Cambridge Dictionary

2021-03-18 10:00:00 Dog-end, noun.

Definition: The last and least pleasing part of something.

Examples:

1. The dog-end of a hard day.
2. The cartoonists portray the dog-end days of December as Old Man Time, complete with scythe, calling the year to its doom.
3. Budget 2004 was one the government could have done without: an obligatory address in the dog-end of a parliament.
4. It's December at the dog-end of the last century and Liam slouches on a sofa in a Santa Monica hotel, curling his bottom lip and affecting disinterest.
5. I relaxed into the dog-end of the afternoon to enjoy the loch's beauty, vaguely aware of increasingly frantic efforts from the other end of the boat.
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@cambridge_dic Open / Comment

2021-03-17 21:00:01 Let sleeping dogs lie, phrase.

Definition (proverb): Avoid interfering in a situation that is currently causing no problems but may well do so as a result of such interference.

Examples:

1. And God also seems to have the highest expectations of us, not settling for second-best or letting sleeping dogs lie.
2. So the Labor party is merely going along with the masses by letting sleeping dogs lie.
3. Somebody sent me an email that said this was all the fault of the U.S. because ‘we should have let sleeping dogs lie.’
4. But then maybe it's best to let sleeping dogs lie.
5. I'll let sleeping dogs lie for a bit on that front.
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@cambridge_dic Open / Comment

2021-03-17 17:00:02 Play-play, adjective.

Definition (South African • informal • attributive): Not genuine; make-believe.

Examples:

1. They're at the age when they want more than a play-play watch.
2. Try your play-play ad campaign on somebody else's third World country.
3. Make up a younger sister and get the shop assistants to try on tops for you to get an idea of what to buy for your play-play sister's birthday.
4. Apart from this, all explosives were dangerous, and even small ‘play-play’ fireworks could be used to make bombs, he said.
5. The country's only independent newspaper and dispossessed white farmers face “play-play” legal instruments as their government continues to manipulate the law and legal institutions to suit its nefarious aims.
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@cambridge_dic Open / Comment

2021-03-17 10:00:02 Mighty, adjective.

/ˈmʌɪti/

Definition: Possessing great and impressive power or strength, especially because of size.

Examples:

1. Three mighty industrial countries.
2. Mighty beasts.
3. This mighty power will continue to press for county councillors to respect the professional judgement of their highway engineers and consultants.
4. This nation, once a mighty world power, is being systematically stripped of all its wealth and influence, and no-one bats an eyelid.
5. A glance at the current spate of hotel marketing deals makes it clear that tykes are wielding some mighty power.
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@cambridge_dic Open / Comment

2021-03-16 21:00:01 Let the cat out of the bag, phrase.

Definition (informal): Reveal a secret carelessly or by mistake.

Examples:

1. Now that Viola had let the cat out of the bag, she had no option but to confess.
2. Gavin Anderson apologises to those in the know for letting the cat out of the bag about this secret haven.
3. So let the cat out of the bag: admit that what you're really up to is a satire on the state of arts funding.
4. The rather inappropriately named Defence Minister let the cat out of the bag by admitting that there isn't really a threat after all.
5. Two such academics were so upset by the broadcast they injudiciously let the cat out of the bag completely.
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@cambridge_dic Open / Comment

2021-03-16 17:00:04 Play-play, adjective.

Definition (South African • informal • attributive): Not genuine; make-believe.

Examples:

1. They're at the age when they want more than a play-play watch.
2. Try your play-play ad campaign on somebody else's third World country.
3. Make up a younger sister and get the shop assistants to try on tops for you to get an idea of what to buy for your play-play sister's birthday.
4. Apart from this, all explosives were dangerous, and even small ‘play-play’ fireworks could be used to make bombs, he said.
5. The country's only independent newspaper and dispossessed white farmers face “play-play” legal instruments as their government continues to manipulate the law and legal institutions to suit its nefarious aims.
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@cambridge_dic Open / Comment

2021-03-16 10:00:01 Show round, phrasal verb.

Definition (show someone round, show round someone): Point out interesting features in a place or building to someone.

Examples:

1. He showed us round and took us to the museum.
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@cambridge_dic Open / Comment

2021-03-15 21:00:00 Take something with a pinch of salt, phrase.

Definition: Regard something as exaggerated; believe only part of something.

Examples:

1. I take anything he says with a large pinch of salt.
2. An AIB spokesman rejected the claim it was ripping off customers and said it took the report with a pinch of salt as it did not believe true like-for-like comparisons were made.
3. The next time someone says one bullet is vastly superior to another in regards to wind deflection, take their advice with a grain of salt and check for yourself.
4. Many personnel believe that no matter what they have to say, it will be taken with a grain of salt.
5. Since I had no recourse to take this route, I took the stories with a pinch of salt and never checked them out.
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@cambridge_dic Open / Comment

2021-03-15 17:00:05 Play-play, adjective.

Definition (South African • informal • attributive): Not genuine; make-believe.

Examples:

1. They're at the age when they want more than a play-play watch.
2. Try your play-play ad campaign on somebody else's third World country.
3. Make up a younger sister and get the shop assistants to try on tops for you to get an idea of what to buy for your play-play sister's birthday.
4. Apart from this, all explosives were dangerous, and even small ‘play-play’ fireworks could be used to make bombs, he said.
5. The country's only independent newspaper and dispossessed white farmers face “play-play” legal instruments as their government continues to manipulate the law and legal institutions to suit its nefarious aims.
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@cambridge_dic Open / Comment

2021-03-15 10:00:00 Point out, phrasal verb.

Definition (point something out, point out something): Direct someone's gaze or attention towards, especially by extending one's finger.

Examples:

1. I pointed out a conical heap of stones.
2. He only survived because he was swept into a ditch and a man spotted him and pointed out a route to safety.
3. One would be hard pressed to point out a single fat man among these thousands.
4. As they drove, she played tour guide and pointed out spots of interest in Dover.
5. He pointed out the seat and I made my way towards it, my bag swinging in my hands.
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@cambridge_dic Open / Comment