preparations / prep^reipnz [n plural] all
the things you have to do so that you will be ready for an important event + for She's busy with preparations for the school concert.
make preparations Belgium is making preparations for next year's centenary celebrations.
PRESS
^ see also push, pull
II to push something firmly, especially with your fingers
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PRESS
press /pres [о T] to push something firmly
PRESS 580
with your fingers or with your feet: The doctor gently pressed her stomach. I / pressed the brake pedal, but nothing happened.
press sth down Press the lid down hard to seal the tin.
press a button/bell/key (=in order to make a machine work, a bell ring etc) Which key do I press to delete it? I To get cojfee, put your money in the machine and press the green button.
squeeze ,/skwi:z/ [и T] to push something firmly inwards with your hands or fingers: I squeezed the toothpaste tube, but nothing came out. I squeezing a damp cloth to get the water out squeeze sb's armfhand (=as a sign of love or friendship) Alice squeezed my arm affectionately, and said goodbye.
pinch /pint// [l> T] to press someone's skin tightly between your fingers and thumb, so that it hurts: Dad! Katy just pinched me!
tOUCh /tAtJ/ \V Tj especially american to
press a button, for example on a telephone or a computer screen, in order to make a choice, get information, or make something work - used especially in instructions: For room service, touch button 9.
В to press something so hard that it breaks or becomes flat
squash /'skwDi||skwa:J\ skw;xf [и T] to damage something, especially something soft, by pressing it and making it flat: Someone sat on my hat and squashed if. 1 Careful you don't squash those peaches.
squashed jadj] a squashed tomato
crush /кгл// [и T] to press something so hard that it gets damaged or broken into pieces: His leg was crushed In the accident. 1 a machine for crushing rocks crushed [adj] The path was made of crushed shells.
mash /таг// [и T] to press fruit or cooked vegetables with a fork or similar tool, until they are soft and smooth: Mash the bananas and add them to the mixture. mashed [adj] pie and mashed potatoes
using a machine or special tooclass="underline" Grind some black pepper over the salad. grinding - ground - have ground ground [adj] freshly ground coffee
PRETEND
if you mean 'pretend to have a feeling or opinion', go to false з
ACTOR/ACTRESS
FAU4 t г
see
also
lie 2
cheat
4 \
DISHONEST
TRUE/NOT TRUE
to pretend that something is true
pretend pri'tend/ [v \/T\ to behave as though something is true when you know that it is not: We thought he had really hurt himself, but he was just pretending. + (that) The kids were pretending that they were in a space rocket. pretend to do sth She pretended to listen, but I could tell she was thinking about something else.
Qput it on/be putting it on pot
it dp, hi: .potiq it опЦ-'агп/ spoken to pretend to be ill, upset, injured etc. because you want to avoid doing something or you want people to feel sorry for you: Kelly's not really ill - she's just putting it on because she doesn't want to go to school.
to pretend to be someone else
pretend /pri'tend.- [и T] to behave as if you are someone else and try to make other people believe this
pretend to be sb We pretended to be students and went along to the party too! + (that) They got into the house by pretending they worked for the electricity company.
impersonate /im'p^saneit/ [и T] to
behave as though you are someone with official power or someone famous, either
grind /graind/ [и T] to break something such as corn or coffee beans into powder,
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PRISON
for dishonest reasons or in order to entertain people: I got home to find him impersonating Elvis Presley in front of the mirror. I It's illegal to impersonate a police officer.
do an impersonation/do an impression du: on im,p3:rso neipn. du: on imprcpn to speak, walk, or behave like someone else, in order to make people laugh
+ of Stuart did a brilliant impersonation of the boss. I a comedian who used to do impressions of fa mo us politicians
role-play 'Tool piei (n C/U] when you
pretend to be someone else and behave as they would behave, especially as a way of learning about a situation or developing a skilclass="underline" Role-play is often used as a teaching method in language classes.
El to pretend not to notice
someone or something pretend not to see/hear/notice
pri lend not to si:. hior. "noot^s She winked at me, but I pretended not to notice. I She pretended not to see the look of surprise on Karen 's face. pretend (that) you have not noticed/ seen/heard I called out his name, but he pretended that he hadn 't heard me.
ignore ig'no;' [и T] if you ignore someone. you rudely pretend you have not seen them or heard them; if you ignore something. you pretend you have not noticed it. especially because it does not seem important: John totally ignored her and went on talking to his new girlfriend. ) Someone made a rude noise, which the teacher decided to ignore.
Qnot take any notice british not pay any attention american not ,teik
em noot^s. not ,pei eni о tenprn kspfxial.ly spokln to not let someone's words or behaviour affect what you do or affect the way you feeclass="underline" I keep telling them to turn the music down, but they don't take any notice. I We complained to the school about it, but no one pays attention. not take any notice o//not pay any attention to Don't take any notice of him - he's just jealous.
pretending to have
feelings you do not have
insincere /.msin'si^*/ ladj] someone who is insincere says things that they do not
really mean, for example when they praise you or say something friendly: 'It's so good to see you again/ she said, with an insincere smile. I an insincere compliment I He always praised everyone, so it was difficult to tell if he was being insincere or not.
hypocritical .hipo'kritiM* [adj] pretending to be morally good or to have beliefs that you do not really have: 1 think it's a little hypocritical to get married in a church when you don't believe in God. I Politicians are so hypocritical • they preach about 'family values' while they all seem to be having affairs. hypocrite [л Cj someone who pretends to have strong opinions about how people should behave, but who does not behave like this themselves: My dad is such a hypocrite - he says I shouldn't smoke, but he smokes 20 a day