American English

situation

situ·ation [situation situations]   [ˌsɪtʃuˈeɪʃn]    [ˌsɪtʃuˈeɪʃn]  noun
1. all the circumstances and things that are happening at a particular time and in a particular place
• to be in a difficult situation
• You could get into a situation where you have to decide immediately.
• We have all been in similar embarrassing situations.
• the present economic/financial/political, etc. situation
• He could see no way out of the situation.
• In your situation, I would look for another job.
• What we have here is a crisis situation.

• I'm in a no-win situation (= whatever I do will be bad for me).

2. (formal) the kind of area or surroundings that a building or town has

• The town is in a delightful situation in a wide green valley.

3. (old-fashioned or formal) a job
• Situations Vacant (= the title of the section in a newspaper where jobs are advertised)
see save the day/situation at  save  _v.
Derived Word: situational  
Word Origin:
late Middle English (in sense 2): from French, or from medieval Latin situatio(n-), from situare ‘to place’ (see situate). Sense 1 dates from the early 18th cent.  
Thesaurus:
situation noun C
• Consider the current economic situation.
state of affairs • • position • • conditions • • circumstance • • the case • |informal, especially spoken things •
in (a) particular situation/state of affairs/position/conditions/circumstances
the general/current/present/real situation/state of affairs/position/conditions/circumstances
describe/explain (the) situation/state of affairs/position/circumstances/things
Situation or state of affairs? State of affairs is mostly used with this and with adjectives such as happy, sorry, shocking, present and current
• How did this unhappy state of affairs come about?
Situation is much more frequent and used in a wider variety of contexts.  
Synonyms:
situation
circumstances • position • conditions • things • the case • state of affairs
These are all words for the conditions and facts that are connected with and affect the way things are.
situation • all the things that are happening at a particular time and in a particular place: ▪ the present economic situation
circumstances • the facts that are connected with and affect a situation, an event or an action; the conditions of a person's life, especially the money they have: ▪ The ship sank in mysterious circumstances.
position • the situation that sb is in, especially when it affects what they can and cannot do: ▪ She felt she was in a position of power.
conditions • the circumstances in which people live, work or do things; the physical situation that affects how sth happens: ▪ We were forced to work outside in freezing conditions.
circumstances or conditions?
Circumstances refers to sb's financial situation; conditions are things such as the quality and amount of food or shelter they have. The circumstances that affect an event are the facts surrounding it; the conditions that affect it are usually physical ones, such as the weather.
things • (rather informal) the general situation, as it affects sb: ▪ Hi, Jane! ▪ How are things? ◊ ▪ Think things over before you decide.
the case • the true situation: ▪ If that is the case ▪ (= if the situation described is true) ▪, we need more staff.
state of affairs • a situation: ▪ How did this unhappy state of affairs come about?
situation or state of affairs?
State of affairs is mostly used with this. It is also used with adjectives describing how good or bad a situation is, such as happy, sorry, shocking, sad and unhappy, as well as those relating to time, such as present and current. Situation is much more frequent and is used in a wider variety of contexts.
in (a) particular situation/circumstances/position/state of affairs
the/sb's economic/financial/social situation/circumstances/position/conditions
(a/an) happy/unhappy situation/circumstances/position/state of affairs
to look at/review the situation/circumstances/conditions/things 
Example Bank:
• Given the gravity of the situation, I'm not surprised she's panicking.
• He saw she was confused and he took full advantage of the situation.
• I always seem to get into sticky situations on holiday.
• I found myself in rather an awkward situation.
• I was in trouble and I could see no way out of the situation.
• Interfering now would only exacerbate the situation.
• She found it difficult to take in the situation.
• She tried her best to salvage the situation.
• She was forced to confront the reality of the situation.
• The peacekeepers are trained to defuse potentially explosive situations.
• The situation is deteriorating rapidly.
• The situation requires immediate action.
• We were placed in a hopeless situation.
• We will deal with that if the situation arises.
• What would the Republicans be doing if the situation were reversed?
• What would you do in this situation?
• You can adapt your knowledge to fit your particular situation.
• learning strategies to cope with difficult situations
• located in a beautiful situation
• the international political situation
• I'm in a no-win situation.
• The town is in a beautiful situation in a wide green valley.
• We couldn't have asked for a more perfect situation.

