Power Words - All Flashcards
The most common words in the English language (not including the super easy words you already know)
You can take your dog for a walk or _____ your cat.
drag
DEFINITION: to pull something that’s on the ground
ALSO: if you have a hard time waking up in the morning you can say you had to drag yourself out of bed
ALSO: if you ask your kid how school was and he says “It was a drag” that means it was very boring
______ testing of Pfizer’s 27th booster shot is going well.
Clinical
DEFINITION: the test (often called a “trial”) happens in a medical clinic, which means it’s tested on real people and not just in a laboratory
________ is a hard pill to swallow.
Defeat
DEFINITION: to lose
_______! I just missed the bus!
Goddamnit
Short for: God damn it
Also: Damn it (less vulgar)
Also: Darn it (not vulgar)
“_______ a drink sometime?”
(not “want”)
Fancy
DEFINITION: do you want / would you like
NOTE: mostly British
______ _____ time at the hotel was noon. Which was perfect for Bob because that’s when he wakes up.
Check out
DEFINITION: the process of leaving a hotel – you pay your bill and return your key
OPPOSITE: check in to a hotel
NOTE: you also check in with your airline when you arrive at the airport, but you don’t check out when you land….
______ how many hours a week do you exercise?
Roughly
DEFINITION: approximately
ALSO: if someone asks you for a rough estimate that means very broad, not exact
______ his injuries, Bob insisted he was ready to return to work.
Despite
Definition: even with; in spite of
_____ solar panels
installing
DEFINITION: to connect, to set up so it can be used
NOUN: installation
_______ how many hours do you sleep at night?
Approximately
DEFINITION: roughly, the estimate
_____ real estate
commercial
DEFINITION: related to commerce, i.e. business
_____ on a potato
choking
_____ me. I think this is my stop. Hello… I need to get out please….
Excuse
DEFINITION: pardon me
ALSO: You can say “excuse me” when you sneeze or when you need to answer your phone or when you want to ask a question…
______, Jennifer did not find Bob attractive. Then she discovered he drove a Honda.
Initially
DEFINITION: at first
_____ energy
____money
_____ time
less
DEFINITION: not as many as before or compared to someone/something else
EXPRESSION: do more with less; less is more
_____ arriving at Disney Land, it will be necessary to spend the first two weeks of your vacation in quarantine.
Upon
DEFINITION: soon after
ALSO: “Once a upon a time” is a classic introduction for childrens’ stories
_____ an old building
restoring
DEFINITION: to bring back to a previous level of quality
NOUN: restoration
________David McCullough, author of “1776,” “Truman” and many other books, died in 2022 at the age of 89.
Historian
DEFINITION: someone who researches and writes about history
_____ a church
attend
DEFINITION: go to (usually regularly and not just once)
_____ 1 of the U.S. Constitution say what the congress can and can not do.
article
DEFINITION: a section of a contract or document
____-view mirror
rear
DEFINITION: when you want to say that something is located in the back of something else
____, let me thank you for awarding me the Nobel Peace Prize. _____, I asked for a glass of water ten minutes ago. Do you see a glass of water here? I don’t.
Firstly / Secondly
DEFINITION: If you’re going to make several points, you begin with “firstly” then “secondly” then “finally…”
____ ____! Ducks!
Look out!
DEFINITION: watch out! be careful
____ to becoming a cop, Bob spent a lot of time at the gym.
Prior
DEFINITION: before
Also: If you say you can’t attend someone’s party because you’re already going to a party, you can say, “I have a prior engagement” (very formal)
____ dong!
Who is it?
____! Dinner’s ready.
ding dong!
Ding!
DEFINITION: a sound made by doorbells, timers, etc.
___it!
Darn it!
Also: Damnit!
Your fearless teacher’s favorite summer hobby: ______ down the river.
floating
DEFINITION: to stay on the surface of the water
You’ve got to be pretty ______ to work at the circus.
daring
DEFINITION: he’s brave and takes risks
You just lost a bet with a friend.
Your friend says you have to wear one of these _____ to work.
Which one do you choose?
caps
DEFINITION: a type of hat
ALSO: a baseball cap
You have _______ nine seconds to escape or deactivate the bomb.
precisely
DEFINITION: exactly
ALSO: Do you need to be precise in your job? Are you a surgeon? Or a pilot? Or an engineer?
You don’t have to wear facemasks ______, but Bob’s not taking any chances.
anymore
DEFINITION: any longer, no longer
You don’t have to be a college _______ to get a job working in the sewars, but it helps.
graduate
DEFINITION: someone who completed their studies at a high school or university
NOTE: this is the noun and it’s pronounced just a little differently than the verb
You can get a good price if you shop for ______ fruit and vegetables.
decaying
DEFINITION: it’s old and it’s rotting
Also: tooth decay; societal decay; a decaying body
“You better have a good ______ for this.”
reason
DEFINITION: explanation, excuse
Yoga classes are a good way to _____ your flexibility and to pick up babes.
maintain
DEFINITION: to keep, to continue
ALSO: maintain your health, maintain your perfect record
Yes or no? A real man can remove a bottle _____ with his teeth.
cap
DEFINITION: the top of a bottle
Years later, at his murder trial, Mrs. Jones would say Bob was always such a ______, little boy.
sweet
DEFINITION: nice, kind
Years before covid, Bob’s plastic barrier allowed customers to ________ without smelling his bad breath.
checkout
DEFINITION: when you checkout at a store you bring your stuff to the front and pay for it
ALSO: a checkout counter, a checkout clerk
Would you ______ for any of these jobs?
qualify
DEFINITION: to meet the necessary requirements
ALSO: to qualify for the Olympics; to qualify for a loan
Would you rather _____ or clean the bathroom?
iron
DEFINITION: to take the wrinkles out of clothes using an iron and an ironing board
ALSO: a metal and a mineral, ex. the Iron Age, Iron Man, liver is a good source of iron
Would you rather study grammar rules or spend time in _______?
prison
DEFINITION: where you put criminals; similar to a jail except you can spend years in prison and maybe only hours in jail
VERB: to imprison a criminal
A PERSON: a prisoner
Would you rather own your own apartment or own some _______?
land
DEFINITION: earth, ground
Would you rather live in this ______ or speak perfect English?
castle
BEWARE: the silent “t”!
IDIOM: a man’s home is his castle
Would you rather discover this treasure _____ or five bitcoins?
chest
DEFINITION: a large box with a lid
Would you rather be able to write beautiful poetry or ______ beautiful music?
compose
DEFINITION: create by combining different pieces; ex. compose a speech, the neighborhood is composed of immigrants from many countries
PERSON: a composer
Would you like to _____ ____ public office?
run for
DEFINITION: to try to be elected
Would you like to spend the night inside this _____ potato?
massive
DEFINITION: very large
Would you like to own an _____ car?
electric
DEFINITION: something that uses / runs on electricity; ex. an electric stove, an electric toothbrush
Would you like to live _____? Where?
abroad
DEFINITION: in a foreign country
Would you like to have lived in another _______?
century
DEFINITION: a period of 100 years
EXPRESSION: centuries ago….
“Would you like a little ____ more?”
“No thanks, I’m stuffed. Plus, your cooking is terrible.”
bit
DEFINITION: a small amount or piece of something, ex. You’ll need a bit of luck; Can I have a bit of your time?
Would you ever ______ _______ to buy a new product?
line up
DEFINITION: to join a line with other people
Would you ever ____ to tell your boss the truth?
dare
DEFINITION: to do something that requires courage
VERB: if you dare someone to do something you challenge them to do it, ex. I dare you to go talk to that girl.
EXPRESSION: If your wife tells you, “Don’t you dare forget our anniversary” that means it would really be a bad idea to forget.
EXPRESSION: If you want to show that you’re shocked you can say, “How dare you say that to me!”
Would you drive to work in a _____ or take the day off?
flood
DEFINITION: a lot of water
Would you date someone who has a _____ between their teeth?
gap
Definition: a space
Also: if a young person takes a gap year that means he/she takes a year off between high school and college to travel or work
Would you consider this a ____ or a major problem?
minor
DEFINITION: small, not serious
Woops. He ____ the ball.
dropped
DEFINITION: he couldn’t hold it and it fell
Woops. He drove too fast around the ______.
curve
DEFINITION: a bend
IDIOM: If you stay ahead of the curve that means you work or study extra to stay ahead of the competition
Women with small children are usually _____ ______ while boarding.
given priority
DEFINITION: they are allowed to go first because they are more important than the others
Women always say they prefer a ______ man.
confident
DEFINITION: if you’re confident you know you will succeed
With his new photo-editing software, Bob can _____ out all the unimportant people from his photos, like his wife.
crop
DEFINITION: to cut, usually the top of something, ex. crop a dog’s ears
With his new degree from Harvard and his job on Wall Street starting Monday, Bob’s _____ looked good.
prospects
DEFINITION: outlook for the future
Winning all the swimming medals in both the summer and winter Olympics is quite an _______
accomplishment
DEFINITION: a success, he accomplished a lot
Will there ever be a ______ to the Rocky series?
conclusion
DEFINITION: the ending, the final result
Will the new facial _______ technology turn out to be a good thing or a bad thing?
recognition
DEFINITION: when you recognize someone you realize you’ve seen him before
ALSO: you can recognize an employee for a job well done by mentioning him during a meeting or giving him a bonus
Will Rowan Atkinson be the next actor to be _______ as James Bond?
cast
DEFINITION: to choose an actor for a role
Why ______ life when there’s a simple solution?
complicate
DEFINITION: to make something more difficult and less simple
ADJECTIVE: complicated
ALSO: if someone overcomplicates a problem that means he makes it more complicated
Why don’t more books have interesting _______ like this?
illustrations
DEFINITION: a picture, drawing, usually in a book
VERB: to illustrate
PERSON: an illustrator
ALSO: an illustration can be an example which makes your point clearer; ex. Jesus illustrated his moral teachings through stories called “parables”
Who’s a ______ celebrity you’d like to meet?
charming
DEFINITION: when someone has an attractive personality and everyone likes them they have charm; think of a movie star or con artist
ALSO: you can say a movie or a house is charming and that means you like it and it makes you feel good
Who’s the youngest _______ you know?
retiree
DEFINITION: someone who stopped working
UK: a pensioner
Who’s the most ____person you know?
moral
DEFINITION: a moral person is someone who is concerned with doing the right thing; often, but not always, a religious person
NOUN: morality
OPPOSITE: immoral, ex. an immoral movie
Who ______ your laundry?
folds
ALSO: if you’re playing poker and someone says “I fold” that means they quit because their cards are bad; and if a business folds it goes out of business
Who ______ the temperature in your house?
regulates
DEFINITION: to control, adjust
NOUN: regulation; ex. government regulation is driving up costs
Who ____ ____ ____ _____ at your office? In your family?
gets on your nerves
DEFINITION: annoys you, you find the person bothersome
Who would you like to see in ______? Living or dead.
concert
DEFINITION: a musical performance
ALSO: if your company is going to sell a new product in concert with another company that means they’re collaborating and working together
Who won the last ______ in your country?
election
DEFINITION: when people vote for a leader or political party
VERB: to elect
Who were your ______ when you were a kid? Did they have a positive or a negative influence on you?
peers
DEFINITION: your peers are people who are the same age or who have the same income level or are at the same status level as you
ALSO: peer pressure
Who was your ______ when you were a kid?
hero
DEFINITION: any person you admire greatly, usually someone who is brave and courageous
ALSO: the main character in a story, usually an action / adventure story
ADJECTIVE: heroic, ex. an heroic action
Who was your favorite _______ in Friends?
character
DEFINITION: the person an actor plays; the role an actor plays
EXPRESSION: If someone says “He’s quite a character” that means he has a unique personality.
Who was Trump’s _______ in the 2016 election?
opponent
DEFINITION: the person on the opposite side in a contest or game or fight
Who was the _____ student in your school?
brightest
DEFINITION: smart, clever
ALSO: if you’re optimistic about the future you can say, The future looks bright
ALSO: a star can shine brightly; a fire can burn brightly; an actor has a bright smile
EXPRESSION: But if someone is not very clever, you can say: He’s not the brightest bulb.
Who was the last employee at your company to be _________?
(not fired)
dismissed
DEFINITION: fire (formal)
ALSO: you can receive a dismissal notice (very formal)
Who was the best _______ you ever had?
flatmate
DEFINITION: someone whom you share or do something with; ex. roommate, teammate, officemate, classmate
Who took a _____ out of my donut?
bite
Noun: a bite, ex. I got a bug bite on my arm.
Verb: bite/bit/bitten, ex. I’ve been bitten many times by mosquitoes.
Who knows what kind of treasure lies ______ the surface of the sea?
beneath
DEFINITION: under, below
ALSO: If you ask someone to clean the bathroom and they say, It’s beneath me to do that, that means they think they have a high status and the job is too dirty for them
Who is your country’s most famous ________?
poet
DEFINITION: someone who writes poetry
ALSO: if someone is good with words / uses words beautifully, but doesn’t acually write poetry, you can still compliment him by calling him a poet
Who has more _____: movie stars from the past or from today?
class
DEFINITION: style, grace, elegance
ADJECTIVE: a classy person
Who does your country share its _______ with? Is it a friendly ____?
border/border
DEFINITION: the line separating two countries or two properties
VERB: If your boss says your performance is bordering on criminal that means it’s so bad it’s almost a crime. And you should probably try harder.
ALSO: borderline criminal activity
Who does the ________ chores in your home?
household
DEFINITION: related to the house and everything inside your house; ex. your household income is the income of everyone inside the house
Who do you know who likes to _______ a lot of attention?
attract
DEFINITION: he / she draws attention to himself/herself, it can be either on purpose or not on purpose
Who do you know who is _______?
cheap
DEFINITION: a cheap person is someone who inconveniences himself or even embarresses himself to save money
ALSO: a cheapskate
Who do you know who is accident _______?
prone
DEFINITION: likely to happen to; susceptible
Who do you know who has a ______ handshake?
firm
DEFINITION: hard, solid
ADVERB: he gripped his hand firmly
ALSO: If you make an offer to sell something and you’re firm that means you aren’t willing to negotiate.
Who do you know who can play the _______?
guitar
Who did you _____ when you were a kid?
admire
DEFINITION: respect, look up to
NOUN: admiration
Who can you _____ __ at work to do a good job?
count on
DEFINITION: depend on, rely on
Whiskey: the breakfast of ______
champions
DEFINITION: a victor, the winner, one of the best
ALSO: if you read that someone is a champion of the poor, that means they fight to help the poor
NOTE: “Breakfast of Champions” is a famous advertising slogan for an American breakfast cereal that features famous athletes on its boxes
While vacationing in the Hamptons, Bob enjoyed many summertime activities, ___ _______, mud diving.
(not “for example”)
for instance
DEFINITION: for example, such as
While on the golf course, Dr. Bob got a call from his lawyer informing him he was being sued for medical ______.
negligence
DEFINITION: when something bad happens because you don’t do your job or you’re not responsible
While most businesses suffered during the lockdowns, business was _______ for e-commerce sites like Amazon.
booming
DEFINITION: a sudden increase; ex. a baby boom is a sudden increase in births; if the market is booming sales are climbing
While his friends played video games, Bob worked on his evil _______ to take over the world.
scheme
DEFINITION: a clever plan
Which ______ you more? Beauty? Intelligence? Or success?
impresses
DEFINITION: it causes you to respect, admire them
Which ______ has the best music?
decade
DEFINITION: a period of ten years
Which ______ did Harry Potter need to find to get to Hogwarts?
platform
DEFINITION: the raised area beside the railroad tracks
ALSO: a raised area for public speeches; that’s why some websites like Twitter and Facebook are called platforms
Which ____ do you prefer when you go to the movies?
row
DEFINITION: when people or things are in a straight line
IDIOM: if your boss tells you to get your ducks in a row before starting the new project he wants you to get organized and prepare
Which would you rather have: More time for your hobbies and your family? Or a higher _____?
salary
DEFINITION: how much an employer pays you; ex. your monthly salary, your annual salary
Which word has been _____ ____?
crossed out
DEFINITION: to draw one or more lines through a word to show that it should be deleted
ALSO: to strike through a word
Which vocabulary method gives you _____ results?
rapid
DEFINITION: very fast, quick
ALSO: In a river, when water moves very fast over rocks these are called “rapids.”
ALSO: you can get a rapid test result, ex. for Covid
ALSO: a good investment has a rapid rate of return
ALSO: a machine gun is a rapid-fire gun, and if someone asks you a lot of questions quickly they ask rapid-fire question
Which shooter was the most ______?
accurate
DEFINITION: exact, correct
ALSO: an accurate prediction; an accurate test
Which one doesn’t _____?
belong
DEFINITION: to be a member of, to be a part of
ALSO: belong to a family, belong to a political organization
ALSO: things that you own are your belongings,ex. (sign in a cafe: “Beware of thieves. Watch your belongings.”
Which of these famous ______ was not involved in a sex scandal?
politicians
DEFINITION: someone who runs for and is elected to a public office
Which is _____ leather and which is fake?
genuine
DEFINITION: real, authentic
Also: if a person is genuine it means he’s not lying, not acting, he’s real and honest
Which is your favorite ______ of shoes?
pair
DEFINITION: two things that go together; ex. a pair of pants, a pair of glasses, a pair of legs
VERB: to match two things /put them together; ex. this cheese pairs well with red wine
Which is your favorite season? Winter? Spring? Summer? Or ______?
autumn
ALSO: a nice way to say that a person is old is to say “He’s in the autumn of his life.”
NOTE: “fall” is more common with Americans and “autumn” is more common with Brits
Which is your favorite natural _____?
disaster
DEFINITION: a very damaging and usually dangerou event, a catastrophe
ALSO: if you have an interview for a new job and you get lost, forget your name and throw up on the boss you can say it was a disaster
ADJECTIVE: disastrous, ex. a disastrous decision
Which is the ____ circle and which is the outer circle?
inner
DEFINITION: on the inside
ALSO: live in the inner city; seek inner peace; inner beauty; inner strength
Which is the proper and which is the _______ way to lift something heavy?
improper
DEFINITION: incorrect
Which is the best seating _______ for a wedding?
arrangement
DEFINITION: how the seats and tables are arranged/placed
Which is more _______: a cobra in your sleeping bag or an alligator in your toilet?
frightening
DEFINITION: very scary
Which is a better investment? Stocks or ______?
bonds
DEFINITION: a type of investment, usually issued by a government which needs to raise money for something, ex. war bonds
Which has a higher population _______? This city or this village?
density
Definition: the number of something in a certain space, ex. a densely wooded forest is a forest with a lot of trees crowded together; a densely populated area is a city with a lot of people crowded together
Adjective: dense
Also: if you want to insult a person who doesn’t understand what you’re trying to explain you can call him “dense”
Which hand is clean and which hand is ______?
dirty
DEFINITION: it has dirt on it, not clean
ALSO: if your mom says she found a dirty magazine in your room she means a magazine with naked people (tip: just blame your older brother)
Which family _______ more stuff?
possesses
DEFINITION: if you possess something you own it or have it; ex. Superman possess amazing strength
Which dog is _____ on going for a walk?
keen
DEFINITION: eager, enthusiastic
ALSO: if someone has keen eyes or keen hearing that means he/she has sharp eyes/shart hearing and notices things others don’t
Which do you prefer? ____ snakes or ____ spiders?
giant
DEFINITION: huge, very large
ALSO: a giant in his industry (a leader, well respected)
A PERSON: a giant
Which do you prefer? Photography ______ or going to the dentist?
exhibits
DEFINITION: a public showing
NOTE: you can also say “exhibition”
VERB: to exhibit
Which do you prefer? A ______ amount of electricity or a _____ injection?
lethal
DEFINITION: deadly
Which do you prefer: bar ___ or pie _____?
charts
DEFINITION: data that is shown visually
ALSO: sailors don’t use maps, they use charts. So you may hear in a movie, “Let’s chart a course for the island.” Or “We’re sailing in uncharted waters.”
Which do you like best? Snakes? _____? Or giant spiders?
rats
DEFINITION: a type of rodent, a large mouse
ALSO: If you rat on someone it means you report them. ex. the drug dealer ratted on his partner to the police
ALSO: If something bad and unexpected happens, you can say, “Rats!”
Which conversation topics _____ you?
bore
DEFINITION: the opposite of “excite” or “interest”
ADJECTIVE: boring
NOUN: boredom
PERSON: a bore
Which American chain restaurants are _____ their presence in your country?
expanding
DEFINITION: growing
Whether or not we have the wedding outside is ________ on the rain.
dependent
DEFINITION: it depends on ____, it’s conditional, contingent
Wherever you find a McDonald’s restaurant, you will find a ______ level of service and cleanliness.
consistent
DEFINITION: the same, with no variation, standard
Where’s the nearest _______ to where you live?
port
DEFINITION: where ships go to load and unload their cargo
Where is the _____ government located in your country?
federal
DEFINITION: the central government, not the local / town / state government
ALSO: federal courthouse, a federal crime, a federal officer
Where do your out-of-town ______ sleep when they come to visit?
relatives
DEFINITION: the people who are related to you; your extended family, ex. aunts and uncles, cousins, etc.
Where do you _______ the economy will be this time next year?
anticipate
DEFINITION: expect
______ of data theft are on the rise.
incidents
DEFINITION: a single event
NOTE: a formal word you’ll most likely just read or hear in the news
Where do you ____ ___ ___ your best ideas?
come up with
DEFINITION: if you come up with an idea or solution you find it / discover it after thinking about it for some time
Where can you see the greatest ______ between rich and poor in your country?
contrast
DEFINITION: a comparison that shows a great difference
_______ into the sunset
sailing
PERSON: a sailor
Where can I put my hat?
Just _____ it over there.
fling
DEFINITION: throw a short distance
PAST: flung
Where are Bob and Jennifer?
I think they’re hiding behind the _______.
curtain
DEFINITION: cloth that covers a window or stage
EXPRESSION: if your boss tells you “It’s curtains for you”, that means you should start looking for a new job
Whenever Bob ______ __ the past, he needed to call his therapist.
reflected on
DEFINITION: to think about, usually a memory
Whenever Bob didn’t start a fire at school, he got a special ______.
treat
DEFINITION: something special, often candy or dessert
When _____ your car for a long trip, don’t forget the kids.
loading
DEFINITION: if you load a vehicle you put luggage inside it
ALSO: load the dishwasher, load the washing machine, load the gun
When you’re a kid, summer seems to last for an _______
eternity
DEFINITION: forever
ALSO: eternal
_____, Bob. _____, Randy.
Howdy
DEFINITION: Hi (informal)
When you’re ready to check out, place your items on the _____.
counter
DEFINITION: the area where you pay in a shop or cafe; the surface where you prepare food in a kitchen
When you’re reading, do you ever write notes in the ______?
margins
DEFINITION: in a text, the space between the words and the end of page; the border, the edge
ALSO: if a political candidate wins by a small margin that means he got just a few more votes than his opponent; a very small margin is a razor-thin margin
EXPRESSION: If your boss tells you you should allow for a margin of error that means you should plan on things not going exactly as planned, ex. If you think it will cost $1,000,000 you would budget for $1.2 million
When you’re a dinner guest, is it polite to offer to ____ ____ and help clear the table?
pitch in
DEFINITION: when you voluntarily help to do work
When you _____ _____ on your youth, what’s something you wish you had done differently?
look back
DEFINITION: reflect on, think about something in the past
When you ___ ____ to work after lunch do you feel sleepy?
go back
DEFINITION: return
When you wrote essays in school, did you spend more time on writing or on the ______?
revisions
DEFINITION: the re-writes, edits
When you were in school, did your parents provide you with financial _____?
aid
DEFINITION: help, assistance (formal)
VERB: to aid the poor
When you were in high school were you fond of your ______?
principal
DEFINITION: the director of a high school, the headmaster
NOTE: for a college or university this person is called a president
ALSO: the most important, the first in rank, ex. The principal reason he was fired from his job was poor performance.
When you were a teenager, what did you do to be _______?
cool
DEFINITION: popular, accepted by the crowd
When you were a kid, what were your ________ of how life would be as an adult?
expectations
DEFINITION: what you expected, what you thought would be true or happen
When you were a kid, what were you _____ about?
curious
DEFINITION: you wanted to know more about it
NOUN: curiosity
ALSO: if something strange happens that you can’t explain, you can say “That’s curious.”
When you were a kid, did your parents _____ you to play with matches?
permit
DEFINITION: allow (formal)
VERB: to give permission
NOUN: a government may only allow certain things if you have a document called “a permit”, i.e. a permit to carry a gun, a permit to sell alcohol
When you were a kid, did your parents ____ you to culture?
expose
DEFINITION: to put in front of, to present
ALSO: if you open the back of a camera you expose the film; if you go to the hospital you expose yourself to disease
When you were a kid, did your parents send you to summer ______?
camp
DEFINITION: a place for kids to go without their parents when school is out
ALSO: to go camping means to sleep outside, i.e. in a tent
When you were a child, how did your parents _______ you when you misbehaved?
discipline
DEFINITION: to punish
When you want to sell your home, a real estate ______ can help you by showing potential buyers where they can find the windows.
agent
DEFINITION: someone who has permission to work for and represent another person
ALSO: a travel agent, a secret agent (i.e. a spy), an author may have a literary agent
When you read the news, do you read the _____ or just the headlines?
articles
DEFINITION: the complete text of a news story
When you read the news do you read the entire article or do you just ______ the headlines?
scan
DEFINITION: to look at quickly
When you live in a big city, seeing strange people is an _______ event.
everyday
DEFINITION: common, nothing special, usual
When you have a conversation, how much of a ______ do you need?
distance
DEFINITION: the space between two objects, people, places
ALSO: We saw a light in the distance = far away
When you go to the store, do you usually buy a ______ eggs or half a _____?
dozen
Definition: 12
Note: You can say “dozens and dozens” and “hundreds and hundreds” but not “tens and tens”
When you go on vacation, who _______ you at work?
replaces
DEFINITION: who takes over your job? who is your substitute?
NOUN: replacement; ex. My grandfather had hip replacement surgery.
ALSO: replace a lightbulb
When you get sick, how long does it take you to _______?
recover
DEFINITION: get back to normal
ALSO: if you lose money you want to recover your losses
When you fly to a foreign country you will be asked to fill in a passenger __________ form.
declaration
DEFINITION: to state something publicly, often in writing, ex. The Declaration of Independence
When you don’t want to forget an appointment, how do you _____ yourself?
remind
DEFINITION: do something that causes you to remember
NOUN: a reminder, ex. “This is a friendly reminder that you have your dentist appointment tomorrow at 1 pm.”
When you chose your career, were you given an __________?
alternative
DEFINITION: another option, something else you can choose
When we returned home we ______ that the dog might have been the one who damaged the walls.
suspected
DEFINITION:to think that someone is guilty/responsible but you’re not 100% certain
When was the last time your country (or one of your countrymen/women) won a ________?
championship
DEFINITION: the final of many competitions to determine the winning team
PERSON: a champion
When was the last time your car _____ _____?
broke down
DEFINITION: stop working
ALSO: if you have an emotional breakdown that means you’re going to need a lot of tissues
When was the last time your boss ______ your work?
praised
DEFINITION: to say good things about someone or something
ALSO: When something good happens a Christian might say, Praise the Lord!
When was the last time you ______ with someone through the post, instead of through the internet?
corresponded
DEFINITION: to communicate through writing
When was the last time you ______ out-of-town guests?
hosted
DEFINITION: if you host someone you let them stay at your place
When was the last time you were under a lot of ______ at work?
pressure
DEFINITION: when something pushes or presses against something else pressure is the force that is felt
ALSO: air pressure in your tires, blood pressure, pressure at work
When was the last time you missed work because of an ________?
illness
DEFINITION: sickness
When was the last time you made a ____ decision?
poor
DEFINITION: bad
ALSO: poor eating habits; poor eyesight
When was the last time you had ______ over to your house for dinner?
company
DEFINTION: guests, visitors
When was the last time you had food ______ ?
delivered
DEFINITION: when something you ordered is brought to your home or office
ADJECTIVE: delivery, ex. the pizza delivery man
ALSO: if a woman delivers a baby that means she gives birth, i.e. she doesn’t bring it to your home or office
When Veronica looks angry, ________ she’s just hungry.
apparently
DEFINITION: it appears that way
When this dynamite goes off it will make a loud _______.
boom
DEFINITION: a loud sound
ALSO: someone can have a booming voice
When they first started dating her favorite _____ for Bob was “darling.” Now she just calls him “shithead.”
term
DEFINITION: a word or expression, ex. the Latin term for “my fault” is “mea culpa”
When the Shackleton expedition got stuck in the ice and then ran out of ______, they had to eat their dogs.
provisions
DEFINITION: supplies, usually food
When the police found out Bob wasn’t wearing his face mask in the shower they ____ him.
arrested
DEFINITION: when the police catch you for committing a crime
When the police found one million dollars in gold in Bob’s office, he _____ the IT guy.
accused
DEFINITION: to say that someone is guilty of a crime
noun: accusation
When the paparazzi photographed Bob stealing cookies, it ruined his _____ for life.
reputation
DEFINITION: what other people think about you
When the negotiations became intense, Nigeria sent Bob to ______ their nation.
represent
DEFINITION: to act or speak in the place of someone else; ex. a lawyer represents his client in court,
When the government doesn’t have the _______ to help people after a disaster they call the Red Cross.
resources
Definition: money, material or people that can be used to solve problems, ex. HR/human resources
When the floor in his apartment ________, Bob decided it was time to go on a diet.
collapsed
DEFINITION: to fall, to cave in
WHAT ELSE CAN COLLAPSE? a bridge can collapse… the stock market can collapse… your argument against hiring someone can collapse… civilization can collapse…. the public transportation system can collapse…
ALSO: if you buy a collapsible chair that means you have a chair that can fold up
When the factory decreased wages, thousands of workers ______ in a strike.
participated
DEFINITION: they joined, they took part
NOUN: participation
A PERSON: a participant
When the diary of Anne Frank was discovered it gave a new ______ into the cost of war from a child’s perspective.
insight
DEFINITION: a deeper level of understanding
ADJECTIVE: if someone gives a very thoughtful or original comment you can say it’s insightful
When the cost of ______ becomes too high robots will replace people.
labor
DEFINITION: work
A PERSON: laborer
ALSO: labor strike, Labor Day, the Labor Party, manual labor
BRITISH ENGLISH: labour
When the company went bankrupt and everyone was unemployed, they ______ the IT guy.
blamed
DEFINITION: to say someone is responsible for something bad
When Star Wars was released in 1977, it was an immediate _______
hit
DEFINITION: a success
ALSO: a hit song
When Se-ri Pak won the U.S. Open, it _____ many Korean women to take up golf.
inspired
DEFINITION: to influence (usually in a positive way); ex. his kind words inspired me with confidence
NOUN: inspiration
When saying the word “balloon”, the _______ is on the second syllable.
emphasis
DEFINITION: to stress a sound, or to stress the importance of some information, ex. “I want to emphasize that it will not be possible to go over the budget this year.”
When Peter Parker was bitten by a radioactive spider he suddenly had the _____ to climb walls like a spider. And ride a bicycle like a spider.
ability
DEFINITION: your power or skill to do something
VERB: to be able to do something, ex. I’m not able to think today
ALSO: if a person is in a wheelchair they’re called “disabled”
When it gets hot, how do you _____ _____?
cool down
DEFINITION: to lower your body temperature
ALSO: a cool day (not cold but not warm)
When it comes to presents, which is better: ______ or quality?
quantity
DEFINITION: the amount of something, ex. a large / small quantity or water
When is your rent or mortgage payment ______?
due
DEFINITION: if a payment is due that means the date has arrived when you must pay it
ALSO: if you didn’t make your payment on time it is now “past due.”
ALSO: you can ask a woman “When is the baby due?” (but make sure she’s really pregnant first)
When interviewed by the media, Bob reveal that the ____ to his success was his afternoon nap.
key
DEFINITION: very important; an important part
When in a new city you should explore hidden ________; you might discover a Starbucks that you’ve never been to.
passages
DEFINITION: a long, narrow space that connects two areas
When I told my doctor I smoke five packs of cigarettes and drink a bottle of whiskey for breakfast every day he looked ________
concerned
DEFINITION: worried
When I go to the movies I like to sit in the first ________
row
Definition: when people or things are in a straight line, ex. a row of seats, ducks in a row
When I first met my wife her beauty ________ to me.
appealed
DEFINITION: found it attractive
When his boss asked him if he’d like to come to work on time, Bob ______.
refused
DEFINITION: to not agree to do something
When hiking in the desert, be sure to pack an ______ amount of water.
adequate
DEFINITION: enough; not too much and not too little, just enough
ALSO: if your teacher tells you your test results were adequate that means you passed but you didn’t do great
When he wasn’t robbing graves, Indiana Jones was a ________.
scholar
DEFINITION: an educate person
ALSO: a student; a student who has won a scholarship (money to study at a university)
When he heard the bad news his head_______ exploded.
literally
DEFINITION: when you want to say that a metaphor is not a comparison but actually happened; ex. A common expression is “I couldn’t get out of bed this morning.” That simply means you were very tired. But if you add “literally” that means maybe someone chained you to your bed or your legs didn’t work.
NOTE: This is one of the most misused words in English. 99% of the times I hear it, the person was using a metaphor (was not speaking literally) and should have used the word “practically.”
When have you ______ the rules?
ignored
DEFINITION: to pretend like something or someone doesn’t exists, ex. ignore a ringing phone during dinner
When Google decided to buy Bob’s app, he was _________ quite well.
compensated
DEFINITION: paid
When everyone else is freaking out, are you able to _____ _____ ______?
keep your cool
DEFINITION: stay calm
When entering a roundabout, you must _____ to oncoming traffic.
yield
DEFINITION: if you yield power to someone you give your power to someone stronger than you; submit; give in
When elected, the mayor promised to ______ the police department.
reform
DEFINITION: to change, to improve something, ex. political reform, tax reform
ALSO: a person can be a reformer; Jan Huss and Martin Luther were part of the reformation to change the Catholic Church
When do you plan to ______? Or have you already?
retire
DEFINITION: when you quit working
NOUN: retirement
PERSON: retiree
When did you have your biggest _____ period?
growth
DEFINITION: an increase
VERB: to grow
ALSO: economic growth
When did you have a lot of ____ in your life?
tension
DEFINITION: in physics, tension is a type of force; in life, it’s similar to stress
ALSO: a tension headache is a headache caused by stress
When deciding where to go on vacation, you should _____ everyone in the family. Unless, you want to actually go some place you’ll enjoy.
involve
DEFINITION: include
ALSO: another way to say that someone is doing something bad (breaking the law, having a sexual relationship, etc.) is to say he’s involved with someone/ in something, ex. Bob was kicked out of school for getting involved in drugs.
When couples were forced to _______ be together during the lockdown, divorce rates soared.
constantly
DEFINITION: all the time
ADJECTIVE: constant, ex. a constant headache
When Bob’s glutten-free, vegan, organic salad didn’t have enough sugar in it, he _______ to talk to the manager.
demanded
DEFINITION: to insist
When Bob’s mother-in-law said she was going to visit for a month, he decided to build an ______ on to the house.
addition
DEFINITION: something new which is added
VERB: to add
When Bob ______ his dog to sit he realized he still had a lot of training to do.
commanded
DEFINITION: to give an order
ADJECTIVE: a commanding voice is a strong voice
PERSON: the President is The Commander-In-Chief of the army
ALSO: if you’re in command of a situation that means you’ve got it under control and there’s nothing to be worried about
When Bob wasn’t able to bill enough hours at the law firm, he knew he could always make a few extra bucks at the _____ club.
strip
DEFINITION: to remove your clothes
ALSO: strip mining is when they remove an entire mountain; if you strip the bed you remove all the sheets; if you strip the paint from the wall you scrape it all off
When Bob was unable to connect to the internet, he ____ _____ for help.
cried out
DEFINITION: to shout, to yell
ALSO: a cry for help, a cry for justice
When Bob was in love, he found it easy to ____ his lovers’ flaws.
overlook
DEFINITION: to ignore, to look past
When Bob was a child he______ to eat his vegetables. Now he’s rich and donates money to fight vegetarianism.
refused
Definition: if you refuse to do something you say “No way! Absolutely not!”
