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Street Talk 3 /

A Closer Look: Lesson 14

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1-
to blow away
2-
to carjack
3-
false move
4-
to freeze
5-
to hand over
6-
to hit the dirt
7-
to hold up
8-
hold-up
9-
to blow one's head off
10-
let somebody have it
11-
to shut up
12-
stay down
13-
stick-up
14-
to waste
to blow away
Verb
uk flag
/blˈoʊ ɐwˈeɪ/
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to kill someone with a gun or other weapons

example
Example
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The security camera footage captured the chilling moment when the victim was blown away.
Faced with danger, the detective had to blow the assailant away in self-defense.

Grammatical Information:

transitive
Phrasal Status
separable
phrase's verb
blow
phrase's particle
away
to carjack
Verb
c
k
a
ɑ
r
r
j
ʤ
a
æ
ck
k

to forcibly steal a vehicle from its driver, often involving threats or violence

false [move]
false move
noun
uk flag
/fˈɑːls mˈuːv/

a reckless action that may result in serious consequences or failure

What is the origin of the idiom "false move" and when to use it?

The idiom "false move" originated from the game of chess, where a "false move" refers to a move that puts a player's pieces in danger or fails to advance their position. It can be used to describe a wide range of situations, such as in business, sports, or personal life, where a single misstep or miscalculation can have negative consequences.

Grammatical Information:

compound noun
to freeze
Verb
f
f
r
r
ee
i
z
z
e

to suddenly stop moving or become immobilized due to fear, shock, or surprise

Grammatical Information:

intransitive
to hand over
to hand over
Verb
uk flag
/hˈænd ˈoʊvɚ/

to transfer the possession or control of someone or something to another person or entity

Grammatical Information:

transitive
Phrasal Status
separable
phrase's verb
hand
phrase's particle
over
to hit the dirt
phrase
uk flag
/hˈɪt ðə dˈɜːt/
Idiom
Informal

to suddenly fall on the ground, often as a way of avoiding danger

What is the origin of the idiom "hit the dirt" and when to use it?

The idiom "hit the dirt" is rooted in military jargon and combat situations. It's commonly used as a command or an action in response to a threat, particularly in situations involving gunfire or explosions.

to hold up
Verb
uk flag
/hˈoʊld ˈʌp/

to rob a bank, shop, or similar place using a firearm, usually with a threat of violence

Grammatical Information:

Phrasal Status
inseparable
phrase's verb
hold
phrase's particle
up
hold-up
noun
uk flag
/hˈoʊldˈʌp/

a delay or obstruction that prevents progress or causes a situation to be temporarily halted

What is a "hold-up"?

A hold-up is a delay or interruption that stops something from continuing or progressing as planned. It can happen in various situations, such as when a process is slowed down due to an obstacle or an unexpected issue. For example, a hold-up can occur in traffic when cars are stuck, or in a project when something causes work to stop temporarily. This type of delay can make things take longer to complete or cause a pause in the usual flow of events.

Grammatical Information:

compound noun
to blow one's head off
phrase
uk flag
/blˈoʊ wˈʌnz hˈɛd ˈɔf/

to shoot someone in the head

let somebody have it
sentence
uk flag
/lˈɛt ˌɛsbˈiː hˈæv ɪt/
Idiom
Informal

to violently criticize or punish a person over what they did or said

What is the origin of the idiom "let someone have it" and when to use it?

The idiom "let someone have it" has its origins in a metaphorical extension of physical combat. Dating back to the early 20th century, it initially referred to delivering a forceful blow or attack. Over time, the expression evolved to include verbal confrontation or criticism, suggesting the delivery of a strong rebuke or scolding. The expression is used to convey a sense of confronting someone assertively or forcefully, either physically or verbally.

to shut up
to shut up
Verb
uk flag
/ʃˈʌt ˈʌp/

to stop talking and be quiet

open up

Grammatical Information:

Phrasal Status
inseparable
phrase's verb
shut
phrase's particle
up
stay down
sentence
uk flag
/stˈeɪ dˈaʊn/

a command to remain low, often used in dangerous situations like robberies or police operations

stick-up
stick-up
noun
uk flag
/stˈɪkˈʌp/

a robbery, typically involving a threat or use of force

to waste
Verb
w
w
a
s
s
t
t
e

to eliminate or kill someone

Grammatical Information:

transitive

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You learned 14 words from A Closer Look: Lesson 14. To improve learning and review vocabulary, start practicing.

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