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How to Pronounce the Idiom: 'Learn the Ropes': American English

Video vocabulary

pps

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US / ˌpi:pi:'es /

UK / ˌpi:pi:'es /

A1
  • abbreviation
  • PPS is an acronym

schwa

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US / ʃwɑ: /

UK / ʃwɑ /

A1
  • other
  • A neutral middle vowel; occurs in unstressed syllables

acrobatic

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US / ˌækrəˈbætɪk /

UK / ˌækrəˈbætɪk /

C1
  • adjecitve
  • Able to perform difficult body movements

use

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US / ju:s /

UK / ju:s /

A1
  • noun
  • Ability to employ something
  • Need to enable it to work
  • Permission to do something with something
  • Act of spending money
  • Operation of a machine for its function
  • verb
  • To have; to eat, drink, consume etc.
  • To need to operate or work
  • To operate a machine, e.g. a computer
  • To treat a person badly
  • To do something with, for a task or purpose

here

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US / hɪə(r) /

UK / hɪr /

A1
  • adverb
  • In this place; at this location, position or time

meaning

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US / ˈmi:nɪŋ /

UK / ˈminɪŋ /

A1
  • noun
  • Idea or thing represented by words or sentences
  • verb
  • To express a particular idea or thought
  • To intend to do something in particular
  • To have a particular intention or value

position

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US / pəˈzɪʃn /

UK / pəˈzɪʃən /

A1
  • noun
  • Person's opinion or attitude about something
  • Specific location where someone or something is
  • Where you play or your role on a sports team
  • Person's job or status level
  • Set of conditions affecting what you can (not) do
  • verb
  • To put in a particular location or direction

after

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US / 'ɑ:ftə(r) /

UK / ˈæftɚ /

A1
  • adverb
  • Later than another time, or behind something
  • conjunction
  • Following something before
  • preposition
  • When an event happened or time has passed

will

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US / wɪl /

UK / wɪl /

A1
  • noun
  • Desire or choice of someone
  • Document saying who gets your money when you die
  • Strong desire to do something; determination
  • Desire to do something; strong wish to do
  • other
  • Used with verbs to express the future
  • verb
  • To leave property to someone after your death
  • To use mental effort to make something happen
  • Am (is, are) likely to do
  • To influence someone to do something
  • To make something happen by strongly wanting it

inside

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US / ˌɪn'saɪd /

UK / ɪnˈsaɪd, ˈɪnˌsaɪd /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Being in something
  • Being in a building
  • adverb
  • Into a house; indoors
  • noun
  • Inner part or surface of something

while

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US / waɪl /

UK / hwaɪl, waɪl /

A1
  • conjunction
  • In spite of the fact that; although
  • During the time that; at the same time
  • noun
  • Short amount of time

much

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US / mʌtʃ /

UK / mʌtʃ /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Very; to a high level or degree
  • adverb
  • A lot; large amount; a high degree of
  • Nearly; basically
  • On many occasions; often
  • noun
  • A large amount; a great quantity

consonant

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US / ˈkɒnsənənt /

UK / ˈkɑnsənənt /

B2
  • adjecitve
  • Music (of a note) in harmony
  • noun
  • A speech sound or letter that is not a vowel
  • Spoken sound made by stopping the flow of air
  • Sound in a word that is not a vowel, e.g. t or n

middle

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US / 'mɪdl /

UK / ˈmidl /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Equal distance from extremes
  • noun
  • Place that is halfway between two things

begin

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US / bɪ'ɡɪn /

UK / ˈbeɡɪn /

A1
  • verb
  • To do the first part of an action; to start

pronunciation

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US / prəˌnʌnsiˈeɪʃn /

UK / prəˌnʌnsiˈeʃən /

B1
  • noun
  • How a word is said; how a word sounds

sound

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US / saʊnd /

UK / saʊnd /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Sensible, dependable and reliable
  • Unbroken or undisturbed, as of sleep
  • Firm or solid in structure
  • Sane; not mentally ill
  • Clearly reasoned; involving sense, good judgment
  • noun
  • Unique quality that characterizes a style of music
  • Waves traveling in air or water that can be heard
  • verb
  • To seem or appear to be, from what was said
  • To say in a clear deliberate manner
  • To make a noise, e.g. to ring a bell

