Siege

Definition:the act or process of surrounding and attacking a fortified place in such a way as to isolate it from help and supplies, for the purpose of lessening the resistance of the defenders and thereby making capture possible.
Etymology:The term derives from the Latin word for "seat" or "sitting.
The enemy laid siege to the city,leaving the city with no other way to run,and no reinforcements or supplies could reach them.


Malcolm Tan(27) 1-5

miracle

Miracle

Definition:
Any amazing or wonderful occurrence.
A marvellous event manifesting a supernatural act of God

Etymology: First used in the bible, 1502. Replaced O.E. wundortacen, wundorweorc. Probably means wonderful.

It was truly a miracle for John, as the doctors predicted that he would face imminent death due to the massive loss of blood during the freak accident. Yet against all odds, he overcome the fatal accident and the odds to stand here telling us about his experience.

Ang Khar Tsin. 1-5

t-bird

T-bird

Definition: Thunderbird; a large birdlike creature and is believed to be the source of a mythical bird

Etymology: probably evolved from an egyptian word 'Teratornis merriami'

Sentence: The thunderbird sped through the streets, with the police car chasing after them




Koh Kian Woon. 1-5

Regular chip off the block

regular chip off the block

Definition:if someone is a regular chip off the block, they are very similar in looks, behaviour and character to one of their parents or to another older member of their family

Word origin/etymology: Middle English, to be said that a person who looked really like his father and thus created this phrase

Sentence : James was a regular chip off the block with his grey eyes and his father's smile

Kelvin Kong(10) 1.4

Reformatory

Reformatory
A reformatory is a juvenile prison where legal minors are sent by (juvenile or general) courts to spend a custodial sentence, separate from the bad example of and abuse by adult (often hardened) convicts, usually gender-separated (mainly boys).
It is generally designed not just as a punishment but as a means for (re)education, to reform (hence the name) their hopefully still mendable character, through a combination of strict discipline (symbolic for its harsh reputation is the term reformatory cane) and schooling (hence many are officially called reformatory school or simply school) and/or labor.
The reality has all too often tended rather to penal harm and/or exploitation. Alternative forms of juvenile reeducation have therefore been devised, such as community services, in some cases with better results.
ETYMOLOGY:
This word is related to two-words:brave man.
A well-known example is the British borstal.
Pictures of reformatory:


Sentence:The boy who stole from a shop is sent to the reformatory

All Brawn and no Brains

"Frankly speaking, your father might be much stronger than mine, but mine's definitely smarter"
Origin: 'Brawn' from 'head cheese', which means a terrine of meat from the head of a calf or pig

Meaning: To be physically strong but not very intelligent.

Sentence: I agree he's got a good body, but he's all brawn and no brains.

hide-out

Definition:

A safe place to hide, especially from the law.

Etymology:

O.E. hyd, from P.Gmc. *khudiz (cf. O.N. huð, O.Fris. hed, M.Du. huut, Ger. Haut "skin"), related to O.E. verb hydan "to hide," the common notion being of "covering," from PIE base *(s)keu- "to cover, conceal" (cf. Skt. kostha "enclosing wall," skunati "covers;" Arm. ciw "roof;" L. cutis "skin," scutum "shield," ob-scurus "dark;" Gk. kytos "a hollow, vessel," keutho "to cover, to hide," skynia "eyebrows;" Rus. kishka "gut," lit. "sheath;" Lith. kiautas "husk," kutis "stall;" O.N. sky "cloud;" M.H.G. hode "scrotum;" O.H.G. scura, Ger. Scheuer "barn;" Welsh cuddio "to hide").

Sentence:

The fugitives met at their hide-out every Thursday night.

Craigton Lian(5) 1-6