34 Laws and punishments English Collocations in Use
law forbids/prohibits col = to state that smth is not allowed, according to a rule, law
rule permits/allows col =
rules/regulations apply to smb/smth col/prep = to affect or be relevant to a particular person or thing
regulations require/stipulate col = to say what is allowed or what is necessary
to extend opportunity to smb (e.g. to the least advantaged) col
35 Social issues English Collocations in Use Advanced
the fabric of smth = the basic structure of a society, an organization, etc. that enables it to function successfully: a trend which threatens the very fabric of society
to make a plea for smth = an urgent emotional request: The police ignored her pleas for help.
to make a plea for smb to do smth The boy’s parents made an emotional plea for him to come home.
ordinary family col
Vocabulary pp.8--9
freedom of a choice/action COL
peace of mind COL = a feeling of being calm, happy, and not worried
to define sth as sth PREP
poor investment in sth COL/PREP
grey power TERM (the influence of old people on social and political activities)
police harassment TERM (annoying or unpleasant behavior towards someone)
to be commonplace / it is commonplace SPEAKING/WR
Vocabulary pp.9--12
external forces beyond your control COL
to breed crime COL
a golden opportunity IDIOM
sexual exploitation TERM
child labour TERM
a drift of population from … to
rural/urban area COL
to pour sth into sth PHR
to encounter resistance to sth COL/PREP/WF
to stabilize the economy COL/WF
to devaluate the currency COL/WF
to rule out the possibility of sth PHR/COL
military intervention TERM
to achieve a settlement COL
by peaceful means PREP/COL
to roundly condemn sb of sth COL/PREP
ethnic cleansing TERM
slavery TERM
to be universally illegal COL
Vocabulary pp.13--16
Charity
to donate sth to sb PREP
to give money to sb (e.g. charity) COL
to collect money for sb COL
to raise money COL
to sponsor sb to do sth = to agree to give someone money for charity if they walk, run etc a particular distance
to change, alter, etc beyond/out of (all) recognition IDIOM
to raise awareness of sth COL
a collecting box COL/TERM
the advent of smth PREP
second-hand goods COL/TERM
to set up (a charitable project) PHR/COL/WF from charity
charity event/walk/concert TERM
charity record/single TERM release of a song for a specific charitable cause
proceeds of/from sth PREP
to go to a good cause IDIOM
feel/be concerned about sth PREP
to pledge money COL
to quote one’s credit card number COL = to give a piece of information that is written down somewhere e.g. You can order by phoning our hotline and quoting your credit card number.
Little moments
to be in operation for (period of time) prep
to be dependent on smb/smth prep/wf from to depend – dependent
valuable (invaluable) volunteer term/wf from to value – valuable – invaluable
to have a proven track record col/term = all the past achievements, successes or failures of a person or an organization
to work closely with sb prep/col
to screen/supervise sb
Meals on wheels
Meals on Wheels term = a service that takes meals to old or sick people in their homes
a government-subsidised project col
to offer sb the opportunity to do smth col
invalid term = a person who needs other people to take care of them, because of illness that they have had for a long time
physically or mentally challenged col
hot nourishing meal col
the elderly wf from old – the elderly
(to get) out and about idiom = able to go outside again after an illness
(all) on your own idiom = alone; without anyone else
innovative scheme col/wf from to innovate – innovation – innovative
saving grace idiom = the one thing that saves or redeems someone or something that would otherwise be a total disaster
local community centre term = a place where people from the same area can meet for social events or sports or to take classes
warm smiles and friendly conversation speaking
to give sth freely col/wf = in a willing and generous way: Millions of people gave freely in response to the appeal for the victims of the earthquake.
to become a lifeline to sb IDIOM = One that is or is regarded as a source of salvation in a crisis
The underclass that shames Scotland
dependent of the state TERM
state-dependent group/community
to manage your life with success
a state of affairs IDIOM =a situation: The state of affairs can no longer be ignored.
criminal activity COL
educational failure COL/WF to fail → failure | to educate → education →educational
unstable relationship COL
addiction to drugs/alcohol PREP
to be/get addicted to sth PREP
economic/political/social forces COL
to some extent/to a certain extent/ to an extent PREP = partly
scope for sth e.g. action/improvement PREP
to be a prime cause of sth COL
an inherited way of life | to inherit sth (way of life) from sb
days/weeks/months/years etc to come IDIOM = in the future
The End of Upward Mobility?
to reach the top COL
to reach your full potential COL
to grow / broaden about the gap between sth and sth COL
a dominant issue COL
a dividing line between col/prep
to pose/present a threat to sth col/prep
a fundamental shift in sth COL/PREP
ensuing days/months/years SYN: following COL/SP
to bear sth out PHR = to show that sb is right or that sth is true
to face barriers COL
insurmountable barrier COL/WF
to be a force to be reckoned with IDIOM
to shrink from…to [about a proportion or percentage] PREP (antonym – to grow from… to)
to expand from…to PREP (= grow)
to improve racial equity COL
class disparities between the rich and the poor COL/PREP
affluent = rich / wealthy
on average prep
stagnant → to stagnate → stagnation WF
diminishing incomes COL situation
steadily increasing incomes COL
on a par with idiom = as good, bad, important, etc. as somebody/something else
relatively small number of sth/sb report language
to move up (e.g. the social ladder) PHR
to be strikingly evident COL
to account for PHR
to be the order of the day IDIOM
to get ahead phr
to decline [ about wages] economy
deepening recession economy
to make sth worse COL
according to sth PREP
to cut the number of sth/sb PREP economy to cut jobs
to postpone retirement term/wf from ‘retire’
college-educated workers COL
skilled labor TERM
to face unprecedented competition WF/COL
to undermine one’s optimism / confidence COL
Listening 20 p.12 (See Transcript below)
to account for smth phr = to be a particular amount or part of smth: One-person households now account for 28% of all households.
at the expense of smb/smth idiom = with loss or damage to smb/smth: He built up the business at the expense of his health.
Crime and punishment
to offend = formal to commit a crime or crimes: Many of the young men here are likely to offend again.
offender WF = someone who is guilty of a crime: At 16, Scott was already a persistent offender (=someone who has been caught several times for committing crimes).
to commit a crime COL
to arrest sb FOR a crime PREP
to charge sb WITH a crime COL/PREP = when the police charge sb with a crime, they formally accuse them of committing that crime: Three men were charged with shoplifting.
to take sb TO court COL/PREP = take legal action against sb: My landlord is taking me to court for not paying my rent.
to give evidence COL= tell a court of law what you know about a crime: Three witnesses of the mugging gave evidence in court today.
to find sb (not) guilty COL = responsible for committing a crime: The jury had to decide if he was innocent or guilty.
to acquit / convict sb OF a crime COL/PREP = decide in a court that sb is not guilty of a crime: They were acquitted of all charges. (opposite: convict)
to lead TO a dramatic increase IN sth (crime) COL/PREP
to prosecute sb FOR doing sth PREP = to charge someone with a crime and try to show that they are guilty of it in a court of law