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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bite your tongue

 bite your tongue

= to refrain from saying something that you might want to say

 

Actually, I wanted to say that her dress was ugly and old-fashioned, but I bit my tongue at the last minute to avoid causing any tension.

During the meeting, I had to bite my tongue when my colleague made an outrageous claim.

I wanted to express my opinion on the matter, but I decided to bite my tongue to maintain peace.

Even though I disagreed with the decision, I bit my tongue to avoid creating a scene.

Some synonyms and antonyms for "bite your tongue":

Synonyms

Hold your tongue

Refrain from speaking

Stay silent

Keep quiet

Suppress your words

Antonyms

Speak up

Express yourself

Voice your opinion

Say what you think 

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bad blood

bad blood

=  feelings of hostility or resentment between people

The bad blood between the two countries made negotiations extremely difficult.  

Years of competition in the industry resulted in bad blood between the two companies.

The bad blood from their last argument lingered in the air, making the atmosphere tense.

Even years later, the bad blood between the two teams was evident during the match.

Some synonyms and antonyms for "bad blood":

Synonyms

Hostility

Resentment  

Rivalry 

Antonyms 

Friendship

Harmony 

Accord

Unity

Compatibility

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melee

melee

= a fight or conflict that is chaotic and confused, often involving multiple people

混亂;

A melee broke out after a controversial call by the referee during the football match.

在足球比賽中，裁判員作出了有爭議的判罰，隨後引發了一場混戰。

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trim the waistline

trim the waistline

= to lose fat, particularly around the abdomen

收緊腰圍(常用於描述減肥或塑形的過程，尤其是針對腰部的運動和飲食調整。);

Susan tried to go jogging three times a week in order to trim her waistline and improve her health.

Susan嘗試每週慢跑三次，以收緊腰圍並改善她的健康。

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pencil someone in

 pencil someone in

= to schedule a time for someone to do something, but with the understanding that the plans are tentative and may change

Can I pencil you in for a meeting tomorrow? I will confirm the details later via WhatsApp.

I’ll pencil you in for the project meeting on Friday, but I’ll confirm closer to the date.

I can pencil you in for a training session next month, but I’ll need to check the schedule first.

Some synonyms and antonyms for "pencil someone in":

Synonyms

Tentatively schedule

Book a tentative appointment 

Set up a tentative time

Mark down (informally)

Antonyms

Confirm

Finalize

Schedule definitively

Set in stone 

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gruesome

gruesome

= extremely unpleasant and shocking, particularly in relation to violence, death, or horror 

可怕的;

The report of a gruesome murder shocked the entire community to its core.

一宗慘無人道的謀殺案的報道讓整個社區都震驚了。

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tune out

tune out

= to stop paying attention to something

對…置之不理;

During the lecture, some students began to tune out and eventually fell asleep.

在講座期間，一些學生開始走神，最終睡著了。

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annoy

annoy

(verb)

= to disturb someone and make someone angry

Examples

Don’t annoy me. I have lots of things to do right now.

The loud noise from the mahjong game really annoyed the neighbors.

He was annoyed by the interruptions during his speech.

Reference 

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

Here are more examples of using "annoy":

She found it annoying when people interrupted her while she was speaking.

My little brother loves to annoy me by stealing my snacks.

It annoys me when drivers don't use their turn signals.

Constant notifications from my phone can be quite annoying during work hours.

Some synonyms for "annoy":

Irritate

Disturb

Bother

Upset 

Agitate 

Pester

Provoke 

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Tense Table

 Tense Table 

Tense Table

Verbs can change forms based on tense, which indicates the time of the action. We use a tense table as a reference to understand these variations.

Examples

Infinitive: Abide

Past Tense: Abided

Past Participle: Abided

Infinitive: Arise

Past Tense: Arose

Past Participle: Arisen

Infinitive: Begin

Past Tense: Began

Past Participle: Begun

Infinitive: Catch

Past Tense: Caught

Past Participle: Caught

Infinitive: Fight

Past Tense: Fought

Past Participle: Fight 

Explanation of Tenses

Infinitive: The base form of the verb (e.g. "abide"). It often expresses a general action without a specified time.

