TIPS for English (c): Vocabulary TIPS (Phrases) (2)

The death rates were much higher in older age groups but had been declining at younger ages

The rise of the cases was from 2015 (pronounced twenty-fifteen) onwards.

Public health interventions are often multi-faced tailored to their context and may target (not 'target to') whole communities.

The benefit from the screening programme (or program in North American English) should outweigh (= to be greater or more important than something else; pronounced ˌaʊtˈweɪ (*)) the physical or psychological harm caused by the test, a diagnostic procedure, or treatment (My comment: that is why most tumor markers are not appropriate for the screening of the general population).

The design, whereby cases are selected from within a cohort study, is called a nested case-control study.

When a screening test aims at ('aims to' does not fit here) providing information to allow the person to make an informed choice, there must be evidence that the test accurately measures the risk. Screening aims to ('aims at' does not fit here) reduce morbidity and mortality from (not 'the mortality of') a disease.

Lung cancer is more prevalent in the underlying population.

The population is divided into subgroups.

In cross-sectional studies, data is/ are (''data'' = uncountable noun + singular or plural verb) collected at one point in time.

Stress incontinence is a major problem in women after menopause/ postmenopausal women.

Promoting positive well-being in the population is of growing importance.

If a woman has irregular menses, abrupt hair loss, hirsutism (= abnormal growth of hair on a person's face and body, especially on a woman), or acne (pronounced ˈæk.ni)) recurrence, (then) an endocrine evaluation is appropriate.

Unlike type 1 diabetes mellitus, persons with type 2 diabetes mellitus do not necessarily require exogenous (= found or coming from outside something, for example, a system or a person's body or mind; pronounced ɪkˈsɒdʒ.ɪ.nəs) insulin at all times.

[Reference for the above: M. Somerville, K. Kumaran, R. Anderson, Public Health & Epidemiology at a Glance, 2^nd edition, Wiley Blackwell, John Wiley & Sons Ltd, 2016].

In spite (not inspite) of/ despite (not despite of) their limitations, ecological studies are valuable.

You may email me at xxx@gmail.com

At this juncture = at the present time; now (it implies that what is the case now may not always have been so or may not remain so); e.g., It is difficult to say at this juncture whether this upturn (= an improvement or upward trend, especially in economic conditions or someone's fortunes) can be sustained/ are sustainable.// e.g., At this juncture, there is a desperate need for human contact.// e.g., At this juncture, it is impossible to say whether she will make a full recovery (**).

Prospective parent/ employee/ buyer = people expected to become a parent/ employ someone/ buy something, respectively (^^).

Senior citizen (= a politically correct term for an old person (usually the one over 65)

‘Scantily-clad (= wearing something that is too cold for the weather and covers too little of the body (#) - clad (adjective) = clothed) women have been videoed (video is also a verb) punching each other in a mass brawl (= a rough or noisy fight or quarrel; pronounced brɔːl) at iconic Miami Beach!’ (from ‘The Sun’). (the women were fighting, wearing only their bikinis).

''I believe it would be enriching/ fruitful for both avenues of investigation to proceed apace (= quickly)'' (**).

Bring to mind....

To my mind... (but we say ''in my opinion/ view''). In some cases, ''mind'' may go with ''in,'' e.g., ''I always had in my mind that something bad like that was going to happen.''

Airfreight (or air-freight) (= carried goods) charges/ cost.

Be careful: the past simple of ''play'' is ''played'' (not plaid), and the gerund is ''playing''; e.g., The president denied that politics played any part in his decision to appoint a woman to the Supreme Court.// e.g., ‘I was playing music’ (**).

The florid (= with too much decoration or detail; pronounced ˈflɒr.ɪd) rhetoric of the British Prime Minister.

The train’s widescreen wiper (or ‘windshield wiper’ in North American English) (= one of two long metal and rubber parts that move against a windscreen to remove rain). For a car windshield wiper, See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windscreen_wiper#/media/File:Heckscheibenwischer_kl.jpg

Britain’s credit rating was downgraded by Moody’s (= an international credit rating agency) (from the media)

Developing countries have a higher ratio (pronounced ˈreɪ.ʃi.əʊ) of younger adults compared to older (not ‘compared to an older population’).

Germany took advantage of the migration surge as it could hire (not ‘by hiring’) employees, laborers, and technicians to cover all the necessary posts needed to support (not ‘for supporting’) the country's production.

The PM (=prime minister) dissolved (dissolve = close down or dismiss an assembly or official body) the parliament.

The school janitor (janitor = a person employed as a caretaker of a building; a custodian; pronounced ˈdʒæn.ɪ.tə(r)) teaches the students how to save/ conserve/ not to waste energy by using isolation, such as airtight windows, and adjusting the thermostat of the radiators (1) (from the Deutsche Welle). (1) Radiator = a device for heating a room consisting of a metal tank connected by pipes through which hot water is pumped by a central heating system. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radiator#/media/File:Radiator.svg 

Take care of

A friend who had decided to drop by unannounced

In contradistinction to this conception...

At the age of X // In the age group A-B; e.g., Figures were more substantial for the (not ‘on the’) graduates who hit a peak of about $700 in the age group (not ‘at the age group’; as we say, ‘at the age of X,’ but ‘in the age group’) (not ‘groups’) 50-59 while non-graduates peaked at the age of (not ‘in the age of’; as we say, ‘at the age of X,’ but ‘in the age group’) 40-49 at $570.

‘Ashes to ashes, dust to dust’ (from the Bible, Genesis 3:19) (My comment: it is also a song!)

He asked a hard-hitting question.

The standoff (= a situation in which agreement in an argument does not seem possible) between potential buyers and sellers affects the U.S. economy (*).

Sea levels are rising at an unprecedented ((pronounced ʌnˈpres.ɪ.den.tɪd) = never done or known before) rate (from the media).

At one end of the spectrum...

