Vocabulary about Unit 4 – Lesson 1 (How to overcome shortcomings)
Word
File away
Place in a container for keeping
records.
Pile up
Cause something to increase in
quantity.
Take the bull by the horns
To do something difficult in a
brave and determined way.
Pick up the pieces
To try to return to a satisfactory
situation.
Example
Recently, I’ve been filing my
thesis drafts away for future
reference.
When I was a child I liked to pile
up a large number of pencil
colors.
European Union and the USA
should take the bull by the
horns and create an action plan
that contributes to the war’s
reduction.
He decided to pick up the
pieces with his cousin when she
paid him back the loan.
Translation (IPA)
ˈrisəntli, aɪv bɪn ˈfaɪlɪŋ maɪ ˈθisəs dræfts əˈweɪ fɔr ˈfjuʧər
ˈrɛfərəns.
wɛn aɪ wʌz ə ʧaɪld aɪ laɪkt tu paɪl ʌp ə lɑrʤ ˈnʌmbər ʌv
ˈpɛnsəl ˈkʌlərz.
ˌjʊrəˈpiən ˈjunjən ænd ðə ˈjuˈɛˈseɪ ʃʊd teɪk ðə bʊl baɪ
ðə hɔrnz ænd kriˈeɪt ən ˈækʃən plæn ðæt kənˈtrɪbjuts tu
ðə wɔrz rəˈdʌkʃən.
hi ˌdɪˈsaɪdɪd tu pɪk ʌp ðə ˈpisəz wɪð hɪz ˈkʌzən
wɛn ʃi peɪd hɪm bæk ðə loʊn.
 Vocabulary about Unit 4 – Lesson 2 (Acknowledge inconsiderate behavior)

Word Example Translation (IPA)

Bring up Whenever she gets a new job, she wɛˈnɛvər ʃi gɛts ə nu ʤɑb, ʃi stɑrts tu brɪŋ
To start to talk about a particular subject. starts to bring up the challenges she ʌp ðə ˈʧælənʤɪz ʃi hæz tu ˈoʊvərˌkʌm.
has to overcome.

Make an issue out of something

To argue about something or treat it as Your sister made an issue of your jʊər ˈsɪstər meɪd ən ˈɪʃu ʌv jʊər ˈlɪsənɪŋ
important when it is not, especially when this listening loud music at midnight. laʊd ˈmjuzɪk æt ˈmɪdˌnaɪt.
annoys other people. To exagerate or treat
a minor issue in a way that makes it seem
like a major one.

Bug When people don’t respect the wɛn ˈpipəl doʊnt rɪˈspɛkt ði ˈʌðərz pleɪs ɪn
To annoy or worry someone. others’ place in a public ə ˈpʌblɪk ˌtrænspərˈteɪʃən, aɪ gɛt əˈnɔɪd
transportation, I get annoyed because bɪˈkɔz ɪt bʌgz mi.
it bugs me.

Make up for something The employee gave money to the

 To take the place of something lost or manager to make up for being late ði ɛmˈplɔɪi geɪv ˈmʌni tu ðə ˈmænəʤər tu
damaged or to compensate for something the day before. meɪk ʌp fɔr ˈbiɪŋ leɪt ðə deɪ bɪˈfɔr.
bad with something good.

Vocabulary about Unit 4 – Lesson 3 (Explain how you handle anger)

Word Example Translation (IPA)

Have a fit If I don’t receive an answer from the ɪf aɪ doʊnt rəˈsiv ən ˈænsər frʌm ðə ˈkʌmpəni
To become very angry. company soon, I could have a fit. sun, aɪ kʊd hæv ə fɪt.

Go ballistic When they realized there were wɛn ðeɪ ˈriəˌlaɪzd ðɛr wɜr ˈpɪkˌpɑkəts ˈɪntu ðə
To suddenly become very angry. pickpockets into the bus, they went bʌs, ðeɪ wɛnt bəˈlɪstɪk.
ballistic.

Shrug something off Mark shouldn’t shrug his mɑrk ˈʃʊdənt ʃrʌg hɪz riˌspɑnsəˈbɪləti ɔf
To treat something as if it is not responsibility off for his son. fɔr hɪz sʌn.
important or not a problem.

Let off steam When I have a dismal day, I tend to wɛn aɪ hæv ə ˈdɪzməl deɪ, aɪ tɛnd tu wɑʧ
To do or say something that helps you watch documentary films to let off ˌdɑkjəˈmɛntəri fɪlmz tu lɛt ɔf stim.
to get rid of strong feelings or energy. steam.

Cut someone off

While you are driving, someone pulls
into your lane in front of you at a closer
distance than you are comfortable
with.
It ticked me off when the driver of that ɪt tɪkt mi ɔf wɛn ðə ˈdraɪvər ʌv ðæt trʌk kʌt mi
ɔf waɪl aɪ wʌz ˈdraɪvɪŋ.
truck cut me off while I was driving.

Vocabulary about Unit 5 – (Humor)

Word Example Translation (IPA)

Creepy The film “The exorcism of Emily ðə fɪlm “ði exorcism ʌv ˈɛmɪli roʊz” ɪz kaɪnd ʌv ˈkripi.
Strange or unnatural and making Rose” is kind of creepy.
you feel frightened.

