UNIT 7: Formal and informal word Verb Suffixes: modernise, commercialise,

industrialise
Offspring = children = kids (VERY FORMAL-
NEUTRAL-INFORMAL) straper (abrochadora) coffe maker (para cafe)
bottle-opener (destapador) trimmers (cortauñas)
Abode/residence = house/flat = place hanger (percha)
Alcoholic beverages = drink = booze Other Suffixes: ment (excitement, enjoyment,
Quid = pounds repleacement), ity (flexbility, productivity,
scarcity), hood (childhood, motherhood), ship
Spuds =potatoes (frienship, partnership), ive (passive, productive,
active), al (brutal, legal, refusal, arrival), ous
Bike=bicycle (delicious, outragerous, furious), ful (forgetful,
hopeful, useful), less (unless, harmless,
Mum
cloudless), ify (beautify, purify, terrify), ish
Dad (reddish, thirtysh, eightish)

Tube =word used for the London Underground

Hi =hello UNIT 9: Prefixes

Fridge= refrigerator ANTI: antiwar, antisocial, atibiotic

Lab AUTO: autograph, autopilot, autobiography

Telly =television BI: bicylce, bi-monthly, biannual, bi-lingual

Ad/Advert =advertisement EX: ex-wife, ex-student, ex-president

Paper=news MICRO: miro-computer, microwave, microscopic

Phone=telephone MIS: misunderstand, mistranslate, misinform

Vet= veterinary surgeon MONO: monotonous, monologue, monogamous

MULTI: multi-nacional, multi-pourpose, multi-

racial
UNIT 8: SUFFIXES
OVER: overdo, overtired, oversleep, overeat
Noun suffixes: writer, worker, shopper, teacher
POST: postwar, postgraduate, post-revolutionary
actor, operator, sailor, supervisor
PRO: pro-governement, pro-revolutionary
employer/employee, sender/addresse, payee (of
a cheque) PSEUDO: pseudo-scientific, pseudo-intellectual

pencil-sharpener, bottle-opener, grater, projector RE: retype- reread, replace, rewind

complication, pollution, reduction, alteration, SEMI: semicircular, semi-final, semi-detached

donation, admission
SUB: subway, submarine, subdivision
Marxism, Buddhism, journalism, aarchist, physics,
UNDER: underworked, underused, undercooked
terrorist

pianist, violanist, cellist

Adj. Suffixes: drinkable, washable, readable,

recognizable, countable, forgivable, edible (can´t UNIT 11- Abstract nouns
be eaten), flexible (can be bent)
achievement action collection apprenticeship(aprendizaje), Well-off wealthy
combination illusion absurdity companionship(compañerism
anonymity bitterness o) , boredom freedom Drive-in you watch from your car
complexity curiosity breadth membership
Run-down in poor condition
generosity hostility, ownership partnership
tenderness(kind), prosperity relationship depth length
sensitivity aggressiveness strength,stardom(fama),
attractiveness adjustment warmth width adulthood UNIT 13: Compound nouns
amazement discouragement brotherhood (fraternity),
improvement investment childhood motherhood COUNTABLE : UNCOUNTABLE: USED IN SINGU
carelessness imagination neighbourhood,
production recognition (wo)manhood Address book, Human Air-traffic control, Arms race,
being
reduction consciousness (hombría),kingdom, Birth control penalty
permissiveness replacement martyrdom(sacrificio), Science fiction, Tin
retirement ugliness wisdom opener Blood pressure, Labour
Cotton wool Generation ga
UNIT 12: Compound adjectives Bank account, Pen-
name Data-processing, Mother-tongu
Curly-haired, Sun- Absent-minded Air-conditioned,Baby-sitter,
Bullet- Family planning Sound barrier
Letter-box
tanned proof
Easy-going Alarm clock, Assembly Food poisoning, Greenhouse
Blue-eyed, Rosy- Cut-price, Drip-dry
line Pocket money Welfare state
cheeked Good-tempered
Duty-free, Hand-made
Blood donor, Book Income tax, Junk
Thin-lipped, Warm-hearted token
Interest-free., Last- food
Broad-shouldered
Quick-witted minute Burglar alarm, Contact
Left-handed, Slim-
Mail order, Hay
lens
Big-headed Long-distance, Long- fever(allergy to
hipped
standing, Credit card, Handcuffs pollen)
Two-faced
Long-legged, Flat-
footed Off-peak, Part-time,
Heart attack , Package
Self-centred holiday
Brand-new, Open- Stuck-up Record-breaking,
necked Remote-controlledPedestrian crossing,
Shoe horn
Tight-fitting, Second-class, So-called,
Tea-bag,Windscreen
Open-toed
Sugar-free, Time-
consuming, Windscreen wiper,
Youth hostel
Top-secret, World-
famous UNIT 14: Compound nouns: verb + preposition:

NEWS: Walk-out = strike

All-out total Crack-down =action against

Burnt-out nothing lef in it after a fire Break-out = escape

Broken-down it wont work Shake-up= change

Built-up lots of buildings in it Break-up= collapse

Hard-up poor ECONOMY: Takeover = purchase by another

company
Cast-off no longer wanted by the owner
Outlets =places to sell
Worn-out for things: can´t be worn any more,
for people: exhausted Check-out= cash-desk
Cutbacks=reductions
Turnover = money passing through a company
TECHNOLOGY: Input= information that is put in
Output=production
Turnover =change
Dropout= person who rejects society
Braille= name of a raised writing system used by
blind people
Chauvinist= strong belief that pur country or race
is superior to others
Hooligan=a rough, also barrabrava
Machiavellian= cunning, deceitful, unscrupulous
in the pursuit of a goal

Fallout= radio-active dust in atmosphere Mentor= loyal and wise adviser

Printout= paper on which computeer information Pamphlet= a small leaflet

has been printed To pander= to indluge someone´s desires
Breakthrough = important discovery Saxophone=musical instrumnt
DAILY LIFE: Breakdown= failure Tawdry= cheap and tasteless
Outlook= prospect Watt= unit of power
Drawbacks =negative aspects Bowler= bombin
Outcome= conclusion Trilby= gorro comun, flexible
Feedback=comments Stetson= gorro de vaquero
Outset= start Cardigan= sweater, woolenjacket
Set-up= situation Busby= sombrero de husar/militar
Lay-by= parking space at the side of the road Wellingtons or willies= rubber boats, botas de
By-pass= road avoiding the centre of a town lluvia

Outbreak= start of sth unpleasant Mackintosh or mac= plastic raincoat, piloto

MORE COMPOUND VB: Tailback= traffic moving Leotard= ballet swim, malla
slow Bedlam= chaos
Break-in =burglary Spartan= severely simple
Cover-up,Setback Canter= movement of a horse, faster than a troat
Hold-up=asalto Gypsy= member of a particular group of travelling
Getaway= escape de ladrones people

Angora= ankara

UNIT 15: Words with interesting origins: people Denim=nimes, france

and places Satin=china
Biro= ball-poit pen Cashmere= kashmir
Boycott= refuse to deal with or a refusal to deal Gauze= gaza
with
Suede= sweden
Damask= damascus
Muslin= iraq
Tweed= scotland
UNIT 16: Words with interesting origins: from
other languages
JAPANESE: Tycoon, Karate, Origami, Judo, Futon
Bonsai
ARABIC: Mattress, Cipher, Alcove, Carafe,
Algebra, Harem, Mufti, Yashmak
TURKISH: Yoghurt, Jackal, Kiosk, Bosh (nonsense),
Tulip, Caftan
FARSI: Caravan, Shawl, Taffeta, Bazaar, Sherbet
ESKIMO: Kayak, Igloo, Anorak
NORWAY: Fjord, Floe, Ski, Slalom, Lemming
FINLAND: Sauna
SWEDEN: Ombudsman, Tungsten
RUSSIA: Bistro, Sputnik, Cosmonaut, Perestroika,
Steppe, Tundra, Tsar, Balalaika, Mammoth
HOLLAND: Yatch, Easel, Tattoo, Cruise
GERMANY: Kindergarten, Dachshund,
Frankfurter, Rottweiler, Hamburger, Delicatessen,
Blitz, Waltz, Poodle, Snorkel, Wanderlust,
Seminar
FRANCE: Cuisine, Gateau, Chauffeur, Boutique,
Crèche, Duvet, Coup, Elite, Sauté, Avant garde,
Cul de sac, Aubergine, Bidet
SPAIN: Embargo, Junta, Siesta, Guerrilla, Macho,
Mosquito, Bonanza, Lasso, Patio
PORTUGAL: Marmalade, Palaver, Dodo, Cobra
UNIT 17: Onomatopoeic words
To groan = make a deep sound foreced out by
pain
To grumble= complain in a bad-tempered way
To grumpy= bad tempered
To grunt= make a low, rough sound like pigs do,
or people expressing boredom
To growl= make a low threating sound like dogs
To click = make a short sharp sound
To clang = make a loud ringing noise
To clank = make a dull metallic noise
To clash = make a loud, broken, confused noise as
when metal strike togheter
To clink=make the sound of small bits of metal or
glass knocking togheter
To clip-clop= sound of horses on the road
To splash= cause a liquid to fly about in drops
To spit = send liquid out from the mouth
To splutter = make a series of spitting sounds
To spray = liquid sent throough the air in tiny
drops either by the wind or instruments
To sprinkle = throw a shower of something onto a
surface
To spurt = come out in a sudden burst
To smash = break violently into small pices
To dash = move or be moved violently
To crash= strike suddenly violently and noislily
To bash = strike heavily so as to break or injure
To gash=a long deep cut or wound
To whistle= high pitched noise made by forcing
air or steam through a small opening
To whirr= sounds lik a bird´s wing moving rapidly
To whizz= sth rushing through air
To wheeze= breathe noislily with sound in the
chest
To whip
To trickle=to flow in a thin stream
To crackle = make a series of short cracking
sounds
To tinklev make a succesion of light ringing NOUNS TO EXPRESS CONDITION: Conditions need
sounds to be met, Prerequisite, Requirements, Under any
circumstances
To gigglev laugh lightly in a nervous or silly way

