Lexical Competence: Further Development and Consolidation

 quell

verb

/kwel/

to put an end to (a rebellion etc) by force (reprimir, sofocar)/ to put an end to, or take away (a
person’s fears etc) (calmar; desechar)

The police soon quelled the riot. (sofocar/apaciguar/disipar, mitigar el motín)/ She did her best
to quell his fears about going to the dentist. (calmar, acallar)

 frame verb [T] (EXPRESS)

verb [ transitive ]

/freɪm/

To make a key concept look attractive or clearly visible./ to express something choosing your
words carefully./ to communicate sth carefully to control the way people understand it.
(formular)

I tried to frame a suitable reply. (elaborar/formular una respuesta)/ frame a key concept.
(elaborar, enmarcar un concepto clave)/

the difficulty of framing the issue for voters (la dificultad de formular el tema para los
votantes).

 pool

verb [ T ]

UK /puːl/ US /puːl/

To collect resources/money from different people so that it can be used by all of them./ to
collect something such as money in order for it to be used by several different people or
groups. (reunir)

The organization pooled money to help people in the streets. (recaudar)/ pool
resources/money (reunir, aunar)/ pool ideas (poner ideas en común)./ pool information
(reunir información, conocimientos, equipamientos).

 yield

verb
UK /jiːld/ US /jiːld/
PRODUCE

C2 [ T ]

to supply or produce something positive such as a profit, an amount of food or information.

(producer, dar)/ to produce or provide something.// to be forced to do something.

to yield a profit (the investigation yielded some unexpected results/evidence)./ Favourable

weather yielded a good crop. (produjo, propició, proporcionó una buena cosecha)./ yield
promising results.// yield to demands/pressure, etc.

 yield something ↔ up phrasal verb formal

to show or produce something that was hidden or difficult to find, or that people did not know
about.

yield up discoveries/secrets.

 a cause (of STH) lies in STH

a cause (of STH) exists or is founded in STH.

 muddled

adjective

UK /ˈmʌdld/ US

muddled adjective (NOT ORGANIZED)

Things that are muddled are badly organized.

He left his clothes in a muddled pile in the corner./ I rejected a muddled compromise, it was
badly organized.

 knock/throw someone for a loop

idiom US informal

If something that happens knocks you for a loop, it upsets or confuses you because you do not
expect it.

He knocked me for a loop when he said he was quitting his job.

  let

adverb

UK /let/ US /let/

let alone

C1

used after a negative statement to emphasize how unlikely a situation is because something
much more likely has never happened.

Some people never even read a newspaper, let alone a book. (mucho menos un libro)

 headquarters

noun [ C, + sing/pl verb ]

UK /ˌhedˈkwɔː.təz/ US /ˈhedˌkwɔːr.t̬ɚz/

plural headquarters (abbreviation HQ)

B2

the main offices of an organization such as the army, the police, or a business company.

The company's headquarters is/are in Amsterdam./ Medical headquarters (sede, central,

oficina).

 set something up

phrasal verb with set verb

UK /set/ US /set/

present participle setting | past tense and past participle set

B1

to formally establish a new company, organization, system, way of working, etc..

I set up my medical headquarters. (montado, instalado, establecido)

 dubious

adjective

UK /ˈdʒuː.bi.əs/ US /ˈduː.bi.əs/
C2

thought not to be completely true or not able to be trusted. (dudoso, sospechoso)

These claims are dubious and not scientifically proven.

 overtly

adverb

UK /əʊˈvɜːt.li/ US /oʊˈvɝːt.li/

in a way that is done or shown publicly or in an obvious way and not secret (abiertamente)

He never overtly expressed his feelings about the issue.

 cutthroat

adjective mainly UK

UK /ˈkʌt.θrəʊt/ US /ˈkʌt.θroʊt/

not involving considering or worrying about any harm caused to others. (salvaje, feroz)

 bustling

adjective

UK /ˈbʌs.lɪŋ/ US /ˈbʌs.lɪŋ/

If a place is bustling, it is full of busy activity. (animado, de mucho movimiento, bullicioso)

This used to be a bustling town but a lot of people have moved away over recent years./ The
house, usually bustling with activity, was strangely silent.

 tissue

noun

UK /ˈtɪʃ.uː/ /ˈtɪs.juː/ US /ˈtɪʃ.uː/ /ˈtɪs.juː/

CELLS

[U]

a group of connected cells in an animal or plant that are similar to each other, have the same
purpose, and form the stated part of the animal or plant. (tejido)
human tissue/ (tejido humano).

 mild

adjective

UK /maɪld/ US /maɪld/

not too severe. (leve)

mild food poisoning/ mild rash (leve intoxicación, leve sarpullido)

 puzzled

adjective

UK /ˈpʌz.əld/ US /ˈpʌz.əld/

B2

confused because you do not understand something. (desconcertado)

 make out

verb [ phrasal ]

/ˈmeɪk ˈaʊt/

to manage to hear, see, or understand sth (sacar algo)

Could you make out what he said? (¿Podrías sacar algo de lo que dijo?)

 hold/bear a grudge

to continue to feel anger. (guardar rencor)

I get angry, but I never hold a grudge. (Me enfado, pero nunca guardo rencor).

 storm in/into/out

to enter or leave a place in a way that shows that you are angry.

He stormed out of the house, slamming the door as he went.

  tinker

verb [ I usually + adv/prep ]

UK /ˈtɪŋ.kər/ US /ˈtɪŋ.kɚ/

to make small changes to something, especially in an attempt to repair or improve it.

She accused me of having tinkered with her body. (jugueteado, manipulado, tocado,
manoseado, toqueteado).

 tamper

verb [ I ]

UK /ˈtæm.pər/ US /ˈtæm.pɚ/

to touch or make changes to something that you should not, usually without enough
knowledge of how it works or when you are trying to damage it.

She accused me of having tinkered with her body and tampered with her emotions.
(manipulado, alterado, jugado)

 bring something about

phrasal verb with bring verb [ T ]

UK /brɪŋ/ US /brɪŋ/

brought | brought

to cause something to happen.

