Unit 2. Going to extremes Flashcards
The experience was n______ near as disturbing as I had been led to believe.
The experience was nowhere near as disturbing as I had been led to believe.
An anechoic chamber is a good d___ quieter than most other places on Earth.
An anechoic chamber is a good deal quieter than most other places on Earth.
Your performance this month is fr_________ better than last month. [= marginally better ]
Your performance this month is fractionally better than last month. [= a little bit]
Spending a lockdown in a get-away house is d________ better than spending it in a small flat in the city centre.
(= miles better)
Spending a lockdown in a get-away house is decidedly better than spending it in a small flat in the city centre.
[find where a word is missing and add it] Being alone nothing like as bad as I thought.
[find where a word is missing and add it] Being alone is nothing like as bad as I thought.
(or was)
Being with in-laws is w__ more annoying and stressful than being with your partner. (= miles more annoying)
Being with in-laws is way more annoying and stressful than being with your partner. (= miles more annoying)
[add one word] But decidedly worst thing was that I couldn’t work.
[add one word] But decidedly the worst thing was that I couldn’t work.
[pronunciation] isolated
/ˈaɪ.sə.leɪ.tɪd/
Talking is a way of fitting _ – y’know, a way of showing that we belong to a social group. (= trying to similar to others and to be accepted)
Talking is a way of fitting in – y’know, a way of showing that we belong to a social group.
How would I come _ _ other people? (= what would they think of me?)
How would I come across to other people? = what will they think of me?
… people go into some kind of retreat to _ themselves _ from the outside world. (= отгородиться, разорвать связи)
… people go into some kind of retreat to cut themselves off from the outside world.
… when someone held a door open for me and a little ‘thank you’ s_ _. (= you said it without intending to)
… when someone held a door open for me and a little ‘thank you’ slipped out.
The most interesting thing was the way other people related _ me.
The most interesting thing was the way other people related to me.
She b_ me _ questions. (=asked me loads of questions)
She bombarded me with questions.
BrE /bɒmˈbɑːd/
AmE /bɑːmˈbɑːrd/
He always goes _ _ something when I go and see him … (talks and talks and talks)
He always goes on and on about something when I go and see him … [negative]
He usually likes to r_ _ some politician or other. (=be very critical)
He usually likes to run down some politician or other.
I often felt that my silence brought __ the best in people. (made other people behave well)
I often felt that my silence brought out the best in people.
(During my weekend of silence) I often wanted to (respond to people), but I had to hold myself __. (stopped myself from saying something)
I often wanted to, but I had to hold myself back.
I hate the way Mike treats his daughter. He’s always ___ her ___ in front of other people. (criticising her)
I hate the way Mike treats his daughter. He’s always running her down in front of other people. (criticising her)
He ___ his son ___ without a penny. They never saw each other again.
He cut his son off without a penny. They never saw each other again.
I’m not sure we should hire John. He’s never done this type of work before; I’m not sure how he’ll ___ ___ with the other people. (= if he’ll be a good match)
I’m not sure we should hire John. He’s never done this type of work before; I’m not sure how he’ll fit in with the other people.
The children __ her __ questions. (asked her LOADS of questions)
The children bombarded her with questions.
Don’t be so critical on yourself. You mustn’t keep ___ yourself ___. Cut yourself some slack. Give yourself a pat on the shoulder.
Don’t be so critical on yourself. You mustn’t keep running yourself down. Cut yourself some slack. Give yourself a pat on the shoulder.
I like Harry Styles’s songs, but he __ __ as a bit of a bore in his interviews. (= seems to be, creates an impression of a bore)
I like Harry Styles’s songs, but he comes across as a bit of a bore in his interviews.
practice pronouncing this sentence fluently, i.e. with consonant-vowel linking!
Our product needs an image that people can ___ __. (= something that represents them)
Our product needs an image that people can relate to.
It’s no surprise she’s leaving the company - she never really __ __. (= never was part of the team, really)
It’s no surprise she’s leaving the company - she never really fitted in.
I’m sorry I said that. It just __ __. (= I said this accidentally)
I’m sorry I said that. It just slipped out.
We have been __ __ letters of complaint. (we’ve been receiving loads of them)
We have been bombarded with letters of complaint.
He admitted that something had gone wrong, but he __ __ the details (= stopped himself from telling the complete truth).
He admitted that something had gone wrong, but he held back the details (= stopped himself from telling the complete truth).
We are __ daily __ propaganda about what we should eat.
We are bombarded daily with propaganda about what we should eat.
I didn’t **mean to say it. The words __ __.
