noun

calorie

cal‧o‧rie /ˈkæləri/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[Date: 1800-1900; Language: French; Origin: Latin calor 'heat']
1. a unit for measuring the amount of ↑energy that food will produce:
A potato has about 90 calories.
a calorie-controlled diet
low-calorie/high-calorie
a low-calorie snack
I need to burn off a few calories (=lose some weight by exercising).
My wife convinced me to finally start counting calories (=control my weight by being careful about what I eat).
2. technical the amount of heat that is needed to raise the temperature of one gram of water by one degree Celsius. It is used as a unit for measuring energy.
—caloric /kəˈlɒrɪk, ˈkælərɪk $ kəˈlɔːrɪk/ adjective
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ something has/contains calories These yoghurts have approximately 90 calories per pot.
▪ count calories (=control your weight by eating fewer calories) Women tend to count calories more than men.
▪ burn (up/off) calories (=use up the calories you have eaten) Even walking will help you to burn up calories.
■ adjectives
▪ low-calorie She's on a low-calorie diet at the moment.
▪ high-calorie High-calorie foods are usually fatty.
▪ be high/low in calories (=contain a lot of/few calories) Sweets and chocolates are very high in calories.
▪ somebody's daily calories (=that someone eats every day) Americans get 22% of their daily calories from snacks.
▪ empty calories (=that do not contain anything good for your body) Sugary drinks are full of empty calories.
■ calorie + NOUN
▪ calorie intake (=the amount of calories someone eats) There are several ways you can reduce your calorie intake.
▪ calorie content Pizzas have a very high calorie content.

