43.

THE LETTER OF THE LAW

LEGAL VERBS
To bend or to infringe the law/rules - (bend) to break them in a way that is considered
not to be very harmful vs. (infringe) to break them. (noun= infringement)
To contravene a law - to break it. (noun = infringement)
To impeach a president/governor - to make a formal statement saying that a person in
public office has committed a serious offence. (n. impeachment)
To lodge an appeal - to make an official request that a previous judgement should be
changed
To uphold/overturn a verdict - to say that a previous decision in court was
correct/incorrect
To pervert the course of justice - to make it difficult for justice to be done (n.
perversion)
To quash a conviction - to change a previous official decision that someone was guilty
(anular una condena)
To set a precedent - to establish a decision which most usually, in English law, be taken
into account in future decisions
To award/grant custody to - to give one parent or adult the main responsibility for a
child
To sue someone - to take legal action against someone (demandar a alguien)
To allege - to say that someone has done something illegal without giving proof (n.
allegation)
To amend a law - to make changes to a law (n. amendment) (modificar una ley)
CRIMES
Discrimination against – unfair treatment on grounds of sex, race or nationality
Embezzlement – stealing money that belongs to an organisation that you work for
(malversación de fondos)
Harassment – putting undue pressure on someone (ex. Sexual)
Do/practice insider trading/dealing – illegal buying and selling of shares by someone
who has specialist knowledge of a company
Money laundering – moving money obtained illegally so that its origin cannot be
traced (blanqueo de dinero)
Commit perjury – lying when under oath
Stalking – following someone or giving them unwanted or obsessive attention
Trespass/trespassing – go onto someone else’s land without permission (allanamiento
de morada)
WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS WITH LAW
A law-abiding person always obeys the law; vs. the law-breaker, who takes the law
into his own hands (you punish someone ‘cause you think the system will not punish
that person).
If you lay down the law, you say with great force what you think should happen.
If someone is a law unto himself, he or she behaves in a way which is independent and
not the way in which most people behave.
44. WAR AND PEACE
WAR AND VIOLENCE
When the diplomacy and sanctions have failed, war is seen as a last resort (everything
has failed and you do not have anything else)
Weaponry – armamento en general
Civilian casualties – people injured or killed who are not member of the military or the
police (víctimas civiles)
Military intervention (becoming involved in a difficult situation to improve it) may be
carried out with the goal of a regime change (change the government or leader of a
country by force).
Overthrow a tyrannical person – to remove somebody from power using force, in this
case somebody who uses power un a cruel way over people.
Unrest and clashes – disagreement or fighting between groups / fights or arguments
Escalate into all-out war – become greater or more serious into a complete and total
war
Brutal suppression – violent and cruel ending of the right or freedom to do something.
Ethnic cleansing – organised attempt by one racial or political group to remove from a
country anyone who belongs to another racial group, by violence (a massacre, killing of
large numbers of people)
Hatred – feeling of intense dislike
OTHER WORDS RELATING TO WAR AND PEACE
Waged war on – fought a war against
Besieged – attacked by surrounding it for a period of time (asediado). También se usa
en: Paparazzi are besieging the Hollywood home.
Ambushed – attacked unexpectedly from secret positions (emboscada)
Sign a truce – agreement during a war to stop fighting for a time (tregua)
Ceasefire – agreement between two armies or groups to stop fighting (alto el fuego)
Peacekeeping force – neutral soldiers who keep the peace in a divided society
International observers – outside, neutral people or body
Rebellion – people fighting against their government
Suicide bomber – person who lets off explosives, deliberately killing themselves in the
process
METAPHORS OF WARFARE
The government is waging war on drink-driving.
We have a major fight on our hands with this issue.
A fleet of bullet-proof cars followed the President (literalmente, flota)

45. ECONOMY AND FINANCE

INTERNATIONAL AID AND DEVELOPMENT
Sustainable development – development which can continue over a long time
Taken root – started to be accepted
If you achieve economic growth probably you are recovering from a long decline.
If we want to eradicate poverty (completely get rid of something bad), we need to
pursue/follow policies, as allocating funds (giving to be used for a particular purpose),
and development grants (money to help development).
COLLOCATIONS RELATED TO THE NOUN DEBT
Repay debt – pagar una deuda
Debt burden – carga de una deuda
Easing the debt burden – aliviar la carga de una deuda
Cancelling debt – anular una deuda
Debtor countries/nations - deudores
Incurring debt - endeudamiento
Alleviating debt / debt relief – Alivio/reducción de una deuda

TRADE AND COOPERATION

Restrictive practices – the placing of unfair restrictions
Sanctions (restrictioins on what a country may import/export) or embargoes are
imposed (total prohibitions on importing/exporting certain goods)
Enter into monetary union and have a single currency (unión monetaria, moneda
única)

