U1 - People Flashcards
Breakdown (noun/verb)
Noun: A failure or collapse in something, often in a mechanical system or in communication
- The car had a breakdown.
Verb: To decompose or separate into parts.
- Let me break it down for you.
Speakout (noun/verb)
Verb: To express one’s opinion or position openly and publicly
- She spoke out against the injustice.
Noun: A public expression of an opinion (less common usage, but can refer to organized events where people express their views).
Speakup (verb)
To talk louder or to express an opinion more assertively (e.g., “You need to speak up during meetings.”)
Get on/off the pitch
Get on the pitch: To enter the playing field (commonly used in sports like football/soccer).
Get off the pitch: To leave the playing field.
The pitch refers to the field of play in certain sports, like football (soccer).
Teammate
A member of the same team in a sport, project, or workplace collaboration (e.g., “She’s a great teammate on our soccer team”).
Colleague
A person you work with in a professional environment (e.g., “I discussed the project with my colleagues at the office”).
Take after (phrasal verb)
To resemble a parent or older relative in appearance or behavior (e.g., “She takes after her father in her love for sports”).
Look after (phrasal verb)
To care for someone or something (e.g., “I look after my little sister after school”).
Look up to (phrasal verb)
To admire or respect someone, often someone older or in a higher position (e.g., “She looks up to her older brother”).
Close (adj./verb)
S sound: When “close” is an adjective meaning near in space or time (e.g., “The school is close to my house”).
Z sound: When “close” is a verb meaning to shut (e.g., “Please close the door”).
Bring up (phrasal verb)
To mention something in conversation or raise a topic (e.g., “She brought up the subject of moving abroad”).
It can also mean to raise children (e.g., “They brought up their children well”).
Live back home
To return and live in the place where you were born or where your family resides (e.g., “I used to live in the city, but now I live back home with my parents”).
Bossy (adj.)
Describes someone who gives orders in a domineering or controlling way (e.g., “Her bossy attitude can be annoying sometimes”).
Easy-going (adj.)
Describes someone relaxed and not easily upset or worried (e.g., “He has an easy-going nature, nothing seems to stress him”).
Tidy (adj.)
Neat and organized (e.g., “Her desk is always tidy, everything is in its place”).
Thoughtful (adj.)
Considerate of other people’s feelings or needs (e.g., “That was a thoughtful gift, thank you”).
Occasionally (adverb)
Happening sometimes but not regularly (e.g., “I occasionally go to the gym”).
Diagram
A drawing or plan that outlines and explains the parts or operation of something (e.g., “The teacher used a diagram to explain how the heart works”).
Current
Refers to the present time (e.g., “Current events” or “my current job”).
Can also refer to a flow of water or air in a particular direction (e.g., “The ocean current is strong”).
Passive
Refers to a person or thing that allows things to happen without active participation (e.g., “She is passive during meetings, rarely giving input”).
Sane
Mentally healthy and reasonable (e.g., “Despite the chaos, she remained sane”).
Uptight (adj.)
Adjective with Emotional Connotation
Anxious, tense, or easily upset (e.g., “He gets uptight about little things”).
Put things away (phrasal verb):
To return items to their proper place (e.g., “After dinner, she put the dishes away in the cupboard”).
Rigorous (adj.)
Extremely thorough and accurate, often demanding strict attention to detail or high standards (e.g., “The study was conducted under rigorous conditions” or “The training program is very rigorous”).
Shrove Tuesday
The day before Ash Wednesday, marking the start of Lent in the Christian calendar.
Traditionally, it’s a day for confession and absolution of sins (“shrive” means to confess).
In many cultures, it is also celebrated with feasts, particularly involving pancakes, hence it is sometimes called “Pancake Day” (e.g., “On Shrove Tuesday, we make pancakes before Lent begins”).
Thorough (adj.)
Complete, detailed, and done with great attention to every part or detail (e.g., “She gave the room a thorough cleaning” or “His report was thorough and left no question unanswered”).
Musician
A person who plays a musical instrument or is involved in the performance, composition, or conducting of music
Mechanic
A person who repairs and maintains machinery, especially cars (e.g., “The mechanic fixed my car’s engine”).
Plumber
A person who installs and repairs water pipes, drains, and fixtures like sinks and toilets (e.g., “We called a plumber to fix the leaky faucet”).
Banker
A person who works in banking, especially at a high level, managing financial transactions and services (e.g., “He became a successful banker after years of studying finance”).
Wage
Payment made based on the number of hours worked, typically given to hourly workers (e.g., “She earns a weekly wage for her part-time job”).
Pay
A general term for money given in exchange for work (e.g., “Her pay reflects her hard work”).
Salary
A fixed amount of money paid regularly (monthly or yearly) regardless of hours worked, usually for professional jobs (e.g., “He receives a yearly salary for his full-time position”).
Income
The money a person earns from work, investments, or other sources (e.g., “Her income from freelancing has increased this year”).
Furniture
Movable objects in a room that make it suitable for living or working, such as chairs, tables, and beds (e.g., “We bought new furniture for the living room”).
Loads
A large quantity of something, or things to carry (e.g., “She had loads of laundry to do” or “There were loads of people at the concert”).
Career
A person’s long-term occupation or profession, typically with opportunities for progress (e.g., “She’s pursuing a career in medicine”).
Catch on (phrasal verb)
To understand something after initially struggling with it, or for an idea or trend to become popular (e.g., “It took her a while to catch on to the new software” or “The new fashion trend is catching on”).
Bill
A written statement of money owed for goods or services (e.g., “He received the bill for the meal”).
Tiring (adj.)
Something that causes fatigue or exhaustion (e.g., “The hike was tiring, but worth it”).