spirit

I. spir‧it¹ S2 W2 /ˈspɪrət, ˈspɪrɪt/ BrE AmE noun
[Date: 1200-1300; Language: Anglo-French; Origin: Latin spiritus 'breath, spirit']
1. CHARACTER [singular, uncountable] the qualities that make someone live the way they do, and make them different from other people
in spirit
I’m 85, but I still feel young in spirit.
independent/proud/free etc spirit (=a person with a particular type of character)
She is a strong and independent spirit. ⇨ kindred spirit at ↑kindred²(1)
2. HAPPY/SAD spirits [plural] the way someone feels at a particular time, for example if they are happy or sad ⇨ mood
be in good/high spirits (=be excited and happy)
Cooper was still in high spirits after winning the race.
His spirits were so low (=he was so sad) that he refused to answer his phone.
raise/lift sb’s spirits (=make someone happier)
The warm morning sun lifted our spirits.
She wrote poetry while she was in the hospital to keep her spirits up (=keep happy).
sb’s spirits rise/lift/sink (=they become more or less happy)
My spirits sank when I saw the mess they’d left.
3. SOUL [countable] the part of someone that you cannot see, that consists of the qualities that make up their character, which many people believe continues to live after the person has died ⇨ soul:
Although Laurie is dead, I can feel his spirit with me.
4. NO BODY [countable] a creature without a physical body that some people believe exists, such as an ↑angel or a dead person, who has returned to this world and has strange or magical powers ⇨ ghost:
an evil spirit
5. DETERMINATION [uncountable] courage, energy, and determination – used to show approval:
Sandra is small, but she makes up for it with great spirit.
a young team with strong fighting spirit
When they took away his freedom, they broke his spirit (=made him lose his courage).
6. ATTITUDE [singular, uncountable] the attitude that you have towards something or while you are doing something:
You’ve got to approach this meeting in the right spirit.
spirit of
the spirit of cooperation between the two sides
7. team/community/public etc spirit a strong feeling of belonging to a particular group and wanting to help them
8. TYPICAL QUALITIES [countable usually singular] the set of ideas, beliefs, feelings etc that are typical of a particular period in history, a place, or a group of people
spirit of
Tourism has not destroyed the spirit of Bali.
the spirit of the age/times
His beliefs conflicted with the spirit of the age.
9. in spirit if you say you will be somewhere in spirit or with someone in spirit, you will not be with them but will be thinking about them:
I can’t come to your wedding, but I’ll be there in spirit.
10. get/enter into the spirit (of something) to start to feel as happy, excited etc as the people around you:
Judith couldn’t really enter into the spirit of the occasion.
11. INTENTION [uncountable] the meaning or qualities that someone intended something to have, especially the meaning that a law or rule was intended to have:
Thoreau believed that his actions were in the spirit of American institutions.
Miller’s actions may not be actually illegal, but they have violated the spirit of the law. ⇨ the letter of the law at ↑letter¹(4)
12. the Spirit the ↑Holy Spirit
13. DRINK [countable usually plural]
a) especially British English a strong alcoholic drink such as ↑whisky or ↑brandy
b) British English liquid such as alcohol, used for cleaning
14. that’s the spirit spoken used to express approval of someone’s behaviour or attitude
15. when/as the spirit moves you when you feel that you want to do something
16. the spirit is willing (but the flesh is weak) used when saying that you want to do something, but you are too tired or do not feel strong enough – often used humorously
• • •
COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 2)
■ adjectives
▪ high/good (=used when saying that someone is happy and excited) The players were all in high spirits.
▪ low/flagging (=used when saying that someone is sad) She was tired and her spirits were low.
■ verbs
▪ lift/raise/revive sb’s spirits (=make them feel happier) A brisk walk helped to lift my spirits.
▪ keep sb’s spirits up (=keep them feeling happy) He wrote home often, trying to keep his family’s spirits up.
▪ dampen sb’s spirits (=make them feel less happy) They refused to let the rain dampen their spirits.
▪ sb’s spirits rise/lift/soar (=they start feeling happier) Her spirits rose as they left the ugliness of London behind.
▪ sb’s spirits sink (=they start feeling less happy) His spirits sank at the prospect.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ ghost the spirit of a dead person that some people think they can feel or see in a place: His ghost is believed to haunt the house.
▪ spirit a creature without a physical body, such as an angel or ghost: evil spirits | the spirit world
▪ apparition an image of a dead person that someone sees suddenly for a short time: He claimed to have seen an apparition in the church.
▪ poltergeist a ghost that people cannot see, which throws things or moves things around: The house was haunted by a poltergeist that makes things move around all by themselves, sometimes quite big things like beds or wardrobes.
▪ spook informal a ghost: I’m not scared of spooks.
▪ phantom literary a frightening and unclear image of a dead person: They had seen phantoms gliding on the surface of the water.
▪ spectre British English, specter American English literary a ghost, especially a frightening one: She had looked like a spectre. | The following night, the spectre appeared again.
II. spirit² BrE AmE verb
spirit somebody/something away/off phrasal verb written
to take someone or something away quickly and secretly:
After his speech, Jackson was spirited away through a back door.

