Vocabulary: Batch 36

"Trace amount": very small amount (chemistry). "Without a trace" = disappear completely. "Trace element": essential nutrient in tiny amounts.

• a small or barely detectable sign of something

  There was no trace of blood on the knife.

1. to follow or find the source or course of something

   They traced the call to a number in Paris.

2. to draw or copy by following lines through thin paper

   She traced the picture onto her notebook.

• to go back over (the same route that one has just taken)

  He began to retrace his steps.

"Tour guide", "world tour" (music), "tour of duty" (military).

• a journey for pleasure in which several places are visited

  They went on a tour of Europe.

• to travel through a place visiting various sights

  The band toured the country.

"Ecotourism", "medical tourism", "dark tourism" (visiting disaster sites): modern subgenres. World's largest industry by some measures.

• the activity or business of traveling for pleasure

  Tourism is a major source of income for the country.

"Tourist trap" = overpriced attraction targeting tourists. "Tourist class" = economy. Often contrasted with "traveler" (deeper engagement) by snobs.

• a person who travels for pleasure

  The tourists took photos of the cathedral.

"Toss a coin": to decide by chance. "Toss and turn": sleep restlessly. "Toss salad": mix gently. Different from "throw" (more force/distance) and "hurl" (very forceful).

• to throw something lightly or carelessly

  She tossed the keys onto the table.

Always negative. Synonyms: gaudy, tacky, flashy, loud. Antonym: tasteful, understated.

• too bright or colorful in a tasteless way

  The garish neon sign hurt his eyes.

From Italian "grottesca" (grotto-like): originally describing strange ornamental art found in Roman caves. Now strongly negative. Distinct from "ugly": implies bizarre distortion.

• strange and unpleasant or repulsive

  The statue had a grotesque face.

"Slow and steady wins the race": moral of Aesop's tortoise and hare. "Steady relationship" = committed boyfriend/girlfriend. "Steady-state": physics/engineering term.

1. firmly fixed; not shaking

   Hold the ladder steady.

2. continuous; not changing

   There is a steady demand for the product.

"Spray paint": aerosol paint, associated with graffiti. "Hair spray", "bug spray", "pepper spray": common types. "Spray and pray": firing wildly.

• to apply liquid in a fine mist

  She sprayed perfume on her wrists.

• liquid sent through the air in tiny drops

  He felt the cool spray of the waterfall.

• a device for spraying a liquid

  A garden sprayer.

• paint that is contained in an aerosol can for the purpose of spraying onto a surface

  A can of spray paint.

• a device for spraying liquid, typically paint, using air pressure

  He used a spray gun to paint the car.

• an aerosol can

  Graffiti done with a spray can.

• to spray with paint or coating again

  They resprayed the car red.

• a new coat of sprayed paint

  The bike needs a full respray.

"In spite of" = despite (very common prepositional phrase). "Out of spite" = motivated by malice. "Cut off one's nose to spite one's face" = harm oneself to hurt another.

• a desire to hurt or annoy someone

  He did it out of pure spite.

Past tense: spat (UK/AmE traditional) or spit (US informal). "Spitting image" = exact look-alike. "Spit it out" = say what you need to say.

• to forcibly eject saliva or other contents from the mouth

  He spat on the ground.

• saliva ejected from the mouth

  Wipe the spit off your chin.

Often hyphenated. Business: "corporate spin-off", separating a division into a new company. TV: "Better Call Saul" is a spin-off of "Breaking Bad".

• a product, show, or business derived from a parent one

  The TV series was a spin-off of the original.

"Sometime" (one word) = at an unspecified time. Different from "some time" (two words) = a period of time. Also "sometimes" (with -s) = occasionally. Three distinct words.

• at some unspecified time

  Let's have lunch sometime.

Two uses: method unknown ("somehow he survived") and feeling unclear ("somehow it doesn't feel right"). Often expresses mild puzzlement or wonder.

• in some way unknown

  Somehow, we got through it.

Three main senses: physical state (not liquid/gas), reliable/sturdy, and informal positive ("that's solid" = good). "Solid gold": pure, not plated. "Solid hour" = continuous full hour.

