Unit 1: meaning and style
Accurate Exact and correct - OPP: inaccurate
- N: accuracy
Synonymous Having (nearly) the same - N: synonym
meaning
Restricted Controlled, limited
Ambiguous Not clear, can be explained - N: ambiguity
in different ways
Interpret Explain the meaning of sth - N: interpretation
Self-explanatory Easy to understand
Precise Clear and accurate - SYN: exact
- N: precision
Virtually Almost, virtually the same - ADJ: virtual
Ironically Using words to say the - ADJ: ironic
opposite of what you mean - N: irony
Literal Basic or usual meaning - ADV: literally
Figuratively Not used in usual way - ADJ: figurative
Golden (opportunity) wonderful
Metaphor Describe sth in a different - ADJ: metaphorical
way from its usual use
Disapproving Showing sth is bad or wrong
Offensive Rude in a way that causes - OPP: inoffensive
you to be upset or angry - V: offend
Appropriate Suitable, correct - OPP: inappropriate
Insulting Rude or offensive - N/V: insult
Swearing Use of swear words, make a
serious promise
Unit 2: familiar words, new meanings
Crawl (vehicle) move very slowly
Have second thoughts Having doubts about a
(about sth) decision you made
Be in two minds about sth Be unable to decide
Sweet (of sb) Kind, sweet of you to come
Be tied up Be busy and unable to do
other things
Strike sb (that) Suddenly come into one’s
mind
Thick Stupid
Be the last thing on sb mind The thing least likely to be
thinking about
Get out of sth Avoid doing sth
You’re not gonna believe Used to introduce surprising
this news
,Get sb/sth to do sth Make or persuade sb/sth - I finally got the car
started
See what/how, … Find out sth by looking or - Let’s see what
asking happens
Keep Remain fresh - We must eat them,
they won’t keep
Put (sth into words) Say or write sth in a - I think he put it very
particular way well in his essay
Push sb Make sb work harder
Leave sth to/with sb Allow sb to take care of sth
Make sth sth Think or calculate sth to be - What time do you
a particular number make it?
- I’ll make it 20 more
Bring sb/sth Cause sb/sth to reach a - What brings you
particular condition/place here?
Come with/in sth Be sold or produced with a - The chair come in 4
particular feature different colours
Do (for sb/sth) Be enough, acceptable - Will these do for you
Unit 3: word families
Mistakes sb/sth for sb/sth Wrongly think sb is sb else - N: mistake
- I mistook her for sb
else
Certainty Being completely sure about - ADJ: certain
sth - OPP: uncertainty
Problematic Difficult to deal with - N: problem
Posses have or own sth - N: possession
- Formal
Beneficial Having a good effect - N/V: benefit
Requirement Sth you need or must have - V: require
Housing Buildings for ppl to live in - N: house
Household All the people who live in 1
house
Likelihood Chance of sth happening - ADV: likely
Handling He way sb deals with sth - V: handle
Guidelines Official rules - N/V: guide
Guidance Help or advice
Apologetic Showing you are sorry - V: apologize
Noticeable Easily seen/noticed - V: notice
Inclusive Including everything - V: include
- N: inclusion
Comparable Similar, able to be compared - V: compare
Replacement Thing that replaces another - V: replace
- OPP: irreplaceable
Humanitarian Concerned with trying to - N: humanity, human
, make ppl’s lives better
Racism Unfair treatment of ppl who - N: race
belong to a different race - ADJ: racist
Recognition You can see/identify sb - V: recognize
Unit 4: collocation
Verb + noun
Make an effort (to do sth) Attempt to do sth difficult
Set an example (to sb) Do sth good that ppl can try - Set a good example
to copy or achieve
Treat sb with respect Behave politely towards sb - OPP: treat sb like dirt
Take responsibility (for Accept that it is your fault if - OPP: pass the buck
sth/sb) sth goed wrong
Get the credit (for sth) Be given praise for sth
Take the blame (for sth) Accept that sth is your fault
Spread a rumour Tell sth to a lot of ppl that
might not be true
Keep A secret, promise,
appointment, record
Break the news Be the first person to tell
others important news
Roar with laughter Laugh laudly or a lot
Verb + noun
Detailed description Description full of - OPP: brief
information description
Strong accent Very noticeable accent - OPP: slight accent
Main concern Most important worry - SYN: principal
concern
Typical example Very good example - SYN: perfect
example
Utter chaos Complete confusion
Utter nonsense Ideas that you think are
stupid
Narrow escape Very lucky to escape safely
Familiar face Person you recognize and
know
Vast majority Very large majority
Pure gold/silk/cotton Not mixed with anything
else
Complete opposite Sb/sth that is very different - SYN: exact opposite
