Newspaper headlines vocabulary Blast: explosion

Blast: criticize violently

BLAST AT AIRPORT
Short words save space, and so they are very common in newspaper
OPPOSITION BLASTS PM
headlines. The following is a list of common headline vocabulary.
Blaze: fire
Act: take action; do something
SIX DIE IN TEMPLE BLAZE
POWER CRISIS: GOVERNMENT TO ACT
Blow: bad news, unfortunate happening
Aid: (noun) military or financial help
SMITH ILL: BLOW TO WORLD CUP HOPES
Aid (verb): to help
MORE AID FOR POOR COUNTRIES
UNIONS AID BANK STRIKERS Bond: political or business association
INDIA CUTS TRADE BONDS WITH CHINA
Alert: alarm, warning
TERROR ALERT IN THE CAPITAL Boom: big increase; prosperous period
ECONOMIC BOOM: URBAN RICH TO BENEFIT
Allege: make an accusation
BLIND GIRL ALLEGES UNFAIR TREATMENT Boost: encourage
GOVERNMENT PLANS TO BOOST EXPORTS
Appear: appear in court accused of a crime
MP TO APPEAR ON DRUGS CHARGES Brink: edge of disaster
GLOBAL WARMING: EARTH ON BRINK OF DISASTER
Axe (verb): abolish, close down
Axe (noun): abolition, closure Call for: demand/ appeal for
POSTAL SERVICES AXED TRADE UNIONS CALL FOR STRIKE
SMALL SCHOOLS FACE AXE
Campaign: organized effort to achieve social or political result
Back: support MP LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN FOR TAX REFORMS
OPPOSITION BACKS PM
Claim (verb): make a statement that something is true
Ban: forbid, refuse to allow something US SCIENTISTS CLAIM CANCER BREAKTHROUGH
GOVERNMENT BANS SMOKING IN PUBLIC
Clamp down on: deal firmly with
Bar: refuse POLICE TO CLAMP DOWN ON EVE TEASING
HOTEL BARS FOOTBALL FANS
Clash: quarrel, fight
Bid: attempt STUDENTS CLASH WITH POLICE
WOMAN MAKES SUICIDE BID
Clear: find innocent Firm: determined not to change
MP CLEARED ON DRUG CHARGES PM FIRM ON TAX REFORMS

Con: swindle Flak: heavy criticism

TEENEGERS CON WIDOW OUT OF LIFE SAVINGS MINISTER FACES FLAK OVER RACIAL REMARKS

Crackdown: firm application of the law Foil: prevent somebody from succeeding
GOVERNMENT PROMISES CRACKDOWN ON INFILTRATORS GUARD FOILS BANK ROBBERY BID

Crash: failure Gag: censor; prevent from speaking

TEN PEOPLE DIE IN PLANE CRASH AFRICAN PRESIDENT ACTS TO GAG PRESS

Curb: restrict Go: resign; be lost, disappear

GOVERNMENT TO CURB ILLICIT LIQUOR TRADE PM TO GO?

Cut: reduce Go for: be sold for

US CUTS AID TO INDIA PICASSO PAINTING GOES FOR $5 MILLION

Dash: make quick journey Go-ahead: approval

PM IN DASH TO BLAST HOSPITAL NUKE-PLAN GETS GO-AHEAD

Deadlock: disagreement that cannot be solved Grab: take violently

DEADLOCK IN INDO-US NUCLEAR DEAL INDIANS GRAB SHARES IN FOREIGN COMPANIES

Deal: agreement Grip: control; hold tightly

INDIA SIGNS NUCLEAR DEAL WITH US COLD WAVE GRIPS COUNTRY

Drive: united effort Gun down: shoot

DRIVE TO SAVE PLANET POLICE GUN DOWN TERRORISTS.

