VOCABULARY

buckle down
phrasal verb
buckle down (to something)

(informal) to start to do something seriously

o I'd better buckle down to those reports.

hang over
phrasal verb
hang over somebody

if something bad or unpleasant is hanging over you, you think about it and worry
about it a lot because it is happening or might happen

The possibility of a court case is still hanging over her

irrational
adjective

/ɪˈræʃənl/

not based on, or not using, clear logical thought SYNONYM unreasonable

o an irrational fear
o You're being irrational.

ironically
adverb

/aɪˈrɑːnɪkli/
in a way that is strange or funny because it is very different from what you expect

• Ironically, the book she felt was her worst sold more copies than any of her others.


Threatening
adjective

/ˈθretnɪŋ/

expressing a threat of harm or violence SYNONYM menacing

o threatening letters
o threatening behaviour

put off
phrasal verb
put somebody off

1. to cancel a meeting or an arrangement that you have made with somebody

o It's too late to put them off now.

incoming
adjective

/ˈɪnkʌmɪŋ/

recently elected or chosen

he incoming government/president/administration

amygdala
noun

/əˈmɪɡdələ/
(plural) amygdalae

either of two areas in the brain that are linked to memory, the emotions and the
sense of smell

o the role of the amygdala in anxiety disorders

kick off
 phrasal verb
kick off

when a football (soccer) game or a team, etc. kicks off, the game starts

regulate
verb

/ˈreɡjuleɪt/
regulate (something) to control something by means of rules

o The department is responsible for regulating the insurance industry

midst
noun

/mɪdst/
(formal)

the middle part of something SYNONYM middle

o in the midst of something Such beauty was unexpected in the midst of the
city.

evoke
verb

/ɪˈvəʊk/
(formal)

evoke something to bring a feeling, a memory or an image into your mind

o The music evoked memories of her youth.

dread
verb
/dred/

to be very afraid of something; to fear that something bad is going to happen

o dread something This was the moment he had been dreading

incompetence
noun
/ɪnˈkɑːmpɪtəns/
(also less frequent incompetency

the lack of skill or ability to do your job or a task as it should be done

o professional incompetence

apathy
noun

/ˈæpəθi/
[uncountable]

the feeling of not being interested in or enthusiastic about something, or things in

general

o There is widespread apathy among the electorate.

ailment
noun

/ˈeɪlmənt/

an illness that is not very serious

o childhood/common/minor ailments