belonging to, used by the members of a group or society -- common land: land that belongs to and may be used by the community -- common ground: basis for argument accepted by everyone in a dispute -- common law: unwritten law, old customs -- the common people: ordinary or average citizens

reddish-brown coating formed on iron by the action of water and air -- rusty: covered with rust, poor in quality, something that is not used, has lost its value -- "it's better to wear out than to rust out": better to become worn through use than to lose value by rusting

someone employed by a king or noble as a clown or jester -- person without much sense, silly person -- "live in a fool's paradise", in a state of carefree happiness that cannot last -- a fool's errand: an errand that is seen to be useless -- to fool someone: to cheat or deceive -- foolish: without reason, sense or good judgement

to work hard, to toil -- labor union: trade union of workers -- to labor under: to be the victim of, to suffer because of -- labored: slow and troublesome, "labored breathing" -- move slowly and with difficulty, "the old man labored up the hillside" -- in labor: a woman giving birth to a child

to work the soil, prepare the ground for the seed -- "to plough the sand", do useless work -- plough through: force a way through, advance laboriously

get or discover something through search, experience or effort -- become informed or aware of something by experience or trial -- to find out: to learn by study, calculation, or inquiry -- "I found myself in the street", realized where I was, became aware of my surroundings -- determine and declare, give as a verdict: "the jury found him guilty"

"he has seen better days", has been not so unfortunate as at present -- be better off: improve one's situation -- "you ought to know better", be experienced enough to act differently

apparent but perhaps not real or genuine -- "the situation seemed desperate", but there was still hope -- objects seem smaller viewed from a distance

give work to someone, usually for payment -- employment: regular work or occupation, "to give / to throw out of employment" -- make use of something: "how do you employ your time?"

person who steals secretly, but without violence

save, store, collect: to lay up provisions -- "you're laying up trouble for yourself"

error in judgement: "I made a mistake, I was mistaken" -- to have a wrong idea about something, e.g. one's situation -- "I mistook you for a friend"

ground, earth -- layer of earth in which plants grow -- "native soil", native country -- "a man of the soil", one who works on the land -- "he refused to soil his hands", refused to do dirty work

store of gold and silver, jewels, etc. -- treasure-trove: treasure found hidden in the earth, of unknown ownership -- wealth -- highly valued object or person -- to treasure: to value highly "I treasure our friendship"

take someone else's property without right, unlawfully -- move secretly or quietly: the morning light was stealing through the shutters

some but not all of a thing, something less than the whole -- a person's share in some activity, a duty or responsibility -- give support: "I will always take my sister's part"

destiny, power looked upon as controlling all events in a way that cannot be resisted -- "as sure as fate", quite certainly -- death, destruction: "he met his fate", he died or was killed -- sentence of death: "the judge pronounced the fateful words"

be in somebody's good/bad/black book: have or have not his favor or approval -- bring somebody to book for something: require him to explain his conduct -- to book: to record, write down (orders, events), to arrange for something in advance -- "the Book": the Bible

state of existence as a human being -- to come to life: recover consciousness, recover from a faint -- "I had to run for my life", in order to save myself from death -- "hanging on for dear life"

fertilizer -- rotted organic matter used to fertilize the soil -- fertile mind: full of ideas and plans, with a rich imagination

destroy, spoil, make corrupt, decay -- the corruption of the body after death -- of persons and their actions: immoral, dishonest -- corrupt air: impure, polluted

urgent need, natural laws that direct human life and action -- bow to necessity: do what needs to be done -- "the necessities of life": food, clothing, shelter

© 2001 nachgeschlagen von: Meg Palffy