He brought about his company's collapse by his reckless spending.

 bring someone around

phrasal verb with bring verb [ T ]

UK /brɪŋ/ US /brɪŋ/

brought | brought
(UK also bring someone round)

(MAKE CONSCIOUS)

to make someone become conscious again after being unconscious./ (PERSUADE) to persuade
someone to have the same opinion as you have.
I gave him a sniff of smelling salts to bring him around./ At first they refused but I managed to
bring them around (to my way of thinking).

 bring back something

phrasal verb with bring verb [ T ]

US /brɪŋ/

past tense and past participle brought US/brɔt/

(THINK OF AGAIN)
to cause something to be thought about.

That music always brings back happy memories.

 bring something forward

phrasal verb with bring verb [ T ]

UK /brɪŋ/ US /brɪŋ/

brought | brought

to introduce something so that it can be seen or discussed.

The police brought forward some new evidence in the case.

 bring something off

phrasal verb with bring verb [ T ]

UK /brɪŋ/ US /brɪŋ/

brought | brought

to succeed in doing something difficult.

It was an important event, and she's managed to bring it off wonderfully.

 bring something out

phrasal verb with bring verb [ T ]

UK /brɪŋ/ US /brɪŋ/
brought | brought

(PRODUCE)

B2

to produce something to sell to the public.

They keep bringing out smaller phones.

 bring something up

phrasal verb with bring verb [ T ]

UK /brɪŋ/ US /brɪŋ/

brought | brought

(TALK)

B2

to start to talk about a particular subject.

She's always bringing up her health problems.

 squabble

noun [ C ]

UK /ˈskwɒb.əl/ US /ˈskwɑː.bəl/

an argument over something that is not important.

Polly and Susie were having a squabble about who was going to hold the dog's lead.

 frantic

adjective

/ˈfræntɪk/

uncontrolled because of fear or worry. (desesperado/ada)

a frantic attempt to rescue them from the water. (un frenético intento de rescatarlos del agua)

 spark
verb [ T ]

UK /spɑːk/ US

(also spark off)

to cause an argument, fight, etc to start happening.

to spark a debate/protest (provocar, desencadenar, suscitar, causar)

to spark criticism/fears

 quash verb [T] (STOP)

to stop something that you do not want to happen.

He appeared on television to quash rumours that he was seriously ill. (acallar, aplacar, disipar,
desmentir)

 dismiss

verb [ transitive ]

/dɪsˈmɪs/

to refuse to accept or think about an opinion or idea. (desestimar)

She dismissed the information as gossip.

Ella desestimó la información diciendo que eran chismes.

 assertive

adjective

UK /əˈsɜː.tɪv/ US /əˈsɝː.t̬ɪv/

C2

Someone who is assertive behaves confidently and is not frightened to say what they want or
believe. (firme, que se hace valer)

If you really want the promotion, you'll have to be more assertive.

Si de verdad quieres ascender, tendrás que hacerte valer más/ ser más asertivo./ The country
has adopted a more assertive foreign policy. (una política exterior más firme)
  pent-up

adjective [ always before noun ]

UK /ˌpentˈʌp/ US

Pent-up feelings are feelings that you have not expressed for a long time. (sentimientos
reprimidos, contenidos, ocultos, refrenados)

pent-up anger (ira acumulada, reprimida)

 standpoint

noun [ C ]

UK /ˈstænd.pɔɪnt/ US /ˈstænd.pɔɪnt/

C2

a set of beliefs and ideas from which opinions and decisions are formed (punto de vista,
perspectiva)

"I have to put aside my emotions," he says, "and consider it from a professional standpoint."
(—Tengo que dejar de lado mis emociones —dice— y considerarlo desde un punto de vista
profesional.)

 overcome

verb

UK /ˌəʊ.vəˈkʌm/ US /ˌoʊ.vɚˈkʌm/

overcame | overcome
DEAL WITH

[ I or T ]

to defeat or succeed in controlling or dealing with something. (superar)/ to achieve sth despite
great difficulties (vencer)

Juventus overcame Ajax in a thrilling game./ to overcome

difficulties/obstacles/problems/resistance/ Eventually she managed to overcome her shyness
in class./ 20,000 demonstrators sang "We shall overcome" as they marched through Córdoba.

children who overcome poverty and succeed (niños que superan la pobreza y triunfan)
  contention

noun

UK /kənˈten.ʃən/ US /kənˈten.ʃən/
DISAGREEMENT

[U]

the disagreement that results from opposing arguments. (discusión, desacuerdo)

There's a lot of contention about that issue - for every person firmly in favour, there's
someone fiercely against it. (Ese asunto es muy polémico/ Hay un gran desacuerdo con
respecto a este problema, por cada persona firmemente a favor, hay alguien ferozmente en
contra.)

The issue has been settled - it's no longer in contention. (Ya no está sujeto a discusión)

 slippery slope

noun [ S ]

UK /ˌslɪp.ər.i ˈsləʊp/ US /ˌslɪp.ɚ.i ˈsloʊp/

a bad situation or habit that, after it has started, is likely to get very much worse. (lit.
pendiente resbaladiza, maybe camino sinuoso)/ (be on) a/the slippery slope, British English informal
used to talk about a process or habit that is difficult to stop and which will develop into
something extremely bad.

You're on a slippery slope once you start lying about your age!/ (be on) a/the slippery slope
to/towards/ He is on the slippery slope to a life of crime./ Defenders of embryonic stem cell
cloning reject the claim that we are on a slippery slope towards cloning as a way of making
babies.

 slimy

adjective

UK /ˈslaɪ.mi/ US /ˈslaɪ.mi/

covered in slime./ disapproving If you describe a person or their manner as slimy, you mean that
they appear to be friendly but in a way that you find unpleasant. (in a not sincere way, cannot
be trusted)

Although snakes look slimy, their skin is actually dry to the touch./ He was the very worst kind
of slimy salesman. (pegote, pegajoso, cargoso)
  joint

adjective [ always before noun ]

UK /dʒɔɪnt/ US

B2

belonging to or done by two or more people.

a joint statement (declaración conjunta/ en conjunto con)/ The project was a joint effort by all
the children in the class. (esfuerzo (en) conjunto)

 elusive

adjective

UK /iˈluː.sɪv/ US /iˈluː.sɪv/

C2

difficult to describe, find, achieve, or remember. (escurridizo, esquivo)/ escaping or vanishing,

often or cleverly (relac.– de eludir, evitar).

