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Chance and Nature
Chance and Nature
Topic vocabulary:
Topic vocabulary:
Chance
Chance
h
Approximate (v, adj)
Aproximar / Aproximado
Ascribe (v)
Atribuir
Assign (v)
Asignar
Attribute (v)
Atribuir
Blow (n)
Golpe (de mala suerte / revés)
Cause (v, n)
Causar / Causa
Coincidence (n)
Coincidencia
Curse (v, n)
Maldecir / Maldición
Deliberate (adj)
Deliberado
Determine (v)
Determinar
Fate (n)
Destino
Fluctuate (v)
Fluctuar
Foresee (v)
Prever
Freak (n, adj)
Fenómeno raro / Extraño
Gamble (v)
Apostar
Haphazard (adj)
Aleatorio / Al azar
Hazard (n)
Peligro / Riesgo
Inadvertent (adj)
Involuntario / No intencionado
Instrumental (adj)
Fundamental / Determinante
Jinxed (adj)
Gafado / Maldito (coloquial)
Likelihood (n)
Probabilidad
Lucky charm (n phr)
Amuleto de la suerte
Meander (v)
Deambular / Divagar
Mishap (n)
Contratiempo / Percance
Mutate (v)
Mutar / Cambiar
Odds (n)
Probabilidades
Pick (v, n)
Elegir / Elección
Pot luck (n phr)
Lo que venga/ hay
Random (adj)
Aleatorio
Sign (n)
Señal / Indicio
Speculate (v)
Especular
Spontaneous (adj)
Espontáneo
Startle (v)
Sobresaltar
Statistics (n)
Estadísticas
Stray (v, adj, n)
Desviarse / Perdido
Superstitious (adj)
Supersticioso
Transpire (v)
Suceder / Acontecer
Uncertainty (n)
Incertidumbre
Wobble (v)
Tambalearse / Vacilar
Topic vocabulary:
Topic vocabulary:
Nature
Nature
Agriculture (n)
Agricultura
Appreciate (v)
Apreciar / Valorar
Catastrophe (n)
Catástrofe
Crop (n)
Cultivo
Drought (n)
Sequía
Evacuate (v)
Evacuar
Exploit (v)
Explotar (recursos, personas, etc.)
Famine (n)
Hambruna
Flood (v, n)
Inundar / Inundación
Fossil fuels (n phr)
Combustibles fósiles
Global warming (n phr)
Calentamiento global
Greenery (n)
Vegetación / Verdor
Habitat (n)
Hábitat
Harvest (v, n)
Cosechar / Cosecha
Hurricane (n)
Huracán
Instinct (n)
Instinto
Natural disaster (n phr)
Desastre natural
Resource (n)
Recurso
Scarce (adj)
Escaso
Species (n)
Especie
Phrasal verbs
Phrasal verbs
Chance upon
Find or see someone or something when you did not expect to
Come across
Meet someone or find something by chance
Cool down
Become cooler, or make something cooler
Cut back (on)
Reduce the amount of something
Die out
Become weaker or less common and then disappear completely
Dig up
Remove something from under the ground by digging; dig holes in an area of land; find information by searching carefully
Get through
Use or finish something; manage to deal with a difficult situation or stay alive until it is over; finish dealing with some work, a subject…
Heat up
Make something hot; become hot
Kill off
Destroy living things so that most or all of them are dead
Put down to
If you put something down to a particular reason, you think it has happened for that reason
Slip up
Make a careless mistake slip-up (n)
Spring up
Appear or be produced suddenly and quickly
Store up
Keep a lot of something so that you can use it later; do something that will cause problems in the future
Throw out
Get rid of something that you no longer want, for example by putting it in a dustbin; force someone to leave a place or group; if someone in authority throws out a plan, proposal… they refuse to accept it
Throw up
Produce something new or unexpected; cause something such as dust or water to rise into the air
Phrases, patterns and collocations
Phrases, patterns and collocations
Bet
Bet (sth) on, make a bet (with sb), safe bet
Certain
Know/say for certain, certain to do, make certain, certain of/about, a certain (amount of)
Chance
Take a chance (on), leave to chance, by chance, by any chance, the/sb’s chance of (doing), the chance to do, second chance, last chance, pure/sheer chance, there’s every/no chance that
Dint
By dint of (a fuerza de)
Disposal
Waste disposal, at sb’s disposal, at the disposal of
Find
Find yourself (doing), find sb doing, find sth difficult/interesting…, find your way
Green
