a coincidence!” Grandad gasped. “I went to that school too!”
fortune
By good fortune, a passer-by heard the calls of the stricken climber.
luck
The tennis player’s injury was just bad luck.
stroke of luck
By a stroke of luck, the massive doors were unguarded.
change (1) VERB
When something changes, or you change it, it becomes different.
alter
Gavin has really altered since he won the “Be a Pop Star” competition.
convert
Dad converted the old shed into a play hut.
mutate
Before Kirk’s eyes, the handsome crewman mutated into a fanged, drooling monster.
transform
Bond’s car transformed into a boat.
change (2) VERB
If you change something, you swap or replace it.
exchange
We had to take my new shoes back and exchange them for a larger size.
replace
Today Mr Woo replaced his old banger with a smooth sports car.
substitute
“What happens if you substitute milk for water?” the teacher asked.
swap
Dylan swapped his cards for Salman’s.
trade
Mum joked that she wanted to trade my dad for a newer model!
change (3) NOUN
A change is a difference or alteration in something.
difference
Mum and I noticed the difference in Gran after her illness.
metamorphosis
Caterpillars undergo an amazing metamorphosis into butterflies.
transformation
When Mum emerged from the hairdresser’s, what a transformation!
character NOUN
Someone’s character is all the qualities which combine to form their personality.
nature
It was not in Abigail’s nature to be rude.
personality
Gran had a bubbly personality, and was always making friends.
temperament
A dog’s temperament depends largely on how it is treated.
charge VERB
If something or someone charges, they rush forward.
attack
The infantry attacked the fortress at dawn.
rampage
Boadicea’s angry tribesmen rampaged through the streets, yelling and whooping.
run wild
Leaving their longships, the Viking marauders ran wild in the Saxon village.
rush
When the bell went, Boris rushed for the door, only to be hauled back.
storm
On D-Day 1944, Allied troops stormed the beaches and cliffs of Normandy.
chase VERB
If you chase someone, you run after them or follow them in order to catch them.
follow
Fans followed the pop idol wherever he went.
hound
Reporters hounded the star until she gave them an interview.
hunt
Lions hunt antelope as their prey.
pursue
Detectives pursued the gangster to South America.
track
Sniffer dogs tracked the thief to a disused dockside warehouse.
cheap ADJECTIVE
Something that is cheap costs very little money.
bargain
My bargain laptop computer cost half of what most people pay.
economical
My old car is very economical on fuel, but costs more in repairs.
inexpensive
The jacket was inexpensive but looked very smart.
reasonable
Mum thought that it was a reasonable price for a second-hand mountain bike.
cheat (1) VERB
If someone cheats, they lie or do unfair things to win or get what they want.
con INFORMAL
The thief conned his way into the old woman’s house by asking if he could use her phone for an emergency.
deceive
“It’s no good trying to deceive me,” Mum said. “I know you’re up to something!”
double-cross INFORMAL
The thief double-crossed his accomplice and took all the cash.
dupe
The stamp collectors were duped into buying some very convincing fakes.
rip off INFORMAL
“We were ripped off there!” snorted my brother disgustedly, as we left the burger bar.
swindle
The cashier had systematically swindled the bank for years before she was caught.
trick
Trying to trick his pursuers, the getaway driver doubled back.
cheat (2) NOUN
A cheat is a person who lies or does unfair things to win or get what they want.
con man INFORMAL
The con man pretended to be from the electricity company.
double-crosser
The gangster snarled “You dirty double-crosser!” and pulled the trigger.
swindler
The swindler sold villas to his clients which did not really exist.
check (1) VERB
If you check something, you examine it to make sure that everything is all right.
assess
Miss Connolly assessed our term’s work before writing her report.
examine
Sherlock Holmes picked up the knife and examined it.
inspect
The council team inspected the food cupboards carefully.
test
To test our multiplication tables, Mr Murphy fires questions at us.
check (2) NOUN
A check is an inspection to make sure that everything is all right.
assessment
Every soldier has to do his PFA, or Physical Fitness Assessment.
check-up