The answers to these questions remain as elusive as ever. (escurridizas, evasivas, huidizas)

elusive memories (recuerdos escurridizos, elusivos)/ an elusive criminal.

 illusory

adjective formal

UK /ɪˈluː.sər.i/ US /ɪˈluː.sɚ.i/

(also illusive, /ɪˈluː.sɪv/ /ɪˈluː.sɪv/)

not real and based on illusion. (ilusorio)

Their hopes of a peaceful solution turned out to be illusory.

 phantom

noun [ C ]

UK /ˈfæn.təm/ US /ˈfæn.t̬əm/

a spirit of a dead person believed by some to visit the living as a pale, almost transparent form
of a person, animal, or other object (fantasma)

Syn. ghost (SPIRIT)

phantoms and ghosts (fantasmas y espectros)

 be in a predicament

To be in a difficult or unpleasant situation, especially one in which it is difficult to know what to

do or what difficult choice you have to make.

Other married couples are in a similar predicament. (aprieto, apuro, situación difícil)

 shirk the responsibility

Idiom
To not accept a duty you should accept.

Everyone is trying to shuffle blame and shirk the responsibility. (eludir, evadir la
responsabilidad, esquivar)

 unfathomable

adjective formal

UK /ʌnˈfæð.ə.mə.bəl/ US /ʌnˈfæð.ə.mə.bəl/

impossible to understand (razones inexplicables, insondables, incomprensibles, inconfesables,

descabellada)/ reasons too strange or mysterious to be understood.

For some unfathomable reason they built the toilet next to the kitchen.

 Snag

/snæɡ/ noun [countable]

Informal
a problem or disadvantage, especially one that is not very serious, which you had not
expected.

It’s an interesting job. The only snag is that it’s not very well paid. (inconveniente, obstáculo,
problema, desventaja)

hit/run into a snag

The grand opening hit a snag when no one could find the key./ We had a problem with our
travel plans; we have hit a snag with our travel plans.

 sort it out on the spot

Idiom
To deal with a problem or difficult situation successfully and immediately, often without
thinking about it very carefully. (resolver en el momento)
Should any problem arise during the selection process, the managers must sort it out on the
spot.

 crop up

verb [ phrasal ]

/ˈkrɒp ˈʌp/

(of sth unpleasant) to happen unexpectedly. (surgir de la nada)

problems that crop up (problemas que surgen de la nada)

 shoulder

verb

UK /ˈʃəʊl.dər/ US /ˈʃoʊl.dɚ/

shoulder verb (ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY)

to accept that you are responsible for something bad or difficult. (hacerse cargo)

shoulder the blame, burden, responsibility, cost, etc./ It is women who mainly shoulder
responsibility for the care of elderly and disabled relatives./ Teachers cannot be expected to
shoulder all the blame for poor exam results.

 pass the buck

idiom

to blame someone or make them responsible for a problem that you should deal with.

Don't try to pass the buck - this is your responsibility, not mine.

 come/get to grips (the hold, control) with something

idiom

C2

to make an effort to understand and deal with a problem or situation. (enfrentarse, afrontar,
abordar, comprender, hacer frente, resolver, ocuparse)

The president has failed to come to grips with the two most important social issues of our
time./ We need to come to grips with our financial problems in a more efficient way.
(necesitamos ocuparnos de nuestros problemas financieros de una manera más eficiente)
  hardship

noun [ C or U ]

UK /ˈhɑːd.ʃɪp/ US /ˈhɑːrd.ʃɪp/

C1

(something that causes) difficult or unpleasant conditions of life, or an example of this.

(dificultades)

To endure (experience, bear) the HARDSHIPS of life.

(enfrentar/atravesar/soportar/lidiar/aceptar las dificultades de la vida)

 be/come up against a brick wall/ a stumbling block

idiom

to be unable to make more progress with a plan or discussion because someone is stopping
you. (escollo, tropiezo)/ be faced with something that prevents action or agreement./ a
difficulty that prevents progress

Lack of willingness to compromise on both sides is the main/major stumbling block to reaching
a settlement./ The two clubs have agreed a transfer fee, but the player’s wage demands could
be a stumbling block./ The major difficulty we are facing in order to start new research is that
we lack qualified people; the major stumbling block we have run into is the lack of qualified
people.

 in dire straits
idiom

in a very bad situation that is difficult to fix.

These kids are in dire straits, and the schools are doing nothing to help them!/ With the best
player out of the game, the team was in dire straits. (en una situación límite, en una situación
desesperada, extrema, complicada, crítica)

 hitch

noun [ C ]

UK /hɪtʃ/ US /hɪtʃ/

hitch noun [C] (PROBLEM)

a temporary difficulty that causes a short delay. (contratiempo)

Due to a slight technical hitch the concert will be starting half an hour late./ The ceremony
went off without a hitch. (sin problemas, inconvenientes, contratiempos, sobresaltos)

 pitfall

noun [ C usually plural ]

UK /ˈpɪt.fɔːl/ US /ˈpɪt.fɑːl/

a likely mistake or problem in a situation. (trampa, escollo)/ a possible danger

The store fell into one of the major pitfalls (cayó en la trampa) of small business, borrowing
from suppliers by paying bills late./ There's a video that tells new students about pitfalls to
avoid. (sobre las trampas en que no deben caer)

 experience a dip in your fortunes

To experience a slight decrease in the amount of money or luck, usually for only a short period.

Her husband has been experiencing a dip in his fortunes lately. (Es rico y no está produciendo
tanto dinero como el mes pasado, por ej.)

 tackle

verb

UK /ˈtæk.əl/ US /ˈtæk.əl/

tackle verb (DEAL WITH)

B2 [ T ]

to try to deal with something or someone.