Green politics, green belt, (give sb) the green light, greenhouse, the greenhouse effect
Guess
Guess at, guess that, guess right, take/make/hazard a guess (at), rough guess, lucky guess, wild guess, educated guess, at a guess
Happen
Happen to do, it so happens that, as it happens
Lightning
Thunder and lightning, a bolt/flash of lightning, struck by lightning, at lightning speed
Luck
Push your luck, with sb luck, trust to luck, bring you luck, the luck of the draw, a stroke/piece of luck, as luck would have it, in luck, with any luck
Natural
Completely/totally natural, natural causes, natural ability, natural resources, natural selection
Nature
The nature of, by nature, in nature, Mother Nature, human nature, second nature
Odds
The odds of doing, the odds are (that), the odds are in favour of/ against, against all the odds
Rain
Rain hard/heavily, pour with rain, heavy/light rain, rainbow, rainwater, caught in the rain
Risk
Risk sth on, risk doing, risk one’s life, take a risk, run the risk of, put sth at risk, pose a risk to, the risk of, at the risk of doing
Threat
Pose a threat (to), face a threat, under threat, threat of, idle threat, bomb threat, death threat
Weather
Good/bad… weather, freak weather, in all weathers, under the weather, weather forecast, weatherproof
Wind
Light/strong wind, gust of wind, in the wind, winds of change
Idioms
Idioms
An act of God
An event such as flood, lightning or an earthquake that is produced by natural
Come rain or shine
Used for saying that something always happens or someone always does something despite bad weather or difficult conditions
Down on your luck
Having a long period of difficulty finding work and earning money
Draw the short straw
Be chosen to do something unpleasant
Have green fingers
Be good at growing plants
Let nature take its course
Allow something to develop without trying to influence it
No rhyme or reason
Used for emphasising that there is no reason or explanation for something
Out of the blue
Happening in a way that is sudden and unexpected, and does not seem connected with anything that happened before
The luck of the draw
Used for saying people have limited control over what life brings them
Touch wood
Used when you have said that you have had good luck in order to prevent bad luck from happening to you
Word formation
Word formation
Assess
Reassess, (re)assessment, assessor, assessed
Cause
Causation, causal, causative
Conserve
Conservation, conservationist, conservatism, conservative(ly)
Ecology
Ecologist, ecological(ly)
Elude
Elusiveness, elusive(ly)
Erode
Erosion
Erupt
Eruption
Extinct
Extinction
Favour
Favouritism, favourite, (un)favourable, (un)favourably
Fortune
Misfortune, (un)fortunate(ly), fortuitous(ly)
Instinct
Instinctive(ly)
Intend
Intention, (un)intended, (un)intentional(ly)
Mount
Surmount, mountain, mountaineer(ing), (in)surmountable, mountainous
Mystery
Mystify, mystification, mysterious(ly)
Occur
Recur, occurrence, recurrence, recurring, recurrent
Probable
(Im)probability, improbable, (im)probably
Risk
Risky
Seem
Seeming(ly)
Threat
Threaten, threatened, threatening(ly)
Wild
Wilderness, wildlife, wildness, wildly
Power and Social Issues
Power and Social Issues
Topic vocabulary:
Topic vocabulary:
Power
Power
Aggression (n)
Agresión
Authority (n)
Autoridad
Benign (adj)
Benigno/a
Bully (v, n)
Intimidar / Matón(a), Abusón(a)
Command (v, n)
Ordenar / Orden, Mando
Conquer (v)
Conquistar
Consent (v, n)
Consentir / Consentimiento
Controversy (n)
Controversia / Polémica
Dictator (n)
Dictador(a)
Dominate (v)
Dominar
Eliminate (v)
Eliminar
Enforce (v)
Hacer cumplir / Imponer
Entitled (adj)
Con derecho a
Exempt (adj)
Exento/a
Former (adj)
Anterior / Antiguo/a
Impose (v)
Imponer
Inferior (adj)
Inferior
Intimidate (v)
Intimidar
Label (v, n)
Etiquetar / Etiqueta
Liberate (v)
Liberar
Mainstream (n, adj)
Corriente principal / Dominante
Master (v, n)
Dominar / Maestro, Amo
Minister (n)
Ministro/a
