hobbies, sport and games

Question 1

pitch

Unfortunately the game was cancelled because of a waterlogged pitch.

Answer 1

an area painted with lines for playing particular sports, especially football

Question 2

impossibly

She had to work impossibly long hours.

She had to work impossibly long hours.

Answer 2

extremely or unusually

Question 3

impossibility

What you’re asking just can’t be done - it’s an impossibility.

Viewing an actual atom was like trying to touch the sun, a physical impossibility.

Answer 3

something that is not possible

Question 4

track

an all-weather track
a dog/horse track
The runners are now on their final lap of the track.

Answer 4

a type of path or road, often in the shape of a ring, that has been specially designed and built for sports events, especially racing

Question 5

course

He spends every weekend out on the golf course.

Answer 5

an area of land or water used for a sports event

Question 6

rink

Every winter my dad would flood the backyard and make a rink.

Answer 6

a large, separate area having a flat surface specially prepared, sometimes with ice, for skating, or a building having such an area:

Question 7

spectator

The stadium was packed with cheering spectators.

Answer 7

a person who watches an activity, esp. a public event, without taking part:

Question 8

rod

I have caught many fish with this fishing rod.

Answer 8

a long, thin pole made of wood, metal, or other material

Question 9

bring something forward

The elections were brought forward by three months.

Answer 9

to change the date or time of an event so that it happens earlier than planned

Question 10

get around to something

I still haven’t got around to fixing that tap.

Answer 10

to do something that you have intended to do for a long time

Question 11

go in for something

I’ve never really gone in for classical music, but I love jazz.

Answer 11

to do something regularly, or to enjoy something

Question 12

go off someone/something

I went off beefburgers after I got food poisoning from a takeaway.

I went off Peter when he said those dreadful things about Clare.

Answer 12

to stop liking or being interested in someone or something

Question 13

knock-down-drag-out

Look, I don’t want to get into a knock-down-drag-out fight with you over this, so let’s forget it.

Answer 13

a knock-down-drag-out fight or argument is very serious and continues for a long time

Question 14

knock yourself out

She hit her head on the ceiling and knocked herself out.

(inf) If you carry on working like this, you’ll knock yourself out.

Answer 14

to make yourself unconscious, usually by hitting your head

to make yourself ill with tiredness

Question 15

look out

The police have warned shopkeepers to look out for forged notes.

Answer 15

to watch what is happening and be careful

Question 16

pull (someone/something) out

They’ve pulled all their athletes out of the competition.

He pulled out of the deal at the last moment.

Answer 16

to stop being involved in an activity or agreement

Question 17

put something off

The meeting has been put off for a week.

I can’t put off going to the dentist any longer.

Answer 17

to decide or arrange to delay an event or activity until a later time or date

Question 18

put up with something/someone

He’s so moody - I don’t know why she puts up with him.

Answer 18

to accept or continue to accept an unpleasant situation or experience, or someone who behaves unpleasantly

Question 19

take to someone/something

The two dogs took to each other immediately and started to play.

Answer 19

to start to like someone or something

Question 20

take something up

He’s taken up the position of supervisor.

Patti took up (= continued) the story where Sue had left off.

Answer 20

to start doing a particular job or activity

Question 21

take to something

She was so depressed she took to drink.

He’s taken to staying out very late.

Answer 21

to start doing something often

Question 22

have a go at someone

My Dad’s always having a go at me about getting a proper job.

You seem determined to have a go at her for no good reason.

Answer 22

to criticize someone

Question 23

the height of something

August is the height of the tourist season.

His statement today is the height of hypocrisy.

At that time, Bush was at the height of his political power.

Answer 23

the time when a situation or event is strongest or most full of activity
or
an extreme example of something
or
the time when you are most successful in what you do

Question 24

be fond of someone/something

She’s one of my dearest friends and I’m very fond of her.

Answer 24

to like someone or something very much

Question 25

disallow

All protests have been disallowed in the city.

The England team had two goals disallowed

Answer 25

to say officially that something cannot be accepted because it has not been done in the correct way

Question 26

allowance

The baggage/luggage allowance for most flights is 20 kilos.

Answer 26

an amount of something that you are allowed

Question 27

allowable

A certain level of error is allowable (= permitted to happen).

Answer 27

allowed according to the rules or laws that control a particular area of activity

Question 28

equip

It’s going to cost $4 million to equip the hospital.

All the police officers were equipped with shields to defend themselves against the rioters.

Answer 28

to provide a person or a place with objects that are necessary for a particular purpose

Question 29

misfortunes never come singly

Answer 29

nieszczęścia chodzą parami

Question 30

unknowledgeable

Many call center staff were unknowledgeable and some were rude.

Answer 30

not well informed or educated.

Question 31

loss

Many parents feel a sense of loss when their children leave home.

He suffered a gradual loss of memory.