ECONOMIC DIFFICULTIES
If an economy is badly affected by war, it is a war-torn economy. (economía devastada)
Economies in a bad state are referred to as ailing economies.
Devaluation/revaluation of the currency (reduction/increase in value against other
currencies.
Economies may go into recession and not come out of/emerge from recession for
several years.
Countries may even suffer a double-dip recession (recession which ends and then
begins again after a short time), or a slump in prices (serious fall or collapse in prices).
It is important to boost the economy (give the economy a lift). (doble recesión, caída de
los precios)

46. PERSONAL FINANCE: MAKING ENDS MEET

CASH, CHEQUES AND CARDS
I was broke/skint – have no money left (arruinado)
I’m rolling in it – have a lot of money (forrado)
To make ends meet – to survive financially (llegar a fin de mes)
Things are a bit tight – my finances are not good
I was strapped for cash – needed cash and had very little
Bounce – the bank refused to pay it
Who I make this cheque out to/payable to? = what name shall I put on it?
Direct debit – a regular automatic payment
Electronic transfer – movement of money online between two bank accounts
Put/stick smthng on – ponlo a mi cuenta (informal). Charge it to my credit card
(formal)
APR – Annual Percentage Rate of interest
Credit card fraud – illegal use of someone’s card
Debit card (the money is taken directly from your bank account). Store card (credit
card issued by a store/shop for that store)
I went to withdraw (get some money out), but I forgot my PIN and the ATM
(automated teller machine) swallowed my contactless card.
SAVINGS, PENSIONS
They will receive lump sum compensation payments (single, large payment)
indemnización
He was paid a golden handshake (large payment to someone on leaving a job)
People with well-managed share portfolios (combination of investments of different
kinds) have done better on the stock market (organisation which controls the buying or
selling) than individuals who buy stocks and shares (parts of the ownership of
companies which people buy as investments in the hope of making a profit – acciones y
participaciones) privately.
Life savings – money saved over many years
His will – official statement of what a person has decided should be done with their
money and property after their death (testamento)

47. THE MEDIA: IN PRINT

SECTIONS IN NEWSPAPERS AND MAGAZINES
Obituaries – descriptions of the lives of people who have just died
Editorial/leader - an article giving the newspaper editor’s opinion
Classified ads – pages of advertisements in different categories
Supplements – separate magazines included with the newspaper
Feature – an article or set of articles devoted to a particular topic
Agony columns – sections in a paper or magazine that deal with readers’ private
emotional problems
Agony aunt – person, typically a woman, who answers letters in the agony column
Circulation – number of copies sold my a newspaper or magazine
SOME TYPES OF PRINTED MATERIAL
Journal – a magazine containing articles about a particular academic subject/a book
where you write about what happened to you each day
Newsletter – a regular report with information for people belonging to a particular
group
Pamphlet – small book with a soft cover, dealing with a specific topic, often political
Leaflet – single sheet or folded sheets giving information about something
Booklet – as a pamphlet but giving info about something
Press release – official written statement with information for the public (comunicado
de prensa)
Brochure – small, thin book like a magazine, which gives information, often about
travel, or a company etc.
Prospectus – the same as a brochure but gives info about a school, college or
university, or a company
Flyer – single sheet that gives info about a event, special offer… at the street
Manual

48. THE MEDIA: INTERNET AND EMAIL

Chat rooms – online conversation between a group on topics chosen by them
Newsgroups – website where people with shared interests can get news and info
Webinars – online seminars
E-commerce – all kins of business done on the internet
Browsing vs surfing the web – looking at different websites with no particular goal /
moving from one website to another looking for something
Attachments – files you send with email messages (adjunto)
File-sharing – sharing computer data or space on a network
ISP – Internet Service Provider
Download vs upload
Spam or junk mail – unwanted advertisements and other material sent to your email
Cookies – pieces of software that are sent from the internet to your computer, which can
follow and record what you do
Offensive material – pornography, extreme political views…
Screen out/filter out – prevent from reaching you