ask

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US / ɑ:sk /

UK / æsk /

A1
  • verb
  • To say to someone that you want something

question

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US / 'kwestʃən /

UK / ˈkwɛstʃən /

A1
  • noun
  • Issue or problems you are dealing with
  • What you ask about; issue
  • verb
  • To ask for or try to get information
  • To have or express concerns or uncertainty

for

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US / fə(r) /

UK / fɔr,fə /

A1
  • preposition
  • Used to show the purpose, or need of something

how

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US / haʊ /

UK / haʊ /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • To what degree? in what amount?
  • adverb
  • (Used to explain the way to do something)
  • exclamation
  • For what purpose or reason?
  • (Used to ask someone or something's condition)

you

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US / jʊ /

UK / ju /

A1
  • pronoun
  • Person someone is speaking or writing to
  • Person or people in general

forward

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US / 'fɔ:wəd /

UK / ˈfɔrwəd /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Toward what is ahead; in front
  • Acting in a socially aggressive manner; pushy
  • adverb
  • Toward the front in place; in front
  • Toward a future time; to a more advanced state
  • verb
  • To send something to another address or person

pull

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US / pʊl /

UK / pʊl /

A1
  • noun
  • Act of breathing in smoke, as from a pipe
  • Force something has that draws other things to it
  • Using your hands to move something to you
  • verb
  • To breathe in smoke, as from a pipe
  • To hold something and move it toward you
  • To remove something by force

able

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US / 'eɪbl /

UK / ˈebəl /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Skilled; good at something
  • Having the ability to do something

unaccented

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US / ʌnˈæksentɪd /

UK / ʌnˈæksɛntɪd /

B2
  • adjecitve
  • Pronounced with little or no stress

unvoiced

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US / ˌʌnˈvɔɪst /

UK / ʌnˈvɔɪst /

A1
  • verb
  • Produced without vibration of the vocal cords

let

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US / let /

UK / lɛt /

A1
  • verb
  • To allow someone to do something
  • Introducing a suggestion to do something together
  • To rent a house, etc. to others

the

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US / ðə /

UK / ðə /

A1
  • article
  • Used to refer to something already mentioned
  • Used to show there is only one of something
  • determiner
  • Used to describe all of a family

lip

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US / lɪp /

UK / lɪp /

A2
  • noun
  • Edge of a hole or container
  • Top and bottom part of the outside of your mouth

this

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US / ðɪs /

UK / ðɪs /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Used to indicate something already been discussed
  • Used to indicate something happening around now
  • adverb
  • An indication by a physical motion or gesture
  • A specific amount of
  • determiner
  • Person, thing, or idea near you
  • pronoun
  • Person, thing that has already been discussed

word

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US / wɜ:d /

UK / wɚd /

A1
  • noun
  • Unit of language that has a meaning
  • Promise
  • Short remark or piece of information
  • verb
  • To express something by choosing particular words

make

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US / meɪk /

UK / mek /

A1
  • noun
  • Product made by a particular company; brand
  • verb
  • To arrange or prepare something e.g. dinner
  • To get to (a place) on time
  • To gain the status of (teacher, lawyer, etc.)
  • To create something by putting things together
  • To earn a certain amount of money at a job
  • To cause or force a person to do something
  • To cause something to happen or be formed

and

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US / ənd /

UK / ənd, ən,ænd /

A1
  • conjunction
  • Used to refer to two or more things
  • Plus; in addition; on top of that
  • Used to introduce an action that follows another

back

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US / bæk /

UK / bæk /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Farthest from the front e.g. in a classroom
  • adverb
  • Have returned to a place you were before
  • noun
  • The part of a chair that the upper body leans upon
  • Location at the rear of something
  • The reverse of side something
  • Area on the rear of your body
  • verb
  • To bet money on something
  • To go backwards in a car
  • To support and encourage someone or some cause

hang

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US / hæŋ /

UK / hæŋ /

A2
  • verb
  • To attach a picture, photograph etc. onto a wall
  • To float, move softly, or remain in the air
  • To kill by putting a rope around neck and dropping
  • To remain undecided, unsolved or unclear

