in pursuit of

in pursuit of 

(phrase)

= trying to achieve something 

Examples 

The scientist conducted lots of painstaking research in pursuit of new discoveries.

Mark moved to Japan in pursuit of a better retirement lifestyle.

She would do anything in pursuit of wealth and success.

Reference

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/in%20pursuit%20of

 

Here are more examples of using "in pursuit of ":

The artist traveled the world in pursuit of inspiration for her next masterpiece.

In pursuit of better health, he adopted a new diet and exercise routine.

The journalist worked tirelessly in pursuit of the truth behind the scandal.

They launched a campaign in pursuit of environmental sustainability.

Some synonyms for "in pursuit of":

In search of

In quest of 

Chasing

Aiming for

Seeking

Working towards

Hunting for

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blockbuster

 blockbuster

= a book or film that is highly successful.

What does a film need to become a blockbuster? 

The novel quickly became a blockbuster, topping bestseller lists for months.

While the film was a blockbuster, critics argued that it lacked depth in character development.

Some synonyms and antonyms for the word "blockbuster":

Synonyms:

Hit

Success 

Topper

Phenomenon 

Antonyms:

Flop

Failure

Disappointment 

Underperformer

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opposition

opposition

= the act of resisting something

反對;

The opposition party initiated impeachment proceedings against the government.

反對黨對政府發起了彈劾程序。

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protracted

protracted

= lasting for a long time or being extended beyond what is typical or expected

持久的;

The protracted tariff negotiations between the two countries finally resulted in a trade agreement.

兩國之間漫長的關稅談判最終達成了貿易協議。

The protracted war took a heavy toll on the country's economy.

漫長的戰爭對該國的經濟造成了沉重的損失。

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blank cheque

 blank cheque

= a cheque that does not have a specified amount written on it

Mark wrote a blank cheque to the NGO, allowing it to help those in need.

After the meeting, the board gave the CEO a blank cheque to invest in innovative projects that could drive growth.

The government granted a blank cheque to the disaster relief fund, ensuring immediate assistance to the affected communities.

Some synonyms and antonyms for "blank cheque":

Synonyms:

Open cheque

Unlimited authority

Blank check (American spelling) 

Antonyms:

Fixed amount

Limited authority

Conditional cheque

Restrictive funding

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oodles of something

oodles of something

= a large amount or abundance of something

大量;

We have oodles of time to finish the project before the deadline.

我們有很多時間在截止日期之前完成這個項目。

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pull the plug on something

pull the plug on something

= to terminate or discontinue a project

制止;

Without enough funding, the company decided to pull the plug on this product line.

沒有足夠的資金，該公司決定停止這條產品線的開發。

The government decided to pull the plug on the reclamation project due to budget overruns this year.

由於今年預算超支，政府決定終止這個填海項目。

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gruesome

gruesome

(adjective)

= extremely unpleasant and horrifying 

Examples

The news report covered the gruesome details of the car accident that shocked the entire world.

He was charged with raping a woman in a gruesome assault.

This best-selling book depicts some gruesome crime stories.

Reference

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gruesome

Here are more examples of using "gruesome":

The movie was filled with gruesome scenes that made many viewers uncomfortable.

The police discovered a gruesome crime scene, leaving investigators in shock.

She described the gruesome injuries sustained during the accident.

The documentary revealed the gruesome realities of war and its impact on civilians.

Some synonyms for "gruesome":

Horrific 

Frightful

Atrocious

Dreadful

Shocking

Appalling

Repulsive 

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set the world on fire

 set the world on fire

= a desire to make a significant impact or create dramatic change

She wants to set the world on fire with her music.

His actions were meant to set the world on fire, challenging the status quo.

His powerful speeches were designed to set the world on fire, inspiring a new generation of activists to fight for climate justice.

With her bold business ideas, she hoped to set the world on fire and transform the way people think about sustainable fashion.

Some synonyms and antonyms for the phrase "set the world on fire":

Synonyms 

Create a stir

Spark change

Ignite passion

Revolutionize 

Transform the landscape

Antonyms 

Remain unnoticed

Maintain the status quo

Suppress change 

Lack impact

Dullness

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gratification

gratification

= the feeling of pleasure or satisfaction 

愉悅或滿足的感覺;

Volunteering in the hospital brought Susan a sense of emotional gratification.

在醫院當義工給Susan帶來了情感上的滿足。

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prosthetic

prosthetic

= relating to artificial devices designed to replace a missing body part

人工的; 義肢的;

After the car accident, he received a prosthetic hand that allowed him to grasp objects.

在車禍後，他得了一隻人工的手，讓他能夠抓住物體。

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dodge a bullet

 dodge a bullet

= to narrowly escape a difficult or dangerous situation

Susan thought she had failed her math exam, but she ended up passing. She really dodged a bullet!

Emily thought she lost her wallet on the bus, but it was in her coat pocket the whole time. She definitely dodged a bullet!

When Jake realized his mistake in the presentation, he quickly corrected it before anyone noticed. He dodged a bullet by catching it in time!