To wriggle= move with quick short twistings

UNIT 22: Cause, reason, purpose and result
To sizzle= make a hissing sound like sth cooking in
fat CAUSE AND REASON: Because, Since, As, The
cause of sthg, The reason for sthg, The reason +
To drizzle= small, fine rain clause, Owing to, Due to, Caused by, To spark off
(for violent reactions), To give rise
To splosh
to//provoke//generate (less strong than spark
To gargle off), To bring about/lead to (for social change), To
stem from (to explain origins of events), To arise
To rustle out of (for allegations).
To mumble REASON AND PURPOSE: Motives in + ing
(purpose), To prompt sb to do sthg (reason), With
To creak
the aim of (purpose), With a view to (purpose),
To whack On the grounds that (reason), The purpose of.

RESULTS: As a result, As a consequence,

Consequently, The result of, The consequence of,
UNIT 20: Time To result in, Outcome, Upshot, To ensue
ONE THING BEFORE ANOTHER: Before, Prior to,
Previously, Before that, Earlier on, Formerly
UNIT 23: Concession and contrast
THINGS HAPPENING AT THE SAME TIME: While,
While waiting, As, just as, During, Throughout, At VERBS OF CONCESSION: Although, Nevertheless
the very time/the very moment
To acknowledge/accept…, but
ONE THING AFTER ANOTHER: After, After having,
To admit…, but
Then, After that, Afterwards, Following
To concede…, but
TIME WHEN: When, As soon as, Once, The
moment/the minute, …the time that…, On that ADV AND PHRASES FOR CONCESSION: That’s all
occasion… well and good, but…
CONNECTING TWO PERIODS OF EVENTS: In the After all,
meantime, Till then, Since then…, By the time
It’s all very well + ing

…, but, for all that,

UNIT 21: Condition
Admittedly,
SIMILAR TO IF: Unless, On condition that, In case
of ≠ In case…, As long as, So long as, Providing CONTRAST: …The reverse…, ; quite the opposite,
(that), Provided (that), Supposing, What if In contrast, On the other hand, On the contrary,
To be poles apart, There’s a world of difference
CONDITIONS WITH EVER: between…, There’s a great divide between…, A
However/Whichever/Wherever/Whoever…[also yawning gap divides…, There’s a huge
used withh “no matter”: No matter discrepancy between…
how/which/when/who]
UNIT 24: Addition
LINKING CLAUSES: And, Also, Too, In addition ,
Furthermore, Moreover, What’s more//What is
more, Besides, Anyway, , Equally, Likewise, On
top of (all) that (to conclude a list of neg things),
Plus
ADD WORDS AT THE END OF THE CL: And so on,
Etc., And so on and so forth, Into the bargain, To
boot.
ADD WORDS TO BEGIN THE CL: Further …, In
addition to, …as well as, Apart from…,
Alongside…, …along with
UNIT 25: Text-referring words
DAY TO DAY HOUSEHOLD ITEM: Soap (jabon para
cuerpo), Toothpaste, Washing powder, Washing-
up liquid (para platos), Polish (para limpiar
zapatos), Paper
FOOD: Food, Sugar , Rice, Spaghetti, Pasta,
Butter, Flour, Soup
UNC ABSTRACT WORD: Advice, Knowledge,
Progress, Research, Work
MATERIAL AND RESOURCES: FOR CLOTHES-
Cloth, Leather, FOR BUILDINGS- Wool, Stone,
Brick, Plastic, Wood/timber, Concrete, FOR
ENERGY- Coal, Oil, Petrol, Gas

