British English

law

law S1 W1 /lɔː $ lɒː/ noun
  [Word Family: noun: law, lawyer, outlaw, lawfulness, lawlessness; verb: outlaw; adverb: lawfully ≠ unlawfully; adjective: lawful ≠ unlawful]
 [Language: Old English; Origin: lagu]
 1. SYSTEM OF RULES  [uncountable] (also the law) the whole system of rules that people in a particular country or area must obey:
   • Elected officials ought to obey the law.
  by law
   • By law, seat belts must be worn by all passengers.
  under English/international etc law
   • This is illegal under English law.
 2. A RULE  [countable] a rule that people in a particular country or area must obey:
   • laws passed by Parliament
  under a law
   • Five people arrested under anti-terrorism laws were released without charge.
  law on
   • European laws on equal opportunities
  law against
   • The laws against drug use were very strict.
 3. law and order a situation in which people respect the law, and crime is controlled by the police, the prison system etc:
   • We are concerned about the breakdown of law and order in the country.
 4. POLICE  the law the police:
   • I think she may be in trouble with the law.
 5. WHAT ALWAYS HAPPENS  [countable] something that always happens in nature or society, or a statement that describes this
  law of
   • the law of supply and demand
   • the laws of nature
   • the law of gravity
 6. STUDY/PROFESSION  [uncountable] (also the law) law as a subject of study, or the profession of being a lawyer:
   • She’s studying law in London.
 7. SPORT/ACTIVITY  [countable] one of the rules which controls a sport or activity:
   • the laws of football
 8. the law of the jungle
   a) the idea that people should only look after themselves and not care about other people if they want to succeed
   b) the principle that only the strongest creatures will stay alive
 9. the law of averages the probability that one result will happen as often as another if you try something often enough:
   • The law of averages says we’ll win at least once.
 10. be a law unto himself/herself etc to behave in an independent way and not worry about the usual rules of behaviour or what other people do or think:
   • Boys his age are a law unto themselves.
 11. take the law into your own hands to do something illegal in order to put right something that you think is not fair, for example by violently punishing someone instead of telling the police:
   • vigilantes who take the law into their own hands
 12. go to law to go to court in order to settle a problem:
   • the right of consumers to go to law if they need to
 13. be above the law someone who is above the law does not have to obey the law:
   • Many ministers seem to regard themselves as being above the law.
 14. there’s no law against something spoken used to tell someone who is criticizing you that you are not doing anything wrong
 15. there ought to be a law against something spoken used to say that you do not think something should be accepted or allowed:
   • There ought to be a law against cutting off power supplies in the middle of February.
 16. sb’s word is law used to say that someone is always obeyed without argument
  ⇨ Sod’s law, ⇨ lay down the law at LAY DOWN(3), ⇨ unwritten law at unwritten
     • • •

COLLOCATIONS(for Meanings 1 & 2)■ verbs

   ▪ obey the law • Citizens have a duty to obey the law.
   ▪ break the law (=do something illegal) • Is the company breaking the law?
   ▪ pass a law • New Jersey passed a law requiring helmets for scooter riders.
   ▪ become law (=officially be made a law) • For a bill to become law, it must be approved by both Houses of Parliament.
   ▪ make laws • Part of the function of Parliament is to make laws.
   ▪ introduce a law • In 1989, a new law was introduced to protect the Polish language.
   ▪ enforce a law (=make people obey a law) • It is the job of the police to enforce the law.
   ▪ flout a law (=deliberately disobey a law) • Employers who flout the law should be properly punished.
   ▪ repeal a law (=officially end a law) • Many people want the law to be repealed.
   ▪ a law prohibits something (=says that it is not allowed) • The law prohibits possession of these animals.

■ phrases

   ▪ something is against the law (=it is illegal) • The children knew that shoplifting was against the law.
   ▪ stay/act within the law (=not do illegal things) • The security forces must act within the law.

■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + law

   ▪ strict/tough • the country’s strict anti-tobacco laws
   ▪ tax/copyright/divorce etc law(s) • an accountant who knows about tax law
   ▪ criminal law (=laws concerning crimes) • Criminal law contains definitions of such crimes as murder, rape, and robbery.
   ▪ civil law (=laws concerning disagreements between people, rather than crimes) • The punishment for breaking civil law is usually a fine.
   ▪ international law (=laws that all countries agree to obey) • Under international law, the countries must respect the treaty.
   ▪ English/German etc law • This is not an offence under English law.
   ▪ federal law (=the law of the US, not a particular state) • Under federal law, it is illegal to discriminate against employees because of race or sex.
   ▪ state law (=the law in a US state) • Under state law it was illegal for any public official to receive gifts worth more than $100.
   ▪ common law (=laws that have come from customs and the decisions of judges) • In common law, if a house is rented out, it is expected that the house is safe to live in.
   ▪ case law (=law based on previous court cases) • There is little case law covering this issue.
     • • •

