plunge

Steep fall

Dollar plunges

poised

Ready for action

Bolivian workers poised to strike

poll

Election, public opinion survey

Voting station

Swedish poll shows swing to Right

Voters go to the polls in Japan

post

Position in government, business, etc.

Unknown gets key cabinet post

press for

To demand, ask for

Teachers press for pay rise

probe

Investigation

Mayor orders fire probe

prompt

To cause

Court decision prompts public anger

rage

To burn out of control

Forest

raid

Attack, robbery

$23M drug raid

rap

Accusation; charge

To criticize

Corruption rap unfair says senator

Safety commission raps auto companies

riddle

mystery

Girl in shotgun death riddle

rock

To shock; to surprise

Gov’t. Report rocks stock market

rout

To defeat completely

Rebels routed, leave 70 dead

row

To quarrel, argument, dispute

Oil price row may bring down Gov’t

rule

To decide (especially in court)

Court rules today in corruption case

rule out

do not consider as a possibility

Israel rules out PLO talks

sack

Dismiss from a job

Jail chief sacked

sack (from “ransack”)

To search thoroughly and rob

14 held for US Embassy sacking

scare

Public alarm

Rabies scare hits Britain

set

Decide on, ready

Peace talks set for April

slay

To kill or murder

2 slain in family row

snag

Problem; difficulty

Last minute snag hits arms talks

snub

To pay no attention to

Protestants snub Ulster Peace bid

soar

To rise rapidly

Inflation rate soars

solon

legislator

5 solons killed

spark

To cause; to lead to action

Frontier feuding sparks attack

split

To divide

Nationalization splits Party at conference

squeeze

Shortage, scarcity

Petrol squeeze ahead

stalemate

A disagreement that cannot be settled

New bid to break hostage stalemate

stall

Making no progress

Peace effort in Lebanon stalled

stance

Attitude, way of thinking

New stance toward power cuts

stem

To prevent or stop

Rainy season stems refugee exit

storm

Angry reaction, dispute

MP’s racist speech storm grows

strife

conflict

Inter-Union strife threatens peace deal

sway

To influence or persuade

President fails to sway Union

swindle

An unlawful way of getting money

Stock swindle in NY

switch

Change, deviation

Dramatic switch in incomes policy announced