British English

problem

prob‧lem S1 W1 /ˈprɒbləm $ ˈprɑː-/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[Date: 1300-1400; Language: French; Origin: problème, from Latin problema, from Greek, 'something thrown forward', from proballein 'to throw forward']
1. DIFFICULTY a situation that causes difficulties:
She was older than me, but that wasn’t really a problem.
problem of
The problem of street crime is getting worse every year.
problem with
I’ve been having a few problems with my car.
REGISTER
In writing, people sometimes prefer to use the word issue rather than problem, as it sounds more neutral and less negative:
▪ the issue of race relations
2. something wrong with your health or with part of your body
health problem/problem with your health
Does she have any long-term health problems?
back/heart/kidney etc problem
If you have back problems you should avoid lifting heavy objects.
hearing problem
Many people with hearing problems try to hide their condition.
weight problem
She refuses to admit to herself that she has a weight problem.
emotional/psychological problem
Is this a sign of some kind of deeper psychological problem?
3. QUESTION a question for which you have to find the right answer, using mathematics or careful thought:
She gave us 20 mathematical problems to solve.
4. no problem spoken
a) used to say that you are happy to do something or for someone else to do something:
‘Can I bring a friend?’ ‘Sure, no problem.’
b) used after someone has said thank you or said that they are sorry:
‘Thanks for all your help.’ ‘No problem!’
5. have no problem (in) doing something to do something easily:
I’ve had no problem recruiting staff.
6. the (only) problem is (that) ... spoken used before saying what the main difficulty in a situation is:
The problem is, there isn’t enough time.
7. that’s your/his etc problem spoken used to say rudely that someone else is responsible for dealing with a situation, not you:
If you miss the train, that’s your problem.
8. it’s/that’s not my problem spoken used to say rudely that you are not responsible for dealing with a particular problem and are not willing to help:
‘We’ve got a serious staffing shortage.’ ‘That’s not my problem.’
9. What’s your/his etc problem? spoken informal used when you think that someone is behaving in a way that is unreasonable
10. Do you have a problem with that? spoken informal used to ask someone why they seem to disagree with you, in a way that shows that you are annoyed
11. problem child/family/drinker etc a child etc whose behaviour causes problems for other people
• • •
COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 1)
■ verbs
▪ have a problem We saw water rushing in and realised we had a serious problem.
▪ cause/create a problem The building’s lack of parking space could cause problems.
▪ present/pose a problem (=cause it or make it have to be considered) A shortage of trained nurses is posing major problems.
▪ deal with/sort out a problem The state has failed to deal with the problem of violence against women.
▪ tackle/address a problem (=deal with it) There is more than one way to tackle this problem.
▪ solve/resolve a problem (also fix a problem informal) He solved his financial problems by selling his car.
▪ overcome a problem We try to help families overcome housing problems.
▪ face a problem Terrorism is possibly the most important problem facing western countries.
▪ raise a problem (=mention it, so that people can discuss it) He also raised the problem of noise from planes taking off and landing.
▪ encounter/experience a problem You shouldn’t encounter any further problems.
▪ a problem arises/occurs (also a problem comes up) (=it happens) Problems may arise when the family wants to move house.
▪ compound/exacerbate a problem formal (=make it worse) The country’s economic problems are compounded by its ageing population.
▪ the problem lies in/with something The problem lies in the design of the rocket.
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + problem
▪ big/major/serious The school’s biggest problem is a shortage of cash.
▪ little/small/minor Old cars often develop minor engine problems.
▪ the main problem The main problem for the climbers was lack of sleep.
▪ a real problem They quickly found that their real problem lay with marketing.
▪ a difficult problem Does the team have the skills to tackle these difficult problems?
▪ a thorny/knotty problem (=difficult) He still faced the thorny problem of finding a way out of the jungle.
▪ a fundamental problem (=relating to the most basic and important parts of something ) The government has done little to solve the fundamental problems of poverty and crime.
▪ a pressing problem (=one that needs to be dealt with very soon) Lack of clean drinking water is the most pressing problem facing the refugees.
▪ personal problems (=relating to your private life and relationships) My daughter found it hard to talk about her personal problems.
▪ family problems She would never discuss family problems with outsiders.
▪ financial/money problems Our financial problems are over.
▪ economic problems He argued that the government was to blame for the country’s economic problems.
▪ a technical problem The delay was caused by technical problems.
▪ a practical problem Burying a pet can present practical problems.
▪ an environmental problem Air pollution is our most serious environmental problem.
■ COMMON ERRORS
► It is more usual to say a big problem, a major problem or a serious problem, instead of saying 'an important problem'.
• • •
COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 2)
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + problem
▪ a health/medical problem Have you ever suffered from any of these health problems?
▪ a back/heart/kidney etc problem He was born with heart problems.
▪ a hearing problem There are special telephones for people with hearing problems.
▪ a weight problem (=the problem of being too fat) Patients with weight problems were put on a strict diet.
▪ psychological problems (also mental health problems) She is being treated for psychological problems at a mental hospital in Oxford.
▪ emotional problems He suffers from depression and other emotional problems.
▪ behavioural problems Many of these children have behavioural problems.
▪ a serious/major problem Lifting things carelessly can lead to serious back problems.
▪ a minor problem She has had some minor medical problems.
■ verbs
▪ have a problem He's always had a weight problem.
▪ suffer (from) a problem The patient began to suffer breathing problems.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ setback a problem that stops you from making progress: The space program suffered a major setback when the space shuttle, Discovery, exploded.
▪ snag informal a problem, especially one that you had not expected: There’s a snag – I don’t have his number.
▪ hitch a small problem that delays or prevents something: There have been a few last-minute hitches.
▪ trouble when something does not work in the way it should: The plane developed engine trouble.
▪ hassle spoken a situation that is annoying because it causes problems: Just trying to store all this stuff is a hassle.

