On Screen p 45. Vocabulary



Do Ex 5

Vocabulary

hanker for/after sth (phr v): to want sth very much

e.g. We're so glad Peter got the role on the TV programme; he's hankered after fame since he was a child.



implore (sb to do sth) (v): to beg sb to do sth

e.g. Jake implored the workers to work faster on the project, emphasizing the company's need to meet the deadline.



crave (v): to strongly want to have sth

e.g.

crave (for) something:  She has always craved (for) excitement.

Ann craves the limelight and has a strong desire to be a famous actress some day.



yearn (for sth) (v): to strongly want sth you are unlikely to get

e.g. Ian seems to yearn for Martha's recognition at work, knowing how hard it is to acquire.



penchant (for sth) (n): /ˈpɒ̃ʃɒ̃/ a strong liking for sth

e.g. Rupert has a strong penchant for sailing, and really likes watching sailing races on television.



habit (n): sth that sb does mechanically

e.g. My brother has the habit of grinding his teeth; he often doesn't even realise that he's doing it!

Der.: habitual (adj), habituate (v)



tendency (to do sth) (n): an inclination to do sth

e.g. Mary has the tendency to talk too much when she is excited.



behaviour (n): conduct

e.g. John is known for his exceptional conduct and friendly behaviour in the office.

Der.: behavioural (adj), behaviourism (n), behaviourist (n)



gregarious (adj): /ɡrɪˈɡeəriəs/ sociable, extroverted

e.g. Mandy is a gregarious and sociable girl who enjoys going out with her friends.

Der.: gregariousness (n)

Opp.: solitary



agreeable (adj): pleasant

e.g. Susie is very agreeable because she is so friendly.

Opp.: disagreeable



amiable (adj): /ˈeɪmiəbl/ pleasant; friendly and easy to like.

e.g. Aunt Jenny is so amiable, that all the family enjoy spending time with her.

Der.: amiability (n)



daring (adj): /ˈdeərɪŋ/ bold. Brave; willing to do dangerous or unusual things; involving danger or taking risks.

e.g. 

People view Bob as a daring businessman because he isn't afraid to take risks.

There are plenty of activities at the resort for the less daring. 

The gallery was known for putting on daring exhibitions

Opp.: timid



impertinent (adj): /ɪmˈpɜːtɪnənt/  rude and not respectful, especially to someone who is older or more important. Cheeky. Impolite.

e.g. ç

Craig was both impertinent and disrespectful to his friend.

an impertinent question/child     

Would it be impertinent to ask why you're leaving?     

She found the question highly impertinent.

Der.: impertinence (n)



insolent (adj): /ˈɪnsələnt/ impudent ( /ˈɪmpjədənt/ rude), disrespectful. Extremely rude and showing a lack of respect.

     
e.g. 

Billy was sent to his room for being very insolent and rude to his mother.

an insolent child/smile


Der.: insolence (n)



inhibited (adj): shy

e.g Sarah used to feel very socially inhibited but eventually managed to overcome her shyness.



impassive (adj): not revealing any emotion; unruffled (/ʌnˈrʌfld/ calm)

e.g. The secretary remained impassive throughout the meeting without showing any emotion whatsoever.

Der.: impassiveness (n), impassivity (n)



rub shoulders with sb (idm): to associate with sb

e.g. The entertainment reporter often rubs shoulders with the famous stars at parties and events.



hobnob (with sb) (v): to socialise with people, especially rich and powerful ones. Sp. relacionarse con.

e.g. During the conference, Mr Henderson was seen hobnobbing with distinguished people.



exchange no more than a few words with sb (phr): to speak to sb only briefly

e.g. Given the small break they were allowed, the two consultants exchanged no more than a few words with each other.



twitch (v): (of a body part) to make a sudden uncontrollable movement

e.g. Joe's lip twitched with amusement as he began listening to his colleague's humorous response.

Der.: twitchy (adj)



break away from sb (phr v): to escape from sb's hold

e.g. Erica tried to pick up her cat, but it managed to break away from her arms.



keep/stay/steer clear (of somebody/something) ​to avoid a person or thing because they may cause problems.     
e.g. 

Brian tries to steer clear of crowds and prefers spending time alone after work.
Steer clear of the centre of town at this time of the evening




bear right, north, etc (phr): to go or turn to a particular direction

e.g. When he reached the end of the road, he was advised to bear right and follow the road signs.



move away from sb/sth (phr v): to leave sb/sth and go away

e.g. Bill stepped back slightly to move away from Tim and allow him enough room

 

Do Ex 6

(as) proud as a peacock extremely proud.

E.g.

He returns about three hours later looking as proud as a peacock as he carefully backs his big red car in the driveway. 

be (as) solid as a rock 

1. to be very strong. Reliable, dependable.

