conversation class

Next one will be on Wednesday 5th March

ni2 26-27/2/14

fussy /ˈfʌsi/ adjective

1 NOT LIKING only liking particular things and very difficult to please

She's a very fussy eater.

2 CAREFUL too careful about unimportant details

3 TOO COMPLICATED If something is fussy, it is too complicated in design and has too many details.

Picky /ˈpɪki/ adjective

informal Someone who is picky does not like many things.

A picky eater

He's very picky about his clothes.

Grill 2 /grɪl/ verb [ T ]

1 COOK [ FOOD ] ( also US broil ) to cook food using direct heat

Grill the fish for 2 to 3 minutes on each side.

See picture cook

2 QUESTION to ask someone questions continuously and for a long time

I was grilled by the police for two days.

roast 1 /rəʊst/ verb [ I , T ]

[ FOOD ] If you roast food, you cook it in an oven or over a fire, and if food roasts, it is cooked in an oven or over a fire.

Roast the lamb in a hot oven for 35 minutes.

See picture cook

roast adjective [ always before noun ]

roast beef/pork

bake /beɪk/ verb [ I , T ]

[ FOOD ] to cook something such as bread or a cake with dry heat in an oven

a baked apple

See pictures cook , kitchen objects

Grate 1 /greɪt/ verb

1 FOOD [ FOOD ] [ T ] to break food such as cheese into small, thin pieces by rubbing it against a grater (= kitchen tool with holes)

grated cheese/carrot

2 NOISE [ I ] to make an unpleasant noise when rubbing against something

The chair grated against the floor.

grate on sb/sth phrasal verb

If someone's voice or behaviour grates on you, it annoys you.

Her voice really grates on me.

stir-fry /ˈstɜːˌfraɪ/ verb [ T ]

[ FOOD ] to fry small pieces of vegetable, meat, etc very quickly while mixing them around

stir-fry noun [ C ]

marinate /ˈmærɪneɪt/ ( also marinade /ˌmærɪˈneɪd/ ) verb [ T ]

[ FOOD ] to add a mixture of oil, wine, herbs, etc to food before cooking it

marinade /ˌmærɪˈneɪd/ noun [ C , U ]

Spicy /ˈspaɪsi/ adjective

[ FOOD ] containing strong flavours from spice

spicy food

a spicy sauce

fattening /ˈfæt ə nɪŋ/ adjective

Fattening food can make you fat.

I don't eat chips, they're too fattening.

bland /blænd/ adjective

1 BORING not interesting or exciting

bland statements

2 NO TASTE [ FOOD ] If food is bland, it does not have much taste.

Disgusting /dɪsˈgʌstɪŋ/ adjective

extremely unpleasant

What's that disgusting smell?

spice 1 /spaɪs/ noun

1 FOOD [ FOOD ] [ C , U ] a substance made from a plant, which is used to give a special taste to food

herbs and spices

2 EXCITEMENT [ U ] something that makes something else more exciting

A scandal or two adds a little spice to office life.

filling 1 /ˈfɪlɪŋ/ noun

1 FOOD [ C , U ] food that is put inside things such as cakes, pastry, pieces of bread, etc

What sort of filling do you want in your sandwich?

See picture filling

2 TEETH [ HEALTH ] [ C ] a hard substance that fills a hole in a tooth

See picture filling

squid /skwɪd/ noun [ C ] plural squid

a sea creature with a long body and ten long arms

croqueta nf (comida con bechamel) croquette n

caldo nm    (sopa con carne, verdura, alubias…)      broth, bouillon, consommé n

      En invierto me encanta tomar una taza de caldo de verduras para cenar.

ˈ whole ˌ wheat ( also UK wholemeal ) adjective

[ FOOD ] made using whole grains, or made from flour that contains whole grains

whole wheat bread/flour

smoked

smoked salmon/bacon/sausage etc

fish, meat etc that has been left in smoke to give it a special taste

coal /kəʊl/ noun

coal

1 [ GEOLOGY ] [ U ] a hard, black substance that is dug from under the ground and burnt as fuel

a lump of coal

2 coals

pieces of coal, usually burning

slice 1 /slaɪs/ noun

1 [ C ] a flat piece of food that has been cut from a larger piece

a slice of bread/cake/meat

See picture quantities-1

2 a slice of sth

a part of something that is being divided

a large slice of the profits

See also: fish slice

slice 1 /slaɪs/ noun

1 [ C ] a flat piece of food that has been cut from a larger piece

a slice of bread/cake/meat

See picture quantities-1

2 a slice of sth

a part of something that is being divided

a large slice of the profits

See also: fish slice

ˌ saturated ˈ fat noun [ C , U ]

[ CHEMISTRY , FOOD ] a fat found in meat, milk, and eggs, which is thought to be bad for your health

Compare unsaturated fat

greasy /ˈgriːsi/ adjective

containing or covered with fat or oil

greasy food/fingers

bland /blænd/ adjective

1 BORING not interesting or exciting

bland statements

2 NO TASTE [ FOOD ] If food is bland, it does not have much taste.

FOOD informal (full up adj, at full adj also UK full up) having eaten enough foodNo more for me, thanks, I'm full.

