ENGLISH PROFICIENCY : VOCABULARY
7. I can describe the human body
Cute Pretty and attractive
Chubby Slightly fat but in an attractive way
Gorgeous Very beautiful and attractive SYN: Lovely
Show sth o Show sth you are proud of
Paunch A fat stomach on a man
Stick out 1. Be or push out further than sth else
2. Be noticeable
Be getting on for sth Be nearly a particular age, time, or
number
Frail Physically weak and thin (esp. old person) N: frailty
Doddery Slowly and shakily walking because
someone is frail
The key to sth The thing that makes you able to SYN: the secret of sth
understand or achieve sth
Enhance sth Increase or improve the quality, value or
status of sth
Discreetly In a way others will not notice ADJ: discreet
OPP: indiscreet
Conceal sth FML: Hide sth
Guidelines Information that can help you e.g. to make
a decision
Create an illusion Make sth that is false appear true
Flattering Make sb look more attractive OPP: un attering
Exaggerate sth Make sth seem bigger, better, worse, or N: exaggeration
more important than it really is
He drew my attention to the mistakes He made me see the mistakes
Attract the waiters’s attention Do sth to make the waiter notice you
He never pays attention to me He never listens to or considers what I say
8. I can talk about body language
Jump to conclusions Make a decision about sth too quickly, SYN: leap to conclusions
before you have thought about all the
facts
Gesture A body movement you make to show a
particular meaning
Misinterpret sth Wrong understood
Eye contact The action or moment of looking into
another person’s eyes.
Not necessarily Used to say that sth is possibly true but
not always true.
Observe sth FML: see or notice sth N: observation, an observant
combination A mix of two or more things V: combine
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, Display sth Show signs of sth, often a quality or a N: display
feeling
Look out for sth/sb Look and try to see or nd sth/sb
Go red Become red in the face often when you’re
angry or embarrassed
Sweat Water appears on the surface of you skin SYN: perspire
because you are hot
Excessive More than is reasonable or necessary N: excess
V: exceed
Bear sth in mind Remember to consider sth
Make generalizations about sth Make general statements about sth that V: generalize
may only be based on a few examples
Imply sth Suggest that you feel or think sth without N: implication
saying so directly
Stubbornness A determination not to change your SYN: obstinacy
opinion or attitude
Fancy sb Be attracted to sb
Fiddle with sth Keep moving or touching sth with your
hands
Stroke sth Move your hands or ngers gently over
the surface of sth
Flirt with sb Behave towards sb as if you nd them
sexually attractive, but not in a serious
way
A clenched st Shows anger
Folded arms Shows stubbornness
Lean towards each other displaying an interest in each other
9. I can describe physical movement
Creep Move slowly and quietly so you are not SYN: tiptoe
seen or heard
Stroll Walk casually for pleasure
Limp Walk slowly and with di culty because
one leg or foot is injured
Stagger Walk with di culty, being almost unable to
stand up
Hike Walk long distances in the country
March Walk with sti regular steps
Chase sb/sth run, drive, etc after sb/sth to catch them
Dash Run quickly and suddenly
Gallop (of a horse or rider) run quickly
Charge Move quickly in a particular direction,
often to attack sb/sth
Workout A period op physical exercise you do to V: work out
keep t
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, Supple Able to-bend and move parts of your body
quickly
Agile Able to move quickly and easily N: agility
Sti Feeling some pain and unable to move N: sti ness
easily
Sluggish Moving slowly, below your normal activity N: sluggishness
level
Devise sth Invent a method or plan of doing sth SYN: think sth up
Loosen up Do physical activities to prepare the SYN: warm up
muscles for exercise
Bend Lean over at the waist Also; bend your knee, elbow etc
Strenuous Needing e ort and energy SYN: arduous
Relentless Never seems to stop or get easier
Recurrent Happening or appearing again and again V: recur
Alternate between A and B Do A, then B, then do A again, and so on
Sprint Run a short distance very fast
Constant Happening all the time
- There were constant interruptions
- The phone is in constant use
- She needs constant attention
- They live in constant fear
10. I can describe sounds
Rattle Make or cause sth to make short, loud N: rattle
sounds
Rumble A long deep sound or series of sounds V: rumble
Rustle Make or cause sth to make noise like N: rustle
paper, leaves, etc rubbing together
Splash on/ onto sth Fall onto sth in large drops and make it N: splash
wrt
Beep A short high or loud sound from a car horn N: beep
Screech A loud, high, unpleasant sound V: screech
Slam sth (shut) Shut sth with a lot of force so that it
makes a loud noise
Squelch Make a wet, sucking sound, e.g. when
you walk through mud
Creak Make the sound that an old door or oor N; creak
makes
High-pitched (of sounds) very high in the register of OPP: low-pitched
sound
Bark dogs: a short loud sounds His bark is worse than his bite = he’s not
really as angry or aggressive as he sounds
Howl wolves: a long loud cry Howling in pain = crying loudly with pain
Howled with laughter = laughed loudly
Growl dogs: a deep, angry sound He growled = said in a low angry voice.
SYN: snarl
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, Buzz bees: a continuous loud sound My head was buzzing = thinking abt it
continuously
Buzzing about all day = moving around
Roar Lions: a very loud deep sound We roared with laughter = laughed loudly
Squeak mice: a short, high but not loud sound She squeaked = spoke in a high-pitched,
excited voice
Crow Cocks : repeated loud sounds esp in the Crowing about his victory = talking too
morning proudly about SYN: boast
Hoot owls: make a long ‘oo’ sound She hooted at me : sounded her car horn
Hots of derision: loud cries suggesting sb
is stupid
11. I can describe sight
Eyesight The ability to see: good or poor eyesight SYN: sight - short-sighted / long-sighted
Eye strain A slight pain in your eyes (e.g. from
reading a lot )
Discomfort A feeling of slight pain
Blurred vision You cannot see clearly
Blink Shut and open your eyes quickly
Tear A drop of liquid that comes out of your
eye when you cry
Irritated painful, red or swollen N: irritation
Ease sth make sth less unpleasant or painful SYN: alleviate sth
Adjust sth Change sth slightly to make it more N: adjustment
suitable
Eliminate sth Remove or get rid of sth N: elimination
Glare A bright, unpleasant light
To glare at sb = to look at sb in an angry
way
Moist Slightly wet, often in a way that is useful OPP: damp: slightly wet in an unpleasant
or pleasant way
Gaze at sth Look at sth for a long time because you N: gaze
are interested in it or are thinking about
sth else
Breathtaking Very impressive SYN: spectacular
Barely Only with great di culty or e ort SYN: only just
Visible Can be seen OPP: invisible
Haze smoke, dust, or mist in the air wich is ADJ: hazy
hard to see trough
Make sth/sb out see, hear or understand sth/sb with
di culty
Come into view/sight Appear OPP: disappear from view/sight
Stand still Stand without moving Keep, stay, sit still
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