#Action

Draw back from sth: We drew back from taking our neighbours to court.
Back off from sth: The government backed off from a confrontation.
See: Decision: not to do: pull back, scratch etc.
See: Avoid: chicken out etc.
Inaction: The police were accused of inaction in the face of a possible attack.
They have accused the government of inaction on the issue of railway safety.
Supine: the supine attitude of some of our politicians
See: care: laid-back etc.
Talking shop
Sit tight: Shareholders are being advised to sit tight until the crisis passes.
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary 9th edition Oxford University Press, 2015

Have had it(5): Ive had it (up to here) with himhes done it once too often.
see: handling: cant be doing with sth
That's it(3)
It won't do: This is the third time you've been late this week; it simply won't
do.
The worm will turn. see: tipping point.
See: insult: knock it off.
Enough is enough, enough already, That's it(3) !
Have had enough of sth: I've had enough of driving the kids around.
Have had a bellyful of sth: I've had a bellyful of your moaning.
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary 9th edition Oxford University Press, 2015

Shot(5): This statement was the opening shot in the argument.

The supermarket fired the first shot in a price war today. see: struck the first
blow.
Make the first move: If he wants to see me, he should make the first move.
Make your move: The rebels waited until nightfall before they made their move.
False move: One false move and the bomb might blow up.
Move(n1): This latest move by the government has aroused fierce opposition.
The management have made no move to settle the strike.
Getting a job in marketing was a good career move.
SEE ALSO false move
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary 9th edition Oxford University Press, 2015

Act(v): It is vital that we act to stop the destruction of the rainforests.

The girl's life was saved because the doctors acted so promptly.
He claims he acted in self-defence.
Move(4): SYNONYM act
The police moved quickly to dispel the rumours.

Take(26): The government is taking action to combat drug abuse.

We need to take a different approach to the problem.
Action(v): Your request will be actioned.
Come up/ trun up trumps: I didn't honestly think he'd pass the exam but he came up
trumps on the day.
Just when we thought there was no hope, my parents turned up trumps with a large
loan.
Follow sth up: You should follow up your phone call with an email or a letter.
At a single stroke | at one stroke: They threatened to cancel the whole project at
a stroke. see: in one fell swoop.

=========================================================
#Reaction:
To(17): His music isn't really to my taste.
To her astonishment, he smiled.

Preventive,
Peeemptive: a pre-emptive attack/strike on the military base
Countermeasure: countermeasures to neutralize the threat of terrorism

Reactive
Proactive: a proactive approach
Managers must be proactive in identifying and preventing potential problems.

COMPARE reactive
Anticipatory: a fast anticipatory movement by the goalkeeper. see: predective
Reactive: The police presented a reactive rather than preventive strategy against
crime.
COMPARE proactive
Course(5)= course of action: There are various courses open to us.
What course of action would you recommend?
The wisest course would be to say nothing.
Steer/ take/ etc a middle course | find a middle way.
See: policy: tread a sth path.
See: degree: halfway house.

React:
Reaction: there was/ it provoked mixed reactions, I tried to shake him but there
was no reaction from him.
Reception(3): Her latest album has met with a mixed reception from fans.
Delegates gave him a warm reception as he called for more spending on education.
Reply(2): Italy took an early lead but Brazil replied with two goals in the last
five minutes.
The terrorists replied to the government's statement with more violence.
See: answer(n3): russian answer to American new weapon.
Welcome(n2): This new comedy deserves a warm welcome.
The proposals were given a cautious welcome by the trade unions.
Response(2): The news provoked an angry response.
a positive response
I knocked on the door but there was no response.
response (to somebody/something) The product was developed in response to customer
demand.
There has been little response to our appeal for funds.
We sent out over 1 000 letters but the response rate has been low (= few people
replied).

Greet(v2): greet somebody/something Loud cheers greeted the news.

greet somebody/something with something The changes were greeted with suspicion.
greet somebody/something as something The team's win was greeted as a major
triumph.
Greet(v3): When she opened the door she was greeted by a scene of utter confusion.
Receive(3): receive something + adverb/preposition The play was well received by
the critics.
The proposals have been favourably received by most political commentators.
receive something with something The statistics were received with concern.
Meet with sth: Her proposal met with resistance from the Left.
to meet with success/failure
Meet sth with sth: SYNONYM receive
His suggestion was met with howls of protest. see: come up against opposition.
Go down with sb: my suggestion didn't go out very well with the boss.
Go over with sb: the news of her promotion went over well with her colleagues.
Respond(2): SYNONYM react
How did they respond to the news?
The government responded by banning all future demonstrations.

