QUARREL
Q
QUARREL
quarrel, quarrelled, quarrelling BrE
quarrel, quarreled, quarreling AmE
quarrel with
I
quarrel with
I
sth]
(ormol to disagree with an idea or opinion:
Few of us would quarrel with the idea of more
choice and more competition.
I
Anders' critics
do not quarrel with his statements, but with
his definition of 'liquidation.'
*
SIMILAR TO:
disagree with
QUEUE
queued, queued, queuing
also
queueing
1>
I
queue up
I
BrE
to form or join a line of people waiting to
do something or go somewhere: On the cold-

quicken
I
s~
to become quicker, or make something go
quicker: As the runners approached the finish,
their pace quickened up.
*
SIMILAR TO:
speed up
• OPPOSITE:
slow down
404
QUIET
quieted, quieted, quieting
quiet down
[quiet down
I [
quiet
§]
down [
AmE
to become calmer and less active or
noisy, or to make someone do this: Quiet
down and get ready for bed!
I
Lee bounced the
child on his knee to quiet her down.
*
SIMILAR TO:
calm down, quieten down

calm down, quiet down
AmE
:z
[quieten down [
if a place or a situation quietens down, it
becomes quieter and less busy, because there
is less activity in it: Things tend to quieten
down afler the Christmas rush is over.
I
The
fighting in our immediate area seems to have
quietened down
*
SIMILAR TO:
ease off
QUIT
qui~ qui~ quitting
1
I
be quit of
Is!EJ
(ormol to get rid of something or someone
that was causing you problems: Ethel had
become tired of Henry
s
selfish demands, and
now she was determined to be quit of him.
*
SIMILAR TO:
be rid of

I
rabbit on
I
BrE informal
to talk continuously for a long
time in a boring or annoying way: I'm not
going to stand around here listening to you
rabbiting on.
+ about
J
had to listen to Tony rabbiting on
for hours about his work.
*
SIMILAR TO:
ramble on, witter on
BrE
RACK
racked, racked, racking
I
rack up ~
I
rack [~
informal
to achieve a large total or something:
Yeardley racked up
J J
points for the Tigers in
the first quarter:
I
Mexico racked up a $7.4

to make jokes about someone
and laugh at them in order to embarrass
them: Everybody's ragging on Steve about his
new girlfriend.
*
SIMILAR TO:
tease
405
RAIN
RAGE
raged, raged, raging
rage against/at
I
rage against
I~ I
rage at
Isthlsb I
to feel extremely angry about something and
to express this anger: Roosevelt believed pas-
sionately in equality, and raged against social
injustice.
I
The Dallas Cowboys were left rag-
ing at a refereeing decision which could even-
tually cost them a place in the Super Bowl.
I
"You never gave a damn about us!" her son
raged at her. "You only cared about yourself"
RAIL
railed, railed, railing

I
sth
I
through
I
if a government railroads through a new law,
it forces parliament to vote on it very quickly,
so that people do not have much time to
think about it: The government is hoping to
avoid awkward questions by trying to railroad
the bill through.
I
They are railroading these
proposals through parliament, so that by the
time people have understood the dangers, it
will be too late.
RAIN
rained, rained, raining
1
I
rain down
I I
rain down
I
sth
I
I
rain
I
sth

Now the Cuban giant was standing
over his opponent, raining down punches.
I
be rained off/out
I
if an event is rained off or rained out, it can-
not take place or has to stop because there is
too much rain: Last night's match with Leeds
United was rained off.
I
We had tickets to the
Blue Jays game but it was rained out.
RAKE
raked, raked, raking
I
rake in
Isth]
»:
spoken
to earn a large amount of money,
especially without working very hard:
Forbes magazine published a report asserting
the nation
's
top
134
lawyers together raked in
some $860 million in one year.
be raking it in Everyone assumes that if
you're on TV,you must be raking it in.

