retarded / cerebral palsy

• He was retarded, and he also had cerebral palsy.

retarded(adj): less mentally developed than other people of the same age. Many people think that this use is rude and offensive.

cerebral palsy (n): a disease caused by damage to the brain before or during birth which results in difficulties of movement and speech

premature /

• Doctor told my parents only that because he was premature, it would take some time for Mike to catch up.

premature (adj): happening before the natural or proper time:

• his premature death due to cancer
• premature ageing of the skin

a premature baby is born before the usual time of birth:

• a premature birth
• The baby was six weeks premature.

done too early or too soon:

• a premature order to attack
• Any talk of a deal is premature.

catch up(v): to improve and reach the same standard as other people in your class, group etc:

• If you miss a lot of classes, it's very difficult to catch up.

due date

due date(n): the date on which something is supposed to happen:

• Fewer than five percent of women have their babies on their due date.
• My brother was born in Hollywood on Dec 9, 1956, a month before his due date.

greedy

greedy(adj): comparative greedier, superlative greediest

always wanting more food, money, power, possessions etc than you need:

• a greedy and selfish society
• He looked at the gold with greedy eyes.
• Have you eaten them all, you greedy pig?

greedy for

• They are greedy for profits.

greedily(adverb)

• He grabbed the bottle and drank greedily.

greediness(noun) [uncountable]

intimacy

intimacy(n):  a state of having a close personal relationship with someone

intimacy of

• the intimacy of marriage

intimacy between

• a close sense of intimacy between parent and child

fussy

fussy (adj): very concerned about small, usually unimportant details, and difficult to please

fussy about

• Sue was fussy about her looks.
• A lot of small children are fussy eaters (=they dislike many types of food).
• 'Do you want to go out or just rent a movie?' 'I'm not fussy.' (=I don't mind)

procrastinate

procrastinate (v): formal/to delay doing something that you ought to do, usually because you do not want to do it [= put off]:

• People often procrastinate when it comes to paperwork.

procrastination (noun) [uncountable]

• Math is my strong suit.
• I'm sorry for your loss.
• May she rest in peace.
• May God bless him.

pull string

pull string for someone:

pull strings: to secretly use your influence with important people in order to get what you want or to help someone else:

• Francis pulled strings to get him out of trouble.

pull the/somebody's strings: to control something or someone, especially when you are not the person who is supposed to be controlling them:

• It was widely believed that Montagu was secretly pulling the strings behind the prime minister.

pull (some) strings and pull a few strings

to use influence (with someone to get something done).

•  I can get it done easily by pulling a few strings.
• Is it possible to get anything done around here without pulling some strings?

widen

widen(v): to become wider, or to make something wider [≠ narrow]:

• They're widening the road.
• The river widens and splits.
• My circle of friends widened when I entered high school.