Drop (verb): give up; get rid of Hail: welcome; praise

Drop (noun): fall PM HAILS PEACE PLAN
GOVERNMENT TO DROP TERROR REFORMS
DROP IN FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT Halt: stop
AUTOMOBILE PLANT TO HALT PRODUCTION
Edge: move gradually
WORLD EDGES TOWARDS WAR Haul: amount stolen in robbery, or seized by police or customs
MAJOR ARMS HAUL IN CAPITAL
Head for: move towards Loom: threaten to happen
ECONOMY HEADING FOR DISASTER, EXPERTS WARN VAT ON FOOD: NEW ROW LOOMS

Hike: rise in costs, prices etc. Mar: spoil

INTEREST HIKE WILL HIT REAL ESTATE MARKET VIOLENCE MARS CUP FINAL

Hit: affect badly Mission: delegation (official group sent to a conference etc)
HEAVY RAINS HIT TRANSPORT UN MISSION ARRIVES TODAY

Hit out at: attack with words Mob: angry crowd

PM HITS OUT AT CRITICS Mob: organized crime/Mafia
INFANT DIES: MOBS ATTACK HOSPITAL
Hitch: problem that causes delay MOB LEADERS HELD
LAST-MINUTE HITCH DELAYS SATELLITE LAUNCH
Move: step towards a particular result (often political)
Hold: arrest; keep under arrest MOVE TO BOOST TRADE LINKS WITH CHINA
POLICE HOLD TERROR SUSPECT
Nail: force somebody to admit the truth
Key: important CRIME BRANCH NAILS THE ACCUSED
KEY WITNESS IN THE POACHING CASE VANISHES
Odds: chances, probability
Landslide: victory by a large majority in election MAYOR RE-ELECTED AGAINST THE ODDS
LANDSLIDE FOR DEMOCRATS
Opt (for) : choose
Lash: criticize violently WALES OPTS FOR INDEPENDENCE
OPPOSITION LASHES GOVERNMENT REFORMS
Oust: drive out, replace
Lead: clue (in police enquiry) DEMOCRATS OUSTED IN UNION ELECTIONS
LEAD IN RESORT MURDER CASE
Over: about; on the subject of, because of
Leak: unofficial publication of secret information ROW OVER VAT ON FOOD
PM FURIOUS OVER TAX PLAN LEAKS
Pact: agreement
Leap: big increase DEFENCE PACT GETS CABINET NOD
LEAP IN FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT
Peak: high point
Life: imprisonment for life INFLATION HITS NEW PEAK
LIFE FOR SERIAL MURDERER
Peg: hold (prices etc) at present level Row: noisy disagreement, quarrel
BANKS PEG INTEREST RATES NEW ROW OVER WAGE CUTS

Plea: call for help Rule out: reject the possibility of

BIG RESPONSE TO PLEA FOR FLOOD AID PM RULES OUT MIDTERM ELECTION

Press: the newspapers Sack: dismissal from job

BID TO GAG PRESS OVER DEFENCE SPENDING STRIKING DOCTORS FACE SACK

Press for: ask for urgently Scare: public alarm, alarming rumour
OPPOSITION PRESS FOR ENQUIRY ON DEFENCE SCAM BIRD FLU SCARE IN MIDDLE EAST

Pull out: withdraw Scrap: throw out as useless

PAKISTAN PULLS OUT OF PEACE TALKS WITH INDIA GOVERNMENT SCRAPS DEFENCE DEAL WITH ISRAEL

Push for: ask for, encourage Seize: take especially in police and customs searches
SCHOOLS PUSH FOR MORE CASH SMUGGLED ARMS SEIZED AT AIRPORT

Quit: resign, leave Set to: ready to; about to

OPPOSITION LEADER QUITS PROPERTY PRIZES SET TO RISE

Raid: enter and search Slam: criticize violently

POLICE RAID DUCHESS’S FLAT OPPOSITION SLAMS DEFENCE POLICY

Rampage: riot Slash: cut, reduce drastically

HOOLIGANS RAMPAGE THROUGH STREETS GOVERNMENT TO SLASH HEALTH EXPENDITURE

Rap: criticize Slump: fall (economic)