There are many ways of tackling this problem. (formas de lidiar con este problema/abordar
este problema)/ I tackled him about his careless work. (lo abordé, interpelé)

 take the bull by the horns

to do something difficult in a brave and determined way. (coger el toro por los cuernos)

Why don't you take the bull by the horns and tell him to leave? (¿Por qué no coges el toro por
los cuernos y le dices que se vaya?/ tomar el toro por las astas)

 get/have sb over a barrel

idiom informal
 to put someone in a situation in which they are forced to accept or do what you want./ to
put someone in a very difficult situation in which the person has no choice about what
they do.

The manager has us over a barrel – either we work on a Saturday or we lose our jobs./ She
knows I need the work so she's got me over a barrel in terms of what she pays me./ My
landlord really has put me in a situation where I have no choice; I have to either pay
double my rent or move somewhere else. -My landlord has me over the barrel; I have to
either pay double my rent or move somewhere else.

 rise above something

phrasal verb with rise verb

UK /raɪz/ US /raɪz/
rose | risen

to not allow something bad to affect your behaviour or upset you. (sobreponerse, superar,
sobrellevar, hacer oídos sordos)

He rose above his pain/bad luck/difficulties.

 bury/have your head in the sand

idiom

to refuse to think about unpleasant facts, although they will have an influence on your
situation. (no afrontar, hacer vista gorda)/ to ignore an unpleasant situation and hope it will
stop if you do not think about it.

You've got to face facts here - you can't just bury your head in the sand. (informal, hacer el
boludo)/ You'll never solve your problems if you just bury your head in the sand -- you have to
face them.

 wash your hands of something

idiom

If you wash your hands of something that you were previously responsible for, you
intentionally stop being involved in it or connected with it in any way. (lavarse las manos)

She couldn't wait to wash her hands of the whole project.

 clear something up

phrasal verb with clear verb

UK /klɪər/ US /klɪr/

B2
to give or find an explanation for something, or to deal with a problem or argument. (aclarar,
esclarecer, clarificar)

They never cleared up the mystery of the missing money./ After 20 years the case has finally
been cleared up.

 torn between something and something

idiom

finding it very difficult to choose between two possibilities. (be in a dilemma)

She’s torn between her loyalty and her desire to tell the truth. (debatido, atascado, dividida,
conflictuada, indecisa, en una encrucijada)

 In the event of something going wrong, just contact me.

If a problem arises, just contact me.

 make matters worse

idiom

B2

to make the situation even more unpleasant or difficult.

Don't say anything - you'll only make matters worse. (empeorar las cosas)

 row

noun mainly UK

UK /raʊ/ US /raʊ/

row noun (ARGUMENT)

[C]

a noisy argument or fight.

My parents often have rows, but my dad does most of the shouting. (peleas/ pelea ruidosa,
broncas, discusión, pleito)

What was a political row (disputa, riña) over government policy on Europe is fast becoming a
diplomatic row (diplomática) between France and Britain.

 restrained

adjective
UK /rɪˈstreɪnd/ US /rɪˈstreɪnd/

acting in a calm and controlled way. (moderado, contenido)/ showing control of you emotions
and actions.

I was expecting him to be furious but he was very restrained. (Me imaginaba que estaría
furioso pero lo vi muy calmado)./ restrained behavior (comportamiento contenido)

 feelings and restrained emotions tinted our conversation (matizaron, empañaron)

 grab

verb

UK /ɡræb/ US /ɡræb/
TAKE WITH HAND

B1 [ I or T ]

to take hold of something or someone suddenly and roughly. (agarrar, coger)

A mugger grabbed her handbag as she was walking across the park. (Un atracador le dio un
tirón al bolso mientras caminaba por el parque). / He grabbed (hold of) his child's arm to stop
her from running into the road.

 snatch

verb [ T ]

UK /snætʃ/ US /snætʃ/
TAKE QUICKLY

C2

to take hold of something suddenly and roughly. (arrebatar)

He snatched the photos out of my hand before I had a chance to look at them. (Me quitó las
fotos de la mano antes de que pudiera verlas).
figurative
Running the best race of his career, Fletcher snatched (= only just won) the gold medal
from the Canadian champion.

 dawn on

phrasal verb

to become suddenly clear to (a person). (darse cuenta de)

It suddenly dawned on me what he had meant.

  fall short

(often with of)

to be not enough or not good enough etc. (no llegar, no alcanzar, quedarse corto)

The money we have falls short of what we need.

 clasp

verb [ T ]

UK /klɑːsp/ US /klæsp/

to hold someone or something firmly in your hands or arms. (estrechar, agarrar)

He was clasping the vase tightly, terrified of dropping it./ She held my left hand firmly

between hers; she clasped my left hand./ ) He clasps his hands, he stares, he scores. The fans
cheer!.

 delve into sth

— phrasal verb with delve verb [ I ]

UK /delv/ US /delv/

to examine something carefully in order to discover more information about someone or

something. (ahondar en algo)

It's not always a good idea to delve too deeply into someone's past. (No siempre es buena idea
ahondar demasiado en el pasado de alguien)./ We delved into the reasons that had led us to
separate for a month. (profundizar, indagar, adentrar, analizar, escudriñar)

 grip

verb

UK /ɡrɪp/ US /ɡrɪp/

B2 [ I or T ]

to hold very tightly. (aferrarse)

 throw someone off balance

idiom

to confuse or upset someone for a short time by saying or doing something that they are not
expecting. (me desestabilizó, desconcertó)

The question threw him off balance for a moment.

 cling

verb

UK /klɪŋ/ US /klɪŋ/
clung | clung

cling verb (HOLD)

C2 [ I + adv/prep ]

to stick onto or hold something or someone tightly, or to refuse to stop holding it, him, or her.
(aferrarse).

She clung to the hope that we might make it up soon.

 aloof

adjective

UK /əˈluːf/ US /əˈluːf/

not friendly or willing to take part in things. (distante)/ not interested or involved, usually
because you do not approve of what is happening.

