Charley's Aunt
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caused by the muscle contracting (CONTRACT) after hard
exercise: 'I have a charley horse in my thigh,' he groaned.
**Char·ley's Aunt** /ˌtʃɑːliːz ˈɑːnt||ˌtʃɑːrliz ˈænt/ a popular
FARCE (=silly humorous play) by Brandon Thomas (1856–1914)
about a man who dresses up as an old lady and pretends to
be the aunt of a friend of his
**char·lie** /ˈtʃɑːliː||-ɑːr-/ *n* BrE *infml* (often *cap.*) a fool: *I felt a
real/proper charlie when I dropped all the plates.*
**Charlie 'Brown** → see Charlie BROWN
**Charl·ton, Bobby** /ˈtʃɑːltən||ˈtʃɑːr-/ (1937–) an English
football player who played for Manchester United and for
the English national team from 1958 to 1970. He scored 49
GOALS for England, which is still a record. He and his
brother Jack Charlton played in the England team that won
the World Cup in 1966, and he is considered to be one of
the best English players ever.
**Charlton, Jack** (1935–) an English football player who
played for the English national team from 1965 to 1970,
and for Leeds United. He and his brother Bobby Charlton
played in the English team that won the World Cup in 1966.
He was manager of the Irish national team from 1986 to
1995, and he was made an HONORARY Irish citizen in 1995.
**charm¹** /tʃɑːm||tʃɑːrm/ *n* **1** [C;U] the power or ability to
please, attract, or delight: *This lovely old town has a charm
you couldn't find in a big city.* | *a man of great charm* | *When
she discovered how rich he was, she really turned on the
charm.* (=started using her charm) **2** [C] an act, expression,
or phrase believed to have magical powers; SPELL **3** [C] an
object worn on a chain or BRACELET to keep away evil or
bring good luck; lucky charms include hearts and horse-
shoes **4** like a charm perfectly; with complete success: *My
little plan worked like a charm.*
**charm²** *v* [T] **1** [(into)] to delight, attract, or influence by
charm: *The child charms everyone (into doing what she
wants).* | *She was charmed by Venice.* **2** to control (as if) by
magic: *to charm snakes* | *It seemed as if he had a charmed
life* (=protected by magic); *nothing bad ever happened to him.*
**charmed 'circle** *n* [sing.] *lit* a group of people who have
special power or influence
**charm·er** /ˈtʃɑːmə||-ɑːr-/ *n* **1** someone who charms oth-
ers **2** someone who charms animals → see also SNAKE
CHARMER
**charm·ing** /ˈtʃɑːmɪŋ||-ɑːr-/ *adj* very pleasing; delightful:
*What a charming young man!* | *charming manners* | *a charm-
ing smile/city/garden/story* —**ly** *adv*
**Charming, Prince** → see PRINCE CHARMING
**'charm school** *n* AmE a school where young people were
sometimes sent to learn how to behave in polite society.
Charm schools are now rare.
**char·nel house** /ˈtʃɑːnl haʊs||ˈtʃɑːr-/ *n* *lit* a place where the
bodies and bones of dead people are stored
**Cha·ron** /ˈkɛərɒn/ in Greek MYTHOLOGY, the FERRYMAN who
took the souls of dead people in his boat across the river
STYX to HADES
**chart¹** /tʃɑːt|| tʃɑːrt/ *n* **1** (a sheet of paper with) information
written or drawn in the form of a picture GRAPH etc, usually
with the intention of making it easy to understand: *a sales
chart* | *a weather chart* **2** a map, especially a detailed map of
a sea area **3** [usually pl.] a list, produced weekly, of the most
popular records: *That song has been in the charts for
weeks.* | *her recent chart-topping single* → see also BAR
CHART, FLOWCHART, PIE CHART
**chart²** *v* [T] to make a map or chart of; show or record on a
chart: *to chart the sea area between France and Britain* | (fig.)
*The book charts her rise to fame as an actress.* → see also
UNCHARTED
**char·ter¹** /ˈtʃɑːtə||-ɑːr-/ *n* **1** [C] BrE a signed statement
from a ruler, government etc, giving rights, freedoms etc to
the people, an organization, or a person: *The rights of our
citizens are governed by charter.* | (fig., *derog*) *This new law
amounts to a tax evader's charter.* (=allows people to escape
paying taxes) → see also CITIZEN'S CHARTER **2** [C] a state-
ment of the principles, duties, and purposes of an organiza-
tion: *These principles are embodied in the UN charter.* **3** [U]
the practice of hiring or renting cars, buses, planes etc for
special use: *They have yachts available for charter.*
graph
50
40
30
20
10
83 84 85 86 87
bar chart
sales
40
30
20
10
0
J F M A M J J A
pie chart
Spain 20%
UK 15%
USA 25%
France 40%
**charter²** *v* [T] **1** to give a charter to, or establish by means
a charter **2** to hire or rent out (a plane, train, bus etc) for
special use: *a chartered plane/ship/flight* → see HIRE (USAG
**chartered ac·countant** BrE || **certified publi**
**accountant** AmE – *n* an ACCOUNTANT who has successful
completed his/her training → see also ACCOUNTANT
**'charter flight** *n* a low-cost journey in a plane on which
seats have been reserved (RESERVE) in advance by trav
companies for their customers → compare SCHEDULED FLIG
**charter 'member** *n* especially AmE an original member of
society or organization
**'charter school** *n* a school in the US that is run by paren
companies etc rather than by the public school system, b
which the state government supports
**Char·tists, the** /ˈtʃɑːtɪsts||ˈtʃɑːr-/ a political group
people that was active in the UK in the 1830s and 1840
They demanded changes that were regarded as very extrem
at that time, such as giving all men the right to vote and
become Members of Parliament. Some of them were sent
prisons in Australia as a punishment.
**Char·treuse** /ʃɑːˈtrɜːz||ʃɑːrˈtruːz/ *trademark* a type of gree
or yellow French LIQUEUR (=a sweet and very strong alcoholi
drink), made with BRANDY and HERBS, and usually drun
from a small glass after a meal
**char·wom·an** /ˈtʃɑːˌwʊmən||ˈtʃɑːr-/ also **charlady, cha**
*n* pl. **charwomen** /-ˌwɪmɪn/ old-fash, especially BrE a woman wh
works as a cleaner in a house, office, or public building
**char·y** /ˈtʃeəri/ *adj* [(of)] *fml* unwilling to take risks; CAUTIOU
*You should be chary of investing any money in such a risky
venture.* —**ily** *adv*
**Cha·ryb·dis** /kəˈrɪbdɪs/ → see SCYLLA AND CHARYBDIS
**chase¹** /tʃeɪs/ *v* **1** [(after);T] to follow rapidly in order
catch: *The cat chased the mouse but couldn't catch it.* | *Chase
after Ann and ask her to get some eggs while she's at the
shops.* | (fig.) *He's always chasing (after) the girls.* (=trying to
attract them) | (fig.) *We had 200 applicants chasing* (=trying to
get) *3 jobs!* **2** [T+obj+adv/prep] to make (someone) leave;
chasing them; drive away: *The dog ran out into the garden
and chased the birds away.* | *She chased the children out of the
kitchen.* **3** [I+adv/prep] to rush; hurry: *I've chased all round the
building looking for you.* | *The children are always chasing
in and out/chasing about (the house).* **4** [T(UP)] to make inquiries
about (something) or talk to (someone) in order to find