Preparing usage notes, please check back later
against all odds
US
UK
- Phrase
- Despite having very little chance of succeeding.
A2Moreas one
US
UK
- Adverb
- Acting or moving together at the same time.
- In complete agreement or unity.
- Phrase
- With a single voice or opinion; unanimously.
- In perfect harmony or unison.
A1Moreathletic
US /æθˈlɛtɪk/
UK /æθˈletɪk/
- Adjective
- Fit and strong; physically capable
B1Moreathleticism
US /æθ'letɪsɪzəm/
UK /æθ'letɪsɪzəm/
- Uncountable Noun
- Degree of strength and physically capabilities
B2Moreauburn
US /ˈɔ:bərn/
UK /ˈɔ:bən/
- Noun
- Reddish-brown color
C1Morebeat out
US /bit aʊt/
UK /bi:t aut/
- Phrasal Verb
- To defeat someone in a competition or contest.
- To extinguish a fire by striking it repeatedly.
A1Moreblock
US /blɑk/
UK /blɒk/
- Noun (Countable/Uncountable)
- Solid piece of material used for building
- A piece of wood, chocolate etc.
- Transitive Verb
- To stop from going forward or making progress
- To obstruct or prevent the movement or passage of.
A2Morebolt
US /boʊlt/
UK /bəʊlt/
- Noun
- Line of electricity in the sky from lightning
- Piece of metal for joining two things together
- Transitive Verb
- To lock by putting a piece of metal across a door
B1TOEICMorebowl
US /bol/
UK /bəʊl/
- Noun (Countable/Uncountable)
- Part of an object that has a rounded, inward curve
- Round container used for holding rice, soup etc.
- Intransitive Verb
- To roll a ball in the sport of bowling
A2Morecanvas
US /ˈkænvəs/
UK /ˈkænvəs/
- Noun (Countable/Uncountable)
- Special cloth on which an artist paints a picture
- Thick, strong cloth used e.g. to make sails
- Verb (Transitive/Intransitive)
- To solicit votes or support from people.
B1Morecareer
US /kəˈrɪr/
UK /kə'rɪə(r)/
- Noun (Countable/Uncountable)
- Particular occupation in professional life
- The course of a person's life, especially in a particular pursuit or profession.
- Verb (Transitive/Intransitive)
- To move forward very fast and without control
- To advance or make progress rapidly
A2Morecatch up
US /kætʃ ʌp/
UK /kætʃ ʌp/
- Phrasal Verb
- To become equal with another person
- To inform others of the latest news
- Verb (Transitive/Intransitive)
- To do something that you have not been able to do recently.
- To meet someone you know in order to talk to them and find out what they have been doing.
A1Morecertain to
US
UK
- Adjective
- Sure to happen; inevitable.
championship
US /ˈtʃæmpiənˌʃɪp/
UK /ˈtʃæmpiənʃɪp/
- Noun (Countable/Uncountable)
- Sports competition to find the best player or team
B1Moreclose out
US /kloz aʊt/
UK /kləuz aut/
- Phrasal Verb
- To sell off or eliminate remaining items or inventory, often at discounted prices.
- To terminate or offset an existing financial position or trade.
A1Morecomeback
US /ˈkʌmˌbæk/
UK /ˈkʌmbæk/
- Noun
- A clever or witty retort or reply
- Return of a celebrity to their previous success
B2Morecoming to light
US
UK
- Intransitive Verb
- To become known or revealed.
A1Morecurse
US /kɚs/
UK /kɜ:s/
- Verb (Transitive/Intransitive)
- To use offensive language when angry; swear
- Noun
- Act to cause trouble to others
- A word or phrase used to express anger or annoyance.
B1Moredead and buried
US /dɛd ənd ˈbɛrid/
UK /ded ənd ˈberiəd/
- other
- Completely finished or no longer relevant.
C1Moredeal with
US /dil wɪð/
UK /di:l wið/
- Verb (Transitive/Intransitive)
- To buy or sell goods or services.
- Phrasal Verb
- To take action to solve a problem or manage a situation.
- To be about; concern.
A1Moredown the middle
US
UK
- Phrase
- In or along the center of something.
- (In baseball) directly over the center of home plate.
- Adjective
- Taking a neutral or moderate position; avoiding extremes.
entire
US /ɛnˈtaɪr/
UK /ɪn'taɪə(r)/
- Adjective
- Complete or full; with no part left out; whole
- Undivided; not shared or distributed.
A2TOEICMoreeventually
US /ɪˈvɛntʃuəli/
UK /ɪˈventʃuəli/
- Adverb
- After a long time; after many attempts; in the end
- At some later time; in the future
A2Moreexplain away
US /ɪksˈpleɪn əˈweɪ/
UK /iksˈpleɪn əˈweɪ/
- other
- To attempt to remove doubt or blame by explanation.
