L58 A spot of bother

Words & expressions:

1. a spot of something, British English, informal:a small amount of something

--Do you fancy a spot of lunch?

--I’ve been having a spot of bother(=some problems)with my car.

2. reprimand somebody for (doing) something /ˈreprəmænd/, to tell someone officially that something they have done is very wrong→scold,tell off 

    reprimand somebody for (doing) something

--The military court reprimanded him for failing to do his duty.

3. as clear as daylight, opp: as clear as mud

That they have gone wrong now seems as clear as daylight.

What this really means, of course, is still as clear as mud.

4. skeleton key, a key made to open a number of different locks.

--He carefully inserted a skeleton key, and slowly turned it.

5. prudent/ˈpruːdənt/, sensible and careful, especially by trying to avoid unnecessary risks.

--prudent house buyers

it is prudent (for somebody) to do something

--It might be prudent to get a virus detector for the network.

6. composure/kəmˈpoʊʒər/, the state of feeling or seeming calm.

recover/regain your composure(=become calm after feeling angry or upset)

Carter looked stunned, but he soon regained his composure.

keep/maintain your composure(=stay calm)

He has lost his composure under the pressure of the situation.

7. a monstrous piece of negligence

Sentences:

The chaos was conceivable. She had lived in the flat for thirty years and was a veritable magpie at hoarding; and it seemed as though everything she possessed had been tossed out and turned over and over again. At least sorting out the things she should have discarded years ago was now being made easier for her.