She seemed rather aloof when in fact she was just shy. (Parecía bastante distante cuando en
realidad solo era tímida)./ To remain aloof. (mantenerse distante, apartado, distanciado,
reservado)

Syn. Detached, distant

 seize

verb

UK /siːz/ US /siːz/

B2 [ T ]

to take something quickly and keep or hold it/ to take advantage of an opportunity (agarrar,
asir, aprovechar)
He seized the chance/opportunity of a free flight with both hands (= with eagerness or
enthusiasm).

She seized the gun and ran at him.

The terrorists have seized 20 hostages and are threatening to kill one a day unless their
demands are met.

aprovechar

He seized his chance, and told her his secret.

Aprovechó su oportunidad y le contó su secreto.

 hug

verb [ T ]

UK /hʌɡ/ US /hʌɡ/

B1

to hold someone close to your body with your arms, usually to show that you like, love, or
value them. (abrazar, abrazarse)

Have you hugged your child today?/ She sat on the floor hugging her knees (= with her knees
bent up against her chest and her arms around them)./ Whenever I travel in the city I make
sure I hug my handbag tightly to me.

 dispute

noun [ C or U ]

UK /dɪˈspjuːt/ /ˈdɪs.pjuːt/ US /dɪˈspjuːt/ /ˈdɪs.pjuːt/

C2

an argument or disagreement, especially an official one between, for example, workers and
employers or two countries with a common border. (disputa, conflict)

a pay/legal/trade dispute/ They have been unable to settle/resolve the dispute over working
conditions.

 quar‧rel1 /ˈkwɒrəl $ ˈkwɔː-, ˈkwɑː-/ ●●○ noun [countable] especially British English

an angry argument or disagreement, esp. about a personal matter which involves people that
know each other.

quarrel with- Jacob left after a quarrel with his wife./ quarrel about/over- They had a quarrel
about some girl./ quarrel between- Had there been any quarrel between you?
  discussion

noun [ C or U ]

UK /dɪˈskʌʃ.ən/ US /dɪˈskʌʃ.ən/

the activity in which people talk about something and tell each other their ideas or opinions.
(discusión, más diálogo, en español discusión tiene connotación negativa que en inglés
discussion no tiene)

We will hold/have discussions with employee representatives about sth./ The matter is still
under discussion (= being considered)./ a discussion group

 wrangle

noun [ C ]

UK /ˈræŋ.ɡəl/ US /ˈræŋ.ɡəl/

an argument, especially one that continues for a long time. (contienda, querella que tiene
connotación de duración prolongada, disputa, riña)

a lengthy wrangle about/over costs

una prolongada disputa por los costes

The joint venture ended in a legal wrangle between the two companies.

 argument

noun [ C or U ]

UK /ˈɑːɡ.jə.mənt/ US /ˈɑːrɡ.jə.mənt/
DISAGREEMENT

a disagreement, or the process of disagreeing

(desacuerdo)

The children had an argument about/over what game to play.

 disagreement

noun [ C or U ]

UK /ˌdɪs.əˈɡriː.mənt/ US /ˌdɪs.əˈɡriː.mənt/
an argument or a situation in which people do not have the same opinion. (desacuerdo, no
necesariamente confrontativo)

We had a disagreement about/over the fee for the work.

Literary critics were in total disagreement (about the value of the book).

 concession

noun

UK /kənˈseʃ.ən/ US /kənˈseʃ.ən/
SOMETHING ALLOWED

[ C or U ]

something that is allowed or given up, often in order to end a disagreement, or the act of
allowing or giving this. (concesión, de conceder)

Both sides involved in the conflict made some concessions in yesterday's talks. (Las dos partes
implicadas en el conflicto hicieron algunas concesiones en las conversaciones de ayer).

He stated firmly that no concessions will be made to the terrorists.

 stand fast/firm

to refuse to yield. (mantenerse/permanecer firme)

She stood firm and refused to lower the price.

 adamant

adjective

UK /ˈæd.ə.mənt/ US /ˈæd.ə.mənt/

impossible to persuade, or unwilling to change an opinion or decision. (reticente, inflexible,

firme, categórico, intransigente*)

[ + that ] I've told her she should stay at home and rest but she's adamant that she's coming.

*intransigencia, actitud de la persona que no acepta los comportamientos, opiniones o ideas

distintas de las propias o no transige con ellos.

 not budge/give an inch informal

to refuse to change your opinions.

 dig your heels in

to refuse to do something in spite of other people’s efforts to persuade you. (plantarse

firme)/ to refuse to change your plans or ideas, especially when someone is trying to
persuade you to do so.

 stay put

idiom

to remain in the same place or position.

Just stay put with the suitcases, while I go and find a cab. (quedarse quieto, con respecto al
lugar)

 weigh somebody/something ↔ up
phrasal verb

to consider something carefully so that you can make a decision about it.

We’re still weighing up the pros and cons (=the advantages and disadvantages) of the two
options.

 sit on the fence

idiom

to delay making a decision. (imparcial, ser tibio, no tomar un lado)

You can't sit on the fence any longer - you have to decide whose side you're on.

 bear/keep something in mind

to remember a piece of information when you are making a decision or thinking about a
matter. (tener en cuenta)

Bearing in mind how young she is, I thought she did really well. (teniendo en cuenta lo
joven que es/ cuan joven es)

Of course, repair work is expensive and you have to keep that in mind. (eso lo tenés que
tener en cuenta)
 take something into account

idiom (also take account of something)

to consider or remember something when judging a situation. (toma en cuenta)

I hope my teacher will take into account the fact that I was ill just before the exams when
she marks my paper./ A good architect takes into account the building's surroundings.

 rule something or someone out

phrasal verb with rule verb

UK /ruːl/ US /ruːl/

to decide or say officially that something is impossible or will not happen, or that
something or someone is not suitable.

The police haven't yet ruled out murder. (descartar)

 give in

phrasal verb with give verb

UK /ɡɪv/ US /ɡɪv/

gave | given
(AGREE)

to finally agree to what someone wants, after refusing for a period of time. (rendirse,
ceder)

 I will give/allow you that

Idiom

To accept or admit that SB is right about STH or to agree that STH is true or correct.

