Revise your knowledge

action (1)

Meaning: important or exciting activity

For example:

• I've always lived in inner-city areas because I like to be where the action is.

• If you want to get into movies, Los Angeles is where the action is.

axe | ax (1)

Meaning: to dismiss someone from a job (v.) | dismissal from a job (n.)

For example:

• Because of the economic downturn, many companies will have to axe a lot of their workers.

• Anyone who creates too many problems for the boss will get the ax.

Note: "axe" is mostly used in British spelling and "ax" is mostly used in American spelling

Beat it

Meaning: go away

For example:

• Some kids were smoking in the carpark, but when one of them saw a teacher coming they grabbed their stuff and beat it.

• When Peter came back from the bathroom, some guy was talking to Leanne. Peter said, "Beat it, pal! She's with me."

Blast (2)

Meaning: to strongly reprimand (v.) | a strong reprimand (n.)

For example:

• The team's manager was really upset with some of his players, and he blasted them for making so many mistakes.

• When the boss told us all to come into his office, we knew we were in for a blast.

Crap (2)

Meaning: something worthless (n.) | worthless (adj.)

For example:

• Stevie reckoned it was a crap game, but I thought it was pretty cool.

• Did you see that new reality TV show last night? It was so bad I had to turn it off after ten minutes! I can't watch crap like that.

Note: The word "crappy" has the same meaning as, and can be used in the same way as, "crap" when it's used as an adjective, as in "it was a crappy game".

drag

Meaning: something boring, tiresome or troublesome

For example:

• Getting up at five-thirty in the morning in the middle of winter is such a drag. I just wanna stay in bed and keep warm.

• My flight's been cancelled, so I'll have to go by train instead. What a drag!

fart

Meaning: to release gas from the anus (v.) | a release of gas from the anus (n.)

For example:

• Did you know that one of the main causes of global warming is cows farting?

• We were driving home when someone did a fart. It smelled so bad that we had to open the windows.

Note: This word is quite offensive and should only be used in private among close friends. If one really must refer to a flatulent occurrence in public or during a formal occasion, we would suggest using the less-offensive alternative "breaking wind".

guts

Meaning: courage

For example:

• It took a lot of guts to tell the boss what you really thought.

• Do you think Dave has the guts to tell his family and friends that he's gay?

horny

Meaning: in the mood for sex; sexually excited

For example:

• Fran told us how her boyfriend gets horny after two or three drinks. But if he has any more than that, all he wants to do is sleep.

• The nurses say they get sick of pushing away the hands of horny male patients.

rip-off (1)

Meaning: charging too much for something

For example:

• Ten dollars for a cup of coffee? That's a total rip-off! It's about three dollars anywhere else.

• Why do people pay so much? Don't they know it's a rip-off?

ace (1)

Meaning: very skillful, very good at something

For example:

• My little brother was never interested in sports when he was young, but now he's an ace basketball player.

• If you want to be an ace fighter, you should learn hand-to-hand combat skills like karate or Muay Thai.