When Bob was a baby he was incredibly lazy and preferred to sleep most of the day. ________, his mother loved him.
Nevertheless
DEFINITION: in spite of the fact, regardless
When Bob wakes up late he finds it necessary to _____ the speed limit in order to arrive at his job on time.
exceed
DEFINITION: to go beyond/past what is allowed or expected; ex. the restaurant exceeded my expectations
When Bob took the job at Safari Pizza Delivery, he knew there would be _____ danger involved.
considerable
DEFINITION: big, great, large, a lot of
When Bob suggested trading wives, the negotiation turned _______.
aggressive
DEFINITION: threatening violence; ex. a dog showing its teeth is a sign of aggression
NOUN: aggression
ALSO: if someone is aggressive in business or sales, that doesn’t mean they’re violent, but rather that they are persistent, eager to win, determined to win
When Bob stepped on his bathroom ______ he realized it was time to start eating less.
scale
Definition: a device used for weighing people or things
When Bob said he’d crawl across broken glass to get a date with Jennifer, he wasn’t _______.
kidding
DEFINITION: joking
NOTE: “I would crawl across broken glass to _____” is a common expression to say you really want something.
When Bob said he didn’t want dessert Jennifer thought he was ______ and decided to end the relationship.
lying
DEFINITION: to give false information on purpose; to deceive with your words
NOTE THE SPELLING:
He lies often.
He is lying right now.
Yesterday he lied.
He has lied.
PERSON: a liar
When Bob refused to pull over, the police ______ him down the highway at slow speeds.
pursued
DEFINITION: to follow, to try to catch
ALSO: pursue a career, pursue your dreams
When Bob read that most car accidents _______ within 5 miles of home, he decided to move.
occur
DEFINITION: to happen
NOUN: occurence
When Bob moved out of the city his ______ to work became much more scenic.
route
Definition: the way/course/road that you take to get somewhere
When Bob mastered ____ the goats he was promoted to buffalo ______.
milking / milker
DEFINITION: to get / extract milk from a mamal
COMMON EXPRESSION: if you milk someone or milk a situation that means you get as much value out of it as you can; ex. Parris Hilton really milked her famous last name to become a celebrity.
IDIOM: If someone tells you “don’t cry over spilt milk” that means don’t be upset about the past
When Bob lost all his savings at the casino, he decided to _______ his house.
mortgage
DEFINITION: a bank loan that places your home as payment security
When Bob interviewed for the job, he forgot to ______ he couldn’t spell.
mention
DEFINITION: to tell someone something, usually a short piece of extra information
When Bob heard that a giant asteroid was about to ____ ____ ____ the earth, he decided he would wait one more week to pay the rent.
make contact with
DEFINITION: to touch
ALSO: football is a contact sport because you touch the other players
ALSO: if your credit card has a chip you can use contactless payment
When Bob got an email it was hard to contain his ________.
excitement
DEFINITION: enthusiasm, joy
VERB: to excite
ADJECTIVE: exciting
When Bob found out his Tik Tok account was blocked for containing bad grammar, he was depressed for months; no one was able to ______ him.
comfort
DEFINITION: to provide emotional support; to console
When Bob failed to return the book to the library after one month, the FBI launched an _________.
investigation
DEFINITION: when the government examines an event to see if a crime was committed
When Bob and Jennifer couldn’t ______ their differences in family therapy, they decided to try mud wrestling.
resolve
DEFINITION: fix, solve their problems
When battling vampires, remember to bring your _______.
cross
DEFINITION: a Christian religious symbol; anything that has the shape of a cross
When a ______ fish washed up on the shore, they called Bob to take a closer look.
rare
DEFINITION: not common, not usual
ALSO: rare coin, rare disease, a rare moment
What’s your spouse’s best physical _______?
attribute
DEFINITION: trait, characteristic, feature
What’s your country’s #1 ________?
export
DEFINITION: a product that’s sold to another country
What’s the worst ______ you’ve ever received?
advice
DEFINITION: recommendation, suggestion, usually about something important, ex. marriage advice
What’s the most amazing natural _____ you’ve witnessed?
phenomenon
DEFINITION: an impressive, amazing, extraordinary event or person
ADJECTIVE: phenomenal means the same as “amazing”; his test results were phenomenal
What’s the largest ______ you’ve ever made?
acquisition
What’s a restaurant in your town that’s not just good, but truly ______?
excellent
DEFINITION: fantastic, great
What’s _______ attire at your office?
appropriate
DEFINITION: suitable, acceptable
OPPOSITE: inappropriate
NOTE: attire is formal for “clothes” and it collocates / often goes with the word “appropriate”
What’s your ________?
address
DEFINITION: where you live, your mailing address
What’s your ________ for the economy?
prediction
DEFINITION: a guess about the future
What’s your _______?
profession
DEFINITION: your job (formal)
ADJECTIVE: if you hear “He’s a real pro” that means he’s very good
ADVERB: if your boss tells you to behave professionally that means formally, with business manners
What’s your _______?
faith
DEFINITION: belief, religion
What’s your work _____? Have you always done the same job?
background
DEFINITION: your past experience, education, personal history
What’s your preferred _____ of transportation for long trips?
mode
DEFINITION: method, way
ALSO: you can switch your phone to “airplane mode”; if you lose your kid in a crowd you’ll probably switch into panic mode
What’s your job ______?
title
DEFINITION: the official name of your job
What’s your favorite _______?
grain
IDIOM: if someone gives you advice and then tells you “take it with a grain of salt” that means you should consider if the advice is right for you before applying it
What’s your favorite ______?
airline
DEFINITION: a company that flies planes; ex. British Airways, Virgin, United
What’s your favorite ______ of the last ten years?
invention
DEFINITION: a new device, product
IDIOM: Necessity is the mother of invention
What’s your favorite ______ of Friends?
episode
DEFINITION: one 30 min / 60 min story is an episode; a series of episodes released in the same year is a season
What’s your favorite ______ movie?
funny
DEFINITION: it makes you laugh
What’s your favorite place to ____ ____ for a nap?
lie down
DEFINITION: to put yourself in a horizontal position
PAST: lay, lain
What’s your favorite news ______?
publication
DEFINITION: anything that is published, i.e. a magazine, a newspaper, a report
What’s your favorite film________?
adaptation
DEFINITION: a film that was made from / adapted from a book
What’s your favorite dog _____?
breed
DEFINITION: a category of dogs
What’s your _____?
race
DEFINITION: a way to classify people based on where their ancestors came from
ADJECTIVE: racial
What’s the ______ of your pants?
length
DEFINITION: the noun of “long”
COMMON EXPRESSION: if you go to great lengths to get a new job that means you do a lot to get it
What’s the ______ for murder in your country?
penalty
DEFINITION: a negative consequence, it could be a fine, a jail sentence, or death
What’s the _____ of your country?
capital
DEFINITION: the main city where the government is located
What’s the secret to a happy _______?
marriage
DEFINITION: when two people are married
What’s the most ________ pair of shoes you own?
comfortable
DEFINITION: they feel good on your feet
NOTE: pay attention to the pronunciation – you don’t say it the same as you spell it!
OPPOSITE: uncomfortable
What’s the most _______ natural site in your country?
remarkable
DEFINITION: extraordinary, unusual; something so interesting it should be seen
What’s the most ______ site a tourist can see in your country?
impressive
DEFINITION: awesome, amazing
ALSO: If you want to pay someone a big compliment, tell him, “Very impressive.”
What’s the last good ______ you found?
deal
DEFINITION: a bargain, an item with an unusually low price
ALSO: when you pay a good price for something; a bargain
What’s the largest _______ in your country?
industry
DEFINITION: a general word for “business” or a sector of business, ex. the automobile industry, the steel industry
What’s the first childhood memory you can _____?
recall
DEFINITION: remember
NOUN: recollection (formal); ex. It was my recollection that the victim was not home on the day of the crime.
What’s the biggest tourist ______ in your country?
attraction
DEFINITION: something that gets visitors
VERB: attract
What’s the best _______ for tourists to visit in your country?
region
DEFINITION: area
What’s on your _______?
mind
DEFINITION: What are you thinking about; your mind can either be your brain or your thoughts
What’s on your ______ for tomorrow?
agenda
DEFINITION: schedule
What’s in your _______ right now?
pockets
DEFINITION: the storage space in your pants, shirt or coat
ALSO: in an airplane you have a seat pocket in front of you
ALSO: if you make a business deal and pocket a thousand euros that means you made a thousand profit (you put it in your pocket)
ALSO: a pickpocket is a thief who takes things from your pockets
What’s an offensive ______ in your culture?
gesture
DEFINITION: a signal or a sign, usually made with your hand, fingers or body
What’s a source of _____ in your life?
pride
DEFINITION: if you’re proud of something you’re very satisfied with it; ex. a proud father
ADJECTIVE: proud
What _______ does the government impose on your industry?
regulations
DEFINITIONS: rules and restrictions
What _______ do you find attractive in the opposite sex?
characteristics
DEFINITION: personality traits, parts of a person’s character; ex. honesty, sense of humor, curiosity, bravery
What ______you?
frightens
DEFINITION: to scare
ADJECTIVE: frightening; ex. a frightening idea
What _____ is your oldest child?
gender
DEFINITION: sex; male or female
What would you do if you _____ a wallet full of cash on the ground?
found
DEFINITION: discovered
Verb: find/found/found
What website do you use to ____ flights?
book
DEFINITION: reserve
ALSO: book a room, book an appointment, book a call
AND: if someone tries to schedule an appointment with you and you’re too busy you can say “I’m booked solid.”
What was your ______ when you heard about the lockdowns? Shock? Surprise? Relief?
reaction
DEFINITION: your response
What was the punishment in your school if you skipped _______?
class
DEFINITION: a specific lesson in school
What was the last _______ you read?
novel
DEFINITION: a fiction book
What was the last _______ movie or TV show or song to come out in your country?
controversial
DEFINITION: it was the subject of debate because some people loved it and some people hated it
What was the last _____ you bought?
album
DEFINITION: a collection of songs
ALSO: a photo album is a collection of photographs, a wedding album
What was the last thing your spouse asked you to ___ ___ on your way home?
pick up
DEFINITION: get
ALSO: pick up a friend at the airport
What was the last nice thing you did for someone without asking for any ________?
compensation
DEFINITION: reward, payment
What subjects did you _____ to study in school?
elect
DEFINITION: to choose to do something (formal)
What store in your town has the ______ prices?
cheapest
DEFINITION: very low prices
ALSO: if a product is cheap that means the quality is low
What services are you _______ billed for each month?
automatically
DEFINITION: it happens without you doing anything
ADJECTIVE: automatic
What school did you _______ from?
graduate
DEFINITION: to finish school, usually high school or college
What percentage of your monthly _______ goes toward housing? (i.e. the rent or mortgage payment)
budget
DEFINITION: a plan for spending money
What methods does your company use to ______ the competition?
beat
DEFINITION: to win over, to defeat
NOTE: this is an irregular verb – beat / beat / beaten
What makes you ______? Taking a test? Going to the doctor? Having an interview?
anxious
DEFINITION: nervous
What kind of ________ do you need to do your job?
qualifications
DEFINITION: training, education, certificates
VERB: to qualify
What kind of jeans do you prefer? Loose or _____?
tight
ALSO: I’m on a tight schedule today; We have a tight budget at work.
What kind of jeans do you prefer? Loose or _____?
tight
Also: I’m on a tight schedule today
What kind of goods does your country ______ from abroad?
import
DEFINITION: to bring things into a country to sell them
What kind of energy does your country use? Gas? Nuclear? Or ______?
coal
DEFINITION: a type of rock that burns
What kind of detergent do you prefer? _____ or powder?
Liquid
DEFINITION: not a solid, not a gas
What kind of an _____ motivates you to work harder? Money? Recognition? An interesting project?
incentive
Definition: the reason why you do something
verb: to incentivize
What is your _______ for learning English?
objective
DEFINITION: goal (formal)
What is your _____ in life?
mission
DEFINITION: an important task
PERSON: a missionary; ex. a Christian missionary is someone who travels to a foreign country to convert the locals to Christianity
IDIOM: if you’re on a mission you’re in the process of doing something important; ex on a mission to Mars
ALSO: your company may have a mission statement: a text that states the purpose of the company (which usually no one knows or reads)
What is your ____ worth?
net
DEFINITION: if you sold everything this is how much money you would have
ALSO: when a company sells a product there is the gross profit (before taxes and overhead costs) and there’s the net profit (the profit after you subtract expenses)
What is your most valuable ______.
asset
Definition: more than just something you own, an asset is something which gives value or increases in value instead of costing you money; example, a property that you rent out is an asset while an apartment that you pay rent to live in is a liability
What is your main source of ______?
protein
DEFINITION: plant or animal tissue that your body needs to be healthy and build muscle
What is your favorite _______?
possession (formal)
DEFINITION: an object that you own
What is your country’s _______ policy? Is it tight or loose?
immigration
DEFINITION: when people move to another country;
NOTE: immigration can be legal or illegal
What is the ________ party in your country?
opposition
DEFINITION: the party not in power; the party that opposes the party in power
What is the ______ of water?
composition
DEFINITION: what something is composed of / made of
What is 44 ________ by 11?
divided
(the answer to the math question is: 4)
DEFINITION: ÷
What have you been _____ with?
blessed
DEFINITION: if God blesses you he gives you something very nice, ex. to be blessed with good health
ALSO: if you give someone your blessing that means you approve of what they’re doing, ex. a father gives his daughter his blessing to get married
ALSO: when someone sneezes you can say “Bless you!”
What does your ______ holiday look like?
ideal
DEFINITION: perfect
ADVERB: Ideally, we wouldn’t have to sell shares in the company to raise money.
What do you ______ to accomplish this year?
aim
DEFINITION: to focus on something, to target a goal
ALSO: aim a weapon, aim a gun, aim big (have a big goal)
What do you ____ will happen this year?
predict
DEFINITION: to say what you think will happen in the future
NOUN: to make a prediction
ALSO: predictable / unpredictable ex. His behaviour was unpredictable.
What do you have a _____ for? Cooking? Travel? English?
passion
DEFINITION: a feeling of extreme interest and desire
ADJECTIVE: passionate; ex. he’s passionate about classical music
ALSO: if you’re with a sexy man/woman, you may feel another type of passion
What do you do when you experience _________?
boredom
DEFINITION: feeling bored; when you have nothing to do and you’re not entertained and you’re not interested
What do you do to _______ a headache?
relieve
DEFINITION: to reduce or eliminate a bad feeling, ex. relieve stress
ALSO: if your boss relieves someone of their duties he fires them; but if you’re a shift worker (ex. a nurse or security guard) and you relieve your colleague that means you take over for him
What do you do to reduce your personal and household ______?
expenses
DEFINITION: costs
ALSO: a company might have an expense account for entertaining clients
IDIOM: if you achieved something at great expense that means you really had to sacrifice to make it happen
ADJECTIVE: expensive
What are your ________?
measurements
DEFINITIONS: the numbers that tell what size clothing you wear, ex. pant length, waist, collar; or anything that’s measured, ex. the measurements of the room are 12 x 15
What are your _____ at work?
duties
DEFINITION: your obligations, your tasks, what you must do
What are your family ______ ?
obligations
DEFINITION: something you must do, either because it is written in a contract or you feel it is your duty, i.e. a moral obligation
(“bringing home the bacon” means supporting your family financially)
ADJECTIVE: if something is obligatory it’s not optional, it’s mandatory
What are you _____ for?
grateful
DEFINITION: when you feel very thankful, appreciative
NOUN: gratitude
Fitness trainers say you shouldn’t _____ the gym every day.
hit
DEFINITION: go to (usually used for something that requires work, ex. hit the books = study for a test)
What are some ______ events you remember?
historic
DEFINITION: important, a part of history; ex. an historic site, an historic date, the price of gas reached an historic high
NOTE: historical simply means old, a part of history, ex. historical photographs
What a _____!
coincidence
DEFINITION: two unplanned events happening at the same time and place
ADVERB: coincidentally, we both wore red boots
What _________ of your budget goes toward housing?
percent
DEFINITION: out of 100 (cent)
ALSO: percentage
What _______ interests do you have with your spouse?
mutual
DEFINITION: shared, in common
ALSO: if you’re friends with Bob and I’m friends with Bob then Bob is our mutual friend
ALSO: the next time your husband/wife tells you “I love you”, you can reply, “The feeling is mutual.” (Warning: that’s not very romantic)
ALSO: a mutual fund is an investment where many people own the same stocks, i.e. they have the same investments in common
Were you ever _____ of your parents when you were a kid?
ashamed
DEFINITION: feeling shame; very embarrassed
We’re from the government and we’d like to _____ your tax returns.
examine
DEFINITION: look at closely
Well, this looks like a _____ place to live .
pleasant
DEFINITION: nice, agreeable; ex. pleasant news, a pleasant voice
“Weapons of mass destruction” was the ______ for the invasion of Iraq.
justification
DEFINITION: it was the reason why they invaded; if you justify unusual or bad behavior you give an excuse / a reason why
We were working all night to meet the deadline. ________, the boss was at home sleeping.
Meanwhile
Definition: happening at the same time
We tried logic. We tried fear. We even tried offering him money. But we could not _______ Bob to use the toilet instead of the bathtub.
convince
DEFINITION: to use logic or reasons or pressure to change someone’s mind
NOUN: conviction
ADJECTIVE: convincing, ex. a convincing argument is a good argument
We regret to ______ you that the flight has not been cancelled, but it will crash.
inform
DEFINITION: tell, give information (formal)
We now know that the ______ for invading Iraq was false, which was that Saddam Hussein was a threat because he had weapons of mass destruction.
premise
DEFINITION: this is a word from logic, it’s a statement that must be true for your conclusion to be true
Example: The judge allowed the divorce on the premise that the husband had not been faithful.
Water is ____ in the desert
scarce
DEFINITION: it’s hard to find
noun: scarcity
Was your _______ a fun place to grow up?
neighborhood
DEFINITION: the area where you live, either in a city, town or suburb
Was your education _______ or theoretical?
practical
DEFINITION: something that can be used/put into practice; ex. practical shoes are comfortable shoes you can wear inside or outside
ALSO: a practical solution is reasonable, doable and possible; the opposite is an impractical solution
Was this design ________ an improvement or not?
modification
DEFINITION: a small change
Was the _____ industry affected by lockdowns in your country?
retail
Definition: goods are bought wholesale from the manufacturer in large quantities and for a lower price, then they’re sold to the consumer at retail (at a higher price), in a retail outlet (a store), and by a retailer (the store owner)
Also: if someone says they work in retail it usually means they work in a clothing store
Was it a challenge to _____ to living with your partner?
adapt
DEFINITION: to adjust, to modify
ALSO: when you travel to a foreign country you may need to bring and adapter for your computer (so you can plug it into the wall and recharge it)
Want to look more _____? Wear glasses and read books in public.
intellectual
DEFINITION: smart
PERSON: an intellectual is someone who is highly educated and likes to discuss things like philosophy and literature
ALSO: intellectual property rights refers to books, movies, inventions, etc.
Wake up earlier so you won’t be in a _____ and you’ll have time for English.
rush
DEFINITION: in a hurry
VERB: rush to catch a plane
ALSO: rush hour is the time of the day the streets are most crowded; The California Gold Rush
using a ______ to cut his hair
bowl
Also: to go bowling; to watch the Super Bowl on TV; I was bowled over by the news
using a ____ to catch a fish
hook
DEFINITION: something that connects two thing, ex. a coat hook to hang your coat on the wall
ALSO: if you say you’re hooked on the new Netflix series that means you can’t stop watching it
Unnecessary _______ brought Bob and Jennifer closer together.
(formal)
expenditures
DEFINITION: purchases (formal)
Unfortunately, everyone has died of covid; ______, tonight’s performance will be cancelled.
consequently
DEFINITION: as a result
Unemployment _____ reached a new high as a result of government lockdowns.
figures
DEFINITION: numbers
Under the constitution, everyone is ______ to a fair and just trial.
entitled
DEFINITION: it’s your right
turning the door ______
handle
Try to ________ for a high salary when you start a new job.
negotiate
DEFINITION: a discussion where you try to get a better deal for yourself
Trump ______ Biden by calling him “Sleepy, creepy Joe.”
insulted
DEFINITION: to say something rude about someone
ALSO: an insulting remark
True or false?
“Only a woman can ______ __ the problems of a mother.”
relate to
DEFINITION: if you can relate to someone’s problems you understand them because you’ve experienced them yourself
Toyota _____ their newest car last week at the car show. Surprisingly, it looked like all the other cars.
revealed
Definition: to show something that was hidden
Also: reveal the truth
too many computer _______
cables
DEFINITION: a bundle of wires
to ______ a balloon
pop
To vote in your country, do you have to first _______ or can you just show up?
register
DEFINITION: to enter your name onto a list
ALSO: register on a website
To see the Titanic you have to dive to a _____ of 12,500 feet. Or you can just watch the movie.
depth
Definition: the noun from “deep”
Adjective: deep
To reduce the spread of covid, the city will ______ a new personal bubble rule from next week.
implement
DEFINITION: enact, begin; ex. implement a plan
noun: implementation
To most people, a bear from China and an elephant from India seemed like an _____ friendship. But what people didn’t know was that both Lee and Raj were big World of Warcraft fans.
odd
DEFINITION: strange, different
COMMON EXPRESSION: That’s odd… (when you see something that’s unusual or doesn’t make sense)
To keep Bob out of jail, the lawyer argued that Bob only _____ murdered people.
occasionally
DEFINITION: from time to time, not often
To join the army requires a three-year ________.
commitment
DEFINITION: promise, dedication
To get an accurate picture, you need to put information in _______.
context
DEFINITION: the information that surrounds an event or situation
EXAMPLE: the media often give inaccurate information because they quote people out of context
To be successful in politics you need a lot of __________.
connections
DEFINITION: contacts, people you know / people you’re connected to
ADJECTIVE: He’s well-connected in Silicon Valley
To be a successful entrepreneur, it helps to have a high _______ __ risk tolerance.
degree of
DEFINITION: a high level of, a high amount of
Time to ____ _____ for winter
gear up
DEFINITION: prepare yourself; buy the gear / equipment / clothing that you’ll need
Thunder storms are expected ______ the state of Mississippi.
across
DEFINITION: from one side to the other
“Those are my 42 recommendations for increasing profits. _____, we need to invest in stronger coffee.”
moreover
DEFINITION: additionally
Thomas Edison _______ the light bulb.
invented
DEFINITION: was the first person to create one
NOUN: an invention
PERSON: an inventor
This was a close _____.
race
DEFINITION: a competition to see who is the fastest
VERB: to race someone
This photograph is ____ that Bigfoot is real.
proof
DEFINITION: information that says that something is true or real
VERB: to prove
This pencil has a sharp _____
point
DEFINITION: the end of an object or piece of land, usually narrower than the rest
ALSO: someone can have a pointy nose
This might be a good time to ____ ____ ___ ______.
pick up the pace
DEFINITION: the pace at which you do something is the speed at which you do something, ex. to walk at a slow/fast pace
COMMON EXPRESSION: pace yourself = don’t go too fast and use all your energy
This lucky fish is being ______ back into the water.
released
DEFINITION: let go, given his freedom
This kid likes ______ eggs ____ bacon.
neither ….nor
DEFINITION: not eggs and not bacon
“This is your captain speaking. I’m afraid I have some bad news. Now, there’s no reason to ____, but we are out of coffee.”
panic
DEFINITION: to become very afraid very quickly; to lose control of your thinking and emotions because of your fear
ALSO: to have a panic attack
This is what happens if you ______ your plants.
neglect
DEFINITION: ignore, don’t pay attention to, don’t care for; ex. neglect a child, neglect a relationship
This is the correct way to ____ a Guinness.
pour
Also: It’s pouring rain; shoppers poured into the store
This is how thieves _____ credit card information.
steal
DEFINITION: to take something that’s not yours
This is how much land the Roman ______ controlled at its peak.
empire
DEFINITION: a nation that controls many other nations
ALSO: as a metaphor it can be used to say that a company or person controls many other businesses; ex. the Disney entertainment empire now includes Marvel Comics
This graph shows the ______ of the computer.
evolution
DEFINITION: how something changes over time
This car comes in a _____ of colors.
range
DEFINITION: if there’s a range that means there are many people or things and there’s variety, ex. an age range, an income range
VERB: the test scores ranged from good to terrible
They’re ________to nuclear weapons.
opposed
DEFINITION: against
NOUN: opposition
“They say the neon lights are bright on _______way”
Broad
DEFINITION: wide
ALSO: someone can have broad shoulders, a broad smile
They say that lightning never ______ in the same place twice.
strikes
DEFINITION: hit
They had to work all night because the ______ of the project was bigger than they expected. Or was it because Bob was actually playing Minecraft instead of working?
scope
DEFINITION: size, extent; ex. the scope of the problem
These two make an interesting ______, don’t you think?
couple
DEFINITION: two people who are dating or married
These protestors in Hungary’s October Revolution believed Stalin didn’t ______ a statue.
deserve
DEFINITION: if you deserve something you’ve earned it, either a reward or punishment
These days, _____ data is a full-time job.
analyzing
DEFINITION: to examine closely
NOUN: analysis
ADJECTIVE: analytical, ex. an analytical mind
COMMON EXPRESSION: in the final analysis, i.e. in the end/we’ve decided
These days, more and more forms do not require you to _____ your gender.
specify
DEFINITION: to say exactly, to be specific
These days, it’s hard for a band to receive _____, but Pussy Riot succeeded in Russia. .
controversy
DEFINITION: a public debate, usually over a sensitive topic
ADJECTIVE: controversial
These days, everyone can be a _____ online.
critic
DEFINITION: someone who rates a product, restaurant or performance, ex. a film critic
There’s a clear _______ between a Ferrari and a Toyota.
distinction
DEFINITION: a difference
There’s only a _____ risk of fire
moderate
DEFINITION: not extreme, in the middle
ALSO: a moderate salary; you can be politically moderate;
There were many reasons Bob quit his job at the circus. The _______ reason was it kept him away from his family.
principal
DEFINITION: the most important, the first in rank
There was a ______ height difference between Bob and his new girlfriend.
substantial
Definition: big, great, large, significant
Adverb: substantially
There used to be a lot more _____ in Eastern Europe during communism.
pollution
DEFINITION: harmful gas or liquids
adjective: polluted
There is an outsider _____ us.
among
DEFINITION: included in a group
There have been many fast swimmers, but Michael Phelps’ achievements have been _______
exceptional
DEFINITION: amazing, at the highest level
There are 206 ______ in the human body.
bones
The ________ said it would cost approximately $10,000 to repair the damages. Bob promised he would drink less water before bed.
estimate
DEFINITION: a guess, an evaluation, ex. cost estimate, tax estimate, a building estimate
VERB: to estimate
The ________ of the US election was a surprise for most people.
outcome
DEFINITION: result
The ________ of the earth is mostly water.
surface
DEFINITION: the top or outside of something
The _______ for capturing or killing Butch Cassidy was $3,500.
reward
The reward for capturing or killing Butch Cassidy was $3,500.
DEFINITION: what you give someone for successfully doing something
ADJECTIVE: rewarding = satisfying, ex. having a child is a rewarding experience
The ______ wanted to know Bob’s favorite color.
press
DEFINITION: the news media, reporters
The ______ that Bob could catch covid from his car was low. But he wasn’t taking any chances.
probability
DEFINITION: odds, likelihood, possibility
ADJECTIVE: probably, ex. it’s not very probably that I’ll be able to pick you up at the airport
The ______ rockets separating from the Space Shuttle.
booster
DEFINITION: If you give something/someone a boost you give them extra help. ex. after you get a vaccination you may need a booster shot
ALSO: If you take a small child to a restaurant they may bring you a booster seat.
The ______ of teachers voted to get whiteboards for the classrooms.
majority
DEFINITION: more than 50%
The ______ of eating in your car is something a lot of Italians can’t imagine.
concept
Definition: an abstract idea
The ______ of directors meet twice a year to decide on the direction of the company.
board
DEFINITION: a group who makes high-level decisions
ALSO: a board meeting; the chairman of the board
the ______ of a clock
mechanisms
DEFINITION: machinery, moving parts of a machine
The ______ met at Yalta near the end of the Second World War.
allies
DEFINITION: an ally is someone who is on your side, who supports you
singular: an ally
noun: alliance
the ______ city of Rome
ancient
DEFINITION: very old
The ______ Canyon in Arizona. Also known as, the world’s biggest hole in the ground.
Grand
DEFINITION: great, large, the top position
ALSO: your grandfather is your father’s father; a grand piano is a large piano; a grand event is a big/important event, ex. like a 50th wedding anniversary
The _____ revolution gave us cheaper products, but it came at a human cost.
industrial
DEFINITION: related to industry, i.e. business; ex. industrial waste is pollution from a factory; an increase in industrial production
ALSO: If your boss says theft at your company is on an industrial scale that means it’s a lot.
The _____ of men to women was 50:50
ratio
DEFINITION: the proportion, the balance
The _____ met once a week to find a solution to the city’s crime problem. After one year, they decided that they should meet once a month.
commission
DEFINITION: a group of people who meet to discuss problems and make decisions; often they’re members of government; ex. The UN Commission on Human Rights
The _____ is tied, 31 to 31.
score
DEFINITION: the points in a game
The _____ goes at the end of a sentence
period
DEFINITION: the dot at the end of a sentence
ALSO: if you want to make your point stronger and say that the conversation is over and you’re not willing to discuss it further, you can say, “I will not go. Period!”
NOTE: the British say “full stop”
The _____ gave him a standing ovation.
audience
DEFINITION: the people who watch a performance or listen to a speech
the _____ city of Athens
ancient
DEFINITION: very old
The _____ broke.
chain
DEFINITION: connected pieces or connected events
ALSO: a chain smoker is someone who lights a new cigarette as soon as they finish the old one; a fastfood chain is a restaurant like McDonalds or KFC; a chain reaction is when one event causes another and another event and so on
IDIOM: The chain is only as strong as its weakest link
IDIOM: If you call your wife your “ball and chain” make sure she’s in the other room.
The ____ of The Challenger Space Shuttle (before they blew up).
crew
Definition: the people who work together on a ship or in a team, ex. a work crew repairing the road
However: in a restaurant or store the employees are called “the staff”
The wood is rotten, the neighbors are gang members and the house is built on top of a cemetery for murderers. ________, it’s a lovely property.
otherwise
DEFINITION: it’s true if you forget about the other stuff
The wolf is the _____ ancestor of all dogs.
common
DEFINITION: it’s shared
ALSO: if you and your friend both like football you can say “we have sports in common”
ALSO: the common room is a shared room in a school or hotel
The West sends a lot of_____ to the third world.
aid
DEFINITION: : help or assistance
VERB: to aid
The Washington Redskins are on _____ .
offense
DEFINITION: they have the ball and they’re trying to score, they’re on the attack
The U.S. Declaration of Independence says everyone is born with the right to “life, liberty and the _______ of happiness.”
pursuit
DEFINITION: if you pursue something you go after it, ex. the pursuit of a goal
The TV show “Suits” is about a New York city law _______ where all the lawyers try to sleep with the Duchess of Sussex.
firm
DEFINITION: a business that is owned by several partners
ALSO: a real estate firm, an investment firm
The town ______ voted against having pizza for lunch.
council
DEFINITION: a group of people who work together for a common goal, usually in government, similar to committee
The town was _______ after the storm
flooded
DEFINITION: there was too much water
ALSO: if your boss tells you the company was flooded with complaints after your last product release, that’s not good
the toilet is dripping _____ the floor
onto
The test results said Bob was dead. But because Bob’s an optimist, he decided to ______ the results.
contest
DEFINITION: to argue that an answer or result is false: dispute
NOTE: the pronunciation is a little different from the other contest; for the verb we say “cun-test”
The temperature today is 70 _____ fahrenheit.
degrees
The sofa has a very ugly ______.
pattern
DEFINITION: a visual design or behaviour that repeats
The sight of her womanly _____ under the dress made the Prince burn with desire. “Hopefully, she will not mind my wicked little secrets,” he thought.
(synonym: form)
shape
Definition: the form or outline of something, ex. a triangular shape
The shy movie star finally ____ ____ about his fabulous life.
opened up
DEFINITION: spoke freely, didn’t hide information
The runner in yellow is way ____ of the others.
ahead
DEFINITION: in front of
The robber _______ open the door.
forced
DEFINITION: to use power, strength
The red light ______ that Bob needs to change his oil.
indicates
DEFINITION: signals, communicates
NOUN: a headache can be an indication of stress
The Queen always makes her bed before the tour groups arrive at her bedroom _______.
chamber
DEFINITION: a room
Also: torture chamber; senate chambers; Chamber of Commerce; a chambermaid
The Prime Minister _______ Bob to head the Ministry of Getting Things Done.
appointed
DEFINITION: he was given the job
NOTE: this if formal and usually used for high-level corporate or government jobs
The priest ______ the troops before they invaded Vatican City.
blessed
DEFINITION: he approved
ALSO: a father can give his daughter his blessing to his child to get married
ALSO: after someone sneezes you can say “Bless you.”
The price of Apple’s stock stayed ____ for decades before shooting up in the mid 2000s.
stable
DEFINITION: without change
NOUN: stability
ALSO: a stable government; the foundation of a building can be stable; a hospital patient’s condition can be stable
The Power Words give your English a strong _________
foundation
DEFINITION: the first level of a building is the foundation, usually made of stone or cement
The police told Bob the meteor that destroyed his house was a ______ event; however, Bob insisted they investigate further.
random
DEFINITION: without reason, no pattern, unpredictable, ex. a throw of the dice will give you a random number
The police searched the ______ of Bob’s bag but only found a kilo of cocaine, a human head and three nuclear bombs.
contents
DEFINITION: the things that are inside something (usually plural), ex. the bottle’s contents
VERB: to contain
ALSO: a book has a table of contents, you can write content for the internet
The police finally ______ Bob after his escape car ran out of gas.
captured
DEFINITION: to catch a criminal or put a wild animal in a cage
ADJECTIVE: captive
ALSO: if you capture an image that means you take a photo that’s unique or difficult, ex. He captured the perfect sunset.
The police drew an _______ of the body on the sidewalk.
outline
DEFINITION: the shape of something
ALSO: if you outline a plan or a proposal you don’t give all the details, you just give the main idea / the big picture
The plane ________ some problems immediately after takeoff.
encountered
DEFINITION: met, ran into unexpectedly
The picnic will be ________ for an hour due to severe weather.
delayed
DEFINITION: if something is delayed it will start at a later time, ex. a delayed flight
NOTE: if something is cancelled that means it will not happen
The oldest cities in the Americas are built around natural ______, like Rio de Janeiro and New York.
harbors
DEFINITION: a place where boats can safely stay
ALSO: if a country harbors refugees that means they allow them to enter the country and they protect them
ALSO: if you harbor a thought that means you keep an idea in your head; ex. Although the court said Bob was innocent, many people continued to harbor the thought that he was actually guilty.
The news has been ______ long before the internet.
inaccurate
DEFINITION: not correct
The new ______ of Bob’s book sold even worse than the first one.
edition
DEFINITION: a new version, a new printing
ALSO: some newspapers have a daily edition, some have an evening edition
The new Tesla ______ driverless steering.
features
DEFINITION: (verb) when a company wants to highlight a special, unique part of their product they use “to feature”
The new Lamborghini Gallardo is _____ of reaching speeds of over 300 kilometers per hour.
capable
DEFINITION: possible, able to do something
OPPOSITE: incapable
The new app is designed to _____ children. And to destroy their attention spans.
engage
DEFINITION: to attract and keep someone’s interest
ADJECTIVE: engaging
The National ______ in London. Be sure to wash your hands before you touch.
Gallery
DEFINITION: where you can see and sometimes buy art
ALSO: online you can see photo galleries which are collections of photos
The nation was ______. Half preferred dogs, while the other half preferred goldfish.
divided
DEFINITION: split, not united
NOUN: division
The mountains are not close, they are ______
distant
DEFINITION: far away
ALSO: You can say the mountains are off in the distance
ALSO a distant relative is not a close relative; ex. not a parent or sibling or cousin, etc.
