To clarify something means to make it easier to understand, usually by explaining it in more detail.
If a person or their behaviour is grim, they are very serious, usually, because they are worried about something.
The Aries man is quick-witted and always ready with a one-liner that will make people laugh with him.
- quick-witted - showing or characterized by an ability to think or respond quickly and effectively
It was sleeting so hard we could barely see.
- sleet - rain containing some ice, as when snow melts as it falls
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
They gave me a courtesy car to drive home with.
- courtesy - the showing of politeness in one's attitude and behaviour towards others
At the time, I thought that I would be studying for my math exam but I suddenly got ill and had to use my crib notes.
- crib notes - a cheat sheet (also cheatsheet) or crib sheet is a concise set of notes used for quick reference. Cheat sheets are so named because they may be used by students without the instructor's knowledge to cheat on a test