I didn’t mean to say it. The words slipped out.
Many adults can’t __ __ children. (don’t really understand their feelings and don’t find them interesting)
Many adults can’t relate to children.
Pressure can __ __ the worst in people.
Pressure can bring out the worst in people.
I just wish he’d stop __ __ about how brilliant his daughter is.” “Yes, he does __ __ (a bit), doesn’t he?”
I just wish he’d stop going on about how brilliant his daughter is.” “Yes, he does go on (a bit), doesn’t he?”
I wish you’d stop __ __ at me (= criticizing me repeatedly) about my haircut.
I wish you’d stop going on at me (= criticizing me repeatedly) about my haircut.
I’ve never met anyone quite so insecure. He’s always __ himself __.
I’ve never met anyone quite so insecure. He’s always running himself down.
He spoke slowly, to __ __ his growing anger.
He spoke slowly, to hold back his growing anger.
Emma doesn’t want to b_ her brother _. (= kick him out of the flat)
Emma doesn’t want to boot her brother out.
And and he’s just so v_ (his moods change all the time and he might get extremely upset or even aggressive) - it’s like walking on eggshells half the time.
And and he’s just so volatile (his moods change all the time and he might get extremely upset or even aggressive) - it’s like walking on eggshells half the time.
BrE /ˈvɒlətaɪl/
AmE /ˈvɑːlətl/
Do you think l_ wh_ lies are acceptable? (невинная ложь)
Do you think little white lies are acceptable?
In what cultures do they tend to beat around the bush and in what cultures do they tend to g_ s_ _ _ point?
In what cultures do they tend to beat around the bush and in what cultures do they tend to get straight to the point?
If someone was to _ some bad news to you (= tell you about some bad news), would you prefer for them to drop some hints to soften the blow?
If someone was to break some bad news to you (= tell you about some bad news), would you prefer for them to drop some hints to soften the blow?
If someone was to break some bad news to you (= tell you about some bad news), would you prefer for them to drop some hints to _ the blow? (=смягчить)
If someone was to break some bad news to you (= tell you about some bad news), would you prefer for them to drop some hints to soften the blow? (=смягчить)
BrE /ˈsɒfn/
AmE /ˈsɔːfn/
What else is going on today, then?
N_ m_.
What else is going on today, then?
Nothing much.
He _ _ _ nerves, (меня подбешивает) to be honest. There’s just not enough space!
He’s getting on my nerves, (меня подбешивает) to be honest. There’s just not enough space!
And he’s so volatile - it’s like w_ _ e_ half the time! (= to be very careful not to offend or upset someone)
And he’s so volatile - it’s like walking on eggshells half the time!
Extra example: I was always on eggshells when my family came to stay.
Isn’t it about time you asked him to leave?
Well, I keep _ hints, but he doesn’t seem to notice.
Isn’t it about time you asked him to leave?
Well, I keep dropping hints, but he doesn’t seem to notice.
or: keep giving him hints
Isn’t it about time you asked him to leave?
Well, I keep dropping hints, but he doesn’t notice [add ‘seem’].
Isn’t it about time you asked him to leave?
Well, I keep dropping hints, but he doesn’t SEEM TO notice.
[talking about being direct] Why don’t you just t_ him s_, then? Don’t beat around the bush.
[talking about being direct] Why don’t you just tell him straight, then? Don’t beat around the bush.
notice that there’s no /h/ in ‘him’ here!
[talking about being direct] Why don’t you just tell him straight, then? Don’t b_ a_ the _ (не ходи вокруг да около).
[talking about being direct] Why don’t you just tell him straight, then? Don’t beat around the bush (не ходи вокруг да около).
Or: beat about the bush
There’s a lot to be said for being u_ a_ th_. [= being direct, not concealing anything]
There’s a lot to be said for being upfront about things.
You just c_ _ a _. (не понимаешь намёков) That’s your problem. [notice that ‘that’s your problem’ is pretty aggressive!]
You just can’t take a hint. (не понимаешь намёков) That’s your problem. [notice that ‘that’s your problem’ is pretty aggressive!]
Yeah. But I h_ _ be upfront _ s_.
(я должнен быть с тобой откровенным)
Yeah. But I have to be upfront about something.
(я должнен быть с тобой откровенным)
[softening something bad you’re gonna say] no / nice way / say
There’s no nice way to say that.
Она не понимает намёков, + a tag question.
She can’t take a hint, can she.
I’ve been telling her to tell them, but she _ (меня не слушает и всё тут).
I’ve been telling her to tell them, but she won’t listen [to me]. (меня не слушает и всё тут).
