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Street Talk 2 /

Lesson 7

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1-
bottleneck
2-
to bunch up
3-
clear shot
4-
to clip
5-
to clue in
6-
dead
7-
fender-bender
8-
heads up
9-
to keep tabs on somebody or something
10-
to pick up
11-
rush hour
12-
scene
13-
shoulder
14-
to spin out
15-
tangle
16-
a tough row to hoe
17-
to work one's way over something
bottleneck
noun
b
b
o
ɑ
tt
t
ə
l
l
e
n
n
e
e
ck
k
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Sign in

a place where vehicles slow down or stop because the road narrows or there is an obstruction

example
Example
Click on words
During rush hour, the highway often experiences bottlenecks near the city center.
Construction work on the bridge caused a significant bottleneck this morning.
What is a "bottleneck"?

A bottleneck refers to a section of the road where vehicles slow down or stop due to a buildup, usually because the road narrows or there is an obstacle. This happens when there are more vehicles trying to pass through a limited space, causing delays and long lines of traffic. Common places for bottlenecks include areas with construction, accidents, or exits that only have one lane. Bottlenecks can lead to traffic jams and make travel times longer.

Grammatical Information:

compound noun
to bunch up
Verb
uk flag
/bˈʌntʃ ˈʌp/

to become congested or gather closely together, often referring to traffic or crowds becoming tightly packed or slowed down

Grammatical Information:

Phrasal Status
inseparable
clear shot
noun
uk flag
/klˈɪɹ ʃˈɑːt/
Collocation
Everyday expression
Informal

an unobstructed view or opportunity

Grammatical Information:

compound noun
to clip
Verb
c
k
l
l
i
ɪ
p
p

to move swiftly and briskly

Grammatical Information:

intransitive
to clue in
to clue in
Verb
uk flag
/klˈuː ˈɪn/

to provide someone with information and make them aware of something

Grammatical Information:

transitive
Phrasal Status
separable
phrase's verb
clue
phrase's particle
in
dead
dead
Adverb
d
d
ea
ɛ
d
d

to an absolute or complete extent

fender-bender
noun
uk flag
/fˈɛndɚbˈɛndɚ/

a minor car accident that usually involves small damage to the vehicles

What is a "fender-bender"?

A fender-bender is a minor car accident, usually involving a small collision between vehicles at low speeds. It often results in little damage, mostly to the fenders or bumpers of the cars involved. These accidents are typically not serious and may not cause injuries, but drivers still need to exchange information for insurance purposes and may file claims for repairs. Fender-benders commonly happen in places like parking lots or traffic jams.

heads up
heads up
interjection
uk flag
/hˈɛdz ˈʌp/

used to alert someone to pay attention or to be cautious about something

to [keep] tabs on {sb/sth}
to keep tabs on somebody or something
phrase
uk flag
/kˈiːp tˈæbz ˌɑːn ˌɛsbˈiː slˈæʃ ˌɛstˌiːˈeɪtʃ/
Collocation

to closely observe someone or something to stay informed about their activities or whereabouts

to pick up
Verb
uk flag
/ˈpɪk ˈʌp/

to increase in speed or pace suddenly or gradually

Grammatical Information:

intransitive
Phrasal Status
inseparable
phrase's verb
pick
phrase's particle
up
rush hour
rush hour
noun
uk flag
/ɹˈʌʃ ˈaɪʊɹ/

a time of day at which traffic is the heaviest because people are leaving for work or home

What is "rush hour"?

Rush hour is the period of the day when there is a high volume of people traveling to or from work, school, or other activities. This typically happens in the early morning and late afternoon or evening, when traffic on the roads, buses, and trains is at its busiest. During rush hour, public transportation services and roadways can become crowded, leading to longer travel times. It is a common challenge in cities where many people rely on public transport or cars for their daily commutes.

Grammatical Information:

compound noun
scene
noun
s
s
c
e
i:
n
n
e

the location or setting where an event or action takes place

shoulder
shoulder
noun
sh
ʃ
ou
l
l
d
d
e
ə
r
r

the strip of land on the side of a road where vehicles can stop in an emergency

What is a "shoulder"?

A shoulder is the area of land next to the roadway, usually on the outer edge. It is typically used for emergency stopping or as a safety zone for vehicles, such as when they need to pull over. The shoulder can also be used for pedestrian walkways or bike lanes in some areas. It provides extra space beside the main lanes of traffic, helping to avoid accidents or allowing vehicles to stop without blocking traffic.

to spin out
Verb
uk flag
/spˈɪn ˈaʊt/

to lose control of a vehicle, causing it to spin around or slide uncontrollably, typically on a slippery or wet surface

Grammatical Information:

Phrasal Status
inseparable
tangle
noun
t
t
a
æ
n
n
g
g
ə
l
l
e

a traffic accident involving two or more vehicles that have collided, often causing a messy or complicated situation on the road

a (tough|hard) row to hoe
a tough row to hoe
phrase
uk flag
/ɐ tˈʌf hˈɑːɹd ɹˈoʊ tə hˈoʊ/
Idiom
Informal

a situation that causes difficulties for one

What is the origin of the idiom "a tough row to hoe" and when to use it?

The idiom "a tough row to hoe" originated from the agricultural practice of hoeing rows in a field to prepare the soil for planting. This expression is used to suggest that the task at hand requires considerable effort, endurance, and perseverance, just as tilling a row of soil can be physically demanding and labor-intensive.

to work one's way over something
phrase
uk flag
/wˈɜːk wˈʌnz wˈeɪ ˌoʊvɚ ɔːɹ θɹuː ˌɛstˌiːˈeɪtʃ/
Idiom

to move toward a destination or goal, often with effort or difficulty, typically involving a gradual or slow progress

Congratulations! !

You learned 17 words from Lesson 7. To improve learning and review vocabulary, start practicing.

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