1. hard and firm, keeping its shape

   Ice is water in solid form.

2. reliable; of good quality

   He has a solid background in engineering.

1. to become or make solid; to harden from liquid or gas to solid state

   The lava solidified into rock as it cooled.

2. (figurative) to make something stronger, firmer, or more definite

   The win solidified her position as the world's top player.

Many senses unified by sudden/sharp action: snap a stick (break), snap a photo (quick capture), snap at someone (sudden anger). "Snap out of it" = recover suddenly.

1. to break suddenly with a sharp sound

   The branch snapped under his weight.

2. to speak sharply or angrily

   She snapped at him for being late.

3. to take a photograph quickly

   He snapped a picture of the sunset.

"Oh snap!" (US): exclamation of surprise/realization, often after a clever put-down.

• used to express disappointment or surprise

  Oh snap, I forgot my keys!

• irritable and inclined to speak sharply; cleverly concise; neat and elegant

  A snappy reply. A snappy dresser.

Positive synonym of thin/slim. Also figurative: "slender majority" = small but sufficient; "slender hope" = faint chance. "Slender Man": internet horror character.

1. gracefully thin

   She had long, slender fingers.

2. barely sufficient in amount

   They won by a slender margin.

Often pejorative (implies unhealthy thinness); compare "slim" or "slender" (positive) and "thin" (neutral). "Skinny jeans": tight-fitting style. "Skinny dipping" = swimming naked.

• very thin, often unattractively so

  She's tall and skinny.

British spelling. American: skillful (double L). Note: the noun "skill" has double L in both BrE and AmE, only the adjective form differs.

• having or showing skill

  She is a skilful negotiator.

American spelling. British: skilful (single L).

• having or showing skill

  He is a skillful surgeon.

Religious term, primarily Christian. "Seven deadly sins": pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath, sloth. "Cardinal sin": most serious. Secular: "sin tax" on tobacco/alcohol.

• an act that breaks a religious law

  Lying is considered a sin.

• to commit a sin

  "We have all sinned," said the priest.

"Repentant sinner" - common religious phrase.

• a person who commits sins

  The preacher welcomed sinners and saints alike.

• committing or characterized by sin

  He led a sinful life before repenting.

Figurative: "a shallow person" = lacks depth of character. "Shallow breathing": medical concern. Antonym: deep.

1. not deep

   The pool is shallow at this end.

2. lacking depth of thought or character

   His comments were rather shallow.

Two main senses: biological category (male/female) and physical intimacy.

1. either of the two main biological categories, male and female

   The form asked for name, age, and sex.

2. sexual activity between people

   They talked openly about sex.

• a person's sexual orientation or interests

  The novel explores questions of identity and sexuality.

"Sexual orientation", "sexual harassment", "sexual selection" (Darwinian biology). Distinguish from "sexy" (attractive) and "sex-related" (about reproduction).

• relating to sex or the relations between the sexes

  The book deals with sexual themes.

• a person who emotionally and psychologically feels that they belong to the opposite sex

  Support groups for transsexuals.

From Greek homos (same) + Latin sexus. Now somewhat clinical/formal in everyday English; "gay" and "lesbian" are more common in casual speech.

• sexually attracted to people of one's own sex

  He came out as homosexual in his twenties.

• sexually attracted to people of the opposite sex

  A heterosexual relationship.

• designed to be suitable for both sexes

  Unisex clothing.

• without sexual feelings or associations; (of reproduction) not involving the fusion of gametes

  Asexual reproduction.

From Latin "sex menses" (six months). Academic year typically has 2 semesters (US) or 3 trimesters/terms (UK).

• half of an academic year

  She studies abroad next semester.

"Scrubs": hospital uniforms. Computing: "scrub" = remove sensitive data. Audio/video: "scrub through" = drag playhead.

• to clean by rubbing hard

  He scrubbed the floor with a brush.

From Latin "schola" (school). More formal than "academic": implies deep learning. "A gentleman and a scholar": old compliment.