C1Morefeat
US /fit/
UK /fi:t/
- Noun (Countable/Uncountable)
- Impressive act showing courage or skill
- A remarkable or skillful act or accomplishment.
- Noun
- An archaic spelling of 'feet'.
B1Morefor all that
US
UK
- Phrase
- Despite that; even though.
A1Morefor the ages
US /fɚ ðə ˈeidʒəz/
UK /fə ðə ˈeidʒɪz/
- other
- Something memorable and worthy of being remembered forever.
B2Moreframe
US /frem/
UK /freɪm/
- Transitive Verb
- To make a person that is not guilty appear guilty
- To put say or write something in a careful way
- Noun (Countable/Uncountable)
- Structure that holds a picture or photo
- A person's body shape determined by their skeleton
A2TOEICMorefury
US /ˈfjʊri/
UK /'fjʊərɪ/
- Uncountable Noun
- Rage; violent anger
B2Moregoat
US /goʊt/
UK /gəʊt/
- Countable Noun
- Small animal with beard and horns
B2Moreheading to
US
UK
- Phrasal Verb
- Going in a particular direction.
- Intransitive Verb
- Going in the direction of; on the way to.
- Moving towards a future state or condition.
A1Morehistory
US /ˈhɪstəri/
UK /'hɪstrɪ/
- Noun (Countable/Uncountable)
- Established pattern or record
- Study of past events as an academic subject
A2Morehuge
US /hjudʒ/
UK /hju:dʒ/
- Adjective
- Very very large
A2Moreimage
US /ˈɪmɪdʒ/
UK /'ɪmɪdʒ/
- Noun (Countable/Uncountable)
- Picture, sculpture or painting of something
- General idea or opinion of something
- Transitive Verb
- To obtain pictures by scanning them with a machine
- To create a visual representation of something.
A2TOEICMorein style
US
UK
- Adjective
- Fashionable; popular
B1Morein the face of
US //ɪn ðə feɪs ɑv//
UK
- Phrase
- When confronted with something difficult or challenging.
- Despite; in defiance of; when confronted with.
A1Morein the foothills
US /ɪn ðə ˈfʊthɪlz/
UK /in ðə ˈfʊthɪlz/
- other
- Located at the lower slopes of a mountain or hill range.
B1Morein the world
US /ɪn ði wɜrld/
UK /in ðə wɜː(r)ld/
- Phrase
- Used to emphasize a question expressing surprise, confusion, or disbelief.
- Used to indicate the extent or degree of something, often in a superlative sense.
A1Moreinsane
US /ɪnˈsen/
UK /ɪnˈseɪn/
- Adjective
- Mentally ill; crazy
- Being crazy or stupid
B2Morejoy
US /dʒɔɪ/
UK /dʒɔɪ/
- Uncountable Noun
- Deep happiness and pleasure about something
- Thing or person that causes pleasure or happiness
- Intransitive Verb
- To experience happiness or to be glad
A2Moreleague
US /liɡ/
UK /li:ɡ/
- Noun
- Group of people, countries with a common goal
- Association of sports teams that organizes matches
- Intransitive Verb
- To form a league; to unite for a common purpose.
A2TOEICMoreleapt
US /lɛpt, lipt/
UK /lept/
- Verb (Transitive/Intransitive)
- To enter or start something eagerly
- (Of prices) to increase quickly by a large amount
B1Morelegend
US /ˈlɛdʒənd/
UK /'ledʒənd/
- Noun
- List of explanations of symbols on map, etc.
- Person famous for doing something very well
B1Moremilestone
US /ˈmaɪlstoʊn/
UK /ˈmaɪlstəʊn/
- Noun
- Significant event in your life (or in a project)
C2Moreneck and neck
US /nɛk ənd nɛk/
UK /nek ænd nek/
- Adverb
- So close in a race or competition that it's difficult to tell who is winning.
- Adjective
- Being in a very close competition; nearly equal.
A2Morenotify
US /ˈnotəˌfaɪ/
UK /'nəʊtɪfaɪ/
- Transitive Verb
- To inform; to communicate specific information
B2Moreodd
US /ɑd/
UK /ɒd/
- Adjective
- Being unmatched with someone or something
- Being a number not able to be divided by two
A2Moreof course
US /ʌv kɔː(r)s/
UK /ɔv kɔː(r)s/
- Adverb
- Sure ; Certainly
- Phrase
- For sure; certainly
A2Moreof the century
US /ʌv ðə ˈsɛnʧəri/
UK /əv ðə ˈsenʧəri/
- other
- The most notable or important in a hundred-year period.
B2Moreon fire
US /ɑn faɪr/
UK /ɔn ˈfaiə/
- Adjective
- Very successful or popular
- Burning
A2Moreon the canvas
US /ɑn ðə ˈkænvəs/
UK /ɒn ðə ˈkænvəs/
- other
- Knocked down, especially in boxing or other fights.
