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Intermediate+ Word of the Day: ditch

A ditch is a narrow channel dug in the ground and used for draining or irrigating land or any natural channel or waterway. The verb ditch means ‘to dig a ditch’ and also ‘to crash a plane into water.’ Colloquially, to ditch means…

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Intermediate+ Word of the Day: slam

To slam means ‘to shut hard and noisily,’ as done with a door, ‘to strike or hit with noise and great impact,’ and ‘to push or strike violently,’ usually with the prepositions into or against. Figuratively, it means…

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Intermediate+ Word of the Day: just

Just is an adverb that means ‘a moment before’ or ‘at this moment.’ It also means ‘exactly,’ ‘really,’ or ‘simply,’ and ‘by a narrow margin.’ It is a synonym for ‘only’ as well. As an adjective, just…

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Intermediate+ Word of the Day: lobby

In architecture, a lobby is an entrance hall that works as an anteroom or foyer. In terms of politics, a lobby is ‘a group of people who try to influence government officials to vote in favor of a special interest.’ Related to this, the verb to lobby means ‘to try to influence the actions or votes of someone,’ and also…

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Intermediate+ Word of the Day: leak

A leak is a hole through which liquid, gas, or light enters or escapes and, figuratively, it is the release of secret information by an unknown source. To leak means ‘to let liquid, gas or light enter or escape through a hole’ and also ‘to let secret information become known’…

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Intermediate+ Word of the Day: poll

A poll is a sampling of opinions on a subject taken from a group of people and analysed. A poll is also the act of voting in an election and the number of votes cast or the numerical result of the voting. Polls, usually in the plural, are the places where the voting takes place. As a verb, to poll is to ask questions about a subject, as well as to receive votes at the polls…

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Intermediate+ Word of the Day: campaign

A campaign is a series of operations undertaken for a specific purpose. On a military campaign, these operations are part of a war. However, campaigns can be related to politics, sales, marketing, or anything else aiming to achieve a certain aim. In politics, a campaign is a competition between candidates…

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Intermediate+ Word of the Day: jam

To jam means ‘to press or squeeze in a small space,’ ‘to block by crowding,’ and ‘to push violently on or against something’ or ‘to put something in position with a quick movement.’ In addition, jam means…

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Intermediate+ Word of the Day: blue

We think you all probably know that blue is a primary color and, as an adjective, refers to anything of the color blue. As a noun, always with the, the blue can refer to either the sky or the ocean. Blues, always in the plural, is a music genre, and the blues is a colloquial synonym for ‘sadness or depressed spirits.’

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Intermediate+ Word of the Day: jar

A jar is a wide open container, mostly cylinder shaped and made of glass, and also the quantity held by it. Completely unrelated, to jar means ‘to have an unpleasant and sudden effect on your nerves or feelings’ and, more generally, ‘to shake or vibrate.’ Jar also means ‘to clash or conflict.’ Related to this meaning, the noun jar is…

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