• a person who studies a subject at advanced level

  He is a Shakespeare scholar.

Two senses: financial award (most common) and scholarly research. "Full scholarship" = covers all tuition.

1. financial aid for students

   She won a scholarship to Harvard.

2. academic study or achievement

   His scholarship has shaped the field.

"Scatter-brained" = forgetful, distracted. "Scattered showers": weather forecast. "Scatter plot": chart showing data point distribution.

• to throw or distribute in different directions

  She scattered the seeds across the garden.

• broadly and often randomly inclusive; lacking a clear focus

  A scattershot approach.

Singular = an amount saved ("a saving of $50"). Plural "savings" = money accumulated ("my life savings"). "Savings account": bank product.

• an amount of money saved or reduced

  The discount represents a saving of 30%.

"Savings account", "life savings" - common collocations. Distinct from singular "a saving" (an amount reduced).

• money accumulated by not spending it

  He put his savings in a high-yield account.

Iron oxide. Also a color (reddish-brown). "Rust Belt": declining US industrial region. "Rust" is also a popular Mozilla-originated programming language.

• reddish-brown coating on iron exposed to moisture

  The old car was covered in rust.

"Rob" focuses on the victim ("They robbed the bank"); "steal" focuses on the object ("They stole money"). Distinct legal meanings.

• to take something illegally from a person or place, often using force

  They robbed the bank in broad daylight.

"Bank robber", "highway robber". Compare with "burglar" (breaks in), "thief" (takes by stealth), "mugger" (street attack).

• a person who robs

  The robber wore a mask.

"Armed robbery": using a weapon. "Highway robbery": historically literal, now figurative for being overcharged.

• the act of robbing

  There was a bank robbery downtown.

"Get rid of" is by far the most common construction. Past tense is also "rid" (or rarely "ridded"). Note the patterns: "rid X of Y" and the past participle "rid".

• to free from something unwanted

  They tried to rid the garden of weeds.

"Reserve the right to...": formal legal phrase. "Reserved seating": assigned seats.

• to keep or save for later

  Please reserve a table for two.

"Nature reserve": protected wildlife area. "Foreign exchange reserves": national currency holdings. "In reserve" = held back for future use.

• a supply kept for use when needed

  They keep cash reserves for emergencies.

Three senses: arrangement ("hotel reservation"), doubt ("I have reservations about this"), and land set aside (e.g., "Indian reservation" in US).

1. an arrangement to have something kept for one's use

   I have a reservation for 7 p.m.

2. a feeling of doubt

   She had reservations about the plan.

• slow to reveal emotion or opinions; kept specially for a particular purpose or person

  He is a reserved, almost taciturn man.

• a member of the military reserve forces

  The reservist was called up for training.

More formal than "ask". "On request": when asked. "By request": because someone asked.

• a formal or polite act of asking for something

  They made a request for more funding.

• to politely or formally ask for

  He requested permission to leave.

"Represent" a client (law), a country (diplomacy/sport), or an idea (symbolism).

• to act or speak officially on behalf of someone

  The lawyer represented her client in court.

"House of Representatives" : lower chamber of US Congress. "Sales rep" : common abbreviation. Customer service "rep".

• a person chosen to act or speak for others

  She is our representative in Congress.

• typical of a group or class

  This case is representative of a larger trend.

"No taxation without representation" : American Revolution slogan. "Representation matters" : modern phrase about diverse media casting.

• the action of speaking or acting for someone

  They demanded political representation.

1. (of art) showing recognizable people, objects, or scenes; not abstract

   He prefers representational paintings to abstract ones.

2. acting or speaking on behalf of others

   The committee has a representational structure that includes members from each region.

"Remote work" became mainstream post-2020. "Remote possibility" = unlikely. "Remote control": common household device.

1. far away in space or time

   They live in a remote village.

2. slight or unlikely

   There's a remote chance of rain.

• a remote control device

  Pass me the remote.

More formal than "stay". "It remains to be seen" = the answer isn't clear yet. "Remains" (plural) often means a corpse or ruins.