To complicate matters/ to make matters worse...

A person’s early years

Especially (as an adjective) for, e.g., ‘I chose this, especially for (not 'especially to') our new house’ (^^^).

Surfing (not ‘serfing,’ as ‘serf’ means a low social class in medieval times) on the internet.

Stratospheric ozone depletion.

Rising (not 'raising') sea levels from climate change.

Using fossil fuels (= natural fuels such as coal or gas, formed in the geological past from the remains of living organisms) increases carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. We should mitigate (= make less severe, serious, or painful)/ hamper (= hinder or impede the movement or progress of)/ tackle/ curb the effects of climate change and adapt to inevitable ones.

Tackling (tackle = make determined efforts to deal with a problem or difficult task) health inequalities is overly complex.

Fast food outlets (outlet = a place from which goods are sold or distributed).

Palatability (palatable = (of food or drink) pleasant to taste) of food offerings.

If you have any questions, please contact me at (US English)/ on (British English) 00446887878.

Lack of adherence to the treatment.// He/she did not comply with the doctor's instructions.

At the age of 25, she was a lecturer.

Engineering feats (feat = an achievement that requires great courage, skill, or strength; pronounced fiːt)   

‘When I am nervous, I have the hiccups (or hiccough)!’

‘I got married two months before the war broke out.’

''I think in your past life you were a Mexican insurgent'' ((pronounced ɪnˈsɜː.dʒ(ə)nt) = someone who is fighting against the government in their own country (*)) (My comment on a Dutch (related to the Netherlands) cyberfriend (1 word) on the internet)).

There are doubts about the new drug's effectiveness (= how successful it is) in treating the disease (**).

‘Why did the British insist on the decision of Brexit?’

‘How did the baby die? Did he (referring to a boy) have (not ‘did he had,’ a common typo/ mistake) a congenital ((= especially of a disease or physical abnormality) present from birth; pronounced kənˈdʒen.ɪ.t(ə)l) disease?’

Side effects vs. Adverse events.

It is a common misconception that adverse events and side effects mean the same.

Adverse events = unintended (= not planned or meant) pharmacologic effects that occur when a medication is administered correctly

Side effect = a secondary unwanted effect that occurs due to drug therapy.

Yours sincerely vs. Yours faithfully

‘Yours sincerely’ and ‘Yours faithfully’ are used at the end (not ‘in the end’) of a letter or email as a greeting. They are both formal. ‘Yours sincerely’ is used when we KNOW the person we are addressing, e.g., starting our letter with ‘Dear Mr. Smith’ because we know Mr. Smith. 

‘Yours faithfully’ is used when we start our letter with ‘Dear Sir/Madam’ (or ‘Dear Sir or Madam’) or similar construction when we do NOT know the person’s name. 

So:

a) When we KNOW the person's name

Dear Mr. Smith

........................(content)

Yours sincerely 

(your name)

 b) When we do NOT know the person’s name

Dear Sir/Madam (or ‘Dear Sir or Madam’)

.........................(content)

Yours faithfully

(your name)

On the list vs. In the list

‘List’ usually goes with ‘on.’ Examples:

‘Is your name on the list?’ (**)

The actor is on the list for the Academy Awards.

He checked off their names on the list as they got on the coach (= a bus in British English; pronounced kəʊtʃ) (**).

New office furniture is not high on our list of priorities (**).

Sometimes, ’list’ goes with ‘in,’ especially with ‘include.’ Examples:

‘I was included in the guest list.’

Both publishers and writers are included in the list.

For inclusion in the list, all information needs to be submitted by May 9^th.

 

Familiar to vs. Familiar with

Familiar (to) = well known from a long or close association, e.g., ''Their faces will be familiar to many of you.'' // e.g., Her distinctive voice has long been familiar to Chinese audiences.

Familiar with = having a good knowledge of, e.g., ''Ensure that you are familiar with the heating controls.'' // e.g., ''We are really concentrating on him playing the new stuff that he is not as familiar with.'' /// Informal or intimate to an inappropriate degree, e.g., He was being overly familiar with Ann. 

Tie vs. Draw vs. Stalemate

 ‘Tie’ and ‘draw’ are synonyms. They are both used as verbs and nouns.

Tie = (irregular verb) to finish at the same time or score the same number of points, etc. in a competition as someone or something else, e.g., We tied with a team from the north in the championships (*).

Draw = (irregular verb) (UK English) to finish a game with the same number of points as the other person or team, e.g., Manchester United drew 1-1 with Chelsea in the semifinal (*).

Stalemate (pronounced ˈsteɪl.meɪt)  = (noun) a situation in which neither group involved in an argument can win or get an advantage and no action can be taken ((*) for this definition), e.g., Darren Schofield was the player to break the stalemate eight minutes from the end./// (in chess) a position in which one player is unable to move, but their king is not being attacked, which means that neither of the two players wins ((*) for the second definition).

Tendency towards +ing vs. Tendency for somebody/ something to

Tendency towards +ing (gerund); e.g., ‘I have a tendency towards writing longer than I should!’

Tendency for somebody/ something to (full infinitive); e.g., For students, there is a tendency to socialize in the evenings (My comment: and a tendency to binge drinking (= heavy episodic drinking (*****) as well!).// e.g., In Europe, there is a tendency for unemployment to rise.

Disappointed. Often ‘disappointed’ is followed ‘by,’ e.g., He was disappointed by the treatment of asylum seekers in Britain.//// ‘Disappointed’ as an adjective may be followed by ‘with,’ e.g., ‘I am bitterly disappointed with our overall performance.’

‘We lost everything in the hurricane. We have nothing now’

The famous singer dies aged 88. (from the TV)

The German Chancellor is being tipped to win/ seeks a fourth term (to the Chancellery) (from the media). Note: Here, tip (UK English) means that someone is likely to be successful or achieve something, e.g. Jones is being tipped to win the championship.