Respond(3): The car responds very well to the controls.

You can rely on him to respond to a challenge.
Take(22): He took the criticism surprisingly well.
These threats are not to be taken lightly.
I wish you'd take me seriously.
She took it in the spirit in which it was intended.
Send(5): send somebody to something Her music always sends me to sleep.
send somebody into something Her account of the visit sent us into fits of
laughter.
send somebody + adjective All the publicity nearly sent him crazy.
The ball is in sbs court: They've offered me the job, so the ball's in my court
now.
Over to you
Where does sb go from here?

Responsive: Firms have to be responsive to consumer demand.

a flu virus that is not responsive to treatment

Jump down sbs throat.

See: Freak(v) At: suddenFeeling.
Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. see: bunny boiler
Get a rise out of sb. see: deliberate: wind sb up.
Bite back at sb: The election was a chance for the people to bite back at the
government.
Fight back: Don't let them bully you. Fight back!
It is time to fight back against street crime.
Fightback: England mounted a spirited fightback in the second half.
Fend off
Fire back

Furore= furor: furore (among somebody) His novel about Jesus caused a furore among
Christians.
furore (about/over something) the recent furore over the tax increases
SYNONYM uproar
Outcry: an outcry over the proposed change
The new tax provoked a public outcry.
There was outcry at the judge's statement.
Backlash: The government is facing an angry backlash from voters over the new tax.

What sb is made of. see: made of sterner stuff.

Separate / sort out the men from the boys.
Separate/ sort out the sheep from the goats
Separate/ sort out the wheat from the chaff: We sifted through the application
forms to separate the wheat from the chaff.
See: winnow.

Rise to sth: I refuse to rise to that sort of comment.

As soon as I mentioned money he rose to the bait. see: took the bakt. sit up and
take notice.
Attract(3): he tried to attract the waiter's attention, he comment is bound to
attract criticism, the exhibition has attracted a lot of interest. see: arouse
controversy.
Act on/ upon sth: Acting on information from a member of the public, the police
raided the club.
Why didn't you act on her suggestion? see: heed
See: accordingly, operate on, deal in sth, on sbs say-so

Dynamics: group dynamics, market dynamics is in our favor, the dynamics of

political change.

Let sth ride: he was very rude to me but I let it ride.

Let sth pass,
Let it go at that: I don't entirely agree, but I'll let it go at that.
I thought she was hinting at something, but I let it go.
Leave it at that: We'll never agree, so let's just leave it at that. see: agree to
differ.
Let sth drop: I suggest we let the matter drop.
Sit/ stand silently by: We cant sit silently by and let them arrest him!
Sit by: We cannot just sit by and watch this tragedy happen.
Stand by: How can you stand by and see him accused of something he didn't do?
RELATED NOUN bystander
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary 9th edition Oxford University Press, 2015

Boggle: even I boggle at the idea of spending so much money.

Initiative(3): to seize/ lose the initiative, it was up to the untied states to

take the initiative to repair relations,

Overcompensate: She overcompensated for her shyness by talking too much and
laughing too loud. see: overshoot,
Overreact: markets overreacts to the news.
Hysteria(2): the usual media hysteria that surrounds royal visits, public hysteria
avout AIDS.
Melodramatic: a melodramatic plot full of deceit and murder
See: discuss: exagerated.
Understandable: SYNONYM natural
Their attitude is perfectly understandable.
It was an understandable mistake to make.
Naturalness(2): Teenagers lose their childhood simplicity and naturalness.
Give as good as you get: She can give as good as she gets.
Take sth further: I am not satisfied with your explanation and intend to take the
matter further.
See: take/ carry sth too far.

Take sth lying down. see: supine.

Swallow(7): I was surprised that he sat there and swallowed all their remarks.
Not turn a hair: She listened to his confession without turning a hair.
Not bat an eyelid / eye: She didn't bat an eyelid when I told her my news.
Unfazed: The President seems unfazed by the ongoing crises around the world.
Unsurprised: She appeared totally unsurprised at the news.
See: care: cavalier etc,
See: feeling/ unworried etc.
Unresponsive: a politician who is unresponsive to the mood of the country
She is a cold, unfeeling and unresponsive woman.
This combination of symptoms seems to be unresponsive to conventional medical
treatment.
OPPOSITE responsive
Insensibility: insensibility to pain. see: insensitive to pain/ cold/ criticism.
Insensitive: the government seems totally insensitive to the mood of the country.
Supine. search it here.

Blench: He blenched when he heard her name announced.

