C2

vow

vow [noun]

a serious promise or decision

US /vaʊ/ 
UK /vaʊ/ 

عهد، پيمان‌، سوگند، قسم‌

مثال: 

She took/made a vow never to lend money to anyone again.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

vow

I. vow1 /vaʊ/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: vou, from Latin votum; ⇨ ↑vote2]
1. a serious promise ⇨ oath:
Jim made a vow that he would find his wife’s killer.
2. a religious promise that you will do something for God, the church etc:
a monk who had taken a vow of poverty
3. vows [plural]
a) (also marriage/wedding vows) the promises you make during your wedding
b) the promises you make when you become a Catholic priest or ↑nun
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
make a vow I made a vow never to go near the place again.
take a vow (=make a vow at a formal ceremony) Priests have to take a vow of obedience to the Catholic Church.
keep a vow (=do as you promised) She kept her vow not to tell anyone about their affair.
break a vow (=fail to do as you promised) She accused him of breaking his marriage vows.
exchange vows (=make promises to each other as part of a wedding ceremony) They wanted to exchange vows before their family and friends.
renew your vows (=have a second wedding ceremony to repeat your promises) Fifty couples celebrated their golden weddings and renewed their vows at a cathedral service in Chicago.
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + vow
a solemn vow (=a very serious vow, which you must keep) He made a solemn vow that he would do everything he could to help her.
marriage/wedding vows She wrote her own marriage vows.
a holy/sacred vow When we get married in church we are making sacred vows.
■ phrases
a vow of silence/poverty/celibacy etc People close to him have finally broken their vow of silence.
be bound by a vow (=to have promised seriously to do something) She told him she was bound by a vow not to tell any other person.
• • •
THESAURUS
promise a statement that you will definitely do or provide something, which may not be reliable: ‘I’ll call you tomorrow.’ ‘Is that a promise?’ | Politicians are always making promises.
pledge a public or official promise to do a particular thing in the future: The Government has fulfilled at least 50% of its election pledges. | We have received pledges of help from various organizations.
vow a very serious promise to do something or not to do something that you choose to make: He made a vow never to drink alcohol again. | your marriage vows
oath a formal promise, especially one that someone makes in a court of law: Witnesses swear a solemn oath to tell the truth. | Public officials must take an oath to support the US Constitution.
undertaking a serious or public promise to do something, especially something difficult which needs a lot of effort or money: The police have given an undertaking to reduce street crime in the city centre. | He was made to sign a written undertaking that he would not go within a mile of her house.
assurance a promise that something will happen or is true, made so that someone is less worried or more confident: You have my assurance that it won’t happen again. | The manager gave me his personal assurance that the goods would be delivered today.
guarantee a very definite promise that something will happen. A guarantee is also a formal written promise by a company to repair or replace a product free if it has a fault within a fixed period of time.: With any diet, there’s no guarantee of success. | I’m afraid I can’t give you a 100% guarantee. | Is the camera still under guarantee (=within the period during which it can be repaired or replaced free)?

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

vow

vow [vow vows vowed vowing] noun, verb   [vaʊ]    [vaʊ]

noun
a formal and serious promise, especially a religious one, to do sth
to make/take a vow
to break/keep a vow
to break your marriage vows
Nuns take a vow of chastity.  
Word Origin:
Middle English: from Old French vou, from Latin votum ‘a vow, wish’, from vovere ‘to vow’; the verb is from Old French vouer.  
Collocations:
Marriage and divorce
Romance
fall/be (madly/deeply/hopelessly) in love (with sb)
be/believe in/fall in love at first sight
be/find true love/the love of your life
suffer (from) (the pains/pangs of) unrequited love
have/feel/show/express great/deep/genuine affection for sb/sth
meet/marry your husband/wife/partner/fiancé/fiancée/boyfriend/girlfriend
have/go on a (blind) date
be going out with/ (especially NAmE) dating a guy/girl/boy/man/woman
move in with/live with your boyfriend/girlfriend/partner
Weddings
get/be engaged/married/divorced
arrange/plan a wedding
have a big wedding/a honeymoon/a happy marriage
have/enter into an arranged marriage
call off/cancel/postpone your wedding
invite sb to/go to/attend a wedding/a wedding ceremony/a wedding reception
conduct/perform a wedding ceremony
exchange rings/wedding vows/marriage vows
congratulate/toast/raise a glass to the happy couple
be/go on honeymoon (with your wife/husband)
celebrate your first (wedding) anniversary
Separation and divorce
be unfaithful to/ (informal) cheat on your husband/wife/partner/fiancé/fiancée/boyfriend/girlfriend
have an affair (with sb)
break off/end an engagement/a relationship
break up with/split up with/ (informal) dump your boyfriend/girlfriend
separate from/be separated from/leave/divorce your husband/wife
annul/dissolve a marriage
apply for/ask for/go through/get a divorce
get/gain/be awarded/have/lose custody of the children
pay alimony/child support (to your ex-wife/husband) 
Example Bank:
He took a lifelong vow of celibacy.
Nothing will persuade me to break this vow.
She decided to leave the convent before taking her final vows.
She kept her vow of silence until she died.
The couple exchanged vows at the altar.
a vow of poverty
As a priest he had taken a vow of celibacy.
She made a vow never to speak to him again.
She would not be unfaithful to her marriage vows.