49. ADVERTISING
Innovative – original and interesting
The design of our beds is unsurpassed – there is the best (insuperable)
This leaves other standing – are much better than others
Put/leave something in the shade – make others seem insignificant
Rock-bottom prices – extremely low (precios mínimos)
Prices slashed – dramatically reduced (precios rebajados)
Bargains galore – a huge number of products on sale at ridiculously low prices
Pamper yourself – treat yourself to something luxurious (mimar)
Indulge yourself – let yourself do something that you enjoy but may be bad for you
(consentir)
Sumptuous/opulent – rich, special. Sumptuous (+food and funishings) opulent
(+lifestyle)
Live in the lap of luxury – in a very luxurious way (literalmente, vivir en el regazo del
lujo)
Ergonomically designed, proven
To be state-of-the-art – use the very latest technology (estar a la última)
Stand out in the crowd / Guaranteed to turn heads – be noticed
Tantalisingly – temptingly (tentador)
Billboards – very large boards (vallas publicitarias)
Sky-writing – words written in the sky using smoke from a plane
Sandwich boards – advertising posters hung at the back and front of a person, who
then walks around a busy area
Pop-ups – advertisements that appear on your screen suddenly
Plug – advertise

50. THE NEWS: GATHERING AND DELIVERING

Print journalism – newspaper and magazines
Broadcast journalism – radio and tv
Online journalism
Citizen journalism – where ordinary citizens use social media to share news
Pressure groups - people trying to influence what other people think about a particular
issue
Air their views – express their opinion
Press conferences – meetings to give info to and answer question of the press
Issue a statement or press release – give a formal announcement to the press
Seeking publicity – wanting to reach a wider audience
Soundbite – short memorable sentence that will be repeated in news bulletins
Hunt for – look for
Tapping useful sources – making use of people which regularly provide news
Monitoring- regularly checking
Airtime – minutes given to it on radio or tv
Column inches - space
Coverage – media attention
Paparazzi – press photographers
Rag – informal word for a newspaper, not high quality
Gutter press – disapproving term for the kind of newspaper that are onto crime and sex
To produce copy for the deadline to go to press.
Back copies – previous issues of a paper
Exclusive or scoop – story only found in one newspaper
Run a story
Hit the headlines
The newspaper can be taken to court for libel or defamation of character because of
an untrue story
Put their own gloss/spin on – present it in their own way
Muck-raking – collecting scandal

51. HEALTHCARE
Primary care – provided by the doctors (physicians) or nurses who the patient goes to
first.
Home visit
Locum – doctor who does the job of another one when is ill or on holiday
Acute condition – one that is severe and sudden in onset
Chronic condition
Secondary care – provided by specialists in special clinics or hospitals
To be referred to – a specialist by their doctor
Ophthalmologists - eyes
Cardiologists - heart
Psychiatrists - mind
Dermatologists - skin
Gynaecologists – women’s reproductive systems
Obstetricians – pregnancy and childbirth
Paediatricians - children
Anaesthetists - anaesthesia
Alternative medicine/complementary medicine – approaches that differ from
conventional western approaches
Acupuncturists – treat by using needles at special points around the skin
Chiropractors – treat by pressing joints in places where two joins are connected, e.g.
the spine
Homeopathic doctors – using tiny amounts of natural substances to treat an illness
Aromatherapists – use aromatic oils and massage
Healthcare – all the services offered by hospitals, clinics…
National insurance – tax paid by working adults which covers the costs of healthcare
for everyone
National Health Service – the NHS, state-funded service that covers hospitals,
clinics…
Family doctor / General practitioner – looks after people’s general health
Surgery – small centre offering primary care, run by a GP/carrying out operations
Clinic – centre which specialises
Prescription charge – charge for the medication the doctor prescribes, which you pay
at a pharmacy
Insurance schemes
Go private

52. ILLNESS: FEELING UNDER THE WEATHER

To look off-colour, to feel out of sorts, under the weather, poorly
I’m fighting off a cold – trying to get rid of
She’s gone down with flu – has caught, usually a non-serious illness
I’ve come down with a dreadful cold – when we talk about ourselves, we say come
down with, not go down with
He suffers from – more long-term problems
Hurt vs. ache – gives pain caused by an injury vs. persistent low-level pain
Usual aches and pains – non-serious minor problems
Cut and bruises – minor injuries
My head is throbbing – beating with pain
My hand’s been stinging – sudden, burning pain
Stiff neck – pain when moving your neck
Twisted her ankle
Feel dizzy – feeling that you are spinning round and can’t balance
To be feverish – with a high temperature/fever
To feel shivery/hot and cold – shaking slightly because of fever
To have sleepless – without sleeping much
To have nauseous – feeling that you want to vomit
To be trembling - shaking
My nose is bunged up – blocked, informal
I got over the virus – got better, recover
He is recovering from an operation – more serious illnesses, getting better
He’s on the mend – getting better
She’s over the worst – past the most difficult period
She’ll be back on her feet – fully healthy again