• You need to consider the present economic situation.

vacation

vac·ation [vacation vacations vacationed vacationing] noun, verb   [vəˈkeɪʃn]   [vəˈkeɪʃn]    [veɪˈkeɪʃn]    [veɪˈkeɪʃn] 

noun
1. countable (in Britain) one of the periods of time when universities or courts of law are closed; (in the US) one of the periods of time when schools, colleges, universities or courts of law are closed
• the Christmas/Easter/summer vacation
• (BrE) the long vacation (= the summer vacation)

see also  vac

2. (NAmE) (BrE holi·day) uncountable, countable a period of time spent travelling or resting away from home
• They're on vacation in Hawaii right now.
• You look tired— you should take a vacation.
• The job includes two weeks' paid vacation.
• a vacation home  
Word Origin:
late Middle English: from Old French, or from Latin vacatio(n-), from vacare ‘be unoccupied’.  
Culture:
holidays and vacations
Holiday in American English means a day that is special for some reason. Most people do not go to work on an important holiday, but may do so on a minor one. Few people have to work on federal (= national) holidays such as New Year's Day or Independence Day, though they may celebrate St Valentine's Day or Groundhog Day but still go to work or school. Apart from the main federal holidays each state decides its own holidays. The period from Thanksgiving to the end of the year when there are several important holidays is called the holiday season or simply the holidays (e.g. Stores are getting ready for the holiday season.). In British English, special days like New Year’s Day are called bank holidays or public holidays.
Holiday in British English also means a period of time spent away from work or school, usually of a week or longer. This is called a vacation in American English. So, the period of several weeks around Christmas when schools are closed is called the Christmas holiday in Britain and the Christmas vacation in the US.
Holiday and vacation are also used to refer to the period when people go away for a time to a beach resort or to the country, or go travelling. British people have about four weeks’ paid leave from their jobs. Most take their main holiday in the summer. People without children of school age often go on holiday in the off season when prices are lower and there are fewer other holidaymakers. Some people stay in Britain for their holiday, but many rent a cottage in the country or go to beach resorts in Europe for one or two weeks. Some travel to the US or visit India, the Far East and other parts of the world. Many British people going abroad buy package holidays sold on the Internet or through high-street travel agents, which include transport, accommodation and sometimes excursions in the price. Some people see their holidays as an opportunity to relax in the sun, but others prefer activity holidays during which they can visit famous buildings or go walking in the countryside. A few go to a holiday centre, often called a holiday village, which provides entertainment for all the family. People often arrange their holiday a long time in advance and look forward to it through the winter. Many people also have a short break, usually three or four days, e.g. at a country cottage in Britain or in a European city.
Americans have less paid vacation, typically two weeks. People with important jobs or who have worked in their company for many years may have longer vacations. People with low-paid jobs in shops, fast food restaurants, etc, often have no paid vacation at all.
The typical family vacation in the US involves driving to a destination within the country. Some people visit relatives or go sightseeing in cities like Washington, DC, or New York. The national parks, like Yellowstone National Park or the Grand Canyon, are also popular, and people sometimes rent a cabin (BrE cottage) in the country. Families often go to amusement parks like Disney World in Florida. People who do not drive usually fly to a place as air fares are relatively cheap. Package tours are not very common and most Americans arrange their transport and accommodation separately.
Many Americans have not been on vacation outside North America. However, Europe has always been a popular destination for people wanting to travel further, and trips to South America and the Far East are increasingly common, especially with younger travellers. Cruises (= journeys by ship, visiting different places) to the Caribbean or Alaska have also become very popular. 
British/American:
holiday / vacation
You use holiday (or holidays) in BrE and vacation in NAmE to describe the regular periods of time when you are not at work or school, or time that you spend travelling or resting away from home: ▪ I get four weeks’ holiday/vacation a year. ◊ ▪ He’s on holiday/vacation this week. ◊ ▪ I like to take my holiday/vacation in the winter. ◊ ▪ the summer holidays/vacation.
In NAmE a holiday (or a public holiday) is a single day when government offices, schools, banks and businesses are closed: ▪ The school will be closed Monday because it’s a holiday. This is called a bank holiday in BrE.
The holidays is used in NAmE to refer to the time in late December and early January that includes Christmas, Hanukkah and the New Year.
Vacation in BrE is used mainly to mean one of the periods when universities are officially closed for the students. 
Collocations:
Travel and tourism
Holidays/vacations
have/take (BrE) a holiday/(NAmE) a vacation/a break/a day off/(BrE) a gap year
go on/be on holiday/vacation/leave/honeymoon/safari/a trip/a tour/a cruise/a pilgrimage
go backpacking/camping/hitchhiking/sightseeing
plan a trip/a holiday/a vacation/your itinerary
book accommodation/a hotel room/a flight/tickets
have/make/cancel a reservation/(especially BrE) booking
rent a villa/(both BrE) a holiday home/a holiday cottage
(especially BrE) hire/ (especially NAmE) rent a car/bicycle/moped
stay in a hotel/a bed and breakfast/a youth hostel/a villa/(both BrE) a holiday home/a caravan
cost/charge $100 a/per night for a single/double/twin/standard/(BrE) en suite room
check into/out of a hotel/a motel/your room
pack/unpack your suitcase/bags
call/order room service
cancel/cut short a trip/holiday/vacation
Foreign travel
apply for/get/renew a/your passport
take out/buy/get travel insurance
catch/miss your plane/train/ferry/connecting flight
fly (in)/travel in business/economy class
make/have a brief/two-day/twelve-hour stopover/(NAmE also) layover in Hong Kong
experience/cause/lead to delays
check (in)/collect/get/lose (your) (especially BrE) luggage/(especially NAmE) baggage
be charged for/pay excess baggage
board/get on/leave/get off the aircraft/plane/ship/ferry
taxi down/leave/approach/hit/overshoot the runway
experience/hit/encounter severe turbulence
suffer from/recover from/get over your jet lag/travel sickness
The tourist industry
attract/draw/bring tourists/visitors
encourage/promote/hurt tourism
promote/develop ecotourism
build/develop/visit a tourist/holiday/(especially BrE) seaside/beach/ski resort
work for/be operated by a major hotel chain
be served by/compete with low-cost/(especially NAmE) low-fare/budget airlines
book sth through/make a booking through/use a travel agent
contact/check with your travel agent/tour operator
book/be on/go on a package deal/holiday/tour
buy/bring back (tacky/overpriced) souvenirs 
Example Bank:
• Employees no longer have a fixed number of vacation days.
• He hadn't taken a real vacation in years.
• I have put in for vacation time.
• I hope the bad weather didn't ruin your vacation.
• I may go on an extended vacation to Bermuda.
• I wasn't able to use all of my vacation time last year.
• I wrote the essay during the Christmas vacation.
• I'm going travelling in the vacation.
• Military personnel receive a month of paid vacation.
• Most students get vacation jobs.
• Orlando is a popular vacation resort for British tourists.
• She needed a little vacation to clear her head.
• She took a well-deserved vacation to Mexico.
• She was going to spend her vacation in Hawaii all by herself.
• She went home to her parents for the Easter vacation.
• Students had a two-week vacation at the end of December.
• The President cut short his working vacation by two days.
• The long summer vacation breaks the rhythm of instruction.
• The sisters are on summer vacation with their family.
• He has a private jet and a vacation home in Switzerland.
• He went on vacation some time last week.
• How was your vacation?
• Let us help you with your vacation plans!
• She's gone on vacation to Massachusetts.
• The area is a popular vacation choice for families.
• The couple had left for a European vacation.
• The job includes two weeks' paid vacation.
• The schools were closed for summer vacation.
• The senator is on vacation in Maine.
• Their son is home on vacation.
• They usually go on a ski vacation this time of year.
• Vacation time and other benefits were cut.
• When I got back from my vacation, there was a letter waiting for me.