Flinch
Freak(v)

Endearing: SYNONYM lovable

an endearing habit
Hannah found him rather endearing.
His clumsiness is what makes him so endearing.
She has some very endearing qualities.
I like his honesty. Its one of his most endearing qualities.
See: abhorrant, alienate, likeable

Take a joke: The trouble with her is she can't take a joke.
Impatient(3): impatient of criticism. cant take criticism. see: hypersensitive.
Can't be doing with sth (doing sth): I can't be doing with people who complain all
the time.
I cant be doing with you moaning all the time.
See: cant bear, stand, tolerate etc.

Strike/ touch a chord with sb: The speaker had obviously struck a chord with his
audience.

It's no skin off my nose.

================================================================

#Surprise
Surprise surprise: Surprise, surprise! Look who's here!
Get this! OK, get this guysthere are only two left!
So get thisI did all the work and he got the money.
See: wait for it.
Wait till/ until: Wait till you see what I've found!
Coo! Coo, look at him!
Sun of a gun: Well, son of a gunand I thought the old guy couldn't dance!
Crumbs! Oh crumbs! Is that the time?
Gosh! Gosh, is that the time?
Gee! Gee, what a great idea!
I'll be jiggered
Golly! Golly, you're early!
Gracious(5): Goodness gracious!
I hope you didn't mind my phoning you. Good gracious, no, of course not.
God | Good god | god almighty | God in heaven | my god | oh dear god: God, what a
stupid thing to do!
Good heavens! heavens above: Good heavens, what are you doing?
Good grief! Good grief! What a mess!
Good Lord | oh lord: Good Lord, what have you done to your hair!
Holy(3): Holy cow! What was that?
SEE ALSO holier-than-thou, holiness
Ye gods
Bless(4): Bless my soul! Here comes Bill!
Where's Joe? I'm blessed if I know! (= I don't know)
You could have knocked me down with a feather.
Wonders will never cease: I've cleaned my room. Wonders will never cease!
You live and learn
See: beleive: get away etc.
Sbs heart missed a beat: My heart missed a beat when I saw who it was.
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary 9th edition Oxford University Press, 2015

Surprise surprise: One of the candidates was the manager's niece, and surprise,
surprise, she got the job.
No shit!
You don't say: They left without us. You don't say! (= I'm not surprised)
Might(7): I might have guessed it was you!
It's little / no/ small wonder that: It is little wonder (that) she was so upset.
(informal) No wonder you're tired, you've been walking for hours.
Unsurprising: Its unsurprising that people with dogs walk more than others.
OPPOSITE surprising
What else do your expect? She swore at you? What do you expect when you treat her
like that?
Say! Say, that's a nice haircut!
Wow! Wow! You look terrific!
Lumme!
Ha! Ha! It serves you right!
Ha! I knew he was hiding something.
Ho ho! Ho, ho! What have we here?

You're joking | you must be joking: No way am I doing that. You must be joking!
She's going out with Dan? You're joking!
By Jove!
By jingo!
By gum!
My arse!
My hat!
I'll be darned: Well, Ill be darned! They knew about it all the time!
I'll ve damned.
Gordon bennett
Bugger me: bugger me did you see that?
Fuck me: Fuck me! Have you seen how much this costs?
Hell's teeth: Hells teeth, I promised Id be back by two.
For crying out loud: For crying out loud! Why did you have to do that?
Fancy(5v)! Fancy! She's never been in a plane before.
fancy doing something Fancy meeting you here!
fancy something She remembered my name after all those years. Fancy that!
What? It will cost $500. What?
I asked her to marry me. You what?
Ever(4): Why ever did you agree?
Don't believe it: I don't believe it! What are you doing here?

Wonder(v3): wonder (at something) She wondered at her own stupidity.

