• I shook with fear.

• With trembling fingers, he removed the camera from his pocket.

•  His voice trembled, on the verge of tears.

•  She was quaking with rage.

• Her bottom lip quivered and big tears rolled down her cheeks.

• I was sitting on the floor shivering with fear

• Sitting in his wicker chair, he gazed reflectively at the fire.

•  Some of the fans had waited 24 hours outside the hotel to catch a glimpse of the singer.

•  He glanced at his watch.

•  Both girls began to giggle.

•  The banker chuckled and said, 'Of course not.'.

• There was silence for a moment, then Larry began chortling.

dash into/out of/across etc:

• I dashed out into the street, still in my pyjamas.
• The dog ran off, and she dashed after him.

stride across/onto/up/down:

• She strode onto the platform.
• A tall dark figure was striding up the path.

march into/out of/up to etc:

• She marched into the room without knocking.
• She marched out of her office and demanded to know why I hadn't written my report.

pace up and down:

• He paced up and down between the kitchen and the living-room.

pace about/around:

• She was pacing restlessly around the room as she talked.

pace the room/floor:

• I paced the room, my anxiety increasing.

hobble across/along/down etc:

• Mrs Myers came hobbling down the steps to greet us.
• The last time I saw Rachel she was hobbling around with a stick.

to walk with difficulty because of an injured leg or foot

• Coyne limped off the pitch with an ankle injury.
• He was limping slightly and he looked tired.

• Moira shuffled across the kitchen.
• I love shuffling through the fallen leaves.

• She stomped up the stairs and slammed her bedroom door.
• He woke up in a bad mood and stomped off to the bathroom.

• She clumped around the room.
• He clumped down the narrow stairs.

roam around:

• You’ll have about three hours to roam around the town.

roam free/wild:

• Bears still roam wild in these mountains.

wander into / around / through:

• My sister likes wandering around the city at night.
• Jim wandered into the kitchen to make breakfast.

stroll along/over/off/up etc:

• I was strolling along the river when I saw an incredible thing.
• We could stroll along the beach after dinner.

• He sauntered by, looking very pleased with himself.
• He came sauntering down the road with his hands in his pockets.

• Visitors can amble along miles of winding trails.
• She ambled down the street, stopping occasionally to look in the shop windows.

mosey around/down etc:

• I’ll mosey around the shops for a while.
• He moseyed up to the bar.

trudge through/back/up etc:

• He trudged through deep snow to the village.
• Corbett trudged down the beaten, muddy track.

plod along/through/down:

• We plodded through the mud to reach the cottage.
• Despite the wind and the rain, they plodded on until they reached the cabin.

slog up/through/along etc:

• The soldiers were slogging through the mud.
• They slogged up the trail in the rain.

stagger backwards / towards / into / out of:

• He gave her a slight push, and she staggered backwards.

stagger to your feet:

• The man staggered to his feet and ran away.

stumble over / on etc:

• On his morning run, Derek stumbled over a fallen tree.

stumble through / across etc:

• She stumbled across the hall and felt for the light switch.

• Joe lurched drunkenly into the room.
• Harriet lurched towards the bathroom, clutching her stomach in pain.

• I crept downstairs when everyone was asleep.
• She crept quietly into bed.

• He waited until his daughter was asleep, then tiptoed quietly out of the room.
• She tiptoed through the puddle.

• She sneaked into the house by the back entrance.
• While his parents were busy, Joe sneaked off to play.

• She waded across the stream to get the ball.
• They had to wade through a swamp.

• The little ones were paddling in the shallow end.
• We rolled up our trousers and paddled along the seashore.

• Soldiers had to hike nearly 20 km through the swamps.
• You could hike through the Fish River Canyon.

• I have no desire to trek up that hill another time.

• He had trekked across South Africa.
• She’s going trekking in New Zealand.

• We spent the day trekking through forests and over mountains.
• informal I trekked (= walked a long and tiring distance) all the way into town to meet him and he didn't even turn up.

• I love to ramble through the fields and lanes in this part of the country.
• There’s plenty to discover as you ramble around this little island.
• 
  

• The little girl was hopping along next to her mother.
• I tried to hop on my good foot while holding onto Jim.

• The audience was shrieking with laughter.

• We howled with laughter.

• Take as many cakes as you like.
• Let me take your coats.

take someone by the arm/hand etc:

• Her mother took her gently by the shoulders.

take someone in/into your arms: 

• I'll take her in my arms and kiss her.

take something in your hands:

• I took the baby bird gently in my hands.

• ‘Listen,’ he said, seizing my wrist.

seize someone by something:

• Before he could run away, she seized him by the collar.

• Hearing a noise, he seized his gun from the drawer.

• She grasped his hand and pulled him towards her.

grasp someone by the shoulders/arm/wrist etc:

• He grasped her firmly by the shoulders.

• Women clutched small children as they left.

• An officer stumbled and clutched at the handrail.

• Her brother snatched the letter and tore it open.
• Katherine angrily snatched her hand out of his grasp.