53. MEDICAL LANGUAGE

MEDICAL INFORMATION LEAFLETS
Low-dose – measured amount of medicine that is relatively small
Past history of asthma – record of medical conditions of a person / breathing becomes
difficult because air passages have narrowed (antecedentes de)
Disorder – illness of the body or mind
Gastrointestinal disease – illness of the stomach
Bowel problems – tube that carries solid waste out of the body
Adverse reactions
Stroke – sudden change in blood supply to the brain causing loss of function of part of
the body (infarto cerebral)
Do not exceed the stated dose or duration of treatment.
Side effects – unwanted effects
Allergic reaction
Stools – medical term for excrement or poo (heces)
Nausea, vomiting, stiff neck (rigidez de cuello), headache, fever, disorientation
MEDICAL METAPHORS
Symptom, symptomatic (medical meaning=problem indicating an illness)
The causes of a problem can be diagnosed, and the outlook for a situation can also be
referred to as the prognosis (m.m= identify the illness vs. how experts expect an illness
to develop)
An ailing organisation – one that has a lot of problems (m.m= unwell, sickly)
A rash of burglaries – a number of similar things (m.m= a lot of small red spots on the
skin)
World Cup / election fever – great excitement (m.m=high temperature).
Fever pitch – at fever pitch/to reach fever pitch (a point of very high intensity)
They have a jaundiced view – unenthusiastic or sceptical because of previous bad
experiences (m.m= yellow-looking skin because of a liver problem)
They will be scarred by/carry the scars of experiencing war – be permanently affected
by a negative experience. (m.m= scar, mark left on skin)
Infect – pass on to (ex. Enthusiasm)
He has his finger on the pulse of public opinion – understand how things are changing
(m.m= pulse, regular beating of heart)
54. DIET, SPORT AND FITNESS
The flood can be impeded by fatty plaque that can clog them – slowed down or made
difficult; unwanted substance that forms on the surface of the arteries; block
Cholesterol-rich – fatty substance found in the body tissue and blood of all animals
Stroke – sudden change in the blood supply to the brain causing loss of function of
parts of the body
Nutritious – containing substances that your body needs to stay healthy
Pose a danger
Fibre, high-fibre – substance in fruit, vegetables… travels through the body as waste
Lentils – small dried beans
Oatmeal – flour made from oats to make porridge
Cardiovascular
Diabetics – the body cannot cope with glucose, because it does not produce enough
insulin (hormone that controls the level of sugar in the body)
Burn calories, sporty
Metabolism – rate at which your body digests food
BMI – Body Mass Index – amount of fat in your body, as a proportion of you weight
Intent on losing weight – determined to do it
Brisk walking – quick and energetic
I scored an own goal – tried to gain an advantage, but made things worse
To be moving the goalposts – changing the rules
Level playing field – fair situation
In the running – seriously considered
Neck and neck – level with each other and equally likely to win
Skate around – don’t talk directly about
Sailed through – passed very easily

55. INDUSTRIES: FROM MANUFACTURING TO SERVICE

Heavy industry vs. light industry – steel works, shipbuilding / manufacturing car
parts, tv sets
Manufacturing industry vs. service industry – making things / serving people
High-technology (high-tech) vs. low-technology (low-tech) – involving computers /
involving little or no computers
Cutting-edge technology vs. conventional technology – involving new and innovative
tech. / using standard proven tech.
Privatisation vs. nationalisation/state ownership – e.g. selling off state railways to
private companies / industry is owned by the government
Public-private partnerships – partly state-owned, partly owned by private industries
Subsidy – money/grants which enable it to stay in profit
Inward investment – investment from foreign companies
To be on piecework - only paid for the amount they produce
Zero hours contracts – number of hours they work each week vary, and when they
don’t work, they receive no pay
Child labour – children doing adult jobs
To trade union representation – a union that negotiates wages and conditions for the
people it represents
Sweatshops – factories where people work very long hours for low wages
Retraining and reskilling – training people for new jobs and teaching them new skills
Multinationals – big companies with operations in different countries
Cost-cutting exercise – effort to reduce their costs
Relocate – move the company’s offices to a different place
Switch production – move the centre of manufacturing to a different place

TECHNOLOGY AND ITS IMPACT

Muy fácil, repasar los significados para recordar la definición

TECHNOLOGY OF THE FUTURE

Smart buildings/homes – computer-controlled buildings and homes

Interplanetary travel and space tourism – travel to planets in outer space
Nanotechnology – science of developing expremely small tolos by controlling atoms
and molecules
Keyhole surgery – medical operation with a small hole in person’s body
Doomsday scenario – worst posible prediction of the future
Foresee – think that something will occur in the future
Mega-cities - +10 million
Gridlocked – unable to move at all
Population explosion – rapid increase in population
Genetic modification/engineering – changing genes
Genetically modified (GM) food/crops – changing genes of the ingredients
Gene therapy – changing genes to prevent disease or disability
The human genome – the map or index of all the genes in a human being
Envisage – see a possible situation in the future
Designer babies – babies whose genetic characteristics are artificially created
Cloning – making a genetically identical copy
The nuclear family – family with father, mother and one or two children
Globalisation – increase of trade around the world, with companies producing and
trading goods in different countries + social and cultural behaviour
Global village – a single community covering the whole world
Extraterrestrial beings
Gulf – gap/difference
Drastic measures
ENERGY: FROM FOSSIL FUELS TO WINDMILLS