The U.S. president urged fans to boycott ((pronounced ˈbɔɪ.kɒt) = to refuse to buy a product or take part in an activity as a way of expressing strong disapproval (*)) the NFL (National Football League) games (from the media)

An insight into the future.

Asylum (pronounced əˈsaɪ.ləm) seekers

The death toll in Mexico quake (= earthquake) climbs (pronounced klaɪms) above 300 (dead people) (from the media).

Travelers flee Bali volcano after the eruption (= when a volcano erupts, it explodes, and flames and rocks come out of it (*)) warning (from the media)

A breach (1) of international law. (1) Breach = breaking or failing to observe a law, agreement, or code of conduct; not ‘breech’ that means a position during a baby’s delivery where feet come first!) 

‘We are lagging (behind) the issue, but the government has pledged (pledge = to make a serious or formal promise to give or do something) to improve the law.’

She lives in a caravan (trailer in North American English)

Many Poles (1) (not ‘polls’!) who are against the recent constitutional reforms protested in Warsaw (from the media). (1) Pole = a native or inhabitant of Poland or a person of Polish descent. Polish (adjective) is someone or something from Poland or, as a noun, refers to the language of Poland.

‘I heard an explosion, and my bed started to quiver’ (pronounced ˈkwɪv.ə(r)) = to shake slightly; as a noun, it also means a long, thin container for carrying arrows - See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quiver#/media/File:Wenceslas_Hollar_-_Quivers_and_hunting_horns.jpg

In 2018 (date) (pronounced: twenty-eighteen – the traditional way to say it is: ‘two thousand eighteen’)

‘I will speak to you in a moment!’

A team of young delegate (= a person sent or authorized to represent others, particularly an elected representative sent to a conference// a committee member) lawyers.

The referendum in Catalonia was illegitimate ((pronounced ˌɪl.ɪˈdʒɪt.ə.mət) = not authorized by the law; not in accordance with accepted standards or rules); it was not in conformity with the law (from the media)

The U.S. agreed on humanitarian aid to the hurricane struck Puerto Rico (not ‘Ricko’) as the hurricane destroyed the infrastructure, especially the old national power (or electrical) grid (= a system of wires for supplying electricity across a large region, country, etc.; pronounced ɡrɪd), as many (electricity) poles (pole = a long, slender, rounded piece of wood or metal, typically used with one end placed in the ground as a support for something;  not ‘polls’ that are related to elections!) were ruined. Many actors on their social media urged people to donate emergency aid to the country (from the media) 

The French president lays out/outlines his vision for the European Union (EU) (from the media). 

He is a professor at Oxford University/ at the University of Oxford 

Defence (UK English) and Defense (US English) e.g., Secretary of Defense.

All things considered, (not ‘all considered’) (as an ''overall,'' or ''conclusion'').

There are plenty of laborers to cover industry and plants and the textile (= of or relating to fabric or weaving; pronounced ˈtek.staɪl) industry.

All over the world

Gene therapy for thalassemia is now used on humans (from the media).

The South Sandwich Islands are the most pristine (= in its original condition; unspoiled; pronounced ˈprɪstiːn) environment on the planet

He was stripped out to the torso (= the trunk of the human body) to show his tattoos.

‘We should punish the culprits (culprit = a person responsible for a crime or other misdeed; pronounced ˈkʌl.prɪt), not the victims.’

The economic forecast for the German GDP (Gross Domestic Product) is optimistic. The budget surplus (excess) is predicted to be 44b (billion) Euros (from the media). (My comment: with the German Deutsche Bank exposed to toxic bonds, the fiscal (= of or relating to government revenue (1)) future of Germany is threatened) (1) Revenue = the income a business or government receives regularly or an amount representing such income (*).

China defies (= refuses to obey) the electric car quota (= a fixed, limited amount officially allowed) (from the media).

The contentious (= that causes or is likely to cause disagreement; pronounced kənˈten.ʃəs) referendum of the Kurds for independence was declared invalid by the Iranian government (from the media).

Has/have been/gone to = I have gone somewhere, and I have returned, i.e., I have visited a place, e.g., Anna has been to the bank twice today.// e.g., Jamie has gone to Naples.

Has/have been in/at e.g., Nick has been in Spain for two weeks (he is in Spain 2 weeks now).

Visiting hours (for the public) = when a building/ service is open to the public.

My home phone is...

‘I know her phone by heart’ (i.e., I remember it).

Market traders are optimistic as the country overcame the recent economic (not ‘economical’ that means not using a lot of fuel, money, etc.) crisis.

The Catalonia government is crumbling (= breaking to pieces; here used metaphorically) after the referendum. The markets (meaning the ‘stock market’) there sag (= drop down to a lower level in the middle (^^) (1)). Thousands of people in Madrid vehemently (pronounced viː.ə.ɪməntli; = strongly and emotionally (^^)) protested against the secession (pronounced sɪˈseʃ·ən; = to become independent by leaving an organization or government) of Catalonia (from the media). (1) My comment: I am sure you all know the style of ‘sagging pants’ or ‘sagging dance!’

After the accident, he is recuperating (= recovering) at home

The two (women) suspects plead ‘not guilty’ (in court, we don’t plead ‘innocent,’ but ‘guilty’ or ‘not guilty’ of a crime) of the murder of the half-brother of the leader of North Korea (from the media). /// Note: half-brother = a son of only one of his parents./// Stepbrother = the son of a person that one of someone’s parents has married (^^)).

Many passengers were left stranded (= unable to leave somewhere because of a problem such as not having any transport or money (^^)) after the airlines ceased flying.

The mechanism of circadian (pronounced sɜːˈkeɪ.di.ən) ‘time clock’ was initially investigated in drosophila (fruit flies) and later was found the same in humans (from the media). (1) Circadian rhythm = a natural, internal process that regulates the sleep-wake cycle and repeats roughly every 24 hours (*****).

