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House of Cards — Season 3 Episode 4

Words & meanings

688 words

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CEFR level

a period of seven days

In scene

a period of seven days

I will see you next week

a period of seven days

There are seven days in a week

to make something happen, often in a clever or secret way

In scene

to make something happen, often in a clever or secret way

He engineered a way to finish the project early

to change the structure or function of something

They engineered a new solution to the problem

a person who designs or builds machines, structures, or systems

She works as a software engineer

not having any dirt or marks

In scene

not having any dirt or marks

Please put on a clean shirt

not involved in illegal or dishonest activities

In scene

not involved in illegal or dishonest activities

He has a clean record

fully or totally

I clean forgot the date

following the rules and not using unfair methods

They played a clean game

easy to understand or interpret

This is a clean answer

to hit someone, especially in the face

He cleaned him in the face

not guilty of a crime

The jury found him clean

not having done anything illegal

His record is clean

free from dirt or marks

Please keep your room clean

completely free of dirt or marks

The glass is completely clean

at the back of something

In scene

at the back of something

The cat is behind the sofa

in the space at the back of something

The ball is behind the chair

the part of the body you sit on

He fell on his behind

the person or thing that causes something to happen

She is the force behind this project

not on time

He is behind schedule

without someone knowing

He did it behind my back

to give support to someone or something

We are behind you

left in a place when you go away

He left his keys behind

a small part taken to represent the whole

In scene

a small part taken to represent the whole

We took a sampling of the soil

hidden or not known to the public

In scene

hidden or not known to the public

The spy was on a covert mission

in a way that matters

In scene

in a way that matters

More importantly, we must be on time

to be unable to remember something

In scene

to be unable to remember something

I often forget my keys

to stop thinking about or paying attention to something

Just forget the argument

a small piece of information

I often forget where I put my keys

to bring something back to your mind

I remember this song

to fail to remember something

I always forget his name

very old

In scene

very old

This building is ancient

from a long time ago

I love ancient history

to spend time with someone socially

In scene

to spend time with someone socially

The politician likes to rub shoulders with famous people

to spend time with someone, especially people of higher social status

He likes to rub shoulders with famous people

very sad, often involving death or suffering

In scene

very sad, often involving death or suffering

The accident was a tragic event

causing great sadness

It was a tragic accident

to say something very softly

In scene

to say something very softly

She whispered a secret to me

a very small amount of something

There was a whisper of smoke in the air

a very quiet sound made when speaking

She spoke in a whisper

for the reason that

In scene

for the reason that

Since it is raining we stayed home

from a time

In scene

from a time

I have lived here since 2010

from a point in the past until now

I have been here since morning

words or ideas that are not true or sensible

In scene

words or ideas that are not true or sensible

Stop talking nonsense

a person who works to bring about social or political change

In scene

a person who works to bring about social or political change

She is a human rights activist

to intend to do something

In scene

to intend to do something

I plan on going to the party

to have an intention to do something or to expect that something will happen

I plan on studying tonight

to depend on someone to do something

I plan on my friend to be there

a dark green leafy vegetable

In scene

a dark green leafy vegetable

I love kale salads

a financial or other involvement in something

In scene

a financial or other involvement in something

He has an interest in the company

to make someone want to know or pay attention to something

This book interests me

money paid for borrowing money

The bank charges a high interest rate

an activity that you enjoy doing in your free time

Reading is one of my interests

the rules for polite behavior in a particular situation

In scene

the rules for polite behavior in a particular situation

She follows proper etiquette

a common mineral used to season food

In scene

a common mineral used to season food

Pass me the salt, please

to put salt on food

You should salt the meat before cooking it

refusing to change your opinion

In scene

refusing to change your opinion

He was adamant about his decision

to stop living

In scene

to stop living

Many soldiers perished in the war

relating to a national law-making body

In scene

relating to a national law-making body

The congressional session ended today

to wait before doing something

In scene

to wait before doing something

Let's hold off on the decision

to keep someone or something away

The army held off the enemy

to stop someone from moving forward

He held off the crowd

a collection of papers or digital data

In scene

a collection of papers or digital data

I opened the file

a line of people one behind another

In scene

a line of people one behind another

The students walked in a file

to give a document to an official person or office

You must file your report today

a tool with a rough surface used to smooth or shape things

She used a nail file

a large area or division of a country

In scene

a large area or division of a country

The country has fifty states

a nation or region with its own government

Many states signed the treaty

to express something in words

The report states the facts clearly

the political organization of a country or region

The state manages the public services

the act of speaking

In scene

the act of speaking

Speech is a basic human ability

a formal address given to an audience

The politician gave a short speech

a formal address given to an audience

He gave a great speech

to hold and use a weapon or tool

In scene

to hold and use a weapon or tool

The knight wielded his sword with skill

to hold something and use it

He knows how to wield a sword

