| act | take action; do somethingFOOD CRISIS: GOVERNMENT TO ACT |
| aid | military or financial help; to helpMORE AID FOR POOR COUNTRIES UNIONS AID HOSPITAL STRIKERS |
| alert | alarm, warningFLOOD ALERT ON EAST COAST |
| allege | make an accusationWOMAN ALLEGES UNFAIR TREATMENT |
| appear | appear in court accused of a crimeMP TO APPEAR ON DRUGS CHARGES |
| axe | abolish, close down; abolition, closureCOUNTRY BUS SERVICES AXED SMALL SCHOOLS FACE AXE |
| | |
| BA | British AirwaysBA MAKES RECORD LOSS |
| back | supportAMERICA BACKS BRITISH PEACE MOVE |
| ban | forbid, refuse to allow something; prohibitionUS BANS STEEL IMPORTS NEW BAN ON DEMONSTRATIONS |
| bar | refuse/refusal to allow entryHOTEL BARS FOOTBALL FANS NEW BAR ON IMMIGRANTS |
| bid | attemptJAPANESE WOMEN IN NEW EVEREST BID |
| blast | explosion; criticise violentlyBLAST AT PALACE PM BLASTS CRITICS |
| blaze | fireSIX DIE IN HOTEL BLAZE |
| block | stop, delayTORIES BLOCK TEACHERS' PAY DEAL |
| blow | bad news; discouragement; unfortunate happeningSMITH ILL: BLOW TO WORLD CUP HOPES |
| bolster | give support/encouragement toEXPORT FIGURES BOLSTER CITY CONFIDENCE |
| bond | political/business associationNEW TRADE BONDS WITH ICELAND |
| boom | big increase; prosperous periodSPENDING BOOM OVER, SAYS MINISTER |
| boost | encourage(ment); increase (noun or verb)PLAN TO BOOST EXPORTS |
| brink | edge (of disaster)WORLD ON BRINK OF WAR |
| Brussels | the European Union administrationBRUSSELS BANS BRITISH BLACKBERRY WINE |
| | |
| call (for) | demand/appeal (for)CALL FOR STRIKE TALKS HOSPITAL SCANDAL: MP CALLS FOR ENQUIRY |
| campaign | organised effort to achieve social or political resultMP LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN FOR PRISON REFORM |
| cash | moneyMORE CASH NEEDED FOR SCHOOLS |
| charge | accusation (by police)THREE MEN HELD ON BOMB CHARGE |
| chop | abolition, closure300 BANK BRANCHES FACE CHOP |
| City | London's financial institutionsNEW TRADE FIGURES PLEASE CITY |
| claim | (make) a statement that something is true (especially when there may be disagreement); pay claim demand for higher wagesSCIENTIST CLAIMS CANCER BREAKTHROUGH NEW POLICE RACISM CLAIM TEACHERS' PAY CLAIM REJECTED |
| clamp down on | deal firmly with (usually something illegal)POLICE TO CLAMP DOWN ON SPEEDING |
| clash | quarrel, fight (noun or verb)PM IN CLASH OVER ARMS SALES STUDENTS CLASH WITH POLICE |
| clear | find innocentDOCTOR CLEARED OF DRUGS CHARGE |
| Commons | the House of Commons (in Parliament)MINISTERS IN COMMONS CLASH OVER HOUSING |
| con | swindleTEENAGERS CON WIDOW OUT OF LIFE SAVINGS |
| crackdown | firm application of the lawGOVERNMENT PROMISES CRACKDOWN ON DRUGS DEALERS |
| crash | financial failureBANK CRASH THREATENS TO BRING DOWN GOVERNMENT |
| curb | restrict; restrictionNEW PRICE CURBS |
| cut | reduce; reductionBRITAIN CUTS OVERSEAS AID NEW HEALTH SERVICE CUTS |
| cutback | reduction (usually financial)TEACHERS SLAM SCHOOL CUTBACKS |
| | |
| dash | (make) quick journeyPM IN DASH TO BLAST HOSPITAL |
| deadlock | disagreement that cannot be solvedDEADLOCK IN PEACE TALKS |
| deal | agreement, bargainTEACHERS REJECT NEW PAY DEAL |
| demo | demonstration30 ARRESTED IN ANTI-TAX DEMO |
| ditch | abandonEDUCATION MINISTER DITCHES FEES CUT PLAN |
| dole (BrE) | unemployment payDOLE QUEUES LENGTHEN |
| drama | dramatic event; tense situationPRINCE IN AIRPORT DRAMA |
