UNIT 8 EXPERT ADVANCED VOCABULARY WORDLIST

WORD DEFINITION EXAMPLE

VENTURE N a new business activity that We have started a venture selling second-hand
involves taking risks books in the market.
TAKE OFF suddenly become a success The business took off immediately and we had to
(I.E. employ more staff.
SUCCESS)
EXPAND V if a company, business etc We sell dog food, but we're going to expand into
expands, or if someone dog beds soon.
expands it, they open new
shops, factories etc
LUCRATIVE a job or activity that is He inherited a lucrative business from his father.
ADJ lucrative lets you earn a lot
of money
TAKE ON A if something takes on a life I advertised the cleaning business locally, and it took on
LIFE OF ITS of its own, it seems to move a life of its own. I had customers calling me day and night.
OWN IDM or work by itself
TIGHT a date or time by which you I'm a journalist so I'm used to working to tight deadlines.
DEADLINE have to do or complete
COLLOCATIO something, which is difficult
N to achieve
NOT ALL Running a café is not plain sailing -- you have to think
PLAIN not very easy to do or about ordering food, accounts and employing staff.
SAILING IDM achieve
TURN DOWN to refuse an offer, request, I turned down this applicant because he doesn't have t
PHR V or invitation he right experience.
SPLIT N the way in which something, There is a split in our household: my husband looks
especially money, is shared after the garden and I look after the house.
between several people
EXPERTISE N special skills or knowledge in What he’s bringing to the company is financial expertise.
a particular subject, that you
learn by experience or
training
BRAND N a type of product made by a What brand of detergent do you use?
particular company, that has
a particular name or design
STRONG a positive quality or feature Rupert's strong points are that he is reliable and
POINT that something or someone hard-working.
has
CRACK ON to continue working hard at Stop chatting and start working -- we need to crack
WITH something in order to finish on with this!
it
THINK I didn't take enough time to think things through,
THINGS to think carefully about the which is why the business failed.
THROUGH possible results of
PHR V something
START UP if you start up a business, Tax breaks help new companies start up.
PHR V company etc, or it starts up,
UNIT 8 EXPERT ADVANCED VOCABULARY WORDLIST

it begins to exist
DISILLUSION disappointed because you As she grew older, Laura became increasingly
ED have lost your belief that disillusioned with politics.
someone is good, or that an
idea is right

TIE IN WITH matches one's attitudes and I'd like to work for an environmentally friendly
ONE'S beliefs company that ties in with my values.
VALUES
IDM
RECKLESS not caring or worrying about He was accused of causing death by reckless driving.
the possible bad or
dangerous results of your
actions
GET UP AND get working It didn't take us long to get the business up and running,
RUNNING but it was a long time before we made a profit.
IDM
BAGS OF lots of energy Donna gets up at 6 a.m., goes for a run before work, finishes
ENERGY work at 8 p.m. and goes to bed at 2 a.m. She's got bags of energy.
TAKE THE to decide to do something We took the plunge and set up our own business.
PLUNGE important or risky, especially
IDM after thinking about it for a
long time
TAKE OVER to take control of something His only reason for investing in the company was to take it over.
PHR V
MESSY dirty or untidy a messy room
LAUNCH V to start something, usually The organization has launched a campaign to raise $150,000.
something big or important
RETAIN V to keep something or You have the right to retain possession of the goods.
continue to have something
MAXIMISE V to use something in a way After work I study part-time because I want to maximise
that gives you the greatest my chances of promotion.
practical value or the best
results
SET UP to start a company, They want to set up their own import–export business.
PHR V organization, committee etc
WORK-LIFE the ability to give a sensible You can’t have a proper work-life balance if you’re in the
BALANCE amount of time and effort to office for 12 hours a day.
your work and to your life
outside work, for example to
your family or to other
interests
PRACTISE As the boss, I think it's important to practise what I preach
WHAT ONE to do the things that you , so I never check my work email at the weekend.
PREACHES advise other people to do
UNIT 8 EXPERT ADVANCED VOCABULARY WORDLIST

