circumstances /s3:rk;mistainsi,z' |n plural] the situation at a particular time, which influences what you do, what you decide, and what can happen: TV cameras are sometimes allowed in the courts, but it depends on the circumstances, in some/certain circumstances In some circumstances you may have to work on Saturdays.
under normal circumstances Under normal circumstances she would never have left the children with a stronger in the circumstances/under the circumstances (=use this to say that you think something should happen because of the situation now) In the circumstances, it might be better if you took a few days off work.
A Don't say 'a circumstance' or 'the circumstance'. Say the circumstances.
Qthings /Biijs/ [n plural] informal, especially spoken the general situation that exists, especially the way it affects your life: Don't worry! Things can't get any worse. \ Things haven't changed much since I wrote to you last.
position /pa'zipn/ In С usually singular! the way things are at the present time, in
a situation that is likely to change: The position now is that the peace talks are continuing.
in a good/bad/strong/difficult position
The latest economic news puts the President in a strong position.
conditions kan'dipnz |n plural] the things that make your life or your work comfortable or uncomfortable, for example whether you have enough food or money, whether the place where you are living or working is warm enough, safe enough etc: Conditions in the city are getting worse every day. I How can people bring up a family in such dread fui conditions?
г
A
Don't say 'a condition' or 'the condition'. Always say conditions jn this meaning.
.j
environment in vawrommnt" [n C| all
the things that influence the way you live, work, and develop, such as the physical conditions you live in and the people around you: Do girls learn better in an all-female environment? working/home environment We have comfortable offices and an enthusiastic young ieam - it's a pleasant working environment
SIZE
how big or small something is
see also big, small, measure
size saiz [n C/U] how big or small something is: Vour desk is exactly the same size as mine. I The price of a carpet will depend on its size and quality, be twice the size/be half the size (=be twice as big or half as big) Their apartment is half the size of ours, of di/ferent sizes I of various sizes There were several pieces of wood of different sizes.
vary in size (=be of different sizes) The American states vary enormously in
size, from very large to very small. ... the size of sth (=when something is the same size as something else) an area of forest the size of Luxembourg
... this/that size (=as big as this one or that one) In a class this size, there will always be a few problems.
^^ When you are asking about someone's clothes size, you can say what size are
you? or what size do you take? (british) or
what size do you wear? (american). When
you are talking about your clothes size, you say I'm a 6/12/42 etc or I take a size 6/12
etc (British), or I wear a size 6/12 etc
(american).
how big hao big, use this to ask or talk about the size of something: How big fs the table? I We need to know how big the hall is.
area 'е,?пэ [n C/L'l the size of a fiat surface such as a floor or a field + of Calculate the area of the walls and ceiling before you buy the paint. I Forest fires caused damage over an area of about 5000 square miles. I a room with
a floor area of 20 square metres
be 5 metres high/2 miles long/6 centimetres wide etc use this to say
how high, how long etc something is. The River Nile is over 6000 kilometres long. I In some places the path is only a couple of feet wide.
be 10 metres by 15 metres/be 5
cm by 20 cm etc use this to say what
the size of an area, object, or room is, for
example, 10 metres by 5 metres
means 10 metres long and 5 metres wide: The kitchen is 4 metres by 2 metres, measure 10 m by 15 m/5 cm by 20 cm
etc The photographs should measure 3 cm by 2 cm.
SLEEP
^ see also tired, rest wake up/сет up
U to sleep
sleep isli:p/ [и I] The baby was sleeping peacefully. I I had to sleep on the floor, sleep well "Did you sleep well?" "Yes.
thanks
sleep like a tog informal (=sleep very well) sieep badly/not sleep wetl I haven't
SIZE
been sleeping well recently.
steep in (^deliberately sleep until a later time than usual, and get up late) We usually sleep in on Sundays. sleep rough british (=sleep outside or in an empty building, because you have no home) Hundreds of homeless people sleep rough every night in London.
sleeping - slept - have slept
Ж Don't confuse sleep and go to bed Use go to bed to talk about getting into your bed at the end of the day: I went to bed at midnight, und slept for eight hours. Don't say 'I slept at midnight'.
sleep sliip [n singular/Uj time when you are sleeping: Lack of sleep can make you bad tempered.
in your sleep (=while you are sleeping! Katie sometimes talks in her sleep get some sleep (=spend time sleeping, especially when you are very tired and need to sleep) / didn't get much sleep last night.