• the long vacation

fish

fish [fish fishes fished fishing] noun, verb   [fɪʃ]    [fɪʃ] 

noun (pl. fish or fishes) Fish is the usual plural form. The older form, fishes, can be used to refer to different kinds of fish.
1. countable a creature that lives in water, breathes through gills, and uses fins and a tail for swimming
• They caught several fish.
• tropical/marine/freshwater fish
• shoals (= groups) of fish
• a fish tank/pond
• There are about 30 000 species of fish in the world.
• The list of endangered species includes nearly 600 fishes.
• Fish stocks in the Baltic are in decline.
• In the pool she could see little silvery fish darting around. http://a.com

2. uncountable the flesh of fish eaten as food
• frozen/smoked/fresh fish
• fish pie
• The chef's fish dishes are his speciality.
• Fish forms the main part of their diet.
more at a big fish (in a small pond) at  big  _adj., a cold fish at  cold  _adj., a different kettle of fish at  different, drink like a fish at  drink  _v., be like shooting fish in a barrel at  shoot  _v.  
Word Origin:
Old English fisc (as a noun denoting any animal living exclusively in water), fiscian (verb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch vis, vissen and German Fisch, fischen.  
Collocations:
The living world
Animals
animals mate/breed/reproduce/feed (on sth)
fish/amphibians swim/spawn (= lay eggs)
birds fly/migrate/nest/sing
insects crawl/fly/bite/sting
insects/bees/locusts swarm
bees collect/gather nectar/pollen
spiders spin/weave a web
snakes/lizards shed their skins
bears/hedgehogs/frogs hibernate
insect larvae grow/develop/pupate
an egg/a chick/a larva hatches
attract/find/choose a mate
produce/release eggs/sperm
lay/fertilize/incubate/hatch eggs
inhabit a forest/a reef/the coast
mark/enter/defend (a) territory
stalk/hunt/capture/catch/kill prey
Plants and fungi
trees/plants grow/bloom/blossom/flower
a seed germinates/sprouts
leaves/buds/roots/shoots appear/develop/form
flower buds swell/open
a fungus grows/spreads/colonizes sth
pollinate/fertilize a flower/plant
produce/release/spread/disperse pollen/seeds/spores
produce/bear fruit
develop/grow/form roots/shoots/leaves
provide/supply/absorb/extract/release nutrients
perform/increase/reduce photosynthesis
Bacteria and viruses
bacteria/microbes/viruses grow/spread/multiply
bacteria/microbes live/thrive in/on sth
bacteria/microbes/viruses evolve/colonize sth/cause disease
bacteria break sth down/convert sth (into sth)
a virus enters/invades sth/the body
a virus mutates/evolves/replicates (itself)
be infected with/contaminated with/exposed to a new strain of a virus/drug-resistant bacteria
contain/carry/harbour (especially US) harbor bacteria/a virus
kill/destroy/eliminate harmful/deadly bacteria 
Example Bank:
• He landed a big fish.
• He landed one very big fish.
• I cleaned and filleted the fish.
• Remove the skin and flake the cooked fish.
• The fish aren't biting today.
• The fish aren't biting= taking the bait today.
• This fish tastes funny.
• fish farmed in Canada
• the depletion of fish stocks
Idioms: a queer fish ▪ fish out of water ▪ have other fish to fry ▪ neither fish nor fowl ▪ there are plenty more fish in the sea

Derived: fish for something ▪ fish somebody out 

egg

egg [egg eggs egged egging] noun, verb   [eɡ]    [eɡ] 

noun

1. countable a small oval object with a thin hard shell produced by a female bird and containing a young bird; a similar object produced by a female fish, insect, etc
• The female sits on the eggs until they hatch.
• The fish lay thousands of eggs at one time.

• crocodile eggs

2. countable, uncountable a bird's egg, especially one from a chicken, that is eaten as food
• a boiled egg
• bacon and eggs
• fried/poached/scrambled eggs
• Bind the mixture together with a little beaten egg.
• You've got some egg on your shirt.
• egg yolks/whites
• egg noodles
• ducks'/quails' eggs
• a chocolate egg (= made from chocolate in the shape of an egg)

see also  Easter egg, Scotch egg

3. countable (in women and female animals) a cell that combines with a sperm to create a baby or young animal
Syn:  ovum
• The male sperm fertilizes the female egg.
• an egg donor
see also  nest egg 
more at a chicken-and-egg situation, problem, etc. at  chicken  _n., the curate's egg at  curate, kill the goose that lays the golden eggs at  kill  _v., you can't make an omelette without breaking eggs at  omelette, sure as eggs is eggs at  sure  _adv., teach your grandmother to suck eggs at  teach  
Word Origin:
n. Middle English ey Old English ǣg Old Norse
v. Middle English Old Norse eggja ‘incite’
 