| drive | united effortDRIVE TO SAVE WATER |
| drop | give up, get rid of; fall (noun)GOVERNMENT TO DROP CHILD LABOUR PLAN BIG DROP IN INDUSTRIAL INVESTMENT |
| due | expected to arriveQUEEN DUE IN BERLIN TODAY |
| duo | two peopleDISABLED DUO ROW ACROSS ATLANTIC |
| | |
| EU | the European UnionEU TRADE MINISTERS TO MEET |
| edge | move graduallyWORLD EDGES TOWARDS WAR |
| envoy | ambassadorFRENCH ENVOY DISAPPEARS |
| | |
| face | be threatened byHOSPITALS FACE MORE CUTS STRIKERS FACE SACK |
| feud | long-lasting quarrel or disputeFAMILY FEUD EXPLODES INTO VIOLENCE: SIX HELD |
| find | (noun) something that is foundBEACH FIND MAY BE BONES OF UNKNOWN DINOSAUR |
| firm | determined not to changePM FIRM ON TAX LEVELS |
| flak | heavy criticismGOVERNMENT FACES FLAK OVER VAT |
| flare | begin violentlyRIOTS FLARE IN ULSTER |
| foil | prevent somebody from succeedingTWELVE-YEAR-OLD FOILS BANK RAIDERS |
| fraud | swindle, deceitJAIL FOR TICKET FRAUD MEN |
| freeze | keep(ing) prices, etc at their present level; block(ing) a bank accountMINISTER WANTS TWO-YEAR PAY FREEZE DRUG PROFITS FROZEN |
| fuel | provide reason for growth (of anger, protest, etc)PAY FREEZE FUELS UNION ANGER |
| | |
| gag | censor(ship), prevent(ion) from speakingAFRICAN PRESIDENT ACTS TO GAG PRESS FURY AT PRESS GAG |
| gems | jewels£2m GEMS STOLEN |
| go | resign; be lost, disappearPM TO GO? 4,000 JOBS TO GO IN NORTH |
| go for | be sold forPICASSO DRAWING GOES FOR £5m |
| go-ahead | approvalSCOTTISH ROAD PLAN GETS GO-AHEAD |
| grab | take quickly or violentlyINVESTORS GRAB SHARES IN SCOTTISH COMPANIES |
| grip | tight hold; hold tightlyREBELS TIGHTEN GRIP ON SOUTH COLD WAVE GRIPS COUNTRY |
| gun down | shootTERRORISTS GUN DOWN PRIEST |
| | |
| hail | welcome, praisePM HAILS PEACE PLAN |
| halt | stop (noun or verb)CAR PLANT TO HALT PRODUCTION |
| haul | amount stolen in robbery, or seized by police or customsTRAIN ROBBERY: BIG GOLD HAUL RECORD DRUGS HAUL AT AIRPORT |
| head | lead; leaderPM TO HEAD TRADE MISSION COMMONWEALTH HEADS TO MEET IN OTTAWA |
| head for/to | move towardsECONOMY HEADING FOR DISASTER, EXPERTS WARN |
| heed | pay attention toGOVERNMENT MUST HEED HOUSING CRISIS, SAYS BISHOP |
| hike (AmE) | rise in costs, prices, etcINTEREST HIKE WILL HIT BUSINESS |
| hit | affect badlySNOWSTORMS HIT TRANSPORT |
| hit out at | attack (with words)PM HITS OUT AT CRITICS |
| hitch | problem that causes delayLAST-MINUTE HITCH DELAYS SATELLITE LAUNCH |
| hold | arrest; keep under arrestMAN HELD AFTER STATION BLAST POLICE HOLD TERROR SUSPECT |
| | |
| in (the) red | in debt; making a financial lossBRITISH STEEL IN RED |
| | |
| jail | prisonJAIL FOR PEACE MARCHERS |
| jobless | unemployed (people)THREE MILLION JOBLESS BY APRIL? |
| | |
| key | important, vitalKEY WITNESS VANISHES |
| | |
| landslide | victory by large majority in electionLANDSLIDE FOR NATIONALISTS |
| launch | send(ing) (satellite, etc) into space; begin(ning) (campaign, etc); put(ting) (new product) on marketENVIRONMENT MINISTER LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN FOR CLEANER BEACHES BRITISH COMPANY LAUNCHES THROW-AWAY CHAIRS SPACE TELESCOPE LAUNCH DELAYED |
| lead | clue (in police enquiry)NEW LEAD IN NIGHTCLUB MURDER CASE |
| leak | unofficial publication of secret informationPM FURIOUS OVER TAX PLAN LEAKS |
| leap | big increaseLEAP IN IMPORTS |
