredictable consequences.
by (or in) leaps and bounds with startlingly rapid progress.

DERIVATIVES
leaper noun

brag
verb (brags, bragging, bragged) say something boastfully.
noun
1 a simplified form of poker.
2 an act of bragging.

DERIVATIVES
bragger noun
bragging adjective
braggingly adverb
haunted
adjective
1 (of a place) frequented by a ghost.
2 having or showing signs of mental anguish.

hoot
noun
1 a low musical sound made by many kinds of owl. a raucous sound made by a horn, siren, etc.
2 a shout of scorn or disapproval.
3 an outburst of laughter. (a hoot) informal an amusing person or thing.
verb
1 make or cause to make a hoot.
2 (hoot something down) express loud scornful disapproval of something.

PHRASES
not care (or give) a hoot (or two hoots) informal not care at all.

reluctant
adjective unwilling and hesitant; disinclined.

DERIVATIVES
reluctantly adverb

denigrate
verb criticize unfairly; disparage.

DERIVATIVES
denigration noun
denigrator noun
denigratory adjective

hone
verb sharpen with a whetstone. make sharper or more focused or efficient.
noun a whetstone.

outrank
verb have a higher rank than. be better or more important than.

saddle
noun
1 a seat with a raised ridge at the front and back, fastened on the back of a horse for riding.
2 a seat on a bicycle or motorcycle.
3 a low part of a ridge between two higher points or peaks.
4 a shaped support for a cable, pipe, or other object.
5 Mathematics a low region of a curve between two high points.
6 the lower part of the back in a mammal or fowl, especially when distinct in shape or marking.
7 a joint of meat consisting of the two loins.
verb
1 put a saddle on (a horse).
2 (usually be saddled with) burden with an onerous responsibility or task.
3 (of a trainer) enter (a horse) for a race.
PHRASES
in the saddle
1 on horseback.
2 in a position of control or responsibility.

dove1
noun
1 a stocky seed- or fruit-eating bird with a small head, short legs, and a cooing voice, similar to but
generally smaller and more delicate than a pigeon. [Family Columbidae: many species.]
2 a person who advocates peaceful or conciliatory policies.
3 (Dove) (in Christian art and poetry) the Holy Spirit.

DERIVATIVES
dovelike adjective
dovish adjective

quail1
noun (plural same or quails) a small short-tailed game bird. [Coturnix coturnix and other species.]

RV
abbreviation
1 North American recreational vehicle (especially a motorized caravan).
2 a rendezvous point.
3 Revised Version (of the Bible).

whup
verb (whups, whupping, whupped) North American informal beat; thrash.

spank
verb slap with one's open hand or a flat object, especially on the buttocks as a punishment.
noun a slap or series of slaps of this type.

tussle
noun a vigorous struggle or scuffle.
verb engage in a tussle.