Advanced - Straightforward

Straightforward Second Edition Advanced Wordlists ‐ German 

Word/Phrase Translation (German) Frequency 

of Use 

Unit 1 

Change 

Part of 

Speech 

change a nappy eine Windel wechseln phr /ˌtʃeɪndʒ ə ˈnæpi/ 

change a light bulb eine Birne auswechseln phr /ˌtʃeɪndʒ ə laɪtˌbʌlb/ 

change a plug 

einen Stecker 

auswechseln 

phr 

Phonetic Spelling Definition Sample Sentence 

/ˌtʃeɪndʒ ə plʌg/ 

change a tyre einen Reifen wechseln phr /ˌtʃeɪndʒ ə ˈtaɪə(r)/ 

adapt anpassen ** v /əˈdæpt/ 

alter ändern ** v /ˈɔːltə(r)/ 

convert umrechnen ** v /kənˈvɜː(r)t/ 

shift (away) from/towards 

sich von (etwas) 

wegbewegen / sich zu 

(etwas) hinbewegen 

switch wechseln *** v /swɪtʃ/ 

v 

/ˌʃɪft (əˈweɪ) 

frəm/təˈwɔː(r)dz/ 

transfer wechseln *** v /ˈtrænsfɜː(r)/ 

transform verändern ** v /trænsˈfɔː(r)m/ 

vary variieren *** v /ˈveəri/ 

if you change a baby or change its nappy, you take 

off the dirty nappy and put a clean one on 

to remove an old light bulb and replace it with a new 

one 

change a light bulb now. 

to remove the wire or wires from a plug that isn't 

working, and put in new wires so that it does work 

to replace a tyre on a car with a fresh one, possibly 

because the old one has got a puncture 

to change your ideas or behaviour so that you can 

deal with a new situation 

to make something or someone different 

to change from one system, use, or method to 

another, or to make something do this 

if an idea, attitude, or plan shifts, or if someone 

shifts it, it changes 

to change from one thing to another, or to make 

something do this 

to move someone or something from one place to 

another 

to make someone or something completely 

different, usually in a way that makes them more 

attractive, easier to use etc. 

to be different in different situations 

T] to change something 

You should attend this class, as they'll teach you 

everything from how to change a nappy to how to be a 

better father. 

Since we switched to LED lights, we rarely need to 

My father taught me how to change a plug when I was 

young, but I've completely forgotten how to do it. These 

days I would just call an electrician. 

It's very handy to know how to change a tyre when you 

are driving long distances. 

I don't adapt easily to new situations. 

I get my mother to alter my clothes. 

I have no idea what the currency rate is for converting my 

country's currency into sterling. 

I think the focus of language lessons should shift away 

from grammar and towards more vocabulary learning. 

I often channel-hop when I watch TV, switch between 

channels to see what’s on. 

I cannot understand why such vast sums of money are 

involved when a football player transfers from one club to 

another. 

The internet has radically transformed my life. 

I need to vary my diet more – I always eat the same 

things. 

Age 

come of age volljährig werden v /ˌkʌm əv ˈeɪdʒ/ to reach the age when you are legally an adult She recently came of age. 

come up to retirement vor der Rente stehen phr 

/ˌkʌm ʌp tə 

to get nearer to a particular time or stage in a She’s coming up to retirement. 

rɪˈtaɪə(r)mənt/ process 

get on for (+ age) fast v /ˌget ˈɒn fə(r)/ almost a particular time, number, age etc. He’s getting on for 70. 

midlife crisis Midlife-Krise n C /ˌmɪdlaɪf ˈkraɪsɪs/ 

strong feelings of worry and doubt that some people He's having a midlife crisis. 

have about their lives when they reach middle age 

newborn neugeboren n C /ˈnjuːˌbɔː(r)n/ 

recently born 

I feel nervous holding a newborn baby. I worry I might 

drop it. 

on the wrong side jenseits phr /ɒn ðə ˈrɒŋ ˌsaɪd/ younger or older than She's on the wrong side of 40. 

preteen Vor-Jugendlicher n C /ˈpriːˌtiːn/ 

a child between the ages of 9 and 12 

Many kids want to refer to themselves as preteens to 

make them feel a bit more adult. 

senior citizen ältere Mitbürger n C /ˌsiːniə(r) ˈsɪtɪz(ə) 

someone who is more than 60 years old 

A lot of senior citizens prefer their homes to be in the 

quiet countryside, instead of noisy city centres. 

toddler Kleinkind * n C /ˈtɒdlə(r)/ 

a very young child who is learning how to walk When you have active toddlers at home, you have to 

watch them constantly. 

turn (+ age ) werden v /tɜː(r)n/ to become a particular age or a particular time He's just turned 30. 

twentysomething 

jemand in seinen 

someone who is between the ages of 20 and 29 Teenagers have an easier life than twentysomethings. 

n C /ˌtwentiˈsʌmθɪŋ/ 

Zwanzigern 

Noun suffixes 

www.macmillanenglish.com/straightforward


accurate fehlerfrei ** adj /ˈækjʊrət/ 

correct or true in every detail 

Computer calculations are supposed to be accurate, but 

they occasionally do make small errors. 

accuracy Präzision ** n U /ˈækjʊrəsi/ the quality of being accurate Typing involves two skills: speed and accuracy. 

bury vergraben ** v /ˈberi/ 

to cover something with a layer or pile of things Many small animals bury their food because they are 

incapable of eating it all at once. 

burial Grabstätte * n C /ˈberiəl/ 

the act of burying something in the ground They found an ancient burial ground which may bring us 

new evidence of how people lived in that age. 

certain sicher *** adj /ˈsɜː(r)t(ə)n/ having no doubts that something is true I was certain that he was the one for me. 

certainty Gewissheit ** n U /ˈsɜː(r)t(ə)nti/ 

the feeling of being completely sure about There is little certainty that he will be running this office 

something 

again, given what he did at the Christmas party. 

child Kind *** n C /tʃaɪld/ 

a young person from the time they are born until She was always climbing trees as a child. 

they are about 14 years old 

childhood Kindheit ** n U /ˈtʃaɪldˌhʊd/ the time of your life when you are a child I look back on my childhood with great fondness. 

consult Rücksprache halten ** v /kənˈsʌlt/ 

to discuss something with someone, or to get their Let me consult with my accountant, as he might have a 

permission before you make a decision 

better idea of what to do with the money. 

consultant Berater ** n C /kənˈsʌltənt/ 

an expert or a professional person whose job is to Tom established himself as a freelance advertising 

give help and advice on a particular subject consultant. 

decide entscheiden *** v /dɪˈsaɪd/ 

to make a choice about what you are going to do … so they decided to hold another meeting. 

decision Entscheidung *** n C /dɪˈsɪʒ(ə)n/ 

a choice that you make after thinking carefully What is the biggest decision you have made in your life 

so far? 

employ anstellen *** v /ɪmˈplɔɪ/ 

to pay someone regularly to do a job for you or to When you employ people, you have to make sure you 

work as a member of your organization 

know both their personalities and qualifications. 

employee Angestellter *** n C /ɪmˈplɔɪiː, ˌemplɔɪˈiː/ 

someone who is paid regularly to work for a person Dan was chosen to be employee of the month for getting 

or an organization 

the top sales figures in the company. 

enthuse begeistert v /ɪnˈθjuːz/ 

to talk in an excited way about something that you I used to get so enthused about PE class. 

are interested in 

enthusiasm Enthusiasmus ** n U /ɪnˈθjuːziˌæzəm/ 

the feeling of being very interested in something or I had no cares in the world and used to do everything 

excited by it 

with such enthusiasm. 

expect erwarten *** v /ɪkˈspekt/ to think that something will happen Where might you expect to find each extract? 

novel Roman *** n C /ˈnɒv(ə)l/ 

a long written story about imaginary or partly My dream is to write a novel. I think I have a story in me 

imaginary characters and events 

that's good enough to publish. 

novelist Autor * n C /ˈnɒvəlɪst/ 

someone who writes novels 

I always wanted to be a novelist but since true stories are 

more interesting, I became an essayist instead. 

obey gehorchen ** v /əˈbeɪ/ 

to do what a law or a person says that you must do You must obey without question in the military. 

obedience Gehorsam n U /əˈbiːdiəns/ 

the practice of doing what someone tells you to do, 

or of obeying a law or rule 

Obedience was one of the most important things for 

students to have back in my grandparents' days, but 

nowadays students challenge teachers more and more. 

occur vorkommen *** v /əˈkɜː(r)/ 

occurrence Ereignis ** n C /əˈkʌrəns/ 

to happen, to exist or be found somewhere 

the fact of something existing or happening, 

especially something unexpected and unpleasant 

The pronouns that and those often occur in sentences 

which include a comparison. 

They had never witnessed such a strange occurrence, 

and probably never would again. 

proceed fortfahren *** v /prəˈsiːd/ to continue to happen You may proceed to the next stage of the exam. 

procedure Prozedur *** n C /prəˈsiːdʒə(r)/ 

a way of doing something, especially the correct or I am familiar with the emergency procedure in this 

usual way 

building. 

research recherchieren *** n U /rɪˈsɜː(r)tʃ/ 

the detailed study of something in order to discover 

new facts, especially in a university or scientific 

institution 

Make sure you research the university before you 

complete your application. 

researcher Forscher n C /rɪˈsɜː(r)tʃə(r)/ 

spectate zuschauen v /spekˈteɪt/ 

someone who does research, especially someone 

who works for a television or film company 

collecting relevant facts and ideas 

to watch a public activity or event, especially a 

sports event 

If you want to sell this product, your company should hire 

a market researcher to investigate the target consumers. 

It is always fun to spectate at a sporting event, especially 

when the games are closely matched. 



spectator Zuschauer * n C /spekˈteɪtə(r)/ 

someone who watches a public activity or event, I come to see the horse races every week as a spectator. 

especially a sports event 

stable beständig ** adj /ˈsteɪb(ə)l/ 

not changing frequently and not likely to suddenly When job-hunting, many look for a stable income, while 

become worse 

others look for excitement. 

stability Stabilität ** n U /stəˈbɪləti/ 

a situation in which things happen as they should I don't want to live in a country with no political stability. 

and there are no harmful changes 

tired müde *** adj /ˈtaɪə(r)d/ needing to rest or sleep I feel tired and my neck hurts. 

tiredness Müdigkeit n U /ˈtaɪə(r)dnəs/ 

the state of being tired, and needing to rest or sleep Constant tiredness could cause serious illness so you 

should try to get regular rest. 

true wahr *** adj /truː/ 

based on facts or things that really happen, and not The same is true of other pronouns. 

made up 

the actual facts or information about something, There's a lot of truth in the maxim, 'ignorance is bliss'. 

truth Wahrheit *** n U /truːθ/ 

rather than what people think, expect, or make up 

wise weise ** adj /waɪz/ 

Other words & phrases 

add a bit of spice to life 

ein bisschen 

Abwechslung schaffen 

phr 

/ˌæd ə bɪt əv ˈspaɪs tə 

laɪf/ 

ageism Altersdiskriminierung n U /ˈeɪdʒɪz(ə)m/ 

a wise person is able to make good choices and 

decisions because they have a lot of experience 

to try and make your life a bit more exciting in some 

way 

the practice of treating older people in an unfair or 

insulting way, for example, by not giving them jobs 

He didn't have any education, but my grandfather was a 

wise man. 

Do you prefer to have your life ‘all mapped out’ or does 

uncertainty ‘add a bit of spice to life’? 

Reducing isolation, defeating ageism and promoting 

quality in the care of older people. 

alienate entfremden v /ˈeɪliəneɪt/ 

to make someone feel that they do not belong in a Some activities are offered for the elderly so that they are 

place or group 

not alienated from the community. 

angelic engelsgleich adj /ænˈdʒelɪk/ kind and good The angelic features of the seven-year-old … 

avoid (sth) like the plague 

(jemanden/etwas) wie die 

to be determined to keep away from someone or Ever since we split up, I feel like he's been avoiding me 

phr /əˈvɔɪd laɪk ðə ˈpleɪg/ 

Pest vermeiden 

something completely 

like the plague. 

barn Stall ** n C /bɑː(r)n/ 

a large building on a farm where animals, crops, or He and his wife have bought a second home; it's a barn 

machines are kept 

that they plan to convert. 

bear testimony to bezeugen phr 

/ˌbeə(r) ˈtestɪməni tʊ, to show signs that prove that something happened Bearing testimony to the time he spent on the road … 

tə/ 

or was true 

chitchat Geplaudere n U /ˈtʃɪtˌtʃæt/ 

friendly conversation about things that are not very Even longer-term climate shifts find their way into 

important 

chitchat. 

cocooned eingesponnen adj /kəˈkuːnd/ 

to cover or surround someone or something The resort was a bit cocooned from the local town so I 

didn't feel like we were getting a genuine experience. 

come as a surprise eine Überraschung sein phr 

to be surprising or shocking 

It might come as a surprise, then, how much of the basic 

/ˌkʌm æz ə 

science behind global climate change is rock-solid. 

sə(r)ˈpraɪz/ 

composed gelassen adj /kəmˈpəʊzd/ 

cool entspannt *** adj /kuːl/ 

calm and relaxed 

very calm and relaxed, especially in a difficult 

situation 

‘Now is the first time that I actually feel happy in my own 

skin,’ admits a calm and composed Susie. 

When my dad had an accident my mum was very cool 

and collected - she called an ambulance immediately. 

crack jokes Witze machen phr /ˌkræk ˈdʒəʊks/ 

devastating verheerend * adj /ˈdevəˌsteɪtɪŋ/ 

do a dummy run eine Probe- (…) phr /duː ə ˈdʌmi ˌrʌn/ 

embroiled in in (etwas) verwickelt sein adj /ɪmˈbrɔɪld ˌɪn/ 

to tell jokes 

very shocking or upsetting 

a test of something in which you practise using or 

doing it before using or doing it in a real situation 

involved in a difficult situation 

My boss is a funny guy. He always cracks jokes during 

meetings. 

A devastating hurricane swept down the length of the 

coast. 

Let's do our first dummy run after we put the wheels on 

our handmade eco-car. 

At the turn of the century, Russia finds itself embroiled in 

a growing class battle. 



expectations Erwartungen *** n pl /ˌekspekˈteɪʃ(ə)nz/ 

find one’s way into auftauchen v 

/ˌfaɪnd wʌnz weɪ 

ˈɪntʊ/ 

fritter (sth) away verplempern v /ˌfrɪtə(r) əˈweɪ/ 

fulfilled erfüllt adj /fʊlˈfɪld/ 

fuse verbinden * v /fjuːz/ 

go awry fehlschlagen v /ˌgəʊ əˈraɪ/ 

grasp klammern ** v /grɑːsp/ 

gripping mitreissend adj /ˈgrɪpɪŋ/ 

handheld tragbar n C /ˈhænd ˌheld/ 

handle (mit etwas) umgehen *** v /ˈhænd(ə)l/ 

harsh hart ** adj /hɑː(r)ʃ/ 

have one’s ups and downs Höhen und Tiefen phr 

/həv wʌnz ˈʌps ən 

ˌdaʊnz/ 

heart-rending herzzerreissend adj /ˈhɑː(r)t ˌrendɪŋ/ 

hold (sth) up to close scrutiny 

human-induced 

einer genauen Prüfung 

aussetzen 

durch Menschen 

verursacht 

phr 

adj 

/həʊld ʌp tə ˌkləʊs 

ˈskruːtɪni/ 

/ˌhjuːmən ɪnˈʤuː 

humble beginnings kleine Verhältnisse n pl /ˌhʌmb(ə)l bɪˈgɪnɪŋz/ 

icebreaker Gesprächsbeginn n C /ˈaɪsˌbreɪkə(r)/ 

ill at ease sich unwohl fühlen adj /ˌɪl ət ˈiːz/ 

in a similar vein 

auf ähnliche Art und 

Weise 

phr 

/ɪn ə ˈsɪmɪlə(r) ˌveɪn/ 

in short supply Mangelware phr /ɪn ˌʃɔː(r)t səˈplaɪ 

a belief that something should happen in a 

particular way, or that someone or something 

should have particular qualities or behaviour 

if something finds its way into somewhere, it is in 

that place but you do not know how it arrived there 

My expectations have not been met. 

Even longer-term climate shifts find their way into 

chitchat. 

to waste time or money on things that are not Together we were earning around £100,000 and yet it 

necessary or important 

just got frittered away in cabs and restaurants. 

happy and satisfied, especially because you are It aims to ensure that they are valued by society, become 

doing something important or using your abilities integrated and feel fulfilled. 

if two substances fuse, or if you fuse them, they Alexander fuses a talent for quick-paced, clear-eyed 

become joined to form one thing 

prose with an uncanny ability to understand the mind of 

the worker as well as the aristocrat. 

to not happen in the way that was hoped or planned Once a peaceful demonstration goes horribly awry, 

rebellion takes hold of the country … 

to take and hold something or someone very tightly I grasped the rope so that I didn't fall off the wall. 

holding something or someone very tightly 

small enough to hold in your hands 

to be able to deal successfully with a large amount 

of work or information 

harsh conditions or places are unpleasant and 

difficult to live in 

a variety of situations and experiences that are 

sometimes good and sometimes bad 

making you feel very sad and sympathetic because 

someone is suffering 

to look at something very closely, possibly looking 

for faults or mistakes 

something that is caused by humans 

The Romanov Bride is a gripping and emotional journey 

through one of the most turbulent times in Russian 

history. 

New technology blows my mind; you can do pretty much 

anything from calling people to making slides for 

presentations with modern handheld equipment. 

After a few months, he couldn't handle it anymore. 

It's a bit harsh that I got an F for not turning in just one 

assignment. 

The barrister, the builder and the taxi driver have all had 

their ups and downs. 

She was about six months old and going to a nursery two 

or three mornings a week while I went for job interviews. 

It was just heart-rending,’ he remembers. 

They are uncomfortable about having their lives held up 

to such close scrutiny. 

Weather has always seemed to transcend politics, but 

human-induced climate change is wedded to politics. 

from a low social class Tony is evidence that humble beginnings need not 

prevent one from getting on in life. 

something that you say or do to make people feel When strangers meet at a bus stop or in a coffee shop, 

more relaxed at a party or other social event weather is the universal icebreaker. 

not confident or relaxed 

Susie, who at 21 was visibly ill at ease in front of the 

cameras. 

continuing with something similar to what came The government passed a law banning smoking in public 

before 

places. In a similar vein, they also raised tax on 

cigarettes. The goal was to cut down the number of 

people smoking. 

available only in small quantities, so that there is not Water is in short supply because it didn't rain during the 

enough 

rainy season. 

something that interrupts a peaceful situation or a It is an intrusion into their privacy. 

private event 

intrusion Eingriff * n C /ɪnˈtruːʒ(ə)n/ 

jot (sth) down eine Notiz machen v /ˌʤɒt ˈdaʊn/ to write something in a quick informal way What's your email address? I'll just jot it down. 

Erwartungen gerecht 

/ˌlɪv ˈʌp tʊ 

to be as good as what was expected or promised I always wonder if I can live up to my parents' 

live up to expectations 

phr 

werden 

ˌekspekˈteɪʃ(ə)nz/ 

expectations. 

having existed for a long time 

The long-standing rule of the elite Romanov dynasty is 

long-standing fest etabliert v /ˌlɒŋ ˈstændɪŋ/ 

challenged by the common people. 



map (sth) out (etwas) festlegen v /ˌmæp ˈaʊt/ 

meet expectations Erwartungen erfüllen phr 

/miːt 

ˌekspekˈteɪʃ(ə)nz/ 

overwhelming überwältigend * adj /ˌəʊvə(r)ˈwelmɪŋ/ 

pointer Indiz n C /ˈpɔɪntə(r)/ 

put (sth) aside (etwas) zur Seite legen v /ˌpʊt əˈsaɪd/ 

quarterlife crisis Quarterlife-Krise phr 

/ˌkwɔː(r)tə(r)laɪf 

ˈkraɪˌsɪs/ 

to plan in detail how something will happen 

to be as good as what was expected or promised 

It was as if my life was mapped out for me,’ 

says Andrew. 

My expectations have not been met. 

much larger, stronger, more important etc. than University courses are so overwhelming. I don't know if I 

anything else in a situation 

can keep up. 

something that shows the development or progress The rising level of unemployment is one pointer indicating 

of a situation 

that hard economic times lay ahead. 

to keep something so that it can be used or taken We could so easily have put a bit aside, but we were just 

away later 

irresponsible. 

a minor breakdown that occurs in your mid-20s, Like the midlife crisis, the quarterlife crisis occurs when 

leading you to make unusual and sudden decisions, there is a major change in our lives. 

such as leaving your job, buying a sports car, etc. 

quick-paced schnell adj /ˈkwɪk ˌpeɪst/ 

revolve around sich um (etwas) drehen v /rɪˈvɒlv əˌraʊnd/ 

self-restraint Selbstbeherrschung n U /ˌself rɪˈstreɪnt/ 

including a lot of different things happening quickly 

to have something as a very important part or 

purpose 

the ability to control your feelings and stop yourself 

from doing things that are not right or sensible 

The novel used quick-paced, clear-eyed prose. 

Most of the debate among experts these days revolves 

around interpretation. 

My grandfather believed in self-restraint; he never cried 

and rarely smiled. 

serve as shorthand for 

als Kürzel für (etwas) 

dienen 

eine Hypothek 

aufnehmen 

phr 

/ˌsɜː(r)v əz 

ˈʃɔː(r)tˌhænd fə(r)/ 

/ˌteɪk aʊt ə 

ˈmɔː(r)gɪdʒ/ 

a shorter or quicker way of saying something 

It often serves as shorthand for one’s entire world view. 

settle down sich niederlassen v /ˌset(ə)l ˈdaʊn/ 

to begin to live a quieter life by getting married or Do you not want to settle down? You are almost forty and 

staying permanently in a place 

all your friends are married! 

startlingly erstaunlich adv /ˈstɑː(r)t(ə)lɪŋli/ surprisingly, or very unusually They came from startlingly different backgrounds. 

stick with bei (etwas) bleiben v /ˈstɪk ˌwɪð/ 

to continue to do or use something, and not change That's a very good idea but I'll stick with my own for now, 

it 

thanks. 

sweltering drückend heiss adj /ˈswelt(ə)rɪŋ/ 

extremely hot in an unpleasant or uncomfortable Yesterday’s sweltering heat ... 

way 

to get a loan from a bank or building society in order Your job as a sales representative is well-paid and has 

take out a mortgage 

phr 

to buy a house 

enabled you to take out a mortgage on a small 

house. 

transcend überwinden v /trænˈsend/ 

to become free of negative attitudes, thoughts, or Weather has always seemed to transcend politics. 

feelings that limit what you can achieve 

transition Übergang ** n C /trænˈzɪʃ(ə)n/ 

the process of changing from one situation, form, or The transition from childhood to adulthood can be … 

state to another 

tread water auf der Stelle treten phr /ˌtred ˈwɔːtə(r)/ 

This project is pretty much just treading water, not 

to not make progress, especially because you have progressing at all. 

to wait for something else to happen first 

turbulent turbulent adj /ˈtɜː(r)bjʊlənt/ 

a turbulent situation, place, or period is one in which 

there is a lot of uncontrolled change 

Unit 2 

Memory 

bring back memories of (sth) 

have a good/poor memory for 

Erinnerungen (an etwas) 

zurückbringen 

ein gutes/schlechtes 

Gedächtnis haben 

vague unklar ** phr 

know (sth) by heart 

(etwas) auswendig 

können 

phr 

phr 

phr 

/ˌbrɪŋ bæk 

ˈmem(ə)riːz əv/ 

/hæv ə ˈgʊd, ˈpɔː(r), 

ˈpʊə(r) ˌmem(ə)ri fə/ 

/hæv bɪtəˈswiːt, ˈfɒnd, 

ˈpeɪnf(ə)l, ˈveɪg, ˈvɪvɪd 

ˌmem(ə)riːz əv/ 

/ˌnəʊ baɪ ˈhɑː(r)t/ 

to cause ideas, feelings, or memories to be in your 

mind again 

usually be able or not be able to remember 

something 

not complete or accurate 

if you know something by heart, you can remember 

all the words in it without any help 

The Romanov Bride is a gripping and emotional journey 

through one of the most turbulent times in Russian 

history. 

The song brings back memories of my schooldays. 

I have a poor memory for names and faces. 

I have bittersweet memories of my schooldays. 

I used to know the poem by heart. 



names and faces Gesichter und Namen n pl /ˌneɪmz ən(d) ˈfeɪsɪz/ 

Playing cards 

ace Ass n C /eɪs/ 

bet wetten ** v /bet/ 

Blackjack Blackjack n U /ˈblækˌdʒæk/ 

card counting Karten zählen n U /ˈkɑː(r)d kaʊntɪŋ/ 

clubs Kreuz *** n pl /klʌbz/ 

deal austeilen *** v /diːl/ 

deck Kartenspiel ** n C /dek/ 

diamonds Karo ** n pl /ˈdaɪəməndz/ 

draw ziehen *** v /drɔː/ 

face up/down offen/verdeckt phr /ˌfeɪs ˈʌp, ˈdaʊn/ 

face value Wert n C /ˌfeɪs ˈvæljuː/ 

hand Blatt *** n C /hænd/ 

jack Bube * n C /dʒæk/ 

joker Joker n C /ˈdʒəʊkə(r)/ 

an expression referring to what you remember 

about people i.e. people's names and what they 

look like 

in card games, a card with only one symbol and 

either the highest or lowest value in a suit 

to risk an amount of money by saying what you 

think will happen, especially in a race or game. You 

lose the money if you are wrong and win more if you 

are right 

a card game in which players try to collect cards 

that add up to no more than 21. Blackjack is usually 

played for money in casinos. 

when at a casino or gambling establishment, card 

counting is when you mentally keep a note of all of 

the cards that have already been dealt, in order to 

better predict what cards are remaining. It is not 

permitted in most casinos 

the suit of playing cards that have a pattern like 

three black balls on a black stem on them. The 

other suits are diamonds, hearts, and spades 

I have a good memory for names and faces. 

The ace is worth either 11 or 1. 

‘Card counting’, as it is called, is particularly useful in 

helping professional gamblers decide how much money 

to bet. 

The four suits – hearts, clubs, diamonds and spades – 

have no relevance in blackjack. 

‘Card counting’, as it is called, is particularly useful in 

helping professional gamblers decide how much money 

to bet. 



to give cards to the people playing a game of cards Players are dealt first one card, then another, both face 

up. 

a set of cards used for playing card games. The The game is played with a standard pack, or deck of 52 

usual British word is pack 

cards. 

the suit of playing cards with red diamond shapes The four suits – hearts, clubs, diamonds and spades – 

on them. The other suits are clubs, hearts, and have no relevance in blackjack. 

spades 

to choose a card or ticket in a game, without seeing Each player then decides whether to draw further cards 

what is on it 

from the deck. 

with the front or face upwards/downwards 

Players are dealt first one card, then another, both face 

up. 

to accept someone or something without 

Cards from 2 to 10 are worth their face value. 

considering whether they really are what they claim 

to be 

the particular set of cards that have been given to 

you in a game of cards 

a playing card that has a picture of a young man on 

it and is worth more than a ten and less than a 

queen 

a type of playing card with a picture of a jester on it 

that is used in some card games 

The dealer, whose first card is face down, is the last to 

complete his or her hand. 

The jack, queen and king count as 10 and the ace is 

worth either 11 or 1. 


have no relevance in blackjack and jokers are not used. 

keep track of (sth) (etwas) mitzählen phr /ˌkiːp ˈtræk əv/ 

odds Chance ** n pl /ɒdz/ 

pack Kartenspiel ** n C /pæk/ 

shuffle mischen * v /ˈʃʌf(ə)l/ 

to have all the information that you need about 

something 

the chances of something happening 

Because cards are not shuffled between each game, 

more experienced players keep track of those that have 

already been played. 

… in order to calculate the probability or odds of the next 

card having a high or low value. 

a set of cards used for playing card games The game is played with a standard pack, or deck of 52 

cards. 

to put cards into a different order in the pack before Cards are not shuffled between each game. 

you deal them to players at the beginning of a game 

spades Pik n pl /speɪdz/ 

a playing card with a pattern like a pointed black 

leaf on it 





suit Kartenfarbe *** n C /suːt/ 

Way 

change one’s ways sich ändern phr /ˌtʃeɪndʒ wʌnz ˈweɪz/ 

get one’s own way 

seinen/ihren Kopf 

durchsetzen 

phr /ˌget wʌnz ˈəʊn weɪ/ 

give way on (sth) (bei etwas) nachgeben phr /ˌgiv ˈweɪ ɒn/ 

go back a long way sich schon lange kennen phr /gəʊ ˌbæk ə ˈlɒŋ weɪ/ 

go out of one’s way to do (sth) 

keine Mühen scheuen um 

etw. zu tun 

phr 

/gəʊ ˌaʊt əv wʌnz 

ˈweɪ tə dʊ/ 

in a bad way es geht (ihm/ihr) schlecht phr /ɪn ə ˈbæd ˌweɪ/ 

in a big way in grossem Stil phr /ɪn ə ˈbɪg ˌweɪ/ 

in a roundabout way durch die Blume sagen phr 

know one’s way around sich auskennen phr 

/ɪn ə ˈraʊndəˌbaʊt 

ˌweɪ/ 

/ˌnəʊ wʌnz weɪ 

əˈraʊnd/ 

pave the way for (sth) den Weg bahnen phr /ˌpeɪv ðə ˈweɪ fɔː(r)/ 

the wrong way round falsch herum phr /ðə ˈrɒŋ weɪ ˌraʊnd/ 

work one’s way up sich hocharbeiten phr 

/ˌwɜː(r)k wʌnz weɪ 

ˈʌp/ 

one of four sets of playing cards that together make 

a pack. Clubs, diamonds, hearts, and spades are 

the four suits 



to start doing something completely new or different She went through a lazy period at school, but then 

changed her ways and did well in her exams. 

be allowed to have or do what you want 

She would kick, scream and cry to get her own way as a 

child. 

to agree to something that someone else wants She holds fast to her beliefs, and will never give way on 

instead of what you want 

anything in an argument. 

if two people go back a particular period of time, Sally and I go back a long way – we were in the same 

they have known each other for that period of time class at primary school. 

to make an extra effort to do something even 

though it is not convenient or easy to do 

unhappy, sick, or in a serious condition 

Whenever someone new joins the firm, she goes out of 

her way to make them feel welcome. 

He was rushed to hospital – the doctors say he’s in a bad 

way. 

if someone does something in a big way, they do it The mini skirt caught on in a big way in the sixties – 

a lot, or they think it is important 

everyone was wearing one. 

not direct, simple, or short 

I wish he was more direct – he always says things in 

such a roundabout way. 

to be very familiar with a particular place or activity She’s been working in the company for over a year now, 

so she knows her way around. 

to create a situation that makes it possible or easier Cycling groups lobbied for smooth, asphalt roads to be 

for something to happen 

laid down all over the country – thus literally paving the 

way for the bicycle’s greatest competitor, the car. 

with one part or side in the position where the other He was holding the camera the wrong way round and he 

part or side should be 

took a photo of himself! 

if you work your way somewhere, you travel there She’s still in a junior position but she hopes to work her 

slowly and with difficulty 

way up to a management post. 


A-grade student Einser-Schüler n C 

high-grade: very good in quality 

/ˈeɪˌgreɪd ˈstjuːd(ə)nt/ 

At school he was an A-grade student. 

automaton Automat n C /ɔːˈtɒmətən/ 

bar Bar ** v /bɑː(r)/ 

blacksmith Schmied n C /ˈblækˌsmɪθ/ 

blanket ban Pauschalverbot n C /ˈblæŋkɪt ˌbæn/ 

boost verstärken ** v /buːst/ 

chaperone Begleitperson n C /ˈʃæpərəʊn/ 

cognition enhancer Kognitionsverstärker n C 

/kɒgˈnɪʃ(ə)n 

ɪnˌhɑːnsə/ 

come up with 

sich (etwas) einfallen 

lassen 

v 

/ˌkʌm ˈʌp wɪð/ 

commit (sth) to memory sich (etwas) einprägen phr /kəˌmɪt tə ˈmem(ə)ri/ 

commute pendeln v /kəˈmjuːt/ 

a machine that can move and do things without 

being controlled by someone 

a place where you go to buy and drink alcoholic 

drinks 

someone whose job is to make things out of metal 

affecting or aimed at everyone or everything 

equally, even when this is not sensible or fair 

to help something to increase, improve, or become 

more successful 

in the past, an older woman who went with a young 

woman who was not married to a social event to 

make sure that she behaved well 

a device or substance that allows a person to 

become 'smarter', usually through enhancing 

memory 

to think of something such as an idea or a plan 

study something carefully so that you can 

remember it 

to travel regularly to and from work 

Automatons are widely used in automobile 

manufacturing. 

Madrid is famous for its many bars and cafes. 

it wasn’t until 1861 that a Parisian blacksmith named 

Pierre Michaux fixed a set of pedals to the front wheel, 

and the bicycle was finally born. 

There is going to be a blanket ban on all unlicensed 

street vendors throughout the Olympics. 

Drugs to boost brain power will become ‘as common as 

coffee’. 

The bicycle changed everything. It got them out and 

about (often without a chaperone to accompany them). 

If we ever find ourselves in a society that embraced 

cognition enhancers, “mental cosmetics” could become 

accepted. 

Our proposal didn't get approved, so we have to come up 

with a better plan very quickly. 

What techniques do you use for committing information to 

memory? 

