Phrases & Expressions

To report on an event or subject in a newspaper or on television or radio.

• Dozens of journalists flew to the capital to cover the story of the president's resignation.
• As a trainee reporter, she was sent to cover a story about a school that had banned mobile phones.

To be sufficient for a particular expense, so that nothing more has to be paid.

• The scholarship covers the cost of tuition but not accommodation, so students still need part-time jobs.
• Your travel insurance should cover the cost of medical treatment if you fall ill abroad.

To study a large amount of material in a very short time just before a test.

• My cousin always crams for exams the night before and then forgets almost everything as soon as the test is over.
• I left everything until the last minute, so I had to cram for the exam all weekend.

A situation in which people live or work in a space that is too small for them.

• Thousands of migrant workers live in cramped conditions, with six or seven people sharing a single room.
• Researchers found that children growing up in cramped living conditions often struggle to find a quiet place to study.

Of traffic or a vehicle, to move forward extremely slowly.

• During the morning commute, cars on the main road crawl along at less than ten kilometres an hour.
• We crawled along the motorway for two hours because of an accident near the airport.

A person or publication whose information can be believed and trusted.

• When writing an academic essay, make sure that every statistic comes from a credible source.
• The rumour spread quickly online, even though it did not come from any credible source.

Praised as excellent by many critics and reviewers.

• Her critically acclaimed first novel has been translated into more than twenty languages.
• The series was critically acclaimed but attracted surprisingly few viewers on television.

The newest and most advanced technology that is available.

• The new hospital uses cutting-edge technology to detect cancer at a much earlier stage.
• Companies that invest in cutting-edge technology are more likely to stay ahead of their competitors.

A sound so loud that it is unpleasant and almost hurts your ears.

• Many young people damage their hearing through regular exposure to deafening noise at concerts and festivals.
• The deafening noise from the nightclub next door made it impossible to sleep.

To answer or sort out a question that a customer or member of the public has asked.

• The chatbot can deal with simple queries, but more complex problems are passed on to human staff.
• The receptionist dealt with my query politely and found me a quieter room within minutes.