swallow

B2 · Upper Intermediate Informal

v. to believe a story or an explanation without asking questions, even if it seems unlikely.

v. to accept a statement, story, or idea without protest or skepticism.

“I can't believe he actually swallowed that ridiculous excuse about his car breaking down.”

“The public was not prepared to swallow the government's official explanation for the sudden increase in interest rates.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate

v. to stop yourself from showing a feeling, like pride or anger.

v. to suppress or restrain an emotional response or utterance.

“He had to swallow his pride and ask his parents for a loan.”

“She swallowed her anger and responded to the criticism with a professional, measured tone.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun

n. a small bird with long, pointed wings and a tail that looks like a fork.

n. a migratory passerine bird of the family Hirundinidae, characterised by a deeply forked tail and graceful flight.

“We saw a swallow building its nest under the roof of the old barn.”

“The arrival of the first swallow is traditionally regarded in many European cultures as a definitive sign of spring.”

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun

n. the amount of food or drink that you take into your stomach at one time.

n. the act of swallowing or the quantity of a substance taken in a single such act.

“He took a quick swallow of coffee before rushing out the door.”

“After the long hike, a single swallow of cold water felt like the greatest luxury imaginable.”

C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Science Technical

n. the opening in a pulley block that a rope passes through.

n. the space or opening in a pulley block between the sheave and the shell through which the rope is threaded.

“The sailor checked the swallow of the block to make sure the rope wasn't stuck.”

“The boatswain noted that the rope was fraying because the swallow of the wooden block had become worn and jagged.”