finally

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US / ˈfaɪnəli /

UK / ˈfaɪnəli /

A1
  • adverb
  • used especially at the beginning of a sentence to introduce the last point or idea
  • After a long time or some difficulty

something

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US / ˈsʌmθɪŋ /

UK / ˈsʌmθɪŋ /

A1
  • adverb
  • In some degree or measure
  • noun
  • a person or thing of some value or consequence
  • pronoun
  • Thing that is not yet known or named
  • Approximately

come

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US / kʌm /

UK / kʌm /

A1
  • verb
  • To arrive at a place
  • (Of mail) to be delivered
  • To move toward someone; go with someone
  • To reach a certain point or state

far

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US / fɑ:(r) /

UK / fɑr /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • A long way away
  • Being a long way away
  • adverb
  • To a large degree or extent

tight

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US / taɪt /

UK / taɪt /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Showing anxiety or anger; tense
  • Positioned physically close together
  • Managed or controlled in a strict and careful way
  • (Of road, bend) curving sharply
  • Drunk
  • Being equally matched in ability or score
  • Lacking extra space
  • Having limited time available
  • Being very limited in supply
  • Not generous; mean with money; stingy
  • (Rope or tie) pulled strongly
  • Being in a good solid relationship
  • adverb
  • Firmly; so it can't move

from

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US / frəm /

UK / frʌm, frɑm,frəm /

A1
  • preposition
  • Starting at a particular place, time or level

press

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US / pres /

UK / prɛs /

A2
  • noun
  • Machine using pressure to shape, flatten, squeeze
  • General term for TV, radio, newspapers
  • A machine that prints books and newspapers
  • verb
  • To make clothes smooth using a heated iron; iron
  • To repeatedly ask someone to do something
  • To print something such as a book or newspaper
  • To push something against something else
  • To squeeze the liquid out of grapes, etc.

over

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US / 'əʊvə(r) /

UK / ˈovɚ /

A1
  • adverb
  • Finished; no longer happening
  • Towards the ground/away from a standing position
  • noun
  • A set of six consecutive balls bowled in cricket
  • other
  • Finished
  • preposition
  • Showing the relation when a thing is above another
  • On or covering something
  • Above or across something
  • More than you need
  • From one side to the other
  • In the direction of; toward

row

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US / rəʊ /

UK / roʊ /

A2
  • noun
  • Loud argument or quarrel between people
  • Straight line of things, e.g. seats in classroom
  • Loud, unpleasant, and undesirable noise
  • verb
  • To move a boat using oars
  • To argue or quarrel loudly about something

release

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US / rɪ'li:s /

UK / rɪ'li:s /

A2
  • noun
  • Act of freeing someone from a duty or burden
  • Introduction of a new product, film, book, etc.
  • Relief from sadness, suffering or trouble
  • Act of freeing from a jail, cage, prison, etc.
  • verb
  • To free someone from a responsibility or burden
  • To allow a film, music etc. to be sold/distributed
  • To allow to leave a jail, cage, etc.; let out
  • To let go of something you are holding

sentence

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US / 'sentəns /

UK / ˈsɛntəns /

A1
  • noun
  • Official punishment given by a court of law
  • Set of words that make a whole statement
  • verb
  • (Of a judge) to decide the punishment of

with

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US / wɪð /

UK / wɪð, wɪθ /

A1
  • preposition
  • As an employee of a certain company
  • Against something or someone
  • By using something as a means
  • Due to; because of
  • Including
  • Possessing as a feature
  • Related to
  • (Of the manner/attitude by which you do something)
  • Used to express that people or things are together

mouth

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US / maʊθ /

UK / maʊθ /

A1
  • noun
  • Hole in the face used for eating and talking
  • Opening of a container such as a bottle
  • Area where a river enters a large body of water
  • verb
  • To say words without speaking

have

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US / həv /

UK / hæv /

A1
  • verb
  • To drink, smoke, eat or use something
  • To experience the effects of something
  • To organize an event, or join in an activity
  • To own, possess, or hold something
  • To cause to happen or produce a particular effect