Workers were suddenly able to commute in from newlybuilt 

suburbs. 



corset Korsett n C /ˈkɔː(r)sɪt/ 

a stiff piece of underwear worn by women to make 

their waists look thin, especially in the past 

The women were frequently stuck at home in tight 

corsets and large, heavy skirts. 

dandy Dandy n C /ˈdændi/ 

a man who cares a lot about his appearance and The hobbyhorse was the height of fashion among rich 

always wears fashionable clothes 

young dandies. 

digit Zahl n C /ˈdɪdʒɪt/ one of the written numbers from 0 to 9 I struggled to remember seven or eight digits in a row. 

dispose of entsorgen v /dɪsˈpəʊz ˌəv/ 

to get rid of something that you no longer need or The safest way to dispose of batteries once they have 

want 

run out is to recycle them. 

do without ohne (etwas) auskommen v /ˌdʊ wɪˈðaʊt/ 

to succeed in living or working without someone or I could do without tests tomorrow, since I have so much 

something 

other stuff to do. 

drum up interest in (sth) Interesse wecken phr /ˌdrʌm ʌp ˈɪntrəst ɪn/ 

to try to make people support you or buy something To drum up interest in his new machine, Michaux 

from you 

organized a women’s bicycle race. 

dummy Puppe n C /ˈdʌmi/ 

something that is made to look like a real object, 

used either for practising something or for tricking 

We used a dummy to practise with before bathing a real 

baby. 

people 

ease locker/ruhig ** v /iːz/ 

the ability to do something easily 

The most effective way to ease traffic congestion in 

enhancer Verstärker v /ɪnˈhɑːnsə(r)/ 

flattern/(mit den Flügeln 

schlagen) 

to improve something, or to make it more attractive 

or more valuable 

towns and cities is … 

The individual’s use of such substances may move from 

the fringe to the norm, with cognition enhancers used as 

coffee is today. 

enhancing verstärkend adj /ɪnˈhɑːnsɪŋ/ 

improving something 

Memory-enhancing drugs will not cause significant 

damage to our overall health. 

enlightening erleuchtend adj /ɪnˈlaɪt(ə)nɪŋ/ 

to give someone information about something so This book is so enlightening; you should read it too. 

that they understand more about it 

a statue that includes a depiction of a horse An equestrian statue was planned for the fourth plinth in 

equestrian statue Pferdestatue n C /ɪˈkwestrɪən ˌstætʃuː/ 

1841. 

pieces of information about something, rather than I have a very poor memory for facts and figures. 

facts and figures Zahlen und Fakten n pl /ˈfækts ən(d) ˌfɪgə(r)z/ 

opinions or ideas 

fall to bits kaputtgehen phr /ˌfɔːl tʊ ˈbɪts/ 

to be in a very bad condition because of being old My video game console is falling to bits; I've been playing 

or badly made 

it for years. 

if your arms, hands etc. flap, or if you flap them, One early attempt was the Velocimano – a tricycle 

flap 

v 

/flæp/ 

they move quickly up and down 

resembling a sea monster which moved forward when the 

driver flapped its wings. 

fringe Rand-(...) * n C /frɪndʒ/ 

the outer edge of something 

The use of such substances may move from the fringe to 

the norm. 

gene pool Gen-Pool n C /ˈdʒiːn ˌpuːl/ 

the total of all the genes within a species (=a group The bicycle expanded the human gene pool as never 

of animals or plants) 

before. 

have an edge 

an advantage that makes someone or something They thought that the development of the new software 

einen Wettbewerbsvorteil 

phr /ˌhæv ən ˈedʒ əʊvə(r)/ more successful than other people or things would mean they had an edge over their competitors. 

haben 

highlight Highlight * n C /ˈhaɪˌlaɪt/ 

the most exciting, impressive or interesting part of The meal wasn't a highlight - it was very poor - I think it 

an event 

had been re-heated. 

in a row hintereinander phr /ˌɪn ə ˈrəʊ/ 

one after another, without anything different I struggled to remember seven or eight digits in a row. 

happening in between 

indigenous einheimisch adj /ɪnˈdɪʤənəs/ 

indigenous people lived in a place for a very long The Giant Panda is indigenous to China. 

time before other people came to live there 

let alone ganz zu schweigen von phr /ˌlet əˈləʊn/ 

used for saying that something is even less likely to I struggled to remember seven or eight digits in a row, let 

happen than another unlikely thing 

alone 20 or 30. 

lobby for sich für (etwas) einsetzen v /ˈlɒbi ˌfɔː(r)/ 

to try to influence politicians or people in authority The pressure group has been lobbying for stricter 

on a particular subject 

controls on gun ownership. 

memorize einprägen * v /ˈmeməraɪz/ 

to learn something so that you remember it perfectly You are going to use Dominic O’Brien’s techniques to 

memorize a sequence of eight cards. 

memory Gedächtnis *** n C /ˈmem(ə)ri/ the ability to remember things He began training his memory when he was thirteen. 

moped Moped n C /ˈməʊped/ 

a type of motorcycle with an engine that is not Workers are exchanging their bikes for mopeds, 

powerful and pedals like a bicycle 

motorbikes and cars. 



norm Norm ** n sing /nɔː(r)m/ 

optical illusion optische Täuschung n /ˌɒptɪk(ə)l ɪˈluːʒ(ə)n/ 

outraged empört adj /ˈaʊtˌreɪdʒd/ 

peak performance Spitzenleistung n U 

/ˈpiːk 

pə(r)ˌfɔː(r)məns/ 

pedestal Podest n C /ˈpedɪst(ə)l/ 

photographic memory 

fotografisches 

Gedächtnis 

plinth Sockel n C /plɪnθ/ 

phr 

/ˌfəʊtəˈgræfɪkˌmem(ə) 

ri/ 

plot of land Grundstück n C /ˌplɒt əv ˈlænd/ 

precarious gewagt adj /prɪˈkeəriəs/ 

prompt 

(jemanden) zu etwas 

bringen 

** v /prɒmpt/ 

retrieve hervorholen * v /rɪˈtriːv/ 

roller coaster Berg- und Talbahn n C /ˈrəʊlə(r) ˌkəʊstə(r)/ 

something that is usual or expected 

something that looks very different from what it 

really is, usually because of the way that it is drawn 

or lit 

to make someone extremely angry and shocked 

The individual’s use of such substances may move from 

the fringe to become the norm. 

They were far more interested in the optical illusions. 

One early female cyclist was pictured on the front of The 

National Police Gazette , underneath the outraged 

headline: ‘SHE WORE TROUSERS’. 

the time when something is at its highest or greatest ‘Without the correct diet, it cannot give its peak 

level 

performance,’ she says. 

a base on which something such as a statue stands The square also contains four large pedestals, or plinths. 

the ability to remember all the details you see 

a square piece of stone that forms the bottom of a 

column or statue 

a piece of land used for a particular purpose, for 

example, building a house or growing plants 

likely to change or become dangerous without 

warning 

to encourage someone to speak or continue 

speaking 

to get something back, especially something that is 

not easy to find 

a structure like a tall railway with steep slopes at an 

amusement park, that you have fast rides on for fun 

People think that because I can remember so many facts 

and figures I must have a photographic memory. 

The square also contains four large pedestals, or plinths. 

A plot of land has become available in your area for the 

siting of a new national museum. 

They could only increase the machine’s top speed by 

making the front wheel bigger – which is how the rather 

precarious penny farthing evolved. 

The bicycle changed everything. It got them out and 

about (often without a chaperone to accompany them), 

made them strong and healthy, and prompted them to try 

new modes of dress. 

That particular fact or figure has buried itself deep within 

the vault of your memory and you just can’t seem to 

retrieve it. 

You all sit in this car, a bit like a roller coaster car. 

rope (sth) off absperren phr /ˌrəʊp ˈɒf/ 

rupture Bruch n C /ˈrʌptʃə(r)/ 

vault Tresor n /vɔːlt/ 

wear off abklingen v /ˌweə(r) ˈɒf/ 

whiff Hauch n C /wɪf/ 

wire-spoked metallene Speichen adj /ˈwaɪə(r) ˌspəʊkd/ 

Unit 3 

(not) having enough 

(perfectly) adequate for reicht (vollkommen) aus adj 

/ˌpɜrfɪk(t)li ˈædəkwət 

fɔː(r)/ 

(sadly) lacking in leider (etwas) nicht haben adj /ˌsædli ˈlækɪŋ ɪn/ 

have plenty of viel (von etwas) haben phr /hæv ˈplenti ˌɒv/ 

in short supply Mangelware phr /ɪn ˌʃɔː(r)t səˈplaɪ 

to enclose an area using ropes, usually because of 

danger 

an injury in which one of the organs in your body 

sticks out through the muscle surrounding it 

a strongly protected room in a bank where money, 

gold etc. is kept 

if something such as a pain, an emotion, or a 

feeling wears off, it gradually disappears 

a slight amount or sign of something 

one of several thin metal bars that connect the 

centre of a wheel to the outside part 

good enough or large enough for a particular 

purpose 

if something important or useful is lacking, it does 

not exist or is not available 

a large amount of large number of something 

if something is short or in short supply, there is not 

enough of it or it is not easy to get 

A racecourse in Bordeaux was roped off for the occasion. 

The London College of Surgeons warned that it could 

cause ‘ruptures’. 

That particular fact or figure has buried itself deep within 

the vault of your memory and you just can’t seem to 

retrieve it. 

My passion for drawing started to wear off as I got into 

photography. 

There was a whiff of corruption in the way the contract 

was awarded to friends of the mayor. 

They improved his design by adding wire-spoked wheels. 

I’d like to work or study in an English-speaking country. 

My level of English is perfectly adequate for either. 

This town is sadly lacking in good sports facilities. 

There are a lot of things I want to do. I’ve got plenty of 

time before I need to think about settling down. 

Well-paid jobs are in short supply in this part of the 

country. 



short of wenig (von etwas) haben adj /ˈʃɔː(r)t ˌɒv/ 

used for saying that you do not have enough of I’m a bit short of cash at the moment. I need to go to the 

something 

bank. 

sufficient to meet ausreichend phr /səˈfɪʃ(ə)nt tʊ ˈmiːt/ 

as much as is needed 

The library resources in this school are sufficient to meet 

the needs of students. 

the needs of Bedürfnis phr /ðə ˈniːdz ˌɒv/ 

something that you need in order to be healthy, The library resources in this school are sufficient to meet 

comfortable, successful etc. 

the needs of students. 

water shortage Wasserknappheit n C /ˈwɔːtə(r) ˌʃɔː(r)tɪdʒ/ 

the state of not having enough water, usually 

because there hasn't been any rainfall for a long 

In my area we often suffer from water shortages in 

summer. 

period of time 

well off for gut situiert adj /ˌwel ˈɒf fɔː(r)/ rich, or having enough money to live well We’re well off for parks in my area. 

Rubbish 

bottle bank Glasrecycling-Container n C /ˈbɒt(ə)l ˌbæŋk/ 

a large container in a public place where people can We take glass to the bottle bank. 

put empty bottles so that the glass can be recycled 

bulky sperrig adj /ˈbʌlki/ 

civic amenity site Recyclingsammelstelle n C /ˌsɪvɪk əˈmiːnəti saɪt/ 

drop litter Müll wegwerfen phr /ˌdrɒp ˈlɪtə(r)/ 

dustcart Müllwagen n C /ˈdʌs(t)ˌkɑː(r)t/ 

dustman Müllmann n C /ˈdʌs(t)mən/ 

food scraps Essensreste n pl /ˈfuːd ˌskræps/ 

piles of rubbish Müllberge n C /ˌpaɪlz əv ˈrʌbɪʃ/ 

put the rubbish out den Müll rausbringen phr /ˌpʊt ðə ˈrʌbɪʃ aʊt/ 

refuse Abfall n U /ˈrefjuːs/ 

rubbish collection Müllabholung n C /ˈrʌbɪʃ kəˌlekʃ(ə)n/ 

skip Müllcontainer n C /skɪp/ 

throw (sth) away wegwerfen v /ˌθrəʊ əˈweɪ/ 

tip Müllhalde ** n C /tɪp/ 

Excess 

binge drinking Komasaufen phr /ˈbɪndʒ ˌdrɪŋkɪŋ/ 

bombard (sb) with mit (etwas) bombardieren phr /ˌbɒmˈbɑː(r)d wɪθ/ 

do (sth) to excess 

(etwas) exzessiv 

betreiben 

phr 

/ˌduː tʊ ɪkˈses/ 

go over the top übertreiben phr /gəʊ ˈəʊvə(r) ðə ˌtɒp/ 

too big to be carried or stored easily 

a location where people can take their old rubbish, 

usually rubbish that is too big to just be thrown into 

a dustcart 

If we want to throw away something big and bulky we 

take it in the car to the civic amenity site. 

If we want to throw away something big and bulky we 


to carelessly and anti-socially throw items you don't Our parks are full of litter. People can't be bothered to put 

want or need on the floor 

it in a bin so they just drop it anywhere. 

a truck with a large metal container for carrying The noise of their dustcart often wakes me up. 

waste materials from dustbins 

a man who collects rubbish; a garbage collector We put out our rubbish last thing at night, and the 

dustmen usually come about five in the morning to take it 

away. 

small amounts of food that are left after a meal 

Plastics go in one bag and we put food scraps in another. 

litter that has not been collected and therefore piled There is no collection on Sundays so by Monday there 

into big mounds 

are always huge piles of rubbish in our street. 

to put waste outside your house so that it can be We put out our rubbish last thing at night. 

collected and taken away 

rubbish 

They have about a dozen enormous metal skips for all 

the different types of household refuse. 

the act of dustcarts going from house to house to There is no collection on Sundays so by Monday there 

pick up household rubbish 

are always huge piles of rubbish in our street. 

a very large metal container used in the building They have about a dozen enormous metal skips for all 

industry for waste. 

the different types of household refuse. 

to get rid of something that you no longer want, for If we want to throw away something big and bulky we 

example, by putting it in a dustbin 


a place where you take rubbish and leave it If we want to throw away something big and bulky we 

take it in the car to the civic amenity site (more commonly 

known as the tip). 

the drinking of large amounts of alcohol in a short 

period of time, in order to get drunk 

to ask someone so many questions, give them so 

much information etc. that it is difficult for them to 

deal with it all 

if you do something to excess, you do it so much 

that it harms you or causes problems 

to do something that is more than what is 

considered normal or suitable 

There are no easy solutions to the growing problem of 

binge-drinking, the practice among young people of 

drinking to excess. 

Junk mail is not effective: bombarding people with 

information, advice and offers leads to overkill and people 

stop reading it. 

There are no easy solutions to the growing problem of 

binge-drinking, the practice among young people of 

drinking to excess. 

It’s alright for films to have some violence, but some 

really do go over the top. 



go overdrawn überziehen phr /ˌgəʊ əʊvə(r)ˈdrɔːn/ 

if you are overdrawn, or if your bank account is The bank charged 20 pounds in penalty fees when I went 

overdrawn, you owe your bank money that you have overdrawn. 

spent when there was no money in your account 

in excess of mehr als (etwas) phr /ˌɪn ɪkˈses əv, ɒv/ more than a particular amount Do not spend in excess of your income. 

overeat zu viel essen v /ˌəʊvərˈiːt/ 

to eat more food than your body needs 

I always overeat when I come to this restaurant; I feel I 

need to exercise straight after. 

someone or something that is overexposed appears A person who is overexposed on television is someone 

overexposed übermässig exponiert adj /ˌəʊvərɪkˈspəʊzd/ in newspapers, on television, on the radio etc. so who is seen in too many roles. 

often that people lose interest in it 

overkill Übermass n U /ˈəʊvə(r)ˌkɪl/ 

more of something than is needed or wanted Junk mail is not effective: bombarding people with 

information, advice and offers leads to overkill and people 

stop reading it. 

overpaid überbezahlt adj /ˌəʊvə(r)ˈpeɪd/ 

to pay someone more money than they deserve for Banking is now seen as a profession which is overpaid. 

the work that they do 

overpriced zu teuer adj /ˌəʊvə(r)ˈpraɪst/ worth less than the price that is being charged Those chairs she bought were overpriced. 

overrated überbewertet adj /ˌəʊvəˈreɪtɪd/ not as good or important as some people believe That movie was definitely overrated. 

oversensitive übermässig sensibel adj /ˌəʊvə(r)ˈsensətɪv/ 

easily becoming upset about things that people do Many women are oversensitive about their weight. 

or say to you 

oversleep zu lange schlafen v /ˌəʊvə(r)ˈsliːp/ 

to wake up later than you intended to 

I overslept and was late for school. The teacher was mad 

at me. 

overtired übermüdet adj /ˌəʊvə(r)ˈtaɪə(r)d/ 

extremely tired, but not able to sleep 

I get overtired after football practice. I should probably 

only go once a week. 

overworked überarbeitet adj /ˌəʊvə(r)ˈwɜː(r)kt/ forced to work too hard You see many overworked businesspeople in Tokyo. 

take (sth) to extremes 

(etwas) auf die Spitze 

treiben 

phr 

/ˌteɪk tʊ ɪkˈstriːmz/ 

to do something much more than is usual or 

reasonable 

Equality is all very well but some people take it to 

extremes. 

Adjective affixes 

caution Vorsicht ** n U /ˈkɔːʃ(ə)n/ 

careful thought and lack of hurry in order to try to Proceed with caution - the path is quite dangerous. 

avoid risks or danger 

cautionary belehrend adj /ˈkɔːʃ(ə)nəri/ warning someone that they should be careful Rob Crossan tells a cautionary tale. 

the unhappy feeling that you have when you want I envy you for having a brand new convertible sports car. 

envy beneiden n U /ˈenvi/ 

very much to do something that someone else does 

or to have something that they have 

(un)enviable wenig beneidenswert adj /(ʌn)ˈenviəb(ə)l/ 

difficult and not at all enjoyable 

The President has the unenviable task of recovering the 

mined-out ruin of Nauru. 

expect erwarten *** v /ɪkˈspekt/ 

to think that something will happen 

I expect you to do well at school, especially because I'm 

paying the fees. 

something that is unexpected is surprising, because It was a totally unexpected outcome: who could have 

(un)expected (un)erwartet *** adj /(ʌn)ɪkˈspektɪd/ you did not expect it at all, or you expected it to predicted such a result? 

happen in a different way 

faith Glaube *** n U /feɪθ/ strong belief in or trust of someone or something You'll be fine; I have faith in you. 

faithful treu sein * adj /ˈfeɪθf(ə)l/ 

continuing to support someone or be their friend, Yours faithfully … 

even in a difficult situation 

globe Erde n C /gləʊb/ the world The rising tides are likely caused by global warming. 

global global *** adj /ˈgləʊb(ə)l/ including or affecting the whole world The rising tides are likely caused by global warming. 

home zu Hause *** n C /həʊm/ 

the place where you live 

Some of the jewellery Gerry takes home is quite valuable. 

homeless obdachlos * adj /ˈhəʊmləs/ 

imagine vorstellen *** v /ɪˈmædʒɪn/ 

imaginative fantasievoll * adj /ɪˈmædʒɪnətɪv/ 

number Anzahl *** n C /ˈnʌmbə(r)/ 

without a place to live 

to form a picture of something or someone in your 

mind 

involving new, different, or exciting ideas 

a quantity of people or things 

I’d also give some to a deserving cause, like a charity for 

homeless people. 

Imagine that you all live on the beautiful but remote 

tropical island of Nauru. 

He tells me his imaginative plans to bring tourists to 

Nauru. 

These included the purchase of a number of properties 

abroad. 



existing in large numbers 

The museum of natural history and anthropology has 

numerous zahlreich ** adj /ˈnjuːmərəs/ 

numerous collections covering zoology, mineralogy and 

palaeontology. 

persuade überzeugen *** v /pə(r)ˈsweɪd/ 

to make someone agree to do something by giving I persuaded my parents to invest in our new business. 

them reasons why they should 

persuasive überzeugend * adj /pə(r)ˈsweɪsɪv/ 

good at making people agree to do or believe what Some people can be very persuasive in these matters. 

you want them to 

rain Regen *** n C /reɪn/ 

if it rains, water falls in drops from clouds in the sky I had to walk in the rain, and then caught a cold. 

rainy regnerisch adj /ˈreɪni/ a rainy day is one on which it rains a lot Save the rest for a rainy day. 

response Reaktion *** n C /rɪˈspɒns/ a reaction Prime minister, what would be your response to that? 

someone who is responsible for someone or I think it’s irresponsible to go out and blow it all on a huge 

(ir)responsible (un)verantwortlich adj /(ˌɪ)rɪˈspɒnsəb(ə)l/ 

something is in charge of them and must make sure house or a luxury yacht. 

that what they do or what happens to them is right 

or satisfactory 

substance Inhalt *** n U /ˈsʌbstəns/ 

the quality of being important, real, or useful, or The substance of this lecture is how to prepare for the 

substantial beträchtlich *** adj /səbˈstænʃ(ə)l/ 

something that shows this quality 

large in amount or degree 

economic crisis. 

It must be rather stressful to win or come into a 

substantial amount of money and suddenly become rich. 


amiable freundlich adj /ˈeɪmiəb(ə)l/ friendly and pleasant My boss is an amiable and caring person. 

offended or shocked very much by something, If an alien spacecraft were orbiting the blackened husk of 

appalled entsetzt adj /əˈpɔːld/ 

because it is extremely unpleasant or bad 

Earth in centuries’ time, its pilots might be appalled to 

learn how the human inhabitants had produced and 

consumed so much of everything. 

at a premium besonders beliebt phr /ət ə ˈpriːmiəm/ 

if something is at a premium, a lot of people want it The new tablet device is at a premium now, and you have 

blacklist 

auf die schwarze Liste 

setzen 

v 

/ˈblækˌlɪst/ 

book price Buchpreis n C /ˈbʊk ˌpraɪs/ 

bottom line die Sache ist… n sing /ˌbɒt(ə)m ˈlaɪn/ 

breakthrough Durchbruch * n C /ˈbreɪkθruː/ 

buck 

Dollar/ Tiermännchen/ 

junger Mann 

n C /bʌk/ 

bulging vollgestopft adj /ˈbʌldʒɪŋ/ 

burnout Burnout n U /ˈbɜː(r)naʊt/ 

cash handout Bargeld n C /ˌkæʃ ˈhændaʊt/ 

and so it is difficult to get 

to keep a record of someone you do not approve of 

and prevent them from making progress in some 

way 

the amount of money that it costs to buy a given 

book 

the most basic fact or issue in a situation 

to wait for a long time to get one. 

You can be blacklisted if you cause any trouble on the 

plane. 

Once it went into paperback, the book price went down. 

The bottom line is we have to make money very quickly. 

a discovery or achievement that comes after a lot of Thanks to breakthroughs in neuroscience … 

hard work 

a dollar 

I owe you five bucks, but can I get it back to you 

tomorrow. 

completely full 

Look at how your wallet is bulging! Feeling rich today, are 

you? 

the mental and physical condition of having no The human inhabitants had produced and consumed so 

energy left, or becoming ill after a period of very much of everything that they had ultimately burnt the 

hard work 

whole planet out. 

an amount of money given to ordinary people, either 

to help them or to help stimulate the economy 

cheapskate Geizhals n C /ˈtʃiːpˌskeɪt/ someone who does not like to spend money What a cheapskate he is. 

if you choke, or if something chokes you, you 

choke ersticken * v /tʃəʊk/ 

cannot breathe because there is not enough air or 

because something is blocking your throat 

chuck (sth) out (etwas) wegwerfen v /ˌtʃʌk ˈaʊt/ 

come in for criticism Kritik ausgesetzt werden phr 

/ˌkʌm ɪn fə 

ˈkrɪtɪˌsɪz(ə)m 

to get rid of something you do not want 

to receive criticism 

The cash handout was meant to give families more 

spending money during the busy holiday period. The aim 

was to stimulate the economy. 

Several people choked to death during contests in the 

1990s. 

You still have your old jumper? Chuck it out, I beg you. 

What type of criticism do you think competitive eating 

comes in for? 



compost Kompost n U /ˈkɒmpɒst/ 

confide anvertrauen * v /kənˈfaɪd/ 

conman Betrüger n C /ˈkɒnmæn/ 

countless unzählig * adj /ˈkaʊntləs/ 

crate Kiste n C /kreɪt/ 

crockery Geschirr n U /ˈkrɒkəri/ 

decay auflösen * v /dɪˈkeɪ/ 

decompose zersetzen v /ˌdiːkəmˈpəʊz/ 

dismal trübselig adj /ˈdɪzm(ə)l/ 

disposable Einweg-(…) * adj /dɪˈspəʊzəb(ə)l/ 

a mixture of decaying plants and vegetables that is The recycling centres produce compost on site. 

added to soil to improve its quality 

to tell someone a secret or discuss your private ‘It’s actually easier if you can dunk them in water,’ she 

feelings with them 

confided. 

a man who tricks other people, especially in order to There are many conmen in touristy cities. 

get their money 

very many, especially more than you think is Countless people are fighting cancer. 

reasonable 

a large wooden box used for moving or storing We’ve only got a wooden crate. 

goods 

plates, cups, bowls etc. used for serving food We got nice crockery as a wedding gift from my uncle. 

to be gradually destroyed as a result of a natural 

process of change 

to decay by a slow natural process, especially 

through the action of particular bacteria or fungi 

very bad 

something that is disposable is designed to be 

thrown away after you have used it once or a few 

times 

to get rid of someone or something because you no 

longer like or need them 

After the King's death, the empire decayed immediately. 

When wild animals die, they decompose and go back to 

the earth. 

What dismal weather! I hope the sun will come out soon. 

In 2002, the Republic of Ireland became the first country 

to charge a tax on disposable plastic shopping bags. 

ditch 

zurücklassen/ 

It’s time to ditch our ancient habits. 

v 

/dɪtʃ/ 

abservieren 

downhearted bedrückt adj /ˌdaʊnˈhɑː(r)tɪd/ sad and feeling that things will not get better Am I downhearted? No. 

dunk tauchen v /dʌŋk/ 

to put something into liquid for a short time before ‘It’s actually easier if you can dunk them in water,’ she 

taking it out again 

confides. 

e-waste Elektrogeräteabfall n U /ˈiːˌweɪst/ 

electronic equipment that has been thrown away How much e-waste have you generated in recent years? 

excruciating qualvoll adj /ɪkˈskruːʃiˌeɪtɪŋ/ used for emphasizing how bad something is The last seconds are excruciating and messy. 

fake Imitat adj /feɪk/ 

made to look like something real in order to trick I have a fake leather jacket. 

people 

fire up anheizen v /ˌfaɪə(r) ˈʌp/ 

to make someone feel very enthusiastic 

They fired up the crowd so they would give the comedian 

a warm welcome. 

flashy glitzernd adj /ˈflæʃi/ 

very fashionable or expensive in a way that is I mostly look out for flashy jewellery. 

deliberately intended to impress people 

glimpse 

einen Blick (auf etwas) 

an occasion when you see someone or something They glimpsed into the old house and could see the 

v 

/glɪmps/ 

werfen 

for a moment only 

furniture from many years ago. 

grab grapschen ** v /græb/ 

to take hold of something in a rough or rude way Sonya grabs a handful of crabcake and pushes it into her 

mouth. 

grumpy schlecht gelaunt adj /ˈgrʌmpi/ 

unhappy and dissatisfied, often for no obvious The man on the train was really grumpy. 

reason 

hail (sth) as a success als Erfolg feiern phr /ˈheɪl əz ə səkˌses/ 

to say publicly how good or important someone or The fifteen-cent tax on each bag was hailed as a 

something is 

success. 

have (distance ) on the clock auf dem Tacho haben phr /ˌhæv ɒn ðə ˈklɒk/ 

used for saying how many miles a vehicle’s Four years old it is, and it’s only got 7,000 miles on the 

mileometer or speedometer shows 

clock. 

husk Hülle n C /hʌsk/ 

someone who has lost all the lively qualities they The blackened husk of Earth. 

had before 

junk shop Trödelladen n C /ˈdʒʌŋk ˌʃɒp/ 

a shop that buys and sells used things such as I get all my furniture from a junk shop. 

furniture, books, or pictures 

knock-on Dominoeffekt adj /ˈnɒk ˌɒn/ 

a knock-on effect is the indirect result of something The knock-ons for our planet would grow if we could shift 

focus from ever-more to enoughness. 

landfill site Mülldeponie n C /ˈlæn(d)fɪl ˌsaɪt/ 

a large hole in the ground where waste from The protesters are against the construction of a landfill 

people’s homes or from industry is buried 

site in the town. 

to move your tongue across something, especially She licks her fingers. 

lick lecken * v /lɪk/ 

in order to eat it, clean it, or make it wet 



life expectancy Lebenserwartung n U /ˌlaɪf ɪkˈspektənsi/ 

lumbered with 

(jemanden/etwas) auf 

dem Hals haben 

adj 

/ˈlʌmbə(r)d ˌwɪð/ 

masticate kauen v /ˈmæstɪkeɪt/ 

money-laundering Geldwäsche n U /ˈmʌni ˌlɔːnd(ə)rɪŋ/ 

nauseated angewidert sein adj /ˈnɔːziˌeɪtɪd/ 

the length of time that someone is likely to live 

to give someone a job or responsibility that they do 

not want 

to chew 

to hide the origin of money obtained from illegal 

activities by putting it into legal businesses 

to make someone feel as if they are going to vomit. 

The more usual phrase for this is to make someone 

feel sick 

Life expectancy is getting longer as medical technology 

develops. 

We are lumbered with ‘wanting’ brains. 

It is gone in an instant and she pushes in more, 

masticating like a machine. 

He was arrested for money-laundering. 

She routinely destroys men more than twice her size, 

wolfing down her food as they stand nauseated and 

unable to push any more into their mouths. 

needless überflüssig adj /ˈniːdləs/ 

used about something that could or should have Our culture’s economy in turn drives our needless desires 

been avoided 

more. 

nurture fördern v /ˈnɜː(r)tʃə(r)/ 

to help someone or something to develop 

We must nurture our capacities to appreciate the 

unprecedented wonders now at our feet. 

overriding übergeordnet adj /ˌəʊvəˈraɪdɪŋ/ 

more important than anything else 

We have created a culture that has one overriding 

message. 

oversized überdimensioniert adj /ˈəʊvə(r)ˌsaɪzd/ 

much larger than usual She stood proudly next to the oversized prize-winner’s 

cheque . 

pallet Palette n C /ˈpælət/ 

a flat wooden or metal surface used for moving or Heavy products should stay on pallets so that we can 

storing heavy goods 

move them effectively. 

to not understand something, or to not know how to They would scratch their scalps and ask: ‘What were they 

scratch one’s scalp sich den Kopf kratzen phr /ˌskrætʃ wʌnz ˈskælp/ 

deal with it 

thinking?’ 

perk Vorteil n C /pɜː(r)k/ 

a benefit or advantage that you get from a situation One of the perks of working for my company is that I can 

get a 20% discount in all associated stores. 

pick up a bargain 

ein Schnäppchen 

to buy something at a special price 

A real bargain, don’t you think? 

phr /pɪk ˌʌp ə ˈbɑː(r)gɪn/ 

machen 

ponder sinnieren v /ˈpɒndə(r)/ 

quarry Steinbruch n C /ˈkwɒri/ 

reel taumeln v /riːl/ 

rust rosten v /rʌst/ 

shed Schuppen ** n C /ʃed/ 

sip 

in kleinen Schlückchen 

trinken 

n C /sɪp/ 

slot Platz * n C /slɒt/ 

snap (sth) up (sich) etwas schnappen v /ˌsnæp ˈʌp/ 

stronghold Hochburg n C /ˈstrɒŋˌhəʊld/ 

stuffing Füllung n U /ˈstʌfɪŋ/ 

to think carefully about something for a long time Many have pondered Sonya’s talent. 

before reaching a decision 

a place where stone is dug out of the ground. A We don't have too much agriculture on the island, but we 

place where coal or minerals are dug out of the do have a lot of quarries. 

ground is called a mine 

to feel very shocked, upset, or confused 

It was an Australian, Albert Ellis, who made the discovery 

from which Nauru is still reeling. 

to become damaged by rust, or to make metal The boat is rusting fast; we'd better do something. 

develop rust 

a small building, usually made of wood, in which My grandfather used to have a shed right next to the 

you store things 

garage. 

to drink in small amounts 

She eats with one hand, using the other to take sips from 

a bottle. 

a time during a series of events when it is arranged Winning her race gave her a slot in the final. 

that something will happen 

to immediately take advantage of an opportunity I snapped up the earrings I wanted as soon as they came 

on sale. 

a place where something that is no longer common in Japan – another stronghold of competitive eating … 

can still be found 

food that has been cut into small pieces and placed I like stuffing better than turkey. 

inside meat or vegetables 

suffocate ersticken v /ˈsʌfəkeɪt/ 

sustainable nachhaltig adj /səˈsteɪnəb(ə)l/ 

tackle a problem ein Problem anpacken phr /ˌtæk(ə)l ə ˈprɒbləm/ 

to die because you cannot breathe, or to kill These pundits also complain that we’re suffocating on our 

someone in this way 

own exhaust fumes. 

capable of continuing for a long time at the same … each of us finding our own sustainable balance as 

level 

individuals. 

to make an organized and determined attempt to A more comprehensive approach is needed to tackle the 

deal with a problem, often a social problem such as problem. 

crime or unemployment 



tax haven Steueroase n C /ˈtæks ˌheɪv(ə)n/ 

tetchy reizbar adj /ˈtetʃi/ 

a place where people go to live, or where they keep 

their money, so that they do not have to pay higher 

taxes in their home country 

easily annoyed and likely to get angry quickly 

thrilled begeistert adj /θrɪld/ very pleased and excited She is thrilled. 

a time when important things start happening in a 

tipping point auf der Kippe stehen n C /ˈtɪpɪŋ ˌpɔɪnt/ situation, especially things that you cannot change 

Many successful business owners move their companies 

to tax haven countries. 

Modern life increasingly leaves us miserable, tetchy, 

fearful and mad. 

Enoughness is a tipping point, beyond which getting 

more of anything makes life worse rather than better. 

unprecedented nie dagewesen * adj /ʌnˈpresɪˌdentɪd/ never having happened or existed before We live amid unprecedented abundance. 

wear off abklingen v /ˌweə(r) ˈɒf/ if a feeling wears off, it gradually disappears The initial effect had worn off. 

wolf (sth) down herunter schlingen phr /ˌwʊlf ˈdaʊn/ to eat something very quickly Wolfing down her food … 

Unit 4 

Ways of speaking 

be on everyone’s lips in aller Munde phr 

/biː ɒn ˈevriwʌnz if something is on everyone’s lips, a lot of people The question on everyone’s lips at the moment is ‘Who 

ˌlɪps/ 

are talking about it 

will be the next president?' 

bellow brüllen v /ˈbeləʊ/ to shout very loudly Stop running!' bellowed the headmaster loudly. 

get one’s tongue round (sth) 

(etwas) korrekt 

to pronounce a difficult or strange word I find it hard to get my tongue round Welsh place names. 

phr /get wʌnz ˈtʌŋ ˌraʊnd/ 

aussprechen 

grunt grunzen v /grʌnt/ 

to make a short low sound in your throat and nose ‘Alright,’ he grunted. 

at the same time 

keep one’s mouth shut den Mund halten phr 

/kiːp wʌnz ˌmaʊθ to not tell anyone about something 

I’ve learnt to keep my mouth shut when my dad starts 

ˈshʌt/ 

talking politics. 

lie through one’s teeth 

nach Strich und Faden 

say something completely false 

She lies through her teeth. 

phr /ˈlaɪ θruː wʌnz ˌtiːθ/ 

lügen 

moan jammern * v /məʊn/ 

to complain about something in an annoying way You are going to ‘have a good old moan’. 

to talk in a quiet voice that is difficult to hear, You can hear them … muttering under their breath. 

mutter murmeln ** v /ˈmʌtə(r)/ 

especially because you are annoyed or 

embarrassed, or are talking to yourself 

shriek kreischen v /ʃriːk/ 

to shout in a loud high voice because you are ‘He gave me his autograph!’ the young girl shrieked, 

frightened, excited, or surprised 

excitedly. 

to breathe out slowly making a long soft sound, ‘Oh, no, not another delay,’ she sighed. 

sigh seufzen ** v /saɪ/ 

especially because you are disappointed, tired, 

annoyed, or relaxed 

snap anblaffen ** v /snæp/ to speak to someone in a sudden, angry way What’s good about it?’ she snapped back angrily. 

to repeat the sounds of words in an uncontrolled ‘D-d-dead?’ he stuttered, hardly daring to believe it. 

stutter stottern v /ˈstʌtə(r)/ 

way when you speak because you are nervous or 

have a speech problem 

voice criticism of (sth) 

Kritik zum Ausdruck 

/ˌvɔɪs ˈkrɪtɪsɪz(ə)m to express your opinions or feelings about The main opposition party was first to voice criticism of 

phr 

bringen 

əv/ 

something, especially negative feelings 

the proposed reforms. 

whine quengeln v /waɪn/ 

to complain in a way that annoys other people ‘Oh! Why can’t I have some sweets?’ he whined tearfully 

to his mother. 

whisper flüstern ** v /ˈwɪspə(r)/ 

to say something very quietly so that other people ‘Please keep your voice down!’ the librarian whispered, 

cannot hear you 

fiercely. 

Voice 

booming dröhnend adj /ˈbuːmɪŋ/ 

to make a deep loud sound that continues for some 

time 

Barry cut an imposing figure and his deep, booming voice 

caused many weaker spirits to tremble at the knees. 

croaky krächzend adj /ˈkrəʊki/ 

disguise one’s voice die Stimme verstellen phr /dɪsˈgaɪz wʌnz ˌvɔɪs/ 

if someone’s voice sounds croaky, they speak in a 

low rough voice that sounds as if they have a sore 

throat 

to change the way you speak in order that whoever 

you are speaking to does not recognize you 

You sound a bit croaky; did you catch a cold? 