Fossil fuels – sources of energy formed underground from plant and animal remains
millions of years ago
Oil wells – hole made in the ground for the removal of oil
Offshore – away from or at a distance from the coast
Coal-fired - using coal as a fuel
Coal mines – Deep holes under the ground from which coal is removed
Pipeline – very large tuve through which liquido r gas can flow for long distances
Onshore wind farms – on the land, group of wind turbies that produce electricity
Solar panels – sun into electricity
Hydroelectric power – fast-moving water
Biomass – dead plant and animal material suitable for using as fuel
Tidal power and wave power – using the force of the sea to produce energy / = but
with waves
Renewables
Nuclear power stations – power produced when the nucleus of an atom is divided or
joined to another nucleus
Geothermal – using the heat inside the earth
Consumption
Power-hungry appliances – using a great amount of energy at the electrical equipment
used in the home
Monitoring – regularly watching and checking something over a period of time
Gas-guzzler – one that uses a lot of fuel, informal
Energy-efficient – using only a little electricity, gas..
Food miles – distance food is transported from its production to when it reaches the
consumer
Carbon footprint – measurement of the amount of carbon dioxide that your activities
create
Deposits are finite – layer formed under the ground, over a very long period only have
a limited time

62. MANNER: BEHAVIOUR AND BODY LANGUAGE

MANNERS
Courtesy, courteous – politeness and respect
I appear offhand with her – showing a rude lack of interest in others
Insolent – rude and not showing respect. Insolent > discourteous
Etiquette – set of rules for accepted behaviour in social groups
Netiquette – code of behaviour when using internet
To stand on ceremony – behave in a formal way
To be straitlaced – have old-fashioned and fixed morals
The done thing – what you are expected to do in a social situation
BODY LANGUAGE AND NON-VERBAL LANGUAGE
Raise your eyebrows – surprise or shock (either showing or causing)
Twitch – nervousness, repeated small movements with part of the body (tic)
Flinch – pain or fear, sudden small movement (estremecerse)
Squirm – embarrassment or nervousness, movement from side to side in an awkward
way. (retorcerse)
Smirk – self-satisfaction, smile (negative associations) (sonrisa de satisfacción)
Beam – happiness, broad smile (positive associations) (sonrisa radiante)
Sniff at smth – disapproval, breathe air in in a way that makes a noise
Snort – disgust or great amusement, make an explosive sound by forcing air quickly up
and down your nose (resoplar, bufar)
Titter – nervousness or embarrassment, small laugh (risa tonta)
63. SOUNDS: LISTEN UP!
Silent – people and things that perhaps are unexpectedly or surprisingly quiet
Quiet – without much noise or activity
Noiseless – without noise, used as an adverb in formal/literary style
Soundless – without sound, the same usage as noiseless
DESCRIBING SPECIFIC NOISES
The door slammed – closed with a loud bang
The wheel is squeaking – high, irritating noise
The music is pounding through the walls – dull, beating sound
The door creaked – noise of friction of wood or metal
The sausages sizzled in the pan – sound made by frying (chisporrotear)
A shot rang out – typically used for the sound of a gunshot
Waves are crashing on the beach – loud, heavy noise, typically used for waves
He always hoots/toots his horn – sound made by a car horn
Car sirens are wailing – making a rising and falling sound
She hammered at the door – kcnocked very loudly and repeatledly
ADJECTIVES AND FIXED EXPRESSIONS
There was an eerie silence – rather scary (silencio espeluznante)
The noise was deafening – extremely and painfully loud (ensordecedor)
That voice is grating – unpleasant, irritating (chirriante)
A piercing scream – high noise that hurts the ears (grito desgarrador)
A very high-pitched voice – higher than most voices, like a whistle (voz muy aguda)
Inaudible – impossible to hear
You can hear a pin drop – there is total silence
I can’t hear myself think – when people are making too much noise
I need peace and quiet – calm and quiet period
You are as quiet as a mouse – very quiet indeed
64. WEIGHT AND DENSITY
Weighty – abstract and physical things (seriousness)
Unwieldy - = than weighty, but includes the idea of difficult to handle
Cumbersome – machines and equipment difficult to handle
Bundersome – used of abstract things
Ponderous – slow and clumsy because of weight, used for dull and excessively serious
abstract things
Lumbering – physical things, heavy movement
Weighed down – carrying very heavy hings
Weigh up – consider and compare
Weigh out – weighed a quantity of loose goods
Weighing on me – troubling my mind
Weighed in – added more points to the argument
Thicken, sift, lumpy – make thicker, shake it in a sieve to separate the grains, have
solid pieces in it
Congealed – become thick and solid
Solidified
Thin, thin out – make thinner, become less dense, made it less thick
Dilute it/water it down – add water
Impenetrable – impossible to move through
Impervious (to) – liquid cannot pass through
65. ALL THE COLOURS OF THE RAINBOW
Estudiar directamente del libro

