Objective Proficiency 2002 p 100. Vocabulary

The Perfectionist

• Tear something + adverb/preposition: to remove something from something else by pulling it roughly or violently. E.g. The storm nearly tore the roof off. I tore another sheet from the pad. He tore his clothes off (= took them off quickly and carelessly) and dived into the lake.
• Shove something (+ adverb/preposition): /ʃʌv/ to put something somewhere roughly or carelessly. E.g. She shoved the book into her bag and hurried off. He came over and shoved a piece of paper into my hand. Shove your suitcase under the bed. (figurative) Could he be lying? She shoved the thought to the back of her mind. 
• Day in, day out: every day for a long period of time. E.g. Living on junk food day in day out is not good for you.
• Treadmill: work or a way of life that is boring or tiring because it involves always doing the same things. E.g. I'd like to escape the office treadmill.
• Sitcom: / ˈsɪtkɒm / (situation comedy). Regular programme on television that shows the same characters in different amusing situations. E.g. It's America's most popular sitcom. He has made the difficult leap from sitcom to the theatre. 
• Trite: / traɪt/ dull and boring because it has been expressed so many times before; not original. Banal /bəˈnɑːl/.
• Formulaic: /ˌfɔːmjuˈleɪɪk/ made up of fixed patterns of words or ideas. E.g. Traditional stories make use of formulaic expressions like ‘Once upon a time…’.
• Postage stamp: /ˈpəʊstɪdʒ/ stamp.

Questions

• Strive, strove, striven: to try very hard to achieve something. Sp. luchar o esforzarse por alcanzar algo. E.g. strive (for something) We encourage all members to strive for the highest standards. Strive (against something) striving against corruption. Strive to do something Newspaper editors all strive to be first with a story. She strove to find a solution that was acceptable to all.