Answer 31

the fact that you no longer have something or have less of something

Question 32

opposing

The article tries to show opposing viewpoints on the issue.

Answer 32

competing or fighting against each other

Question 33

in practice

It seemed like a good idea before we started, but in practice it was a disaster.

Answer 33

used to describe what really happens as opposed to what you think will happen in a particular situation

Question 34

retrain

Answer 34

to learn new skills so you can do a different job

Mark used to be an actor but now he’s retraining as a teacher.

Question 35

feature [newspaper]

Answer 35

a special article in a newspaper or magazine, or a part of a television or radio broadcast, that deals with a particular subject:

a double-page feature on global warming

Question 36

broadsheet

Answer 36

a newspaper that is printed on large sheets of paper, or an advertisement printed on a large sheet of paper:

In Britain, the broadsheets are generally believed to be more serious than the tabloids.

Question 37

newsflash

Answer 37

a short news report on radio or television, giving the most recent information about an important or unexpected event

Question 38

bring something up

Answer 38

to start to talk about a particular subject:
She’s always bringing up her health problems.

to cause something to appear on a screen:
You can bring up the menu by right-clicking on the title bar.

Question 39

come on

Answer 39

to start to happen or work:
The heating comes on at six in the morning.

If you have an illness coming on, it is starting gradually:
I think I’ve got a cold coming on.

to make your sexual interest known to someone:
Then his wife left the room and he started coming on to me.

Question 40

come out

Answer 40

If a book, record, film, etc. comes out, it becomes available for people to buy or see:
When does their new album come out?

Question 41

flick through something

Answer 41

to look quickly at the pages of a magazine, book, etc.
I’ve only had time to flick through your report but it seems to be fine.

Question 42

go into something

Answer 42

to start doing a particular type of work:
My son’s planning to go into journalism.

Question 43

hand something out

Answer 43

to give something to each person in a group or place:
The teacher asked her to hand out the worksheets.

Question 44

look up

Answer 44

to become better:
I hope things will start to look up in the new year.
Our financial situation is looking up at last.

to try to find a piece of information by looking in a book or on a computer:
If you don’t know what the word means, look it up in a dictionary.

Question 45

make something/someone out

Answer 45

to see, hear, or understand something or someone with difficulty:
The numbers are too small - I can’t make them out at all.

to say, usually falsely, that something is true:
He made out (that) he had been living in Paris all year.

Question 46

make something up

Answer 46

to invent something, such as an excuse or a story, often in order to deceive:
I made up an excuse about having to look after the kids.

My dad was always really good at making up stories.

Question 47

put forward/forth something

Answer 47

to suggest an idea for consideration:
None of the ideas that I put forward have been accepted.
He put forth a clear, logical argument.

Question 48

see through someone/something

Answer 48

to realize that someone is trying to deceive you to get an advantage, or that someone’s behaviour is intended to deceive you, and to understand the truth about the situation:
They were very friendly, but it didn’t take long to see through them.

Question 49

stand out

Answer 49

to be very noticeable:
The black lettering really stands out on that orange background.

to be much better than other similar things or people:
We had lots of good applicants for the job, but one stood out from the rest.

Question 50

In the news or On the news?

Answer 50

“In the news” means that a subject is currently found across all news media - on TV or radio news broadcasts, or in newspapers etc. eg “The story has been in the news this week”. “On the news” would be used to refer to a specific news broadcast or source. eg “I saw it on the news last night”

Question 51

in place of someone/something

Answer 51

instead of someone or something:
You can use margarine in place of butter in some recipes.

Question 52

” - “

Answer 52

dash

Question 53

disbelief

Answer 53

the refusal to believe that something is true:
He shook his head in disbelief when I told him about the crash.

Question 54

unbelievably

Answer 54

in a way that is very surprising or difficult to believe:
He works unbelievably hard.
It was still an unbelievably stupid thing to do.

Question 55

editorial

Answer 55

relating to the editor (= the person in charge) or editors of a newspaper, magazine, television programme, etc. and to the power to decide what is published or shown in it:

Editorial decisions on the show are made by senior news editors

Question 56

empower

Answer 56

to give someone official authority or the freedom to do something:

The first step in empowering the poorest sections of society is making sure they vote.

to encourage and support the ability to do something:
We want to empower individuals to get the skills they need.

Question 57

ridicule

Answer 57

unkind words or actions that make someone or something look stupid:
He’s become an object of ridicule (= a person that everyone thinks is stupid and criticizes or laughs at).

He was ridiculed for his ideas.

Question 58

scorn

Answer 58

a very strong feeling of no respect for someone or something that you think is stupid or has no value:
She has nothing but scorn for the new generation of politicians.

to show scorn for someone or something:
So does he respect the press and media, or does he secretly scorn them?

Question 59

secondary

Answer 59

less important than related things:
A coach’s first responsibility is to the team – everything else is secondary.