part

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US / pɑ:t /

UK / pɑ:rt /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • To some degree; half; not fully
  • noun
  • Division of a book
  • Ratio of something, e.g. 3 of gin, 1 of tonic
  • A line in a person's hair, made with a comb
  • Character an actor plays on stage, movie, or TV
  • Some, but not all of a specific thing
  • Role in causing something to happen
  • verb
  • To make a line in a person's hair, by using a comb
  • To move two things apart creating a space
  • To leave someone, or to break off a relationship

vowel

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US / ˈvaʊəl /

UK / ˈvaʊəl /

B1
  • noun
  • A speech sound; a, e , it, o, u and sometimes y

raise

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US / reɪz /

UK / rez /

A1
  • noun
  • Increase in a bet above another when playing cards
  • Pay increase
  • verb
  • To increase a bet above another when playing cards
  • To gather donations for a cause or charity
  • To bring up and educate a child to maturity
  • To bring a dead person to life
  • To increase a quantity, size, intensity or price
  • To lift (e.g. your hand) to a higher position
  • To mention a topic /issue for discussion; bring up
  • To increase (salary, etc.)
  • To grow or care for plants or animals

against

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US / əˈgenst /

UK / əˈɡenst /

A1
  • preposition
  • In physical contact with, as for support; next to
  • In opposition to; disagreeing with

understand

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US / ˌʌndə'stænd /

UK / ˌʌndɚˈstænd /

A1
  • verb
  • To know the meaning of language, what someone says

diphthong

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US / ˈdɪfθɒŋ /

UK / ˈdɪfθɔ:ŋ /

A1
  • noun
  • Union of two vowel sounds or vowel letters, e.g. the sounds , ai; ai, in pipe , paip; paip, , the le

quite

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US / kwaɪt /

UK / kwaɪt /

A1
  • adverb
  • Not very; fairly
  • Very; In a complete or total manner

same

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US / seɪm /

UK / sem /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Being equal in quality and amount
  • Identical; not different
  • Not changing; constant

english

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US / ˈɪŋglɪʃ /

UK / ˈɪŋɡlɪʃ /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Concerning the culture and people of England
  • noun
  • Language of the UK, USA, Nigeria and elsewhere
  • Person's name

both

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US / bəuθ /

UK / boθ /

A1
  • determiner
  • Used to refer to two things at the same time
  • pronoun
  • Used to refer to two things at the same time

look

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US / lʊk /

UK / lʊk /

A1
  • noun
  • Person's beauty or physical attractiveness
  • Particular style of dress, clothes, or appearance
  • The way someone, something appears to be
  • Act of searching for or examining something
  • verb
  • To appear to be; seem

thank

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US / θæŋk /

UK / θæŋk /

A1
  • verb
  • To tell someone you are grateful to them

idiom

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US / ˈɪdiəm /

UK / ˈɪdiəm /

B2
  • noun
  • Phrase with a special, metaphoric meaning

roof

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US / ru:f /

UK / ruf,rʊf /

A2
  • noun
  • Top of the inside a tunnel, cave, mouth etc.
  • Cover or top of a building or car
  • verb
  • To place a cover or top onto a building, vehicle

top

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US / tɒp /

UK / tɑp /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Being good or great; excellent
  • Being the most in degree or quality
  • noun
  • Item of clothing covering shoulders to waist, hips
  • A cover or lid
  • Part (e.g. road) that is the furthest away
  • Highest or upper part or point of something
  • Best or highest status or position
  • Flat upper surface or edge of an object
  • Child's toy that spins on its point
  • Upper section or leaves of fruits and vegetables
  • Winning in a sport or contest
  • verb
  • To be higher or larger than a specific value
  • To arrive at the highest point of something
  • To put a cover or layer or over something
  • To kill; murder
  • To hold the highest position on a list
  • To be more important, successful or better than
  • To beat someone or win at a game

