ESL Podcast 1015 - Conducting a Search
security chief - a person whose job is to lead others in protecting a building or place, making sure that only authorized people enter and that nothing dangerous happens
The security chief asked everyone to put their hands in the air and to be quiet.
missing - with an unknown location; not present; not where someone or something should be
This poster shows the photos of children who have been missing for more than three months.
to search - to look in all parts of a building or area in order to find someone or something whose location is unknown
We've searched the entire house, but we still can't find your car keys.
every nook and cranny - all tiny spaces that might be overlooked or not noticed
Every nook and cranny in that house is filled with souvenirs from their overseas vacations.
grounds - the land that a group of buildings is on; the land belonging to a particular organization, as well as all the buildings on that land
Each spring, the church hides Easter eggs on the grounds and invites children from the community to look for them.
undergrowth - small plants that grow close to the ground underneath much taller trees
The undergrowth is filled with ferns, moss, and other plants that grow well in the shade.
terrain - land, especially with reference to its physical features
The hike covers some rough, rocky terrain, so be sure to wear good hiking boots.
to coordinate - to organize and plan something, usually with other people; to make arrangements for something to happen
Becca is working on the decorations and Yukio is working on setting up the band, but who is going to coordinate the arrival of the guests?
to report in - to give someone a status update; to let a designated leader or coordinator know what is happening
The search-and-rescue teams are supposed to report in by radio every hour.
to point (one) in the right direction - to give someone an idea of where to go or how to do something; to provide guidance or advice to someone
I need to find some information about car repair. Could you please point me in the right direction?
to spread out - for a group of people to go in different directions so that, together, they cover a larger area
The director told the actors to spread out and use the entire stage, not just the center section.
high and low - a phrase used when giving instructions, telling someone to do something in all parts, especially above and below where one would normally look
The librarian helped us search high and low for the book, but we couldn't find it.
from top to bottom - in all places, without leaving any part unsearched or unexamined; thoroughly
The mechanic examined the car from top to bottom, but couldn't figure out the cause of the strange noise.
to leave no stone unturned - to do everything possible to find something; to search in every possible place, not leaving anything unexamined
The detective promised to leave no stone unturned in his search for the murderer.
don't look now - a phrase meaning "surprise" or "guess what just happened," used to tell someone that one is about to present some unexpected information
Don't look now, but your ex-boyfriend just walked into the restaurant.
Taser - a weapon, often used by police, that produces an electric shock to cause pain and/or temporarily cause a person to be unable to move
The police officer was suspended for using a Taser on animals that were not dangerous or threatening.