''The internet distracts me from my studies.''// The internet is very distracting (as an adjective) (not ‘destractive’ as this word does not exist – may be confused with the word ‘destructive!’)

The word ‘band’ is countable and goes with a singular or plural verb, e.g., A Jazz/ rock band.// e.g., The Beetles were probably the most famous band in the world (^^).

Temperate (= of, relating to, or denoting a region or climate characterized by mild temperatures) climate

The vast majority vs. the small minority (e.g., of the population)

Lamb (pronounced læm; = a young sheep or its meat) (vs.) Lamp (a pronounced læmp; = device for giving light (*))

‘I live on the city's outskirts, surrounded by trees and greenery.’

In the essay, linking words should be used, e.g., in addition (to), in contrast (to), therefore, while/ whilst/ whereas, conversely, contrary (to), in spite of, despite (not ‘despite of’), etc.

Usually: Article + adjective + noun, e.g. ‘Eating an unhealthy diet is quite common today.’

An adverb (usually) goes after a verb, e.g., In some people, a ‘fat law’ may act even in the opposite way, as they may react with stubbornness eating even more unhealthily (not ‘unhealthy’).

Be up to something = (phrase) to be doing something, often bad or illegal, usually secretly, e.g., ‘He looks very suspicious hanging around by the bins – I’m sure he is up to something!’ (^^).

Things are made worse (not ‘things are come worse’) when someone seeks a partner via social media, as not only does he or she (or ‘he/she’ or ‘they’) have the chance to live communication but also risks a meeting with an unknown person.

Communicating through the internet is frittering (fritter = waste time, money, or energy on trifling (1) matters) our time away (not ‘time-frittering’), as this communication is in front of a screen (not ‘a device’s screen’), rather than live and direct. (1) Trifle = unimportant or trivial; pronounced ˈtraɪ.f(^ə)l. 

The internet has changed communication, as it has made it feasible (not ‘has rendered it feasible’) to chat with people from the four corners of the world.

From/to my perspective, I believe a ‘fat tax’ should exist and be implemented in consumable goods.

Everything taken into account/ consideration (or ‘Taking everything into account/ consideration’), an unhealthy diet has negative consequences (not ‘consequence’) to society (not ‘the society, as we are generally speaking). In my opinion (not ‘To my opinion’, but we say, ‘To my mind’), the benefits from this tax outweigh (not ‘outweight’) the claims that it is unfair and unnecessary.

Donald Trump in 2016 used a derogatory (= showing disapproval or no respect (^^)) rhetoric in order to come to power.

Headphones with the use of a special app can offer an immediate translation of foreign languages.

A free-for-all battle. See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5VF9crZoSQ  and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79btURpGA8c

A balance between work and personal life

In this day and age (= at the present time; in the modern era, e.g., ‘You can't be too careful in this day and age’), at present; nowadays, currently.

News bulletin (pronounced ˈbʊlɪtɪn) = a short radio or television broadcast of news reports.

The president/ king was overthrown (overthrow = remove forcibly from power) (not ‘overthrowned’)

(on a dinner invitation card) You are cordially (= warmly, heartily) invited to dinner

They all are in the room except for the cook 

The bomb will go off in 10 min

After 20 years working in the coal mine, he eventually retired.// He has worked in the mining industry for (has/had + for/ since) 20 years

In October 2018./// On October 2, 2018

Slanderous (= (of a spoken statement) false and malicious (= characterized by malice (1)) accusations based on suspicions. (1) Malice (pronounced ˈmæl.ɪs); intending or intended to do harm; pronounced məˈlɪʃ.əs.

They barely (= only just; almost not, pronounced ˈbɛːli) pay their taxes.

A Russian cosmonaut (pronounced ˈkɒz.mə.nɔːt).

Sunni Islam and Shia Islam are the two major denominations (denomination = a religious group that has slightly different beliefs from other groups that share the same religion (*)) of Islam.

An increase in the risk of sexual violence

Solar (= of, relating to, or determined by the sun) wind can disrupt communications here on Earth

A sanctuary (= a nature reserve (= a place set aside for special use, in particular)) for plants and birds.// A conservation (1) group trains local farmers.// Wild animals are kept in a sanctuary (= a place where birds or animals can live and be protected, especially from being hunted or dangerous conditions (*)). (1) Conservationist = someone who works to protect the environment from the damaging effects of human activity (*).

‘Open the window to clean the stale (= no longer new or fresh, usually because of being kept for too long (*)) air!’

He is a care worker (= a person employed to support and supervise vulnerable, infirm, or disadvantaged people or those under the state's care) at a care home (= a small institution providing accommodation and care for people who cannot look after themselves).

Turkey rallies/ hikes (hike = increase something, especially a price, sharply) tariffs (tariff= a tax or duty to be paid on a particular class of imports or exports; pronounced ˈtær.ɪf in British English and ˈter.ɪf in American English) on U.S. imports as spat (= a quarrel about an unimportant (trivial) matter) escalates (from the media)

India plans to send a manned flight to space by 2022 (from the media) (My politically incorrect comment: meantime, the population in India starves!)

Refugee (pronounced ˌref.juˈdʒiː) ship allowed to dock (= (as a verb) (of a ship) tie up at a dock, especially to load or unload passengers or cargo) in Malta. The stranded (helpless; left without the means to move from somewhere) ship wandered for days in the Mediterranean Sea (from the media)

World robot conference kicks off (= begin or cause something to begin (colloquial)) in China (from the media)

The U.S. tariffs (tariff= a tax or duty to be paid on a particular class of imports or exports; pronounced ˈtær.ɪf in British English and ˈter.ɪf in American English) against China intend to hamper (= hinder or impede the movement or progress of) China’s tech (technology) ambition (from the media).

