American English

soccer

soc·cer   [ˈsɒkə(r)]    [ˈsɑːkər]  (BrE also foot·ball) (also BrE formal Asˌsociation ˈfootball) (also BrE informal footy, footie) noun

uncountable
a game played by two teams of 11 players, using a round ball which players kick up and down the playing field. Teams try to kick the ball into the other team's goal
• soccer players
• a soccer pitch/team/match
See also: Association football ▪ football ▪ footie ▪ footy  
Word Origin:
late 19th cent.: shortening of Assoc.  + -er.  
Culture:
football – British style [football British style soccer]
Football is the most popular sport in Britain, particularly among men. It is played by boys in most schools. Most towns have an amateur football teamwhich plays in a minor league. Football is also the most popular spectator sport in Britain. Many people go to see their favourite professional team playing at home, and some go to away matches. Many more people watch football on television.
The rules of football are relatively simple: two teams of 11 players try to get a round ball into the opposing team’s goal and to prevent their opponents from scoring. The ball may be kicked or headed, but never handled, except by the goalkeepers. The Football Association was founded in 1863 to decide the rules of football and the resulting game became known formally as association football. It is sometimes also called soccer. Many of today’s leading clubs were established shortly afterwards.
Most professional clubs represent large cities, or parts of London. They include Everton, Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur. The most famous Scottish clubs include Rangers and Celtic. In 1992 football was reorganized so that the best 20 teams in England and Wales play in the Premiership, while 70 other teams play in three divisions, run by the Football League. There is a Scottish Premier League and three divisions run by the Scottish Football League. At the end of each season, the top few teams in each division are promoted and the bottom teams are relegated. As well as the Premiership, the main competitions are the FA Cup and the League Cup. A few of the most successful sides have won the Double, the Premiership and the FA cup in the same year. The biggest clubs are now run as major businesses, and top players earn large salaries. They are frequently transferred between clubs for millions of pounds. Many foreign stars also now play for British teams.
England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland all have their own national sides. England won the World Cup in 1966, when its stars included Bobby Charlton, Bobby Moore and Geoff Hurst.
An increase in football hooliganism in the 1970s and 1980s frightened many people away from football matches. English fans got a bad reputation in Europe and football violence became known as ‘the English disease’. Disasters such as that at Hillsborough, in which many people died, also discouraged people from going to matches. Formerly, football grounds had terraces, where supporters stood packed close together, and stands containing rows of seats which were more expensive. These grounds have now almost all been replaced by all-seater stadiums, but people complain about the rising cost of tickets. Many clubs have their own fanzine (= a magazine about the club written and published by the fans). Some supporters also buy a copy of their team’s strip (= shorts and shirt in team colours).
This type of football is known in the US as soccer to distinguish it from the American game. Enthusiasm increased after 1994 when the World Cup was played for the first time in the US. In 1999 the US won the Women’s World Cup. In 1996 Major League Soccer (MLS) was established, and teams compete for the MLS Cup. Students in colleges and universities also play soccer in three NCAA divisions. The nation’s oldest tournament is the US Open Cup. About 18 million American children now play regularly, and the expression soccer mom (= a mother who spends a lot of time taking her children to sporting activities) has entered the language. 
Example Bank:
• He played on the Irish junior soccer team.
• He was wearing a yellow Brazil soccer jersey.
• The kids are at soccer practice.

• a pair of soccer cleats

shoulder

shoul·der [shoulder shoulders shouldered shouldering] noun, verb   [ˈʃəʊldə(r)]    [ˈʃoʊldər]

noun  

PART OF BODY
1. countable either of the two parts of the body between the top of each arm and the neck
• He slung the bag over his shoulder.
• She tapped him on the shoulder.
• He looked back over his shoulder.
• She shrugged her shoulders (= showing that she didn't know or care).
• an off-the-shoulder dress
• He carried the child on his shoulders.