it again and again, when it would be better to
forget it: "There's no point in raking over the
past," my mother always said, but
1
wanted to
know what had happened.
406
1rI
rake up
I
st~
I
rake
I
sthI~
to talk about something unpleasant from the
past that people do not want you to mention,
because it is upsetting or embarrassing: I don't
want reporters coming here, raking up the
past.
I
They
don't seem to realise how painful it
isfor her to have all this raked up again.
*
SIMIlAR TO: dwell on/upon
2
I
rake
I

confused way that is boring for the people
who are listening or reading: She rambled on,
but Anastasia was not listening.
+ about Sarah glanced at the clock - he had
been rambling on about himself for over an
hour.
• COMPARE:
bangon
BrE in(ormal
RAMP
ramp, ramped, ramping
-
I
ramp up
1
st~
I
ramp
@h[
r@
erE
to increase something, especially the
amount you produce, sell or earn - used in
business: To meet new orders, we need to
ramp up production from
18
to
43
planes a
month.

policy
of rail privatization
RANK
ranked, ranked, ranking
I
rank among ~
I
be ranked among ~
NOT IN PROGRESSNE
to be one of the best of a particular type -
used when comparing things or people and
placing them in order of quality or impor-
tance: The Lebanon produces some remark-
able red wines that rank among the world
50
finest.
I
It
is
generally agreed that Dempsey
ranks among the greatest champions of all
time.
RAP
rapped, rapped, rapping
rap out
I
rap out'
sth] [
rap'
sth

SIMILAR TO:
snitch (on), tell on, split on
informal
407
RATTLE
2
[rat on
I
s~
>--
informal
to not do something that you have
promised to do for someone: The Labour
government was accused of ratting on its
promises to the disabled.
*
SIMILAR TO:
welch on
RATCHET
ratcheted, ratcheted, ratcheting
ratchet up
I
ratchet up
I~ I
ratchet [
sth
I
up]
to keep increasing something b)1 small
amounts or to be increased In this way:

the children have left - we're just rattling
around in it.
rattle off
[rattle off ~
I
rattle [
sth
I
off
I
to say something quickly without stoppmg,
especially something such as a poem or list
that you have learned: In reply to this casual
question, my new companion rattled off a list of
all the hotels and restaurants in Georgetown.
*
SIMILAR TO:
reel off
rattle on
[rattle on
I
Informal
to talk quickly and for a long time
about things that are boring: I stifled a yawn,
but Elsie didn't notice and just rattled on.
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RAVE
+ about Boswell rattled on about the prospect
of other travels with Johnson, perhaps to
Sweden, where he hoped they would see the

1992 the critics were raving about Emma
Thompson
s
performance in the film 'Howards
End'.
I
He had thought only sentimentalists
and American tourists raved over Venice.
'rave it up
I
BrE old-fashioned
to enjoy yourself drinking
and dancing in a noisy way: She'll be out
raving it up with her mates till all hours.
rave-up
N
[e]
BrE
a noisy party where people drink and
dance a lot: We're going to have a bit of a
rave-up on Saturday, if you'd like to come.
REACH
reached, reached, reaching
~ 5th'
down
I ,
reach down
1
5th
I

-
1
I
reach out to ~
NOT PASSIVE
to offer help, comfort, or support to some-
one: If you want peace, reach out to the poor.
That is the Pope
s
message for World Day of
Peace.
I
"We must reach out to the 40 percent
of children who don't have any preventive
health care. " Brazelton said.
outreach
N
[u]
outreach services try to find people who
need help, and offer it to them, instead of
waiting for people to come and ask for it:
an outreach health programme for drug
addicts
:2
I
reach out to
I5b]
NOT PASSIVE
to try and communicate your ideas to people
that you have not succeeded in communicat-

ents' beliefs.
I
Feminists were reacting against
traditional ideas of a woman
s
role in society.
*
SIMILAR TO:
rebel (against)
READ
read, read, reading
I
read
I
5th
I
back'
I
read back ~
BrE
to read something that you have written,
to check that it is correct and satisfactory:
When I read back what I had written, I was
quite pleased with it.
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+
to
Mr Croxley would dictate a letter to
Dinah and then get her to read it back to
him.