The monks take a vow of silence.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
 

vow / vaʊ / noun [ C ]

C2 a serious promise or decision:

[ + to infinitive ] She took/made a vow never to lend money to anyone again.

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

vow

[va͟ʊ]
 vows, vowing, vowed
 1) VERB If you vow to do something, you make a serious promise or decision that you will do it.
  [V to-inf] While many models vow to go back to college, few do...
  [V that] I solemnly vowed that someday I would return to live in Europe...
  [V with quote] `I'll kill him,' she vowed...
  [V n] They have vowed a quick and decisive response.
 2) N-COUNT: oft N to-inf, N that A vow is a serious promise or decision to do a particular thing.
  I made a silent vow to be more careful in the future...
  I had to admire David's vow that he would leave the programme.
  Syn:
  resolution
 3) N-COUNT: usu pl, with supp Vows are a particular set of serious promises, such as the promises two people make when they are getting married.
  I took my marriage vows and kept them.
  ...a nun who had taken final vows...
  He had broken his vow of poverty.
  Syn:
  oath

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary: 

1vow /ˈvaʊ/ noun, pl vows [count] : a serious promise to do something or to behave in a certain way
• The monks take a vow of silence/chastity/poverty.
• marriage/wedding vows
• The bride and groom exchanged vows.
• The mayor made a vow to reduce crime.

means

means [noun] (MONEY)

money, for example from an income, that allows you to buy things

US /miːnz/ 
UK /miːnz/ 

ثروت، دارایی

مثال: 

He has the means to buy half the houses in the street if he wanted to.

Oxford Essential Dictionary

means

 noun (plural means)
a way of doing something; a way of going somewhere:
Do you have any means of transport (= a car, a bicycle etc.)?

by means of something by using something:
We crossed the river by means of a small bridge.

by no means not at all:
I am by no means certain that I can come.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

means

means S2 W2 /miːnz/ BrE AmE noun (plural means)
1. METHOD [countable] a way of doing or achieving something
means of
For most people, the car is still their main means of transport.
The only means of communication was sign language.
The window was our only means of escape.
Do you have any means of identification?
art as a means of expression
Homework should not be used as a means of controlling children.
I had no means of telling him I would be late.
Brian was prepared to use any means to get what he wanted.
They had entered the country by unlawful means.
the means by which performance is assessed
2. MONEY [plural] the money or income that you have
have the means to do something
I don’t have the means to support a family.
Paying for your children to go to a private school is beyond the means of most people (=too expensive for most people).
Try to live within your means (=only spending what you can afford).
His father was a man of means (=a rich man).
3. by all means! spoken used to mean ‘of course’ when politely allowing someone to do something or agreeing with a suggestion:
‘Can I bring Alan?’ ‘By all means!’
4. by no means/not by any means not at all:
It is by no means certain that the game will take place.
She’s not a bad kid, by any means.
5. by means of something formal using a particular method or system:
The blocks are raised by means of pulleys.
6. a means to an end something that you do only to achieve a result, not because you want to do it or because it is important:
For Geoff, the job was simply a means to an end.
7. the means of production the material, tools, and equipment that are used in the production of goods
ways and means at ↑way1(1)
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ adjectives
an effective/efficient means Speed bumps are an effective means of stopping cars from going too fast.
a useful means Local radio is a useful means of advertising.
the only means Then, horses and carts were the only means of transport available.
the best means Is this really the best means of achieving our goal?
an important means Surveys are an important means of gathering information.
lawful/legal means Their protests will continue, but only by legal means.
unlawful/illegal means He was accused of attempting to overthrow the government using unlawful means.
unfair means Anyone trying to use unfair means in an examination will be reported to the University.
■ phrases
a means of transport British English, a means of transportation American English (=a way of travelling, for example using a car, bus, bicycle etc) The tram is an efficient means of transport.
a means of communication (=a way of talking to someone, for example by phone, writing etc) Newspapers are still an important means of communication.
a means of expression (=a way of expressing your feelings or opinions) Music and art are important means of expression.
a means of identification (=an official document that shows who you are) Do you have any means of identification?
the means of production (=factories and equipment used for producing goods - used especially in Marxism) the class of people which owns the means of production
the end justifies the means (=the result you achieve is more important than the way you do it) It’s too bad if people get hurt - the end justifies the means.
a means to an end (=something you do only to achieve a result, not because you want to do it or because it is important) Many of the students saw the course as a means to an end: a way of getting a good job.
(whether) by fair means or foul (=using unfair methods if necessary) They were determined to achieve victory, by fair means or foul.
■ verbs
have no/any/some means of doing something There was no path, and they had no means of knowing where they were.
use any/every means to do something (=use any method or many methods) He will use any means to get what he wants.
• • •
THESAURUS
method a way of doing something, especially one that is well known and often used: You can choose whichever method of payment you prefer. | an environmentally friendly method for treating household waste
way a set of actions that you use in order to do something. Way is more informal than method and is used more often in everyday English: What’s the best way to remove wine stains? | a new way of treating the disease | There are lots of ways of cooking mushrooms.
means something that you use to do something or achieve something: Their main means of transport is their car. | E-mail is often the most convenient means of communication. | He looked around for a means of escape. | Education and training are the most efficient means of improving the nation’s economy.
approach a way of dealing with a particular problem or situation, especially a way that has been carefully thought about or planned: Today’s approach to raising children is very different from 40 years ago. | I think we need to try a different approach.
technique a particular way of doing something, for which you need a skill that has to be learned and practised: tips on how to improve your exam technique | More patients are surviving thanks to improved surgical techniques.
tactics methods that you use in order to achieve what you want, especially in a game or competition: There were complaints about police tactics used to clear demonstrators. | The team was discussing tactics for the game.
strategy a set of carefully planned methods for achieving something that is difficult and may take a long time: our sales strategy | a strategy to reduce the level of teenage smoking
mode formal a particular way of doing something: For him, painting is just another mode of expression. | You can choose between several different modes of operation. | the most efficient mode of transportation | Withdrawing a child from class is still the preferred mode of providing extra help to that child.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