THESAURUS

   ▪ rule an instruction that says what people are allowed to do or not allowed to do, for example in a game, school, or company: • the rules of baseball | • He disobeyed the school rules.
   ▪ law an official rule that everyone in a country, city, or state must obey: • It is against the law to carry a concealed weapon. | • The law requires motorcyclists to wear helmets.
   ▪ regulation an official rule or order, which is part of a set of rules made by a government or organization: • the regulations for applying for a passport | • building regulations | • environmental regulations on air pollution
   ▪ restriction an official rule that limits what people can do: • new restrictions on immigration | • The government is planning to impose regulations on the amount of alcohol you can bring into the country.
   ▪ guidelines rules or instructions about the best way to do something: • the Department of Health’s guidelines for a healthy diet | • guidelines for classroom teachers
   ▪ code a set of rules that people or organizations agree to obey but are not forced to obey: • The school has a dress code for its students. | • the company’s code of conduct
   ▪ statute formal a law that has been officially approved by a parliament, council etc, and written down: • The statute banned corporal punishment.
   ▪ ordinance American English a law, made by a city or town, that forbids or restricts an activity: • A local ordinance limited speed in the parks to ten miles an hour.

considerate

con‧sid‧er‧ate /kənˈsɪdərət, kənˈsɪdərɪt/ adjective
  [Word Family: adjective: considerable ≠ inconsiderable, considerate ≠ inconsiderate, considered; verb: consider, reconsider; noun: consideration, reconsideration; adverb: considerably, considerately ≠ inconsiderately]
  always thinking of what other people need or want and being careful not to upset them OPP inconsiderate:
   • He was always kind and considerate.
  it is considerate of somebody (to do something)
   • It was very considerate of you to let us know you were going to be late.
  considerate towards
   • As a motorist, I try to be considerate towards cyclists.
 —considerately adverb
     • • •

THESAURUS

   ▪ kind someone who is kind tries to help people and make them happy or comfortable, and shows that they care about them: • They were very kind to us and let us stay in their house as long as we liked. | • a kind old lady | • a kind thing to say
   ▪ nice especially spoken friendly and kind. Nice is very common in everyday spoken English and is often used instead of kind: • Everyone has been so nice to me. | • It’s nice of you to invite me here. | • He seems such a nice man.
   ▪ generous kind because you give people money, presents etc: • ‘I’ll pay for the meal.’ ‘That’s very generous of you.’ | • a generous gift
   ▪ considerate thinking about other people’s feelings, and careful not to do anything that will upset them: • Our neighbours are very considerate and always keep their TV turned down. | • a considerate driver | • He’s always very polite and considerate to his guests.
   ▪ thoughtful thinking of things you can do to make other people happy or feel good – used especially when someone does something such as giving someone a present or helping someone: • It was thoughtful of you to send him a card. | • Some thoughtful person had taken her bag to the lost property office.
   ▪ caring kind and wanting to help and look after people: • She’s lucky to have such a loving and caring husband. | • The British are well-known for their caring attitude toward animals.
   ▪ sympathetic saying kind things to someone who has problems and behaving in a way that shows you care about them: • My boss was very sympathetic and said I should take some time off work. | • She gave him a sympathetic smile.
   ▪ good kind and showing that you want to help – used especially in the following phrases: • It was good of you to come and see me. | • She’s always been very good to us.
   ▪ sweet informal very kind – used especially when you like someone very much, or you are very pleased because of something they have done: • I was given the flowers by a sweet little old lady who lived next door. | • It’s sweet of you to ask. | • a sweet thing to say
   ▪ kind-hearted/warm-hearted especially written having a kind and friendly character, which makes other people like you: • He was a wonderful father, kind-hearted and always laughing. | • The town is full of warm-hearted, helpful people.
   ▪ benevolent formal kind and wanting to help people – often used about someone who is important or who people respect: • a benevolent ruler | • They believe in the existence of a benevolent God who will save mankind. | • He listened politely, like some benevolent uncle.

outgoing

out‧go‧ing /ˌaʊtˈɡəʊɪŋ◂ $ -ˈɡoʊ-/ adjective
 1. someone who is outgoing likes to meet and talk to new people:
   • We’re looking for someone with an outgoing personality.
 2. outgoing president/chancellor etc someone who will soon finish their time as president etc
 3. [only before noun] going out or leaving a place OPP incoming:
   • the tray for outgoing mail
   • outgoing phone calls

