Objective Proficiency p 92. Vocabulary

Ex 1
Possible answer
The couple on the left look as though they've been together for decades!
They seem to have a good relationship and are very close, whereas the couple on the right are clearly going through some sort of communication breakdown. I think you need to respect your partner and be willing to support them whenever necessary. There will be good times and bad, after all. The external factors that can impinge on a relationship are many: stress at work, lack of money, poor living conditions, or other family members' influence.


impinge: /ɪmˈpɪndʒ/
impinge (on/upon something/somebody) (formal) to have a noticeable effect on something/somebody, especially a bad one. Sp. afectar, impactar. E.g. He never allowed his work to impinge on his private life. The preparations for war were beginning to impinge.

• Distraught: / dɪˈstrɔːt/ extremely upset and anxious so that you cannot think clearly. Sp. Consternado, angustiado. E.g. She's still too distraught to speak about the tragedy. The child's distraught parents pleaded for witnesses to contact the police.
• Dump somebody: (informal) to end a romantic relationship with somebody. E.g. Did you hear he's dumped his girlfriend?

Ex2
Possible answer
What counts above all in a relationship is the ability to compromise- both partners need to show some give and take, because otherwise there will inevitably be friction in the relationship and unpleasant arguments



Ex3
KEY


1D



2A



3B



4B



5C
Questions

• Look up to somebody: to admire or respect somebody.
• A change of heart: if you have a change of heart, your attitude towards something changes, usually making you feel more friendly, helpful, etc. E.g. Dan did not want to get married but recently he's had a change of heart.
• Aberration: /ˌæbəˈreɪʃn/ a fact, an action or a way of behaving that is not usual, and that may be unacceptable. Anomalía. E.g. a temporary aberration of his exhausted mind. A childless woman was regarded as an aberration, almost a social outcast.
• Bring sth on: to make something develop, usually something unpleasant. Cause. Provocar. E.g. He was suffering from stress brought on by overwork. 
• At somebody's expense: /ɪkˈspens/ 1 paid for by somebody. E.g. We were taken out for a meal at the company's expense. 2 if you make a joke at somebody's expense, you laugh at them and make them feel silly. E.g. He thought she was having a laugh at his expense. 
• Put something down to something: to consider that something is caused by something. Attribute. E.g. What do you put her success down to?
• Unattached: /ˌʌnəˈtætʃt/ 1. Not married or involved in a romantic relationship. Single. E.g. He was still unattached at the age of 34. 2. Not connected with or belonging to a particular group or organization.
• Ditch something/somebody (informal):  to get rid of something/somebody because you no longer want or need it/them. E.g. The new road building programme has been ditched. He ditched his girlfriend.