Problem (ALSO crisis, matter, difficulty) UNIT 27: Words that only occur in the plural

Solution (ALSO answer to, resolution to, key to, TOOLS, INSTRUMENTS: Scissors=tijeras
way out of) Pliers= pinza, tenaza
Issue
Pincers=pinza, tenaza
Question Tweezers=pincita para depilar
Topic Tongs=tenazas, pinzas
Aspect Shears= podadora
Situation (ALSO state of affairs, position) Binoculars
Approach Scales= balanza
Solution Handcuffs= esposas de policia
Dilemma Glasses/spectacles
Claim CLOTHES: Clothes
Fact Pyjamas
Real point Shorts
Position Jeans
Argument Knickers= calzonzillo/underpants=bombacha
View Trousers
Response (ALSO reaction to, attitude to) Tights= calzas
Evaluation (ALSO assessment, judgement) Braces=tiradores
UNIT 26: Uncountable words Jodhpurs= pantalon para montar caballos
TRAVEL: Luggage (baggage), Accommodation Leggings
(hotel), Money, Currency, Equipment,
Information Trunks= sunga de hombre

Dungarees= overall, enterito, jardinero

OTHER WORDS: Policy (un documento o la tarea del gobierno)

Lodgings= place to live, like a room Trade (un negocio o el oficio de una persona)

Goods= bienes, items Coffee/tea

Foundations Potato

Authorities Chocolate

Acoustics Salt and pepper

Contents Onion

Looks Rubber

Outskirts UNIT 29: Collective nouns

Traffic-lights FOR PEOPLE: Group of = small group

Stairs Crowd of= large number

Proceeds Gang of= negative meaning, violent group

Whereabouts FOR ANIMALS: Flock of sheep/birds

PLURAL WORDS USED WITH SINGULAR VB: Herd of deer/cows

GAMES: Billiards, Dominoes, Draughts (damas), Shoal of fish

Darts, Bowls
Swarm of insects
SUBJECTS: Physics, Economics, Classics,
Gymnastics, Aerobics, Athletics, Maths Pack of wolves

WORDS THAT LOOKS LIKE PLURAL BUT NOT: FOR ACTIVITY-JOBS: Team of

Series, Means, News, Spaghetti Crew= work in a ship

UNIT 28: Countable and uncountable with Company= group of actors

different meanings Cast= actors in a particular producion
Glass (espejo o vaso) Staff= general word por people who share the
Cloth (mantel o paño) place of work

Fish (la comida o el animal) FOR LANDSCAPES: Row of cottages

Work (trabajo remunerado o trabajo artistico) Clump of trees

Drink (el trago o la enfermedad de alcoholicos) Range of hills

Hair (un pelo solo o la cabellera entera) Group of islands

Paper (la tesis académica o el diario) THINGS IN GENERAL:

Land Pile/heap of papers, clothes, dishes, toys = pila

de....
People (una persona en particular o un grupo de
una nacion) Bunch of flowers, graps, bananas, berries= ramo
de ...
Home (la casa propia o una institucion estatal)
Stack of chairs, tables, boxes, logs= apilar.. Danish

Set of tools, pots and pans= un par de.. Flemish

UNIT 31: Making uncountable words countable Guayanese

Bit of Icelandic

Piece of Iraqui

FOR WEATHER: Spell of weather, Rumble of Irish

thunder, Clap of thunder, Flash of lightning, Gust
of wind, Shower of rain (a bit of), Spot of rain Israeli

GROCERIES: Loaf of bread, Slice of cake, Bar of Japanese

chocolate, Tube of toothpaste, Carton of milk, Kauwaiti
Bar of soap
Maltese
NATURE: Blade of grass, Cloud of smoke, Puffs of
smoke, Breath of fresh air, Lump of coal Pakistani
OTHER: Russian