means

means   [miːnz]    [miːnz]  noun (pl. means)
1. countable ~ (of sth/of doing sth) an action, an object or a system by which a result is achieved; a way of achieving or doing sth
Television is an effective means of communication.
Is there any means of contacting him?
Have you any means of identification?

• We needed to get to London but we had no means of transport.

2. plural the money that a person has
People should pay according to their means.
He doesn't have the means to support a wife and child.
Private school fees are beyond the means of most people (= more than they can afford).
Are the monthly repayments within your means (= can you afford them)?
Try to live within your means (= not spend more money than you have).
a man of means (= a rich man)
more at the end justifies the means at  end  n., by fair means or foul at  fair  adj., ways and means at  way  n.
Idioms: by all means  by means of something  by no means  means to an end  not by any means  
Word Origin:
late Middle English: plural of mean  (noun), the early sense being ‘intermediary’.  
Thesaurus:
means [means] noun C
TV is a highly effective means of communication.
methodwaysystemmechanismtechniqueprocess
a means/method/system/mechanism/technique/process for (doing) sth
a means/way/method/system/technique of (doing) sth
use a means/method/system/technique/process
devise/develop a means/method/way/system/technique/process 
Example Bank:
Eligibility for the benefit was determined by a means test.
Gold has been the preferred means of exchange for centuries.
He saw his education merely as a means to an end.
In the case of torture, the end can never justify the means.
Infringement of copyright includes distribution by electronic means.
My English teacher provided me with the means to enjoy reading poetry.
Oil lamps were the sole means of illumination.
Painting had become his primary means of self-expression.
Private school fees are beyond the means of most people.
She finds it difficult to live within her means.
She must have independent means to live in such style.
The stone was lifted by means of a rope and pulley.
There are ways and means of raising money.
They cannot achieve their goal through legal means.
War is famously ‘the continuation of policy by other means’.
We have no means of knowing how they will react.
We will use every possible means to achieve our objective.
a means of access/communication/transport
a means of getting what you want
an effective means of mass communication
people who lack visible means of support
the means for achieving happiness
Do you have any means of identification?
He did not have the means to support a family.
I don't believe that in this case the means justified the end.
People should pay according to their means.
TV is a highly effective means of communication.
The study aims to provide a means of testing the theory.
Try to live within your means.
We must look for an alternative means of escape.
We will use whatever means are necessary.
• What means of transport did they use?

• a man/woman of means

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
 

means / miːnz / noun ( plural means ) (METHOD)

B2 [ C ] a method or way of doing something:

They had no means of communication.

We need to find some other means of transportation.

We must use every means at our disposal.

She tried to explain by means of sign language.

There is no means of tracing the debt at all.

