English vocabulary in use
________________________________________________________
_____
U8: describing people
Positive and negative qualities
Opportunistic Using situations for own benefit
Methodical Systematic, careful
Chauvinistic Too patriotic
Get carried away Become too excited and lose control
Obliging Ready to help
Superficial Not caring about serious things
Insecure Not confident, uncertain about your
own abilities
Perfectionist Someone who is not satisfied if things
are not 100% perfect
Tactless Inclined to say things that upset or
offend people
Intuitive Understanding instinctively
Diligent Hard – working
Placid Calm, does not easily become excited
or angry
Magnetic personality Personality that attracts people to you
Distrustful Not trusting, suspicious of others
Shrewd Having good judgement
Supportive Gives help or encouragement
Extravagant Spends too much money or uses too
much of something
Down-to-earth Practical and sensible
Altruistic Thinking of others rather than yourself
Morose Gloomy
Sharp-tongued Inclined to speak in a severe and
critical way
Naïve Without enough experience of life,
trusting too easily
1
,U9: Appearance and mannerisms
Adjectives connected with size weight and general appearance
Slender Thin in an attractive way
Scrawny Unattractively thin and bony-looking
Lanky Very tall and thin, and usually moving
awkwardly
Gangling/gangly Tall, with long, thin arms and legs and
rather awkward movements; often
used of men and boys
Obese Very fat, in an unhealthy way
Stout With a quite large, solid body; used of
men and women
Stocky Short and with a body that is wide
across the shoulders and chest
Aspects of appearance and complexion
Bulked up Increased in body size, especially by
gaining more muscle
Lean Thin and healthy
Wiry Thin but strong
Unkempt Untidy, scruffy The opposite:
smart or neat
Never a hair out of place Always well-dressed, neat and smart-
looking
Immaculate In perfect condition, smart
Swarthy Dark-coloured, used about skin
Sallow Yellowish (having a yellow colour)
Haggard His face looked ill and tired
Facial expression
Grinning Having a big smile
Pouting Positioning their lips in an attractive
way
Pouts Positions her lips in a look of
annoyance
Grimace Make an expression of pain or strong
dislike
Scowled Give a bad-tempered, angry look
Leering Looking in an Staren
unpleasant,
sexually
interested way
Mannerisms and actions
Shrugged his shoulders Lifted his shoulders up and down to
show he didn’t know or couldn’t
2
, answer
Folded his arms Crossed one arm over the other close
to his body
Crossed his legs Crossed his legs over the other while
sitting
Twitching Suddenly making small movements
Bites her nails
Clenched her fist Closed her hand tightly because of
anger
Tapping/drumming his fingers Making quick, light hitting movements
U10: Personality and character traits
Adjectives to describe people’s personality or behaviour (examples
see p.26)
Impetuous Acts on a sudden idea Often
without thinking first negative
Impulsive Similar to impetuous, but More
used in a more positive way positive
than
impetuous
Effusive Exaggerated expression of pleasure,
praise or gratitude
Excitable Easily excited by things
Pushy Always selfishly promoting Informal
your own position or interest
Self-conscious Nervous or uncomfortable because you
know what people think about you or
your actions
Well-balanced Calm and reasonable and showing good
judgement
Taciturn Reserved or says very little Generally
negative
Sociability
Introvert Inward-looking and quiet
Outgoing Energetic and friendly, finds it easy to be
with others
Extrovert Outward-looking, energetic and sociable
Diffident Lacks confidence
Low self-esteem Has a low opinion of himself
Reserved Not immediately sociable
Aloof Unfriendly and not sociable
Haughty Unfriendly and thinks herself better than
others
3
________________________________________________________
_____
U8: describing people
Positive and negative qualities
Opportunistic Using situations for own benefit
Methodical Systematic, careful
Chauvinistic Too patriotic
Get carried away Become too excited and lose control
Obliging Ready to help
Superficial Not caring about serious things
Insecure Not confident, uncertain about your
own abilities
Perfectionist Someone who is not satisfied if things
are not 100% perfect
Tactless Inclined to say things that upset or
offend people
Intuitive Understanding instinctively
Diligent Hard – working
Placid Calm, does not easily become excited
or angry
Magnetic personality Personality that attracts people to you
Distrustful Not trusting, suspicious of others
Shrewd Having good judgement
Supportive Gives help or encouragement
Extravagant Spends too much money or uses too
much of something
Down-to-earth Practical and sensible
Altruistic Thinking of others rather than yourself
Morose Gloomy
Sharp-tongued Inclined to speak in a severe and
critical way
Naïve Without enough experience of life,
trusting too easily
1
,U9: Appearance and mannerisms
Adjectives connected with size weight and general appearance
Slender Thin in an attractive way
Scrawny Unattractively thin and bony-looking
Lanky Very tall and thin, and usually moving
awkwardly
Gangling/gangly Tall, with long, thin arms and legs and
rather awkward movements; often
used of men and boys
Obese Very fat, in an unhealthy way
Stout With a quite large, solid body; used of
men and women
Stocky Short and with a body that is wide
across the shoulders and chest
Aspects of appearance and complexion
Bulked up Increased in body size, especially by
gaining more muscle
Lean Thin and healthy
Wiry Thin but strong
Unkempt Untidy, scruffy The opposite:
smart or neat
Never a hair out of place Always well-dressed, neat and smart-
looking
Immaculate In perfect condition, smart
Swarthy Dark-coloured, used about skin
Sallow Yellowish (having a yellow colour)
Haggard His face looked ill and tired
Facial expression
Grinning Having a big smile
Pouting Positioning their lips in an attractive
way
Pouts Positions her lips in a look of
annoyance
Grimace Make an expression of pain or strong
dislike
Scowled Give a bad-tempered, angry look
Leering Looking in an Staren
unpleasant,
sexually
interested way
Mannerisms and actions
Shrugged his shoulders Lifted his shoulders up and down to
show he didn’t know or couldn’t
2
, answer
Folded his arms Crossed one arm over the other close
to his body
Crossed his legs Crossed his legs over the other while
sitting
Twitching Suddenly making small movements
Bites her nails
Clenched her fist Closed her hand tightly because of
anger
Tapping/drumming his fingers Making quick, light hitting movements
U10: Personality and character traits
Adjectives to describe people’s personality or behaviour (examples
see p.26)
Impetuous Acts on a sudden idea Often
without thinking first negative
Impulsive Similar to impetuous, but More
used in a more positive way positive
than
impetuous
Effusive Exaggerated expression of pleasure,
praise or gratitude
Excitable Easily excited by things
Pushy Always selfishly promoting Informal
your own position or interest
Self-conscious Nervous or uncomfortable because you
know what people think about you or
your actions
Well-balanced Calm and reasonable and showing good
judgement
Taciturn Reserved or says very little Generally
negative
Sociability
Introvert Inward-looking and quiet
Outgoing Energetic and friendly, finds it easy to be
with others
Extrovert Outward-looking, energetic and sociable
Diffident Lacks confidence
Low self-esteem Has a low opinion of himself
Reserved Not immediately sociable
Aloof Unfriendly and not sociable
Haughty Unfriendly and thinks herself better than
others
3