to take and hold someone so they cannot escape

In scene

to take and hold someone so they cannot escape

The police caught the thief

to change into a state

I got caught in the rain

to get hold of something that is moving

He caught the ball

to be unable to escape

The thief was caught by the police

to create a picture in your mind

In scene

to create a picture in your mind

Just imagine a world without war

to form a picture in your mind

Imagine a beautiful beach

to form a mental image of something

Imagine you are on a beach

not a single thing

In scene

not a single thing

There is nothing here

not a single thing

I have nothing in my hand

still there after others have gone

There is nothing left

not anything

There is nothing in the box

to think something is true without proof

In scene

to think something is true without proof

I assume you are tired

to begin to have a role or responsibility

He assumed the role of manager

to deal with a situation or problem

In scene

to deal with a situation or problem

I can handle this problem

a part of an object that you hold to open, move, or use it

Please hold the handle of the door

a name or nickname used for identification

What is your Twitter handle

to give something to someone by hand

Handle the book to your friend

a large number or amount

In scene

a large number or amount

I have a lot of work to do

many times or often

In scene

many times or often

I see him a lot

a great number or quantity

In scene

a great number or quantity

We have a lot of time

a piece of land

He bought a parking lot

the situation or circumstances someone is in

He accepted his lot in life

a group of people

That is a loud lot

a method of deciding something by chance

This is my lot in life

the situation or circumstances someone is in

He accepted his lot in life

a small number or quantity

That is a lot less

to a great degree

I like it a lot

to cancel or reverse an action

In scene

to cancel or reverse an action

I want to undo my mistake

to open something that was tied or fastened

Undo the knot

careful thought about something

In scene

careful thought about something

This project requires careful consideration

to make or pass laws

In scene

to make or pass laws

The government plans to legislate on this issue

having the opposite of the desired effect

In scene

having the opposite of the desired effect

Working too hard can be counterproductive

to require a specific amount of money

In scene

to require a specific amount of money

It costs ten dollars

to need something

This mistake cost him his job

to require a specific amount of money

This jacket costs fifty dollars

to understand or realize

In scene

to understand or realize

I see what you mean

used to get someone's attention

See here

to use your eyes to notice something

I can see you

to have a meeting or visit with someone

I will see you tomorrow

not morally right or acceptable

In scene

not morally right or acceptable

Stealing is wrong

not right or not working properly

In scene

not right or not working properly

This answer is wrong

in a way that is not right or not correct

You answered the question wrong

not right or not working properly

Something is wrong with my car

responsibility for a problem or error

In scene

responsibility for a problem or error

It was my fault that we were late

to say someone did something wrong

It is hard to fault his work

a large break in the earth's surface

There is a fault line under this city

a bad or weak quality in a person's character

Everyone has a personal fault

a person who is not a member of the armed forces

In scene

a person who is not a member of the armed forces

Soldiers were ordered not to harm any non-combatants

to try very hard to get something

In scene

to try very hard to get something

She seeks a better future

to try to find something

He is seeking a new job

to try to find something

They seek a solution

to try to find someone or something

He is seeking his lost cat

the ability to talk to and influence an important person

In scene

the ability to talk to and influence an important person

She has the ear of the director

the part of your head that you hear with

In scene

the part of your head that you hear with

I have two ears

the skill to notice or judge something

She has a good ear for music

the ability to notice or judge something

She has a good ear for music

to make something stronger

In scene

to make something stronger

We need to reinforce the wall

to make someone believe or agree

In scene

to make someone believe or agree

He sold me on the new plan

to give something to someone in return for money

In scene

to give something to someone in return for money

I will sell my old phone

to reveal someone's secrets for personal gain

He sold his partner to the police

a thought or plan in your mind

He tried to sell his new plan to the team

to be persuaded to agree or believe something

He was sold on the idea

not anything at all

She has nothing left to sell

to give something in exchange for money

They sell fresh vegetables

to give something for money

They sell fresh bread here

to take something out

In scene

to take something out

He extracted the key from the lock

a liquid taken from a plant

I used vanilla extract for the cake

to say that something is good or acceptable

In scene

to say that something is good or acceptable

I hope they approve of my decision

to officially say something is okay

The boss approved the plan

an important organization or system in society

In scene

an important organization or system in society

The university is a famous institution

to say words to someone

In scene

to say words to someone

I can speak English

at this very moment

I am speaking right now

to communicate using words in a particular language

Do you speak Spanish

to say words to someone

Please speak slowly

to say words to someone

He speaks to the crowd

to be directed to a particular place or person

In scene

to be directed to a particular place or person

The letter goes to the manager

to move toward or be present at a destination or event

In scene

to move toward or be present at a destination or event

We go to school every morning

a person or thing you use most often

This is my go-to place for coffee

used to express what you plan to do

I am going to study

a person or thing that someone uses or chooses most often

Pizza is my go-to meal on Fridays

to be a student at a school or place

She goes to university in London

to be received by

This award will go to the best student

to move in the direction of a place

