English Vocabulary In UseAdvancedMcCarthy-ODellImportant: important Sense:Weighty; said usually of things Significant considerable momentous great decisive determining big consequential influential marked of moment of importance of note valuable substantial material relevant essential key main major necessary crucial powerful

cement a relationship/Alliance (MAKE STRONGER) /sment/to make something such as anagreementorfriendshipstronger:

They want to cement a good working relationship between the government and trade unions.The university'sexchangeschemehas cementeditslinkswith many otheracademicinstitutions.Lets have a drink to cement our partnership.

be/come up against a brick wallto beunableto make moreprogresswith aplanordiscussionbecause someone isstoppingyouIve tried to find out what had happened, but I cane up against a brick wall.at thisagewhen you come up against a brick wall, you dosometimesfeellikescreamingwithfrustrationceilingnoun(LIMIT)anupperlimit, usuallyrelatingtomoney:They haveimposed/seta ceiling onpayrises.the governmentimposedawageceiling of 3per cent

glass ceilingthe attitudes and practices that prevent women or particular groups from getting high level jobs, even though there are no actual laws or rules to stop them:Variousreasonsare given for theapparentglassceilingwomenhitin manyprofessions.

hit the roof Suddenlybecomeveryangry:when shesurprisedhim in bed with anotherwomanshe hit the roof When I got there on Wednesday and was told there were still no beds, I hit the roof. I knew Kitty would hit the roof, so I picked up a bribe. When she saw the coat and heard John had bought it for me she hit the roof.go through the roof informal1(Ofpricesor figures)reachextremeorunexpectedheights:rents have gone through the roof Land supply slowed to a trickle; prices went through the roof and governments reaped huge rewards, instead of meeting the needs of people seeking to buy a home. The only factor is that the prices have gone through the roof, and the quality of timber deteriorated, as the trees felled these days are much younger than those felled a decade ago. Energy prices have gone through the roof and somehow taken a route through your wallet to get there.

ivory tower[countable] /a.vr.i/ A hardcreamy-whitesubstancecomposingthemainpart of thetusksof anelephant (marfil)a place or situation where you are separated from the difficulties of ordinary life and so are unable to understand them, used especially to describe a college or university:an academic in an ivory towerAcademicssittinginivorytowershave nounderstandingof what isimportantforordinarypeople.Academics are often criticised for living in their ivory towers.tower of strengthsomeone who gives you a lot of help, sympathy, and support when you are in trouble:Her father was a tower of strength to her when her marriage broke up.Polly was a tower ofstrengthtome when I wasill.

tower above/over sthto be muchbiggerand moresuccessfulthan another thing of the sametype:Onecomputermanufacturertowersabove all therest.Jack towers above all his classmates although he is actually one of the youngest pupils.

gatewayn(entrance)entradanf

gateway to somethinga)a place, especially a city, that you can go through in order to reach another much bigger place:St. Louis is the gateway to the West.b)a way of achieving something:To me a home in the country is a gateway to happiness.

shut/close the door on something to make something impossible:The accident shut the door on her ballet career.Failing his exams closed/shut a lot of doors for him.open the door/way to somethingalso open doors to make an opportunity for something to happen:Knowing several languages opens doors when it comes to finding jobs.Research on genes should open the door to exciting new medical treatments.If the record is successful, it could open doors for my career.

get in through the back doorto achieve something by having an unfair secret advantage: His father works there so he got in through the back door. Thechangewasimmediatelydismissedas a backdoortaxincrease. The problem with such a solution, of course, is that it is a slightly dishonest, back-door way of achieving a result which accords with justice. It is wrong, it is a back-door tax, and we totally disagree with it. That is why the National Party opposes this ridiculous back-door tax.

KEY: it collocates strongly with:China's support is key to the success of the coalition.key factor/points/questions etcThe President makes all the key decisions on foreign policy.key role/player/figure etc(=one with a lot of influence on a result)The show has been hit by the departure of key personnel.

Key + decisin Reason Difference Element Features Unit 97 Other Englishes: Diversity and varietyAustraliaockernoun[C]UK(alsookker)/k.r/US/.k/Australian Englishinformalan Australian who is not welleducatedand does notbehavein apoliteway thecopwas abigbeefyockerYoull have to forgive him.; hes justa n ignoran ocker.didgeridoonoun[C]UK/dd..ridu/US/-.i-/(pluraldidgeridoos)alongwoodenwindinstrumentplayedby Australian Aborigines toproducealongdeepsound There was a Young Australian in the shopping centre playing a didgeridoo.

Struth //stru/??? (gosh/wow)Struth lok at that bloke over there, mate. bloke a man: He's a nice bloke.Mate: a)a friend: I'm going out with my mates tonight.good/best mate He's good mates with John. Most of my school mates are black.b)used as a friendly way to address a man:What's the time, mate?