Fill Up - 14

Averting means to keep from happening or to prevent something from happening.

Attain means to reach, achieve, or accomplish a goal.

Here, banned means to refuse to allow (someone) to do something.

Here, backed means to give support to someone's decision.

When police are uncertain or confused about someone's identity, they are 'baffled' - meaning completely puzzled or unable to understand. The other words don't fit: battled (fought), backfired (had opposite effect), badgered (pestered), beaten (defeated).

Assuring refers to inform or tell positively.

Backfire means to have an opposite and undesirable effect to what was intended.

To 'balance' means to weigh or compare competing factors. She's weighing the high salary (pro) against working long hours (con). Other options don't fit: belittled (diminished), bid (offered), beckoned (signaled), blew (ruined).

To 'beckon' means to signal someone to approach, typically with a hand gesture. They beckoned him into the room. Other options don't fit context: belittled (criticized), balanced (weighed), bid (ordered/invited formally), blew (expelled air).

To 'belittle' means to make someone feel small or unimportant. Arrogant behavior often involves belittling others. Other options don't fit: balanced (weighed), bid (offered), beckoned (signaled), blew (ruined).

To 'blow' one's chances means to ruin or waste them through foolish action. Arriving late for an interview is a classic way to ruin your chances. Other options don't fit: belittled (criticized), balanced (weighed), bid (offered), beckoned (signaled).

To 'bid' for a contract means to submit a proposal or offer to do work. Multiple firms bid for construction projects. Other options don't fit: belittled (criticized), balanced (weighed), beckoned (signaled), blew (ruined).

To 'bellow' means to shout loudly and deeply. A sergeant giving orders to soldiers would likely bellow them. Other options don't fit: betrayed (exposed), belied (contradicted), begrudged (resented), bet (wagered).

To 'badger' means to pester or harass someone repeatedly. Tom badgered Kelly into doing the washing-up means he kept bothering her until she agreed. Other options don't fit: battled (fought), backfired (failed), beaten (defeated), baffled (confused).

To 'betray' means to deceive or break trust with someone. Being betrayed by a daughter you trusted deeply is a profound breach of trust. Other options don't fit: belied (contradicted), begrudged (resented), bet (wagered), bellowed (shouted).

To 'belie' means to give a false impression or contradict. His cheerful manner (appearance) contradicted his deep sadness (reality). Other options don't fit: betrayed (exposed), begrudged (resented), bet (wagered), bellowed (shouted).

To begrudge means to give something reluctantly or with resentment. In this context, she resented paying taxes. Betrayed means to deceive, belie means to contradict or show to be false, bet means to wager, and bellowed means to shout loudly.

To bet means to wager money on something uncertain. He spent/gambled his last money on a horse race. Betrayed means to be unfaithful or reveal secrets, belie means to contradict, begrudged means to give reluctantly, and bellowed means to shout.

To bluff means to deceive or trick someone. You cannot trick or force them into letting you go. Bow means to bend or submit, broach means to raise a topic, brace means to prepare, and browse means to look through.

To bow to authority means to submit or yield to those in power. The speaker is tired of being subservient. Bluff means to deceive, broach means to raise a topic, brace means to prepare, and browse means to look through.

To broach means to bring up or introduce a difficult topic. He needs to discuss the sensitive subject of a loan. Bow means to submit, bluff means to deceive, brace means to prepare, and browse means to look through.

To browse means to look through goods or merchandise casually. Customers are invited to look around the showroom. Bow means to submit, bluff means to deceive, broach means to raise a topic, and brace means to prepare.

To brace oneself means to prepare or steel oneself for something difficult or unpleasant. They needed to mentally prepare for bad news. Bow means to submit, bluff means to deceive, broach means to raise a topic, and browse means to look through.

Battled means fought or struggled against. They fought against the forces of nature (wind and waves). Backfired means to have the opposite effect, badgered means to pester, beaten means defeated, and baffled means confused.

Beaten means defeated or outperformed. Their firm was defeated by another company for the contract. Battled means fought, backfired means to have opposite effect, badgered means to pester, and baffled means confused.