as though (phrase)

as it would be if

You look as though you've been running a marathon!

millennium (noun) [countable]

/mɪˈlen.i.əm/

a period of 1,000 years, or the time when a period of 1,000 years ends

Imagine what the world will be like at the end of the next millennium.

astonishing (adjective)

/əˈstɑː.nɪ.ʃɪŋ/

very surprising

Her writing shows astonishing depth.

prior (adjective) [before noun]

existing or happening before something else, or before a particular time

The course required no prior knowledge of Spanish.

derive from (phrasal verb)

/dɪˈraɪv/

to obtain a substance from something

The new drug is derived from fish oil.

hold someone/something back (phrasal verb)

/hoʊld/

to stop someone or something developing or doing as well as they should

She felt that having children would hold her back.

get your kicks (from) (idiom)

to get enjoyment or pleasure

He gets his kicks from embarrassing his teammates.

follow (something) through (phrasal verb)

to do what needs to be done to complete something

He didn't follow through with his promise to help.

on the cusp (idiom)

at the point when something is about to change to something else

She is on the cusp of being a star.

catastrophe (noun) [ C ]

/kəˈtæs.trə.fi/

a sudden event that causes very great trouble or destruction

The emigration of scientists is a catastrophe for the country.