II. brush² S3 BrE AmE verb
1. CLEAN/MAKE TIDY [transitive] to clean something or make something smooth and tidy using a brush ⇨ sweep:
Don’t forget to brush your teeth.
2. REMOVE [transitive always + adverb/preposition] to remove something with a brush or with your hand
brush something off/from etc something
Ella brushed the crumbs off her jacket.
He brushed the tears from his eyes.
3. TOUCH LIGHTLY [intransitive always + adverb/preposition, transitive] to touch someone or something lightly when passing them:
Something brushed her shoulders.
brush against
I felt her hair brush against my arm.
brush past
Nell brushed past him in the doorway.
4. PUT SOMETHING ON SOMETHING [transitive always + adverb/preposition] to put a liquid onto something using a brush
brush something with something
Brush the pastry with milk.
brush something over/onto something
Brush a little oil over the top of the pizza.
⇨ brush something under the carpet at ↑sweep¹(15)
brush somebody/something ↔ aside phrasal verb
to refuse to listen to someone, or refuse to consider something SYN dismiss:
He simply brushed all my objections aside.
brush somebody/something ↔ down phrasal verb
1. to clean something using a brush:
He was brushing the pony down.
2. brush yourself down to use your hands to remove dirt from your clothes, especially after you have fallen
brush somebody/something ↔ off phrasal verb
to refuse to listen to someone or their ideas, especially by ignoring them or saying something rude:
Corman brushed off the accusations. ⇨ ↑brush-off
brush up (on) something phrasal verb
to practise and improve your skills or your knowledge of something that you learned in the past:
I must brush up on my French before I go to Paris.