The family had no means of support (= way of getting money) .
 

means / miːnz / noun ( plural means ) (MONEY)

C2 [ plural ] money, for example from an income, that allows you to buy things:

[ + to infinitive ] He has the means to buy half the houses in the street if he wanted to.

live beyond your means

to spend more money than you receive as income

live within your means

to spend less money than you receive as income

a man/woman of means

a rich man/woman

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

means

/mi:nz/

Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.

1.
A means of doing something is a method, instrument, or process which can be used to do it. Means is both the singular and the plural form for this use.
The move is a means to fight crime...
The army had perfected the use of terror as a means of controlling the population...
Business managers are focused on increasing their personal wealth by any available means.
N-COUNT: with supp

2.
You can refer to the money that someone has as their means. (FORMAL)
...a person of means...
He did not have the means to compensate her.
N-PLURAL

3.
If someone is living beyond their means, they are spending more money than they can afford. If someone is living within their means, they are not spending more money than they can afford.
The more gifts she received, the more she craved, until he was living beyond his means...
PHRASE: v PHR, v-link PHR

4.
If you do something by means of a particular method, instrument, or process, you do it using that method, instrument, or process.
This is a two year course taught by means of lectures and seminars...
PREP-PHRASE

5.
You can say ‘by all means’ to tell someone that you are very willing to allow them to do something.
‘Can I come and have a look at your house?’—‘Yes by all means’.
CONVENTION [formulae]

6.
You use expressions such as ‘by no means’, ‘not by any means’, and ‘by no manner of means’ to emphasize that something is not true.
This is by no means out of the ordinary...
They were not finished, however, not by any means.
PHRASE: PHR with cl/group, PHR before v [emphasis]

7.
If you say that something is a means to an end, you mean that it helps you to achieve what you want, although it may not be enjoyable or important itself.
We seem to have lost sight of the fact that marketing is only a means to an end.
PHRASE: usu v-link PHR

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary: 

means

means /ˈmiːnz/ noun, pl means
1 [count] : a way of doing something or of achieving a desired result
• trains, buses, and other means of transportation
• a means of communication/expression
• using fingerprints as a means of identification
• “What's the best means of getting there?” “Public transportation.”
• The property was obtained by illegal means.
• He vowed that he would succeed by any means necessary. [=by doing whatever was needed]
• He would use all/any manner of means to succeed.
• For her, marrying a rich man was just a means to an end. [=something done only to produce a desired result] All she really cared about was money.
• How can she survive when she has no visible means of support? [=she has no apparent way to pay for the things that she needs to live]
- see also ways and means the end justifies the means at 1end
2 [plural] : the money that someone has : wealth
• He has the means to give you everything you want.
• His means are enough to pay for college.
• a man/woman of means [=a wealthy man/woman]
• She is a woman of independent means. [=she has enough money to support herself without help from others]
• He enjoys a style of living that is beyond the means of all but the wealthiest people. [=that only the wealthiest people can afford]
• She was living beyond her means. [=she was spending more money than she could afford to spend]
• He began to save money when he finally learned to live within his means. [=to spend money only on what he could afford]
by all means : of course : certainly
• “May I come in?” “By all means!”
By all means feel free to get a second opinion.
by means of : through the use of (something)
• He got out of trouble by means of a clever trick.
by no means or not by any means also not by any manner of means : in no way : not at all
• It's by no means certain that he'll come. = It's not by any means certain that he'll come.
• This is by no means the first time we have had this problem.
• I was not happy about the arrangements by any means, but I agreed to do it.
• This issue has not been resolved yet by any manner of means.

stupidity

stupidity [noun]

the state of being silly or unwise

US /stuːˈpɪd.ə.t̬i/ 
UK /stjuːˈpɪd.ə.ti/ 

حماقت

مثال: 

Her stupidity is beyond belief sometimes.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

stupidity

stupidity /stjuːˈpɪdəti, stjuːˈpɪdɪti $ stuː-/ BrE AmE noun (plural stupidities)
[Word Family: noun: ↑stupidity, ↑stupid; adverb: ↑stupidly; adjective: ↑stupid]
1. [uncountable and countable] behaviour or actions that show a lack of good sense or good judgment:
all the horrors and stupidities of war
2. [uncountable] the quality of being stupid

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

stupidity

stu·pid·ity [stupidity stupidities]   [stjuːˈpɪdəti]    [stuːˈpɪdəti]  noun (pl. stu·pid·ities)
1. uncountable, countable, usually plural behaviour that shows a lack of thought or good judgement
I couldn't believe my own stupidity.
the errors and stupidities of youth

The police were astonished at the sheer stupidity of drivers in going so fast in the fog.

