emblazon
verb [ T usually passive ]
UK/ɪmˈbleɪ.zən/ US/ɪmˈbleɪ.zən/
(also blazon)
to print or decorate something in a very noticeable way
If something is emblazoned with a design, words, or letters, they are clearly drawn, printed, or sewn on it.
landmine
noun [ C ]
UK/ˈlænd.maɪn/ US/ˈlænd.maɪn/
(also mine)
a bomb that is put on or under the ground and that explodes when a person steps on it or a vehicle drives over it
glee
noun [ U ]
UK/ɡliː/ US/ɡliː/
happiness, excitement, or pleasure
hitched
adjective
informal
UK/hɪtʃt/ US/hɪtʃt/
get hitched
to get married
If you hitch, hitch a lift, or hitch a ride, you hitchhike.
A hitch is a slight problem or difficulty which causes a short delay.
If you hitch something to something else, you hook it or fasten it there.
showdown
noun [ C ]
UK/ˈʃəʊ.daʊn/ US/ˈʃoʊ.daʊn/
an important argument that is intended to end a disagreement that has existed for a long time
gutted
英 [ˈɡʌtɪd]美 [ˈɡʌtɪd]
Your gut is part of your digestive system — it's where food goes after you eat it, to get broken down into nutrients and waste. The expression to "go with your gut" means to follow your instincts, how you feel in your belly.
Your gut is quite literally your intestines, although the word is frequently used for any part of your digestive system, especially your stomach. Eating too much ice cream can give you an ache in your gut. When gut is a verb, it means to clean the internal organs out of a fish or other animal you intend to eat, or to completely
empty a building. Colloquially, if you have guts, you're very brave.
radiator
noun [ C ]
UK/ˈreɪ.di.eɪ.tər/ US/ˈreɪ.di.eɪ.t̬ɚ/
a device, usually a container filled with water, that sends out heat, often as part of a heating or cooling system
subterranean
adjective
UK/ˌsʌb.tərˈeɪ.ni.ən/ US/ˌsʌb.təˈreɪ.ni.ən/
under the ground
bunker
noun [ C ]
UK/ˈbʌŋ.kər/ US/ˈbʌŋ.kɚ/
bunker noun [C] (SHELTER)
a shelter, usually underground, that has strong walls to protect the people inside it from bullets or bombs
booby trap
noun [ C ]
UK/ˈbuː.bi ˌtræp/ US/ˈbuː.bi ˌtræp/
something dangerous, especially a bomb, that is hidden inside somewhere that looks safe
A booby-trap is something such as a bomb which is hidden or disguised and which causes death or injury when it is touched.
If something is booby-trapped, a booby-trap is placed in it or on it.
lair
noun [ C usually singular ]
UK/leər/ US/ler/
a place where a wild animal lives, often underground and hidden, or a place where a person hides
A lair is a place where a wild animal lives, usually a place which is underground or well-hidden.
grenade
noun [ C ]
UK/ɡrəˈneɪd/ US/ɡrəˈneɪd/
a small bomb thrown by hand or shot from a gun
A grenade or a hand grenade is a small bomb that can be thrown by hand.
arsenal
noun [ C ]
UK/ˈɑː.sən.əl/ US/ˈɑːr.sən.əl/
a building where weapons and military equipment are stored
An arsenal is a large collection of weapons and military equipment held by a country, group, or person.
howitzer
noun [ C ]
UK/ˈhaʊ.ɪt.sər/ US/ˈhaʊ.ɪt.sɚ/
a large gun which fires shells (= very large bullets) high into the air so that they drop onto the place at which they are aimed
A howitzer is a large gun with a short barrel, which fires shells high up into the air so that they will drop down onto the target.
timber
noun
UK/ˈtɪm.bər/ US/ˈtɪm.bɚ/
C2 [ U ]
trees that are grown so that the wood from them can be used for building
The timbers of a ship or house are the large pieces of wood that have been used to build it.
gloomy
adjective
UK/ˈɡluː.mi/ US/ˈɡluː.mi/
gloomy adjective (WITHOUT HOPE)
unhappy and without hope
If a place is gloomy, it is almost dark so that you cannot see very well.
bleak
adjective
UK/bliːk/ US/bliːk/
C2
If a place is bleak, it is empty, and not welcoming or attractive.
autocracy
noun
politics specialized
UK/ɔːˈtɒk.rə.si/ US/ɑːˈtɑː.krə.si/
(also autarchy)
[ U ]
government by a single person or small group that has unlimited power or authority, or the power or authority of such a person or group
demeanour
noun [ U ]
uk formal (us demeanor)
UK/dɪˈmiː.nər/ US/dɪˈmiː.nɚ/
a way of looking and behaving
Your demeanor is the way you behave, which gives people an impression of your character and feelings.