Stroke of luck Spanish

Stroke of work Taiwanese

Fit of temper Turkish

Means of transport Yameni

Article/item of clothing UNIT 32: The weather

Item of news COLD WEATHER:

State of + abstract nouns Chilly//nippy= cold but not very

UNIT 31: Countries, nationalities, languages Frost=thin white coat of ice on everything

NATIONALITY: Swiss, Thai, Greek, Dutch, Cypriot, Sleet= rain and snow mixed
Panamenian, Ganahian, Jordanian, Egyptian,
Fijian Slush=dirty, brownish, half-snow, half-water

American To set (slush)=staying as a white covering

Arabic Blizzard=snow blown by high winds

Australian Snowdrift= deep banks of snow against walls

Bangladeshi To thaw= change from frozen to normal

Brazilian To melt=change from solid to liquid under heat

British WARM/HOT WEATHER:

Burmese Close= warm and uncomfortable

Canadian Stifling=hot, you can hardly breath

Chinese Humid= hot, makes you sweat a lot

Scorching =(very hot, often positive) Dark-skinned

Boiling =(very hot, often negative) Crew-cut =very short hair, rapado

Mild= warm at a time when is normally cold Bald= no hair, pelado

Heatwave= very hot, dry period Freckles= pecas

WET WEATHER: Beard

WET WEATHER SCALE: Damp- Drizzle- Pour Moustache

down/downpour-Torrential rain-Flood
Chubby= fat face
Shower= short duration
Receding hair= pelo con entradas
Storm= high rains and winds togheter
Wrinkles= line on the face, arrugas
Thunderstorm= thunder and heavy rain
Blonde
Hailstone= small balls of ice falling from the sky
Fair-haired
Overcast= very cloudy
Dark-haired
Drought= sequia
Ginger-haired//red-haired
MIST AND FOG (NEBLINA):
Auburn hair= red-brown hair
Haze/Hazy= light mist, usually caused by heat
Plump= fat
Mist/Misty=light fog on the sea
Stout= fat
Fog/Foggy= quite thick, associated with cold
weather Chubby= just a bit fat

Smog= mixture of fog and pollution Slim= flaco, positive meaning

WIND: Obese= very fat, negative meaning

Breeze Smart

Wind Elegant

Blustery Well-dressed

Gusty Scruffy= untidy, desaliñeado

Gale Untidy-looking

Hurricane Good-looking

UNIT 33: Describing people – appearance Beautiful

Straight hair Unattractive

Thin-faced Handsome

Wavy hair First impressions

Round-faced UNIT 34: Describing people – character

Curly hair INTELLECTUAL: ABILITY- Intelligent, Bright, Clever,

Smart, Shrewd, Able, Gifted, Talented, Brainy
DISABILITY- Stupid, Foolish, Half-witted, Simple, Can’t stand- To loathe= don´t like, hate
Silly, Brainless, Daft, Dumb, Dim
To look up to- To admire= respect sb
ATTITUDE W. LIFE : Optimistic, Pessimistic,
Outward-looking, Inward-looking, Extroverted , To look down on- To despise= disrespect sb
Introverted, Relaxed, Tense, Sensible, Down-to- To turn sb on= attract sth
earth, Sensitive
To repel- To turn sb off = disattract sb
ATTITUDE W. PEOPLE: Sociable-Gregarious,
Quarrelsome-Argumentative (who disagree with To fancy= be attracted to
everyone), Cruel-Sadistic, Easy-going- Easy-
tempered (relaxed), Impolite- Rude- Ill-mannered To get on well with= have a good relationship
- Discourteous, Honest- Trust-worthy- Reliable- Don’t see eye to eye= often argue, disagree
Sincere, Jealous-Envious.
To fall out with= had arguments
Ambitious= Pushy
To break up/split up= ended their relationship
Assertive= Aggressive, Bossy
To have an affair=a sexual secret relation
Broad-minded= Unprincipled , Permissive
Elders= adults, parents
Determined=Obstinate, Stubborn, Pig-headed
To make it up= be friends again after a row
Frank/direct/open= Blunt, Abrupt, Brusque, Curt
He´s my junior/ I´m her senior/ I´m senior to sb=
Generous= Extravagant
refer to a position at work
Innocent= Naïve Junior
Inquiring= Inquisitive, Nosy
To run a tight ship: strict, have high standards
Original= Peculiar, Weird, Eccentric, Odd Rats jump off a sinking ship: if a company fails,
Self-assured= Self-important, Arrogant, Full of disloyal people begin to leave
oneself