easy-going

ˌeasy-ˈgoing BrE AmE adjective
not easily upset, annoyed, or worried OPP uptight:
Her easy-going nature made her popular.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ relaxed feeling calm, comfortable, and not worried or annoyed: I was feeling relaxed after my holiday. | Looking relaxed and confident, the president answered questions from the press. | He seems very relaxed about the whole situation.
▪ easy-going relaxed and not getting annoyed or angry with people – used when this is a part of someone’s character. An easy-going person likes to have good friendly relationships with other people, and is not strict about rules: Fred MacMurray was very easy-going and a pleasure to work with. | The hotel owner was an easy-going woman who let visitors come and go pretty well when they pleased. | The children were brought up in an easy-going atmosphere at home.
▪ laid-back informal relaxed and not getting worried or annoyed about things – used when this is part of someone’s character. A laid-back person likes to take life slowly: He seemed like a cool laid-back kind of a guy. | Life on the farm was more laid-back compared to life in the big city.
▪ comfortable feeling happy and not worried about doing something, talking about something, or being with someone: The teachers were comfortable with the new technology and the students loved it. | Some female patients are not comfortable with the idea of seeing a male doctor. | This is an emotional issue, which most people aren’t comfortable talking about.
▪ at ease [not before noun] feeling relaxed in a situation – used especially when someone feels less worried than before, or when many other people would not feel relaxed in that situation: After a few weeks at college, I started to feel more at ease. | He looked completely at ease on a horse. | He was surprised to find himself so at ease with her father.
▪ feel at home to feel relaxed in a place or with a person: I’ve always felt at home in Tokyo. | He felt instantly at home with her.

sew

sew S3 /səʊ $ soʊ/ verb (past tense sewed, past participle sewn /səʊn $ soʊn/ or sewed) [intransitive and transitive]
 [Language: Old English; Origin: siwian]
  to use a needle and thread to make or repair clothes or to fasten something such as a button to them:
   • I learned to sew at school.
  sew something on something
   • Can you sew a patch on my jeans?
  sew something together
   • She sewed the two sides together.
 sew something ↔ up phrasal verb
  1. to close or repair something by sewing it:
   • Could you sew up this hole in my trousers?
  2. [usually passive] informal to finish a business agreement or plan and get the result you want:
   • The deal should be sewn up in a week.
  3. have something sewn up to have gained control over a situation so that you are sure to win or get what you want:
   • It looks like the Democrats have the election sewn up.

knit

knit /nɪt/ verb (present participle knitting) [intransitive and transitive]
 [Language: Old English; Origin: cnyttan]
 1. (past tense and past participle knitted) to make clothing out of wool, using two knitting needles ⇨ crochet:
   • My grandmother taught me how to knit.
   • She’s knitting a sweater.
  knit somebody something
   • Emily knitted him some socks.
 2. (past tense and past participle knitted) to use a plain (=basic) knitting stitch:
   • Knit one, purl one.
 3. (past tense and past participle knit) to join people, things, or ideas more closely together, or to be joined closely together
  knit together
   • In a good report, individual sentences knit together in a clear way that readers can follow.
  closely/tightly etc knit (=with all the members having close relationships)
   • a closely knit community
   • Harold is part of a tightly knit team.
 4. (past tense and past participle knit) a bone that knits after being broken grows into one piece again
  knit together
   • The pin holds the bones in place while they knit together.
 5. knit your brows to show you are worried, thinking hard etc by moving your eyebrows together
 —knitter noun [countable]
  ⇨ close-knit, tight-knit

excuse

I. ex‧cuse1 S1 /ɪkˈskjuːz/ BrE AmE verb [transitive]
[Word Family: verb: excuse; noun: excuse; adverb: inexcusably; adjective: excusable ≠ inexcusable]
[Date: 1400-1500; Language: Old French; Origin: excuser, from Latin excusare, from causa 'cause, explanation']
1. excuse me spoken
a) used when you want to get someone’s attention politely, especially when you want to ask a question:
Excuse me, can you tell me the way to the museum please?
b) used to say that you are sorry for doing something rude or embarrassing:
Oh, excuse me. I didn’t know anyone was here.
c) used to ask someone politely to move so that you can walk past:
Excuse me, could I just squeeze past?
d) used to politely tell someone that you are leaving a place:
Excuse me a moment. I’ll be right back.
e) used when you disagree with someone but want to be polite about it SYN I’m sorry:
Excuse me, but I don’t think that’s what he meant at all.
f) American English used to show that you disagree with someone or are very surprised or upset by what they have just said:
‘You’re going to pay, right?’ ‘Excuse me?’
g) especially American English used to ask someone to repeat something that they have just said SYN pardon me:
‘What time is it?’ ‘Excuse me?’ ‘I asked you what time it is.’
2. FORGIVE to forgive someone for doing something that is not seriously wrong, such as being rude or careless:
I’ll excuse you this time, but don’t be late again.
Please excuse my bad handwriting.
excuse somebody for (doing) something
Please excuse me for being so late today.
Smith can be excused for his lack of interest in the course (=his lack of interest is reasonable).
REGISTER
In informal situations, people often say sorry about …, sorry for doing ... or sorry I … rather than asking someone to excuse something:
▪ Sorry about my handwriting.
▪ Sorry for being so late. OR Sorry I’m so late.
3. FROM A DUTY [usually passive] to allow someone not to do something that they are supposed to do
excuse somebody from (doing) something
Can I be excused from swimming today? I have a cold.
4. EXPLAIN to be or give a good reason for someone’s careless or offensive behaviour:
Nothing can excuse that kind of rudeness.
5. FROM A PLACE to give someone permission to leave a place:
May I please be excused from the table?
6. excuse yourself to say politely that you need to leave a place:
Richard excused himself and went to his room.
7. excuse me (for living)! spoken used when someone has offended you or told you that you have done something wrong

