Professional Documents
Culture Documents
scrawny
portly
stout
chubby
obese
overweight
lanky
scruffy
smart
muscular
curvy
pale
swarthy
sallow
haggard
athletic
double chin
stubble
wrinkles
dimples
sideburns
scar
spiky hair
side parting
pony tail / pig tails
in a plait
in a bun
wart
spot
distinguishing mark / feature
What action might we perform when...
..we are tired
..we are nervous
..we are furious
..we don't know the answer
..we are shocked
..we have just woken up
..we have a cold
..we want to agree
..we hear a joke
..we see someone we love
..we don't want to be recognized
..we want to disagree
..we have an itch
limp
hop
stumble
sprint
dash
glare
gaze
stare
glance
glimpse
scowl
frown
leer
pout
grimace
(smug) grin
giggle
yawn
cough
sneeze
stretch (arms)
shake (hands/head)
nod (head)
shrug (shoulders)
fold (arms)
cross (legs)
bite (nails)
pick (nose)
clench (fist)
tap (fingers)
raise (eyebrows)
scratch (head)
bear a striking resemblance to
disguise yourself as
dazzling smile
evil smirk
blank expression
cackle of laughter
gorgeous dress
..loves telling you what to do?
..acts very childishly?
..is extremely rude?
..who can't read?
..who hates lending people money?
..who has a tendency to go on and on?
..who believes every word you tell him?
..who always tells you the truth, even if it hurts?
..who never gives up?
..who doesn't like waiting?
..who saves money by economizing?
..who keeps himself to himself?
..who doesnt tell the truth?
Impetuous
Impulsive
taciturn
reserved
gullible
trusting
bossy
assertive
obstinate
determined
stingy
thrifty / frugal
full of yourself
self assured
blunt / curt
direct / frank
nosy
curious
extravagant
generous
naive
innocent
garrulous
chatty
mature
modest
patient
polite
responsible
rational
honest
organized
logical
literate
sincere
sensitive
considerate
adequate
reasonable
communicative
imaginative
co-operative
jealous
possessive
haughty / aloof
experienced
wise
What things should you avoid if you are heavily pregnant?
What's the best age to have children?
Were you christened as a child?
Are you married? Where did you meet your partner? How long were you engaged?
Did you or your spouse propose? How did he or she pop the question?
How many people came to your wedding? Was there a best man? Were there bridesmaids?
When do you plan to retire?
Who will inherit your fortune?
What will you have written on your gravestone?
heavily pregnant
to have a baby
to give birth to twins
to have a miscarriage
to have an abortion
to deliver a baby by caesarian section
antenatal, prenatal, postnatal
to be christened / baptised
to adopt / foster a child
to retire
to pass away
to pass on
to grieve / mourn
funeral
to bury
to cremate
an undertaker
a coffin
a grave (yard)
a will
to inherit
an heir
to send your sincere condolences
Do you prefer wearing baggy or tight clothes?
How do you dress? Scruff, smart, old fashioned, or trendy?
Do you usually try clothes on before you buy them?
On what occasions do you dress up?
Do you hang your clothes up, or just throw them on the floor?
Do you ever tie back your hair?
Do you roll up your sleeves on a hot day?
How old were you when you learnt to do up your shoe laces?
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Material
Silk (shirt)
Leather (jacket)
Nylon (tights)
Lycra (cycling shorts)
Denim (jeans)
Velvet (bow)
Fur (coat)
Suede (shoes, jacket)
Woolen (jumper)
cotton (socks)
Pattern
Spotted
Striped
Checked
Plain
Other Clothes
Slippers
Dressing Gown
Waist Coat
Cardigan
Blouse
Vest
Idioms
Speak off the cuff
Wear the trousers
on a shoestring (budget)
Hot under the collar
to be in s.o else's shoes
What kind of house do you live in? Give a complete description
Do you have any rooms at the top or bottom of your house?
Do you have a shed or garage? What is kept there?
Do you have a garden? Can you describe it?
Do you prefer blinds or curtains?
Do you prefer wallpaper or paint?
What kind of floor do you have? Do you like carpets?
Describe your bedroom: what furniture do you have?
Describe your kitchen: what furniture do you have?
What kind of domestic chores do you have to do every week?