The most popular _________ for global warming is pollution.
explanation
Definition: the details or facts or reasons that make something clear
Verb: to explain
The Mona Lisa is famous for her ______. What do you think she’s feeling?
expression
DEFINITION: the look on your face
The Mississippi River _____ past New Orleans and into the Gulf of Mexico.
flows
DEFINITION: to move smoothly and easily
ALSO: work flow, cash flow, blood flow
The media _______ the events as a threat to the government, while others described the events as simply a protest.
characterized
DEFINITION: to say that something is a characteristic / a quality of something
The media called the _____ project a “catastrophic environmental disaster.” Bob called it a learning experience.
pilot
DEFINITION: the first one which serves as an experiment, a test
ALSO: the pilot episode of a TV series is the first episode
The main requirement for getting a job in customer support was a bad ________.
attitude
DEFINITION: the way you think or feel about something
The judge said Bob was _____ of murder and had to go to jail from today till Tuesday.
guilty
DEFINITION: a person who does something wrong, like a crime, is guilty
NOUN: if you feel bad for doing something wrong you feel guilt
The jail cell where the famous mobster Al Capone was _____ for many years.
confined
DEFINITION: to keep someone in a small space
noun: confinement
The human body _________more electricity than a 120-voIt battery.
generates
DEFINITION: creates
The Hardrock 100-Mile Endurance Run in the Colorado mountains is considered the most _____ foot race.
intense
DEFINITION: extreme, to a high degree, ex. intense anger, intense heat, an intense schedule
The greatest _____ murderers in history all lived during the last century.
mass
DEFINITION: a large number or amount of something; ex. a mass exodus
The government of Rome finally decided to ______ repairs on the Colloseum. Just in time for tourist season.
undertake
DEFINITION: to begin something that will be difficult
ALSO: undertake a journey, undertake training
The ghost told Bob to ____ ____, but he had already paid for three more nights so he decided to stay.
get out
DEFINITION: to leave
The French who fought against the Nazis in their homeland were called _______ fighters.
resistance
DEFINITION: they didn’t obey: they resisted
the fence is on the ______ of our property
boundary
DEFINITION: the edge of a space
ALSO: in sports the ball can go out of bounds
The feedback Bob got from his boss made it _______ that the quarterly results were not good enough.
apparent
DEFINITION: easy to see or understand, clear
ALSO: If your boss fires you for no apparent reason that means he doesn’t tell you why and you can’t figure it out, either.
ADVERB: apparently
The fall of the communist regime in Czechoslovakia in 1989 was the end of an _____.
era
DEFINITION: a period of time, usually an historical period
The Enigma machine allowed the Germans to communicate in ______ .
code
DEFINITION: an alternative way to communicate if you want your message to be secret or to save time, ex. Morse code
ALSO: if you write code that means you’re a computer programmer
The day the internet broke Bob went ______.
mad
DEFINITION: crazy
EXPRESSION: mad as a hatter
The correct way to perform a shoulder _______.
press
DEFINITION: to push, usually against something stable/something that doesn’t move
ALSO: you can press a button, you can press a wrinkled shirt, you can send a book to the printing press
The Consumer Price _____ is a number which tells you if prices are rising or falling. In 2021 it rose 6%; the highest since 1981.
index
DEFINITION: an indicator, a guide, a measurement; and did you know you have an index finger? It’s the finger you use to point, i.e. to indicate
PLURAL: indexes
ALSO: you can find an index at the back of a non-fiction book
ALSO: if you invest in an index fund that means you own stocks in the top 100 or so companies in a certain segment
The Coca-Cola bottle has a _____ shape.
distinct
DEFINITION: unique, original
ADJECTIVE: distinctive, ex. Sean Connery had a distinctive voice.
The Chevrolet Tahoe and the GMC Yukon are ______ the same SUV.
virtually
DEFINITION: almost completely
The chances of winning the lottery are extremely low. In fact, you’re more _____ to win an Oscar or be eaten by a shark than you are to win the lottery.
likely
DEFINITION: it might happen, it might be true, probable
Noun: likelihood
Opposite: unlikely, not likely
The CEO _______ awarded Bob the prize for most sales. Later that week, he ______ fired him for lying about making the most sales.
personally
DEFINITION: you do it yourself; in person
The car dealer gave me a choice between a Mitsubishi and a Toyota. I chose the ______.
latter
DEFINITION: the second of two
The British ______ family and their funny hats.
royal
DEFINITION: relating to a king or queen, ex. the royal palace
ALSO: if you say that a person is a royal pain in the butt that means you don’t like him
The British army ______ back to the U.S. after a long break.
marching
DEFINITION: to walk in unison with others
IDIOM: if you say that electric vehicles are on the march that means they’re making progress, advancing
The brave rabbit and dog _____ the entrance to their master’s home.
guard
The brain _______ didn’t find Bob’s brain tumor. But he couldn’t ask for a refund because he was already dead.
scanner
DEFINITION: to scan is to examine carefully; OR- to examine quickly, ex. I just scanned the headlines today.
ALSO: a check-out scanner at a grocery store
The Black Death killed 1/3 of European citizens, _____ ___ their age.
regardless of
DEFINITION: it doesn’t matter; without regard to
The best thing about being an _______ investor is that Bob is able to work at night.
institutional
DEFINITION: relating to an institution (ex. a bank, a university, a museum, an organization, a society, etc.); an institutional investor is someone who invests money for an institution
ALSO: a belief or practice that has become normal / usual / customary over time; ex. institutional sexism, institutional racism
The best part of Bob’s day? Checking the trash _____ .
bin
DEFINITION: a container; ex. storage bin, trash bin, recycling bin
The bathroom is _______
occupied
DEFINITION: busy, someone’s in there
The American jackalope is a creature _______ seen by tourists.
rarely
DEFINITION: almost never
The 18th ______ to the U.S. Constitution made it illegal to buy and sell alcohol..
amendment
DEFINITION: an addition to a document or a contract
That’s a pretty _____ laptop.
rugged
DEFINITION: tough, able to endure a lot
Also: a man can have rugged looks; you can travel through rugged country
“Thanks, Bob. You’re such a gentleman.”
“Don’t ______it, babe.”
mention
DEFINITION: another way of saying “You’re welcome.”
Thank you. We’ll take your idea into _________.
consideration
DEFINITION: they’ll consider it, think about it
“Thank you for saving my life.”
“It was my ________.”
privilege
DEFINITION: you’re welcome; it was my pleasure to help you
Tech companies follow us around online, ______ to show us better ads.
presumably
DEFINITION: that’s what they tell us but maybe it’s not true
Talking about girls always made Bob’s _____ turn red.
cheeks
DEFINITION: the side of your face or butt
ALSO: if you have a cheeky friend that means he likes to make jokes which are a bit rude
Take this quiz and find out if you know the ______ way to use a toilet.
proper
DEFINITION:correct, appropriate, suitable
ALSO: wear the proper clothing, speak properly, behave properly
OPPOSITE: improper
Take a close look at this photo. ______ anything unusual?
Notice
DEFINITION: see, usually something that’s not immediately obvious; ex. I never notice when my wife gets her hair done
Switzerland has not been a ______ in a Euorpean war since 1499.
participant
DEFINITION: to participate, to be a part of
ALSO: to be a participant at a meeting, at a protest
Stores boarded up their windows in ______ of the violence that would occur if Bob was re-elected President.
anticipation
DEFINITION: when you act now in preparation for the future
Still flipping hamburgers at age 89, Bob was passed over for ______ yet again last week.
promotion
DEFINITION: when your boss rewards you for good work by giving you a higher position
Steve Jobs said a calligraphy course he took in college was the ______ for the beautiful fonts the first Macintosh used.
inspiration
DEFINITION: something that influences you, usually in a positive way, ex. music, a speech
Staying awake during the meeting was Bob’s greatest _________ of the week.
achievement
DEFINITION: an accomplishment, something that you get after hard work
Verb: to achieve, ex. to achieve success
Starbucks now sells food, but their main _____ is still coffee.
focus
DEFINITION: their main target, aim
Sorry, you have ____ funds available.
(not enough money)
insufficient
Definition: not enough
Opposite: sufficient (enough, adequate)
Also: sufficient proof, a sufficient reason, self-sufficient (independent)
“Sorry, I can’t ________ your English program.”
Sent from my iPhone
afford
Definition: to have enough money to buy something
Adjective: affordable
Also: afford to spend time, afford to take the risk
Sorry to _____ you, but I would like some breakfast now.
disturb
DEFINITION: bother, annoy, interrupt
Some _____ I need to do today: pick up the dry cleaning, go grocery shopping, pick up my prescription from the drug store…
errands
DEFINITION: routine tasks, usually personal
Also: to run errands
Some people _____ the glass as half full, others as half empty.
perceive
DEFINITION: to interpret, to judge
Some people think that closing schools because of covid does more _____ than good. Do you agree or disagree?
harm
DEFINITION: hurt, damage, injure
Some people say the planet is getting _______ hot.
increasingly
DEFINITION: more and more; it’s increasing
Some people like big hats. Other people prefer _____ hats.
enormous
DEFINITION: very big
ALSO: Have you ever heard someone call something “ginormous”? (it’s a combination of two words: giant + enormous)
Some people have no ____ for others.
consideration
DEFINITION: they don’t show respect for others’ feelings
ADJECTIVE: to be considerate/inconsiderate
ALSO: If your boss tells you he will take your idea into consideration that means he’ll think about it (very formal)
Some people don’t like the ____ in bikram yoga.
heat
adjective: hot
Some people called the AMC Pacer ugly, while others thought it was ______
hideous
DEFINITION: very ugly
Some of the tree’s _____ are growing above ground.
roots
Also: you can talk about the roots of a problem or a person’s roots or the roots of your teeth
Some lawmakers in the U.S. want to make ____ in the office mandatory.
diversity
DEFINITION: if there’s diversity in a group of people that means they’re from different races, ages, countries or maybe different religions
Some Christians believe that when you die you either go to Heaven or ____.
Hell
DEFINITION: any place you don’t want to be, ex. you’re in line at the post office for two hours and you say, This is hell.
ADJECTIVE: Hellish, ex. It was a helliish day
ALSO: If a situation was really terrible, you can say, It was hell on earth.
ALSO: If you just heard something or saw something incredible or shocking, you could say, “What the hell!” or “What the hell just happened?!”
Social media is one of the main _____ behind the mental health crisis in America. (Hey! Are you following me yet on Facebook?)
drivers
DEFINITION: the cause
VERB: if the weather is driving sales of airconditioners that must mean it’s hot outside
EXPRESSION: That music is driving me crazy!
Smoking can be ________ to your health.
harmful
DEFINITION: it causes harm, damage; ex. a harmful drug, a decision that’s harmful to your career
Slow and _____ wins the race.
steady
DEFINITION: consistent, reliable
ALSO: steady progress, steady growth, a steady income
Skin cancer is a _________ you can get if you spend too much time in the sun.
disease
DEFINITION: a serious illness
Should not helping a victim _______ a crime?
constitute
DEFINITION: to be the same as
Should foreign countries ________ when there are human rights abuses?
intervene
DEFINITION: to come between two groups who are fighting, possibly to help them reach an agreement
NOUN: an intervention
ALSO: when you confront someone who is abusing drugs or alcohol it’s called an intervention
She’s getting the length of her dress _______.
altered
DEFINITION: to make a change (usually small and not major), ex. if you alter your opinion you change it slightly
She’s having a small problem with the car’s _______.
engine
Also: a search engine
She’s sitting on a _______.
fence
IDIOM: If your boss asks you if the client has made a decision yet and you say, “He’s on the fence,” that means he hasn’t decided yet.
She’s missing her _____ teeth.
front
Opposite: back
She ______ at Bob just for a moment. Either it was love or she noticed his zipper was down.
glanced
Definition: to look at briefly
She _____ lay the baby down in its crib.
gently
DEFINITION: if you’re gentle your movements are slow and careful
She got the _____ for blue eyes from her mother.
gene
DEFINITION: the part of you which determines which traits you inherit from your parents
ADJECTIVE: genetics
Scientists use satellites to measure the _____ of polar ice melt due to global warming.
extent
DEFINITION: how much something is affected
VERB: extend=to make larger (we extended the back of the house); to reach out (I extended my hand to grab the rope.)
Scientists say global warming is ______ the result of human activity.
largely
DEFINITION: mostly
Scientists are busy ______ research to stop the effects of aging.
conducting
Also: conduct research, a survey, a test, a search
School _______ was very low in 2020.
attendance
DEFINITION: how many people show up
VERB: to attend school, church, a meeting, etc.
Scarlette: Rhett, if you go, what shall I do? Where shall I go?
Rhett: _______ my dear, I don’t give a damn.
Frankly
DEFINITION: honestly
Also: Can I be frank with you?
Sales of cigarettes have been ______ since Bob stopped smoking.
declining
DEFINITION: to decrease, when something becomes smaller or when the numbers of something become less
ALSO: prices can decline, your interest in something can decline, the birth rate can decline
Sadly, many scams target _______.
(not retirees)
pensioners
DEFINITION: someone who is retired and collects a pension
NOTE: a “scam” is a trick / a lie thieves use / tell to get your money
Running a business can be stressful! One reason is because of company ______
liabilities
DEFINITION: if your accountant gives you a financial report and you see you have some liabilities this is your debt / the money you owe
Rudy Giuliani was the famous ____ of New York City in the 1990s.
mayor
DEFINITION: the top government official in a city
Rome now _______ car access to the center to reduce pollution and traffic.
restricts
DEFINITION: to limit or prevent
Roman _______s
column
NOTE: a newspaper column is a weekly or daily opinion article written by the same writer (probably called a column because in the old days the articles were long and thin, like a column)
Robotic _____ are no longer science fiction.
arms
DEFINITION: an arm is a limb
IDIOM: if something costs an arm and a leg it’s very expensive
IDIOM: You don’t have to twist my arm - I would love more pie!
Research shows that _______ learning is much more effective than passively sitting in a classroom.
interactive
DEFINITION: if you interact with an object you touch it and handle it
Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups _____ chocolate and peanut butter.
combine
DEFINITION: unite, merge
NOUN: combination
Receiving the Most Afraid of Covid Award was the biggest _____ of Bob’s life. Unfortunately, he immediately fell down some stairs and was crushed by a herd of elephants.
honor
DEFINITION: an honor is something very special that gives you respect from others
ADJECTIVE: honorable
NOTE: the UK spelling is “honour”
Ready. Aim. ______.
Fire
DEFINITION: shoot (formal)
ALSO: a firing squad is group of soldiers who execute someone by shooting him
Ralph: When do you _______ this whole corona virus thing will finally come to an end?
Bob: I don’t know. But I _____ I just gave it to you.
reckon
DEFINITION: think (informal)
Rabbits are famous for their ability to _______ frequently.
breed
DEFINITION: to make babies (just for animals)
ALSO: if a colleague breeds mistrust in the office that means he produces it
ALSO: if your friend tells you your phone is a breeding ground for bacteria then it might be time to clean your phone
Quick! Take a ______!
picture
DEFINITION: a painting, drawing or photograph
Queen Elizabeth II ______ longer than any other British monarch.
ruled
DEFINITION: to govern, to be in a position of power
putting a plant in a ____
a ____ on the stove
smoking ____
pot
ALSO: if your city has many potholes that means the roads need to be repaired
President Reagan _______ worked as an actor.
previously
DEFINITION: before now
President Obama was ______ with the Nobel Peace Prize eight months after entering office.
presented
DEFINITION: to give, usually in a formal situation like a ceremony
Politics is known as the art of _________
compromising
DEFINITION: to reach a settlement; an agreement that is not the first choice for either side
VERB: to compromise
COMMON EXPRESSION: if someone asks you to meet them half way they’re asking you to compromise
“Please ____ ____! I promise I will never leave the toilet seat up again.”
come back
DEFINITION: return
ALSO: if you’re in a meeting and want to change the subject politely you can say, I suggest we come back to this topic later.
“Please ____ ____! I promise I will never leave the toilet seat up again.”
come back
DEFINITION: return
ALSO: if you’re in a meeting and want to politely change the subject, you can say, “I suggest we come back to this topic later.”
Please clean up your doggie _____
doo
DEFINITION: poo, poop, shit
Also: doo doo
playing ______ with the dog
fetch
DEFINITION: if your assistant fetches your coffee he leaves and then returns with coffee
playing with _______
blocks
DEFINITION: something that usually has a rectangular shape
ALSO: a block of flats (an apartment building); if block out time you reserve time; the building blocks of life
Phones that recognize speech _____ the blind to order a pizza delivery, instead of having to drive to the restaurant.
enable
DEFINITION: make it possible
Phil Knight was a successful runner in college before he _____ Nike.
founded
DEFINITION: if you found a company or institution (like a college) that means you start it
Phantom of the Opera is the longest-running Broadway show and has been on Broadway ________ since 1988.
continuously
DEFINITION: without stopping, repeatedly
Perhaps ______ those mountains Bob would finally find freedom, and a Starbucks where he could use the bathroom.
beyond
DEFINITION: past
Also: It’s beyond me. (when you don’t understand the reasons why someone does something)
Beyond comprehension.
Perhaps I could ______ you to take a test drive in this beauty.
persuade
DEFINITION: convince
ADJECTIVE: persuasive
People with bipolar _______can quickly change from happy to depressed.
disorder
Definition: a disease, a mental problem also: eating disorder, personality disorder
People who have asthma sometimes find it hard to _____
breathe
DEFINITION: take in oxygen through your lungs
Pamella Anderson _____ Chris Rock on the beach in St. Tropez. Unfortunately, Bob’s invitation was lost in the mail.
wed
Definition: to marry someone
Noun: wedding
Our factory’s _____ more than doubled after we stopped allowing employees to take bathroom breaks.
output
Definition: the amount that is produced; ex. a worker’s daily output
Also: you can use output to talk about what is produced, ex. The output of coal was worth half of Prussia’s GDP.
One ______
Two ______
foot / feet
DEFINITION: the things at the end of your legs
IDIOM: If you foot the bill that means you pay the entire bill, but you don’t want to; ex. When my partner went bankrupt I had to foot the bill for the orders we placed
IDIOM: If you have two left feet you’re not coordinated and bad at sports and dancing
One of the _______ of smoking can be lung cancer.
consequences
DEFINITION: results (usually negative)
one of the Queen’s _________
guards
Definition: someone who’s job is to protect people, ex. a security guard
Verb: to guard
One of the best things about sci-fi is seeing all the strange ______.
creatures
DEFINITION: an animal, usually not human, often strange or frightening
IDIOM: if someone is a creature of habit that means he likes his routine and doesn’t like new things
One of a carpenter’s most important tools is his ______
level
DEFINITION: if something is level it’s flat, it’s parallel with the surface
ALSO: when a plane reaches its top altitutude it levels out
ALSO: if the government wants to level the playing field for new businesses they want want to remove advantages some businesses have over others
EXPRESSION: someone who is calm and rational is level-headed
On your last trip, did you ____ ____ any souvenirs?
bring back
DEFINITION: return with something
On which holidays do people in your country eat and drink to _______?
excess
DEFINITION: too much
ADJECTIVE: excessive
On which day is there a 60% ______ of rain?
chance
DEFINITION: probability, liklihood
On what day does the government ______ taxes in your country?
collect
DEFINITION: to ask or force someone to pay a bill; ex. a debt collector is someone who knocks on your door if you don’ pay back your loan
On weekends, ______ Bob performed weddings to earn some extra cash. But on Monday morning, he would be back at work in the slaughterhouse.
Minister
DEFINITION: a member of a church who can perform ceremonies
ALSO: a high-ranking government official, ex. the Minister of Finance, the Prime Minister
On our last trip to the beach I guess we packed too much because Bob had to run _____ the car.
alongside
DEFINITION: next to, at the side of
ALSO: happening at the same time, ex. France is now asking its citizens to get the flu vaccine alongside the covid vaccine
On a scale of one to ten, most women would say a date with Bob is ______ painful: a 7 or 8:
fairly
DEFINITION: to a high degree but not extremely so; quite, rather
ALSO: fairly easy, fairly expensive
On a hot day, be sure to drink _____ of water.
plenty
DEFINITION: a lot, more than enough
IDIOM: If your boyfriend or girlfriend just broke up with you your friend might try to cheer you up by saying, “Don’t worry, there’s plenty of fish in the sea.”
Oil is known as a fossil ______.
fuel
DEFINITION: a source of energy; ex. wood, gasoline, natural gas, etc.
ALSO: if you say that covid fuels debate that means it’s a subject that creates strong arguments
Ohio State University was ______ in 1870. Are you impressed?
established
DEFINITION: founded, started
ALSO: establish a business
Officer Bob was not known for his ________.
accuracy
DEFINITION: if you’re an accurate shooter you hit the target; if your stock market prediction is accurate it comes true
Of course, the _____ reason to have kids is so that they’ll buy you a big house when you’re old
primary
DEFINITION: the #1 reason, the most important reason
Of course, the day I forgot my umbrella, it started to rain ______
heavily
DEFINITION: a lot
ALSO: She depended heavily on her mother; The president was criticized heavily; a heavily armed guard stood at the door
Now that your vocabulary is HUGE, do you have more ______ when you speak English?
confidence
DEFINITION: the feeling that tells you “I can do this”
No ____ person would wait till Dec. 24 to do his Christmas shopping.
sane
DEFINITION: not crazy
No matter how high he made his fence, somehow Bob’s pets always managed to get _____.
loose
DEFINITION: not confined, free
ALSO: You can wear tight pants or loose pants
IDIOM: If you tell someone you need to tie up loose ends that means you need to finish/complete something that was not been finished
New digital thermometers tell you _____ if someone has a temperature.
immediately
DEFINITION: right away, with no delay
Neo _____ing bullets.
dodge
DEFINITION: avoiding
ALSO: if you don’t want to answer a question you can dodge the question
My younger siblings always complained that they weren’t treated ______. I think they need to learn how to be more positive.
fairly
Definition: justly, in a fair way
My wife drives me crazy; _______, I love her.
nevertheless
DEFINITION: in spite of the fact, regardless
My plan to increase office productivity includes holding shorter meetings. _______, I would like to see fewer people watching porn on their phones during meetings. Bob…?
Furthermore
Definition: in addition, also
My favorite Einstein ______ is “Imagination is more important than knowledge.”
quote / quotation
DEFINITION: the direct/exact words of another person
VERB: a reporter can quote the person he’s interviewing
Muhammad Ali is the _______ heavy-weight champion of the world.
former
DEFINITION: previous, not the current champ
Mr. Lee was ______ a hungry man.
indeed
Definition: when you want to stress that what you said is true
Also: Yes, indeed.
Mother Theresa said she was absolutely stuffed and couldn’t possibly finish her filet mignon. So Bob said he’d finish the _____
rest
DEFINITION: the remaining, what’s left over
ALSO: you can go to prison for the rest of your life; you can relax for the rest of the day
Mother Teresa _____ her life helping the poor.
devoted
Definition: to give time or energy or money toward something; if you devote your life to something that means it’s your main focus
Also: a devoted parent is a mother or father who cares a lot for and spends a lot of time with their kids
Most public schools these day ______ sex education in their curriculum.
incorporate
DEFINITION: to include
Most people ______ Apple with well-designed, high-quality products.
associate
DEFINITION: to make a mental connection
NOUN: association
Most of Bob’s friends agreed he was ______ evil; his mother, however, argued he was only 90% evil.
pure
DEFINITION: 100%, totally, without any other ingredients; ex. 99.9% gold vs. pure gold
ALSO: if a young woman is pure that means she’s innocent and doesn’t think about boys
IDIOM: pure of heart - someone who has good intentions
Most little boys are _______by bugs. What were you ______ by when you were a kid?
fascinated
DEFINITION: to be very interested in
ADJECTIVE: a fascinating person, book, documnetary…
Most English students think an accent is a ________, but many actors have turned their accents into assets.
liability
DEFINITION: a disadvantage
Most Americans _____ on their cars to get to work
depend
DEFINITION: rely on, they’re necessary to get to work
More people ______ from depression during the winter months.
suffer
DEFINITION: to suffer from an illness means to have an illness; ex. suffer from cancer, suffer from migraines
ALSO: to feel pain
More children suffered from ______ damage than from covid.
psychological
DEFINITION: anything related to the mind (not the body); ex. mood, motivation, fear, phobia, etc.
More and more schools are beginning to _______ technology in the classroom.
incorporate
Definition: to include, involve
More and more schools are beginning to _______ technology in the classroom.
incorporate
Definition: to include, involve
Mom, you’re _____ me in front of my friends!
embarrassing
DEFINITION: an uncomfortable feeling you have about yourself
VERB: to embarrass someone
“Mom, can I have more of that delicious spinach?”
“_______!”
Certainly!
DEFINITION: Yes! Of course! Absolutely!
NOTE: use “certainly” if you want to make your answer stronger
Modern car ______ are too complicated to fix yourself.
engines
ALSO: a search engine, a country can be an economic engine for a region
military _______
aircraft
DEFINITION: planes
Microsoft _______ Linkedin for 26 billion USD.
acquired
Definition: to buy, to get
Noun: acquisition
Michael Jordan’s performance in the game was _____________.
phenomenal
DEFINITION: amazing, fantastic
Michael Jordan holds the record for most _____ scored in a playoff game (63).
points
DEFINITION: in a game, the winner is the person or team with the most points
Michael Jackson was not an ______ singer.
ordinary
DEFINITION: common, usual, ex. It was an ordinary day.
Mass produced medicines are made in modern, clean ________ like this one.
facilities
DEFINITION: a general term for a type of building
ALSO: a training facility; a work facility; a storage facility
Martin Luther King was an ______ for equal rights.
advocate
DEFINITION: someone who speaks or writes for a cause or interest (usually to help people)
March was named National Kidney Month to raise _______ of kidney disease. Is it working?
awareness
DEFINITION: if you’re aware of something you know it exists
Many professional athletes use illegal drugs to ____ their performance.
enhance
DEFINITION: to increase, to intensify, improve something that appeals to your senses, ex. enhance the flavor, the sound
Many politicians promise to ease the _____ on the poor by spending more on welfare.
burden
DEFINITION: a burden is a heavy weight you carry or a big responsibility
ALSO: a donkey is called a “beast of burden” because it’s used for carrying heavy loads
Many people wrongly ______ money with happiness.
equate
DEFINITION: to say that two things are equal, the same
Many investors in the 1920s had the false ________ that the market would continue to rise.
assumption
DEFINITION: when you reach a conclusion without being 100% certain, without having all the facts or based on past evidence
Many governments tell people to stay at least one meter ______.
apart
DEFINITION: used when you want to talk about distance between two places or the time between two events, ex. Our towns are five miles apart. Or… Our birthdays are three days apart.
ALSO: If you take something apart that means you separate the individual pieces, ex. The repairman took the watch apart.
Many countries in Europe are now ______ burkas, headscarves and hijabs.
banning
DEFINITION: to not allow, forbid
Many ancient buildings have a triangular _______.
(synonym: shape)
form
Definition: shape of something, ex. a triangular form; or how something appears, ex. the vampire changed into the form of a bat
Many actors have _____ ____ ___ ____ James Bond. But who was the best?
played the role of
DEFINITION: when an actor plays a role he plays a part / a character;
ALSO: if you play a new role at work that means you have a new job/ more responsibilities ex. In my new role as manager, I have to be in meetings all day.
Malaria destroys thousands of lives in the tropics every year. ________ in the world, it’s not a problem.
elsewhere
DEFINITION: somewhere else, in other locations
Lunch was served in a very unique ________.
manner
DEFINITION: the way that something is done; method, fashion, means
ALSO: in a quick manner, a professional manner, in a strange manner, the manner of death
Luigi was handsome, but unfortunately he ______ to his mother too many times.
referred
DEFINITION: to talk about (in speech or writing)
Los Angeles _____ is not the biggest in California, but it has the most people.
county
DEFINITION: an area of land smaller than a country and bigger than a city
ALSO: originally, a county was an area of land in England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland that was governed by a count
Liberace was famous for his piano playing and his _____ clothes.
fancy
DEFINITION: elaborate, something that’s supposed to impress others; the opposite of plain and boring
Let’s see, you ladies ate 12 chocolate cakes and 5 blueberry pies… ______ your total is $273.
altogether
DEFINITION: in total
ALSO: you can add “altogether” to make your point stronger; ex. she stopped eating at restaurants altogether (in this case it means the same as “entirely” and doesn’t really change the meaning of the sentence)
Let me ____ into your eyes.
gaze
Definition: to stare (usually positive)
Also: if you go star gazing you go outside to stare at the stars
Leonardo DiCaprio won the Academy _____ for Best Actor in 2016.
Award
Definition: a prize
Later in the day, when Bob accidentally walked in front of a bus, he said it was because of a ____ of sleep.
lack
DEFINITION: not enough of something
ALSO: lack of money, lack of time
Later in the day, when Bob accidentally walked in front of a bus, he said it was because of a _____ __ sleep.
lack of
DEFINITION: not enough of something
ALSO: lack of money, lack of time
ADJECTIVE: lacking
kids ____ down a hill
rolling
Kids like to ____ ___ _____ when they eat.
make a mess
DEFINITION: the opposite of keep things tidy/clean
ADJECTIVE: a messy person
Keep your eye on the _____ ball.
bouncing
Also: stocks are not expected to bounce back soon
Keanu Reeves’ mom ______ him to the Oscars.
accompanied
Definition: to go with someone, to escort
Also: If you have friends who will visit you, you can say, “We have company coming over this weekend.”
Kasparov moved his pawn to _____ Bob’s brilliant attack.
counter
DEFINITION: to oppose
ADJECTIVE: something that’s opposite; ex. a counter argument, a counter claim, a counter offer
ALSO: “counter culture” means music, clothes, etc. that goes against mainstream culture
Justin Trudeau is the current leader of the ______ party in Canada.
liberal
DEFINITION: a political party / ideology
John Kerry’s private jet ______ two tons of CO2 every time he flies to a climate summit.
produces
DEFINITION: creates, makes
Jews in Medieval Europe were _________ by society.
marginalize
DEFINITION: pushed to the outside of society; excluded from the majority culture
NOTE: think of the margins of a document or text file: they’re near the edge
Jesus __________ his moral teachings through stories called “parables.”
illustrated
DEFINITION: to make a point or argument clearer by giving more information, by showing more, by telling more
Jesus keeps ______ but he can’t come in.
knocking
DEFINITION: to make a sound (usually with your knuckles) to get someone’s attention
ALSO: if you’re talking about the future and someone says “knock on wood” that means they don’t want what they said to not happen; ex. I’m starting the new job next week, knock on wood.
Jennifer’s favorite movie _______ and Bob’s favorite movie ______.
scene
DEFINITION: a section of a play or movie, usually lasting for just a few minutes
ALSO: if you have an argument in public with your partner and he / she causes a scene that means he/she is loud and draws attention to you
Jennifer: He says he loves me. Should I send him all my money so he can visit me?
Bob: Oh, don’t be so ______. He doesn’t love you; I do. And how much money do you have?
naive
DEFINITION: because of a lack of experience you make bad decisions
Jennifer’s ______ for sugar is the only thing stronger than her ______ for Bob.
desire
Definition: if you desire something you want it badly
Jennifer’s friends thought she was a _____ for marrying Bob. What they didn’t know was that Bob had his own car.
fool
DEFINITION: a person who makes bad decisions
IDIOM: If you think your friend is going to do something stupid you might warn him by saying, “Don’t be a fool!”
IDIOM: “A fool and his money are soon parted.” i.e. a fool will lose his money by making bad decisions
ADJECTIVE: foolish behaviour
ADVERB: to behave foolishly
VERB: if you fool someone that means you trick / deceive him
Jennifer was ______ ____ the men in her life, until she found Bob
bored with
Jennifer needed time to _____ the idea of getting married
reconsider
DEFINITION: think again about something because you might change your mind
Jennifer made it _______ clear to Bob that there would be no second date.
abundantly
DEFINITION: very, more than enough
Jennifer lost her slim ______ after her tenth child was born.
figure
DEFINITION: the shape of your body
Jennifer gave an _____ of the accident to the police officer. Later, when they found Bob, he said he had been in church all day.
account
DEFINITION: a story, a narrative (usually for official purposes like recording evidence)
Jennifer couldn’t _____ being married to Bob for one more second. So she moved to Japan, changed her name, and just to be safe, became a lesbian.
fancy
DEFINITION: imagine, believe, think
COMMON EXPRESSION: “Fancy that…” said when you see or hear something unusual, the same as “Imagine that…”
Jennifer and Mrs. Williams had a small ______ over who would get the parking spot.
dispute
DEFINITION: argument, disagreement (formal)
VERB: if you see a charge on your credit card you don’t recognize it you can dispute the charge
Jeff had a dangerous job. / Bob’s job was _______ dangerous.
particularly
DEFINITION: especially, very
It’s _______ difficult to get into Harvard these days.
pretty
DEFINITION: fairly, quite, rather
It’s typical for ________ males to want to be the boss.
dominant
DEFINITION: someone who likes to be in charge of others
It’s true that people judge you on your _______ .
appearance
DEFINITION: someone’s appearance is how they look, ex. an attractive appearance, a professional appearance
VERB: to appear, ex. he appears/looks drunk
It’s hard to _______ the pain suffered as a result of war.
compute
DEFINITION: to calculate
ALSO: if your boss reads your report and tells you “That just doesn’t compute” he means it doesn’t make sense
It’s easy to get ______ at work these days.
overwhelmed
DEFINITION: you’ve got too much work, more than you can handle
ADJECTIVE: overwhelming
It’s common to ____ weight after you have a baby.
gain
DEFINITION: put on weight, increase how much you weigh
It’s better to _____ money to the bank than to these guys.
owe
DEFINITION: First, you borrow money, then you owe it to the person you borrowed it from.
It _______ we put one too many sacks on the truck.
appears
DEFINITION: it seems
It was ______ to meet you.
delightful
Definition: full of delight (pleasure, joy)
Also: the movie was delightful; I found her smile delightful
It was the steel _____ that made it possible to build the first skyscrapers in New York.
framework
Definition: the skeleton of a building
Also: an outline or a plan , ex. if your boss gives you a framework for a new project he tells you what he wants but not the details how to do it (think of a picture frame)
It was a rare opportunity to learn about the mysteries of the universe. So Bob raised his hand and asked the ______ of Nobel Prize winners about their favorite ice cream flavor.
panel
Definition: a group of people who answer questions or give opinions
Also: a panel of judges, a congressional finance panel
It is against international law to target _______ during a war.
civilians
DEFINITION: a person who is not a member of the government or military
It doesn’t ______ ______ to get out of the pool because it starts to rain.
make sense
DEFINITION: it’s not logical
OPPOSITE: it’s nonsense
Is ______ like this a problem in your country?
poverty
DEFINITION: the noun of poor; if someone has no money he’s poor
Is _____ in your country blind? Or do some people get away with the crimes they commit?
justice
DEFINITION: the idea that wrong or illegal actions are appropriately punished
Is your home _____ against giant trees?
insured
DEFINITION: to protect with insurance
PERSON / COMPANY: Who is your insurer?
Is your education a cost or an ________?
investment
DEFINITION: time or money spent that will provide a return
Is your country’s _____ getting weaker or stronger these days?
currency
DEFINITION: money (formal)
Is this the most _______ solution of all time?
impractical
DEFINITION: not practical, not realistic, no able to be realized
Is there a part of your town where mostly _____ people live?
poor
DEFINITION: they don’t have much money
Is there a lot of ______ at your family gatherings?
laughter
DEFINITION: the noun of “to laugh”
Is there a lot of _____ diversity where you live?
ethnic
DEFINITION: your ethnicity is the group (cultural, religious, racial, etc.) your ancestors belonged to; ex. Barrack Obama is American but his ethnicity is Kenyan
ALSO: ethnic food is another way to say “foreign food”
Is there a good ______ section where you shop?
produce
DEFINITION: a more formal way to say “fruits and vegetables”
Is the population in your country increasing or _______?
decreasing
DEFINITION: lessening
Is the news in your country allowed to show _______ images?
disturbing
DEFINITION: upsetting, usually because they show violence
Is the media in your country ______ or are they neutral?
biased
DEFINITION: if you have a strong opinion about something and it affects your behavior you can say your actions or your opinions are biased
ALSO: to have a bias
Is it harder to ____ _____ your jeans after the holidays?
fit into
DEFINITION: get inside of
Is he _______ __ walking or just lazy?
incapable of
DEFINITION: it’s not possible, he can’t do it
Is good coffee a ______ or a necessity?
luxury
DEFINITION: something that’s expensive, high quality and not necessary; ex. a luxury hotel
ADJECTIVE: luxurious
Is Anki part of your morning or evening ______?
routine
DEFINITION: what you do every day
ADJECTIVE: routine, ex. It was a routine inspection (normal, usual, nothing special), but what we discovered was incredible.