DOUBLE-EDGED Getting a promotion is a double-edged

SWORD something that seems to be good, but that sword: you get more money, but you
IDM can have a bad effect also get more stress and responsibilities.
POP (HOME) to go somewhere quickly, suddenly, or in a I only work around the corner so I can
way that you did not expect pop home whenever I like.
TREAD ON to offend someone, especially by becoming The new manager is very confident -- she
SOMEONE'S TOES involved in something that they are doesn't seem to mind treading on
IDM responsible for people's toes, does she?
PERCEPTION N Before I got to know Donald, the
the way you think about something and your perception I had of him was that he was
idea of what it is like cold and unfriendly.
CLIENT-FOCUSED Our customer service staff must be
ADJ client-focused so that our customers
paying careful attention to the customer remain happy.
CROSS PATHS IDM if two people's paths cross, they meet by I first crossed paths with Enid at a
chance training seminar.
EMBARK ON V to start something, especially something I was 40 before I finally decided to
new, difficult, or exciting embark on a career as a writer.
RETAIL N the sale of goods in shops to customers, for a manager with twenty years’
their own use and not for selling to anyone experience in the retail business
else
STUMBLE ACROSS They stumbled across the idea when they
PHR V to find or discover something by chance and realised the product they needed did not
unexpectedly exist.
SPILL OVER if a problem or bad situation spills over, it The conflict might spill over into
PHR V spreads and begins to affect other places, neighbouring towns.
people etc
RUN SOMETHING I need a second opinion -- can I just run
PAST SOMEONE to tell someone something so that they can this idea past you?
PHR V give you their opinion
LAUNCH to start something, usually something big or The organization has launched a
important campaign to raise $150,000.
TAKE A GAMBLE I'm not brave enough to take a gamble
IDM start an action or plan that involves a risk but so I'm going to continue working for
that you hope will succeed someone else.
LEAP AT (AN IDEA) When my brother asked me if I wanted
V to accept an opportunity very eagerly to work for him, I leapt at the idea.
BE MEASURED (IN if you do something in a measured way, you I don't like to rush things, I am very
A REPLY) V do it in a careful and controlled way, not in measured when someone asks my
an excited or sudden way opinion.
RECIPE FOR Nell and Zara are disorganised and
DISASTER IDM argue all the time, so it was recipe for
very likely to end badly disaster when they started a business.
PLAY IT SAFE to behave in a particular way in a situation, In the first year of our business, I think
IDM in order to achieve the result or effect that we should play it safe rather than
you want spending lots of money.
RAISE FUNDS to collect money that you can use to do a If we need to raise funds, we can ask the
UNIT 8 EXPERT ADVANCED VOCABULARY WORDLIST

V+N particular job or help people bank for a loan.

BREAK INTO (A Lots of companies want to break
MARKET) to become involved in a new job or business into the China market because it's so
PHR V activity big.
TAKEOVER N when one company takes control of another Thornbury has announced a
by buying more than half its shares takeover bid of a regional TV company.
SHAREHOLDER N someone who owns shares in a company or Shareholders have been told to
business expect an even lower result next year.
FEEDBACK N advice, criticism etc about how successful or How can I provide feedback without
useful something is making someone angry?
TURNOVER N the amount of business done during a The illicit drugs industry has an
particular period annual turnover of some £200 billion.
DOWNTURN N a period or process in which business America’s current economic
activity, production etc is reduced and downturn
conditions become worse
GET DOWN TO to start doing something that is difficult orIf we're all agreed on the plan, let's get
PHR V (BUSINESS) needs a lot of time or energy down to business.
PUT (SOMETHING) to think that something is caused by I put the company's success
DOWN TO PHR V something else down to your hard work.
OPTION N a choice you can make in a particular There are a number of options
situation available.
FACILITATE V to make it easier for a process or activity to
Computers can be used to
happen facilitate language learning.
IN RECOGNITION public respect and thanks for someone's We would like to pay you a bonus
OF work or achievements in recognition of your hard work.
HIGH-POWERED My dream is to be a high-powered
politician, maybe even prime
very important or successful minister.
ASSOCIATE to make a connection in your mind between Fast food isn't often associated
SOMETHING WITH one thing or person and another with good health.
SCEPTICAL ADJ tending to disagree with what other people I’m extremely sceptical about
tell you what I read in the press.
UNCONVINCED not persuaded that something is true or good I remain unconvinced that the
ADJ idea will work.
SEE WHAT THE Now I have a smart phone, I can
FUSS WAS ABOUT understand the attention or excitement see what all the fuss is about.
IDM something/someone is creating
GET HOOKED V if you get hooked on something, you enjoy it I started running when I was 17
very much and you want to do it as often as and I got hooked -- I run every day.
possible
DO WELL OUT OF My cousin has done very well out
SOMETHING PHR to be successful because of something, of his business and has just bought
V especially in work or business his first car.
MAKE A SMALL I've made a small fortune out of
FORTUNE OUT OF selling my CDs and I have enough
IDM earn a large amount of money money to buy a house.
BURNT OUT ADJ to work so hard over a period of time that After five years working 12 hours
UNIT 8 EXPERT ADVANCED VOCABULARY WORDLIST

