Lekcja 15

the pursuit of happiness The company is ruthless in its pursuit of profit. 2. He lost himself in his pursuit of wealth.

Although the play was written hundreds of years ago, it still has a contemporary (= modern) feel to it.

She sends a small remittance home to her parents each month.

Many times they do not take into account that people have natural blind spots.

Russia's comparative advantage is in the export of raw materials.

Dissatisfaction with the government seems to have permeated every section of society.

My bank has agreed to defer the repayments on my loan. [+ -ing verb ] Can we defer making a decision until next week?

1 I lost my footing and tumbled down the stairs. 2 At any moment the whole building could tumble down

By my reckoning, we should arrive in ten minutes.

Many think there’s a growing moral malaise in society.

1. I have achieved the knowledge sublime 2. The view from the top of the mountain was truly sublime.

What do you think is the nub of the problem? the nub of the matter

The Battle of the Somme was a scene of dreadful carnage

1 It was such a hassle trying to get my bank account changed that I nearly gave up. 2. I can't face the hassle of moving again.

1. Yesterday's coup brought further upheaval to a country already struggling with famine. 2. I'm not sure it's worth the upheaval of moving to gain just a little more space.

Typically, outsiders are brought in to execute a specific playbook, i.e. to solve a particular problem in a particular way.

There's such rivalry among/between my three sons. There's fierce rivalry for the job/to get the job.

He was on his knees, pleading for mercy/forgiveness. She appeared on television to plead with the kidnappers.

a curated library of short movies available online

The girls were duped by drug smugglers into carrying heroin for them.

1. With the amount of traffic nowadays, even a trip across town is beset by/with dangers. 2. Many problems have beset the team in recent months.

We offer to all our trading partners a commitment to reciprocity and fairness.

1. Her silence was taken as an admission of guilt/defeat. 2. The admission charge/fee is €5 3. Admission to the exhibition will be by invitation only.

1. A strong opposition is vital to a healthy democracy. 2. She had found out some information of vital importance.

The area has been ravaged by drought/floods/war.

1. You may sneer, but a lot of people like this kind of music. 2. She'll probably sneer at my new shoes because they're not expensive.

an amusing story/person/situation Synonym comical

1. I am sure that common sense will prevail in the end. 2. And did reason prevail over (= become a more powerful influence than) emotion

1. Have you managed to elicit a response from them yet? 3. They were able to elicit the support of the public. 4. We need to elicit this information from him because nobody else wants to tell us.

Our holiday plans were thwarted by the airline pilots' strike

insurmountable difficulties This small country is faced with an insurmountable debt.

I wonder what it is that impels him to exercise all the time.

1. I'm not being lazy - I'm just conserving my energy/strength for later. 2. To conserve electricity, we are cutting down on our heating.

1. The game of chess requires intense concentration and sustained mental duelling. 2. Their partnership is full of vitality, kept alive with intellectual duelling.

How can we choke off the spread of the disease?