build

I. build¹ S1 W1 /bɪld/ BrE AmE verb (past tense and past participle built /bɪlt/)
[Word Family: noun: ↑build, ↑builder, ↑building; verb: ↑build, ↑rebuild; adjective: ↑built]
[Language: Old English; Origin: byldan]
1. MAKE SOMETHING [intransitive and transitive] to make something, especially a building or something large:
The purpose is to build new houses for local people.
The road took many years to build.
They needed $3 million to build the bridge.
It is the female birds that build the nests.
Developers want to build on the site of the old gasworks.
a row of recently built houses
build somebody something
He’s going to build the children a doll’s house.
2. MAKE SOMETHING DEVELOP (also build up) [transitive] to make something develop or form:
She had built a reputation as a criminal lawyer.
She’s been busy building her career.
Ross took 20 years to build up his business.
build (up) a picture of somebody/something (=form a clear idea about someone or something)
We’re trying to build up a picture of what happened.
3. be built of something to be made using particular materials:
The church was built of brick.
4. FEELING (also build up) [intransitive and transitive] if a feeling builds, or if you build it, it increases gradually over a period of time:
Tension began to build as they argued more frequently.
In order to build your self-esteem, set yourself targets you can reach.
5. build bridges to try to establish a better relationship between people who do not like each other:
Peter needs to try and build bridges with Lizzie.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ build to make a house, road, wall, bridge etc using bricks, stone, wood, or other materials: A new stadium will be built for the Olympics.
▪ construct to build a building, bridge, machine etc. Construct is more formal than build: The council plans to construct two new schools.
▪ put up something to build a wall, fence, or building, or put a statue somewhere. Put up is less formal than build: The neighbours have put up a new wooden fence.
▪ erect formal to build a wall, fence, or building, especially a public building, or put a statue somewhere: A monument to the Canadian soliders was erected in Green Park.
▪ throw something up British English informal to build something very quickly: Developers have hastily thrown up family homes in the area.
▪ put together to make something from its parts, for example a piece of furniture: It took an hour to put the bookcase together.
▪ assemble formal to put all the parts of something such as a machine or a piece of furniture together: A line of robots assemble the cars.
build something around something phrasal verb
to base something on an idea or thing and develop it from there:
Successful businesses are built around good personal relationships.
build something ↔ in phrasal verb
to make something so that it is a permanent part of a wall, room etc:
You could build in a wardrobe with mirrored doors. ⇨ ↑built-in
build something into something phrasal verb
1. to make something so that it is a permanent part of a wall, room etc:
There are three cash machines built into the wall.
2. to make something a permanent part of a system, agreement etc:
Opportunities for reviewing the timings should be built into the plan.
build on phrasal verb
1. build something on something to base something on an idea or thing:
Our relationship is built on trust.
2. build on something to use your achievements as a base for further development:
The new plan will build on the success of the previous programme.
3. to add another room to a building in order to have more space
build something ↔ on
We’re planning to build on a conservatory.
build up phrasal verb
1. INCREASE GRADUALLY if something builds up somewhere, or if you build it up, it gradually becomes bigger or greater:
the rate at which the pension builds up
build something ↔ up
The museum has built up a fine art collection. ⇨ ↑build-up
2. DEVELOP build something ↔ up to make something develop or form
build something ↔ up into
He’s built up the family firm into a multinational company.
3. FEELING if a feeling builds up, or if you build it up, it increases gradually over a period of time:
If you don’t express your feelings, frustration and anger can build up.
build up something
You have to build up trust.
4. MAKE HEALTHY build somebody/something ↔ up to make someone well and strong again, especially after an illness:
Taking exercise will build up your strength.
5. PRAISE build somebody/something ↔ up to praise someone or something so that other people think they are really good, or so that they have more confidence:
The coach has been building his men up before the match.
6. build up sb’s hopes (also build somebody's hopes up) to unfairly encourage someone to think that they will get what they hope for:
Don’t build your hopes up too much.
build up to something phrasal verb
to prepare for a particular moment or event:
I could tell she was building up to some kind of announcement.

