American English

no-brainer

ˌno-ˈbrainer BrE AmE noun [singular]
a decision that is easy, and that you do not need to think about, used when you want to emphasize that it is really very easy:
Joining the savings plan is a no-brainer. Just do it.

brainless

brain‧less /ˈbreɪnləs/ BrE AmE adjective
completely stupid:
What a brainless thing to do!

check

I. check¹ S1 W2 /tʃek/ BrE AmE verb
1. FIND OUT [intransitive and transitive] to do something in order to find out whether something really is correct, true, or in good condition:
Check the tiles carefully before you buy them.
A first rule in solving any mystery is to check the facts.
Fill in the cash book carefully and always check your calculations.
check (that)
Check that all the doors are locked securely.
check whether/how/who etc
Let me just check whether the potatoes are cooked.
They paused to check how the other climbers were getting on.
check (something) for something
I checked the typing for errors.
Turn the tap on and check for leaks.
check something against/with something (=compare something with something else to see whether they are the same)
You must check the evidence against other sources and decide if it is reliable.
Positive test results are double-checked (=looked at twice) to make absolutely sure.
2. ASK SOMEBODY [intransitive and transitive] to ask someone whether something is correct, true, or allowed:
I’m not authorized to give you a refund – I’ll have to check first.
check (that)
Make a phone call to check that you’re writing to the right person.
check whether/how/who etc
Call the factory to check whether the beds can be delivered today.
check with
Check with your doctor before going on a diet.
3. NOT DO SOMETHING [transitive] to suddenly stop yourself from saying or doing something because you realize it would be better not to:
I had to check the urge to laugh out loud.
check yourself
He grinned, and then checked himself, not wanting to upset Jack.
4. STOP SOMETHING [transitive] to stop something bad from getting worse or continuing to happen:
The police are failing to take adequate measures to check the growth in crime.
5. BAGS/CASES ETC [transitive] American English, check in British English to leave your bags at an official place so they can be put on a plane or a train, or to take someone’s bags in order to do this:
Any luggage over five kilos must be checked.
6. MAKE A MARK [transitive] American English to make a mark (✓ ) next to an answer, something on a list etc to show you have chosen it, that it is correct, or that you have dealt with it SYN tick British English
7. Check especially American English spoken say this when someone mentions each thing on a list, to tell them that you have it or have done it:
‘Passport?’ ‘Check.’ ‘Ticket?’ ‘Check’.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ check to look at something carefully and thoroughly in order to make sure that it is correct, safe, or working properly: I’ll just check the water level in the battery. | The immigration officer checked their passports. | We need to check the building for structural damage.
▪ examine to look at something carefully and thoroughly because you want to find out something about it: Experts who examined the painting believe it is genuine. | The police will examine the weapon for fingerprints.
▪ inspect to look at something carefully and thoroughly in order to make sure that it is correct, safe, or working properly, especially when it is your job to do this: The building is regularly inspected by a fire-safety officer. | Some insurance people have already been here to inspect the damage caused by the storm.
▪ go through something to examine something such as a document or plan from beginning to end, especially in order to check that it is correct: You should go through the contract before you sign. | I’ve finished my essay, but I just need to go through it to check for spelling mistakes.
▪ double-check to check something again so that you are completely sure it is correct, safe, or working properly: I double-checked all my calculations and they seemed fine. | Travellers should double-check flight information before setting off today.
▪ test to examine or use something in order to find out whether it works or what its qualities are, or in order to check that it is satisfactory: Test your brakes to check they are working correctly. | These products have not been tested on animals.
▪ monitor to carefully watch or keep checking someone or something in order to see what happens over a period of time: Doctors monitored her progress during the night. | Observers have been monitoring the situation in Burma closely.
check in phrasal verb
1. if you check in or are checked in at a hotel or airport, you go to the desk and report that you have arrived:
Check in two hours before the flight.
check in at
He checked in at the Europa Hotel.
check somebody ↔ in
Airline employees were checking in passengers. ⇨ ↑check-in
2. check something ↔ in to leave your bags at an official place so they can be put on a plane or a train, or to take someone’s bags in order to do this:
I said goodbye and went to check in my suitcases.
3. American English to call someone to tell them that you are safe or where you are:
He just called to check in and tell them how he was doing.
check something ↔ off phrasal verb
to write a mark next to something on a list to show that you have chosen it, dealt with it, or made sure that it is correct:
One by one he checked them off on his register.
check on somebody/something phrasal verb
1. to make sure that someone or something is safe, is in a satisfactory state, or is doing what they should be doing:
Honey, can you go upstairs and check on the kids?
My neighbour comes in once a week to check on things and feed the fish.
2. to try to find out if something is true or correct:
He wanted to check on the girl’s story.
check out phrasal verb
1. MAKE SURE
a) check something ↔ out to make sure that something is actually true, correct, or acceptable SYN investigate:
I made a phone call to check out his address.
check something ↔ out with
Check it out with your boss before you do anything.
b) if information checks out, it is proved to be true, correct, or acceptable:
His credit record checks out.
2. LOOK AT SOMEBODY/SOMETHING check somebody/something ↔ out to look at someone or something because they are interesting or attractive:
If I hear about a website that sounds interesting, I check it out.
Hey, check out that car!
3. GET INFORMATION check somebody ↔ out informal to get information about someone, especially to find out if they are suitable for something:
I’ll check them out as potential employers.
4. HOTEL to leave a hotel after paying the bill:
We checked out at noon. ⇨ ↑checkout
5. BOOKS check something ↔ out American English to borrow a book from a library:
The library allows you to check out six books at a time.
check something/somebody ↔ over phrasal verb
1. to look closely at something to make sure it is correct or acceptable:
They spent the rest of the morning checking over their equipment.
2. to examine someone to make sure they are healthy:
I’d like the doctor to check you over and do a few tests.
check up on somebody/something phrasal verb
1. to try to find out if someone is doing what they said they would do or what you want them to do:
Don’t worry; no one is going to check up on you.
2. to make sure that something is true or correct:
Dustin called me to check up on some facts.