66. SPEED: FAST AND SLOW

GOING FAST
Dash, fly, race, tear – going somewhere ver quick on foot or in a vehicle.
Nip, pop – going a short distance quickly, on foot or in a vehicle
Dart – quick, sudden movement, often by an animal
Zip, whizz – vehicles going quickly
Bolt – fast movement over a short distance + running away from something
Career – smth is moving rapidly and out of control
Scamper, scurry, scuttle – small rapid steps, the way a small animal runs
Speed up, accelerate – speed is increasing. Accelerate is used only about transport,
speed up also on foot.
GOING UP OR DOWN FAST
Plunge, plummet – downward movement, as well as speed
Rocket, soar – a fast upward movement. Used mainly metaphorically. Soar + birds,
people’s feelings of happiness. VS Slump or tumble – rapid downward movement
GOING SLOWLY
Crawl, creep – movement is slow, used metaphorically
Totter – fairly slow movement, unsteady as well
Sidle – walk anxiously and nervously
Dawdle – move more slowly than necessary, and wasting time
67. CAUSE AND EFFECT
Estudiar directamente del libro.

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE: MAKING COMPARISONS.

Estudiar directamente del libro.

DIFFICULTIES AND DILEMMAS

A snag, a hitch, a glitch – glitch refers to a technical problem, the other two words are
more general
A setback – progress has been stopped by something
A stumbling block – something that prevents action or agreement
A pitfall – unexpected difficulty
An obstacle – anything that stops progress
An impediment – prevents free action
A dilemma – difficult choice has to be made
An ordeal – severe experience, which is very difficult, painful or tiring
Problematic – full of problems or difficulties
Abstruse – difficult to understand
Arduous – difficult, tiring, needing much effort
Complex – difficult to understand as it has many parts
Convoluted – unreasonably long and hard to follow
Gruelling – extremely tiring and difficult
Insufferable – difficult to bear, as it is annoying or uncomfortable
Obstructive – causing deliberate difficulties
Tough – difficult to deal with or do
Traumatic – shocking and upsetting
Wayward – changeable, selfish and/or hard to control
What a pain! What a drag! – what a nuisance!
Chore – boring job that has to be done
What’s eating him? What’s bugging him? What’s (up) with him? – what’s the
matter with him?
Hassle – situation causing trouble or difficulty
To slog (your guts out), to grind, to graft, to flog yourself to death – to work hard
In a fix, in a spot, in a hole, up against it, up to your neck – in a difficult situation
Sticky/tricky – difficult
I’m off the hook, in the clear, out of the wood(s) – freed from a difficult situation
Downside of – the disadvantage of a situation

MODALITY: EXPRESSING FACTS, OPINION, DESIRES

I must admit/confess/say that

You must be joking!
You must have been frightened/worried/nervous/delighted/overjoyed
It may/might (well) never happen!
What, may/might I ask… - formal
Who should I see/meet/bump into but
Accidents will happen!
You might well…
I should be so lucky! – that is not likely
The odds are – it is likely that
The odds are against – it is unlikely that
They are bound to – almost certain to
She’s unquestionably – there is no doubt at all
It was apparent - obvious
For sure – I am sure, usually comes at the end
In all probability – it is very likely
The chances are – it is probable that
There’s every likelihood – it is very probable
It is essential
It is obligatory
We had no option
We have an obligation to
It is optional/compulsory
I am determined/anxious/eager/keen/resolved
He wishes/desires/yearns/longs – all rather formal except long
She has ambitions/aspirations to

