Vocabulary Flashcards
(99 cards)
1
Q
(adjective)
Synonym: boring
That movie was so ___ I fell asleep after 15 minutes.
A
dull
2
Q
(adjective)
good enough for a particular need or purpose (not very positive)
Your test was _____ but you need to work harder for the next one.
A
satisfactory
3
Q
(adjective)
- (of an object) not sharp
- saying what you think without trying to be polite
- The knife is too ____ to cut through this steak.
- John is always very ____, but I appreciate his honesty.
A
blunt
4
Q
(adjective)
polite, often without wanting to but out of necessity.
Since the divorce, they are _____ with each other for the benefit of the children.
A
civil
5
Q
(phrasal verb)
complete several of something
I only managed to __ ___ three pages of the book before I fell asleep.
A
get through
6
Q
(phrasal verb)
highlight ; draw importance to
She always ___ ____ her tough childhood as a reason for her resilience and success.
A
point to
7
Q
(phrasal verb)
divide into smaller pieces
When life is too much, ____ the problems _____ and deal with them one by one.
A
break down
8
Q
(phrasal verb)
Receive (a piece of information or document)
I’m waiting for some important results to ___ ____ .
A
come through
9
Q
(phrasal verb)
Get (someone) involved
Let’s ____ Sam ___ . He needs to know about this.
A
loop in
10
Q
(phrasal verb)
To ask someone to do something they promised they would do, or to get an update on the status of that thing.
Pam was supposed to provide us with that info yesterday but I haven’t heard anything; I’ll ____ her ____ .
A
chase up
11
Q
(phrasal verb)
Talk to someone in order to get an update.
We haven’t spoken for ages! Let’s ___ ____ over a coffee this weekend.
A
catch up
12
Q
(phrasal verb)
To really like or enjoy.
I ____ really ____ theatre. I try to catch at least two shows a month.
A
be into
13
Q
(adjective)
wanting very much to do or have something, especially something interesting or enjoyable
I’m very _____ to learn a new language.
A
eager
14
Q
(verb)
search a place very thoroughly
I _____ my house but I couldn’t find my keys
A
scour
15
Q
Preposition:
Where are you?
I’m ______ a really great party, come along!
A
AT
16
Q
Preposition:
What are you doing?
I’m sunbathing ______ the beach.
A
AT/ON
17
Q
Prepositions:
I live _____ Medellin but at the moment I’m _____ Bogota for work. Tomorrow I’m going ______ Santa Marta ______ visit a friend.
A
IN x 2 , TO x 2
18
Q
Prepositions:
Let’s meet ______ the station.
Ok, inside or outside?
A
AT
19
Q
Preposition:
I’ll call you back in 15 minutes, I’m _____ class at the moment.
A
IN
20
Q
Preposition:
I read a really interesting article _____ a magazine this morning. There were also some beautiful photos _____ the page.
A
IN, ON
21
Q
Prepositions:
I’ll write to you _____ slack to arrange the meeting.
A
ON
22
Q
Prepositions:
I’ll be ______ home all day, come any time.
A
AT
23
Q
Prepositions:
I usually go on vacation ______ February.
A
IN
24
Q
Prepositions:
What did you do ______ your birthday?
A
ON
25
(adjective)
describes a group who help and support each other.
I come from a ____-____ community so moving to the capital city was a shock.
close-knit
26
(adjective)
smooth and shiny
I use a special shampoo on my cat to make her fur ______ .
glossy
27
(noun)
A person who predicts bad things will happen.
It's difficult not to be a _______ regarding the environmental emergency, but we need to think of constructive solutions!
doomsayer
28
(verb)
to prevent something from happening, being expressed, or continuing.
We should be encouraging new ideas, not _____ them.
As the presentation went into its second hour, I couldn't ______ my yawns any more.
stifle
29
(verb)
To fail to notice or consider something important.
I think you have _____ an important issue.
overlook
30
(adjective)
Behaving as though you are more important or intelligent than someone else.
My team leader is so _____ ; she talks to me as if I'm an idiot.
condescending / patronizing
31
(verb)
To give your opinion in a way that shows you think only your opinion is correct.
When discussing an important issue, don't ______ and listen carefully to the other point of view. There is always something to learn.
pontificate
32
(noun phrase)
intuition / instinct.
Clue: a part of the body
My ___ ___ told me I shouldn't trust him.
gut feeling
33
(noun)
A very easy decision with an obvious answer.