B2Moreon the floor
US
UK
- Phrase
- Located on the ground or bottom surface of a room.
- Actively participating in dancing or other floor-based activities.
A1Moreonce and for all
US /wʌns ənd fɔr ɔl/
UK /wʌns ænd fɔ: ɔ:l/
- Phrase
- Completely and finally; decisively.
- In a definitive and conclusive manner.
A2Moreout of nowhere
US
UK
- Phrase
- Suddenly and unexpectedly; from an unknown place or source.
out there
US /aʊt ðɛr/
UK /aut ðɛə/
- Adverb
- In or to a place that is far away
- Existing in the universe
- Adjective
- Unconventional; strange; avant-garde
- Existing or available.
A1Moreovercome
US /ˌovɚˈkʌm/
UK /ˌəʊvə'kʌm/
- Transitive Verb
- To succeed in a struggle against; defeat
- Participle
- Past participle of overcome; to have successfully dealt with or controlled a problem or feeling.
A2TOEICMoreovertime
US /ˈovɚˌtaɪm/
UK /'əʊvətaɪm/
- Uncountable Noun
- Extra time in a sports game
- Time worked in addition to regular working hours.
- Adverb
- Beyond the regular working hours.
B2TOEICMoreper year
US
UK
- Phrase
- For each year; annually.
A2Morepremier
US /prɪˈmɪr,-ˈmjɪr,ˈprimɪr/
UK /'premɪə(r)/
- Adjective
- Being the most influential, important, or best
- Noun
- Prime minister of a country
- The chief administrative official in some governments.
B1Moreprior to
US /ˈpraɪɚ tu/
UK /ˈpraiə tu:/
- Preposition
- Before a particular time or event.
C1Moreprove
US /pruv/
UK /pru:v/
- Transitive Verb
- To demonstrate truth by providing evidence
- To test the quality or worth of something.
- Intransitive Verb
- To turn out to be; be found to be.
A2TOEICMorepulled off
US
UK
- Phrasal Verb
- To manage to succeed
- Removed something quickly or with force.
A1Morerecorded history
US
UK
- Uncountable Noun
- The period of time for which written records exist.
A2Morereputable
US /ˈrɛpjətəbəl/
UK /ˈrepjətəbl/
- Adjective
- Known and respected for being reliable or honest
C1Moreretirement
US /rɪˈtaɪrmənt/
UK /rɪˈtaɪəmənt/
- Uncountable Noun
- Time later in life when you stop working
- A ceremony marking someone's departure from employment.
A2TOEICMoreseal
US /sil/
UK /si:l/
- Transitive Verb
- To close tightly to protect it from leaking
- To close an envelop or package
- Noun
- Large fish-eating animal that lives on sea or land
- Official mark made in hot wax to close a document
B1Moresqueaky clean
US /ˈskwiki klin/
UK /ˈskwi:ki kli:n/
- other
- Extremely clean, pure, or morally blameless.
B2Moresurge
US /sɜ:rdʒ/
UK /sɜ:dʒ/
- Noun (Countable/Uncountable)
- Sudden movement in one direction by many
- Sudden or unexpected increase in amount
- Intransitive Verb
- To move unexpectedly and quickly in one direction
- To rise to an unexpected height
B2Moreswitch on
US
UK
- Transitive Verb
- To put something electrical on or off
- Phrasal Verb
A2Moretalking about
US
UK
- Phrasal Verb
- To discuss a particular topic.
- To be constantly mentioning or bringing up a subject.
A1Morethe following
US
UK
- Adjective
- Next in order or sequence.
- Uncountable Noun
- What is about to be said or written.
B1Moretiger
US /ˈtaɪɡɚ/
UK /ˈtaɪgə(r)/
- Countable Noun
- Large wild cat with orange fur and black lines
B1Moreto the max
US /tu ðə mæks/
UK /tu ðə mæks/
- other
- To the greatest possible extent or degree.
B2Moretournament
US /ˈtʊrnəmənt, ˈtɚ-/
UK /'tʊənəmənt/
- Countable Noun
- Sports contest with many games to find a winner
B2Moretrophy
US /ˈtroʊfi/
UK /ˈtrəʊfi/
- Countable Noun
- Prize given to the winner of a competition
- Something to show your high social status
B1Moreunify
US /ˈjunəˌfaɪ/
UK /'ju:nɪfaɪ/
- Transitive Verb
- To bring or join together into one
B2TOEICMoreunveil
US /ʌnˈvel/
UK /ˌʌnˈveɪl/
- Transitive Verb
- To remove something's outer covering
B1TOEICMorevictory
US /ˈvɪktəri/
UK /'vɪktərɪ/
- Noun (Countable/Uncountable)
- Defeating or beating someone or something
- An instance of having overcome a challenge or obstacle; an achievement.
B1Morewith age
US
UK
- Phrase
- As someone gets older; as time passes.
- Improving in quality or value as it gets older.
A1More