The death toll rises to 43 people at Genoa (a city in Italy) highway bridge collapse. The remaining (not ‘’remaining of,’’ as we say ‘the rest of’) bridge will be demolished./// Italy launches a probe (probe = enquire closely into someone or something) into the Genoa deadly bridge collapse when the pillars (1) lost their mechanical endurance. The state decided to allocate (= distribute resources or duties for a particular purpose) funds to infrastructure maintenance (pronounced ˈmeɪn.t(^ə)n.əns) to safer constructions. (from the media).  (My politically incorrect comment: safety concerns always come after an accident, rarely before!) (1) Pillar = a tall vertical structure of stone, wood, or metal used as a support for a building or as an ornament or monument. See https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5b/MosqueeKairouan_6bis.jpg and https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/68/Bridge_to_Pier_6%2C_Gatwick_North_Terminal_-_geograph.org.uk_-_74055.jpg

In Pennsylvania, the Church covered up the predator priests at all costs. According to the attorney general (= the head of the US Department of Justice concerned with all legal affairs and is the chief lawyer of the United States government (*****)), about 1,000 children were molested (molest = to touch or attack someone in a sexual way against their wishes (*))! The diocese (= a district under the pastoral care of a bishop in the Christian Church; pronounced ˈdaɪ.ə.sɪs) apologized for the abuse (from the media).

The Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, dies/ passes away (not ‘pass out’ as this means faint!) aged 76. In the last few years, she was receiving hospice (= a home providing care for the sick, especially the terminally ill) care for terminal pancreatic cancer in Detroit. Relatives and friends were at (not ‘were by’) her side. She gained immensely (= to a great extent; extremely; pronounced ɪˈmens.li) respect, and her career spanned (span = extend across a period of time or a range of subjects) seven decades (from the media).

Tesla (= an American multinational corporation based in Palo Alto, California, that specializes in electric vehicles, lithium-ion battery energy storage, and solar panel manufacturing (*****)) is probed (probe = enquire into someone or something closely) by regulators over the privatization plan. (from the media)

A nationwide (1 word) campaign for a free press in the US (from the media)

Plastic straws in Japan are banned from Skylark (a company; also, a common Eurasian and North African lark (bird) of farmland and open country, noted for its prolonged song during hovering flight). In many countries, they use paper straws that are recyclable/ biodegradable. But many recommend/ advise against their use because these straws are made from paper, and most recyclers will not accept food-contaminated paper products! (from the media)

Greece (also known as Hellas, especially in sports; the adjective is ‘Hellenic’) completed the bailout (= an act of giving financial assistance to a failing business or economy to save it from collapse)/ austerity program/ memorandum. However, over-taxation (1 word), bureaucracy and the brain drain (= the emigration of highly trained or intelligent people from a particular country) still hamper (= hinder or impede the movement or progress of) the growth of the Greek economy (from the media)

The U.S. and China rivalry as world superpowers (1 word) (from the media)

Thirty percent (American English; ‘per cent’ in British English) of aid workers have/ suffer from post-traumatic (pronounced trɔˈmæt̬·ɪk) stress disease (PTSD) (from the media).

This was the style of their conversation as they went along

In the second case, it is a question of whether…

Computers in the library/ train tickets can be booked in advance (= ahead in time)

‘Do you want a one-way ticket or a round trip?’ (round trip = a journey to one or more places and back again). 

‘I have completed basic compulsory education/ secondary education/ first degree/ postgraduate degree’

‘Please complete/ fill in the questionnaire in full’

‘In my living room, I have a widescreen flat panel TV/ a smart TV with DVD facility’

Refrain (from) = Stop oneself from doing something; e.g., He refrained from comment.// e.g., Refraining from food and drink from dawn to dusk (= the time before the night when it is not yet dark (*)) is not easy!

Collision/ conflict of interest

He is pulling the strings (he controls everything like puppets moved by strings)

Sturdy (pronounced ˈstɜː.di) = (adjective) physically strong and solid or thick, and therefore unlikely to break or be hurt, e.g., Sturdy walking boots.// A sturdy table.// e.g., Sturdy little legs (**).

The US. plans to bolster (= support or strengthen) its forces in Saudi Arabia and for this reason, it deploys troops in the region (from the media).

They live in a Greek refugee camp in abject ((pronounced ˈæb.dʒekt) = the state of being extremely unhappy, poor, unsuccessful, etc.) conditions.// They live in abject poverty ((**) for the 2^nd example).  

It was a persuasive (= good at persuading someone to do or believe something through reasoning or the use of temptation) speech (**).

Both sides involved in the conflict made some concessions (concession = something that is allowed or given up, often to end a disagreement or the act of allowing or giving this) in yesterday’s peace talks (*).

The U.S. government has reiterated (reiterate = to say something again, once or several times) its refusal to compromise with the Taliban (*).

The police shot him in the leg (from the media).

Marvel Comics Legend Stan Lee Dies at 95 (from the media).

A deadly California fire leaves more than 44 dead and 200 people unaccounted for (from the media).

A cholera outbreak sweeps over/ through Yemen (from the media).

A whistleblower (= a person who exposes any kind of information or activity that is deemed illegal, unethical, or not correct within an organization that is either private or public (*****) released the transcript of the President’s phone call (from the media).

The economic outlook (= the likely future situation) is good./// She has a positive outlook (= a person’s general attitude or way of thinking about something) on life (*).

He bragged (brag = to speak too proudly about what you have done or what you own) about getting the case/ allegations dropped.

To put it kindly/ To put it politely,….

He is a ruthless (= having or showing no pity or compassion for others) businessman.

In this case, we need to assume more responsibility (= take or begin to have power or responsibility).

The negative impact of technology on jobs/ on unemployment

The issue has been settled - it is no longer in contention (= the disagreement that results from opposing arguments) (*).

The world leaders convene (= to bring together a group of people for a meeting, or to meet for a meeting (*)) at the UN (United Nations) climate summit (from the media).