Transcript

• High: the feeling of extreme pleasure and excitement that somebody gets from doing something enjoyable or being successful at something. E.g. He was on a real high after winning the competition. The highs and lows of her acting career. 
• Tie the knot: (informal) to get married. 
• Bubbly: /ˈbʌbli/ always cheerful, friendly and enthusiastic. E.g. Julie's bright, bubbly personality.
• Cast your net: to throw a fishing net into the water.
• Down to earth: sensible and practical, in a way that is helpful and friendly. Sp. realista, práctico. 
• Have money to burn: to have so much money that you do not have to be careful with it. 
• Move in with somebody: to start living with somebody in the house or flat/apartment where they already live. 
• Rub along (with somebody/together): (British English, informal) (of two people) to live or work together in a friendly enough way. Sp. Llevarse bien con alguien, tener buen rollo. E.g. We manage to rub along together fairly well.
• Plain: easy to see or understand. Clear. E.g. He made it plain (Sp. dejó claro) that we should leave. 
• A bolt from the blue: an event or a piece of news which is sudden and unexpected; a complete surprise. Sp. salir de la nada. E.g. Her dismissal came as a bolt from the blue. How did you take this bolt from the blue?
• Baffle: /ˈbæfl/ to confuse somebody completely; to be too difficult or strange for somebody to understand or explain. E.g. His behaviour baffles me. I'm baffled (as to) why she hasn't called. Some of the country's customs are baffling (incomprensibles, desconcertantes) to outsiders.
• Pull a trick (on sb): to deceive somebody, to play a trick on somebody. E.g. Let's pull a trick on the teacher. 
• Whip somebody/something up:  to deliberately try and make people excited or feel strongly about something. Rouse /raʊz/. Sp. Avivar. E.g. The advertisements were designed to whip up public opinion. He was a speaker who could really whip up a crowd.
• Fleeting: /ˈfliːtɪŋ/ lasting only a short time. Brief. E.g. a fleeting glimpse/smile. A fleeting moment of happiness. We paid a fleeting visit to Paris.
• Anguished: /ˈæŋɡwɪʃd/ with severe pain, mental suffering or unhappiness. Sp. Angustioso. E.g. anguished cries. An anguished letter from her prison cell.  
• Streak: /striːk/ a part of a person's character, especially an unpleasant part. Sp. vena. E.g. a ruthless/ vicious/ mean streak. A streak of cruelty. 
• Dawn on somebody: /dɔːn/ [no passive] if something dawns on you, you begin to realize it for the first time. Sp.  Pasar por la cabeza. E.g. it dawns on somebody that… Suddenly it dawned on me that they couldn't possibly have met before. 
• Call the tune: (informal) to be the person who controls a situation. 
• Fend off: to protect yourself from difficult questions, criticisms, etc, especially by avoiding them. Sp. esquivar. E.g. She managed to fend off questions about new tax increases. The Prime Minister fended off three challenges to her leadership. 
• Throw yourself/something into something: to begin to do something with energy and enthusiasm.  
• Pick up on something: to notice something and perhaps react to it. E.g. She failed to pick up on the humour in his remark.
• Keen: enthusiastic about an activity or idea, etc. E.g. a keen sportsman. One of the keenest supporters of the team. She was a star pupil—keen, confident and bright.
• Disgust: a strong feeling of dislike or disapproval for somebody/something that you feel is unacceptable, or for something that looks, smells, etc. unpleasant. E.g. He walked away in disgust (Sp. indignado).
• Blurt something (out)| blurt that…| blurt what, how, etc…| /blɜːt/ to say something suddenly and without thinking carefully enough. Sp. soltar algo. E.g. She blurted it out before I could stop her.‘She's pregnant,’ Jack blurted. 
• Hold sth back: to stop yourself from expressing how you really feel. Sp. contener. E.g. She just managed to hold back her anger. He bravely held back his tears. 
• Phased: brought to an end. 
• Carry a torch for somebody: to be in love with somebody, especially somebody who does not love you in return. 
• Roll up your sleeves: to prepare to work or fight. 
• At death's door: (often humorous) so ill/sick that you may die. E.g. I suppose you won't be coming to the party if you're at death's door!
• Idyllic: /ɪˈdɪlɪk/ (BrE); /aɪˈdɪlɪk/ (AmE). Peaceful and beautiful; perfect, without problems. E.g. a house set in idyllic surroundings.
• Rapture: / ˈræptʃə(r)/ a feeling of extreme pleasure and happiness. Delight. Sp. éxtasis. Charles listened with rapture to her singing. The children gazed at her in rapture. Never before had she known such rapture.
• Slushy: said about stories, films/movies or feelings that are considered to be silly and without value because they are too emotional and romantic. Sp. sentimentaloide, sensiblero. E.g. slushy romantic fiction. 
• Pop the question: (informal) to ask somebody to marry you. 
• Fall/slot into place: if something complicated or difficult to understand falls or slots into place, it becomes organized or clear in your mind. E.g. Then I found his diary and it all began to fall into place.
• Give somebody the cold shoulder: (informal) to treat somebody in an unfriendly way.
• Prospective: /prəˈspektɪv/ likely to be or become a particular thing. Sp. Fururo. E.g. a prospective client/ employee/ candidate. 
• Come around/round (to something): to change your mood or your opinion. Sp. dejarse convencer. E.g. He'll never come round to our way of thinking.
• Heart-to-heart: a conversation in which two people talk honestly about their feelings and personal problems. E.g. to have a heart-to-heart with somebody.
• Go off: to leave a place, especially in order to do something. E.g. She went off to get a drink.
• Get/take a grip (on yourself): to improve your behaviour or control your emotions after being afraid, upset or angry. Sp. Controlar. E.g. I have to take a grip on myself, he told himself firmly. (informal) Get a grip! (= make an effort to control your emotions).
• Leap /liːp/, leapt /lept/, leapt: to move or do something suddenly and quickly. E.g. She leapt out of bed. He leapt across the room to answer the door. I leapt to my feet (= stood up quickly). They leapt into action immediately. (figurative) She was quick to leap to my defence (= speak in support of me). The photo seemed to leap off the page (= it got your attention immediately). His name leapt out at me (= I saw it immediately).