melancholy

I. mel‧an‧chol‧y¹ /ˈmelənkəli $ -kɑːli/ BrE AmE adjective
very sad:
The music suited her melancholy mood.

explosion

ex‧plo‧sion W3 /ɪkˈspləʊʒən $ -ˈsploʊ-/ BrE AmE noun
[Word Family: adjective: exploding, ↑explosive, ↑exploded, ↑unexploded; noun: ↑explosion, ↑explosive; verb: ↑explode; adverb: ↑explosively]
1. [countable] a loud sound and the energy produced by something such as a bomb bursting into small pieces ⇨ explode
bomb/gas/nuclear explosion
Several people were injured in a bomb explosion.
We heard a loud explosion.
huge/massive etc explosion
A massive explosion ripped through the building.
2. [uncountable and countable] a process in which something such as a bomb is deliberately made to explode:
Police carried out a controlled explosion of the device.
3. [countable] a sudden or quick increase in the number or amount of something:
the population explosion in India
explosion of
the recent explosion of interest in Latin music and dance
4. [countable] a sudden expression of emotion, especially anger SYN outburst
5. [countable] a sudden very loud noise
explosion of
an explosion of laughter
• • •
COLLOCATIONS (for Meanings 1 & 2)
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + explosion
▪ a big explosion There has been a big explosion in the centre of Paris.
▪ a huge/massive/enormous explosion An enormous explosion tore the roof off the building.
▪ a tremendous explosion (=very big and powerful) The torpedo struck the side of the ship, followed by a tremendous explosion.
▪ a powerful explosion The powerful explosion was heard from Portland, Maine to Albany, New York.
▪ a major explosion formal We are getting reports of a major explosion at the oil refinery.
▪ a loud explosion We heard several loud explosions followed by an eerie silence.
▪ a deafening explosion (=extremely loud) The building collapsed in a deafening explosion.
▪ an almighty explosion old-fashioned (=extremely loud) There was an almighty explosion and I was knocked to the ground.
▪ a muffled explosion (=one that is not heard very clearly) We could just make out a muffled explosion from deep inside the mine.
▪ a nuclear/atomic explosion This is the site of the first ever nuclear explosion.
▪ a gas explosion Firefighters say that a gas explosion destroyed the building.
▪ a volcanic explosion (=one caused by a volcano) You could see where a volcanic explosion had blown the mountain peak away.
■ verbs
▪ cause an explosion The police do not yet know what caused the explosion.
▪ set off/trigger an explosion (=cause an explosion) Investigators believe a fuel leak may have triggered the explosion.
▪ carry out an explosion (=cause one deliberately) By 1942, the United States had carried out test explosions with nuclear bombs.
▪ hear an explosion Marie was reading in bed when she heard the explosion.
▪ an explosion takes place/happens The largest explosion took place at the main post office.
▪ an explosion occurs formal The explosion occurred just off the coast of Greece.
▪ an explosion shakes something A series of explosions shook the building.
▪ an explosion destroys something Seven people died when the explosion destroyed the bus.
▪ an explosion kills somebody Last year, an underground explosion killed 82 miners.
• • •
COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 3)
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + explosion
▪ a sudden explosion Henry thought she was going to laugh, but then there was a sudden explosion of sobbing.
▪ a population explosion The decision not to plant the fields led to a population explosion in rabbits.
■ phrases
▪ an explosion of interest in something There has been an explosion of interest in networking websites in the last few years.
▪ an explosion of violence The army had to cope with the explosion of violence that followed the elections.
▪ an explosion of anger The verdict was greeted by an explosion of public anger.
▪ an explosion of colour literary After the rain, the desert bloomed in an explosion of color.
• • •
THESAURUS
■ a very big increase