| life | imprisonment 'for life'LIFE FOR AXE MURDERER |
| link | connection, contactNEW TRADE LINKS WITH PERU |
| loom | threaten to happenVAT ON FOOD: NEW PROTESTS LOOM |
| Lords | the House of Lords (in Parliament)LORDS VOTE ON DOG REGISTRATION |
| lotto | the national lotteryDANCING GRANDMOTHER IN RECORD LOTTO WIN |
| | |
| mar | spoilCROWD VIOLENCE MARS CUP FINAL |
| media | newspapers, radio and TVGOVERNMENT TIGHTENS GRIP ON MEDIA |
| MEP | Member of the European ParliamentMEPS WANT MORE PAY |
| mercy | intended to save livesDOCTOR IN MERCY DASH TO EVEREST |
| mission | delegation (official group sent to conference, etc)SHOTS FIRED AT UN MISSION |
| mob | angry crowd; (AmE) organised crime / MafiaMOBS RAMPAGE THROUGH CITY STREETS MOB LEADERS HELD |
| move | step towards a particular result (often political)MOVE TO BOOST TRADE LINKS WITH JAPAN |
| MP | Member of ParliamentMP DENIES DRUGS CHARGE |
| | |
| nail | force somebody to admit the truthMP NAILS MINISTER ON PIT CLOSURE PLANS |
| net | win, captureTWO SISTERS NET £3m IN POOLS WIN |
| No 10 | Number 10 Downing Street (the Prime Minister's residence)ANOTHER PETITION HANDED IN AT No 10 |
| | |
| OAP (BrE) | old-age pensioner; anybody over retirement ageOAPS MARCH AGAINST WAR PLANS |
| odds | chances, probabilityJONES RE-ELECTED AGAINST THE ODDS |
| on | about, on the subject of, concerningNEW MOVE ON PENSIONS |
| opt for | chooseWALES OPTS FOR INDEPENDENCE |
| oust | drive out, replaceMODERATES OUSTED IN UNION ELECTIONS |
| out to | intending toNATIONALISTS OUT TO CAPTURE MASS VOTE |
| over | about, on the subject of, because ofPROTESTS OVER AID CUTS |
| | |
| pact | agreementDEFENCE PACT RUNS INTO TROUBLE |
| pay | wagesTRANSPORT PAY TALKS BREAK DOWN |
| PC (BrE) | police constablePC SHOT IN BANK RAID |
| peak | high pointBANK LENDING HITS NEW PEAK |
| peer | lord; Member of the House of LordsPEERS REJECT GOVERNMENT WAGE-FREEZE BAN |
| peg (BrE) | hold (prices, etc) at present levelBANKS PEG INTEREST RATES |
| pensioner (BrE) | old age pensioner; anybody over retirement agePENSIONER SKIS DOWN MONT BLANC |
| peril | dangerFLOOD PERIL IN THAMES VALLEY |
| pit | coal minePIT TURNED INTO MUSEUM |
| plant | factorySTEEL PLANT BLAZE |
| plea | call for helpBIG RESPONSE TO PLEA FOR FLOOD AID |
| pledge | promiseGOVERNMENT GIVES PLEDGE ON JOBLESS |
| PM | Prime MinisterEGG THROWN AT PM |
| poised to | ready to, about toTORIES POISED TO MAKE ELECTION GAINS |
| poll | public opinion surveyTORIES AHEAD IN POLLS |
| pools | football pools: a form of gambling in which people guess the results of football matchesSISTERS SHARE BIG POOLS WIN |
| premier | prime ministerGREEK PREMIER TO VISIT UK |
| press | the newspapersBID TO GAG PRESS OVER DEFENCE SPENDING |
| press (for) | urge, encourage, ask for urgentlyMINISTER PRESSED TO ACT ON HOUSING OPPOSITION PRESS FOR ENQUIRY ON AIR CRASHES |
| probe | investigation; investigateCALL FOR STUDENT DRUGS PROBE POLICE PROBE RACING SCANDAL |
| pull out | withdraw; pull-out withdrawalUS PULLS OUT OF ARMS TALKS MINISTER URGES PULL-OUT FROM OLYMPICS |
| push for | ask for, encourageSCHOOLS PUSH FOR MORE CASH |
| | |
| quake | earthquakeHOUSES DAMAGED IN WELSH QUAKE |
| quit | resign, leaveCHURCH LEADER QUITS MINISTER TO QUIT GOVERNMENT |
| quiz | question (verb)POLICE QUIZ MILLIONAIRE SUPERMARKET BOSS |
| | |