option

op‧tion S1 W2 AC /ˈɒpʃən $ ˈɑːp-/ BrE AmE noun
[Word Family: verb: ↑opt, ↑coopt; noun: ↑option; adverb: optionally; adjective: ↑optional]
[Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: Latin optio 'free choice']
1. CHOICE [countable] a choice you can make in a particular situation ⇨ optional:
There are a number of options available.
He had two options.
This was not the only option open to him.
option for
a range of options for cutting costs
one/another option is to do something
Another option is to rent somewhere for six months.
option of doing something
She had the option of staying for an extra year.
Teenage mothers often have no option but to (=have no other choice except to) live with their parents.
2. keep/leave your options open to wait before making a decision:
I’m keeping all my options open for the moment.
3. COMPUTERS [countable] one of the possible choices you can make when using computer software:
Select an option from the main menu.
a list of options
4. easy option (also soft option British English) the choice which will be the least difficult, least strict, or need the least effort, which someone might choose because they are lazy:
Is community service just a soft option for criminals?
5. RIGHT TO BUY/SELL [countable] formal the right to buy or sell something in the future
option on
The government has agreed to buy 20 planes, with an option on a further 10.
Connor now owns 302,000 shares and options.
6. AT SCHOOL/UNIVERSITY [countable] British English one of the subjects that you can choose to study at school for an examination, or as part of a course at a college or university:
advice on choosing your options
7. SOMETHING ADDITIONAL [countable] something that is offered in addition to the standard equipment when you buy something new, especially a car
8. first option the chance to buy or get something before anyone else
first option on
They’ve agreed to give us the first option on their apartment.
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ have an option At the moment, children have the option of leaving school at 16. | In a situation like this, you have two options.
▪ give/offer somebody an option Some employees were given the option of retiring early. | Buyers will usually be offered the option of paying in instalments.
▪ choose an option Fewer women are choosing the option of motherhood.
▪ go for an option (=choose an option) Which option do you think they'll go for?
▪ take (up) an option (=choose an option ) America was persuaded not to take up the option of military action.
▪ look at an option (=consider an option) You have to look at every option as your business develops.
▪ limit your options (=limit what you can choose to do) If you don’t go to college, it may limit your options.
■ adjectives
▪ a good/better option Renting a house may be a better option than buying.
▪ an attractive option (=one that sounds or is good) If time is short, taking the car to northern France is an attractive option.
▪ a realistic/real/serious option (=something that you can really choose to do) I wanted to start my own business but financially it was never a realistic option.
▪ a viable/practical option (=something you can choose that will be successful) Surgery may be a viable option when all else fails.
▪ a popular option Independent sixth-form colleges are becoming a popular option.
▪ a cheap option We urgently need to find a cheaper option than oil or gas.
▪ a safe option (=one that involves no risk) A special savings account can be a safe option.
▪ sb’s preferred option formal (=the option someone likes best) The new scheme appears to be the airport management’s preferred option.
▪ an easy option (also a soft option British English) (=a choice which is not difficult, or which needs the least effort) For most people, divorce is never an easy option.
■ phrases
▪ an option is open/available to somebody (=a particular choice is available to someone) Giving a prison sentence is only one of the options open to the judge.
▪ keep/leave your options open (=to not limit what you can choose to do later) Studying a broad range of subjects helps to keep your options open.
▪ have no/little option but to do something (=have no other choice than to do something) I had no option but to fire him.
▪ a range of options The council is considering a range of options for improving the city’s transport system.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ choice: choice of: The school seems OK, but there isn’t a great choice of courses. | have a choice (=be able to choose from several things): With her high grades and athletic skill, Celeste had her choice of colleges. | have no choice but to do something (=to be forced to do something because there is nothing else you can choose): Spooner says he had no choice but to file for bankruptcy. | wide choice (=a lot of things to choose from): There is a wide choice of hotels and hostels in the town.
▪ option one of the things that you can choose to do in a particular situation: He basically has two options: he can have the surgery, or he can give up playing football. | keep/leave your options open (=delay choosing so that you continue to have several things to choose from): I haven’t signed any contracts yet – I want to keep my options open.
▪ alternative one of two or more ways of doing something: Did you consider other alternatives before you moved in with Lucy? | alternative to: There is no practical alternative to our current policy. | have no alternative (=to not have a choice): He says he doesn’t want to see a doctor, but I’m afraid he has no alternative.

