1. good old days: periods in history or in one’s personal past, when conditions of life and work were better
Examples:
　　　　　In the good old days, we used to enjoy the fresh air in the city.
　　　　　Grandma often recalls the good old days when she was young.

2. innocent:
1) ( of things) harmless, knowing nothing of evil or wrong
Examples:
　　　　　An innocent prank turned into disaster.
　　　　　They were innocent enough to believe him.
2) (of people) guiltless
Examples:
　　　　　He was pronounced innocent of the charge.
　　　　　Some cars had been stolen but the police said they were sure the youth in the street were innocent.

3. or so: about
Examples:
　　　　　we’ll need a week or so to complete this thesis.
　　　　　In another year or so, you will have forgotten all about him.

4. encounter:
1) meet or be faced by (something bad, especially a danger or a difficulty)
Examples:
　　　　　The plane encountered a storm over the Rockies.
　　　　　They encountered little resistance to the plan.
2) meet unexpectedly
Examples:
　　　　　He encountered many interesting people on his travels.
　　　　　They came sneaking round the corner and encountered a policeman.

5. unusual: rare; not common
Examples:
　　　　　It was not unusual for me to come home at two or three in the morning.
　　　　　Alan’s artwork is very unusual.

6. infect: fill with disease, germs; give disease to (a person)
Examples:
　　　　　This meat is infected because of the hot weather.
　　　　　The flu virus infected almost the entire class.

7. transmit: end or pass from one person, place or thing to another
Examples:
　　　　　The material was transmitted by satellite throughout the world.
　　　　　This kind of disease sometimes transmits to humans.

8. clean up: find out; notice
Examples:
　　　　　After doing the grimy job he cleaned himself up for supper.
　　　　　It is your turn to clean (the bedroom) up.

9. in place:in the right or proper place
Examples:
　　　　　The books were in place on the shelves.
　　　　　He nodded approvingly, his wide grin still in place.

10. ensure: make (something certain) to happen
Examples:
　　　　　He would, when in office, ensure that all secret data be made public.
　　　　　His industry and ability will ensure his success.

11. adequate: enough for the purpose
Examples:
　　　　　What should be done to assure adequate supplies of energy?
　　　　　There was adequate rain and snow last winter.

12. detect: find out; notice
Examples:
　　　　　Small quantities of poison were detected in the dead man’s stomach.
　　　　　I seemed to detect some anger in his voice.

13. update: make more modern or up-to-date
Examples:
　　　　　The information will need updating from time to time.
　　　　　The speech had been corrected and updated after the last-minute reports from abroad.

14. considerable: fairly large or great in amount, size, or degree
Examples:
　　　　　Mrs. Rhy’s last book was a considerable success.
　　　　　There was a considerable growth in the light industries last year.

15. identify: prove or show who or what somebody is or something is
Examples:
　　　　　Could you identify your umbrella among a hundred others?
　　　　　The light was too dim for me to identify her.

16. inflict: give (a blow, etc.); cause to suffer
Examples:
　　　　　The arrogant behavior of the foreign diplomats inflicted a further blow on their national pride.
　　　　　Our army inflicted heavy losses on the aggressor’s troops.

17. set in: begin and (probably) continue
Examples:
　　　　　Fortunately the wound was treated before infection could set in.
　　　　　I must try and get my garden tidied up before the bad weather sets in.

18. perceive: become aware of, especially through the eyes or the mind
Examples:
　　　　　On entering his house, we at once perceived him to be a man of taste.
　　　　　She gradually perceived that her parents had been right.

19. global: worldwide
Examples:
　　　　　We should protect forests on a global scale.
　　　　　This problem is increasingly global as well as national.

20. recede: (of thing) move back or away
Examples:
　　　　　As the tide receded we were able to explore the rocky pools on the beach.
　　　　　After the months passed, her expressions and gestures receded from his mind.

21. in the first place: at an earlier, more appropriate time
Examples:
　　　　　Why didn’t you tell us that in the first place?
　　　　　Nobody can remember what was agreed on in the first place.

22. after all: in spite of what has been said or done
Examples:
　　　　　It has turned out to be a nice day after all.
　　　　　He is a spendthrift. After all he is a good man.

23. at risk: in danger
Examples:
　　　　　The disease is spreading, and all children under 5 are at risk.
　　　　　The economy will fall further, putting more jobs at risk.

24. more often than not: in most cases
Examples:
　　　　　On weekends, more often than not, you’d find my father at work.
　　　　　He visits his parents on weekends more often than not.

25. come across as: seem to be (judging from behavior or actions)
Examples:
　　　　　He came across (to me) as (being) quite a nice person.
　　　　　He came across to voters as (being) honest, sincere and hard-working.

26. odd:
1) not regular, habitual, or fixed; occasional
Examples:
　　　　　He makes a living by doing odd jobs.
　　　　　They hired a couple of odd hands for the farm.
2) strange; unusual
Examples:
　　　　　It is odd that I can’t remember Mary’s address.
　　　　　I had rather an odd experience the other day.

27. risk: expose to danger; take the chances of
Examples:
　　　　　Anyone who smokes cigarettes is risking his health.
　　　　　I couldn’t risk missing the train.

28. harbor: give protection to
Examples:
　　　　　You may be punished if you harbor an escaped criminal or spy.
　　　　　You could get in trouble for harboring her.

29. conflict: disagreement; opposition
Examples:
　　　　　They tried to stir up conflicts between us.
　　　　　No one expected this to be the last conflict between the two countries.

30. as a matter of course: as a regular habit or usual procedure
Examples:
　　　　　I check my in-tray every morning as a matter of course.
　　　　　Unless told otherwise, most non-executives of large companies expect to fly club class on long flights as a matter of course.