Is a _______ job your idea of heaven or hell?
corporate
DEFINITION: a large company is a corporation
VERB: if you file the legal paperwork to start a corporation you “incorporate”
Iraq _______ was hiding weapons of mass destruction.
allegedly
DEFINITION: if you allege something you say it might be true, but you don’t have proof; ex. a newspaper will report that someone allegedly committed a crime, then after the trial they will say if the person actually committed the crime
Also: to allege, to make an allegation
Investigators decided that the _____ of the crash was a bird. A terrorist bird.
cause
Definition: something that produces a result, ex. A mistake was the cause of the war.
Verb: to cause, ex. to cause pain, to cause global warming
inside a massive Amazon _______ center
distribution
DEFINITION: if you distribute a product you send it to your customers or retail stores
ALSO: a fim distribution company; distribution channels (do you sell directly to the customer or to a third-party?)
NOTE: a distribution center can also be called a fullfillment center
Inflation _________ affects the poor.
disproportionately
DEFINITION: not even, not balanced
In your opinion, which is the most ______ sport to watch?
boring
DEFINITION: dull, not exciting
In your opinion, which country is the most ______ about football?
passionate
DEFINITION: enthusiastic, full of positive energy
In your opinion, which country has the most beautiful_________?
coast
DEFINITION: where the land meets the sea
ALSO: coastal; ex. coastal waters
In your opinion, what was the most ______ invention in your lifetime?
amazing
DEFINITION: incredible, fantastic
In your opinion, what was the most interesting _____ in history?
period
DEFINITION: a section of time
In your office, which would be considered appropriate and inappropriate ________?
conduct
DEFINITION: behavior
NOTE: this is formal
ALSO: a drunk person might be arrested for disorderly conduct; an organization like a university might have a code of conduct
In your country, how much should you tip a porter who ______ you with your bags?
assists
DEFINITION: to help (formal)
NOUN: assistance
PERSON: assistant, i.e. a personal assistant, a virtual assistant
In your country, how do you politely ______ for the waiter to bring the bill?
gesture
DEFINITION: to signal with your body or face
In your country, do men ask for _____ to marry?
permission
DEFINITION: if someone gives you permission they allow you to do something
VERB: to permit
In which country do you have permanent ______?
DEFINITION: where you reside is where you live (formal)
ALSO: your residence is your home
PERSON: a resident of Florida
In what kind of ______ was your house / apartment when you moved in?
condition
DEFINITION: shape, state
In tonight’s ______ we’ll be taking you live to the center of the tornado.
broadcast
DEFINITION: a communication that goes to a large / broad audience (i.e. not direct or 1-1)
In this rare photo we see the Icelandic army _______ to attack Luxembourg.
plotting
DEFINITION: to plan, usually something big or evil, ex. a criminal plots his next crime
In this photo the _______ is out of focus.
background
DEFINITION: what is seen behind the main image
In the winter you can see the _______ lights in Iceland.
Northern
DEFINITION: in the north
In the US, schools were first ______ in the 1950s.
integrated
DEFINITION: to bring together, to unite
ALSO: if you integrate software you use different programs together
NOUN: integration
In the US, offering a car wash in return for a donation is a popular way to _____ money.
raise
DEFINITION: to collect money for a charity
ALSO: an event to raise money is called “a fundraiser”
In the US, actors go on talk shows like The Tonight Show to ______ their latest movie.
promote
DEFINITION: to encourage people to buy a product, attend a concert, watch a movie, or change their opinion (promote an idea)
In the U.S., the House of Representatives votes to pass _________.
legislation
DEFINITION: law
VERB: to legislate
In the U.S., the 12th ____ is the final year in high school. And in your country?
grade
DEFINITION: your grade is your year, ex. He’s in the first grade = He’s in his first year
In the U.S., political ________ are becoming more and more expensive.
campaigns
DEFINITION: the efforts to elect a candidate
ALSO: an advertising campaign, a military campaign
In the old days, you could pay a quarter to see the ____ show.
freak
DEFINITION: very strange
ADJECTIVE: freaky
In the old days, women had no ______ in government.
representation
DEFINITION: if you represent a group you speak for them and in their place
PERSON: your representative at a meeting or in parliament speaks for you
In the old days, it was polite to _____ your hat when greeting a lady.
remove
DEFINITION: take off a piece of clothing
ALSO: a dentist can remove a tooth; the board of directors can remove the CEO
In the old days, families listened to the radio together after dinner. _____, they look at their phones together.
Nowadays
DEFINITION: these days; currently
In the near-future, we’ll be _______ our keypads onto surfaces.
projecting
DEFINITION: to send light, an image, a signal
ALSO: a projection-screen TV
In the modern world, too many options creates ________.
confusion
DEFINITION: uncertaintly, you don’t know what’s happening, what to do, what to think….
In the film, Catch Me If You Can, teenager Frank Abagnale ______ ___ an airline pilot.
poses as
DEFINITION: when you pretend to be something you’re not
In the case of Mrs Bob vs. Mr Bob, the judge ordered the _______ to pay $10,000 a year for each of their 12 children. Bob said he would think about it while on his way to the airport.
latter
DEFINITION: if you’re talking about two things the latter is the second thing
OPPOSITE: the former
ADJECTIVE: latter=when you want to talk about something that comes at the end of something; ex. He was born in the latter half of the 19th century.
Note: Americans sometimes pronounce the “t” like a “d”
In some states in the U.S., you must be 18 to _______ for a job.
apply
DEFINITION: to say you’re interested in the job and to submit an application
In some parts of Asia it’s common to ____ people with a bow instead of a handshake.
greet
DEFINITION: to welcome, to say “hello”
ALSO: “Greetings! Welcome!” “Seasons Greetings”
In some countries it’s not illegal to ____ a child.
abuse
DEFINITION: to hurt, to harm
ADJECTIVE: abusive, ex. an abusive relationship
In Russia, May Day used to be a grand _________. These days, it’s becoming less and less important.
occasion.
Definition: an event or time
Also: a special occasion, ex. a birthday or anniversary
In Norway, prison ______ come with plasma screen televisions and jacuzzis.
cells
DEFINITION: the room where prisoners are kept
In my professional _________, we should operate immediately after the golf game.
assessment
DEFINITION: an estimate, an evaluation
In Japan, the ______ is to bow. How do you greet each other in your country?
custom
DEFINITION: it’s normal, everyone does it, it’s tradition
ADJECTIVE: It’s customary
In his new job as a security ______, Bob did everything he could to prevent computer viruses.
analyst
DEFINITION: if you analyze something you study it closely
VERB: to analyze
NOUN: analysis
ALSO: a systems analyst, a psychoanalyst, a data analyst, financial analyst
In geometry, _______ lines are lines which can never meet.
parallel
ALSO: if you hear someone say they have parallel interests that means they have similar interests
PHRASAL VERB: My company is increasing their research budget in parallel with cutting back on staff.
VERB: the road parallels the river
In Europe, it’s illegal to publicly ______ that the holocaust happened. (Bob does it anyway.)
deny
Definition: say that something isn’t true
Noun: denial
In conclusion, I’d like to once again ________, nothing was my fault.
emphasize
DEFINITION: to stress, to point out, to draw special attention to
In 2006 Al Gore _____ everyone that pollution would destroy the world in ten years.
warned
DEFINITION: to tell some that something bad will happen (so they can avoid it)
ALSO: a warning sign is a sign that something bad might happen; ex. if you cough blood that could be a warning sign you’re smoking the wrong brand of cigarettes
In 2001, Barry Bonds was ___ ___ ____ when he hit 73 homeruns in one season.
on a roll
DEFINITION: a quick series of successes
In 1985, Reagan and Gorbachev _____ to meet in Geneva to discuss nuclear disarmament.
arranged
DEFINITION: set up, make happen, plan
ALSO: arrange a murder, arrange a wedding
In 1954, Senator Kennedy was on the October 18th ______ of Life Magazine.
issue
DEFINITION: a specific magazine release / printing
In 18th century America, according to the law, slaves were ________ and not humans with rights.
property
DEFINITION: something that you own
Also: land, ex. to buy property in Florida, pay a property tax
Ikea makes furniture that’s both stylish and _____
functional
DEFINITION: it’s useful, can be used for the purpose it was designed for
ALSO: if something is functional it functions, i.e. it works; ex. the internet is not functioning today
If you’re worried you’re not getting enough _____ in your diet, try eating more coal.
carbon
DEFINITION: the most abundant element in the universe
NOTE: the reason this is one of the most common words in the English language is because of the climate debate, so you’ll read in the news about carbon emissions from cars, carbon footprint, etc.
EXPRESSION: a carbon copy is an exact copy
If you’re caught, it’s best to _____ your guilt.
acknowledge
DEFINITION: to say that you did something wrong, admit it
If you’re an archaeologist you’re lucky if you find even a few bone _______.
fragments
DEFINITION: small pieces; ex. pottery fragments, fragments of glass
VERB: if a religion or political party fragments that means it breaks off into smaller groups and is no longer united
If your wife starts yawning that might be a _____ that she wants to go home
hint
DEFINITION: indirect communication; a small bit of information to help you reach a conclusion; a clue
ALSO: a small amount; ex. you can taste a hint of citrus in the beer
If your skin is naturally ______, you can always get a fake tan.
pale
DEFINITION: very light
If you’re on a diet can you still lick ________?
envelopes
DEFINITION: a paper container for documents or letters
IDIOM: if you read that Elon Musk is pushing the envelope in space exploration that means he’s testing the limits of what is possible
VERB: to envelop – if you are enveloped in darkness / water /silk that means you are surrounded or covered completely with
If you win The Masters golf tournament you get to wear this ugly, green ______
jacket
DEFINITION: a coat
If you want to _______ someone it’s a good idea to first compliment them.
criticize
DEFINITION: to tell someone the negative things about him; to complain
If you want to win a _______, it’s important to never blink.
negotiation
DEFINITION: a discussion where you agree on a compromise with another person or party
If you want to avoid risk you should ______ your investments.
diversify
DEFINITION: make them different, invest in many different things
ALSO: diversify your eating
If you visit Philadelphia you can see the famous Liberty ______
Bell
IDIOM 1: if something isn’t familiar to you, you can say “It doesn’t ring a bell”, ex. “Do you remember Bob?” “Hmm, the name doesn’t ring a bell.”
IDIOM: if you ask someone if they understand and he says “Clear as a bell” that means “yes”
If you see a ____ of lightning, you know you’ll soon hear thunder.
flash
DEFINITION: a quick burst of light, ex. the flash on a camera, a flashlight (UK: torch)
If you ride the London underground, you should _____ the gap between the platform and the train.
mind
DEFINITION: pay attention to, watch out for
IDIOM: If someone tells you to “mind your Ps and Qs” they’re telling you to behave, to watch your manners / not use bad language
If you park like this you may be ______ a parking ticket.
issued
DEFINITION: given (formal)
If you need to make new friends in Southern California, try being _______.
rescued
DEFINITION: saved, helped
If you need to buy a house the bank will give you a ______. If you need to build a drug lab, you should go to the mafia.
loan
DEFINITION: money that you borrow which has to be paid back, usually with interest
VERB: to loan someone money
If you look closely at the surveillance camera footage, you can see _____ that Godzilla really does exist.
evidence
DEFINITION: proof
If you have difficulty focusing, more screen time will just _____ the problem.
compound
DEFINITION: increase, multiply, make worse
NOUN: something that has two or more parts, ex. in science, a molecular compound is two or more molecules combined together
ALSO: if you put your savings in the bank and don’t withdraw it then every year you will earn compound interest
If you have arthritis it’s usually _________.
genetic
DEFINITION: you inherit it / get it from your parents
If you have a lot to do you should start with the easiest _________on your list.
item
Definition: something that’s separate, an individual piece
Also: Every item of clothing she wore had been carefully chosen, Every item on the menu looks delicious
If you had to, how could you _______ your reading time?
increase
DEFINITION: to do / make / earn / spend / etc. MORE
If you had an ______, what would you ask him/her to do?
assistant
DEFINITION: someone who helps you at the office or at home
If you grew up in the city your best friends probably lived on the same _______
block
DEFINITION: the section of the street between two corners
ALSO: a block party is a neighborhood party for people on you block
If you garden, you can recycle organic ______ to improve the garden soil.
matter
DEFINITION: anything that’s physical and not spiritual
Pronunciation note: native speakers usually pronounce the “t” like a “d”
If you fake an ______ don’t do it like this guy.
injury
DEFINITION: the outcome of being hurt
If you don’t know where you’re going, _______ road will take you there.
either
DEFINITION: A or B
ALSO: either A…. or B…
If you don’t _______ new words you will forget them.
review
DEFINITION: look at again, study again
If you don’t pay your electricity bill your power will be _____ _____
cut off
If you don’t pay your bill your card can be ______.
declined
DEFINITION: refused
If you don’t have enough money to play the lottery you can always _____ for gold.
prospect
DEFINITION: search for
ALSO: to prospect for customers
If you ask “Why am I here?” you’re questioning your _____.
If you ask “Where am I?” you’re lost.
existence
DEFINITION: the verb is “to exist”
If you arrive at a formal ______ underdressed, don’t act embarrassed.
affair
DEFINITION: event
If you and your brother or sister are competitive then you can say you have a sibling ______.
rivalry
DEFINITION: a long-lasting competition
If there’s a politician you don’t like you can be original and _______ him to someone from history whom you also don’t like.
relate
DEFINITION: : to make a connection between two things
ALSO: your relatives are the people you’re related to
If the water at the beach suddenly recedes, you should quickly ____ _____ higher ground.
head for
DEFINITION: start to go toward
If someone tried to attack you, would you know how to _______ yourself?
defend
DEFINITION: protect
ADJECTIVE: defensive
If Plan A doesn’t work out, we will have to _____ to Plan B.
resort
DEFINITION: turn to the less favorable option; fall back on
ALSO: resort to cheating; resort to stealing
If he had thrown it just a little bit _____ he would have won. Oh well.
further
DEFINITION: farther
NOTE: far / farther / the farthest
If elected, Bob promised to ______ a one-day work week.
implement
DEFINTION: put into effect, make it happen
NOUN: implementation
If elected President, I will _______ not steal all the nation’s gold and move to Switzerland like the last guy.
certainly
DEFINITION: surely, absolutely
If contracts were written in _____ English we wouldn’t need as many lawyers.
plain
DEFINITION: simple, clear
If Bob looks ______, don’t make eye contact and back away slowly.
upset
DEFINITION: not happy, angry, mad
If Bob likes you, he’ll follow you ______ you go.
wherever
DEFINITION: anywhere, everywhere
If a tourist asked you for directions in English, would you know how to _______ yourself?
protect
DEFINITION: to keep safe
“I ________ allegiance, to the flag of the United States of America.”
pledge
DEFINITION: promise
I _______ you, I did not have sexual relations with that woman.
assure
DEFINITION: if you assure someone of something you promise them
NOUN: provide/give assurance
I _______ we should bring an umbrella just in case.
figure
DEFINITION: to make a decision based on available information, to assume, to reckon
I won’t give you the answer because cheating is against my ________
principles
DEFINITION: your morals, the rules you live according to
I weigh 180 _______
pounds
Definition: 45 kilos
Also: the abbreviation is “lbs”, ex. I weight 180 lbs
I was _____ by your latest text message.
distracted
DEFINITION: not paying attention
I wanted to buy a simple phone only for calling but the salesman convinced me to buy one with more _______
features.
DEFINITION: a function or benefit of a product that can be used to advertise it
I think I’m _____ _____ ____ a cold
coming down with
DEFINITION: getting
“I think I can meet next Tuesday, but I’ll need to _____ later.”
confirm
DEFINITION: to give a definite “yes”
NOUN: confirmation
“I think Bob might be ______.”
“Really? How can you tell?”
gay
DEFINITION: homosexual
OPPOSITE: straight
I look forward to our next meeting with great _______
anticipation
DEFINITION: hope, desire for the future, ex. children have anticipation
VERB: if you anticipate a victory or a good outcome you expect it and look forward to it
I don’t know how much money we lost. My accountant handles our financial ________
affairs
DEFINITION: your finacial transactions
ALSO: an ambassador handles the affairs of his country – the matters, the concerns
I can’t _______ it!
reach
DEFINITION: touch, get to
ALSO: humans first reached the moon in 1969
ALSO: if you try to call someone but you’re unsuccessful you can say, “I tried to reach you on your phone.”
I believe that the stars ______ your destiny. I also believe you should enter your credit card information below.
determine
DEFINITION: decide, control
Hurricanes are a _____ type of storm in Florida.
common
DEFINITION: typical, usual
OPPOSITE: uncommon
Hurricaines _____ off the coast of Florida ever late summer and early fall.
occur
DEFINITION: happen
NOUN: occurence
How ____ are you? Can you touch your toes?
flexible
ALSO: if you’re trying to decide on a day and time for a meeting and the other person tells you “I’m flexible” that means they don’t have a busy schedule and can meet you any time
How would you ______ this painting?
interpret
DEFINITION: explain
NOUN: interpretation
How would you _____ your English progress this year compared to last year? Better? Worse? About the same?
evaluate
DEFINITION: measure, judge
NOUN: you can get an evaluation from your manager at work
How will cities _______ to accommodate the next one billion people?
evolve
DEFINITION: change
NOUN: evolution
How well did you get to know your ________? (Or are they still alive?)
grandmothers
DEFINITION: your mother’s mother / father’s mother
ALSO: grandfather
ALSO: great-grandmother; great-great grandmother, etc.
How was your day?
______. And yours?
Horrible
DEFINITION: terrible, very bad
ADVERB: horribly, ex. the plan went horribly wrong
How to defend yourself when someone ____ your hair.
grabs
DEFINITION: to snatch, to take something quickly
How quickly do you _____ to emails?
respond
DEFINITION: answer, reply
NOUN: a response
How old were you when you became ______ from your parents?
independent
DEFINITION: you didn’t need them for money
ALSO: not influenced by others, ex. independent journalism, independent research, an independent film
How old do you have to be to be _____ to vote in your country?
eligible
DEFINITION: you’re allowed to do it because you meet the qualifications or standards
How often does your boss _____ with employees?
interact
DEFINITION: to communicate with (formal)
ALSO: if you interact with a computer program you use it; if the program is interactive that means it’s designed to be used actively, i.e. you talk to it, move things, it communicates with you…
ALSO: if your doctor says your medicine may have a negative interaction with alcohol then you shouldn’t drink while taking the medicine
How often do you get your oil ______?
checked
DEFINITION: examined
ALSO: if you check on the cake in the oven you look to see if everything is going well
How often do you (or did you) get a performance ______ at work?
evaluation
DEFINITION: a report on how well or how poorly you’re doing
How often did you _____ your notes before a test?
(not review)
revise
DEFINITION: review
NOTE: this is British English
How much would you ____ for this modern art painting?
bid
DEFINITION: when you offer a price, ex. to bid at an auction
NOUN: to make a bid
How much time have you spent in ______? What was your crime?
jail
DEFINITION: usually criminals go to jail for a short time and prison for a long time
A PERSON WHO WORKS IN A JAIL: a jailer
How much has the value of your home _______?
appreciated
DEFINITION: to increase in value
OPPOSITE: to depreciate
How much fast food did you ______ this month?
consume
DEFINITION: eat or drink (formal)
ALSO: your car consumes fuel; a task at work can be time-consuming; the house was consumed by fire
ALSO: a person who buys products is a consumer; consumer goods are products that are cheap and used quickly, ex. batteries, cleaning products, packaged food
How many ______ do you have?
cousins
DEFINITION: the children of your aunts and uncles
How many ______ can you hold your breath?
minutes
DEFINITION: 60 seconds
How many ______ are there in our solar system?
planets
COMMON EXPRESSION: if you say that someone is from another planet that means you think he’s strange
How many _____ in a foot?
inches
DEFINITION: a unit of length in the empirical measurement system; twelve inches make up one foot
IDIOM: if you come within an inch of something that’s the same as saying “almost”; ex. He came within an inch of dying
How many _____ are in your family?
(not children)
kids
DEFINITION: a child (informal)
How many years has it been since your last _____ check up?
annual
DEFINITION: yearly
How many words are you learning ____ day?
per
DEFINITION: for each, for every
ALSO: per cent (for every 100)
How many times a year does your family ______ together?
gather
DEFINITION: come together, meet
How many social media _______ do you have?
accounts
DEFINITION: a type of relationship you have with a bank or website
ALSO: a bank account, a checking account, a savings account
EXPRESSION: if you settle an account with a creditor (someone you owe money to), that means you pay them back
BUT… If you hear your enemy say he needs to settle an account with you, that means he’s going to get revenge
How many people does your company _______?
employ
DEFINITION: they pay people to work for them
THE COMPANY OR PERSON WHO EMPLOYS: an employer
How many pairs of ______ do you own?
boots
ALSO: If you get / give the boot that’s the same as being kicked out / expelled; ex. booted from the club
ALSO: if you join the US Army, your first few weeks will be an intensive training called “boot camp”
AN FINALLY… If you want to insult someone you can tell him “Your mother wears combat boots.”
How many pair of shoes do you ______?
own
DEFINITION: have, possess
How many of your friends are ______?
divorced
DEFINITION: no longer married
VERB: to divorce your husband / wife
How many candles will you _____ ____ on your next birthday?
blow out
How many Canadian ______ can you name?
provinces
DEFINITION: an area of land inside a nation that has its own local government
How long could you ______ in the wilderness without checking your phone?
last
DEFINITION: survive, endure
ALSO: the movie lasts two hours
How long can you walk before you have to _____?
rest
DEFINITION: to take a break to get your energy back / recover
ALSO: R.I.P. stands for “rest in peace” (said about someone dead)
How is your ______ different from the younger one?
generation
DEFINITION: a period of a decade or more where all the people born during that time share similar beliefs and traits
How far can you run before you get ____ ____ _____?
out of breath
DEFINITION: it’s hard to breathe, you have to stop and catch your breath
ALSO: after you eat garlic you might have bad breath
EXPRESSION: if there’s a positive change you can say it’s a breath of fresh air
How does your _______ of the world differ from your parents’?
perception
DEFINITION: how you view something
How does your boss _______ you?
motivate
DEFINITION: to encourage, to try to get someone to choose to do something
NOUN: motivation
How does English rank on your list of _______?
priorities
DEFINITION: the thing/s which are of highest importance
VERB: to prioritize your tasks
How do you _______ couples who live together but who are not married? Positively? Negatively? Doesn’t matter to you…
regard
DEFINITION: how you regard something is your opinion/judgement about it
EXPRESSION: If you say, “I hold him in high regard” that means you respect him.
How do you ______ your in-laws? Formally or informally?
address
DEFINITION: if you speak to someone you address them; ex. the president addressed the media
How do you ______ when it takes you 20 times to remember a word?
react
DEFINITION: act in response to an event
NOUN: reaction
How do you _____ your time when you have to wait in line?
occupy
DEFINITION: use your time
ALSO: you can occupy space, ex. A large statue occupies the town square
ALSO: if you occupy an address you live there and you are the occupant
ALSO: if the sign on the bathroom door says “occupied” that means someone is already using it
How do you _____ your books? By size? By author? By genre?
arrange
DEFINITION: to set up, to order
How do you _____ with stress?
cope
Definition: to manage or deal with something difficult
How do you say this number? “3.14”
“three point one four “
BUT: it’s different at the end of a sentence and when you say “.com”
How do you prefer to _____ your email? On your phone or on your laptop?
access
DEFINITION: to get to, to reach
ALSO: if you have access to something that means you have permission to get inside/to see it, ex. The President has access to secret documents
OR: It’s available, ex. Teens now have access to pornography thanks to the internet.
How do you prefer to get your _______? Shaking hands? Kissing? Or having strangers sneeze on you?
infections
DEFINITION: if you have a disease you are infected
ADJECTIVE: an infected person; an infectious disease
How do the winter days ______ you?
affect
DEFINITION: change (your mood, your feelings), alter
How do men in your country greet each other? Do they shake hands? Kiss? Or ________?
embrace
DEFINITION: hug, usually formal
ALSO: if you embrace an idea that means you accept it enthusiastically
How did your parents _______ your birthdays?
celebrate
How did you ______ your spouse? (i.e. based on looks? wit? intelligence? status?)
pick
DEFINITION: to choose
ALSO: if someone is picky that means he’s hard to satisfy, ex. a picky eater
pick out
How did you _____ your studies?
fund
DEFINITION: to pay for (formal)
How did you find your university’s _______? Interesting? Dull?
lectures
DEFINITION: a type of class where the professor speaks to a large auditorium and there’s little or no involvement from the students
VERB: if your parents lectured you when you were young (for example, about safety or studying) that means they gave you long speeches and repeated what they’d already told you
How big is your computer ______?
monitor
DEFINITION: the screen, usually separate from the computer
ALSO: if a doctor monitors your blood pressure he watches it closely
“Honey, which shade of ______ do you prefer for the baby’s room?”
gray
ALSO: grey (UK spelling)
“Honey, do you want to go dancing?”
“No, I’m _____.”
beat
DEFINITION: very tired, exhausted
“Honey, can you please step ________. I want to see what happens to Peppa Pig.”
aside
DEFINITION: to the side
Hmm, let’s see, it’s my _______ that I was at church on the morning of the murder.
recollection
DEFINITION: a memory (formal)
Hmm, it seems there’s a ______ good chance it will rain. Maybe I’ll bring my umbrella.
reasonably
DEFINITION: not 100% but good enough
Hey, can I give you a _____? I’ve got candy.
lift
DEFINITION: a ride in a car, ex. give me a lift to the airport
Hey honey, while you’re up, could you ______ me a beer?
grab
DEFINITION: get
ALSO: You can grab a bite to eat = get some fast food
Here’s where you enter the ______ of heaven
gates
Also: the gate keeper is someone who keeps you from talking to someone important, usually a secretary or assistant
Here’s an interesting _______: chess and vodka shots.
combination
DEFINITION: a mix of two or more things
VERB: to combine
ALSO: if you lock your bike you’ll either need a key or a combination to unlock it, i.e. the correct sequence of numbers
ABBREVIATION: combo, ex. get a combo mean at KFC (chicken + a drink)
Here comes Little Red Riding Hood walking down a ____ through the woods.
path
DEFINITION: a route for walking, usually formed naturally by foot traffic; a trail
Here are some Canadians who are about to ____ the boarder into the US.
cross
DEFINITION: go from one side to the other
“Hello. I’m with the FBI, CIA and INTERPOL. We’re looking for Bob.”
“____ ____. I’ll tell him you’re here.”
hang on
DEFINITION: wait
“Hello, I’m here to tell you and your neighbours about how you can avoid Hell.”
BOB: “Oo, lovely. Please ____ ____.”
come in
DEFINITION: enter
“Hello, I’d like to make an ______ for a pedicure.”
appointment
DEFINITION: a scheduled meeting
He’s _______ his hands behind his back
grasping
DEFINITION: holding tightly
He’s ______ to break the world record.
attempting
DEFINITION: trying
He’s wearing ____ glasses.
round
DEFINITION: the shape of a circle
He ______ to a charity in Africa.
contributes
DEFINITION: donate, give
NOUN: contribution
He ______ a beautiful woman was around the corner.
assumed
DEFINITION: to reach a conclusion without being 100% certain, without having all the facts
Have your pipes ______? Call Bob the plumber.
burst
DEFINITION: to break or explode suddenly, usually because of pressure
Also: the car burst into flames; sorry to burst your bubble; burst into tears; burst out laughing
Have you heard of Harry Houdini? He was famous for being able to ____ from any jail or any chains you put him in.
escape
DEFINITION: to get out of, to be free from something bad; ex. go to the mountains in the summer to escape the heat
Have you had any ______ problems this year?
health
ALSO: a health food store sells stuff like tofu and kambucha
Have you ever ______ food on your phone?
ordered
DEFINITION: to tell someone what you want to buy, usually something that needs to be prepared or made, ex. order a custom kitchen from Ikea
ALSO: place an order
Have you ever _____a job offer?
rejected
DEFINITION: said “no” to
NOUN: rejection
ALSO: if a product is a reject it’s quality is low and can’t be sold; if a person is a reject he’s not very popular
Have you ever _____? For how long?
fasted
DEFINITION: when you choose not to eat, usually for a day or longer, usually for religious or health reasons
NOUN: fasting, ex. fasting is healthy for you
Have you ever _____ one of your fears? What happened?
faced
DEFINITION: to confront, not hide from
Have you ever _____ missed a plane?
barely
DEFINITION: almost
EXPRESSION: if you say you barely made it / barely passed that means you were successful but you almost failed
Have you ever written a love _______ to your sweetheart?
poem
DEFINITION:
PERSON: a poet
THE CATEGORY: poetry; ex. to take a poetry class at college
Have you ever worked with a _______?
consultant
DEFINITION: a professional expert who gives advice
Have you ever won a _______?
contest
DEFINITION: a competition; ex. a beauty contest, a hot dog eating contest, a speaking contest
Have you ever wanted to visit a tourist site only to find out it was closed for _________?
restoration
DEFINITION: work that is aimed at restoring / improving the condition of something old
Have you ever used an app that helps you ________ a lost phone?
locate
DEFINITION: find (formal)
NOUN: location
Have you ever tried _____ medicine? What was the result?
alternative
DEFINITION: non-traditional, unconventional
ALSO: an alternative lifestyle; an alternative newspaper
Have you ever taken a memory ______ drug or supplement?
enhancement
DEFINITION: something that improves something
Have you ever read any of the ________ in English?
classics
DEFINITION: something that remains valuable and popular despite being old; as we say in English, it stands the test of time
ADJECTIVE: classical; ex. classical music
Have you ever paid to get your shoes _____? Or do you just throw them away?
repaired
DEFINITION: fixed
ALSO: you can take your car, your phone or your TV to the repair shop
Have you ever not been able to find_______in a hotel during a popular event?
accommodation
DEFINITION: lodging, a place to stay for the night
VERB: if you accommodate someone you let them sleep in your home
Have you ever met someone who was truly ________?
brilliant
DEFINITION: very smart, a genius
ALSO: if a fire is very large you can say it’s burning brilliantly
ALSO: If you want to be sarcastic you can say “Oh, brilliant idea” whenever you hear a really stupid idea.
Have you ever lived through an economic ______
crisis
DEFINITION: an emergency
Have you ever kept a personal ______?
journal
DEFINITION: a diary, a record of events or observations
ALSO: another name for a newspaper or magazine, ex. Journal of Modern Medicine
Have you ever had your _____ painted? Would you like to?
portrait
DEFINITION: a painting or photograph of a person, usually just showing the head and shoulders
ALSO: a self-portrait is a painting an artist paints of himself
Have you ever had your back _____ by a chiropractor?
adjusted
DEFINITION: a small change
Also: businesses are adjusting to the new regulations
Have you ever had to ___ _____ another car?
flag down
DEFINITION: to signal for help so that the other person stops
ALSO: a flag is one of the symbols that represent a country or city
ALSO: if the tax authority flags your paperwork that means they think it’s suspicious and they will take a closer look - not good
Have you ever had to ask your boss to _______ a deadline?
extend
DEFINITION: if you extend a deadline you add more time; if you extended the back of your house you make your house larger
ALSO: if you extend your hand that means you reach out (usually to help someone or to grab something)
Have you ever had a ________ ____ death?
brush with
DEFINITION: a brief encounter; a short experience
ALSO: a brush with fame
Have you ever had a ______ banana dipped in chocolate? They’re delicious!
frozen
DEFINITION: it’s been in the freezer or outside when it’s below zero
Have you ever had a tooth _______?
extracted
DEFINITION: removed, pull out
ALSO: a policeman can extract information from a prisoner
Have you ever had a serious _________?
infection
DEFINITION: when germs / micro-organisms spread in the body
Have you ever gone _____? Would you like?
hunting
PERSON: a hunter
ALSO: to go house hunting
Have you ever gone on a ______? Was it successful?
diet
DEFINITION: a program where you eat less food or you eat only certain kinds of food in order to lose weight
ALSO: if you talk about the diet of the French or your cat’s diet that means the food that is typically eaten
Have you ever cracked the screen on your _______ ______?
cell phone
DEFINITION: mobilie phone (U.S. English)
Have you ever climbed a mountain _____?
peak
DEFINITION: the highest point
VERB: to peak; ex. Bruce Willis’ career peaked when he made the Die Hard movies
Have you ever called a company to _____ __ _________?
make a complaint
DEFINITION: when you tell someone that you’re not satisfied or there’s a problem (formal)
Have you ever bought anything from the Ikea _______?
catalog
DEFINITION: a book / magazine that advertises things you can buy, usually through the mail; ex. the famous Sears Catalog
VERB: if you have to catalog your company’s products that means make a list/record
ALSO: if you read that The Beatles sold their song catalog that means all their songs
Have you ever been _________ into doing something you didn’t want to do?
charmed
DEFINITION: when someone uses their attractive personality to get you to like them
Have you ever been _______ at work?
promoted
DEFINITION: when your boss gives you a higher position
Have you ever been ______? How did you get over it?
depressed
DEFINITION: sadness that lasts for a long time
Have you ever been ______ playing a sport?
injured
DEFINITION: hurt
NOUN: an injury
COMMON EXPRESSION: if you want to say that something got worse you can say “to add insult to injury”
Have you ever been ______ at work?
promoted
DEFINITION: to be given a higher position
ALSO: to get a promotion
Have you ever been treated by a __________?
specialist
DEFINITION: a person who specializes in one area, ex. a podiatrist is a doctor who is a foot specialist
Have you ever been in an accident? Whose _____ was it?
fault
DEFINITION: who is responsible? who’s to blame?
ALSO: you can say, Who’s at fault?
Has your country’s budget ______ increased or decreased in recent years?
deficit
DEFINITION: the amount of money you spend that is more than what you earn, usually for countries and not people
ALSO: If you say your company has a talent deficit that means you think there aren’t enough talented people there
ALSO: a trade deficit means the country imports more than it exports
ALSO: if someone has Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) that means its hard for them to focus
Has your country ever received international _______ after a disaster?
assistance
DEFINITION: help (formal)
Has your country done a good job at _____ your nation’s history?
preserving
DEFINITION: keep, maintain
ALSO: preserve fruit in a jar, go for a walk in a nature preserve, buy organic food because you don’t want to eat artificial preservatives; historic preservation
Has the weather ever ______ a special event you attended?
ruined
DEFINITION: destroy, wreck, spoil
ALSO: you can ruin a book for someone by telling them how it ends; you can ruin a sweater by washing it in hot water; you can ruin your life by taking drugs; you can be ruined financially if you lose all your money
Has anyone you met online tried to ____ you?
deceive
DEFINITION: to lie, fool, trick
noun: deception
Has anyone ever told you to wear your mask ________?
properly
DEFINITION: correctly
Has a strange person ever sat _____ you?
beside
DEFINITION: next to
hair _______
an _______ cord
hair extensions
an extension cord
DEFINITION: something that makes something else longer
ALSO: if your university project is due on Monday but you get sick on Friday you can ask for an extension
VERB: to extend
Guido was born in Italy, ____ the accent.
hence
DEFINITION: therefore (note: formal)
Green is a _____ of blue and yellow.
mixture
DEFINITION: a blend, a combination
VERB: to mix
getting some _____ air on her lunch break
fresh
DEFINITION: clean, new
ALSO: fresh fruit; in the morning you can feel fresh
Getting into a good school has become _________ difficult.
increasingly
DEFINITION: more and more
Get your _____ food bowl. This one’s taken!
own
DEFINITION: if you add “own” to a pronoun, it means it’s that person’s and no one else’s
SOME EXAMPLES: Do you have your own home or do you rent?
I’ve got my own problems and don’t care about yours.
They don’t have any children of their own.
“Gertrude, we’ve been dating for seventeen years and you’re the only woman I’ve ever loved. Will you marry me?”
