Too often we forget that many people in this world face severe penalties for sharing their opinions because they don’t have the right to _______ of speech in their countries.
freedom
What does "averse" mean? Few people are averse to the idea of a free holiday.
strongly disliking or opposed to
It was interesting to see how Graham’s _______ (conceive) were challenged when he first met my wife, who had originally come to this country as an asylum-seeker from Iraq.
preconceptions
Jessica and Laurence decided to take a break from revising and go to the café for half an hour. Laura, yet while/meanwhile, decided to stay at the library and continue studying.
meanwhile
Explain the word: a dark horse
a candidate or competitor about whom little is known but who unexpectedly wins or succeeds.
If you ______ me, Daldry’s performance tonight was mediocre at best and a complete disappointment. I had such high expectations.
ask
Whatever you do, don’t give Sue any hint of the surprise or you’ll ______ the game away!
give
What does "adept" mean? She's very adept at dealing with the media.
having a natural ability to do something that needs skill.
What does "brush off" mean? He thinks many consumers brush-off any responsibility for promoting unethical production processes.
to refuse to listen to what someone says, or to refuse to think about something seriously
What does the phrase "a blue-eyed boy" mean? Matthew remarks that Maria’s brother has always been the blue-eyed boy as far as their parents are concerned.
a boy or man who is liked very much and is treated well by someone, especially someone in authority
Explain the phrasal: to bear in mind
to be mindful of or consider something
Explain the word: self-absorbed
only interested in yourself and your own activities
What does "vivacity" mean? Jacqui enjoys Clare’s vivacity and is in awe of her boundless energy.
the quality of being vivacious (= attractively energetic and enthusiastic)
Explain the word: a busybody
a person who is too interested in things that do not involve them
What does the word "discern" mean? I could just discern a figure in the darkness.
to see, recognize, or understand something that is not clear
Explain the word: a chatterbox
a person who likes to chatter.
Explain the word: a wallflower
a person who has no one to dance with or who feels shy, awkward, or excluded at a party.
What does the word "hazard" mean? He hazarded a guess.
to offer (a statement, conjecture, etc.) with the possibility of facing criticism, disapproval or failure.
Far ______ to lose a fight whilst standing up for your convictions, than to lose one without defending your principles.
better
What does the word "cagey" mean in this sentence: Leah doesn’t understand why Fred’s so cagey about his musical abilities and only discovered he was such a great pianist after hearing him play.
reluctant to give information
Explain the phrasal verb: to beat around/about the bush
to avoid talking about what is important
What does "impervious" mean? He is impervious to criticism and rational argument.
If someone is impervious to something,they are not influenced or affected by something
Make an adjective from the word "Inquire" with the meaning "Too curious; overly interested; nosy."
inquisitive
Explain the word: a sweatshop
a small factory where workers are paid very little and work many hours in very bad conditions
What does "well off" mean? Her family was very well off.
rich
It’s a shame Selma isn’t here today. ONLY _________________________ here today.
If only Selma was/were
Explain the word: a black sheep
a member of a family or group who is regarded as a disgrace to it. "the black sheep of the family"
Your experience on this site will be improved by allowing cookies.