priority

I. pri‧or‧i‧ty¹ S2 W2 AC /praɪˈɒrəti, praɪˈɒrɪti $ -ˈɔːr-/ BrE AmE noun (plural priorities)
[Word Family: noun: ↑priority, ↑prioritization; verb: ↑prioritize]
1. [uncountable and countable] the thing that you think is most important and that needs attention before anything else:
The club’s priority is to win the League.
first/top/main priority
The children are our first priority.
After several burglaries in the area, security is now a high priority (=very important and needing attention soon).
With so little money available, repairs must remain a low priority (=not important and not needing attention soon).
The customer is high on our list of priorities.
List your tasks in order of priority (=most important first).
2. [uncountable] the right to be given attention first and before other people or things
priority over
Buses should have priority over other road users.
A young person who has finished the course will be given priority over one who has not.
I want to start work on the garden but the house must take priority.
3. get your priorities right (also get your priorities straight American English) to know what is most important and needs attention first:
We need to get our priorities right.
• • •
COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 1)
■ adjectives
▪ a high priority (=very important) Right now, the environment is a high priority.
▪ an urgent priority He sees these negotiations as an urgent priority.
▪ a low priority (=not very important) At that time, architecture was a low priority.
▪ the top/main/number one priority Controlling spending is his top priority.
▪ the first priority The first priority for most unemployed people is obtaining a job.
▪ the overriding priority (=the most important one) The reduction of inflation must be the Government’s overriding priority.
▪ sb’s immediate priority (=which must be dealt with immediately) Their immediate priority was to find somewhere to sleep that night.
■ phrases
▪ a list/set of priorities Marriage isn’t very high on my list of priorities.
▪ in order of priority (=with the most important first) They asked voters to list issues in order of priority.
■ verbs
▪ set priorities (=decide what the priorities are) With any new project, it's important to set priorities.
▪ sort out your priorities (=decide which things are the most important as a way of dealing with a situation) If you’ve got a lot of things to do, sort out your priorities.
▪ make something a priority Lisa had a job, but she'd always made her family the priority.
▪ sb’s priorities change As you get older, your priorities may change.
• • •
COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 2)
■ verbs
▪ have priority Couples may have to decide whose career has priority.
▪ get priority The breakdown services say that women on their own get priority.
▪ take priority (=become the most important thing) Winning the war took priority over everything else.
▪ give priority to somebody/something The hospital always gives priority to emergency cases.

petal

pet‧al /ˈpetl/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[Date: 1700-1800; Language: Modern Latin; Origin: petalum, from Greek petalon]

one of the coloured parts of a flower that are shaped like leaves:
rose petals
The flower has seven petals.
 