read out
1
I
read ~ out
I I
read out
Is!hJ
to read something and say the words, espe-
cially the words or numbers that are written
in a list, message etc, so that other people can
hear them: He opened the envelope and read
out the name of the winner.
+
to
Sarah left a message - I'll read it out
to you.
read sth out loud 1 read the letter out loud
to
my
wife.
2
I
read out
I
sth
I I
read
I~
if a computer or an electronic instrument
reads out information, it shows it to you:

especially in order to check details or find
mistakes: Martin picked up the faxed newspa-
per clipping and read it through. "This is a
really bizarre story," he said to Karen.
I
Always read through what you have written
before you leave the exam room.
*
SIMILAR TO: read over
read-through
N
[e]
when someone reads something from
beginning to end: "Finished your essay?"
"Yeah, I just need to give it a quick read-
through, then I'll hand it in."
~ Ireadlsthl~
I
read up on/about ~
to read about a particular subject, because
you want to know more about it: I'll have to
read up on the tax laws before that meeting
tomorrow.
IIf
you're planning to take up bee-
keeping, read up about itfirst.
I
Charles spent
his first day at the office reading up all the
facts and figures.

behaving in an unreasonable way, and give
them reasons why they should be more sen-
sible: Try to reason with your child and find
out why he disobeyed you, rather than just
shouting at him.
I
I tried to reason with her.
but she locked herself in the bathroom, crying.
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REBOUND
REBOUND
rebounded,rebounded,rebounding
rebound on/upon
• Rebound upon
is more formal than
rebound on
and is used mostly in writing.
I
rebound on/upon
I~
NOT PASSIVE
if an action rebounds on someone, it has a
harmful effect on them even though it was
only intended to affect someone else: These
new government restrictions on the food indus-
try are likely to rebound on thefarmers, who are
a/ready struggling to survive.
I
When church
leaders tried to punish such disobedience, their

her head, reckoning up the cost of everything
in her mind.
*
SIMILAR TO:
add up
1
I
reckon with ~
USUALLY NEGATIVE
to realize that you must be prepared to deal
with a particular problem or danger: In
September 1812 the victorious army entered
Moscow, but the Russian winter was some-
thing that Napoleon had not reckoned with.
I
Clinton had to reckon with the fact that
Congress was likely to oppose him.
*
SIMILAR TO:
bargain for
2
I
sb/sth to be reckoned with
I
someone or something that is very powerful,
successful etc and must be respected or seri-
ously considered as a possible competitor,
opponent, or danger: I think we showed the
country that the Dallas Cowboys are afootball
team to be reckoned with.

herself to the fact that she would probably
never remarry.
be/become reconciled to
sth
The islanders
had never become reconciled to British rule.
*
SIMILAR TO:
accept
REDUCE
reduced,reduced,reducing
1
I
reduce
I
sb
I
to tears/despair/silence etc
I
to make someone feel very upset, afraid, or
quiet: The sight of those poor children
reduced me to tears.
reduce sb to a nervous wreck BrEJust the
thought of going to the dentist reduces him
to a nervous wreck!
:z
[reduce
I
sb/sth ~
to cause someone or something to be in a

SIMILAR TO:
to have to resort to
4
I
reduce
~I
t~
to damage or destroy something so that
there is almost nothing left: The fire spread
rapidly, reducing the factory to a pile of
twisted metal.
reduce sth to asheslrubbleldust/ruins
Much of the city centre was reduced to
rubble by wartime bombing.
5lreduce~
to make something shorter and simpler:
Their whole business philosophy can be
reduced to a simple slogan - make itfast and
sell it cheap.
I
The artist has reduced the face
to four blobs - two for the eyes, and one each
for the nose and mouth.
REEK
reeked, reeked, reeking
reek of
1
I
reek of
§]

