2 PHRASE If you refer to a job or an opportunity as a poisoned chalice , you mean that it seems to be very attractive but you believe it will lead to failure. □ He does not regard his new job as a poisoned chalice.
chalk /tʃɔː k/ (chalks , chalking , chalked )
1 N‑UNCOUNT [oft N n] Chalk is a type of soft white rock. You can use small pieces of it for writing or drawing with. □ …the highest chalk cliffs in Britain. □ Her skin was chalk white and dry-looking.
2 N‑UNCOUNT Chalk is small sticks of chalk, or a substance similar to chalk, used for writing or drawing with. □ …somebody writing with a piece of chalk. □ …drawing a small picture with coloured chalks.
3 VERB If you chalk something, you draw or write it using a piece of chalk. □ [V n] He chalked the message on the blackboard. □ [V -ed] There was a blackboard with seven names chalked on it.
4 PHRASE If you say that two people or things are like chalk and cheese , you are emphasizing that they are completely different from each other. [BRIT , EMPHASIS ] □ The two places, he insists, are as different as chalk and cheese. □ We are very aware of our differences, we accept that we are chalk and cheese.
▸ chalk up PHRASAL VERB If you chalk up a success, a victory, or a number of points in a game, you achieve it. □ [V P n] Andy Wilkinson chalked up his first win of the season. [Also V n P ]
chalk|board /tʃɔː kbɔː r d/ (chalkboards ) N‑COUNT A chalkboard is a dark-coloured board that you can write on with chalk. [mainly AM ] in BRIT, use blackboard
chalky /tʃɔː ki/
1 ADJ Something that is chalky contains chalk or is covered with chalk. □ The chalky soil around Saumur produces the famous Anjou wines.
2 ADJ Something that is chalky is a pale dull colour or has a powdery texture. □ Her face became a chalky white.
chal|lenge ◆◆◇ /tʃæ l I ndʒ/ (challenges , challenging , challenged )
1 N‑VAR A challenge is something new and difficult which requires great effort and determination. □ I like a big challenge and they don't come much bigger than this. □ The new government's first challenge is the economy.
2 PHRASE If someone rises to the challenge , they act in response to a difficult situation which is new to them and are successful. □ [+ of ] Such projects illustrate the company's ability to rise to the challenge of an evolving marketplace.
3 N‑VAR A challenge to something is a questioning of its truth or value. A challenge to someone is a questioning of their authority. □ [+ to ] The demonstrators have now made a direct challenge to the authority of the government.
4 VERB If you challenge ideas or people, you question their truth, value, or authority. □ [V n to-inf] Democratic leaders have challenged the president to sign the bill. □ [be V -ed] The move was immediately challenged by two of the republics. □ [V n + on/about ] I challenged him on the hypocrisy of his political attitudes. [Also V with quote, V n]
5 VERB If you challenge someone, you invite them to fight or compete with you in some way. □ [V n + to ] A mum challenged her to a fight after their daughters fell out. □ [V n to-inf] He left a note at the scene of the crime, challenging detectives to catch him. □ [V n] We challenged a team who called themselves 'College Athletes'. ● N‑COUNT Challenge is also a noun. □ A third presidential candidate emerged to mount a serious challenge.
6 → see also challenged , challenging COLLOCATIONS challenge NOUN
1
adjective + challenge : big, great, major; daunting, serious, tough
verb + challenge : enjoy, relish; pose, present; accept, face, meet, overcome
5
noun + challenge : leadership, promotion, title
verb + challenge : mount
chal|lenged /tʃæ l I ndʒd/ ADJ [adv ADJ ] If you say that someone is challenged in a particular way, you mean that they have a disability in that area. Challenged is often combined with inappropriate words for humorous effect. □ …terms like 'vertically-challenged'–meaning short. □ She ran off with an intellectually-challenged ski instructor.
chal|leng|er /tʃæ l I ndʒə r / (challengers ) N‑COUNT A challenger is someone who competes with you for a position or title that you already have, for example being a sports champion or a political leader. □ [+ to ] The Glasgow team was the strongest challenger to the winners from London. [Also + for ]
chal|leng|ing /tʃæ l I ndʒ I ŋ/
1 ADJ A challenging task or job requires great effort and determination. □ Mike found a challenging job as a computer programmer. □ I'm ready to do all those things which are more challenging.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you do something in a challenging way, you seem to be inviting people to argue with you or compete against you in some way. □ Mona gave him a challenging look.
cham|ber ◆◇◇ /tʃe I mbə r / (chambers )
1 N‑COUNT A chamber is a large room, especially one that is used for formal meetings. □ We are going to make sure we are in the council chamber every time he speaks.
2 N‑COUNT You can refer to a country's parliament or to one section of it as a chamber . □ More than 80 parties are contesting seats in the two-chamber parliament. □ [+ of ] His government has only a 16-seat majority in the Chamber of Deputies.