The road goes to the city center

to move toward a place

I go to school every day

to move toward a place

I will go to the library today

to a large degree

In scene

to a large degree

I like it very much

a quantity of something

How much is this

still there after others have gone

Not much is left

to a small degree; slightly

It did not help much

a single object of a particular type

In scene

a single object of a particular type

I have two pieces of furniture

to put separate parts together to form a whole

I will piece these parts together

a portion or fragment

I have a piece of cake

not hurt or damaged

The box arrived in one piece

across the whole country

In scene

across the whole country

The news was reported nationally

not able to be controlled

In scene

not able to be controlled

The car was out of control

not able to be managed or controlled

The car went out of control

not able to be controlled

The situation is out of control

not able to be controlled

The crowd was out of control

a relationship between two things

In scene

a relationship between two things

There is a connection between the two events

a person you know who can help you

He used his connection to get the job

to move from one place to another

In scene

to move from one place to another

He went to the store

to change into a different state

The milk went bad

to let someone or something go from being held or trapped

He let the bird go

to move to a lower place

The elevator went down to the first floor

to make something less bright or valuable

In scene

to make something less bright or valuable

This scandal will tarnish his reputation

not allowed by a country's laws

In scene

not allowed by a country's laws

The law was declared unconstitutional

a person you work with

In scene

a person you work with

He is my colleague

extremely good or impressive

In scene

extremely good or impressive

She did an outstanding job

not yet paid or settled

I still have an outstanding bill

not yet dealt with or finished

There are some outstanding tasks

to be required or expected to do something

In scene

to be required or expected to do something

I suppose that you are right

to think something is true without proof

I suppose you are right

to have a particular purpose or intention

You are supposed to arrive by ten

having false beliefs not based in reality

In scene

having false beliefs not based in reality

He is delusional if he thinks he will win

having false beliefs or ideas

He has a delusional belief that he can fly

a task or job that you must do

In scene

a task or job that you must do

It is my duty to help you

a thing that you must do

It is my duty to help others

things you must do

It is your duty to help him

a tax paid on goods

You must pay duty on these goods

to have knowledge or information about something

In scene

to have knowledge or information about something

I know the answer

to be referred to by a particular name

It is hard, you know

to be familiar with someone or something

I know him very well

used to check if the listener understands or as a pause

It is a nice car, you know, very fast

to say that you accept or agree with something

In scene

to say that you accept or agree with something

I agree with you

to say yes or have the same opinion

In scene

to say yes or have the same opinion

I agree with your plan

to share the same view as someone

In scene

to share the same view as someone

We agree on this point

to start legal proceedings against someone

In scene

to start legal proceedings against someone

The state is prosecuting him for theft

to join together for a common purpose

In scene

to join together for a common purpose

The team decided to unite for the project

to bring together

They want to unite the two groups

to come together as one

The two companies decided to unite

a person who gives legal advice and represents people in court

In scene

a person who gives legal advice and represents people in court

I consulted my solicitor about the contract

at a time in the future

In scene

at a time in the future

We will discuss this project down the road

at a later time

We can discuss this project down the road

a short distance away on the same street

The shop is just down the road

one thousand thousand

In scene

one thousand thousand

A million people live here

without any doubt

In scene

without any doubt

I will definitely come

to exchange goods without using money

In scene

to exchange goods without using money

They bartered corn for beans

to treat someone in an unfair way for your own benefit

In scene

to treat someone in an unfair way for your own benefit

The company exploits its workers

a brave or impressive act

He told stories of his brave exploits

to make use of something for a purpose

They want to exploit the new technology

a very sad or terrible event that causes great suffering

In scene

a very sad or terrible event that causes great suffering

It was a great tragedy

a very sad or terrible event

The car accident was a tragedy

a type of entertainment that deals with serious, sad events

Shakespeare wrote many tragedies

to find a way to make two different ideas or facts agree with each other

In scene

to find a way to make two different ideas or facts agree with each other

It is hard to reconcile these two ideas

to restore friendly relations or settle a disagreement

They finally reconciled after their long fight

to make people friendly again after a disagreement

I reconciled them after the fight

to return something to its original state

In scene

to return something to its original state

They will restore the old building

to bring something back to its original condition

They want to restore the old painting

to bring something back to good condition

The medicine restored his health

to sit on and control a moving animal or vehicle

In scene

to sit on and control a moving animal or vehicle

She wants to ride her new bike

a machine or structure at a fair or amusement park that people ride for fun

The roller coaster is a fun ride

a journey in a vehicle

The ride to the airport was long

to criticize or complain to someone repeatedly

Stop riding me about my mistakes

to sit on something and travel on it

I like to ride my bike

to sit on and control a moving animal

She loves to ride horses

to sit on something and travel on it

We ride the bus to school

to sit on something and move

They went for a ride

to make use of something

In scene

to make use of something

I am using a computer

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