Give examples of situations when you might lower, raise, 

strain or disguise your voice. 



expressionless ausdruckslos adj /ɪkˈspreʃ(ə)nləs/ 

not allowing your feelings to show in your face, I always thought that actor was totally expressionless. 

eyes, or voice 

high-pitched hoch adj /ˌhaɪˈpɪtʃt/ a high-pitched voice or sound is very high I don't like high-pitched voices on men. 

hoarse heiser adj /hɔː(r)s/ 

someone who is hoarse or has a hoarse voice 

speaks in a low rough voice, usually because their 

I’ve been decidedly hoarse on more than a couple of 

occasions. 

throat is sore 

lower one’s voice leiser sprechen phr /ˌləʊə(r) wʌnz ˈvɔɪs/ to speak more quietly than usual He lowered his voice when he talked about his boss. 

raise one’s voice lauter sprechen phr /ˌreɪz wʌnz ˈvɔɪs/ 

to speak more loudly than usual 

She probably has to raise her voice to make herself 

heard. 

shaky wackelig adj /ˈʃeɪki/ 

feeling weak or unable to walk or move without They can turn old shaky voices into strong clear ones. 

shaking, for example, because you are very ill 

squeaky quietschend adj /ˈskwiːki/ 

making a short high noise 

What happened to your dog? He's got such a squeaky 

strain one’s voice die Stimme belasten phr /ˌstreɪn wʌnz ˈvɔɪs/ 

trembling zittern adj /ˈtremblɪŋ/ 

to shout or sing so loudly, or for such a long time, 

that it hurts when you speak, and your voice sounds 

different 

if your voice trembles, you cannot talk in a steady 

calm way, especially because you are nervous, 

afraid, or excited 

bark today. 

Teachers can suffer voice strain. 

I got very worked up and I was trembling with anger. 

Emotional reactions 

cheer (sb) up (jemanden) aufheitern phr /ˌtʃɪə(r) ˈʌp/ to make someone feel less sad I was so cheered up by that. 

close to tears den Tränen nahe sein phr /ˌkləʊs tə ˈtɪə(r)z/ almost crying I was close to tears but I didn't actually cry. 

come over all tearful 

auf einmal in Tränen 

/kʌm ˌəʊvə(r) ɔːl to suddenly become very sad, and to show that The father came over all tearful at his daughter's 

phr 

ausbrechen 

ˈtɪə(r)f(ə)l/ 

emotion through tears 

wedding. 

cry one’s eyes out 

sich die Augen aus dem 

to cry in an uncontrolled way 

It was so sad – I cried my eyes out. 

phr /ˌkraɪ wʌnz ˈaɪz aʊt/ 

Kopf heulen 

frighten the life out of (sb) 

(jemanden) einen 

/ˌfraɪt(ə)n ðə ˈlaɪf aʊt to make someone feel extremely afraid or nervous It frightened the life out of me. 

phr 

Riesenschreck einjagen 

əv/ 

get (sb) down (jemanden) deprimieren phr /ˌget ˈdaʊn/ to make someone feel very sad or depressed It’s so depressing – it really gets me down. 

get over 

über (etwas) 

to start to feel happy or well again after something I just couldn't get over it. 

v 

/ˌget ˈəʊvə(r)/ 

hinwegkommen 

bad has happened to you 

get worked up sich aufregen phr /ˌget ˈwɜː(r)kt ʌp/ upset, angry, or excited I got very worked up and I was trembling with anger. 

lachrymose rührselig adj /ˈlækrɪməʊs/ 

someone who is lachrymose is very sad or is crying Human drama movies involve a lot of lachrymose scenes. 

laugh out loud laut auflachen phr /ˌlɑːf aʊt ˈlaʊd/ in a way that other people can hear It’s such a funny book – it had me laughing out loud. 

put (sb) in a good mood 

(jemanden) in eine gute 

to make someone feel happy or cheerful It always cheers me up and puts me in a good mood. 

phr /ˌpʊt ɪn ə ˈgʊd muːd/ 

Laune versetzen 

roar with laughter brüllen vor Lachen phr /rɔː(r) wɪθ ˌlɑːftə(r)/ enjoyment or happiness expressed by laughing It was so funny – I roared with laughter. 

scare (sb) to death 

(jemanden) zu Tode 

scare someone very much 

I’d never do that. Just the thought of it scares me to 

phr /ˌskeə(r) tə ˈdeθ/ 

erschrecken 

death. 

sorrow Leid n U /ˈsɒrəʊ/ great sadness It then became a real sorrow. 

to keep breathing in noisily through your nose, for I got the sniffles, but fortunately my cold didn't develop 

the sniffles Schnupfen n pl /ˌðə ˈsnɪf(ə)lz/ example, because you are crying or you have a cold into a chesty cough. 

to attack, catch, or find someone when they do not The news took me completely by surprise. 

take (sb) by surprise (jemanden) überraschen phr /ˌteɪk baɪ sə(r) ˈpraɪz/ 

expect it 

if your body or part of your body trembles, it shakes, I got very worked up and I was trembling with anger. 

tremble with anger vor Ärger zittern phr /ˌtremb(ə)l wɪð anger usually because you are nervous, afraid, or excited 


a serious problem 

A tall, stooping man, walking stiffly with two sticks, folded 

affliction Leiden n C /əˈflɪkʃ(ə)n/ 

himself into a front row seat at the cinema and prepared 

to see his life’s affliction exposed. 

all manner of ills alle möglichen Dinge phr /ˌɔːl mænə(r) əv ˈɪlz/ a great variety of people or things It covers all manner of ills. 



apprehensive besorgt adj /ˌæprɪˈhensɪv/ slightly worried or nervous Mosley was apprehensive about seeing the film. 

atrocious scheusslich adj /əˈtrəʊʃəs/ 

very unpleasant 

“I am accused of the atrocious crime of being a young 

man.” 

award-winning preisgekrönt adj /əˈwɔː(r)d ˌwɪnɪŋ/ 

an award-winning product, business, or person has Colin Firth’s award-winning performance as George VI. 

won a prize or prizes 

be sick to death of (sth) 

very unhappy about something 

I am sick to death of the service offered by the shambolic 

(etwas) gründlich satt 

phr / biː ˌsɪk tə ˈdeθ əv/ 

outfit that masquerades as our local bus company. 

haben 

catchy einprägsam adj /ˈkætʃi/ 

if a tune or phrase is catchy it attracts your attention People like catchy names they can remember. 

and is easy to remember 

to record how something develops and changes The King’s Speech, the film that so brilliantly charts 

chart verfolgen * v /tʃɑː(r)t/ 

George VI’s painful efforts to overcome his speech 

impediment. 

choke (sth) back etwas herunterschlucken v /ˌtʃəʊk ˈbæk/ 

to stop yourself from showing a feeling or emotion You become self-conscious and choke it back. 

collagen Kollagen n U /ˈkɒlədʒ(ə)n/ 

commission Auftrag *** n C /kəˈmɪʃ(ə)n/ 

contortion Verzerrung n C /kənˈtɔː(r)ʃ(ə)n/ 

drive (sb) mad/ to distraction 

(jemanden) in den 

Wahnsinn treiben 

phr 

/ˌdraɪv ˈmæd, tə 

dɪˈstrækʃ(ə)n/ 

flier / flyer Flugblatt n C /flaɪə(r)/ 

freak (sb) out 

(jemandem) Angst 

machen 

v 

/ˌfriːk ˈaʊt/ 

full-to-bursting bis zum Platzen gefüllt adj /ˌfʊl tə ˈbɜː(r)stɪŋ/ 

get on one’s nerves auf die Nerven gehen phr 

get things off one’s chest etwas loswerden phr 

/ˌget ɒn wʌnz 

ˈnɜː(r)vz/ 

/get θɪŋz ˌɒf wʌnz 

ˈtʃest/ 

a type of protein that is often used in skin cream 

and in plastic surgery because it makes skin look 

younger 

the position of being an officer in the armed forces 

They can turn old shaky voices into strong clear ones by 

injecting collagen into the vocal cords. 

You must realize we would never recommend a 

commission to a chap with a stammer as bad as yours. 

the process of twisting your face or body into a He never believed an actor could capture a stammerer’s 

shape that is not natural, or the positions into which complex verbal and facial contortions with such accuracy. 

they have been twisted 

to annoy someone so much that they become angry Our buses drive me to distraction. 

or upset 

an announcement or advertisement that is printed Sometimes you can’t move for people handing out fliers 

on a sheet of paper and given to people 

to become or make you become so angry, 

surprised, excited, or frightened that you cannot 

control yourself 

completely full 

if someone or something gets on your nerves, they 

make you feel annoyed or nervous 

to talk to someone about something that has been 

worrying you, so that you feel better about it 

in the street. 

When I was a little kid the clowns used to really freak me 

out and give me nightmares. 

I’ve lost count of the times I have watched as a full-tobursting 

number 26 – which I try to catch home from 

college – sails past the bus stop. 

If there’s one thing that gets on my nerves, it’s people 

who keep trying to sell me things I don’t want. 

But I don’t see anything wrong in having a good old moan 

every now and then to get things off your chest. 

get up one’s nose 

wirklich auf die Nerven 

to annoy you a lot 

They really get up my nose. 

phr /get ˌʌp wʌnz ˈnəʊz/ 

gehen 

give (sb) a piece of one’s mind 

(jemandem) die Meinung 

/gɪv ə ˌpiːs əv wʌnz to speak very angrily to someone because they I wrote them an email and gave them a piece of my mind. 

phr 

sagen 

ˈmaɪnd/ 

have done something wrong 

give (sth) one’s best shot sein Bestes geben phr /ˌgɪv wʌnz ˈbest ʃɒt/ 

to try your hardest to achieve something 

I gave the audition my best shot but I didn't get the part. 

half-witted schwachsinnig adj /ˌhɑːf ˈwɪtɪd/ lacking intelligence or sophistication I sounded completely half-witted. 

have a good old moan 

mal so richtig 

/hæv ə ˈgʊd əʊld complain about someone/something 

But I don’t see anything wrong in having a good old moan 

adj 

rumjammern 

ˌməʊn/ 

every now and then to get things off your chest. 

have had it up to here with (sth) 

die Nase voll (von etwas) 

/həv hæd ɪt ˌʌp tə be extremely annoyed 

I’ve had it up to here with buses! 

adj 

haben 

ˈhɪə(r) wɪð/ 

hoop Reifen n C /huːp/ 

an object in the shape of a circle, usually made of I think the lions and tigers have a good time running 

human resources Personalabteilung n pl /ˌhjuːmən rɪˈzɔː(r)sɪz/ 

metal, plastic, or wood 

the department within a company that is responsible 

for employing and training people, and for looking 

after workers who have problems 

round, jumping through hoops and things. 

I have to contact human resources about my promotion. 



hunched hochgezogen adj /hʌntʃt/ 

to sit or stand with your back and shoulders curved Make sure you keep your head up, your chin level and 

forwards 

your shoulders sloping, not dropped or hunched. 

inaugurate eröffnen v /ɪˈnɔːgjʊreɪt/ 

to start or introduce something new and important A speech at the inauguration of a new shopping centre. 

infuriating äusserst ärgerlich adj /ɪnˈfjʊəriˌeɪtɪŋ/ extremely annoying It’s so infuriating! 

juggler Jongleur n C /ˈdʒʌglə(r)/ 

a person who performs a trick where you keep 

several balls or clubs in the air at once by 

The fire-eaters, acrobats and jugglers were all showing 

off. 

constantly throwing them up 

kick up a fuss einen Aufstand machen phr /ˌkɪk ʌp ə ˈfʌs/ 

to complain very angrily about someone or If enough of us kick up a fuss, they might just sit up and 

something 

take notice. 

larynx Kehlkopf n C /ˈlærɪŋks/ 

the organ in your throat that contains your vocal Inflammation of the larynx can cause you to lose your 

lay (sth) on (mit etwas) aufwarten phr /ˌleɪ ˈɒn/ 

cords, which produce sounds 

to provide something such as food, entertainment, 

or a service, especially without charging for it 

voice for a little while. 

Why don’t they lay on more buses? 

make a difference 

einen Unterschied 

machen 

phr 

/ˌmeɪk ə ˈdɪfrəns/ 

masquerade as sich als etwas ausgeben v /ˌmæskəˈreɪd/ 

mentor Mentor n C /ˈmentɔː(r)/ 

misnomer Fehlbezeichnung n C /mɪsˈnəʊmə(r)/ 

navel Nabel n C /ˈneɪv(ə)l/ 

opt 

(sich) für etwas 

entscheiden 

** v /ɒpt/ 

outfit Verein * n C /ˈaʊtfɪt/ 

outline Kurzdarstellung ** n C /ˈaʊtlaɪn/ 

portrayal Darstellung n C /pɔː(r)ˈtreɪəl/ 

precarious brenzlig adj /prɪˈkeəriəs/ 

sail past vorbeischweben v /ˌseɪl ˈpɑːst/ 

set (sth) out aufführen v /ˌset ˈaʊt/ 

shambolic chaotisch adj /ʃæmˈbɒlɪk/ 

show off angeben v /ˌʃəʊ ˈɒf/ 

sloping herabhängend adj /ˈsləʊpɪŋ/ 

smooth-talking glattgebügelt adj /ˌsmuːð ˈtɔːkɪŋ/ 

soliloquy Monolog n C /səˈlɪləkwi/ 

to have an important effect on something, especially Eventually, it stopped making a difference. 

a good effect 

an act of pretending to be someone who you are The service offered by the shambolic outfit that 

not 

masquerades as our local bus company. 

an experienced person who helps someone who He never became a friend and mentor. 

has less experience, especially in their job 

a name or description that is incorrect or unsuitable I’ve lost count of the times I have watched as a full-tobursting 


college – sails past the bus stop (another misnomer). 

a small round place in the middle of someone’s Your navel, your tummy button should move towards your 

stomach where they were separated from their backbone. 

mother at birth. 

to make a choice or decision from a range of 

possibilities 

an organization, especially a small firm 

an explanation that includes the general points 

about something, but not the details 

the way that something or someone is portrayed 

likely to change or become dangerous without 

warning 

to move quickly and easily 

to explain, describe, or arrange something in a clear 

and detailed way, especially in writing 

very badly organized 

to behave in a way that is intended to attract 

people’s attention and make them admire you 

to have one end higher than the other 

good at persuading people. This word shows that 

you do not trust people like this 

a speech in a play in which a character who is alone 

talks about their thoughts or feelings 

I saw recently that people are actually opting to have 

vocal cord surgery in order to make them sound younger. 

The service offered by the shambolic outfit that 

masquerades as our local bus company is … 

The annual Queen’s Speech contains an outline of the 

government’s policies and legislative agenda. 

Mosley was surprised by Colin Firth’s portrayal of a 

stammerer. 

It was a precarious moment. 

I’ve lost count of the times I have watched as a full-tobursting 


college – sails past the bus stop. 

In the United States of America, the President reports on 

the condition of the country and sets out the 

government’s legislative programme in the State of the 

Union Address. 

I am sick to death of the service offered by the shambolic 

outfit that masquerades as our local bus company. 

The fire-eaters, acrobats and jugglers were all showing 

off. 

Make sure you keep your head up, your chin level and 

your shoulders sloping, not dropped or hunched. 

I’m in the middle of my dinner or watching a film and 

some smooth-talking idiot phones up and asks me if I’m 

interested in new kitchen units. 

Logue makes him read Hamlet’s soliloquy with music 

roaring. 



sombre düster adj /ˈsɒmbə(r)/ serious, or sad The young major interviewing him sounded sombre. 

a difficulty in speaking caused by nervousness or by The King’s Speech is a film that so brilliantly charts 

speech impediment Sprachfehler n C /ˈspiːtʃ ɪmˌpedɪmənt/ a physical problem 

George VI’s painful efforts to overcome his speech 

impediment. 

speech therapist Logopäde n C /ˌspiːtʃ ˈθerəpɪst/ 

a professional whose job is to help people to 

overcome problems with their speech 

Mosley was sent by his aunts to the unorthodox 

Australian speech therapist who was known to have 

helped the King. 

spout viel reden v /spaʊt/ 

to talk, especially for a long time or in a boring way It was hell when one had to stand up in class and spout. 

stammer Stottern v /ˈstæmə(r)/ 

stammerer Stotterer n C /ˈstæmərə(r)/ 

to keep repeating a sound and have difficulty in 

saying certain words because of a speech problem, 

nervousness, excitement etc. 

a person who struggles to say certain words and 

sounds when speaking, which is an obstacle to 

smooth speech 

My aunts thought my terrible stammer would be an 

enormous obstacle to getting on. 

Like other stammerers, the author Nicholas Mosley had a 

nervous interest in The King’s Speech. 

stooping gebeugt adj /ˈstuːpɪŋ/ 

to walk or stand with your head and shoulders bent A tall, stooping man. 

forwards and downwards 

swanky elegant adj /ˈswæŋki/ fashionable and expensive Let's go to a swanky bar for my birthday! 

take a beating 

(etwas) einstecken 

to be damaged because of performing badly or Why is the voice taking such a beating? 

phr /ˌteɪk ə ˈbiːtɪŋ/ 

müssen 

being criticized 

toast Toast * n C /təʊst/ 

bread that has been heated until its outside is Would you like butter or jam with your toast? 

brown and hard 

toast toasten v /təʊst/ to make bread into toast Would you like your bread toasted? 

trapeze artist Trapezkünstler n C /trəˈpiːz ˌ ɑː(r)tɪst/ 

a person at a circus who holds onto a high swing 

and jumps to another swing, often creating the 

impression of flying 

What I object to are the human performers: trapeze 

artists in silly clothes. 

tummy button Nabel n C /ˈtʌmi ˌbʌt(ə)n/ 

turn out en masse 

(sich) zahlreich 

versammeln 

phr /tɜː(r)n ˌaʊt ɒn ˈmæs/ 

unorthodox unkonventionell adj /ʌnˈɔː(r)θədɒks/ 

vocal cords Stimmbänder n pl /ˈvəʊk(ə)l ˌkɔː(r)dz/ 

voice lift Stimmband-Lifting n C /ˈvɔɪs ˌlɪft/ 

weary müde adj /ˈwɪəri/ 

Unit 5 

Setting up in business 

brand identity Markenidentität n C /ˌbrænd aɪˈdentɪti/ 

a person’s navel 

Your tummy button should move towards your backbone. 

all together as a group Supporters turned out en masse at the stadium. 

not following the usual rules or beliefs of your Mosley was sent by his aunts to the unorthodox 

religion, society etc. 

Australian speech therapist. 

the very thin muscles inside your throat that you use Drinks which contain caffeine should be avoided as they 

for making sounds 

dry out the vocal cords. 

a cosmetic operation to change the way you speak Vocal cord surgery for cosmetic purposes is called a 

‘voice lift'. 

very tired, especially because of hard work or Weary travellers like myself … 

activity 

what people associate a certain product with 

You should give thought to developing the brand identity. 

build a prototype einen Prototyp bauen phr /ˌbɪld ə ˈprəʊtətaɪp/ 

to make one product that serves as an example of Investment capital can be used to build a prototype. 

what you plan to put into production 

investment capital Investitionskapital n U 

/ɪnˈves(t)mənt money or property that you use to start a business … in the hope of securing investment capital. 

ˌkæpɪt(ə)l/ 

or invest to earn more money 

a symbol that represents an organization or The design of your logo is very important. 

logo Firmenzeichen/Logo * n C /ˈləʊgəʊ/ 

company, used for example in its advertisements or 

on its products 

obtain a return on an investment einen Profit machen phr 

/əbˌteɪn ə rɪˌtɜː(r)n ɒn to produce a particular amount of profit on money The plan promised to obtain a good return. 

ən ɪnˈves(t)mənt/ that has been invested 

percentage equity Anteil an Eigenkapital n C 

the percentage amount of a company that a person You will need to decide how much percentage equity you 

/pə(r)ˈsentɪdʒ ˌekwəti/ 

or group owns 

are prepared to give away. 

pitch an idea eine Idee verkaufen phr /ˌpɪtʃ ən aɪˈdɪə/ 

the things that you say to persuade someone to buy You will probably need to pitch your idea to investors. 

something or to support you 



put together a business plan 

einen Businessplan 

/pʊt təˌgeðə(r) ə to make a detailed plan or proposal of how you aim You need to put together a comprehensive business 

phr 

erstellen 

ˈbɪznəs ˌplæn/ to make a successful business. 

plan. 

sales forecast Umsatzvoraussage n C /ˈseɪlz ˌfɔː(r)kɑːst/ 

a statement about what is likely to happen, based The short-term sales forecasts looked promising. 

on available information 

secure financial backing 

solide finanzielle 

/sɪˌkjʊə(r) faɪˈnænʃ(ə)l to get people or groups to guarantee to invest in In order to secure financial backing for your business you 

phr 

Unterstützung 

ˌbækɪŋ/ 

your idea or business 

must … 

to explain, describe, or arrange something in a clear Set out your goals. 

set out one’s goals Ziele definieren phr /set ˌaʊt wʌnz ˈgəulz/ 

and detailed way, especially in writing 

set up in business 

sich selbstständig 

to begin a business or company 

You want to set up in business. 

phr /set ˌʌp ɪn ˈbɪznəs/ 

machen 

share in the business Anteil im Unternehmen phr /ˌʃeə(r) ɪn ðə ˈbɪznəs/ 

a portion or part of the business that people own This is the share in the business that investors will 

receive in return for their money. 

source suppliers Lieferanten finden phr /ˌsɔː(r)s səˈplaɪə(r)z/ 

to find another company that can provide you with You’ll need first to source suppliers. 

the supplies you will need for your business 

strike a deal 

eine Abmachung 

to come to an agreement 

You strike a deal. 

phr /ˌstraɪk ə ˈdɪːl/ 

eingehen 

Intensifying adverbs 

perfectly normal vollkommen normal adv 

/ˌpə(r)fɪktli 

not unusual in any way 

This is perfectly normal behaviour. 

ˈnɔː(r)m(ə)l/ 

highly revealing äusserst aufschlussreich adv /ˌhaɪli rɪˈviːlɪŋ/ 

giving a lot of previously unknown information It showed highly revealing nuggets of information. 

acutely embarrassed sehr peinlich berührt sein adv /əˌkjuːtli ɪmˈbærəst/ 

very embarrassed 

I can clearly remember a time when I felt acutely 

embarrassed. 

deeply embarrassed 

zutiefst peinlich berührt 


I can clearly remember a time when I felt deeply 

adv /ˌdiːpli ɪmˈbærəst/ 

sein 

embarrassed. 

highly embarrassed 

äusserst peinlich berührt 


I can clearly remember a time when I felt highly 

adv /ˌhaɪli ɪmˈbærəst/ 

sein 

embarrassed. 

hopelessly inadequate absolut unzureichend adv 

/ˌhəʊpləsli 

not at all sufficient; not nearly enough 

The sports facilities where I love to train are hopelessly 

ɪnˈædɪkwət/ 

inadequate. 

pitifully inadequate richtig jämmerlich adv 

/ˌpɪtɪf(ə)li 


The sports facilities where I love to train are pitifully 


inadequate. 

woefully inadequate einfach traurig adv 

/ˌwəʊf(ə)li 


The sports facilities where I love to train are woefully 


inadequate. 

bitterly disappointed bitter enttäuscht sein adv 

/bɪtə(r)li 

extremely disappointed 

I failed an exam once – I was bitterly disappointed. 

ˌdɪsəˈpɔɪntɪd/ 

deeply disappointed zutiefst enttäuscht sein adv /diːpli ˌdɪsəˈpɔɪntɪd/ extremely disappointed I failed an exam once – I was deeply disappointed. 

sorely disappointed sehr enttäuscht sein adv 

extremely disappointed 

/sɔː(r)li ˌdɪsəˈpɔɪntɪd/ 

I failed an exam once – I was sorely disappointed. 

fiercely opposed absolut dagegen sein adv /ˌfɪə(r)sli əˈpəʊzd/ strongly against a plan or proposal I am fiercely opposed to smacking children. 

strongly opposed ganz stark dagegen sein adv /ˌstrɒŋli əˈpəʊzd/ 

strongly against a plan or proposal 

I am strongly opposed to smacking children. 

vehemently opposed 

fiercely competitive 

highly competitive 

intensely competitive 

aufs Schärfste dagegen 

sein 

sehr 

wettbewerbsorientiert 

stark von 

Konkurrenzdenken 

geprägt 

enorm 

wettbewerbsorientiert 

adv /ˌviːəməntli əˈpəʊzd/ 

adv 

adv 

adv 

strongly against a plan or proposal I am vehemently opposed to smacking children. 

1. always wanting to win 

2. very difficult to succeed because there are so 

/ˌfɪə(r)sli kəmˈpetətɪv/ 

many others also trying to succeed 

/ˌhaɪli kəmˈpetətɪv/ 

/ɪnˌtensli 

kəmˈpetətɪv/ 

fully capable vollkommen imstande adv /ˌfʊli ˈkeɪpəb(ə)l/ 

perfectly capable absolut imstande adv 

/ˌpə(r)fɪktli 

ˈkeɪpəb(ə)l/ 







more than able to do something 


The atmosphere where I work is fiercely competitive. 

The atmosphere where I work is highly competitive. 

The atmosphere where I work is intensely competitive. 

If I was alone in a foreign city, I’d be fully capable of 

looking after myself. 

If I was alone in a foreign city, I’d be perfectly capable of 




quite capable ziemlich gut imstande adv /ˌkwaɪt ˈkeɪpəb(ə)l/ 

practically impossible praktisch unmöglich adv 

virtually impossible beinahe unmöglich adv 

fully aware 

only too aware 

vaguely aware 

well aware 

Gender 

(sich etwas) vollkommen 

bewusst sein 

(sich etwas) nur zu 

bewusst sein 

(sich etwas) mehr oder 

weniger bewusst sein 

(sich etwas) sehr bewusst 

sein 

adv 

adv 

adv 

adv 

/ˌpræktɪkli 

ɪmˈpɒsəb(ə)l/ 

/ˌvɜː(r)ʧʊəli 

ɪmˈpɒsəb(ə)l/ 

/ˌfʊli əˈweə(r)/ 

/əʊnli ˌtuː əˈweə(r)/ 

/ˌveɪɡli əˈweə(r)/ 

/ˌwel əˈweə(r)/ 

man-hours Arbeitsstunde n pl /ˈmænˌaʊə(r)z/ 

mankind Menschheit * n U /mænˈkaɪnd/ 

man-made 

von Menschenhand 

gemacht 

adj 

/ˌmænˈmeɪd/ 

manpower Arbeitskräfte n C /ˈmænˌpaʊə(r)/ 

undermanned unterbesetzt adj /ʌndə(r)ˈmænd/ 


antenatal vorgeburtlich adj /ˌæntiˈneɪt(ə)l/ 

ardent passioniert adj /ˈɑː(r)d(ə)nt/ 

at pains to do (sth) bemüht sein etwas zu tun phr /ət ˈpeɪnz tə ˌdʊ/ 

avid begierig adj /ˈævɪd/ 

back to square one wieder am Anfang stehen phr 

green naiv *** adj /ˈgriːn/ 

/bæk tə ˌskweə(r) 

ˈwʌn/ 

bid for ein Angebot abgeben v /ˈbɪd ˌfɔː(r)/ 

bindings Einband n pl /ˈbaɪndɪŋz/ 

blatantly unverhohlen adj /ˈbleɪt(ə)ntli/ 


budget airline Billigflieger n C /ˈbʌdʒɪt eə(r)laɪn/ 

build (sth) up (etwas) aufbauen v /ˌbɪld ˈʌp/ 


probably not able to be done. Almost certainly not 

possible 

probably not able to be done. Almost certainly not 

possible 

very aware 

very aware 

aware to some extent 

very aware 

the amount of work that one person can do in an 

hour 

all humans considered as a single group 

something that is man-made has been made by 

people and does not exist naturally 

all the people who are available to do a particular 

job or to work in a particular place 

not having enough workers to do a job quickly or 

effectively 

relating to the medical care of pregnant women, or 

to the time before a baby is born 

feeling or showing a particular emotion very 

strongly, especially in support of someone or 

something 

to try very hard to do something 

If I was alone in a foreign city, I’d be quite capable of 


It’s practically impossible to escape the noise of cars in 

my region. 

It’s virtually impossible to escape the noise of cars in my 

region. 

People in my country are fully aware of the need to 

protect the environment. 

People in my country are only too aware of the need to 


People in my country are vaguely aware of the need to 


People in my country are well aware of the need to 


After the accident it took just 100 man-hours to get the 

plane back in the air. 

One of the most important events in the history of 

mankind. 

We use both natural and man-made fabrics. 

This will need a substantial increase in manpower. 

The huge blaze at the petrol depot left the fire station 

seriously undermanned. 

He wouldn’t give me time off work for antenatal 

appointments. 

An ardent feminist. 

You’re at pains to deny that you’re doing it. 

very enthusiastic about something you do regularly Some people are avid for success, and will do anything to 

achieve it. 

in the same situation that you were in before you It turns out it's impossible to create the prototype we've 

started to do something, with no progress made working on, so we're back to square one. 

not experienced, especially because of being young … but in those days I was very green and it never 

occurred to me that the Sex Discrimination Act might also 

apply to me. 

to offer a particular amount of money for something, Having a company enabled Kamprad to bid for a contract 

for example at an auction (=an event where things to supply pencils. 

are sold to the person who offers the most money) 

the cover of a book that holds the pages together I put all of my essays in bindings so that I don't lose 

and protects them 

them. 

done in an obvious way that shows you are not Blatantly dishonest. 

embarrassed or ashamed to be doing something 

bad or illegal 

a discovery or achievement that comes after a lot of His big breakthrough came in 1955. 

hard work 

an air company that offers cheap tickets, but the Even senior executives travel around Europe on budget 

service is quite basic 

airlines. 

to increase, or to make something increase His frugality is not born of a desire simply to build up his 

billions. 



buy (sth) in bulk 

(etwas) in grosser Menge 

kaufen 

phr 

/ˌbaɪ ɪn ˈbʌlk/ 

cartel Kartell n C /kɑː(r)ˈt(ə)l/ 

bought or sold in large quantities 

He discovered that by buying goods in bulk he could sell 

them to his customers at low prices. 

a group of people or companies who all agree to His low prices undercut Swedish cartels. 

sell something at the same price so that they can all 

make profits without competing with one another 

catch up nachholen v /ˌkætʃ ˈʌp/ 

to improve in order to reach the same standard or The reality of it, or the division of labour within it, hasn’t 

rate as someone or something 

caught up. 

coastguard Küstenwächter n C /ˈkəʊstˌgɑː(r)d/ 

a member of an organization responsible for helping Nearly a quarter of all Britain’s coastguards today are 

people or ships in danger near a coast, or for women. 

stopping people bringing goods into a country 

illegally by boat 

come into force in Kraft treten phr /ˌkʌm ɪntʊ ˈfɔː(r)s/ 

regarding laws and rules, to start to be in action The Sex Discrimination Act came into force in Britain in 

1975. 

come up with (sich) etwas ausdenken v /ˌkʌm ˈʌp wɪð/ 

to think of something such as an idea or a plan I need a good title for my book. Do you think you can help 

me come up with one? 

death duties Erbschaftssteuer n pl /ˈdeθ ˌdjuːtiːz/ 

tax that you have to pay when you inherit money He has also sheltered his company from Sweden’s taxes 

from a person who has recently died 

and death duties. 

demote runterstufen v /diːˈməʊt/ to give something a less important position I found I’d been demoted to a junior position. 

diocese Diözese n C /ˈdaɪəsɪs/ 

an area that a bishop (=a senior Christian priest) is The first woman bishop in the Anglican Communion is to 

in charge of 

be given her own diocese. 

dourness Mürrischkeit n U 

the state of being dour, meaning you don't smile He greeted the man with characteristic dourness. 

/ˈdʊə(r)nəs, 

much and you have an air of being cold and 

ˈdaʊə(r)nəs/ 

unfriendly 

draining kräfteraubend adj /ˈdreɪnɪŋ/ 

to use so much of someone’s energy or strength It was both emotionally and financially very draining. 

etc. that they feel very tired or weak 

employment tribunal Arbeitsgericht n C 

/ɪmˌplɔɪmənt a special court that decides if employers and I might never be able to take my claim to the Employment 

traɪˈbjuːn(ə)l/ employees acted fairly to each other 

Tribunal. 

entrepreneur Gründer n C /ˌɑntrəprəˈnɜː(r)/ 

someone who uses money to start businesses and What advice does he give to other would-be 

make business deals 

entrepreneurs? 

flux in ständigem Fluss n U /flʌks/ a condition of continuous change In a state of flux. 

fly long haul Langstrecke fliegen phr /flaɪ ˈlɒŋ ˌhɔːl/ travelling a long distance, especially by air Whenever he flies, even long haul, it’s in economy. 

frequent frequentieren v /frɪˈkwent/ 

if you frequent a place, you go there regularly More than 300 million people worldwide frequent Ikea 

each year. 

from top to bottom von oben bis unten phr /frəm ˈtɒp tə ˌbɒtəm/ 

completely and thoroughly It had been scrubbed and polished from top to bottom. 

frugality Genügsamkeit n U /fruːˈgæləti/ 

spending very little money and only on things that His frugality is not born of a desire simply to build up his 

are really necessary 

billions. 

get (sth) off the ground (etwas) in Gang setzen phr /get ˈɒf ðə ˌgraʊnd/ 

if you get a project off the ground, you start it and 

make it successful. You can also say that a project 

The new computer system is finally getting off the 

ground. 

gets off the ground 

get (sth) underway mit (etwas) anfangen phr /get ˌʌndə(r)ˈweɪ/ 

begin 

Let's get this meeting underway, as we don't have too 

much time. 

get hitched heiraten v /ˌget ˈhɪtʃt/ 

to get married 

The cost of getting hitched seems to go up every year! 

give (sth) a go (etwas) ausprobieren phr /ˈgɪv ə ˌgəʊ/ to attempt to do something Rugby is not too violent, so why don't you give it a go. 

grumble nörgeln v /ˈgrʌmb(ə)l/ 

to complain, especially continuously and about He grumbled about the lack of clean jocks in his 

unimportant things 

underwear drawer. 

hand (sth) out (etwas) austeilen v /ˌhænd ˈaʊt/ to give things to different people in a group Kamprad personally hands out Christmas presents. 

handlebars Lenkstange n pl /ˈhænd(ə)lˌbɑː(r)z/ 

the part of a bicycle or motorcycle that you hold with I'm not sure if I can ride a bike with handlebars that low. 

your hands and use for controlling it 

hang around rumhängen v /ˌhæŋ əˈraʊnd/ to spend time in a place waiting or doing nothing I used to hang around with my friends all the time. 

heavy hitter einflussreiche Person n C /ˌhevi ˈhɪtə(r)/ 

a person or organization with a lot of influence and My boss is a heavy hitter, and he loves giving 

hit upon 

zufällig auf etwas 

kommen 

v 

/ˈhɪt əˌpɒn/ 

power, especially in politics or business 

to suddenly have an idea 

motivational talks too. 