• He grabbed the knife before I could get to it.
• One of the men was grabbed and bundled into a car.

grab hold of:

• I grabbed hold of his hair.

grab someone by something:

• Ben grabbed Marco by the arm.

• She tossed the packet of crisps to Kate, who caught it with one hand.
• ‘Can I borrow your pen?’ ‘Here, catch!’

• Anne stayed close enough to catch the child if he fell.

• Jack caught her as she made for the door.

catch someone by the wrist / elbow / sleeve etc:

• With one swift movement, he caught her by the wrist.

catch hold of someone / something:

• She caught hold of his arm and pulled him back.

• She gripped Frank’s hand firmly to show her support.
• Although the car was stationary, his hands were still gripping the wheel.

• Can you hold my bag for a moment?

hold something in / under / between something:

• He held the book in his hand.
• She was holding the catalogue under her arm.

hold on tight:

• Hold on tight everyone – the driver’s getting ready to go.

• Hold on to the seat in front when we go round the corner.
• Hold onto your bag, won’t you?

• With a knife clenched in/between his teeth, he climbed up the tree to cut some coconuts.

• He clasped Lindsay’s hand tightly.

clasp something to/over something:

• Rick had a handkerchief clasped to his nose to try to stop the bleeding.

• She cradled him tenderly in her arms.

cling to:

• Crossing the bridge, she felt dizzy and clung to the rails.
• Some children were sobbing and clinging to their mothers.

cling together:

• The two monkeys clung tightly together.

• He was pinioned to the wall by two men while another one repeatedly punched him

• She gently cupped the small injured bird in her hands.

Momma babbled on and on on about how he was ruining me.

If I hear one more joke about my hair, I shall scream.

She shrieked and lept from the bed

He could hear his dog barking and whining in the background

A mother wailing for her lost child

They glanced to the man on the floor and then he began to groan.

Tony moaned in his sleep and then turned over on his side

She began to sob again, burying her face in the pillow

Roberta sighed in relief

An audible gasp went round the court as the jury announced the veredict

He sat there shaking his head and muttering to himself

She murmured a few words of support

'Today of all days', she mumbled

Across the table, his son munched appreciatively

• Look at all these toys on the floor

• Don't stare at people like that, it's rude.

• When no one answered the door, she peered through the window to see if anyone was there.

• A vast white cloud, through which the sun peered

• He spent the entire afternoon watching a cricket match.

• They stood gaping at the pig in the kitchen.

• She anxiously scanned the faces of the men leaving the train.

• He glared at me with rage and hate

• There's no point glowering at me like that - you know the rules

• I saw her peeping through the curtains/into the room

• He spent a year in the jungle, observing how deforestation is affecting local tribes

• He was spotted by the police boarding a plane for Berlin.

• The sun shone all afternoon

• A nightlight glowed dimly in the corner of the children's bedroom.

• He polished the table until it gleamed.

• His eyes glistened with tears

• She could see her reflection in the water, shimmering in the moonlight.

• The lights of the village were glimmering in the distance.

• The stars twinkled in the clear sky.

• A warning light on the dashboard was flashing.

• The snow sparkled in the sunlight.

President Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas, in 1963

He was found slain in an alley two blocks from his apartmen

The geese are being fattened for slaughter

Hardly anyone in the town escaped the slaughter when the rebels were defeated.

Hundreds of civilians were massacred in the raid

He was executed for murder.

Once cockroaches get into a building, it's very difficult to exterminate them

• Teeth gnashing and jaw clenching is often related to stress or anxiety

• He decided to smack her for this.

• He was battered to death.

• The impact of the ball had stunned her.

• He was bludgeoned to death with a hammer.

• There was no sound but the high buzz of flies.

• He could hear the old man snoring.

• Please acknowledge receipt of this letter.

• He added that they would return a week later.
  ‘And don't be late,’ she added.

• She admitted to having stolen the car.

• ‘Get there early,’ she advised (them). 

• I will contact you later to advise you when to come.

• Both sides affirmed their commitment to the ceasefire.

• I asked for a pay rise and she agreed.

• He officially announced his intention to resign at today's press conference.

• ‘I've given up smoking,’ she announced.

• Would you announce the guests as they arrive?

• She answered in the affirmative (= said yes).

• He argues persuasively against nationalism.

• ‘That is wrong,’ he asserted.

•  ‘He'll come back,’ Susan assured her.

• The name was changed to avoid confusion with another firm

• His speech is bound to awake old fears and hostilities.

• They bellowed at her to stop.

• ‘She’s pregnant,’ Jack blurted.

• He bragged to his friends about the crime.

• Sam cautioned him against making a hasty decision.

• She challenged him on his old-fashioned views.

• Mike challenged me to a game of chess.

•  He claims (that) he was not given a fair hearing.

• He was forced to concede (that) there might be difficulties.

• The report concluded (that) the cheapest option was to close the laboratory.

•  He confessed that he had stolen the money.

