Vocabulary Extra

Exploring synonyms

1 Work with a partner. Look at these ways of saying that you’re hungry. Order each expression
from least hungry (1) to most hungry (4).

“I’m hungry.”
“I’m starving.”
“I’m absolutely ravenous.”
“I’m famished.”

2. Read the dictionary extract to check your ideas. 2 Which two verbs in the box go with all six
noun phrases (a–f)?

a) have breakfast
b) have lunch
c) have dinner
d) eat a snack
e) have something to eat
f) eat a bite (to eat)

Which verb would you use to suggest that you only have a short time to eat?

3 Think of three …

a) items of food you would never have for breakfast.

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b) places nearby where you could grab a bite if you were in a hurry.

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c) items of food you can nibble.
d) items of food you can chew.
e) items of food you can munch.
f) times of year when some people might “stuff themselves.”

Compare your ideas with your partner.

4 Think of other ways of saying fat and thin. Complete the table based on the information in
the dictionary extracts.

FAT THIN
Positive negative Positive negative
Plum Big, large slim skinny
5 Work with your partner. Decide which word or words in the table in Exercise 4 you might use
to describe …

a) a healthy baby.
b) an extreme medical condition.
c) somebody who looks good because of exercise.
d) somebody who looks extremely thin because of illness or lack of food. 6 Check your own
dictionary. Which synonyms does it give for hungry, eat, fat, and thin? Look for other ways of
saying cook.