Week 3 Day 4

Question 1

hot-desking

Answer 1

when a desk is shared by different office workers instead of bring used by only one employee everyday

Question 2

To file away

Answer 2

To file away is a phrasal verb which means to store a document in an organised way, often in a file with other similar documents.

All my letters are filed away in a big cabinet in my office.

On Friday mornings I pay the bills and invoices from the past week, then I file them away.

Question 3

in circular file

Answer 3

One funny slang expression is the circular file. When you put something in the circular file, where does it go? In the wastebasket!

A: What happened to those printouts?
B: Oh, they went in the circular file, sorry. I didn’t think you needed them.

Question 4

in safe hands (also: A safe pair of hands)

Answer 4

When you say someone is in safe hands, you mean they are being cared for by someone who is confident and skilled.

John is going to be operated on by one of the best surgeons in the country. He’s in safe hands.

The new CEO of the company had degrees in engineering and business administration. The staff knew they were in safe hands.

Question 5

stroking

Answer 5

to move your hand gently over something (He reached out and stroked her cheek tenderly.)

Question 6

reach out to sb

Answer 6

when you want to show people that you are interested in them and want to listen to them (So far, his administration has failed to reach out to hard line republicans.)

Question 7

tender

Answer 7

one meaning is gentle and careful in a way that shows love (a slow, tender kiss)

Question 8

full-term

Answer 8

full-term baby is born after a pregnancy of the normal length, premature (In developed countries the average birth weight of full-term newborn babies are 3.4 Kg.)

Question 9

illuminate

Answer 9

to fill a place with light or to make light shine on sth , light up (A single candle illuminated his face.)

Question 10

leading light

Answer 10

an important or respected person in a group or in a particular field (When it comes to Christmas decorations David Cross is the leading light.)

Question 11

famously (slang adv.)

Answer 11

well, to have a good or friendship relationship with sb

Question 12

brasserie ( = bra (a slang word))

Answer 12

a cheap informal restaurant usually serving french food

Question 13

cock-up (BE spoken informal)

Answer 13

sth has been spoiled by sb’s stupid mistake or by being done badly, mistake

Question 14

cock up (phrasal verb) (informal and it’s not polite)

Answer 14

to botch, to sth badly because you have been very careless or you do not have the skill to do it properly (The builders really botched up our patio.) (His secretary cocked up his travelling schedule and he’s really furious about it.)

Question 15

patio

Answer 15

a flat hard area near a house where people sit outside

Question 16

cracking (BE informal)

Answer 16

eager to, very good or exciting (We have two cracking games coming up next week.)

Question 17

punctual

Answer 17

on time (The punctual payment of invoices)

Question 18

vibe (common adj.: good, bad and weird)

Answer 18

A “vibe” is basically the mood or overall feeling you get from a person or a place. It’s hard to describe exactly what it is, but you can “sense” it. Music is something that has a certain “vibe” to it as well. ( I don’t know what it is, but I don’t really like the vibe of that city. Something about it makes me uncomfortable.

Question 19

I could have sworn (clause)

Answer 19

Use the phrases “I could have sworn…” when you were really sure that you knew something, but then you find out that you were wrong.

For example, imagine that you’re telling a story about a trip that you took a long time ago with your friend. But then your friend says that she doesn’t remember it:

A: I don’t remember that at all. It must have been someone else.
B: Really? No, I could have sworn it was you!

You were really sure that she was on the trip with you, but now you find out that maybe she wasn’t.

or imagine that you are looking for your book which you had put it on the nightstand next to your bed but it’s not there now. You say:

That’s weird. I could have sworn it was here.

Question 20

kinetic

Answer 20

relating to movement

Question 21

romp (n)

Answer 21

a piece of amusing entertainment which has a lot of exciting scenes (A Royal scandal is an hour-long romp which pokes fun at royal marriages.)

Question 22

quirky

Answer 22

unusual especially in an interesting way (Our writer today is taking us to a fun romp through some quirky words.)

Question 23

scrabble

Answer 23

a game in which players try to make sentences with separate letters they have