| raid | enter and search; attack (noun and verb), rob, robberyPOLICE RAID DUCHESS'S FLAT BIG GEMS RAID |
| rampage | riotFOOTBALL FANS RAMPAGE THROUGH SEASIDE TOWNS |
| rap | criticiseDOCTORS RAP NEW MINISTRY PLANS |
| rates | (bank) interest ratesRATES RISE EXPECTED |
| record | bigger than ever beforeRECORD LOSS BY INSURANCE COMPANY |
| riddle | mysteryMISSING ENVOY RIDDLE: WOMAN HELD |
| rift | division, disagreementLABOUR RIFT OVER DEFENCE POLICY |
| rock | shock, shakeBANK SEX SCANDAL ROCKS CITY IRELAND ROCKED BY QUAKE |
| row (BrE) | noisy disagreement, quarrelNEW ROW OVER PENSION CUTS |
| rule out | reject the possibility ofPM RULES OUT AUTUMN ELECTION |
| | |
| sack (BrE) | dismiss(al) from jobSTRIKING TRAIN DRIVERS FACE SACK |
| saga | long-running news storyNEW REVELATIONS IN RUNAWAY DUKE SAGA |
| scare | public alarm, alarming rumourTYPHOID SCARE IN SOUTHWEST |
| scoop | win (prize, etc)PENSIONER SCOOPS LOTTO FORTUNE |
| scrap | throw out (as useless)GOVERNMENT SCRAPS NEW ROAD PLANS |
| seek | look forPOLICE SEEK WITNESS TO KILLING |
| seize | take (especially in police and customs searches)POLICE SEIZE ARMS AFTER CAR CHASE £3m DRUGS SEIZED AT AIRPORT |
| set to | ready to; about toINTEREST RATES SET TO RISE |
| shed | get rid ofCAR MAKERS TO SHED 5,000 JOBS |
| slam | criticise violentlyGENERAL SLAMS DEFENCE POLICY |
| slash | cut, reduce drasticallyGOVERNMENT TO SLASH HEALTH EXPENDITURE |
| slate | criticisePM SLATES BISHOP |
| slay (AmE) | murderFREEWAY KILLER SLAYS SIX |
| slump | fall (economic)EXPORTS SLUMP CITY FEARS NEW SLUMP |
| snatch | steal, robberyBIG WAGES SNATCH IN WEST END TEENAGE ROBBERS SNATCH POLICE CAR |
| soar | rise dramaticallyIMPORTS SOAR FOR THIRD MONTH |
| spark | cause (trouble) to startREFEREE'S DECISION SPARKS RIOT |
| split | disagree(ment)CABINET SPLIT ON PRICES POLICY |
| spree | wild spending expeditionBUS DRIVER SPENDS £30,000 IN THREE-DAY CREDIT CARD SPREE |
| stake | financial interestJAPANESE BUY STAKE IN BRITISH AIRWAYS |
| storm | angry public disagreementSTORM OVER NEW STRIKE LAW |
| storm out of | leave angrilyTEACHERS' LEADERS STORM OUT OF MEETING |
| stun | surprise, shockJOBLESS FIGURES STUN CITY |
| surge | sudden increase; rise suddenlySURGE IN JOBLESS FIGURES |
| swap | exchangeHEART SWAP BOY BETTER |
| sway | persuadeHOSPITAL PROTEST SWAYS MINISTERS |
| switch | change (noun or verb)DEFENCE POLICY SWITCH MORE HOMES SWITCH ELECTRICITY SUPPLIERS |
| swoop | to raid; a police raidPOLICE IN DAWN SWOOP ON DRUGS GANG |
| | |
| threat | dangerTHREAT OF FLU EPIDEMIC |
| toll | number killedQUAKE TOLL MAY BE 5,000 |
| top | (adj) senior, most importantTOP BANKER KIDNAPPED |
| top | (verb) exceedIMPORTS TOP LAST YEAR'S FIGURES |
| Tory | ConservativeVICTORY FOR TORY MODERATES |
| trio | three peopleJAILBREAK TRIO RECAPTURED |
| troops | soldiersMORE TROOPS FOR BORDER AREA |
| | |
| UK | the United Kingdom (of Great Britain and Northern Ireland)BRUSSELS CRITICISES UK JAIL CONDITIONS |
| UN | the United NationsUN IN RED: CANNOT BALANCE BUDGET |
| urge | encourageGOVERNMENT URGED TO ACT ON POLLUTION |
| US | the United States of AmericaUS URGED TO PULL OUT OF MIDDLE EAST |
| | |
| VAT | value added taxNEXT, VAT ON BABY FOOD? |
| vow | promiseEXILED PRESIDENT VOWS TO RETURN |
| | |
| walk out | leave in protestCAR WORKERS WALK OUT OVER WAGE FREEZE |
| wed | marryBISHOP TO WED ACTRESS |