-SHOULDERED

2. (in adjectives) having the type of shoulders mentioned
• broad-shouldered

see also  round-shouldered  

CLOTHING

3. countable the part of a piece of clothing that covers the shoulder

• a jacket with padded shoulders  

MEAT

4. uncountable, countable ~ (of sth) meat from the top part of one of the front legs of an animal that has four legs  

OF MOUNTAIN/BOTTLE, ETC.
5. countable ~ (of sth) a part of sth, such as a bottle or mountain, that is shaped like a shoulder

• The village lay just around the shoulder of the hill.  

SIDE OF ROAD

6. countable (NAmE) an area of ground at the side of a road where vehicles can stop in an emergency
• No shoulder for next 5 miles.
see also  hard shoulder, soft shoulder 
more at have a chip on your shoulder at  chip  _n., give sb the cold shoulder at  cold  _adj., be/stand head and shoulders above sb/sthhave a good head on your shoulders at  head  _n., (have) an old head on young shoulders at  old, rub shoulders with sb at  rub  _v., straight from the shoulder at  straight  _adv.  
Word Origin:
Old English sculdor, of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch schouder and German Schulter.  
Collocations:
Physical appearance
A person may be described as having:
Eyes
(bright) blue/green/(dark/light) brown/hazel eyes
deep-set/sunken/bulging/protruding eyes
small/beady/sparkling/twinkling/(informal) shifty eyes
piercing/penetrating/steely eyes
bloodshot/watery/puffy eyes
bushy/thick/dark/raised/arched eyebrows
long/dark/thick/curly/false eyelashes/lashes
Face
a flat/bulbous/pointed/sharp/snub nose
a straight/a hooked/a Roman/(formal) an aquiline nose
full/thick/thin/pouty lips
dry/chapped/cracked lips
flushed/rosy/red/ruddy/pale cheeks
soft/chubby/sunken cheeks
white/perfect/crooked/protruding teeth
a large/high/broad/wide/sloping forehead
a strong/weak/pointed/double chin
a long/full/bushy/wispy/goatee beard
a long/thin/bushy/droopy/handlebar/pencil moustache/ (especially US) mustache
Hair and skin
pale/fair/olive/dark/tanned skin
dry/oily/smooth/rough/leathery/wrinkled skin
a dark/pale/light/sallow/ruddy/olive/swarthy/clear complexion
deep/fine/little/facial wrinkles
blonde/blond/fair/(light/dark) brown/(jet-)black/auburn/red/(BrE) ginger/grey hair
straight/curly/wavy/frizzy/spiky hair
thick/thin/fine/bushy/thinning hair
dyed/bleached/soft/silky/dry/greasy/shiny hair
long/short/shoulder-length/cropped hair
a bald/balding/shaved head
a receding hairline
a bald patch/spot
a side/centre/(US) center (BrE) parting/ (NAmE) part
Body
a long/short/thick/slender/(disapproving) scrawny neck
broad/narrow/sloping/rounded/hunched shoulders
a bare/broad/muscular/small/large chest
a flat/swollen/bulging stomach
a small/tiny/narrow/slim/slender/28-inch waist
big/wide/narrow/slim hips
a straight/bent/arched/broad/hairy back
thin/slender/muscular arms
big/large/small/manicured/calloused/gloved hands
long/short/fat/slender/delicate/bony fingers
long/muscular/hairy/shapely/(both informal, often disapproving) skinny/spindly legs
muscular/chubby/(informal, disapproving) flabby thighs
big/little/small/dainty/wide/narrow/bare feet
a good/a slim/a slender/an hourglass figure
be of slim/medium/average/large/athletic/stocky build  
Example Bank:
• He hunched his shoulders against the cold wind.
• He slung the sack over his shoulder and set off.
• Her shoulders lifted in a vague shrug.
• His broad shoulders heaved with sobs.
• His frozen shoulder has stopped him from playing tennis.
• I tapped the man on the shoulder and asked him to move.
• In an aggressive situation, we stand tall and square our shoulders.
• Inhale, drop your shoulders and raise your chest.
• Keep the feet shoulder width apart.
• My shoulders dropped with relief.
• Roll your shoulders forward and take a deep breath.
• She was crouched with her head forward and her shoulders bent.
• The bullet hit him squarely between the shoulder blades.
• The child sat on her father's shoulders to watch the parade go by.
• The route of the procession was lined with police officers standing shoulder to shoulder.
• When I asked him why he'd done it he just shrugged his shoulders.