Accepting the job offer was a ___-___; it's a great opportunity!
no-brainer
34
(expression)
The better one between two undesirable options.
The doctors decided that in this case the surgery route was the ___ ___ ___ ___ .
lesser of two evils
35
(adjective-noun collocation)
A decision that is made in the moment without thinking about it very much
When I saw his adorable face in the pet shop I made a ___ ____ to become a dog owner.
snap decision
36
(verb)
to reach or succeed in getting something important.
You need to work very hard to ______ your goals.
attain
37
(adjective)
established firmly so that it cannot be changed
It's difficult to change attitudes that are so deeply ____ .
entrenched
38
(idiom)
Remain in control or up-to-date in regards to something.
I have an app which helps me to ____ ___ ___ ___ all my tasks.
stay on top of (things)
39
(idiom)
Aware and energetic as a result of being busy and challenged.
When you have kids you have to always be ___ ____ ____ .
on your toes
40
(idiom)
something which is not of a lot of importance right now and will be left to be considered in the future.
Covid forced a lot of people to put their plans __ ___ __ ___ .
on the back burner
41
(idiom)
The situation of having escaped a difficult or negative situation.
Because the police didn't have enough proof, he was let ___ ____ ____ .
let off the hook
42
(idiom)
Do work that was not done by someone else (or yourself earlier) in order to make a situation better.
Sam is going through a hard time so we don't mind ___ ___ __ ____ for him.
pick up the slack
43
(idiom)
When it's time for someone else to act or take responsibility for something.
I've told her what I want and how I feel, now ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ .
the ball is in someone's court
44
(phrasal verb)
eradicate
90% of the indigenous population was ____ ____ within a few years of Columbus arriving.
wipe out
45
(verb/noun)
to experience difficulty and make a very great effort in order to do something
She really ______ to provide for her children.
Finishing my degree was a _____ .
struggle
46
(dependent preposition)
I suffer badly _____ allergies in the summer.
from
47
(noun)
The gastronomy of a particular country or region.
I love Chinese _____ because it's so varied.
cuisine
48
(adjective)
Describes the strong taste of something that has a lot of chili in it.
When I was in Mexico I couldn't eat anything, it was all too ____ .
hot
49
(verb / noun)
The crime of breaking into private property with the intent to steal.
My house was ______ while I was on vacation.
There have been a lot of _____ in this neighborhood recently.
burgle / burglary
50
(verb)
To threaten someone in a public place in order to steal from them.
I was _____ last week. I handed my things over immediately - I'm not gonna risk my life over a cheap phone!
mug / rob
51
(food idiom)
When situation goes from good to bad.
The date went s_____ when the topic of politics came up.
to go sour
52
(food idiom)
To be very busy.
Since my promotion | have a lot on my p_____ , but it's not a problem, I love my job!
to have a lot on your plate
53
(food idiom)
To have more important things to do (than....)
You don't need to consult the team leader about every little decision, she has b___ f____ t_____ f____ .
bigger fish to fry
54
(food idiom)
To be very careful not to upset or make someone angry.
My mum is so stressed at work at the moment, I have to w____ on e_____ a____ her.
to walk on eggshells around (someone)
55
(food idiom)
To not fully believe or take something someone says seriously.
That newspaper is very sensationalist so I take everything they say with a p____ of s_____ .
to take (something) with a pinch of salt.
56
(food idiom)
If too many people work on something, the results won't be as good as if less people did that.
I'd prefer to have a small team for this task, too many c_____ s____ the b_____ .
too many cooks spoil the broth
57
(noun / verb)
person who leads a meeting / to lead a meeting
I don't like being the _____ of our meetings, it's a lot of responsibility.
Have you ever _____ a meeting where something went wrong?
chair
58
(adjective)
showing an unreasonable like or dislike for something/someone based on personal opinions.
The news is reporting the events in a very b____ way.
biased
59
(adjective)
trying to control other people without thinking about their feelings.
In meetings he's very d______ and it ruins the atmosphere.
domineering
60
(adjective)
- someone whose mood can change very suddenly for the worse
- a machine that sometimes works and sometimes doesn't
Be careful what you say to her, she's very ______ .
