general

Johnny was being so obnoxious, his own mother pretended not to know him.

• obnoxious - extremely unpleasant

The prisoners are forced to live in abominable conditions.

• abominable - very bad; terrible

The utilities were all privatised by Mrs Thatcher to make them more efficient. That is why we pay 10 times more than we did.

• utilities - is an important service such as water, electricity, or gas that is provided for everyone, and that everyone pays for

Traffic builds up at one roundabout in particular.

• roundabout - a road junction at which traffic moves in one direction round a central island to reach one of the roads converging on it

She wrapped up a deal just before she left on vacation.

• wrap up - if you wrap up something such as a job or an agreement, you complete it in a satisfactory way

She's already had to endure three painful operations on her leg.

• endure - suffer (something painful or difficult) patiently