ECLECTIC

I've read this name as a music genre in several radio applications such as TuneIn, and I wondered what it meant. Now here is the meaning, from Collins English Dictionary:

eclectic (ɪˈklɛktɪk; ɛˈklɛk-) adj 1. (Art Terms) (in art, philosophy, etc) selecting what seems best fromvarious styles, doctrines, ideas, methods, etc 2. composed of elements drawn from a variety of sources, styles, etc n 3. a person who favours an eclectic approach, esp in art or philosophy [C17: from Greek eklektikos, from eklegein to select, from legein to gather]

bubble up

move upwards in bubbles, as from the effect of heating; 
"Gases bubbled up from the earth"

also used metaphorically:
"Marx's ideas have bubbled up in many places in Latin America"

Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

shin

shin [ʃɪn]

A. N → espinilla

B. VI to shin up/down a tree → trepar a/bajar de un árbol

PREFER

If you prefer one person or thing to another, you like the first one better.I prefer art to sports.She preferred cooking at home to eating in restaurants.
Don't use any preposition except to in sentences like these. Don't say, for example 'I prefer art than sports'.

Prefer is rather formal. In ordinary conversation, you often use expressions such as like...better and would rather... instead. For example, instead of saying 'I prefer football to tennis', you can say 'I like football better than tennis'. Instead of saying 'I'd prefer an apple',you can say 'I'd rather have an apple'.

Collins COBUILD English Usage © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 2004, 2011, 2012

'AS IF' and 'AS THOUGH'

You can use as if or as though at the beginning of a clause when you are describing how someone or something looks, or how someone behaves.

It's a wonderful item and in such good condition that it looks as though it was bought yesterday.

He lunged towards me as if he expected me to aim a gun at him.

Many people think it is incorrect to use 'was' in clauses of this type. They say you should use were instead.

He looked at me as if I were mad.

She remembered it all as if it were yesterday.

However, in conversation people usually use was.

The secretary spoke as though it was some kind of password.

He gave his orders as if this was only another training exercise.

You can use was or were in conversation, but in formal writing you should use were.

Some people say like instead of 'as if' or 'as though'.

He looked like he felt sorry for me.

Shaerl put up balloons all over the house like it was a six-year-old's party.

This use is generally regarded as incorrect.

Collins COBUILD English Usage © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 2004, 2011, 2012

FLOCK

Synonyms: flock¹, herd, drove², pack¹, gang¹, brood These nouns denote a number of animals, birds, or fish considered collectively, and some have human connotations. 

Flock is applied to a congregation of animals of one kind, especially sheep or goats herded by people, and to any congregation of wild or domesticated birds, especially when on the ground. It is also applicable to people who form the membership of a church or to people under someone's care or supervision. 

Herd is used of a number of animals, especially cattle, herded by people; or of wild animals such as antelope, elephants, and zebras; or of whales and seals. Applied to people, it is used disparagingly of a crowd or of the masses and suggests the gregarious aspect of crowd psychology. 

Drove is used of a herd or flock, as of cattle or geese, that is being moved or driven from one place to another; less often it refers to a crowd of people in movement. 

Pack is applicable to any body of animals, especially wolves, or of birds, especially grouse, and to a body of hounds trained to hunt as a unit. It also refers disparagingly to a band or group of persons.  

Gang refers to a herd, especially of buffalo or elk; to a pack of wolves or wild dogs; or to various associations of persons, especially when engaged in violent or criminal pursuits. 

Brood is applicable to offspring that are still under the care of a mother, especially the offspring of domestic or game birds or, less formally, of people.

