abuse
US /əˈbjuz/
UK /ə'bju:s/
- Transitive Verb
- To mistreat or be cruel towards someone
- To use in an inappropriate or excessive way
- Noun (Countable/Uncountable)
- Improper/dishonest/excessive use of something
- Insulting someone, e.g. by swearing at them
A2TOEICMoreallege
US /əˈlɛdʒ/
UK /əˈledʒ/
- Transitive Verb
- To state without proof
B1TOEICMoreapologize
US /əˈpɑləˌdʒaɪz/
UK /ə'pɒlədʒaɪz/
- Intransitive Verb
- To say sorry because of a mistake or injury
A2TOEICMoreassault
US /əˈsɔlt/
UK /əˈsɔ:lt/
- Transitive Verb
- To attack someone physically or emotionally
- Noun
- An attack on someone physically or emotionally
B1Morechinatown
US /ˈtʃaɪnəˌtaʊn/
UK /ˈtʃaɪnətaʊn/
- Noun
- Area of town with many Chinese stores, restaurants
C2Morecite
US /saɪt/
UK /saɪt/
- Transitive Verb
- To officially order someone to appear in court
- To officially praise someone, e.g. for bravery
B1TOEICMoreclaim
US /klem/
UK /kleɪm/
- Noun (Countable/Uncountable)
- To say that something is true, often without proof.
- A statement that something is true.
- Transitive Verb
- To demand or ask for something that you believe is rightfully yours.
- To take or cause the loss of (e.g., a life, property).
A2Morecome back
US /kʌm bæk/
UK /kʌm bæk/
- Phrasal Verb
- To reply to someone, often forcefully
- To be remembered
A1Morecomedian
US /kəˈmidiən/
UK /kəˈmi:diən/
- Countable Noun
- An entertainer whose job is to make people laugh
A2Morecontend with
US /kənˈtɛnd wɪð/
UK /kənˈtend wið/
- Phrasal Verb
- To struggle or deal with something difficult.
content
US /ˈkɑnˌtɛnt/
UK /'kɒntent/
- Adjective
- Being happy or satisfied
- In a state of peaceful happiness.
- Noun (Countable/Uncountable)
- Information in something, e.g. book or computer
- The subject matter of a book, speech, etc.
A2Morecontroversy
US /ˈkɑntrəˌvɚsi/
UK /'kɒntrəvɜ:sɪ/
- Noun (Countable/Uncountable)
- Strong public disagreement about something
B1Morecrime
US /kraɪm/
UK /kraɪm/
- Noun (Countable/Uncountable)
- Act that is believed to be a mistake or foolish
- Act that is against the law; murder, theft etc.
A2Moreculture
US /ˈkʌltʃɚ/
UK /'kʌltʃə(r)/
- Noun (Countable/Uncountable)
- Beliefs and customs of a particular group
- The customs, beliefs, art, and all the other things that a group of people share and consider important.
- Transitive Verb
- To grow cells, tissues, bacteria, etc. in a controlled environment.
A2Moredefamation
US /ˌdɛfəˈmeʃən/
UK /ˌdefəˈmeɪʃn/
- Uncountable Noun
- Law abusive attack on someone's reputation
C1Moredeny
US /dɪˈnaɪ/
UK /dɪ'naɪ/
- Transitive Verb
- To refuse to allow or accept something
A2TOEICMoreepisode
US /ˈɛpɪˌsod/
UK /'epɪsəʊd/
- Noun
- One separate event in a series of events
- Show which is part of a larger story
B1TOEICMorefounder
US /ˈfaʊndɚ/
UK /ˈfaʊndə(r)/
- Noun (Countable/Uncountable)
- Person establishing an organization, school etc.
- Intransitive Verb
- (Of business, idea, etc.) to fail
- (Of a ship) To be sinking after hitting rocks
B1TOEICMoreget to the bottom of
US /ɡɛt tə ðə ˈbɑtəm ʌv/
UK /ɡet tə ðə ˈbɒtəm əv/
- other
- To find the true cause or explanation of something.
B2Morego out
US /ɡo aʊt/
UK /ɡəu aut/
- Phrase
- To leave a building (e.g. a house)
- Phrasal Verb
- (Of a fire) to burn out; be extinguished
- Go out of fashion to stop being fashionable
A1Morehave to
US /hæv tu/
UK /ˈhæv tə/
- Auxiliary Verb
- Must do
A1Morehoax
US /hoʊks/
UK /həʊks/
- Noun
- Act intended to deceive or trick
- Transitive Verb
- To deceive someone, using a trick of some kind
C1TOEICMorein hot water
US
UK
- Idiom
- In trouble; in a difficult situation.
- Experiencing disapproval or facing punishment for one's actions.