USUAlLY PROGRESSIVE
to step backwards suddenly and almost fall
over, especially because you are shocked,
frightened, or because someone has hit you:
The blow sent the man reeling back against
the counter.
I
"I beg your pardon?" said Mrs
Cramp, reeling back as if she had been
slapped in the face.
1 Ireelin§] Ireel~
5<-
if you reel in a fish, fishing line, rope etc, you
pull it towards you by winding the line
411
REFER
around the reel (=the round object that holds
the line) Luke felt a tug on the line and reeled
in a beautiful salmon.
I
Eventually the fire was
put out and the firemen began reeling in their
hoses.
*
SIMILAR TO:
pull in
:z
I
reel in
I

When
politicians start reeling off figures about
increased government spending, the audience
just gets bored.
*
SIMILAR TO:
rattle off
REFER
referred, referred, referring
-
I
refer to
I
sblsth
I
to mention or speak about someone or some-
thing: What was the organization that you
referred to at the beginning of the lecture?
I
Although she didn't mention any names,
everyone knew who she was referring to.
refer to
sb/sth
as sth (=call them by a
particular name) He just referred to her as
'my friend Sarah ' - I don't know whether
they're together or not.
I
The computer
screen is referred to as the monitor.

I
refer
I
sblsth [
to
I
sb
J
to send a person or problem to someone with
special knowledge or experience to get infor-
mation, advice, or a decision: Your family
doctor will refer you to a specialist at the eye
hospital.
I
Shop assistants are instructed to
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REFLECT
refer customers to senior staff
if
they have a
complaint.
I
The case has been referred to a
higher court.
S
Ireferl~
formal
to suggest that someone looks at a
book, article, report etc for a particular piece
of information: I refer you to my letter of

*
SIMILAR TO:
think (about), consider
2
I
reflect on/upon
I
sb/sth
I
to influence other people's opinion about
someone or something, especially in a bad
way: Anna felt ashamed, realizing that her
father
s
rudeness reflected on ha
reflect badly on sb/sth Newspaper reports
of poor exam results would undoubtedly
reflect badly on the school.
REFRAIN
refrained, refrained, refraining
refrain from
I
refrain from
I
sth
I
formal
to not do something, although you
would like to do it: Doctors advised that him
to refrain from all sports for at least three

to reduce something or stop it increasing,
especially the amount of money spent by a
government or company: the failure of the
government to rein in public spending
I
Russia
struggled to rein in mounting inflation. IIf the
company reins back its expenditure on research
and development, jobs will have to go.
*
SIMILAR TO:
reduce
2
I
rein in/back
I~
~b
I
inlback
I
if someone in authority reins in the people
they control, they stop those people behav-
ing in an extreme or unacceptable way: After
the attempted coup, the government realized it
would have to reign in the military.
I
Trade
unions started improving their image and
reining in the activities of unruly members.
:3

1
I
rejoice in
I
sth
I
formol ar literary
to be very pleased about
something, or to enjoy something: The
hostages were busy rejoicing in their new-
found freedom.
I
a spiteful man who rejoices in
the humiliation of others
*
SIMILAR TO:
enjoy
2
I
rejoice in the name
ofl~
BrE
to have a name that seems silly or amus-
ing - used humorously: Their dog, which is
short, fat and hairy, rejoices in the name of
Bilbo
Baggins.
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RELAPSE
relapsed, relapsed, relapsing

work visas for jobs related to computer tech-
nology.
11
still can't understand how all this
relates to me.
*
SIMIlAR TO: pertain to
formol
:z
I
relate to ~
if you can relate to someone's situation or
someone's feelings, you can understand
them because you have been in a similar sit-
uation yourself: She said she felt so anpy
when he died - I can relate to that.
I
My
biggest problem with the film was that I
couldn't relate to any of the characters.
*
SIMIlAR TO: empathize (with)
3
I
relate to
I~
to be able to have a good relationship with
someone because you understand their feel-
ings and behaviour: Surely you have to be
able to relate to young people to be a success-

