(n) the reduction of something by a large amount so that there is not enough left. e.g. "Many scientists are concerned by the d____ of the o-zone layer."
depletion
(adj) not complicated. "It's really s____. You just press this button and the machine does the rest."
straightforward
(expression) to help smb relax. e.g. "I was a bit worried, but her calm manner really p__ m_ a_ e____."
put someone at ease
(n/v) to make a short high sound that is not very loud. "The mouse s_____ed and ran away" or "My new shoes s_____ as I walk."
squeak
(n) The act of sending a group of settlers to (a place) to establish political control over it. C______
colonisation
(n) small problems that a company, product, system, etc. has at the beginning e.g. "New cars often suffer from t_______ p_______s."
teething problem
(phr. v) to be faced with or opposed by somebody/somethinge.g. "We expect to c___ u__ a_____ a lot of opposition to the plan."
come up against
(adj) giving the best possible profit or benefits in comparison with the money that is spent. e.g. "They say CCTV is a c___-e____ way of fighting crime."
cost-effective
(n/v) to make a very loud, deep sound. "The lion r_____ed angrily."
roar
(adj) behaving in a secret and sometimes dishonest or unpleasant way. e.g. "I don't trust him. I think he's up to his s_____ tricks again."
sneaky
(phr. v) to try harder to prevent an illegal activity and deal more severely with those who are caught doing ite.g. The police are trying to c_____ d_____ o_ online piracy and bring the culprits to justice.
crack down on
(v) s____ (something/somebody) = to move slowly and quietly towards an animal or a person, in order to kill, catch or harm it or them. e.g. "I like watching my cat s____ing birds in the back garden."
stalk
(adj) thinking sadly about something that you would like to have, especially something in the past that you can no longer have e.g. 'There was something rather w____ about the sad little tune.'
wistful
(v) to make a rough low sound, like the sound a frog makes. e.g. A frog c_____ed by the water.
croak
(n) something that you allow or do, or allow somebody to have, in order to end an argument or to make a situation less difficult"The firm will be forced to make c_____ if it wants to avoid a strike."
concessions
(expression) without planning e.g. "I decided to do it o_ a w_____. I just thought 'why not?' and I signed up at the last minute."
on a whim
(phr. v) (informal) to give advice, a punishment, etc."He's always h____ing o___ advice to people."
hand out
e_____ somebody/something (in something) = (formal) to involve somebody/something in a bad situation that it is not easy to escape from
enmesh
h_______ = to sing a tune with your lips closed / to make a low continuous sound
hum
(v) to damage something badly e.g. The country was r______ by civil war.
ravage
b____ = (n/v) a shout in a loud deep voice, especially when you are angry e.g. " 'How dare you?!', he b____ed."
bellow
(phrasal verb) to think about a situation calmly, as if you are not involved in it yourself. e.g. "It's important to be able to s____ b____ f____ things and not to see things so subjectively in the heat of the moment."
step back from
(phr. v) to destroy or remove somebody/something completely"The whole village was w_____d o___ by the enemy army. They took no prisoners and killed everyone."
wipe out
(phrasal verb) (of a noise) to gradually get quieter. e.g "I heard the car zoom past and then the noise d____ a____ as it got further and further away from where I was hiding."
die away
(phr. v) to make something fall down by cutting it at the base"It's a shame that so many trees have been c___ d____ in the recent past."
cut down
(v/n) the short loud sound made by dogs and some other animals. "The dog b_____ed loudly at me and I felt scared." / a short loud sound made by a gun or a voice e.g. a b____ of laughter
bark
(adj) bad-tempered. e.g. "Don't listen to that angry old fool. He's just a g____ old man."
grumpy
(adj) large in amount, or impressive, and usually costing a lot of money e.g. "They received l_____ gifts for their wedding."
lavish
(n) an important development that may lead to an agreement or achievement. e.g. This drug could be a major b______ for cancer treatment.
breakthrough
(n) the act of using energy, food or materials; the amount used e.g. The meat was declared unfit for human c________. / the act of buying and using products e.g."C______ rather than saving has become the central feature of contemp...
consumption
(adj) available but not yet used e.g. There are u______ oil resources beneath this country.
(phrasal verb) to make yourself free of somebody/something that is annoying you or that you do not want; to throw something away "e.g. I can't r___ o_ this headache."
get rid of
(phr. v) to use all of something so that there is none left . e.g. "Making soup is a good way of ____ing u_ leftover vegetables."
use up
(v) to walk or travel around an area without any definite aim or direction. e.g. "The sheep are allowed to r____ freely here."
roam
(v) to make a loud high unpleasant sound; to say something using this sound. e.g. "Monkeys were s_____ing in the trees." or "No, don't!, she s______ed"
screech
t_______ = (n) (of a river or stream) that flows into a larger river or lake
tributary
(n) making somebody less likely to do something e.g. The nuclear d_____ protects us from foreign attack.
deterrent
(phr. v) to become extincte.g. A long time ago, the dinosaurs d____ o____.
die out
h___ = (of a dog, wolf, etc.) to make a long, loud cry / to make a loud cry when you are in pain, angry, amused, etc.
howl
(v) to make slight changes to a machine, system, etc. to improve it / to pull or twist something suddenly e.g. "I think you'll have to t____ these figures a little before you show them to the boss."
tweak
(adj) (of people and things) small and delicate in a way that people find attractive. "I really like these d_____ little cups."
dainty
(phr. v) (usually disapproving) to mention something that has been forgotten, especially something unpleasant or embarrassinge.g. The papers keep trying to d______ u__ details of his past love life.
dredge up
(phr. v) to become popular or successful againe.g. "Long hair seems to be c___ing b___ into fashion again for men."
come back
(adj) becoming stronger or more popular againe.g. R______ nationalism is sweeping through the country again.
resurgent
(n/v) a short high sound made by small birds and some insects. e.g. "I could hear birds c____ing in the trees outside"
chirp
(n) a situation in which it is difficult for something to continue in the normal way; the act of stopping something from continuing in the normal way e.g. "The strike caused serious d________s."
disruption
ch_____ = (v) (of birds or monkeys) to make a series of short high sounds / (of teeth) to knock together continuously because you are cold or frightened / to talk quickly and continuously, especially about things that are not impo...
chatter
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