NUMBER: STATISTICS AND QUANTITY

Twofold, threefold – multiplied by that number

Quadrupled – increased by four times
By a factor of – multiplied by
Drastic – severe and sudden
Revised upwards – changed to a higher number
Deviated from the norm – moved away from the standard or accepted pattern
Fluctuate – keep going up and down
Seesawed – gone up and down at regular intervals
Erratic – not regular and often changing suddenly
Agreegate - total
Blip – temporary change
Correlation between – connection between facts or things which cause or affect each
other
GDP expenditure – Gross Domestic Product: the total amount that a country produces
Discrepancy between
Ratio – the relationship between two amounts, which expresses how much bigger one is
than the other
Flawed – inaccurate
Multiple
Inconsistent with – not in agreement with
A ballpark figure – guess believed to be accurate
Everything up – add everything up
Six figures – get a figure over 100,000
Variables – different factors that may change
Projected figures – planned figures
Rounded things down – make, say, 2.5 rather than 3
Caution
Conservative - cautious

72. PERMISSION: GETTING THE GO-AHEAD

PERMITTING AND AGREEING
Accede – accept, but associated with initial unwillingness (acceder)
Acquiesce – permit smth to happen, associated with a degree of secrecy or conspiracy
(someterse, doblegarse)
Assent – agree to smth, associated with plans, proposals, ideas (asentir)
Authorise – give official permission
Condone – approve or allow smth which most people consider to be wrong (consentir)
Countenance – consider giving assent or permission, used in negative context
Endorse – give official approval to something
Given carte blanche – complete freedom to do whatever they think necessary
Given the go-ahead for/given the green light to – given permission (dar el visto
bueno)
PROHIBITING AND DISAPPROVING
Bar – officially exclude, forbid someone access to smth. (They were barred from using
the library)
Clamp down – use your full power to prevent or limit smth (The government has
decided to clamp down on illegal immigration) (tomar medidas drásticas)
Outlaw – make smth illegal (Parliament has passed a bill outlawing smoking)
Veto – use your official power to forbid (The President has vetoed the plan) (vetar)
73. COMPLAINING AND PROTESTING
INFORMAL SITUATIONS
You’ve got to do something about something
I’m fed up/sick of; I’ve just about had enough of something
This is just not on (no está bien, no es acceptable)
Enough is enough (ya es suficiente)
NEUTRAL
Something will have to be done about
I wish you would/wouldn’t
FORMAL
I take great exception to (me parece muy mal)
I really must object to (debo objetar)
Complain about – dissatisfaction or annoyance
Protest about – strongly express complaint, disapproval or disagreement
Object to – be against smth
Remonstrate with smbd/remonstrate about smth – complain to someone/about smth
Find fault with – criticise or complain about even small mistakes
Grumble about – complain in a quiet but angry way (refunfuñar)
Gripe about – complain continuously
Grouse – complain, usually often
Whinge about – complain persistenltly

74. APOLOGY, REGRET AND RECONCILIATION

Apology – sincere, heartfelt (He offered his most heartfelt apology = most sincere
apology)
Excuse/explanation – good, perfect, lame, flimsy (poco convincente, detallada), weak /
convincing, detailed, phoney (It was a lame excuse, and his explanation was phoney =
false)
Alibi – cast-iron (sólida), convincing, perfect, phoney (She had a cast-iron alibi = firm
reason why she is innocent) (coartada)
Pretext – pretended reason for doing smth rather than a real reason, flimsy, false (he
had the flimsy pretext of being interested = weak and not very beliable)
Remorse – feeling of guilt or regret (remordimiento)
Acquitted – declared not guilty (absuelto)
Repented – say he was sorry and asked for forgiveness (arrepentido)
Posthumous pardon – official forgiveness after someone’s death for crimes they were
unjustly convicted for (indulto póstumo)
Exonerated – declared someone to be free of blame (exonerar)
Reprieve – official order stopping or delaying punishment (indulto)
Forgive and forget
Treaty – written agreement between countries
Armistice – agreement to stop war while peace discussions take place (armisticio)
Truce – agreement between two enemies to stop fighting for a period of time (tregua)
Accord – official agreement between countries
Ceasefire – agreement to stop fighting in order to allow discussions about peace (alto el
fuego)
76. PROMISES AND BETS
PROMISES
To promise someone the earth/moon is to promise a great deal.
Promise can be used to indicate positive future – She is a promise as a violinist; The
afternoon promises to be interesting; She’s a promising artist.
An oath/to swear – formal promise; In court, witnesses are put on/under oath when
they have to swear to tell the truth.
Swear is often used in informal spoken English – I could have sworn I left it here (was
absolutely certain); I think so but I couldn’t swear to it (am not totally sure); She
swears by these pills (uses them and thinks they are wonderful); He uses swear
words/bad language (taboo expressions)
To pledge (a pledge) – to promise something, often friendship or money.
To vow (a vow) – to make determined decisions or promise to do something.
New Year’s resolutions are special promises to turn over a new leaf (to change your
behaviour for the better)
Resolutions, vows, promises and pledges can be made, kept or broken
To go back on your word – to break a promise (faltar la palabra)
BETS
To bet (a bet) to risk something, usually money, on the unknown result of something.
+ formal: a wager (se pueden usar en un sentido figurado: apuesto que no
vienen)
Gambling – put money on the results of a game of some kind
Stake – amount of money you risk; To be at stake – something is at risk
Your best bet – the best decision or choice
Don’t bet on it! – what you say is unlikely to happen
He enjoys having a flutter on the horses – to have a small bet
I’d put (good) money /bet my life on James getting the job (I’m sure of it)
You bet! – I certainly do
Hedge your bets – protect yourself from the results of making a single wrong choice
The odds are against x