Monarch (n)
Monarca
Prohibit (v)
Prohibir
Reign (v, n)
Reinar / Reinado
Reinforce (v)
Reforzar
Reluctant (adj)
Reacio/a
Resist (v)
Resistir
Restrict (v)
Restringir
Society (n)
Sociedad
Subject (v, n)
Someter / Sujeto, Asignatura, Súbdito
Subjective (adj)
Subjetivo/a
Submit (v)
Entregar / Someterse
Summon (v)
Convocar / Citar
Superior (adj)
Superior
Undermine (v)
Socavar / Minar
Unrest (n)
Inquietud / Disturbios
Victimise (v)
Victimizar / Acosar
Vulnerable (adj)
Vulnerable
Topic vocabulary:
Topic vocabulary:
Social issues
Social issues
Abolish (v)
Abolir
Advocate (v)
Defender / Abogar por
Alleviate (v)
Aliviar / Mitigar
Bureaucracy (n)
Burocracia
Charity (n)
Caridad / Organización benéfica
Class (n)
Clase
Community (n)
Comunidad
Convict (v, n)
Condenar / Convicto, Recluso
Corruption (n)
Corrupción
Deterrent (n)
Disuasivo / Elemento disuasorio
Heritage (n)
Patrimonio / Herencia cultural
Immigration (n)
Inmigración
Industrial action (n phr)
Huelga / Conflicto laboral
Institution (n)
Institución
Legislation (n)
Legislación
Prejudice (n)
Prejuicio
Prison reform (n phr)
Reforma penitenciaria / carcelaria
Privileged (adj)
Privilegiado/a
Prosecute (v)
Procesar / Enjuiciar
State (n)
Estado
Phrasal verbs
Phrasal verbs
Back down
Stop asking for something or stop saying that you will do something, because a lot of people oppose you
Blend in
If someone or something blends in, they are similar to the other people, objects, buildings, etc around them, and so they seem appropriate or you do not notice them
Bring about
Make something happen, especially to cause changes in a situation
Crack down (on)
Start dealing with someone or something much more strictly crackdown (n)
Get in
Be elected for a political job
Get off
Not be punished severely or at all for something you have been accused of in court; have a particular period of time as a holiday; send something, for example in the post
Give in
Stop competing or arguing and accept that you cannot win; if you give in to something, you can no longer control the feeling of wanting it
Hit back
Criticise someone who has criticised you; deliberately hurt someone who has hurt you
Lock up
Put someone in a prison; lock all the doors and windows of a building so that no one can get in
Opt out (of)
Decide not to take part in something or stop taking part in it
Phase out
Gradually stop using something
Push around
Keep telling someone what to do in an unfair or unpleasant way
Single out
Choose one person from a group for special attention
Stand up to
Not allow yourself to be treated badly, especially by someone in authority
Take over
Take control of something; begin to do something that someone else was doing
Talk down to
Talk to someone as if you think they are not as clever or important as you are
Phrases, patterns and collocations
Phrases, patterns and collocations
Arm
Arm sb with, arm yourself against, take up arms (against, lay down (your) arms, up in arms (about), arms control, arms race
Authority
Have the authority lo do, grant sb the authority to do, have authority over, have sth on good authority, in authority, with authority, the authorities, local authority
Charge
Charge sb with, charge sb for, take charge, (put) in charge (of), overall charge
Class
Class sb/sth as, social class, working/middle/upper class, ruling class, class system, class differences, class war
Crime
Commit/report/witness/solve a crime, fight/combat crime, the scene of a crime, organised crime, crime prevention, crime rate, crime wave
Deny
Deny sb sth, deny a request, deny that, deny doing, deny having done, deny (all) responsibility for
Example
Make an example of, set an example, follow an example, give an example, an example of, classic/prime example
Force
Force sb to do, force sth on sb, force your way into/through, force a smile, with force, police force, armed forces
grant
grant sth to, grant sb permission/authority, grant a request, grant sb's wish