What on earth What on earth is happening with wʌt ɑn ɜrθ ɪz ˈhæpənɪŋ wɪð kəˈlʌmbiəz ɪˈlɛkʃənz?
Used for showing surprise. Colombia’s elections?

Don’t quote me on that I think his mother is a lawer, but aɪ θɪŋk hɪz ˈmʌðər ɪz ə ˈlɔər, bʌt doʊnt
Is when you are close enough don’t quote me on that. kwoʊt mi ɑn ðæt.
and the outcome or speculation
isn’t that important.
Surmise
To guess something, without
having mucho or any proof,
Thick-skinned
Not easily hurt by criticism.
Slapstick
A type of humorous acting in
which the actors behave in a silly
way, such as by throwing things,
falling over, etc.
Vocabulary about Unit 5 – Lesson 2 (Respond to something funny)
Word
Colombian people have been
surmising recently because of
the voting period.
Politicians tend to be thick-
skinned with the majority of
citizens.
Last night, my grandparents were
having some fun while watching
the slapstick comedy.
Example
kəˈlʌmbiən ˈpipəl hæv bɪn sərˈmaɪzɪŋ ˈrisəntli bɪˈkɔz ʌv
ðə ˈvoʊtɪŋ ˈpɪriəd.
ˌpɑləˈtɪʃənz tɛnd tu bi θɪk-skɪnd wɪð ðə məˈʤɔrəti ʌv ˈsɪt
əzənz.
læst naɪt, maɪ ˈgrændˌpɛrənts wɜr ˈhævɪŋ sʌm fʌn waɪl ˈ
wɑʧɪŋ ðə ˈslæpˌstɪk ˈkɑmədi.
Translation (IPA)
 Hysterical The TV show I watched yesterday ðə ˈtiˈvi ʃoʊ aɪ wɑʧt ˈjɛstərˌdeɪ wʌz soʊ
Extremely funny. was so hysterical! hɪˈstɛrɪkəl.

Hilarious
Extremely funny and causing a lot of Colombian memes are extremely kəˈlʌmbiən miːms ɑr ɛkˈstrimli hɪˈlɛriəs.
laughter. hilarious.

Go over someone’s head I don’t know what is the reason you aɪ doʊnt noʊ wʌt ɪz ðə ˈrizən ju ɔl wɜr ˈlæfɪ
To be too difficult for someone to all were laughing during class. To be ŋ ˈdʊrɪŋ klæs. tu bi ˈɑnəst,
understand. honest, that went over my head. ðæt wɛnt ˈoʊvər maɪ hɛd.

Tear When I was standing up from the wɛn aɪ wʌz ˈstændɪŋ ʌp frʌm ðə ʧɛr, maɪ
To pull or be pulled apart. chair, my hoodie tore on it. ˈhʊd.i tɔr ɑn ɪt.

Priceless When she got the joke Charlie told us wɛn ʃi gɑt ðə ʤoʊk ˈʧɑrli toʊld ʌs ðə deɪ bɪ
Extremely funny to see or hear. the day before her birthday, her face ˈfɔr hɜr ˈbɜrθˌdeɪ, hɜr feɪs wʌz ˌæbsəˈlutli
ˈpraɪsləs.
was absolutely priceless.
Vocabulary about Unit 5 – Lesson 3 (Analyze what makes us laugh)

Word Example Translation (IPA)

 Bump into When I was a child, I bumped wɛn aɪ wʌz ə ʧaɪld, aɪ bʌmpt ˈɪntu ə wɔl waɪl ˈwɔkɪŋ
To hit something with force. into a wall while walking down daʊn ðə stɛrz.
the stairs.

Detachment
A feeling of not being emotionally
involved.
Slip
To slide without intending to.
Settle
To reach a decision or an
agreement about something.
When you listen to two people wɛn ju ˈlɪsən tu tu ˈpipəl ˈgɪvɪŋ ðɛr oʊn əˈpɪnjən
giving their own opinion about əˈbaʊt ˈɛni ˈtɑpɪk, ju ʃʊd ʃoʊ sʌm dɪˈtæʧmənt tu
any topic, you should show some əˈvɔɪd ˌmɪsəndərˈstændɪŋz.
detachment to avoid
misunderstandings.
Please, be careful you don’t slip,
the floor is wet. pliz, bi ˈkɛrfəl ju doʊnt slɪp, ðə flɔr ɪz wɛt.
We should settle this. You could wi ʃʊd ˈsɛtəl ðɪs. ju kʊd raɪt ðə rɪˈpɔrt ænd aɪ kʊd dɪˈzaɪn
write the report and I could ðə broʊˈʃʊr fɔr nɛkst ˈmʌndi ˌprɛzənˈteɪʃən.
design the brochure for next
Monday presentation.

