| about this site | who we are | site map | reading tips | teaching tips | student tips | build vocab | | teaching vocab | hot links | visit Thai school | Bangkok Post | Post books | student weekly | home

March 20 & 21, 2003 curb The verb curb means to limit or stop. As a noun, curb refers to a control or limit that is normally placed on something bad. Implanting microchips in fighting cocks to curb the spread of bird flu is a waste of money, says Agriculture Minister Somsak Thepsutin. Critics complained that the state had done nothing to curb the demand for electricity. Efforts to curb illicit drug production have largely failed. On Monday, new curbs were put on savings interest rates. March 19, 2003 mercenary (MER sa nair i) The noun mercenary refers to a soldier who is paid to fight for a country or group that they do not belong too. Mercenary can also as an adjective to describe someone who does something only for the money. Zimbabwe has charged 70 suspected mercenaries with conspiring to murder the president of Equatorial Guinea in an alleged plot to topple the government of the oil-rich African state, their lawyer said yesterday. The 700 Pakistanis who moved into the region included regular army soldiers as well as mercenaries. The country was accused of supplying mercenaries to regional conflicts. Even the most mercenary foreign firm grows a little uneasy dealing with a country that shoots its own citizens. March 18, 2003 lump The noun lump refers to a solid piece of something or to a small, hard swelling in the body. A lump sum refers to an amount of money that is paid out on a single occasion. Mr Thaksin said the budget would not be approved in one lump sum. The lottery winner opted for a single lump-sum payment. Harrison said a lump on his left hand had swelled to the size of a golf ball. He took three lumps of sugar with his tea. March 17, 2003 bully (BUL i) The verb bully means for someone to use their strength and power to hurt or frighten someone. A person who does such a thing is a bully. "Arrests must be made only when there is clear evidence, so people will know they are not being bullied," the interior minister said. The court found that Microsoft violated antitrust laws by using its monopoly power to bully computer makers. Washington must face the fact that it has become the major bully of the world trading system. Too often he was a small-minded bully. March 16, 2003 vintage (VIN tidj) The adjective vintage refers to something old but admired as the best of its kind. Vintage also often refers to a very good quality wine. As a noun, vintage refers to the year and place that a wine was made before being stored, or it can refer to a period of time when something was in use or popular. Police yesterday seized seven vintage cars worth 60 million baht but without proper documents at a garage in the Pathumwan area. It was difficult not to overindulge on the vintage champagne served on the Concorde. The 1960s vintage subs would require considerable refurbishing. Pre-Christmas sales of this year's vintage from many parts of France are due to start in November. March 15, 2004 overwhelm (o ver WELM) The verb overwhelm means to affect someone so strongly that they do not know how to cope. Overwhelm can also mean to win a complete victory or to decisively gain control over something. The adjective form is overwhelming. Rescue workers were overwhelmed by the number of dead and injured. Biggs had won all 15 fights and was considered a potential champion until he was overwhelmed by Mike Tyson. The virus overwhelmed and even shut down some e-mail systems. Marion Jones was the overwhelming favourite to win the 100 metres. Click here to see our words in the news for the previous week. Return to our home page |© The Post Publishing Public Co., Ltd. All rights reserved 2004 | Last modified: March 19, 2004