Law
Become law, break, follow/uphold the law, pass/amend/repeal a law, lay down the law, practise law, against the law, above the law, by/under law, law and order
Lock
Lock sth in, lock horns with, under lock and key, locksmith
Peer
Peer group, peer pressure
Power
Take/seize/hold/exercise/exert/wield/abuse power, in power, beyond sb's power, power to do, power struggle, power structure, power base
Prison
Go to prison, send sb to prison, in prison, prison term, prison sentence, prison reform, prison officer, open prison
Provoke
Provoke sb into doing, provoke a reaction/protest/response, provoke outrage
Right
Have a/the/no/every right to do, give sb the right to do, right and wrong, right in saying/thinking/ believing, right (of sb) to do, equal rights, human rights, animal rights
Rule
Break/bend/follow the rules, against the rules, as a rule, rule of law, rule of thumb, rules and regulations
Sentence
Sentence sb to, pass sentence, serve a sentence (of five years, etc), prison sentence, death sentence
Social
Social conditions, social contact, social security, social services, social call, social worker, social club, social life
Subject
Subject sb to, bring up / gel onto a subject, drop/change the subject, subject to, the subject of, British subject
Idioms
Idioms
Bury your head in the sand
Ignore a problem or an unpleasant situation and hope that it will disappear
Gain/get/have/take the upper hand
Gain/get/have/take control or advantage over a person or situation
Get/have your way
Be allowed to have or do what you want
Live and let live
Used for saying that you should accept other people's beliefs and way of life, even if they are very different from your own
Pull (a few) strings
Use your influence in order to get something you want or to help someone, especially when this is unfair
Red tape
Documents, rules or processes that cause delays
Take the law into your own hands
Punish someone in your own way without involving the police or the courts, often by doing something illegal yourself
The powers that be
The people who control a situation
Throw the book at sb
Punish someone very severely
Under sb’s thumb
Completely controlled by someone else
Word formation
Word formation
Aggression
Aggressiveness, aggressor, aggressive(ly)
Argue
Argument, argumentative(ly), (un)arguable, arguably
Charity
Charitableness, (un)charitable, (uncharitably (de)criminalise, criminal, criminality, criminally
Dominate
Domineer, domination, (pre)dominance, dominant, domineering, dominating, predominant(ly)
Duty
Dutiful(ly)
Example
Exemplify, exemplification, exemplary
Govern
Misgovern, government, governor, governess, governing, governmental, ungovernable
Hard
Harden, hardship, hardness, hardy, hardly
Indicate
Indication, indicator, indicative
Institute
Institutionalise, institution, institutional, institutionalised
Might
Mighty, mightily
Moral
Moralise, demoralise, (im/a)morality, moralist, morale, (im/a)moral, (im/a)morally
Office
Officiate, official(dom), officer, officious, (un)official(ly)
Permit
Permission, permissiveness, permissible, permissive
Persuade
Dissuade, persuasion, persuasiveness, persuasive(ly)
Power
Empower, overpower, empowerment, powerlessness, powerful(ly), powerless(ly)
Prejudice
(un)prejudiced, prejudicial
Provoke
Provocation, provocative(ly)
Signify
(In)significance, (in)significant(ly)
ENGLISH IDIOMS
ENGLISH IDIOMS
The crux of the matter
The crux of the matter
Definition: The most important or central point of an issue.
Example: The crux of the matter is that we don’t have enough time to finish the project.
Beyond the shadow of a doubt
Beyond the shadow of a doubt
Definition: Absolutely certain; without any possibility of being wrong.
Example: She proved beyond the shadow of a doubt that she was the best candidate.
Pave the way for
Pave the way for
Definition: To make progress or success easier for something else.