you become unable to continue working a day, 6 days a week, I was completely
because you are tired, ill, or unable to think burnt out.
of any new ideas
LOW-KEY ADJ not intended to attract a lot of attention to They want the funeral to be as
an event, subject, or thing low-key as possible.
WORTHWHILE ADJ if something is worthwhile, it is important or He wanted to do a worthwhile job.
useful, or you gain something from it
MINDSET N someone’s general attitude, and the way in The company seems to have a very old-
which they think about things and make fashioned mindset.
decisions
LOGICAL STEP sensible or practical stage in a process Our office is very full so the next logical
step is to move to somewhere bigger.
MEDITATION N the practice of emptying your mind of Yoga involves breathing exercises,
thoughts and feelings, in order to relax stretching and meditation.
completely or for religious reasons
PHILANTHROPIC a philanthropic person or institution gives Working as a volunteer is not just
ADJ money and help to people who are poor or in philanthropic, I also get lots of useful
trouble experience.
FROM SOMEONE'S a person's way of thinking about something, You may think you're being logical, but
PERSPECTIVE IDM especially one which is influenced by the from my perspective you're being
type of person you are or by your unkind.
experiences
ROLL OUT The new sandwich has been a success
SOMETHING TO to make a new product available for people locally so now we're rolling it to the
PHR V to buy or use national market.
TURN UP PHR V to arrive at a place, especially in a way that is Please do not turn up late the meeting --
unexpected you won't be allowed in.
INTUITIVE ADJ an intuitive idea is based on a feeling rather He seemed to have an intuitive
than on knowledge or facts awareness of how I felt.
INCORPORATE V to include something as part of a group, We’ve incorporated many
system, plan etc environmentally friendly features into
the design of the building.
CUT-THROAT ADJ a cut-throat activity or business involves Cut-throat competition is keeping prices
people competing with each other in an low.
unpleasant way
PREVAIL V if a belief, custom, situation etc prevails, it the economic conditions which prevail in
exists among a group of people at a certain England and Wales
time
BEST OF BOTH I work part-time and have the best of
WORLDS a situation in which you have the advantages both worlds -- I can spent time with my
IDM of two different things without any of the young children, but I can also continue in
disadvantages my career.
HUNCHED ADJ to bend down and forwards so that your a hunched figure sitting by the fire
back forms a curve
OBLIVIOUS ADJ not knowing about or not noticing something He seemed oblivious to the fact that he
that is happening around you had hurt her.
UNDER NO used to emphasize that something must Under no circumstances can you use
UNIT 8 EXPERT ADVANCED VOCABULARY WORDLIST

CIRCUMSTANCE company computers for personal emails.

PHR definitely not happen
COMPETITIVE ADJ determined or trying very hard to be more Some US industries are not as
successful than other people or businesses competitive as they have been in the
past.
TUCKED AWAY ADJ I always keep some painkillers tucked
to store something, especially money, in a away in my handbag, in case I get a
safe place headache.
ONLY A STONE'S The park is only a stone's throw from my
THROW house, so I go running there every day.
IDM very close to something
NONDESCRIPT someone or something that is nondescript a rather nondescript suburban house
ADJ looks very ordinary and is not at all
interesting or unusual
STUMBLE V to hit your foot against something or put In her hurry, she stumbled and spilled
your foot down awkwardly while you are the milk all over the floor.
walking or running, so that you almost fall
FUMBLE ABOUT to try to hold, move, or find something with He did a lot of fumbling about, but I'm
ADJ your hands in an awkward way not sure he fixed the cooker.
GOOD-NATURED naturally kind and helpful and not easily This is a very good-natured dog. He just
ADJ made angry wants to be friends with everyone.
INTRIGUING ADJ something that is intriguing is very The magazine carries an intriguing
interesting because it is strange, mysterious, mixture of high fashion, gossip and
or unexpected racing.
A WEALTH OF PHR When I went to Italy for the first time, I
a lot of something useful or good discovered a wealth of delicious food.
STEEP ADJ steep prices, charges etc are unusually How much? That's a bit steep, isn't it?
expensive
BY ANY STRETCH used to emphasize that a negative statement The bags weren't very cheap, by any
OF THE is true stretch of the imagination.
IMAGINATION IDM
MEDIOCRE ADJ not very good I thought the book was pretty mediocre.
DEAFENING ADJ very loud a deafening roar
EXORBITANT ADJ an exorbitant price, amount of money etc is exorbitant rates of interest
much higher than it should be
CRAMPED ADJ a cramped room, building etc does not have The kitchen was small and cramped.
enough space for the people in it
OFFHAND ADJ not very friendly towards someone when you She said you were a bit offhand with her
are talking to them this afternoon.
QUIRKY ADJ unusual, especially in an interesting way I like his quirky sense of humour.
NIBBLE V to eat small amounts of food by taking very He nibbled the biscuit cautiously.
small bites
INSUBSTANTIAL not solid, large, strong, or definite The evidence seemed very insubstantial.
ADJ
PACKED OUT ADJ a cinema, restaurant etc that is packed out is I don't understand why the café is
completely full of people always packed out because the food is
terrible.
UNIT 8 EXPERT ADVANCED VOCABULARY WORDLIST
FEEL YOU DON'T if you feel you belong in a place or situation,
BELONG IDM you feel happy and comfortable in it,
because you have the same interests and
ideas as other people
DESPISE V to dislike and have a low opinion of someone
or something
GET RID OF PHR V to throw away or destroy something you do
not want any more
BASICS the most important and necessary facts
about something, from which other
possibilities and ideas may develop
MAKE ENDS MEET to have only just enough money to buy the
IDM things you need
UNEASY worried or slightly afraid because you think
that something bad might happen
TRANSFORM V to completely change the appearance, form,
or character of something or someone,
especially in a way that improves it
For the first couple of weeks in my new
job, I felt I didn't belong.
She despised her neighbours.
When I left home, my mum got rid of all
my old toys without telling me.
the basics of French grammar
When Mike lost his job, we could barely
make ends meet.
Ninety percent of those questioned felt
uneasy about nuclear power.
A new haircut and you've been
transformed from a girl into a woman!
UNIT 8 EXPERT ADVANCED VOCABULARY WORDLIST

