Vocabulary

1. John

concealed

hid

his thoughts (from his wife).

the fact that he hadn’t been to Italy.

2. John concealed what he thought about it.

3. John held back/kept back the secret/bad news (from Peter).

4. John kept the secret/bad news from Peter.

5. John kept his plan/ideas secret/a secret (from Peter).

6. John suppressed/repressed the truth about the accident.

7. They

covered up

hushed up

smothered up

the scandal.

the fact that Peter had lied.

= John: I think Peter’s a reliable chap.

= John thought (that) Peter was a reliable person.

John expressed his opinion that Peter was a reliable person.

= The speaker: I’m convinced that what the country needs is a market economy. It’s absolutely necessary for a country like ours. Here are some of the arguments in support of this view.

= The speaker argued the case for a market economy.

The speaker argued that their country needed a market economy.

1. John thought /believed / supposed / assumed / presumed (that) Peter was right.

2. John was

thought

believed

supposed

considered

assumed

presumed

(to be) very clever.

(to be) a clever man.

to be able to do it.

to be planning to go into business.

to know the truth.

to have done the job properly.

3. John expressed/presented a/the thought that they would be a success.

4. John expressed/held a/the belief that Peter would cooperate with them.

5. John

made

proceeded on

went on

was going on

acted on

the assumption

the presumption

the supposition

that Peter would

resign.

6. John had a good/bad/high/low opinion of Peter/his work.

7. John

had

held

entertained

harboured

an opinion

a view

a firm conviction

that no revolution

was feasible.

8. John

expressed

offered

presented

put forward

voiced

advocated

ventured

the opinion

the view

the conviction

that no revolution

was feasible.

9. John formed an opinion of all the candidates.

10. John had strong opinions/views/feelings on/about the issue of war and peace.

11. John took the view/position that the compromise was unacceptable.

12. John took a cheerful/optimistic/rosy/dim/pessimistic/ poor view of/point of view about the matter/situation.

13. John was of the opinion that sweeping reforms were necessary.

14. John

regarded

looked at

looked on

Peter as very clever.

Peter as a very clever man.

Peter with disapproval/contempt/the

greatest admiration.

15. John guessed

Peter’s age.

at Peter’s age.

Peter to be thirty.

(that) Peter was thirty.

how old Peter was/what Peter’s weight was.

16. John conjectured Peter’s age.

17. John conjectured

Peter to be thirty.

that Peter was thirty.

18. John surmised

Peter’s age.

(that) Peter was thirty.

19. John

made

expressed

had (BrE)

took (AmE)

ventured

hazarded

a guess

at Peter’s age.

that Peter would win the match.

20. John

made

expressed

ventured

hazarded

a conjecture

a surmise

a supposition

that Peter would be

given the job.

1. John argued

soundly/logically.

the matter pro and con/for hours on end.

for/against the new policy.

the case for a market economy.

that poverty was a virtue.

2. It was argued that poverty was a virtue.

3. John reasoned that poverty was a virtue.

4. John

presented

offered

put forward

pressed

drove home

arguments

for/against the proposal.

for/against accepting the

proposal.

5. John made / presented a convincing / strong argument for/against the new policy/rejecting the proposal.

6. John

refuted

confuted

rebutted

the argument that driving was dangerous.

7. John countered the bribery allegations.

8. John countered (his argument) with an even stronger argument.

9. John countered that his proposal had been ignored.

10. John weighed (up) / considered (all) the pros and cons / advantages and disadvantages (of the matter).

11. The minister declined/refused to comment on the rumours of his resignation.

12. Critics commented favourably on Peter’s book.

13. John commented that he was happy to be at work/home.

14. John observed (that) Peter should take up music.

15. John

made

passed

dropped

shouted out

repeated

heard

complimentary

favourable

shrewd

casual

critical

rude

ironic

comments

remarks

on/about

Peter.

on/about

his story.

16. John made some interesting / keen / penetrating / astute observations on/about the current political scene.

17. John remarked on Peter’s absence. (formal)

18. John made a/the remark that he would prefer to stay at home.

1. John thought about/of

Peter/Peter’s offer.

accepting Peter’s offer.

whether Peter should be invited.

2. John speculated

about/on the world’s future.

about/on/as to what might happen.

about/on why Peter had done it.

(about/on) whether there would be a war.

that the two events might be linked.

3. We don’t know all the circumstances, so it would be pointless to speculate.

4. John reflected on

the problem.

what to do/how to do it.

how it might have happened.

5. John pondered

(on/over) the problem.

(on/over) rejecting the offer.

whether to reject the offer.

6. John meditated

(on the matter).

(revenge).

(taking revenge on Peter).

7. John brooded about/on/over

Peter/his misfortunes.

how it might have happened.

whether it was true.

8. John considered

Peter’s suggestion.

making a trip to London.

how to do it/where to go.

how it should be done.

the fact that Peter might not come back.

9. John contemplated

revenge/sweeping reforms.

reforming the health-care system.

a great deal of opposition from Peter.

10. John

was

deep

absorbed

engrossed

immersed

lost

in thought/contemplation.

in sad thoughts.

11. An idea/thought

suggested itself to John.

came to mind.

crossed John’s mind.

12. The idea/thought went through / flashed across/into/ through his mind (that she could be dead).

13. An idea/thought suddenly occurred to/struck John.

14. It struck Peter that it applied to him too.

15. John had an idea that Peter would phone him the next day.