mind

I. mind1 S1 W1 /maɪnd/ BrE AmE noun
[Word Family: noun: mind, minder, reminder; adjective: mindless, minded, mindful; verb: mind, remind; adverb: mindlessly]
[Language: Old English; Origin: gemynd]
1. ABILITY TO THINK AND IMAGINE [uncountable and countable] your thoughts or your ability to think, feel, and imagine things ⇨ mental:
It is impossible to understand the complex nature of the human mind.
Mind and body are closely related.
Meditation involves focussing the mind on a single object or word.
in sb’s mind
There was no doubt in my mind that it was the right decision to make.
Do you have a clear picture in your mind of what you want?
A plan began to form in his mind.
The event is still fresh in most people’s minds.
independence/strength/flexibility of mind
men who were chosen for their independence of mind
2. change your mind to change your decision, plan, or opinion about something:
I was afraid that Liz would change her mind and take me back home.
change your mind about
If you change your mind about the colour scheme, it’s easy to just paint over it.
3. make up your mind/make your mind up
a) to decide which of two or more choices you want, especially after thinking for a long time:
I wish he’d hurry up and make his mind up.
make up your mind/make your mind up about
He couldn’t make up his mind about what to do with the money.
make up your mind whether
Karen couldn’t make up her mind whether to apply for membership or not.
b) to become very determined to do something, so that you will not change your decision:
No more argument. My mind is made up.
make up your mind to do something
He had clearly made up his mind to end the affair.
make up your mind that
I made up my mind there and then that I would never get married.
c) to decide what your opinion is about someone or something
make up your mind/make your mind up about
I could never really make my mind up about him.
You’re old enough to make your own mind up about smoking.
4. have somebody/something in mind (for something) to have an idea about who or what you want for a particular purpose:
It was a nice house, but it wasn’t quite what we had in mind.
Did you have anyone in mind for the job?
Have you any particular colour in mind for the bedroom?
5. bear/keep somebody/something in mind to remember or think about someone or something when you are doing something:
It’s a good idea – I’ll keep it in mind.
You must always keep the reader in mind when writing a report.
Floor tiles can be difficult to clean – worth keeping in mind when you choose a new floor.
bear/keep in mind that
Bear in mind that the price does not include flights.
More money should be given to housing, bearing in mind (=because of) the problem of homelessness.
6. with somebody/something in mind considering someone or something when doing something, and taking suitable action:
Most gardens designed with children in mind are safe but dull.
With these aims in mind, the school operates a broad-based curriculum.
7. on your/sb’s mind
a) if something is on your mind, you keep thinking or worrying about it:
He looked as though he had something on his mind.
Sorry I forgot. I’ve got a lot on my mind (=a lot of problems to worry about) at the moment.
b) if something is on your mind, that is what you are thinking about:
She’s the type of person who just says what’s on her mind.
8. get/put somebody/something out of your mind (also put somebody/something to the back of your mind) to stop yourself thinking about someone or something:
I just can’t seem to get her out of my mind.
You’ve got to try and put him out of your mind.
She put her disappointment to the back of her mind and concentrated on Dana.
9. cross/enter sb’s mind (also come into sb’s mind) [not in progressive] if something crosses your mind, you have a thought or idea:
It never crossed my mind that Lisa might be lying.
Suddenly a horrible thought came into my mind.
10. go/run/flash etc through sb’s mind if something goes through your mind, you have a thought, especially for a short time:
She knew what was going through his mind.
All kinds of questions ran through my mind.
After the accident, one of the things that went through my mind was whether I would be able to drive again.
11. come/spring to mind [not in progressive] if something comes or springs to mind, you suddenly or immediately think of it:
I just used the first excuse which sprang to mind.
A memory of last night came to mind, and he smiled.
Fatherhood doesn’t immediately spring to mind when you think of James.
► Do not say that something ‘comes to your mind’ or ‘springs to your mind’. Say that it comes to mind or springs to mind.
12. CHARACTER [countable] used to talk about the way that someone thinks and the type of thoughts they have:
He has a very devious mind.
My naturally suspicious mind thought he might be lying.
13. INTELLIGENCE [countable usually singular] your intelligence and ability to think, rather than your emotions:
a mind trained to react with split-second accuracy
a brilliant/enquiring/logical etc mind
a bright child with an enquiring mind
14. INTELLIGENT PERSON [countable] someone who is very intelligent, especially in a particular subject or activity SYN brain:
This is one of the issues that has most interested military minds.
Some of the finest minds in the country are working on the project.
15. state/frame of mind the way someone is thinking and feeling at a particular time:
What happened had a lot to do with my state of mind at the time.
in a good/positive/relaxed etc frame of mind
She returned from lunch in a happier frame of mind.
in the right/wrong frame of mind
You have to be in the right frame of mind to play well.
16. to/in my mind used to show you are giving your opinion about something SYN in my opinion:
The Internet, to my mind, represents information exchange at its best.
17. go/turn over something in your mind to keep thinking about something because you are trying to understand it or solve a problem:
Corbett rode along, turning over in his mind what Bruce had said.
18. be the last thing on sb’s mind (also be the furthest thing from sb’s mind) to be the thing that someone is least likely to be thinking about:
Insurance was the last thing on my mind when we set off that day.
19. take/keep/get sb’s mind off something to make someone stop thinking and worrying about something:
Going back to work helped take my mind off Ian’s death.
Want a game? It might take your mind off things.
20. set/put sb’s mind at rest (also set/put sb’s mind at ease) to make someone feel less worried or anxious:
If you’re worried, see a doctor to set your mind at rest.
21. it/that is a load/weight off sb’s mind informal used to say that someone does not have to worry about something any more
22. prey on sb’s mind (also play on sb’s mind) if a problem preys on your mind, you cannot stop thinking about it:
Finally, she broached the subject that had been playing on her mind for days.
23. no one in their right mind ... (also who in their right mind ...?) informal used to say that someone must be stupid or crazy to do something:
Who in their right mind would want to do that job?
No woman in her right mind would go out with a man like him.