 (British English, informal) He's gone and left us to do all the work, I shouldn't
wonder (= I wouldn't be surprised if he had).
wonder (that) I wonder (that) he didnt hurt himself jumping over that wall.
I don't wonder you're tired. You've had a busy day. marvel.
Amaze: amaze somebody Just the size of the place amazed her.
amaze somebody what, how, etc It never ceases to amaze me what some people will
do for money.
What amazes me is how long she managed to hide it from us.
it amazes somebody that It amazed her that he could be so calm at such a time.
it amazes somebody to see, find, learn, etc It amazes me to think what we have
achieved this year.
Take sb by surprise: His frankness took her by surprise.
Raise an eyebrow at sth
Spring(v3): spring something She sprang a surprise by winning the tournament.
spring something on somebody I'm sorry to spring it on you, but I've been offered
another job.
Come up/ trun up trumps: I didn't honestly think he'd pass the exam but he came up
trumps on the day.
Just when we thought there was no hope, my parents turned up trumps with a large
loan. see: heaven sent.
Step up to the plate: It's important for world leaders to step up to the plate and
honor their commitments on global warming.
Its time for businesses to step up to the plate and accept responsibility
Knock/ throw sb for a loop: The result of the election knocked most people for a
loop.
Catch/ throw sb off balance
Knock sb sideways
Knock sb back: Hearing the news really knocked me back.
Knock sb out: The movie just knocked me out.
RELATED NOUN knockout
Bowl sb over.
Take sbs breath away: My first view of the island from the air took my breath
away.
See: opportunity: catch sb nappin/ on the hop.
Not know what hit you. see: double take. at: sudden feeling. (shocked or surprised)
Halt sb in their tracks: The question stopped Alice in her tracks.
Cold(adv): His final request stopped her cold.
See: feeling: rattle, unnerve etc.
Reel(v2): I was still reeling from the shock. see this and much more at: feeling.
see reference there to: sudden feeling.
Gasp: gasp (at something) She gasped at the wonderful view.
They gasped in astonishment at the news.
+ speech What was that noise? he gasped.
See: a gasp of surprise.
Walk in on sb
As large as life: I hadnt seen her for fifteen years and then there she was, (as)
large as life. see: long time no see.
Not believe your ears/ eyes.
Shake sb up: Shaken up by the early goal against them, the team began to fight
back.
All hell broke loose: There was a loud bang and then all hell broke loose.
As it happens: I agree with you, as it happens.
As it happens, I have a spare set of keys in my office.
Funnily/ oddly/ strangely etc enough: Funnily enough, I said the same thing myself
only yesterday.
Oddly: SYNONYM surprisingly
She felt, oddly, that they had been happier when they had no money.
Oddly enough, the most expensive tickets sold fastest.
Wonderingly: She gazed at him wonderingly.
Only(adv8): She turned up the driveway, only to find her way blocked.
Of all: I'm surprised that you of all people should say that.
It's a wonder that: Its a wonder (that) more people werent hurt.
What is the world coming to? When I listen to the news these days, I sometimes
wonder what the world is coming to. see: whats got into sb?
No less: She's having lunch with the Director, no less. see here: no/ small
wonder.
To think that: To think that my mother wrote all those books and I never knew!

Amazed: an amazed silence

amazed at somebody/something I was amazed at her knowledge of French literature.
amazed by somebody/something We were amazed by his generosity.
amazed (that) I was banging so loudly Im amazed (that) they didnt hear me.
amazed how She was amazed how little he had changed.
amazed to see, find, learn, etc. We were amazed to find that no one was hurt.
Open-mouthed: The kids stared open-mouthed at the screen.
Gape: She climbed into her sports car to the gapes of passers-by.
Agape: He watched the spectacle, mouth agape.
Gobsmacked: I was gobsmacked when she told me the news

Amazement: To my amazement, he remembered me.

She looked at him in amazement. see: im touched that he still remember, im
flattered.
Wonderment: She looked at her daughter in wonderment.
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary 9th edition Oxford University Press, 2015

Amazing: SYNONYM astounding, incredible

an amazing achievement/discovery/success/performance
That's amazing, isn't it?
It's amazing how quickly people adapt.
Its amazing the difference a few polite words make.
The amazing thing is, he really believes hell get away with it.
Startling: a startling discovery
startling revelations in the Sunday papers
Damnedest: It's the damnedest thing I ever saw.
In all my born days: I've never heard such nonsense in all my born days.
Kicker

Surprise(v2): The army attacked at night to surprise the rebels.

We arrived home early and surprised a burglar trying to break in.
Take sth by surprise: The police took the burglars by surprise.

===================================================================
Twitch(n): She has a twitch in her left eye.
a nervous twitch
Twitchy: Her legs began to feel twitchy.

Reflex: The doctor tested her reflexes.

to have quick/slow reflexes
a reflex response/reaction
Only the goalkeeper's reflexes (= his ability to react quickly) stopped the ball
from going in.
 Almost as a reflex action, I grab my pen as the phone rings.
See: knee jerk, automatic pilot.
Automatic: SYNONYM instinctive
Breathing is an automatic function of the body.
My reaction was automatic.
Voluntary(4)

Convulse: A violent shiver convulsed him.

His whole body convulsed.
Convulsive: a convulsive movement/attack/fit
Her breath came in convulsive gasps.

Stimulus(2): sensory/verbal/visual stimuli

The animals were conditioned to respond to auditory stimuli (= sounds).
Pavlovian: Her yawn was a Pavlovian response to my yawn. see: visceral.