• ‘I know nothing about it,’ he confessed.

• Please continue—I didn't mean to interrupt.

• ‘She's his girlfriend.’ ‘His sister,’ Ian corrected.

• ‘You're safe!’ Tom cried in delight.

• She deceived him into handing over all his savings.

• She decided that she wanted to live in France.

• The government has declared a state of emergency.

• ‘I'll do it!’ Tom declared.

• He was the first gay player in a professional sports team to declare himself openly.

• The UN has demanded that all troops be withdrawn.

• ‘Who the hell are you?’ he demanded angrily.

• She denied that there had been a cover-up.

• Many people denounced their neighbours to the secret police.

• The sensor detects changes light level and temperature.

• She disclaimed any knowledge of her husband's whereabouts.

• The report discloses that human error was to blame for the accident.

• She refused to divulge the information.

• ‘Let nothing… nothing,’ he emphasized the word, ‘tempt you.’

• I explained that an ambulance would be coming soon.

• She expresses herself most fully in her paintings.

• The commander had been forewarned of the attack.

•  ‘Can't breathe,’ he gasped.

• She growled a sarcastic reply.

•  ‘Thanks,’ he grunted.

• Guess what! He's asked me out!

• He gave a broad hint (= one that was obvious) that he was thinking of retiring.

• ‘You're wrong,’ interjected Susan.

• ‘I have a question,’ she interrupted.

•  ‘I cooked it myself, so be careful!’ he joked.

• ‘But I'm innocent!’ she maintained.

• The doctor mentioned the possibility of going to Nairobi for special treatment.

• She mumbled that she was sorry.

• She murmured her agreement.

• If nobody objects, we'll postpone the meeting till next week.

• He offered some useful advice.

• The company was ordered to pay compensation to its former employees.

• ‘Wait for me!’ he panted.

• She pleaded with him not to go.

•  ‘It's not very far,’ she pointed out.

• ‘Please God don't let it happen,’ she prayed.

• He preached the virtues of capitalism to us.

• May I present my fiancé to you?

• You will be asked to present yourself for interview.

•  The president proclaimed a state of emergency.

• The college principal promised to look into the matter.

• The three countries had proposed a plan for him to hand over power to a chosen successor.

• He was afraid that if he proposed she might refuse.

• The victim's widow protested at the leniency of the sentence.

• ‘I hope you’re not in a hurry!’ she quipped, and everyone laughed.

• She was ranting on about the unfairness of it all.

• He related the facts of the case to journalists.

• ‘You had an accident,’ he reminded her.

•  ‘Are you really sure?’ she repeated.

•  ‘I won't let you down,’ he replied confidently.

• ‘The cabin's empty,’ he reported.

• They restated their belief in the existence of a ‘hidden agenda’.

• ‘Help!’ she screamed.

• ‘Run!’ he shouted.

• ‘Oh well, better luck next time,’ she sighed.

•  We all speculated about the reasons for her resignation.

• He could spout poetry for hours.

• He has already stated his intention to run for election.

•  The job advertisement stipulates that the applicant must have three years' experience.

• The study theorizes about the role of dreams in peoples' lives.

•  They broke my windows and threatened me.

• He uttered a great cry of anger.

•  ‘I could lend you some books,’ he volunteered.

• ‘Beware of pickpockets,’ she warned (him).

• The dog whimpered softly.

• ‘Let's go,' she whispered to Anne.

• ‘Where's Natasha?’ he wondered aloud.

• ‘Be careful!’ he yelled.

• The dog yelped with pain and surprise.

• His father used to thrash him when he was a boy.

• She belaboured him with her walking stick

• He bashed his arm against a shelf

• The door creaked on its hinges.
• I heard the floorboards creak as he crept closer.

• The door squeaked as it swung back and forth on its rusty hinges.

• The car screeched to a halt/standstill (= stopped very suddenly, making a loud high noise)

• A train chuffs in the valley, and the sound rises up to us.
• A replica paddle-steamer now chuffs along the river carrying tourists.

• They rested a while by a babbling brook.

• On a hot day it's nice to hear the chink of ice in a glass.

• The brakes squealed as the van rounded the corner

• The fire fizzled miserably in the rain.

• The radio started to crackle.
• The logs crackled and popped in the fireplace.

• Doughnuts sizzled in the hot fat.
• (fig.) This movie sizzles with excitement

• I could hear (a) rustling in the bushes.
• A small animal was making rustling noises among the leaves.
• The leaves rustled in the breeze.
• He rustled his papers (= noisily moved them about) to hide his embarrassment.

• When I heard the computer puttering I knew it was about to break down.

• She turned on the radio and heard the five o'clock pips.

• The jangling of sleigh bells

• He got out of the car and squelched through the mud to open the gat

• Someone was thumping on the door.

• He thumped him in the face.

• The ticking of the clock kept her awake.

• The referee whistled and the game was over.

• She heard the wind whistling through the trees and the howl of a distant wolf.
• I stepped out of the building and immediately a bullet whistled past my head.