Idioms: looking over your shoulder ▪ on somebody's shoulders ▪ put your shoulder to the wheel ▪ shoulder to cry on ▪ shoulder to shoulder

snowy

snowy [snowy snowier snowiest]   [ˈsnəʊi]    [ˈsnoʊi]  adjective (snow·ier, snowi·est)
1. usually before noun covered with snow

• snowy fields

2. (of a period of time) when a lot of snow falls
• a snowy weekend

• The weather in January is often cold and snowy.

3. (literary) very white, like new snow
• snowy hair  
Example Bank:

• snowy fields/peaks

fashion

fash·ion [fashion fashions fashioned fashioning] noun, verb   [ˈfæʃn]    [ˈfæʃn] 

noun
1. uncountable, countable a popular style of clothes, hair, etc. at a particular time or place; the state of being popular
• dressed in the latest fashion
• the new season's fashions
• Long skirts have come into fashion again.
• Jeans are still in fashion.

• Some styles never go out of fashion.

2. countable a popular way of behaving, doing an activity, etc
• The fashion at the time was for teaching mainly the written language.

• Fashions in art and literature come and go.

3. uncountable the business of making or selling clothes in new and different styles
• a fashion designer/magazine/show
• the world of fashion
• the fashion industry  
Word Origin:
Middle English (in the sense ‘make, shape, appearance’, also ‘a particular make or style’): from Old French façon, from Latin factio(n-), from facere ‘do, make’.  
Thesaurus:
fashion noun C, U
• The stores are full of the spring fashions.
style • • trend • • look • • craze • |written vogue • |disapproving fad •
a fashion/trend/craze/vogue/fad for sth
the latest fashion/style/trend/look/craze/fad
come (back) into/(be/go) out of fashion/vogue 
Collocations:
Clothes and fashion
Clothes
be wearing a new outfit/bright colours/fancy dress/fur/uniform
be (dressed) in black/red/jeans and a T-shirt/your best suit/leather/silk/rags (= very old torn clothes)
be dressed for work/school/dinner/a special occasion
be dressed as a man/woman/clown/pirate
wear/dress in casual/designer/second-hand clothes
wear jewellery/(especially US) jewelry/accessories/a watch/glasses/contact lenses/perfume
have a cowboy hat/red dress/blue suit on
put on/take off your clothes/coat/shoes/helmet
pull on/pull off your coat/gloves/socks
change into/get changed into a pair of jeans/your pyjamas/(especially US) your pajamas
Appearance
change/enhance/improve your appearance
create/get/have/give sth a new/contemporary/retro look
brush/comb/shampoo/wash/blow-dry your hair
have/get a haircut/your hair cut/a new hairstyle
have/get a piercing/your nose pierced
have/get a tattoo/a tattoo done (on your arm)/a tattoo removed
have/get a makeover/cosmetic surgery
use/wear/apply/put on make-up/cosmetics
Fashion
follow/keep up with (the) fashion/the latest fashions
spend/waste money on designer clothes
be fashionably/stylishly/well dressed
have good/great/terrible/awful taste in clothes
update/revamp your wardrobe
be in/come into/go out of fashion
be (back/very much) in vogue
create a style/trend/vogue for sth
organize/put on a fashion show
show/unveil a designer's spring/summer collection
sashay/strut down the catwalk/(NAmE also) runway
be on/do a photo/fashion shoot 
Example Bank:
• Address me in a proper fashion.
• Application for the course can be made in the normal fashion.
• Black is always in fashion.
• Careful spending has gone out of fashion in our consumer society.
• Costs and revenues are assumed to behave in a linear fashion.
• Each chapter is structured in a similar fashion.
• Fashions in art come and go.
• Flared trousers were a fashion statement of the seventies.
• He asked questions in a direct fashion
• He delivered his speech in classic fashion.
• He has a small vocabulary and is only able to express himself in a limited fashion.
• He insisted the meeting be held, in true spy novel fashion, in the open air.
• He presents it in an entertaining fashion.
• He set a fashion for large hats.