formal
to take away from someone something
that they are holding or carrying: Carl
jumped up to relieve Paula of her shopping
bag.
I
The captain said to Field, "I'll have to
relieve you of your weapon."
3 relieve
sb
of their post/duties/
command etc
formal
to officially take away someone's job
from them, especially because they have
done something wrong: Pravda revealed that
the first secretary, Anatoly Gerasimov, had
been relieved of his post.
I
The board has
decided to relieve you of your duties as head
teacher with immediate effect.
4
I
relieve
I
sb
I
of
I~

you expect or what you have asked them to
do
can rely on sb "You will get the job finished
by Friday, won't you?" "You can rely on
me."
I
She thinks she
S
finally found some-
one who she can rely on.
rely on/upon sb/sth to do sth The alarm
clock isn't working properly,
so
don't rely
on it to wake you up.
rely on sth/sb doing sth You can't rely on
the bank lending you the money.
*
SIMIlAR TO: depend on/upon, count on
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REMEMBER
REMEMBER
remembered, remembered, remembering
-
I
remember me to ~
used to ask someone to say hello for you to
another person who they are going to meet
soon: 1 haven't seen your family for months;
please remember me to your mother.

I
It reminds me of
an occasion some years ago, when
1
was just
starting out in the theatre.
*
SIMILAR TO: bring back memories of sth
REMIT
remitted, remitted, remitting
~ to
Isb/sth
I
formal
to send something back to another per-
son, court etc so that they can consider it
again and make a decision: The case will be
remitted to the Court of Appeal.
RENDER
rendered, rendered, rendering
render down
I
render down
I
sth
I I
render
I~ I
down
I

were severe penalties for anyone who failed to
render up their annual payment of gold.
I
a
story about a man who renders up his soul to
the devil in return for money
*
SIMILAR TO: give up,surrender
RENEGE
reneged, reneged, reneging
I
renege on ~
X
formal
to not do something that you have
promised or agreed to do: Union leaders have
accused the company of reneging on its part of
the deal.
I
There are fears that the West may be
about to renege on its commitment to cancel
debts to developing countries.
*
SIMILAR TO: go back on
RENT
rented, rented,
renting
I
rent out ~
I

report back
I I
report back on
I
sth
I
to give someone information about some-
thing that they asked you to find out about:
The team coach agreed to get the players'
reaction and report back at the next directors'
meeting.
+
to
The manager has been asked to report
back to the board with his observations
about how the company can get out of its
current financial situation.
+
on The commission will report back on its
findings some time later this year.
*
SIMIlAR TO:
feed back
I
report to
I~
if you report to someone at work, they are
your manager and are in charge of you:
"Who do you report to?" "Paula Davies.
She's head of the sales department."

to exist in something or be caused by
something: Much of the book's value resides
in
its comprehensive selection of illustrations.
*
SIMIlAR TO:
rest in
-
I
reside with/in
§J
formal
if power or responsibility resides with or
in someone, they have that power or responsi-
bility: Real political power resided with the
army.
I
Sovereignty resides in parliament.
I
Ultimate control resides with the company's
shareholders.
*
SIMILAR TO:
rest with, lie with
415
RESONATE
RESIGN
resigned, resigned, resigning
I
resign yourself to

I
resolve (itself) into ~
formal
or
literary, especially BrE
to slowly change
and become something different - use this
especially about something that you see or
hear: The sound came nearer, resolving into a
kind of low whispering.
I
Suddenly, the shore
was very close; the grey smudge had resolved
itself into green fields, a sandy beach, and
little houses.
RESONATE
resonoted, resonated, resonating
1
I
resonate with ~
formal
to be full of a particular quality:
This
dish has its origins in Thailand and absolutely
resonates with sharp, sweet, and spicy
flavours.
I
poetry that resonates with biblical
imagery
*