24. be out of your mind informal to be stupid or crazy:
He must have been out of his mind to employ her.
25. be out of your mind with worry/grief etc (also be worried/bored etc out of your mind) to be extremely worried, bored etc:
It was getting late and I was out of my mind with worry.
26. go out of your mind (also lose your mind) informal to become mentally ill or very worried, bored etc SYN go crazy:
Nicole looked at him as if he’d gone out of his mind.
27. sb’s mind goes blank (also sb’s mind is a blank) informal if your mind goes blank, you suddenly cannot remember something:
For some inexplicable reason, her mind went completely blank.
His heart was thumping and his mind was a complete blank.
28. go (right/clean) out of sb’s mind (also slip sb’s mind) if something goes out of your mind, you forget it, especially because you are very busy:
I’m sorry. So much has been happening, it went clean out of my mind.
It had completely slipped her mind that Dave still had a key to the house.
29. bring/call something to mind
a) to make you think of someone or something SYN remind somebody of something:
The wine’s sweet nutty taste calls to mind roasted chestnuts.
b) formal to remember something:
The only thing I could call to mind was something my mother once said.
30. put somebody in mind of somebody/something [not in progressive] formal to remind someone of someone or something:
The girl put me in mind of my own daughter.
31. stick/stay in sb’s mind if a name, fact etc sticks in your mind, you remember it for a long time:
For some reason, the name really stuck in Joe’s mind.
One line from the poem had stayed in her mind.
32. be of one mind/of the same mind/of like mind formal to have the same opinions as someone else:
It can be difficult to meet others of like mind.
be of one mind/of the same mind/of like mind on/about
The council and the government are of one mind on the long-term objective.
33. have a mind of your own
a) to have strong opinions about things, and make your own decisions without being influenced by other people:
She’s a woman without fear, with a mind of her own, who says what she thinks.
b) if an object has a mind of its own, it seems to control itself and does not work or move in the way you want it to:
The bicycle seemed to have a mind of its own and I couldn’t steer it straight.
34. put/set/turn your mind to something to decide that you want to achieve something and try very hard to do it:
I think anyone can lose weight if they set their mind to it.
35. sb’s mind is not on something if your mind is not on what you are doing, you are not thinking much about it because you are thinking or worrying about something else:
His mind didn’t seem to be on the game at all.
36. keep your mind on something to keep paying attention to something, even though it is difficult:
He could hardly keep his mind on what she was saying.
keep your mind on the job/task in/at hand
Making notes is the best way of keeping your mind on the task at hand.
37. sb’s mind wanders if your mind wanders, you no longer pay attention to something, especially because you are bored:
Her mind was beginning to wander.
38. sb’s mind is racing if your mind is racing, you are thinking very quickly and hard about something because you are excited, frightened etc:
He tried to reassure her, but Carrie’s mind was racing.
39. it’s all in the mind used to tell someone that they have imagined something and it does not really exist:
He’s one of those doctors who say you’re not really sick and it’s all in the mind.
40. in your mind’s eye if you see something in your mind’s eye, you imagine or remember clearly what it looks like:
She paused, imagining the scene in her mind’s eye.
41. have it in mind formal to intend to do something
have it in mind to do something
For a long time I had it in mind to write a book about my experiences.
have it in mind that
I had it in mind that one day I might move to Spain.
42. have half a mind to do something spoken
a) (also have a good mind to do something) used to say that you might do something to show that you disapprove of something someone has done:
I’ve a good mind to tell him exactly what I think.
I’ve half a mind to stop him seeing her altogether.
b) used to say that you may decide to do something:
I’ve half a mind to come with you tomorrow.
43. mind over matter used to say that you can use your thoughts to control physical feelings or an unpleasant situation:
I’m scared, yes, but it’s a case of mind over matter.
⇨ in/at the back of your mind at ↑back2(6), ⇨ blow sb’s mind at ↑blow1(15), ⇨ cast your mind back at ↑cast1(9), ⇨ a closed mind at ↑closed(4), ⇨ be in/at/to the forefront of sb’s mind/attention at ↑forefront(2), ⇨ give somebody a piece of your mind at ↑piece1(13), ⇨ great minds think alike at ↑great1(15), ⇨ know your own mind at ↑know1(50), ⇨ the mind boggles at ↑boggle, ⇨ meeting of minds at ↑meeting(5), ⇨ ↑one-track mind, ⇨ an open mind at ↑open1(16), ⇨ out of sight, out of mind at ↑sight1(8), ⇨ peace of mind at ↑peace(3), ⇨ ↑presence of mind, ⇨ read sb’s mind at ↑read1(15), ⇨ set your heart/mind/sights on (doing) something at ↑set1(13), ⇨ be of sound mind at ↑sound3(5), ⇨ speak your mind at ↑speak(7), ⇨ be in two minds at ↑two(9)
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ mind what you use to think and imagine things: My mind was full of big ideas. | I never know what's going on in her mind. | At the back of my mind I had the funny feeling that I’d met her somewhere before. | The same thoughts kept going through my mind and I couldn’t get to sleep.
▪ head the place where someone’s mind is – use this especially when talking about the thoughts that are in someone’s mind: I can't get him out of my head. | You need to get it into your head that you've done nothing wrong. | To keep myself calm, I counted to ten in my head. | She’s so quiet – you never quite know what’s going on inside her head (=what she is thinking).
▪ subconscious the part of your mind that influences the way you think or behave, even though you may not realize this is happening, and which makes you have dreams: She suddenly remembered a traumatic incident that had been buried deep in her subconscious. | During the daytime our conscious minds are active, but during the night the subconscious takes over.
▪ psyche formal someone’s mind, especially their feelings and attitudes, and the way these influence their character - used especially when talking about people's minds in general: The need for love is deeply buried in our psyche. | Freud has provided an account of the human psyche's stages of development. | The child is simply searching his psyche to find some past event that relates to his new experiences.
▪ mentality a particular way of thinking that a group of people have, especially one that you think is wrong or bad: I just don't understand the mentality of these people. | They all seem to have a kind of victim mentality, which makes them think that the world is permanently against them.
▪ the ego technical the part of your mind that gives you your sense of who you are - used especially in Freudian psychology: the rational world of the ego and the irrational world of the unconscious