He hit upon the idea whilst walking on the beach. 



hold (sb) back (jemanden) aufhalten phr /ˌhəʊld ˈbæk/ 

husband-to-be zukünftiger Ehemann n C /ˈhʌzbənd tə ˌbi/ 

impoverished verarmt adj /ɪmˈpɒvərɪʃt/ 

jocks Unterhosen n pl /dʒɒks/ 

knockback Rückschlag n C /ˈnɒkˌbæk/ 

laundry Wäsche * n U /ˈlɔːndri/ 

limo Limousine n C /ˈlɪməʊ/ 

littered with (mit etwas) übersät sein v /ˈlɪtə(r)d ˌwɪð/ 

market leader Marktführer n C /ˌmɑː(r)kɪtˈliːdə(r)/ 

maternity leave Mutterschaftsurlaub n U /məˈtɜː(r)nəti ˌliːv/ 

mismatch Diskrepanz n C /ˈmɪsˌmætʃ/ 

to stop someone or something from moving She’s convinced this has held her back. 

forwards 

a man who is engaged, so will become a husband She writes of her husband-to-be in the book. 

in the near future 

something that is impoverished has become worse The area was so impoverished that many families 

in quality 

struggled to even put food on the table. 

sporting underwear, used for comfort and safety He grumbled about the lack of clean jocks in his 

underwear drawer. 

a refusal to accept someone or something I got some knockbacks when I applied for universities, 

but I persevered. 

dirty clothes that you are washing, or clean clothes He immediately gets about 70 % less cleaning, 50 % less 

that have just been washed 

cooking and 90 % less laundry. 

a limousine 

Instead of a chauffeur-driven limo, he drives a 10-yearold 

Volvo. 

if something is littered with things, there are many of Wifework is littered with some highly revealing nuggets of 

them in it 

information. 

a product that is bought by more people than any His big breakthrough came in 1955 with the birth of a 

other of its type 

product which would become a market leader. 

time before and after the birth of a baby when a When I got back from maternity leave I found I’d been 

woman is allowed to be away from her job demoted to a junior position. 

a difference or disagreement between two facts or As a result, there is a mismatch, and it is this that 

aspects of a situation 

Maushart believes is causing our spiralling divorce rate. 

nerve-racking nervenaufreibend adj /ˈnɜː(r)v ˌrækɪŋ/ 

making you very nervous or worried 

Giving a presentation can be nerve-racking, but it gets 

easier. 

not be one for doing (sth) 

keiner/keine sein, der/die 

to not enjoy or not like doing something, therefore to She’s not one for telling jokes. 

phr /ˌnɒt bi wʌn fə ˈduːɪŋ/ 

etwas […] 

rarely do it 

offload (sth) on to (sb) (etwas) abstossen phr /ˌɒfˈləʊd ɒn tə/ 

to get rid of something that you do not want by It also offloaded on to customers: an expensive part of 

giving or selling it to someone else 

selling furniture. 

on cloud nine im siebten Himmel phr /ɒn ˌklaʊd ˈnaɪn/ extremely happy The groom looked like he was on cloud nine. 

ordain ordinieren v /ɔː(r)ˈdeɪn/ 

to make someone a priest, minister, or rabbi in an The first women priests were ordained in the Episcopal 

official religious ceremony 

Church in the USA in 1974. 

ordination Ordination n U /ˌɔː(r)dɪˈneɪʃ(ə)n/ 

the process or religious ceremony by which 

someone is officially made a priest, minister, or 

The Church of England did not authorize their ordination 

until 1992. 

rabbi 

out of tune with (sth) 

nicht im Einklang (mit 

to understand/not understand the feelings, opinions, We are so much out of tune with our changing 

phr /ˌaʊt əv ˈtʃuːn wɪð/ 

etwas) sein 

or needs of a group of people 

environment. 

outlet Geschäft ** n C /ˈaʊtˌlet/ 

a shop or place where a particular product is sold In which type of outlets will it be sold? 

pass (sth) down (etwas) weitergeben v /ˌpɑːs ˈdaʊn/ 

to give knowledge or teach skills to your children or It was passed down the generations. 

to younger people 

pay dividends (sich) auszahlen phr /ˌpeɪ ˈdɪvɪdendz/ 

to bring you a lot of benefit 

I think my maths tutoring sessions are starting to pay 

dividends; I got an almost perfect score on my test. 

penny-pinching Knauserigkeit n U /ˈpeni ˌpɪntʃɪŋ/ unwilling to spend money His penny-pinching permeates Ikea. 

if an attitude or feeling permeates something, you His penny-pinching permeates Ikea. 

permeate durchsetzen v /ˈpɜː(r)mieɪt/ can feel or see its influence clearly in every part of 

that thing 

prompt veranlassen ** v /prɒmpt/ to cause something to happen or be done What prompted you to do that? You're crazy! 

reap ernten v /riːp/ 

to get something as a result of something that you Tom reaped a huge success after working hard for years. 

do 

scrub schrubben v /skrʌb/ 

to wash or clean something by rubbing it hard, Scrubbing the bathroom felt good. 

especially with a brush 

self-made Selfmade-Mann adj /ˌself ˈmeɪd/ 

a self-made man or woman has become successful A self-made man, Relf puts his success down to hard 

without help from other people 

work and persistence. 



seven-year itch das verflixte siebte Jahr n /ˌsev(ə)n jɪə(r) ˈɪtʃ/ 

the desire to move on from a situation, especially 

marriage, after seven years 

Instead of the seven-year itch, Maushart points out how 

the four-year mark is actually far more common these 

days. 

sizeable ziemlich gross adj /ˈsaɪzəb(ə)l/ fairly large He lives in a somewhat sizeable house. 

sole einzig ** adj /səʊl/ 

the sole person or thing is the only one of a Kamprad’s sole extravagance is having a small vineyard 

particular type 

in Provence. 

something dangerous, for example jumping from a We need to do quite a few stunts for the next scene. 

stunt Stunt n C /stʌnt/ 

building, that is done to entertain people, often as 

part of a film 

team up with (bei etwas) mitmachen v /ˌtiːm ˈʌp wɪð/ 

to play a sport or to work together with someone to 

achieve a particular aim, or to put people together 

for this purpose 

Why don't you team up with this group? They'll brief you 

about the project. 

tie the knot 

den Bund fürs Leben 

schliessen 

phr 

/ˌtaɪ ðə ˈnɒt/ 

toing and froing hin- und her-[…] n U /ˌtuːɪŋ ən ˈfrəʊɪŋ/ 

trade in (sth) 

(etwas für etwas) in 

Zahlung geben 

v 

/ˌtreɪd ˈɪn/ 

transient kurzlebig adj /ˈtrænziənt/ 

turn (sth) out (etwas) herstellen v /ˌtɜː(r)n ˈaʊt/ 

undercut unterbieten v /ˌʌndə(r)ˈkʌt/ 

unscrupulous skrupellos adj /ʌnˈskruːpjʊləs/ 

unwittingly unabsichtlich adv /ʌnˈwɪtɪŋli/ 

ups and downs Höhen und Tiefen n pl /ˌʌps ən(d) ˈdaʊnz/ 

weigh (sth) up against 

etwas (gegen etwas) 

abwägen 

phr /weɪ ˈʌp əˌgenst/ 

workload Arbeitslast * n C /ˈwɜː(r)kˌləʊd/ 

to get married 

Perhaps the alarm bells should have started ringing prior 

to tying the knot on her own happy day. 

a lot of movement backwards and forwards between I was toing and froing between the immigration office and 

two places 

passport office when I applied for a visa. 

to give something old as part of the payment for He traded in cigarette lighters. 

something new 

existing, happening, or staying somewhere for a It would come to seem transient and disposable. 

short period of time only 

to produce something, especially in large numbers Kamprad then acquired a disused factory and began 

turning out furniture. 

to sell something at a cheaper price than another His low prices undercut Swedish cartels. 

company or shop 

willing to do things that are unfair, dishonest, or We need laws to protect individuals against more 

illegal 

unscrupulous types. 

in a way that is not conscious or deliberate What Maushart had unwittingly found herself doing was 

participating in what she now terms ‘wifework’. 

a variety of situations and experiences that are Life always has ups and downs; it can't be great all the 

sometimes good and sometimes bad 

time, you know! 

to consider the good and bad aspects of something The cost of getting hitched was weighed up against the 

in order to reach a decision about it 

benefits. 

the amount of work that a person or organization His domestic workload almost disappears. 

has to do 

Unit 6 

Nouns from phrasal verbs 

breakdown Zusammenbruch ** n C /ˈbreɪkˌdaʊn/ 

a situation in which something has failed or is I think I'm heading for a nervous breakdown. 

beginning to fail 

breakout Ausbruch n C /ˈbreɪkaʊt/ 

an occasion when prisoners escape from a prison Eighty-seven convicts escaped in a mass breakout from 

Beeton Prison yesterday. 


a discovery or achievement that comes after a lot of I think mapping the human genome is the most important 

hard work 

scientific breakthrough of recent times. 

checkout Kasse n C /ˈtʃekaʊt/ 

the place where you pay in a supermarket or other Supermarkets often put sweets on display at their 

large shop 

checkouts. 

downpour Wolkenbruch n C /ˈdaʊnˌpɔː(r)/ 

a large amount of rain that falls quickly 

We haven’t had a heavy downpour of rain here for quite a 

long time. 

downturn Rezession n C /ˈdaʊnˌtɜː(r)n/ 

a reduction in economic or business activity It's very difficult to sell our house during this economic 

downturn. 

getaway Rückzugsort n C /ˈgetəˌweɪ/ a place away from home where you can relax Hawaii is a perfect getaway for beach lovers. 

handout Almosen n C /ˈhændaʊt/ 

an amount of money or goods given to people who I want a job, so that I can have independence. I don't 

need them 

want to live on handouts all of my life. 

outbreak Ausbruch * n C /ˈaʊtˌbreɪk/ 

the sudden start of war, disease, violence etc. The outbreak of domestic warfare in the African country 

stopped us from going there. 

outburst Wutausbruch n C /ˈaʊtˌbɜː(r)st/ 

a sudden spoken expression of a strong feeling, I’m generally very calm but I do have the occasional 

especially anger 

outburst of anger. 



outcome Ergebnis *** n C /ˈaʊtˌkʌm/ 

the possible or likely result of something 

The negotiation was pretty tough on our end but we got a 

great outcome. 

outfit Firma * n C /ˈaʊtfɪt/ 

an organization, especially a small firm 

I started working at a small outfit after graduating, but I 

soon moved to a bigger company. 

outlook Prognose * n sing /ˈaʊtˌlʊk/ 

an idea about what a situation will be like in the The outlook for the economy is bleak. 

future 

outset von Anfang an * n sing /ˈaʊtˌset/ the start of something I was involved with this project from the outset. 

a large amount of money paid to someone, for If you win this game, the payout is huge. 

payout Auszahlung n C /ˈpeɪaʊt/ 

example by an insurance company or as a prize in a 

competition 

runaway Ausreisser n C /ˈrʌnəˌweɪ/ 

a runaway vehicle or animal is moving fast without The police officer tried to catch the runaway horse. 

anyone controlling it 

takeaway Essen zum Mitnehmen n C /ˈteɪkəˌweɪ/ 

a meal that you buy in a restaurant or shop and I quite often buy a takeaway but I never eat it in the 

take home to eat. The American word is takeout street. 

turnout Teilnehmerzahl n sing /ˈtɜː(r)naʊt/ 

the number of people who come to an event There was a poor turnout for the last general election – 

less than half the electorate voted. 

upbringing Erziehung * n sing /ˈʌpˌbrɪŋɪŋ/ 

the way that parents look after their children and I had a very strict upbringing – my parents believed in 

teach them to behave 

firm discipline. 

uprising Aufstand n C /ˈʌpˌraɪzɪŋ/ 

a political situation in which a large group of people 

opposes and tries to defeat the government or a 

Even with the police force it could be difficult to suppress 

an uprising. 

ruler 

workout Training n C /ˈwɜː(r)kaʊt/ 

an occasion when you do physical exercise The workouts are as thorough as they are light-hearted. 

work out erarbeiten v /ˌwɜː(r)k ˈaʊt/ to solve a problem by doing a calculation Each person has to work out their own strategy. 

Body collocations 

blocked nose die Nase ist zu n U /ˌblɒkt ˈnəʊz/ 

usually when you have a cold, to have a feeling of I often have a blocked nose, I think because of allergies. 

congestion in your nose 

ear infection Mittelohrentzündung n C /ˈɪə(r) ɪnˌfekʃ(ə)n/ 

a minor illness that affects the inside of the ear I couldn't hear very well, and it turns out I had an ear 

infection. 

ear wax Ohrenschmalz n U /ˈɪə(r) ˌwæks/ 

a dark yellow substance in your ears 

I had a nurse clean out my ear wax, and suddenly I could 

hear again. 

earplug Ohrstöpsel n C /ˈɪə(r)ˌplʌg/ 

a small piece of plastic or rubber that you put in Whenever I fly, I can't sleep without earplugs. 

your ear to keep noise or water out 

eye drops Augentropfen n pl /ˈaɪ ˌdrɒps/ 

liquid medicine for eyes 

I have dry eyes so I need to put in eye drops at least four 

times a day. 

eye strain Augenermüdung n U /ˈaɪ ˌstreɪn/ 

a pain in your eyes, for example because you have I need to rest my eyes; I have eye strain. 

been reading a lot 

a test performed by an eye specialist to see if you It's advised to take an eye test annually. 

eye test Sehtest n C /ˈaɪ ˌtest/ 

need glasses, or to see if your eyes are healthy 

hooked nose Hakennase n U /ˈhʊkt ˌnəʊz/ 

a type of nose that extends out in the shape of a His hooked nose gave him a slightly regal look, much like 

hook. Often used pejoratively 

a Roman Emperor. 

in bare feet mit nackten Füssen phr /ɪn ˌbeə(r) ˈfiːt/ 

without any shoes or socks on 

I love the walking on the beach and feeling the sand on 

my bare feet. 

milk tooth Milchzahn n C /ˈmɪlk ˌtuːθ/ 

any of the first teeth that a child has, which fall out What did you do with your milk teeth when they fell out? 

when the adult teeth start to develop 

on a full stomach mit vollem Bauch phr /ɒn ə ˌfʊl ˈstʌmək/ when you have just eaten and are full I can't run fast on a full stomach. 

on an empty stomach mit einem leeren Bauch phr 

/ɒn ən ˈempti if you do something on an empty stomach, you do it It's so hard to go grocery shopping on an empty stomach. 

ˌstʌmək/ 

without eating anything before 

I always end up buying things I don't need. 

rotten faulig * adj /ˈrɒt(ə)n/ 

something that is rotten has decayed 

Something smells bad in the kitchen. Is there some rotten 

food in there? 

the past participle of swell; to become larger than I have a swollen ankle. It's actually difficult to walk. 

swollen geschwollen * adj /ˈswəʊlən/ 

normal, usually because of liquid collecting inside 



upset stomach 

der Magen ist 

durcheinander 

phr 

/ˌʌpset ˈstʌmək/ 

wisdom tooth Weisheitszahn n C /ˈwɪzd(ə)m ˌtuːθ/ 

longer than (sb) cares to 

remember 

länger, als man sich dran 

erinnern kann 

/lɒŋgə(r) ðæn ˌkeə(r)z 

tə rɪˈmembə(r)/ 

when your stomach is in bad condition, either 

because of something bad you've eaten or because 

you have an illness 

one of the four large teeth that grow at the back of 

your mouth when you are an adult 

Don't drink too much coffee, or you'll have an upset 

stomach. 

Some people have wisdom teeth taken out but I still have 

mine. 

Care 

take good care (sb/sth) auf (etwas) aufpassen phr 

/teɪk ˌgʊd of ˈkeə(r) to treat something carefully so that it stays in good I take good care of my teeth. 

əv/ 

condition 

couldn’t care less vollkommen egal phr /kʊd(ə)nt ˌkeə(r) ˈles/ 

used for emphasizing that someone thinks Most people in my country couldn’t care less about the 

something is unimportant 

environment. 

to do the necessary things for someone who needs Hospital patients are very well cared for in my country. 

be well cared for gut betreut werden phr /bi ˌwel ˈkeə(r)d fɔː(r)/ 

help or protection 

used for saying that something has been happening I’ve been learning English for longer than I care to 

phr 

for a long time or very much 

remember. 

take great care with (sth) 

(auf etwas) besser 

aufpassen 

phr 

not have a care in the world keinerlei Sorgen haben phr 

Babies and babysitting 

bib Lätzchen n C /bɪb/ 

bully * v /ˈbʊli/ 

/teɪk ˌgreɪt ˈkeə(r) 

wɪð/ 

/nɒt hæv ə ˈkeə(r) ɪn 

ðə ˌwɜː(r)ld/ 

to be careful 

to not be worried about anything 

a piece of cloth that is tied round a baby’s neck and 

hangs down to protect its clothes while eating or 

drinking 

used for praising someone in a way that shows you 

are not at all impressed with what they have done 

I’ve been told to take greater care with my written 

English. 

I can honestly say that at the moment I don’t have a care 

in the world. 

I love those bibs with messages, they look really cute on 

babies. 

Tell Luke not to be a bully. 

burp aufstossen v /bɜː(r)p/ 

to make a noise when air from your stomach After feeding a four-month-old baby girl, you have to burp 

passes out through your mouth 

her to get rid of swallowed air. 

start to cry Three-year-old Sam bursts into tears as his parents walk 

burst into tears in Tränen ausbrechen phr /ˌbɜː(r)st ɪntʊ ˈtɪə(r)z/ 

out of the door. 

cot Wiege n C /kɒt/ 

a small bed with high sides that a baby sleeps in. The baby is sleeping peacefully in her cot. 

The American word is crib. 

crybaby Heulbaby n C /ˈkraɪˌbeɪbi/ someone who cries too much, especially a child Tell him not to be a crybaby. 

if you cuddle someone, you put your arms round He is inconsolable and won’t let you cuddle him. 

cuddle knuddeln v /ˈkʌd(ə)l/ 

them and hold them close to show that you like or 

love them 

dummy Schnuller n C /ˈdʌmi/ 

a small plastic or rubber object that a baby sucks. My sister couldn't sleep without a dummy in her mouth 

The American word is pacifier. 

when she was a baby. 

feeding bottle Fläschchen n C /ˈfiːdɪŋ ˌbɒt(ə)l/ 

a transparent plastic bottle with a small rubber teat 

on the top from which a baby or young animal 

When you have a baby, you need a big bag so that there 

is enough room for a feeding bottle and nappies. 

drinks milk 

high chair Hochstuhl n C /ˈhaɪ tʃeə(r)/ 

a tall chair that very young children sit in to eat Wipe his face and hands and take him out of the high 

nappy Windel n C /ˈnæpi/ 

nosebleed Nasenbluten n C /ˈnəʊzˌbliːd/ 

nostril Nasenloch n C /ˈnɒstrəl/ 

pick one’s nose in der Nase bohren phr /ˌpɪk wʌnz ˈnəʊz/ 

pram Kinderwagen n C /præm/ 

a thick piece of soft cloth or paper fastened 

between a baby’s legs to catch solid and liquid 

waste. The American word is diaper. 

an occasion when blood comes out of someone’s 

nose 

one of the two holes at the end of your nose 

chair. 

… teaching students what to do if a nappy needs 

changing. 

A six-year-old girl has been picking her nose and now 

has a nosebleed. 

You ask her to open her mouth, then pinch her nostrils 

shut. 

to use your finger to remove mucus from inside your A six-year-old girl has been picking her nose and now 

nose 

has a nosebleed. 

a large object with four wheels that a baby can lie in My young son hates to be in his pram now; he thinks he's 

while you push it around. The American word is too big to be in one. 

baby carriage. 



pushchair Baby-Buggy n C /ˈpʊʃˌtʃeə(r)/ 

a small vehicle in which you place a small child to Our three-year-old won’t go anywhere unless we put her 

push them along 

in her pushchair. 

rattle Rassel n C /ˈræt(ə)l/ the sound that something makes when it rattles Newborns like rattles; they love the sound they make. 

smack einen Klaps geben * v /smæk/ to hit someone with your flat hand or a flat object My disciplinarian husband resorts to smacking her. 

squabble (sich) zanken v /ˈskwɒb(ə)l/ 

to argue with someone about something that is not Five-year-old Susie is always squabbling with her eightyear-old 

brother. 

important 

stay up aufbleiben v /ˌsteɪ ˈʌp/ 

to not go to bed 

You agree that he can stay up until 9 o’clock if he gets 

ready for bed first. 

teddy bear Teddy n C /ˈtedi ˌbeə(r)/ 

a soft toy bear 

I've had this teddy bear since I was a child, and I still take 

him everywhere I go. 

an occasion when someone suddenly behaves in a She throws a temper tantrum, dropping to the floor, 

throw a temper tantrum einen Wutanfall haben phr 

/θrəʊ ə ˈtempə(r) very angry and unreasonable way, often screaming, yelling and screaming uncontrollably. 

ˌtæntrəm/ 

crying, or refusing to obey someone. This word is 

usually used about children 


a poisonous gas with a strong unpleasant smell, or For today's experiment, we need ammonia. 

ammonia Ammoniak n U /əˈməʊniə/ 

the gas dissolved in water. It is found in products 

used for cleaning things 

an anaesthetic that is given to someone before they I’d like to ask you about anaesthesia. 

anaesthesia Narkose n U /ˌænəsˈθiːziə/ have a medical operation, or the use of 

anaesthetics 

anaesthetic Narkosemittel n C / adj /ˌænəsˈθetɪk/ 

a drug or gas that is given to someone before a Before anaesthetics, alcohol was a safe alternative. 

medical operation to stop them feeling pain 

bash schlagen v /bæʃ/ 

to hit someone or something hard and violently Bob is very angry he lost the game, so he bashed his 

racket on the floor. 

bewildered verwirrt adj /bɪˈwɪldə(r)d/ 

confused and not certain what to do 

She went from one bewildered foreign person to another. 

bifocal Zweistärkenglas adj /baɪˈfəʊk(ə)l/ 

a pair of glasses with special lenses that let you see Benjamin Franklin is believed to have invented bifocal 

things that are near if you look through the bottom glasses. 

part, and see things that are far away if you look 

through the top part 

break the ice das Eis brechen phr /ˌbreɪk ði ˈaɪs/ 

to do or say something that makes people feel less It was a good conversation starter, helped break the ice 

shy or nervous in a social situation 

and all that. 

brisk flott adj /brɪsk/ 

moving or acting quickly 

He gets off two stops early and walks the remaining 

distance at a brisk pace. 

canvas Plane * n U /ˈkænvəs/ 

strong heavy cotton cloth used for making tents, a type of stretcher made from strong canvas 

shoes, and sails 

someone whose job is to look after children while Ashley goes to a childminder three days a week. 

childminder Babysitter n C /ˈtʃaɪldˌmaɪndə(r)/ their parents are at work, usually in his or her own 

home 

chloroform Chloroform n U /ˈklɒrəˌfɔː(r)m/ 

a clear liquid with a strong smell that makes you 

become unconscious if you breathe it. It was used 

Doctor used to use chloroform on patients before an 

operation. 

in the past in medical operations 

commonplace alltäglich adj /ˈkɒmənˌpleɪs/ 

not unusual 

Things have come a long way since Victorian times, 

when the cruel treatment of children was commonplace. 

concave konkav adj /ˈkɒnkeɪv, kɒnˈkeɪv/ 

convex konvex adj /ˈkɒnveks, ˌkɒnˈveks/ 

crossbreed Kreuzung n C /ˈkrɒsˌbriːd/ 

curved inwards 

a convex surface curves outwards, rather than 

being flat or curving inwards 

an animal that is a mixture of two different breeds 

Benjamin Franklin is believed to have invented bifocal 

glasses by combining convex and concave lenses in the 

same frame. 

Benjamin Franklin is believed to have invented bifocal 

glasses by combining convex and concave lenses in the 

same frame. 

House Gymnastics, we are told, is ‘a crossbreed of yoga, 

break-dancing, climbing and gymnastics enacted in a 

domestic setting’. 



cussed stur adj /ˈkʌsɪd/ 

dazed benommen adj /deɪzd/ 

deaden abtöten v /ˈded(ə)n/ 

déjà vu Déjà Vu n U /ˌdeɪʒɑː ˈvuː/ 

not willing to be reasonable 

unable to think clearly or understand what is 

happening because you are surprised, upset, tired, 

or have been hit on the head 

to make a feeling or a pain less strong 

the feeling or sensation that you've seen something 

before 

I had expected British Immigration officers to be hostile, 

cussed and uncooperative. 

We pulled out of the stadium, dazed by the abruptness of 

it all. 

Dentists try to find ways to deaden pain during 

treatments. 

I handed them to her, suddenly, horribly nauseous with 

the sensation of déjà vu, remembering scenes like this in 

so many films. 

dress code Kleiderordnung n C /ˈdres ˌkəʊd/ 

a set of rules about what you should wear in a There is also no dress code. 

particular place or at a particular event 

dusk Dämmerung n U /dʌsk/ 

the period of time at the end of the day just before it They set out on a dangerous journey at dusk through the 

becomes dark 

hills. 

emerald Smaragd n C /ˈem(ə)rəld/ a bright green stone used in expensive jewellery Precious stones – emeralds, to be precise. 

clear liquid that is used as a solvent (=a mixture that Ether can be vaporized easily. 

ether Äther n U /ˈiːθə(r)/ 

changes solid substances into liquids) or for making 

people unconscious 

evacuee Evakuierter n C /ɪˈvækjuˈiː/ 

someone who is moved away from their home Michael says that some children’s names were removed 

because of a dangerous situation such as a war from the list of evacuees. 

faint-hearted zaghaft adj /ˌfeɪnt ˈhɑː(r)tɪd/ not brave or enthusiastic House Gymnastics is not for the faint-hearted. 

fiasco Desaster n C /fiˈæskəʊ/ 

a complete and embarrassing failure 

Do you remember the school play? It ended in a total 

fiasco. 

fibreglass Glasfasern n U /ˈfaɪbə(r)ˌglɑːs/ 

a light hard substance made from glass fibres, used Casts were then made of lightweight fibreglass plaster. 

for making objects such as containers and boats 

first aid Erste Hilfe n U /ˌfɜː(r)st ˈeɪd/ 

basic medical treatment given as soon as someone They gave first aid to the wounded. 

is injured or becomes ill 

flick blättern * v /flɪk/ 

to make something move quickly and suddenly, My heart thumped as they flicked the pages. 

especially with a quick movement of the hand 

a soft light rubber or plastic substance containing A cheap piece of foam serves as a mat. 

foam Schaumstoff n U /fəʊm/ 

many very small holes, used especially for making 

furniture more comfortable 

frayed ausgefranst adj /freɪd/ 

with fibres that are coming apart 

My jeans are frayed; some say they are stylish but I think 

they just look old. 

gash Riss n C /gæʃ/ 

a long deep cut in your skin or in the surface of That gash on the ground was created during the big 

something 

earthquake. 

grubby schmuddelig adj /ˈgrʌbi/ dirty and needing to be washed She hated her grubby grey uniform. 

gypsum Gips n U /ˈdʒɪps(ə)m/ 

a soft white substance used for making plaster of Hospital staff have soaked bandages in gypsum to make 

paris 

plaster casts. 

help is at hand 

Hilfe ist direkt um die 

close to you and easy to reach 

Help is at hand. 

phr /ˈhelp ɪz ət ˌhænd/ 

Ecke 

huddle together sich zusammendrängen v /ˈhʌd(ə)l təˌgeðə(r)/ 

to move close together in order to stay warm, feel Little groups huddled together. 

safe, or talk 

inhale einatmen v /ɪnˈheɪl/ 

to breathe air, smoke, or other substances into your Several people were invited up onto the stage to inhale 

lungs 

some of the gas. 

irrevocable unwiderruflich adj /ɪˈrevəkəb(ə)l/ impossible to change or stop I had scribbled in my diary as if to make it irrevocable. 

kill two birds with one stone 

zwei Fliegen mit einer 

/kɪl ˈtuː bɜː(r)dz wɪð to achieve two things, both at the same time It’s a kill-two-birds-with-one-stone approach. 

phr 

Klappe schlagen 

wʌn ˌstəʊn/ 

leggings Leggings n pl /ˈlegɪŋz/ 

trousers worn by women and girls that stretch and 

fit very closely to their legs 

You are more likely to see people working out in denim 

shorts and fishnet stockings than leotards and leggings. 

leotard Trikot n C /ˈliːəˌtɑː(r)d/ 

a piece of clothing that covers the body tightly from 

the neck to the top of the legs and is used for 

dancing or exercising 

You are more likely to see people working out in denim 

shorts and fishnet stockings than leotards and leggings. 



lifelike realistisch adj /ˈlaɪfˌlaɪk/ 

light-hearted unbeschwert adj /ˌlaɪt ˈhɑː(r)tɪd/ 

a lifelike picture, model etc. looks like a real person 

or thing 

funny and not intended to be serious 

You should visit the wax museum; everything there is so 

lifelike. 

The workouts are as thorough as they are light-hearted. 

mark an occasion etwas feiern phr 

/ˌmɑː(r)k ən 

to celebrate something 

We’ll be opening a bottle of champagne to mark the 

əˈkeɪʒ(ə)n/ 

occasion. 

nauseous (jemandem ist) übel adj /ˈnɔːziəs, ˈnɔːsiəs/ feeling as if you want to vomit I handed them to her, suddenly, horribly nauseous. 

nitrous oxide Lachgas n U /ˌnaɪtrəs ˈɒksaɪd/ 

a gas used in the past by doctors and dentists to 

prevent people feeling pain during a medical 

The anaesthetic qualities of nitrous oxide were not 

realized until some time after its discovery. 

operation 

on the books 

(jemanden) verfügbar 

a list of members, employees etc. 

We even have a paediatric nurse on the books. 

phr /ˌɒn ðə ˈbʊks/ 

haben 

ordeal Quälerei * n C /ɔː(r)ˈdiːl/ 

an extremely unpleasant experience, especially one The workout turned into a two-hour ordeal at the gym. 

that lasts for a long time 

paediatric nurse Kinderkrankenschwester n C /ˌpiːdiˈætrɪk nɜː(r)s/ 

relating to the part of medicine dealing with children We even have a paediatric nurse on the books. 

plaster cast Gipsverband n C /ˈplɑːstə(r) ˌkɑːst/ 

and their diseases 

a hard cover made from plaster of paris spread over 

a net, used for holding a broken bone in position 

while it gets better 

Hospital staff have soaked bandages in gypsum to make 

plaster casts. 

pluck up courage 

allen Mut 

to persuade yourself to do something that frightens I finally plucked up courage that afternoon. 

phr /ˌplʌk ʌp ˈkʌrɪdʒ/ 

zusammennehmen 

you 

posh schick adj /pɒʃ/ 

something that is posh looks expensive and We plan to go out for a meal in a posh restaurant. 

attractive 

pressed for time wenig Zeit haben adj /ˌprest fə ˈtaɪm/ 

in a difficult situation because you do not have It is ideal for people who are pressed for time. 

enough time 

prop oneself up on (sth) sich an (etwas) lehnen phr 

to lean against something 

/ˌprɒp wʌnself ˈʌp ɒn/ 

Propping yourself up on furniture isn't always appropriate. 

pull out zurückziehen v /ˌpʊl ˈaʊt/ 

pumice stone Bimsstein n C /ˈpʌmɪs ˌstəʊn/ 

put two and two together 

zwei und zwei 

zusammenzählen 

phr 

/pʊt ˌtuː ən(d) tuː 

təˈgeðə(r)/ 

recruitment Arbeitsvermittlung * n U /rɪˈkruːtmənt/ 

remorseless erbarmungslos adj /rɪˈmɔː(r)sləs/ 

resin Harz n C/U /ˈrezɪn/ 

to stop being involved in an activity, event, or 

situation 

a piece of this stone that you use for rubbing your 

skin clean and smooth 

to look at the available evidence and come to a 

simple conclusion 

the process of finding people to join the armed 

forces, or a company or organization 

not feeling sad or guilty for having done something 

wrong 

a transparent sticky substance produced by some 

plants and trees, often used for making paints, glue, 

and plastic 

We pulled out of the stadium, dazed by the abruptness of 

it all. 

I love this footcare gift set. It comes with a pumice stone, 

scrub cream, and nail varnish. 

So anyway, Wells put two and two together. 

I never thought I would be working for a recruitment 

agency when I interviewed for the temp job. 

The incessant shelling, the remorseless sniper fire and 

the prospect of a winter under siege, made the city 

despair. 

In Ancient Greece, medical practitioners used to harden 

the bandages with waxes and resins. 

scribble kritzeln v /ˈskrɪb(ə)l/ to write something quickly and carelessly I had scribbled in my diary. 

shattered zerschlagen (sein) adj /ˈʃætə(r)d/ extremely tired I dragged myself to the sofa, absolutely shattered. 

shelling Beschiessung n U /ˈʃelɪŋ/ 

attacks by soldiers who are firing shells 



despair. 

short-sightedness Kurzsichtigkeit n U /ˌʃɔː(r)t ˈsaɪtɪdnəs/ 

not able to see things clearly if they are far away 

from you 

It was not until the beginning of the 16th century that the 

first use of concave lenses to correct short-sightedness 

smuggle schmuggeln v /ˈsmʌg(ə)l/ 

sniper Scharfschütze n C /ˈsnaɪpə(r)/ 

to take someone or something secretly and illegally 

into or out of a country, especially as a way of 

earning money 

was recorded. 

Trying to smuggle a child out of any country, whatever 

the circumstances, was a criminal offence. 

someone who shoots at people from a hidden place The incessant shelling, the remorseless sniper fire and 


despair. 



splint Schiene n C /ˈsplɪnt/ 

a piece of metal, plastic, or wood that is put next to 

a broken bone to hold it in place while it gets better 

The Ancient Egyptians made the first splints from strips of 

tree bark. 

squat Kniebeuge n C /skwɒt/ 

stamp stempeln ** v /stæmp/ 

to bend your knees and lower yourself towards the 

ground so that you balance on your feet 

to put a mark on something using ink and a stamp 

It’s a kill-two-birds-with-one-stone approach and can 

include anything from doing squats while you load the 

dishwasher to practising yoga in the shower. 

She hardly looked at me or my passport, but stamped it 

with a bang and pushed it back across her counter. 

stay in shape in Form bleiben phr /ˌsteɪ ɪn ˈʃeɪp/ to stay fit and healthy There's more than one way to stay in shape. 

stretcher Krankenbahre n C /ˈstretʃə(r)/ 

a type of bed used for carrying someone who is A type of stretcher made from strong canvas hung 

injured, ill, or dead 

between two poles and carried by two men. 

strip Streifen ** n C /strɪp/ 

a piece of something such as cloth, paper, or grass The Ancient Egyptians made the first splints from strips of 

that is much longer than it is wide 

tree bark. 

take (sth) for granted 

(etwas) als 

selbstverständlich 

phr /ˌteɪk fə ˈgrɑːntɪd/ 

to expect something always to happen or exist in a 

particular way, and to not think about any possible 

Married couples often take their partner for granted but 

they should really show appreciation from time to time. 

betrachten 

problems or difficulties 

take up a reference 

to contact somebody who can give a judgment or I take up the references and I always do that by phone. 

eine Empfehlung 

phr /teɪk ˈʌp ə ˌref(ə)rəns/ opinion of the person applying for a job at your 

einholen 

workplace 

think (sth) through 

(etwas) gründlich 

to consider the facts about something in an Michael had thought everything through before deciding 

phr /ˌθɪŋk ˈθruː/ 

durchdenken 

organized and thorough way 

to take a child from the orphanage. 

tongue-in-cheek ironisch adj /ˌtʌŋ ɪn ˈtʃiːk/ 

intended to be humorous and not meant seriously The movie was full of charming tongue-in-cheek humour. 

treadmill Laufband n C /ˈtredˌmɪl/ 

twig Zweig n C /twɪg/ 

under siege 

im Belagerungszustand 

sein 

phr 

/ˌʌndə(r) ˈsiːdʒ/ 

urine Urin n U /ˈjʊərɪn/ 

usher begleiten v /ˈʌʃə(r)/ 

wax Wachs n C/U /wæks/ 

a piece of exercise equipment with a flat moving 

surface that you walk or run on while staying in the 

same place 

a very small thin branch from a tree or bush 

being criticized or attacked by a lot of different 

people at the same time 

liquid waste from a person’s or animal’s body 

to lead someone politely somewhere, for example 

into a room or towards a seat 

a soft natural or artificial substance that becomes 

liquid when heated, used for making candles and 

models, for making wooden furniture shine, and for 

protecting objects from water 

You don’t always have to run on a treadmill if you want to 

do exercise. 

You have twigs in your hair. Were you sleeping on the 

grass in the park? 



despair. 

I had to give a urine sample for further testing when I got 

sick last time. 

We were ushered into a British Immigration interview 

room by a polite man with a big smile. 

