Advanced English Vocabulary – Birthdays Flashcards
Word 1: The center of attention (noun)
Meaning: A situation when lots of people are paying attention to one
person.
Synonyms: The focus of attention (also noun)
Antonyms: Unimportant; Ignored; Overlooked (all adjectives)
Collocations: To like being the center of attention; To want to be the center of attention; To hate being the center of attention; To avoid being the center of attention; To try to be the center of attention
Example Sentence: I liked being the center of attention at my birthday
parties, because everyone had to do what I wanted!
Word 2: To turn + age (verb)
Meaning: To reach or pass a certain age.
Synonym: To reach + age; To pass + age
Collocations: Someone is going to turn (+ age) tomorrow/next week/next month; Someone turned (+ age) yesterday/last week/last month; When I turn + age, I want to …
Example Sentence: I remember having a great birthday party when I turned 11.
Word 3: The birthday boy/girl (noun)
Meaning: The person (usually child) who is celebrating their birthday.
Collocations: It’s up to the birthday boy; It’s the birthday boy’s decision; To let the birthday boy decide; To say hello to the birthday boy; To wish the birthday boy a happy birthday
Example Sentence: These days, the birthday girl or boy will receive all kinds of gifts from different people
Word 4: Low-key (adjective)
Meaning: Describes an event that has few people or a low level of noise, excitement or expense.
Synonyms: Restrained; Modest; Understated; Low-profile; Discreet (all
adjectives)
Antonyms: Ostentatious; Extravagant; Loud; Flamboyant; Fancy (all
adjectives)
Collocations: To keep it/something low-key; A low-key event; A low-key
affair; A low-key approach to something
Example Sentence: These days, I still celebrate my birthday but I prefer to keep it a bit more** low-key** than when I was in my 20s!
مراسم کوچیک
Word 5: To wrap (verb)
Meaning: To cover something (usually a gift) in paper. Often brightly
coloured or attractive paper.
Word Family: Wrapping/Wrapping paper (noun); Wrapped / Wrapped up (adjective)
Antonym: To unwrap something; To open something (both verbs)
Collocations: Beautifully wrapped; To wrap a present/gift; To tear off the wrapping paper
Example Sentence: My parents always gave me a gift that was beautifully wrapped in bright blue wrapping paper, and I found it so exciting!
Word 6: A surprise party (noun)
Meaning: A party that the centre of attention (e.g. the birthday girl) didn’t know was happening.
Antonyms: A planned party (noun)
Collocations: To organize a surprise party; To plan a surprise party; To** hold a surprise party;** To find out about a surprise party; To be invited / to invite someone to a surprise party; To keep a surprise party secret (from someone); To celebrate something with a surprise party
Example Sentence: My friends organized a surprise party for me when I turned 18.
Word 7: Get-together (noun)
Meaning: A small party or event where several people (usually less than 20) come together to celebrate something.
Synonyms: Gathering; Small party (both nouns); Reunion (noun, but with feeling of being after a long time without seeing someone)
Antonyms: A blowout; A huge birthday bash (both nouns)
Collocations: A small/little get-together; A quiet get-together; To have a get-together; To organise a get-together; A family get-together; A gettogether of/with old friends
Example Sentence: These days, I tend to have a little get-together with some close friends to celebrate my birthday.
Word 8: Decorate (verb)
Meaning: To make something (a cake, a house) look attractive by adding some extra items.
Word Family: Decorations (noun); Decorative (adjective)
Collocations: Decorate the house; Decorate a cake with something (e.g. icing/frosting); To be in charge of decorating (somewhere/something)
Example Sentence: For my birthday, my parents would always decorate the apartment with balloons and a huge banner saying ‘Happy Birthday!
Word 9: Make a birthday wish (phrasal verb)
Meaning: A tradition where the birthday boy/girl makes a secret wish in their head before** blowing out the candles **on the birthday cake.
Synonyms: To wish for something (verb)
Collocations: (To make) A special birthday wish; (To make) A secret birthday wish; To make a birthday wish about something
Example Sentence: I remember that my parents could always guess what I had made my birthday wish about. I don’t know how they always knew!
Word 10: Blow out the candles (phrasal verb)
Meaning: A tradition where the birthday boy/girl is the only person who can use their mouth to blow out the candles on top of a birthday cake.
Antonyms: To light the candles (verb)
Collocations: Blow out all the candles in one go; To blow out half the
candles; To blow out one candle
Example Sentence: Blowing out the candles was always my favorite part of my birthday when I was young.
Listen
People’s birthday celebrations can take many forms. Children often prefer a big blow-out where they are the center of attention and get to unwrap presents and blow out the candles on their cake. Adults, particularly as they get older, usually keep it low-key with just a small get-together of n few close friends.
What were your birthdays like when you were young?
I remember always being super excited when I was turning an important age like 10. I would always have a big party and invite all my friends. I remember making a wish when I blew the candles out on my cake, and hoping that it would come true.
How did you celebrate your most recent birthday?
I actually had a **big blow-out **with my friends.We went on a two days trip to berlin, and had an amazing time. I was turning 21, so it was a big deal, and we certainly didn’t keep it low-key!
