Vocabularies Q-Z – PART 1

Q

qualified

I’m not qualified to give advice on such matters.
What makes you think that you are qualified for this job?

quality

Their products are of very high quality.
I only buy good-quality wine.
He’s not interested in quality. All he cares about is making money.
Is there any significant difference in quality between these two items?

Queen ≠ King

The Queen is meeting the prime minister today.

question

Can I ask you a question?
I’m afraid I can’t answer that question.
They asked me quite a lot of difficult questions about my job.
I just have one question: is the treatment effective?
Don’t be afraid to ask questions.

questionnaire – ANKET

Visitors to the country have been asked to fill in a detailed questionnaire.

quick

She was quick at understanding what we wanted her to do.
The journey was quite quick because the road was clear.
After stopping for a quick drink, they continued on their way.

quickly

He replied very quickly.
He quickly realized that she wasn’t telling the truth.
You don’t need to eat so quickly! It’s not a competition.

quiet

She spoke in a quiet voice so as not to wake him.
It’s so quiet without the kids here.

Please be quiet (= stop talking)!
Could you keep quiet while I’m on the phone, please?
She was as quiet as a mouse (= very quiet). I didn’t even know she’d come in.

quietly

Everyone was working quietly when, all of a sudden, Andrew started shouting and swearing.

queue

We stood in a queue for half an hour.
You’ll have to join the queue.
There was a long queue to get into the cinema.

quit : give up

Would you quit your job if you inherited lots of money?
I’m going to quit smoking.

quite

The two situations are quite different.
Are you quite sure you want to go?

R

rabbit : bunny

The rabbit hopped across the grass.
He waved his magic wand and a rabbit appeared.
He strolled through the fields, potting (at) the occasional rabbit.
She stroked the rabbit’s soft fur.
They have several pets – a dog, two rabbits and a guinea pig.

race

Do you know who won/lost the race?
Let’s have a swimming race.
They’re taking part in a race to the top of Mont Blanc.
Kieran and Andrew are in a race for promotion.
[ + to infinitive ] Three newspapers are involved in a race to publish the story.

rainbow

The sun came out and we saw a rainbow.
The tropical butterfly’s wings were shimmering with all the colours of the rainbow.

rank

He achieved ambassadorial rank in 1958.
Colonel is the military rank between lieutenant-colonel and brigadier.

rapid : fast : quick

His response to the accusation was rapid.
Technological progress has been so rapid over the last few years.

rather

It’s rather cold today, isn’t it?
That’s rather a difficult book – here’s an easier one for you.

I think I’d like to stay at home this evening rather than go out.

I’d rather have a beer.
Which would you rather do – go swimming or play tennis?

You say that you would rather do something:
I would rather play than study.
✗Don’t say: I would rather to play than study.

rational

There must be some rational explanation for what happened.
Parents need to be fully informed so they can make a rational decision.
I’m sure there’s a rational explanation for all this.
It’s impossible to have a rational conversation with him.

reach

They finally reached the coast after five weeks sailing.
She reached the conclusion that there was no more she could do.
The temperature is expected to reach 30°C today.
She’s grown so tall that she can reach the door handle now.
I’ve been trying to reach you on the phone all day.

read

She read (the poem) slowly and quietly.
He spent a pleasant afternoon reading (the newspaper/a book).
I read about the family’s success in the local paper.
It was too dark to read our map and we took a wrong turning.
He learned to read at the early age of three.

ready

Are you ready? Hurry up – we’re late.
We’re leaving at eight o’clock, so you’ve got half an hour to get ready.
The army are said to be ready for action.

realize

They didn’t realize the danger they were in.
“Do you realize (that) this is the third time you’ve forgotten?” she said angrily.
I realize how difficult it’s going to be, but we must try.

reason

People give different reasons for wanting to change jobs.
We’d like to know the reason why she didn’t accept the job.
The reason I called was to ask about the plans for Saturday.
This work gives me a reason to live.
There is no reason to panic.
You have no reason to feel guilty.

receive

Did you receive my letter?
I received a phone call from your mother.
They received a visit from the police.

recommend

I can recommend the chicken in mushroom sauce – it’s delicious.
She has been recommended for promotion.
The doctor recommended (that) I get more exercise.
We recommend that this wine should be consumed within six months.
We recommend changing your internet provider.

referee

A referee must know all the rules of the game.
The referee blew his whistle to stop the game.

refusal

Their refusal to cooperate is completely understandable, considering the circumstances.

refuse : turn down

The boss refused our request to leave work early.

regard

to consider or have an opinion about something or someone:

Environmentalists regard GM technology with suspicion.
Her parents always regarded her as the smartest of their children.
He is generally/widely regarded as the father of international law.

regarding : in terms of

I am calling regarding your question.
I am writing to you with regard to your letter of 15 March.

region

Rain is expected in mountain regions.
Alzheimer’s disease affects the regions of the brain that control memory.
Severe winter weather is expected in the northeast region of the country.

regret

I left school at 16, but I’ve had a great life and I have no regrets.
The manager expressed deep regret at/for the number of staff reductions.
We think, much to our regret (= and we are very sorry about this), that we will not be able to visit you next year.
Is there anything you’ve done in your life that you regret?
The weather, I regret to say, is getting worse.

 

relation

Scientists eventually proved a relation between smoking and lung cancer.
We’re entering a new phase in international relations.
We are on the threshold of a new era in European relations.

relationship

Scientists have established the relationship between lung cancer and smoking.
Her relationship isn’t good with her father, but she’s very close to her mother.
He has a very good relationship with his uncle.

relative

He lost several close relatives in the war.
Most of her relatives were able to come to the wedding.
We have some distant relatives in Australia.

religion

It seems to me that a lot of evil deeds are done in the name of religion.
The new government has promised all citizens the right to practise their religion.
The U.S. Constitution promises freedom of religion.
We respect all religions here.

remember

“Where did you park the car?” “I can’t remember.”
I can remember people’s faces, but not their names.
She suddenly remembered (that) her keys were in her other bag.

rent : hire

I rented a car from a garage so that I could come to you.
Most students rent rooms in their second year.
I’d rather have my own house than rent.

