Unit 4

Word

Definition

Example

crash

to have an accident in a car, plane, etc. by violently hitting something else

The plane crashed into a mountain

cause damage

to do physical harm to somethinɡ so that it is broken

These chemicals have been found to cause serious environmental damage

mix up

to make the mistake of thinking that someone or something is another person or thing

I must have mixed up the times

turn up

to arrive at a place, especially in a way that is unexpected

Steve turned up late, as usual

tick

to mark a test, list of questions, etc. with a tick (✓), in order to show that something is correct, to choose something, etc

Tick the description that best fits you

charge

to ask (someone) for a particular amount of money for something you are selling

Calls will be charged at 44p per minute

measure

to find the size, length or amount of (something), using standard units such as millimetres, metres, etc

Measure the length of the room so that we can buy the right size of sofa

fit

if something fits in a place, it is the right size or shape to go there

I couldn't find a key that fitted the lock

forget

to not remember (to do something that you should do)

Someone's forgotten to turn off their headlights

catch fire

if something catches fire, it starts to burn accidentally

The boat caught fire and sank

press

to push (a button, switch, etc.) to make a machine start, a bell ring, etc

Press control, alt, delete to log on to the computer

go out

to be sent

The magazine goes out to all members at the end of the month

knock over

to hit (something) with a short quick action so that it falls

At that moment, Sally knocked over her cup of tea

spill

if you spill a liquid, or if it spills, it accidentally flows over the edge of a container

Oh no! I've spilt coffee all down my shirt!

slip

if a knife or other tool slips, it moves so that it accidentally cuts the wrong thing

The knife slipped and cut his finger

go into

to enter

The nail went into his foot

leave something on

to let something remain in a particular state, position or condition

You've left your lights on

flood

to cover (a place) with water, or to become covered with water

The village was cut off by floods

fell

to move or drop down from a higher position to a lower position

Rob fell down the stairs

export

to sell (goods) to another country

The company exports tuna to the US

object

to feel or say that you oppose or disapprove of something

If no one objects, I would like Mrs Harrison to be present

present

something you give someone on a special occasion or to thank them for something

She was presented with an award

promise

a statement that you will definitely do or provide something or that something will definitely happen

You promised me the car would be ready on Monday

protest

to come together to publicly express disapproval or opposition to something

Drivers blocked roads around the capital to protest about the rising cost of fuel

research

to study (a subject) in detail, especially in order to discover new facts or test new ideas

She's been researching into the history of the area

trust

a strong belief in the honesty, goodness, etc. of someone or something

Children at this age have complete trust in their parents

challenge

something that tests strength, skill or ability, especially in a way that is interesting

Our biggest challenge is finding the money

control

to have the power to make the decisions about how (a country, place, company, etc.) is organised or what it does

The oil industry was controlled by five multinational companies

increase

a rise in amount, number or degree

There has been a great increase in air traffic in the last 20 years

refund

to give someone (their money) back, especially because they are not satisfied with the goods or services they have paid for

I took the radio back, and they refunded my money

struggle

to try extremely hard to achieve something, even though it is very difficult

She's struggling to bring up a family alone

update

a change or addition to a computer file so that it has the most recent information

The program sends an alert when there is an update available

worth

having a value in money

The thieves stole pictures worth £50,000

badly hurt

suffering considerable pain or injury

Fortunately, no one was badly hurt in the incident

emergency services

official organisations such as the police or the fire service, that deal with crime, fires and injuries

The emergency services acted promptly to assist the victims and evacuate the area

criminal

someone who is involved in illegal activities or has been proved guilty of a crime

Police have described the man as a violent and dangerous criminal

jail

a place where criminals are kept as part of their punishment, or where people who have been charged with a crime are kept before they are judged in a law court

Griffiths spent three days in jail after pushing a policeman

trap

to catch (someone) by forcing them into a place from which they cannot escape

The police trapped the terrorists at a roadblock

thief

someone who steals things from another person or place

Car thieves are operating in this area

lock someone inside

to prevent someone from leaving a room or building by locking the door

They locked the director inside his office

report

to tell the police or someone in authority that (an accident or crime) has happened

I'd like to report a theft

criminal gang

a ɡroup of criminals who work toɡether

Criminal gangs have hijacked lorries

make threats

to tell someone that you will cause them harm or trouble if they do not do what you want

Neighbours say that they heard Gardiner make threats against his wife

attack

an act of violence that is intended to hurt a person or damage a place

She was attacked while walking home late at night

gang

a group of young people who spend time together, and who are often involved in crime or drugs and who often fight against other groups

The parents have denied that their son is a gang member

robber

someone who steals money or property

Armed robbers broke into the shop and demanded money from the till

theft

the crime of stealinɡ, or an act of stealing

Northern Ireland had one of the highest levels of car theft in Europe

trial

a legal process in which a judge and often a jury in a court of law examine information to decide whether someone is guilty of a crime

Taylor went on trial accused of fraud

victim

someone who has been attacked, robbed or murdered

The credit card fraud ring stole millions of dollars from unsuspecting victims

witness

someone who sees a crime or an accident and can describe what happened

Police have appealed for witnesses to come forward

arrest

if the police arrest someone, the person is taken to a police station because the police think they have done something illegal

Five men were arrested in connection with the attack

break into

to enter (a building or car) by using force, in order to steal something

Someone broke into my car and stole the radio

claim

to officially demand or receive (money) from an organisation because you have a right to it

You can claim on the insurance if you have an accident while on holiday

free

to allow (someone) to leave prison or somewhere they have been kept as a prisoner

The terrorists have at last agreed to free the hostages

get away

to escape from someone who is chasing you or trying to catch you

The three men got away in a stolen car

pay off a loan

to give someone all the money you owe them

It'll be years before we've paid off the loan

sort out

to successfully deal with (a problem or difficult situation)

I'll be glad to get this misunderstanding sorted out

screen

the part of a television, computer or mobile phone where the picture or information appears

The phone has a touch screen

cracked

something that is cracked has one or more lines on the surface because it is damaged but not completely broken

The mirror was cracked and dirty

guarantee

a formal written promise to repair or replace a product if it breaks within a specific period of time

They offer a two-year guarantee on all their electrical goods

deal

an agreement or arrangement, especially in business or politics, that helps both sides involved

We have negotiated a special deal with one of the world's leading car hire companies

overcharge

to charge (someone) too much money for something

They were overcharged by the taxi driver

delivery

the act of bringing goods, letters, etc. to a particular person or place, or the things that are brought

You can expect delivery in a week to ten days

fault

something that is wrong with a machine, system, design, etc., that prevents it from working properly

It sounds as if there's a fault in one of the loudspeakers

take something back

to take something you have bought back to a shop because it is not suitable

If the shirt doesn't fit, take it back

exchange

to give someone something and receive something different from them

If you are unhappy with the jacket, you can always take it back and exchange it for another one

underpaid

earning less money than you deserve for your work

Many workers on coffee plantations are underpaid

undercooked

if meat, fish, vegetables, etc. are undercooked, they have not been cooked for long enough and are partly raw, too hard, etc

Please tell the chef that this salmon is undercooked; it's still raw in the middle

overpaid

given more money for a job than you deserve

People often complain that footballers are overpaid

underdeveloped

used to refer to a country, area, etc. that is poor and where there is not much modern industry

Drones could be used to deliver medicines in underdeveloped countries

overused

used too much, especially so that something is not effective any more

Clichés are expressions that are overused and that become almost meaningless