Vocabulary about Unit 6 (Troubles while travelling)

Word Example Translation (IPA)

 Hassles I had a hassle with my cousin aɪ hæd ə ˈhæsəl wɪð maɪ ˈkʌzən læst mʌnθ bɪˈkɔz ʌv
Situations that cause difficulty or last month because of his playing hɪz ˈpleɪɪŋ ˈmjuzɪk leɪt æt naɪt.
trouble, or an argument. music late at night.

Inedible The spaghetti they served in the

Not suitable or good enough to meeting was inedible, to be ðə spəˈgɛti ðeɪ sɜrvd ɪn ðə ˈmitɪŋ wʌz ɪˈnɛdəbəl,
eat. honest. tu bi ˈɑnəst.

Split When I split home, I forgot to

To leave a place. take my cellphone. wɛn aɪ splɪt hoʊm, aɪ fərˈgɑt tu teɪk maɪ ˈsɛlfoʊn.

Slam That got on her nerves, for that ðæt gɑt ɑn hɜr nɜrvz, fɔr ðæt ˈrizən, ʃi slæmd ðə dɔr ʌv
To cause to move against a hard reason, she slammed the door of hɜr kɑr.
surface with force and usually a her car.
loud noise.

Vocabulary about Unit 6- Lesson 1

Word Example Translation (IPA)

 Installement
One of the parts of something,
such as a show, that is
experienced as part of a series
over a period of time.
In a nutshell
Using a few words as possible.
Confiscate
To officially take private property
away from someone, usually by
legal authority.
Check in
The area at an airport where you
show your ticket so that you can
be told where you will be sitting.
ðə ˈreɪdiˌoʊ ˈproʊˌgræm ʤʌst ˈbrɔdˌkæst ðə fɜrst tu
The radio program just broadcast ɪnˈstɔːl.mənts.
the first two installements.
I don’t know what to say, but in a aɪ doʊnt noʊ wʌt tu seɪ, bʌt ɪn ə ˈnʌtˌʃɛl, aɪ æm ˈtaɪərd.
nutshell, I am tired.
Custom agents confiscated her
bags.
After check-in, please proceed to
gate 26.
Vocabulary about Unit 6- Lesson 2
 Word
Thoughtlessness
A lack of thought about how your
actions or words may upset
someone.
Counter
A long, flat, narrow surface or
table in a shop, bank, restaurant,
etc. at which people are served.
No sweat
You mean that it will not be
difficult or cause problems.
(Don’t) Freak out
To become very angry or lose
control of one’s mind because of
someone or something that has
happened.
Example
I almost lose my internship
because of his thoughtlessness.
If I hadn’t been talking on the
cellphone, I would have found my
wallet in the bank’s counter.
If it weren’t for her help today,
your final report would have been
rejected, so no sweat!
If my parents had realized that I
got a new tattoo when I was 15,
they would have freaked out.
Vocabulary about Unit 4 – Lesson 3
Translation (IPA)
aɪ ˈɔlˌmoʊst luz maɪ ˈɪntərnˌʃɪp bɪˈkɔz ʌv hɪz ˈθɔtləsnəs.
ɪf aɪ ˈhædənt bɪn ˈtɔkɪŋ ɑn ðə ˈsɛlfoʊn, aɪ wʊd hæv faʊnd
maɪ ˈwɔlət ɪn ðə bæŋks ˈkaʊntər.
ɪf ɪt ˈwɜrənt fɔr hɜr hɛlp təˈdeɪ, jʊər ˈfaɪnəl rɪˈpɔrt wʊd
hæv bɪn rɪˈʤɛktɪd, soʊ noʊ swɛt!
ɪf maɪ ˈpɛrənts hæd ˈriəˌlaɪzd ðæt aɪ gɑt ə nu tæˈtu wɛn
aɪ wʌz 15, ðeɪ wʊd hæv frikt aʊt.
 Word
Keep up with
To do whatever is necessary to
stay level or equal with someone
or something.
Lull
To cause someone to feel calm
or to feel that they want to sleep /
To cause to relax vigilance.
Lull sb into sth
To make someone feel safe in
order to trick them.
Downside
A disadvantage of a situation.
Trip
To make a mistake or false step.
Example Translation (IPA)
He started to walk faster and the
children had to run to keep up.
/lʌl/
The guard was lulled into a false
sense of security (= made
us feel safe, when in fact we
were not).
The downside of living here, of
course, is that it is expensive.
He tripped and fell down.
 Impersonate
To attempt to deceive someone Last month a journalisth was
by pretending that you are impersonated by a scammer.
another person.

Scam When we moved to the new city,

To trick someone into giving you they scammed us.
money, usually in an ilegal way.

Beware Beware salespeople who

Used to warn someone to be very promise offers that seem too
careful about something or good to be true.
someone.

Encryption
The process of changing The records were stored using
electronic information or signals protective encryption.
into a secret code that people
cannot understand or use without
special equipment.
 Scramble
To put things such as words or I scrambled all my passwords
letters in the wrong order so that yesterday.
they do not make sense.

Hotspot
A public place where you can use There are wi-fi hotspots in all our
a computer, mobile phone, etc. cafés.
with wi-fi.

Discern
To see, recognize, or understand I could just discern a figure in the
something that is not clear. darkness.