repair

Where can I get my shoes repaired?
The church tower is in need of repair.
The boat needed extensive repairs.
Is it too late to repair the damage we have done to our planet?

repeat

Would you mind repeating what you just said?
The test must be repeated several times.
Sorry, could you repeat that? This is a very bad connection.
She repeated the question.

request

We requested that the next meeting be held on a Friday.
The boss refused our request to leave work early.
Anderson repeated his request that we postpone the meeting.
I’d like to make a request.

resign

He resigned from the company in order to take a more challenging job.

resignation

Resignation /rezigneyşın/ is written on the official paper. But, let me explain why I prefer to say “retirement”.

resist

to stop yourself from doing something that you want to do:
She couldn’t resist laughing at him in those clothes.

to fight against something or someone that is attacking you:

The soldiers resisted (the enemy attacks) for two days.

respect

I have great/the greatest respect for his ideas, although I don’t agree with them.
You should show more respect to your parents.
You really should treat your parents with more respect.
Please convey/give my respects to your parents.

rest

You look exhausted/tired! Why don’t you take a rest?
I’m going upstairs to have a rest.
You’d better get some rest if you’re driving back tonight.
I think we deserve a rest after all that hard work.

I want to do something else with the rest of my life.

result

His broken leg is the direct result of his own carelessness.
We’ve spent a lot of money on advertising and we’re beginning to see the results.
She’s an excellent coach who knows how to get results.
Accidents are the inevitable result of driving too fast.

retire

Since retiring from the company, she has done voluntary work for a charity.
He is due to retire as chief executive next year.

retired

if someone is retired, they have stopped working permanently, usually because of age:

Both my parents are retired.
He is a retired airline pilot.

retirement

Many teachers over the age of 50 are taking early retirement.
What is the normal retirement age in this country?​
We wish you a long and happy retirement.

revenge

She took her revenge on him.
Revenge is a dish best served cold.
Revenge is sweet.

review

The committee is reviewing the current situation.
Let’s review what has happened so far.

ride

When you ride a horse, you sit on it and control its movements.
I saw a girl riding a horse.
Can you ride?
He was riding on his horse looking for the castle.
I can give you a ride.

ridiculous

Do I look ridiculous in this hat?
Don’t be so ridiculous! I can’t possibly afford to stay in a hotel like that.
It’s ridiculous to expect a two-year-old to be able to read!

right now

We’re very busy right now/away.

road

Be careful when you cross a main road.
There’s a coffee shop on the other side of the road.
I was driving along the road when a kid suddenly stepped out in front of me.
There were lots of cars parked on the road.

rob

It is not safe to wear so many jewelleries as it will attract robbers to rob you when you are out for shopping.

robber

a person who takes money or property illegally

robbery

The gang admitted they had committed four recent bank robberies.
He was charged with robbery and assault.

Rome / Romans

When in Rome, do as the Romans do.

roof

They finally found the cat up on the roof.
Put the luggage on the roof of the car.
Water was splashing from a hole in the roof.

room

I like this room – it has plenty of light.
I could hear people talking in the next room.
She’s waiting for you in the conference room upstairs.

roommate

Jean was my roommate during our first year at college.

rose

You had better plant roses this year.
She sent him a bunch of red roses.
There’s no rose withoout a thorn.

rubbish : trash

I forgot to put the rubbish out this morning.
Put the empty box in the rubbish bin.
The film was rubbish.

rule

A referee must know all the rules of the game.
The first/most important rule in life is always to appear confident.
Before you start your own business you should be familiar with the government’s rules and regulations.
You must follow/obey/observe the rules.
You must not break the rules.

Queen Victoria ruled England for 64 years.

ruler

someone such as a king or queen who has official power over a country or area.

a long, narrow, flat piece of plastic, metal, or wood with straight edges where centimetres or inches, or both are printed. It is used for measuring things and for drawing straight lines.

rumour : rumor

I heard a rumour that she’d been seeing Luke Harrison.
Rumors about her are circulating at school.
She’s circulating/spreading rumours that the manager is going to resign.

rumour has it: people are saying:
Rumour has it (that) you’re going to be the next managing director. Is it true?

S

sack – KOVMAK/çuval

a large bag made of strong cloth, paper, or plastic, used to store large amounts of something:

The corn was stored in large sacks.
a sack of potatoes/coal/flour

They sacked her for being late.
He got sacked from his last job.

safe and sound

After three days lost in the mountains, all the climbers arrived home safe and sound.

sail

She always wanted to sail around the world.
The boat sailed along/down the coast.
If we sail in a southeastward direction we’ll reach land.

salad

You ordered a mixed salad. Would you like oil and vinegar on your salad?
Lunches include soup or salad.

salary : wage

I wouldn’t work for them if they paid me twice my current salary.

salute

Whenever you see an officer, you must salute.

salt /salt/

Can you pass the salt, please?
Add a pinch of (= small amount of) salt to the sauce.

same

My twin sister and I have the same mouth.
She was wearing exactly the same dress as I was.
I know a lot of people who’ve had the same problem.
Her son is the same age as mine.
I would do the same thing again if I had the chance.

sand

The children played all day in/on the sand.
I shook the sand out of my towel.
I like to feel the sand between my toes.

Satan : Devil

the name used by Christians, Jews and Muslims for the Devil (= a powerful evil force and the enemy of God).

satellite

The arrival of satellite television changed the face of broadcasting.
This broadcast comes live via satellite from New York.
The Moon is a satellite of the Earth.

satisfaction

She looked at the finished painting with satisfaction.
She derived/obtained great satisfaction from/out of helping other people.
For me, job satisfaction is more important than the money.

satisfied

Are you satisfied with the new arrangement?

satisfy

She satisfies all the requirements for the job.
The candidates listed below have failed to satisfy the examiners.
We hope to reach an agreement which will satisfy the interests of both parties concerned.

save

Wearing seat belts has saved many lives.
He fell in the river but his friend saved him from drowning.
He had to borrow money to save his business.
He was desperately trying to save their failing marriage.
We all need to do our part to save the planet.

saw

She was in the backyard sawing logs.

say

Small children find it difficult to say long words.
She said goodbye to all her friends and left.
Ben never forgets to say “Please” and “Thank you”.
How do you say ‘goodbye’ in French?

