squash
- PRESS [transitive] to press something into a flatter shape, often
breaking or damaging it SYN flatten:
- The cake got a bit squashed on the way here.
- squash something down
- Her hair had been squashed down by her hat.
- Move over – you’re squashing me.
- SMALL SPACE [intransitive, transitive always + adverb/preposition] to
push yourself or something else into a space that is too small SYN
squeeze
- squash into
- Seven of us squashed into the car.
- squash something in
- We can probably squash another couple of things in.
- STOP SOMETHING [transitive] informal to use your power or authority
to stop something SYN quash:
- Her suggestions were always squashed.
- squash rumours/hopes/reports etc (=say that a rumour etc is not true)
- The government was quick to squash any hopes of reform.
- CONTROL EMOTION** *[transitive] to control or ignore an emotion SYN
suppress:
- She felt anger rising but quickly squashed it.
squash up phrasal verb British English
- to move closer together or closer to something, especially in order to make room for someone or something else
- squash up against
- The others squashed up against Jo.
pristine
pris·tine /ˈprɪstiːn/ adjective
- extremely fresh or clean:
- something that is pristine is in the same condition as when it was first made:
- The car has been restored to pristine condition.
- not spoiled or damaged in any way:
- pristine African rainforest
hocus-pocus
ho·cus-po·cus /ˌhəʊkəs ˈpəʊkəs $ ˌhoʊkəs ˈpoʊ-/ noun [uncountable]
- a method or belief that you think is based on false ideas:
- He thinks psychology is a load of hocus-pocus.
jolt
jolt1 /dʒəʊlt $ dʒoʊlt/ verb
- [intransitive and transitive] to move suddenly and roughly, or to make someone or something move in this way SYN jerk:
- We jolted along rough wet roads through an endless banana plantation.
- [transitive] to give someone a sudden shock or surprise:
- The phone jolted him awake.
- jolt somebody into/out of something
- It jolted me into making the decision to quit.
- Her sharp words seemed to jolt him out of his depression.
derail
de·rail /ˌdiːˈreɪl, dɪ-/ verb
- [intransitive and transitive] if a train derails or something derails it, it goes off the tracks
- [transitive] to spoil or interrupt a plan, agreement etc:
- a mistake that might derail the negotiations
— derailment noun [uncountable and countable]