The following related terms are used as indicated: 
bevy, a company of roe deer, larks, or quail; 
cast, the number of hawks or falcons cast off at one time, usually a pair; 
cete, a company of badgers; 
covert, a flock of coots; 
covey, a family of grouse, partridges, or other game birds; 
drift, a drove or herd, especially of hogs; 
exaltation, a flight of larks; 
fall, a family of woodcock in flight; 
flight, a flock of birds in flight;  
gaggle, a flock of geese;  
gam, a school of whales, or a social congregation of whalers, especially at sea;  
kennel, a number of hounds or dogs housed in one place or under the same ownership; 
kindle, a brood or litter, especially of kittens;  
litter, the total number of offspring produced at a single birth by a multiparous mammal; 
murder, a flock of crows;  
muster, a flock of peacocks;  
nide, a brood of pheasants;  
pod, a small herd of seals or whales;  
pride, a company of lions; 
rout, a company of people or animals in movement, especially knights or wolves;  
school, a congregation of fish, or aquatic mammals such as dolphins or porpoises;  
shrewdness, a company of apes;  
skein, a flight of wildfowl, especially geese;  
skulk, a congregation of vermin, especially foxes, or of thieves; 
sloth, a company of bears; 
sord, a flight of mallards; 
sounder, a herd of wild boar;  
stable, a number of horses housed in one place or under the same ownership;  
swarm, a colony of insects, such as ants, bees, or wasps, especially when migrating to a new nest or hive;  
troop, a number of animals, birds, or people, especially when on the move;  
warren, the inhabitants, such as rabbits, of a warren;  
watch, a flock of nightingales; and  
wisp, a flock of birds, especially of snipe.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Useful expressions with MUD

mud [mʌd]

A. N → barro m, lodo m
to stick in the mud [cart] → quedarse atascado en el barro; [ship] → embarrancar
(here's) mud in your eye! (toast) → ¡salud y pesetas!
to drag sb's name through the mud → ensuciar el nombre de algn
his name is mud → tiene muy mala fama
to sling or throw mud at sb → vilipendiar or insultar a algn, poner a algn como un trapo or por los suelos

 

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

Use of English - Rephrasing #006 (CAE)

CAE example rephrasing test. Between 3-6 words. Highlight under the sentences to see the answers.

39. The plane failed to depart on schedule due to an engine malfunction.

OFF

The plane                                          as planned due to an engine malfunction.

DID NOT TAKE OFF

40. There were not as many tourists this year due to the economic downturn.

SIGNIFICANTLY

Compared to previous years, we had                                         due to the economic downturn.

SIGNIFICANTLY LESS/FEWER TOURISTS

41. I really don’t know what to say about that news.

WORDS

I am at                                             about the news.

A LOSS FOR WORDS

 EXTRA

Rewrite this sentences in a different way including the word provided.

42. It is still light. (YET) 

It isn’t dark yet

43. I’ve lived in the country [from ten years now] and I love it. (SINCE)

Since ten years ago.

44. The family doesn’t live here anymore. Thank goodness. (LONGER)

The family no longer lives here OR doesn’t live here any longer

45. I Like this town a lot because is quiet and pretty. (FOND)

I’m fond of this town because…

46. What was the cause of the argument, do you know? (REASON)

What was the reason behind/for the argument?

47. The tall, good-looking man [started the discussion]. (WHO)

Was who started the discussion.

 

Useful expressions with SCORN

scorn (skɔːn)

n

1. open contempt or disdain for a person or thing; derision

2. an object of contempt or derision

3. an act or expression signifying contempt

vb

4. to treat with contempt or derision

5. (tr) to reject with contempt

Useful expressions: (Spanish equivalent)

A. N → desprecio m, menosprecio m
to pour scorn on sth; laugh sth to scorn → ridiculizar algo

B. VT → despreciar, menospreciar
to scorn to do sth → no dignarse a hacer algo

Collins dictionaries

Use of English - Rephrasing #005 (CAE)

CAE example rephrasing test. Between 3-6 words. Highlight under the sentences to see the answers.

33. I can’t understand why you would ask her to come on holiday. She hates the beach. POINT

I don’t                               trying to convince her to come on holiday. She hates the beach.

SEE THE POINT IN

34. We’ve had our share of good and bad times like most married couples. DOWNS

Like the most married couples, we’ve had                                     .

OUR UPS AND DOWNS

35. The wind howled outside as the tornado approached. ONLY

As the tornado approached,                                               heard outside.

ONLY THE WIND COULD BE

36. Do you think you could help me move on Saturday? WONDERING

I                                                                 me a hand moving on Saturday?

WAS WONDERING IF YOU COULD GIVE/LEND

37. Help yourself to coffee and biscuits. FEEL

                                      to take some coffee and biscuits.

PLEASE, FEEL FREE

38. The protestors demanded the minister’s resignation in the wake of the scandal. FOR

The protesters                                              the minister in the wake of the scandal.

CALLED FOR THE RESIGNATION OF