tongue

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US / tʌŋ /

UK / tʌŋ /

A2
  • noun
  • Long, thin part of (e.g. shoe under the laces)
  • Meat from the mouth of an animal, cooked as food
  • A language
  • Movable fleshy thing in your mouth, for tasting
  • Act of scolding someone
  • A specific manner of speaking
  • verb
  • To using your mouth to produce musical notes
  • To use your mouth to touch something

very

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US / 'verɪ /

UK / ˈvɛri /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Concerning a large degree or amount
  • adverb
  • A lot; much; many
  • Used to stress or emphasize a noun

own

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US / əʊn /

UK / on /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Belong to oneself
  • determiner
  • Yours, his, hers, etc.; not belonging to another
  • pronoun
  • (Something) belong to myself
  • verb
  • To have something as your property

she

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US / ʃɪ /

UK / ʃi /

A1
  • pronoun
  • Female person or animal mentioned before
  • (Refers to female person mentioned before)

mean

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US / mi:n /

UK / min /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Being good at
  • Nasty; unkind
  • Not liking to spend money; cheap; stingy
  • noun
  • Average of a set of numbers
  • verb
  • To express a particular idea or thought
  • To intend to do something in particular
  • To have a particular meaning or value

first

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US / fɜ:st /

UK / fɚst /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • 1st; Coming before all others in time or place
  • noun
  • Something that has not happened before
  • Position of the winner of a competition

down

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US / daʊn /

UK / daʊn /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Being sad, sick, or unhappy
  • Not operating, working, or functioning as expected
  • adverb
  • In a sitting or lying position
  • Towards or on the ground, floor, or bottom
  • Written or copied onto a piece of paper or book
  • noun
  • A period of play in American Football
  • The soft, smooth hairs that cover a bird's body
  • preposition
  • Along something's path, course, or direction
  • Going from a higher position to a lower position
  • verb
  • To eat or drink very quickly and without stopping

then

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US / ðen /

UK / ðɛn /

A1
  • adverb
  • A time that is not now
  • Following another thing in time or arrangement
  • Following on reasonably from what was just stated
  • At that time, not now

tooth

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US / tu:θ /

UK / tuθ /

A1
  • noun
  • A sharp points on the edge of a machine or tool
  • Hard white things in the mouth, used to bite

that

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US / ðæt /

UK / ðæt, ðət /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • The person or thing being talked about
  • Used to identify something both the speakers know
  • adverb
  • Used to reinforce adjectives and adverbs
  • To such a degree
  • conjunction
  • Used to connect a noun clause
  • Used to introduce an adverbial clause
  • Used to introduce a noun clause
  • determiner
  • Used as a noun to refer to something
  • pronoun
  • Referring an object far away
  • Used to refer to the relative pronoun ‘which’

example

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US / ɪgˈzɑ:mpl /

UK / ɪɡˈzæmpəl /

A1
  • noun
  • Thing, person which represents a category
  • Subtitles section
  • Today I'm going to go over the pronunciation of the idiom learn the ropes.
  • First, the meaning.
  • This means to understand how to do something.
  • Learn the ropes.
  • So let's look at some example sentences.
  • It's okay to ask questions while you're learning the ropes.
  • Or, after I learn the ropes, I'll be able to do it on my own.
  • Learn begins with the L consonant sound, ll.
  • It then has the rr as in her vowel, R consonant sound together, rr, rr, lr.
  • So your tongue will go from being at the very top, forward part of the roof of the mouth, llr, to being pulled back, raised in the middle, pressing against the insides of the top teeth, with the tip then hanging down,
  • Llr, further back in the mouth.
  • Learn, then the N consonant sound, so the tongue, doing acrobatics here, then has to go back up to the roof of the mouth, learn, to make that N sound.
  • Learn the.
  • The TH consonant sound voiced with the schwa.
  • Learn the, learn the.
  • It's an unaccented word.
  • Ropes begins with the R consonant sound.
  • At the beginning of the word, the lip position will be quite tight, rr, rr, the tongue in that same R position.
  • Row, the O as in no diphthong, row, pp, the P sound, so the lips have to come together, pp, to release that.
  • And finally, the S sound.
  • Both the P and the S are unvoiced.
  • Ropes, pps, pps.
  • Learn the ropes.
  • That's it, and thanks so much for using Rachel's English.