Word Check 8
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winner
someone who wins a game, competition, or election:
There'll be a prize for the winner.
The winner of this match will play Aston Villa in the semifinals.
And to find out who are the lucky winners of our competition, Samantha is going to draw some names out of the bag.
loser (does not win)
a person or team that does not win a game or competition:
The losers of both games will play each other for third place.
He's a good/bad loser (= he behaves well/badly when he is defeated).
champion
someone or something, especially a person or animal, that has beaten all other competitors in a competition:
an Olympic champion
She is the world champion for the third year in succession.
The defending champion will play his first match of the tournament tomorrow.
Who are the reigning European football champions?
tournament
a competition for teams or single players in which a series of games is played, and the winners of each game play against each other until only one winner is left:
a tennis/chess/golf tournament
They were defeated in the first round of the tournament.
supporter
someone who supports a particular idea, group, or person:
He is one of the president's strongest supporters within industry.
(US fan)
someone who wants a particular team to win and might show it by going to watch the team play:
Thousands of supporters have travelled to London for the cup final.
team
a number of people or animals who do something together as a group:
a basketball/hockey/netball team
a team of investigators
Team GB (= the athletes representing Great Britain in a sport)
used in a number of phrases that refer to people working together as a group in order to achieve something:
It was a real team effort - everyone contributed something to the success of the project.
opponent
a person who disagrees with something and speaks against it or tries to change it:
a political opponent
Leading opponents of the proposed cuts in defence spending will meet later today.
a person who someone is competing against in a sports event:
In the second game, her opponent hurt her leg and had to retire.
captain
It's unusual to have a goalkeeper as (the) captain of a football team.
race
a competition in which all the competitors try to be the fastest and to finish first:
Do you know who won/lost the race?
Let's have a swimming race.
They're taking part in a race to the top of Mont Blanc.
match
(US usually game)
a sports competition or event in which two people or teams compete against each other:
a tennis match
Liverpool have a match with (= against) Blackburn next week.
goal
an area on a playing field, that usually has two posts with a net fixed behind them, where players try to send the ball in order to score in sports such as football and hockey:
Black kicked/headed the ball into/towards the goal.
a point scored in some sports, such as football and hockey, when a player gets the ball into this area:
Brazil won by three goals to one.
Only one goal was scored in the entire match.
stadium
a large closed area of land with rows of seats around the sides and often with no roof, used for sports events and musical performances:
Thousands of fans packed into the stadium to watch the match.
the opening of a new national stadium (= where a country's team plays its home games)
coach
someone whose job is to teach people to improve at a sport, skill, or school subject:
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superstition
belief that is not based on human reason or scientific knowledge, but is connected with old ideas about magic, etc.:
According to superstition, if you walk under a ladder it brings you bad luck.
I don't believe in the old superstition that the number 13 is unlucky.
identical
exactly the same, or very similar:
I've got three identical blue suits.
The two rooms were virtually identical.
The interests of both parties may not be identical, but they do overlap considerably.
The tests are identical to those carried out last year.
habit
something that you do often and regularly, sometimes without knowing that you are doing it:
I always buy the same brand of toothpaste out of (= because of) habit.
I'm trying not to get into (= start) the habit of always having biscuits with my coffee.
I used to swim twice a week, but I seem to have got out of (= ended) the habit recently.
I was taught to drive by my boyfriend and I'm afraid I've picked up (= caught) some of his bad habits.
I'm trying to get him to break (= end intentionally) the habit of switching on the TV when he comes home at night.
I don't mind being woken up once or twice in the middle of the night by my flatmate so long as she doesn't make a habit of it (= do it frequently).
I'm not really in the habit of looking at (= I don't usually look at) other people's clothes, but even I noticed that awful suit!
drive someone crazy
infml to make someone upset or annoyed:
We love our two-year-old, but sometimes she drives us crazy.
Be quiet! You're driving me up the wall!
behaviour
the way that someone behaves:
Her behaviour is often appalling.
He was notorious for his violent and threatening behaviour.
routine
a usual or fixed way of doing things:
There's no set/fixed routine at work - every day is different.
Most companies insure property and equipment against damage or theft as a matter of routine.
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legend
a very old story or set of stories from ancient times, or the stories, not always true, that people tell about a famous event or person:
The dance was based on several Hindu legends.
She is writing a thesis on Irish legend and mythology.
Legend has it (= people say) that he always wore his boots in bed.
This match will go into tennis legend (= it will always be remembered).
centuries
The city centre has scarcely changed in over a century.
This sculpture must be centuries old.
Her medical career spanned half a century.
archaeologist
someone who studies the buildings, graves, tools, and other objects of people who lived in the past
Examples
A team of archaeologists are working on a previously undisturbed area of the abbey grounds.
She wanted to be an archaeologist and took part in several digs in her youth.
Archaeologists have uncovered the remains of an Anglo-Saxon settlement.
The site of the temple was discovered by a group of amateur archaeologists.
He is an archaeologist who recently excavated an extraordinary Olmec site in Mexico.
Stone Age
used to describe something that is very basic, simple, and not well developed:
The organization is criticized for its surly service and stone-age software.
rainbow
an arch (= curved shape) of different colours seen in the sky when rain is falling and the sun is shining:
The sun came out and we saw a rainbow.
The tropical butterfly's wings were shimmering with all the colours of the rainbow.
treasure
very valuable things, usually in the form of a store of precious metals, precious stones, or money:
Stories about pirates often include a search for buried treasure.
When they opened up the tomb they found treasure beyond their wildest dreams.
leprechaun
A leprechaun (Irish: leipreachán/luchorpán) is a diminutive supernatural being in Irish folklore, classed by some as a type of solitary fairy. They are usually depicted as little bearded men, wearing a coat and hat, who partake in mischief.