Qcan't possibly /,kamt pDs^bli|kaent 'pa:-/ especially spoken say that you can't possibly do something in order to emphasize that you think it is impossible and that you are surprised someone thinks it is possible: I can't possibly eat all that food. I We couldn't possibly afford the flight.
IMPROVE
see also better
II to get better
get better /get 'bets1"/ to become better: /
hope the weather gets better soon, get a lot better Yuri's English is getting a lot better.
things are getting better (=a situation is getting better) David has a new job, so things are getting better. get better and better (=continue to get
IMPOSSIBLE
better, in a way that makes you feel pleased) Paloma's teacher says that her schoolwork is getting better and better.
/h Get better is used in spoken English more than in written English.
improve /im'pruiv/ [v I] to become better: In the weeks that followed, his health continued to improve, improve dramatically (=improve a lot) Conditions in prisons have improved dramatically in the last 20 years.
As Improve is more formal than get better. It is used mostly in written English or in formal spoken situations, but not usually in ordinary conversation.
Qthings are looking up /,0iqz эг
lokii] "лр/ spoken say this when good things have started to happen to you, and your life seems much better than it was: Things are looking up - I've got a new job and a new boyfriend.
El to make something better
improve /im'pruiv/ [и T] to make something better: I wanted to improve my French, so I got a job in Paris. I Road and rail services have been improved. I Put some salt on it. It'll improve the taste.
make sth better /,meik (sth) 'bet3r/ to
improve a situation or improve someone's life: Instead of making the traffic situation better, the new road has just made things worse.
make things better You won't make things any better by worrying about them.
make li/e better for sb Have computers really made life better for everyone?
make improvements /meik impru:v- msnts/ to make changes to something or add things to it in order to make it better, more useful, or more effective + to Several improvements have been made to the original designs. I They made a lot of improvements to their house after they moved in (=for example
by adding a new room or putting in a new heating system).
Qbrush up sth/brush up on sth
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/,Ьгл/ лр (sth), ,Ьгл] лр Dn (sth)/ [phrasal verb T] especially spoken to practise doing something that you have not done for a long time, in order to try to improve it - use this especially about speaking foreign languages: I'd like to brush up my Italian before our trip.
В a change that makes
something better
improvement /impruivmsm [n C/U] a change that makes something become better
+ in Have you noticed any improvement in his work? t Accidents have become less frequent, thanks to recent improvements in our safety checks. big / great / tremendous improvement There's been a great improvement in the team's performance over the last three games.
advance /9d'va:ns||-vaens/ |n С often plural] an important new idea or way of doing something, especially in science + in Advances in medical science may make it possible for people to live for 150 years.
big/enormous/major advance The last
20 years have seen enormous advances in computer technology.
IN CHARGE OF
to be the person who controls а person, organization, or activity
^ see also manager, power, control
be in charge /bi: in 'tja:rd3/ if you are in
charge of an activity or a group of people, you are the person who has the power to control what happens, to tell other people what to do etc: Who's in charge around here? + о/ the officer in charge of the investigation
be in charge of doing sth As senior supervisor, she is in charge of training new employees.
put sb in charge David Hughes has been put in charge of the school play this year.
run /глп/ [и T] if you run a business or organization, you are the person who makes the important decisions about what will happen: She runs a company called
Sunshine Holidays. I a drug counselling service that is run by ex-addicts running - ran - have run
be responsible for sth/sb /bi: n-
spDns^b-?! fb:r (sth/sb)||-'spa:n-/ if you are responsible for doing something, you have to make sure that everything is done correctly and that problems are dealt with; if you are responsible for someone, you have to make sure that they behave well and that they are safe: You're responsible for the children while they are in your classroom. I the Minister responsible for foreign a//airs
be responsible for doing sth Who is
responsible for organizing the travel arrangements?
responsibility /n,sponsi'bi|i,ti||ri,spain-/ [n C/U] a duty that you have when you are in charge, for example making sure that problems are dealt with or that people are safe: She's in charge of the whole hospital ~ it's a big responsibi/ity. have responsibility for (doing) sth In the past, it was usually the mother who had responsibility for child care. I The landlord is responsible for keeping the apartment in good condition, be sb's responsibility Garbage collection is the responsibility of the city council. it is sb's responsibility to do sth It's your responsibility to ensure that the passengers in your car are wearing seat- belts.
plural responsibilities
lead /liid/ [у T] to be in charge of a group of people, especially a political party, a group of soldiers, or a team of workers: Margaret Thatcher led the British
Conservative Party for fifteen years. I Lieutenant Capaldi is leading the murder investigation. I a research project led by Professor Johnson
leading - led - have led
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IN CHARGE OF
supervise /'su:p3rvaiz, 'sju:-|'su:-/ [v T] if you supervise an activity or a group of people, your job is to watch what everyone is doing, in order to make sure that things are done correctly: Who was supposed to be supervising the kids when the fire started? I The distribution of aid will be supervised by the International Red Cross.