“Bob, because I love you, and because you’re hurting my hand, I’ll be ______ – no way!”
brief
Definition: lasting only for a short time, short; ex. A Brief History of Rome
ALSO: if a lawyer gives you a brief that means he gives you a written summary
Genesis 1:1 is one of the most famous _______ in The Bible
passages
DEFINITION: a section of a larger text
General Bob swore he had no ______ with the enemy.
involvement
DEFINITION: he wasn’t connected with them, did not work with them
Gandhi campaigned against ______ injustice.
racial
DEFINITION: related to race
Galileo’s ______ that the sun was the center of the universe turned out to be correct.
hypothesis
DEFINITION: a theory
ADJECTIVE: a hypothetical question is a question about something that hasn’t happened, imaginary
Galileo was tried by the Church for his ______ ideas about the universe.
radical
DEFINITION: extreme ex. a radical opinion, a radical idea, a radical political party
From your county’s capital, are there good _______ to other major cities?
connections
DEFINITION: a transportation link, where transportation lines meet; ex. a train connection, a plane connection, a bus connection
ALSO: if you have to change planes that means you have to find your connecting flight
From the Empire State Building’s _______ deck Bob could see that he forgot to lock his car.
observation
DEFINITION: if you observe something you watch so you can learn; ex. a biologist observing animals
For the _____ of your health, you should really quit dating my wife, Bob.
sake
DEFINITION: “for the sake of _____” means it’s in the best interest of _____
COMMON EXPRESSION: If you want to ask someone to do something and it’s very important you can say, “For God’s sake, don’t _____.”
For people in the third world, life can be a ________.
struggle
DEFINITION: if something is a struggle it’s difficult; a fight
For many modern parents, the safety of their children is a _______ concern.
constant
DEFINITION: it never stops, 24/7
For Bob, the ______ from child to adult was long and slow.
transition
Definition: change (from one stage to another or from one place to another); ex. job transition, the new President’s transition team
For an extra fee, you can pay to drive in the ____ lane.
express
DEFINITION: something that’s faster; ex. express shipping, express checkout
For a brief time, Americans ______ the sport of baseball. Now some of the best players come from Cuba, Japan and South America.
dominated
DEFINITION: to be #1, at the top, in control
ADJECTIVE: dominant
Food critic Bob did not ______ the restaurant highly.
rate
DEFINITION: to judge, to score
NOUN: to give a rating
ADJECTIVE: the website uses a rating system
ALSO: in the U.S. movies are rated according to how appropriate they are for children, ex. Disney films are usually Rated G
fishing _______
gear
DEFINITION: equipment, tools
First and second place went to the US and China, ________
respectively
DEFINITION: in that order, in the same order that was said
Finding the right person for a job can be a difficult _______
task
DEFINITION: a specific job; your job or work is what you do every day but if you talk about a task it’s just one specific thing you must do
Feeling chilly? Put another _____ on the fire.
log
DEFINITION: a piece of wood for burning
ALSO: a log cabin
Father Johnson ______ Bob to pray hard and get a good lawyer.
counselled
Definition: to give advice
Also: if you’re fighting a lot with your spouse you can get help from a marriage counselor; if someone sues you then you need legal counsel
Experts tell us to wear masks so as not to ____ others.
infect
DEFINITION: to give someone a disease
NOUN: infection
“Excuse me, your music is kinda loud. Do you ______?”
“No, I don’t ______.”
mind
mind
DEFINITION 1: You’re bothering me, please stop.
DEFINITION 2: It doesn’t bother me.
“Excuse me, professor. Could you _______ ___ that?”
expand on
DEFINITION: say more, to give more information
Everyone, please ____ ____. There’s nothing to see here.
move on
DEFINITION: keep going, don’t stop
ALSO: If you break up with someone and he / she moves on that means he / she has started dating someone else already.
Every year there’s a ________ of the leaders of the world’s richest nations at the G7 Summit.
gathering
DEFINITION: a meeting
Every week you meet your ______ Speed System students on zoom.
fellow
Definition: someone who belongs to the same group as others or is in the same situation
Also: fellow classmates, fellow employees, fellow Canadians
Every time Bob creates a new virus the ______ for toilet paper skyrockets.
demand
DEFINITION: the need
ALSO: in economics you can talk about “supply and demand”
(Note: if something skyrockets it increases very quickly)
Every summer Bob’s family _______ in the forest for their annual reunion.
gathers
definition: to come together, to bring together, ex. to gather flowers
noun: a gathering
Every morning, the President receives a ________ on international security issues.
briefing
DEFINITION: if you brief someone you give them information in a short and quick format
Every Christmas season, the ______ for shops increases.
revenue
DEFINITION: the money a business receives from customers (but not the same as profit)
Even until the very end, Bob insisted that everything would _____ _____ just fine.
work out
DEFINITION: reach a successful, satisfactory conclusion
Even if you stand at the ______ of the Statue of Liberty, it’s still not possible to see up her dress.
base
DEFINITION: the bottom part of something, ex. the base of his neck, the base of the tree
Even if it’s your pet, all wild animals are _______ dangerous.
potentially
DEFINITION: possibly
Even before covid, the staff had to disinfect Bob’s table after he left their _____.
establishment
DEFINITION: a business (formal)
Even as a little kid, Tiger Woods showed a lot of _____ for golf.
potential
DEFINITION: he may be great or do great things
enjoying some _______ art in a museum
contemporary
DEFINITION: modern
ALSO: contemporary music, contemporary values
Employees had to share desks because of a budget _______.
constraint
DEFINITION: a limitation, a restriction
ALSO: time constraint, constraining clothing
VERB: to constrain
Elon Musk’s first _______ at launching a rocket was a failure.
attempt
DEFINITION: effort
“Electronic _______ must be switched off before takeoff and landing.”
devices
Definition: any machine or equipment can be called a device; ex. an espresso machine is a device for making coffee
Einstein’s most famous ______ was e=mc2.
equation
DEFINITION: similar to a formula; the word is related to the word “equals” so if you see the “=” sign then it’s an equation
ALSO: you can say that your equation for happiness is health plus family; i.e. health + family = happiness
Einstein was a ____ of Germany, but lived his final years in the U.S.
native
DEFINITION: where you’re from
Einstein famously said, “_______ is more important than knowledge.” Do you agree?
curiosity
DEFINITION: the desire to know, to learn, to discover
IDIOM: “curiosity killed the cat” (I don’t think Einstein would have like this idiom…)
Eh? Can you ______ that?
repeat
DEFINITION: to say again
ALSO: anything that happens more than once; ex. a TV show that’s on for the second time is a repeat; this year can be a repeat of last year
During World War Two, soldiers ____ _____ in Europe had a much better chance of surviving than those who were captured in Asia.
held captive
DEFINITION: captured
ALSO: a captive audience is an audience that must watch or listen, ex. a meeting at work
During the time of covid we saw many new and strange _______.
innovations
DEFINITION: something new and different that solves a problem
ADJECTIVE: an innovative person
During the pandemic, it seemed governments _______ the rules almost daily.
revised
DEFINITION: change, alter, amend
During the pandemic, Bob wanted to stay safe so he asked his drug ______ if he could deliver.
dealer
DEFINITION: a salesman who is also the middle-man, i.e. he sells someone else’s product; ex. a car dealer
ALSO: at the casino the dealer is the person who hands out the cards; ex. the dealer dealt me four aces
ALSO: if you negotiate before you buy you can either get a good deal or a bad deal, i.e. you pay less or more than it’s worth
During the lockdowns, ______ among young people became a major problem.
depression
DEFINITION: extreme and long-lasting sadness
ADJECTIVE: to be depressed; a depressing movie
ALSO: there can be a depression in the earth, meaning an area that is lower than surrounding areas
ALSO: an economic depression; The Great Depression
During the Cold War, the Warsaw Pact was ________ of the Soviet Union and several Easter-European nations.
comprised
DEFINITION: made of, include, contain
Due to rising inflation, American teenagers now must_____ on their parents for drug money.
rely
DEFINITION: to depend on
ADJECTIVE: reliable, ex. a reliable car is a car that always works; a reliable friend is someone who is always willing to help you
NOUN: reliability
driving _______
forward
Also: The project is moving forward.
COMMON EXPRESSION: Going forward, let’s not make that mistake again, i.e. In the future…
ALSO: someone who has vision is a forward-thinking person
driving in ______
reverse
DEFINITION: backwards
ALSO: if you read that the president reversed his position that means he changed his mind
Drinking one Red Bull is the _______ of drinking 1.3 espressos.
equivalent
DEFINITION: the same as
Drinking a liquid breakfast at a typical English _____
pub
DEFINITION: a business that serves alcohol and sometimes food
In the US we call them “bars.”
Drink too much and you’ll have to make ______ trips to the bathroom.
frequent
DEFINITION: something that happens, occurs or appears often / a lot
ADJECTIVE: a frequent visitor to the cafe
[sound:rec1665677732.mp3]
VERB: he frequents the cafe
ALSO: you can sign up for an airline’s frequent-flyer program
ALSO: the Power Words are high-frequency words.
Dr. Martin Luther King marching for ____ rights for blacks.
equal
DEFINITION: if two things are equal they are the same
Don’t ______ trying to change his mind, it won’t work.
bother
DEFINITION: don’t do it (usually because it’s not necessary or won’t work), ex. Can I help you clean the kitchen? No, don’t bother, I’ll do it.
Don’t _____ your feet when you walk; the baby’s sleeping.
stamp
DEFINITION: to walk with heavy feet
ALSO: if a politician says he’s going to stamp out crime that means he’s going to end it
Don’t know your wife’s birthday? Just ________ it
admit
DEFINITION: confess, be honest and say something that doesn’t make you look good
Don’t _______ me with your problems.
burden
DEFINITION: trouble me, bother me
Does your town have many ______?
immigrants
DEFINITION: someone who moves away from their home country, usually permanently
Does your president or prime minister need someone to _____ for him/her when traveling abroad?
interpret
DEFINITION: to translate speech
ALSO: how you interpret something is how you understand it; ex. I interpreted his yawn as a sign we should leave
Does your house get this much _____?
dust
DEFINITION: very small particles, maybe of earth or skin or stone or something else
IDIOM 1 - TO BITE THE DUST
Your favorite race car driver just had a terrible accident and bit the dust (he died).
IDIOM 2 – WAIT FOR THE DUST TO SETTLE
Your boss just had a loud argument with the bank. You need to ask him a question. But first you want to wait for the dust to setlle (for things to calm down).
Does your employer have an “escape” ______ in your work contract that lets him easily fire you?
clause
DEFINITION: a section of a contract, treaty or bill
Does your country have any ______ on free speech? Or can you say whatever you want about whatever you want?
limitations
DEFINITION: a limit, a restriction
ALSO: physical limitations; mental limitations; a government can pass trade limitation laws
Does your country have any historic _______?
ruins
DEFINITION: very old buildings that are crumbling/falling apart
Does your country have an _______ day? Or do other countries celebrate their _______ from your country?
independence
DEFINITION: freedom
ADJECTIVE: independent, ex. independent journalism
Does your country accept ______ from other countries?
refugees
DEFINITION: a person who moves to another country to escape bad conditions in their home country
ALSO: a refugee camp; to apply for refugee status
Does your company _________ star employees?
recognize
DEFINITION: they publicly acknowledge, they give them attention
Does your company provide a _____ for retired workers? What about your government?
pension
DEFINITION: the money you get to live on
PERSON: a pensioner
Does your boss sometimes have an evil ____?
grin
Definition: a type of smile,usually when someone his satisfied with themselves, ex. When playing poker, try not to grin if you have good cards.
Also: to grin from ear to ear
Does the ______ wage in your country depend on the person’s age or job?
minimum
DEFINITION: the least number or amount that is necessary or required
Does the _____ of the waves make you ill?
motion
DEFINITION: movement
Does the weather affect your ______?
mood
DEFINITION: how you feel (emotionally, not physically)
ALSO: a person who is often in a bad mood is “moody”
Does bad weather _____ you?
depress
DEFINITION: make you sad
NOUN: depression
Does anyone in your country still write _______?
checks
DEFINITION: a method of payment instead of using cash
BRITISH ENGLISH: cheque
Doctors say teenagers shouldn’t smoke because it can slow their physical _______.
development
DEFINITION: growing or becoming larger or more advanced
Also: economic development, business development
Do you _______ pleasure from other people’s suffering?
derive
Definition: to get something from somewhere else, ex. Amazon.com used to derive most of its revenue from the sale of books
Note: Did you see the dog smiling in the photo?
Do you ______ your clothes on the bed before packing?
lay
DEFINITION: to put something down
NOTE: irregular verb: lay / laid / laid
ALSO: the chicken laid an egg; lay a baby in his crib
Do you ______ your clothes on the bed before packing?
lay
DEFINITION: to put something down
NOTE: irregular verb: lay / laid / laid
ALSO: the chicken laid an egg; lay a baby in his crib
Do you ______ the number of desserts or sweets you eat during the week?
limit
DEFINITION: to restrict
ALSO: to drive the speed limit, break the speed limit
Do you ______ or own your home?
rent
DEFINITION: to pay money to use something, i.e. rent an apartment, rent a bicycle
Do you _____ to get to work early and leave early? Or start late and leave late?
prefer
DEFINITION: you like it better than other options
Do you watch _______ or do you take advantage of the opportunity to use the bathroom?
commercials
DEFINITION: an advertisement on TV or radio
Do you vote in ______ elections or just national elections?
regional
DEFINITION: when you want to say that something is local and not national or international; ex. a regional manager, a regional market
NOUN: region
Do you vote in the _________ elections? Or just the national elections?
provincial
DEFINITION: local; ex. a provincial newspaper, provincial dress, provincial customs
ALSO: If you say someone’s behavior or thinking is provincial that means you think it’s simple or uncultured or narrow. The word is related to “province” which is similar to countryside. The opposite is “urbane” and “cosmopolitan” which mean sophisticated and modern, and also related to words connected to the city.
Do you usually have enough _______ to accomplish your goals?
discipline
DEFINITION: self-control, the ability to say “no” to a temptation
Do you use the hand______ when going down the stairs?
rail
DEFINITION: a bar, usually metal
ALSO: if you’re on a balcony you can find a rail / safety rail
ALSO: if you drive your car off the road you may hit a guard rail
ALSO: trains run on rails, ex. the railroad
Do you use software to block online ______?
ads
Definition: an abbreviations for “advertisement”
Also: adverts
Do you use a water ______ at home?
filter
DEFINITION: a device that keeps out anything unwanted, ex. a cigarette filter, an air filter, a coffee filter
ADJECTIVE: a filtration device
Do you think ______ children are happier than regular children?
privileged
DEFINITION: fortunate, someone who has been given many advantages
Do you think your workplace or your country’s culture treats everyone ______?
equally
DEFINITION: if two things are equal they are the same
Do you think you’d be able to _______ your high school classmates now?
recognize
DEFINITION: to know who someone is (or something or some place)
ADJECTIVE: if someone is totally different you can say they’re unrecognizable
Do you think you can control your personality? Or do you believe it’s ______?
genetic
DEFINITION: if something is genetic that means it’s a part of your genes, something you got from your parents, and therefore out of your control
Do you think it’s ____________ to check your phone during dinner?
inconsiderate
DEFINITION: rude, impolite
Do you think it’s easier to ______ your feelings in your native language or in English?
express
DEFINITION: to communicate
NOTE: you can express something in words, actions or through body language
Do you think economic ______ are effective against dictatorships?
sanctions
DEFINITION: legal penalties; ex. not allowing a country to sell or buy oil
ALSO: interestingly, it can also mean the exact opposite - to reward or encourage; however, in the news the negative meaning is more common
Do you support the _____ some countries in Europe made against women wearing burqas?
ban
Definition: if something is not allowed it is banned, forbidden; a government can ban something but so can a school or an office, ex. phones are banned while taking tests
Verb: Burqas are banned in Germany.
Adjective: the banned song was played on the radio
Do you support or do you ________ genetically modified crops?
oppose
DEFINITION: to be against
Do you support any _________ to your country’s legal system?
alterations
DEFINITION: changes
Do you remember where you were when you _____ _____ you were going to be a parent?
found out
DEFINITION: discovered
Do you read the labels to see what kind of vitamins and chemicals your food _______?
contains?
DEFINITION: what’s in it
NOUN: container
Do you prefer your coffee with milk or _____? Or just plain black?
cream
DEFINITION: if you let unhomogonized milk sit for a while the fattiest part rises to the top and this is called cream
IDIOM: If your boss says he wants to hire only the cream of the crop that means he wants the best
ALSO: if you’re a woman you might use beauty cream or face cream
Do you prefer to ______ on the phone or in person?
chat
DEFINITION: an informal conversation
ADJECTIVE: if you have a chatty friend that means he likes to talk a lot
NOTE: these days you can also use “chat” to talk about sending online messages, ex. meet someone in a chat room
Do you prefer to read modern novels or _______
literature
DEFINITION: a highly respected novel, a classic
ALSO: Research papers (medical, scientific, etc.) are often called “the literature.” This drives me crazy because the same word is being used for the best and worst writing in the world.
Do you prefer the office or _______ work?
remote
DEFINITION: far, not near
ALSO: you can operate a car or change channels on a TV with a remote control
Do you prefer the leg or the _____?
breast
NOTE: when talking about humans (that’s us!) women have breasts and men have chests
Do you prefer physical _______ or electronic ones?
reminders
DEFINITION: something that prevents you from forgetting an appointment or a task
Do you prefer instant coffee or ______ coffee?
ground
DEFINITION: it has been put inside a grinder and made smaller
INFINITIVE: to grind
ALSO: ground beef is used to make hamburgers
Do you prefer games of strategy or games of _______?
chance
DEFINITION: luck
ALSO: if you’re on a date and you see your ex at the same restaurant that’s a chance encounter
Do you need to ______ your behaviour when you’re at work?
modify
DEFINITION: to change, to alter
Do you listen to ____ music?
pop
DEFINITION: popular
ALSO: a pop song, a pop singer
Do you like your _________?
neighbors?
DEFINITION: the people who live next to you or near you
UK: neighbour
ALSO: the area where you live is your neighborhood
ALSO: to act neighborly is to be friendly
Do you like your _______?
profile
DEFINITION: the image of a person from the side
ALSO: if you read that a magazine or a news show will profile a celebrity that means they’ll have an article or segment that will tell you their story
Do you like your country’s ________?
flag
ALSO: if the tax authority flags your paperwork that means they think it’s suspicious and they will take a closer look - not good
Do you like to ______ guests at your home?
entertain
DEFINITION: to have guests over for dinner
ALSO: to sing, dance, tell jokes, i.e. provide entertainment
Do you like to ____ on sports? Or to go to the casino and ____?
bet
DEFINITION: to gamble
Do you like to work on _____ by yourself, in a team, or as the team leader?
projects
DEFINITION: a job or task that is not simple and not short
Do you like to work from a ______ list or are you not that organized?
check
DEFINITION: to check off an item on a list is to mark it as completed; a check mark is the symbol of completion (see above)
Do you like the ______? Or would you rather have a tooth extracted?
opera
DEFINITION: where rich people went on a Saturday night before Netflix
Do you know the ______ for any sports?
rules
DEFINITION: what you can and can’t do
COMMON EXPRESSION: it’s agains the rules
COMMON EXPRESSION: If you’re starting a new job and your boss says there are only two ground rules for meetings – be on time and be prepared – he’s talking about the basic, most important rules
Do you know the weather _____ for this week?
forecast
DEFINITION: prediciton
VERB: to forecast the future
Do you know the punctuation rules for writing ________
dialogue?
DEFINITION: conversation
VERB: if you dialogue with someone you speak with them; Note: this is formal and usually just seen in written English
ALSO: if you open a dialogue that means you start a negotiation on a difficult subject, ex. to open a dialogue with North Korea
Do you know the correct way to _____ a business letter?
format
DEFINITION: to organize, plan, layout, style
NOUN: how something is designed, styled or structured; ex. a book format, a letter format
ALSO: a computer file format can be jpeg or pdf or txt…
Do you know someone who likes to ____ ____all your mistakes?
point out
DEFINITION: when you want to draw special attention to something, to say “Look at this. This is important.”
ALSO: if you’re in a business meeting and you want to make your point stronger you can begin by saying “I’d like to point out that…”
Do you know someone who gets a lot of ________ from Amazon?
packages
DEFINITION: something that’s boxed or wrapped up, usually because it’s being sent through the mail
ALSO: if you buy a software package or a vacation package that means you’re buying several things for one price, i.e. a package deal
Do you know how to ______ anything by hand?
craft
DEFINITION: a make something with a special skill, especially when you use your hands
A PERSON: a craftsman is an artisan, someone who makes furniture or jewelery or shoes etc. the old-fashion way: by hand
ALSO: if someone asks you if you’re good at your craft they’re talking about your work
NOTE: this is a very popular adjective in advertising these days; you can see it used to describe everything from beer to burgers; basically, it means that it’s a higher quality, made in small numbers, not mass-produced, possibly made by-hand
Do you know at what temperature water ______ in fahrenheit?
freezes
DEFINITION: to get very cold
ADJECTIVE: frozen
ALSO: you put ice cream in the freezer
Do you know anyone who works in ________?
construction
DEFINITION: you build houses/buildings
ALSO: if a sign says a building is “under construction” that means it’s still being built
Do you know anyone who suffers from severe ________?
anxiety
DEFINITION: nervousness
Do you know anyone who stopped shaking hands to ______ getting sick?
prevent
DEFINITION: stop from happening
Do you know anyone who lives in an apartment ______?
Would you like to live in one?
complex
DEFINITION: a place where you can find many of the same thing
ALSO: a sports complex, a tennis complex, an entertainment complex
Do you know anyone who likes _____ songs or movies?
depressing
DEFINITION: very sad
ALSO: depressing news
Do you know anyone who likes to stare at their _______ in the mirror?
reflection
DEFINITION: the image or the light that is sent back to you from a surface, ex. a lake, a mirror
NOUN: if you ride a bicycle at night it’s a good idea to have reflectors on your bike
ALSO: if you ask your boss for a raise and he says “I need to reflect on it” that means he needs to think about it
Do you know anyone who likes being ______?
dramatic
DEFINITION: the root word is “drama”; a person who is dramatic likes emotion and show
ALSO: if you say “prices rose dramatically” that means they rose suddenly and a lot
Do you know anyone who is easily ________?
offended
DEFINITION: if you offend someone you say something rude or vulgar which they don’t like
Do you know anyone who had to self-______ after getting covid?
isolate
DEFINITION: to separate, set apart so that the person or thing is alone
ALSO: to isolate a problem means to identify the problem and separate it so you can solve it easier
NOUN: isolation
Do you know any _______?
designers
DEFINITION: anyone who designs professionally, ex. a graphic designer, a clothing designer
VERB: to design
ALSO: if you buy designer clothes that means you buy very expensive, trendy clothes
Do you know any _____ jokes?
offensive
DEFINITION: it’s shocking or rude
Do you know any kids who have _______ problems?
behavior
DEFINITION: how someone acts
NOTE: It’s spelled “behaviour” in the UK
Do you know a movie that ____ ____ last weekend?
came out
DEFINITION: it was released, put on the market
Do you have _____ in the ability of your colleagues?
faith
DEFINITION: you trust their ability to do their job
EXPRESSION: I have faith in you.
Do you have the _______ to achieve your English goals?
determination
DEFINITION: dedication to a goal; someone who has determination doesn’t quit
ADJECTIVE: to be determined
Do you have sensitive feet? That’s because you have 200,000 _____ endings down there.
nerve
DEFINITION: fibers that communicate feeling to your brain
EXPRESSION: if someone makes a comment that makes you upset you can say it struck a nerve with you
EXPRESSION: “He had the nerve to ask for a raise after losing the sale” = boldness, rudeness
EXPRESSION: “He must have nerves of steel” = very brave
EXPRESSION: “I was a bundle of nerves before my interview” = very nervous
EXPRESSION: “Bob really gets on my nerves.” = he annoys me
Do you have full insurance _____? Or just for accidents?
coverage
DEFINITION: if your insurance covers something that means you’ll be reimbursed if that something happens; if your city has good internet coverage that means internet is available in many places
Do you have any _______ teeth?
golden
DEFINITION: made of gold, the same color as gold
ALSO: a golden retriever (dog), San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge
ALSO: it can mean the best / greatest; ex. the golden age of television, a golden era
ALSO: a golden opportunity is a very good opportunity
Do you have any ______ paintings or photos on your walls?
landscape
DEFINITION: a view, usually of nature
ALSO: a landscaper / landscape architect is someone who improves the area around a house; ex. adds a pond, builds a path, plants bushes, etc.
ALSO: if you read in the paper about the political landscape that means the same as “the political environment” or “scene”
Do you have any _____ clothes?
pink
Do you have any credit card _____?
debt
DEFINITION: money that you borrowed and must pay back
NOTE: the “b” is silent
ALSO: if someone tells you “I owe you a debt of gratitude” that means you did something nice for him and he’s thankful for it
Do you have a _______? Or do you pay rent? Or do you already own your home?
mortgage
DEFINITION: a bank loan specifically for a house or apartment
Do you have a _______ ____ for your building?
maintenance man
DEFINITION: the person who repairs things when they break
Do you have a ______ for your phone?
case
DEFINITION: a container
ALSO: a briefcase
Do you have a university _____? What’s it in? (ex. “My degree is in biology, history, engineering…)
degree
DEFINITION: a qualification from a university
Do you have a favorite ______ to watch the news in English?
channel
DEFINITION: a company or network that broadcasts TV content
ALSO: now we have YouTube channels
Do you have a favorite ______ music composer?
classical
DEFINITION: it was popular in the past, it’s still popular, and it will be popular in the future
ALSO: classical architecture refers to the architecture of ancient Greece and Rome
Do you have a driver _______? How about a ______ to kill?
license
DEFINITION: a government document that gives you permission to do something
ALSO: a hunting license; a car needs a license plate
ADJECTIVE: he’s licensed to practice medicine in this country
Do you have a device in your house to ______ smoke?
detect
DEFINITION: discover, catch (a person doing something bad)
ALSO: a smoke detector, a lie detector
Do you give any money to _______?
charity
DEFINITION: a cause or organization that helps people in need
ADJECTIVE: a charitable act
Do you get to choose your tasks at work? Or are they _____ to you by your boss?
assigned
DEFINITION: given
NOUN: an assignment is the same as a job or task, but it sounds a little more important
Do you follow ______ events?
current
DEFINITION: recent, happening now
Do you find the third conditional ______?
confusing
DEFINITION: complicated, difficult to understand
NOUN: confusion
Do you find it hard to _______ when working in an open-space office or at home?
concentrate
DEFINITION: focus
NOUN: concentration
Do you find it difficult to _____ long sentences in English?
construct
DEFINITION: build
NOUN: construction; ex. if you work in construction that means you build houses/buildings
Do you find it difficult to work _______ from home?
efficiently
DEFINITION: to get a lot of work done in a short time
ALSO: a fuel-efficient car
Do you ever _____ ____ ___ your languages before going on a trip?
brush up on
DEFINITION: to refresh your knowledge
Do you ever _____ before answering the phone?
hesitate
DEFINITION: to pause before doing something, usually because you’re not confident or you have second thoughts
ALSO: a nice way to end a business letter/email is: If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us.
ADJECTIVE: hesitant
Do you ever walk up the stairs instead of taking the ______?
lift
(UK)
DEFINITION: elevator (US)
Do you ever shop at the airport to avoid paying _____?
duty
DEFINITION: a tax; ex. a duty free store
Do you ever go to social events just to build your ______?
network
DEFINITION: any group of things connect as if on a net; a social / professional network are your contacts, i.e. people you know
ALSO: a computer network, the mobile network
Do you ever buy _______ food? Even if it costs more?
organic
DEFINITION: natural, with fewer artificial ingredients
ALSO: if something happens organically it happens naturally
Do you ever bring your own _____ when you go shopping?
bag
DEFINITION: a sack
ALSO: a bag by Louis Vuitton is a purse
Do you believe economic _______ can be controlled by governments?
cycles
DEFINITION: a repeating pattern
Do you believe aliens ________?
exist
DEFINITION: they’re real
Do people in your country eat a healthy _______?
diet
DEFINITION: the food that is typically eaten, ex. a low-fat diet, the Western diet
Do any political issues ______ your family?
divide
DEFINITION: to separate into parts/groups, split
NOUN: division
ALSO: What is 44 divided by 11? i.e 44 ÷ 11=?
Do any of your country’s politicians show _______ behaviour?
infantile
DEFINITION: when you behave like an infant, i.e. a baby / a child
Do any families or groups or businesses in your country get _______ treatment from the government?
preferential
DEFINITION: you treat them better than everyone else; they get special treatment
Do any businesses get special _______ in your country?
privileges
DEFINITION: special rights
Did your parents make you finish your _________ when you were a kid?
plate
DEFINITION: a flat dish for food
EXPRESSION: if your colleague says “I’ve got a lot on my plate this week” that means he’s busy
Did your parents ever make you stand in the ______?
corner
DEFINITION: the intersection of two walls
ALSO: a street corner
ALSO: if an animal is cornered that means he can’t escape
ALSO: if you have the corner office that means you have a senior position in the company
Did your parents always ______ ___ your dates?
approve of
DEFINITION: if you approve of something you think it’s a good idea
Did your country _____ too many or too few covid restrictions?
impose
DEFINITION: to force something on people, usually something unpopular
ALSO: impose a tax, impose a curfew, impose a regulation
Did you _______ anything when you were a kid?
collect
DEFINITION: to accumulate, ex. the rainwater collects in the reservoir; (as a hobby) to get more and more of the same thing
NOUN: a stamp collection; the largest collection of Van Gogh paintings
ALSO: if you buy an exercise bike and it collects dust that means you never use it
Did you ____ __ in the same town where you live now? Or did you move away?
grow up
DEFINITION: to become an adult
ALSO: If someone tells you “Grow up” that means they think you’re acting immature / like a child.
Did you know, the Eiffel Tower was built as a temporary structure for the 1889 World’s Fair? But it was so popular it became a _____ part of the Paris skyline.
permanent
DEFINITION: forever
Did you know, in California you can have an early election if you ______ enough signatures?
collect
DEFINITION: to gather; ex. the teacher collected our homework at the beginning of class
Did you know there were so many different types of ______?
lips
ALSO: women can wear lipstick; if your lips are dry you can put on lip balm
IDIOM: if a politician gives lip services that means he just talks about the problem but doesn’t do anything about it
Did you know the _____ for Coca Cola is a secret kept inside this vault in Atlanta, Georgia?
formula
DEFINITION: a combination of ingredients; instructions , ex. a chemistry formula: two H and one O make H2O
ALSO: if someone buys baby formula that means artificial milk
Did you know that too much time alone can _____ you immune system?
depress
DEFINITION: to weaken
ALSO: a bad commercial can depress sales (lower, make worse)
Did you know that deer only see two _______?
dimensions
DEFINITION: size, length in a certain direction; ex the dimensions of the bed are 13’ x 44’ x 154’
ALSO: a 3D movie
Did you have to write research papers in school? Did you have to _____ your sources like this?
cite
DEFINITION: to name the source of your information
NOUN: citation
Did you go to university? What was your _____ of study?
field
DEFINITION: area, category
Did you ever study ______? Do you wish you had? Where would you have gone?
overseas
DEFINITION: abroad
ALSO: an overseas investment fund; work overseas; overseas travel
Did you ever have to _____ __ the principal’s office for being bad in school?
report to
DEFINITION: to go to someone in authority who has asked you to come to them
ALSO: a soldier must report for duty when there’s a war
Did you ever go through a rebellious _____ in your teen years?
phase
DEFINITION: a period of time that only lasts for a limited time; a stage
PHRASAL VERB: if a company decides to phase out a product that means they’ll let consumers buy the remaining stock and not continue to make more
Did you ever consider a non-______ career, like a musician or artist?
conventional
DEFINITION: standard, mainstream; ex. conventional wisdom says you should eat a big breakfast
ALSO: conventional warfare includes shooting, tanks, planes, etc.; non-conventional warfare includes cyber attacks, nuclear weapons, etc.
Did you enjoy writing _____ in school?
compositions
DEFINITION: an essay
Did you country ever have a period of territorial _______?
expansion
DEFINITION: growth
VERB: to expand
Did you agree with all the ______ your city and country imposed during covid?
restrictions
DEFINITION: limitations
Despite the accusations of theft, corruption, domestic terrorism and child slavery, Bob always managed to ____ ____ smelling like roses.
come out
DEFINITION: the end result was, it was revealed; ex. after the investigation it came out that the election results were false
ALSO: the new movie comes out in theatres next week, i.e. released, made public
Despite being _____ injured by pigeons on his Friday lunchbreak, Bob was back at work Monday morning.
badly
DEFINITION: seriously, severely
Delays at the airport were made worse after the flight attendants decided to __ __ ___.
go on strike
DEFINITION: to stop working so that they’ll get paid more
ALSO: to strike
Dating online? Don’t say you’re old, say you’re ______.
mature
DEFINITION: a nice way of saying “old”
ADJECTIVE: wise, like an adult, someone who makes good decisions
FINANCIAL ENGLISH: if you say that the bond/investment matures in ten years that means it becomes profitable
Danny and Sandy thought they’d just have a summer ____ and never see each other again. But then…
fling
DEFINITION: a short romance
Dale Carnegie’s classic book, “How To Win Friends And Influence People” is almost 100 years old, but the advice he gives is still ______ today.
relevant
DEFINITION: relevant advice is advice that is appropriate-it’s connected to the subject or situation or the current times
ALSO: a relevant comment, a relevant example
OPPOSITE: irrelevant
Covid-19 is sometimes called “ ______” because it’s a recently-discovered coronavirus.
novel
DEFINITION: new
Could your stomach _____ a foot-long chili dog?
handle
DEFINITION: cope with, deal with
cooling off with a ______
fan
DEFINITION: a device for moving air
ALSO: if you’re in a group searching for someone and your leader says “Let’s fan out” that means spread out
Cooking requires a lot of food _____
preparation
DEFINITION: getting it ready
ALSO: it requires a lot of prep / food prep / prep time
VERB: to prepare
Considering that Bob had just learned to ride a bicycle the previous week, it was an ______ victory.
extraordinary
DEFINITION: amazing, incredible
Concrete ______, like this one, are now common sites wherever you find pedestrians.
barriers
DEFINITION: anything that prevents entry; a wall; an obstacle
ALSO: If someone wants a job in an international company but has a low level of English that could be a barrier to being hired.
ALSO: If you travel to a country where you don’t speak the local language you may encounter language barriers.
computer _______ get smaller and more powerful every year
chips
DEFINITION: a small piece of something
ALSO: potato chips, chocolate chips
Compared to a billionaire, the average millionaire is only __________ wealthy
moderately
DEFINITION: in the middle, not extreme
Company policy forbids discrimination against ______ groups or religions, including orange people.
particular
DEFINITION: certain, specific (it’s a word that is usually not necessary in the sentence but it’s used to emphasize that the person you’re talking about is seperate from the others)
Come. Let us go _____ ,settle new lands, tame the wild creatures, and build mini-malls.
forth
DEFINITION: forward
ALSO: From this day forth…. ; we exchanged emails back and forth
NOTE: formal, not so common in conversation
Coke used to _____ that it was a health drink.
claim
DEFINITION: to say that something is true, ex. The accused claimed to be innocent but the witness said he was guilty.
Coach Bob blamed their ______ on the nice weather.
loss
DEFINITION: something that you lose or have less of, ex. hair loss, weight loss
COMMON EXPRESSION: if you hear something incredible or unbelievable you can say, “I’m at a loss for words.”
ALSO: if your friend’s family member dies you can say, “Sorry for your loss.”
