Unit 7

accommodate

to accept someone’s opinions and try to do what they want, especially when their opinions or needs are different from yours

age-old

having existed for a very long time

alive and kicking

still very active

at your fingertips

knowledge or information that is ready and available to use very easily

atrocity

an extremely cruel and violent action

avid

doing something as much as possible

beef (about)

to complain

boycott

to refuse to take part in something as a way of protesting

build on

to base something on an idea or thing

cliff-hanger

a situation in a story, film or competition that makes you feel very excited or nervous because you do not know what will happen or have to wait a long time to see how it will end

date back to

to have existed since a particular time in the past

debateable

"things that are debateable are not certain because people have different opinions about them"

deceptively

suspiciously

didactic

someone who is didactic is too eager to teach people things or give instructions

emphasis

special attention or importance

ensnare

to trap someone in an unpleasant or illegal situation, from which they cannot escape

entice

to persuade someone to do something or go somewhere, usually by offering them something that they want

fight your corner

to try to persuade people that your ideas about something are right and should be accepted

for want of a better word

used to say that you cannot find an exact word or phrase to describe something

foreclosure

the act of foreclosing on a loan, or the right to do this

get sth off your chest

to tell someone about something that has been worrying or annoying you for a long time, so that you feel better afterwards

give a presentation

to hold a presentation

glorify

"to make someone or something seem more important or better than they really are"

go back on your word

to not do something that you promised or agreed to do

hard-hitting

criticising someone or something in a strong and effective way

have a way with words

to be especially good at writing

have the last word

to have the last statement or speech in an argument

hold back

to stop yourself from feeling or showing a particular emotion

in a word

used before giving a very simple answer or explanation

in the first place

used to talk about the beginning of a situation, or the situation before something happened

inaccessible

difficult or impossible to understand

inhibition

a feeling of shyness or embarrassment that stops you from doing or saying what you really want

involvement

the way in which you take part in an activity or event

loosen

to make something less tight or less firmly fastened, or to become less tight or less firmly fastened

make money (from)

to earn money doing something

mine sth for ideas

to look through something in search of ideas

monotonous

boring because of always being the same

notably

especially; in particular

pacey

fast; quick

perceived

seen as

posture

the way you position your body when sitting or standing

presentation

the way something looks because of how it has been arranged

pressure

the force or weight that is being put on to something

profess

to say that you do, are, etc. something, especially when it is not really true

prominence

the fact of being important and well known

promote

to help something to develop or increase

put ideas out there

to share ideas

put into words

to express what you want to say clearly

put it down on paper

to write down your ideas

put sth down to sth

to put all the blame on one reason

refrain

a remark or idea that is often repeated

shine a spotlight on

to focus on one particular thing

sit up and take notice

to pay careful attention to something

slumped

falling or leaning against something because you are not strong enough to stand

speak out (against sth)

to publicly speak in protest about something, especially when protesting could be dangerous

speech

a talk, especially a formal one about a particular subject, given to a group of people

successive

coming or following one after the other

switch off

to stop listening to someone

take sth lying down

to accept something that is insulting or unfair

tap into

to benefit from

that says it all

that explains everything

that’s a given

that is certain

that’s me done

used when you finish something

that’s sb/sth all over

used to say that a particular way of behaving is typical of someone/something

trawl

to search through a lot of documents, lists, etc. in order to find out information

turmoil

a state of confusion, excitement or anxiety

unashamedly

not feeling embarrassed or ashamed about something that people might disapprove of

undermine

to gradually make someone or something less strong or effective

unflinchingly

not changing or becoming weaker, even in a very difficult or dangerous situation

word of mouth

when people hear about something from their friends, people they work with, etc.

wordsmith

someone who is clever at using language