• Her summer collection took the fashion world by storm.
• I need your expert fashion advice.
• I strive to get my work done in a timely fashion.
• I've given up trying to keep up with the latest fashions.
• I've started my own fashion line.
• Karpov struck back in no uncertain fashion to win the seventh game.
• Light and sound are recorded in such different fashions.
• Paris, the world's fashion capital
• Pessimism has become the fashion.
• Please proceed in an orderly fashion to the promenade deck.
• She always wore the latest fashions.
• She had no fashion sense whatsoever.
• She has corrected that oversight in fine fashion.
• She laid out her argument in a convincing fashion.
• She looked like a fashion plate.
• She loves fashion and make-up.
• She spoke in French after the fashion of the court.
• She spoke in French after= copying the fashion of the court.
• She started her career as a fashion model.
• She was respected as a fashion icon.
• She was strolling in a leisurely fashion in the opposite direction.
• She wore a powdered wig, as was the fashion of the day.
• She writes in a serious fashion about the future
• So they became friends, after a fashion.
• Somebody call the fashion police, please!
• Students become frustrated with learning verbs parrot fashion.
• The book traces how fashions have changed over the years.
• The convention proceeded in the normal fashion.
• The descent of the footpath starts in easy fashion.
• The new summer fashions have arrived.
• The palazzo represents the height of architectural fashion for the mid-17th century.
• The store sells everything from casual clothes to high fashion.
• The story moves in circular fashion.
• The troops embarked in an orderly fashion.
• They act in a purposeful and deliberate fashion.
• They celebrated their win in traditional fashion by spraying champagne everywhere.
• This theory, though recent, is more than a passing fashion.
• We had just gone out when, in typical fashion, the rain came down.
• We need to tackle this problem in a coordinated fashion.
• What were your worst fashion disasters?
• When did flares first come into fashion?
• Why are they behaving in such a ridiculous fashion?
• a magazine fashion spread
• a passion for French fashions and goods
• batons ready in best police fashion
• changing fashions in education
• classic fashions for your wardrobe
• fresh interest in the New York fashion scene
• household names in the world of fashion and design
• one of the most successful fashion houses in Milan
• photographers at fashion shoots
• slowly descending the stairs in a grand fashion
• the fashion for long dresses
• the fashion runways of Italy and France
• the influence of Italian designer fashion on the clothes industry
• the latest fashion trend
• the popular fashions of the day
• the world's top fashion experts
• this season's must-have accessories that no fashion victim will be seen without
• watching how fashions change over the years
• when people confront you in a negative fashion
• I remembered clearly the peculiar fashion in which it all happened.
• Jeans are always in fashion.
• Some styles never go out of fashion.
• The stores are full of the spring fashions.
• They all want to work in fashion.
• a fashion designer/magazine/show

Idioms: after a fashion ▪ after the fashion of somebody ▪ in … fashion ▪ like it's going out of fashion 

ear

ear [ear ears]   [ɪə(r)]    [ɪr]  noun
1. countable either of the organs on the sides of the head that you hear with
• an ear infection
• the inner/outer ear
• She whispered something in his ear.
• He put his hands over his ears.
• She's had her ears pierced.
• The elephant flapped its ears.
• He was always there with a sympathetic ear (= a willingness to listen to people).

see also  cauliflower ear, glue ear, middle ear

2. -eared (in adjectives) having the type of ears mentioned

• a long-eared owl

3. singular an ability to recognize and copy sounds well
• She has always had an ear for languages.

