Lesson 4 · Street Talk 2 Vocabulary List

of the same type as something else or closely resembling it

"Something along those lines."

"He said something along the lines of I quit before storming out of the office angrily."

a state of high priority where something is dealt with immediately or given the most attention

"The urgent project is on the front burner until it is done."

"The manager put the customer complaint on the front burner until it was fully resolved."

a robbery or heist involving a bank, typically involving the illegal act of stealing money or valuables from a bank

"The thieves plan a bank job for the weekend."

"The bank job was planned for months but went wrong when an alarm triggered unexpectedly."

used to refer to someone who is imprisoned or serving time in prison

"The criminal is behind bars."

"The criminal is behind bars and will not be able to hurt anyone else for a long time."

a hill in Washington, D.C., where the Capitol Building sits and Congress meets

"The lobbyists walk the halls of Capitol Hill."

"Politicians on Capitol Hill debated the new healthcare bill late into the night."

make oneself visible; take action

"Witnesses should come forward now."

"The police asked any witnesses to the accident to come forward and provide a statement."

closely following or pursuing someone or something, often in a persistent or bothersome manner

"He is on my heels."

"The determined detective was hot on the suspect's heels, determined to catch him before he escaped."

a severe and often sudden enforcement of law or regulations, typically to suppress or control specific activities, behaviors, or groups perceived as problematic or threatening

"The crackdown was harsh."

"The crackdown targeted illegal activity in the city."

someone who has committed a crime or has been legally convicted of a crime

"The crook steals wallets in crowded places."

"The old crook had spent more time in prison than out during his adult life."

the act of reducing the amount of something

"We need a cutback."

"The company announced a significant cutback in its workforce due to declining profits and the need to streamline operations."

to confront and deal with a difficult or unpleasant situation directly and courageously

"You must face up to reality."

"You must face up to your mistakes and apologize instead of blaming others for your own failures."

‌an act of violently stealing something valuable, especially from a shop or bank

"The heist was carefully planned."

"The daring heist involved stealing a famous painting from the museum in the middle of the night."

(of an outcome, decision, or situation) to depend entirely on a particular factor or set of circumstances

"The decision hinges on the test results."

"The outcome of the entire trial could hinge on the testimony of a single key witness."

at a time when everyone can witness something

"It happened in broad daylight."

"The thief stole the bicycle in broad daylight without caring that many people were watching him from the windows."

start or re-start vigorously

"Let us jump-start this old car."

"The new manager was hired to jump-start the failing project and bring fresh energy to the entire team."

to secretly wait for the right time to catch or attack an enemy or prey

"The cat lies in wait."

"The tiger lay in wait behind the bushes for the perfect moment to attack its unsuspecting prey."

to catch someone because they are suspected of doing something wrong

"The police nabbed the thief quickly."

"The security guard managed to nab the shoplifter just as he was trying to leave the store."

in an uncertain or unstable situation that is likely to fail or collapse

"Our plan is on shaky ground."

"His argument is on shaky ground because he does not have any real evidence to support his claims."

used to refer to an idea, proposal, or issue that is formally presented or under discussion in a meeting, especially in a legislative or organizational context

"The idea is on the floor."

"The senator presented his new proposal, and it was officially on the floor for debate by the committee."

the individuals or groups who hold the most authority or influence in a particular organization, community, or situation

"The powers that be decided."

"The powers that be have decided to close the old factory and move all production to China."

someone who can be employed as a detective to collect information

"The private eye follows the cheating husband."

"The private eye followed the cheating husband for three days and photographed him with his mistress."

currently happening

"The construction is underway."

"The construction of the new bridge is underway and should be finished next year."

having escaped, especially from confinement

"The suspect is still at large."

"The escaped prisoner is still at large and the police have warned the public not to approach him."

to have a result contrary to what one desired or intended

"His plan backfired and caused more problems."

"His plan to embarrass his coworker completely backfired and ended up making him look foolish instead in front of everyone."

to execute a decision, order, or directive

"We must carry out the plan."

"The soldiers were ordered to carry out the mission with utmost precision and stealth."

closely following or pursuing someone or something, often in a persistent or bothersome manner

"He is on one's heels."

"The detective was hot on one's heels, determined to catch the fleeing suspect before dawn."

to take something illegally without permission

"They will knock off goods."

"The thieves managed to knock off several valuable paintings from the museum during the night."

to secretly wait for the right time to catch or attack an enemy or prey

"They lie in wait."

"The cunning predator decided to lie in wait near the watering hole for unsuspecting prey."

to be too harsh on someone just to prove that their ideas are wrong or stupid

"They shot down her proposal quickly."

"It's discouraging when colleagues immediately shoot down every new idea without giving it proper consideration."

to find a way to overcome a problem or obstacle

"We will get around."

"Despite numerous setbacks, the determined team managed to get around every obstacle in their path."