In Ancient Greece, medical practitioners used to harden 

the bandages with waxes and resins. 

wedge oneself between (sth) 

sich (in etwas) 

reinquetschen 

phr 

/ˌwedʒ wʌnself 

bɪˈtwiːn/ 

weighty gewichtig adj /ˈweɪti/ 

wild boar Wildschwein n C /ˌwaɪld ˈbɔː(r)/ 

work up a sweat in Schweiss geraten phr /wɜː(r)k ˌʌp ə ˈswet/ 

writhe around sich winden v /ˌraɪð əˈraʊnd/ 

Unit 7 

Good & bad behaviour 

be on one’s best behaviour 

sich von seiner besten 

Seite zeigen 

phr 

/biː ɒn wʌnz ˈbest 

bɪˌheɪvjə(r)/ 

force something into a narrow space 

serious and important 

a wild pig 

to exercise quite vigorously, so that you sweat 

to move by twisting and turning, especially when 

you feel a lot of pain 

to behave very well, usually because you want to 

please someone 

In no time at all you’ll be crouching in fridges, propping 

yourself up on furniture, wedging yourself between walls 

and hanging from door frames. 

I think the meeting is going to be very long, because we 

still have to talk over some weighty issues. 

They don't have deer in this National Park, but some 

people have seen a wild boar. 

We want people to forget they’re working out, even 

though they’re working up a sweat. 

The police officer got shot and he was writhing around in 

pain. 

When might a child be told to be on his or her best 

behaviour? 



cause offence beleidigen phr /ˌkɔːz əˈfens/ 

to upset a person or people by your words or Can you name a public figure whose remarks often cause 

actions 

offence? 

form orderly queues 

eine ordentliche Schlange 

/fɔː(r)m ˌɔː(r)də(r)li to line up and wait for something, without trying to Do people in your country generally form orderly queues? 

phr 

bilden 

ˈkjuːz/ 

push ahead 

foul unflätig * adj /faʊl/ 

very bad or unpleasant 

Do you take offence when other people use foul 

language? 

get into serious trouble ernste Probleme haben phr 

/get ɪntʊ ˌsɪəriəs to become involved in a bad situation 

Was there a time at school when you got into serious 

ˈtrʌb(ə)l/ 

trouble? 

loutish pöbelhaft adj /ˈlaʊtɪʃ/ 

used for describing rude, unpleasant behaviour, or What is the cause of the loutish behaviour of football 

a person who behaves like this 

hooligans? 

rowdy sehr laut adj /ˈraʊdi/ 

noisy and causing trouble 

Do your neighbours ever keep you awake with rowdy 

parties? 

table manners Tischmanieren n pl /ˈteɪb(ə)l ˌmænə(r)z/ 

the way in which someone follows the social rules How would you and your family define good table 

about how to eat food 

manners? 

Legal matters 

accuse (sb) of 

(jemanden) einer Sache 

to say that someone has done something wrong or A spokesman … accused the environmentalists of 

v 

/əˈkjuːz ˌɒv/ 

beschuldigen 

committed a crime 

exaggerating the extent of the problem. 

appeal against ein Urteil anfechten v /əˌpiːl əˈgenst/ 

to formally ask a court of law or similar authority to Ms Danbury’s lawyer said his client would be appealing 

change its decision 

against the sentence. 

arson Brandstiftung n U /ˈɑː(r)s(ə)n/ 

the illegal use of fire to destroy a house, building, or She is being held by police on suspicion of arson. 

property 

bribery Bestechung * n U /ˈbraɪb(ə)ri/ 

the crime of giving money or presents to someone 

so that they will help you by doing something 

Police have dropped all charges of bribery and corruption 

against him. 

dishonest or illegal 

charge (sb) with 

(jemanden) einer Sache 

to accuse someone officially of committing a crime Peter Simpson had been charged with the offence 

v 

/ˈtʃɑː(r)dʒ wɪð/ 

anklagen 

following a failed burglary at his home. 

clear (sb) of 

(jemanden) von etwas 

to prove officially that someone did not do 

A pensioner who stabbed a would-be burglar … has been 

v 

/ˈklɪə(r) ˌɒv/ 

freisprechen 

something wrong 

cleared of assault. 

convict (sb) of (jemanden) verurteilen v /kənˈvɪkt ˌɒv/ 

to prove in a court of law that someone is guilty of a Fines imposed on companies convicted of polluting the 

crime 

environment are insufficient. 

count Anklagepunkt ** n C /kaʊnt/ each crime that someone is charged with Boyle … pleaded guilty to six counts of burglary. 

deny accusations of 

eine Anschuldigung 

to say that you did not do something that someone They denied all accusations of money laundering. 

phr /dɪˌnaɪ ækjʊˈzeɪʃ(ə)nz 

zurückweise 

has accused you of doing 

drop charges of (sth) against (sb) eine Klage fallen lassen 

phr 

/drɒp ˈtʃɑː(r)dʒɪz əv to decide not to continue with a court case Police have dropped all charges of bribery and corruption 

əˌgenst/ 

against him. 

enter a plea of (sth) 

sich schuldig oder nicht 

/ˌentə(r) ə ˈpliː əv to formally state in court whether you are "guilty" or Smith entered a plea of ‘not guilty’ to tax evasion. 

phr 

schuldig bekennen 

əˌgenst/ 

"not guilty" 

find (sb) guilty of 

(jemanden) schuldig 

to judge that a person did commit the crime they are Jerry Wexford called for tougher penalties for 

v 

/ˌfaɪnd ˈgɪlti əv/ 

sprechen 

accused of 

organizations found guilty of causing pollution. 

fraud Betrug ** n U /frɔːd/ 

the crime of obtaining money from someone by A leading politician is to go on trial for fraud next week. 

tricking them 

give (sb) a life sentence for 

(jemandem) 

/gɪv ə ˈlaɪf ˌsentəns a punishment in which someone is sent to prison for The jury returned a guilty verdict and he was given three 

phr 

lebenslänglich geben 

fɔː(r)/ 

the rest of their life 

life sentences for the murders. 

go on trial for vor Gericht gehen phr /ˌgəʊ ɒn ˈtraɪəl fɔː®/ 

to appear in court so that it can be decided if you A leading politician is to go on trial for fraud next week. 

are guilty or not guilty of a crime 

hold (sb) on suspicion of 

(jemanden) festhalten, 

/ˌhəʊld ɒn səˈspɪʃ(ə)n because the police or the authorities think you have She is being held by police on suspicion of arson. 

phr 

der unter Verdacht ist 

əv/ 

committed a crime 

impose fines on 

eine Geldstrafe 

to order that you have to pay money as a penalty Fines imposed on companies convicted of polluting the 

phr /ɪmˈpəʊz ˌfaɪnz ɒn/ 

verhängen 

environment are insufficient. 

make an arrest (jemanden) fest nehmen phr /ˌmeɪk ən əˈrest/ 

to take somebody into police custody on suspicion Police have made a number of arrests in connection with 

of a crime 

the bombing. 

money laundering Geldwäsche n U /ˈmʌni ˌlɔːnd(ə)rɪŋ/ 

to hide the origin of money obtained from illegal They denied all accusations of money laundering. 

activities by putting it into legal businesses 

plead guilty to sich schuldig bekennen phr /ˌpliːd ˈgɪlti tʊ/ 

to say in a court of law whether you are guilty of a Smith entered a plea of ‘not guilty’ to tax evasion. 

crime or not 



previous convictions frühere Verurteilungen phr 

/ˈpriːviəs 

a crime that someone committed before this one 

kənˌvɪkʃ(ə)nz/ 

to say whether someone is guilty or not guilty of a 

return a verdict ein Urteil fällen phr /rɪˌtɜː(r)n ə ˈvɜː(r)dɪkt/ 

crime in a court of law 

sentence (sb) to (jemanden) verurteilen phr /ˈsentəns ˌtuː/ 

when a judge sentences someone, they officially 

state what someone’s punishment will be 

tax evasion Steuerhinterziehung n U /ˈtæks ɪˌveɪʒ(ə)n/ 

the use of illegal methods to pay less tax or to pay 

no tax at all 


an official judgment in a court of law that someone 

acquittal Freispruch n C /əˈkwɪt(ə)l/ 

is not guilty of the crime they were accused of 

He had several previous convictions for traffic offences. 

The jury returned a guilty verdict and he was given three 


The jury returned a guilty verdict and he was given three 


Smith entered a plea of ‘not guilty’ to tax evasion. 

Jenny Sanders was in court to hear Peter Simpson’s 

acquittal. 

allegation Beschuldigung ** n C /ˌæləˈgeɪʃ(ə)n/ 

animosity Feindseligkeit n U /ˌænɪˈmɒsəti/ 

apt 

geneigt sein, (etwas zu 

tun) 

* adj /æpt/ 

attire Kleidung n U /əˈtaɪə(r)/ 

avidly begeistert adv /ˈævɪdli/ 

a statement that someone has done something 

wrong or illegal even though this has not been 

proved 

a strong feeling of disliking someone or something 

something that is apt, especially a name, 

description, or comment, is very suitable 

the clothes that someone is wearing 

very enthusiastic about something you do regularly 

You’re making some extremely serious allegations. 

Her animosity was without the slightest moderation or selfrestraint. 

They’re apt to get tunnel vision. 

The expensive shop had many items of conventional 

attire. 

Her eyes lit up avidly. 

be glued to auf etwas starren phr /ˌbiː ˈgluːd tʊ/ 

to be looking at something and not paying attention Everybody silently eats their chips with their eyes glued to 

to anything else 

Lord of the Flies. 

if you betray your country, or if you betray someone She felt totally betrayed. 

betray betrügen ** v /bɪˈtreɪ/ 

who needs your support, you deliberately do 

something that harms them or helps their 

opponents 

feeling angry or upset because of a bad experience, She recounted the story with bitter relish. 

bitter schmerzlich ** adj /ˈbɪtə(r)/ 

especially when you think that you have been 

treated unfairly 

bleak öde * adj /bliːk/ without any reasons to feel happy or hopeful The playground is a bleak, empty place. 

catch a glimpse of einen Blick erhaschen phr /ˌkætʃ ə ˈglɪmps əv/ 

to see something for a very short time 

I looked out of the car window, catching glimpses of 

groups absorbed in other activities. 

catty zickig adj /ˈkæti/ 

used for describing someone who enjoys saying Reality show cast members always give catty comments 

cruel or unpleasant things about other people to other cast members. 

chatter Geschnatter n U /ˈtʃætə(r)/ 

to talk continuously in a fast informal way, usually There is a gasp, and a ripple of excited chatter. 

about unimportant subjects 

chivalry Ritterlichkeit n U /ˈʃɪvəlri/ 

polite and kind behaviour by which men show Modern society lacks chivalry. 

respect to women 

contagious ansteckend adj /kənˈteɪdʒəs/ 

a contagious disease spreads from one person to Courtesy is contagious. 

another through touch or through the air 

contempt Verachtung * n U /kənˈtempt/ 

a feeling that someone or something is unimportant She was burning with contempt and unshakeable 

and deserves no respect 

righteousness. 

courtesy Höflichkeit * n U /ˈkɜː(r)təsi/ 

polite behaviour that shows respect for people in Courtesy is contagious. 

social situations 

crack down on 

to start dealing with someone or something much Universities are cracking down on plagiarism in written 

(gegen etwas/jemanden) 

v 

/ˌkræk ˈdaʊn ɒn/ more strictly 

assignments. 

hart vorgehen 

dead welk *** adj /ded/ no longer alive Please throw out the dead flowers in the vase. 

deceit Täuschung n U /dɪˈsiːt/ 

dishonest behaviour that is intended to trick It’s been deceit all the way along the line, so why should 

detention Nachsitzen * n C /dɪˈtenʃ(ə)n/ 

someone 

a punishment for a child in which they have to stay 

at school after the other children have gone home 

he change now? 

My brother used to get detention for teasing other kids 

during class. 



disarmingly gewinnend adv /dɪsˈɑː(r)mɪŋli/ 

disruptive Unruhe stiften adj /dɪsˈrʌptɪv/ 

drag zerren ** v /dræg/ 

dread (sich) fürchten v /dred/ 

drum (sth) into 

(jemandem) etwas 

eintrichtern 

phr 

/ˌdrʌm ˈɪntuː/ 

embroiled verwickelt adj /ɪmˈbrɔɪld/ 

empathy Empathie n U /ˈempəθi/ 

in a way that makes it hard for you to not like, or 

hard for you to stay angry at 

causing difficulties that interrupt something or 

prevent it from continuing 

to pull something somewhere strongly or quickly 

to feel very worried about something that might 

happen or something that is going to happen 

to make someone learn or understand something 

by repeating it many times 

involved in a difficult situation 

the ability to understand how someone feels 

because you can imagine what it is like to be them 

You know what I’m like, Lex – a bit of a slob,’ he said 

disarmingly. 

Rowdy and disruptive pupils often cause … 

Even if she’d dragged her in screaming, she couldn’t 

have forced her to stay. 

I've been dreading going to the dentist for weeks. 

It’s a statistic that gets drummed into the police. 

Two big fifteen-year-olds are embroiled in a vicious fight. 

By nature, counsellors must have empathy and 

understanding of others. 

enforce durchsetzen ** v /ɪnˈfɔː(r)s/ 

to make sure that a law or rule is obeyed by people 

It enforces federal laws. 

etiquette Anstandsregeln n U /ˈetɪket/ 

a set of rules for behaving correctly in social Traditional etiquette is … 

situations 

expel (jemanden) verweisen v /ɪkˈspel/ 

to officially force someone to leave a place or Tom almost got expelled from school for drinking alcohol 

organization because of their bad behaviour on the school trip. 

fall into step Tritt fassen phr /ˌfɔːl ɪntʊ ˈstep/ 

if you fall into step beside someone, you start Walking on, we fell into step. 

walking beside them 

a mark that you leave on something when you touch Forensic testing: fingerprints and so on.' 

fingerprint Fingerabdruck n C /ˈfɪŋgə(r)ˌprɪnt/ it, showing the pattern of lines on the skin of your 

fingers 

treating a serious subject or situation in a way that Some of the suggestions are just flippant. 

flippant frivol adj /ˈflɪpənt/ 

is not serious, especially when this annoys other 

people 

forensic gerichtsmedizinisch adj /fəˈrensɪk/ 

relating to the use of scientific methods to solve Forensic testing: fingerprints and so on.' 

crimes and to find out who committed them 

fry-up 

üppiges 

a meal of fried food, especially consisting of eggs, I like my fry-ups and my coffee and my home comforts. 

n C /ˈfraɪ ˌʌp/ 

Pfannenfrühstück 

bacon, and sausages 

gasp Keuchen n C /gɑːsp/ 

to breathe in suddenly, for example because you There is a gasp, and a ripple of excited chatter. 

are surprised, shocked, or in pain 

get a grip on festhalten phr /ˌget ə ˈgrɪp ɒn/ a firm strong hold Sean gets a grip on the other one. 

grossly extrem adv /ˈgrəʊsli/ very, or extremely The referee has been grossly unfair to our team. 

grumpy grantig adj /ˈgrʌmpi/ 

unhappy and dissatisfied, often for no obvious I always thought our neighbour was a grumpy old man 

reason 

but he's just lonely. 

guidelines Richtlinien ** n pl /ˈgaɪdˌlaɪnz/ 

official instructions or advice about how to do The government recently issued a set of guidelines 

something 

explaining the law. 

hastily hastig adv /ˈheɪstəli/ 

done in a hurry because you do not have much time I added hastily, ‘It was only a thought.' 

have a go at über (jemanden) herfallen phr /ˌhæv ə ˈgəʊ æt, ət/ 

have the good grace to 

die innere Grösse haben, 

[…] 

phr 

/hæv ðə ˌgʊd ˈgreɪs 

tʊ, tə/ 

hazardous gefährlich * adj /ˈhæzə(r)dəs/ 

heartfelt vom Herzen kommend adj /ˈhɑː(r)tˌfelt/ 

householder Hausbesitzer n C /ˈhaʊsˌhəʊldə(r)/ 

to criticize someone strongly 

to have good enough manners to act in an 

appropriate way 

dangerous, especially to people’s health or safety 

Don't have a go at me! I did everything I could to fix it. 

Nobody is perfect, but when you make a mistake you 

should have the good grace to apologize. 

A hazardous sea crossing. 

a heartfelt emotion, remark, or action is very sincere There are heartfelt messages too. 

a person who lives in a house or flat, especially the 

person who owns the house or pays the rent 

Householders should have the right to use any force they 

consider necessary to defend themselves and their 

homes. 



house-to-house enquiries 

von Haus zu Haus gehen, 

um Erkundigungen 

einzuziehen 

hush Still n U /hʌʃ/ 

phr 

/ˌhaʊs tə ˈhaʊs 

ɪnˌkwaɪriːz/ 

impending bevorstehend adj /ɪmˈpendɪŋ/ 

involving visits to every house in an area 

used for telling someone to be quiet 

an impending event or situation, especially an 

unpleasant one, is one that will happen very soon 

Make sure the police have made sufficient house-tohouse 

enquiries. 

I put my head round the door one lunchtime to be met by 

total hush. 

He was devastated at the news of its impending closure. 

indigenous indigen adj /ɪnˈdɪdʒənəs/ 

intercept aufhalten v /ˌɪntə(r)ˈsept/ 

intruder Eindringling * n C /ɪnˈtruːdə(r)/ 

jail term Gefängnisstrafe n C /ˈdʒeɪl ˌtɜː(r)m/ 

lead (sb) on (jemand) in die Irre führen v /ˌliːd ˈɒn/ 

leak sickern * v /liːk/ 

lenient nachsichtig adj /ˈliːniənt/ 

leopard Leopard n C /ˈlepə(r)d/ 

let (sb) off 

(jemanden) von etwa 

befreien 

v 

/ˌlet ˈɒf/ 

magistrate Amtsrichter * n C /ˈmædʒɪˈstreɪt/ 

make ends meet über die Runden kommen phr /ˌmeɪk ˈendz miːt/ 

malevolence Böswilligkeit n U /məˈlevələns/ 

marsh Moor * n C /mɑː(r)ʃ/ 

mess around herumblödeln v /ˌmes əˈraʊnd/ 

mimic nachmachen v /ˈmɪmɪk/ 

negligent nachlässig adj /ˈneglɪdʒ(ə)nt/ 

on the brink of am Rand von phr /ˌɒn ðə ˈbrɪŋk əv/ 

overpowering überwältigend adj /ˌəʊvə(r)ˈpaʊərɪŋ/ 

indigenous people lived in a place for a very long 

time before other people came to live there 

to stop, catch, or take control of someone or 

something before they can get to the place they are 

going to 

someone who enters a place where they are not 

allowed to go, especially to commit a crime 

the period of time that someone must spend in 

prison 

to encourage someone to do something or to 

expect something, especially by lying to them or 

promising them something that they cannot have 

if an object or container leaks, or if it leaks 

something, liquid or gas comes out of it through a 

hole or crack 

if a person or system is lenient, they punish 

someone less severely than they could 

a large wild animal from Africa and Southern Asia 

that has golden fur with black spots 

to allow someone not to do something that they 

were expecting to have to do 

a judge in a court for minor crimes 

to have enough money to buy food, pay the rent, 

pay the bills etc. 

showing that you want to do something bad to 

someone 

an area of soft wet land 

to behave in a silly way, especially when you should 

be working or paying attention to something 

to copy someone’s voice, behaviour, or 

appearance, especially in order to make people 

laugh or to make someone feel annoyed or 

embarrassed 

failing to give care or attention, especially when this 

causes harm or damage 

in a situation in which something bad is very likely 

to happen 

someone with an overpowering personality or 

manner is able to control other people or situations 

First Nations' is the Canadian term for indigenous people. 

A security guard notices this and intercepts her as she 

attempts to leave without paying. 

The incident has revived debate about exactly how far 

homeowners should be allowed to go when confronting 

intruders. 

I really don’t think a jail term will help. 

Are you trying to lead me on? I'm not falling for that. 

The company were allowing sewage to leak into Lake 

Carston. 

The teachers are far too lenient. 

Leopard prints are back! They are everywhere this 

season. 

Can you let me off the housework just this time? I have a 

game I want to watch. 

The criticism comes after yesterday’s decision by 

Redford Magistrates. 

An elderly lady is having trouble making ends meet. 

Nothing Will had said had prepared me for the strength of 

Veronica Bailey’s prejudices, nor the malevolence of her 

delivery. 

Grace Dearden is beautiful, clever and admired. The last 

person to disappear into the lonely Norfolk marshes in 

the black depths of winter. 

My friend and I like to mess around during our shift, 

because the job is really boring. 

She mimicked a caustic tone. 

Increase fines and impose prison sentences on company 

officials who are shown to be negligent. 

The school is now on ‘Special Measures’, which means 

it’s on the brink of permanent shutdown. 

She was too much for me, Lex. You know what I mean? 

A bit overpowering. 

overwrought überreizt adj /ˌəʊvə(r)ˈrɔːt/ extremely emotional or upset They were troublesome, overwrought teenagers. 



pitted löchrig adj /ˈpɪtɪd/ 

play truant blau machen phr /ˌpleɪ ˈtruːənt/ 

premises Grundstück ** n pl /ˈpremɪsɪz/ 

press release Pressemitteilung n C /ˈpres rɪˈliːs/ 

pull together an einem Strang ziehen v /ˌpʊl təˈgeðə(r)/ 

put (sb) off (jemanden) abschrecken v /ˌpʊt ˈɒf/ 

a pitted surface has small marks or holes in it 

to stay away from school without permission 

the buildings and land that a business or 

organization uses 

an official statement or report that an organization 

gives to journalists, for example about a new 

product or an important achievement 

if people pull together, they work together to 

achieve something 

to make someone not want to do something, or to 

make someone not like someone or something 

The playground is a bleak, empty place, a large expanse 

of tarmac pitted with chewing gum. 

Parents should be punished if their children play truant or 

commit other offences. 

Our shop is right in the centre of the new premises in 

town. 

Decide on two posters, one from each group of three, 

which will be used in a press release to launch the 

campaign. 

From now on we will all pull together. 

The national tourist board is concerned that the bad 

manners and behaviour of its citizens, both at home and 

abroad, is putting foreign tourists off visiting the country. 

put one’s feet up sich entspannen phr /ˌpʊt wʌnz ˈfiːt ʌp/ 

put up with (etwas) ertragen v /ˌpʊt ˈʌp wɪð/ 

quay Kai n C /kiː/ 

ragged zittrig adj /ˈrægɪd/ 

recruit Neuling/Rekrut * n C /rɪˈkruːt/ 

relish Freude n U /ˈrelɪʃ/ 

remorse Bedauern n U /rɪˈmɔː(r)s/ 

restock aufstocken v /ˌriːˈstɒk/ 

restrain festhalten * v /rɪˈstreɪn/ 

retort scharf erwidern v /rɪˈtɔː(r)t/ 

revive wiederbeleben ** v /rɪˈvaɪv/ 

righteousness Selbstgerechtigkeit n U /ˈraɪtʃəsn(ə)s/ 

rigid starr ** adj /ˈrɪdʒɪd/ 

ripple Kräuseln n C /ˈrɪp(ə)l/ 

sceptical skeptisch * adj /ˈskeptɪk(ə)l/ 

scroll (sth) down (etwas) heruntercrollen v /ˌskrəʊl ˈdaʊn/ 

to sit down and relax, especially with your feet 

raised off the ground 

to accept someone or something unpleasant in a 

patient way 

a hard surface next to a sea or river, where boats 

can stop 

with edges that are not straight or smooth 

At the age of 60, when I should be putting my feet up. 

They had to move – they just couldn’t put up with the 

constant noise of the motorway. 

Marsh House stood alone at the end of the quay. 

He gave a long ragged sigh which was almost a laugh. 

to get someone to work in a company or join an Recruits are no longer taught to ride and care for horses 

organization 

when they join the force. 

to get great pleasure or satisfaction from something She recounted the story with bitter relish. 

a strong sad and guilty feeling about something that 

you have done wrong 

The mention of harm made him wince with some 

expression I had never seen in him before, something 

like remorse or regret. 

to provide a place or container with a new supply of We spend a fortune restocking books for every 

something 

classroom. 

to prevent someone or yourself from doing It was the shock of being physically restrained. 

something 

to reply immediately in an angry or humorous way ‘Indeed I am!’ she retorted. 

to something that someone has said 

to become, or to make something become, active, The incident has revived debate about exactly how far 

successful, or popular again 

homeowners should be allowed to go when confronting 

intruders. 

righteous: morally good or correct, especially She was burning with contempt and unshakeable 

according to standards set by religion 

righteousness. 

not easily changed 

I don't think you can change his mind, as his way of 

thinking is very rigid. 

a sound that gets gradually louder and then quieter There is a gasp, and a ripple of excited chatter. 

having doubts about something that other people 

think is true or right 

to move information down a computer screen in 

order to read it 

I know that my boss was sceptical of my proposal but he 

came around to it. 

Every day she projects on to it the text of a selected 

book, slowly scrolling it down to give the children a taste. 

see (sb) off 

(jemanden) 

verabschieden 

v 

/ˌsiː ˈɒf/ 

self-help book Selbsthilfe-Buch n C /ˌself ˈhelp bʊk/ 

to go somewhere such as a station or airport with 

someone in order to say goodbye to them 

a book that contains advice on how to make 

yourself a better person, or advice on how to live a 

better life 

Are you coming to the airport to see me off? 

I find that self-help books motivate me to improve my life 

but the actual advice in them is never relevant to my 

situation. 



self-restraint Selbstbeherrschung n U /ˌself rɪˈstreɪnt/ 

set (sth) off (etw) auslösen v /ˌset ˈɒf/ 

sewage Abwasser n U /ˈsuːɪdʒ/ 

sewer Abwasserkanal n C /ˈsuːə(r)/ 

shoot (sb) a glance 

single-sex 

(jemanden) einen Blick 

zuwerfen 

nach Geschlechtern 

getrennt 

slam zuknallen ** v /slæm/ 

phr 

adj 

/ˌʃuːt ə ˈglɑːns/ 

/ˌsɪŋg(ə)l ˈseks/ 

the ability to control your feelings and stop yourself 

from doing things that are not right or sensible 

to cause something to operate, especially by 

accident 

waste substances, especially waste from people’s 

bodies, removed from houses and other buildings 

by a system of large underground pipes called 

sewers 

an underground pipe or passage that carries 

sewage 

to look suddenly and briefly at someone 

all male, or all female, but not mixed 

to shut a door or a lid with great force so that it 

makes a loud noise, often because you are angry 

Her animosity was without the slightest moderation or selfrestraint. 

I accidentally set off the fireworks, but luckily nobody was 

standing nearby. 

He maintained that sewage leaks were inevitable. 

The sewage had overflowed from a blocked sewer. 

He gave a short bitter laugh before shooting me a quick 

glance to see if I could guess what was coming. 

I used to live in a single-sex dorm; boys were strictly 

forbidden. 

Everybody knows when Ken is upset because he slams 

his office door. 

slob Chaot n C /slɒb/ 

slope Anhöhe ** n C /sləʊp/ 

smear Fleck n C /smɪə(r)/ 

softly-softly schrittweise adj /ˌsɒftli ˈsɒftli/ 

soothing beruhigend adj /ˈsuːðɪŋ/ 

sprain Verknacksen v /spreɪn/ 

spring up auf einmal (da sein) v /ˌsprɪŋ ˈʌp/ 

someone who is lazy or untidy 

a straight surface that has one end higher than the 

other 

to spread a soft or liquid substance on a surface in 

an untidy way 

a softly-softly way of doing something is a slow 

careful way that tries not to upset people 

making you feel more calm and more relaxed and 

less nervous, worried, or upset 

to injure a joint such as your wrist by suddenly 

stretching or turning it too much 

to appear or to be produced suddenly and quickly 

You know what I’m like, Lex – a bit of a slob,’ he said 

disarmingly. 

He advanced up the slope in long strides. 

Tyre marks, smears of dirt, footprints, things like that? 

Even with a softly-softly approach, everyone is going to 

hate the new tax raise. 

It has a useful soothing effect. 

She cut her knee quite badly and sprained her ankle. 

When did this building spring up? They built it so fast. 

squeeze drücken ** v /skwiːz/ 

to press something firmly, especially with your I reached for his hand and squeezed it. 

hands 

stagger staffeln * v /ˈstægə(r)/ 

to arrange for events or activities to start at different We’ve decided to stagger the children’s return. 

times 

stall zum Erliegen kommen * v /stɔːl/ 

if a process stalls, or if someone stalls it, it stops 

making progress 

With police investigations stalled, Grace’s husband, Will, 

calls upon old family friend and criminal solicitor Alex 

O’Neill to help out. 

stand out sich (von etwas) abheben v /ˌstænd ˈaʊt/ 

to be easy to see or notice because of being My brother was the tallest in school, so he always stood 

different 

out. 

stick (sth) out (etwas) durchstehen v /ˌstɪk ˈaʊt/ 

to continue doing something difficult or unpleasant She felt she should stick it out. 

to the end 

stride langer Schritt * n C /straɪd/ a long confident step He advanced up the slope in long strides. 

swarm strömen v /swɔː(r)m/ 

to go somewhere as part of a large crowd 

I look out of the window and see a crowd of children 

swarming towards one corner of the playground. 

take the helm das Steuer übernehmen phr /ˌteɪk ðə ˈhelm/ 

in charge or in the position of a leader 

I have been asked to take the helm at St George’s 

Roman Catholic Secondary School in Maida Vale. 

to decorate something in order to improve the way He's had the house all tarted up. 

tart (sth) up (etwas) aufhübschen v /ˌtɑː(r)t ˈʌp/ 

that it looks, especially in a way that other people 

think is ugly 

template Muster n C /ˈtemˌpleɪt, ˈtemplət/ 

something that is used as a pattern or an example It will provide a template for the rest of the school. 

for something else 

throw a party eine Party veranstalten phr /ˌθrəʊ ə ˈpɑː(r)ti/ 

to organize a party, especially in your own home A number of undergraduates throw a party to celebrate 

the end of their final exams. 



thump schlagen * v /θʌmp/ 

trespass unbefugtes Betreten v /ˈtrespəs/ 

troublesome schwierig adj /ˈtrʌb(ə)ls(ə)m/ 

truancy Schule schwänzen n U /ˈtruːənsi/ 

tunic Hemd n C /ˈtjuːnɪk/ 

tunnel vision Tunnelblick n U /ˌtʌn(ə)l ˈvɪʒ(ə)n/ 

turn (sth) round 

(etwas) in den Griff 

kriegen 

phr 

/ˌtɜː(r)n ˈraʊnd/ 

vicious circle Teufelskreis phr /ˌvɪʃəs ˈsɜː(r)k(ə)l/ 

to hit someone or something with your fist 

The two men were kicking, swearing, thumping, grabbing 

one another’s hair. 

to go into a place without the owner’s permission She said that burglars should lose all their rights when 

they trespass on other people’s property and be prepared 

to face the consequences. 

causing problems or difficulties, especially in an They were troublesome, overwrought teenagers. 

annoying way 

the act or habit of staying away from school without A mother has been jailed for her teenage daughter’s 

permission 

truancy. 

a long loose shirt, usually worn by women He wore a scarlet tunic and wide-brimmed Stetson hat. 

the tendency to concentrate on one goal or one 

aspect of something without considering anything 

else 

to stop being unsuccessful and to start being 

successful, or to make something do this 

to stop being unsuccessful and to start being 

successful, or to make something do this 

It’s a statistic that gets drummed into the police, I’m 

afraid. They’re apt to get tunnel vision. 

I have just four terms to turn it round. 

You cannot get a job without an address but you cannot 

get a place to live without a job. It's a vicious circle. 

washed-out verblasst adj /ˌwɒʃt ˈaʊt/ 

wide-brimmed mit einer weiten Krempe adj /ˌwaɪd ˈbrɪmd/ 

wipe (sth) out (etwas) ausrotten v /ˌwaɪp ˈaʊt/ 

zigzag Zickzack adj /ˈzɪgzæg/ 

Unit 8 

Character traits 

bubbly nature lebendig phr /ˌbʌbli ˈneɪtʃə(r)/ 

someone who is washed-out looks very pale and ill 

or tired 

of a hat, having an edge that sticks out quite far 

to destroy or get rid of something completely 

a line or movement that makes sharp angles 

because it suddenly changes from one direction to 

another 

lively, happy, and friendly 

The school is painted a uniform, washed-out magnolia. 

He wore a scarlet tunic and wide-brimmed Stetson hat. 

Steps were being taken to wipe out the illegal whisky 

trade. 

The tarmac is painted with zigzag shapes. 

That accounts for that very bubbly, outgoing nature of his. 

working hard and careful to do things well 

First-borns are more likely to be hard-working, 

conscientious type gewissenhafter Mensch phr /ˌkɒnʃiˈenʃəs ˈtaɪp/ 

conscientious types. 

down-to-earth bodenständig adj /ˌdaʊn tə ˈɜː(r)θ/ practical and sensible He has a down-to-earth attitude. 

a happy-go-lucky person tends not to worry about She has a happy-go-lucky attitude. 

happy-go-lucky unbeschwert adj /ˌhæpi gəʊ ˈlʌki/ 

the future 

mangelndes 

confidence: the belief that you are able to do things She suffers from a lack of confidence. 

lack of confidence 

phr /ˌlæk əv ˈkɒnfɪd(ə)ns/ 

Selbstbewusstsein 

well 

opposing authority or accepted ways of doing things Their younger brothers and sisters have a more 

rebellious aufsässig adj /rɪˈbeljəs/ 

rebellious streak. 

entspannte 

/rɪˈlækst ˈætɪˌtjuːd tə not worrying about too many things 

Younger children have a more relaxed attitude to life. 

relaxed attitude to life 

phr 

Lebenseinstellung 

laɪf/ 

willing to make other people suffer so that you can He has a ruthless streak. 

ruthless rücksichtslos adj /ˈruːθləs/ 

achieve your aims 

/sens əv 

a way of behaving that shows you think you are He seems to have a sense of superiority. 

sense of superiority Überheblichkeit phr 

sʊˌpɪəriˈɒrəti/ better or more important than other people 

single-minded zielstrebig adj /ˌsɪng(ə)l ˈmaɪndɪd/ with your attention fixed on only one thing He has a single-minded attitude. 

tendency to act hastily 

eine Tendenz, vorschnell 

zu handeln 

phr 

/ˌtendənsi tʊ ækt 

ˈheɪstɪli/ 

winning streak Glückssträhne n C /ˈwɪnɪŋ ˌstriːk/ 

build a good rapport with (sb) 

eine gute Beziehung (zu 

jemandem) aufbauen 

phr 

/ˌbɪld ə gʊd ræˈpɔː(r) 

wɪð/ 

close ties enge Verbindung phr /ˌkləʊs ˈtaɪz/ 

often making decisions without properly thinking The woman had a tendency to act hastily. 

them through in advance 

a period of time when you win a lot of games, races, Nobody can beat Brian; he's on a winning streak. 

or competitions 

to make a good relationship with somebody What could the first people do in order to help build a 

good rapport with the second? 

a good relationship 

Which country or countries has your own traditionally had 

close ties with? 



diplomatic relations 

diplomatische 

Beziehungen 

phr 

/dɪpləˌmætɪk 

rɪˈleɪʃ(ə)ns/ 

extended family Sippe phr /ɪkˌstendɪd ˈfæm(ə)li/ 

foster close links with (sb) 

eine enge Beziehung (mit 

jemandem) aufbauen 

phr 

/fɒstə(r) ˌkləʊs ˈlɪŋks 

wɪð/ 

immediate family engste Angehörige phr /ɪˌmiːdiət fæm(ə)li/ 

marriage breakup das Ende einer Ehe n C /ˌmærɪdʒ ˈbreɪkʌp/ 

on friendly terms 

in freundschaftlichem 

Verhältnis stehen 

stormy relationship stürmische Beziehung phr 

Adverbs with two forms 

phr 

/ɒn ˈfren(d)li 

ˌtɜː(r)mz/ 

/ˌstɔː(r)mi 

rɪˈleɪʃ(ə)nʃɪp/ 

aim high hoch hinauswollen adv /ˌeɪm ˈhaɪ/ 

cut (sth) short (etwas) vorzeitig beenden adv /ˌkʌt ˈʃɔː(r)t/ 

bursting at the seams aus allen Nähten platzen phr 

/ˌbɜː(r)stɪŋ ət ðə 

ˈsiːmz/ 

a relationship between two countries in which they 

send diplomats to work in each other’s country 

a family group that includes grandparents, cousins, 

aunts etc. 

to make a good relationship with somebody 

someone in an immediate relationship to you is 

closely connected to you 

the end of a serious relationship or marriage 

friendly relationship with someone 

involving a lot of anger or arguments 

to try and be as successful as possible. To be 

ambitious 

to make something last for less time than planned 

Are there any with which it has no diplomatic relations? 