Look, Dick. I’m not gonna b_ a_ the b_ with you.
[This is extremely straightforward, and probably the person speaking is in the position of power, OR they have a very close relationship.]
Look, Dick. I’m not gonna beat around the bush with you.
[This is extremely straightforward, and probably the person speaking is in the position of power, OR they have a very close relationship.]
Listen, Maria. There’s something I m_ tell you st_ o_ the b_. (without waiting, immediately)
Listen, Maria. There’s something I must tell you straight off the bat. (without waiting, immediately)
Notice the strategic use of ‘must’ here.
It’s just that… Well…
Bess, Bess, don’t beat around the bush. >>
soften the expression by replacing the imperative verb (‘don’t’) by another expression to include the speaker.
It’s just that… Well…
Bess, Bess, let’s not beat around the bush. >> soften the expression by including the speaker.
I sh_ tell you st_ _. I’m not around a lot. In and out. No strings.
I should tell you straight out. I’m not around a lot. In and out. No strings.
Glossary: I’m not around a lot = постоянно в разъездах
No strings = no strings attached - никаких обязательств
Carol, there’s n_ n_ w_ for _ to _ this. (= Кэрол, у меня неприятные новости.) Take your pension and go to that beautiful house of yours.
Carol, there’s no nice way for me to do this.
All right, let’s not beat around the bush, whatever that might mean, and g_ right d_ to it. (= приступим)
All right, let’s not beat around the bush, whatever that might mean, and get right down to it. (= приступим)
[talking someone into something - bringing up the topic]
So Max. I _ (think). _ (you / think) about the possibility of finding your own place to live?
So Max. I was thinking. - notice past continuous to make the suggestion less direct.
Have you thought about the possibility of finding your own place to live?
Have you thought about the possibility of finding your own place to live?
I _ (особо об этом не думал), to be honest.
I haven’t really thought about it, to be honest.
Notice: present perfect (no specified time reference)
‘really’ to soften - особо не думал
[talking someone into something]
W_, I m_ it’s not as if you’re short of cash anymore, _ _? [an expression to develop your point + a tag question]
Well, I mean it’s not as if you’re short of cash anymore, is it?
[talking someone into something - will or would here?]
Well, it _ be lovely to have your own workspace, _n’t it?
Sure. Yeah.
Well, it would be lovely to have your own workspace, wouldn’t it? What do you think?
Use would during when describing hypothetical benefits, if the person agreed with you.
Will is very culturally inappropriate in this context.
We _ (think) perhaps some of us could, uh, volunteer to help clean up the debris. мы подумали
Use this to make a tentative suggestion - предложить что-то с осторожностью
We thought perhaps some of us could, uh, volunteer to help clean up the debris.
Or We were thinking
You might want to _ _ think about what you could say tonight.
You might want to have a think about what you could say tonight.
I looked down and saw a caterpillar _ing up my shoe.
I looked down and saw a caterpillar crawling up my shoe.
The weather was lovely, so they decided to take a s_ in the park.
(= a leisurely walk)
The weather was lovely, so they decided to take a stroll in the park.
My daughter loves it when I whirl her.
My daughter loves it when I whirl her.
As I was leaving the cafe, I saw a completely drunk man _ing up the street.
As I was leaving the cafe, I saw a completely drunk man staggering up the street.
I love looking at _ snow.
I love looking at whirling snow.
He _ into the water.
He plunged into the water.
Gentlemen, you _ _ _ (стоит) step inside in a minute.
Gentlemen, you might want to step inside in a minute.
Just the sight of this spider makes my skin c_.
(= makes you feel afraid or full of horror)
Just the sight of this spider makes my skin crawl.
Traffic slowed to a с_ after rush hour crash between Vernon and Kelowna
Traffic slowed to a crawl after rush hour crash between Vernon and Kelowna.
internet service in sub-Saharan Africa slowed to a crawl after the undersea cables connecting Africa to Europe were broken
what are they doing?
+ what are the forms of this verb?
sliding down the hill
slide - slid - slid
I believe we might be at a point where we _ _ _ (нам стоит попробовать) some alternative methods.
I believe we might be at a point where we might wanna try some alternative methods.
The floor was _ with ants. (= to be full of or completely covered with people, insects or animals, in a way that is unpleasant)
The floor was crawling with ants.
The place was crawling with journalists.
You _ _ _ (= тебе стоит) brush your teeth because you breath smells like you’ve been eating dog shit.
You might want to brush your teeth because you breath smells like you’ve been eating dog shit.