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Utility room
Attic
Basement
Cellar
Loft
Landing
Hall
Porch
Pantry / Larder
Terrace / Patio
Shed
Garage
Loo
(semi) detached
terraced
cottage
bungalow
council housing
studio flat
2 bedrooms
2 reception rooms
Outside
Path
Hedge
Fence
Gate
Wall
Letterbox
(un)lock
replace
put away
tidy up
hoover up
How many close mates do you have?
Have you ever been to a fancy dress party?
Have you ever been to a housewarming party?
Have you ever been on a stag or hen night?
When was the last time you threw a party?
Have you ever gatecrashed a party?
Do you often pay your mates a flying visit, or do you think it's rude to turn up uninvited?
What do you think is the perfect venue to wine and dine your beloved?
How often do you call in on your parents?
How often do you pop to the shops?
Have you ever been stood up on a date?
Have you ever been turned down for a job?
pop out
pop to
pop round
pop over
pop by
drop round
drop over
drop by
call in on
get on with
fall out with
get up to
let s.o down
blow s.o out
stand s.o up
turn up / show up
dash off / shoot off / head off
What kind of laws would you like to see brought in?
In which areas should the government cut spending at the moment?
Do you think the government should raise or lower interest rates?
Who did you vote for in the last election? Why? Which policies attracted you to the candidate?
Have you ever voted in a referendum?
In what parts of the world would you like to see a ceasefire declared?
Are there any regimes which you believe should be overthrown? Should foreign nations intervene?
Do you think all monarchies should be abolished?
Do you feel like your leader has misled the electorate?
What kind of policies would you stand for if you were running for president?
military coup
rebellion
bring down / overthrow / topple the regime (a dictator)
abolish / restore the monarchy
enter into (launch) negotiations
broker a ceasefire / an agreement
settle a dispute
bow to pressure
issue a statement
decline to comment
clarify your position
mislead the electorate
leak a story to the press
to build up suspense
narrator (3rd person, omniscient, unreliable)
a plot / literary device (a twist, a red herring)
a flashback
an irregular timeline
an allegory
an analogy
alliteration
assonance
a euphemism
a metaphor
a simile
a pun
a paradox
oxymoron
onomatopoeia
antagonist
protagonist
anti hero
satire
personification
startling originality
gloomy atmosphere
vivid description
colourful characters
If you invited me for dinner, what would you cook for me, and how exactly would you cook it?
What's your favourite recipe?
How do you like your potatoes? Boiled, fried, mashed or roast? Should they be peeled?
How do you like your eggs?
Do you like to grate cheese on top of pasta?
What kinds of herbs do you like to sprinkle on your dinner?
Do you like to dip bread in your soup?
Do you tend to eat slowly or wolf down your food in big gulps?
Utensils
chopping board
sieve
ladle
whisk
baking tray
casserole dish
spatula
cheese grater
Recipes
scrambled eggs
burnt to a crisp
dripping with butter
dumplings
pastry
beef and pork mince
Bay Leaves, dill, parsley
What's the longest time you've ever been stuck in heavy traffic? How did you pass the time?
Have you ever had a head on collision, or some other accident? What happened?
When is it dangerous to overtake?
Have you ever skidded after stepping on the brakes?
Have you ever had points put on your license? Why?
Do you have a manual or automatic transmission?
Have you ever broken down, run out of petrol, or had a puncture?
What do you have in the boot of your car?
Do you know how to change a tyre?
Have you ever been pulled over by the police?
windscreen wipers
get a flat tyre or puncture
handbrake
steering wheel
the engine is giving off smoke
put s.t in / take s.t out of the boot
change gear
motorway
rush hour
pavement
bear left / bear right
self catering
half board
full board
all inclusive
package tour
transfer from...to...
hotel facilities
travel insurance
pack your suitcase
weigh your suitcase
wrap up your luggage
go to terminal 2
a 2 hour delay
go to gate 14
declare your goods at customs
go sightseeing / sunbathing
get sunburn
go for a paddle
an arduous journey
1) Can you remember some really cold weather, like a blizzard? What happened?
2) Do you often get snow in the winter? What time of year does it start to melt?
3) Why does the body sweat? And why does it shiver?
4) What kind of climate do you have?
5) What's the hottest temperature you have ever experienced?
6) Have you ever been in a hurricane? What happened? Were any trees blown over?
7) What's the wettest weather you have experienced? Are there any areas near you which are in danger of floods
8) Do you know anyone who has been struck by lightning?
9) Are the roads slippery at any particular time of year?