Say again.

Say that again.
Say it again..

scapegoat – günah keçisi

The captain was made a scapegoat for the team’s failure.
(GOAT: KEÇİ)

scared of : afraid of

I am scared of telling her what really happened.
I am scared of spiders.

schedule

The majority of holiday flights depart and arrive on schedule.
Meg’s new book is still well ahead of schedule.
How can he fit everything into his busy schedule?
I’m going to be working to a very tight schedule (=including a lot of things that must be done in a short time).
He has a very busy schedule.
The president’s schedule includes a two-day visit to St Petersburg.

school

His mother always used to pick him up from school.
He’s one of my old friends from school.
Children start school between the ages of four and five.
His parents sent him to a private school.
He was educated at a private school instead of public/state school.

school report

Did you get the school report yesterday?

scissors /sizırs/

Use scissors to cut the shapes out.
Do you have any nail scissors?

science

Advances in science and technology are opening the way for new treatments.
Many leading scientists do not consider that science can give absolutely reliable knowledge.
What did you do in science class today?
Children begin secondary school with high expectations of science, but become disillusioned and uninterested, especially in physics.

scientist

A lecture is given by a scientist at each meeting.
A couple of decades ago scientists noticed Panama’s climate was slowly growing drier.
There are scientists who say that the results of the research are flawed.

scorpion

And why does she have a pet scorpion?

scream

A frog landed on her pillow and she screamed.
Through the smoke, the rescuers could hear people screaming for help.
He was screaming in/with pain.
I heard a woman in the house opposite screaming for help.
No one heard their screams.

sea

We went swimming in the sea.
The sea was calm/smooth/choppy/rough when we crossed the Channel.
The refugees were at sea (= in a boat on the sea a long way from land) for 40 days before reaching land.

search

Police have carried out a search of his home.
They called off (cancelled) the search when it got dark.
The police searched the woods for the missing boy.
After a long search, they eventually found the missing papers.

seashore

”’She sells seashells on the seashore” is a well-known tongue twister.

second hand

She buys all her clothes second-hand.
This bike is second-hand but it’s still in good condition.

secret

Why did you have to go and tell Bob about my illness? You just can’t keep a secret, can you?
A close couple should have no secrets from each other.

section

Does the restaurant have a non-smoking section?
This section of motorway will be under repair until January.
Dad always reads the sports section of the newspaper.
You’ll find ice cream in the frozen food section of the supermarket.

see

From the window we could see the children playing in the yard.
Did you see that documentary on Channel 7 last night?
I haven’t seen any shoes that I’ve wanted to buy.
The children wanted to see the circus.

seem

He’s 16, but he often seems (to be) younger.
The children seemed (as if/as though/like they were) tired.

seesaw: teeter-totter

a long board that children play on.
The board is balanced on a central point so that when a child sits on each end they can make the board go up and down by pushing off the ground with their feet.

Kids love teeter totters!

seize

Suddenly, he seized my hand.
I seized his arm and made him turn to look at me.
Maggie seized the letter from her.

The rebels have seized ten soldiers to use as hostages.

In everyday English, people usually say grab or grab hold of rather than seize:
She grabbed hold of his hand.

seldom

Now that we have a baby, we seldom get the chance to go to the cinema.
I seldom drive my car into the city.
Anna seldom eats at home.

selfish

Everyone is selfish from time to time. It’s part of human nature..
My colleague is so selfish.

send

I’ll send her a letter/email/parcel/postcard next week.
She sent a message with John to say that she couldn’t come.
I’ve sent my CV to a few companies in the region.

sensitive

She was very sensitive about her scar and thought everyone was staring at her.
Sex education and birth control are sensitive issues.

serious

What’s up – why does everyone look so serious?
Please don’t laugh. I’m serious.
She’s had a lot of boyfriends but John’s the only one she’s been serious about.

servant

His father’s family lived in a big house with servants.
She has servants to do all her work for her.

shake

Shake the bottle before you open it.
A young boy climbed into the apple tree and shook the branches so that the fruit fell down.
She was shaking as she opened the letter.
I was shaking like a leaf (= very nervous) before the test.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has been seen shaking in public for the third time in less than a month, raising further concerns over her health.

shame

What a shame that you couldn’t go to the party.
“I’m afraid I can’t come tonight.” ” Oh, that’s a shame.”
It’s such a shame they shut that factory down.

shape

Kim’s birthday cake was in the shape of a train.
A heart shape is the symbol of love.
What shape is the table? The dining room was square in shape.
You can recognize a tree by the shape of its leaves.
For an old car, it’s in pretty good shape.

shave

He hadn’t shaved for days.
When my dad shaved his beard (off), he looked ten years younger.
He looked as if he needed a shave.

shark

We could see the fin of a shark as it slowly circled our boat.
Some species of shark are now endangered.

sheep

Sheep were grazing on the hillside.

ship  /şiip/

The ship sank slowly to the depths of the ocean.
There were several ships waiting in the dock for their cargo to be unloaded.
We don’t currently ship outside the EU.

shirt

I have to wear a shirt and tie to work.
You’ve spilled something down your shirt front.

shiver

When people or animals shiver, they shake slightly because they feel cold, ill, or frightened:

The poor dog – it’s shivering!
She shivered with cold in her thin cotton shirt.

shoe

I sat down and took off my shoes and socks.
He was wearing smart black shoes.
We used to clean our shoes every evening before we went to bed.
He put on/took off his new pair of shoes.

shoplift

to take goods illegally from a shop without paying for them:
He was charged with shoplifting.

shopping mall

There are plans to build a new shopping mall in the middle of town.

shoot-V2 V3 shot

Police shot one suspect when he pulled a gun on them.
Smith killed his wife, and then shot himself.
A woman was shot dead in an attempted robbery.
Don’t shoot! I’m coming out with my hands up.
He was shot down in enemy territory.