Some synonyms and antonyms for "dodge a bullet":

Synonyms:

Avoid danger

Escape a crisis

Evade

Flee

Antonyms:

Fall into trouble

Face difficulties

Suffer consequences

Confront challenges

Bring disaster upon oneself

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bells and whistles

 bells and whistles

= additional features that are not essential but serve to make something more attractive

The company is trying to include all the bells and whistles in its latest smartphone model to attract high-end users. 

This luxury car comes with all the bells and whistles, including heated seats, a premium sound system, and advanced safety features.

The latest software update added several bells and whistles, like customizable themes and new emoji options, to enhance user experience.

Some synonyms and antonyms for "bells and whistles":

Synonyms

Extras

Features

Add-ons 

Gimmicks 

Antonyms

Essentials

Basics

Necessities

Fundamentals

Simplicity 

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dropping like flies

dropping like flies

= a situation where a large number of people or things are failing, disappearing, or dying quickly and in succession  

大量人或事物接連失敗、消失或死亡的情況;

After the outbreak of the unknown flu, many people were dropping like flies, and several had to be taken to hospitals for ICU care.

不明流感爆發後，許多人死亡，還有數人被送往醫院接受重症監護。

Injuries are causing players to drop like flies during the season.

傷病導致球員在賽季中狀態大不如前。

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procrastination

procrastination

= the act of delaying or postponing tasks or decisions

拖延;

Some minor bugs have led to the procrastination of the software launch.

一些小問題導致了軟件發布的延遲。

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grub

grub

(verb)

= to dig or search for something

Examples

We grubbed up the weeds before planting strawberries.

Mark helped the farmer grub for sweet potatoes.

The dog spent the afternoon grubbing around in the garden, searching for bones.

Reference

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grub

Here are more examples of using "grub":

The children grubbed in the sand, looking for buried treasure.

She had to grub through the clutter in her room to find her lost book.

The archaeologists grubbed in the dirt, hoping to uncover ancient artifacts.

He spent the weekend grubbing in the backyard to prepare for the new patio.

Some synonyms for "grub":

Dig

Search 

Unearth 

Scrabble 

Probe

Scavenge

Delve

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grout

grout

= a construction material used to fill gaps

水泥漿;

After laying all the tiles in the kitchen, we applied grout to fill the spaces between them.

鋪完廚房的所有磁磚後，我們用水泥漿填滿磁磚之間的縫隙。

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on tap

on tap

＝ something that is readily available

需要時就能得到的;

There is a lot of information on the internet on tap for you to improve your skills.

網路上有大量資訊可供您提升技能。

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jot

 jot

= to write something down quickly

Susan decided to jot down her thoughts immediately so she wouldn't forget them.

During the meeting, Mark quickly jotted down the key points for future reference.

Emily always keeps a notepad handy to jot down ideas as they come to her.

I like to jot a few notes before starting my writing to organize my thoughts.

Some synonyms and antonyms for "jot":

Synonyms:

Note

Record

Write down 

Scratch (down) 

Antonyms:

Forget

Ignore 

Erase 

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to dance with the devil

 to dance with the devil

= to engage in risky or morally questionable behavior

He knows that drinking and driving is dangerous, but he continues to do it. It's as if he's dancing with the devil.

Ignoring his health for the sake of work is simply dancing with the devil.

He might think that cheating on the exam will help him get ahead, but he’s really just dancing with the devil.

He thinks driving without a license is a minor offense, but he’s really dancing with the devil.

Some synonyms and antonyms for the phrase "dancing with the devil":

Synonyms

Taking risks  

Living on the edge

Playing with fire

Antonyms

Playing it safe 

Making responsible choices

Avoiding risks 

Being prudent

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lose the thread

 lose the thread

= to get distracted or confused, which leads to a loss of understanding or clarity regarding a conversation, story, or topic

I was explaining my project during the presentation, but I lost the thread when the professor suddenly interrupted me.

The movie started off strong, but I lost the thread of the storyline after the first hour.

The lecture was full of interesting information, but I lost the thread when the professor switched topics unexpectedly.

The article had great insights, but I lost the thread when it started using too many technical terms.

Some synonyms and antonyms for "lose the thread":

Synonyms:

Get distracted

Lose focus

Become confused 

Lose track

Stray off topic 

Antonyms:

Stay on track

Maintain focus  

Understand

Stay engaged

Stay attentive

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grisly

grisly

= something that is shockingly gruesome 

恐怖的;

Last week, reports of the grisly details of the murder left many people in shock.

上週，有關這起謀殺案的恐怖細節的報導讓許多人感到震驚。

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mucking about with something

mucking about with something

= to engage in activities that are not very serious or focused

耍弄;

He spent the afternoon mucking about with the Legos, building some unrealistic creatures.

他花了一個下午隨意玩弄樂高，搭建一些不切實際的動物。

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grapple

grapple

(verb) 

= to fight

 

Examples

During the final match, the two wrestlers grappled fiercely, trying to win the large prize money.

My children grappled for the candy.

The two friends grappled playfully in the backyard.

Reference

https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/grapple

Here are more examples of using "grapple":

The soldiers grappled with their opponents in a test of strength and skill.

She had to grapple with her emotions after receiving the news.

The team grappled with the challenges of the project but eventually found a solution.

In the debate, they grappled over differing opinions on the issue.

Some synonyms for "grapple":

Wrestle

Struggle

Fight

Clash

Confront

Engage 

Battle 

Wrest

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