Phrases & Expressions

Something very valuable, especially because there is not much of it available.

• Reliable electricity is a precious commodity in remote villages, so families use it only for lighting and charging phones.
• For working parents with young children, free time has become a precious commodity.

Even the smallest amount of proof, mostly used in negative sentences.

• The police released the man because they did not have a shred of evidence linking him to the robbery.
• The journalist made serious accusations against the company without a shred of evidence to support them.

A sudden, strong and angry reaction from a large number of people.

• The decision to close the local hospital caused a storm of protest among residents.
• Plans to build a motorway through the forest have provoked a storm of protest from environmental groups.

To become known to the public for the first time, used about a piece of news.

• As soon as a major story breaks, news websites update their front pages within minutes.
• Reporters were waiting outside the minister's house within an hour of the story breaking.

A cheerful character that makes someone happy and positive most of the time.

• Thanks to her sunny disposition, the new receptionist quickly became popular with patients and staff.
• Even during her long stay in hospital, my grandmother never lost her sunny disposition and joked with the nurses every day.

A careless comment that hurts someone's feelings because the speaker did not think first.

• His tactless remark about her weight upset her so much that she left the party early.
• The minister apologised for a tactless remark about unemployed people that caused anger online.

A short-lived change in figures that does not affect the general trend.

• Most analysts see the recent drop in tourist numbers as a temporary blip caused by the unusually bad weather.
• After a temporary blip in March, visitor numbers recovered and reached a record high in the summer.

A small number of people or things arriving slowly, a few at a time.

• During the holidays, the campus library sees only a trickle of visitors each day.
• Since the visa rules changed, the university has received only a trickle of applications from abroad.

A large amount or a wide variety of something useful or good.

• Our teacher has a wealth of experience in preparing students for international exams.
• The internet gives students access to a wealth of information, but not all of it is reliable.

A love affair that develops very quickly and intensely, often leading soon to marriage.

• The novel tells the story of a whirlwind romance between two strangers who meet on a train and fall in love within days.
• Many friends doubted that a whirlwind romance could lead to a lasting marriage, but the couple are still together today.