What if...? Flashcards
look at something
to think about a subject carefully so that you can make a decision about it:
Our manager is looking at ways of reducing costs.
wipe something out
to destroy something completely or cause something to be completely lost:
Poor investments wiped out most of his earnings.
set off
to start on a trip:
What time do we set off tomorrow?
deal with someone
to do business with someone
put something forward
to suggest an idea for consideration:
None of the ideas that I put forward have been accepted.
He put forth a clear, logical argument.
to examine
to look at or consider a person or thing carefully and in detail in order to discover something about them:
Forensic scientists are examining the wreckage for clues about the cause of the explosion.
The council is to examine ways of reducing traffic in the city centre.
The research examined the effects of alcohol on long-term memory.
[ + question word ] We need to examine how an accident like this can be avoided in the future.
A psychiatrist was examined (= asked questions) on the mental state of the defendan
consider
to spend time thinking about a possibility or making a decision:
Don’t make any decisions before you’ve considered the situation.
[ + question word ] Have you considered what you’ll do if you don’t get the job?
[ + -ing verb ] We’re considering selling the house.
She’s being considered for the job.
I’d like some time to consider before I make a decision.
extinction
a situation in which something no longer exists:
The extinction of the dinosaurs occurred millions of years ago.
Many species of plants and animals are in danger of/threatened with extinction (= being destroyed so that they no longer exist).
Some people predict the extinction of family life as we know it today.
species
a set of animals or plants in which the members have similar characteristics to each other and can breed with each other:
Mountain gorillas are an endangered species.
Over a hundred species of insect are found in this area.
figurative humorous Women film directors in Hollywood are a rare species.
evolve
to develop gradually, or to cause something or someone to develop gradually:
Did humans evolve from apes?
The company has evolved over the years into a multi-million dollar organization.
Bacteria are evolving resistance to antibiotics.
conquer
to take control or possession of foreign land, or a group of people, by force:
The Spanish conquered the New World in the 16th century.
The English were conquered by the Normans in 1066.
scholar
a person who studies a subject in great detail, especially at a university:
a classics/history scholar
Dr Miles was a distinguished scholar of Russian history.
informal
someone who is intelligent or good at learning by studying:
David’s never been much of a scholar.
tail
a part of an animal’s body, sticking out from the base of the back, or something similar in shape or position:
The dog wagged its tail excitedly.
picture of tail
Eastimages/Moment/GettyImages
More examples
With a flick of its tail, the cat was gone.
With a powerful lash of its tail, the fish jumped out of the net and back into the river.
The cat’s tail was peeping out from under the bed.
She plaited the horse’s tail.
trading
the activity of buying and selling goods and/or services:
She doesn’t approve of Sunday trading (= shops being open on Sunday).
the buying and selling of shares and money:
The stock market moved ahead slightly in active trading today.
voyages
a long journey, especially by ship:
He was a young sailor on his first sea voyage.
figurative The first year of a loving relationship is a voyage (= period) of discovery.
convinced
certain:
My boyfriend says I’d like going on a camping trip, but I’m not convinced.
[ + (that) ] I’m convinced (that) she is lying.
fuel
a substance that is used to provide heat or power, usually by being burned:
Wood, coal, oil, petrol, and gas are all different kinds of fuel.
Plutonium is a fuel used to produce nuclear energy.
nuclear fuel
unleaded fuel
The new exhaust system, it is claimed, will lower fuel consumption.
expedition
an organized journey for a particular purpose:
We’re going on a shopping expedition on Saturday.
Scott died while he was on an expedition to the Antarctic in 1912.
vanished
not now present or existing:
The temple ruins are a distant reminder of a vanished empire.
desire
to want something, especially strongly:
I desire only to be left in peace.
The hotel had everything you could possibly desire.
What does her Ladyship desire me to do/desire of me?
[ + to infinitive ] The president desires to meet the new prime minister.
survived
continued to live or exist after coming close to dying
ruled
controlled, B2 [ I or T ]
to control or be the person in charge of something such as a country:
Most modern kings and queens rule (their countries) only in a formal way, without real power.
She rules her household with an iron hand/fist (= severely).
B2 [ I or T ]
to be the most important and controlling influence on someone:
Love ruled supreme in her heart.
The desperate desire to go to Moscow ruled their lives.
evolve
develop gradually
conquered
took control of (a foreign land or country)
voyages
long journeys, especially by ship
convinced
persuaded
vanished
disappeared suddenly
long-duration
lasting a long time
persuaded
to make someone do or believe something by giving them a good reason to do it or by talking to that person and making them believe it:
If she doesn’t want to go, nothing you can say will persuade her.
[ + (that) ] It’s no use trying to persuade him (that) you’re innocent.
[ + to infinitive ] He is trying to persuade local and foreign businesses to invest in the project.
Using a bunch of bananas, the zoo-keeper persuaded the monkey back into its cage.
formal The first priority is to persuade the management of the urgency of this matter.
Her legal advisers persuaded her into/out of mentioning (= to mention/not to mention) the names of the people involved in the robbery.
Synonym
attempt
to try to do something, especially something difficult:
[ + to infinitive ] He attempted to escape through a window.
He attempted a joke, but no one laughed.
There’s no point in even attempting an explanation - he’ll never listen.
