roadmap C1-C2 3&4

impartial

,not involved in a particular situation, and therefore able to give a fair opinion or piece of advice

realistic

,judging and dealing with situations in a practical way according to what is actually possible rather than what you would like to happen

disclose

,to make something publicly known, especially after it has been kept secret

unsubstantiated

,not proved to be true

insubstantial

,not solid, large, strong or definite

footage

,film or video showing a particular event

murder

,the crime of deliberately killing someone

assassination

,the act of murdering an important person

character assassination

,an unfair attack on someone’s character

bend the truth

,to say something that is not completely true

credible

,deserving or able to be believed or trusted

creditable

,deserving praise or approval

publicity stunt

,something that is only done to get publicity

interpretation

,the way in which someone explains or understands an event, information, someone’s actions etc.

interplay

,the way in which two people or things affect each other

brief

,to give (someone) all the information about a situation that they will need

disclose

,to make (something) publicly known, especially after it has been kept secret

substantiate

,to prove the truth of (something that someone has said, claimed etc.)

misrepresent

,to deliberately give a wrong description of (someone’s opinions or of a situation)

smear

,to tell an untrue story about (someone important) in order to make people lose respect for them – used especially in newspapers

pitch

,to present an idea or concept to someone in a way that they will accept it

probe

,to ask questions in order to find things out, especially things that other people do not want you to know

unearth

,to find (information or the truth about something or someone)

expose

,to show the truth about (someone or something), especially when it is bad

proofread

,to read through (something that is written or printed) in order to correct any mistakes in it

sensationalise

,to deliberately make (something) seem as strange, exciting or shocking as possible – used to show disapproval

plagiarise

,to take words or ideas from another person’s work and use them in your work, without stating that they are not your own

as clear as day

,very easy to see or understand

put your finger on something

,to know or be able to explain exactly what is wrong, different or unusual about a situation

crystal clear

,very easy to see or understand

in plain English

,in clear and simple words, without using technical language

as clear as mud

,used humorously to say that something is very difficult to understand

a hidden agenda

,the secret purpose behind a plan or activity that you do not tell other people about – used to show disapproval

panic attack

,a sudden strong feeling of fear or nervousness that makes you unable to think clearly or behave sensibly

traumatic

,a traumatic experience is so shocking and upsetting that it affects you for a long time

bring someone out in a cold sweat

,to make someone very nervous or frightened

a daunting prospect

,a particular event which will probably or definitely happen in the, future, that is frightening in a way that makes you feel less confident

churn

if your stomach churns, you feel sick because you are nervous or frightened

debilitating

making you ill or weak

get a buzz out of something

to get a strong feeling of excitement, pleasure or success from doing something

rush

a sudden strong, usually pleasant feeling that you get from taking a drug or from doing something exciting

exhilaration

a feeling of being happy, excited and full of energy

thrill

a sudden strong feeling of excitement and pleasure, or the thing that makes you feel this

self-conscious

worried and embarrassed about what you look like or what other people think of you

self-contained

a self-contained flat has its own kitchen and bathroom

self-control

the ability to behave calmly and sensibly even when you feel very excited, angry etc.

self-effacing

the feeling of being satisfied with your own abilities, and that you deserve to be liked or respected

self-esteem

the feeling of being satisfied with your own abilities, and that you deserve to be liked or respected

self-explanatory

clear and easy to understand without needing any more explanation

self-indulgent

allowing yourself to have or do things that you enjoy but do not need, especially if you do this too often

self-inflicted

self-inflicted pain, problems, illnesses etc. are those you have caused yourself

self-made

a self-made man or woman has become successful and rich by their own efforts, not by having money given to them

self-pity

the feeling of being sad and depressed because you think that something unfair or unpleasant has happened to you – used to show disapproval

self-reinforcing

strengthening your own existing feelings, behaviour or opinions

self-reliant

able to do or decide things by yourself, without depending on the help or advice of other people

self-righteous

proudly sure that your beliefs, attitudes and morals are good and right, in a way that annoys other people – used to show disapproval

self-sacrificing

deciding not to do or have something you want or need, in order to help someone else

a strong sense of duty

a feeling that you have to do something because it is morally or legally right

prior work experience

the previous experience you have had of working in a particular type of job

exorbitant rent

an exorbitant rent (= money paid to live in a house or room that belongs to someone else, or to use something that belongs to someone else) is much higher than it should be

mutual support

mutual support is support that two or more people give each other

an untapped resource

something useful that is available but has not yet been used

on a regular basis

at the same time each day, week, month etc., or often

household chores

small jobs that you have to do regularly in a home, especially work that you do to keep a house clean

have a profound impact on something

to have a very important or strong effect or influence on something

muted

a muted reaction to something is not expressed strongly

vibrant

full of activity or energy in a way that is exciting and attractive

rich

full of interesting or important features, facts, events or ideas

fleeting

lasting for only a short time

fuzzy

if a sound or picture is fuzzy, it is unclear

vivid

vivid memories, dreams, descriptions etc. are so clear that they seem real

odour

a smell, especially an unpleasant one

aroma

a strong pleasant smell

crystal-clear

completely clear

blurry

difficult to see because the edges are not clear

crisp

food that is crisp is pleasantly hard or firm when you bite it; weather that is crisp is cold and dry

faint

difficult to see, hear, smell etc.

fluffy

(appearing to be) very light and soft to touch

hazy

air that is hazy is not clear because there is a lot of smoke, dust or mist in it

indistinct

an indistinct sound, image or memory cannot be seen, heard or remembered clearly

mellow

mellow wine or fruit has a smooth pleasant taste

metallic

a metallic noise sounds like pieces of metal hitting each other; a metallic colour shines like metal

muffled

muffled sounds cannot be heard clearly, for example because they come from behind a door or wall

musty

a musty room, house or object has an unpleasant smell, because it is old and has not had any fresh air for a long time

pungent

having a strong taste or smell

resonant

a resonant sound is deep, loud and clear, and continues for a long time

savoury

a savoury smell or taste is strong and pleasant but is not sweet

shrill

a shrill sound is very high and unpleasant

silky

soft, smooth, and shiny like silk; a silky voice is gentle, and is used especially when trying to persuade someone to do something

succulent

juicy and good to eat

textured

having a surface that is not smooth

blare

to make a very loud unpleasant noise

bloodcurdling

extremely frightening

blotchy

covered in coloured marks

bristly

bristly hair is short and stiff

crinkly

having a lot of small lines or folds

clank

if a metal object clanks, it makes a loud heavy sound

clatter

if heavy hard objects clatter, or if you clatter them, they make a loud unpleasant noise

ear-splitting

very loud

fleecy

soft and woolly, or looking soft and woolly

piquant

having a pleasantly spicy taste

starlit

made brighter by light from the stars

willowy

tall, graceful thin and

reach a compromise

to achieve an agreement after everyone involved accepts less than what they wanted at first

give and take

a willingness between two people or groups to understand each other, and to let each other have or do some of the things they want

make a concession on something

to allow someone to have something in order to end an argument or a disagreement

stick to your guns

to refuse to change your mind about something, even though other people are trying to persuade you that you are wrong

dig your heels in

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

split the difference

to agree on an amount that is exactly between two amounts that have been mentioned

a bargaining chip

something that one person or group in a business deal or political agreement has, that can be used to gain an advantage in the deal

find common ground

to identify facts, features or beliefs that are shared by people or things that are very different

break the deadlock

to finally resolve a disagreement which could not be settled