Clear writing is a ______ communication skill.
crucial
DEFINITION: very important
ALSO: a crucial moment, crucial information, a crucial detail
cleaning his computer _____
a ______ door to keep bugs out
screen
City officials make ______ after local residence complain about Bob.
inquiries
DEFINITION: they’re investigating something
VERB: to inquire
City Lights bookshop was the heart of the San Francisco _____ scene in the 1950s.
literary
DEFINITION: related to literature
ALSO: a literary review; a literary critic
Christmas dinner at Bob’s always ended in a _______
row
DEFINITION: a loud argument
NOTE: there’s another word with the same spelling, but this one is pronounced differently. Ex. If you cut your finger you say “ow”, r+ow)
Christians believe that when you die your _______ either goes to heaven or hell.
spirit
Definition: soul
Chocolate or vanilla? What’s your _______?
preference
DEFINITION: if you prefer something that means it’s your first choice, you like it better than other options
Children are _____ on their parents for support.
dependent
DEFINITION: some who relies on / depends on someone else
ALSO: on your tax form you may be asked if you have any dependents, i.e. children living with you
Chemotherapy treatments attempt to _____ cancer from the body.
eliminate
DEFINITION: get rid of completely, remove
ALSO: an army can eliminate the enemy (kill); in a sports tournament if a team does well it advances to the elimination round
Chemistry is a ________ to graduate from high school.
requirement
DEFINITION: something that is necessary
verb: to require
CEO stands for chief ________ officer
executive
DEFINITION: a person who is at the top level of a company
carrying a heavy _____
load
DEFINITION: anything that you carry, usually heavy; cargo; freight
VERB: if you load the car before a long trip you put all the bags in
ALSO: trucks and ships are loaded and unloaded at the loading docks
PHRASAL VERB: before running a marathon you may want to load up on carbs (carbohydrates)
Can you _______ what these words are?
guess
DEFINITION: to try to know the answer
Can you ______ when someone is lying to you?
detect
DEFINITION: to realize or discover something, usually something hidden
Can you ______ what the world will look like one hundred years in the future?
picture
DEFINITION: see, imagine
Can you _____ your phone like this?
bend
past: bent
Also: a bend in the road
Can you spot the _______?
forgery
DEFINITION: an illegal copy
Verb: to forge a signature
Can you spot the English ______ on this map?
channel
DEFINITION: a large body of water, usually connecting two seas
VERB: if your boss tells you to channel all your energy on making more sales he wants you to focus more on sales
Can you name the ____ materials inside your phone?
raw
(Answer: glass, steel, graphite, nickel, copper, etc.)
DEFINITION: the materials that you find in nature - before they are manufactured into a product
ALSO: raw meat is uncooked meet
ALSO: if someone has raw talent it means he’s naturally very good and hasn’t even had lessons or training
Can you imagine anything more _____ than space?
vast
Definition: very, very large
Noun: the vastness of space
Adjective: we hold vastly different opinions
Can you handle ______?
criticism
DEFINITION: negative comments
VERB: to criticize
ADJECTIVE: critical
“Can I ask a question?”
“Sure. ____ ____.”
go ahead
DEFINITION: yes, begin
“But I’m _____ five minutes late….”
merely
Definition: only
Also: you can also say “a mere ____” to show that the amount/number is small, ex. Bob was fired for being a mere five minutes late.
Bunny rabbits are cute, loveable vegetarians. But there are always _______
exceptions
DEFINITION: an exception is the minority; an unusual person or outcome or result
ALSO: If something is exceptional it’s at the highest level.
building the _______ for a house
frame
Building the Panama Canal was a costly _____; both in terms of money and human life.
enterprise
DEFINITION: a large, difficult project
Bob’s test said he wasn’t _______ with Covid. But he did have malaria, tuberculosis, leprosy, AIDS and pink eye.
infected
DEFINITION: to have a virus
ALSO: your computer can be infected
ALSO: an infectious disease
Bob’s family has ________views about how to solve the world’s problems.
diverse
DEFINITION: they’re very different from each other, not the same
BOB: “Are you ready?”
BOB’S TALKING DOG: “Yup. I’m ____ ____. Let’s go.”
all set
DEFINITION: to be ready
COMMON EXPRESSION: Ready. Set. Go!
Bob, you’ve got something on your _______.
face
DEFINITION: the place where you find your eyes and nose
IDIOM: a face-to-face talk means an in-person talk (not on zoom or on the phone)
IDIOM: if you have a face off with your boss you have a major confrontation
IDIOM: if your colleague tells you it’s time to face the music that means it’s time to tell the boss how your mistake costs the company millions
Bob, you _____ to have that looked at by a doctor.
ought
DEFINITION: should
Bob, will you ____ me your llama? I want to see if it’ll help me meet girls.
lend
DEFINITION: to allow someone to use temporarily
Bob, now that you’re a man, I have something to tell you. You’re not our ______ son.
biological
DEFINITION: by birth; related to biology
ALSO: sometimes the word is shortened to “bio” ex. a biohazard
“Bob, it ______ me how you’re able to run two companies, date three women, play golf every day, and still have time for your ten children. How do you do it?”
“I took a time management workshop. And I use cocaine.”
amazes
DEFINITION: to surprise, shock
ADJECTIVE: amazing
NOUN: amazement
Bob, I really ______ you coming in to work on Saturday. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to get back to the golf course.
appreciate
DEFINITION: to be thankful for
Bob, I can’t ______ another minute with you!
bear
DEFINITION: tolerate
ADJECTIVE: unbearable conditions
“Bob, can I get your _____ on my new marketing plan?”
“Yes. You should quit now.”
Bob, as your lawyer, I _____ you to stop calling the judge a moron.
advise
DEFINITION: to tell someone what you think would be best for them
Pronunciation: s=”z”
Bob’s ________ was, smoking makes you look cool; and cool guys get all the chicks.
reasoning
DEFINITION: if you reason you use logic to explain something
Bob’s _______ for free foot massages for all members of parliament was accepted.
proposal
DEFINITION: an idea or request or plan that is suggested to a person or group
Verb: to propose
Bob’s _____ meeting with the new team went well. Then he stole the company database, spilled coffee on his computer and slept with the boss’ wife. But the ______ meeting went very well.
initial
DEFINITION: at the beginning
ADVERB: initially
Bob’s weekend house was built on a ____ location at the lake.
prime
DEFINITION: excellent
ALSO: Prime rib steak, prime time, in the prime of his life
Bob’s parking tickets were as ____ as the stars in the sky.
numerous
DEFINITION: if there’s a lot of something you can say it’s numerous; plentiful
Bob’s parents were very ______ . Bob apologized and promised them he would not get caught by the police next time.
disappointed
DEFINITION: to let down; fail to meet someone’s expectations
Bob’s parents never told him he was ____
adopted
DEFINITION: if you adopt a child you raise a child that is not your biological child
ALSO: you can adopt a new name or a new style of dressing
Bob’s parents are ______ but they still know how to have a good time.
elderly
Definition: a more polite way of saying “old”
Also: A parent might tell his child, “Respect your elders.”
Bob’s not a doctor. But when he reads medical _____ at the bar, he meets more nurses.
journals
DEFINITION: an academic, professional publication
Bob’s new car cost a ______. But it was worth it!
fortune
DEFINITION: a lot of money
Bob’s mother ______ him at the door of the rich family. The rich family gave him to some wolves. The wolves moved to a different town.
abandoned
DEFINITION: when you leave something that you own or someone you’re responsible for
ALSO: an abandoned house, an abandoned car, when a ship is sinking people yell “Abandon ship!”, and if you quit a project and never return to it you abandon the project
Bob’s glasses and bow tie give him a real nerdy _______.
appearance
DEFINITION: a nerdy / uncool look
Bob’s friends said he _______ when he got married and had kids.
disappeared
DEFINITION: no one could find him
Bob’s first seven booster shots worked great, but the eighth was _______
ineffective
DEFINITION: it didn’t work
Bob’s first and last assignment as a forester was to cut off the tree’s dead _____.
branch
DEFINITION: a limb of a tree
ALSO: your company can have a main office and a branch office in another city
VERB: If your business sells only to adults they could decide to branch out and start selling to teens as well.
Bob’s dog had good ______. Unfortunately, it was the last time they ever played together.
intentions
DEFINITION: if you intend to do something it’s what you plan to do but not always what you actually do; it’s your objective, aim, plan
VERB: to intend
ALSO: intent, ex. His intent was good.
Bob’s doctor told him that because he was now 40 it was _____ to have a prostate exam once a year. Bob disagreed, died, but kept his pants on.
essential
DEFINITION: necessary, very important
Opposite: non-essential
Bob’s comment about his favorite supermodel was entirely _______ to the discussion.
irrelevant
DEFINITION: it had nothing to do with the topic, it was not relevant
Bob’s application to join the _______ of African-American Business Leaders was rejected when it was discovered that his business was being investigated by the FBI. Plus, he’s Chinese.
Association
DEFINITION: a group of people with a common interest
Bob ______ to study medicine when he got to college.
intended
DEFINITION: when you plan to do something, though it may or may not actually happen
Bob ______ misjudged his ability to multitask.
badly
DEFINITION: poorly
ALSO: your child can behave badly; you can perform badly on an exam
Bob ______ many disadvantages to become Paris’ most famous fashion model, a Formula 1 driver, and a bitcoin billionaire.
overcame
DEFINITION: if you overcome a difficulty or a bad situation it means you beat it, you are successful despite the bad situation
ALSO: if someone says they were overcome with sleep that means they suddenly felt very sleepy
Bob ______ every problem as an opportunity to save money.
approached
DEFINITION: to address, tackle
Bob _____ _____ again.
messed up
DEFINITION: he made a mistake
VULGAR: to fuck up
Bob would like to ______ you for the army. Would you like to have a seat?
recruit
DEFINITION: to get someone to join your organization or company, ex. large corporations send their recruiters to job fairs to recruit new employees
Bob was _______ that he got to borrow his boss’ convertible on the first sunny day of the year.
fortunate
DEFINITION: lucky
ALSO: if someone asks you to give money to the less fortunate that’s another way of saying “poor”
Bob was _______ insane by the court and given life in an insane asylum.
declared
DEFINITION: an official announcement
NOUN: declaration
Bob was ______ to finish the race.
determined
DEFINITION: he was very focused on and motivated to achieve the goal
Bob was ______ for bringing his marijuana plant to the office.
fired
DEFINITION: sacked, terminated, you’re told you aren’t allowed to continue working
Bob was ____ famous until someone finished the race in 42.21 seconds.
briefly
DEFINITION: happening for just a short time
Bob was so lonely he had to kiss the _______.
ground
DEFINITION: the surface of the earth
ALSO: if a person is grounded that means he’s practical, sensible, as if his feet are on the ground
OR: if you ground your child you forbid him/her from leaving the house
Bob was so focused on his swimsuit model, he wasn’t even _____ that he had a visitor.
aware
DEFINITION: when you know that something exists
NOUN: awareness
OPPOSITE: unaware
Bob was sick at home the day they taught them how to _____ the plane
land
DEFINITION: when the plane returns to the ground
NOUN: a rough landing, a smooth landing
Bob was relieved of his ______ for just sitting at his desk and staring at the wall all day.
post
DEFINITION: a job, usually with the government
NOTE: “relieved” is a formal way of saying “fired”
Bob was given his _____ to run the Department of Defense as a thank you for his billion-dollar campaign donation.
appointment
DEFINITION: given a high position job, usually in government
VERB: appointed Ambassador to Sweden
Bob was given a strict warning after it was revealed that he was ________ with the boss’ wife.
involved
DEFINITION: a nice way to say someone is doing something bad; in this example they were having a sexual affair
ALSO: involved in crime, involved with drugs
Bob was afraid to ______ to one woman.
commit
Definition: to make a promise, to say that you’ll do something, ex. I’m committed to finishing this job.
Bob was able to ______ his habit because he only drank diet cola.
justify
DEFINITION: to rationalize, to use logic to say why something is ok
NOUN: justification
Bob was a bad _______.
employee
DEFINITION: someone who works for someone else (usually in an office)
Bob waited for her to start a conversation before he realized he would have to _____ _____ ______. Or maybe he would just go home.
take the initiative
DEFINITION: the first step
ALSO: if you have initiative you make things happen; but if you lack initiative you’re passive
Bob used to grow corn. Then he discovered that opium was a more profitable ______.
crop
Definition: you grow fruit and vegetables in your garden but farmers grow crops
Also: wheat crop, barley crop
Bob used his cool super hero costume to meet sexy babes at the comic book _________
convention
Definition: a large meeting of people in the same industry or with the same hobby
Bob tried to get his money back but unfortunately the contract he signed was _______
binding
DEFINITION: a contract where you must do exactly what’s written in the contract, i.e. you’re bound by law to fulfill your promise
Bob took every opportunity he could to fight against the political ______ .
establishment
DEFINITION: the dominant group in a society
Bob told his teacher that his dog ate his homework. But she didn’t believe his ______.
excuse
DEFINITION: an explanation
Bob thinks he’s a great guy. But ___ _____, he’s just a jerk.
in reality
DEFINITION: in real life, the truth is
ALSO: reality TV show, virtual reality (VR)
Bob the developer: “This would be a great _____ for the new parking lot. What do you think?”
site
DEFINITION: location
Bob spent too much time on Anki and got a bad ______ on his math test.
grade
Bob searched everywhere for his contact lens, but it was ______ to be found.
nowhere
DEFINITION: not anywhere
ALSO: nowhere to hide, a road to nowhere, going nowhere
Bob said he was at church at the time of the murders. The ______ found Bob guilty anyway.
jury
DEFINITION: in a court case, the group of people who decide if someone is innocent (he didn’t do the crime) or guilty (he did the crime)
COMMON EXPRESSION: if someone tells you “the jury is still out” that means a decision hasn’t been reached (at the end of a court case the jury leaves the room to vote, i.e. they’re out of the room and haven’t made a decision yet)
Bob really should have ______ ____ his mother.
listened to
DEFINITION: if you listen to someone you obey them
BUT: if you listen to the radio or listen to music you enjoy them
NOTE: the “t” is silent
(“Don’t run with scissors” is a common warning mothers give their children.)
Bob quit Tinder when he discovered how many single women attended _______.
burials
DEFINITION: the ceremony where a body is buried
NOTE: In the US, the funeral is typically held in a church before the burial
Bob only has a vague ____ of how viruses spread.
notion
DEFINITION: an idea or understanding of something; ex. Learning a language without a teacher is a strange notion for many.
Bob only asked for a dollar for a bus ticket, but got a very _____ donation for a plane ticket.
liberal
DEFINITION: generous
Bob never started his novel because he ______ every idea he had. But his basketball skills improved greatly.
dismissed
DEFINITION: reject
ALSO: if a judge dismisses a case that means he refuses to hear the case (maybe there wasn’t enough evidence or there wasn’t a strong enough reason)
ALSO: if a teacher says “Class dismissed” that means class is over and the students can leave the classroom
Bob made an ______ to break the world record. (He failed.)
effort
DEFINITION: attempt, try
Bob loved his job as a customer service ______ because it allowed him to show off his handsome thumbs.
operator
DEFINITION: a person who operates (controls) a machine; ex. a camera operator; a forklift operator; a telephone operator
ALSO: a person or company which controls a business; ex. a franchise operator, a nuclear power plant operator
Bob liked to focus on the future and ______ his mistakes.
bury
DEFINITION: cover with dirt
ALSO: if you’re really busy you can say you’re buried in work
NOUN: a burial
Bob is ____ __ the ____ Tower of Pisa
leaning on - Leaning
Definition: to put your weight against something, ex. lean against the wall; or if something is not straight it’s leaning
Also: lean back in your chair to show confidence, lean forward if you don’t hear the other person
Bob hoped that the flowers would _____ ______ for burning down the house.
make amends
DEFINITION: to compensate someone for harm you caused
Bob had a strong imagination and didn’t care for violence, so he used his ______ gun.
pretend
DEFINITION: to act as if something is true; to make believe
Bob got his __________ for a vacation spot from his Hindu friend.
recommendation
DEFINITION: a suggestion
VERB: to recommend
Bob got his best ideas walking ______ Route 11
along
DEFINITION: next to
Bob got bored with his job at the bank so he decided to try ______ dealing.
arms
DEFINITION: weapons (formal)
VERB: if you arm yourself you carry a weapon
ADJECTIVE: armed/unamrmed, ex. “He robbed the bank armed only with a knife.”
Bob gave a _______ to charity once but soon regretted it when he realized now he only had enough money for a limousine with five prostitutes.
contribution
DEFINITION: when you give time or money without expecting anything in return
VERB: contribute
Bob found it hard to _______ before his morning vodka.
function
DEFINITION: to work, operate
Bob flew all over the world to campaign for the _______ of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
reduction
DEFINITION: if you reduce something you lessen the amount / number of
Bob finally felt safe now that he was ______ vaccinated.
fully
DEFINITION: 100%
ALSO: a fully recovered hospital patient, a fully operational factory, a fully charged phone
Bob felt _________ when he heard his boss’ wife wasn’t pregnant. But he was still fired.
relief
Definition: a positive feeling you get when stress or worry is gone
Verb: relieve
Also: pain relief
Bob enjoys long, romantic walks through the ______.
desert
DEFINITION: the place with all the sand (not the beach)
Bob Dylan started his career as a _____ singer.
folk
Definition: “people”
Also: folk song, folk music, folk festival, folklore (i.e. legends)
Bob doesn’t usually ______ at restaurants, but this didn’t look like the milkshake he ordered…
complain
DEFINITION: what you say when you’re not happy or satisfied about something
NOUN: a complaint
Bob didn’t want to get married but Jennifer was very _________.
convincing
DEFINITION: a convincing argument is a good argument; it convinces you
Bob didn’t simply like the new Apple operating system; he thought it _______!
rocked
DEFINITION: it’s excellent; very, very good
NOTE: the verb “to rock” comes from the musical genre “rock ‘n roll”
Bob didn’t say he wanted to give a bribe, but he did ____ that he was willing to negotiate.
imply
Definition: when you says something indirectly through your words or actions, ex. When your wife asks you if that’s your third hamburger this morning she may be implying you eat too much.
NOUN: implication
ADJECTIVE: implicit
Bob did everything he could to _____ he would win the gold medal.
ensure
DEFINITION: to make something more likely to happen; ex. What are you doing to ensure your English gets better this month?
Bob delivered a great ______ for his business idea but no one wanted to give him a million billion dollars.
pitch
DEFINITION: to propose an idea
ALSO: in baseball it means to throw the ball at the batter
Bob ate the _____ steak and was so full he thought he might explode. And that’s when he saw Death. Or maybe it was just the waitress…
entire
Definition: he ate all of it, he completely finished it
Bob and Princess Evelyn wanted to get married right away, but ______ were not ideal.
circumstances
DEFINITION: the situation, conditions
Bob and Jennifer’s first date became ____ when they found out they were related.
awkward
DEFINITION: uncomfortable
Bob and Jennifer got married at the _____ of the ocean. But they got divorced in court.
bottom
Definition: the lowest part of something
Opposite: top
Note: native speakers usually pronounce the “t” as a “d”
Bob and his hungry brothers took turns ______ their soup.
stirring
ALSO: If you like to stir the pot in your conversations that means you like to talk about controversial subjects and to argue.
IDIOM: if you spend too much time inside you can go stir crazy
Bob and Bill looked so similar, even their mother could not ______ who was who.
distinguish
Definition: to recognize the difference between two things, people
Opposite (adjective): indistinguishable
Bob always ____ Jennifer and Cindy_____, so he maried them both.
got… confused
DEFINITION: mixed up; if you get two things confused you mistake one for the other
Bob always said his sense of humour was a key ______ of his success.
element
DEFINITION: a part of a whole; an essential element or key element is a very important part
ALSO: in chemistry, the elements are: carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, calcium, and gold;
but in nature the elements are air, water, fire and earth
Bob always hated Gospel music so he decided to _______ to Judaism.
convert
DEFINITION: to change
ALSO: in your house you can convert a spare bedroom into an office; convert a Word document into a .pdf
Bob always finds love; even ____ a pandemic
amid
DEFINITION: in the middle of a time or event; ex. amid the chaos
Bob always chose the worst moments to ___ ___ other women.
check out
DEFINITION: to look, to examine
blood______ under a microscope
cells
DEFINITION: the basic building blocks of life
ADJECTIVE: she’s studying Cellular Biology at college
Bill Clinton first entered _____ when he ran for Governor of Arkansas in 1978.
politics
DEFINITION: the business of winning elections
Also: political
Before you sell your home you should have a professional ______ its value.
assess
DEFINITION: to judge, evaluate, estimate
NOUN: get an assessment on your house before you sell it
ALSO: assess an employee’s performance, assess someone’s English
Before the Wright brothers, most people _____ that it was possible for man to fly
doubted
DEFINITION: to be uncertain, skeptical
Before making a major business decision, Bob always ________ an expert.
consulted
DEFINITION: if you consult someone it means you ask for their advice
Before leaving for his 8 a.m. job interview, Bob forgot to ____ ____ morning traffic.
factor in
DEFINITION: to consider an important fact/detail before making a decision; to take into account
Before landing, please ____ ___ your tray table.
put up
DEFINITION: if you put up something you put it away, close it, remove it
Before joining Conversation Academy, Bob suffered from ______ sweating every time he had to speak English.
excessive
DEFINITION: way too much
ALSO: excessive demands, excessive heat, excessive complaining
Before it’s a law, it’s called a ______.
bill
DEFINITION: a proposed law
Before he died, Bob _______ that his family spread his ashes over the sea. The sea was too far away though so they just dumped him in the backyard.
requested
DEFINITION: politely asked (formal)
Before asking for money, Bob liked to create a romantic ______.
atmosphere
DEFINITION: the ambiance, the mood, the environment
Because sitting in front of a computer all day is not healthy, it’s important to incorporate some _______ into your day.
movement
DEFINITION: the noun of “to move”
Because Prince had no children, it’s not clear yet who will get his ________.
estate
Definition: the total amount of what someone owns: property, investments, cash, etc.
Because of their blond hair, people are starting to ________ baby Prince William to baby Prince George.
compare
Definition: to look at the similarities or differences
Noun: comparison
Because of his high blood pressure, Bob’s doctor told him it was _______ to listen to relaxing music while he drove.
important
Definition: high value or significance
Noun: importance
Because of her high ______, Jennifer had trouble meeting men. And then she met Bob….
standards
DEFINITION: a level or grade that is expected/the norm, i.e. if the quality of a product is standard it’s acceptable but nothing special
ALSO: the standard approach is the usual approach; a standard reply is the usual/expected reply
ALSO: if you’re having a bad week your boss might say your work is not up to your usual standards
Because of Bob’s high ______ in the military, no one told him about his bad breath.
rank
DEFINITION:your position in a hierarchy
Verb: rank; ex. Our company was ranked #1 for customer service
Because of Bob’s daily _______to the sun, no one believed he was only 25.
exposure
DEFINITION: he was in the sun without protection or cover
Because it’s the highest and most respected office in government, voters prefer candidates who act __________.
presidential
DEFINITION: refering to the president, ex. the presidential car
NOUN: president
ALSO: presidential elections, presidential vote
Because Bob was the __________ everyone was afraid to tell him his computer was not on.
chairman
DEFINITION: the person in a committee or meeting or board of directors with the highest position
ALSO: chairperson, chairwoman
VERB: to chair a meeting = to lead a meeting
“At this _______ we’ll never get there.”
rate
DEFINITION: the speed or frequency of something; ex. pulse rate=how many times your heart beats per minute, birth rate=how many babies born per year
Also: heart rate, rate of return on your investment
At the last minute, a _______ was added to the law which would make Atlantis an EU member.,
provision
DEFINITION: an addition to a law or contract
At the end of the Nuremburg _______, 19 Nazis were found guilty and 12 were hanged.
trial
At the end of his life, Bob had only one ______, he wished he had spent more time at the office.
regret
DEFINITION: if you regret something you wish you hadn’t done it, ex. I regret saying that.
ALSO: if you need to deliver bad news a polite way to say it is, “I regret to inform you that…”
At the beginning of the recession, the CEO ordered a hiring _____.
freeze
DEFINITION: to temporarily stop
At just 34 years old, Sanna Marin, Finland’s Prime Minister, has already ________ quite a lot.
accomplished
DEFINITION: achieved
Astronaut Alan Bean prepares to leave the landing _______.
module
DEFINITION: a smaller, separate part; ex. there are twelve modules in the course
ADJECTIVE: modular; ex. a modular house
As you grow older, your ________ declines.
flexibility
DEFINITION: the ability to bend your body, ex. touch your toes
As travel costs continue to rise, more ______ are choosing to make their own airplanes.
consumer
DEFINITION: the producer makes the product and the consumer uses / consumes the product (or service)
As the vikings attacked, Bob _____ he was serious about reading.
proved
DEFINITION: if you prove something you show it’s true with evidence; ex. in court a lawyer must prove someone is guilty
As the sound of the waterfall grew louder and louder, Captain Bob still ______ they were going in the right direction.
insisted
DEFINITION: to demand that something is true even when others disagree
ADJECTIVE: to be insistent
As the doctor _______ Bob’s waist he thought it would be a great time to ask her for a date.
measured
DEFINITION: to use a tool to learn the size or depth of something
ALSO: measure height, measure success
NOUN: measurement, ex. a tailor takes your measurements
As soon as the ten-hour operation started, Dr. Bob _____ regretted having drunk a gallon of water just a few minutes before arriving.
deeply
DEFINITION: very
ALSO: to be deeply upset, deeply troubled, deeply sorry
As soon as the bill came for the dinner, Bob was gone ___ ___ _____
in a flash
DEFINITION: quickly (think of a flash of lightning)
ALSO: a flash sale (a one-day sale); a flash flood; done in a flash
As soon as Bob got the iPhone 2, he ____ ____ ____ anyone who still had the iPhone 1.
looked down on
DEFINITION: he thought they were not as good as him, he didn’t respect them
NOTE: it’s short for “look down your nose at someone”
As CEO, Bob’s main _____ in the company was to entertain the investors and keep them happy.
function
DEFINITION: role, job
As Bob _______ the airport in Saudi Arabia, he remembered he still had some heroin in his pocket.
approached
DEFINITION: to get closer
As Bob and Jennifer sat on the _____ of the cliff he asked her if she had remembered to pay her life insurance.
edge
Definition: the end or limit of an area or object; ex. the edge of the table, the edge of the city
As a result of the Watergate scandal, President Nixon decided to ______ instead of going to trial.
resign
DEFINITION: to quit; usually used for someone who has an important job; ex. a secretary quits her job but the CEO resigns
NOUN: resignation; ex. if you submit your letter of resignation that means you give a document that says you’re quitting
Arnold ______ Franco to do one more rep.
urges
DEFINITION: to push, to encourage
Arnold Schwarzenegger used to be the _____ of California.
Governor
DEFINITION: the political leader of a state or region
Are _____ in your country mainly positive or negative?
folks
Definition: people (informal)
Also: folk songs are songs of the common person (not the elite)
Also: folklore is a story about the past that may or may not be true
Also: the word comes from the German word “volk” and the car Volkswagen means “peoples’ car”
Are your elected officials doing a good job of _______?
governing
DEFINITION: unelected leaders rule over their citizens; whereas, elected leaders govern
Are you _______ ___ anyone famous?
related to
DEFINITION: if you’re related to someone they’re a part of your family or they’re an ancestor (a dead relative); ex. We’re related by marriage.
Are you ______ of your kids?
proud
DEFINITION: very satisfied with
NOUN: pride
Are you _____ you decided to focus on vocabulary?
glad
DEFINITION: happy, satisfied
Are you _____ enough to be a good salesman?
persuasive
DEFINITION: if you persuade someone you convince him / change his mind
Are you the type of person who reads _______before you buy?
labels
DEFINITION: a paper sign on a package or product
ALSO: if you label a person that means you put them into a category (it’s like you’re putting a label on them), ex. label someone a Trump-supporter or label someone a feminist
AND…
I like a good beer buzz early in the morning
And Billy likes to peel the labels from his bottles of Bud
He shreds them on the bar then he lights every match
In an oversized pack letting each one burn
Lyrics from “All I Wanna Do” by Sheryl Crow
Are you still __ ______ ___your childhood friends?
in contact with
DEFINITION: if you’re in contact with someone that means you communicate regularly
OPPOSITE: to lose contact with someone means you haven’t spoken in a long time
Are you saving money in a retirement _______?
fund
DEFINITION: money collected for a specific purpose
ALSO: a mutual fund, an education fund
Are you loyal to any fashion ______?
brands
DEFINITION: a well-known consumer product, i.e. something you buy in a store from a well-known company
Are you in any ______? Marriage… Business…?
partnerships
DEFINITION: a cooperation with another person, i.e. a partner
Are you having a good day or a _______ day?
fantastic
DEFINITION: great, amazing
Are you good at _______?
drawing
DEFINITION: to make a picture with a pencil or pen
NOUN: a drawing
IDIOM: “back to the drawing board” means you start over from the beginning, the same as “back to square one”
Are you good at ____ _____ solutions to riddles and puzzles?
figuring out
DEFINITION: discover, find a solution
Are you good at handling ______?
conflict
DEFINITION: a battle, a clash
VERB: if your schedules conflict that means you’re both busy and can’t meet
ALSO: in some countries government officials are not allowed to run businesses because it’s a conflict of interest
Are you good at dealing with _____?
complexity
DEFINITION: if something is complex it’s not simple
Are you feeling pain at the ______ these days?
pump
DEFINITION: a tool that draws liquid out of the ground or a container, ex. a gas pump, water pump
VERB: if you pump up your car’s tires you fill them with air
Are you ever embarrassed by how your kids _____ in public?
behave
DEFINITION: how you act is how you behave
ALSO: instead of “behave badly” you can say “misbehave”
Are you easily _____ by the news?
bothered
DEFINITION: disturbed, annoyed, irritated
ALSO: If someone tells you, “Don’t bother”, that means it’s not worth your effort. Ex. Don’t bother trying to change his mind, it won’t work.
Are you able to ______ manage your time while working from home?
effectively
DEFINITION: in a way that’s effective, i.e. it produces the result you want
OPPOSITE: ineffective, ex. the medicine was ineffective
Are you a _______ person?
patient
DEFINTION: you can wait and keep your cool, you can tolerate other people’s bad behavior and keep your cool
OPPOSITE: impatient
Are you a ______ of any sports teams?
fan
DEFINITION: a supporter
Are you a ______ investor? Or do you take risks with your money?
conservative
DEFINITION: cautious, careful
ALSO: if your style is conservative you don’t follow fashion trends or wear bright colors or revealing clothes
ALSO: in politics some parties are known as the conservative parties
Are weddings in your country _____ or boring?
fun
DEFINITION: enjoyable, entertaining
ALSO: Did you have fun? Yes, it was fun. / I had a fun time.
Are these cute kids _______ with Bob or at Bob….?
laughing
NOUN: laughter
Are there any foods which make you feel ______?
ill
DEFINITION: sick
NOUN: illness
IDIOM: if your boss tells you “you would be ill advised to do that”…. that means he thinks it’s a very bad idea
Are there any _____ roads near you
rough
DEFINITION: bumpy, not smooth, not easy
ALSO: if you have a rough day you have a very difficult day
IDIOM: If someone says, “He has a rough road ahead of him” that means he can expect a lot of challenges and difficult work.
Are the little men on your shoulders sometimes too ________?
critical
DEFINITION: to find fault with, to complain
Are restaurants in your area _______ new technology?
employing
DEFINITION: to use, to apply
Are public _______ common in your country?
protests
DEFINITION: a demonstration against something
ALSO: to protest something you don’t like
Are parks in your country free? Or do you have to pay a _____ to enter?
fee
DEFINITION: money paid to access or use something
Are citizens in your country allowed to own a gun if they have a ________?
permit
DEFINITION: a document that gives you permission to do something, usually provided by the government
ALSO: a fishing permit, a parking permit, a business can have a permit to sell alcohol
Are any of your colleagues or family members overly _______?
critical
DEFINITION: someone who likes to complain about others, judgemental
VERB: to criticize
Are any electrical _____ manufactured in your country? Or _____for cars? Or computers…?
components
DEFINITION: parts, the pieces that make up the whole
ALSO: you can also talk about the components of your business plan
Arches National Park in Utah is famous for its amazing rock _______.
formations
DEFINITION: the noun of “to form”
ALSO: You can form a government… life formed billions of years ago… you can view a star formation with a telescope… geese fly in a “V” formation
another exciting rocket ______ at Space X
launch
DEFINITION: when a rocket launches it leaves earth, it takes off
ALSO: a company can launch a new product
An ______ hard drive.
internal
DEFINITION: referring to something that’s on the inside
ALSO: internal medicine; an internal combustion engine
an ______
infant
DEFINITION: a baby
An old fashioned captain’s _____.
log
DEFINITION: a written record, ex. the daily activity for a voyage, the performance of a machine, police activity
ALSO: login to, logout of a website
an apple ______
core
DEFINITION: the center of something
ALSO: the earth’s core, the core of an idea
an apple ______
core
Definition: the center of something
Also: the earth’s core, the core of an idea
Amazingly, Crunch Berries cereal _______ of 0% berries.
consists
Definition: to be made of, contain (formal)
Although usually very confident, Bob suddenly felt _______ ..
inadequate
DEFINITION: not enough, insufficient, not up to the job
Although they ______ in many ways, love kept Bob and Jennifer together.
differed
DEFINITION: to have differences
ALSO: to be different
Although they look scary, attacks by sharks and alligator are ______ rare.
exceedingly
DEFINITION: very, extremely
Although there were many things Bob liked about being CEO, free coffee was the main ____for choosing the job.
factor
DEFINITION: one of the elements that cause a result
Although the hotel _____ last on TripAdvisor.com, Bob thought it was a great deal.
ranked
DEFINITION: to judge, to place on a scale; ex. Our company was ranked #1 for customer service.
Although the best detectives in the country spent months ________ the crime, they found no evidence that Bob was guilty. (He was.)
investigating
Definition: when someone searches for information
Noun: an investigation
Although the airline lost our luggage and we argued most of the time, _______ it was a memorable trip.
overall
DEFINITION: in total
ALSO: to give an overall impression
Although our phones get better each year, war, crime and corruption are ________ problems.
continuous
DEFINITION: ongoing, it hasn’t stopped
ADVERB: continuously
ALSO: if you don’t eat for three continuous days that means you don’t eat for three days in a row
Although normally very shy, the billionaire businessman _____ an interview to discuss his views on politics.
granted
DEFINITION: to give, allow, permit
ALSO: grant citizenship, grant permission, grant access
Although more people voted for Clinton, Trump won more state _______.
districts
DEFINITION: a section of a city or state
Also: school district, museum district, voting district; Washington D.C. stands for “District of Columbia”
Although Julie passed most of her classes, Harvard said she didn’t meet their _______ for admission.
criteria
DEFINITION: standards
SINGULAR: criterion
Although Jennifer’s boyfriend was fat, unemployed and drunk, it was still an ________ after dating Bob.
improvement
Definition: better than before
Verb: to improve
Although Jenifer was on a diet, she could not ____ Bob’s cookies.
resist
DEFINITION: if you resist a desire/urge/temptation it means you fight against it
Although it’s now seen as one of the greatest films ever made, when Citizen Kane came out in theaters, it _______.
bombed
DEFINITION: it had poor results, did poorly, made little money
Although it was raining, they ______ to play the game.
proceeded
DEFINITION: to continue
Although his pitch was very professional, Bob was not able to raise enough _______ for his plan to build a brick wall between the U.S. and Canada.
capital
DEFINITION: money (formal)
Although he was Chinese and owned a cat, the club still _____ Bob from joining because they didn’t like his shoes.
excluded
DEFINITION: to prevent access to a group
ADJECTIVE: exclusive (note: this is often used in advertising to make something seem more valuable)
Although he was a hard worker, Bob did not _____ all the requirements for joining the NBA.
fulfill
DEFINITION: to meet someone’s demands, to carry out, finish ex. fulfill the requirements, fulfill a dream, fulfill your boss’ wishes
NOTE: NBA stands for National Basketball Association
Although graduation wasn’t for another few days, after the last exam was finished, school was _______ over.
effectively
DEFINITION: in actuality, in practice
Although Bob’s parents _____ him to become a doctor like his father, he decided to follow his dream.
expected
Definition: if you expect something you believe it will happen or be that way; ex. to expect rain
Noun: expectation
Although Bob’s new route to work was a bit risky, he decided to ___ ___ ____ because it saved him five minutes.
take his chances
DEFINITION: you realize there’s a risk but you go ahead anyway because the benefit is greater
Although Bob’s first day in ______ resulted in a life sentence, everyone agreed he really looked good in orange.
court
DEFINITION: the place where judges hear and decide about crimes
Although Bob’s car was swept away in the ______, he still managed to deliver the pizza in forty minutes or less.
current
DEFINITION: the flow of the river
ALSO: an air current; an electrical current
Although Bob’s battery was ______ low, he managed to check Britney Spear’s Twitter feed one more time.
critically
DEFINITION: very serious, the outcome could be very bad; ex. a critical shortage of food
ALSO: if you’re in critical condition after an accident that means you may not survive
Although Bob was ______ from school most days, he still managed to graduate before he turned 30.
absent
Definition: when something/one is not present, not where it should be
Also: absent from work
Although Bob totally destroyed his new car, he was ________ lucky to have not spilled his beer.
remarkably
DEFINITION: extraordinarily, amazingly
ADJECTIVE: remarkable
Although Bob read and re-read “The Seven Habit of ______ Effective People,” it didn’t seem to work.
highly
DEFINITION: to the highest degree
ALSO: highly regarded, highly qualified, a highly sensitive person, a highly dangerous substance, a highly anticipated movie
Although Bob made 1.2 billion dollars on the stock market, he felt like a ______ because Steve made 1.3 billion.
failure
DEFINITION: the opposite of a success
Verb: to fail
Although Bob filed a ______ complaint with his company, he still had to start work before noon.
formal
DEFINITION: something that’s done according to rules or customs
ALSO: formal language, a formal request, formal dress
Although Bob bought a _______ insurance plan, it didn’t cover some things.
comprehensive
DEFINITION: thorough, complete, covering everything, ex. he made a comprehensive study of the problem
All plants need to ______ is sun, water and soil.
flourish
DEFINITION: to thrive, to succeed
Also: a student can flourish in school; art can flourish in a city; a civilization can flourish
All of a _____, Bob didn’t feel well.
sudden
DEFINITION: happening quickly and without warning
ADVERB: suddenly
All military ______ must report to duty by the first of the month.
personnel
DEFINITION: employees (formal), often government employees
ALSO: the personnel department in a company is often called HR (human resources)
ALSO: the plural for people (formal); ex. an armoured personnel carrier
Agassi and Sampras used to be ______ in tennis.
rivals
DEFINITION: long-term competitors
After years of asking his neighbor to paint his ugly fence, Bob finally won the ______.
dispute
DEFINITION: a disagreement, an argument
Also: marital dispute, legal dispute
After two years of fighting the virus, problems continued to ______.
mount
DEFINITION: increase; ex. charges against the criminal mounted, problems mount, questions mount
PHRASAL VERB: “mount up” ex. We had to kill the project because costs were mounting up.