• You need a good ear to master the piano.

4. countable the top part of a grain plant, such as wheat, that contains the seeds
• ears of corn
more at not believe your ears/eyes at  believe, bend sb's ear (about sth) at  bend  _v., give sb a box on the ears at  box  _n., box sb's ears at  box  _v., cock an ear/eye at sth/sb at  cock  _v., fall on deaf earsturn a deaf ear at  deaf  _adj., easy on the ear/eye at  easy  _adj., feel your ears burning at  feel  _v., with a flea in your ear at  flea, lend an ear at  lend, music to your ears at  music, keep your ears/eyes open at  open  _adj., make a pig's ear of sth at  pig  _n., prick (up) your ears at  prick  _v., ring in your ears/head at  ring  _v., make a silk purse (out of a sow's ear) at  silk, give sb/get a thick ear at  thick  _adj., walls have ears at  wall  _n., (still) wet behind the ears at  wet  _adj., have a word in sb's ear at  word  _n.
Idioms: all ears ▪ go in one ear and out the other ▪ grin from ear to ear ▪ have somebody's ear ▪ have something coming out of your ears ▪ have the ear of somebody ▪ keep your ear to the ground ▪ out on your ear ▪ play by ear ▪ play it by ear ▪ shut your ears to something ▪ somebody's ears are burning ▪ somebody's ears are flapping ▪ something comes to somebody's ears ▪ up to your ears in something ▪ with half an ear  
Word Origin:
senses 1 to 3 and
Old English ēare Germanic Dutch oor German Ohr Indo-European Latin auris Greek ous
sense 4 Old English ēar Germanic Dutch aar German Ähre
 
Example Bank:
• ‘We were talking about you last night.’ ‘I thought my ears were burning.’
• A blast of punk rock music assaulted her ears.
• A horse may show annoyance by putting its ears back.
• A small noise caught his ear.
• At first I stopped my ears to what I did not want to hear.
• Blood from his torn ear was soaking his collar.
• Chinese music uses a scale that is unfamiliar to Western ears.
• Christopher felt his ears reddening.
• Come on, tell me, I'm all ears.
• Dogs can hear things that human ears can't hear.
• Drop a quiet word in her ear about it before it's too late.
• Each animal receives an individual ear tag.
• Even if my fears were silly, he always had an open ear.
• He arrived home hungry, and the noise from the kitchen was music to his ears.
• He could hear much better after having his ears cleaned out.
• He had three ear piercings.
• He has a good ear for accents and can usually tell where a speaker comes from.
• He has a keen ear for dialogue.
• He has really big ears that stick out.
• He listened to her with only half an ear as he watched TV.
• He plugged his ears to drown out the music.
• He plugged his ears with tissue paper to drown out the music.
• He pressed his ear to the door, but heard nothing.
• He waited in the darkness, his ears alert for the slightest sound.
• He was always willing to lend an ear.
• He was beaming from ear to ear.
• He went home with the teacher's warning ringing in his ears.
• Her ears listened expectantly.
• His ears pricked up when he heard his name mentioned.
• His sharp ears had picked up the uncertainty in her voice.
• I have a few words for your ears alone.
• I knew that my words were going in one ear and out the other.
• I strained my ears to catch the conversation in the other room.
• I'll keep my ears open for a second-hand bike for you.
• I'm sorry for talking your ear off.
• I've just had my ears pierced so I'm going to buy some earrings.
• If news of the break-in reaches the boss's ears, we're in trouble.
• If you suck a sweet as the plane takes off it stops your ears popping.
• In the silence everyone seemed to be aware of listening ears.
• It takes time to attune your ear to the local accent.
• My heart was pounding in my ears.
• She actually apologized. I couldn't believe my ears!
• She always provided a sympathetic ear for students with problems.
• She bent my ear about it for three days.
• She couldn't see, but her ears told her that the guards had arrived.
• She did not like the plan, as she made clear every time she found a receptive ear= sb willing to listen.
• She did not like the scheme, as she made clear every time she found a receptive ear.
• She has a tin ear for melody.
• She nibbled on his ear.
• She put her hands over her ears to block out what he was saying.
• She put on her ear muffs and went out into the snow.
• She stood outside the room, her ears straining to hear what they were saying.
• She usually plays the guitar by ear, rather than reading the music.
• Some of the words used in 18th-century writing sound strange to modern ears.
• The dog pricked up its ears.
• The explosion set my ears ringing and even made me jump a bit.
• The horse lifted its head and flicked its ears.
• The music was so loud I had to cover my ears.
• The music was so loud that it hurt my ears.
• The sound of the blast filled my ears.
• The teacher turned a deaf ear to the boy's requests= ignored them.
• The teacher turned a deaf ear to the boy's swearing.
• The voices buzzing all around echoed in her ears.
• Their complaints about the poor service fell on deaf ears.
• This was the woman who had the ear of the President.
• To the trained ear the calls of these birds sound quite different.
• When the notes are played so close together the ear hears no space between them.