DOCTORS RAP HEALTH MINISTRY PLANS EXPORTERS FEAR NEW SLUMP

Riddle: mystery Spark: cause to start

MISSING TEENAGER RIDDLE: TWO MEN HELD REFEREE’S DECISION SPARKS RIOT

Rift: division, disagreement Spree: wild spending expenditure

LABOUR RIFT OVER DEFENCE POLICY BUS DRIVER SPENDS MILLIONS IN CREDIT-CARD SPREE

Rock: shock, shake Stake: financial interest

BANK SEX SCANDAL ROCKS THE CITY GERMANS BUY STAKE IN BRITISH AIRWAYS
JAPAN ROCKED BY QUAKE
Storm out of: leave angrily bare -reveal,expose
TRADE UNION LEADERS STORM OUT OF MEETING WITH MINISTER
rift -disagreement
Toll: number killed solon -lawmaker, representative
QUAKE TOLL MAY RISE
hit -attack slay/kill –murdered
Urge: encourage
ENVIRONMENTALISTS URGE GOVERNMENTS TO ACT ON POLLUTION
1 Air – to make know, to broadcast Iran airs video of boats with US ships in
Vow: promise Gulf
EXILED PRESIDENT VOWS TO RETURN 2 Assail – to criticize strongly Green groups assail Govt energy plans

accord –agreement 3 Axe – to remove from a job Rolls to axe up to 2,300 jobs
4 Back – to support Call for factory day care centres backed
allay -to calm

anew -again 5 Ban – to not allow to do something Court bans couple from naming son “Friday”

assail -to attack with arguments 6 Bar – to officially say that something Reformers barred from elections
must not be done
cite -mention;enumerate
7 Bid – an attempt Chad, Sudan make new bid for peace
crown –championship
8 Blast – an explosion Blast kills US troops
dip -go down 9 Blaze – a big fire Blaze destroys 50 houses