A1Morein the world
US /ɪn ði wɜrld/
UK /in ðə wɜː(r)ld/
- Phrase
- Used to emphasize a question expressing surprise, confusion, disbelief
- Used to indicate the extent or degree of something, often in a superlative sense
A1Moreinfidelity
US /ˌɪnfɪˈdɛlɪti/
UK /ˌɪnfɪˈdeləti/
- Uncountable Noun
- Being unfaithful to a spouse by having an affair
B2Moreinvestigative
US /ɪnˈvestɪgeɪtɪv/
UK /ɪnˈvestɪgətɪv/
- Adjective
- Searching for information or truth
B1Moreissue
US /ˈɪʃu/
UK /'ɪʃu:/
- Transitive Verb
- To make something available to be used or sold
- To deliver a statement, etc. in an official manner
- Noun (Countable/Uncountable)
- Important topic discussed, debated or argued over
- Single edition of a magazine
A2TOEICMorejunkie
US /ˈdʒʌŋki/
UK /ˈdʒʌŋki/
- Noun
- Person that is addicted to taking drugs
B2Morelooking out
US
UK
- Phrasal Verb
- To take care and watch something carefully
- To be careful; to be vigilant
- Intransitive Verb
- To be careful or vigilant
A1Moremade public
US
UK
- Verb (Transitive/Intransitive)
- To reveal or announce something to everyone.
A1Moremisinformation
US /ˌmɪsɪnfə'meɪʃn/
UK /ˌmɪsɪnfə'meɪʃn/
- Uncountable Noun
- Information that is incorrect
B1Moremojo
US /ˈmoʊdʒoʊ/
UK /ˈməʊdʒəʊ/
- Noun
- Magic power or magic spell
C2Moremultiple
US /ˈmʌltəpəl/
UK /ˈmʌltɪpl/
- Adjective
- Having or involving more than one of something
- Having or involving several parts, elements, or members.
- Countable Noun
- Number produced by multiplying a smaller number
- A number of identical circuit elements connected in parallel or series.
B1Moreof course
US /ʌv kɔː(r)s/
UK /ɔv kɔː(r)s/
- Adverb
- Sure ; Certainly
- Phrase
- For sure; certainly
A2Morephysical
US /ˈfɪzɪkəl/
UK /ˈfɪzɪkl/
- Countable Noun
- Health check at the doctors' or hospital
- Adjective
- Concerning the body of a person
- Concerning things that can be seen or touched
A2Moreplagiarism
US /ˈpledʒəˌrɪzəm/
UK /ˈpleɪdʒərɪzəm/
- Uncountable Noun
- Copying the work of others pretending it's yours
C1Morepolicy
US /ˈpɑlɪsi/
UK /'pɒləsɪ/
- Noun
- Document stating terms of an insurance agreement
- Course of action proposed by an organization, etc.
A2TOEICMoreracist
US /'reɪsɪst/
UK /'reɪsɪst/
- Adjective
- Believing that people of other races are inferior
- Noun
- Person who judges others negatively based on race
B2Morerelease
US /rɪ'li:s/
UK /rɪ'li:s/
- Transitive Verb
- To free someone from a responsibility or burden
- To allow a film, music etc. to be sold/distributed
- Noun
- Act of freeing someone from a duty or burden
- Introduction of a new product, film, book, etc.
A2TOEICMoreresearch
US /rɪˈsɚtʃ, ˈriˌsɚtʃ/
UK /rɪ'sɜ:tʃ/
- Verb (Transitive/Intransitive)
- To study in order to discover new ideas and facts
- To study the market relating to marketing products and services.
- Noun (Countable/Uncountable)
- Study done to discover new ideas and facts
- A particular area or topic of study.
A2TOEICMoreroll
US /rol/
UK /rəʊl/
- Countable Noun
- Small, round piece of bread for one person to eat
- Photographic film wrapped round and round itself
- Verb (Transitive/Intransitive)
- To continue along as time normally progresses
- To produce a very deep and continuous sound
A2TOEICMoreshortly
US /ˈʃɔrtli/
UK /ˈʃɔ:tli/
- Adverb
- Quickly; soon; in a moment
- In an unfriendly or rude way
B1Morespite
US /spaɪt/
UK /spaɪt/
- Uncountable Noun
- Wish to hurt another person; malice; maliciousness
- Transitive Verb
- To deliberately annoy or frustrate someone
B2Moresquad
US /skwɑ:d/
UK /skwɒd/
- Noun
- A sports team
B1Morestatement
US / ˈstetmənt/
UK /ˈsteɪtmənt/
- Noun (Countable/Uncountable)
- Record of activity in a bank account over time
- Act or process of saying something formally
A2TOEICMoresubstance use
US
UK
- Uncountable Noun
- The use of drugs, alcohol, or other substances.
