Playful behaviour that causes small trouble or annoyance

📝 The twin puppies were always getting into mischief in the kitchen.

📖 Chinky's eyes danced with mischief, as though he had been thinking up trouble ever since he was born.

A difficult or unfortunate situation

📝 The stranded travellers were in a sorry plight after the storm.

📖 Chinky's mother was in a dreadful plight — locked away by a giant, with no one small enough or brave enough to rescue her.

To put or keep someone in a prison or locked place

📝 In old fairy tales, wicked kings often imprison the hero in a stone tower.

📖 The giant had imprisoned Chinky's mother in a great oak cupboard, and locked it with an iron key the size of a spade.

A journey undertaken for a specific purpose

📝 The scouts planned an expedition to the top of the local hill.

📖 The three friends set off on their first proper expedition, wishing themselves at once to the lonely castle in the giant's hills.

Extremely large; enormous

📝 The colossal statue could be seen from the other side of the harbour.

📖 The giant's front door was so colossal that the children looked like ants standing beside it.

Moving in a quiet, careful way so as not to be noticed

📝 The fox crept through the garden with slow, stealthy steps.

📖 Peter and Mollie took slow, stealthy steps across the enormous stone floor, careful not to make the tiniest scuff.

To set someone or something free

📝 The zookeeper worked hard to liberate the tangled bird from the netting.

📖 Chinky wanted more than anything to liberate his mother from the great oak cupboard where the giant had locked her away.

Owing thanks or a favour to someone

📝 She was forever indebted to the neighbour who had nursed her puppy back to health.

📖 Chinky's mother said she would be forever indebted to Peter and Mollie for their courage on that terrifying night.

Friendly and full of good cheer

📝 The postman gave a jovial wave as he cycled past the gate.

📖 Chinky was such a jovial little pixie that even the scariest adventure seemed less frightening with him perched on the arm of the chair.

A person who helps another to do something, especially something risky or wrong

📝 The clever dog was his master's willing accomplice in every silly game.

📖 Peter and Mollie became Chinky's cheerful accomplices, ready to help him plan and carry out any rescue mission he could dream up.

To disappear or fade away quickly

📝 Her nerves seemed to evaporate the moment the music began.

📖 Whenever a grown-up came into the playroom, Chinky would evaporate behind the curtains as though he had never been there at all.

To ask for something urgently and earnestly

📝 The stranded traveller began to beseech the guard to open the gate.

📖 "Please, oh please, take me with you!" Chinky began to beseech the children, his hands clasped and his eyes wide with worry.