carry

I. car‧ry¹ S1 W1 /ˈkæri/ BrE AmE verb (past tense and past participle carried, present participle carrying, third person singular carries)
[Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old North French; Origin: carier 'to take in a vehicle', from car 'vehicle', from Latin carrus; ⇨ ↑car]
1. LIFT AND TAKE [transitive] to hold something in your hand or arms, or support it as you take it somewhere:
Gina was carrying a small bunch of flowers.
Angela carried the child in her arms.
Let me carry that for you.
Jack carried his grandson up the stairs.
carry something to something/somebody
The waiter carried our drinks to the table.
2. VEHICLE/SHIP/PLANE [transitive] to take people or things from one place to another in a vehicle, ship, or plane:
The ship was carrying drugs.
There are more airplanes carrying more people than ever before.
3. PIPE/WIRE ETC [transitive] if a pipe, wire etc carries something such as liquid or electricity, the liquid, electricity etc flows or travels along it:
A drain carries surplus water to the river.
The aim is for one wire to carry both television and telephone calls.
4. MOVE SOMETHING [transitive] to cause something to move along or support something as it moves along:
This stretch of water carries a lot of shipping.
The bridge carries the main road over the railway.
Pollution was carried inland by the wind.
5. HAVE WITH YOU [transitive] to have something with you in your pocket, on your belt, in your bag etc everywhere you go:
I don’t carry a handbag. I just carry money in my pocket.
All the soldiers carried rifles.
He says he’s got to carry a knife to protect himself.
6. HAVE A QUALITY [transitive] to have something as a particular quality:
Degree qualifications carry international recognition.
Few medical procedures carry no risk of any kind.
Older managers carry more authority in a crisis.
The plan is not likely to carry much weight with (=have much influence over) the authorities.
If the child believes in what she is saying, she will carry conviction (=make others believe what she says is true).
7. NEWS/PROGRAMMES [transitive] if a newspaper, a television or radio broadcast, or a website carries a piece of news, an advertisement etc, it prints it or broadcasts it:
The morning paper carried a story about demonstrations in New York and Washington D.C.
The national TV network carries religious programmes.
8. INFORMATION [transitive] if something carries information, the information is written on it:
All tobacco products must carry a health warning.
goods carrying the label ‘Made in the USA’
9. BE RESPONSIBLE [transitive] to be responsible for doing something:
Each team member is expected to carry a fair share of the workload.
Which minister carries responsibility for the police?
Parents carry the burden of ensuring that children go to school.
10. SHOP [transitive] if a shop carries goods, it has a supply of them for sale:
The sports shop carries a full range of equipment.
11. BUILDING [transitive] if a wall etc carries something, it supports the weight of that thing:
These two columns carry the whole roof.
12. TAKE SOMEBODY/SOMETHING [transitive] to take something or someone to a new place, point, or position
carry somebody/something to something
The President wanted to carry the war to the northern states.
Blair carried his party to victory in 1997.
carry somebody/something into something
Clinton carried his campaign into Republican areas.
13. DISEASE [transitive] if a person, animal, or insect carries a disease, they can pass it to other people or animals even if they are not ill themselves ⇨ carrier:
The disease is carried by a black fly which lives in the rivers.
Birds and monkeys can carry disease.
14. carry insurance/a guarantee etc to have insurance etc:
All our products carry a 12-month guarantee.
15. be/get carried away to be so excited, angry, interested etc that you are no longer really in control of what you do or say, or you forget everything else:
It’s easy to get carried away when you can do so much with the graphics software.
16. be carried along (by something) to become excited about something or determined to do something:
The crowd were carried along on a tide of enthusiasm.
You can be carried along by the atmosphere of an auction and spend more than you planned.
17. CRIME [transitive] if a crime carries a particular punishment, that is the usual punishment for the crime:
Drink-driving should carry an automatic prison sentence.
Murder still carries the death penalty.
18. SOUND [intransitive] if a sound carries, it goes a long way:
In the winter air, sounds carry clearly.
The songs of the whales carry through the water over long distances.
