Vocabulary “Mrs Bixby and the colonel´s coat”

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Step: (-pp-) (v + adv./prep.) step off
to lift your foot and move it in a particular direction or put on or in sth; to move a short distance: to step onto/off a bus.

Pawnbroker: noun
A person who lends money in exchange for articles left with them. If the money is not paid back by a particular time the pawnbroker can sell the article.

Crouch: (v, usually + adv./prep)
To put your body close to the ground by bending your legs under you.
SYN: Squat: He crouched down beside her.

Raise: verb
MOVE UPWARDS. To live or move sth to a higher level: She raised the gun and fired • He raised a hand in greeting• She raised her eyes from her work.

Stare: verb (at sb/sth)
To look at sb/sth for a long time: I screamed and everyone stared • I stared blankly at the paper in front of me • He sat staring into space (= looking at nothing) • She looked at them with dark staring eyes.

Redeem: verb
1.To make sb/sth seem less bad.
SYN: COMPENSATE FOR: The excellent acting wasn´t enough to redeem the weak plot.
2. yourself to do sth to improve the opinion that people have of you, especially after you have done sth bad: He has a chance to redeem himselfafter last week´s mistakes.

If:conj.
If only (rather formal) used to state the only situation in which sth can happen: Only if a teacher has given permission is a student allowed to leave the room • Only if the red light comes on is there any danger to employees.

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Gorgeous: adj.
(informal) very beautiful and attractive; giving pleasure and enjoyment.
SYN: Lovely: a gorgeous girl/man • It was absolutely gorgeous.

Flash: verb
MOVE QUICKLY. (v+adj./prep.) To move or pass very quickly: The countryside flashed past the train windows.
SHOW QUICKLY. To show sth to sb quickly: He flashed his pass at the security officer.
SHOW EMOTION. (Literary) To show a strong emotion suddenly and quickly: her eyes flashed with anger.