1.stampede

1. countable noun [usually singular]

If there is a stampede, a group of people or animals run in a wild, uncontrolled way.

There was a stampede for the exit.

Synonyms: rush, charge, flight, scattering

2. verb

If a group of animals or people stampede or if something stampedes them, they run in a wild, uncontrolled way.

The crowd stampeded and many were crushed or trampled underfoot. [VERB]

Countryside robbers are learning the ways of the wild west by stampeding cattle to distract farmers before raiding their homes. [VERB noun]

...a herd of stampeding cattle. [VERB-ing]

Synonyms: bolt, run, charge, race 

3. countable noun [usually singular]

If a lot of people all do the same thing at the same time, you can describe it as a stampede.

Generous redundancy terms had triggered a stampede of staff wanting to leave.

...a stampede by South African farmers to buy up cheap land in Mozambique.

4. verb

If people are stampeded into doing something, they are forced into doing it by pressure from other people, even though they do not think it is the right thing to do.

Do we really want to be stampeded in such a way? [be VERB-ed]

It was widely believed that Powell had stampeded the Government into taking action. [VERB noun into noun]

2.perch

1. verb

If you perch on something, you sit down lightly on the very edge or tip of it.

He lit a cigarette and perched on the corner of the desk. [VERB preposition/adverb]

He perched himself on the side of the bed. [VERB pronoun-reflexive preposition/adverb]

Synonyms: sit, rest, balance, settle  

perched  adjective

She was perched on the edge of the sofa.

2. verb

To perch somewhere means to be on the top or edge of something.

...the vast slums that perch precariously on top of the hills around which the city was built. [VERB preposition/adverb]

perched  adjective

St. John's is a small college perched high up in the hills.

Frank's tinted glasses are perched precariously on his head.

3. verb

If you perch something on something else, you put or balance it on the top or edge of that thing.

The builders have perched a light concrete dome on eight slender columns. [VERB noun + on]

4. verb

When a bird perches on something such as a branch or a wall, it lands on it and stands there.

A blackbird flew down and perched on the parapet outside his window. [VERB preposition]

Synonyms: land, alight, roost

5. countable noun

A perch is a short rod for a bird to stand on.

6. countable noun [usually poss NOUN]

You can refer to a high place where someone is sitting as their perch.

7.be knocked off one's perch

8. countable noun

A perch is an edible fish. There are several kinds of perch.

3.propensity

A propensity to do something or a propensity for something is a natural tendency that you have to behave in a particular way.

[formal]

Mr Bint has a propensity to put off decisions to the last minute. [+ for]

She hasn't reckoned on his propensity for violence.

Synonyms: tendency, leaning, weakness, inclination

4.apartment complex

公寓，大楼;

5.refurbish

verb

To refurbish a building or room means to clean it and decorate it and make it more attractive or better equipped.

We have spent money on refurbishing the offices. [VERB noun]

This hotel has recently been completely refurbished. [VERB noun]

Synonyms: renovate, restore, repair, clean up

6.the slot machines

老虎机

jangle

1. verb

When objects strike against each other and make an unpleasant ringing noise, you can say that they jangle or are jangled.

Her bead necklaces and bracelets jangled as she walked. [VERB]

Jane took out her keys and jangled them. [VERB noun]

...her jangling bracelets. [VERB-ing]

Synonyms: rattle, ring, clash, clatter 

Jangle is also a noun.

...a jangle of bells.

2. verb

If your nerves are jangling or if something jangles them, you are very anxious.

Behind that quietness his nerves are jangling, he's in a terrible state. [VERB]

The caffeine in coffee can jangle the nerves. [VERB noun]

Synonyms: disturb, worry, trouble, excite

7.onslaught

1. countable noun

An onslaught on someone or something is a very violent, forceful attack against them.

The attackers launched another vicious onslaught on their victim.

The rebels responded to a military onslaught against them by launching a major assault on an army camp. [+ against]

...a media onslaught.

[Also + by]

2. countable noun

If you refer to an onslaught of something, you mean that there is a large amount of it, often so that it is very difficult to deal with.

The onslaught of orders should keep aircraft manufacturers busy for some time.

...the constant onslaught of ads on American TV. [+ of]

8.vantage

n. 优势，有利地位

vatage point

9.plunge into

英 [plʌndʒ ˈɪntuː]  美 [plʌndʒ ˈɪntu]

把…放入;（使）突然陷入或呈现出

9.huddle

1. verb

If you huddle somewhere, you sit, stand, or lie there holding your arms and legs close to your body, usually because you are cold or frightened.

She huddled inside the porch as she rang the bell. [VERB preposition/adverb]

Myrtle sat huddled on the side of the bed, weeping. [VERB-ed]

Synonyms: curl up, crouch, hunch up, nestle   More Synonyms of huddle

2. verb

If people huddle together or huddle round something, they stand, sit, or lie close to each other, usually because they all feel cold or frightened.

Tired and lost, we huddled together. [VERB adverb/preposition]

...strangers huddling together for warmth. [VERB adverb/preposition]

Hundreds of people huddled around a single transistor radio listening to the announcement. [VERB adverb/preposition]

The survivors spent the night huddled around bonfires. [VERB-ed]

Synonyms: crowd, press, gather, collect   More Synonyms of huddle

3. verb

If people huddle in a group, they gather together to discuss something quietly or secretly.

Off to one side, Sticht, Macomber, Jordan, and Kreps huddled to discuss something. [VERB]

The president has been huddling with his most senior aides. [VERB + with]

Mrs Clinton was huddled with advisers at her headquarters. [VERB-ed]

4. countable noun

A huddle is a small group of people or things that are standing very close together or lying on top of each other, usually in a disorganized way.

We lay there: a huddle of bodies, gasping for air. [+ of]

Les kept seeing Eric and Tam in a huddle and he knew they were talking about him.

...the huddle of dark houses on the other side of the reservoir.

Synonyms: crowd, mass, bunch, cluster

10.avid

1. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]

You use avid to describe someone who is very enthusiastic about something that they do.

He misses not having enough books because he's an avid reader.

...an avid collector of art and history.

Synonyms: enthusiastic, keen, devoted, intense   

avidly  adverb [ADVERB with verb]

Thank you for a most entertaining magazine, which I read avidly each month.

2. adjective [verb-link ADJECTIVE]

If you say that someone is avid for something, you mean that they are very eager to get it.

He was intensely eager, indeed avid, for wealth. [+ for]

Synonyms: insatiable, hungry, greedy, thirsty   More Synonyms of avid

avidly  adverb [ADVERB with verb]

Western suppliers too are competing avidly for business abroad.

11.SWAT

SWAT （特殊武器与战术的英文缩写） 编辑

Special Weapons And Tactics, 简称S.W.A.T.，意为“特殊武器与战术”。拥有先进技术战术手段的反暴力、反恐怖特别执法单位。 其实，S.W.A.T.最早全称为是Special Weapons Attack Team，意为“特殊武器攻击队”。后来警方领导认为这一名称带有暴力色彩，所以变更为现今的Special Weapons And Tactics。

12.deranged

adjective

Someone who is deranged behaves in a wild and uncontrolled way, often as a result of mental illness.

A deranged man shot and killed 14 people.

Synonyms: mad, crazy, insane, distracted

13.ramp up

1.to increase or cause to increase

2. (intransitive)

to increase the effort involved in a process