I was five and he was six
Ben beş yaşındaydım o da altı

We rode on horses made of sticks
Sopadan yapılmış atlarımız vardı

He wore black and I wore white
O siyah giyerdi ben de beyaz

He would always win the fight
Oyunu hep o kazanırdı

Bang bang

He shot me down, bang bang
O beni vurdu, bang bang

I hit the ground, bang bang
Ben yere düştüm, bang bang

That awful sound, bang bang
O korkunç ses, bang bang

My baby shot me down.
Bebeğim beni vurdu

Seasons came and changed the time
Zaman geçti, mevsimler değişti

When I grew up, I called him mine
Büyüdüğümüzde, bana göre o benimdi

He would always laugh and say
O hep güler ve sorardı

“Remember when we used to play?”
“Oynadığımız günleri hatırladın mı?”

Bang bang

I shot you down, bang bang
Seni vurdum, bang bang

You hit the ground, bang bang
Yere düştün, bang bang

That awful sound, bang bang
O korkunç ses, bang bang

I used to shoot you down.
Eskiden seni vururdum

Music played, and people sang
Müzik çaldı ve inanlar şarkı söyledi

Just for me, the church bells rang.
Sadece benim için, kilisenin çanları inledi

Now he’s gone, I don’t know why
Şimdi o gitti, bilmiyorum neden

And till this day, sometimes I cry
Ve bugün bile, ağlıyorum bazen

He didn’t even say goodbye
Hoşça kal bile demedi

He didn’t take the time to lie.
Yalan söylemek için bile beklemedi

Bang bang

He shot me down, bang bang
O beni vurdu, bang bang

I hit the ground, bang bang
Ben yere düştüm, bang bang

That awful sound, bang bang
O korkunç ses, bang bang

My baby shot me down.
Bebeğim beni vurdu

shop

Leyla saw her reflection in the shop window.
She’s gone to the shops to get some milk.
I need to go to the shops – I’ve got no food in the house.
Most of the shops are open on Sundays.

short

Her hair is much shorter than it used to be.
It’s only a short walk to the station.
I’m fairly short but my brother’s very tall.
It’s not fashionable to wear short skirts at the moment.

shoulder

I rested my head on her shoulder.
Then she put her arm around my shoulder and gave me a kiss.
She glanced nervously over her shoulder to make sure no one else was listening.

He was about six feet tall with broad shoulders.
“I don’t know what to do about it,” said Martha, shrugging her shoulders.

shout  /şaut/

There’s no need to shout, I can hear you.
Dad really shouted at me when I broke the window.

show off :  hava atmak

She only bought that sports car to show off and prove she could afford one.
She raised her wrist, showing off a sparkling diamond bracelet.

show up: appear

(to arrive somewhere in order to join a group of people, especially late or unexpectedly:)
We were expecting thirty people to come, but half of them never showed up.

shut  /şat/ : close

Shut the fuck up!
Please shut the gate.

I’ve got a surprise for you! Shut your eyes tightly and hold out your hand.
Mary shut her book and put it down on the table.
This window won’t shut – it’s jammed.

shy : timid

She was too shy to ask her to dance with him.
Children are often shy of/with people they don’t know.

sight

If your sight is poor, you should not drive a car.
The old woman has lost her sight (= has become blind).
She lost her sight after a car accident.
The question seemed easy at first sight (= when they first saw it), but when the students tried to answer it, they discovered how difficult it was.

sign

Don’t ignore the fog warning signs.
Crying is seen as a sign of weakness.
There are signs that the situation is improving.
If she can move her legs, that’s a good sign.

a road sign

Please sign your name below if you are available to help.
Sign here please.

signature

I need your signature on the credit card receipt.
We collected hundreds of signatures on our petition.
We will send you a copy of the agreement for signature.

significant

There has been a significant increase in the number of women students in recent years.
A shrimp-based meal is also a significant source of cholesterol.

silence

The four men sat in complete silence.
After two years of silence, he suddenly got in touch with us again.
There was silence in the library for several moments.
The soldiers listened in silence as their captain gave the orders.

silent : mute

It was four o’clock in the morning and London was as silent as the grave ( completely silent).
The crowd fell silent (=became silent) when the president appeared.
Alice was laughing and joking, but her sister remained silent.

silly

sinful

Dancing was believed to be sinful.
They believe that humans are sinful by nature.

skyscraper

Burj Dubai, skyscraper in Dubai and the tallest man-made structure ever built, at 828 m. officially openened 2010.

slave

Black slaves used to work on the cotton plantations of the southern United States.
I’m tired of being treated like a slave!

slavery

Slavery still exists in many parts of the world.
Millions of Africans were sold into slavery.

sleep

He fell into a deep sleep.
You’ll feel better after a good night’s sleep.
Get a good night’s sleep and you’ll feel better able to cope.
I must get some sleep – I’m exhausted.

slip

She slipped on the ice.
Careful you don’t slip – there’s water on the floor.

slipper

Richard took off his slippers and put on his black shoes again, and they went out.
He put on his bathrobe and slippers.

slippery

I have a very slippery marble floor which is dangerous to walk on.
The sidewalks were slippery with ice.

smart : genius : clever

He’s smart enough to know he can’t run the business without her.

smell

That cake smells good.
You smell lovely – what’s your perfume?
Come and smell these flowers!
There’s a delicious smell in here.
Dogs have a very good sense of smell.

smile

In my experience, people generally smile back if you smile at them.
She gave everyone a welcoming smile.
Amy had a big/broad smile on her face.

smoke

snake

He’s terrified of being bitten by a snake.
a snake bite

sneeze

Is it okay to blow your nose in public?
Of course as long as you’re not sneezing on someone else…

snore

Sometimes my husband snores so loudly, it keeps me awake at night.
Do you know any cures for snoring?

snow

The snow came down during the night.
By morning there was a light covering of snow.
Many villages have been cut off by the heavy snow.
Outside the snow began to fall.
Let’s go and play in the snow!

rain: yağmurun yağması
snow: karın yağması
sleet: sulu sepken yağması
hail: dolunun yağması

so

The house is so beautiful.
Thank you for being so patient.
Don’t be so stupid!
I’m so tired (that) I could sleep in this chair!
“I’ve got an enormous amount of work to do.” “So have I.”
“I hope they stay together.” “I hope so too.”
“Do you think he’s upset?” “I don’t think so.”
“Is it true that we’re not getting a pay increase this year?” “I’m afraid so.”

and for that reason; therefore:

My knee started hurting so I stopped running.
I was lost so I bought a street map.

sock

Put on your shoes and socks.

