Friends and family #1

to become friendly or to like each other quickly, usually right after meeting

Hit it off

if something ... people ..., it unites them because they are equally interested in it

Bring together

when you ... you have an argument or a row, usually verbal, non-violent one

Fall out (v)

to stop being in touch, to stop taking or communicating. It happens gradually rather than abruptly

Grow apart

to be interested in the same thing, to be alike

Have lots in common

the ability to put oneself in another person’s shoes and try to understand how they might feel about something.

Empathy (n)

if you ... a person you understand how they feel because you have experienced something similar in the past

Relate to (v)

a ... person is one who cares about how others feel and because of that they try not to offend anyone

Considerate (adj)

a ... individual sees other people’s needs and desires as more important than their own

Selfless (adj)

family connection, relation

Family ties

parents and children. Your parents, sisters and brothers are your...

Immediate family

grandparents, uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews as well as the members of immediate family.

Extended family

to get closer spiritually, to connect.

Bond (v)

if something ... people ..., it helps them connect to one another.

Draw together

to keep talking or communicating. See ‘grow apart’ as a rough antonym for this.

Keep/stay in touch

one’s romantic partner, not necessarily a spouse

Other half

Introducing one person to another is telling them their name to encourage communication

Introduce (v)

a person both you and somebody else know

Mutual acquaintance

being told what to do or given something by a higher authority, e.g. a teacher or a manager

Be assigned (v, passive)

very soon, without waiting

In no time

a construction used to talk about actions in the past that are no longer true. When I was a child I ... spend all summer running in the field playing with other kids.

would (past form)

personal quality that helps you do the same thing until you succeed despite difficulties or setbacks

persistence

if you ... to do something, you make up your mind about doing it and start doing so

set out

there is no surprise that (...)

small wonder

fundamental, integral, crucial, very important

cornerstone

a situation where each example has to be reviewed individually.

Case-by-case basis

things that affect the outcome

Factors at play

have difficulties at doing something.

Have a harder time at something

to start doing something, e.g. a hobby or a sport.

Take up

tiring either physically or mentally

Taxing (adj)

see ‘cornerstone’

Integral (adj)

the state of being available or present everywhere.

Ubiquity (n)

to be replaced by someone or something better

Be ousted by (v, passive)

allow or give the opportunity to do something.

Enable somebody (v)

almost free

Virtually free of charge

whenever one finds it comfortable

At one’s convenience