• to continue to exist; to stay

  Few buildings remain from that era.

Two senses: what is left of something (ruins, leftovers) or a dead body (formal/legal).

• the parts of something left over after the rest has gone

  Archaeologists found the remains of an ancient city.

From Latin "re-" + "laxare" (loosen). Same root as "lax". Both physical (muscles) and mental (calm down) senses.

1. to become less tense; to rest

   Sit down and relax.

2. to make rules or conditions less strict

   They relaxed the dress code.

"I regret to inform you...": formal letter opening for bad news. "No regrets": common motto.

• to feel sorry about something

  He regrets quitting his job.

• a feeling of sadness about something one wishes had been different

  She has no regrets.

• feeling or expressing regret

  He gave a regretful smile.

"It is regrettable that..." - formal way to express disappointment.

• causing or deserving regret

  The incident was a regrettable misunderstanding.

From Latin "reducere" (lead back). "Reduce, reuse, recycle": environmental slogan. In cooking: simmer to thicken. In math: simplify.

• to make smaller in size or amount

  They reduced the price by half.

• not able to be reduced or simplified

  An irreducible minimum.

• the action of making something smaller or less

  The store offered a 20% reduction on all items.

From Latin "rectus" (right) + "angulus" (corner). A four-sided shape with four right angles. Square is a special case.

• a four-sided shape with four right angles

  Draw a rectangle on the page.

British spelling: recognise. From Latin "re-" (again) + "cognoscere" (to know). Three senses: identify someone known, acknowledge (a fact), and grant formal status.

1. to identify someone or something one has seen before

   I didn't recognize her with short hair.

2. to acknowledge the existence or validity of something

   The treaty recognizes their independence.

British spelling. American: recognize.

• to identify someone or something one has seen before

  I didn't recognise her with short hair.

"In recognition of" - formal phrase for honoring achievement.

• the action of recognizing or acknowledging something

  She received an award in recognition of her service.

"Receive" follows the "i before e except after c" spelling rule.

• to be given, presented with, or paid something

  She received a package in the mail.

In American football: the player who catches passes. In phones: the part you hold to your ear. Legal: court-appointed manager of bankrupt assets.

• a device or person that receives something

  She picked up the receiver and dialed.

"Wedding reception": party after the ceremony. "Reception": signal strength (phone/TV). "Reception": hotel front desk.

1. the action of receiving someone or something

   The film received a warm reception.

2. the area in a hotel where guests check in

   Please leave your key at reception.

Often the first person visitors meet. Modern: "virtual receptionists" handled by AI.

• a person who greets visitors at a business

  The receptionist gave her a visitor badge.

British spelling "centre". Often used for processing arrivals: refugees, hospital patients, conference attendees.

• a place where new arrivals are received and processed

  Refugees were taken to the reception centre.

British term: describes living rooms, dining rooms, etc. on real estate listings ("3-bed, 2-reception").

• a room used for entertaining guests

  The house has two reception rooms.

"Accounts receivable" = a key term in accounting for money owed to a company.

• (of a sum of money) able or due to be received

  The company has $2 million in receivable invoices.

• willing to listen to or accept ideas

  The audience was receptive to the proposal.

"Ray of hope", "ray of sunshine": figurative for positive sign. "X-ray", "gamma ray", "laser ray": types. Also a flat fish (stingray).

• a narrow beam of light or energy

  A ray of sunlight came through the window.

Military: hierarchy of officers. "The rank and file" = ordinary members. "Pull rank" = use position to override.

• a position in a hierarchy

  He rose to the rank of captain.

• to have or assign a position in a hierarchy

  The university ranks among the top ten.

"World rankings": sports/tennis/golf player standings. "Search engine ranking": SEO position.

• a position on a scale

  Her ranking dropped to fifth.

US "purse" = UK "handbag". UK "purse" = US "wallet" (for coins/cash). Confusing for travelers! "Hold the purse strings": control money.

• a small bag for money or, in the US, a handbag

  She rummaged through her purse for her keys.