2. uncountable the state or quality of being slow to learn and not clever or intelligent
He faked stupidity to try to escape punishment for the crime.  
Example Bank:
Her answer showed the most incredible stupidity.
I can't believe the stupidity of some people.
I now realize the stupidity of that statement.
It was sheer stupidity on the part of the crew.
It's hard to know if it's corruption or just plain stupidity by the authorities.
Through his own stupidity, he missed an excellent opportunity.
I couldn't believe my own stupidity.

The police were astonished at the sheer stupidity of drivers going so fast in the fog.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
 

stupidity / stjuːˈpɪd.ɪ.ti /   / stuːˈpɪd.ə.t̬i / noun [ U ]

C2 the state of being silly or unwise:

a moment/act of stupidity

Her stupidity is beyond belief sometimes.

It was sheer stupidity to refuse at the price they were offering.

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

stu‧pid‧ity (stupidities)
I stared at him, astonished by his stupidity.
N-VAR: usu with poss

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary: 

stupidity

stu·pid·i·ty /stʊˈpɪdəti, Brit stjʊˈpɪdəti/ noun, pl -ties
1 [noncount] : the state of being foolish or unintelligent : the condition of being stupid
• I was shocked by the stupidity of their decision/behavior.
2 [count] : a stupid idea or action - usually plural
• the stupidities of war

chip (sth) in

chip (sth) in [phrasal verb]

to give some money when several people are giving money to pay for something together

US /tʃɪp/ 
UK /tʃɪp/ 

پول جمع کردن، پول روی هم گذاشتن

مثال: 

1- They all chipped in £100 and bought their mother a trip to Greece.

2- Oh, oh, oh, guys, would you, uh, chip in for some new air filters for the purifier? ّI mean, after all, we are all using it.

۱- آن‌ها باهم صد پوند پول جمع کردند و یک بلیط سفر به یونان برای مادرشان خریدند.

۲- راستی بچه ها ممکنه برای خریدن فیلتر جدید دستگاه تصفیه هوا روی هم پول بذارید؟ ‌منظورم اینه که به هر حال همه داریم ازش استفاده می‌‌کنیم.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

chip in

chip in phrasal verb (see also ↑chip)
1. to interrupt a conversation by saying something that adds more detail
chip in with
Other committee members chipped in with suggestions.
‘It won’t be easy,’ Jeff chipped in.
I’d just like to chip in, Bill, if I might.
2. if each person in a group chips in, they each give a small amount of money so that they can buy something together:
We all chipped in to buy Amy a graduation present.
chip in (with) something
Fifty-two people in the music industry each chipped in $250 apiece.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

chip in (with something)

ˌchip ˈin (with sth) derived

(informal)

1. to join in or interrupt a conversation; to add sth to a conversation or discussion
Pete and Anne chipped in with suggestions.

+ speech ‘That's different,’ she chipped in.

2. (also ˌchip ˈin sth) to give some money so that a group of people can buy sth together
Syn:  contribute
If everyone chips in we'll be able to buy her a really nice present.
We each chipped in (with) £5.

Main entry: chipderived

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
 

chip (sth) in informal — phrasal verb with chip / tʃɪp / verb [ I or T ] ( -pp- )

C2 to give some money when several people are giving money to pay for something together:

They all chipped in £100 and bought their mother a trip to Greece.

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

chip in

 1) PHRASAL VERB When a number of people chip in, each person gives some money so that they can pay for something together. [INFORMAL]
  [V P] They chip in for the petrol and food...
  [V P n (not pron)] The brothers chip in a certain amount of money each month to hire a home health aide. [Also V P with n]
  Syn:
  contribute
 2) PHRASAL VERB If someone chips in during a conversation, they interrupt it in order to say something. [INFORMAL]
  [V P with quote] `That's true,' chipped in Quaver...
  [V P] He chipped in before Clements could answer.

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary: 

chip in [phrasal verb]
1 chip in or chip in (something) : to give something (such as money) to help a person, group, or cause
• We all chipped in [=contributed] to buy him a gift.
• If we all chip in [=help (out)], the work will get done quickly.
• We each chipped in 10 dollars.
2 chiefly Brit : to add your comment or opinion to a conversation or discussion
• “He left hours ago,” Sue chipped in. [=chimed in]

 

grim

grim [adjective] (SERIOUS)

worried and serious or sad

US /ɡrɪm/ 
UK /ɡrɪm/ 

سرسختانه، تسلیم ناپذیر

مثال: 

grim courage

Oxford Essential Dictionary

grim

 adjective (grimmer, grimmest)

1 (used about a person) very serious and not smiling:
a grim expression

2 (used about a situation) very bad and making you feel worried:
The news is grim.
 