• a rabbit with long floppy ears

finger

fin·ger [finger fingers fingered fingering] noun, verb   [ˈfɪŋɡə(r)]    [ˈfɪŋɡər] 

noun
1. one of the four long thin parts that stick out from the hand (or five, if the thumb is included)
• She ran her fingers through her hair.
• Hold the material between finger and thumb.
• He was about to speak but she raised a finger to her lips.
• The old man wagged his finger at the youths.

see also  butterfingers, forefinger, green fingers, index finger, little finger, middle finger, ring finger

2. -fingered (in adjectives) having the type of fingers mentioned; having or using the number of fingers mentioned
• long-fingered
• nimble-fingered
• a four-fingered chord

see also  light-fingered

3. the part of a glove that covers the finger

4. ~ (of sth) a long narrow piece of bread, cake, land, etc
• a finger of toast
• chocolate fingers
• a narrow finger of land pointing out into the sea
see also  fish finger 
more at burn your fingers/get your fingers burnt at  burn  _v., be able to count sb/sth on (the fingers of) one hand at  count  _v., cross your fingers at  cross  _v., not lift/raise a finger/hand (to do sth) at  lift  _v., point a/the finger (at sb) at  point  _v., let sth slip (through your fingers) at  slip  _v., snap your fingers at  snap  _v., have sticky fingers at  sticky, be all (fingers and) thumbs at  thumb  _n.  
Word Origin:
Old English, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch vinger and German Finger.  
Collocations:
Physical appearance
A person may be described as having:
Eyes
(bright) blue/green/(dark/light) brown/hazel eyes
deep-set/sunken/bulging/protruding eyes
small/beady/sparkling/twinkling/(informal) shifty eyes
piercing/penetrating/steely eyes
bloodshot/watery/puffy eyes
bushy/thick/dark/raised/arched eyebrows
long/dark/thick/curly/false eyelashes/lashes
Face
a flat/bulbous/pointed/sharp/snub nose
a straight/a hooked/a Roman/(formal) an aquiline nose
full/thick/thin/pouty lips
dry/chapped/cracked lips
flushed/rosy/red/ruddy/pale cheeks
soft/chubby/sunken cheeks
white/perfect/crooked/protruding teeth
a large/high/broad/wide/sloping forehead
a strong/weak/pointed/double chin
a long/full/bushy/wispy/goatee beard
a long/thin/bushy/droopy/handlebar/pencil moustache/ (especially US) mustache
Hair and skin
pale/fair/olive/dark/tanned skin
dry/oily/smooth/rough/leathery/wrinkled skin
a dark/pale/light/sallow/ruddy/olive/swarthy/clear complexion
deep/fine/little/facial wrinkles
blonde/blond/fair/(light/dark) brown/(jet-)black/auburn/red/(BrE) ginger/grey hair
straight/curly/wavy/frizzy/spiky hair
thick/thin/fine/bushy/thinning hair
dyed/bleached/soft/silky/dry/greasy/shiny hair
long/short/shoulder-length/cropped hair
a bald/balding/shaved head
a receding hairline
a bald patch/spot
a side/centre/(US) center (BrE) parting/ (NAmE) part
Body
a long/short/thick/slender/(disapproving) scrawny neck
broad/narrow/sloping/rounded/hunched shoulders
a bare/broad/muscular/small/large chest
a flat/swollen/bulging stomach
a small/tiny/narrow/slim/slender/28-inch waist
big/wide/narrow/slim hips
a straight/bent/arched/broad/hairy back
thin/slender/muscular arms
big/large/small/manicured/calloused/gloved hands
long/short/fat/slender/delicate/bony fingers