Collocations:
The living world
Animals
animals mate/breed/reproduce/feed (on sth)
fish/amphibians swim/spawn (= lay eggs)
birds fly/migrate/nest/sing
insects crawl/fly/bite/sting
insects/bees/locusts swarm
bees collect/gather nectar/pollen
spiders spin/weave a web
snakes/lizards shed their skins
bears/hedgehogs/frogs hibernate
insect larvae grow/develop/pupate
an egg/a chick/a larva hatches
attract/find/choose a mate
produce/release eggs/sperm
lay/fertilize/incubate/hatch eggs
inhabit a forest/a reef/the coast
mark/enter/defend (a) territory
stalk/hunt/capture/catch/kill prey
Plants and fungi
trees/plants grow/bloom/blossom/flower
a seed germinates/sprouts
leaves/buds/roots/shoots appear/develop/form
flower buds swell/open
a fungus grows/spreads/colonizes sth
pollinate/fertilize a flower/plant
produce/release/spread/disperse pollen/seeds/spores
produce/bear fruit
develop/grow/form roots/shoots/leaves
provide/supply/absorb/extract/release nutrients
perform/increase/reduce photosynthesis
Bacteria and viruses
bacteria/microbes/viruses grow/spread/multiply
bacteria/microbes live/thrive in/on sth
bacteria/microbes/viruses evolve/colonize sth/cause disease
bacteria break sth down/convert sth (into sth)
a virus enters/invades sth/the body
a virus mutates/evolves/replicates (itself)
be infected with/contaminated with/exposed to a new strain of a virus/drug-resistant bacteria
contain/carry/harbour (especially US) harbor bacteria/a virus
kill/destroy/eliminate harmful/deadly bacteria 
Example Bank:
• Brush the pastry with a little beaten egg.
• Crack two eggs into the mixture.
• Many reptiles bury their eggs.
• Many women conceive through the use of a donor egg.
• Only one sperm fertilizes an egg.
• Separate the eggs, putting the whites to one side.
• She lays a clutch of four eggs on average.
• The males stay and guard the eggs.
• We're just decorating eggs for the egg hunt.
• a breakfast of bacon and eggs
Idioms: good egg ▪ have egg on over your face ▪ put all your eggs in one basket

Derived: egg somebody on 

chicken

chick·en [chicken chickens chickened chickening] noun, verb, adjective   [ˈtʃɪkɪn]    [ˈtʃɪkɪn] 

noun

1. countable a large bird that is often kept for its eggs or meat
• They keep chickens in the back yard.
• free-range chickens

compare  cock, hen

2. uncountable meat from a chicken
• fried/roast chicken
• chicken stock/soup
• chicken breasts/livers/thighs
• chicken and chips
see also  spring chicken 
more at don't count your chickens at  count  _v., run around like a headless chicken at  headless, the chickens come home to roost at  home  _adv.  
Word Origin:
Old English cīcen, cȳcen, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch kieken and German Küchlein, and probably also to cock.  
Example Bank:
• A few chickens were scratching around the yard.
• Are we just going to sit here like trussed up chickens?
• Battery chickens have miserable lives.
• Free-range chickens have happy lives.
• a crate of live chickens
• succulent pieces of chicken
• He called me a chicken because I wouldn't swim in the river.
Idioms: chicken-and-egg situation/problem ▪ play chicken

Derived: chicken out 

cheese

cheese [cheese cheeses cheesed cheesing]   [tʃiːz]    [tʃiːz]  noun
1. uncountable, countable a type of food made from milk that can be either soft or hard and is usually white or yellow in colour; a particular type of this food
• Cheddar cheese
• goat's cheese (= made from the milk of a goat )
• a cheese sandwich/salad
• a chunk/piece/slice of cheese
• a selection of French cheeses
• a cheese knife (= a knife with a special curved blade with two points on the end, used for cutting and picking up pieces of cheese)
 

2. cheese! what you ask sb to say before you take their photograph
see a big cheese at  big  _adj., chalk and cheese at  chalk  _n., hard cheese at  hard  _adj.  
Word Origin:
Old English cēse, cȳse, of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch kaas and German Käse; from Latin caseus.  
Example Bank:
• Cut the cheese into cubes.
• Sprinkle the cheese over the beans.