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

grim

grim /ɡrɪm/ BrE AmE adjective
[Language: Old English; Origin: grimm]
1. making you feel worried or unhappy SYN harsh:
the grim reality of rebuilding the shattered town
When he lost his job, his future looked grim.
Millions of Britons face the grim prospect (=something bad that will probably happen) of dearer home loans.
We received the grim news in silence.
2. looking or sounding very serious:
‘I’ll survive,’ he said with a grim smile.
The child hung on to her arm with grim determination.
The police officers were silent and grim-faced.
3. British English informal very bad, ugly, or unpleasant:
The weather forecast is pretty grim.
They painted a grim picture of what life used to be like there.
a grim industrial town
4. [not before noun] informal ill:
Juliet felt grim through the early months of her pregnancy.
5. hold/hang on for/like grim death British English informal to hold something very tightly because you are afraid

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

grim

grim [grim grimmer grimmest]   [ɡrɪm]    [ɡrɪm]  adjective (grim·mer, grim·mest)
1. looking or sounding very serious
a grim face/look/smile
She looked grim.
with a look of grim determination on his face
• He set about the task with grim concentration.

grim-faced policemen

2. unpleasant and depressing
grim news
We face the grim prospect of still higher unemployment.
Despite the grim forecast, the number of deaths was slightly down on last year.
The outlook is pretty grim.
This latest attack is a grim reminder of how vulnerable our airports are to terrorist attack.
Booth paints a grim picture of life in the next century.
• a grim struggle for survival

• Things are looking grim for workers in the building industry.

3. (of a place or building) not attractive; depressing
• The house looked grim and dreary in the rain.

• the grim walls of the prison

4. not before noun (BrE, informal) ill/sick

• I feel grim this morning.

5. not usually before noun (BrE, informal) of very low quality
Their performance was fairly grim, I'm afraid!
Idiom: hang on for grim death
Derived Words: grimly  grimness
See also: hang on for dear life  
Word Origin:
Old English, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch grim and German grimm.  
Example Bank:
James had some rather grim news.
The accident serves as a grim reminder of what drinking and driving can do.
• There was a grim smile on her face as she approached.

• They clung on to the edge of the boat with grim determination.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
 

grim / ɡrɪm / adjective ( grimmer , grimmest ) (SERIOUS)

C2 worried and serious or sad:

Her face was grim as she told them the bad news.

The expression on his face was one of grim determination .

Later Mr Ashby left the court, grim-faced and silent.
 

grim / ɡrɪm / adjective ( grimmer , grimmest ) (WITHOUT HOPE)

C2 worrying, without hope:

The future looks grim.
 

grim / ɡrɪm / adjective ( grimmer , grimmest ) informal (UNPLEASANT)

C2 very unpleasant or ugly:

a grim-looking block of flats

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

grim

[grɪ̱m]
 grimmer, grimmest
 1) ADJ-GRADED A situation or piece of information that is grim is unpleasant, depressing, and difficult to accept.
  They painted a grim picture of growing crime...
  There was further grim economic news yesterday...
  The mood could not have been grimmer.
  Derived words:
  grimness N-UNCOUNT ...an unrelenting grimness of tone.
 2) ADJ-GRADED A place that is grim is unattractive and depressing in appearance.
  The city might be grim at first, but there is a vibrancy and excitement.
  ...the tower blocks on the city's grim edges.
 3) ADJ-GRADED If a person or their behaviour is grim, they are very serious, usually because they are worried about something. [WRITTEN]
  She was a stout, grim woman with a turned-down mouth...
  Her expression was grim and unpleasant.
  Derived words:
  grimly ADV-GRADED `It's too late now to stop him,' Harris said grimly.
 4) ADJ-GRADED If you say that something is grim, you think that it is very bad, ugly, or depressing. [INFORMAL]
  Things were pretty grim for a time.

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary: 

grim

grim /ˈgrɪm/ adj grim·mer; -mest
1 : unpleasant or shocking to see or think about
• Hikers made a grim discovery when they came across a dead body in the woods.
• The accident serves as a grim reminder of the dangers of drinking and driving.
2 : causing feelings of sadness or worry : gloomy or depressing
• a grim winter
• The prognosis is grim—doctors do not expect her to live longer than six months.
• He paints a grim picture of the prospects for peace.
3 : having a very serious appearance or manner
• His face looked grim, and we knew his news wouldn't be good.
• a grim smile
• a grim taskmaster
4 : strongly felt and serious
grim determination

dated

dated [adjective]

old-fashioned

US /ˈdeɪ.t̬ɪd/ 
UK /ˈdeɪ.tɪd/ 

قديمى‌، از مد افتاده‌

مثال: 

Spy thrillers with plots based on the Cold War look particularly dated nowadays.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

dated

dated /ˈdeɪtəd, ˈdeɪtɪd/ BrE AmE adjective
[Word Family: verb: ↑date, ↑predate; adjective: ↑dated, ↑outdated; noun: ↑date]
old-fashioned ⇨ out-of-date:
That dress looks a bit dated now.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

dated

dated [dated]   [ˈdeɪtɪd]    [ˈdeɪtɪd]  adjective
old-fashioned; belonging to a time in the past
Those TV comedies were OK in their day but seem incredibly dated now.
compare  undated  
Example Bank:
These ideas seem a bit dated now.