19. BALL [intransitive] if a ball carries a particular distance when it is thrown, hit, or kicked, it travels that distance
20. carry something in your head/mind to remember information that you need, without writing it down:
Alice carried a map of the London Underground in her head.
21. TUNE [transitive] to sing a tune using the correct notes:
I sang solos when I was six because I could carry a tune.
The highest voice carries the melody.
22. PERSUADE [transitive] to persuade a group of people to support you:
He had to carry a large majority of his colleagues to get the leadership.
Her appeal to common sense was what finally carried the day (=persuaded people to support her).
23. VOTE be carried if a suggestion, proposal etc is carried, most of the people at an official meeting vote for it and it is accepted:
The amendment was carried by 292 votes to 246.
The resolution was carried unanimously (=everyone agreed).
Those in favour of the motion raise your arm. Those against? The motion is carried (=proposal is accepted).
24. ELECTION [transitive] American English if someone carries a state or local area in a US election, they win in that state or area:
Cuban Americans play an important role in whether he carries Florida in the fall campaign.
25. YOUR BODY [transitive always + adverb/preposition] to stand and move in a particular way, or to hold part of your body in a particular way:
He had a way of carrying his head on one side.
carry yourself
She carried herself straight and with confidence.
26. carry the can (for somebody/something) British English informal to be the person who has to take the blame for something even if it was not their fault, or not their fault alone:
He has been left to carry the can for a decision he didn’t make.
27. NOT ENOUGH EFFORT [transitive] if a group carries someone who is not doing enough work, they have to manage without the work that person should be doing:
The team can’t afford to carry any weak players.
28. CHILD [intransitive and transitive] old-fashioned if a woman is carrying a child, she is ↑pregnant
29. carry all/everything before you literary to be completely successful in a struggle against other people
30. carry something too far/to extremes/to excess to do or say too much about something:
I don’t mind a joke, but this is carrying it too far.
31. WEIGHT [transitive] to weigh a particular amount more than you should or than you did:
Joe carries only nine pounds more than when he was 20.
32. carry a torch for somebody to love someone romantically who does not love you:
He’s been carrying a torch for your sister for years.
33. carry the torch of something to support an important belief or tradition when other people do not:
Leaders in the mountains carried the torch of Greek independence.
34. as fast as his/her legs could carry him/her as fast as possible:
She ran as fast as her legs could carry her.
35. ADDING NUMBERS [transitive] to put a number into the next row to the left when you are adding numbers together
⇨ ↑card-carrying, ↑cash and carry, ⇨ fetch and carry at ↑fetch¹(3)
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ nouns
▪ carry out work You’ll have to get a builder to carry out the work.
▪ carry out your duties/responsibilities She carried out her duties very efficiently.
▪ carry out a task/job He was unable to carry out simple tasks.
▪ carry out research I was in Italy carrying out research for my book.
▪ carry out a survey The committee has carried out a survey of parking problems in residential areas.
▪ carry out a check Manufacturers carry out safety checks on all new cars.
▪ carry out a test Forensic experts are now carrying out DNA tests.
▪ carry out an experiment Many schools need better facilities for carrying out scientific experiments.
▪ carry out a review The government is carrying out a review of state pension provision.
▪ carry out a study He has carried out various studies into violent behaviour.
▪ carry out an investigation The police will carry out an investigation into what actually happened.
▪ carry out an inquiry A formal inquiry into the cause of death will be carried out.
▪ carry out an assessment The company is carrying out an assessment of staff training needs.
▪ carry out a search Here are some more ways of carrying out information searches online.
▪ carry out an attack It became clear that terrorists had carried out the attack.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ carry to have something or someone in your hands or arms when you go somewhere: She was carrying a heavy suitcase. | Mary fainted, and had to be carried inside.
▪ tote especially American English informal to carry something such as a bag or a gun: He came out of the office toting a black leather briefcase. | Guards toting machine guns stood inside the airport.