The little boy was wearing odd / mismatched socks (= socks of different colours).

So-So

“How are you getting on with your new boss?”
“So-so.”

so far

I have answered 100 questions so far. (Şimdiye kadar 100 soru cevapladım.)
I think he’s done a great job so far.

Solar System

Beyond the limits of the solar system, we can only watch from a distance.
Launched within weeks of each other in 1977, each Voyager has been traveling in a different direction through the solar system at approximately 500 million kilometers per year.
They brought us the first pictures of Saturn and Neptune and are now reaching the limits of the solar system.

solution

The best solution would be for them to separate.
There are no simple solutions to the problem of overpopulation.
Locking people in prison is not necessarily the ideal solution.
The only solution is to greatly reduce our use of water.

solve

Charlie thinks money will solve all his problems.
More than 70% of murder cases were solved last year.
Congress had not been able to solve the financial crisis.
Police have called for witnesses to help them solve the murder.

son

We have two sons and three daughters.
Your son is the same age as mine.
You must be very proud of your son.

song

Much to my surprise Ben suddenly burst into song.
He’s written a lot of their best-selling songs.

burst into song/tears/laughter: to suddenly begin to sing/cry/laugh:

Much to my surprise, Caleb suddenly burst into song.

sooner or later

Sooner or later she’s going to realize what a mistake she’s made.

sore : painful

After cycling for the whole day, my backside was very sore.

sore throat

You can have a sore throat for many reasons.
She has a sore throat.

soap  / soup /

There was no soap, so I just rinsed my hands with water.

soup / suup /

Would you like a bowl of soup?
Hot soup is very comforting on a cold winter’s day.

speak

She cleared her throat nervously before she began to speak.
Can I speak to you confidentially?
He speaks fluent French.
How many foreign languages do you speak?

Speak of the devil…

used when an absent person who has been the subject of conversation appears.

speech

People who suffer a stroke may experience a loss of speech.
Freedom of speech and freedom of thought were both denied under the dictatorship.
As a child, she had some speech problems.
I had to give/make a speech at my brother’s wedding.

spell

Could you spell your name again, please?
Some words are more difficult to spell than others.

spend

She spends a lot of money on clothes.
I spent a lot of time cleaning that room.

spoon

Stir the mixture with a wooden spoon.
Lying on the table are two spoons: one is metal, the other is plastic.

spring

It was a cold, sunny day in early spring.
She’s coming to visit us in the spring.
They moved here last spring.

The children have jumped on the couch so much that they’ve ruined the springs.

spy

They used the photographs to blackmail her into spying for them.

spider

The spider preys on small flies and other insects.
A spider landed on her pillow and she screamed.

squirrel

I’ve never ever saw so many squirrels in one day.

stable

After several part-time jobs, he’s now got a stable job in a bank.
The hospital said she was in a stable condition (= not likely to get worse) following the operation.
The economy is fairly stable.

a building in which horses or cattle are kept:

The horses in the stable have plenty of straw.

stair

Go up the stairs and her office is on the right.
She was standing at the top of the stairs.
I heard footsteps coming up the stair.

stamp: damga vurmak veya pul

It is necessary to stamp your passport.
I stuck a 50 cent stamp on the envelope.

stand

Don’t stand out there in the cold – come in here and get warm.
I can’t stand her voice.
She was standing beside my bed staring down at me.
They told me to stand still and not to turn round.

star

The stars twinkled in the clear sky.
We could see hundreds of stars in the clear desert sky.

Steven Spielberg directed ”Catch Me If You Can” which stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks in 2002.

start : begin

When do you start your course/your new job?
We’ll be starting (the session) at six o’clock.
Police believe the fire was started by arsonists.
There’s so much to do I don’t know where to start.

stare

to look for a long time with the eyes wide open, especially when surprised, frightened, or thinking:

Don’t stare at people like that, it’s rude.

stay

They need an assistant who is willing to stay for six months.
Stay until the rain has stopped.
Can you stay after work to play tennis?
I stayed in Montreal for two weeks then flew home.
They said they’d stay at/in a hotel.
My kids usually stay with their grandparents for a week in the summer.
Because of the snow, children were told to stay at home.

stay calm/reduce stress

Do you know the ways to Stay Calm and Reduce Stress?

steal

She gonna steal your heart away and there is nothing you can do.

steel

Guitar strings nowadays are made from steel or nylon.
The gates were locked with a padlock and a heavy steel chain.

step

Be careful not to step in the mud.
Ow, you stepped on my foot!
What’s the next step in the process?

We must stay one step ahead of our competitors.
Don’t worry – I’ll go through the procedure with you step by step.
Mind the step as you leave the train.

stepmother / stepfather

the woman who is married to someone’s father but who is not their real mother
​
the man who is married to someone’s mother but who is not their real father

stepping stone

I see this job just as a stepping stone to better things.
I hope this job will be a stepping stone to something better.

stick

Police said that the child had been beaten with a stick.
Find some dry sticks and we’ll make a campfire.

I tried to stick the pieces together with some glue/tape.
I could feel my shirt sticking to my back.
Someone had stuck posters all over the walls.
This stamp won’t stick properly.

If you make a promise, you should stick to it.

still

I’m still hungry.
There’s still time for us to get to the cinema before the film starts.
I still haven’t finished writing my essay.
Children find it difficult to sit/stand/stay still for very long.
The universe is still expanding.

stomach

The doctor asked him to lie down on his stomach.
She has a very delicate stomach and doesn’t eat spicy food.
I was hungry and my stomach had started growling/rumbling (= making noises).
You shouldn’t go to work on an empty stomach.