After twenty years online, Bob still found great ____ in receiving an email.
joy
DEFINITION: extreme happiness
ADJECTIVE: joyful
EXPRESSION: sometimes when someone hears good news they jump for joy
After the 12th tequilla, Bob’s ________ was no longer accurate.
judgement
DEFINITION: the ability to make decisions
After three hours of negotiating, they finally came to a ________. They would order a pizza for lunch.
resolution
DEFINITION: a decision (which resolves a question or debate)
After the zombie invasion, there was nothing _____ on the shelves except organic rice cakes.
left
DEFINITION: remaining; past tense of “to leave”
ALSO: if you have leftovers for dinner that means you eat the food that was cooked a day or more before but not finished
After the typhoon, the army _______ food and water to those without electricity.
distributed
DEFINITION: hand out, give out
NOUN: distribution
After the latest metro bombing, the President decided to increase the _____ of the military in the capital.
presence
DEFINITION: to increase the numbers
Also: to be present
After the latest budget report, the CFO decided to _____ spending.
slash
DEFINITION: to cut, to make a big reduction
After the judge said Bob was guilty of murder, terrorism and unpaid parking tickets, his lawyers _______ the decision.
appealed
Definition: when you disagree with a judge and ask another judge to change the decision
After the divorce, the judge gave the cats _____ ownership of the couch.
joint
DEFINITION: split, shared
ALSO: in business, if two partners finance a project it’s called a joint venture
ALSO: your body has joints (your elbow, your knee, your wrist, etc.) where two bones are joined
After the budget cuts, it became difficult to ______ employees.
retain
Definition: to keep
After the 2016 U.S. elections, the world woke up to discover that the _____ were wrong.
polls
Definition: a survey
After the 2008 financial crisis, homeowners saw the value of their investments decline _______.
rapidly
DEFINITION: quickly
After the 2005 Tsunami, The Red Cross _______ for donations to help the survivors.
appealed
Definition: asked for (usually a large number of people)
After ten years of marriage, Bob and Jennifer still experienced a lot of ______. Mostly when they were with other people’s husbands and wives.
passion
DEFINITION: sexual desire, lust
After receiving enough money for alcohol, Bob requested ______ funding for cigarettes.
additional
DEFINITION: more
After presenting your department’s financial report at the Monday morning meeting, try to ________ with a small joke.
conclude
Definition: to stop of finish something
noun: conclusion
After months of in-depth _______, Bob recommended buying high and selling low.
analysis
DEFINITION: a deep study of something
After Jennifer told Bob she didn’t want to go to the dance with him, Bob decided to withdraw from _______ and live alone in the woods.
society
DEFINITION: people living together in a community, civilization
Adjective: societal
After Jennifer got her MBA from Harvard she carefully _______ her career options. Then she married her boss and had ten kids.
considered
DEFINITION: to think about options
After Janet got her MBA from Harvard she carefully _______ her career options. Then she married her boss and had ten kids.
considered
Definition: to think about carefully
noun: consideration
After I bought the car, problems started to ______.
(not arise)
emerge
DEFINITION: to appear, to become known
After his neighbor’s apartment was robbed, Bob bought a gun for __________.
protection
DEFINITION: something that keeps you safe
VERB: to protect
ALSO: a synonym for a condom, ex. Did you use protection?
After his 12th tequilla, Bob’s ________ was no longer accurate.
judgment
DEFINITION: the ability to make decisions
After hijacking the plane, Bob demanded all the money in the world. The hostage negotiator told him to be more _______
reasonable
DEFINITION: if you use reason you use the logical part of your brain; moderate
After her date with Bob, Jennifer decided to take a self-______ class.
defense
DEFINITION: if you defend something you protect it
After getting married, starting a business, and learning how to play golf, Bob’s _______ was full.
schedule
Definition: a plan of events
After four hours of discussions, the _________ voted 15 to 20 to order pizza instead of Chinese for lunch.
(synonym: council)
committee
Definition: a group of people who must make decisions, often they’re members of government
After conducting _______ research, Bob discovered he had forgotten the question.
extensive
Definition: a lot, to a great degree
Also: extensive growth, and extensive area of land
After Bob’s new haircut, he saves a ton on shampoo and ______.
conditioner
DEFINITION: a gel that improves the condition of your hair
ALSO: when an athlete trains for an event he conditions himself, gets in good condition
After Bob’s first karate lesson, he decided to return to work and _____ what he had learned.
apply
DEFINITION: to use, to put into practice
After Bob’s anti-Christian and anti-monarch ________ he was not invited back to the palace for tea.
remark
Definition: a comment, something someone says
After Bob won the election for President, there was _______ in the streets.
disorder
Definition: chaos, the opposite of order
Adverb: disorderly, ex. disorderly conduct/behavior
After Bob was caught talking on his phone during a movie, he was ______ from re-entering the country.
barred
DEFINITION: prohibited, denied entry, not allowed
After Bob used his smart phone to post photos of the yacht he bought with the stolen money, the police were able to ______ his location.
trace
Definition: when you want to discover the location or origin of something you can trace it by following whatever evidence or signs you have
Also: disappear without a trace, trace your ancestory
After Bob took his new drone to the airport, new ________ were established.
restrictions
DEFINITION: a rule or law that limits what people can do
VERB: to restrict
ALSO: parking restrictions, visa restrictions, noise restrictions
After Bob quit the car business, he discovered he could earn $100 ____ hour selling another type of product.
per
DEFINITION: for each, for every
ALSO: per cent (for every 100)
Also: per ounce
After Bob mysteriously disappeared, no one wanted to date the police ______’s daughter.
chief
Definition: the leader, the top person
Note: usually you would say “ my boss / manager” or “the company director, owner or president”; chief is very formal
After Bob moved in, it was too late to ______ his rental contract.
amend
DEFINITION: to change by adding to
After Bob introduced his horse to Red Bull, they won with ____.
ease
DEFINITION: without any difficulty
ALSO: it’s easy
COMMON EXPRESSION: if life is going well you can say you’re living on Easy Street
After Bob got our of jail, he quickly resumed his old job as a financial _______.
adviser
DEFINITION: an adviser gives you advice, recommendations, wisdom
ALSO: advisor
After Bob didn’t return from his morning walk, the town decided to post a ________.
notice
DEFINITION: a written public announcement, a warning; ex. before quitting your job it’s polite to give your boss one month’s notice
After Bob and Dr. Lee broke up and moved to seperate apartments, they made an _______ to share their dog.
arrangement
DEFINITION: an agreement between people, a plan
VERB: to arrange
After almost a two year __________ , many employees are reluctant to return to the office.
absence
DEFINITION: they were not there
MAXIM: Absence makes the heart grow fonder (translation: when you’re away from someone you miss him/her)
After a long day of playing video games at work, Bob is _______.
exhausted
DEFINITION: very tired
ALSO: if you have a problem and you exhaust all your options that means you have used up all your options and have no more options left
ALSO: when a car burns fuel the smoke that is produced is called “exhaust”
After a lifetime of boring burgers, Mick Jagger finally got some _______ when he tried the new double bacon barbecue burger from Burger King.
satisfaction
DEFINITION: he was satisfied, please
After a big meal do you need to loosen your _____?
belt
After 81 exciting minutes, the score was ____, zero to zero.
tied
DEFINITION: if the score is a tie both sides have the same number of points
Affectionate or just another _____ old man?
creepy
DEFINITION: behaviour that is strange and makes the other person uncomfortable
According to the new U.N. ______, we only have one more year before the world ends.
report
DEFINITION: a document or a statement that gives information about (usually) a current situation
ALSO: in school you may have had to read a book and then write a book report
ALSO: in the U.S., school children get a report card at the end of each semester which shows their grades
According to the new covid restrictions, Bob was denied _____ to the U.S. for wearing diapers, jeans, a jacket, a long skirt with a zipper, undergarments and a snorkel. But he was vaccinated.
entry
DEFINITION: the noun of “to enter”
ALSO: you may have to pay an entry fee to get in to a park
According to the law in your country, at what age do you stop being a _____ ?
minor
DEFINITION: a young person, not yet an adult
NOTE: this is a formal, legal word; in conversation you would say “child” “kid” “young person” or “teenager”
According to the government, how much alcohol you should drink _____ ___ your sex.
depends on
DEFINITION: the answer is different if you’re a man or a woman
According to the German fairy tale, the Pied Piper _____ the town of its rats.
rid
DEFINITION: to expel, drive out
ALSO: get rid of something/someone
According to one study, a large _______ of the work day is wasted trying to contact customers and colleagues.
proportion
DEFINITION: a part of something larger
According to experts, ____ is a very good way to share your viruses with friends.
coughing
Also: When would you hear someone say, “Cough it up!”
According to educational research, the best way to teach bomb making is to ________
demonstrate
DEFINITION: to show
According to data from the dating app Tinder, men who_____ their arms wide in their photo are more successful.
stretch
DEFINITION: to spread wide
ALSO: an athlete stretches before a race
PHRASAL VERB: you can stretch out on the couch, i.e. take up a lot of space and relax
According to a recent poll, 9 out of 10 foxes say that fox hunting is the most important _____ in the upcoming election.
issue
DEFINITION: an important topic or problem
NOTE: In the UK, some people want the government to make foxhunting illegal.
About 45% of English words have a French ______.
origin
DEFINITION: beginning, source
ALSO: if your ancestors are from France you can say, I’m of French origin; the origin of the river
a _______ of bananas
bunch
Definition: many, several
Also: Thanks a bunch!
a _______ dollar
quarter
DEFINITION: 1/4
ALSO: a quarter of a century, a quarter of his life, a quarter of a tank of gas, a quarterly report, in a quarter of an hour
a _______ canal
narrow
DEFINITION: not wide
A ______ sea.
calm
DEFINITION: peaceful
ALSO: a calm person, calming music
COMMON EXPRESSION: Calm down!
a ______ road
flat
a ______ road
curvy
DEFINITION: it has lots of curves, i.e. it’s not straight
ALSO: Sophia Loren was famous for her curvy / curvaceous figure
a ______ ritual of the flamingo
mating
DEFINITION: if animals mate it means they have sex (only for animals)
ALSO: If you go to the pub to watch the telly with your mates that means you go to the bar to watch the television with your friends (British English)
ALSO: your mate is your partner / spouse / husband / wife (formal)
a ______ home
a _____ hospital
a _____ phone
mobile
DEFINITION: something that can be easily moved
NOTE: Americans say “cell phone”
a ______ girl walking down the street
pretty
DEFINITION: nice looking
NOTE: “beautiful” is just a little stronger
A _____ photo
____ jeans
faded
DEFINITION: something that has lost its brightness or original color
ALSO: a memory can fade
a _____ painting on a grain of rice
minute
DEFINITION: very small, tiny
ALSO: a minute chance of winning the lottery
a _____ of the road was closed to make repairs
portion
DEFINITION: a section of the whole
Also: the company donated a portion of their profits to charity
a _____ of papers
pile
ALSO: if you hear on the news that there was a pile up on the highway that means a crash involving many cars
a _____ of flats
to _____ out time in your schedule
block
DEFINITION: the shape is similar to a block
A _____ of covid cases are now connected to Bob’s birthday party.
cluster
Definition: a group of something
Verb: the crowd clustered together on the street to be the first in line to buy the new iPhone
a _____ knife
sharp
a _____ in space
pig
COMMON INSULT 1: If someone says you eat like a pig or dress like a pig that means very messy
COMMON INSULT 2: If your boss says your office is like a pigsty (rhymes with “eye”) you should consider tidying it up a bit
COMMON EXPRESSION: If you go to the all-you-can-eat buffet and pig out that means you eat a lot
COMMON EXPRESSION 2: “I’ll do it when pigs fly” = never
A _____ choice test
multiple
DEFINITION: many, several
MORE EXAMPLES: the phone comes in multiple sizes; the victim was shot multiple times; I warned you multiple times!
a ____ road
wide
OPPOSITE: narrow
A very _______ interior design
plain
DEFINITION: simple, nothing extra
ALSO: plain yogurt, a plain black dress
A very crowded swimming _____
pool
DEFINITION: a small body of water
ALSO: if you’re interviewing for a job and you talk about “the pool of candidates” that means the available candidates; if you ride to work with your colleagues in the same vehicle it’s called “a carpool”
a truly _______ hairstyle
awful
DEFINITION: terrible, very bad
BUT: if you say, I’m awfully tired, that means “very tired”
A soldier is expected to _______ obey orders.
faithfully
Definition: loyally, he can be trusted to do it
A sculptor ______ ____ at a piece of stone.
chips away
DEFINITION: he makes it smaller by cutting off chips (small pieces)
ALSO: if you chip away at a task that means progress is steady but slow
a scientist’s test _____
tube
DEFINITION: anything with the shape of a cylinder and a hollow inside
ALSO: in the old days televisions had vacuum tubes inside them and from that we got the slang expression “What’s on the tube?”; that’s also where YouTube got its name
IDIOM: if you want to say that a situation is bad you can say “It’s going down the tubes.”
A right _______ is 90 degrees
angle
DEFINITION: in geometry, the space between two lines
ALSO: if a reporter says he has a unique angle on a story that means his point of view is new, different
COMMON EXPRESSION: If your boss tells you, We need to approach this problem from another angle, that means you need to try a new way to solve it
a painting showing _____ life in a middle-class Victorian-era English home
domestic
DEFINITION: related to the home
ALSO: domestic terrorism is when someone commits a terrorist act inside their own country; domestic violence is when someone injures someone who lives with them, e.g. a husband/wife; domestic trade is trade within the country; and you can travel domestically or internationally
ALSO: if an animal has been domesticated it’s no longer wild and can live in your home
A new______ finds teens spend more time on their screens than they spend breathing.
survey
DEFINITION: data taken by asking random people about their opinions or behaviour
A mouse in the pool is a problem; but this is a major ______ problem
league
DEFINITION: a group of people with a common goal; a team, ex. a football league
IDIOM: if something is “major league” it’s big, significant; it’s a reference to MLB which stands for Major League Baseball which is where the best players play
IDIOM: If someone tells you “You’re out of your league” that means you’re not good enough to handle the problem.
A model’s measurements must be _________.
proportionate
DEFINITION: balanced, equal, even
ALSO: if the response by the police or army is proportionate that means they didn’t use too much force; a court can order compensation proportionate to the damage done, i.e. the person must pay just for the damage and not more
OPPOSITE: disproportionate
A magazine ____ for Coca Cola
ad
Also: advertisement, advert
A large ____ gathered to hear Bob read his poetry.
crowd
DEFINITION: a large group of people
ADJECTIVE: crowded
A good way to get a baby to sleep is to ____ him.
rock
DEFINITION: to move back and forth
A good reporter must ______ all angles of a story.
cover
DEFINITION: if a journalist covers an event that means he reports on it
A good murder-mystery novel has a _______ plot.
complex
DEFINITION: it has many parts which are connected; intricate
ALSO: a complex problem
A gold medal is the top _____ you can win at the olympics
prize
DEFINITION: award
A goalkeeper can ______ the ball with his/her face, but it’s not necessary.
block
DEFINITION: to prevent something from entering or travelling or moving
ALSO: if you block a caller you make it impossible for him/her to call your phone
A gentleman always opens the door for a ______.
lady
DEFINITION: a woman who dresses well and has good manners
A free press is ______ for a democratic society
fundamental
DEFINITION: part of the foundation; an essential part
a football _______
coach
DEFINITION: the person who leads a sports team or athlete
ALSO: if you coach someone on how to do something that means you advise them
ALSO: business coach, fitness coach
a dog _______ a squirrel
chasing
DEFINITION: to pursue
IDIOM: If someone tells you “Cut to the chase” that means they want you to be direct and tell them what you want, get to the important part of your story and skip the details.
IDIOM: If your son is fifty years old and still trying to become a famous rock star you might tell him, “Quit chasing rainbows.” Translation: it’s time to be realistic
IDIOM: If the project you’re working on at work is not making progress, or you’re going in circles, or it’s a big waste of time or money, you can say, “We’re on a wild goose chase.”
a doctor enjoying a conversation with a ______
patient
DEFINITION: the person a doctor treats
a cup ______ in a car
holder
DEFINITION: something that holds something; ex. a phone holder; a vaccine card holder
a cracked phone _______ screen.
looking at artwork ____ ______.
display / on display
DEFINITION: if you display something you show it, make it visible to the public
A common sales tactic is to offer a free _______ before pitching an offer.
consultation
DEFINITION: a meeting where a professional gives you advice
a cat ordering a drink at the _____
a bar
Definition: a pub
A car is the largest ______ most people will ever make.
purchase
DEFINITION: something you buy
a business _______
betrayal
DEFINITION: to act against someone who trusts you
A dictator rules with ______ power.
absolute
DEFINITION: total
“Can I give you a hand with that?”
“_______.”
Absolutely
DEFINITION: a strong “yes”
An _____ of food is a normal part of modern life in the first world.
abundance
DEFINITION: more than enough
After the signing of the peace _____, there was no violence in the Middle East for the rest of the week.
accord
DEFINITION: a formal agreement
Bob _____ the offer but soon quit when he found out he had to get out of bed.
accepted
DEFINITION: say “yes” to, agree to
ALSO: a school can accept a new student; you can accept a gift; accept an invitation to a party
Bob told the real estate agent that the radiation level was ______. But she would have to do something about that slow wi-fi.
acceptable
DEFINITION: not great, not ideal, but tolerable, i.e. you’re willing to accept it
VERB: to accept
5 years after Japan’s tsunami disaster, citizens are still living in _______ housing.
temporary
DEFINITION: lasting only a short time
all right
DEFINITION: safe, uninjured; ex. Are you all right? (said after someone falls)
ALSO: Ok, I agree; Ex. “Do you want to work late Friday night?” “All right.”
ALSO: fine, acceptable; ex. How is your meal?” “It’s all right.”
NOTE: it’s often spelled “alright”
belongings
DEFINITIONS: your possessions, things that you own, i.e. things that belong to you
certain
DEFINITION: to be sure about something, to not have any doubt
NOUN: certainty
OPPOSITE: uncertain
DEFINITION: someone who is very interested in something that’s uncool and not mainstream, ex. comic books, fantasy games, Star Wars before it became cool
ADJECTIVE: geeky
innocent
DEFINITION: not guilty, someone who didn’t do anything bad, i.e. a crime
ALSO: if you want someone to believe you’re innocent you can give him an innocent look
inquire
DEFINITION: to ask (formal), ex. I’m calling to inquire about the job opening.
draft
Definition: an early version of something
offence
DEFINITION: a criminal offence is a rule or law
ALSO: offense (with an “s”)
In the old days, they used to use wax to _____ envelopes.
seal
DEFINITION: to tightly close
ALSO: kings and queens used to have a “royal seal” which was their family symbol they put on documents
ALSO: if someone gives their “seal of approval” they give their support / make their approval public, ex. the church gave the film its seal of approval
ALSO: if a room or an area is “sealed off” that means it’s blocked/closed to the public and you can’t enter
ALSO: if your boss tells you he just “sealed the deal” with a supplier that means they agreed on the deal
What spices do you use to _______ your food?
season
DEFINITION: to make food taste better with spices (ex. salt, pepper, paprika, cumin)
The popular TV show ER lasted for twelve _______
seasons
DEFINITION: TV shows produce 22 episodes every season / year
What’s your favorite _______?
season
DEFINITION: time of year
If bacteria manages to get past your skin, it will then have to battle your immune system’s ______ line of defense.
secondary
DEFINITION: after the first, second in order or importance
ALSO: a secondary school is a high school; secondary education
After World War II, Berlin was divided into three _______.
DEFINITION: a part, a section
ALSO: a sector of the market, ex. the automobile sector; you can be a lawyer in the public or private sector
Bob was able to ______ the loan from the bank by promising to give them his oldest son if he did not repay it.
secure
DEFINITION: get; if you secure a new job you get a new job (and it’s 100% sure that it’s yours); if a manufacturing company secures raw materials they buy them
Do you worry about keeping your online data ______?
secure
DEFINITION: safe
VERB: to secure; if you secure a new job you get a new job; if a manufacturing company secures raw materials they buy them
Spring is the season to plant _______.
seeds
DEFINITION: the small thing that becomes a bigger plant
According to the latest survey, most people agree with you. But one ______ thinks you’re nuts.
segment
DEFINITION: a part of the whole, a section, a division
When Bob forgot to pay his taxes, the government ______ his Ferrari.
seized
DEFINITION: Take by force
Do you manually _____ your songs or choose “random play”?
select
DEFINITION: choose
NOUN: selection
Bob fled Cuba for freedom and for a wide _______of breakfast cereals.
selection
DEFINITION: the products from which you can make your choice
Would you like to own this new kind of _____ that’s also a smart phone?
brush
DEFINITION: similar to a comb but usually for longer hair
In your opinion, at what age does someone become a _____ ______?
senior citizen
DEFINITION: a polite way to say someone is old
EXPRESSION: if someone forgets something you can say he’s having a senior moment
Who is your ______ at work?
senior
DEFINITION: someone who is above you in authority
ALSO: a polite way to say someone is old, ex. a senior citizen
Some animals can _________ when there’s going to be an earthquake.
sense
DEFINITION: they feel when it’s going to rain; they use their senses instead of their thoughts
The judge gave Bob a five-year ______
sentence
DEFINITION: the length of a prison stay
Yoga is a _________ of movements to keep your body strong and flexible.
sequence
DEFINITION: events which follow each other in a correct or logical order
When you learn the days of the week in ________ order it’s easier to mix them up later.
sequential
DEFINITION: in a sequence, ex. alphabetical, newest to oldest, etc.
What’s your favorite TV ______?
series
DEFINITION: a TV show that continues a story throughout many episodes
Would you rather have a personal ______ or a Ferrari?
servant
DEFINITION: someone who serves you; a maid, a butler, a slave
ADJECTIVE: if someone accuses you of acting servile that’s not good and means you could be more independent
Hi, my name is Bob. And I’ll be your ______ today. What do you want?
server
DEFINITION: waiter
At the group therapy ______ Bob shared his fear of the third conditional.
session
DEFINITION: a period of time
ALSO: musician can book a studio for a recording session; an athlete can have a practice session
LAW: If you’re watching a court drama on TV you might hear someone say “Court is now in session” translation: the trial is starting
Do you know how to ____ ____ an online bank account?
set up
DEFINITION: organize, arrange
ALSO: set up a charity organization, set up stereo equipment, set up the Christmas tree
In the old days, gentlemen _______ their arguments with pistols.
settled
DEFINITION: to decide who wins an argument
ALSO: if you have a lawsuit against someone and you decide to settle out of court that means you forget the lawsuit and come to an agreement without the court
Bob wanted to sell his company for a hundred billion dollars. Jennifer wanted to buy it for one billion. They ______ on 50 billion.
settled
DEFINITION: to reach an agreement, usually a compromise
ALSO: if you read that someone settled out of court that means they made an agreement with someone without asking a judge to make the decision; the money you pay in this situation is called “a settlement”
After forty years of wandering in the wilderness, the Israelites ______ in the Promised Land.
settled
DEFINITION: if you settle somewhere you stop moving and live there permanently
The first viking _______in Iceland was in the 10th century.
settlement
DEFINITION: the first permanent houses in an area; before a city becomes a city it’s just a settlement
ALSO: if your friend tells you he’s going to settle down that means he’s going to get a house and get married and raise a family
The picnic will be delayed due to ______ weather.
severe
Definition: extreme, intense
Also: a severe storm, a severe headache, severe damage, a severe heart attack
Bob’s past _____ hurt his chances of getting the kindergarten teacher job.
severely
DEFINITION: greatly
He found the only ______ in the desert.
shade
DEFINITION: protection from the sun
VERB: to find shade; to shade your eyes from the sun
SLANG: If you like someone’s sunglasses you can tell him, “Hey, nice shades.”
afraid of his own _______
shadow
DEFINITION: the form that a person or object creates when it blocks the light
ALSO: if someone shadows you at work that means they follow you around to learn your job
If you don’t reply to Bob’s email in a timely manner he’ll call you on Zoom and _____ his fists at you.
shake
DEFINITION: to move back and forth quickly, ex. a dog shakes off water after getting wet
ALSO: shake hands; a milkshake is an ice cream drink that’s made by shaking the container
When Steve Jobs left Apple in 1985 he was so angry he sold all his _______.
shares
DEFINITION: when a company has many owners it’s divided into shares
PERSON: a shareholder
ALSO: stock
Were you good at _____ when you were a kid?
sharing
DEFINITION: to let someone else use what you have
In the words of ZZ Top, “Every girl’s crazy about a ____ dressed man.”
sharp
DEFINITION: well dressed
A COMPLIMENT: If you want to pay someone a compliment you can say, “Lookin’ sharp today.”
ALSO: if a student is sharp he/she’s clever
one _____, two ______, three ______
sheep
NOTE: the singular and the plural are the same
ALSO: if someone does what everyone else does you can say he’s a sheep
ADVERB: if you sheepishly do something you’re shy and embarrassed; ex. he sheepishly apologized for the mistake
IDIOM: if someone is the black sheep of the family that means he’s different in a bad way; ex. the only family member in jail
a hotel maid changing the bed _______
sheets
ALSO: a sheet of paper is one piece of paper
During a storm, the safest place to be is in a ________.
shelter
DEFINITION: a building that gives protection
VERB: to shelter
Have you ever had to work a night _____?
shift
DEFINITION: a length of work time, ex. morning shift, afternoon shift
ALSO: the night shift is also called “the graveyard shift”
Earthquakes are caused by the earth’s plates ______
shifting
DEFINITION: moving, usually a small/slight move
Have you ever gotten a shoe ______?
shine
DEFINITION: to make bright, to polish
ALSO: to give off a bright light, ex. a shining star
ADJECTIVE: shiny; ex. shiny shoes
VERB: to point a light, ex. Shine the light over here so I can see where I’m going
ALSO: if a person shines that means he performs well; ex. the gymnast really shines in competition
IDIOM: if you want to say something will happen no matter what, you can say, “We’re going camping, rain or shine.”
a sinking _____
ship
DEFINITION: a large boat
EXPRESSION: if you’re leaving on a long trip you can say “I’m shipping out next week.”
ALSO: if a company ships a product that means you buy it and they send it to you through the mail
What was the biggest _____ you had in the last year?
shock
DEFINITION: surprising news, usually bad but not always
ADJECTIVE: shocking, ex. shocking news
ALSO: if you touch an electric fence you’ll get an electric shock
ALSO: if you go shopping for a new coat and you look at the price and it’s a lot higher than you expected you can get sticker shock
The news was ______
shocking
DEFINITION: very surprising
Oh ______! There’s no more room on the bus and I’m late for work.
shoot
DEFINITION: a polite version of “shit”; say “Oh shoot” when something bad happens and you don’t want to be rude or offensive
When was the last time you vacationed at the _______?
shore
DEFINITION: an area near the sea (note: the beach is the area directly next to the water, while the shore includes a larger area), ex. the hotel can be at the shore but you sunbathe at the beach
ALSO: the seashore
ALSO: if a company wants to avoid paying taxes where it does business it can move offshore, which means its main offices are now officially in another country, maybe an island
______ in the head.
shot
verb: shoot/shot/shot
ALSO: if you say the transmission in your car is shot that means it’s broken and can’t be fixed
IDIOM: “It was a shot in the dark” means you didn’t have good chances of success but you tried anyway
ALSO: if you want to be polite and don’t want to say “shit” or “damn” you can say “shoot”, ex. Shoot! It’s hot out today.
Who’s the person in your life who always ____ ___ late?
shows up
DEFINITION: arrive
Do you like to sing in the _______
shower?
ALSO: If you shower someone with praise or shower someone with gifts that means you give a lot of praise / gifts.
During the lockdowns, 20% of US businesses _____ ____ permanently.
shut down
DEFINITION: closed
_____ the door! You’re letting all the zombies in the house!
Shut
DEFINITION: close
When Jennifer wakes up , ______ ______ drinking coffee, she reaches for the vodka.
instead of
DEFINITION: in place of, rather than
In which countries do they drive on the left ______ of the road?
side
DEFINITION: part, section, ex. paint the side of the house
When family members argue, do you stay neutral or do you _____ _____?
take sides
DEFINITION: If you take someone’s side that means you support him
VERB: I side with the opposition.
There were only two things in the world that made Bob______: the thought of his one true love, Jennifer, and the thought of doing his taxes.
sigh
DEFINITION: a sound you make when you exhale air, usually when feeling an emotion like stress or sadness
ALSO: to breathe a sigh of relief
After Bob lost his ______ he had more time to sit in the park and do nothing.
sight
Definition: the ability to see
What are the _____ most tourists want to see in your country?
sights
DEFINITION: an attraction, something interesting to look at
ALSO: sightseeing
Perhaps more than any other voyage, Columbus’ journey across the Atlantic held great ________.
significance
DEFINITION: importance
ADJECTIVE: significant; ex. the game was a significant loss for the team
Can you make a _____ face like this?
silly
DEFINITION: funny, not serious; ex. a silly joke, a silly movie, a silly person
NOUN: silliness
Would you rather have ten ounces of _____ or one ounce of gold?
silver
DEFINITION: a valuable metal
IDIOM: if someone tells you “every cloud has a silver lining” that means the same as “look on the bright side”
They’re ______ but not the same.
similar
DEFINITION: almost the same; akin; alike
NOUN: similarities
Bob and Jennifer reacted ______ when they found out they had been using the third conditional incorrectly their whole lives.f
similarly
DEFINITION: almost the same
Can you tell if someone is fake or _____?
sincere
DEFINITION: honest, truthful
ALSO: sincerely yours
The Titanic _____ after it hit an iceberg.
sank
DEFINITION: when a boat fills with water
IRREGULAR: sink / sank / sunk
Richard Branson was a bad ____ in school but did very well in life. What kind of a ____ were you?
pupil
DEFINITION: student (formal)
On one hand, Bob’s house was ______ in an earthquake zone; on the other hand, he got a really good price.
situated
DEFINITION: located
Were girls allowed to wear mini-____ at your school?
skirts
DEFINITION: like a dress but shorter
ALSO: if you say the highway skirted the town that means it’s on the outside of the town, near the edge of the town
AND: if you ask your boss for a raise and he skirts the issue that means he talks around it and not directly about it
According to some reports, China has over one million Uighur ________.
slaves
DEFINITION: a person who is owned by another person and has no freedom
VERB: to enslave; or, if you work a lot, you can say “Every night I slave away at my job.”
ALSO: if someone says you’re a slave to fashion it means you’re always buing the latest and trendiest clothes that are in style
Most people think _______ no longer exists.
slavery
DEFINITION: when you force someone to work for you
Just cut me a small _______, please.
slice
DEFINITION: if you slice something you cut it; a slice of something is the piece that you remove by cutting
IDIOM: if you want to say that you like a new invention or innovation you can say “It’s the best thing since sliced bread.”
The Starbucks in Wuhan was just the same as back home. Except it did ______ in some ways….
differ
DEFINITION: there was a difference
The iPhone Bob bought in China was incredibly cheap. Except there was just one _____ difference….
slight
DEFINITION: small, little
ALSO: a slight advantage, a slight change
ADVERB: slightly
After Bob ______ again on the wet floor, he decided to learn to read.
slipped
DEFINITION: to lose your balance on a wet or icy surface
ALSO: if you accidentally say something it’s called “a slip of the tongue”
How to camp on a _______
slope
DEFINITION: an incline, an angle, a slant
ALSO: if your friend asks you if you want to hit the slopes he’s asking if you want to go skiing
How do you keep your skin so soft and ______?
smooth
DEFINITION: not rough
EXPRESSION 1: if things are going / running smoothly that means without any problems
EXPRESSION 2: if your boss tells you it’s going to be smooth sailing starting next week that means you can expect things go get easier
Do you know anyone who can’t ______ their fingers?
snap
Definition: a sound you make with your thumb and middle finger
Also: if you make a snap judgement / decision you decide quickly, without thinking
Also: If you ask someone “Was it difficult?” and he replies, “No, it was a snap.” That means it was easy.
Also: if you snap a branch or a piece of wood you break it in two (and it makes a snapping sound)
Also: If you’re depressed a friend might tell you to “snap out of it.”
Bob is an expert at _____ past security guards.
sneaking
DEFINITION: to move quietly so no one will hear or see you
ALSO: sneaky behavior
Bob only uses the finest ______ for growing his award-winning potatoes.
soil
DEFINITION: dirt; “soil” is usually used when talking about gardening or farming
ALSO: If you soil your pants that’s a nice way of saying you just went to the bathroom in your pants. Woops.
Water is a liquid and ice is a ________.
solid
DEFINITION: firm, hard
Sorry about the car. I was _________ distracted.
somewhat
Definition: a little
It was a bumpy landing. And ______ Bob managed not to spill his cocktail.
somehow
DEFINITION: when you want to say you don’t know exactly how
What ______ ___ ID do you carry with you? A drivers license? A visa? Another government ID?
sort of
DEFINITION: What kind? What type?
NOTE: “ID” stands for “identification”
When was the last time you _____ your socks?
sorted
DEFINITION: to put in order
ALSO: if you sort out a confusing problem you work on creating order
After a long and satisfying life, Bob’s _____ left his body.