▪ lug to carry something heavy, with difficulty: They lugged the mail in heavy canvas bags into the building.
▪ cart to carry something large and heavy somewhere, especially when this is annoying or hard work: We carted all the furniture upstairs.
▪ schlep American English informal to carry something heavy: Marty schlepped the suitcases upstairs.
▪ bear formal to carry something – used when talking about what someone has with them when they go somewhere. Bear is commonly used as a participle bearing: They arrived bearing gifts. | Anna returned, bearing a large red packet.
carry something ↔ forward phrasal verb
1. to succeed in making progress with something:
The new team have to carry the work forward.
2. to include an amount of money in a later set of figures or calculations
carry something ↔ off phrasal verb
1. to do something difficult successfully:
I was flattered to be offered the job but wasn’t sure if I could carry it off.
2. to win a prize:
a film that carried off three Oscars
carry on phrasal verb
1. especially British English to continue doing something:
Sorry, I interrupted you. Please carry on.
carry on doing something
You’ll have an accident if you carry on driving like that.
carry on with
I want to carry on with my course.
carry on as usual/as you are/regardless etc
2. to continue moving:
He stopped and looked back, then carried on down the stairs.
Carry straight on until you get to the traffic lights.
3. carry on something if you carry on a particular kind of work or activity, you do it or take part in it:
Mr Dean carried on his baking business until he retired.
It was so noisy it was hard to carry on a conversation.
4. spoken to talk in an annoying way
carry on about
I wish everyone would stop carrying on about it.
5. old-fashioned to have a sexual relationship with someone, when you should not:
Lucy confessed to carrying on behind her husband’s back.
carry on with
She was carrying on with a neighbour.
carry something ↔ out phrasal verb
1. to do something that needs to be organized and planned:
We need to carry out more research.
A survey is now being carried out nationwide.
Turn off the water supply before carrying out repairs.
REGISTER
In written English, people often use conduct when writing about research, experiments etc, because this sounds more formal than carry out:
▪ They conducted experiments to test this theory.
2. to do something that you have said you will do or that someone has asked you to do:
Nicholson didn’t carry out his threat to take legal action.
We carried out her instructions precisely.
Will the government carry out its promise to reform the law?
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ nouns
▪ carry out work You’ll have to get a builder to carry out the work.
▪ carry out your duties/responsibilities She carried out her duties very efficiently.
▪ carry out a task/job He was unable to carry out simple tasks.
▪ carry out research I was in Italy carrying out research for my book.
▪ carry out a survey The committee has carried out a survey of parking problems in residential areas.
▪ carry out a check Manufacturers carry out safety checks on all new cars.
▪ carry out a test Forensic experts are now carrying out DNA tests.
▪ carry out an experiment Many schools need better facilities for carrying out scientific experiments.
▪ carry out a review The government is carrying out a review of state pension provision.
▪ carry out a study He has carried out various studies into violent behaviour.
▪ carry out an investigation The police will carry out an investigation into what actually happened.
▪ carry out an inquiry A formal inquiry into the cause of death will be carried out.
▪ carry out an assessment The company is carrying out an assessment of staff training needs.
▪ carry out a search Here are some more ways of carrying out information searches online.
▪ carry out an attack It became clear that terrorists had carried out the attack.
carry something ↔ over phrasal verb
1. if something is carried over into a new situation, it continues to exist in the new situation:
The pain and violence of his childhood were carried over into his marriage.
2. to make an official arrangement to do something or use something at a later time:
Up to five days’ holiday can be carried over from one year to the next.
carry somebody/something through phrasal verb
1. to complete or finish something successfully, in spite of difficulties:
I’m determined to carry this through.
2. carry somebody through (something) to help someone to manage during an illness or a difficult period:
Her confidence carried her through.