"Gas pump", "water pump", "bike pump", "insulin pump". "Pumps" (plural): style of women's high-heeled shoes.

• a device that moves liquids or gases

  The pump quickly filled the tire.

"Pump iron" = lift weights. "Pump up": inflate, or get excited. "Pump and dump": stock fraud.

• to move (liquid or gas) using a pump

  The heart pumps blood through the body.

"Real property" / "real estate": land and buildings. "Intellectual property": patents, copyrights. In coding: an attribute of an object.

1. something that one owns

   This bag is my property.

2. a quality or characteristic of something

   This metal has unique properties.

• relating to an owner or ownership; (of a product) marketed under and protected by a registered trade name

  Proprietary software.

Antonym: loss. "Profit margin": percentage. "Non-profit": charity-type organization. "Profit and loss statement" (P&L): financial report.

• financial gain

  The company made a $5 million profit.

• to gain or benefit

  He profited from the deal.

"Profitable" can also mean useful/beneficial, not just financial: "a profitable discussion".

• yielding profit or financial gain

  It was a profitable business.

In US: highest faculty rank (Assistant to Associate to Full Professor). In UK: only the most senior rank. "Prof": common short form. "Absent-minded professor": stereotype.

• a senior university teacher

  She's a chemistry professor at MIT.

• characteristic of a professor

  He spoke in a professorial tone.

• the position of a professor

  He was offered a professorship at Oxford.

From Latin "probare" (to prove). Legal: "probable cause", standard for arrest/search. Stronger than "possible", weaker than "certain".

• likely to happen or be true

  It's probable that they'll arrive late.

"In all probability" - very likely. Math/statistics: measured 0 to 1.

• the extent to which something is likely to happen

  There is a high probability of rain today.

• almost certainly

  She'll probably be late.

Children's "pretend play" or "make-believe". "Pretender to the throne": claimant. "Don't pretend you didn't know."

• to behave so as to make others believe something untrue

  He pretended to be asleep.

British spelling: pretence. "Under false pretenses" - common legal/everyday phrase.

• an attempt to make something false appear true

  He gained entry under false pretenses.

"Prepare for the worst" - common phrase. "Be prepared" - Scout motto.

• to make ready for something

  She prepared dinner for the guests.

"In preparation for": common phrase before events. "By way of preparation" = as a preliminary. Cooking: "meal prep" is an abbreviation.

• the act or process of getting ready

  Preparation for the exam took weeks.

• done as preparation for something

  The team held a preparatory meeting.

• a private school that prepares students for later education

  He attended a preparatory school in Boston.

• ready for something

  She came prepared for difficult questions.

• the state of being ready

  The drill improved emergency preparedness.

"Gunpowder", "baby powder", "baking powder", "face powder". "Powder room": euphemism for bathroom. "Take a powder": old slang for leave abruptly.

• fine dry particles

  Mix the powder with water.

"Poor thing" - expression of sympathy. "Dirt poor" - extremely poor. Antonym: rich, wealthy.

• having very little money or few possessions

  They grew up poor.

From Old French "poverte". "Vow of poverty": religious renunciation of wealth. "Poverty of imagination": figurative lack.

• the state of being extremely poor

  Millions live in poverty.

Official threshold; in the US set annually by Census Bureau. Varies by family size. Sometimes called "poverty threshold" or "poverty level".

• the official minimum income needed for basic needs

  Many families live below the poverty line.

Often passive or figurative: "impoverished by the divorce", "culturally impoverished". Causal of poverty.

• to make poor

  The war impoverished the country.

Stronger and more formal than "poverty": emphasizes the process of becoming poor, not just the state.

• the state or process of being made poor

  The policy led to widespread impoverishment.

From Latin "post" (after) + "ponere" (place). Synonyms: delay, defer, put off (more casual).

• to move to a later time

  The game was postponed due to rain.

• the act of delaying something

  The postponement disappointed fans.

Two distinct sources: "flight" from flying (Old English flyht) and "flight" from fleeing (Old English flyht, same word, but Germanic root meaning escape). "Fight or flight" response.