Ex -former 10 Cite – to mention; to give as a reason Management cites labour unrest for
shutdown
grill –investigate 11 Claim – to declare to be true Man claims ghost sighting
12 Claim – to kill Bombs claim 40
hike -increase
13 Curb – to limit; to control Lifestyle changes can curb climate change
kin -family 14 Dim – to become weaker Hopes dim for ending crisis
15 Dub – to give a name or description to Japan dubs activists ‘terrorists’
ratify -approve;confirm 16 Due – expected Decision on attempted bribery
case due today
nab -arrest okay/ok - approve 17 Ease – to reduce or lessen Authorities ease restrictions on Koh Smui
flights
sked -schedule 18 Eye – to watch with interest; to have Thai team eyes 10 golds
as a goal
vow -pledge 19 Fault – to criticize; to say someone or Tests fault SUVs and pickups
something is wrong
rule -decide 20 Flay – to accuse; to criticize strongly NGOs flay govt for rushing bill
21 Foe – enemy; rival; competitor Farmers’ foe: Smog damage to crops costs
foil -thwart, rejected billions
22 Foil – to prevent from succeeding Gang uses phones to foil police 54 Rage – to continue with a lot of force, Battles rage in north Sri Lanka
23 Grip – control; to take control of Army chief tightens his grip violence or anger
55 Reel – to feel very shocked or upset Island reels from worst cyclone in memory
24 Gut – to destroy by fire Fire guts part of Bo Bae market about something
25 Haul – a large amount of something Cocaine haul tops a tone 56 Rock – to shock; to surprise Tremors rock provinces in the North
illegal that has been taken 57 Rout – to defeat completely or by a Awesome Federor routs Roddick
26 Haul – an amount of something that Suphan Buri add eight medals to gold haul large amount
has been won or achieved 58 Row – quarrel; a serious disagreement Temple row divides Hindus during festival
27 Heist – theft Two held over Bt17-million van heist
59 Rule – to make a decision (especially in WTO rules on shrimp next month
28 Helm – the head of an organization, Hughes takes helm at City a court or a regulating agency)
project, etc. 60 Rule out – to not consider as a President rules out calling an early election
29 Hike – an increase Opec says no to output hike possibility
30 Ink – to sign MoU to be inked on eradication of opium 61 Sack – to dismiss from a job Police chief sacked
crops 62 Scam – a clever and dishonest plan for Police seek four more suspects in car scam
31 Irk – to case to be angry or annoyed Indian Muslims irked over Rushdie invite making money
32 Key – very important Army urged to help protect keywitness 63 Set – ready; decided on 27-hole golf course set to open in Pattaya
33 Lash – to hit with a strong force Heavy downpours lash Norteast 64 Shun – to avoid someone or something Japanese food makers shun China for
34 Lash out – to criticize strongly PM advisers lash out at new sytem Thailand
65 Slam –to criticize someone very Japan firms slammed for fake recycled
35 Laud – to praise; to say good things World lauds ‘free and fair’ elections strongly papers
about 66 Slay – to kill someone or something in Tribes slay 250 foreign militants
36 Launch – to start or begin Government to launch a new war on drugs a war or fight
37 Link – to connect; connection Studies link starchy foods with diabetes 67 Snag – a problem or difficulty Early retirement plan for teachers hits snag
38 Loom – expected in the near feature Controversy looms over Olympic qualifying 68 Snub –to pay no attention to; to refuse Iran subs UN vote
39 Mull –to think carefully about; to Google mulls ad-sponsored encyclopedia to accept something
consider 69 Soar –to rise rapidly Expert warns of unrest as rice price soars
40 Nab – to capture; to arrest Police nab gang leader 70 Split – to divide or become divided Movie industry split over rating system
41 Net – to capture; to take possession of Police net two suspects in teacher’s murder 71 Spook – to frighten or become Tsunami prediction spooks island voters
42 Nod –approval Toll way linking ring roads still awaits nod frightened
72 Stalemate – a disagreement that can’t Battle ends in stalemate
43 Opt – to choose; to decide on When buying handbags, men opt for luxury be solved
44 Oust – to force out of a position, Rules agreed to oust party leaders 73 Stall – to delay or make things wait; to Election defeat could stall reforms
competition, etc. stop making progress
45 Pact – an agreement Government urged to sign UN pact 74 Stance – the opinions that someone IMF praises bank stance on bath
46 Plea – a request; an answer to a Court rejects TITV staff’s plea to keep has about something; position
criminal charge broadcasting. 75 Stem – to stop something from Taiwan stems departure of experts to China
Sen Craig trying to take back his spreading or increasing
guilty plea. 76 Sway – to influence or persuade Strong growth fails to swaygovernment
47 Pledge – a serious promise Opposition pledges to continue protests 77 Swindle – a situation in which Fake policemen held after
48 Poised – ready; about to achieve Data show US poised for better growth someone cheats someone in order to B500,000 swindle
get money or property
49 Poll – an election PM won’t quit over poll result
78 Thwart – to prevent from being Zone chiefs told to thwart teachers’ plan to
50 Post – a job or position Putin accepts offer of prime minister’s post successful rally in city
51 Probe – to investigate; an investigation Censors probe hidden message in love 79 Tie – relationship; strong connection US, Australia look for growing tieswith
poem China
52 Prompt – to cause Injuries in fire drill prompt legal threat 80 Tip – to say in advance that someone Nationalists tipped to win election
or something will be successful
53 Rage – to burn out of control Forest fire rages
81 Trigger – to make something happen; Thai chilies trigger UK chemical attack alert
to cause someone to say or do
something
82 Trim – to cut or reduce the amount or Opec trims forecast on oil demand
number of something
83 Urge – to advise someone very Airlines urge government to resolve airport
strongly about what action or attitude troubles
they should take
84 Vie – to compete with other people for Thai company vies for projects in Brunei
something that is difficult to get
85 Void – to make something no longer Residents demand result be declared void
legal or effective
86 Vow – a serious promise; to make a Teheran vows to go on with nuclear work
serious promise
87 Weigh – to consider all the aspects of Hyundai weighs launch of $3,500 car
situation
88 Woo – to try to persuade people to Thailand aims to woo Bollywood producers
support you
89 Yield – to produce something useful; to Video yields new clues in tourist murder
make a profit