Shah (pronounced ʃɑː ) = (noun) a title of the former monarch of Iran.

Sanitary towel (in British and North American English = sanitary napkin; in Australian English: sanitary pad) = an absorbent pad worn by women to absorb menstrual blood.

‘I would like to make a reservation for a table for 3 people for 10 pm.’

‘Succeeding in the workplace (‘succeed in’)// at work (we have at + work, although succeed goes with 'in')

Dessert (dish) (vs) Desert (a dry, barren area of land, especially one covered with sand, that is characteristically desolate, waterless, and without vegetation)

'I need to write fewer words in my essay and make fewer mistakes' (''word'' and ''mistake'' are countable nouns, so we use ‘fewer,’ not ‘less’). 

The Europeans facilitate and monopolize the precious metal market (from the media).

‘Are there outside factors (other than genetic) to be considered/ involved?’

‘By no means’ (or ‘Not by any means’) = not at all, e.g., ''It is by no means certain that we'll finish the project by May.'' // e.g., ''This isn’t the last we’ll hear of it by any means.'' /// Not in any way, e.g., It is by no means clear what the president can do to end the strike (*).

To begin with...

Participate in a play = acting at a theatrical play (theatre is ''theater'' in North American English)).

‘People with obesity (pronounced əʊˈbiː.sə.ti) often have low self-esteem.’ They have ravenous (= extremely hungry; pronounced ˈræv.ən.əs (*)) appetites.

An animal (not ‘the animal’ or 'Animal' without the 'an' article) living near the Arctic has special adaptations to the cold environment.

‘The information (not ‘an information’ or 'information' without the 'an' article) in this text will help you pass the IELTS exams!’

At the weekend (but it may be ‘on the weekend’ in North American English) (My comment: I recommend using only the form ‘at the weekend’ in the IELTS exams that are British-oriented!)

A pair of slippers

Take a vacation/ Go on vacation/ Get a vacation (e.g. ‘I’ve still got some vacation left before the end of the year’ (^^).

We spend money on something, e.g., Households, irrespective of their income, spend most of their budget on housing (not ‘to housing’) and the least on education (not ‘to education’). 

The leader will be buried in his home village// is set to get a private burial in his home village.//// We went back to Ireland for my uncle's burial (pronounced ˈber.i.əl) ((**) for the last example).

The political repression (= the action of subduing (1) someone or something by force) in this country is enforced by terror ((**). (1) Subdue = overcome, quieten, or bring under control a feeling or person, e.g., The fire burned for eight hours before the fire crews could subdue it.// e.g., He criticized the school for trying to subdue individual expression ((**) for the examples).

The Secretary of State was subpoenaed (subpoena = to order someone to go to a law court to answer questions; pronounced səˈpiː.nə) by the House of Democrats. The damning (= (of a circumstance or piece of evidence) strongly suggesting guilt or error) events led to the President’s impeachment (= (in the U.S.) charge of misconduct made against the holder of a public office). However, the President denied his complicity (= the state of being involved with others in illegal activity or wrongdoing) for the alleged extortion (= the practice of obtaining something, especially money, through force or threats) (from the media).

By shutting down the Parliament, the British Prime Minister dodged (dodge = avoid someone or something by a sudden quick movement) the vote of confidence (= a vote showing that a majority continues to support the policy of a leader or governing body). However, the Parliament’s stalemate (= a situation in which further action or progress by opposing or competing parties seems impossible (as in chess); pronounced ˈsteɪlmeɪt) ended by court order, and eventually yesterday, the Parliament resumed (resume = begin to do or pursue something again after a pause or interruption; pronounced  rɪˈzjuːm) (from the media)

Amazon’s (river) tributaries (tributary = a river or stream flowing into a larger river or lake; pronounced ˈtrɪb.jə.t(ə)r.i) have been destroyed from deforestation (= the cutting down of trees in a large area or the destruction of forests by people (*)).

It was illegitimate (= not authorized by the law; not in accordance with accepted standards or rules) to shut down communications in Kashmir (from the media).

In WW2 (the 2^nd world war), he was a resistant (= in the resistance). He was arrested by the Nazis and transferred to the Auschwitz camp.

A gang (= here means a group of people, especially young people, who regularly associate together) of youths were loitering (loiter = to move slowly around or stand in a public place without an obvious reason) outside the cinema.

The bridge spans over the river.

It is a hectic/ frantic (= full of activity or very busy and fast) airport/ business schedule.

Unrest (= a state of dissatisfaction, disturbance, and agitation in a group of people, typically involving public demonstrations or disorder) in Indonesia: days of violent street protests (from the media).

Pro-democracy (fighting for more democracy) protesters on the streets of Hong Kong clash with the police and Beijing (supporting China’s interests) supporters (from the media).

This 11-year-old child is a skateboard prodigy (= someone with a very great ability that usually shows itself when that person is a young child (*)) and will participate in an international event along with adults (as there is no age limit in this ‘event’).

Öland is an island without protective dikes (1), so it is susceptible ((pronounced səˈsep.tə.b(ə)l) = easily influenced or harmed by something (*); vulnerable)) to floods (from the media). (1) Dike = a long wall or embankment built to prevent flooding from the sea. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:River_Levee_Cross_Section_Figure.svg and https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f6/Versterkt_talud._Locatie._Haven_van_Laaxum_002.JPG

Hong Kong police fire (not fires, as police is a plural noun) volleys (= many bullets or arrows fired at the same time (*)) of tear gas on protesters (from the media).

China strives (strive = make great efforts to achieve or obtain something) for the unification of Taiwan (from the media). (My comment: It refers to the reunification with Taiwan through force, but I do not think Taiwan agrees with it! China annexed (annex = to take possession of an area of land or a country, usually by force or without permission (*)) Taiwan at the end of WW2)

After the scandal, the coach was stripped of accreditation (= the fact of being officially recognized, accepted, or approved of, or the act of officially recognizing, accepting, or approving of something (*).

