Objective Proficiency p 105. Vocabulary

Ex 5

• Put/set the record straight: to give people the correct information about something in order to make it clear that what they previously believed was in fact wrong. Sp. poner las cosas en su lugar. E.g. To put the record straight, I do not support that idea and never have done.
• Set your heart on something / have your heart set on something: to want something very much. E.g. They've set their heart on a house in the country. 
• Set out your stall: to show your intentions or abilities clearly. E.g. The politicians were setting out their stalls for the election.  He has set out his stall as a strong supporter of free trade.
• A dangerous precedent: a decision that others will follow and that will cause problems. Set a dangerous precedent (Sp. sentar un peligroso precedente). E.g.  The sacking of Mr Nolan could set a dangerous precedent. 
• Carved/set in stone: (of a decision, plan, etc.) unable to be changed. E.g. People should remember that our proposals aren't set in stone. 
• Set the scene (for something): 1 to create a situation in which something can easily happen or develop. E.g. His arrival set the scene for another argument. 2 to give somebody the information and details they need in order to understand what comes next. E.g. The first part of the programme was just setting the scene.
• Set somebody's teeth on edge: (of a sound or taste) to make somebody feel physically uncomfortable. You find it unpleasant or annoying. E.g. Just the sound of her voice sets my teeth on edge. That whining voice of hers always sets my teeth on edge. 
• Set the wheels in motion or start the wheels turning: to do some of the things that will make a process start. E.g. He needs to find a new place to live, and I’m helping him set the wheels in motion. 
• Set the world on fire: (British English also set the world alight) (informal) (usually used in negative sentences) to be very successful and gain the admiration of other people. E.g. He's never going to set the world on fire with his paintings. She’s good, but she’s not going to set the world on fire.. 

Ex 6

• Hook up (to something) / hook somebody/something up (to something): to connect somebody/ something to a piece of electronic equipment, to a power supply or to the Internet. Sp. conectar. E.g. She was then hooked up to an IV drip. Check that the computer is hooked up to the printer.A large proportion of the nation's households are hooked up to the Internet.
• Drip: (North American English also IV) a piece of equipment that passes liquid food, medicine or blood very slowly through a tube into a patient's vein. Sp. suero. E.g. She's been put on a drip. 
• IV: /ˌaɪ ˈviː/ intravenous /ˌɪntrəˈviːnəs/: going into a vein.
• Hook: 1. to fasten or hang something on something else using a hook; to be fastened or hanging in this way. E.g. We hooked the trailer to the back of the car. 2. to put something, especially your leg, arm or finger, around something else so that you can hold onto it or move it; to go around something else in this way. E.g. She hooked her arm through her sister's.
• Buttonhole: /ˈbʌtnhəʊl/ a hole on a piece of clothing for a button to be put through.
• Hooked (on something): (informal) 1. needing something that is bad for you, especially a drug. Addicted. E.g. a girl who got hooked on cocaine. 2. enjoying something very much, so that you want to do it, see it, etc. as much as possible. E.g. cricket fans are currently hooked on a series of college matches.
• Debug: /ˌdiːˈbʌɡ/ debugging, debugged. To look for and remove the faults in a computer program. Sp. depurar, eliminar fallos. E.g. games are the worst to debug.
• Convoluted: /ˈkɒnvəluːtɪd/ extremely complicated and difficult to follow. E.g. a convoluted argument/ explanation. A book with a convoluted plot.
• Conceal: /kənˈsiːl/ to hide somebody/something. E.g. The paintings were concealed beneath a thick layer of plaster. Tim could barely conceal his disappointment. For a long time his death was concealed from her.
• Pick up: to identify or recognize something. E.g. Scientists can now pick up early signs of the disease. 
• Scratch: (adj) put together in a hurry using whatever people or materials are available. Sp. Improvisado. E.g. a scratch team. 
• Knock something off / knock something off something: (informal) to reduce the price or value of something. E.g. They knocked off $60 because of a scratch. The news knocked 13% off the company's shares.
• Customs and Excise: /ˈeksaɪz/ the British government department responsible for collecting customs duties, taxes charged on imports from outside the European Union, and excise duties, taxes charged on certain types of goods, such as wine and beer, petrol and tobacco products. The Department of Customs and Excise also collects VAT, a tax charged on the price of many goods and services in Britain, and works to prevent banned goods such as some drugs being imported into Britain. E.g. A large quantity of drugs has been seized by Customs and Excise officials today.
• Seize: /siːz/ seize something to take illegal or stolen goods away from somebody. Sp. confiscar. E.g. A large quantity of drugs was seized during the raid.  
• Seize a chance, an opportunity, the initiative, etc.: to be quick to make use of a chance, an opportunity, etc. Grab. E.g. The party seized the initiative with both hands (= quickly and with enthusiasm). 
• Seize on/upon something: to suddenly show a lot of interest in something, especially because you can use it to your advantage. E.g. The rumours were eagerly seized upon by the local press. Peter seized on her last comment.
• Matter: substance.