Learning English

Session 2 - News review

a burning issue
an important and urgent problem, often one that people have strong opinions about

burn a hole in (someone's accounts)
cause them to spend lots of money

money burns a hole in my pocket
whenever I have money I have to spend it

it burnt a hole in my pocket
it cost a lot of money

come/be under fire
be criticised or held responsible

Session 3 - Lingohack

destabilise
make a political or economic system less safe or reliable

appetite
demand or interest

limiting the damage
reducing the negative effects

nudge
gently encourage

Session 4 - Sherlock Holmes and the Hound of the Baskervilles : 9 uses of 'dead'

dead (A2)
not alive

dead certain (C1)
completely sure about something

deadly danger (B2)
extreme danger

the dead of night (C1?)
the middle of the night

stops dead in his tracks (C2?)
stop suddenly

dead silence (C1)
completely quiet

stone dead (C1?)
completely dead 

dead giveaway (C2?)
something that accidentally but clearly reveals a secret

dead ringer (C2?)
exact likeness