Author: frank

To slake a fire is to pour liquid on it to put it out. And to slake a thirst is to quench or satisfy that thirst in a cool, refreshing, relieving way, as if the thirst is a fire that’s being put out. Pronunciation: Read More …

[no object] to argue about or disagree with something The children quarrel all the time. She and her husband are always quarreling about/over money. I don’t want to quarrel with you. I won’t quarrel  [=disagree]  with your version of what happened.

[+ object] to take away (someone) by force usually in order to keep the person as a prisoner and demand money for returning the person She had been kidnapped (from her home). — kidnapper also US kidnaper noun, plural kidnappers also US kidnapers [count] The kidnapper demanded one million dollars in ransom. Read More …

1 [+ object] : to remove (money) from a bank account She withdrew $200 from her checking account. 2 [+ object] : to take (something) back so that it is no longer available The pills were withdrawn  [=recalled]  from the market because they were unsafe. 3 Read More …

1 : to bring (someone or something) back to a normal, healthy condition after an illness, injury, drug problem, etc. [+ object] The clinic rehabilitates drug addicts. He’s still rehabilitating the knee he injured last summer. They try to rehabilitate horses that have suffered injuries. [no object] Read More …

A student asked me, “Is there a difference between finish and finish up?” The answer is no. There’s no difference in meaning. I’ll be home soon, I just need to finish a few things at the office. I’ll be home soon, I just need to finish Read More …

The word “circumscribe” has Latin roots that mean “written around.” To circumscribe something is to encircle it, to draw a circle around it, or, more figuratively, to limit it in a narrow way, as if you’re drawing a tight, strict circle around it. Read More …

phrasal verb 1 : ring (something) up or ring up (something) : to use a special machine (called a cash register) to calculate the cost of (something, such as goods or services) The cashier rang up our purchases. 2 : to achieve (something) The Read More …

[+ object] 1 : to produce (something) or cause (something) to be produced windmills used to generate electricity generate heat This business should generate a lot of revenue. 2 : to be the cause of or reason for (something, such as interest or excitement) His theories have generated a Read More …