1. the act of flying or a journey by air

   The flight to Tokyo takes 12 hours.

2. a set of stairs between floors

   She climbed two flights of stairs.

Castle towers are turrets. Also the rotating gun mount on a tank or warship. Diminutive of "tower".

• a small tower on a building or vehicle

  The castle had four corner turrets.

More literary/elevated than "on top of". Common in journalism: "atop the leaderboard", "atop a mountain".

• on top of

  A cherry sat atop the cake.

"Bob and weave": boxing footwork. "Bobbing for apples": Halloween game. "Bobbed hair": short flapper-era haircut.

• to move quickly up and down

  The boat bobbed on the waves.

• a short haircut

  She got a bob last week.

"Leave someone in the lurch": abandon them in difficulty. Suggests sudden, unsteady motion as if drunk or off-balance.

• to make a sudden unsteady movement

  The bus lurched forward.

Originally a golf term: a ball blocking another's path. Now general English. Informal but acceptable in journalism.

• to prevent or hinder the progress of

  His efforts were stymied by bureaucracy.

From Latin "nasci" (to be born). Same root as "native", "renaissance". Formal: common in business/tech writing about new industries.

• just beginning to exist and developing

  The nascent industry needs more investment.

• to prolong or extend beyond the usual or desired time

  Lawyers protracted the trial for months.

From Latin "protrahere" (draw forth). Standard classroom tool: semicircular, marked 0-180 degrees.

• an instrument for measuring angles

  She used a protractor to draw a 60-degree angle.

Formal: implies undesirably prolonged. "Protracted negotiations", "protracted illness" are common collocations.

• lasting for a long time, especially longer than expected

  They had a protracted legal battle.

Both literal (frozen food, ice) and figurative (relations between countries). "Cold War thaw": historical period of reduced tension.

• to become liquid or soft after being frozen

  Let the chicken thaw overnight.

From the act of sniffing in disdain. Mostly British. Synonyms: snooty, supercilious, scornful.

• showing contempt or disdain

  She was sniffy about the cheap wine.

Stronger than "frown": implies hostility or sullen anger. "Scowl at": direct the expression at someone.

• to make an angry or bad-tempered facial expression

  He scowled at the interruption.

• an angry or bad-tempered facial expression

  She wore a deep scowl.

"Be-" prefix here intensifies the action of the witch. Now mostly figurative: to charm or fascinate. Past tense: bewitched.

• to cast a spell on, or to enchant

  He was bewitched by her smile.

Boxing/MMA: "KO" abbreviation. Tournament format: "knockout round" = single-elimination. Informal: "she's a knockout" = stunningly attractive.

1. a blow that knocks an opponent unconscious

   He won the fight by knockout.

2. an extremely impressive person or thing

   That dress is a knockout.

Antonym: major. Music: minor key sounds sad; major sounds happy. Legal: a minor = a person under legal adult age (usually under 18).

• of less importance or seriousness

  It's only a minor problem.

• a person under the legal age of adulthood

  It is illegal to sell alcohol to minors.

"Minority group", "minority rights" - common in social/political contexts. Antonym: majority.

• a smaller part or number, especially of a group

  Only a minority of voters supported the measure.

A facial expression of scornful contempt: usually with the upper lip raised. "Sneer at" + something/someone.

• to smile or speak in a way that shows contempt

  He sneered at the idea.

• a contemptuous smile or remark

  There was a sneer on his face.

From Old French "rif et raf" (one and all). Pejorative, classist. Always plural-meaning even though singular noun.

• disreputable or low-class people

  The exclusive club kept the riff-raff out.

Suggests just a hint. Often used metaphorically: "a tinge of sadness", "a tinge of jealousy".

• a slight trace of a color or feeling

  There was a tinge of pink in the sky.

Implies suppressed, often unkind, laughter. "Snicker" is the more common American variant: same meaning. "Snigger" sounds dated but common in British texts.

• to laugh in a suppressed, half-secret way

  The students sniggered at his accent.