Past Tense: Indicates that the action occurred in the past (e.g. "abided"). This form is used for completed actions.

Past Participle: Used in perfect tenses and passive voice (e.g. "abided"). It often appears with auxiliary verbs like "have" or "was."

Additional Examples

Infinitive: Go

Past Tense: Went

Past Participle: Gone

Infinitive: See

Past Tense: Saw

Past Participle: Seen

Understanding these forms helps in constructing sentences correctly across different tenses. Use this table as a quick reference to enhance your writing skills!

https://jeffreywckin.github.io/011-Tense-Table.html

in good shape

 in good shape

= being physically fit, healthy, or in a good condition 

After six months of training, Susan is now in good shape for the half-marathon.

This second-hand car is in good shape and only needs a minor tune-up for maintenance.

After a healthy diet and regular exercise, John feels he is in good shape for the summer.

The team is in good shape heading into the playoffs, with all players healthy and motivated.

Some synonyms and antonyms for "in good shape":

Synonyms:

Fit

Healthy

In good condition 

Robust

Sound

Strong

Antonyms:

Out of shape

Unfit

Unhealthy 

Damaged

Weak

Poor condition

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speak of the devil

speak of the devil

= something you say when someone mentioned in conversation appears unexpectedly 

當在對話中提到某人時，他意外出現; 說曹操，曹操到;

We are just talking about Mark, and then he walks in. Speak of the devil!

我們剛在談論Mark，然後他走了進來。說曹操，曹操到！

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king of the hill

king of the hill

= a person who is very successful or holds a dominant position in a particular field or context  

= 一個在特定領域或情境中非常成功或佔據主導地位的人。

After years of hard work, Mark has finally become the king of the hill in the AI industry.

經過多年的努力，Mark終於成為了人工智慧產業的王者。

After winning the tennis competition, Mark is now the king of the hill; however, he must work hard to maintain his position against his rivals.

在贏得網球比賽後，Mark現在是王者；然而，他必須努力維持自己在對手中的地位。

The restaurant has maintained its reputation as the king of the hill in fine dining for over a decade.

這家餐廳在高檔餐飲界已維持了十多年的王者聲譽。

With his latest novel topping the bestseller list, the author has once again proven he is the king of the hill in contemporary literature.

隨著他的最新小說登上暢銷書榜，這位作者再次證明了他在當代文學中的王者地位。

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have an axe to grind

 have an axe to grind

= to have a personal motive or agenda that influences someone's opinions or actions

 

When Peter criticizes the new pension policy, I believe he has an axe to grind because he stands to benefit from the old policies.

Many voters think that the senator has an axe to grind when he criticizes the new tax reforms, as he has significant investments in companies that benefit from the old laws.

After losing the championship, the coach expressed his frustrations about the referees, suggesting he has an axe to grind given their previous decisions.

The journalist's relentless coverage of the scandal makes me think he has an axe to grind against the organization involved.

Some synonyms and antonyms for the phrase "have an axe to grind":

Synonyms:

Have a hidden agenda

Have a personal stake

Have a vested interest

Have a bone to pick 

Antonyms: 

Be objective

Be neutral

Be unbiased

Be disinterested

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hapless

 hapless

= someone who is both unlucky and often experiences unfortunate circumstances 

Susan felt hapless after missing her flight due to a series of unexpected delays.

 

The hapless traveler found herself stranded at the airport overnight because of a canceled flight.

The hapless family faced a series of misfortunes, from a leaking roof to a broken car.

After losing his wallet for the third time this month, he began to see himself as a hapless victim of bad luck.

Some synonyms and antonyms for "hapless":

Synonyms:

Unfortunate

Unlucky

Ill-fated 

Antonyms:

Fortunate

Lucky

Blessed

Favored

Successful 

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droll

droll

= amusing odd  

離奇可笑的; 滑稽的；風趣幽默的;

The droll retired policeman shared his amusing stories with us, leaving us in fits of laughter.