day

day S1 W1 /deɪ/ BrE AmE noun
[Word Family: noun: ↑day, ↑midday; adverb: ↑daily; adjective: ↑daily]
[Language: Old English; Origin: dæg]
1. 24 HOURS [countable] a period of 24 hours:
We spent three days in Paris.
‘What day is it today?’ ‘Friday.’
He left two days ago.
I’ll call you in a couple of days.
on a ... day
We’ll have to hold the party on a different day.
(on) that/the following/the previous day (=during a particular day)
What really happened on that day so long ago?
Over 10,000 soldiers died on that one day in January.
The following day, a letter arrived.
I saw Jane the day before yesterday.
We’re leaving for New York the day after tomorrow.
I got an email from Sue the other day (=a few days ago).
Women generally use up about 2,000 calories a day (=each day).
2. NOT NIGHT [uncountable and countable] the period of time between when it gets light in the morning and when it gets dark OPP night:
She only leaves her house during the day.
It was a cold blustery day.
Kept in that dark cell, I could no longer tell whether it was day or night.
on a ... day
She first met Steve on a cold but sunny day in March.
by day (=during the day)
Owls usually sleep by day and hunt by night.
The day dawned (=started) bright and clear.
3. WHEN YOU ARE AWAKE [countable usually singular] the time during the day when you are awake and active:
His day begins at six.
Jackie starts the day with a few gentle exercises.
Sometimes I feel I just can’t face another day.
It’s been a long day (=used when you have been awake and busy for a long time).
all day (long) (=during the whole time you are awake)
I’ve been studying all day. I’m beat!
► Do not say ‘all the day’. Say all day.
4. TIME AT WORK [countable] the time you spend doing your job during a 24-hour period:
I work a ten-hour day.
Rail workers are campaigning for a shorter working day.
I’ve got a day off (=a day when I do not have to go to work) tomorrow.
5. PAST [countable] used to talk about a time in the past:
I knew him pretty well from his days as a DJ in the Bounty Club (=from when he was a DJ).
I always used to do the cooking in the early days of our marriage.
Not much was known about the dangers of smoking in those days (=then).
They were very much opposed to the government of the day (=that existed then).
One day (=on a day in the past), a mysterious stranger called at the house.
From day one (=from the beginning), I knew I wouldn’t get on with him.
In my day (=in the past, when I was young), kids used to have some respect for their elders.
in sb’s student/army/childhood etc days (=in the past when someone was a student etc)
I used to run six miles a day in my army days.
those were the days spoken (=used to talk about a time in the past you think was better than now)
We used to stay in bed all morning and party all night. Those were the days!
6. NOW [countable] used to talk about the situation that exists now:
I don’t do much exercise these days (=now).
It’s incredible that such attitudes still exist in this day and age (=used to express disapproval that something still exists now).
To this day (=until and including now), he denies any involvement in the crime.
up to/until/to the present day (=until and including now)
This tradition has continued right up until the present day.
7. FUTURE [countable] used to talk about a time in the future
one day/some day (=some time in the future)
I’d like to go and visit the States one day.
Some day we might get him to see sense.
One of these days (=some time soon) I’m going to walk right out of here and never come back.
Kelly’s expecting the baby any day now (=very soon).
The day will come (=the time will come) when he won’t be able to care for himself any more.
8. sb’s/sth’s day a successful period of time in someone’s life or in something’s existence:
My uncle was a famous radio personality in his day (=at the time he was most successful).
Don’t be too disappointed you didn’t win – your day will come (=you will be successful in the future).
Game shows like that have had their day (=were successful in the past, but are not any more).
9. Independence/election/Christmas etc day a day on which a particular event or celebration takes place:
Rioting broke out just three days before polling day.
10. five/three/nine etc years to the day exactly five years etc:
It’s two years to the day since he died.
11. sb’s days someone’s life:
She ended her days in poverty.
12. sb’s/sth’s days are numbered used to say that someone or something will not exist for much longer:
It seems that the hospital’s days are numbered.
13. day after day (also day in day out) continuously for a long time in a way that is annoying or boring:
I couldn’t stand sitting at a desk day after day.
14. from day to day (also from one day to the next) if a situation changes from day to day or from one day to the next, it changes often:
I never know from day to day what I’m going to be doing.
His moods swung wildly from one day to the next. ⇨ ↑day-to-day, ⇨ live from day to day at ↑live¹(5)
15. day by day slowly and gradually:
Her health was improving day by day.
16. night and day (also day and night) all the time SYN continuously:
Being together night and day can put a great pressure on any relationship.
17. day out especially British English a trip you make for pleasure on a particular day:
A visit to the caves makes a fascinating and exciting day out for all the family.
18. have an off day to be less successful or happy than usual, for no particular reason:
Even the greatest athletes have their off days.
19. make sb’s day to make someone very happy:
Hearing her voice on the phone really made my day.
20. soup/dish/fish etc of the day a soup, meal etc that a restaurant serves on a particular day in addition to the meals they always offer
21. be all in a day’s work if something difficult, unpleasant, or unusual is all in a day’s work for someone, it is a normal part of their job
22. take each day as it comes (also take it one day at a time) to deal with something as it happens and not worry about the future:
Since I had the accident, I’ve learned to take each day as it comes.
23. the day of reckoning a time when you have to deal with the bad results of something you did in the past
• • •
SPOKEN PHRASES
24. it’s (just) one of those days used to say that everything seems to be going wrong
25. it’s not sb’s day used when several unpleasant things have happened to someone in one day:
It wasn’t Chris’s day – he overslept and then his car broke down.
26. make a day of it British English to spend all day doing something for pleasure:
If the weather’s nice, we’ll make a day of it and take a picnic.
27. make my day used when warning someone that if they try to do something, you will enjoy stopping, defeating, or punishing them etc. This phrase was made popular by Clint Eastwood in the film ‘Dirty Harry’.
28. that’ll be the day used to say that you think something is very unlikely to happen:
‘Bill says he’s going to start going to the gym.’ ‘That’ll be the day!’
29. I/we don’t have all day used to say that you want someone to do something faster because you do not have enough time to wait for them to finish:
Hurry up! I haven’t got all day!
30. it’s not every day (that) used to say that something does not happen often and is therefore very special:
Let’s go out and celebrate. After all, it’s not every day you get a new job.
31. back in the day a long time ago, when you were much younger
32. be on days to work during the day at a job you sometimes have to do at night:
I’m on days this week.
33. 40/50/60 etc if he’s/she’s a day used to emphasize that someone is at least as old as you are saying:
She’s ninety if she’s a day.
⇨ at the end of the day at ↑end¹(12), ⇨ call it a day at ↑call¹(10), ⇨ carry the day at ↑carry¹(22), ⇨ the early days at ↑early¹(1), ⇨ every dog (has) its day at ↑dog¹(11), ⇨ the good old days at ↑old(8), ⇨ ↑half day, ⇨ have a field day at ↑field day(1), ⇨ it’s early days at ↑early¹(3), ⇨ it’s (a little) late in the day at ↑late¹(8), ⇨ it’s sb’s lucky day at ↑lucky(5), ⇨ (live to) see the day at ↑see¹(23), ⇨ name the day at ↑name²(6), ⇨ ↑open day, ⇨ save the day at ↑save¹(12), ⇨ ↑speech day, ↑sports day
• • •
COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 1)
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + day
▪ every/each day The museum is open to visitors every day.
▪ the same day Similar student protests took place on the same day in other towns.
▪ the next/the following day (=the day after something happened in the past) The story was in the newspaper the following day.
▪ the previous day (=the day before something happened in the past) I had been to the doctor the previous day.
▪ a big day (=a day when something important is arranged to take place) Just before the big day the team was training 6 days a week.
▪ a holy day Friday is the Muslim holy day.
▪ a historic day (=a day when an event that is historically important happens) This was a historic day for the space program.
▪ a school day (=a day when children go to school) It’s a school day tomorrow, so you need an early night.
▪ election/market etc day (=the day when an election, market etc takes place) Wednesday is market day in Oxford.
▪ Christmas/Easter/Independence etc Day What day of the week is Christmas Day this year?
▪ sb’s wedding day (=the day when someone gets married) She wanted everything to be perfect for her wedding day.
■ phrases
▪ the day before yesterday We arrived in France the day before yesterday.
▪ the day after tomorrow How about meeting for lunch the day after tomorrow?
▪ the other day (=a few days ago) Mark called the other day.
▪ 24 hours a day (=during the whole day and night) In Cairo, the streets are busy 24 hours a day.
▪ $15/5 grams/50 etc per day (=used when saying how much someone earns or is paid each day) They get about £45 per day.
• • •
COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 3)
■ adjectives
▪ a good day (=in which things have happened in the way you want) Have you had a good day at work?
▪ a bad day (=in which things have happened in a way you do not want) I’ve had a really bad day !
▪ a nice/lovely/happy day (=enjoyable) We’ve had a lovely day at the beach.
▪ a beautiful/lovely/glorious day (=with very nice weather) It was a beautiful day yesterday, wasn’t it?
▪ a hard day (=difficult and tiring) Sit down – you look as though you’ve had a hard day.
▪ a long day I got up at 5 this morning so it’s been a long day.
■ verbs
▪ have a good/bad/long etc day Simon looked as if he’d had a bad day at the office.
▪ spend the day doing something I spent the day shopping with my friends.
▪ start the day (=do something at the beginning of a day) You should start the day with a good breakfast.
▪ end the day (=do something at the end of a day) We ended the day at a little restaurant by the beach.
■ phrases
▪ have a nice/good day! spoken (=used when saying goodbye to someone in a friendly way) Bye Sam! Have a good day!