Your immediate family consists of your parents, brothers 

and sisters; other family members make up your 

extended family. 

Do the police in your area do much to foster close links 

with the local community? 

Your immediate family consists of your parents, brothers 

and sisters; other family members make up your 

extended family. 

Have you read about any stormy relationships or 

marriage breakups in the gossip columns recently? 

Are you on friendly terms with all your neighbours? 

Have you read about any stormy relationships or 

marriage breakups in the gossip columns recently? 

I aim high in most things I do. 

I once had to cut short my holiday due to illness. 

easily distracted leicht abzulenken adv /ˌiːzɪli dɪsˈtræktɪd/ 

difficult to keep concentration for long periods of I find it hard to study: I’m very easily distracted. 

time 

highly motivated hochmotiviert adv /ˌhaɪli ˈməʊtɪveɪtɪd/ having lots of desire and energy to do something I’m a highly motivated English student. 

laugh out loud laut lachen adv /ˌlɑːf aʊt ˈlaʊd/ in a way that other people can hear I rarely laugh out loud in the cinema. 

shortly bald *** adv /ˈʃɔː(r)tli/ 

soon, or happening only a short period of time after I’m going on holiday shortly. 

something 

sleep lightly 

a light sleep is one in which you wake up often. I tend to sleep lightly – I wake up at the slightest sound. 

einen leichten Schlaf 

adv /ˌsliːp ˈlaɪtli/ 

Someone who often wakes up while they are 

haben 

sleeping is called a light sleeper. 

snore loudly lauf schnarchen adv /ˌsnɔː(r) ˈlaʊdli/ to breathe noisily while you sleep Apparently, I snore loudly. 

take things easy 

die Dinge entspannt 

to rest and not do things that will make you tired I’m stressed out: I need to take things easy. 

adv /ˌteɪk θɪŋz ˈiːzi/ 

angehen 

travel light mit wenig Gepäck reisen adv /ˌtræv(ə)l ˈlaɪt/ 

if you travel light, you travel with only a few bags or I tend to travel light – just a small bag. 

cases 

travel widely weit reisen adv /ˌtræv(ə)l ˈwaɪdli/ to visit lots of different places I’ve travelled widely in my own country. 

wide awake hellwach adv /ˌwaɪd əˈweɪk/ completely awake I feel wide awake at the moment. 


a handful ziemlich anstrengend ** n sing /ə ˈhæn(d)fʊl/ someone who is difficult to manage or control They’re a bit of a handful. 

be given to 

eine Tendenz zu etwas 

having the tendency to do something 

… and is given to smiling pleasantly. 

phr /ˌbiː ˈgɪv(ə)n tʊ/ 

haben 

blurred verschwommen * adj /blɜː(r)d/ 

difficult to see clearly, or causing difficulty in seeing A twinkle livens the blurred pupils behind his spectacles. 

something clearly 

bone idle stinkfaul adj /ˌbəʊn ˈaɪd(ə)l/ very lazy They’re bone idle, most men, aren’t they? 

bulge ausbeulen v /bʌldʒ/ to stick out in a curved shape The fat that bulges about his features is rolled back. 

so full that there is no room for any more people or 

things 

The original shop, which by now resembled the perfect 

seventies’ fantasy of an Anglo-Saxon rural idyll, all naïve 

watercolours, spongeware mugs and wooden spoons, 

was both highly successful and bursting at the seams. 

by the same token auf die gleiche Weise phr 

/baɪ ðə ˌseɪm 

ˈtəʊkən/ 

in a similar way 

People invest their money in gold as they think having 

cash can be unstable. By the same token, people also 

invest in property. 



census Volkszählung * n C /ˈsensəs/ 

chest Truhe *** n C /tʃest/ 

an occasion on which government officials count 

the people who live in a country and record other 

information about them 

a large strong heavy box used for moving or storing 

things 

The last census shows that already a third of all 

households contain one solitary person. 

The auction house had many huge mahogany cupboards 

and chests. 

chum Freund/Freundin n C /tʃʌm/ a close friend I get to see my chums more often. 

a type of heavy wet soil that becomes hard when it 

clay Ton ** n U /kleɪ/ 

is baked in a kiln (=oven), used for making cups, 

plates, and other objects 

clown around herumkaspern v /ˌklaʊn əˈraʊnd/ 

to do silly things in order to make people laugh 

Lizzie reluctantly abandoned her clay for patchwork 

making. 

My boss loves to clown around in meetings. I actually 

think it's rather unprofessional. 

deft geschickt adj /deft/ deft movements are made quickly and with skill The artist had deft, delicate fingers. 

discard entsorgen v /dɪsˈkɑː(r)d/ 

to get rid of something that you no longer want or Surely close friends are not consumer goods to be 

need 

discarded or replaced at the first hint of trouble? 

dump fallenlassen ** v /dʌmp/ 

to get rid of someone or something that you no For the first time in my life I have been dumped by a 

longer want or need 

friend. 

elusive schwer fassbar adj /ɪˈluːsɪv/ 

an elusive person or animal is difficult or impossible I still haven’t found that elusive ‘woman of my dreams’. 

to find or catch 

far-off lange her adj /ˌfɑː(r) ˈɒf/ far away from you or from a particular place The college photo was taken ‘in those far-off days’. 

firstborn Erstgeborener n C /ˈfɜː(r)stˌbɔː(r)n/ 

someone’s first child 

Firstborns are more likely to be hard-working, 

conscientious types. 

forestall verhindern v /fɔː(r)ˈstɔːl/ 

to prevent something from happening by saying or As a reward for long and satisfactory service, redundancy 

doing something before it can happen 

was being forestalled. 

frown die Stirn runzeln * n C /fraʊn/ 

to move your eyebrows down and closer together 

because you are annoyed, worried, or thinking hard 

He's frequently wearing a frown of seriousness these 

days. 

fuss over 

good riddance 

viel Aufhebens (um 

etwas/jemanden) machen 

ein Glück, dass ich 

(etwas/jemanden) los bin 

v 

phr 

/ˌfʌs ˈəʊvə(r)/ 

/ˌgʊd ˈrɪd(ə)ns/ 

to give a person or animal a lot of attention to show 

that you love them 

used for saying that you are pleased to be free of 

someone or something that is annoying or 

unpleasant 

someone who always tries to please people in 

authority 

to fight with someone 

Everyone is fussing over the new exchange student. I 

suppose he's charming, but I don't really get what they 

see in him. 

I thought, ‘Good riddance! I’m glad he’s gone.' 

goody-two-shoes Streber n pl /ˌgʊdi ˈtuː ˌʃuːz/ 

I think my new colleague is a goody-two-shoes, always 

trying to kiss up to the boss. 

grapple raufen v /ˈgræp(ə)l/ 

My brother and I used to grapple with each other all the 

time when we were growing up. 

herald ankündigen v /ˈherəld/ 

to praise something loudly or in a public way It is frequently heralded as the defining relationship of our 

age. 

hint Zeichen ** n sing /hɪnt/ 

something that you say to show what you are He often disappeared at the first hint of trouble. 

thinking or feeling, without saying it directly 

ill-assorted zusammengewürfelt adj /ˌɪl əˈsɔː(r)tɪd/ 

an ill-assorted group of people or things are all very The odd little house was furnished with ill-assorted items. 

different from each other 

ivory Elfenbein * n U /ˈaɪvəri/ 

the yellowish-white bone that an elephant’s tusks Several ivory trinkets were on sale in the antique shop. 

are made of 

kettle Wasserkocher * n C /ˈket(ə)l/ 

a container that is used for boiling water. It has a As Suzie sat on the sofa crying, I put the kettle on and 

lid, a handle, and a spout (=a part for pouring). supplied tissues. 

kid veräppeln v /kɪd/ 

to say something that is not true, especially as a You can kid the world. But not your sister. 

joke 

laid-back entspannt adj /ˌleɪd ˈbæk/ calm and relaxed You'll like Bryan; he's really laid-back. 

languish dahindümpeln v /ˈlæŋgwɪʃ/ 

to fail to be successful or to improve 

The company's share price had been languishing at five 

dollars for some time. 

liven aufleben lassen v /ˈlaɪv(ə)n/ 

to make something more interesting or exciting, or A twinkle livens the blurred pupils behind his spectacles. 

to become more interesting or exciting 

mahogany Mahagoni n U /məˈhɒgəni/ 

a hard brown-red wood, used for making furniture The auction house had many huge mahogany cupboards 

and chests. 



mantelpiece Kaminsims n C /ˈmænt(ə)lˌpiːs/ 

mimic nachmachen v /ˈmɪmɪk/ 

a shelf above the opening of a fireplace 

to copy someone’s voice, behaviour, or 

appearance, especially in order to make people 

laugh or to make someone feel annoyed or 

embarrassed 

unlikely to find a partner or get married, usually 

because of being too old 

to become friends with someone again after a 

disagreement 

the art of sewing many pieces of cloth together to 

make a pattern or picture 

He was fond of collecting ivory trinkets for his 

mantlepieces. 

Paul likes to mimic his teacher behind her back. It's a bit 

disrespectful, but funny nonetheless. 

on the shelf einsam und verlassen phr /ˌɒn ðə ˈʃelf/ 

Many people saw her as some kind of lonely spinster, on 

the shelf, with only her dogs or cats to turn to. 

patch things up sich aussöhnen phr /ˌpætʃ θɪŋz ˈʌp/ 

I'm glad you patched things up with your sister. I hate it 

when you two fight. 

patchwork Patchwork n U /ˈpætʃˌwɜː(r)k/ 

Lizzie reluctantly abandoned her clay for patchwork 

making. 

pebbly kieselig adj /ˈpeb(ə)li/ containing a lot of pebbles Mr Hilditch wears spectacles that have a pebbly look. 

peril Gefahr n C /ˈperəl/ danger There are lots of perils in the way we live today. 

a situation in which two people disagree because My mother and I don't get along too well, as we 

personality clash Konflikt n C /pɜː(r)səˈnæləti ˈklæʃ/ 

they have very different personalities 

sometimes have a personality clash. 

pop in vorbeischauen v /ˌpɒp ˈɪn/ 

to go somewhere quickly or for a short time I might pop in there one day this week and surprise her. 

rambling weitläufig adj /ˈræmblɪŋ/ 

rickety wackelig adj /ˈrɪkəti/ 

rock the boat für Ärger sorgen phr /ˌrɒk ðə ˈbəʊt/ 

sibling Geschwister * n C /ˈsɪblɪŋ/ 

skimpy knapp adj /ˈskɪmpi/ 

a rambling house has a lot of different parts and The tiny shops in Langworth’s rambling side streets are 

covers a large area 

definitely worth a visit. 

a rickety structure or piece of furniture is likely to The damp, rickety flat was … 

break if you put any weight on it, often because it is 

old 

to cause problems by changing a situation that is Don't rock the boat now; you had your chance to say 

considered satisfactory 

something before. 

your siblings are your brothers and sisters Rob read that many first-born children are more 

intelligent than their siblings. 

skimpy clothes fit very tightly and do not cover very Lizzie looked in amazement at her younger self dressed 

much of someone’s body. This word often shows in a skimpy jersey and platform-soled shoes. 

that you do not approve of clothes like this 

sky-high schwindelerregend hoch adj /ˌskaɪ ˈhaɪ/ very high Property prices round here are sky-high. 

spongeware Schwammgegenstände n U /ˈspʌndʒˌweə(r)/ 

objects that are made out of sponges 

The jumbled collection of naïve watercolours, 

spongeware mugs and wooden spoons seemed at home 

in the artist's flat. 

steady stabil * adj /ˈstedi/ 

firmly held in a particular position without moving or Mr Hilditch weighs nineteen and a half stone, a total that 

shaking 

has been steady for more than a dozen years. 

stroppy trotzig adj /ˈstrɒpi/ 

a stroppy person gets angry very easily and is I don't know how to deal with my son. He's in that 

difficult to talk to 

teenage stroppy phase at the moment. 

suffocating erstickend adj /ˈsʌfəˌkeɪtɪŋ/ 

making you feel that you are not free to do what you I personally think that boarding schools are suffocating. 

want 

take its toll on 

(jemand/etwas) 

to harm or damage someone or something, He was aware that computers were increasingly taking 

phr /ˌteɪk ɪts ˈtəʊl ɒn/ 

strapazieren 

especially in a gradual way 

their toll on office staff. 

tied down gefangen sein adj /ˌtaɪd ˈdaʊn/ 

to stop someone from being free to do what they I don’t feel tied down like I used to. 

want 

tissue Taschentuch ** n C /ˈtɪʃuː, ˈtɪsjuː/ 

a piece of soft thin paper used especially for wiping I put the kettle on and supplied tissues. 

your nose 

trinket kleine Gegenstände n C /ˈtrɪŋkɪt/ 

a small decoration that is not very valuable, for He was fond of collecting ivory trinkets for his 

example a small piece of jewellery 

mantlepieces. 

turn to sich zuwenden v /ˈtɜː(r)n ˌtʊ/ to change or develop into something different The conversation turned to the subject of housework. 

twinkle Zwinkern n C /ˈtwɪŋk(ə)l/ 

if someone’s eyes twinkle, they seem to shine A twinkle livens the blurred pupils behind his spectacles. 

because the person is happy or joking 

umpteen x-mal adj /ˌʌmpˈtiːn/ a lot of I re-read it umpteen times. 

vivacious lebhaft adj /vɪˈveɪʃəs/ lively and attractive She was warm and vivacious. 

velvet Samt n U /ˈvelvɪt/ 

cloth that is very soft on one side and smooth on She had a huge, floppy-peaked velvet cap. 

the other 



if something such as a pain, an emotion, or a You just broke up with your boyfriend, and I know it's 

wear off nachlassen v /ˌweə(r) ˈɒf/ 

feeling wears off, it gradually disappears 

difficult now but the pain will wear off eventually. 

the activity of floating in a raft along rivers where the I always wanted to try whitewater rafting; it looks so 

whitewater rafting Wildwasser-Rafting n U /ˌwaɪtwɔːtə(r) ˈrɑːftɪŋ/ 

current is very fast and rough 

exciting! 

used for emphasizing how angry you are with 

wring (sb’s) neck 

phr /ˌrɪŋ ˈnek/ 

someone 

Unit 9 

Vague language 

(jemanden) den Hals 

umdrehen 

and all that und so was phr /ənd ˌɔːl ˈðæt/ 

and everything und all das phr /ənd ˈevriˌɵɪŋ/ 

and so on und so weiter phr /ənd ˈsəʊ ˌɒn/ 

and stuff like that und so ein Zeugs phr /ənd ˌstʌf laɪk ˈðæt/ 

and that sort of thing und solche Sachen phr 

/ənd ðæt ˌsɔː(r)t əv 

ˈɵɪŋ/ 

I mean ich meine phr /ˌaɪ ˈmiːn/ 

kind of irgendwie phr /ˈkaɪnd ˌəv/ 

like wie adv /laɪk/ 

or anything oder sonst was phr /ɔː(r) ˈeniˌɵɪŋ/ 

If you don’t understand how a woman could both love her 

sister dearly and want to wring her neck at the same 

time, then you were probably an only child. 

used for saying that you could add other things to I’ve got quite good at DIY and all that. 

the ones that you have mentioned 

used for showing that you are talking about other I met some nice people and practised my languages and 

similar things, in addition to the ones that you have everything. 

just mentioned 

used instead of mentioning more of a similar type of We do their houses up for them, keep them maintained 

thing that has already been mentioned 

and so on. 

used for referring to things that are similar or related There was loads of greenery, you know, trees and grass 

to the subject that you are discussing 

and stuff like that. 

used at the end of a list of similar things or details Lots of curves and holes and that sort of thing. 

for showing that it is not complete 

used for adding a comment or explaining what you I mean, I met some nice people. 

have just said 

used when you are talking about someone or They had these tall kind of tube-shaped glasses. 

something in a general way without being very 

exact or definite 

used when you pause while you are thinking what to Like, why should I have to spend the evening watching 

say next, or because of a habit in the way that you football on the telly … 

speak 

used for referring to or asking about other things of Did you, like, go into any museums or anything? 

the same type 

used for referring to any of a group of things or Anna Kirby, or something, I think her name was. 

possibilities without being specific 

or something so was in der Art phr /ɔː(r) ˈsʌmɵɪŋ/ 

or whatever egal was phr /ɔː(r) wɒtˈevə(r)/ or anything else of the same kind I could smell every coffee or sandwich or whatever. 

sort of irgendwie phr /ˈsɔː(r)t ˌəv/ 

slightly, or in some ways 

I had to sort of learn to sit down again or eat with a knife 

and fork. 

you know weisst du phr /ˌjuː ˈnəʊ/ used while you think about what to say next But then, you know, you’re with your mates. 

Describing homes 

an old object such as a piece of furniture or It’s a lovely old thatched cottage, full of antique furniture. 

antique Antik- * adj /ænˈtiːk/ 

jewellery that is valuable because it is rare, 

beautiful, or well made 

conveniently located gut gelegen phr 

/kənˌviːniəntli in a position or location that is useful and 

This newly built house is conveniently located near the 

ləʊˈkeɪtɪd/ 

convenient 

town centre. 

cosy gemütlich * adj /ˈkəʊzi/ 

warm and comfortable, and making you feel relaxed It’s a warm and cosy little flat. 

DIY enthusiast Heimwerker-Enthusiast n C 

/ˌdiː aɪ ˈwaɪ 

ɪnˈθjuːziæst/ 

draughty zugig adj /ˈdrɑːfti/ 

gloomy düster * adj /ˈgluːmi/ 

in cramped conditions 

in beengten 

Verhältnissen 

adj 

in poor condition in schlechtem Zustand adj 

in urgent need of repair stark reparaturbedürftig adj 

/ɪn ˈkræmpt 

kənˌdɪʃ(ə)nz/ 

/ɪn ˈpɔː(r), ˈpʊə(r) 

kənˌdɪʃ(ə)n/ 

/ɪn ˈɜː(r)dʒ(ə)nt niːd 

əv rɪˌpeə(r)/ 

a person who enjoys working around the house, 

fixing things, decorating etc. 

a draughty place is uncomfortable because cold air 

blows into it 

feeling sad and without hope 

not having much room 

not in good condition. Possibly old, or dirty, or 

damaged 

is broken and needs to be fixed very soon 

This nineteenth-century period house would suit the DIY 

enthusiast. 

I hate sitting at my desk in the study; it's kind of draughty 

in winter and I feel so cold. 

The family of six live in cramped conditions in a gloomy 

one-bedroomed flat with no electricity. 

The family of six live in cramped conditions in a gloomy 

one-bedroomed flat with no electricity. 

The building is in poor condition and in urgent need of 

repair. 

The building is in poor condition and in urgent need of 

repair. 



log cabin Blockhütte n C /ˌlɒg ˈkæbɪn/ 

mobile home Wohnwagen n C /ˌməʊbaɪl ˈhəʊm/ 

newly built neu gebaut adj /ˌnjuːli ˈbɪlt/ 

overgrown überwuchert adj /ˌəʊvə(r)ˈgrəʊn/ 

period Epoche adj /ˈpɪəriəd/ 

poorly furnished billig möbliert adj 

/ˌpɔː(r)li, pʊə(r)li 

ˈfɜː(r)nɪʃt/ 

rickety klapprig adj /ˈrɪkəti/ 

run-down heruntergekommen adj /ˌrʌn ˈdaʊn/ 

a small simple house made of logs in the 

A log cabin in the mountains. 

countryside or in the mountains 

a large caravan that people live in as their home. I can't believe this is a mobile home; it's so big and 

The American word is trailer. 

comfortable. 

was built very recently 

This newly built house is conveniently located near the 

town centre. 

covered with plants that have been allowed to grow The house is very run-down and the garden completely 

in an uncontrolled way 

overgrown. 

typical of a particular historical time 

This nineteenth-century period house would suit the DIY 

enthusiast. 

the furniture (tables, chairs, curtains etc.) are either It’s poorly furnished – the chairs are rickety and likely to 

bad or non-existent 

collapse and the carpets are threadbare. 

a rickety structure or piece of furniture is likely to It’s poorly furnished – the chairs are rickety and likely to 

break if you put any weight on it, often because it is collapse and the carpets are threadbare. 

old 

in bad condition because no one has spent money The house is very run-down and the garden completely 

on repairs 

overgrown. 

running water fliessend Wasser n U /ˌrʌnɪŋ ˈwɔːtə(r)/ water that is supplied by pipes into a building A house with no running water. 

tastefully decorated 

geschmackvoll 

to make something look more attractive by putting It’s a warm and cosy little flat, and very tastefully 

adj /ˌteɪstfəli ˈdekəreɪtɪd/ 

eingerichtet 

nice things on it or in it 

decorated. 

thatched strohgedeckt adj /θætʃt/ 

to cover a roof of a building with dried plants such It’s a lovely old thatched cottage, full of antique furniture. 

as straw or reeds 

threadbare clothing, carpet, or cloth is very thin and It’s poorly furnished – the chairs are rickety and likely to 

threadbare abgewetzt adj /ˈθredˌbeə(r)/ almost has holes in it because it has been worn or 

used a lot 

collapse and the carpets are threadbare. 

Adjectives formed with particles 

built-up bebaut adj /ˈbɪlt ˌʌp/ 

cheesed off verärgert sein adj /ˌtʃiːzd ˈɒf/ 

a built-up area has a lot of buildings in it 

feeling annoyed or disappointed about something 

There was always a park or a river or something close to 

every built-up area. 

I got really cheesed off, I can tell you. 

rich enough to pay for everything you need Mike was known to be a very lazy child but he's worked 

comfortably off wohlhabend adj /ˌkʌmftəbli ˈɒf/ 

hard since then and he now owns his own company; he's 

comfortably off now. 

faraway weit weg adj /ˌfɑːrəˈweɪ/ distant from you or from a particular place That was my ‘faraway place’. 

hard up knapp bei Kasse adj /ˌhɑː(r)d ˈʌp/ not having much money Are you hard up or comfortably-off at the moment? 

head-on frontal adj /ˈhed ˌɒn/ 

if two vehicles crash head-on, the front of one The two cars were involved in a head-on collision. 

vehicle hits the front of the other 

indoor Innen- * adj /ˈɪndɔː(r)/ done or used inside a building Do you want to try out the new indoor pool? 

made-to-measure massgeschneidert adj /ˌmeɪd tə ˈmeʒə(r)/ 

made to fit a particular person. Clothes that have 

not been made for a particular person are ready-towear 

Are you more likely to buy an off-the-peg suit or a madeto-measure 

one? 

or off-the-peg. 

off-the-peg von der Stange adj /ˌɒf ðə ˈpeg/ 

off-the-peg clothes are not made to fit a particular Are you more likely to buy an off-the-peg suit or a madeto-measure 

one? 

person 

oncoming entgegenkommend adj /ˈɒnˌkʌmɪŋ/ 

moving towards you 

He was blinded for a few moments by the lights of the 

oncoming lorry. 

online online ** adj /ˈɒnlaɪn/ 

connected to or available through a computer or a Which do you do more – use online banking servicesor 

computer network 

visit your local branch? 

outdoor draussen * adj /ˌaʊtˈdɔː(r)/ 

done outside 

Do you do more outdoor or indoor activities in your free 

time? 

out-of-the-way weit abgelegen adj /ˌaut əv ðə ˈweɪ/ 

difficult to find because of being a long way away Would you rather have a holiday in an out-of-the-way 

out-of-town 

ausserhalb der Stadt 

gelegen 

adj 

/ˌaʊt əv ˈtaʊn/ 

outspoken unverblümt * adj /ˌaʊtˈspəʊkən/ 

from major towns, roads etc. 

built in the countryside outside a town or city, but 

intended to be used by the people who live in that 

town or city 

an outspoken person states their opinion honestly, 

even if other people do not like it 

place or a crowded resort? 

Do you prefer out-of-town superstores or town centre 

shops? 

Are you more a supporter or an outspoken critic of your 

government? 



overnight über Nacht ** adj /ˌəʊvə(r)ˈnaɪt/ 

during the night, or from one evening until the next Sam was surprised at the number of passengers on the 

morning 

overnight train. 

sit-down meal gesetzte Mahlzeit adj /ˌsɪt daʊn ˈmiːl/ 

a proper meal at a dinner table 

For weddings and other celebrations do you prefer a sitdown 

meal or a finger-food buffet? 

uphill struggle anstrengend adj /ˌʌphɪl ˈstrʌg(ə)l/ 

difficult to do or to achieve 

Is learning English an uphill struggle for you or a 

relatively easy task? 

up-to-date gut informiert * adj /ˌʌp tə ˈdeɪt/ 

including the most recent news and information Do you keep up-to-date with the latest celebrity gossip or 

does it bore you? 

worn out total k.o. sein adj /ˌwɔː(r)n ˈaʊt/ 

too old or damaged to use any longer 

I was worn out. I’d been walking for something like six 

hours. 


adjacent to nebenan adj /əˈdʒeɪs(ə)nt tuː/ next to or near something else I would often sit in a café adjacent to my hotel. 

alienation Entfremdung n U /ˌeɪliəˈneɪʃ(ə)n/ 

the feeling that you do not belong in a particular I felt none of the alienation with which I was familiar in 

society, place, or group 

other cities. 

alleviate verringern v /əˈliːvieɪt/ 

to make something less painful, severe, or serious In order to alleviate overcrowding, the ancient low-rise 

buildings would have to be replaced. 

amble schlendern v /ˈæmb(ə)l/ 

to walk in a slow relaxed way 

She loved ambling along the pavements of the old 

streets. 

ample genug * adj /ˈæmp(ə)l/ enough, and often more than you need There would be ample green space. 

at a stroke mit einem Schlag phr /ˌæt ə ˈstrəʊk/ 

with a single action that changes things completely By building upwards, two problems would be resolved at 

a stroke. 

bandstand Podium n C /ˈbæn(d)ˌstænd/ 

a building without walls in a park, used for musical Where is the musical performance going to be? The 

performances 

bandstand seems too small for it. 

biodegradable biologisch abbaubar adj /ˌbaɪəʊdɪˈgreɪdəb(ə)l/ 

biodegradable substances can be separated into 

very small parts by bacteria so that they are not 

The hotel uses solar heating, biodegradable detergents, 

and energy-saving light bulbs. 

harmful to the environment 

blindfolded mit verbundenen Augen adj /ˈblaɪn(d)ˌfəʊldɪd/ 

wearing a blindfold 

Spend 24 hours blindfolded in a new location with a 

boast prahlen * v * /bəʊst/ 

branch Filiale *** n /brɑːntʃ/ 

breathtaking atemberaubend * adj /ˈbreθˌteɪkɪŋ/ 

bring (sth) down reduzieren v /ˌbrɪŋ ˈdaʊn/ 

to proudly tell other people about what you or 

someone connected with you has done or can do, 

or about something you own, especially in order to 

make them admire you 

a shop or office representing a large company or 

organization in a particular area 

extremely impressive or beautiful 

friend to guide you. 

The island boasts one of the oldest rainforests in the 

world. 

I wouldn’t be surprised if they closed a branch or two. 

Travel the length of the island and see the breathtaking 

views on the coast road. 

to reduce the rate, level, or amount of something The residents were concerned about the high number of 

run-down houses and flats that could bring down property 

values in the local area. 

carry (sth) out (etwas) durchführen v /ˌkæri ˈaʊt/ to do a particular piece of work, research etc. The group that carried out the study found that … 

choked blockiert adj /tʃəʊkt/ to fill a place so that it is difficult to move Streets were choked by traffic day and night. 

coat of paint Anstrich n C /ˌkəʊt əv ˈpeɪnt/ 

a layer of something such as paint that you put onto The whole place needed a coat of paint. 

a surface 

confines Abgrenzung n pl /ˈkɒnfaɪnz/ 

the borders or edges of a place 

Three million were squeezed within its inadequate 

confines. 

coral reef Korallenriff n C /ˌkɒrəl ˈriːf/ 

a hard natural structure under the sea that is Water sports cause coastal, coral-reef and marine 

formed from coral 

pollution. 

crisply uniformed frischgebügelt adj 

crisp cloth or paper is smooth, clean, and fresh Glitter Bay in Barbados is equally grand, with impeccablyfurnished 

rooms, a crisply-uniformed staff and 

/ˌkrɪspli 

ˈjuːnɪfɔː(r)md/ 

immaculate lawns. 

cruciform kreuzförmig adj /ˈkruːsɪˌfɔː(r)m/ 

shaped like a cross 

60-storey cruciform towers stretch up to the lower slopes 

of Montmartre. 

if something hard such as stone or a brick crumbles The run-down house had a number of problems including 

crumbling bröckelnd adj /ˈkrʌmblɪŋ/ 

or crumbles away, parts of it fall off because it is 

very old or damaged 

crumbling brickwork, broken drainpipes and patches of 

damp. 



dead end Sackgasse adj /ˌded ˈend/ 

devour verschlingen v /dɪˈvaʊə(r)/ 

do (sth) up renovieren phr /ˌdʊ ˈʌp/ 

dotted verteilt adj /ˈdɒtɪd/ 

draw (sth) up (etwas) entwerfen phr /ˌdrɔː ˈʌp/ 

drop by vorbeischauen v /ˌdrɒp ˈbaɪ/ 

dynamite sprengen v /ˈdaɪnəmaɪt/ 

effluent Abwasser n C /ˈefluənt/ 

enlightening erleuchtend adj /ɪnˈlaɪt(ə)nɪŋ/ 

evict zwangsräumen v /ɪˈvɪkt/ 

fenced off abzäunen adj /ˌfenst ˈɒf/ 

a road or passage that has no way out at one end 

It was a brick wall in a dead-end street. 

to destroy something completely 

With room enough for everyone in towers, there would be 

no need to spread outwards and devour the countryside 

in the process. 

to repair, paint, and improve an old building, car, We do their houses up for them. 

boat etc. 

to be in many parts of a place 

The new city would itself be a vast park, with large towers 

dotted among the trees. 

to prepare and write something such as a document Le Corbusier had drawn up his Parisian scheme at a 

or plan 

moment of unequalled urban crisis. 

to make a short visit somewhere 

Everyone, it seemed, dropped by Chez Antoine at some 

point in the day. 

to destroy something using dynamite 

They dynamited the building and rebuilt it from scratch. 

liquid waste such as sewage (=human waste) or 

waste from a factory 

to give someone information about something so 

that they understand more about it 

to legally force someone to leave the house they 

are living in, usually because they have not paid 

their rent 

to separate an area by surrounding it with a fence 

With its towers emitting smoke and deadly effluents the 

area was held responsible for polluting the area. 

Thank you, Annie. Very enlightening. 

We were about to be evicted from our last place. 

The new resort was seen as an antidote to so many of 

the fenced-off and homogenized resorts in the region. 

fidget zappeln v /ˈfɪdʒɪt/ 

flirt flirten v /flɜː(r)t/ 

for the sake of halber phr /ˌfɔː(r) ðə ˈseɪk ɒv/ 

get settled in sich eingewöhnen phr /get ˌset(ə)ld ˈɪn/ 

get to grips with (etwas) in Angriff nehmen phr /ˌget tʊ ˈgrɪps wɪð/ 

go through the courts durch die Gerichte gehen phr 

/gəʊ ˌθruː ðə 

ˈkɔː(r)ts/ 

greenery Grün n U /ˈgrɪːnəri/ 

haggle feilschen v /ˈhæg(ə)l/ 

to keep making small quick movements with parts 

of your body because you are bored, nervous, or 

impatient 

to behave towards someone in a way that shows 

your sexual or romantic interest in them 

for the benefit or good of someone or something 

Would you kindly stop fidgeting? 

By evening there’d be scholars, politicians, divorcees and 

tourists, flirting, arguing, having dinner, smoking and 

playing pinball. 

No driver would ever have to slow down for the sake of a 

pedestrian. 