The sight of Joe eating raw fish is enough to turn your stomach.
Just the smell makes my stomach turn.
The amount of money she spends on designer clothes really turns my stomach.

stone

A stone hit the window and cracked the glass.
The museum was made of stone.

storm

The weather forecast is for severe storms tonight.
Twenty people were killed when the storm struck the Midwest.
We sat and waited for the storm to pass.
A lot of buildings suffered storm damage.

story

Will you read/tell me a story, daddy?
We don’t know the full details of the story yet.
Don’t tell me any stories – I want to know what really happened.
The film was based on a true story.

strawberry

We picked lots of strawberries, but we’d eaten half the basket by the time we got home.
I thought we’d have strawberries and cream for dessert.

street

Our daughter lives just across the street from us.
Diane’s house is in/on Cherry Street.
Men whistle at us when we’re just walking down the street.

strike

She fell heavily, striking her head against the side of the boat.
The autopsy revealed that his murderer had struck him on the head with an iron bar.

We’re striking for better pay and improved safety standards.
In many countries, the police are forbidden to strike.
An estimated 70,000 public sector workers went on strike.
Teachers are on strike again this week.

It suddenly struck me that I hadn’t spoken to Debbie in months.
But it strikes me that this is really the view of people who don’t have them.
Look, come and make yourself useful, because it strikes me that this is the day, and the hour practically.

study

She couldn’t study with the children chasing around the house.
One of the main reasons I came to England was to study the language.
You’ll need peace and quiet to study.
Richard studied engineering at Manchester University.
I studied music at college.

stupid

She was really stupid to quit her job like that.
Whose stupid idea was it to travel at night?
He now thinks that retiring early was a stupid thing to do.
Don’t be so stupid.
I just made another stupid mistake.

submarine

The submarine surfaced a few miles off the coast.
The submarine dived just in time to avoid the enemy attack.
The president has agreed to allocate further funds to develop the new submarine.

subway

We looked on our map to find the nearest subway station.
I take the subway to work.
I left my bag on the subway.
I don’t like to travel on the subway after dark.

succeed : achieve

She’s been trying to pass her driving test for six years and she’s finally succeeded.
There is no reason why we shouldn’t succeed.

success

The key to success is to be in the right place at the right time.
The success of almost any project depends largely on its manager.

successful

He was a successful businessman before becoming a writer.
Our soldiers carried out a successful attack last night.
Fortunately, my second attempt at starting a business was more successful than my first.

sudden

Drop the gun, put your hands in the air, and don’t make any sudden movements.
He had a sudden heart attack while he was on holiday.
I’d strongly advise against making a sudden decision.

suddenly

I suddenly realized what I’d said, but it was too late.
Rosie suddenly grasped my hand.
I was woken up suddenly by the sound of someone hammering on the front door.
He suddenly appeared in the doorway.

suffer

She’s been suffering from cancer for two years.
Well, if you insist on eating so much, you’ll have to suffer/take the consequences!
I think she suffered a lot when his husband was arrested.

sugar

I don’t take sugar in my coffee, thanks.
Do you take sugar in your coffee?
How many sugars do you want in your tea

suggest

I suggested an Italian restaurant near the station for the party.
Might I suggest a white wine with your salmon, sir?
I suggest (that) we wait a while before we make any firm decisions.

suggestion

The judge reacted angrily to the suggestion that it hadn’t been a fair trial.
I don’t know what to wear tonight – have you got any suggestions?

suicide

homicide: başkasını öldürmek
suicide: kendini öldürmek (intihar)
genocide: soykırım
murder: kill : homicide
die: ölmek
dead : ölü

Belarus, Lithuania, Russian and Belgium have the world’s highest suicide rates in the World.
When the scandal broke , the company director committed suicide.
The suicide rate among men between the ages of 16 and 25 has risen alarmingly.
Many suicides occur in prisons.

summer

We have breakfast on the balcony in (the) summer.
Last summer they went to Australia, and two summers ago they went to Brazil.
That year it was a hot, dry summer.

summarize

I’ll just summarize the main points of the argument in a few words if I may.

summary

At the end of the news, they often give you a summary of the main news stories.
CiteSpace can generate a summary report at the end of a session to summarize the key information about the literature you just analyzed.

sun

The sun rises in the east and sets in the west.
The sun’s rays are at their most powerful at midday.

sunflower seeds

She has never eaten sunflower seeds before because she has been so afraid to try something new…
Sunflower seeds also contain dozens of vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals that are necessary for a variety of physiological processes.

sunset

We sat on the beach watching a spectacular sunset.
We take the flag down at sunset.

supply

The military government is trying to stop the supply of guns to the rebels.
There was a plentiful supply of books and magazines to read.
Electrical power is supplied by underground cables.
Three people have been arrested for supplying arms to the terrorists.

support

You’ve been a great support to my mum in this difficult time.
The majority of people in the town strongly support the plans to build a new school.

suppose

Dan didn’t answer his phone, so I suppose (that) he’s busy.
Do you suppose (that) Gillian will marry him?
It is widely supposed (that) the CEO will be forced to resign.
Her new book is supposed to be (= generally people think it is) very good.

used to show unwillingness to agree:

“Can I go out tonight?” “Oh, I suppose so.”

used at the beginning of a sentence or clause to mean ‘what would happen if’:

Suppose we miss the train – what will we do then?

supposed to

You’re not supposed to park here.
The children are supposed to be at school by 8.45 a.m.

supersitition

According to superstition, if you walk under a ladder it brings you bad luck.
I don’t believe in the old superstition that the number 13 is unlucky.

supreme /sıprim/ yüce

The country’s present constitution gives supreme authority to the presidency.
He was supreme commander of the Allied troops.
The dictionary was called the supreme authority on all matters relating to the language.

survive

How are you? Oh, (I’m) surviving.
The baby was born with a heart problem and only survived for a few hours.
These plants cannot survive in very cold conditions.

survivor

She was the only survivor of the plane crash.
She’s a cancer survivor/a survivor of cancer.

suspect

I suspected that there was something wrong with the engine.
He’s suspected of murder.
No one knows who killed her, but the police suspect her husband.

suspicion

I can’t say for definite who did it, but I certainly have my suspicions.
She was arrested on suspicion of murder.
I have a suspicion that the local authority may be planning to close the school.
He felt he was still under suspicion.

sustain

Turkey sustained its outstanding efforts to provide massive and unprecedented humanitarian aid and support to more than 3.5 million refugees from Syria and some 365 000 refugees from other countries.