slow

I. slow¹ S2 W2 /sləʊ $ sloʊ/ BrE AmE adjective (comparative slower, superlative slowest)
[Language: Old English; Origin: slaw]
1. NOT QUICK not moving, being done, or happening quickly OPP quick, fast ⇨ slowly:
The car was travelling at a very slow speed.
a slow walker
The economy faces a year of slower growth.
Take a few deep, slow breaths.
2. TAKING TOO LONG taking too long OPP fast:
Taylor was concerned at the slow progress of the investigations.
The legal system can be painfully slow (=much too slow).
slow to do something
The wound was slow to heal.
3. WITH DELAY [not before noun] if you are slow to do something, you do not do it as soon as you can or should
slow to do something
Farmers have been slow to exploit this market.
Their attitude was slow to change.
slow in doing something
He has been slow in announcing the name of his successor.
New ideas have been slow in coming.
4. LONGER TIME taking a longer time than something similar OPP fast:
We got on the slow train (=one that stops at more stations) by mistake.
5. BUSINESS if business or trade is slow, there are not many customers or not much is sold:
Business is often slow in the afternoon.
The company is experiencing slow sales.
6. CLOCK [not before noun] if a clock or watch is slow, it is showing a time earlier than the correct time OPP fast
ten minutes/five minutes etc slow
The clock is about five minutes slow.
7. NOT CLEVER not good or quick at understanding things:
Teaching assistants have time to help the slower pupils.
8. slow on the uptake not quick to understand something new:
Sometimes Tim’s a little slow on the uptake.
9. slow off the mark not quick enough at reacting to something
10. do a slow burn American English informal to slowly get angry:
Tony fumbled the ball and I could see the coach doing a slow burn.
11. slow handclap British English if a group of people give someone a slow handclap, they ↑clap their hands slowly to show their disapproval
12. a slow oven an ↑oven that is at a low temperature
13. PHOTOGRAPHY a slow film does not react to light very easily
—slowness noun [uncountable]
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ slow not moving quickly or not doing something quickly: I was always one of the slowest runners in my class. | My computer’s really slow compared to the ones at school.
▪ gradual happening, developing, or changing slowly over a long period of time: a gradual rise in the Earth’s temperature | I’ve noticed a gradual improvement in his work.
▪ leisurely especially written moving or doing something slowly, especially because you are enjoying what you are doing and do not have to hurry: a leisurely breakfast | They walked at a leisurely pace.
▪ unhurried especially written moving or doing something in a slow and calm way, without rushing at all: She continued to listen, seeming relaxed and unhurried. | the doctor’s calm unhurried manner
▪ sluggish moving or reacting more slowly than usual, especially because of a loss of power or energy. Also used when business, sales, or the economy seem very slow: The car seems rather sluggish going uphill. | The drink was making her sluggish. | the company’s sluggish performance this year | Sales have been sluggish.
▪ lethargic moving slowly, because you feel as if you have no energy and no interest in doing anything: She woke up feeling heavy and lethargic. | His son seemed depressed and lethargic.
▪ languid literary slow and with very little energy or activity – used about people, actions, or periods of time: She lifted her hand in a languid wave. | a long languid afternoon in the middle of summer | He was pale and had rather a languid air about him.
▪ glacial literary extremely slow – used especially about the speed at which something happens: Things are changing, but at a glacial pace.