▪ explosion noun [countable] a sudden very large increase in the amount or number of something: There has been an explosion in the number of fast food restaurants. | The country experienced a population explosion. | The book caused an explosion of interest in Renaissance Italy.
▪ boom noun [singular] a sudden large increase in trade, profits or sales, with the result that a country, company, or industry becomes very successful. Boom is also used about a sudden increase in interest in something, with the result that it becomes very popular: the German economic boom of the 1960s | the Internet boom | There has been a boom in sales of diet books and videos.

rip

I. rip¹ S3 /rɪp/ BrE AmE verb (past tense and past participle ripped, present participle ripping)
[Date: 1300-1400; Origin: Probably from Flemish rippen 'to tear off roughly']
1. [intransitive and transitive] to tear something or be torn quickly and violently:
Her clothes had all been ripped.
The sails ripped under the force of the wind.
Impatiently, Sue ripped the letter open.
2. [transitive always + adverb/preposition] to remove something quickly and violently, using your hands
rip something out/off/away/down
Gilly ripped out a sheet of paper from her notebook.
The buttons had been ripped off.
3. rip something/somebody to shreds
a) to destroy something or damage it badly by tearing it in many places:
Jill’s kitten is ripping her sofa to shreds.
b) informal to strongly criticize someone, or criticize their opinions, remarks, behaviour etc:
I expected to have my argument ripped to shreds.
4. [transitive] to copy music from a CD to an ↑MP3 player or computer
5. let rip informal to speak or behave violently or emotionally:
Fran took a slow deep breath, then let rip, yelling and shouting at him.
6. let it/her rip informal to make a car, boat etc go as fast as it can:
Put your foot on the gas and let her rip!
rip something ↔ apart phrasal verb
to tear or pull something to pieces:
He was ripped apart by savage beasts in the forest.
rip somebody/something ↔ off phrasal verb informal
1. to charge someone too much money for something SYN overcharge:
The agency really ripped us off.
2. to steal something:
Somebody had come in and ripped off the TV and stereo.
3. to take words, ideas etc from someone else’s work and use them in your own work as if they were your own ideas SYN plagiarize
⇨ ↑rip-off(2)
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ tear to damage paper or cloth by pulling it too hard, or letting it touch something sharp: She unwrapped the present carefully, trying not to tear the paper. | I tore a hole in my jacket, climbing over the fence.
▪ rip to tear something quickly or violently: Beth excitedly ripped open the package. | Stop pulling my dress! You’ll rip it!
▪ split to tear your trousers or shirt when you put them on, because they are too tight for you: He bent down and split his trousers. | Oh no, now I’ve split my shirt.
▪ ladder British English if a woman ladders her ↑tights or STOCKINGS, she tears them so that a long thin line appears in them: Damn! I’ve laddered my tights!
▪ snag to catch a piece of clothing on something rough or sharp so that it tears slightly: I snagged my shirt on a nail.
▪ shred to deliberately destroy letters, documents etc by cutting them into thin pieces, often by using a special machine: In order to prevent fraud, it’s best to shred your bank statements. | I went through all my papers shredding things I didn’t need.
▪ frayed torn a little along the edges – used about clothes, carpets etc that have been used a lot: He was wearing an old pair of frayed jeans. | The rug was a little frayed around the edges. | The jacket was a little frayed at the cuffs.
rip on somebody/something phrasal verb American English informal
to complain a lot about someone or something
rip through something phrasal verb
to move through a place quickly and with violent force:
A wave of bombings ripped through the capital’s business district.
rip something ↔ up phrasal verb
to tear something into pieces:
Sue ripped his photo up into tiny bits.