It's nice, I'll give you that, but I still wouldn't want to live there. (lo admito, lo reconozco,
tenés razón en eso)

 get your own way

idiom UK

to persuade other people to allow you to do what you want. (hacer lo que uno quiere)

My little brother always gets his own way.

 be set in your ways
idiom

to do the same things every day and to not want to change those habits.

As people get older, they often become set in their ways.

 admit defeat

phrase

to accept that you have failed and give up. (admitir la derrota).

He just refused to admit defeat and carried on.

 give/lose ground

to become less popular or successful. (ceder/ perder terreno)/ to allow SB/STH to have an

advantage/ to lose an advantage for yourself.

Smaller parties always lose ground in elections./ give/lose ground to sb-

 throw in the towel

idiom

to stop trying to do something because you think that you cannot succeed.

Three of the original five candidates for the Democratic presidential nomination have now
thrown in the towel.

 petty

adjective

US /ˈpet̬·i/

petty adjective (SMALL)

small or of little importance. (pequeño, irrelevante, cotidianas, insignificantes)

 be bound to

to be very likely to do or feel a particular thing.

Don’t lie to her. She’s bound to find out./ be bound to win (destinado a ganar)

 be in a quandary

(over/about STH)
Idiom

To be in a difficult situation or problem, especially one in which it is not possible to decide

what to do. (tener un dilema, estar en un dilema)

 snitch

/snɪtʃ/ verb informal

[intransitive] to tell someone in authority about something that another person has done
wrong, because you want to cause trouble for that person. (delatar)

snitch on- Somebody snitched on me.

 the lesser of two evils

idiom

the less unpleasant of two choices, neither of which is good.

But allowing a criminal to go free is perhaps the lesser of two evils if the alternative is
imprisoning an innocent person.

 sleep on it
idiom

to wait before making a decision. (pensalo bien, con tiempo, tranquilo)

Don’t give me an answer now – sleep on it and tell me whenever you’re ready.

 take the blame

phrase

If you take the blame for something, you say that you did it or that it is your fault.

 be in two minds

idiom UK (US be of two minds)

 to be unable to decide about something.

I was in two minds about whether or not to come this morning.

 lay yourself open to …

idiom

to make it easy for people to … (exponerse a)

 drag on
phrasal verb

if an event or situation drags on, it continues for too long. (prolongarse, extenderse)

an expensive court battle that could drag on for years

 outbreak

noun [ C ]

US /ˈɑʊtˌbreɪk/

a sudden appearance of something, esp. of a disease or something else dangerous or

unpleasant. (estallido, brote)

an outbreak of cholera/ the outbreak of war

 moral compass

noun [ C ]

UK /ˌmɒr.əl ˈkʌm.pəs/ US /ˌmɔːr.əl ˈkʌm.pəs/

a natural feeling that makes people know what is right and wrong and how they should
behave. (orientación moral, ética)

 sell out (something)

phrasal verb with sell verb [ I/T ]

US /sel/

past tense and past participle sold US/soʊld/

(DO FOR MONEY)

to give up support for a person or belief for money or personal advantage. (venderse)

He wouldn't sell out the cause to serve his own interests.

  go about something

phrasal verb with go verb

UK /ɡəʊ/ US /ɡoʊ/
present participle going | past tense went | past participle gone

to begin to do something or deal with something. (ocuparse de, hacer, lidiar)

What's the best way of going about this?/ [ + -ing verb ] How can we go about solving this
problem?

 ransack

verb [ T ]

US /ˈrænˌsæk/

to completely search a place in a way that causes mess and damage. (saquear)

Burglars ransacked the house.

 collide

verb [ I ]

UK /kəˈlaɪd/ US /kəˈlaɪd/

(especially of moving objects) to hit something violently. (chocar)

The two vans collided at the crossroads.

 clink

verb [ I or T ]

UK /klɪŋk/ US /klɪŋk/

to (cause something to) make a short ringing sound like pieces of glass or metal knocking
lightly together.

The ice clinked as she dropped it into the glass. (tintineó)

We all clinked our glasses together and drank to a happy new year. (chocamos la scopas, pero
tiene sentido del sonido agudo que se genera, chinchinear)

 divert
verb [ T ]

UK /daɪˈvɜːt/ US /dɪˈvɝːt/

divert verb [T] (CHANGE DIRECTION)

to cause something or someone to change direction. (desviar, divergir)

 deflect

verb

UK /dɪˈflekt/ US /dɪˈflekt/

[ I or T ]

to change direction after hitting something, or to cause something to do this.

The ball deflected off my shoulder, straight into the goal. (reboot, se desvió)

 detract from something phrasal verb

to make something seem less good./ to make something seem less valuable or less deserving
of admiration than it really is.

One mistake is not going to detract from your achievement. (quitar mérito)*detractar, decir
cosas negativas.

 tirade

noun [ C ]

UK /taɪˈreɪd/ /tɪˈreɪd/ US /ˈtaɪ.reɪd/

a long, angry speech expressing strong disapproval. (perorate, arenga)

The leader of the opposition delivered his usual tirades against the President.

 flail

verb [ I or T ]

UK /fleɪl/ US /fleɪl/

(also flail about/around)

(especially of arms and legs) to move energetically in an uncontrolled way.

Flailing economy (economía tambaleante)

 capsize
verb [ I or T ]

UK /kæpˈsaɪz/ US /kæpˈsaɪz/

to (cause a boat or ship to) turn upside down by accident while on water.

A huge wave capsized the yacht./ Capsizing economy. (hundimiento económico)

 (at) full throttle

idiom

moving or progressing as fast as possible. (a toda máquina)

 seething

adjective [ before noun ]

UK /ˈsiː.ðɪŋ/ US /ˈsiː.ðɪŋ/

seething adjective [before noun] (ANGRY)

extremely angry but unable or unwilling to express it clearly. (hirviente, furioso)

A feeling of seething resentment led to angry exchanges between the teams.

 crackdown

noun [ countable ]

/ˈkrækˌdaʊn/

a situation in which officials begin to strictly enforce rules or laws. (medidas severas, mano
dura, ofensiva, represión)

 overhaul

noun

UK /ˈəʊ.vəˌhɔːl/ US /ˈoʊ.vɚˌhɑːl/

to revise and repair an engine, machine, system, etc. so that every part of it works as it should.
(revisar, revision, reestructuración)

 aid package

money, food, etc. that is sent to help countries in difficult situations.