This drama series is supposedly modern yet its characters live in a curiously dated world.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
 

dated / ˈdeɪ.tɪd /   / -t̬ɪd / adjective

C2 old-fashioned:

Spy thrillers with plots based on the Cold War look particularly dated nowadays.

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

dated

[de͟ɪtɪd]
 ADJ-GRADED
 Dated things seem old-fashioned, although they may once have been fashionable or modern.
  ...people in dated dinner-jackets.

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary: 

dated

dated adj [more ~; most ~] : coming from or belonging to a time in the past : old-fashioned or out-of-date
• the restaurant's dated decor
• The band's music sounds dated now.
• The information was quite dated and no longer useful.

sentimental

sentimental [adjective]

describes someone who is strongly influenced by emotional feelings, especially about happy memories of past events or relationships with other people, rather than by careful thought and judgment based on facts

US /ˌsen.t̬əˈmen.t̬əl/ 
UK /ˌsen.tɪˈmen.təl/ 

احساساتى‌، عاطفى‌

مثال: 

It's a cheap ring but it has great sentimental value for me.

Oxford Essential Dictionary

sentimental

 adjective
producing or showing feelings such as romantic love or pity that are too strong or not appropriate:
a sentimental love story
I'm so sentimental – I always cry at weddings!

 

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

sentimental

sentimental /ˌsentəˈmentl◂, ˌsentɪˈmentl◂/ BrE AmE adjective
1. someone who is sentimental is easily affected by emotions such as love, sympathy, sadness etc, often in a way that seems silly to other people:
She said a sentimental goodbye.
sentimental about
People can be very sentimental about animals.
2. based on or relating to your feelings rather than on practical reasons:
He wasn’t the sort of person who kept things for sentimental reasons.
a sentimental journey to the place of his birth
The rings that were stolen were of great sentimental value (=important because of your feelings or memories relating to them).
3. a story, film, book etc that is sentimental deals with emotions such as love and sadness, sometimes in a way that seems silly and insincere:
a sentimental story set in Russia
—sentimentally adverb
• • •
THESAURUS
■ causing strong feelings
emotional causing people to have strong feelings – used especially about experiences, speeches, or subjects that people have strong feelings about: Returning home after a year in hospital was an emotional experience for Katy. | He gave an emotional speech at the funeral. | It was a very emotional moment. | Abortion rights is a highly emotional issue.
emotive used about issues or language that make people have strong feelings: Fox hunting is a very emotive issue in Britain. | ‘Indoctrination’ is rather an emotive word.
moving making you feel strong feelings of sadness or sympathy: Kelly’s book about her illness is deeply moving. | a moving film
touching making you feel slightly emotional – used especially when someone does something that shows how much they care about another person: Your loyalty is very touching. | My son phoned me to wish me good luck, which was a touching gesture.
poignant making you feel strong feelings of sadness or pity, especially when you remember something in the past: Her youthful expression is a poignant reminder of the passing of time.
sentimental (also schmaltzy) informal dealing with emotions such as love and sadness in a way that seems silly: He found the film too sentimental. | a schmaltzy comedy

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

sentimental

sen·ti·men·tal [sentimental sentimentally]   [ˌsentɪˈmentl]    [ˌsentɪˈmentl]  adjective
1. connected with your emotions, rather than reason
He has a strong sentimental attachment to the place.
She kept the letters for sentimental reasons.

The ring wasn't worth very much but it had great sentimental value.

2. (often disapproving) producing emotions such as pity, romantic love or sadness, which may be too strong or not appropriate; feeling these emotions too much
a slushy, sentimental love story
Her book is honest without being sentimental.
He's not the sort of man who gets sentimental about old friendships.
Opp:  unsentimental
Derived Word: sentimentally  
Example Bank:
You, crying at a film! You must be getting sentimental in your old age!
a rather sentimental gesture
He's not the sort of man who gets sentimental about old friendships.
His book is honest without being sentimental.

The ring wasn't worth much but it had great sentimental value.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
 

sentimental / ˌsen.tɪˈmen.t ə l /   / -t̬əˈmen.t̬ ə l / adjective

C2 describes someone who is strongly influenced by emotional feelings, especially about happy memories of past events or relationships with other people, rather than by careful thought and judgment based on facts:

Why be sentimental about that old coat? There's no point in keeping it just because you were wearing it when you first met me.