More polite than "fat" or "stocky". Often describes men of solid stature. Compare "stocky" (similar), "burly" (broader), "portly" (chubby).

• having a heavy, compact body

  The thickset bouncer guarded the door.

From "dumb" (speechless) + "confound" (confuse). Rarely used as a base verb; mostly seen as past participle "dumbfounded".

• to astonish into speechlessness

  The news dumbfounded everyone.

• so astonished that one cannot speak

  She stood dumbfounded at the door.

Lighter than "sting" or "prick". Plants (thorns, brambles) and physical sensation (skin tingle). "Prickles" can also be the noun for thorns.

• to cause a tingling or stinging sensation

  Her skin prickled with fear.

Onomatopoeic. "Flop sweat": anxious sweat during failing performance. "Belly flop": bad dive. "Flip-flop": sandal or sudden change of opinion.

1. to fall or sit down heavily and limply

   He flopped onto the sofa.

2. to fail completely

   The movie flopped at the box office.

• tending to flop or hang loosely

  A floppy hat.

From Old Norse "dasask" (to become weary). Suggests temporary confusion from shock: physical or emotional.

• to stun or confuse

  The blow dazed him.

"In a daze" (noun usage) = in a state of confusion.

• unable to think clearly because of shock

  She looked dazed after the accident.

Almost always in the phrase "in a daze".

• a state of stunned confusion

  She walked around in a daze after the news.

Almost exclusively used in the phrase "taken aback": surprised or startled. Originally a sailing term: wind suddenly hitting the front of sails.

• by surprise (in "taken aback")

  I was taken aback by his rudeness.

"Boss's day" - informal US workplace observance. "Like a boss" - slang for doing something confidently well.

• a person who is in charge of a worker or organization

  She asked her boss for a day off.

"Boss around" - order someone about in an unwelcome way.

• to give orders to in a domineering manner

  Stop bossing me around.

Pejorative. Often noted as a sexist term: applied more frequently to assertive women than men. "Ban Bossy": campaign by Sheryl Sandberg.

• fond of giving people orders

  His sister is so bossy.

Brief, sharp light. Compare "glimmer" (faint), "glitter" (sparkly), "gleam" (steady). "A glint in his eye": figurative for mischief or interest.

• to give a small flash of light

  The knife glinted in the sun.

"Don't bother": common dismissive phrase. British: "Bother!" as a mild exclamation of annoyance. Pooh Bear's catchphrase: "Oh bother."

1. to annoy or trouble

   Don't bother him while he's working.

2. to take the trouble to do something

   He didn't bother to call back.

Onomatopoeic. Suggests prolonged, high-pitched lament. "Wailing Wall": Jerusalem's Western Wall, traditional place of Jewish prayer.

• to give a long high-pitched cry of grief or pain

  The baby began to wail.

American English. UK equivalent: bogey. Mostly used by/with children.

• a piece of dried nasal mucus

  He picked a booger out of his nose.

British equivalent of US "booger". Also used in golf: one stroke over par.

• (British) a piece of dried nasal mucus; (golf) one stroke over par

  He shot a bogey on the 14th hole.

Alternate spelling of "bogey". Both forms are valid; "bogey" is more common today.

• variant spelling of bogey

  He blew his nose to clear the bogy.

Used figuratively in politics: "the bogeyman of inflation" = exaggerated threat used to scare people.

• an imaginary evil creature used to frighten children

  The bogeyman is hiding under the bed.

Suggests stealth or unease: sideways approach to avoid notice. "Sidle up to": common construction.

• to move sideways in a furtive or unobtrusive way

  He sidled up to the bar.

Standard American bowling format. Contrast with five-pin (Canadian) and lawn bowls (UK outdoor game). A "strike" = all ten pins down in one ball; "spare" = down in two.

• a bowling game with ten pins arranged in a triangle

  They played a few rounds of ten-pin bowling.

Pronounced /ˈpeɪsti/ when adjective (paste-y, like dough). Note: the British meat pie "pasty" is /ˈpæsti/, different word, different pronunciation.

• unhealthily pale

  He looked pasty after his illness.