dumpling

dump‧ling /ˈdʌmplɪŋ/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[Date: 1600-1700; Origin: Perhaps from lump]
1. a round lump of flour and fat mixed with water, cooked in boiling liquid and served with meat:
chicken and dumplings
2. a sweet dish made of ↑pastry filled with fruit:
apple dumplings

II. re‧run² /riːˈrʌn/ BrE AmE verb (past tense reran /-ˈræn/, past participle rerun, present participle rerunning) [transitive]
[Word Family: noun: ↑run, ↑rerun, ↑runner, ↑running, ↑overrun; verb: ↑run, ↑outrun, ↑overrun, ↑rerun; adjective: ↑running, ↑runny; adverb: ↑running]
1. to show a film or television programme again on television SYN repeat
2. to do something in the same way as before SYN repeat
3. to arrange for a race or competition to be held again SYN repeat

mourning

mourn‧ing /ˈmɔːnɪŋ $ ˈmɔːr-/ BrE AmE noun [uncountable]
1. great sadness because someone has died:
The Armenian authorities declared May 29 a national day of mourning.
in mourning (=feeling great sadness)
It was the custom to visit those in mourning and sit quietly with them.
2. black clothes worn to show that you are very sad that someone has died:
She was recently widowed and wearing mourning.

collision

col‧li‧sion /kəˈlɪʒən/ BrE AmE noun [uncountable and countable]
[Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: collisio, from collidere; ⇨ ↑collide]
1. an accident in which two or more people or vehicles hit each other while moving in different directions ⇨ collide
collision with
The school bus was involved in a collision with a truck.
Two people were killed in a head-on collision (=between two vehicles that are moving directly towards each other) on highway 218.
2. a strong disagreement between two people or groups
collision between
a collision between the two countries over fishing rights
3. be on a collision course
a) to be likely to have serious trouble because your aims are very different from someone else’s:
The two nations are on a collision course that could lead to war.
b) to be moving in a direction in which you will hit something:
an asteroid on a collision course with Earth

THESAURUS
▪ accident an event in which a vehicle is damaged and often someone is hurt: Her father died in a car accident. | Hugh had an accident on his way to work.
▪ crash a serious accident in which a vehicle hits something else: Rees-Jones was the only person to survive the crash. | a car/plane/train crash | He was killed in a plane crash.
▪ collision an accident in which two or more cars, trains etc hit each other: His car was involved in a collision with a train. | a head-on collision (=between vehicles that are driving towards each other): The actor was killed in a head-on collision while driving his new sports car.
▪ disaster a serious accident involving a train, plane, or boat, in which a lot of people are killed or injured: It was Britain’s worst air disaster.
▪ wreck American English an accident in which a car or train is badly damaged: Ben nearly died in a car wreck.
▪ pile-up an accident that involves several cars or trucks: The pile-up happened in thick fog. | There was a 12-car pile-up on the motorway.
▪ fender-bender American English informal, prang British English informal a car accident in which little damage is done: Atkinson was involved in a fender-bender in the hotel parking lot. | At 15, he borrowed his parents’ car and had a prang.