English Explained Simply

BABBLE = chat, discuss, waffle (We babbled again and again about a new project we are preparing = We chatted again and again about a new project we are putting together)  BABEL = tumult, clamour, uproar, din, commotion, (There is too much babel in the back of the room, can't you keep it down? = There's too much noise in the back of the room, can't you keep quiet?) BACK (do something behind someone's back) = do something in a way that is unfair unbeknownst to the person (You are good at doing things behind my back, what's wrong with you? = Stop doing things behind my back at work otherwise I will report you to the line manager) BACK (be glad to see the back of someone) = pleased to no longer be involved with the person (I'm glad to see the back of him and he will stop bullying his employees = We will no longer see him, so he will stay away from his employees who will no longer be harassed)  BACK (get someone's back up) = irritate, annoy, vex make someone...

ABASE (abase oneself) = humiliate, demean, belittle, disparage (Don't abase yourself, keep your chin up! = Don't put yourself down, hold your head up!) ABASHED = embarrassed, confused, ashamed of (She felt abashed not having passed her exam = She was ashamed of not having passed her exam) ABATE  = decrease, reduce, dwindle, lessen (The forest fire is abating a little after this morning's drizzle = The forest fire is easing slightly following light rain this morning) ABDUCT = kidnap, hold hostage, seize, capture (He was abducted from a playground not far from his parents' house and was later set free = He was kidnapped from a playground not far from his parents' house and was later released ) ABET  = help, assist, encourage, most often something wrong (He abetted him to commit embezzlement with welfare money = He encouraged him to commit embezzlement with welfare money) ABIDE = obey, follow, keep to, (The contract was not abided by contrary to what had been previ...