But then Bob’s ____ remembered he left the oven on so he returned before the ambulance arrived.
soul
DEFINITION: your spirit, the part of you that lives after your body dies
ALSO: if you say that a city has no soul that’s the same as saying it has no character / personality, i.e. it’s lacking uniqueness
The true ______ of your Alpine bottled water.
source
DEFINITION: where something comes from
If you visit a US city you’ll probably hear this question, “Can you ______ a quarter?”
spare
ALSO: if something is spare it’s exta, ex. spare time; if you can spare something that means it’s extra and you don’t need it
putting on the _____ tire
spare
DEFINITION: something that’s extra
ALSO: a spare bedroom; a spare pair of shoes; spare time;
ALSO: if a homeless person asks, Can you spare a dollar?, they want to know if you have any extra money you don’t need
In your studies or in your career training, did you _____ in one area or is your knowledge general?
specialize
DEFINITION: to focus on one narrow area
Norman Rockwell’s ________ was painting scenes of American culture.
specialty
DEFINITION: a narrow focus of interest, expertise, work, etc. ; ex. the doctor’s specialty is organ transplants
In your opinion, which is the most delicious endangered _______?
species
DEFINITION: a category of animals
Should government hospitals have a _____ on spending?
cap
DEFINITION: a limit
In every action movie, you know that _______ the good guy is going to win.
ultimately
DEFINITION: in the end, finally
ALSO: The ultimate driving experience = the best / highest level
During the lockdowns, there was a _____ in online food delivery.
spike
DEFINITION: a sudden and sharp increase
Also: spiky hair
____ the wheel of fish for a chance to win great prizes.
spin
DEFINITION: to make something move around and around in a circle
PAST: spun, ex. the aircraft spun out of control
ALSO: if a polititian spins a story for the news that means he changes a negative event to sound positive
These sports fans have a lot of ________.
spirit
DEFINITION: energy, enthusiasm
_____ logs is good exercise.
Splitting
DEFINITION: to divide something into two parts
ALSO: if you have a splitting headache it means you have a very painful headache which feels like your head may split
Marlboro is one of the _____ of the Ferrari Formula One team.
sponsors
DEFINITION: to support financially
the black ____ on a cheetah
spots
Can you ____ the difference?
spot
DEFINITION: identify, find
I guess we picked a bad ______ to fish. I haven’t caught anything all morning.
spot
DEFINITION: location
American cuisine at its finest: _______ peanut butter on white bread.
spreading
DEFINITION: to cover with
ALSO: if you’re in a group and your leader tells you “spread out” that means move away from each other
getting water from a natural ______
spring
DEFINITION: where water comes out of the ground
ALSO: spring water
Where can you find a _____ in your home?
spring
DEFINITION: a spiral piece of wire that can create tension and power
VERB: if you’re sick and you spring back that means you recover quickly; when a fireman gets a call that there’s a fire he springs into action
NOTE: the verb is irregular – spring / sprang / sprung
Do you have an English podcast or audio book ready on your phone in case you have to _____ in line?
stand
DEFINITION: if you’re not sitting and you’re not lying down you’re probably standing
While Bob and Jennifer didn’t have a lot of _______ in their relationship, they did get a lot of exercise.
stability
DEFINITION: when something is not likely to change
OPPOSITE: instability
a kitchen _____ meeting
staff
DEFINITION: employees; ex. hotel staff, hospital staff, school staff
the ________ of evolution
stages
DEFINITION: steps, phases
How do you remove a ketchup _______ from a white shirt?
stain
ALSO: a scandal can stain a politician’s reputation
These poker players are playing for high ______.
stakes
DEFINITION: if the stakes are high there’s a lot to lose and a lot to win; ex. Before making any business decision, always ask yourself, What’s at stake?
VERB: if you stake your reputation on an outcome you bet/gamble your reputation
Do you know how much one ______ cost in your country?
stamp
DEFINITION: payment to send a letter
ALSO: a hand stamp
Hugh Jackman is the _____ of the show.
star
DEFINITION: he’s the main actor
ALSO: a star can be the best, ex. a star athelete, our star salesman
In many countries it’s a bad idea to ____ __ someone – you might start a fight.
stare at
DEFINITION: to look at someone for a long time
Bob promised to _____ the truth. And he did. Except for the part about the dead bodies.
state
DEFINITION: to say (formal)
Downing Steet is a popular location for British Prime Ministers to delivering prepared _______ to the media.
statements
DEFINITION: an official announcement
VERB: to state your opinion
________, you’re more likely to have a heart attack if you already have cancer.
Statistically
DEFINITION: according to the statistics/ the data
Here’s an interesting _______: The average American eats nearly 13 pounds of ice cream per year.
statistic
DEFINITION: data, a number that is a fact
ALSO: people often says “stats” for short, ex. The stats prove I’m right and you’re wrong.
For some people a Tesla is about the environment; for others it’s a _____ symbol
status
DEFINITION: your status is your rank in society / compared to others around you
a sword made of ______
steel
DEFINITION: a very strong metal
COMMON EXPRESSION: if you say someone has nerves of steel that means they can stay calm in very stressful situations
Does crime ____ from poverty or does it _____ from broken homes?
stem
DEFINITION: the long part of a flower that comes out of the ground is the stem, so when you talk about something stemmimg from something you’re talking about its origin
Michael Jordan wasn’t a good basketball player in high school. But he ____ ____ ___ and became the greatest.
stuck with it
DEFINITION: to persist, to keep trying although you’re not successful right away
NOTE: the present is “stick with it”, ex. “Don’t give up – stick with it for another month.”
Are any of your _____ stiff when you wake up in the morning?
joints
DEFINITION: ALSO: the parts of your body where two bones are joined, ex. your elbow, your knee, your wrist, etc.
working at a computer all day can give you a ____ neck
How do you like to ______ your brain? Through interesting conversation? Reading? Doing puzzles?
stimulate
DEFINITION: activate, excite
ALSO: coffee, tea and alcohol are known as “stimulants” because they stimulate the brain; a documentary film that is very interesting is “stimulating”
ALSO: when a government prints or borrows a lot of money it can be called an economic stimulus package because it should stimulate, or boost, the economy
After reports of the latest virus, stores were quickly out of _____ of life-saving toilet paper.
stock
DEFINITION: it’s not available
ALSO: if you stock up on supplies that means you gather more than you need just to be prepared
OPPOSITE: the item is in stock
Which is a better investment? _____ or bonds?
stocks
DEFINITION: a type of investment where you can own a part of a private company
ALSO: stockmarket, a stokebroker
Do you have anything you’d like to put in _______?
storage
DEFINITION: if you store something you put it away for a later time; ex. store extra toilet paper in the storage closet
Squirrels _____ nuts in trees so they’ll have food in the winter.
store
DEFINITION: save for later, accumulate
ADJECTIVE: storage, ex. a storage container
Money problems _____ marriages more than any other problem.
strain
DEFINITION: create tension, stress
ALSO: strain a muscle
kids playing in a ______
stream
DEFINITION: a small river, a creek
ALSO: watch streaming video; When she heard the news her eyes were streaming with tears.
How do you ______ your vocabulary?
strengthen
DEFINITION: to make stronger
Who was the_______ teacher in school?
strictest
DEFINITION: a strict teacher makes you follow all the rules; a strict diet means there’s a lot of food you are not allowed to eat; a strict interpretation of the law means an exact/literal interpretation
Why don’t dogs like to play with _______?
string
DEFINITION: a small rope
ALSO: “It’s time to string up the Christmas lights” means to put up the lights so everyone can see them
ALSO: a series of something, ex. Roger Federer had a string of wins before finally losing to Nadal.
ALSO: the strings on a guitar
the world-famous Las Vegas _____
strip
DEFINITION: a small section of land
ALSO: a landing strip; a strip mall
Do you know anyone who has suffered a ________?
stroke
DEFINITION: when the flow of blood to the brain is blocked
Don’t ______ the cat in the wrong direction or you might get a face full of claws.
stroke
DEFINITION: to pet
ALSO: if you’re in a boat you can stroke the oars, i.e. make the boat go forward with the oars
a building’s ________ design
structural
DEFINITION: related to structure (something that’s built / structured - a building, an organization, a government, etc.)
______ collapse when builders are able to bribe inspectors.
Structures
DEFINITION: a building, a dam, a bridge (formal)
ALSO: how something is organize / connected together, ex. a company has an organizational strucuture; a DNA structure
ALSO: if your day is structured that means everything is planned
the Beatles recording a song in their famous Abbey Road ______
studio
DEFINITION: a place where an artist works, ex. a dance studio, a painter’s studio, a recording studio
ALSO: a studio apartment is a small apartment with just one room
When you finish a project, who do you _______ your work to?
submit
DEFINITION: to send, give
ALSO: sometimes online you can submit information or submit a form
Do you prefer men/women who are dominant or __________?
submissive
DEFINITION: to give your power to someone else
The dominant male demands other wolves ______ to him.
submit
DEFINITION:obey someone
As a child, Bob’s only friend was the mud. ______, he also spent a lot of time in the bath.
Subsequently
DEFINITION: as a result of; A happened and because of that subsequently B happened
What you find at fast food restaurants these days is not 100% beef but a meat-like ______.
substance
DEFINITION: what something is made of; matter, material
ALSO: if you read in the news that the police seized large amounts of a controlled substance that means illegal drugs
AND: if you read that a celebrity has problems with substance abuse that means he/she parties too much
Have you ever tried a sugar _______?
substitute
DEFINITION: a replacement
VERB: to substitute, ex. I asked the waitress if she could substitute my side dish; I wanted a salad instead of french fries.
ALSO: If your child’s usual teacher is sick he/she may have a substitute teacher for the day.
ALSO: in team sports, like football, there are the starting players and the subs, ex. Luigi subbed for Mario when he injured his knee
The twins looked so much alike you could ____ tell them apart.
hardly
DEFINITION: almost not at all; ex. I can hardly hear you
IDIOM: If you want to say that something is incredible or hard to believe you can say, I can hardly image… living with Bob / not knowing any English / what it would be like to live there…
While there’s a big difference between Coke and Sprite, most people say there’s only a ____ difference between Coke and Pepsi.
subtle
DEFINITION: small, slight
Note: the “b” is silent
______, Bob remembered he had left his family at the restaurant.
Suddenly
DEFINITION: it happened quickly without warning
In the U.S., many lawyers ___ businesses when a customer has an accident.
sue
DEFINITION: to file a lawsuit, to take someone to court so you can get money from them
How much sleep is ______ for you?
sufficient
DEFINITION: enough
ALSO: If someone is self-sufficient that means they don’t need help from anyone else, maybe they have enough money or live alone and take care of themselves…
I’m sorry, this year doesn’t _____ me. How about lunch next year?
suit
DEFINITION: fits your schedule, is good for you
How many _______ do you own?
suits
DEFINITION: a formal outfit where the jacket and pants match
NOTE: women can also own suits, they’re called “pant suits” or “power suits”
A lot of TV shows are not _____ for kids because they show sex and violence and bad grammar.
suitable
DEFINITION: appropriate
ALSO: if you go on a trip but didn’t pack suitable clothing for a hike in the mountains then you don’t have the proper shoes and pants, etc.
If you had to ____ ____ the year 2020 in one word, what word would it be?
sum up
DEFINITION: summarize, give an overview, a brief explanation
a large _____ of money
sum
DEFINITION: amount
What’s the ______ of five plus ten?
sum
DEFINITION: the total
Does your boss ever ask you to ______ information for him/her?
summarize
DEFINITION: to give just the important information and not all the details
In school, did you ever read the ________ instead of reading the whole book?
summary
DEFINITION: a brief, shorter version
VERB: to summarize
NOUN: a summation
China is the world’s leading _______ of cheap, manufactured products.
supplier
DEFINITION: a company or person or country which provides something that’s needed
VERB: to supply
Do you take any vitamin ________?
supplements
DEFINITION: a supplement is something extra; ex. if you’re studying for an exam and you don’t find the text book helpful you may need to find supplemental material
VERB: to supplement your diet
When the hospital’s _____ of blood is low they call Bob. Everyone thinks Bob’s great. But Bob doesn’t tell them he has AIDS.
supply
DEFINITION: the amount of something available to be used
ALSO: power supply, oil supply, water supply
Ok, I ______ I’ll have just one more.
suppose
DEFINITION: think, assume
Poor Leo. It wasn’t _______ ___ rain and he forgot his umbrella.
supposed to
DEFINITION: it should not have rained, it was not expected to rain
OPPOSITE: “I’m supposed to give you this letter” means I should / I’m expected to
surely
DEFINITION: this word isn’t necessary but it makes your sentence stronger
ALSO: Surely you’re joking.
IDIOM: Slowly but surely, he finished his homework.
a ______ sound stereo system
surround
DEFINITION: if something surrounds you it covers you, it’s on all sides
The hockey game was _____ so they could find Bob’s missing contact lense.
suspended
DEFINITION: temporarily paused
ALSO: if a student is suspended from school it means he’s not allowed to attend school for a few days or weeks as a punishment
ALSO: the man in the picture below is wearing suspenders; and the San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge
Bob found it difficult to _____ his good grades once he got to college.
sustain
DEFINITION: maintain, keep, ex. sustain a conversation
Is _________ an issue that worries you?
sustainability
DEFINITION: when something is harmful to the environment it’s not sustainable
NOTE: if a business is sustainable it’s profitable and can survive
A company can lose money in the short term, but in the long term it’s not ________.
sustainable
DEFINITION: not able to survive/continue
What ______ words do you know in English?
swear
DEFINITION: words that show anger or surprise, often vulgar and impolite, to curse ex. Holy shit! What the fuck!? God dammit!
______ the mess under the carpet
sweeping
ALSO: She was swept away in all the excitement. (she let her emotions take control)
ALSO: She was swept off her feet. (she fell in love)
ALSO: Bob fired his entire staff in one clean sweep. (all at the same time)
sweeping the mess under the _____
carpet
DEFINITION: a rug
Did you like to _____ when you were a kid?
swing
ALSO: swing dancing; a swing state during an election is a state which could swing to one candidate/party or the other
When you leave a room, do you usually _____ off the lights?
switch
DEFINITION: an electric switch changes where the electricity goes, i.e. on or off
ALSO: if a salesman asks you to switch your phone plan that means he wants you to change plans
Is a wedding ring a _____ of security or slavery for you?
symbol
DEFINITION: something visual that represents something abstract / not visible, ex. a flag, a logo, a cross
ADJECTIVE: symbolic
NOUN: symbolism
What’s the _____ of your religion?
symbol
DEFINITION: a visual or physical representation of something abstract or intangible
ADJECTIVE: symbolic
Do you remember the last time you got sick? What were your ______?
symptoms
DEFINITION: the signs or effects of being sick; ex. fever, aches, cough, runny nose…
ADJECTIVE: symptomatic; ex. rising prices is symptomatic of an inflationary economy
ALSO: you can speak metaphorically and say that crime is a symptom of a declining civilization
Do you prefer to _____ tough problems yourself, delegate them, or just ignore them?
tackle
Definition: if you tackle a person you grab him and take him to the ground; if you tackle a project you begin it (usually a big, difficult project)
how to read a dog’s ______ positions
tail
ALSO: if the cops are tailing you that means they’re following you
Do you ____ _____ your shoes before you walk into your home?
take off
DEFINITION: remove
What time does your plane _____ ____?
take off
DEFINITION: depart, leave; ex. It’s getting late, I should take off.
The L.A. Lakers will _____ ____ The Miami Heat in the finals.
take on
DEFINITION: compete against
ALSO: if you ask your colleague how she feels and she says she feels like she can take on the world that means she’s feeling good and probably already had some coffee
What’s a hobby you’d like to _____ ____?
take up
DEFINITION: to start
Many famous childrens’ movies were originally fairy _____ written by Hans Christian Andersen.
tales
DEFINITION: a story
ALSO: if you tell tales that’s another way of saying you lie
What do you have a ____ for?
talent
DEFINITION: a natural ability
ADJECTIVE: talented
“Excuse me,” she said as she ____ his shoulder.
tapped
DEFINITION: to touch lightly
Also: If you read in the news that someone was tapped as the next CEO that means he was chosen
ALSO: if a bar has a beer on tap that means it’s from the keg/barrel and not in a bottle
turning on the _____
tap
DEFINITION: faucet
Also: this bar has Guinness on tap, i.e. not in a can or bottle
The kidnappers put _____ on his mouth.
tape
Many TV shows are _____ live before an audience.
taped
DEFINITION: recorded
NOTE: In these digital days when we use neither film nor video/audio tape, we still use these old words.
Do you have a specific _____ for your English this year?
target
DEFINITION: goal, aim
As more people use air conditioners and heaters, it ______ the power system.
taxes
DEFINITION: stresses, puts a burden on it
ADJECTIVE: taxing; ex. He found the exam mentally taxing.
“Say it one more time, Bob, and I’ll _____ _____ my hair.”
tear out
DEFINITION: pull out, rip out
When Bob’s battery ran out, he shed large ____ out of fear of missing a Tweet.
tears
DEFINITION: the liquid that comes out of your eyes when you cry
NOTE: you can remember the pronunciation by remembering it rhymes with “fear”
Public _____ are an opportunity for corruption in many countries.
tenders
DEFINITION: an auction for a government contract
The most ______ steak is the Rib Eye.
tender
DEFINITION: soft; opposite of tough
ALSO: if a person is tender that means he/she has a kind heart
Breakfast became extremely _______ after the last donut disappeared.
tense
DEFINITION: there was a lot of tension, stressful, not calm
waking up in a ______
tent
DEFINITION: a temporary shelter
After his final ______ in office, Bill finally had time to play some golf.
term
DEFINITION: a length of time; ex. the final school term
Do you know anyone who reads the ______ and conditions?
terms
DEFINITION: the terms in a contract are the rules you must obey
Bob: How do you like my sandwich?
Jennifer: It’s _______!
terrible
DEFINITION: very bad
Are male dogs who mark their ______ a problem where you live?
territory
DEFINITION: an area, land
EXPRESSIONS: in familiar territory; in dangerous territory
The ______ for this TED event was “women.”
theme
DEFINITION: a central, unifying idea
ALSO: a theme park; a theme song; a graphic theme
According to the ________ covid models from 2020, we should all be dead now.
theoretical
DEFINITION: in theory, not proven
There is a new microbe in town; _______, we must buy all the toiletpaper.
therefore
DEFINITION: because of A the conclusion is B
a ______ and juicy burger
thick
DEFINITION: not thin
ALSO: a thick book, a thick stack of papers
ALSO: if you say a person is thick that means he/she isn’t very clever and doesn’t learn easily
What do you think of _____ mustaches?
thin
DEFINITION: not wide, not fat
If you have a business meeting in the desert, be sure to bring enough water or you may die of _____
thirst
Adjective: to be thirsty
ALSO: if someone has a thirst for something that’s not a liquid it means they have a strong desire for it, ex. a thirst for fame, a thirst for power
_________ it was Christmas, Bob still made his employees work a full day.
Although
DEFINITION: even though, though
_________ it was raining, Bob still managed to train for the Tour de France.
Though
DEFINITION: although
Is North Korea the biggest ______ to world peace? Or is it vegetarians?
threat
Definition: something that could cause harm
When was the last time you had a sore ______?
throat
DEFINITION: the part of your neck for your air, food and water
ALSO: if your boss shoves the new safety regulations down your throat that means he forces them on you
Bob, I’m _______ ____ you! And I lied: I never liked your tree!
through with
DEFINITION: finished, it’s over
Woops. I threw the ball _____ your window.
through
DEFINITION: from one side to the other
ALSO: we’re half way through the year
The contract was valid _________ the end of March 2020.
through
DEFINITION: it was valid every day in March but not valid April 1
ALSO: You will get paid through the end of the month.
They searched ______ the house, but they never did find Bob’s overdue library book.
throughout
DEFINITION: in every part
Also: throughout his life he was afraid of ice cream = during his whole life
Terrorism is a fact of modern life, ____ the need for tighter airport security and long lines.
thus
DEFINITION: as a result of something; ex. You haven’t paid me, thus I’m quitting.
The lockdown was extended ____ the end of the month.
till
DEFINITION: until
a _______ dog
tiny
DEFINITION: very small
When Bob’s forklift ____ _____ after lunch, he knew it was time to start eating less.
tipped over
DEFINITION: the weight shifts and it falls over
ALSO: if you tip your glass back that means you take a drink
What we can see is just the _____ of the iceberg
tip
DEFINITION: the end of, the top part, ex. tip of the pen, tip of your nose
Let me give you a _____ I got from my sensei in Japan: kick him in the balls.
tip
DEFINITION: a piece of advice
(note: a sensei is a karate teacher)
Is it usual to _____ in your country?
tip
DEFINITION: the extra money you pay for good service, ex. tip your waiter at the restaurant
Can you hand me a _______?
tissue
DEFINITION: a Kleenex
ALSO: if you’re watching a hospital or police show on TV you might hear “scar tissue” or “brain tissue” or “nerve tissue” which basically means “a small part of/piece of”
What ______ do you prefer to be called by?
title
DEFINITION: the word(s) or letters in front of your name; ex. Mr., Mrs., Miss, Ms, Dr, Lord, Sir, Father, Professor….
NOTE: Americans write “Mr.” and “Mrs.”; the British write “Mr” and “Mrs” (without a period “.”)
1979 was an exciting year for boxing fans when Rocky Balboa won the heavyweight ________.
title
DEFINITION: the top prize in a sport, the championship
Does your company ______ its customers based on their behaviours or income?
segment
DEFINTION: divide, put into categories
Which colleague or family member would you put in the “barely _______” category?
tolerable
DEFINITION: if something is tolerable you don’t love it but you don’t hate it, you just tolerate it (usually because you have no other choice)
Who do you know who has an annoying voice ______?
tone
DEFINITION: the quality of a sound, voice, music
ALSO: if somone is tone deaf it means they don’t hear all the sounds and as a consequence can’t sing
ALSO: If a teenager is being impatient a parent might say “I don’t like the tone of your voice.”
IDIOM: if you set the tone for a meeting you establish how people will behave
a ______ from the stone age
tool
DEFINITION: a device that makes work easier
What’s your least favorite _____ of conversation? Sports? Politics? Celebrity gossip? Other people’s kids?
topic
DEFINITION: subject
Are you still __ ____ ___ your high school classmates?
in touch with
DEFINITION: in contact with, you communicate with them regularly
Are you ____ enough to finish a race like this?
tough
DEFINITION: a tough person can do difficult things and survive; a tough steak is difficult to chew; a tough vehicle can go offroad and not breakdown, ex. Jeeps are tough
ALSO: a person can be physically or mentally tough
Have you ever played in a _______? Maybe in tennis? Or golf? Or poker?
tournament
DEFINITION: a competition where the winner of each match or game progresses to the next round
SLANG: tourney
If you need to go west, walk ______ the sun.
toward
DEFINITION: in the direction of
BRITISH ENGLISH: towards
By the time Bob was just eight years old, he already _____ ______ his classmates.
towered over
DEFINITION: he was a lot taller than them, i.e. like a tower
She’s _____ the drawing.
tracing
Definition: if you trace a drawing you copy the original by drawing over it.
ALSO: If you trace your ancestry you discover where your dead relatives lived and who they were.
Also: “to disappear without a trace” means to suddenly vanish without any warning and without leaving any signs
Are you ____ ____ to reaching your English goals?
on track
DEFINITION: everything is going according to plan
NOTE: it’s a metaphor that refers to train tracks, so if the project is “off track” that’s not good
ALSO: an athlete runs on a track
At work we ____ results with a dashboard.
track
DEFINITION: follow, measure
I’ll _____ you my fish for your grain.
trade
DEFINITION: exchange
What’s your favorite holiday ______?
tradition
DEFINITION: a custom, something you do at a certain time because that’s what you always do
ADJECTIVE: a traditional dish, a traditional song
the hiking _____ that leads to Mount Everest
trail
DEFINITION: a path
IDIOM: if you call someone a trailblazer that’s a compliment which means you think they’re a leader (imagine someone who is the first person to create a trail and they make the trail with fire, i.e. a blaze)
After 14 years of negotiations, Bob and his lawyers were able to reach a ________ which allowed Bob to return to Starbucks, but this time with his pants on.
settlement
DEFINITION: an agreement; in legal English this usually means an agreement was made outside the court system
Have you ever ______ money to a friend using your phone?
transfered
DEFINITION: to send money from one account to another
ALSO: you can begin studying at one college and then transfer to another school; you can transfer jobs within your company; a football player can transfer to another team
Caterpillars _______ into butterflies.
transform
DEFINITION: change completely
NOUN: transformation
At what age did you have your biggest _______?
transformation
DEFINITION: a big change
Bob told the marriage counselor that he felt ______ at home.
trapped
DEFINITION: caged, confined; i.e. to trap a wild animal
ALSO: if your political enemy sets a trap for you that means the attractive blonde at the bar is working for him and doesn’t really think you’re cute
Bob _____ his car better than his wife. But he had a really nice car, so she understood.
treated
Definition: the way you behave toward someone or something
Chemotherapy is a common ______ for cancer.
treatment
DEFINITION: it makes it better (it might completely solve the problem or just improve it)
Is working from home a _____ that will continue?
trend
DEFINITION: something new and popular
ADJECTIVE: if a fashion is new and popular it’s “trendy”
Are ripped clothes still ________?
trendy
DEFINITION: new and popular
You can’t teach an old dog new _______
tricks.
DEFINITION: a clever, amusing action by an animal or human, ex. do a skateboarding trick
Do you like to be ______ by magicians?
tricked
DEFINITION: fooled, deceived
NOUN: a trick
Have you ever pulled the _____ on a gun?
trigger
DEFINITION: the part of the gun that fires the bullet
ALSO: if you say something triggered an event or triggered a reaction that means it caused it to happen
IDIOM: If your boss tells you you need to pull the trigger that means you need to make a decision and take action.
Are there any American _______ in your country?
troops
Definition: soldiers
Did you ever get a catchy _____ stuck in your head?
tune
DEFINITION: a song, a melody
getting your piano ______
tuned
DEFINITION: make small adjustments so it performs better; ex. take your car in for a tune up
______of turbulence on airplanes has increased.
Instances
DEFINITION: a specific example, occurence
ALSO: for instance = for example
Do you remember when you ____ _____ the clocks in your country?
turn back
DEFINITION: to move the hands back, to reset the time
ALSO: a skin cream can promise to turn back the hands of time
ALSO: if you leave your house and forget your wallet you’ll have to turn back
When you leave a room, do you usually ____ ____ the lights?
turn out
ALSO: turn off the lights
How big was the _________ for the last election?
turnout
DEFINITION: how many people showed up
two wires _______ together
twisted
DEFINITION: to turn, spin, intertwine
VERB: you can twist off the cap on a bottle
ADJECTIVE: if you tell your artist friend he has a twisted mind that means you think his paintings are very strange
ALSO: if a story has a twist that means something unexpected happens
Have you ever seen an _____ baby?
ugly
DEFINITION: unattractive
ALSO: if you want to say that the situation became very bad – maybe there was a fight or a shouting match – you can say, “Things got ugly.”
When someone has an _____ baby, we say it has “a face only a mother could love.”
ugly
DEFINITION: not attractive
The doctor took a ____ of Bob’s blood. Fortunately, the results were negative. Unfortunately, they were the results for another patient.
sample
DEFINITION: a small amount of something that gives you more information/a better idea about the thing it was taken from, ex. When you go shopping sometimes you can get free samples of products
Agree or disagree?
ultimate
DEFINITION: the highest level; ex. an ultimate challenge; an ultimate insult; What’s your ultimate fantasy?
At what temperature does the heat become ________ for you?
unbearable
DEFINITION: you can’t tolerate it, it’s too much
If you don’t like ______ you can visit a psychic.
uncertainty
DEFINITION: when you don’t know, when you’re uncertain
Bob was always confident about his appearance. But when he wanted to start modelling professionally, he felt it was necessary to _____ an operation to remove his third eye.
undergo
DEFINITION: to have an operation (formal)
ALSO: undergo surgery, undergo testing, undergo a financial depression
Religion ______ much of the violence in the world today.
underlies
Definition: to be located under, ex. a layer of rock underlies the village; or to be the cause of something
Also: the underlying problem
The government of Rome finally decided to ______ repairs on the Colloseum. Just in time for tourist season.
undertake
Definition: to begin something that will be difficult
Also: undertake a journey, undertake training
What’s the longest you’ve been _________?
unemployed
DEFINITION: You didn’t have a job
When we bought the house we had to renovate the floor because it was so _______.
uneven
Definition: not flat, not smooth
Opposite: even
Have you ever had to wear a ______ to work?
uniform
DEFINITION: clothes which are the same
ALSO: if you have uniform beliefs that means your beliefs are all the same
In your country, is it common for workers to organize in labor ________?
unions
DEFINITION: an organization of workers who threaten their company with a strike unless they get more money or better working conditions
The more apartment _____ you have, the more money you can collect from rent.
units
DEFINITION: a single thing; a combination of things that form a single thing
EXAMPLES: a military unit is a group of soldiers; a computer unit is a monitor plus hard drive plus keyboard plus mouse
If we want to defeat the alien invaders, humans of all nations must ________.
unite
DEFINITION: to come together, to work together and cooperate
When we are ____ we are stronger.
united
DEFINITION: together because of a similar belief or cause
Ironically, although many were alone during the lockdowns, knowing that people around the world were in the same situation gave them a sense of _______
unity
DEFINITION: togetherness
Does your government provide _______ healthcare?
universal
DEFINITION: something that works for everyone or that is for everyone,ex. a universal solution, a universal problem; universal experience
Bob, ______ one of us leaves this boat, we’re all going to die.
unless
DEFINITION: if the situation doesn’t change; ex. I’ll be on time unless the train is late.
______ other phones, you can drop a Nokia and it won’t break.
Unlike
DEFINITION: it’s not like the other thing you’re comparing it to
At many fast food restaurants in the U.S., you can get ______ refills.
unlimited
DEFINITION: no limits, no restrictions
In your house, whose job is it to ______ the dishwasher?
unload
DEFINITION: remove the dishes from
ALSO: unload the car, unload the plane
What time of the year is the weather the most ___________?
unpredictable
DEFINITION: it’s difficult to predict/guess what it will do
It wasn’t ______ for Bob to have at least one hamburger before breakfast.
unusual
DEFINITION: strange, odd, out of the ordinary
ADVERB: unusually; ex. it’s unusually quiet tonight
Bob’s onions this year were ______ large.
unusually
DEFINITION: it’s not usual / standard / normal
But first, we’re going to bring you the latest _____ on the covid situation.
update
DEFINITION: new information
ALSO: if you keep someone updated you keep them informed; ex. get weather updates on your phone
ALSO: automatic software updates
These days, is there ____ growth or decline in your country?
urban
DEFINITION: related to the city
ALSO: urban planning
In the U.S., states which prefer to wear stripes are in the _______
minority
DEFINITION: there are fewer of them; they are outnumbered
ALSO: a person whose race is not part of the majority; ex. a white person in Nigeria or a black person in Ireland
“Maybe” is an example of a _______ answer.
vague
DEFINITION: not specific
You know you’ve made bad decisions in life when you find yourself living in a ____ down by the river.
van
DEFINITION: a type of vehicle used for hauling or camping
It’s hard to predict the weather because there are so many ________
variables
DEFINITION: something that changes, i.e. varies; ex. variable wind, variable quality, variable speeds, a variable rate of return (for an investment)
How much _____ do you get in your diet?
variety
DEFINITION: not always choosing the same thing
EXPRESSION: variety is the spice of life
Prices for airline tickets often _____.
vary
DEFINITION: if something varies it’s not always the same, i.e. it changes, ex. temperatures in the desert can vary from freezing cold at night to boiling hot during the day
NOUN: variation, variety
After their parents took away their phones, the boys _____ into the wilderness to start a new life.
ventured
DEFINITION: to do something new that requires risk
ALSO: venture a guess (i.e. take a guess); ; start a new venture (i.e. a new project or business)
Silicon Valley is famous for attracting ______ capital.
venture
DEFINITION: money to start a new business, i.e. a new venture, usually a business with a high risk of failure
Mike Tyson ______ a great, white shark…. Who do you think would win?
versus
DEFINITION: against
ALSO: court cases are often named after the two sides in the case, such as: Kramer vs. Pepsi, Co.
NOTE: sometimes it’s shortened as “vs” or simple “v”
After Bob fell asleep with a cigar in his mouth, Maersk Line banned smoking on all its cargo ______
vessels
Definition: a ship (formal)
Do you know any war ________?
veterans
DEFINITION: someone who has served in the military; and a war veteran is someone who actually fought in the war; ex. a WWII veteran
ALSO: anyone with prior experience; ex. Hillary Clinton was a political veteran but Trump was not
COMMON ABBREVIATION: a vet
If you want to visit the Grand Canyon you’ll have to travel _____ one of the hub airports, like Los Angeles.
via
DEFINITION: by way of; to go from A to C you’ll have to travel via B
NOTE: this is actually a Latin word; what are some other Latin words that are often used in English?
Does your country have a _____ president?
vice
DEFINITION: he /she acts in place of the President if the President is not available or dies
NOTE: often called “the VP”
What’s your favorite _____?
vice
DEFINITION: something that’s pleasurable but not good for you
ALSO: the vice squad, Miami Vice (the part of the police force which fights drug dealers)
Would you rather live in the city or in a ______ village like this one?
rural
DEFINITION: in the country
Do______ video games make children ________?
violent
DEFINITION: something that shows fighting, injury, and death
Have you ever tried _____ reality game?
virtual
DEFINITION: it’s similar but not the same; it happens online; ex. a virtual meeting
ALSO: a virtual assistant (VA) is someone who always works remotely via the internet
Do you have good _____? Or do you need glasses or contacts?
vision
DEFINITION: sight
ALSO: if a leader has vision that means he/she can imagine a positive future that doesn’t exist yet
A PERSON: a visionary – a leader who has vision
If you have an important job interview it’s _____ that you show up on time.
vital
DEFINITION: very important
ALSO: a vital person can be someone who has lots of energy and is full of life
NOUN: vitality, ex. the vitality of youth
ALSO: if you revitalize something you bring it back to life, ex. revitalize the film industry by providing tax incentives
In the 1920s, short hair was ___ ____
in vogue
DEFINITION: in style
Do you have a nice singing ______?
voice
DEFINITION: you can have a loud voice, a quiet voice, a strong voice, etc.
ALSO: if you lose your voice that means you lost your ability to speak (usually temporarily)
The President used his five minutes to ______ his concern about catching Covid through Zoom.
voice
DEFINITION: to give, say, tell
The Oxford English dictionary has 21,728 pages and 20 _______.
volumes
DEFINITION: a book or magazine in a series
I can’t hear it! Turn up the ______!
volume
DEFINITION: the sound level
Is military service in your country mandatory or ________?
voluntary
DEFINITION: optional
ALSO: if you volunteer to do a job you do it because you choose to do it, not because someone is making you do it;
ALSO: a volunteer worker is someone who works for free, usually helping people; ex. he works at the volunteer fire department
Are firemen in your country paid or are they __________?
volunteers
DEFINITION: someone who chooses to work without pay
ALSO: a volunteer firefighter
A rare photo of President Obama ______ for Donald Trump
voting
DEFINITION: to choose a candidate in an election
PERSON: a voter
The crime ________ pointed to Bob. Bob, of course, was innocent.
witness
DEFINITION: a person who sees a crime or accident or an exceptional event, ex. witness a beautiful sunset
What _____ did you earn in your first job?
wage
DEFINITION: how much you make per hour, usually for low-paying jobs, whereas an office employee has an annual salary
ALSO: governments sometimes set a minimum wages which is the lowest amount an employer can pay per hour
jumping a boat’s ______
wake
DEFINITION:the waves that follow behind a boat
EXPRESSION: in his/her wake, ex. The killer left a trail of dead bodies in his wake.
Is it traditional in your country to have a ______ the day before the funeral?
wake
DEFINITION: the meeting of family and friends the day before a funeral, usually to view the body and great the family
When you travel to a new city do you like to take tours or just _____ the streets?
wander
Definition: to walk around or travel without a specific destination
a person: a wanderer
Also: if a person has wanderlust he likes to travel a lot
Which is your _____ arm?
weaker
DEFINITION: if something is weak it’s not strong
Would you rather have great _____ , great wisdom or great English?
wealth
DEFINITION: riches, money
ADJECTIVE: wealthy
a spider’s ______
web
ALSO: the world wide web (www)
Who’s the ______ person you know?
weirdest
DEFINITION: strange, unusual
A PERSON: a weirdo
PERONSAL RECOMMENDATION: Weird Al Yankovich (find him on YouTube!)
When you were a child, your parents were responsible for your _______.
welfare
DEFINITION: your wellbeing, security, health
DEFINITION: a government program which gives money to poor people
_______ from the Middle Ages
weapons
Bob got a ____ on the head for forgetting Jennifer’s birthday.
whack
DEFINITION: to hit