 mistake

I.   noun

I. mis‧take1 S2 W2 /məˈsteɪk, mɪˈsteɪk/ noun
  [Word Family: adverb: unmistakably, mistakenly; adjective: mistaken, unmistakable; verb: mistake; noun: mistake]
 1. [countable] something that has been done in the wrong way, or an opinion or statement that is incorrect ⇨ error
  mistake in
   • We may have made a mistake in our calculations.
   • The most common mistake is to plant them too deep.
 2. [countable] something you do that is not sensible or has a bad result:
   • Buying the house seemed a great idea at the time, but now I can see it was a terrible mistake.
   • Marrying him was the biggest mistake she ever made.
  make the mistake of doing something
   • I stupidly made the mistake of giving them my phone number.
 3. by mistake if you do something by mistake, you do it without intending to SYN accidentally OPP deliberately, on purpose:
   • Someone must have left the door open by mistake.
   • I’m sorry, this letter is addressed to you – I opened it by mistake.
 4. in mistake for somebody/something as a result of a mistake in which someone or something is wrongly thought to be someone or something else:
   • The boy was shot dead in mistake for a burglar.
 5. we all make mistakes spoken used to tell someone not to be worried because they have made a mistake
 6. make no mistake (about it) spoken used to emphasize that what you are saying is true, especially when you are warning about something serious or dangerous:
   • Make no mistake, this is the most serious threat our industry has ever seen.
 7. and no mistake British English spoken informal used to emphasize the description you have just given:
   • Miles was a heartbreaker, and no mistake!
     • • •

COLLOCATIONS(for Meaning 1)■ verbs

   ▪ make a mistake • The lab must have made a mistake – this can’t be right.
   ▪ correct a mistake • Luckily I was able to correct the mistake before my boss saw it.
   ▪ realize your mistake • As soon as he realized his mistake he turned in the right direction.
   ▪ admit your mistake • It is better to admit your mistake and apologize.
   ▪ mistakes happen • We’re very careful, but mistakes can happen.