long/muscular/hairy/shapely/(both informal, often disapproving) skinny/spindly legs
muscular/chubby/(informal, disapproving) flabby thighs
big/little/small/dainty/wide/narrow/bare feet
a good/a slim/a slender/an hourglass figure
be of slim/medium/average/large/athletic/stocky build  
Example Bank:
• ‘None of that!’ cried the teacher, wagging her finger.
• Although she knew lots of people, she could count her friends on the fingers of one hand.
• Dad started twiddling his fingers nervously.
• Everyone put their fingers in their ears when the shooting started.
• He crooked a finger to tell us to go over to him.
• He gently laced his fingers between mine.
• He held up his hand with the fingers extended.
• He snapped his fingers and the waiter came running.
• He was drumming his fingers nervously on the arm of the chair.
• Her nimble fingers undid the knot in seconds.
• His clumsy fingers struggled with the buttons.
• I dipped my finger in the sauce and licked it.
• I noticed the ring on the third finger of her left hand.
• I stubbed my finger painfully while reaching for a book.
• It's easiest to eat chicken legs with your fingers.
• Sally trailed her fingers in the water idly.
• She hooked her fingers in the belt loop of his jeans.
• She raised a finger to her lips to ask for silence.
• She ran her finger along the dusty shelf.
• She took off his bandages with gentle fingers.
• The child needed treatment after trapping her finger in the car door.
• The enquiry pointed the finger of blame at the driver of the crashed coach.
• The finger of suspicion was pointed at the chicken served for lunch.
• The man drew a finger across his throat in a threatening gesture.
• The nurse pricked my finger to get some blood.
• The ornaments had been put out of reach of the children's prying fingers.
• The protester was jabbing a finger aggressively at a policeman.
• The teacher raised a warning finger and we stopped talking.
• Tina curled her slender fingers into a fist.
• We were swaying and clicking our fingers in time to the music.

Idioms: finger of suspicion ▪ get/pull your finger out ▪ give somebody the finger ▪ have a finger in every pie ▪ have your finger on the pulse ▪ have your fingers in the till ▪ lay a finger on somebody ▪ not put your finger on something ▪ put two fingers up at somebody ▪ work your fingers to the bone 

wash

wash [wash washes washed washing] verb, noun   [wɒʃ]    [wɑːʃ]    [wɔːʃ] 

verb
1. transitive to make sth/sb clean using water and usually soap
• ~ sth/sb These jeans need washing.
• to wash the car
• to wash your hands
• Wash the fruit thoroughly before eating.
• ~ sth from sth She washed the blood from his face.

• ~ sth/sb + adj. The beach had been washed clean by the tide.

2. intransitive, transitive (especially BrE) to make yourself clean using water and usually soap
• I washed and changed before going out.

• ~ yourself She was no longer able to wash herself.

3. intransitive (+ adv./prep.) (of clothes, cloth, etc.) to be able to be washed without losing colour or being damaged

• This sweater washes well.

4. intransitive, transitive (of water) to flow or carry sth/sb in a particular direction
• + adv./prep. Water washed over the deck.
• ~ sth/sb + adv./prep. Pieces of the wreckage were washed ashore.
• He was washed overboard by a huge wave.

