There was the usual gaggle of journalists waiting for the star.

in hindsight In hindsight, it would have been better to wait.

These people are in dire need of help.

We all agreed that winning was not the be-all and end-all.

Switzerland decided to hold a referendum on joining the EU.

During the interview, she fumbled helplessly for words.

His voice faltered as he began his speech.

O'Connor published a childhood memoir.

Dating Apps Have Hit a Wall. Can They Turn Things Around?

• The bulk of the population lives in cities.

• The great bulk of the work has now been done.

• leaks of confidential memoranda

• an internal memorandum

He had the audacity to say I was too fat.

• instil somebody with something His father instilled him with a desire to fight injustice and corruption.

• to instil confidence/discipline/fear into somebody

• She is on the cusp of being a star.

• Melbourne is on the cusp of autumn, a season that always keeps me enchanted, connected, and yearning for its magical beauty that evokes a sense of nostalgia.

within/outside the limits of what a person, an organization, etc. is responsible for; dealt/ not dealt with by a document, law, etc.

Local disputes are outside the purview of this legislation.

Attaboy, what a great start!

He believes he can win. Attaboy!

Clearly, student proficiencies, learning experiences, and writing needs will determine the kinds of tasks teachers devise and use, but it is important to note that in addition to providing a variety of student learning experiences and skill foci, activities also range along a cline of assistance, provided by either the materials or the teacher, from highly specific and controlled language analysis and practice tasks to free writing from prompts.

Defying expectations for proper work attire reflects a growing aversion among China’s youth to a life of ambition and striving that marked the past few decades.

The hashtag “gross outfits at work” spread across multiple Chinese social media platforms and it unleashed a competition of whose work dress was the most repulsive.

You won’t find a silver bullet in a single food, experts say, but there are some that may help you build the best defense.

Standing behind me in a blue blazer was a man about my age, tall and slender, with curly dark hair, a beard and mustache, warm eyes and a wide smile.

(especially of people in authority) kind, helpful and generous

Something told me he was a good human, a benevolent soul.

Letterboxd is a social platform for movie lovers, a place to log what you see (with options to rate, review and “heart”), stay abreast of what your friends are screening, and keep a running want-to-watch list.

When we broke up two years ago, it was because our lives had veered dramatically apart, our personal and professional overlap disintegrating while we were busy finding ourselves.

• The smell of meat nauseates me.

• The theater’s steep stadium seating made me feel nauseated.

only present in small amounts or numbers and often spread over a large area

• the sparse population of the islands

• Vegetation becomes sparse higher up the mountains.

• The information available on the subject is sparse.

  
  

"Ultimately, the decision boils down to what works for you, Dr. de Aguiar Ribeiro said, because the science is sparse and “there is no consensus in the literature.”"

• From the moment they met, he was completely smitten by her.

• It captures the thrill of romantic infatuation, the feeling of being so smitten with someone that spending time in their company is better than anything else you can imagine.

  
  

to surround or to cover somebody/something completely/ affect someone

• I heard this playlist while climbing a mountain alone on a rainy day, these melodies engulfed me into the chaotic emotions that I had ignored for a long time.

With its bright pink packaging and spicy contents, these Korean-made instant ramen packs are going viral online and flying off shelves.

• enamoured of something He was less than enamoured of the music.

• enamoured with something I'm not exactly enamoured with the idea of spending a whole day with them.

very clever and quick at seeing what to do in a particular situation, especially how to get an advantage

• She was astute enough to realize that what Jack wanted was her money.

​mysterious and difficult to understand

• A bit enigmatic, but good company on a dark and stormy evening.

trying to appear more special, intelligent, important, etc. than you really are/it really is

• It was just an ordinary house—nothing pretentious.

a light that is placed somewhere to guide vehicles and warn them of danger

• (figurative) He was a beacon of hope for the younger generation.

(of people and their behaviour) excited, enthusiastic and full of energy

• a warm effervescent personality

• He was extremely tired but sleep eluded him.

• Writing is of critical importance to accomplishments in both academia and in the workplace. Despite its importance, successful writing eludes many students.

• "Still, young people should be told — and should believe — that their destiny is not shaped in high school. Their personalities are still coming together in the tissues of the brain; time is on their side, and (say what you want about Americans) we like underdogs, cheer come-from-behind wins and are generous with second chances"

• I’m addicted to producing and achieving, too; to ticking things off to-do lists, to busyness, to filling every second – even as I crave time and space to reflect.