Thrifty/economical= Miserly, Mean, Tight-fisted UNIT 74: Idioms and fixed expressions – general
UNIT 35: Relationships To feel under the weather= feel unwell
Best friend- Good friend- Friend- Acquaintance To have seen better days
(conocido)
To take the weight off your feet= sit down
Close colleague- Colleague/workmate
To get the wrong end of the stick= misunderstand
Lover- Steady boy/girlfriend
To pull a fast one= trick/deceive sb
Wife/husband/partner
To poke your nose in(to)= interfere
Mate: Classmate, Shipmate, Workmate, Flatmate
To be over the moon= extremely happy
Fiancé/ée
To feel down in the dumps=depressed
Husband/wife-to-be
To be in the red= have a negative bank balance
To love- To adore= to like
To be as daft as a brush= very stupid
To worship- To idolise=to like
To take the biscuit= the worst of all, he is extreme
To dislike- To hate= don´t like, hate
To be a pain in the neck= difficult person, Kid’s stuff
nuisance
Down and out
To make a meal out of everything= exaggerate
things UNIT 78: Idioms describing people

To make a move= go/leave A heart of gold= very kind

To be on the make= wanting money/power As good as gold=generous, helpful, for children

To be barking up the wrong tree= be mistaken A cold fish= distant, unfriendly

To be a pie in the sky= big promises that will As hard as nails= not sympathy for others
never materialase An awkward customer= diffiult person to deal
To be a drop in the ocean= tiny contribution with
compared with what is needed A pain in the neck= difficult
To drop a clanger= said sth To get on everyone’s nerves= irritates everybody
inappropiate/embarrassing
To be quick off the mark= fast
To have enough on your plate=have more than
enough work To be slow off the mark= slow
To fly off the handle=lost her temper To be a fast worker=fast

Chip off the old block=just like one´s parents To be a slow-coach= slow
A shot in the dark= a wild guess An odd-ball= peculiar, strange

To spring to mind Over the top= very exaggerated in behaviour

To fly in the face of Round the bend= absolutely crazy, mad

To be in a fix Middle-of-the-road= very normal, no radicaal

ideas
To be out of sorts: in low spirits
Teacher’s pet= chupamedias
To stay mum: not tell anyone about sthg
Mary’s top of the class= la mas inteligene
Child’s play
Real know-all= sabelotodo
To hold your horses: used to tell someone to stop
and consider carefully their decision or opinion A bit of a big-head= creido, engreido
about something
A lazy-bones= vago
To give or take
To have one’s head screwed on: be sensible
Rough and ready: simple but good enough
To be a head for heights= not suffer from vertigo
A fool’s errand
To have a head like a sieve: bad memory
To be up to it
To have a good head for figures= be good at
Odds and ends: various things of different types, maths
usually small and not important, or of little value
To have one’s head in the clouds= unaware of
To hold your tongue reality