sustainable

A large international meeting was held with the aim of promoting sustainable development in all countries.

sustainability

The fundamental issue for Canada is the sustainability of American economic growth.
A plastic bag, environmentalists say, is made from petroleum products and, therefore, is an unfriendly choice for environmental sustainability.

swallow

You are asked to swallow a capsule containing vitamin B.
Polly took a bite of the apple, chewed and swallowed.
One swallow doesn’t make a summer.

sweat

By the time we’d climbed to the top of the hill, we were covered in sweat.
The sweat was pouring down her face by the end of the race.
It was so hot when we arrived in Diyarbakır that we started to sweat as soon as we got off the plane.

sweep

She swept the ashes from the fireplace.
When I arrived he was sweeping the leaves from the driveway.

sweet

They live in a sweet little house.
What a sweet baby!
The pineapple was sweet.
Sweet Dreams

swim

We spent the day on the beach but it was too cold to go swimming.
I used to swim twice a week, but I seem to have got out of the habit recently.
Who was the first person to swim the English Channel?
We swam in the chilly water.

swimming pool

The hotel has its own swimming pool.
You get free use of all the hotel’s facilities such as swimming pool and sauna.

swing

He was swinging his bag back and forth.
Her earrings were swinging as she nodded her head.
Parents and children playing on the swings in the park.
Her mother was pushing her daughters on swings.

sword

Japanese swords are famous because they are very sharp and strong.
Samurai warriors used swords.

T

table

Could you set the table for lunch, please?
They sat round the dinner table, arguing about politics.
Come to the table everybody – supper’s ready.
We ate our meals sitting around a large dining room table.

tackle /takıl/ : deal with

to try to deal with something or someone:

There are many ways of tackling this problem.
I tackled him about his careless work.
The president is clearly in a dilemma about how to tackle the crisis.
There is a great deal of indecision over how to tackle the problem.

tail

The dog wagged its tail excitedly.

wag: (especially of a tail or finger) to move from side to side or up and down, especially quickly and repeatedly, or to cause this to happen:

tailor

A tailor is a person whose job is to make men’s clothes.

take a shortcut

She just had to go and take a shortcut through the woods…

take

Here’s your pen – I took it by mistake.
When they got divorced, his wife took everything.
They took blood and urine specimens for analysis.
Do they take credit cards here?
We’re taking the kids to the zoo on Saturday.
I always take the train – it’s less hassle than a car.

take care

Take care! See you next week!
Take care when driving in icy conditions.
Don’t worry about me, I can take care of myself (= I do not need anyone else to protect me).

take it easy

You’d better take it easy until you feel better.
Take it easy – don’t get mad.

take off

He sat on the bed to take his boots off.
Charlie was taking off his shirt when the phone rang.

I felt quite excited as the plane took off from Heathrow.
The plane took off at 8.30 a.m.

talkative

She’s a lively, talkative person.
He’s very talkative with his friends and family.
Benjamin was in a talkative mood.

tall

My view was blocked by a tall man in front of me.
She’s nearly as tall as her father now.
The house was surrounded by a tall, wooden fence.

tasty ≠ nasty

This soup is very tasty.

TDY

Temporary Duty

tax

He already pays 40% tax on his income.
Many people feel they are paying too much tax.
There’s no point promising to cut taxes if you can’t afford it.
We have to pay 15% sales tax on everything we buy.

tea

How do you like your tea – strong or weak?
Could I have two cups of coffee and a tea, please?

tea bag

Can you give me a tea bag please?

teach

teddy bear

A teddy bear is a children’s toy, made from soft or furry material, which looks like a friendly bear.

tedious = boring

something that is tedious continues for a long time and is not interesting

The work was tiring and tedious.
Doing all those calculations without a computer would be extremely tedious.

temporary

Are you looking for a temporary or a permanent job?
She is looking for a permanent place to stay.

thank

He thanked me for taking him home.
On behalf of the entire company, I would like to thank you for all your work.
We thanked our hosts for the lovely evening.
Finally, I’d like to thank everyone for coming this evening.

therefore

for that reason:

We were unable to get funding and therefore had to abandon the project.
The children will be walking to the cathedral and therefore will need to wear suitable footwear and a sun hat or raincoat, depending on the weather.
She already had a lot of experience and therefore seemed the best candidate for the job.
I did not study hard. Therefore, I failed.
It was late, so I didn’t stay long.

In everyday English, people usually use so rather than therefore:

theft : hırsızlık

(the act of) dishonestly taking something that belongs to someone else and keeping it:

Unfortunately, we have had several thefts in the building recently.

thief

A post office was broken into last night, and the thieves got away with €120 000.
The thief grabbed her handbag and ran off down the street.

think

Who do you think you are?
I think (that) I’ve met you before.
I don’t think Emma will get the job.
“Do you think (that) you could get me some stamps while you’re in town?”
I’m thinking about buying a new car.

think aloud

What did you say? “Oh, nothing, I was just thinking aloud.”

think tank

an organization whose work is to study specific problems and suggest solutions, often with a particular political view.

thorn

The plants here have thorns on their branches.
These thorns protect the plant’s very small green leaves.

though

She hasn’t called, even though she said she would.
I enjoyed her new book though it’s not quite as good as her last one.
Though she was no more than twenty-two, she was already a highly successful businesswoman.
We went to high school together. I haven’t seen her for years, though.
Two heart attacks in a year.It hasn’t stopped him smoking, though.

thought

Ask me again tomorrow. I’ll have to give it some thought.
She doesn’t give any thought to her appearance.
Let me have your thoughts on that report by Friday.

threat

Her parents carried out their threat to take away her mobile phone if her grades didn’t improve.
It is hoped that the kidnappers will not carry out their threat to kill the hostages.
Drunken drivers pose a serious threat (= cause a lot of harm) to other road users.
Nuclear weapons pose a threat to everyone.
He says he’ll tell the authorities but it’s just an empty threat (= it will not happen).
The police have to take any terrorist threat seriously.

threaten

They threatened to kill him unless he did as they asked.
They threatened the shopkeeper with a gun.

throw |  threw | thrown

He threw his shirt to someone in the crowd.
Someone threw a stone at the car.
Don’t just throw your clothes on the floor – pick them up!
Protestors began throwing stones at the police.