這位風趣幽默的退休警察和我們分享了他的趣事，引得我們捧腹大笑。

The author’s droll sense of humor made the book a global bestseller.

作者的幽默感使這本書成為全球暢銷書。

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hypothesis

hypothesis

= a proposed explanation  made based on limited evidence 

= 假設;

The scientist formulated a hypothesis that increasing temperatures would impact the ecosystem.

科學家提出了一個假設，氣溫升高會影響生態系統。

After reviewing the data, the researcher revised their hypothesis to account for unexpected results.

在審查數據後，研究人員修改了假設，以解釋意料之外的結果。

The team's hypothesis suggested that sleep deprivation negatively affects cognitive performance.

該團隊的假設表明，睡眠不足會對認知能力產生負面影響。

The hypothesis that urban areas have higher temperatures than rural areas was tested with temperature readings.

透過溫度讀數測試了「城市地區氣溫高於農村地區」的假設。

The student's hypothesis proposed that increased study time leads to better academic performance.

學生的假設表明增加學習時間可以提高學業成績。

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agile

agile

(adjective)

= able to think quickly

Examples

We want to create an agile marketing team. 

His agile mind allowed him to solve complicated problems in a short period of time.

To win customers, businesses must remain agile and meet their needs.

Reference

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

Here are more examples of using "agile":

The software development team is agile, quickly adapting to changing requirements.

An agile mindset is essential for thriving in a fast-paced work environment.

Athletes need to be both physically and mentally agile to excel in their sports.

Startups often benefit from being agile, allowing them to pivot their strategies when necessary.

Some synonyms for "agile":

 

Quick

Lively

Alert 

Flexible

Adaptable

Responsive 

Light-footed

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Verbs

 Verbs

A verb is a word that describes an action, state, or occurrence. Verbs are essential in sentences as they convey what the subject is doing or what is happening.

Examples of Verbs in Action

Teacher: How do monkeys move?

Student: They swing.

The word "swing" describes the action of monkeys moving through trees.

Teacher: How do people move?

Student: They walk.

The word "walk" describes the common action of people moving on foot.

Teacher: How do birds move?

Student: They fly.

The word "fly" describes the action of birds moving through the air.

Teacher: How do kangaroos move?

Student: They hop.

The word "hop" describes the unique way kangaroos move by jumping.

Teacher: How do horses move?

Student: They gallop.

The word "gallop" describes the fast, rhythmic way horses run.

Importance of Verbs

Verbs are not only important for describing actions but also for conveying time through tenses. 

For example:

Present Tense: "I run every day."

Past Tense: "I ran yesterday."

Future Tense: "I will run tomorrow."

Types of Verbs

Action Verbs: Describe physical or mental actions (e.g., run, think).

Linking Verbs: Connect the subject to a subject complement (e.g., is, appear).

Auxiliary Verbs: Help the main verb express tense or mood (e.g., have, will).

Conclusion

Understanding verbs is crucial for effective communication. They help us express actions and connect ideas, making our sentences more dynamic and engaging.

https://jeffreywckin.github.io/010-Verbs.html

have a good nose for something

 have a good nose for something

= to be naturally good at finding and recognizing opportunities, trends, or important details  

Mark has a good nose for business; he can identify numerous lucrative investment opportunities before anyone else.

Sarah has a good nose for fashion; she can spot upcoming trends long before they hit the mainstream.

James has a good nose for investing; he consistently chooses stocks that outperform the market.

Some synonyms and antonyms for the phrase "have a good nose for something":

Synonyms

Have an eye for

Be intuitive about

Be savvy in

Antonyms

Lack insight into

Be clueless about

Miss opportunities

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swear

swear

= to use offensive or vulgar language to insult or express anger toward someone 

咒罵;

He swore at the referee after receiving the red card.

在收到紅牌後，他對裁判咒罵。

I believe he will swear at you if you don’t follow what he said.

我相信如果你不遵循他的話，他會對你咒罵。

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hit the sack

hit the sack

= (informal) to go to bed

= （非正式）上床睡覺;

I have to go to the airport early tomorrow morning, so I’m going to hit the sack now.