• Procrastination, distraction, addiction and OCD are all forms of self-sabotage.

• I had to tick him off for being late again.

• He’s always trying to butter up the boss.

• Pearl Harbor has provided the grist for more than 100 books and at least seven movies.

• My mother found humor in everything; it was all grist for cartoons.

• After another failed round of dating, I lay crumpled on my bed, feeling as crushed as my nearby wad of tissues.

• I Googled his name and found an obituary.

• He quickly buddied up with Jan's husband.

to shake slightly because you are cold, frightened, excited, etc.

• Don't stand outside shivering—come inside and get warm!

• The rains have taken a toll on agriculture. Over 2,000 tons of harvested rice and 2,200 hectares of paddies were damaged, while floods swept away nearly 12,000 heads of poultry and cattle.

used when a person, especially a criminal or an actor, is known by two names

• Except for the fact that I prefer to stay anonymous online with an alias, I've never felt the need to adopt an 'English name.'

• I'm not at liberty to say exactly where, because we're still negotiating for its purchase.

• The jury's still out on the safety of irradiated food.

the act of beginning something again after it has stopped

• The resumption of direct commercial and charter flights between China and Vietnam has made travel faster and more affordable.

the level at which something starts to happen or have an effect

• He has a low boredom threshold (= he gets bored easily).

• I have a high pain threshold (= I can suffer a lot of pain before I start to react).

• My earnings are just above the tax threshold (= more than the amount at which you start paying tax).

the level at which something starts to happen or have an effect

• Traffic lights only manage traffic effectively up to a certain density; exceeding this threshold worsens congestion. (https://e.vnexpress.net/news/perspectives/readers-views/the-real-cause-of-traffic-jams-isn-t-cars-or-motorbikes-4889918.html)

to make something worse, especially a disease or problem

• His aggressive reaction only exacerbated the situation.

• Moreover, improper timing of traffic signals can further exacerbate congestion.

• Thankfully, the coercive policies that took place in India, China and elsewhere are no longer in vogue.(https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/may/31/earth-population-billions-decline-birthrate-west)

the ability to produce babies, young animals, fruit or new plants

• Anxiety and stress affect fertility in both men and women.

• Population growth varies starkly between regions. In most high-income countries, fertility rates are already well below the replacement level.

• But the cold hard truth is that in a few decades our shrinking, ageing societies will desperately need these newcomers to pay taxes and work in healthcare and social care.

a business company that is owned or controlled by another larger company

• She’s working for an overseas subsidiary of the company.

  
  

• I'm taking history as a subsidiary subject.

(of a business company) owned or controlled by another company

be entrenched (in something)

• Sexism is deeply entrenched in our society.

to find a way of avoiding a difficulty or a rule

• To circumvent this problem, Kohl and his colleague transplanted gut microbiota from rodents fed with different diets into germ-free mice.(https://www.the-scientist.com/why-do-people-have-different-eating-habits-72443)

• There is something about the way people look and behave and inhabit the space that tugs at my heartstrings and fills me with nostalgia.

• It established a comprehensive legal framework for education.

professional practitioners: people officially recognized as experts in a field

• Teachers are now recognized as professional practitioners.

social pressure: pressure from society to behave in a certain way

• The new law shields educators from negative social pressure.

• Teaching ethics are now officially part of the law.

financial incentives

benefits offered to encourage behavior (e.g., higher salary)

• The law includes financial incentives to attract top talent.

implement regulations

to put rules or laws into effect

• The Ministry is preparing decrees to implement the regulations.

• The law aims to recognize the contributions of educators in society.

ensure compliance

make sure that rules are followed

• New decrees are being drafted to ensure compliance with the law.

vocational expertise

specialized skill or knowledge in a profession

• The law encourages those with vocational expertise to join teaching.

the condition of losing fat, muscle, strength, etc. in a part of the body because it does not have enough blood

• How to prevent mental atrophy due to reliance on AI https://e.vnexpress.net/news/perspectives/how-to-prevent-mental-atrophy-due-to-reliance-on-ai-4888286.html

• Cheap massages in Thailand are stirring controversy as an increasing number of tourists report health issues, raising concerns about hygiene standards and the safety of these services.