over the hill ˌəʊvə ðə ˈhɪl no longer young, and therefore no longer

attractive or good at doing things

go far ˌɡəʊ ˈfɑː if you think that someone will go far, you
think they will be successful in the future
reach the peak ˌriːtʃ ðə ˈpɪːk the time when something or someone is best,
greatest, highest, most successful
go downhill ˌɡəʊ daʊnˈhɪl if a situation goes downhill, it gets worse
at a crossroads ət ə a time when someone has to make very
ˈkrɒsrəʊdz important decisions which will affect their
future
hard to swallow ˌhɑːd tə difficult to believe
ˈswɒləʊ
regurgitate rɪˈɡɜːdʒəteɪt to repeat facts, ideas etc that you have read
or heard without thinking about them
yourself – used to show disapproval
food for thought ˌfuːd fə ˈθɔːt something that makes you think carefully
half-baked ˌhɑːf ˈbeɪkt a half-baked idea, suggestion, plan etc has
not been properly planned
flash of inspiration ˌflæʃ əv ɪnspə if someone has a flash of inspiration they
ˈreɪʃən suddenly have a clever idea
bright braɪt intelligent and able learn things quickly
shine ʃaɪn to be very good at something
dim dɪm not intelligent
construct a theory kənˌstrʌkt ə to form something such as a sentence,
ˈθɪəri argument or system by joining words, ideas
etc together
support a theory səˌpɔːt ə ˈθɪəri to make people believe an idea or set of ideas
that is intended to explain something about
life or the world, especially an idea that has
not yet been proved to be true
fall down ˌfɔːl ˈdaʊn to fail because of a particular reason or in a
particular way
foundations faʊnˈdeɪʃənz basic ideas, principles, situations etc that
something develops from
make a killing ˌmeɪk ə ˈkɪlɪŋ to make a lot of money in a short time
launch a campaign ˌlɔːntʃ ə kæm to start something, usually something big or
ˈpeɪn important
target ˈtɑːɡət to make something have an effect on a
particular limited group or area
join forces ˌdʒɔɪn ˈfɔːsəz to work together so that you can deal with a
problem, be more powerful etc
perspective pəˈspektɪv a way of thinking about something, especially
one which is influenced by the type of person
you are or by your experiences
mind maɪnd your thoughts or your ability to think, feel,
and imagine things
eye-opening ˈaɪ ˌəʊpənɪŋ an eye-opening experience is one from which
you learn something surprising or new
narrow-minded ˌnærəʊ unwilling to accept or understand new or
ˈmaɪndəd different ideas, opinions, or custom
convincing kənˈvɪnsɪŋ making you believe that something is true or
right
second thoughts ˌsekənd ˈθɔːts doubts about a decision you have made
stereotype ˈsteriətaɪp a belief or idea of what a particular type of
person or thing is like, often unfair or untrue
preconception ˌpriːkən a belief or opinion that you have already
ˈsepʃən formed before you know the actual facts, and
 that may be wrong
the general ðə ˌdʒenərəl ə the opinion that most people have about
opinion ˈpɪnjə something
keep your opinions ˌkiːp jər ə to not say what you really think
to yourself ˌpɪnjənz tə jər
ˈsel
personal opinion ˌpɜːsənəl ə what you yourself think about something or
ˈpɪnjən someone
opinionated əˈpɪnjəneɪtəd expressing very strong opinions about things
idealistic aɪˌdɪəˈlɪstɪk believing that you should live according to
high standards and principles, even if they
cannot really be achieved
difference of ˌdɪfərəns əv ə an occasion when two people disagree
opinion ˈpɪnjən
opinion is divided əˌpɪnjən ɪz dɪ people have different opinions about
ˈvaɪdəd something
a matter of opinion ə ˌmætər əv ə used to say that you disagree, or that people
ˈpɪnjən disagree about something
entitled to your ɪnˌtaɪtld tʊ jər used especially when politely disagreeing
own opinion ˌəʊn əˈpɪnjən with what someone says
however haʊˈevə used when saying something that seems
different or surprising after your previous
statement
consequently ˈkɒnsəkwəntli as a result, therefore
additionally əˈdɪʃənəli in addition, also
so səʊ used to say that something happens or is true
as a result of the situation you have just
stated
on the other hand ɒn ði ˈʌðə used to give another opinion or fact that
hænd should be considered as well as the one you
have just given
in addition ɪn əˈdɪʃən used to add another piece of information to
what you have just said
in fact ɪn ˈfækt used to emphasise that the truth about a
situation is the opposite of what has been
mentioned
furthermore ˌfɜːðəˈmɔː in addition to what has already been said
nevertheless ˌnevəðəˈles in spite of the fact that you have just
mentioned
for this reason fə ˌðɪs ˈriːzən used when giving a good reason for doing
something
likewise ˈlaɪkwaɪz in the same way
in conclusion ɪn kənˈkluːʒən used in a piece of writing or a speech to show
that you are about to finish what you are
saying
play devil's ˌdevəlz to pretend to disagree with someone in order
advocate ˈædvəkət to have a good discussion about somethin
speak your mind ˌspiːk jə to tell people exactly what you think, even if
ˈmaɪnd it offends them
sit on the fence ˌsɪt ɒn ðə ˈfens to avoid saying which side of an argument
you suppor
beat about the ˌbiːt əbaʊt ðə to avoid or delay talking about something
bush ˈbʊʃ embarrassing or unpleasant
innate talent ɪˌneɪt ˈtælənt an innate talent is one you are born with
put success down ˌpʊt səkˈses to think that a success is caused by something
to daʊn tə else
lifelong passion ˌlaɪflɒŋ ˈpæʃən a very strong liking for something, that has
 lasted all someone’s life
academically gifted ˌækədemɪkli concerned with studying from books, as
ˈɡɪftəd opposed to practical work
artistically gifted ɑːˌtɪstɪkli having a natural ability to do one or more
ˈɡɪftəd things relating to art or culture extremely wel
physically gifted ˌfɪzɪkli ˈɡɪftəd having a natural physical ability to do one or
more things extremely well
inherit ɪnˈherət to have the same character or appearance as
your parents
trait treɪ, treɪt a particular quality in someone’s character
shape ʃeɪp to influence something such as a belief,
opinion etc and make it develop in a
particular way