Dutch (related to the Netherlands) tractor (= a powerful motor vehicle with large rear wheels, used chiefly on farms for hauling equipment and trailer) (here it means the tractor owners) protest sparks (from the media).

Torrential rains (= raining extremely hard) are expected in Italy. The UK will face a weekend washout as heavy showers (shower = a brief and usually light fall of rain, hail, sleet, or snow), coastal gales (gale = very strong wind, pronounced ɡeɪl), and strengthening winds will hit the country (from the weather broadcast).

Laws imposing longer-lasting (domestic) appliances (= a large piece of electrical equipment used in the home, especially in the kitchen (*)) are beneficial to the environment (from the media).

A criminal investigation is underway into a spying altercation (= a noisy argument or disagreement, especially in public) in Credit Suisse (not Credit Swiss) (bank) (from the media).// According to witnesses, the altercation between the two men started inside the restaurant.// He got into an altercation with his partner ((**) for the last 2 examples).

5G (new generation cellular network technology) may be vulnerable to cyberattacks from hackers from Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran (from the media)

Iconic/ picturesque glaciers (glacier = a slowly moving mass or river of ice formed by the accumulation and compaction of snow on mountains or near the poles) in Iceland are predicted/ expected to be gone (to disappear/ extinct) in 200 years (from the media).

The Hong Kong protesters blocking the entrance to the offices remained defiant (= proudly refusing to obey authority; pronounced dɪˈfaɪ.ənt) (from the media)./// A defiant attitude/gesture (*).

Small businesses have been exempted (exempt = to excuse someone or something from a duty, payment, etc.; pronounced ɪɡˈzempt) from the tax increase./// Lawyers would be exempt (= with special permission not to do or pay something) from reporting information learned through confidential communication with clients (*).

It’s normal to feel a little apprehension (= worry about the future or a fear that something unpleasant will happen) before starting a new job./// There is some apprehension in the office about who the new managing director will be (*)./// He felt apprehension that he will soon be apprehended (apprehend = to catch and arrest someone who has not obeyed the law (*)) (My example in which I show the 2 different meanings of the word).// Though we need not see as she does to appreciate her stories, understanding the vision that informs them is essential to apprehending (apprehend = understand or perceive) their deeper meanings.

Subversive (= trying to destroy or damage something, especially an established political system) elements/groups in society/ideas/influences (*).

The UN (United Nations) Joint Global Program provides essential services for women and girls subject to violence/ provides women and girls subject to violence with essential services (from the media/ web).

These Hong Kong airlines are subsidiaries (subsidiary = a company that is owned by a larger company; pronounced səbˈsɪd.i.ə.ri (*)) of China (not China’s) airlines.

The British Prime Minister outlined his final proposals to the EU (European Union) (from the media).

‘So far (= until now), I've made $25,000’ (*)./// Diplomatic activity so far (= (of a trend that seems likely to continue) up to this time) has failed (*)./// In Egypt's classrooms, lessons go only so far (= to a certain limited extent) as parents spend $2.5 billion annually to illegally hire private teachers.

To (the best of) my knowledge,

Kosovo (an autonomous area in the Balkans, formerly a part of Yugoslavia) takes in Islamic State returnees (from the Syrian conflict). Although the Kosovars (or Kosovans; citizens of Kosovo) agree with this, some speak about repatriation (= the act of sending or bringing someone, or sometimes money or other property, back to the country that he, she, or it came from (*)) of terrorists in Europe! (from the media)

During a secret speech in February 1956, he condemned the policies of the hitherto (= until now or until the point in time under discussion; pronounced ˌhɪð.əˈtuː in British English and ˌhɪð.ɚˈtuː in North American English) much-admired Stalin and accused him of hideous (= ugly or disgusting to look at; pronounced ˈhɪd.i.əs) crimes./// She wears the most hideous color combinations you could ever imagine ((**) for the 2^nd example).

‘I wouldn’t demean (= to cause to become less respected; pronounced dɪˈmiːn) myself by asking my father for money.’ /// ‘The entire family was demeaned by his behavior.’ /// My boss has a calm, reassuring demeanor (= a way of looking and behaving; pronounced dɪˈmi·nər) (*).

2006 (date) is called two thousand six, but it may also be called twenty-six!

The minister dodged (dodge = to avoid something unpleasant) questions about his relationship with the actress./// They bought another car as a tax dodge (= a clever, dishonest way of avoiding something; here: as a way to avoid paying tax) (*)./// He dodges (dodge = avoid someone or something by a sudden quick movement) the thief who tries to stab him with a knife.

High blood pressure is an insidious (= (of something unpleasant or dangerous) gradually and secretly causing harm; pronounced ɪnˈsɪd.i.əs) condition which has few symptoms./// ‘

You have to be devious (= people or plans and methods that are dishonest, often in a complicated way, but often also clever and successful; pronounced ˈdiː.vi.əs) if you're going to succeed in business.’ 

She described the new criminal bill (= a draft of a proposed law presented to parliament for discussion) as a perfidious (= unable to be trusted, or showing no loyalty; pronounced pəˈfɪd.i.əs) attack on democracy (*)./// He is indifferent, negligent, unfeeling, untrustworthy, and perfidious (= deceitful (1) and untrustworthy). (1) deceitful = guilty of or involving deceit; deceiving or misleading others

The computer giant HP slashes (slash = reduce (a price, quantity, etc.) greatly) 9,000 jobs/  it will cut up to  9,000 jobs or 16 percent of its workforce./// Extreme weather slashes onion supplies in India, where onion prices soar (= increase rapidly above the usual level). It should be mentioned that in India, onions are an important staple (= a main or important element of something (here in nutrition)) (from the media)./// She tried to commit suicide by slashing (slash = to cut with a sharp blade using a quick, strong movement) her wrists ((**) for this example).

