Newspaper Word

Meaning

Example of use in Newspaper Headlines

axe

cut

cancel

Council axes swimming pools

back

support

agree with

Council backs bid for new tram link

ban

exclude

prohibit

Lager louts banned from city centre

bar

exclude

ban

Lager louts barred from city centre

bid

attempt

try

Boy bids for round-the-world record

blast

criticise

condemn

Ministers blasted for huge pay rise

blow

setback

Blow to hopes for end to strike

boost

increase

Huge boost in exports

breakthrough

success

Breakthrough in fight against cancer

call

request

suggestion

Call for new congestion charge

clash

disagree

disagreement

Minister clashes with Home Secretary

crackdown

control

purge

Police crackdown on drugs

curb

restrict

Call for curb on late-night pubs and clubs

drama

incident

happening

Drama as pop singer is booed by angry crowd

dump

dismiss,

sack

jilt

Man in murder trial dumps defence lawyer.

Supermodel dumps new boyfriend.

embrace

meet

agree to

Government embraces new initiative on crime

face

confront

Prime Minister faces journalists

fear, fears

worry

concern

Fears for missing schoolgirl

feud

quarrel,

row

Neighbours feud about parking spaces

fury

anger

Fury as police arrest famous boxer

go on rampage

cause chaos

riot

Fans go on rampage after soccer match

grab

confiscate

steal

Police grab stolen computers

hit

affect

Snow hits traffic on motorway

hurdle

difficulty

obstacle

Funding hurdle in bid to solve tube crisis

key

answer

solution

Gun is key to finding murderer

opt for

choose

select

Government opts for French high speed trains

oust

replace,

sack

MP ousted by constituents

outrage

anger

Outrage as killer is freed through legal error

plan

proposal

MP’s back plan for 5th Air Terminal

plea

request

Mayor's plea for more Government cash

pledge

promise

London Mayor pledges better tube service

probe

Investigate

~ion

Probe into cash missing from airport

purge

Control

crackdown

Purge on Capital's gun crime

push for

ask for

insist on

Public pushes for better public services

quit

resign

leave

Top executive found stealing quits post

quiz

question interrogate

Police quiz suspected terrorist

rap

criticise

reprove

Opposition raps Prime Minister

raid

attack

Police raid houses of drug dealers

riddle

mystery

Missing musician riddle

row

argument

disagreement

Row over plans to lock up asylum seekers

soap (opera)

popular TV series

East Enders, Coronation Street - two popular soaps

set to

ready to

about to

Balloonist set to break world record

sex romp

sex

affair

Soap stars caught in sex romp

shake up

reform

Shake-up in police bureaucracy

shun

avoid

hide from

Recluse actor shuns limelight

sink

destroy eliminate

Lack of cash sinks plans for memorial

slam

criticise

Prime Minister slammed for backing United States on war

snag

difficulty

problem

New tramline hits snag

snub

avoid

fail to meet

French President snubs Prime Minister

soar

Increase

rise

Crime figures soar in city centre

split

division

separation

Government split on whether to go to war

storm

attack

anger

leave angrily

Police storm crack house.

Storm over plans to demolish houses.

Angry teachers storm out of pay negotiations

swoop

raid

Police swoop on illegal strip club

threat

possibility

Threat of more strike action by post office staff

turmoil

controversy

chaos

Turmoil as new road plan comes into effect

vow

promise

Home Secretary vows to cut street crime

war

rivalry

Ice cream war breaks out between rival gangs

wed

marry

Robin weds sweetheart

woes

problems

More woes for government as crime figures rise