• Sprinkle the potatoes with grated cheese and grill for a few minutes.

(a) big cheese

a ˌbig ˈcheese idiom
(informal, humorous) an important and powerful person, especially in an organization

Main entry: big_idiom

pilot

pilot [pilot pilots piloted piloting] noun, verb, adjective   [ˈpaɪlət]    [ˈpaɪlət] 

noun
1. a person who operates the controls of an aircraft, especially as a job
• an airline pilot
• a fighter pilot
• The accident was caused by pilot error.

see also  automatic pilot, autopilot, co-pilot, test pilot

2. a person with special knowledge of a difficult area of water, for example, the entrance to a harbour, whose job is to guide ships through it

3. a single television programme that is made in order to find out whether people will like it and want to watch further programmes

4. =  pilot light  
Word Origin:
early 16th cent. (denoting a person who steers a ship): from French pilote, from medieval Latin pilotus, an alteration of pedota, based on Greek pēdon ‘oar’, (plural) ‘rudder’.  
Example Bank:
• The air crash is thought to have been caused by pilot error.
• The aircraft was set on automatic pilot.

• The pilot bailed out as the aircraft crashed into the ocean.

flight attendant

ˈflight attendant [flight attendant]       noun

a person whose job is to serve and take care of passengers on an aircraft

bean

bean [bean beans] noun, verb   [biːn]    [biːn] 

noun
1. a seed, or pod containing seeds, of a climbing plant, eaten as a vegetable. There are several types of bean and the plants that they grow on are also called beans
• broad beans
• runner beans

• beans (= baked beans ) on toast

2. (usually in compounds) a seed from a coffee plant, or some other plants
• coffee/cocoa beans
see also  jelly bean 
more at a hill of beans at  hill, not know beans about sth at  know  _v., spill the beans at  spill  _v.  
Word Origin:
Old English bēan, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch boon and German Bohne.  
Example Bank:
• She grows her own broad beans.
• baked beans on toast

Idioms: full of life ▪ not have a bean 

 
Word Origin:
Old English bēan, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch boon and German Bohne.

doctor

doc·tor [doctor doctors doctored doctoring] noun, verb   [ˈdɒktə(r)]    [ˈdɑːktər] 

noun (abbr. Dr)
1. a person who has been trained in medical science, whose job is to treat people who are ill/sick or injured
• You'd better see a doctor about that cough.

• Doctor Staples (= as a title/form of address)

2. doctor's a place where a doctor sees patients

• an appointment at the doctor's

3. a person who has received the highest university degree
• a Doctor of Philosophy/Law

• Doctor Franks (= as a title/form of address)

4. (especially NAmE) used as a title or form of address for a dentist  
Word Origin:
Middle English (in the senses ‘learned person’ and ‘Doctor of the Church’): via Old French from Latin doctor ‘teacher’ (from docere ‘teach’).  
Thesaurus:
doctor noun
1. C
• I think you should go to the doctor about that cough.
surgeon • • paramedic • • nurse • |BrE GP • |AmE internist • |informal medic • |especially AmE, formal physician •
see a doctor/the surgeon/a nurse/your GP/your internist/a medic/a physician
call a doctor/the paramedics/your GP/a medic/a physician
a doctor/paramedic/surgeon/GP/physician treats sb
a doctor/surgeon/GP/physician examines sb
2. doctor's C, usually sing. (especially spoken)
• I have an appointment at the doctor's tomorrow.
BrE surgery • • health centre • |AmE doctor's office • • clinic •
at the doctor's/surgery/health centre/doctor's office/clinic 
Example Bank:
• He left the hospital against doctor's orders.
• The doctor advised me to rest.
• The doctor will see you now.
• We called the doctor immediately.
• Who is your family doctor?
• You should register with a doctor as soon as possible.
• doctors who practise from home
• Why won't he go to the doctor?
• You'd better see a doctor about that cough.
• a hospital doctor

Idiom: just what the doctor ordered