Phrases & Expressions

A dense layer of polluted air, especially over a city, that makes it hard to see or breathe.

• Schools were closed for three days after thick smog covered the capital and pollution reached dangerous levels.
• From the plane, we could hardly see the city because of the thick smog hanging over it.

A strong wish to learn and find out as much as possible.

• Good teachers encourage children's natural thirst for knowledge instead of simply preparing them for tests.
• Her thirst for knowledge led her to take online courses in astronomy, history and coding.

A very shocking and upsetting event that can affect someone for a long time.

• Children who have lived through a traumatic experience such as war may need long-term psychological support.
• Losing his job and his home in the same year was a deeply traumatic experience for him.

To behave towards someone as though they have the same importance and rights as you.

• Good managers treat their employees as equals and genuinely listen to their suggestions.
• My professor always treated me as an equal, which gave me the confidence to challenge her ideas.

Being talked about or considered, with no final decision made yet.

• Plans to introduce a four-day working week are currently under discussion in several European countries.
• The proposal under discussion would make public transport free for everyone under twenty-five.

To fail to realise how important something really is.

• Many students underestimate the importance of sleep when they are preparing for exams.
• We should never underestimate the importance of a good teacher in a child's life.

A huge area made up of many lands and peoples, all under the control of one ruler or state.

• At its height, the Ottomans ruled a vast empire stretching from Central Europe to the Persian Gulf.
• Ruling a vast empire was difficult in the ancient world because messages could take months to arrive.

To walk awkwardly, putting less weight on one side because of an injury or disability.

• Ever since the car accident, my uncle has walked with a limp.
• Years of professional rugby left him with badly damaged knees, and he now walks with a limp.

Admired and approved of by a large number of people.

• The city's quick response to the floods was widely praised by local residents and aid workers.
• The documentary has been widely praised for showing the real effects of plastic pollution on marine life.

Worry that is felt by a large number of people in many places.

• The rapid spread of fake news online has caused widespread concern among teachers and parents.
• There is widespread concern that rising rents will force young people to leave the city.