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)?

solid

I. sol‧id¹ S3 W3 /ˈsɒləd, ˈsɒlɪd $ ˈsɑː-/ BrE AmE adjective
[Word Family: noun: ↑solid, ↑solidarity, ↑solidity, solids, ↑solidification; verb: ↑solidify; adverb: ↑solidly; adjective: ↑solid]
[Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: solide, from Latin solidus]
1. FIRM/HARD hard or firm, with a fixed shape, and not a liquid or gas:
The lake was frozen solid.
It was good to be back on solid ground again.
Is the baby eating solid food (=bread, meat etc) yet?
The ship’s sonar can detect the presence of solid objects in the water.
2. ONLY ONE MATERIAL consisting completely of one type of material
solid gold/silver etc
a solid gold cup
solid wood/pine/oak etc
a chest made of solid oak
3. NOT HOLLOW having no holes or spaces inside OPP hollow:
a solid rubber ball
a shrine carved out of solid rock
4. WITHOUT SPACES continuous, without any spaces or breaks:
It’s not safe to pass when the lines in the middle of the road are solid.
5. STRONGLY MADE strong and well made OPP flimsy:
a solid piece of furniture
The frame is as solid as a rock (=extremely solid).
6. GOOD AND LONG-LASTING a solid achievement or solid work is of real, practical, and continuing value:
five years of solid achievement
The first two years provide a solid foundation in the basics of computing.
7. DEPENDABLE someone or something that is solid can be depended on or trusted SYN sound:
a solid reputation
The prosecution in this case has no solid evidence.
You can rely on Wylie for good solid advice.
a solid Labour stronghold (=where people always vote for this party)
8. CONTINUING WITHOUT INTERRUPTION informal used to emphasize that something continues for a long time without any pauses:
The lecture lasted two solid hours.
five hours/two weeks etc solid
On Saturday I went to bed and slept fourteen hours solid.
9. packed solid informal if shops, trains, buses etc are packed solid, they are full of people
10. on solid ground confident because you are dealing with a subject you are sure about, or because you are in a safe situation:
To make sure that he was on solid ground, he confirmed his findings with others.
11. GOOD British English informal good
12. DIFFICULT British English informal very difficult:
I couldn’t do any of the maths last night – it was solid.
13. SHAPE technical having length, width, and height SYN three-dimensional:
A sphere is a solid figure.
14. IN AGREEMENT be solid British English to be in complete agreement:
The workers are 100% solid on this issue.

tartan

tar‧tan /ˈtɑːtn $ ˈtɑːrtn/ BrE AmE noun
[Date: 1400-1500; Origin: Probably from Old French tiretaine type of cloth]
[uncountable and countable] a traditional Scottish pattern of coloured squares and crossed lines, or cloth, especially wool cloth, with this pattern SYN plaid American English:
the MacGregor tartan (=the special pattern worn by the MacGregor family)
—tartan adjective:
a tartan scarf

striped

striped /straɪpt/ BrE AmE adjective
having lines or bands of colour SYN stripy:
a blue and white striped shirt