■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + mistake

   ▪ a common mistake • A common mistake is to imagine that dogs think like humans.
   ▪ a little/minor mistake • The essay was full of little mistakes.
   ▪ a serious/grave mistake • There was a serious mistake in the instructions.
   ▪ an honest mistake (=a mistake, and not a deliberate action) • Thomas admitted he had broken the law, but said that it had been an honest mistake.
   ▪ a silly/stupid mistake • You need to be able to laugh at your own silly mistakes.
   ▪ an easy mistake (to make) • She looks like her sister, so it’s an easy mistake to make.
   ▪ a spelling mistake • She spotted two spelling mistakes in the article.

■ phrases

   ▪ be full of mistakes • The article was full of mistakes.
   ▪ it is a mistake to think/assume etc something • It would be a mistake to assume that all snakes are dangerous.
   ▪ there must be some mistake (=used when you think someone has made a mistake) • There must be some mistake. I definitely booked a room for tonight.
   ▪ be full of mistakes (=have a lot of mistakes) • The report was full of mistakes.
   ▪ be all a mistake (=used to say that a situation happened because of a mistake) • He couldn’t bring himself to tell her it was all a mistake.

■ COMMON ERRORS

    ► Do not say 'do a mistake'. Say make a mistake.
     • • •

COLLOCATIONS(for Meaning 2)■ verbs

   ▪ make a mistake • I just want to prevent you from making a terrible mistake.
   ▪ learn from your mistakes • I’m sure he will learn from his mistakes.
   ▪ repeat a mistake • We certainly do not want to repeat the mistakes of the past.

■ adjectives

   ▪ a big/great mistake • Buying this car was a big mistake.
   ▪ a bad/terrible/dreadful etc mistake • It would be a terrible mistake to marry him.
   ▪ a serious/grave mistake • The decision to take the money was a serious mistake.
   ▪ a fatal mistake (=a very bad mistake, often one that ends something) • His fatal mistake was to underestimate his opponent.
   ▪ a costly mistake (=that costs you money or has a bad result) • Hiring him turned out to be a costly mistake.

■ phrases

   ▪ it is a mistake to do something • It is a mistake to try to see everything in the museum in one day.
   ▪ make the mistake of doing something • He made the mistake of revealing his true intentions.
   ▪ make the same mistake again/twice • We won’t make the same mistake again.
     • • •

THESAURUS

   ▪ mistake something incorrect that you accidentally do, say, or write: • a spelling mistake | • I made a mistake – it should say £230, not £320.
   ▪ error formal a mistake: • an error in the report | • grammatical errors | • He had made a serious error on his tax form.
   ▪ misprint a small mistake in something that is printed: • There was a misprint in the article, and instead of ‘pleasant’ it said ‘pheasant’.
   ▪ typo informal a mistake in something that has been typed or printed: • I spotted a couple of typos in the letter.
   ▪ inaccuracy formal a piece of information that is not completely correct: • The report contained several inaccuracies.
   ▪ mix-up a careless mistake in which one name, time, address etc has been confused with another, so that the details of something are wrong: • There was a mix-up over the train times and I missed my train.
   ▪ slip-up a careless mistake when you are doing something: • The other team took advantage of the goalie’s slip-up.
   ▪ oversight a mistake in which you forget something or do not notice something: • Through some oversight, the brochures were not ready by the right date.
   ▪ a slip of the tongue a mistake in which you accidentally say a similar sounding word: • When I said Thursday, I meant Tuesday. It was a slip of the tongue.
   ▪ faux pas /ˌfəʊ ˈpɑː, ˈfəʊ pɑː $ ˌfoʊ ˈpɑː/ formal an embarrassing mistake in a social situation, when you do or say something that you shouldn’t: • Harris, trying to be funny, addressed the waiter as ‘boy’. A deathly silence followed this faux pas.

