"Tell me about banana"

Readers use their syntactic and semantic knowledge to decode the text.

Readers use their syntactic and semantic knowledge to decode the text.

I shouldn't really laugh about the accident - it's my warped sense of humour! In their warped minds I was to blame for my own victimization.

Please specify the dimensions of the room. His personality has several dimensions. These weapons add a new dimension to modern warfare.

They had started with the premise that all men are created equal.

He premised his argument on several incorrect assumptions.

"to limit the ability of someone to do something, or to limit the development of something" High winds have hindered firefighters in their efforts to put out the blaze.

He was immensely popular in his day. She's an immensely talented young athlete.

We are always eager to embrace the latest technology. This was in the days before she embraced religion.

The Swedes regard vocational training as a part of a youngster's education.

The president has failed to come to grips with the two most important social issues of our time. I can't seem to get to grips with this problem.

His physique was honed to perfection. Her debating skills were honed in the students' union.

a pertinent question/remark Chapter One is pertinent to the post-war period

an apposite phrase/quotation/remark The film starts in a graveyard, an apposite image for the decaying society which is the theme of the film.

an apt comment/description

The government wanted an inflow of foreign investment. Turkey is expecting an influx of several thousand refugees over the next few days.

She'd had the foresight to sell her apartment just before the housing market collapsed.

His book extolling the benefits of vegetarianism sold thousands of copies. She is forever extolling the virtues of her children.

a matter of the utmost importance The situation needs to be handled with the utmost care.

I think cigarette advertising should be banned outright. The driver and all three passengers were killed outright.

"being an extremely important and basic characteristic of a person or thing" works of little intrinsic value/interest Maths is an intrinsic part of the school curriculum

Extrinsic forces were responsible for the breakdown of the peace talks.

His lyrics about love and peace are too trite for me to take them seriously. I know it will sound trite, but I've loved being part of this club.

We need tangible evidence if we're going to take legal action. Other tangible benefits include an increase in salary and shorter working hours.

He would have to find work to augment his income.

a diligent student Leo is very diligent in/about his work. Their lawyer was extremely diligent in preparing their case.

Most teachers think the government's guidelines on homework are too prescriptive.

My own inclination would be to look for another job. We should be basing our decisions on solid facts, not inclinations and hunches.

similar to brief

I'm a little wary of/about giving people my address when I don't know them very well.

Her interests are in the realm of practical politics. The matter was hotly debated in all the towns of the realm.

The new range of engines all had a generic problem with their fan blades.

subversive elements/groups in society subversive ideas/influences

genuine leather If it is a genuine Michelangelo drawing, it will sell for millions. He's a very genuine person. Machiko looked at me with genuine surprise - "Are you really going?" she said.

Lateral movement. Trim (cut) the lateral shoots of the flower

Many people were injured when the train came off the rails and ploughed into the bank.

The country was faced with the daunting prospect of overcoming four decades of division.

He could see that she didn't like what he was saying, but he ploughed on regardless. It would be a mistake to plough on with this plan - it will never work.

For years people have been trying to fathom (out) the mysteries of the whale's song. For years people have been trying to fathom (out) the mysteries of the whale's song.

One by one they were taken for interrogation. She was subjected to torture and lengthy interrogations.

a lengthy discussion/process Many airline passengers face lengthy delays because of the strike.

an intimidating array of weapons an intimidating manner She can be very intimidating when she's angry.

This research seems to give/lend some validity to the theory that the drug might cause cancer. Not for one moment did he doubt the validity of those ideas. validity of the vote. State officials questioned the validity of the report.

an exceedingly wealthy person

I think my uncle still conceives of me as a four-year-old. He couldn't conceive of a time when he would have no job. He conceived the plot for this film while he was still a student. The baby was conceived in March, so will be born in December.

also all-pervsive

present or noticeable in every part of a thing or place: The influence of Freud is pervasive in her books. a pervasive smell of diesel Reforms are being undermined by the all-pervasive corruption in the country.

Leather is very much in fashion this season, as is the ubiquitous denim. an ubiquitous spread of English. The mobile phone, that most ubiquitous of consumer-electronic appliances, is about to enter a new age.

I'm trying to foster an interest in classical music in my children. They were discussing the best way to foster democracy and prosperity in the former communist countries.

Mira revealed hitherto unsuspected talents on the dance floor.