thus

as a result of something that you have just mentioned
Most of the evidence was destroyed in the fire. Thus it would be almost impossible to prove him guilty.

ticket

How much are tickets for the concert?
I’d like two tickets to İstanbul.
You can pick up your airline tickets at the check-in desk.
There was a long queue at the ticket office.

tie

They tied him to a tree and beat him up.
I tie my hair back when I’m jogging.
Can you tie your shoelaces by yourself?
Do you know how to tie a bow tie?
I wear a shirt and tie at work.

tiger

We saw several tigers in the wild.
The zoo has a large collection of tigers.

time

I want to spend more time with my family.
I only worked there for a short period of time.
I wish you’d stop criticizing me all the time.
I don’t know how you find time to do all the things you do.
We don’t have much time before the train leaves.
Do you have time for a quick drink after work?

tip

We don’t need to leave a tip for the waiter, because there’s a service charge included in the bill.
She gave me a useful/helpful/valuable/practical tip about/for growing tomatoes.

title

The title of Evelyn Waugh’s first novel was “Decline and Fall”.
The author’s name was printed below the title.
There was a book I wanted to buy, but now I can’t remember the title.

tobacco /tıbako/

We cannot sell tobacco or alcohol to anyone under 16.
I expect the tax on alcohol and tobacco will go up again.

tomato /tomeydo/

Tomato is a round, red fruit with a lot of seeds, eaten cooked or uncooked as a vegetable, for example in salads or sauces.
Tomatoes are fruits that are considered vegetables by nutritionists.

tongue

I called her new boyfriend by her previous boyfriend’s name – it was just a slip of the tongue.

Her name is on the tip of my tongue.

tongue twister

”’She sells seashells on the seashore” is a well-known tongue twister.

tooth (plural teeth)

She has a small gap between her front teeth.
He’s gone to the dentist to have a tooth out.
I brush my teeth twice a day.
Some of his front teeth were missing.
Brushing regularly helps prevent tooth decay.

toothbrush

Do not share razors and toothbrushes.
Then I brushed my teeth thoroughly with my electric toothbrush.

toothpaste

There is no toothpaste in these tubes.
He needed some toothpaste so he went into the chemists.
He was often unable to make simple, rapid decisions about what toothpaste to buy or what to wear.

tortoise

A desert tortoise would not survive in a rainforest habitat.
A tortoise has a shell on its back.
Although most tortoises do not eat meat, their bodies do provide meat for others.
Baby tortoises especially are a favorite food for many other species.

touch

That paint is wet – don’t touch it.
Please don’t touch any of my stuff while I’m away.
He fell asleep as soon as his head touched the pillow.

get/keep/stay in touch (with sb)
We need to get in touch with our suppliers right away.
Let’s keep in touch over the next few days while the installation is in progress.

towel

She came downstairs after her shower, wrapped in a towel.

tower

the Eiffel tower
There’s a clock on the church tower.
He works in an office tower in downtown San Francisco.

toy

Put your toys away now – it’s time for bed.
Leave daddy’s camera alone – it isn’t a toy!

tradition

Fireworks have long been an American tradition on the Fourth of July.
There’s a tradition in our office that when it’s somebody’s birthday, they bring in a cake for all of us to share.
This tradition dates back to medieval times.
According to family tradition, he must sing at his own wedding.

traditional

It is traditional not to eat meat on Good Friday.
A group of children will perform traditional dances.
The school uses a combination of modern and traditional methods for teaching reading.
The dancers were wearing traditional Hungarian dress/costume.

train

Did you come by train?
She caught/took the train to Edinburgh.
Hurry up, or we’ll miss (= arrive too late for) the train.

She trained as a pilot.
John trained to be an accountant.
I had to train myself to be more assertive at work.

training

New staff have/receive a week’s training in how to use the system.
Both soldiers spent two weeks in training before being allowed to rejoin their unit.
His experience as a teacher was good training for parenthood.

translate

We were asked to translate a list of sentences.
She works for the UN, translating from English into French.
Her novels have been translated into sixteen languages.
It can be very difficult to translate idioms.

translator

He works as a translator and political researcher.
She worked in Geneva as a translator.

trash : rubbish

The trash really stinks – why don’t you take it out?
Don’t believe the trash you read in newspapers.

treat

My parents treated us all the same when we were kids.
He treated his wife very badly.

A: “Don’t worry about the check, it’s my treat.”

B: “Really, you shouldn’t. Let’s just split it.”

A: “Well ok, if you insist. Let’s each pay half.”

“It’s on me” is like you are doing a favor for the other person.

“It’s my treat” is like you are giving a gift to the other person.

“I got this” is like you are saying that the amount is small and  no problem for you.

This is my treat. Put your money away – I’m going to treat you (to this).

treatment

Peter gets special treatment because he knows the boss.
Perhaps it’s time to try a new course of treatment.
This disease doesn’t generally respond to (= improve as a result of) treatment.

treaty /tiridi/

European leaders were preparing to agree a new treaty to save the eurozone last night.

tree

A fallen tree is blocking the road.
The birds built their nest in the small fir tree.

The air was so still that not even the leaves on the trees were moving.
These trees will have to be cut down to make way for the new road.
A young boy climbed into the apple tree and shook the branches so that the fruit fell down.
We sat under a tree for shade.

trick

My niece was showing me all the tricks that she’s learned to do with her new magic set.
You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.

trouble

He’s in trouble but he’s refused all my offers of help.
May I trouble you to read this document?
The trouble started/began when my father came to live with us.
Parents often have trouble finding good carers for their children.

true : right

The movie is based on the true story of a London gangster.
Her story is only partly true.
Is it true?

trust

Don’t trust her – she’s lying.
My sister warned me not to trust him.
Trust me – I know about these things.

trustworthy: reliable

A trustworthy person is someone in whom you can place our trust at all times.

In this job we need someone who is entirely honest and trustworthy.

truth : fact

But was he telling the truth?
I don’t suppose we’ll ever know the truth about what happened that day.
The truth about the accident may never be known.

To tell the truth (= speaking honestly) I’m happy he’s not coming.

try