FREEZING COLD
chilly
frosty
sleet
snow melts / settles
ice thaws (out)
a blizzard
slippery
10 degrees below zero
to shiver
His teeth were chattering
SCORCHING HOT
a heatwave
an arid climate
a drought
humid (humidity) (moisture in air)
a stifling day
a stuffy room
to sweat
perspiration
SOAKING WET
a (thunder) storm
to be struck by lightning
hailstones / hail
damp
drizzle
a light shower (it's spitting)
heavy rain (it's pouring down, chucking it down)
torrential rain
floods
overcast (cloudy)
A STRONG WIND
a breeze (a draft)
a light/cool wind
a blustering wind
gale force winds
a hurricane / tornado
PHRASAL VERBS
chill out!
cool down
The sun/rain was beating down
The clouds blot out the sun
His face clouded over
I slipped over
The pipes have frozen up
I soaked up the sunshine
The wind blew the tree over
He stormed out of the meeting
Check your knowledge with this excellent quiz from the University of Bristol
1) What's the fiercest animal you have ever come across?
2) Which species are likely to die out soon? What's the cause of their extinction?
3) Do you have a dog? Which breed do you have?
4) Are there any blood sports which you believe should be legal? What about hunting?
5) Can you name for me 3 different carnivores, 3 different omnivores, and 3 different herbivores?
6) Which animals are you most afraid of? Mammals, rodents, reptiles or insects?
7) Have you ever had to fish your wallet or phone out of somewhere? What happened?
8) Do you have any friends who rabbit on about any specific topics? What do they usually go on about?
9) If you were attacked by a large dog, would you chicken out and run away, or stand up to it?
10) Think of a well known predator. What does it prey on?
mammal
rodent
reptile
insect
carnivore
herbivore
omnivore
predator
prey
wing
beak
claws
feathers
nest
scales
gills
fins
whiskers
claws
fur
tail
paws
mane
hooves
a habitat
mating season
to breed (a breed of)
droppings
poachers
blood sports
animal shelter
lay an egg
Potential threats
SEA
tide comes in / goes out (high/low tide)
coast
shore
estuary
peninsula
cove / bay / gulf
RIVERS
mouth
source
tributary
valley / ravine / gorge
MOUNTAINS
foot
peak / summit
ridge
glacier
When you order online, is delivery usually prompt?
Which service or shop has the most obliging staff, in your opinion?
Where have you experienced the most impeccable service?
Have you ever complained about a service? Why did you kick up a fuss?
Which places have the most incompetent staff?
Have you ever had a refund? Why?
When was the last time you splashed out on something? What was it?
When was the last time you had to fork out on something? What was it?
VOCAB
prompt delivery
responsive to complaints
obliging staff
ready and willing to help
impeccable service
immediate dispatch
take complaints seriously
2 year warranty / guarantee
a full refund
meet health and safety requirements
satisfied customer
a stain
to be ripped / torn
to be scratched
something is missing
didn't respond to my query
Phrasal verbs
get back to s.o
put s.o through
put s.o on hold
hang up
kick up a fuss (moan, groan, grumble, whinge, whine)
shop around
fork out on
splash out on
stock up on
rip s.o off
mug s.o off
bargains
discounts
Do you know anyone who was convicted of an offence? Was it a minor one? Did he go to court? What was the p
Have you ever broken the law? What did you do?
What kind of punishment is appropriate for juvenile crimes? Do you think the police should come down more hea
Have you ever been to court?
Which crimes are common where you live? What do you think would be appropriate punishments?
What criticisms would you make of the legal system in your country?
investigate
arrest
interrogate
charge
go to court
trial
to convict
the accused
to adjourn
to remand in custody
to make a plea (to plead guilty)
witness, judge, jury, prosecution, defence
verdict
prove beyond reasonable doubt
trumped up charges
false accusations
to acquit
to sentence
to award damages to
a miscarriage of justice
mitigating (extenuating) circumstances
punishments
community service
on the spot fine
suspended sentence
2 year sentence
capital punishment
corporal punishment
not fit to stand trial
Crimes
blackmail
bribery
drug dealing
fraud
hijacking
kidnapping
murder
rape
smuggling
vandalism
tax evasion
theft
burglary
shoplifting
pickpocketing
mugging
robbery
phrasal verbs
clamp down on
turn s.o in (inform on, grass s.o up)
to bring s.o to justice
1) Do you believe in an afterlife? What kind of evidence adds credence to this idea?
2) What are the main tenets of liberal democracy?