Example: The new discovery will pave the way for advances in medicine.
A double-edged sword
A double-edged sword
Definition: Something that has both positive and negative effects.
Example: Technology is a double-edged sword: it makes life easier but can also make us dependent.
To add fuel to the fire
To add fuel to the fire
Definition: To make a bad situation worse.
Example: His rude comments only added fuel to the fire during the argument.
A recipe for disaster
A recipe for disaster
Definition: Something very likely to go wrong.
Example: Driving too fast on icy roads is a recipe for disaster.
To play the devil’s advocate
To play the devil’s advocate
Definition: To argue against an idea, even if you don’t believe it, just to test it.
Example: Let me play the devil’s advocate and point out the risks of your plan.
On the right track
On the right track
Definition: Doing something correctly or in a way that will likely succeed.
Example: Your essay needs a little editing, but you’re on the right track.
Go off the beaten path
Go off the beaten path
Definition: To take an unusual or less common course.
Example: We decided to go off the beaten path and explore a small village instead of the city.
A blessing in disguise
A blessing in disguise
Definition: Something that seems bad at first but turns out to be good.
Example: Losing that job was a blessing in disguise—it pushed me to start my own business.
The tip of the iceberg
The tip of the iceberg
Definition: A small part of a much bigger problem or situation.
Example: The protests were just the tip of the iceberg; people had been unhappy for years.
Bite the bullet
Bite the bullet
Take the bull by the horns
Take the bull by the horns
Definition: To face a difficult or unpleasant situation with courage.
Example: He finally bit the bullet/take the bull by the horns and admitted his mistake.
By the skin of one’s teeth
By the skin of one’s teeth
Definition: Just barely; almost failing.
Example: She passed the exam by the skin of her teeth.
Every cloud has a silver lining
Every cloud has a silver lining
Definition: There is something good in every bad situation.
Example: I know you’re upset about the delay, but remember, every cloud has a silver lining.
Hit the nail on the head
Hit the nail on the head
Definition: To describe exactly what is causing a situation or problem.
Example: You hit the nail on the head when you said the team needs better communication.
The ball is in your court
The ball is in your court
Definition: It’s your turn to take action or make a decision.
Example: I’ve done all I can—the ball is in your court now.
In the blink of an eye
In the blink of an eye
Definition: Very quickly.
Example: The car disappeared in the blink of an eye.
The elephant in the room
The elephant in the room
Definition: An obvious problem that people avoid talking about.
Example: We need to discuss the elephant in the room: the company is losing money.
Rome wasn’t built in a day
Rome wasn’t built in a day
Definition: Important things take time.
Example: Learning a language takes patience—Rome wasn’t built in a day.
Throw in the towel
Throw in the towel
Definition: To give up; to admit defeat.
Example: After several failed attempts, she finally threw in the towel.
Writing more descriptive and visual…
Writing more descriptive and visual…
FRUSTRATED
FRUSTRATED
Crossing your arms
Pouting face (poner morritos)
Turning red in the face
Rolling your eyes
AFRAID
AFRAID
Hands trembling
Knees shaking
Lips quivering (temblorosos)
Screaming
HAPPY
HAPPY
Smiling from ear to ear
Giggling uncontrollably
On cloud nine
Laughing merrily
SAD
SAD
Tears in eyes
Smile turned upside down
Crying a river
Trembling lips
ANGRY
ANGRY
Red in the face
Veins popping out
Steam coming out of your tears
Yelling at the top of your lungs
EXCITED
EXCITED
Shouting out loud
Jumping up and down
Heart racing or pounding
Clapping hands
SHOCKED
SHOCKED
Caught off guard
Can’t believe your eyes
Jaw dropped
Eyes popping out (surprised)
EMBARRASED
EMBARRASED
Fighting back tears
Wanting to disappear or hide
Covering face with your hands
Blushing or turning red
HOT
HOT
Dripping in sweat
Panting for breath
Fanning self with hand
Wiping off sweat
COLD
COLD
Trembling lips
Rubbing hands together quickly
Seeing your breath in the air
Blowing heat on hands
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