E.g.

I always thought their marriage was solid as a rock.

Financially, the company is (as) solid as a rock.

Throughout the crisis she stayed as solid as a rock. 

 

(as) bright as a button   Intelligent and quick-thinking. 

E.g.

Ted's as bright as a button, so he'll find a solution to this problem. 


(as) tough as old boots: very tough.
E.g.
This steak is as tough as old boots. 
Don't worry about her—she's as tough as old boots.
 
as cool as a cucumber: very calm or very calmly, especially when this is surprising. 
E.g.
She walked in as cool as a cucumber, as if nothing had happened. 

be (as) dull as ditchwater: to be very boring. E.g. I don't read old poetry - I think it's dull as ditchwater, myself.

be as stubborn as a mule to be very stubborn.
E.g.
My toddler is as stubborn as a mule, and he'll throw a tantrum any time he doesn't get what he wants. You'll never get Rich to change his opinion—he's stubborn as a mule.

(as) bold as brass with extreme confidence or without the respect or politeness people usually show. Sp descarado. Ni corto ni perezoso.
E.g.
She marched into the store, as bold as brass, and demanded her money back
I was too nervous to do it, but my sister went right up to him (as) bold as brass and asked for his autograph.


ramble on: to talk or write for a long time in a way that other people find boring. SYN go on about.

E.g.

My father kept rambling on about the war.


Do Ex 7

not mince (your) words      ​to say something in a direct way even though it might offend other people.

E.g.

They were severely criticized by the chairman, who was not a man to mince his words.         

He doesn't mince his words when he talks about his ex-boss.


mince something to cut food, especially meat, into very small pieces using a special machine (called a mincer)      

E.g.

minced beef


paint a picture (of something) to describe or show something in a particular way.

E.g.

The statistics do not paint an optimistic picture.


small talk: polite conversation about subjects that are ordinary or unimportant, especially at social occasions.

E.g.

They made small talk for half an hour.     

He has no small talk (= is not good at talking politely about unimportant subjects).     

She was good at making small talk to put guests at their ease.


at a loss for words: (also be lost for words) not knowing what to say, especially because you are very surprised or shocked. 

E.g. 

She was at a loss for words when she saw the number of people who had come to grieve for her husband.

He hesitated and briefly appeared at a loss for words.

 

the gift of the gab: the ability to speak easily and to persuade other people with your words.

E.g.

Joe’s got the gift of the gab—he can sell anything. 

Jo has always had the gift of the gab.


spill the beans:  to tell something that someone else wanted you to keep a secret. Divulge a secret.

E.g.

So who spilled the beans about her affair with David?


(as) clear as a bell: (of sound) perfectly clear.     

E.g.

Aunt Nora's words came clear as a bell

Did you understand the message I left you?—Yes, clear as a bell.

Clear as a bell, I heard him say my name.

 

hold your peace/tongue to say nothing although you would like to give your opinion. Used to tell someone to stop talking or to not tell someone about something.

E.g.

I reckon you’ve just got to learn to hold your tongue.

I'm going to have to learn to hold my tongue (= to not say things that upset people). 

 

 Do Ex 8

be sensitive to sth
be notorious for sth
be envious of sth
take pride in sth
do sth out of respect

Do Ex 9

come across = to be expressed clearly. To be understood. If an idea comes across well, it is easy for people to understand.

E.g. 

He spoke for a long time but his meaning didn't really come across

Your point really came across at the meeting..

 

come round (to sth)= to change your opinion on sth. To change your opinion so that you now agree with someone or are no longer angry with them.

E.g.
He'll never come around to my way of thinking.

It took him a while to come around to the idea.  

Don’t worry – she’ll come round eventually
 


go on (about somebody/something) to talk about somebody/something for a long time, especially in a boring or complaining way.

E.g.

He went on and on about how poor he was.         

She does go on sometimes!         

He goes on endlessly about his health problems

 

come out = to be said in a certain way. If something you say comes out in a particular way, that is how it sounds or how it is understood  

E.g.

His words came out as little more than a whisper.  

That didn’t come out the way I meant it to.  

I tried to explain everything to her, but it came out all wrong (=not in the way I intended).

 

go into sth = to discuss, explain, describe, or examine something in detail.

E.g.

I don’t want to go into the matter now.  

I don’t want to go into details now
He went into a long explanation of the affair.
 

go against = to be in disagreement with sth

E.g.

Paying for hospital treatment goes against her principles.     

His thinking goes against all logic.

 

Do Ex 10

gestural: /ˈdʒɛstʃər(ə)l/ relating to, or consisting of gestures.

E.g.

"the study of gestural communication" 

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