from sb/st else
Accurate Exact and correct - OPP: inaccurate
- N: accuracy
Synonymous Having (nearly) the same - N: synonym
meaning
Restricted Controlled, limited
Ambiguous Not clear, can be explained - N: ambiguity
in different ways
Interpret Explain the meaning of sth - N: interpretation
Self-explanatory Easy to understand
Precise Clear and accurate - SYN: exact
- N: precision
Virtually Almost, virtually the same - ADJ: virtual
Ironically Using words to say the - ADJ: ironic
opposite of what you mean - N: irony
Literal Basic or usual meaning - ADV: literally
Figuratively Not used in usual way - ADJ: figurative
Golden (opportunity) wonderful
Metaphor Describe sth in a different - ADJ: metaphorical
way from its usual use
Disapproving Showing sth is bad or wrong
Offensive Rude in a way that causes - OPP: inoffensive
you to be upset or angry - V: offend
Appropriate Suitable, correct - OPP: inappropriate
Insulting Rude or offensive - N/V: insult
Swearing Use of swear words, make a
serious promise
Unit 2: familiar words, new meanings
Crawl (vehicle) move very slowly
Have second thoughts Having doubts about a
(about sth) decision you made
Be in two minds about sth Be unable to decide
Sweet (of sb) Kind, sweet of you to come
Be tied up Be busy and unable to do
other things
Strike sb (that) Suddenly come into one’s
mind
Thick Stupid
Be the last thing on sb mind The thing least likely to be
thinking about
Get out of sth Avoid doing sth
You’re not gonna believe Used to introduce surprising
this news
,Get sb/sth to do sth Make or persuade sb/sth - I finally got the car
started
See what/how, … Find out sth by looking or - Let’s see what
asking happens
Keep Remain fresh - We must eat them,
they won’t keep
Put (sth into words) Say or write sth in a - I think he put it very
particular way well in his essay
Push sb Make sb work harder
Leave sth to/with sb Allow sb to take care of sth
Make sth sth Think or calculate sth to be - What time do you
a particular number make it?
- I’ll make it 20 more
Bring sb/sth Cause sb/sth to reach a - What brings you
particular condition/place here?
Come with/in sth Be sold or produced with a - The chair come in 4
particular feature different colours
Do (for sb/sth) Be enough, acceptable - Will these do for you
Unit 3: word families
Mistakes sb/sth for sb/sth Wrongly think sb is sb else - N: mistake
- I mistook her for sb
else
Certainty Being completely sure about - ADJ: certain
sth - OPP: uncertainty
Problematic Difficult to deal with - N: problem
Posses have or own sth - N: possession
- Formal
Beneficial Having a good effect - N/V: benefit
Requirement Sth you need or must have - V: require
Housing Buildings for ppl to live in - N: house
Household All the people who live in 1
house
Likelihood Chance of sth happening - ADV: likely
Handling He way sb deals with sth - V: handle
Guidelines Official rules - N/V: guide
Guidance Help or advice
Apologetic Showing you are sorry - V: apologize
Noticeable Easily seen/noticed - V: notice
Inclusive Including everything - V: include
- N: inclusion
Comparable Similar, able to be compared - V: compare
Replacement Thing that replaces another - V: replace
- OPP: irreplaceable
Humanitarian Concerned with trying to - N: humanity, human
, make ppl’s lives better
Racism Unfair treatment of ppl who - N: race
belong to a different race - ADJ: racist
Recognition You can see/identify sb - V: recognize
Unit 4: collocation
Verb + noun
Make an effort (to do sth) Attempt to do sth difficult
Set an example (to sb) Do sth good that ppl can try - Set a good example
to copy or achieve
Treat sb with respect Behave politely towards sb - OPP: treat sb like dirt
Take responsibility (for Accept that it is your fault if - OPP: pass the buck
sth/sb) sth goed wrong
Get the credit (for sth) Be given praise for sth
Take the blame (for sth) Accept that sth is your fault
Spread a rumour Tell sth to a lot of ppl that
might not be true
Keep A secret, promise,
appointment, record
Break the news Be the first person to tell
others important news
Roar with laughter Laugh laudly or a lot
Verb + noun
Detailed description Description full of - OPP: brief
information description
Strong accent Very noticeable accent - OPP: slight accent
Main concern Most important worry - SYN: principal
concern
Typical example Very good example - SYN: perfect
example
Utter chaos Complete confusion
Utter nonsense Ideas that you think are
stupid
Narrow escape Very lucky to escape safely
Familiar face Person you recognize and
know
Vast majority Very large majority
Pure gold/silk/cotton Not mixed with anything
else
Complete opposite Sb/sth that is very different - SYN: exact opposite
from sb/st else