exuberant
adjective
UK/ɪɡˈzjuː.bər.ənt/ US/ɪɡˈzuː.bɚ.ənt/
exuberant adjective (PEOPLE)
(especially of people and their behaviour) very energetic
If you are exuberant, you are full of energy, excitement, and cheerfulness.
reticence
英 [ˈretɪsns]美 [ˈretɪsns]
reticent
adjective
formal
UK/ˈret.ɪ.sənt/ US/ˈret̬.ə.sənt/
unwilling to speak about your thoughts or feelings
Someone who is reticent does not tell people about things.
dwindle
verb [ I ]
UK/ˈdwɪn.dəl/ US/ˈdwɪn.dəl/
to become smaller in size or amount, or fewer in number
growing less in size, intensity, or number until there is nothing or almost nothing left; diminishing or shrinking gradually
repressive
adjective
UK/rɪˈpres.ɪv/ US/rɪˈpres.ɪv/
controlling what people do, especially by using force
A repressive government is one that restricts people's freedom and controls them by using force.
fume
verb [ I ]
UK/fjuːm/ US/fjuːm/
to be very angry, sometimes without expressing it
Fumes are the unpleasant and often unhealthy smoke and gases that are produced by fires or by things such as chemicals, fuel, or cooking.
If you fume over something, you express annoyance and anger about it.
relish
verb [ T ]
formal
UK/ˈrel.ɪʃ/ US/ˈrel.ɪʃ/
C2
to like or enjoy something
clout
verb [ T ]
informal
UK/klaʊt/ US/klaʊt/
to hit someone or something with the hand or with a heavy object
A person or institution that has clout has influence and power.
weaken the United States' clout.
acquiesce
verb [ I ]
formal
UK/ˌæk.wiˈes/ US/ˌæk.wiˈes/
to accept or agree to something, often unwillingly
If you acquiesce in something, you agree to do what someone wants or to accept what they do even though you may not agree with it.
falter
verb [ I ]
UK/ˈfɒl.tər/ US/ˈfɑːl.tɚ/
falter verb [I] (STOP)
to lose strength or purpose and stop, or almost stop
A faltering attempt, effort, or movement is uncertain because the person doing it is nervous or weak, or does not really know what to do.
sporadic
adjective
UK/spəˈræd.ɪk/ US/spəˈræd.ɪk/
happening sometimes; not regular or continuous
Sporadic occurrences of something happen at irregular intervals.
brandish
verb [ T ]
UK/ˈbræn.dɪʃ/ US/ˈbræn.dɪʃ/
to wave something in the air in a threatening or excited way
If you brandish something, especially a weapon, you hold it in a threatening way.
spectre
noun
uk (us specter)
UK/ˈspek.tər/ US/ˈspek.tɚ/
the spectre of sth
the idea of something unpleasant that might happen in the future
A spectre is a ghost or spirit. If you see a spectre of the previous owners in your new house, get out quick! A spectre can also be a thought that haunts you.
duchy
noun [ C ]
UK/ˈdʌtʃ.i/ US/ˈdʌtʃ.i/
the area of land owned or ruled by a duke or duchess
out of thin air
from nothing
I can't come up with €10,000 out of thin air.
well trodden
adjective
UK/ˌwel ˈtrɒd.ən/ US/ˌwel ˈtrɑː.dən/
much used or visited
You can use well-trodden, especially in expressions such as a well-trodden path and well-trodden ground, to indicate that a plan or course of action has been tried by a lot of people and so the result of it is easy to predict.
refurbishment
noun [ C or U ]
UK/ˌriːˈfɜː.bɪʃmənt/ US/-ˈfɝː-/
work such as painting, repairing, and cleaning that is done to make a building look new again
human trafficking
noun [ U ]
(also mainly uk people trafficking)
the crime of buying and selling people, or making money from work they are forced to do, such as sex work
stash
verb [ T ]
informal
UK/stæʃ/ US/stæʃ/
to store or hide something, especially a large amount
If you stash something valuable in a secret place, you store it there to keep it safe.
ramp sth up
— phrasal verb with ramp verb
UK/ræmp/ US/ræmp/
If a business ramps up its activity, it increases it.
dismantle
verb
UK/dɪˈsmæn.təl/ US/dɪˈsmæn.t̬əl/
[ I or T ]
to take a machine apart or to come apart into separate pieces
If you dismantle a machine or structure, you carefully separate it into its different parts.
