Vocabulary

accuse v.

to accuse smb. of smth.: He’s been accused of robbery. / Are you accusing me of lying?

accusation n.

to make accusations: You can’t just make wild accusations like that!

accusatory adj.: When he spoke his tone was accusatory.

accusing adj.: He gave me an accusing glance.

the accused n.: The accused were all found guilty.

temper n.

in a fit of temper

to keep one’s temper: I found it hard to keep my temper with so many things going wrong.

to loose one’s temper: The children behaved so badly that I lost my temper.

to be in a bad / foul, etc. temper: I’d avoid her if I were you – she’s in a foul temper.

tempers get frayed: When tempers got frayed they began fighting.

tempers have cooled: When tempers have cooled (= when everyone has become calm again) we will decide what to do.

tempered adj.

even-tempered

bad-tempered

break down phr. v.: When we gave her the bad news, she broke down and cried.

fracture n.

multiple fractures: He suffered multiple fractures in a motorcycle accident.

fracture v.: She fractured her skull in the accident. / Two of her ribs fractured when she was thrown from her horse.

Injury n.

a head / back / knee injury

to receive / sustain an injury: Several train passengers received serious injuries in the crash.

an injury to: Injuries to the spine are common amongst these workers.

to do yourself an injury: Don’t even think about lifting me up, Ted, you might do yourself an injury.

injure v.: She fell and injured her shoulder.

injured adj.: She was told to stay in bed to rest her injured back.

damage n.

to do damage to: Recent discoveries about corruption have done serious damage to the company’s reputation.

the damage is done (= it is too late to improve a bad situation): I didn’t even know I’d offended her till Colin told me and then it was too late – the damage was done.

jury n.

feed v., n.

family-orientated adj.

harm n.

to do smb. harm: Missing a meal once in a while never did anyone any harm.

no harm in doing smth.: You could always ask Jim if they need any more staff in his office – there’s no harm in asking. (= no one will be annoyed and you might benefit)

to mean no harm: She meant no harm (= didn’t intend to offend), she was joking.

out of harm’s way: The children will be here soon – you’d better put that plate out of harm’s way.

harm v.: Thankfully no one was harmed in the accident.

to harm a hair on smb.’s head: If he harms a hair on her head I won’t be responsible for my actions.

harmful adj.

harmless adj.

mishandle v.

alleged adj. (formal): It took 15 years for the alleged criminals (= people thought them to be criminals) to prove their innocence.

allegation n. (formal): Allegations that Mr. Dwight was receiving money from known criminals (= it was not proven) have caused a scandal.

to make allegations

cell n.

police cell

guilty adj.

to find smb. guilty

to be guilty of smth.: The jury has to decide whether a person is guilty or innocent of a crime.

suspicion n.

on suspicion of: He was arrested on suspicion of murder.

above / beyond suspicion: He didn’t do that, he’s beyond suspicion.

with suspicion: She always treated us with suspicion.

suspect v.

to suspect smb. of smth. / doing smth.: The police suspect him of carrying out two bomb attacks.

suspect n.: Police have issued a photograph of the suspect.

suspicious adj.: It’s a bit suspicious that no one knows where he was at the time of the murder.

suspicious-looking: There’s a suspicious-looking van parked at the end of the road.

Word combinations

to be over the moon.

to dismiss claims

to mean the world to smb.

in one’s arms

on the third attempt

to go to sleep

to call out to smb.

to wipe away tears

Exercises