The Russian president’s suspension of his aid package to Ukraine last Wednesday was a signal
of his displeasure at Mr. Yanukovych’s talks with his opponents. (paquete de ayuda)

 defuse

verb [T]
(DIFFICULT SITUATION)
to make a difficult or dangerous situation calmer by reducing or removing its
cause.

Defuse the crisis (reducir la crisis)

 turmoil

noun [ U ]

US /ˈtɜr·mɔɪl/

a state of extreme confusion, uncertainty, or lack of order. (alboroto, turbación)

 embroil

verb [ T ]

UK /ɪmˈbrɔɪl/ US /ɪmˈbrɔɪl/

to cause someone to become involved in an argument or a difficult situation.

The country has been embroiled in an international conflict for weeks. (embrollado, enredado,
envuelto, involucrado)

 backlash

noun [ C ]

UK /ˈbæk.læʃ/ US /ˈbæk.læʃ/

a strong feeling among a group of people against change or recent events in society or politics.
(rechazo, contragolpe, reacción violenta)

 minefield

noun [ C ]

UK /ˈmaɪn.fiːld/ US /ˈmaɪn.fiːld/
PROBLEMS

a situation or subject that is very complicated and full of hidden problems and dangers.
(campo minado).
  lash out (At SB/STH)

Phrasal Verb

To suddenly try to hit SB with a series of violent uncontrolled movements.// To suddenly speak
angrily to SB or criticize SB angrily. (arremeter, agredir, atacar)

 setback

noun [ countable ]

/ˈsɛtˌbæk/

a problem that causes delays. (contratiempo)

After several setbacks, the building finally began. (Después de varios contratiempos, la
construcción por fin comenzó).

 unsuited

adjective

UK /ʌnˈsuː.tɪd/ /ʌnˈsjuː.tɪd/ US /ʌnˈsuː.t̬ɪd/

not right for someone or something, usually in character (inapropiado, incompetente)

Some politicians are labelled unsuited for their jobs as representatives of a country because of
their cowardice.

 moratorium

noun [ C ] formal

UK /ˌmɒr.əˈtɔː.ri.əm/ US /ˌmɔːr.əˈtɔːr.i.əm/
plural moratoriums or moratoria

a stopping of an activity for an agreed amount of time. (moratoria, cese)

 drearily

adverb disapproving

UK /ˈdrɪə.rəl.i/ US /ˈdrɪr.əl.i/

in a way that is boring and makes you feel unhappy. (tristemente, de forma aburrida)

 plummet
verb [ I ]

UK /ˈplʌm.ɪt/ US /ˈplʌm.ɪt/

to fall very quickly and suddenly. (caer en picada)

 indictment

noun

UK /ɪnˈdaɪt.mənt/ US /ɪnˈdaɪt.mənt/

[ C usually singular ]

a sign that a policy, system, society, etc. is bad or wrong. (indicación)

 chairwoman

noun [ C ]

UK /ˈtʃeəˌwʊm.ən/ US /ˈtʃerˌwʊm.ən/
plural -women UK /ˈtʃeəˌwɪm.ɪn/ US /ˈtʃerˌwɪm.ɪn/ (also chair); (chairperson)

a woman in charge of a meeting or organization. (presidenta)

 a bone of contention

noun

a cause of argument or quarrelling/quarrelling (manzana de la discordia)

 come to blows

to have a physical fight or a serious argument with someone. (llegar a las manos, se pararon de
manos)

 stir up

phrasal verb

to cause (trouble etc) (despertar, provocar, excitar, fomentar)

A series of foreign policy measures adopted by the government stirred up resistance against
those measures.

 harbour

verb
to have (usually bad) thoughts in one’s head. (guardar, alimentar)

He harbours/harbors a grudge against me. To harbour resentment.

 take issue with

to disagree with (no estar de acuerdo con, discrepar, estar en contra)

 clueless

adjective informal

UK /ˈkluː.ləs/ US /ˈkluː.ləs/

having no knowledge of something, or of things in general. (despistado, desorientado)

 summit

noun [ countable ]

/ˈsʌmɪt/

a meeting of leaders from different groups or countries. (cumber)

 trigger

verb [ transitive ]

/ˈtrɪɡər/

to cause sth. (desencadenar)

 insurmountable

adjective formal

UK /ˌɪn.səˈmaʊn.tə.bəl/ US /ˌɪn.sɚˈmaʊn.t̬ə.bəl/

(especially of a problem or a difficulty) so great that it cannot be dealt with successfully.

(insuperable, irremontable)

insurmountable difficulties. (dificultades insuperables/ irremontables)

 thorny

adjective

UK /ˈθɔː.ni/ US /ˈθɔːr.ni/

PROBLEM/SUBJECT
A thorny problem or subject is difficult to deal with. (espinoso, delicado, difícil)

 stand at a crossroads

at a point where an important choice must be made. (encrucijada)

at a crossroads in our relationship (en una encrucijada en nuestra relación)

 come under scrutiny

To be closely examined.