Word Part of Pron Definition Example

speech
loan n ləʊn an amount of money that you borrow a loan of £60,0
from a bank etc
inherit v ɪnˈherət, ɪnˈherɪt to receive money, property etc from He inherited a
someone after they have died grandmother.
trust fund n phr trʌst fʌnd money belonging to someone that is I wish my pare
controlled for them by a trustee for me!
outsider n aʊtˈsaɪdə someone who is not accepted as a I’m an outside
member of a particular social group in the group.
on a grant phr ɒn eɪ ɡrɑːnt receive an amount of money given, The majority o
especially by the government, for a course are on
particular purpose parents aren't
work ethic n phr wɜːk ˈeθɪk a belief in the moral value and They instilled t
importance of work children.
laze around phr v leɪz əˈraʊnd On weekends
to relax and enjoy yourself in a lazy way and watch TV.
accomplish v əˈkʌmplɪʃ to succeed in doing something, especially We have acco
after trying very hard do.
great thrill n phr ɡreɪt θrɪl a sudden strong feeling of excitement Mountain biki
and pleasure, or the thing that makes do it every we
you feel this
posh adj pɒʃ a posh restaurant, hotel, car etc is a posh private
expensive and looks as if it is used or
owned by rich people
cost the earth idm kɒst ðə ɜːθ Their new car
to cost etc a very large amount of money know how the
inundate v ˈɪnəndeɪt to receive so much of something that After the broa
you cannot easily deal with it all with requests
beg v beɡ to ask for something in an anxious or She begged an
urgent way, because you want it very they finally ag
much
run out phr v rʌn aʊt to use all of something and not have any I’ve got money
more left out.
burgle v ˈbɜːɡəl to go into a building and steal things We’ve been bu
reassuring adj ˌriːəˈʃʊərɪŋ making you feel less worried or a reassuring sm
frightened
come into (money) phr v kʌm ɪntə ˈmʌni to receive money, land, or property from After her gran
someone after they have died into a lot of m
handle v ˈhændl to not become upset in a difficult I can't really h
situation going to leave
UNIT 8 EXPERT ADVANCED VOCABULARY WORDLIST