My headphones are _____, I think it's time for some new ones.
temperamental
61
(verb)
to go off topic ; to start talking about something irrelevant to the situation
In meetings it's important to stick to the agenda and not d_____ too much.
digress
62
(noun)
A residential neighborhood in a city but which isn't in the center of the city.
I'm tired of the noise downtown, I'm going to search for a house in a quiet s____ .
suburb
63
(adjective)
In a bad condition because it hasn't been looked after.
There's a lot of crime in that neighborhood and it's very r_____ .
rundown
64
(adjective)
With a lot of tourists (negative connotation).
That town is so t_____, I would rather spend my vacation somewhere less busy.
touristy
65
(adjective)
Pleasant and attractive.
There are many small c_____ towns all across Colombia.
charming
66
```
(phrasal verb)
Not work (or some other duty) when you should be working.
```
Stop s____ o_____ and get back to work!
slack off
67
(phrasal verb)
mention ; talk about for the first time in a conversation/situation.
I hate to b____ this u_____ but I've noticed that you haven't been as productive lately.
bring up
68
(phrasal verb)
Criticize someone for something they've done or ask them to explain themselves.
Next time he treats you like that you should c____ him o_____ on it.
call (someone) out
69
(phrasal verb)
to tell someone about something, to make sure they understand / approve or to get a second opinion.
I had an idea but I'd like to r____ it b_____ you before I announce it to the whole team.
run (something) by/past (someone)
70
Extreme adjective of 'hungry'
starving
71
Extreme adjective of 'angry'
furious
72
Extreme adjective of 'tired'
exhausted
73
Extreme adjective of 'dirty'
filthy
74
extreme adjective of 'beautiful'
stunning / gorgeous
75
extreme adjective of 'big'
huge / enormous
76
extreme adjective of 'scary'
terrifying
77
extreme adjective of 'painful'
agonizing
78
extreme adjective of 'ugly'
hideous
79
extreme adjective of 'surprising'
astonishing
80
extreme adjective of 'bad'
appalling / terrible
81
extreme adjective of 'funny'
hilarious
82
Complete the understatement:
It's a little expensive f___ m____ l____ .
for my liking
83
Complete the understatement:
The acting l_____ a lot t _____ b____ d____ .
left a lot to be desired
84
Complete the understatement:
Don't let him order another beer. He's h___ o____ t_____ m_____ .
He's had one too many
85
Complete the understatement:
For me the movie was a bit o___ the corny s_____ .
on the corny side
86
(expression)
To be late with your tasks / to not have done as many of your tasks as you had planned.
We are running slightly ____ ____ , would it be possible to extend the deadline?
behind schedule
87
(expression)
To have finished some tasks early / to have done more tasks than anticipated.
Since we are ____ ____ _____ I think we can finish early for the day.
ahead of schedule
88
(expression)
To be running on time/as expected with your tasks/work.
We are ____ _____, we should be able to finish everything before the deadline.
on schedule
89
(noun)
Goods or services that are provided upon the completion of a project.
The _____ of this project is a mobile app.
deliverable
90
(adjective-noun)
The official permission to go ahead with a project.
The client gave us the ____ ____ to get started on the project.
green light
91
(noun)
A significant date in the development of a project.
The end of the first sprint was an important ______ for us.
milestone
92
(phrasal verb)
To have already overcome a difficult/negative situation.
The fight was five years ago, I ___ ____ it now.
be over (something)
93
```
(adjective)
Very excited (informal)
```
I am _____ about the festival this summer!
psyched
94
(phrasal verb)
To convince someone to do something they don't want to do.
Initially I didn't want to go to the party but my friends ____ me _____ it.
rope into
95
(Idiomatic expression)
Something that is really easy.
I was worried about it but actually the interview was a _____ .
breeze
96
(Idiomatic expression)
To think really hard trying to remember something.
I've been ___ ___ ____ for hours trying to remember that song but it's not coming back to me.
rack one's brain
97
(idiomatic expression)
Learn to do some tasks, usually in a new job.
She's a fast learner, she learnt ___ ___ in just a few days.
(learn/teach/know) the ropes
98
(idiomatic expression)
Fail to get an answer or result.
He asked me for my phone number and I ___ ___ ____ - I just couldn't remember it.
draw a blank
99
(idiomatic expression)
To forget what one was talking or thinking about a moment earlier.
It was so embarrassing when I ___ __ ___ ___ __ in the middle of the presentation. I just stared at the audience for over a minute in silence!
lose one's train of thought