Word Origin:
Old English wæscan (verb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch wassen, German waschen, also to water.  
Synonyms:
clean
wash • rinse • cleanse • dry-clean
These words all mean to remove dirt from sth, especially by using water and/or soap.
clean • to remove dirt or dust from sth, especially by using water or chemicals: ▪ The villa is cleaned twice a week. ◊ ▪ Have you cleaned your teeth? ◊ ▪ This coat is filthy. I'll have it cleaned ▪ (= dry-cleaned).
wash • to remove dirt from sth using water and usually soap: ▪ He quickly washed his hands and face. ◊ ▪ These jeans need washing.
rinse • to remove dirt, etc. from sth using clean water only, not soap; to remove the soap from sth with clean water after washing it: ▪ Make sure you rinse all the soap out.
cleanse • to clean your skin or a wound.
dry-clean • to clean clothes using chemicals instead of water.
to clean/wash/rinse/cleanse sth in/with sth
to clean/wash/rinse sth from sth
to clean/wash/cleanse a wound
to clean/wash the car/floor
to wash/rinse your hair
to have sth cleaned/washed/dry-cleaned 
Example Bank:
• Hands need to be washed regularly with hot water.
• She gently washed and dressed the wound.
• the smell of freshly washed hair
• He always washes the car on Sundays.
• He quickly washed his hands and face.
• He washed his face.
• If you wash the dishes, I'll dry.
• She washed out the empty bottles.
Idioms: it will come out in the wash ▪ something won't wash ▪ wash your dirty linen in public ▪ wash your hands of somebody

Derived: wash off ▪ wash out ▪ wash over somebody ▪ wash somebody away ▪ wash something down ▪ wash something off ▪ wash something out ▪ wash something up ▪ wash up 

blame

blame [blame blames blamed blaming] verb, noun   [bleɪm]    [bleɪm] 

verb
to think or say that sb/sth is responsible for sth bad
• ~ sb/sth (for sth) She doesn't blame anyone for her father's death.
• A dropped cigarette is being blamed for the fire.
• ~ sth on sb/sth Police are blaming the accident on dangerous driving.
Verb forms:

 
Word Origin:
Middle English: from Old French blamer, blasmer (verb), from a popular Latin variant of ecclesiastical Latin blasphemare ‘reproach, revile, blaspheme’, from Greek blasphēmein, from blasphēmos ‘evil-speaking’.  
Thesaurus:
blame verb T
• She blamed the police for failing to respond quickly.
criticize • • attack • • condemn • • denounce • |formal censure • • rebuke • • castigate •
blame/criticize/attack/condemn/denounce/censure/rebuke/castigate sb/sth for sth
blame/criticize/attack/condemn/denounce/censure the government/president
blame/criticize/attack/condemn/denounce/censure/rebuke/castigate sb/sth publicly  
Example Bank:
• A spokesman said that bad weather was partly to blame for the delay.
• Blaming the victim is characteristic of any prejudice.
• He is widely blamed for masterminding the attacks.
• I don't blame Jack for the mistake.
• The government has been widely blamed for the crisis.
• Whenever something goes wrong, everyone blames it on me.
• You can hardly blame Peter for being angry with her.
• You can't really blame them for not telling you.
• Call her if you like but don't blame me if she's angry.
• If you lose your job you'll only have yourself to blame.
• She blamed the government for failing to respond to the crisis.
• She doesn't blame anyone for her father's death.

Idioms: I don't blame you ▪ don't blame me ▪ only have yourself to blame ▪ to blame

Brazil

Brazil [Brazil]   [brəˈzɪl]    [brəˈzɪl]  noun singular

a country in South America

blender

blend·er [blender blenders]   [ˈblendə(r)]    [ˈblendər]  (BrE also li·quid·izer) noun

an electric machine for mixing soft food or liquid

• Combine the milk and eggs in a blender.