3) Do you adhere to any well known religions or philosophies? Which ones?
4) Do you tend to defer to the experts opinion?
5) Are there any widespread beliefs which you find implausible? On which erroneous assumptions are they base
6) Are you prejudiced? Which groups do you discriminate against?
give/lend/add credence to
give s.o the benefit of the doubt
(im)plausible
(ir)rational
(il)logical
(in)credible
(un)likely
to dissuade
to discriminate against
declare war
seize power
to capture enemy troops
to defeat the rebels
to retreat, withdraw, pull back from, pull out of
to surrender to the opponent
to invade a foreign power
to evacuate the wounded, civilians, refugees
to annex (a disputed territory)
to stockpile weapons
to deploy heavy artillery, troops
to suffer (sustain) heavy casualties
to disarm
to rearm
armoured personnel carrier
Would you like to see house prices skyrocket or plummet?
Should we bail out the banks during a crisis?
Do you think interest rates will be raised or lowered?
Do you think your country should donate more in international aid, or less?
What can we do to alleviate poverty in developing countries? Should we cancel (write off) their debts?
When do you think the sanctions against Russia will be lifted?
What fiscal measures would you like to see brought in?
What do you think will happen in the future? Will the country go into recession, or enter a boom period?
Do you think the single currency is good for Europe?
Does your country have rampant inflation at the moment? What measures can be taken to curb it?
Where should the government levy new taxes?
DEBT
Cancel (wipe out) a (crippling) debt
Pay off (settle) (mounting) debts
Incur (run up) (substantial) debts
alleviate (ease) debts
undeclared earnings
tax evasion
abject poverty
turn over
bail out
cough up
fork out on
splash out on
set s.o back
Under what circumstances might you faint?
When do you usually feel dizzy?
Have you had any injections this year? What were they for?
Have you ever had an operation? Do you still have the scar to prove it?
When might you get a blister?
What's the most excruciating pain you have ever experienced?
What are the main causes of high blood pressure?
Have you ever needed stitches? What happened?
Have you ever lied in a hospital ward for a few days?
Would you know what to do if someone were choking?
What's the best treatment for flu? What about constipation?
How long does it usually take to get over the flu?
Have you ever had food poisoning? What symptoms did you have?
Have you ever had an arm or leg in plaster? How did it happen?
to sneeze
to cough
to vomit (be sick)
to bleed
to have diarrhoea
to sweat (perspire)
to faint
to feel dizzy
to be swollen
to sprain your wrist / ankle
to pull a muscle
to have high blood pressure
to choke
to have a seizure
nauseous
constipation
have a heart attack
have a stroke
cancer
food poisoning
premature death
a rash
a blister
a bruise
an excruciating/sharp/severe pain
have a sore throat
have a stomach ache
have flu
a serious wound
vaccination
critically ill
terminally ill
treat (treatment)
cure
heal
infection (to be infected with)
Phrasal Verbs
get over (make a full recovery)
suffer from
die of / from
pass out
throw up
break out (in a sweat)
disease breaks out
go (come) down with
stitch up
In which situations might you...
limp
trudge
tiptoe
strut
trample
stagger
creep
scamper
prowl
limp
hobble
stagger
tiptoe (slip off)
amble / stroll / saunter
stride
strut
trample (stamp)
trudge
roam/wander
loiter/hang around
stalk
prowl
trek / hike
scamper
scurry
prance
shuffle
sprint / dash / dart
march
creep
crawl
In which situations might you...
whisper
mutter
mumble
murmur
gabble
gibber
waffle
ramble
lisp
stutter
slur
tongue tied
moan
groan
grumble
whinge
whine
gossip
bicker
chatter
yell
scream
roar
shriek
rabbit/go/bang on about
wind s.o up
butter s.o up
slag s.o off
natter away
bring s.o up
point s.t out
tell on s.o (grass on, inform on)
tell s.o off (reprimand)
In which situations might you...
Frown
Glare
stare
gaze
gawp
gape
glance
glimpse
peep
peek
scrutinize
inspect
peer
ogle
leer
blink
wink
squint
flutter
bat
Thanks to
Owing to
due to
as a result of
as a consequence of
lead to
result in
bring about
precipitate
spark off
fire, hostilities, war, disease: breaks out
to come down to
to put down to
to stem from
to be rooted in
to provoke an outcry
to breed resentment
to plant doubt
to prompt speculation
to render obsolete
to wreak havoc
to spell disaster