...little by little you get settled in. 

to become familiar with a new way of life, place, or 

job, or to make someone do this 

to start to deal with a problem, situation, or job that Glitter Bay’s dedicated Green Team got to grips with 

you have to do 

waste management. 

used for referring to the process of taking a legal They have to go through the courts. 

action against someone 

green plants that are growing somewhere or used There was loads of greenery, you know, trees and grass 

as decoration 

and stuff like that. 

to argue in order to agree on the price of something Haggling for the lowest possible price might save you 

pennies. 

hairy gefährlich * adj /ˈheəri/ frightening, or dangerous Ooh, sounds hairy. 

hands-on experience or training involves you doing Many of the works there were hands-on exhibits. 

hands-on aktiv adj /ˌhændz ˈɒn/ something rather than just reading about it or 

watching other people do it 

hassle Schwierigkeit * n C /ˈhæs(ə)l/ 

a situation that causes problems for you or that That’s a bit of a hassle. 

annoys you very much 

haunt Lieblingsplatz n C /hɔːnt/ 

a place that someone visits often because they Once the favourite haunt of film stars such as Rita 

enjoy going there 

Hayworth and Robert Mitchum. 

hinder hindern v /ˈhɪndə(r)/ 

to stop someone or something from making Le Corbusier felt that cars should not be hindered by 

progress or developing 

pedestrians. 

a large number of people 

The pressure created by hordes of holidaymakers and 

horde Horde n C /hɔː(r)d/ 

their increasing demands is leaving a depressing litany of 

damage on the Caribbean. 



house-hunting Wohnungssuche n U /ˈhaʊs ˌhʌntɪŋ/ 

the activity of trying to find a house to live in, We went looking for somewhere else to live – househunting, 

like. 

especially one that you want to buy 

correct or perfect in every way 

Glitter Bay in Barbados is equally grand, with impeccablyfurnished 

immaculate makellos adj /ɪˈmækjʊlət/ 



perfect in every way 

Glitter Bay in Barbados is equally grand, with impeccablyfurnished 

impeccably tadellos adv /ɪmˈpekəbli/ 



to make someone have a particular feeling or belief It would be fabulous if all families could instill in their kids 

instil anerziehen v /ˌɪnˈstɪl/ 

the idea that when we’re on holiday we are all guests in 

somebody else's home. 

interchange Autobahnkreuz n C /ˈɪntə(r)ˌtʃeɪndʒ/ 

a place where you can change from a motorway to 

a main road using a system of smaller roads, 

Cars would enjoy massive and dedicated motorways, 

with smooth, curving interchanges. 

bridges etc. 

layabout Faulenzer n C /ˈleɪəˌbaʊt/ 

someone who is lazy and avoids work or anything Messy, long-haired layabouts in dirty, scruffy clothes. 

that involves any effort 

listed building 

unter Denkmalschutz 

a building of historical importance that cannot be The owner of a listed building cannot make any 

n C /ˌlɪstɪd ˈbɪldɪŋ/ 

stehend 

knocked down or changed without permission alterations to it without first receiving permission. 

litany lange Liste n C /ˈlɪtəni/ 

a long, usually boring, list of things that someone 

talks or writes about 

The pressure created by hordes of holidaymakers and 

their increasing demands is leaving a depressing litany of 

damage on the Caribbean. 

lousy schlecht adj /ˈlaʊzi/ 

bad, or unpleasant 

I couldn’t work out if he was doing it for fun or he was just 

a lousy driver. 

low-rise niedrig adj /ˌləʊ ˈraɪz/ 

a low-rise building has only a few levels. A high-rise The ancient low-rise buildings would have to be replaced 

building has many levels. 

by a new kind of structure. 

lush üppig * adj /lʌʃ/ used about places where many plants grow A great way to see Tobago’s lush and hilly terrain. 

marshland Sumpfland n U /ˈmɑː(r)ʃˌlænd/ an area that consists of marshes Will the marshland need to be drained? 

needlessly unnötig adv /ˈniːdləsli/ 

used about something that could or should have The legitimate demands of both cars and people were 

been avoided 

constantly and needlessly compromised. 

on tap ständig verfügbar phr /ˌɒn ˈtæp/ 

easily available 

Children are welcome, with club activities scheduled 

throughout the day and a pool of nannies on tap. 

pier Kai * n C /pɪə(r)/ 

a structure built out from the land over water and When people visit San Francisco, most people go to Pier 

used for getting on and off boats 

39 on San Francisco Bay. 

pillow sham Kissenhülle n C /pɪləʊ ˈʃæm/ 

a kind of cover for a pillow. Similar to a pillow case The resourceful designer had recycled bed covers into 

pillow shams. 

pinball Flipper n U /ˈpɪnˌbɔːl/ 

a game for one or two people that you play on a 

machine, using controls to hit a ball into targets in 

order to score points 

By evening there’d be scholars, politicians, divorcees and 

tourists, flirting, arguing, having dinner, smoking and 

playing pinball. 

property ladder 

Einstieg in den 

the market for housing. To be on the property … young people who cannot afford to get on the property 

n 

/ˈprɒpə(r)ti ˌlædə(r)/ 

Immobilienmarkt 

ladder means that you own a place to live 

ladder. 

queue up for anstehen v /ˌkjuː ˈʌp fɔː(r)/ 

to wait for something in a queue. The usual There are over 100,000 families queuing up for this type 

American word is line up 

of housing. 

to say you will not do something that someone has Some refuse point blank. 

refuse point blank (etwas) strikt ablehnen phr /rɪˌfjuːz pɔɪnt ˈblæŋk/ 

asked you to do 

renowned for für (etwas) bekannt sein adj /rɪˈnaʊnd ˌfɔː(r)/ 

famous and admired for a special skill or 

It is renowned for several things. 

achievement 

rookie Anfänger n C /ˈrʊki/ 

someone who has just started doing a job or activity I was a complete novice, you see – a real rookie. 

and does not have much experience 

rowdy Rowdy adj /ˈraʊdi/ noisy and causing trouble Rowdy parties that keep the neighbours awake. 

safeguard absichern v /ˈseɪfˌgɑː(r)d/ 

to protect something or someone from being 

harmed or having problems 

The scale of the hotel is kept small enough to safeguard 

the highest quality service and lowest impact tourism. 

scattered weit verstreut * adj /ˈskætə(r)d/ spread over a large area They are scattered over a wide area. 

scavenger hunt Schnitzeljagd n C /ˈskævɪndʒə(r) ˌhʌnt/ 

to look for items that other people have thrown 

away 

My son helped monitor turtle nest-sites and went on a 

scavenger hunt for throwaway plastics that threaten the 

marine life. 



scrape Kratzen n C /skreɪp/ 

sewage Abwasser n U /ˈsuːɪdʒ/ 

snorkelling schnorcheln n U /ˈsnɔː(r)k(ə)lɪŋ/ 

spell (sth) out 

(etwas) klar und deutlich 

erklären 

phr 

/ˌspel ˈaʊt/ 

the sound caused by something rubbing against a 

hard surface 

waste substances, especially waste from people’s 

bodies, removed from houses and other buildings 

by a system of large underground pipes called 

sewers 

to swim under water using a snorkel 

to say or explain something very clearly because 

someone has not understood something 

I sort of became aware of every sound – every little knock 

or scrape. 

Children played in courtyards covered with raw sewage. 

Holidays in the Caribbean isn't complete without 

snorkelling and diving in a coral reef. 

It’s a document spelling out what your rights are. 

sprawl ausufernd n U /sprɔːl/ 

used about buildings that fill an area in an ugly way Overcrowding and urban sprawl is … 

that has not been carefully planned 

squat Häuser besetzen * v /skwɒt/ 

to live in a place without permission and without How do you think you would cope if you had to squat? 

paying the owner 

squatter Hausbesetzer n /ˈskwɒtə(r)/ 

someone who lives in a place without permission How do you think you might react if squatters came to 

and without paying the owner 

live near you? 

squeeze einzwängen ** v /skwiːz/ 

to press something firmly, especially with your By 1910 three million were squeezed within its 

hands 

inadequate confines. 

steelpan band Steeldrum-Band n C /ˌstiːlpæn ˈbænd/ 

a group of musicians who play steel drums Come and meet the locals at the open-air dance and 

music fest, including steelpan bands. 

stunning atemberaubend * adj /ˈstʌnɪŋ/ 

very impressive or beautiful 

This historic site with stunning views of the coast is … 

tactile taktil adj /ˈtæktaɪl/ concerning the sense of touch It was the tactile experience I most enjoyed. 

take in the sights (etwas) besichtigen phr /ˌteɪk ɪn ðə ˈsaɪts/ to spend time looking at something And I also took in the main sights as well. 

tiered abgestuft adj /tɪə(r)d/ 

arranged in rows, with each row slightly higher than A tiered climb with cool pools of water to swim in as you 

the row in front 

go. 

turtle Schildkröte n C /ˈtɜː(r)t(ə)l/ 

an animal with a shell and four short legs that lives My son helped monitor turtle nest-sites. 

mainly in the sea 

underpin untermauern v /ˌʌndə(r)ˈpɪn/ 

to be an important basic part of something, allowing The result is stunning thirties colonial chic underpinned 

it to succeed or continue to exist 

by a nature-conscious strategy. 

untangle entwirren v /ʌnˈtæŋg(ə)l/ 

to separate things that are twisted around each 

other 

The division of cars and people was but one element in 

Le Corbusier’s plan for a reorganization of life in the new 

city. All functions would now be untangled. 

well-trodden ausgetreten adj /ˌwel ˈtrɒd(ə)n/ 

already done or discussed, and no longer 

Find out where the locals go, and get off the well-trodden 

necessary, interesting, or useful 

tourist route. 

wetlands Feuchtgebiete n pl /ˈwetlændz/ 

low land that is often covered with water from the More and more wetlands are being destroyed to develop 

lake, river, or sea next to it 

golf courses. 

while (sth) away (sich) die Zeit vertreiben v /ˌwaɪl əˈweɪ/ 

to spend time in a relaxed way when you have Students whiled away the afternoons on the covered 

wind schlängeln v /waɪnd/ 

nothing else to do 

to wrap or twist something around itself or around 

something else 

terrace. 

The area was a delight to visit with its paths winding 

through woods and forests. 

Unit 10 

Success 

achieve an aim ein Ziel erreichen phr /əˌtʃiːv ən ˈeɪm/ 

to succeed in doing or having what you planned or Time when all your hard work pays off and you achieve 

intended, usually after a lot of effort 

your aim. 

bright future rosige Zukunft phr /ˌbraɪt ˈfjuːtʃə(r)/ 

the opportunity for someone to develop or succeed An up-and-coming recording artist or sports personality 

who has a bright future ahead. 

do well erfolgreich sein phr /ˌdʊ ˈwel/ in a skilful or effective way A time when you do very well in your exams. 

further one’s career Karriere machen phr 

/ˌfɜː(r)ðə(r) wʌnz to make your career move in a positive direction Something you could do to further your career. 

kəˈrɪə(r)/ 

get on in life im Leben weiterkommen phr /get ˈɒn ɪn ˌlaɪf/ 

to be successful in life or at work 

The kind of thing parents do to ensure their children get 

on in life. 

give (sb) a sense of achievement Erfolgserlebnis 

phr 

/gɪv ə ˌsens əv to feel like you have done something good or Something you did which gave you an enormous sense 

əˈtʃiːvmənt/ 

special 

of achievement. 



go badly schlecht laufen phr /ˌgəʊ ˈbædli/ 

high-flier Überflieger n C /ˌhaɪ ˈflaɪə(r)/ 

overnight success Blitzerfolg phr /ˌəʊvə(r)naɪt səkˈses/ 

pay off sich auszahlen v /ˌpeɪ ˈɒf/ 

ride high in the charts sehr erfolgreich sein phr 

/raɪd ˈhaɪ ɪn ðə 

ˌtʃɑː(r)ts/ 

stand a chance of eine gute Chance haben phr /ˌstænd ə ˈtʃɑːns ɒv/ 

thriving erfolgreich adj /ˈθraɪvɪŋ/ 

turn out sich entwickeln v /ˌtɜː(r)n ˈaʊt/ 

Three-part phrasal verbs 

come in for (etwas) abkriegen v /ˌkʌm ˈɪn fɔː(r)/ 

in a way that is not skilful, effective, or successful Something you did which went badly at first but turned 

out well in the end. 

someone who has achieved a lot and is determined Someone in your family who is an academic high-flier. 

to continue being successful 

someone who becomes a success quickly A film or music album which was an overnight success. 

if something that you do pays off, it brings you some A time when all your hard work paid off and you achieved 

benefit 

your aim. 

having a period of success 

A song which is currently riding high in the charts in your 

country. 

to be likely to achieve something 

United stand a good chance of winning the league this 

season. 

very successful 

Can you name a thriving region, company or industry in 

your country? 

to develop in a particular way, or to have a Something you did which went badly at first but turned 

particular result 

out well in the end. 

to receive something such as criticism 

There isn’t one successful, well-known person who 

doesn’t come in for some kind of criticism from the media. 

come up against 

mit (etwas) konfrontiert 

to have to deal with something difficult or 

We all come up against problems – we just have to face 

v 

/kʌm ˌʌp əˈgenst/ 

werden 

unpleasant 

up to them. 

crack down on 

gegen (etwas) hart 

to start dealing with someone or something much The authorities in my country are really cracking down on 

v 

/ˌkræk ˈdaʊn ɒn/ 

vorgehen 

more strictly 

drug taking in professional sport. 

face up to mit (etwas) umgehen v /ˌfeɪs ˈʌp tʊ/ 

to accept that a bad situation exists and try to deal We all come up against problems – we just have to face 

with it 

up to them. 

get away with davonkommen v /ˌget əˈweɪ wɪð/ 

to manage to do something bad without being In my country, celebrities often get away with crimes for 

punished or criticized for it 

which normal people are imprisoned. 

go in for (bei etwas) mitmachen v /ˌgəʊ ˈɪn fɔː(r)/ 

to enjoy a particular thing or activity 

People who go in for TV competitions like Big Brother 

clearly have personality problems. 

look up to 

to admire and respect someone 

It is incomprehensible that youngsters should look up to 

(zu jemandem) 

v 

/ˌlʊk ˈʌp tʊ/ 

sportsmen and women as role models – they are not 

aufschauen 

worthy of such respect. 

make up for entschädigen v /ˌmeɪk ˈʌp fɔː(r)/ 

to provide something good, so that something bad 

seems less important 

The money associated with fame and success more than 

makes up for the constant intrusions of the media that 

celebrities have to put up with. 

put (sth) down to 

(etwas) auf (etwas) 

if you put something down to a particular reason, I put my success down to self-discipline and 

v 

/ˌpʊt ˈdaʊn tʊ/ 

zurückführen 

you think it has happened for that reason 

perseverance. 

put up with (etwas) ertragen müssen v /ˌpʊt ˈʌp wɪð/ 

to accept someone or something unpleasant in a 

patient way 

The money associated with fame and success more than 

makes up for the constant intrusions of the media that 

celebrities have to put up with. 

sign up for sich (für etwas) anmelden v /ˌsaɪn ˈʌp fɔː(r)/ 

to agree to do something, or to join a course or No more tinned food – I’m going to sign up for a cookery 

organization 

course. 

Weather 

blast of wind Windstoss n C /ˌblɑːst əv ˈwɪnd/ a strong current of air, wind, heat etc. A blast of wind scattered leaves around the backyard. 

bolt of lightning Blitz n C /ˌbəʊlt əv ˈlaɪt(ə)nɪŋ/ 

a flash of lightning in the sky 

At one point he looked up just as a bolt of lightning 

passed behind his parachute. 

breath of wind Windhauch n C /ˌbreθ əv ˈwɪnd/ 

a very small movement of the air 

The weather was perfectly clear and calm; there wasn't a 

breath of wind in the sky. 

a sudden loud sound 

The booming claps of thunder, caused by the explosive 

clap of thunder Donnerschlag n C /ˌklæp əv ˈθʌndə(r)/ 

expansion of the air as the enormous electrical charge 

passed through. 

gust of wind Luftzug n C /ˌgʌst əv ˈwɪnd/ 

a sudden strong wind 

He was being shot upwards with successive violent gusts 

of rising air. 

layer of ice Eisdecke n C /ˌleɪə(r) ɒv ˈaɪs/ 

ice that has formed a layer over something, such as A thin layer of ice covered the surface of the lake. 

a lake 



patch of ice eisige Stellen n C /ˌpætʃ ɒv ˈaɪs/ a small area of ice, often found on the road. There are patches of ice on the road, so be careful. 

sheet of ice Eisscholle n C /ˌʃiːt ɒv ˈaɪs/ 

ice that has formed a sheet over something, such My dream is to see the sheets of ice covering the land in 

as a lake 

Antarctica. 

fierce blizzard heftiger Schneesturm n C /ˌfɪə(r)s ˈblɪzə(r)d/ 

a storm with a lot of snow and strong winds A fierce blizzard that hit the Midwest of America was 

responsible for the blackout. 

flash flood Sturzflut n C /ˌflæʃ ˈflʌd/ 

a sudden unexpected flood 

The government has warned of the possibility of a flash 

flood following record-breaking heavy rain. 

howling gale heftiger Sturm n C /ˌhaʊlɪŋ ˈgeɪl/ 

gale: a very strong wind 

A howling gale is forecast to head this way, so we should 

clean the garden to minimize the damage. 

severe frost scharfer Frost n C /sɪˌvɪə(r) ˈfrɒst/ very cold weather Last night we had the most severe frost this year. 

sweltering heatwave drückende Hitzewelle n C 

a period of very hot weather 

When a sweltering heatwave comes to places that don't 

/ˌswelt(ə)rɪŋ 

usually have hot weather, that's when you have to worry. 

ˈhiːtˌweɪv/ 

torrential downpour Platzregen n C 

/təˌrenʃ(ə)l 

ˈdaʊnˌpɔː(r)/ 

hailstone Hagelkorn n C /ˈheɪlˌstəʊn/ 

torrential rain falls fast in large amounts 

a small ball of ice that falls like rain 

The rainy season in tropical climates could mean a 

torrential downpour each day. 

The hailstones picked up freezing water and grew in size. 

raindrop Regentropfen n C /ˈreɪnˌdrɒp/ 

a drop of rain 

A slow motion camera allows you to capture the moment 

a raindrop hits the ground. 

rainfall Regenfall n U /ˈreɪnˌfɔːl/ 

the amount of rain that falls in a particular area The average rainfall in the Los Angeles area is less than 

during a particular period of time 

two inches a month. 

rainwater Regenwasser n U /ˈreɪnˌwɔːtə(r)/ 

water that falls to the ground in the form of rain It's always a good idea to save rainwater in order to be 

eco-friendly. 

snowdrift Schneewehe n C /ˈsnəʊˌdrɪft/ a deep pile of snow made by the wind The ski slopes are closed due to overnight snowdrifts. 

snowfall Schneefall n C /ˈsnəʊˌfɔːl/ 

the amount of snow that falls during a period This year has been so cold; we've had snowfall almost 

every day so far. 

snowflake Schneeflocke n C /ˈsnəʊˌfleɪk/ 

a single piece of snow that falls from the sky I love the beautiful patterns you can see when you look at 

snowflakes up close. 

a storm with a lot of snow and strong winds With torrential downpours, hail, storms, snowstorms, 

snowstorm Schneesturm n C /ˈsnəʊˌstɔː(r)m/ 

lightning, gales, tornados and hurricanes the enormous 

thundercloud can lead to untold loss of life and damage 

to property. 

sunbeam Sonnenstrahl n C /ˈsʌnˌbiːm/ 

a ray (=bright line) of light that shines down from the I loved the experiment at school where we used a 

sun 

magnifying glass to focus a sunbeam to burn paper. 

sunlight Sonnenlicht ** n C /ˈsʌnˌlaɪt/ 

the light from the sun 

Avoid direct sunlight - hang this blouse in the shade after 

washing. 

sunshine Sonnenschein ** n C /ˈsʌnˌʃaɪn/ 

light from the sun. This word is used especially to Let's go outside and lie in the sunshine. 

mean that the light is warm and pleasant 

a sound of thunder together with a single flash of After lightning, I always listen out for the thunderbolt. 

thunderbolt Donnerschlag n C /ˈθʌndə(r)ˌbəʊlt/ lightning that hits something, for example a tree or a 

building 

thundercloud Gewitterwolke n C /ˈθʌndə(r)ˌklaʊd/ 

a big dark cloud that you see during a storm I get nervous when the plane I'm in goes through a 

thundercloud. 

a heavy storm with thunder 

Improvements in technology has meant the earlier 

thunderstorm Gewitter n C /ˈθʌndə(r)ˌstɔː(r)m/ 

issuing of more up-to-date and accurate warnings for 

tornados, severe thunderstorms and flash floods. 

Not turning out well 

a lost cause Hopfen und Malz verloren phr /ə ˌlɒst ˈkɔːz/ 

someone or something that will never succeed or My son is a lost cause – I just accept that I’ll never get 

improve 

him interested in reading. 

box-office flop 

Misserfolg an der 

a complete failure 

The film was a box-office flop, and even less successful 

n C /ˌbɒks ɒfɪs ˈflɒp/ 

Kinokasse 

on DVD. 

come to grief scheitern phr /ˌkʌm tʊ ˈgriːf/ 

to be unsuccessful 

The negotiations came to grief after the unions insisted 

on higher overtime rates. 

come to nothing nichts werden phr /ˌkʌm tʊ ˈnʌθɪŋ/ 

to not lead in a positive direction. To end, often All her hard work and effort came to nothing – the book 

disappointingly 

was never published. 



fall through nicht zustande kommen v /ˌfɔːl ˈθruː/ 

go bankrupt Bankrott gehen phr /ˌgəʊ ˈbæŋkrʌpt/ 

make a mess of (sth) (etwas) verpfuschen phr /ˌmeɪk ə ˈmes əv/ 

make it to es schaffen phr /ˈmeɪk ɪt ˌtʊ/ 

not do any good nichts bringen phr /nɒt duː ˌeni ˈgʊd/ 

work out funktionieren v /ˌwɜː(r)k ˈaʊt/ 


arch wölben v /ɑː(r)tʃ/ 

billow sich bauschen v /ˈbɪləʊ/ 

boom dröhnen v /buːm/ 

brandish schwenken v /ˈbrændɪʃ/ 

break into a fit of giggles in Gekicher ausbrechen phr 

buffet hin- und herwerfen v /ˈbʌfɪt/ 

/ˌbreɪk ˈɪntʊ ə ˌfɪt ɒv 

ˈgɪg(ə)lz/ 

if something such as a deal, plan, or arrangement Our holiday plans have fallen through – we can’t get a 

falls through, it fails to happen 

cheap enough flight. 

a person or business that is bankrupt has officially Business was bad and the firm went bankrupt. 

admitted that they have no money and cannot pay 

what they owe 

to make a lot of mistakes when you are doing or I made a real mess of my driving test – almost had an 

dealing with something 

accident. 

to succeed in a particular activity 

Last year’s champions didn’t even make it to the quarter 

finals this year. 

to not help or benefit in any way I watered the plants every day but it didn’t do any good – 

they all died. 

to be successful, or to end in a particular way It was a beautiful wedding – shame the marriage didn’t 

work out. 

to form the shape of an arch 

He connected with the pitch and the ball arched out over 

the field. 

to be filled with air and swell out like a sail After his vision of the parachute billowing as a cathedral 

above him, he began to notice the air becoming less 

turbulent. 

to make a deep loud sound that continues for some The booming claps of thunder, caused by the explosive 

time 

expansion of the air. 

to wave a weapon or other object around in your I used to brandish a toy sword at my brother; we loved 

hand so that other people can see it 

playing pirates. 

to start laughing suddenly and uncontrollably Every time I look at you, you break into an uncontrollable 

fit of giggles! 

to keep hitting against something with a lot of force He had been buffeted up and down by the violent 

turbulence of the cumulonimbus for a full forty minutes. 

chunk Stück n C /tʃʌŋk/ 

cockpit Cockpit n C /ˈkɒkˌpɪt/ 

dashboard Armaturenbrett n C /ˈdæʃˌbɔː(r)d/ 

debut Debut * n C /ˈdeɪbjuː/ 

deploy auslösen * v /dɪˈplɔɪ/ 

drag zerren ** v /dræg/ 

dual carriageway Strasse mit Mittelstreifen n C /ˌdjuːəl ˈkærɪdʒweɪ/ 

flail rudern v /fleɪl/ 

give (sb) the shivers Gänsehaut verursachen phr /ˌgɪv ðə ˈʃɪvə(r)z/ 

glimpse flüchtiger Blick * n C /glɪmps/ 

gloom Düsternis * n U /gluːm/ 

hassle schikanieren v /ˈhæs(ə)l/ 

a large thick piece of something 

the part of a plane where the pilot sits 

the part inside a car where the speedometer and 

other instruments are 

the first time that a performer or sports player 

appears in public 

to use something 

to pull something or someone along with difficulty, 

for example because they are heavy 

a road with two or more lanes (=lines) of traffic 

going in each direction, separated by a piece of 

land in the middle. The American word is divided 

highway. 

to move your arms and legs about in an 

uncontrolled way 

to make someone feel very frightened or disgusted 

an occasion when you see someone or something 

for a moment only 

the feeling of having no hope 

a situation that causes problems for you or that 

annoys you very much 

I felt as though I were a chunk of beef being tossed into a 

cavernous deep freeze. 

He exploded out of the cockpit and began his descent 

towards the clouds below. 

He watched in disbelief as the rpm indicator on his 

dashboard spiralled to zero. 

I will never forget my Covent Garden debut in 1976. 

He instinctively reached for the lever that deployed the 

auxiliary power package to restore emergency electricity. 

One minute they were falling downwards, dragging air 

down with them; next they were … 

You are driving on a dual carriageway when your 

accelerator jams. 

In spite of the spinning, flailing nature of his free fall, 

Rankin managed to secure the emergency oxygen supply 

to his mouth. 

When I heard about the mass shooting, it gave me the 

shivers. 

Once I caught a horrified glimpse of my stomach, swollen 

as though I were in well-advanced pregnancy. 

In the gloom of the enormous cloud, things appeared to 

be looking up. 

A bully was hassling a little boy at the bus stop. 



hazardous riskant * adj /ˈhæzə(r)dəs/ 

dangerous, especially to people’s health or safety If it could be hazardous for an aeroplane in flight, what 

would it do to a mere human? 

holster Halfter n C /ˈhəʊlstə(r)/ 

a leather container for a gun, that is fixed to a belt The man quickly pulling a gun from his holster is an 

iconic scene from this Western film. 

hound verfolgen v /haʊnd/ 

to follow someone in a determined way in order to Don't hound me; I will play with you when I finish my 

get something from them 

work. 

hurl schleudern v /hɜː(r)l/ to throw something using a lot of force Rankin wasn’t the only one being hurled up and down. 

hurtle fliegen v /ˈhɜː(r)t(ə)l/ 

to move very quickly, especially in an uncontrolled It was beginning to look like he was hurtling through the 

way 

air strapped to a parachute that didn’t work. 

jam steckenbleiben * v /dʒæm/ 

if a machine, lock, window etc. jams, it does not You are driving on a dual carriageway when your 

work because something stops it from moving accelerator jams. 

jolt Stoss n /ʤəʊlt/ 

a sudden strong feeling that does not last long, It was therefore with great relief that he felt the violent jolt 

especially one of surprise or fear 

as his parachute finally deployed. 

leak out durchsickern v /ˌliːk ˈaʊt/ 

to become known by the public 

When the confidential information leaked out to the 

press, the manager got fired. 

legacy Vermächtnis ** n C /ˈlegəsi/ 

something that someone has achieved that My dad always said you should aim to leave a legacy 

continues to exists after they stop working or die when you’ve gone. 

let one’s hair down sich entspannen phr 

/ˌlet wʌnz ˈheə(r) to relax and enjoy yourself because you are in a Have a good time, let your hair down, that’s what I say. 

ˌdaʊn/ 

comfortable environment 

lever Hebel n C /ˈliːvə(r)/ 

a long handle that you pull or push to operate a As he pulled the lever, however, he was horrified to feel it 

machine 

come away in his hands. 

mere nur ** adj /mɪə(r)/ 

used for emphasizing that something is small or If it could be hazardous for an aeroplane in flight, what 

unimportant 

would it do to a mere human? 

numb betäuben v /nʌm/ 

to make a part of your body lose its ability to feel The one benefit of the extreme cold was that it began to 

numb his body. 

if a thick liquid oozes from something, or if Blood was oozing out from the soldier's bandage. 

ooze sickern v /uːz/ 

something oozes a liquid, a small amount of it flows 

out slowly 

ordeal Quälerei * n C /ɔː(r)ˈdiːl/ 

an extremely unpleasant experience, especially one It was all over now, I thought, the ordeal had ended. 

that lasts for a long time 

plead with (jemanden) anflehen v /ˈpliːd ˌwɪð/ 

to ask for something in an urgent or emotional way He pleaded with the doctor to see his daughter 

immediately. 

pose a challenge 

eine Herausforderung 

to create a difficult or dangerous situation 

The Prime Minister posed a challenge to his Ministers to 

phr /ˌpəʊz ə ˈtʃælɪndʒ/ 

stellen 

reform the entire government organisation. 

a piece of furniture or small object used in a play or I use quite a lot of props when I teach children. 

prop Requisit n C /prɒp/ 

film 

puffy bauschig adj /ˈpʌfi/ 

pull off a deal 

ein Geschäft zustande 

bringen 

phr 

/pʊl ˌɒf ə ˈdiːl/ 

pull out of (sich) zurückziehen v /ˌpʊl ˈaʊt ɒv/ 

retract (etwas) zurücknehmen v /rɪˈtrækt/ 

rumble Poltern n C /ˈrʌmb(ə)l/ 

big, round, and light 

to manage to reach a successful agreement with 

someone 

to stop being involved in an activity, event, or 

situation 

to say that something that you previously said or 

wrote is not true 

a continuous deep sound 

The cloud rose in an enormous tower of puffy convection 

mounds. 

It doesn’t matter what the weather’s like, how you’re 

feeling, how unsure you are of pulling off a deal – you’ve 

just got to keep going. 

Investors pulled out and it eventually went bankrupt. 

Bob was against the proposal but he retracted his opinion 

very quickly when he learned his boss supported it 

strongly. 

He heard a loud bump and rumble from the engine 

behind him. 

soar hochfliegen * v /sɔː(r)/ to fly high in the sky I went soaring up and up. 

spark Funke n U /spɑː(r)k/ 

the quality of being lively and original 

Personality’s important – you’ve got to have a bit of 

spark. 

surge aufwallen v /sɜː(r)ʤ/ 

to move forwards as a large mass very quickly The enormous draughts of air that surged up the core of 

the cloud were frightening in their strength. 

toss werfen ** v /tɒs/ 

to throw something somewhere gently or in a I felt as though I were a chunk of beef being tossed into a 

slightly careless way 

cavernous deep freeze. 



trail (sich) schleppen ** v /treɪl/ 

trapdoor Falltür n C /ˈtræpˌdɔː(r)/ 

tuck verstauen ** v /tʌk/ 

unfold entfalten v /ʌnˈfəʊld/ 

win (sb) over 

(jemanden) für sich 

gewinnen 

v 

/ˌwɪn ˈəʊvə(r)/ 

wispy federig adj /ˈwɪspi/ 

Unit 11 

Descriptive verbs 

browse browsen * v /braʊz/ 

browse Stöbern n C /braʊz/ 

1. to move slowly and in a tired or unhappy way, 2. The Prime Minister's party was trailing for most of the 

often so that you are a short distance behind other election, but they got a boost at the last minute. 

people 

2. mainly journalism to be losing in a competition or 

election 

3. to pull something behind you, or to be pulled 

behind someone or something 

4. to leave marks on a surface or a substance in the 

air as you go through a place 

5. to follow someone secretly in order to learn 

something about them 

6. if something trails somewhere, it hangs down 

from something 

a small door that covers an opening in a floor, You'd have to go through a very small trapdoor to enter 

ceiling, or wall 

the attic. 

to put something in a particular place, especially in I took lessons on a special way of tucking the knife up my 

order to keep it safe or hidden 

sleeve. 

to happen, or to develop 

He shut his eyes, unable to watch the nightmare 

unfolding. 

to persuade someone to agree with you or to be You’ve got to know how to win people over. 

friendly to you 

something that has a long, thin, delicate shape, for 

example a cloud, smoke, or hair 

to look at information or pictures in a book or 

magazine, without looking for anything in particular 

to look at information or pictures in a book or 

magazine, without looking for anything in particular 

The cloud rose in an enormous tower of puffy convection 

mounds, mushrooming out into a broad, wispy canopy at 

its top. 

We don’t have an encyclopaedia at home – we just 

browse the Web. 

No visit to the museum would be complete without a 

browse in the bookshop. 

flash einen Blick erhaschen ** v /flæʃ/ 

float schweben ** v /fləʊt/ 

flutter klimpern v /ˈflʌtə(r)/ 

gaze Blick ** n C v /geɪz/ 

to shine brightly for a very short time, or to shine on 

and off very quickly 

to be lighter than air, and to move slowly through it 

to move up and down or from side to side with 

short, quick, light movements, or to make 

something move in this way 

to look at someone or something for a long time, for 

example because they are attractive or interesting, 

or because you are thinking of something else 

They flash upon that inward eye 

Which is the bliss of solitude 

I wandered lonely as a cloud 

That floats on high 

She tossed her hair back and fluttered her eyelids. 

I’d hate to be a celebrity, always in the public gaze. 

glance kurzer Blick ** n C /glɑːns/ a quick look at someone or something I had a quick glance at the newspaper this morning. 

glance flüchtig blicken *** v /glɑːns/ 

to look somewhere quickly and then look away She kept glancing surreptitiously at her watch, desperate 

for the meeting to end. 

shine scheinen ** v /ʃaɪn/ 

if the sun shines, it produces a bright light and the It's a beautiful day; the sun is shining, so why don't we go 

weather is usually warm 

to the park? 

sparkle funkeln * v /ˈspɑː(r)k(ə)l/ 

to shine with small points of reflected light 

He imagined he was gazing admiringly into Sharon 

Whiting’s sparkling blue eyes. 

stare Starrblick n C /steə(r)/ 

a long fixed look 

She met his friendly greeting with a blank stare – she 

clearly didn’t recognize him. 

stare starren *** v /steə(r)/ 

to look at someone or something very directly for a My parents always told me that it’s rude to stare. 

long time 

toss werfen ** v /tɒs/ 

to throw something somewhere gently or in a She tossed her hair back and fluttered her eyelids. 

slightly careless way 



twinkle funkeln v /ˈtwɪŋk(ə)l/ 

if lights or stars twinkle, they become brighter then 

weaker in a way that is not steady or continuous 

Continuous as the stars that shine 

And twinkle on the Milky Way 

view Aussicht *** n C v /vjuː/ 

the ability to see something from a particular place I can’t see much from my house – there’s another 

building blocking the view. 

wander umherstreifen ** v /ˈwɒndə(r)/ 

to move away from a place where you are usually, I wandered lonely as a cloud 

or where people expect you to be 

That floats on high o’er vales and hills 

Prepositional phrases 

at ease entspannt prep phr /ˌæt, ˌət ˈiːz/ 

confident and relaxed 

He is by nature a very relaxed person with an ability to 

make people feel at ease in his company. 

at fault Schuld (an etwas) sein prep phr /ˌæt, ˌət ˈfɔːlt/ 

responsible for a bad or unpleasant situation I understand if you think I'm at fault, but allow me to 

explain my decision. 

at gunpoint 

mit vorgehaltener Pistole 

while threatening to shoot someone or while being A man was held at gunpoint and ordered to hand over his 

prep phr /ˌæt, ˌət ˈgʌnˌpɔɪnt/ 

(bedroht werden) 

threatened with a gun 

money. 

at leisure in aller Ruhe prep phr /ˌæt, ˌət ˈleʒə(r)/ free to do what you want Buy at leisure. 

at stake auf dem Spiel stehen prep phr /ˌæt, ˌət ˈsteɪk/ 

likely to be lost or damaged if something fails When you take a job as a policeman, your life could be at 

stake. 

by chance zufällig prep phr /ˌbaɪ ˈtʃɑːns/ not planned or expected I ran into my friend three times today by chance. 

by mistake aus Versehen prep phr /ˌbaɪ mɪˈsteɪk/ 

if you do something by mistake, you do it 

She had closed her front door by mistake and locked 

accidentally 

herself out. 

by nature von Natur aus prep phr /ˌbaɪ ˈneɪtʃə(r)/ 

a basic quality or feature of something 

He is by nature a very relaxed person with an ability to 

make people feel at ease in his company. 

in arrears im Rückstand sein prep phr /ˌɪn əˈrɪə(r)z/ late in making a regular payment Please pay the full amount that you are in arrears. 

in custody in Haft sein prep phr /ˌɪn ˈkʌstədi/ 

a situation in which someone is kept in prison until The man arrested yesterday is still in custody. 

they go to court for trial 

in droves in hellen Scharen prep phr /ˌɪn ˈdrəʊvz/ large numbers of people Tourists arrived in droves to see the famous city. 

to do something by going to a place or person I've met the president of the USA in person. 

in person persönlich prep phr /ˌɪn ˈpɜː(r)s(ə)n/ rather than by writing, telephoning, or sending 

someone else 

in retrospect im Nachhinein prep phr /ˌɪn ˈretrəʊˌspekt/ 

considering something that happened in the past, 

using knowledge or information that you did not 

We didn't know at the time, but in retrospect we made the 

right decision. 

have at that time 

in stock vorrätig sein prep phr /ˌɪn ˈstɒk/ 

if a shop stocks goods, it has them available for I'll see if we have that in stock. 

sale 

off balance nicht ausbalanciert prep phr /ˌɒf ˈbæləns/ 

not steady or upright, for example because more There is something wrong with this ship; it seems off 

weight is on one side 

balance. 

off course vom Kurs abweichen prep phr /ˌɒf ˈkɔː(r)s/ not travelling in the correct direction Her boat was blown off course towards the island. 

off duty nicht im Dienst sein prep phr /ˌɒf ˈdjuːti/ not working at that moment PC Jacobs had just come off duty. 

off limits tabu prep phr /ˌɒf ˈlɪmɪts/ 

if a place is off-limits, you are not allowed to go Her boat was blown off course towards the island, which 

there 

is off limits to all but military personnel. 

off work nicht bei der Arbeit sein prep phr /ˌɒf ˈwɜː(r)k/ 

not at work 

Stones has since been off work suffering from anxiety 

and panic attacks. 

on bail auf Kaution prep phr /ˌɒn ˈbeɪl/ the chance to stay out of prison until your trial He will be out on bail if he can raise 10,000 pounds. 

on display in einer Ausstellung prep phr /ˌɒn dɪˈspleɪ/ 

in a place that is able to be seen by many people She planned to put her work on display. 

on hold in einer Warteschleife prep phr /ˌɒn ˈhəʊld/ 

if something is on hold, you have stopped it from I'll just put you on hold while I connect you to customer 

happening now, but it may happen later 

services. 

on leave im Urlaub sein prep phr /ˌɒn ˈliːv/ 

away from your job or the armed forces 

Could we reschedule the meeting for next week? I'll be 

on leave all this week. 

on tiptoe auf den Zehenspitzen prep phr /ˌɒn ˈtɪptəʊ/ 

with only your toes on the ground 

Why are you walking on tiptoe? Who are you hiding 

from? 

out of breath ausser Atem prep phr /ˌaʊt əv ˈbreθ/ 

breathing fast and with difficulty, for example She appeared at my house out if breath and in tears. 

because you have been running 

out of character charakteristisch prep phr /ˌaʊt əv kærɪktə(r)/ 

not typical of someone’s usual behaviour 

He spoke aggressively, which was most out of character. 



out of work arbeitslos prep phr /ˌaʊt əv ˈwɜː(r)k/ unemployed Many graduates today are out of work. 