Word Part of Pron Definition Example

speech
so-called adj ˌsəʊ ˈkɔːld  used to describe someone or something The so-called e
that has been given a name that you what was wro
think is wrong
money to burn idm ˈmʌni tə bɜːn to have more money than you need, so They paid mor
that you spend it on unnecessary things car? They mus
scrape by phr v skreɪp baɪ to have just enough money to live We can scrape
grow ourselve
live beyond one's idm lɪv bɪˈjɒnd wʌnz spend more money than you can afford If you live bey
means miːnz into debt.
put one's money idm pʊt wʌnz ˈmʌni Why don't you
where one's mouth is weə wʌnz maʊθ ɪz to show by your actions that you really your mouth is
believe what you say charity?
spendthrift n ˈspendˌθrɪft someone who spends money carelessly, Ben spent all h
even when they do not have a lot of it hour, he's suc
on impulse phr ɒn ˈɪmpʌls because of a sudden strong desire to do I never buy an
something without thinking about I like to resear
whether it is a sensible thing to do
shop around phr v ʃɒp əˈraʊnd to compare the price and quality of Take time to s
different things before you decide which deal.
to buy
window shopping idm ˈwɪndəʊ ˌʃɒpɪŋ the activity of looking at goods in shop Window shop
windows without intending to buy them doesn't cost yo
shopping spree idm ˈʃɒpɪŋ spriː a short period of time when you do a lot I got some mo
of shopping decided to go
make ends meet idm meɪk endz miːt to have only just enough money to buy When Mike lo
the things you need make ends me
hard times n phr hɑːd taɪmz a situation or time that is hard is one in We're going th
which you have a lot of problems, moment beca
especially when you do not have enough job.
money
chip in phr v tʃɪp ɪn if each person in a group chips in, they If everyone in
each give a small amount of money so get the teache
that they can buy something together
donor n ˈdəʊnə a person, group etc that gives something, We urgently n
especially money, to help an organization donor countrie
or country money, food e
countries or d
UNIT 8 EXPERT ADVANCED VOCABULARY WORDLIST

Word Part of Pron Definition Example

speech
dip into phr v dɪp ˈɪntə I didn't want t
to use some of an amount of money that crashed the ca
you have repaired.
raise money v phr reɪz ˈmʌni to collect money that you can use to do a We're going to
particular job or help people for the school
subsidy n ˈsʌbsədi, ˈsʌbsɪdi money that is paid by a government or international d
organization to make prices lower, subsidies
reduce the cost of producing goods etc
repetitive adj rɪˈpetətɪv, rɪˈpetɪtɪv done many times in the same way, and repetitive task
boring
predictable adj prɪˈdɪktəbəl if something or someone is predictable, The snow had
you know what will happen or what they traffic.
will do – sometimes used to show
disapproval
witty adj ˈwɪti using words in a clever and amusing way witty remarks
excruciatingly adv in an extremely painful way When I broke
ɪkˈskruːʃieɪtɪŋli excruciatingly
unconvincing adj ˌʌnkənˈvɪnsɪŋ failing to make you believe that an unconvinci
something is true or real
thought-provoking adj ˈθɔːt prə ˌvəʊk ɪŋ making people think seriously about a a thought-pro
particular subject
moving adj ˈmuːvɪŋ making you feel strong emotions, Bayman’s boo
especially sadness or sympathy moving.
tedious adj ˈtiːdiəs something that is tedious continues for a The work was
long time and is not interesting
gripping adj ˈɡrɪpɪŋ a gripping film, story etc is very exciting Collins’ grippin
and interesting
overrated adj ˌəʊvəˈreɪtəd, ˌəʊvə not as good or important as some people a vastly overra
ˈreɪtɪd think or say
implausible adj ɪmˈplɔːzəbəl, ɪm difficult to believe and therefore unlikely Margaret foun
ˈplɔːzɪbəl to be true implausible.
far-fetched adj fɑː fetʃt extremely unlikely to be true or to All this may so
happen companies are
‘intelligent’ ho
hilarious adj hɪˈleəriəs extremely funny a hilarious sto
compelling adj kəmˈpelɪŋ an argument etc that makes you feel Lucy had no co
certain that something is true or that you town.
must do something about it
UNIT 8 EXPERT ADVANCED VOCABULARY WORDLIST

Word Part of Pron Definition Example

speech
get bogged down idm ɡet bɒɡd daʊn if a process or plan becomes bogged Before we get
down, it is delayed so that no progress is do you genera
made
letdown n letdaʊn an event, performance etc that is not as When I finally
good as you expected it to be letdown and I
go off at a tangent idm ɡəʊ ɒf ət eɪ to suddenly start thinking or talking Let’s stay with
ˈtændʒənt about a subject that is only slightly a tangent.
related, or not related at all, to the
original subject
spine-chilling adj ˈspaɪn ˌtʃɪl ɪŋ a spine-chilling story or film is very That film is spi
frightening in a way that people enjoy after I had wat
brisk adj brɪsk quick and full of energy a brisk walk
characterisation n ˌkærəktəraɪˈzeɪʃən, the way in which a writer makes a person Pilcher’s book
ˌkærɪktəraɪˈzeɪʃən in a book, film, or play seem like a real characterizatio
person