我明天早上要去機場，所以我現在要上床睡覺。

After a long day at work, I’m ready to hit the sack early tonight.

經過一整天的工作，我今晚準備早點上床睡覺。

We have a big day planned for tomorrow, so let’s hit the sack now.

我們明天有一個大計劃，所以我們現在就上床睡覺吧。

I’ve got an early meeting, so I’ll hit the sack right after dinner.

我有個早會，所以晚餐後我會馬上上床睡覺。

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downpour

 downpour

= a heavy rainfall that occurs in a short period of time

We had to stop here during our hike because the downpour was so heavy that we could not continue.

Due to the heavy downpour, the outdoor concert was postponed until next week, much to the disappointment of the fans.

The downpour caused several delays at the airport, with flights being grounded until the weather improved.

The soccer match was halted due to the downpour, as the field became too muddy for safe play.

Synonyms for "Downpour": 

Rainstorm 

Torrential rain

Heavy rain

Pouring rain 

Antonyms for "Downpour":

Drought

Dry spell

Clear skies

Sunshine

Light rain 

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perfect storm

 perfect storm

= a rare and extreme situation where a combination of factors leads to a disastrous outcome

The hurricane coincided with a high tide and heavy rainfall, resulting in a perfect storm that devastated the coastal town.

With her job loss and health issues, she found herself in a perfect storm of challenges. 

After the breakup, job stress, and the loss of a family member, she found herself in a perfect storm of emotional turmoil.

Some synonyms and antonyms for "perfect storm":

Synonyms: 

Crisis 

Disastrous combination 

Perfectly timed disaster

Catastrophic event

Antonyms:

Calm situation

Favorable conditions

Smooth sailing 

Stability 

Optimistic scenario

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swing for the fences

swing for the fences

= to take a big risk to achieve something significant 

冒很大的風險以達成某個重要的目標;

Susan decided to invest all her savings to make a film; she is definitely swinging for the fences with her new career path.

Susan決定將所有的積蓄投入製作一部電影；她在新的職業道路上無疑是在奮力一搏。

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hightail it out of somewhere

hightail it out of somewhere

= to depart quickly or leave a place at once

迅速離開或立即離開某處;

When the thunderstorm hit, we hightailed it out of the sports ground.

當雷雨來襲時，我們迅速撤離了運動場。

When the fire alarm went off, everyone hightailed it out of the building.

當火警警報響起時，所有人都迅速撤離了建築物。

The moment the storm started, we hightailed it out of the park.

暴風雨一開始，我們就迅速撤離了公園。

Seeing the dark clouds approaching, they decided to hightail it out of the beach.

看到烏雲逼近，他們決定迅速撤離海灘。

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a sitting duck

 a sitting duck

= someone or something that is vulnerable or defenseless 

Without their weapons, the soldiers are just sitting ducks for the enemy.

When I forgot to take the key out of the door, I felt like a sitting duck for burglars.

Without proper security measures, the store was a sitting duck for thieves.

 

The unprotected computer system was a sitting duck for hackers.

With no backup plan in place, the team was a sitting duck when the project hit a snag.

Some synonyms and antonyms for "sitting duck":

Synonyms:

Vulnerable

Defenseless

Easy target

Prey 

Antonyms:

Protected

Secure

Defended

Safe 

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agile

agile

(adjective)

= able to think quickly

Examples

We want to create an agile marketing team. 

His agile mind allowed him to solve complicated problems in a short period of time.

To win customers, businesses must remain agile and meet their needs.

Reference

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

Here are more examples of using "agile":

The software development team is agile, quickly adapting to changing requirements.

An agile mindset is essential for thriving in a fast-paced work environment.

Athletes need to be both physically and mentally agile to excel in their sports.

Startups often benefit from being agile, allowing them to pivot their strategies when necessary.

Some synonyms for "agile":

 

Quick

Lively

Alert 

Flexible

Adaptable

Responsive 

Light-footed

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=jeffrey.cytc.en_odyssey&pli=1

#English #Vocabulary #EnglishLearning #Grammar #英単語 #英語学習 #TOEIC #IELTS