Students in Hong Kong were resolute (= admirably purposeful, determined, and unwavering (1)(*); pronounced ˈrɛzəluːt) in their fight to uphold liberal values. The local government passed a law that deems (deem = regard or consider in a specified way) it would stop appalling (= awful; terrible) violence (from the media). (1) unwavering = never moving or looking away from something 

In the Greek disorganized overcrowded refugee camp in Moria, nerves fray (= (of a person's nerves or temper) show the effects of strain), and tempers rise (from the media). 

In Germany, anthropologists exhumed (exhume = to remove a dead body from the ground after it has been buried; pronounced eksˈhjuːm: (*)) the remains (a person’s remains are that person’s dead body (*)) of WW2 German soldiers. The recovered remains were formally buried with dignity (from the media). (My comment: the did so, although the Nazis were responsible for the bloodshed of Europe ( (‘bloodshed’ is only a noun; it has not a verb form, so we do not say ‘who bloodshed Europe’)).

You gain nothing (not anything) by belittling (belittle = to make an action or a person seem unimportant; pronounced bɪˈlɪt.(ə)l) her and creating bad feelings./// Though he had spent 2 hours fixing her computer, she belittled his efforts (*).

There is some industry on the city's fringes (fringe = the outer or less important part of an area, group, or activity; pronounced frɪndʒ)./// His organization is a fringe group (= one that represents the views of a small number of people)./// (Fringe is also a decorative edge of narrow strips of material or threads on clothing or material. See https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/ba/VtSenateFringe.JPG  and https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/92/Soft_moccasin.jpg  ///  It is also an area of hair hanging over the forehead (= part of the face above the eyes) that is cut shorter than the rest of the hair. Also known in the US. as bangs. See https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/58/Bangs.jpg (*)

We could see seals on the rocks, basking (bask = to lie or sit enjoying the warmth, especially of the sun) in the sun.// On top of the wall, a cat basked happily in the sun (*).// ‘Seconds later and I was basking (bask = revel (= enjoy oneself in a lively and noisy way, especially with drinking and dancing) in and make the most of something pleasing) in the drug-induced glow of pure joy.’.// He went on basking in the glory of his first book.

‘Hello there!’ (a common greeting)

An arms/weapons depot in Germany (*). depot = a place for the storage of large quantities of equipment, food, or goods/// a building where supplies or vehicles, especially buses, are kept; pronounced ˈdep.əʊ in British English and ˈdiː.poʊin North American English ((*) for the 2nd definition))

The demand for cardboard is on the rise (= becoming greater or more numerous; increasing).

The (weather) forecast was gusty (with sudden, strong winds; pronounced ˈɡʌs.ti (*)) winds and rains in Sydney and a spell (= a short period) of heavy rains in Melbourne.

Despite the pouring (pour = (of rain) fall heavily; pronounced pɔː) rain, protests continued in Hong Kong. The (riot) police used tear gases and rubber bullets against the protesters (from the media).

The controversy (= prolonged public disagreement or heated discussion; pronounced ˈkɒn.trə.vɜː.si; but it may also be kənˈtrɒvəsi) surrounding/over the President’s conversation with the Ukrainian president (from the media).

GI (= a private (= the lowest rank in the army, below lance corporal or private first-class) soldier in the US army) Joe is a military science fiction action film series based on Hasbro’s G.I. Joe toy, comic, and media franchises (*****). 

The Pope disagrees with the suggestion of ordaining (ordain = make someone a priest or minister; confer holy orders on; pronounced ɔːˈdeɪn; it is only a verb, not a noun) gay priests. 

There are many priorities, but reducing the budget deficit is paramount/is of paramount (= more important than anything else) importance (*).

My grandfather used to reminisce (= to talk or write about past experiences that you remember with pleasure; pronounced ˌrem.ɪˈnɪs) about his years in the navy (*).// ''We reminisced about our summers abroad."

A fiery (= bright red, like fire; pronounced ˈfaɪə.ri) sky/sunset./// A fiery (= showing very strong feeling) debate/temperament/temper/speech/orator (= someone who is good at public speaking; pronounced ˈɒr.ə.tər) (*).

David pondered (ponder = think about something carefully, especially before making a decision or reaching a conclusion) for a while and brooded (brood = think deeply about something that makes one unhappy, angry, or worried (1))) over his coffee. (1) Brood also means a group of young birds all born simultaneously (*).// He sat back for a minute to ponder his next move in the game.// ‘I wish she wouldn't sit brooding in her room all day.’ // He brooded over the insult ((**) for the last 3 examples).

Fuel price hikes (hike = a sharp increase, especially in price) spark clashes around the Congress in Ecuador. The U.S. accused Venezuela’s president of being behind the protests (from the media). 

The IMF (International Monetary (= of or relating to money or currency) Fund) warns of asynchronized economic downturn/ slowdown in nearly 90 percent of the world! (from the media). 

Electrical carriages replace buggies (buggy = a small motor vehicle, typically with an open top; pronounced ˈbʌɡi (1) in Mumbai (from the media). (1) For buggy, See https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b5/Citro%C3%ABn_M%C3%A9hari_offen.jpg

The President said he prevented the U.S. ambassador to the European Union (EU) from testifying to congressional impeachment (= the act of making a formal statement that a public official might be guilty of a serious offense in connection with his or her job, especially in the US (*)) hearings, calling them a ''kangaroo court'' (= an unofficial court set up by a group of people, especially in prison, trade union, or other organization, to deal with a disagreement or with a member of the group who is considered to have broken the rules (*)). The Congress, however, announced that it will issue a subpoena (= a legal document ordering someone to appear in a law court; pronounced səˈpiː.nə(*)) for the witness to appear in court (from the media).

Hold/ arrange a press conference.