The Paradox of City and Country Living
plume of smoke/dust/gas/spray etc
a cloud of smoke, dust etc which rises up into the air
A black plum of smoke rose above the city
Plumes of black smoke are also a regular sight near homes in isolated areas outside the villages – a sign that people here still burn their garbage.
rough and ready
Not perfect, but good enough for a particular purpose
The tests are only a rough and ready guide to a pupil’s future development.
We don’t have to look as far the Third World to find fault with the rough-and-ready way people deal with garbage and nature, even if the amount of pollution is far greater there.
hack (away) at something
To cut something roughly or violently
She hacked away at the ice, trying to make a hole.
Even if in practice it’s often the municipal authorities themselves that hack away at trees and bring up safety concerns – when it comes down to it, cities pay more attention.