Unit 1

Question 1

conform

Answer 1

to behave and think in the same way as most other people in a group or society

There is considerable pressure on teenagers to conform.

Question 2

vent your anger/spleen

Answer 2

to express feelings, especially anger, strongly

He vented his anger on the referee.
She vented her spleen (= shouted in an angry way) on the assembled crowd.

Question 3

bear (a grudge)

Answer 3

to have a feeling, especially a negative feeling

He’s borne a grudge against me ever since that day.

Question 4

(familiarity) breeds contempt

Answer 4

when you have a lot of knowledge about a subject you tend to lose respect for that subject

Ignorance and lack of understanding can breed contempt towards individuals from different cultural backgrounds, hindering social integration.

Question 5

swallow your pride

Answer 5

to ignore one’s ego in order to do something that one finds humiliating or below one’s standards.

I don’t have any other job offers, so I guess I just have to swallow my pride and accept this entry-level position.

Question 6

exert pressure/authority

Answer 6

to make a concerted effort to do something

He exerted all his authority to make them accept the plan.

Question 7

assert independence/authority

Answer 7

assert something to make other people recognize your right or authority to do something, by behaving in a determined and confident way

I was determined to assert my authority from the beginning.

Question 8

adamant

Answer 8

determined not to change your mind or to be persuaded about something

Eva was adamant that she would not come.
The government remained adamant that there was no more money available.

Question 9

obstinate

Answer 9

{disapproving} refusing to change your opinions, way of behaving, etc. when other people try to persuade you to; showing this

He can be very obstinate when he wants to be!
her obstinate refusal to comply with their request

Question 10

elated (at/by something)

Answer 10

very happy and excited because of something good that has happened, or will happen

They were elated at the result.
I was elated by the prospect of the new job ahead.

Question 11

jubilant

Answer 11

feeling or showing great happiness because of a success

The fans were in jubilant mood after the victory

Question 12

meticulous (in doing something/about something)

Answer 12

paying careful attention to every detail

SYN: thorough, fastidious

Question 13

apathetic

Answer 13

showing no interest or enthusiasm

The illness made her apathetic and unwilling to meet people.

Question 14

withdrawn

Answer 14

not wanting to talk to other people; extremely quiet and shy

He was not the self-absorbed, withdrawn person he was sometimes portrayed as.

Question 15

obnoxious

Answer 15

extremely unpleasant, especially in a way that offends people

SYN: offensive

Question 16

amiable /ˈeɪmiəbl/

Answer 16

pleasant; friendly and easy to like

SYN: agreeable (as in We spent a most agreebale day together)

Question 17

poised /pɔɪzd/

Answer 17

having a calm and confident manner and in control of your feelings and behaviour

SYN: assured

Question 18

eloquent /ˈeləkwənt/

Answer 18

able to use language and express your opinions well, especially when you are speaking in public

When required, he could be an eloquent speaker, but preferred talking to small groups.

Question 19

scrupulous /ˈskruː.pjə.ləs/

Answer 19

extremely honest

A scrupulous politician would not lie about her business interests.

Question 20

upright

Answer 20

honest, responsible, and moral

She behaved as any upright citizen would have under the circumstances.

Question 21

gullible

Answer 21

easily deceived or tricked, and too willing to believe everything that other people say

There are any number of miracle cures on the market for people gullible enough to buy them.

Question 22

companionable

Answer 22

friendly and pleasant to be with

Question 23

drift apart

Answer 23

to become less friendly or close to somebody

As children we were very close, but as we grew up we just drifted apart.

Question 24

fall out

Answer 24

to have an argument with somebody so that you are no longer friendly with them

He left home after falling out with his parents.
She’d fallen out with her boyfriend over his ex-girlfriend.

Question 25

fit in

Answer 25

to feel that you belong to a particular group and are accepted by that group

It’s no surprise she’s leaving - she never really fitted in.

Question 26

lead on

Answer 26

to persuade someone to believe something that is untrue

All that time she’d been leading him on (= pretending she liked him), but she was only interested in his money.

Question 27

stick up for

Answer 27

to support or defend someone or something, especially when that person or thing is being criticized

I can stick up for myself.
It’s sweet the way he sticks up for his little brother.

Question 28

work up courage/enthusiasm/appetite

Answer 28

to develop or improve something with some effort

Question 29

go back

Answer 29

if two people go back a period of time (usually a long time), they have known each other for that time