77. REMINISCENCES AND REGRETS

Out of touch – not knowing what has happened recently
What became of – where he is and what happened to him
If I recall – if I remember correctly
I think back – think about the past
Hear anything of – receive any news of
Thinking back, we had some great times
Reminds me of
Takes me back to – makes me remember
A vague memory – not a very clear memory
It’s all coming back to me now – I’m beginning to remember it more clearly
What stands out in my mind – what I remember more than other things = sticks out in
my mind
Reminiscing about – thinking about pleasant things that happened in the past
Through rose-tinted spectacles – see only the pleasant things about a situation and not
notice the things that are unpleasant = rose-coloured spectacles
Nostalgia – a feeling of pleasure and slight sadness as you think about the past
Regret
Remorse
Shame – embarrassment and guilt about something bad that happened
Pangs – sudden sharp feelings, especially of painful emotion. Collocates with guilt,
regret, conscience, remorse.
Rue – I regret very much, collocates with ‘the day’ and ‘the fact that’
Lament – I feel sad that time passes
Mourn – I feel sad

78. AGREEMENT, DISAGREEMENT AND COMPROMISE

Tally with – match or agree with
Concurs with – share/agree with an idea/opinion
Found herself in accord with – be in complete agreement with
Coincide with – be the same as
Conform to - fit in with
Approve of – think something is right or good
To agree to differ – used when people continue to hold different opinions but see no
point in continuing to argue about them
Dissent – opposition to the accepted way of thinking
Discord – lack of agreement or harmony
Rift – disagreement, with different groups/factions forming
Split – when a larger group breaks up into two or more because they disagree
Division – similar to split, but more abstract and formal
Controversy – a lot of disagreement about a subject, usually because it affects a lot of
people
Reached a compromise
Compromise on
Made concessions to – accepted some of the demands of
Reached a settlement – reached a decision/agreement
Exercise some discretion – be sensitive, use our judgement

82. WHATCHAMACALLIT: BEING INDIRECT

One of the things – things=subject
Has got a thing about – she either really likes or dislikes them
Make such a big thing of it – do a fuss about it
Wasn’t a thing – a thing= anything
For one thing… for another thing – firstly, secondly…
The thing is – used to introduce a topic or a problem, to provide an explanation
As things are – as the situation is
I don’t get what are you saying
We must get that parcel in the post today
Got it together – get a positive action
Get things sorted (out) – solve a problem
Get her to myself – be alone with her
Thingy, thingymmy, thingumajig, thingamabob – for objects
Whatsit, whatchamacallit, whatnot
Whatsisname, whatsername, whatsisname – for people
Bags of
A load of
Loads of
A mass of
Masses of
Dozens of
A scrap of
Tons of
Umpteen
Not the most
I mean that in the nicest possible way
No offence intended
If you don’t mind me/my saying so
I gather – I’ve heard it from someone
Incidentally – often used to introduce a new subject into the conversation
Present company excepted – not including you or me
Myself included

83. GIVE OR TAKE: MORE VAGUE EXPRESSIONS

In excess of – more than, formal
It costs somewhere in the region of – around/about x (alrededor de)
It will take five hours, give or take half an hour– could take 4.5 or 5.5, informal
Approximately
It takes a week or so to do it – unclear how much time
Quite a few students – a surprisingly or undesirably large number
There was only a smattering of women – small proportion (un puñado de)
Do you want a dash/smidgen of chili sauce? – very small quantity (gota, chorrito,
pizca, un pelín de)
I want a dollop of ice cream – usually a small amount, but sometimes we can also say a
large dollop (pegote)
I have stacks of CDs – a large number or quantity, informal (un montón, una pila)
More or less + verbs and adverbs to make things more vague
A bit / a bit of a + adjectives and nouns to soften the meaning
Or whatever, or something, things like that, that kind of things – referring vaguely
to things and actions
Something along those lines – something fitting that description
Or words to that effect – or similar words expressing the same meaning