It's a cheap ring but it has great sentimental value for me.

disapproving too strongly influenced by emotional feelings:

silly sentimental songs/stories

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

sentimental

[se̱ntɪme̱nt(ə)l]
 1) ADJ-GRADED Someone or something that is sentimental feels or shows pity or love, sometimes to an extent that is considered exaggerated and foolish.
  I'm trying not to be sentimental about the past...
  It's a very sentimental play.
  Derived words:
  sentimentally ADV-GRADED usu ADV with v Childhood had less freedom and joy than we sentimentally attribute to it.
  sentimentality [se̱ntɪmentæ̱lɪti] N-UNCOUNT In this book there is no sentimentality.
 2) ADJ: usu ADJ n Sentimental means relating to or involving feelings such as pity or love, especially for things in the past.
  Our paintings and photographs are of sentimental value only...
  Perhaps he has returned for sentimental reasons.

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary: 

sentimental

sen·ti·men·tal /ˌsɛntəˈmɛntl̩/ adj [more ~; most ~]
1 : based on, showing, or resulting from feelings or emotions rather than reason or thought
• He has a sentimental attachment to his old high school.
• She saved her wedding gown for sentimental reasons.
• He has sentimental ideas about the past.
✦A sentimental journey is a visit to a place that was once very familiar and that brings back memories of the past.
• They took a sentimental journey to England, the country where they had met.
✦Something that has sentimental value is important to someone because of its connection with a happy time of life, a special person, etc.
• I keep this picture because it has sentimental value for me.
2 a : appealing to the emotions especially in an excessive way
• a sentimental melodrama
b : having or expressing strong feelings of love, sadness, etc., in a way that may seem foolish or excessive
• a sentimental person
• I tend to get very sentimental when I think about my childhood.

ring a bell

ring a bell [idiom]

To sound familiar

آشنا بودن، به نظر آشنا آمدن

مثال: 

The name rings a bell. Isn’t he an English teacher?

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

4 ring a bell   informal   if something rings a bell, it reminds you of something, but you cannot remember exactly what it is :  
Her name rings a bell but I can’t remember her face.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

ring a ˈbell idiom

(informal) to sound familiar to you, as though you have heard it before

> His name rings a bell but I can't think where we met.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
 

ring a bell ( also ring any bells )

C2 to sound familiar:

The name rang a bell but I couldn't remember where I had heard it before.

No, I'm sorry, that description doesn't ring any bells with me.

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary: 

ring a bell informal : to be familiar
• Yes, that name rings a bell.
• The term didn't ring a bell with me.

turn your back on sb

turn your back on sb [idiom]

To refuse to support someone and leave them without helping

turn your back on sb - به کسی پشت کردن

به کسی پشت کردن

مثال: 

When she needed my help I turned my back on her and left her alone and now I feel very bad.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

turn your back (on somebody/something)
  a) to refuse to help, support, or be involved with someone or something :  
How can you turn your back on your own mother?
In his twenties he turned his back on his Catholic faith.
  b) to turn so that your back is pointing towards someone or something, and you are not looking at them :  
Angrily, she turned her back on him.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

turn your back on sb/sth   
1   to move so that you are standing or sitting with your  back  facing sb/sth
 When on stage, try not to turn your back on the audience.   
2   to reject sb/sth that you have previously been connected with
 She turned her back on them when they needed her.
   Some newspapers have turned their backs on discussion and argument.

Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, 8th edition

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
 

turn your back on sb

C2 to refuse to help someone:

Surely you won't turn your back on them?

© Cambridge University Press 2013

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

phrase [VERB inflects, PHRASE noun]

If you turn your back on someone or something, you ignore them, leave them, or reject them.

have something up your sleeve

have something up your sleeve [idiom]

Having a secret plan, idea etc.

have something up your sleeve - رو نکردن

نقشه یا ایده ی پنهانی داشتن

مثال: 

I think Cathy has something in her mind and she is up to something. She has been acting weird all day. She must have something up her sleeves.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

have something up your sleeveinformal to have a secret plan or idea that you are going to use later Don’t worry. He still has a few tricks up his sleeve.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
 

have sth up your sleeve informal

C2 to have secret plans or ideas:

If I know Mark he'll have one or two tricks up his sleeve.

© Cambridge University Press 2013

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

have sth up one's sleeve

phrase

If you have something up your sleeve, you have an idea or plan which you have not toldanyone about. You can also say that someone has an ace, card, or trick up their sleeve.

He wondered what Shearson had up his sleeve.

I'd been doing some quiet investigating in the meantime and had an ace up my sleeve.

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary: 

up one's sleeve

held secretly in reservehas a few tricks up her sleeve

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