Sounds 

bang knallen * v /bæŋ/ to hit something hard, making a loud noise Somewhere, a door banged shut. 

beep hupen v /biːp/ 

if a car horn beeps, or if you beep your horn, it A car horn beeped outside. 

makes a short loud noise 

bleep piepsen v /bliːp/ 

a short high sound made by a piece of electronic Producers of TV shows have to make sure to bleep out 

equipment 

inappropriate words. 

buzz brummen v /bʌz/ 

when an insect such as a fly or bee buzzes, it A light aircraft buzzes overhead. 

makes a rough continuous sound 

chime läuten v /tʃaɪm/ 

to make a high ringing sound like a bell or set of Church bells chime. 

bells 

if a hard object clatters, or if you clatter it, it makes Pete turned at the clatter of footsteps. 

clatter klappern v /ˈklætə(r)/ 

several loud short noises as it hits against another 

hard object or surface 

click schnipsen * v /klɪk/ 

to make a short sound like the sound when you Someone clicks their fingers. 

clink klirren v /klɪŋk/ 

press a switch 

to make the short high sound of glass or metal 

objects hitting each other, or to cause objects to 

make this sound 

There was a sound of champagne corks popping and 

glasses clinking. 

crack Knall ** n C /kræk/ 

a short sudden loud noise like a small explosion There was a screech of brakes followed by the crack of 

gunfire. 

crash fallen ** v /kræʃ/ 

to hit something hard, making a loud noise and In the darkness, something crashes to the floor. 

often causing damage 

if something creaks, especially something wooden, Outside the door, a floorboard creaks. 

creak knarren v /kriːk/ 

it makes a high noise when it moves or when you 

put weight on it 

croak quaken n C /krəʊk/ 

the low rough sound of someone’s voice that Frogs use croaks to communicate with each other. 

sounds as if they have a sore throat 

hum summen n C /hʌm/ 

a low continuous noise made by a machine or a lot In the background, a computer hums. 

of people talking 

jingle klimpern v /ˈdʒɪŋg(ə)l/ 

to make a sound like small metal objects hitting Her keys jingle briefly as she returned them to her 

each other 

pocket. 

to fall with a short sound like the sound made by a Something plops into the water. 

plop fallen v /plɒp/ 

small object falling into a liquid, or by an amount of 

liquid falling onto a surface 

pop knallen ** v /pɒp/ 

if a cork pops, or if you pop it, it makes a sudden 

noise like a small explosion when it comes out of a 

There was a sound of champagne corks popping and 

glasses clinking. 

bottle 

rattle rattern v /ˈræt(ə)l/ 

if something rattles, it makes short sharp knocking A train rattles along. 

sounds as it moves or shakes 

rumble (Donner-) grollen v /ˈrʌmb(ə)l/ 

to make a continuous deep sound 

She walked a little faster as thunder rumbled in the 

distance. 

rustle rascheln v /ˈrʌs(ə)l/ 

to make a sound like the one that leaves or sheets The wind rustles leaves in the trees. 

of paper make when they move 

scratch Kratzer * n C /skrætʃ/ 

a sound made by moving something sharp or rough My suitcase is old and has a lot of scratches but I love it. 

against a hard surface 

screech Quietschen n C /skriːtʃ/ 

a loud, high, and unpleasant noise 

There was a screech of brakes followed by the crack of 

gunfire. 

shatter zerbrechen * v /ˈʃætə(r)/ 

to break suddenly into a lot of small pieces The earthquake shattered all the windows in the office. 

sizzle brutzeln v /ˈsɪz(ə)l/ to make the sound of food cooking in hot oil Bacon sizzled in the frying pan. 

snap reissen ** v /snæp/ 

to suddenly break something with a short loud When I was playing football, my ham string snapped. It 

noise, or to be broken in this way 

was agony. 


at full blast maximale Lautstärke phr /ət ˌfʊl ˈblɑːst/ 

as loudly or with as much power as possible 

My sister loves listening to music; she always puts it on at 

full blast. 



auction Versteigerung * n C /ˈɔːkʃ(ə)n/ 

a public occasion when things are sold to the I got this painting at an auction and I think I got a great 

people who offer the most money for them deal. 

battered arg mitgenommen * adj /ˈbætə(r)d/ old and slightly damaged Your car is battered; it's time to get a new one. 

bay Bucht ** n C /beɪ/ 

an area of the coast where the land curves inwards They stretched in never-ending line 

Along the margin of a bay 

be made up of (aus etwas) bestehen phr /biː ˌmeɪd ˈʌp ɒv/ 

make up something to combine together to form This University is made up of four departments: Law, 

something larger 

Economics, Linguistics, and Science. 

beat Takt ** n C /biːt/ 

the main pattern of sounds in a piece of music, or 

the strongest sounds in this pattern 

An iamb consists of one weak beat (unstressed syllable) 

followed by one strong beat (stressed syllable). 

bid bieten ** v /bɪd/ 

to offer a particular amount of money for something, 

for example at an auction (=an event where things 

are sold to the person who offers the most money) 

I'll bid you 400 pounds for this antique chair. 

blare out schmettern v /ˌbleə(r) ˈaʊt/ 

block (sth) out den Schall dämmen v /ˌblɒk ˈaʊt/ 

catch (sb) out 

(jemanden) ertappen (bei 

etwas) 

phr 

/ˌkætʃ ˈaʊt/ 

to make a loud and unpleasant noise 

The music in the night club was blaring out and we 

couldn't talk at all. 

to stop light or sound from reaching something It is hard to believe the unassuming walls can block out 

all sounds. 

to show that someone has made a mistake or is not Everybody thought he was innocent but finally the police 

telling the truth, especially by asking them questions caught him out. 

cheery fröhlich adj /ˈtʃɪəri/ 

feeling or showing happiness 

Cathy always makes me happy; she's such a cheery 

person. 

cheesy kitschig adj /ˈtʃiːzi/ 

lacking style or good quality and slightly silly I think they make too many cheesy films, so it's very 

difficult to find a decent one. 

coil Spirale * n C /kɔɪl/ 

a long thin piece of something that forms rings or The walls contain coils to cancel out the hum of the 

curls 

substation. 

daffodil Osterglocke n C /ˈdæfədɪl/ 

a tall yellow flower with a centre shaped like a cup When all at once I saw a crowd 

that grows in spring 

A host, of golden daffodils 

dim dämmrig adj /dɪm/ dim light is not bright In the dim light, she … 

disconcerting beunruhigend adj /ˌdɪskənˈsɜː(r)tɪŋ/ making you feel worried, confused, or surprised The experience is disconcerting. 

drive (sb) potty 

(jemanden) verrückt 

to annoy someone by doing something 

My mum is driving me potty; she always tells me what to 

phr /ˌdraɪv ˈpɒti/ 

machen 

do. 

emerging aufstrebend adj /ɪˈmɜː(r)dʒɪŋ/ 

just beginning to exist or be noticed 

I know her, her design was in a fashion magazine. She's 

an emerging designer. 

enhance verstärken ** v /ɪnˈhɑːns/ 

to improve something, or to make it more attractive Productivity will be enhanced simply by employing this 

or more valuable 

new system. 

fan Gebläse ** n C /fæn/ 

a machine with blades that turn and move the air in I now hear the fans of the computer systems. 

a room to make it feel less hot 

fluorescent fluoreszierend adj /flɔːˈres(ə)nt/ 

a fluorescent colour is very bright and seems to The chamber is lit with light bulbs instead of noisy 

reflect light 

fluorescent tubes. 

fuse verschmelzen * v /fjuːz/ 

to join together two different genres 

Two totally different art styles can fuse together to create 

new art. 

get into one’s stride in Schwung kommen phr 

/ˌget ɪntʊ wʌnz to begin to do something confidently and well I wasn't good at first, but I soon got into my stride. 

ˈstraɪd/ 

a document that you buy in a shop as a present for Art Warehouse gift vouchers for employees. 

gift voucher Geschenkgutschein n C /ˈgɪft ˌvaʊtʃə(r)/ 

someone, so that they can come to the shop later 

and exchange it for something that they want 

feeling sad and without hope 

I'm sort of having a gloomy day today. Can you cheer me 

gloomy trübe * adj /ˈgluːmi/ 

up? 

ein Auge (für etwas) 

to have a natural ability for seeing or finding My mum has an eye for antiques; she always finds 

have an eye for 

phr /ˌhæv ən ˈaɪ fɔː(r)/ 

haben 

something 

valuable things at the auction. 

hoof Huf n C /huːf/ the hard part of a horse’s foot The clatter of horses’ hoofs. 



incongruously unpassend adv /ɪnˈkɒŋgruəsli/ 

intimidating einschüchternd adj /ɪnˈtɪmɪˌdeɪtɪŋ/ 

invariably immer * adv /ɪnˈveəriəbli/ 

jagged zackig adj /ˈdʒægɪd/ 

let off steam sich austoben phr /ˌlet ɒf ˈstiːm/ 

margin Saum ** n C /ˈmɑː(r)dʒɪn/ 

mast Mast n C /mɑːst/ 

menacing furchteinflössend adj /ˈmenəsɪŋ/ 

strange because of being very different to other 

things which happen or exist in the same situation 

making you feel nervous, frightened, or less 

confident 

always, or almost always 

a jagged surface or edge has a lot of rough pointed 

parts that make it look broken or torn 

to express your feelings of anger or excitement 

without harming anyone 

the edge of a place or thing 

a tall pole that the sails hang from on a ship 

intended to threaten or frighten someone 

A 70s-style padded armchair sits incongruously in this 

other-worldly environment. 

That's an intimidating textbook; it's so thick and seems 

very difficult. 

In science, the quietest conditions that modern 

technology allows are invariably used to research sound. 

Jagged sound-cancelling spikes covered the walls. 

I've been working hard for my exams and it's driving me 

crazy. I need to let off some steam. 

They stretched in never-ending line 

Along the margin of a bay 

Turner claimed he had been tied to the mast of the 

steamboat in order to observe the storm. 

With jagged sound-cancelling spikes covering the walls 

and ceiling that take on a menacing look in the dim light. 

mingle 

sich unter die Leute 

mischen 

v 

/ˈmɪŋg(ə)l/ 

if smells, feelings, flavours etc. mingle or you mingle 

them, they become mixed together without 

completely losing their individual characters 

I should go mingle, as there are so many people at this 

party I haven't talked to yet. 

mount befestigen ** v /maʊnt/ 

odd merkwürdig ** adj /ɒd/ 

otherworldly unwirklich adj /ˌʌðə(r)ˈwɜː(r)ldli/ 

outdo (jemanden) überholen v /ˌaʊtˈduː/ 

padded gepolstert adj /ˈpædɪd/ 

pensive nachdenklich adj /ˈpensɪv/ 

permeate durchdringen v /ˈpɜː(r)mieɪt/ 

pick up a bargain 

ein Schnäppchen 

machen 

phr 

/pɪk ˌʌp ə ˈbɑː(r)gɪn/ 

premises Gelände ** n pl /ˈpremɪsɪz/ 

prominent bekannt ** adj /ˈprɒmɪnənt/ 

quay Ufer n C /kiː/ 

/ˌruːt kəˌnæl 

root canal treatment Wurzelbehandlung phr 

ˈtriːtmənt/ 

durch Mark und Bein 

/ˌset wʌnz ˈtiːθ ɒn 

set one’s teeth on edge 

phr 

gehen 

ˌeʤ/ 

showcase Präsentation n C /ˈʃəʊˌkeɪs/ 

soundproof schallisoliert v /ˈsaʊndˌpruːf/ 

spike Stachel n C /spaɪk/ 

to fix something firmly in a particular place or 

position 

unusual or unexpected in a way that attracts your 

interest or attention 

seeming to belong in a spiritual or imaginary world 

rather than the real world 

to be better than someone else at doing something 

padded clothes are filled with a soft substance to 

protect or change the appearance of your body 

seeming to be thinking carefully about something, 

especially something sad or serious 

if an attitude or feeling permeates something, you 

can feel or see its influence clearly in every part of 

that thing 

to buy something 

the buildings and land that a business or 

organization uses 

important and well known 

a hard surface next to a sea or river, where boats 

can stop 

painful dental surgery aimed at fixing nerve 

problems deep in the root of your teeth 

if something such as a sound sets your teeth on 

edge, you think it is very unpleasant or annoying 

an event that emphasizes the good qualities of 

someone or something 

to make a room or other space soundproof 

something sharp and pointed, especially a piece of 

metal or wood 

Mount the whole thing on springs, and the vibrations will 

stop. 

Imagine there were no music at all being played. It’d be a 

bit odd, wouldn’t it? 

A 70s-style padded armchair sits incongruously in this 

other-worldly environment. 

My wife only started learning the drums last week, but 

already she's outdoing me. 

A 70s-style padded armchair. 

Don't give me that pensive look; I know you're not 

thinking of anything. 

Not only does the smell of the animals permeate into your 

flat but they often spend much of the day miaowing and 

barking. 

You can often pick up some good bargains there. 

Smoking is not allowed anywhere on the hospital 

premises. 

The book was an interesting study of prominent figures of 

British Romanticism. 

It's beautiful out; let's go for a walk along the quay. 

My aunt just had root canal treatment and she said it was 

painful. 

The noise of chalk against a blackboard sets my teeth on 

edge. 

The Olympics is a showcase of top-level athleticism. 

Users must walk on a platform, raised above the 

soundproofed floor. 

Jagged sound-cancelling spikes covered the walls and 

ceiling. 



spring Feder *** n C /sprɪŋ/ 

sprinkle streuen * v /ˈsprɪŋk(ə)l/ 

a long thin piece of metal in the shape of a coil that 

quickly gets its original shape again after you stop 

stretching it 

to shake small amounts of a liquid or a substance 

such as sugar over the surface of something 

Mount the whole thing on springs, and the vibrations will 

stop. 

Sprinkle chopped parsley over the dish and then you're 

done. 

squash zerdrücken v /skwɒʃ/ 

to damage something by pressing or crushing it and I love tomatoes whether sliced, chopped, or squashed. 

making it lose its normal shape 

stack Stapel * n C /stæk/ a pile of things placed one on top of another The stacks of equipment used in the chamber is … 

stick out herausragen v /ˌstɪk ˈaʊt/ 

to continue further than the end of a surface or the I wound my way around the wedges of fibreglass which 

main part of an object 

stick out eighteen inches into the room. 

take the plunge den Sprung wagen phr /ˌteɪk ðə ˈplʌndʒ/ 

to finally do something important, difficult, or If you think too much about the risks you'll never do 

dangerous after thinking about it 

anything, so just take the plunge. 

tap one’s feet 

mit dem Fuss den Takt 

to raise your foot and lower it, making a sound on I caught my dad tapping his feet to the music, even 

phr /ˌtæp wʌnz ˈfiːt/ 

schlagen 

the ground, usually in time to a beat. 

though he said he hated it. 

a piece of exercise equipment with a flat moving I love working out on a treadmill. 

treadmill Laufband n C /ˈtredˌmɪl/ 

surface that you walk or run on while staying in the 

same place 

turnover Fluktuation ** n C /ˈtɜː(r)nˌəʊvə(r)/ 

the rate at which people leave a place and new 

people arrive 

The restaurant has a great turnover of customers. They 

are always busy. 

upshot Ergebnis n /ˈʌpˌʃɒt/ 

the result of a process or an event 

The upshot of the meeting is that we've decided we're 

closing one of the branches by next year. 

upturned nach oben gewandt adj /ʌpˈtɜː(r)nd/ 

curving, pointing, or facing upwards 

I cannot ignore my dog when he looks at me with his 

upturned eyes. 

warehouse Warenlager ** n C /ˈweə(r)ˌhaʊs/ 

a big building where large amounts of goods are Will Ramsay, owner of Will’s Art Warehouse was seen … 

stored 

a piece of wood, plastic, or other material that is I wound my way around the wedges of fibreglass which 

wedge Keil n C /wedʒ/ 

thin at one end and wider at the other and is stick out eighteen inches into the room. 

pressed into a space to hold something in place or 

to force things apart 

weigh in wägen v /ˌweɪ ˈɪn/ 

to have your weight checked before you take part in Measurements of sound levels typically weigh in far 

a sport such as boxing or horse racing 

below zero decibels. 

within the grasp of zum Greifen nah phr 

very close to reaching a goal 

/wɪˌðɪn ðə ˈgrɑːsp ɒv/ 

The ultimate prize was within my grasp but I blew it. 

worthwhile lohnenswert ** adj /ˌwɜː(r)θˈwaɪl/ 

if something is worthwhile, it is worth the time, 

money, or effort that you spend on it 

Seeing my husband that shocked made all the planning 

for the surprise party worthwhile. 

Unit 12 

Verb affixes 

able im Stande sein *** adj /ˈeɪb(ə)l/ intelligent or good at doing something Are you able to walk, Mrs Smith? 

someone who kills a famous or important person, Female assassins in films are always good-looking. 

assassin Attentäter n C /əˈsæsɪn/ 

especially for political reasons, or someone who is 

paid to kill a particular person 

assassinate ermorden v /əˈsæsɪneɪt/ 

to kill a famous or important person, especially for Who assassinated JF Kennedy is still debated even 

political reasons or for payment 

today. 

class Klassen *** n C /klɑːs/ 

a group of things, animals, or people with similar Our school had five classes, each with a different study 

features or qualities 

focus. 

classify einordnen ** v /ˈklæsɪfaɪ/ 

to put people or things into particular groups Sometimes it's difficult to classify books into categories 

according to the features that they have 

as the topic could be vague. 

download runterladen v /ˌdaʊnˈləʊd/ 

to move information to your computer from another I regularly download music from the internet. 

computer system or the internet 

downplay (etwas) herunterspielen v /ˌdaʊnˈpleɪ/ 

to deliberately make a situation seem less serious Tim is downplaying this but it's a huge deal to win this 

enable ermöglichen *** v /ɪnˈeɪb(ə)l/ 

or important than it is 

to give someone the ability or opportunity to do 

something 

award. 

This enables athletes to improve their performance. 



outclass übertroffen werden v /ˌaʊtˈklɑːs/ 

outlast überdauern v /ˌaʊtˈlɑːst/ 

outlive länger (als jemand) leben v /ˌaʊtˈlɪv/ 

outnumber 

(jemand gegenüber) in 

der Mehrzahl sein 

v 

/ˌaʊtˈnʌmbə(r)/ 

overcome überwältigen ** v /ˌəʊvə(r)ˈkʌm/ 

overshadow in den Schatten stellen v /ˌəʊvə(r)ˈʃædəʊ/ 

to be much better than someone or something else 

to last longer, or to continue to be successful for 

longer, than someone or something else 

to continue to exist after something else has 

stopped 

if one group outnumbers another, there are more in 

the first group than in the second 

to succeed in dealing with or controlling a problem 

to make someone or something seem less 

important compared to someone or something else 

Our national football team is usually outclassed by the 

opposition. 

Good antique furniture can easily outlast brand new 

furniture. 

My great grandmother outlived my great grandfather – he 

passed away first. 

When universities offer French language courses, female 

students almost always outnumber male students. 

I’m not the sort of person to be overcome by emotion. 

Technology overshadows human achievement. 

to do more than you are capable of 

I never overstretch myself at school or work – I only ever 

overstretch überarbeiten v /ˌəʊvə(r)ˈstretʃ/ 

do the bare minimum. 

overtake überholen * v /ˌəʊvə(r)ˈteɪk/ to take control of someone or something That sports car is overtaking everybody on the road. 

(etwas) übermässig 

to use something so much that it is no longer When I learn a new word, I tend to overuse it. 

overuse 

v 

/ˌəʊvə(r)ˈjuːz/ 

gebrauchen 

effective 

a situation in which people completely change their I love history. I'm especially fascinated by revolutions. 

revolution Revolution *** n C /ˌrevəˈluːʃ(ə)n/ government or political system, usually by force 

revolutionize revolutionieren v /ˌrevəˈluːʃəˌnaɪz/ 

threat Gefahr *** n C /θret/ 

threaten drohen *** v /ˈθret(ə)n/ 

undercharge zu wenig berechnen v /ˌʌndə(r)ˈtʃɑː(r)dʒ/ 

undercut unterbieten v /ˌʌndə(r)ˈkʌt/ 

underfund unterfinanziert v /ˌʌndə(r)ˈfʌnd/ 

undergo (sich etwas) unterziehen ** v /ˌʌndə(r)ˈgəʊ/ 

understate 


nicht stark genug 

ausdrücken 

v 

/ˌʌndə(r)ˈsteɪt/ 

a close run thing eine knappe Sache phr /ə ˌkləʊs ˌrʌn ˈθɪŋ/ 

ambush 

Angriff aus dem 

Hinterhalt 

n C 

/ˈæmbʊʃ/ 

atom Atom ** n C /ˈætəm/ 

be down to es geht eben immer um… phr /ˌbiː ˈdaʊn tuː, tʊ/ 

bend the rules die Regeln umgehen phr /ˌbend ðə ˈruːlz/ 

bolt of lightning Blitz n C /ˌbəʊlt əv ˈlaɪtnɪŋ/ 

to completely change the way that something is Technology has revolutionized sport. 

done, thought about, or made 

a situation or an activity that could cause harm or The threat of global warming can no longer be ignored. 

danger 

to tell someone that you might or you will cause The list is made up of the names of birds and plants that 

them harm, especially in order to make them do have been identified as being threatened with extinction. 

something 

to sell something to someone for too low a price, or I never tell the shop assistant if I realize I’ve been 

to accidentally not ask them for enough money in a undercharged. 

shop etc. 

to sell something at a cheaper price than another Sometimes, products made in developed countries could 

company or shop 

be undercut by cheaper foreign goods. 

an institution or event that is underfunded does not This sport is underfunded, hence the relatively poor 

have enough money to run properly 

showing in the Olympics. 

to experience something, especially something that I’ve never had to undergo surgery. 

is unpleasant but necessary 

to say that something is less important, serious, big The effects of technology in sport cannot be understated. 

etc. than it really is 

won or settled by only a few points, votes etc. 

an attack from a hidden position 

That probably wouldn’t have been enough; it was a close 

run thing even as it was. 

It was a surprise: an ambush. 

the smallest unit of any substance. It consists of a There would be only radiation and atoms left. 

nucleus made of protons and neutrons with 

electrons travelling around it 

used for saying that something is caused by It’s all down to technology. 

something else 

to do something or allow someone to do something So you want to know if there are ways to bend the rules, 

that is not usually allowed, especially in order to or to put it another way, to cheat. 

make things easier on one occasion 

a flash of lightning in the sky 

I saw an amazing bolt of lightning during the storm 

yesterday. 



buoyancy Auftrieb n U /ˈbɔɪənsi/ 

the quality of being able to float 

This reduced friction in the water and gave swimmers 

more buoyancy and speed. 

cinder Aschestückchen n C /ˈsɪndə(r)/ 

a small piece of something that has been burnt There was every chance that I would never get this far, 

almost completely 

even as a cinder. 

clap of thunder Donnerschlag n C /ˈklæp əv ˌθʌndə(r)/ the loud sound of thunder My dog is afraid of claps of thunder. 

clasp umschlingen * v /klɑːsp/ 

to hold someone or something tightly with your hand It got up and walked, clasping me inside it so I wouldn’t 

bump around. 

corrugated wellig adj /ˈkɒrəˌgeɪtɪd/ 

corrugated materials have been shaped into parallel I have to negotiate small ridges and areas of corrugated 

folds 

ground. 

crippled zerstört adj /ˈkrɪp(ə)ld/ 

to damage something severely, or to prevent it from I looked closely at the wispy remains of its crippled 

working properly 

emergency photopanels. 

cylindrical zylindrisch adj /sɪˈlɪndrɪk(ə)l/ 

shaped like a cylinder 

One of the most unique houses around is a cylindrical 

house converted from a water tower. 

dead weight totes Gewicht n C /ˌded ˈweɪt/ 

something that is very heavy and difficult to lift or I became aware that someone was carrying me like a 

carry 

dead weight. 

the system of organs and processes in the body of The digestive system is a very complex and important 

digestive system Verdauungssystem n C /daɪˈdʒestɪv ˌsɪst(ə)m/ humans and animals that deals with the digestion of part of the human body. 

food 

diminish mindern ** v /dɪˈmɪnɪʃ/ 

to make something become less 

Their enjoyment of sporting events is diminished as a 

discharge entlassen werden ** n C /ˈdɪstʃɑː(r)dʒ/ 

a situation in which someone is allowed to leave an 

institution such as a hospital, a prison, or the army 

result. 

When my fever goes down, I can be discharged from the 

hospital. 

doorknob Türklinke n C /ˈdɔː(r)ˌnɒb/ 

a round handle on a door that you turn to open and When we decorate our house next time, I want to change 

close the door 

the doorknob and paint the door. 

drool sabbern v /druːl/ 

to let saliva (=the liquid in your mouth) come out of I was still rolling my eyes and drooling. 

your mouth 

droplet Tröpfchen n C /ˈdrɒplət/ 

a very small drop of liquid 

It's challenging to capture a droplet falling down with a 

camera. 

dusty staubig * adj /ˈdʌsti/ 

covered with dust 

It could be seen with the remains of its prize dragging 

over the dusty ground behind it. 

fiery hitzig adj /faɪri/ becoming angry very easily and quickly There are fiery characters around like John McEnroe. 

fireball Feuerball n C /ˈfaɪə(r)ˌbɔːl/ 

a ball of fire 

When a meteor comes close to the Earth, it becomes a 

giant fireball. 

freelance work is done by a person who is not And here was an equally successful freelance sports 

freelance freiberuflich adj /ˈfriːlɑːns/ 

permanently employed by a particular company but journalist. 

who sells their services to more than one company 

grace zieren v /greɪs/ 

graphite Graphit n U /ˈgræfaɪt/ 

head for ansteuern v /ˈhed ˌfɔː(r)/ 

headgear Kopfbedeckung n U /ˈhedˌgɪə(r)/ 

heart rate Herzfrequenz n C /ˈhɑː(r)t ˌreɪt/ 

ice cap Eiskappe n C /ˈaɪs ˌkæp/ 

intake Einnahme * n sing /ˈɪnˌteɪk/ 

internal bruising innere Verletzungen n U 

/ɪnˌtɜː(r)n(ə)l 

ˈbruːzɪŋ/ 

to make something more attractive, pleasing, or 

interesting 

a soft black substance used in pencils 

to go in a particular direction 

things that you wear on your head 

the speed at which your heart beats 

a large area of ice that covers the land and sea 

around the North or South Pole 

the amount of something that you eat or drink 

injuries to your body that are not necessarily visible 

on the outside 

in the 1970s when personalities like Bjorn Borg or John 

McEnroe graced the tennis courts … 

The first clubs were wooden, but now they’re made of 

graphite or something. 

The base we were heading for originally belonged to … 

Helmet design in cycling and hockey is an example of 

this, and so is the headgear used in amateur boxing. 

If you have a lower heart rate, it means you can exercise 

longer than if you have a faster heart rate. 

The base is a thousand kilometres south of the northern 

ice cap. 

You should follow the recommended daily intake of food 

depending on calories and nutrients. 

It says I have internal bruising and I shouldn’t be walking 



leak Leck * n C /liːk/ 

lessen verringern v /ˈlesən/ 

let alone geschweige denn phr /ˌlet əˈləʊn/ 

let (sb) down (jemanden) enttäuschen phr /ˌlet ˈdaʊn/ 

line call Torschuss-Entscheidung n C /ˈlaɪn ˌkɔːl/ 

loop Schleife * n C /luːp/ 

lung Lunge ** n C /lʌŋ/ 

module Modul *** n C /ˈmɒʤjuːl/ 

molecule Molekül ** n C /ˈmɒlɪˌkjuːl/ 

molten flüssig adj /ˈməʊltən/ 

mumble murmeln * v /ˈmʌmb(ə)l/ 

near miss Beinahe Zusammenstoss n C /ˌnɪə(r) ˈmɪs/ 

negotiate verhandeln ** v /nɪˈgəʊʃieɪt/ 

octopus Krake n C /ˈɒktəpəs/ 

ovoid eiförmig adj /ˈəʊvɔɪd/ 

pole vault Stabhochsprung n sing /ˈpəʊl ˌvɔːlt/ 

porous porös adj /ˈpɔːrəs/ 

radiation Strahlung ** n U /ˌreɪdiˈeɪʃ(ə)n/ 

rally Ballwechsel ** n C /ˈræli/ 

refract brechen v /rɪˈfrækt/ 

replenishment Auffüllung n U /rɪˈplenɪʃm(ə)nt/ 

a hole or crack in an object or container that a liquid There seems to be a tiny leak we can’t find. 

or gas comes out of 

to become smaller in amount, level, importance etc. If I fail I harm us both, lessening the robot’s chances of 

or make something do this 

survival too. 

used for saying that something is even less likely to There was every chance that I would never get this far, 

happen than another unlikely thing 

even as a cinder, let alone whole and thinking and still 

able to walk. 

to make someone disappointed by not doing I’ll just have to keep going. I’d be letting the side down. 

something that they are expecting you to do 

in sport, a decision about whether a ball or shuttle Virtual 3D images are now also used to help the umpire 

etc. was in or out 

in disputed line calls. 

a round shape or curve made by a line curling back I got lost and I was going around in a loop. 

towards itself 

one of the two organs in your chest that fill with air Lung cancer is a deadly disease. 

when you breathe 

one of several parts made separately then joined If the module had taken any standard-sized warhead full 

together to make a building or other structure on there would be only radiation and atoms left. 

the smallest part of an element or compound that is There would be only radiation and atoms left; probably 

capable of independent existence. It consists of two not an intact molecule. 

or more atoms 

molten rock, metal, or glass has become liquid It must be so scary to have molten lava slowly heading 

because it is very hot 

to say something in a way that is not loud or clear 

enough so that your words are difficult to 

understand 

an occasion when an accident or injury almost 

happens, but does not 

to try to reach an agreement by discussing 

something in a formal way, especially in a business 

or political situation 

a sea animal with a soft round body and eight long 

arms called tentacles 

in the shape of an egg 

a sport in which you use a long pole to push 

yourself over a high bar 

a porous substance has a lot of very small holes in 

it so that air and water can pass through it 

a type of energy that is sent out in the form of 

electromagnetic waves, for example, heat, light, or 

radio waves 

an occasion when two players in a game such as 

tennis hit the ball to each other several times before 

either of them wins the point 

if a surface such as water or glass refracts light, 

light travels in a slightly different direction after it 

hits the surface, so that the surface appears to 

bend it 

to make something full again, or to bring it back to 

its previous level by replacing what has been used 

towards your home. 

I was still rolling my eyes and drooling, mumbling about 

walking in a dream. 

Even a near miss would have left nothing recognizable to 

the unaided human eye. 

I have to negotiate small ridges and areas of corrugated 

ground. 

It's difficult to find an octopus in the ocean because they 

are good at camouflage. 

I don't know the name of the fruit. It's ovoid and yellow; 

do you know it? 

Their work extends to equipment, such as the pole in the 

pole vault. 

The porous material wasn't able to hold liquid. 

If the module had taken any standard-sized warhead full 

on there would be only radiation and atoms left. 

Many people prefer watching women's tennis to men's 

tennis because they have longer rallies. 

Some special glasses refract light. 

Replenishment of stock is slow, and that's something we 

should try to resolve. 

ridge Grat ** n C /rɪʤ/ 

a long narrow raised line along the surface of I have to negotiate small ridges and areas of corrugated 

something 

ground. 

rusty rostig * adj /ˈrʌsti/ 

red-brown in colour 

The ground is boringly uniform, always the same rusty 

brown. 

scalding siedend heiss adj /ˈskɔːldɪŋ/ very hot Be careful! The tea is scalding hot. 



scatter verstreuen ** v /ˈskætə(r)/ 

to throw or drop things so that they spread over an It will be so romantic if you scatter rose petals around the 

area 

house on your anniversary. 

a large sea animal that eats fish and lives mainly in What do seals drink? 

seal Seehund ** n C /siːl/ 

cold parts of the world. Seals are amphibious (=they 

can live both in water and on land). A young seal is 

called a pup. 

soak (sth) up (etwas) absorbieren v /ˌsəʊk ˈʌp/ 

to spend time experiencing, listening to, or feeling It is running mostly on external power, soaking up the 

something enjoyable 

weak sunlight as best it can. 

spark Funke n C /spɑː(r)k/ 

a very small piece of burning material 

I saw sparks when I hit the golf ball. That can't be good. 

spherical kugelförmig adj /ˈsferɪk(ə)l/ round like a ball They are many spherical objects in nature. 

the season of the year between winter and summer I'm going to take a trip this spring; I think I deserve it, 

spring Frühling *** n C /sprɪŋ/ 

after the harsh winter we've been having. 

a sea animal like an octopus but with ten arms I'd never eaten squid before coming to Japan. 

squid Tintenfisch n C /skwɪd/ 

instead of eight 

to be better or greater than something else It enables athletes to improve their performance, to 

surpass übertreffen v /sə(r)ˈpɑːs/ 

surpass their own limits. 

to go somewhere with someone else although you I thought I’d tag along – see what was going on. 

tag along mitkommen v /ˌtæg əˈlɒŋ/ 

are not needed 

etwas (an etwas) 

to fix a small piece of paper or other material to Marathon runners are now electronically tagged and their 

tag 

v 

/tæg/ 

anbringen 

something to give information about it 

progress during a race can be followed online. 

thigh Oberschenkel ** n C /θaɪ/ the top part of your leg, above your knee I have a pain in my thigh; I wonder what it is. 

to move your fingers gently on someone’s skin in Why don’t we laugh when we tickle ourselves? 

tickle kitzeln v /ˈtɪk(ə)l/ 

order to give them a pleasant feeling or to make 

them laugh 

someone who is ticklish has a strong reaction when I am extremely ticklish, so please don't tickle me. 

ticklish kitzelig adj /ˈtɪk(ə)lɪʃ/ 

they are tickled 

the substance that animal and plant cells are made Those heavily padded hats protect boxers from soft 

tissue Gewebe ** n U /ˈtɪʃuː, ˈtɪsjuː/ 

of 

tissue damage. 

someone whose job is to make sure that players Virtual 3D images are now also used to help the umpire 

obey the rules in some sports, for example tennis, in disputed line calls. 

umpire Schiedsrichter n C /ˈʌmpaɪə(r)/ 

baseball, and cricket. Someone who does this in 

other games, such as football and rugby, is called a 

referee. 

a feeling of being nervous, uncomfortable, or The whole episode highlights the uneasy relationship that 

unease unruhig n U /ʌnˈiːz/ 

unhappy about a situation 

exists between sport and technology. 

the front part of a bomb or missile that explodes If the module had taken any standard-sized warhead full 

warhead Sprengkopf n C /ˈwɔː(r)ˌhed/ 

whip Peitsche * n C /wɪp/ 

wreck demolieren * v /rek/ 

wreckage Wrack * n U /ˈrekɪʤ/ 

young jung n pl /jʌŋ/ 

a long thin piece of leather with a handle on one 

end, used for making horses move faster or for 

hitting someone 

to severely damage or destroy a vehicle or building 

the parts of a vehicle or building that remain after it 

has been severely damaged 

someone who is young has lived for only a short 

time 

on there would be only radiation and atoms left. 

Why does a whip crack? 

It got the two of us down here, out of the wrecked 

module. 

Only something tiny – perhaps not a warhead at all but 

just something moving fast – or a more distant miss, 

would leave wreckage. 

The sick were the first to be evacuated, followed by the 

elderly and the very young.

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