- The use of drugs, alcohol, or other substances, especially when problematic.
A1Moretalking 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.
B1Moretoxic
US /ˈtɑksɪk/
UK /ˈtɒksɪk/
- Adjective
- Poisonous; harmful
- (Of relationships) harmful; causing conflict
B2Moreturned out
US
UK
- Phrasal Verb
- To arrive for a public event or entertainment
- To happen to be in the end
- Transitive Verb
- To extinguish or switch off lights.
A1Moreunder fire
US /ˈʌndɚ faɪr/
UK /ˈʌndə ˈfaiə/
- Phrase
- Being heavily criticized.
- Being shot at by enemy forces.
A2Moreused to
US /juzd tu/
UK /ˈju:st tə/
- Adjective
- Did regularly before, but don't do now
- Auxiliary Verb
- Have done before, but do not do now
A1Moreworkplace
US /ˈwɚkˌples/
UK /ˈwɜ:kpleɪs/
- Noun (Countable/Uncountable)
- Place where work is done
B2More
Vocabulary
- under fire: Being heavily criticized.
- go out: To leave a building (e.g. a house)
- have to: Must do
- looking out: To take care and watch something carefully
- used to: Did regularly before, but don't do now
- get to the bottom of: To find the true cause or explanation of something.
- contend with: To struggle or deal with something difficult.
- turned out: To arrive for a public event or entertainment
- made public: To reveal or announce something to everyone.
- substance use: The use of drugs, alcohol, or other substances.
- talking about: To discuss a particular topic.
- in the world: Used to emphasize a question expressing surprise, confusion, disbelief
- come back: To reply to someone, often forcefully
- of course: Sure ; Certainly
- the following: Next in order or sequence.
- in hot water: In trouble; in a difficult situation.
- episode: One separate event in a series of events
- content: Being happy or satisfied
- multiple: Having or involving more than one of something
- physical: Health check at the doctors' or hospital
- experience: Thing a person has done or that happened to them
- claim: To say that something is true, often without proof.
- describe: To tell the appearance, sound, smell of something
- research: To study in order to discover new ideas and facts
- environment: Natural world in which plants and animals live
- toxic: Poisonous; harmful
- statement: Record of activity in a bank account over time
- abuse: To mistreat or be cruel towards someone
- issue: To make something available to be used or sold
- series: Set of stories or articles on a particular subject
- behavior: The way a person or thing acts; manner
- release: To free someone from a responsibility or burden
- racist: Believing that people of other races are inferior
- controversy: Strong public disagreement about something
- deny: To refuse to allow or accept something
- assault: To attack someone physically or emotionally
- leave: To go away from; depart
- crime: Act that is believed to be a mistake or foolish
- secret: Kept hidden from others; Known only to a few people
- culture: Beliefs and customs of a particular group
- apologize: To say sorry because of a mistake or injury
- policy: Document stating terms of an insurance agreement
- roll: Small, round piece of bread for one person to eat
- support: To give assistance or advice to someone
- comedian: An entertainer whose job is to make people laugh
- language: Words or signs used to communicate messages
- founder: Person establishing an organization, school etc.
- wrong: Action that is harmful, unjust or illegal
- find: To become aware of something that is happening
- person: Man, woman or child
- squad: A sports team
- part: Division of a book
- start: First time or place that a thing exists; beginning
- spite: Wish to hurt another person; malice; maliciousness
- infidelity: Being unfaithful to a spouse by having an affair
- reply: Answer to someone's question
- hoax: Act intended to deceive or trick
- cite: To officially order someone to appear in court
- allege: To state without proof
- misinformation: Information that is incorrect
- plagiarism: Copying the work of others pretending it's yours
- workplace: Place where work is done
- shortly: Quickly; soon; in a moment
- junkie: Person that is addicted to taking drugs
- defamation: Law abusive attack on someone's reputation
- mojo: Magic power or magic spell
- investigative: Searching for information or truth
- chinatown: Area of town with many Chinese stores, restaurants
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01:03
She took a brave step forward, leaving behind her comfort zone to chase her dreams.
Vocabulary
- brave
adj. Having courage
- comfort zone
phr. A familiar situation where one feels safe
Explanation
a brave step is a noun phrase, where brave is an adjective modifying the noun step, meaning "a courageous step".
forward is an adverb modifying step, meaning "ahead".
The whole phrase serves as the object, answering the "what" of took (verb) — she took a brave step forward.
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brave
US/brev/
UK/breɪv/
adj.Brave
v.t.To bravely face
A2 Elementary
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林宜悉 posted on 2026/11/06Are you a fan of true crime or tech podcasts? Check out this breakdown of some of the most shocking controversies in the industry, from plagiarism allegations to workplace scandals, while picking up useful vocabulary related to media ethics and public apologies.
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