To hit the sack

Sb’s heart is in the right place: to have good
intentions
To be a bit of a square peg in a round hole here:
sb whose character makes them unsuitable for
the job
To be miles away
UNIT 79: Idioms describing feelings or mood
POSITIVE FEELINGS:
To be as happy as the day is long= extremely
content
To be on cloud nine= extremely happy
To be in high spirits= lively, enojoying things
To be keeping your chin up= happy despite bad
things
NEGATIVE FEELINGS:
To have a face as long as a fiddle= looked very
depressed
To look down in the dumps= looked depressed
To be in a (black) mood= a bad mood
To be like a bear with a sore head= extreely
irritable
PHYSICAL FEELINGS:
I could eat a horse=very hungry
To be feeling all in= exhausted
To be a bit under the weather= not very well
On top form= in good physical condition
To feel as if my is going round= dizzy
At death’s door= very sick or ill
To be fit as a fiddle= very fit indeed
FEAR:
To be scared stiff= very scared
To frighten the life out of sb= frightened him a lot
To be shaking in your shoes= trembling with fear
To be scared out of your wits= very sacared
indeed
To jump out of your skin= gave a big jump
HOROSCOPES:
To get carried away= be fooled, lose control
To keep a cold head= stay calm
To make sb swell with pride= feel very pride
To feel on the top of the world= very happy
indeed
To be/feel as pleased as Punch
To be/feel be browned off: annoyed
To get itchy feet
To keep you on the edge of your seat
To be up in arms over sthg
To be in two minds over sthg
UNIT 80: Idioms connected with problematic
situations
To be in a fix= be in a difficulty
To be in a tight corner= be in a situation that is
difficult to get out of
To be in a muddle= be confused
REACTING TO SITUATIONS:
To take a back seat ≠ To take the bull by the
horns
To stir things up ≠ To pour oil on troubled waters
To keep one’s cards close to one’s chest ≠ to lay
one’s cards on the table
To get your act together= organise yourself
To get to the bottom of things= find the
explanation
To get people to sit up and take notice= make
them pay attention
To get a grasp of= find out, understand
The tide has turned for sb
To see light at the end of the tunnel
To come to a dead end
To reach a turning-point
To bury the hatchet = make peace
To sweep under the carpet= ignore
To go a long way= would help a lot
To be/act like a bull in a china shop= be very
clumsy
To talk a load of bull= talk nonsense
To let the cat out of the bag
To go back to square one
A happy medium
To be on tenterhooks: worried or nervous about
sthg that’s about to happen
To go hand in hand
To toe the line: to do what you’re expected to do
UNIT 81: Idioms connected with praise and
criticism
SAYING PEOPLE/THINGS ARE BETTER THAN THE
REST:
To be head and shoulders above the rest of= used
for people
To be miles better than
To be streets ahead of= for people or things
To knock spots off= for people or things
To be out of this world= for things
SAYING PEOPLE ARE GOOD AT SHT:
To be a dab-hand at sthg= manual skills
To be a first-rate/top-notch + noun
To be really on the ball = knows a lot
To have a way with people= good at establishing
good relations
To have green fingers= good at gardening
To have the gift of the gab= good at talking
IDIOMS FOR CRITICISM:
To be the cat’s whiskers/the bee’s knees= think
she´s wonderful
A dog’s dinner= overdressed
To be the world’s worst= no one is worse
A dog’s breakfast= a mess
To take the biscuit= the epistome, most striking
of negative quality
To want to have your cake and eat it= wants
everything without contribution
To butter sb up= give false praise in order to get
sthg
To want to jam on sthg= have unreasonable
expectations
SYN of “to criticise”: to run down//to pick holes in
UNIT 82: Idioms connected with using language
They’re TALKING AT CROSS-PURPOSES
He’s GOT THE WRONG END OF THE
STICK=malentender lo q hablan
She CAN’T GET A WORD IN EDGEWAYS= hablar
por encima
I CAN’T MAKE HEAD OR TAIL OF WHAT HE’S
SAYING= no entender nada
To talk down to sb= talk as if sb is inferior
To talk behind sb’s back= saying negative things
about sb when he is not there
Small talk= social talk, nothing serious
Talk shop=talk about work
Talking-point= subject that everyone´s wants to
talk about
To give sb a talking to= reproach him
To start the ball rolling= start the discussion
To speak your mind= say exactly what I think
To put it in a nutshell= say sth in few words
Long-winded: say things in an indirect way= say
things in long, indirect way
To wrap up the discussion= finish the discussion

To talk rubbish= say stupid things

To get to the point= come to the important part

of the matter

To talk sense= say intelligent and reasonable

things

UNIT 83: Idioms – miscellaneous

ABOUT PAYING, BUYING AND SELLING:

To bring a real pig in a poke= buy sth without

examine it

To pay over the odds= pay more than usual rate

To foot the bill= pay up, usually a large amount

A rip-off= made us pay too much, informal

To drive a hard bargain= ask a lot and resist

lowering the price

IDIOMS ABOUT PARTS OF THE BODY:

To have a song on the brain= can´t stop singing it

To make quite a bit of headway with sthg= make

progress

To pay through the nose for sthg= pay a huge

amount

To hand sthg to sb= acknowledge, admitt

To get sthg off your chest= tell sth that has been
bothering you a lot

To have a finger in every pie= is involved in many

different things

IDIOMS FOR DAILY ROUTINE:

Rise and shine = a command to sb to get up

To get a bite to eat= have a snack or meat

To have a nap= a short sleep

To freshen up=wash and tidy oneself

To be ready to crash out= be very tired, ready to

sleep

To put your feet up= relax

To watch the box= watch tv