manner

man‧ner S3 W2 /ˈmænə $ -ər/ BrE AmE noun
[Date: 1100-1200; Language: Old French; Origin: maniere 'way of acting, way of handling', from Latin manuarius 'of the hand', from manus 'hand']
1. [singular] formal the way in which something is done or happens
manner of (doing) something
It seemed rather an odd manner of deciding things.
He felt some guilt over the manner of her death.
in a ... manner
I had hoped you would behave in a more responsible manner.
The issue will be resolved in a manner that is fair to both sides.
criticism of the manner in which the bishop was appointed
in the usual/normal etc manner
The matter should be submitted to the accounts committee in the usual manner.
REGISTER
In everyday English, people usually say in a ... way rather than in a ... manner, or they use an adverb instead:
▪ They behaved in a very reasonable way.
▪ They behaved very reasonably.
2. [singular] the way in which someone behaves towards or talks to other people:
She has a calm relaxed manner.
manner towards
Something in Beth’s manner towards him had changed.
Sophie resented his high-handed manner.
3. manners [plural] polite ways of behaving in social situations:
Her children all had such good manners.
It’s bad manners to talk with your mouth full (=talk and eat at the same time).
His manners were impeccable.
Dad gave us a lecture about our table manners.
You mind your manners, young man!
‘Lesley just got up and left.’ ‘Some people have no manners.’
Good heavens, child, where are your manners?
4. manners [plural] formal the customs of a particular group of people:
a book about the life and manners of Victorian London
5. in a manner of speaking in some ways, though not exactly:
‘Are you his girlfriend?’ Nicola asked. ‘In a manner of speaking.’
6. all manner of something formal many different kinds of things or people:
We would discuss all manner of subjects.
The British Isles have been conquered by all manner of people.
7. in the manner of somebody/something formal in the style that is typical of a particular person or thing:
a painting in the manner of the early Impressionists
8. what manner of ...? literary what kind of:
What manner of son would treat his mother in such a way?
9. not by any manner of means British English spoken formal not at all:
I haven’t lost my interest in politics by any manner of means.
10. (as) to the manner born if you do something new as to the manner born, you do it in a natural confident way, as if you have done it many times before
⇨ BEDSIDE MANNER, COMEDY OF MANNERS
• • •
COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 3)
■ verbs
▪ have good/bad manners All their children have such good manners.
▪ mind your manners (also remember your manners British English) (=used for telling a child to behave politely) I frowned at him and told him to mind his manners.
▪ have no manners (=regularly not behave politely) He has no manners and he eats like a pig.
▪ forget your manners (=behave in an impolite way) Oh, I’m forgetting my manners. Let me introduce you to Suzanne.
▪ teach somebody manners (=often used when criticizing someone’s impolite behaviour) Those girls need to be taught some manners!
■ phrases
▪ it’s good/bad manners to do something It’s bad manners to chew with your mouth open.
▪ where are your manners? British English (=used for telling a child to stop behaving impolitely) Jamie! Where are your manners?
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + manners
▪ good manners Good manners could not prevent her from asking the question.
▪ bad manners She apologized for her son’s bad manners.
▪ excellent/beautiful manners (=very good manners) Her children have excellent manners.
▪ perfect/impeccable manners Suddenly, his perfect manners were gone.
▪ nice manners (=good manners) She has such nice manners.
▪ table manners (=the polite way of eating at a table) My parents expected us to have good table manners.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ behaviour British English, behavior American English the way someone behaves: Chemicals added to food may be responsible for children’s bad behaviour. | Tatsuya apologized for his behaviour towards me.
▪ conduct formal the way someone behaves in public or in their job – used mainly in official or legal contexts: Bates was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct (=noisy and violent). | The committee found him guilty of unsatisfactory professional conduct.
▪ manner the way someone behaves when they are talking to or dealing with other people, which is shown in their expression, their voice etc: She had a pleasant friendly manner. | Suddenly his whole manner changed, and he started shouting. | His initial manner towards her had been rather formal.
▪ demeanour British English, demeanor American English formal the way someone looks and behaves, which shows you something about their character or feelings: She maintained a calm demeanour at all times. | Wenger’s demeanour suggested that he was not happy with the situation.
▪ antics someone’s behaviour – used when you think it is silly, funny, strange, or annoying: The drunken antics of some English football fans has brought shame on the country. | The actor is becoming known for his increasingly bizarre off-screen antics.

II. focus² S3 W2 AC BrE AmE noun
1. [singular] the thing, person, situation etc that people pay special attention to ⇨ focal:
The focus of recent research has been on environmental issues.
focus of
The war in Afghanistan had become the focus of media attention.
The focus of interest in the series is what goes on in everyday life.
Another focus of feminist debate has been the film industry.
I shall now turn to the main focus of this essay.
Eggs became the focus for the food poisoning scare.
The focus of the conference shifted from population growth to the education of women.
2. [uncountable] if your focus is on something, that is the thing you are giving most attention to
focus on
Our main focus is on helping people get back into work.
a shift of focus
3. come into focus/bring something into focus if something comes into focus, or you bring it into focus, people start to talk about it and pay attention to it:
These issues have recently come into sharp focus (=people have started to talk about them a lot).
4. in focus/out of focus if a photograph or an instrument such as a camera is in focus, you can see the picture clearly. If it is out of focus, you cannot see the picture clearly.
5. [uncountable] the clearness of the picture seen through an instrument such as a camera:
He raised his binoculars and adjusted the focus.

jersey

jer‧sey /ˈdʒɜːzi $ -ɜːr-/ BrE AmE noun
[Date: 1500-1600; Origin: Jersey, island in the English Channel]
1. [countable] a shirt made of soft material, worn by players of sports such as football and ↑rugby
2. [countable] British English a piece of clothing made of wool that covers the upper part of your body and your arms SYN sweater
3. [uncountable] a soft material made of cotton or wool