■ a stupid mistake

   ▪ blunder a stupid mistake caused by not thinking carefully enough about what you are saying or doing, which could have serious results: • In a serious blunder by the hospital, two babies were sent home with the wrong parents.
   ▪ gaffe /ɡæf/ an embarrassing and stupid mistake made in a social situation or in public: • a serious gaffe in her speech about immigration
   ▪ howler British English a very bad mistake, especially one that shows you do not know something, and that often makes other people laugh: • Photographers should be careful of making classic howlers, such as having a tree grow out of your subject’s head.
   ▪ cock-up British English informal a silly mistake when you are doing something – a very informal use: • They made a cock-up with the bill. | • The government is anxious to avoid any more cock-ups.  

effort

ef‧fort S1 W1 /ˈefət $ ˈefərt/ BrE AmE noun
[Word Family: noun: effort; adverb: effortlessly; adjective: effortless]
[Date: 1400-1500; Language: Old French; Origin: esfort, from esforcier 'to force']
1. PHYSICAL/MENTAL ENERGY [uncountable] the physical or mental energy that is needed to do something:
Lou lifted the box easily, without using much effort.
Frank put a lot of effort into the party.
Learning to speak another language takes effort.
2. ATTEMPT [uncountable and countable] an attempt to do something, especially when this involves a lot of hard work or determination:
Please make an effort to be polite.
sb’s effort(s) to do something
Tom’s efforts to stop smoking haven’t been very successful.
Church leaders are prepared to meet the terrorists in an effort to (=in order to try to) find peace.
effort at
Further efforts at negotiation have broken down.
through sb’s efforts (=because of their efforts)
The money was raised largely through the efforts of parents.
despite sb’s efforts
Despite all our efforts we lost the game 1–0.
3. be an effort to be difficult or painful to do:
I was so weak that even standing up was an effort.
4. PARTICULAR SITUATION [countable] work that people do to achieve something in a particular situation:
the fundraising effort
the international relief effort
Everyone did what they could to support the war effort.
5. good/bad/poor etc effort something that has been done well, badly etc:
Not a bad effort for a beginner!
• • •
COLLOCATIONS (for Meanings 1 & 2)
■ verbs
▪ make an effort (=try) She made an effort to change the subject of the conversation.
▪ put effort into (doing) something (=try hard to do something) Let’s try again, only put more effort into it this time.
▪ take the effort out of something (=make it easy) An automatic car takes the effort out of driving.
▪ something takes effort (also it takes effort to do something) (=you have to try hard) It takes a sustained effort to quit smoking.
▪ something requires/involves effort formal (=it takes effort) Trying to get my mother to change her mind requires considerable effort.
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + effort
▪ successful Their efforts were successful, and they won the contract.
▪ unsuccessful Efforts to save the hospital from closure have been unsuccessful.
▪ futile (=having no chance of succeeding, and therefore not worth doing) Doctors knew that any effort to save his life would be futile.
▪ a big/great effort The government has made a big effort to tackle the problem of poverty.
▪ considerable effort (=a lot of effort) The police put considerable effort into finding his car.
▪ a supreme/tremendous effort (=a very big effort) It was only with a supreme effort that Roger controlled his temper.
▪ a special effort (=one that you do not normally make) I made a special effort to be nice to the children.
▪ a constant effort (=one that never stops) Walking was a constant effort.
▪ a sustained effort (=one that you continue making for a long time) It will take a sustained effort over the next 5 years to achieve our objectives.
▪ a conscious/deliberate effort (=one that you concentrate on in order to achieve something) He made a conscious effort to become a better person.
▪ a determined effort (=showing a lot of determination) She had made a determined effort to lose weight.
▪ a desperate effort (=one you make when you are in a very bad situation) The fox made a desperate effort to get away.
▪ a concerted effort (=involving a lot of different actions, or a lot of people working together) It will take a concerted effort to change the culture of binge-drinking in the country.
▪ a joint/team effort (=involving a group or team of people) We had many fine individual performances, but the win was a real team effort.
▪ a collaborative/cooperative effort formal (=with different people or groups working together) This was a collaborative effort involving the three largest energy companies.
▪ physical/mental effort He struggled back from two sets down to win the match, showing great physical and mental effort.
▪ a final/last-ditch effort (=a last effort, when you want very much to achieve something) Sam took a deep breath and prepared herself for one final effort.
■ phrases
▪ make the effort (=do something that requires some effort) I felt too tired to go to a party, but decided to make the effort.
▪ make every effort to do something (=try very hard) I made every effort to see their point of view.
▪ make no effort to do something (=not try at all) They make no effort to speak the local language.
▪ be (well) worth the effort (=used to say that something is worth doing even though it is hard) It’s a difficult place to get to, but it's well worth the effort.
▪ an effort of will (=a big effort to do something that you find difficult because of the way you feel) It took a huge effort of will not to cry.
▪ with effort formal (=trying very hard) With great effort, he managed to keep quiet.
▪ without effort (=easily, without trying hard) Her horse jumped the fence without any effort.
• • •
COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 4)
■ NOUN + effort
▪ a relief effort The UN is organizing the relief effort to the region affected by the earthquake.
▪ a fund-raising effort The party is planning a huge fund-raising effort later this year.
▪ the war effort Taxes were raised to support the war effort.