Phrases & Expressions

A large number of angry insults or criticisms directed at someone at the same time.

• The referee left the pitch under a hail of abuse from furious home fans.
• After posting the video, the young singer faced a hail of abuse on social media.

A large number of bullets fired at the same time.

• In the final scene, the hero runs to safety through a hail of bullets without a single scratch.
• Reporters described how the convoy came under a hail of bullets as it left the town.

The fact that something, especially a disease or problem, happens very often in a place or group.

• Doctors have reported a high incidence of asthma among children living near busy roads.
• The region has a high incidence of youth unemployment, which the government is trying to reduce.

A situation in which everyone has the same chances and nobody has an unfair advantage.

• Without a level playing field, children from poor families will always find it harder to get into top universities.
• Small shops say they cannot compete on a level playing field with online giants that pay little tax.

A person you like and admire because they share your opinions, tastes or habits.

• You've brought homemade cake to the meeting? You're a woman after my own heart!
• A boss who lets everyone leave early on Fridays is a man after my own heart.

Something that makes you think of a sad event or situation and fills you with emotion.

• The ruined church stands as a poignant reminder of the thousands of people who died in the war.
• Her grandmother's letters are a poignant reminder of how hard life was for women a century ago.

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.

Something whose ideas, values or style clearly reflect the period when it was created.

• The building's grey concrete style is very much a product of its time, when architects valued function over beauty.
• Like many old textbooks, this 1960s history book is a product of its time, ignoring the lives of ordinary people.

A sudden series of similar, usually unpleasant, events within a short time.

• Following a rash of cyberattacks on hospitals, the government promised to spend more on online security.
• The airline faced a rash of complaints after cancelling dozens of flights during the holidays.

A special, memorable day on which something important or very pleasant happens.

• Getting my university acceptance letter was a red-letter day for my whole family.
• The opening of the new children's hospital will be a red-letter day for the town.