 To have a scrap

He had a bit of a scrap with the boy next door, which means they had an argument (bronca,
riña)

 stalemate

noun [ C or U ]

UK /ˈsteɪl.meɪt/ US /ˈsteɪl.meɪt/

a situation in which neither group involved in an argument can win or get an advantage and no
action can be taken. (punto muerto, tmb jaque mate en el ajedrez, callejón sin salida)

The recent discussions ended in stalemate.

 be at odds

to be quarrelling/quarrelling (estar enemistado, estar peleado)

He has been at odds with his brother for years.

 to yield your needs

Accommodating, people yield their needs to those of others by trying to be diplomatic and
allowing the needs of the group to overwhelm their own. (amoldarse, ceder)

 knotty

adjective

UK /ˈnɒt.i/ US /ˈnɑː.t̬i/
COMPLICATED
informal

(of a problem or difficulty) complicated and difficult to solve. (enredado, dificultoso,

entreversado)

 see eye to eye

to be in agreement. (estar de acuerdo con alguien, coincidir, concordar)

 feud

noun [ C ]

UK /fjuːd/ US /fjuːd/

an argument that has existed for a long time between two people or groups, causing a lot of
anger or violence. (enemistad, disputa, contienda, rivalidad)

a family feud. (una disputa familiar)/ a ten-year-old feud between the two countries/ a bitter
feud over land.

 sore point/spot/subject

a subject that causes disagreement or makes people angry when it is discussed. (tema
delicado)

 come to terms with sth

to accept a sad situation.

He still hasn't come to terms with the fact that he needs to go to therapy.

 skirt

verb [ T ]

UK /skɜːt/ US

(also skirt around)

skirt verb [T] (AVOID)

to avoid talking about something.

I deliberately skirted the question about money (esquivé, evadí, evadí)

 fester
verb [ I ]

UK /ˈfestər/ US

fester verb [I] (FEELING)

If a bad feeling or situation festers, it becomes worse over a period of time. (fermentar)

Hatred between the two groups has festered for years. (agravado, agudizado, acrecentado)

 back to square one

back to the beginning of a long process or piece of work.

None of the applicants were suitable, so we had to go back to square one and advertise the job
again.

 set/start the ball rolling

to begin an activity that involves a group of people. (poner en marcha)

I've started the ball rolling by setting up a series of meetings.

 go/run round in circles

idiom

to keep doing or talking about the same thing without achieving anything. (dar vueltas en
círculos, corer en círculos)/ to think or argue about something without deciding anything or
making progress

The discussion kept going round in circles.

 rack (sentido- destrucción) your brains

idiom UK (US rack your brain)

to think very hard. (devanarse los sesos, rompiendo los sesos/ la cabeza,
exprimiendo/reventando los sesos (pensando))

I've been racking my brains all day but I can't remember her name.

 rock the boat

idiom informal
If you rock the boat, you do or say something that will upset people or cause problems:

Don't rock the boat until the negotiations are finished. (armar quilombo, sacudir el avispero,
mover/agitar el avispero)

 put their heads together

idiom

If two or more people put their heads together, they plan something together. (pensar en
conjunto)

If we put our heads together, we can think of a solution

 the bare bones

noun [ plural ]

UK /ˌbeə ˈbəʊnz/ US /ˌber ˈboʊnz/

the most important facts about something, to which more detail might be added later. (lo
esencial, lo importante, lo básico)

the bare bones of the story/ I don't need all the details - just give me the bare bones.

 fight a losing battle

idiom

to try hard to do something when there is no chance that you will succeed. (batalla perdida)

Although the doctors tried hard to save the man, they knew his injuries were fatal. They were
fighting a losing battle.

 put your thinking cap on

idiom

to think seriously about something. (ponerse a pensar)

I need some interesting suggestions so if you can put your thinking cap on I'd be grateful.

 snatch

verb [ T ]

UK /snætʃ/ US /snætʃ/
snatch verb [T] (TAKE QUICKLY)

to take something or someone away by force.

A young boy, who had been playing hide and seek with his friends in the park, fought off the
old woman who had tried to snatch him and, with the help of his friends, he managed to and
run off. (secuestrarlo)/ She had her purse snatched (= stolen) while she was shopping.
(arrebatado)

 pull away

phrasal verb with pull verb

UK /pʊl/ US /pʊl/

(PERSON)

If you pull away from someone who is holding you, you suddenly move your body backwards,
away from them. (apartarse)

 jeer

noun [ C ] US /dʒɪər/

a shouted insult or laughter ridiculing someone. (abucheos, burlas)

We were surprised to hear jeers from our own fans

 seize

verb

UK /siːz/ US /siːz/

[T]

If the police or other officials seize something, they take possession of it with legal authority.
(decomisaron, incautaron, confiscaron)

Based on the new legislation, Denmark has seized valuables(objetos de valor) from asylum
seekers for the first time.

 valuables

noun [ plural ]

UK /ˈvæl.jə.bəlz/ US /ˈvæl.jə.bəlz/

small objects, especially jewellery, that might be sold for a lot of money.
  debunk

verb [ T ] informal

UK /ˌdiːˈbʌŋk/ US /ˌdiːˈbʌŋk/

to show that something is less important, less good, or less true than it has been made to
appear. (desacreditadores, detractores)

 backdrop

noun

UK /ˈbæk.drɒp/ US /ˈbæk.drɑːp/

[S]

the view behind something.

The mountains form a dramatic backdrop to the little village. (panorama). A romantic backdrop
(un panorama romántico)

 simmer

verb

UK /ˈsɪm.ər/ US /ˈsɪm.ɚ/

[I]

If a disagreement or negative emotion simmers, it grows slowly stronger over a period of time
and could become more serious at any moment. (sentido- hervir, agitar, acrecentar)

She's been simmering with resentment ever since the meeting.

 pack sth with sth/sb

— phrasal verb with pack verb [ T ]

UK /pæk/ US

to fill something with things or people of a particular type.

We have packed the conference with an exciting line-up of interesting speakers. (filled with)

 tantamount to something
being almost the same or having the same effect as something, usually something bad.
(equivale a)

Her refusal to answer was tantamount to an admission of guilt.

 render

verb [ T ]

UK /ˈren.dər/ US /ˈren.dɚ/

render verb [T] (CAUSE)

formal

to cause someone or something to be in a particular state.

[ + adj ] His rudeness rendered me speechless/ rendered him sterile. (dejandolo boquiabierto/
estéril)

 hail someone/something as something

phrasal verb with hail verb

UK /heɪl/ US /heɪl/

to praise a person or an achievement by comparing them to someone or something very good:

She's been hailed as one of the best young dancers today. (proclamar, aclamar, considerar)/
The film was hailed as a masterpiece in its day.