Stuffed turkey

ni2 24-25/2/14

Homework: writing p. 129 (writing a letter to a friend suggesting changes to the plans you had previously scheduled (it can be a trip, a party or any other plan you may think of. (200 words app. ))) + vocabulary + keywords for writing (A + B + C).

Key to grammar reference p. 151

1.-

had, hadn’t, hadn’t, had, hadn’t, had, hadn’t, had.

2.-

1)… I hadn’t started to smoke

2)…I wish I had asked her.

3)… I wish you had told me.

4)… I wish I hadn’t been so hard on my children.

5)…I hadn’t lost touch with them.

6)…I had moved when I had the chance.

They really regret not training harder for the competition.

They wish they had trained harder for the competition.

It’s a shame I didn’t start studying English earlier.

I wish I had started studying English earlier.

I wish I had had more children.

I regret not having more children.

It’s a shame I didn’t have more children.

regret 1 /rɪˈgret/ verb [ T ] present participle regretting , past regretted

1 BAD DECISION to feel sorry about a situation, especially something that you wish you had not done

If you don't tell her the truth you'll regret it later.

[ + doing sth ] I really regret leaving school so young.

[ + (that) ] He began to regret that he hadn't paid more attention in class.

2 SORRY TO SAY formal used to say that you are sorry that you have to tell someone about a situation

[ + to do sth ] We regret to inform you that the application has been refused.

[ + (that) ] The council regrets that the money is no longer available.

…

Do you think now it’s any clearer?

..

redundant /rɪˈdʌndənt/ adjective

1 NOT WORKING [ ECONOMICS ] UK not working because your employer has told you there is not enough work

Eight thousand people have been made redundant in Britain this year.

2 NOT NEEDED UK not needed or used any more because there are other similar or more modern things

redundant weapons

3 TOO MUCH more than is needed, especially extra words that mean the same thing

redundant /rɪˈdʌndənt/ adjective

1 NOT WORKING [ ECONOMICS ] UK not working because your employer has told you there is not enough work

Eight thousand people have been made redundant in Britain this year.

2 NOT NEEDED UK not needed or used any more because there are other similar or more modern things

redundant weapons

3 TOO MUCH more than is needed, especially extra words that mean the same thing

ˈ hen night ( also ˈ hen ˌ party ) noun [ C ]

a party for women only, usually one held for a woman before she gets married

Compare stag night

ˈ stag ˌ night noun [ C ]

a night when a group of men go out just before one of them gets married

Compare hen night

alternatively /ɔːlˈtɜːnətɪvli/ adverb

used to give a second possibility

We could go there by train or, alternatively, I could drive us.

keen /kiːn/ adjective

1 INTERESTED very interested or enthusiastic

a keen golfer/photographer

He's very keen on travelling.

2 WANTING TO DO wanting to do something very much

[ + to do sth ] The shop is keen to attract new customers.

3 VERY GOOD very good or well developed

a keen sense of smell

keenness noun [ U ]

keenly adverb

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ld9cZ7d_2A

behalf /bɪˈhɑːf/ noun

on sb's behalf

If you do something on someone's behalf, you do it for them or instead of them.

We are campaigning on behalf of thousands of refugees.

Will you accept the prize on my behalf?

On the whole

generally

We've had a few problems, but on the whole we're very happy.

schedule /ˈʃedjuːl/ /ˈskedʒuːl/ verb [ T ]

to arrange that an event or an activity will happen at a particular time

[ often passive ] Your appointment has been scheduled for next Tuesday.

a scheduled flight 

19-20/2/14

Homework: Grammar reference p. 151 (wish)

We would always talk…

We always used to talk…

We always talked

*We use to go to the park (<- -="" wrong=""> right) we usually go to the park.

Tell sb off phrasal verb to tell someone that they have done something wrong and that you are angry about it [+ for + doing sth]

Darren got told off for talking in class.

Scold     /skəʊld/   verb   [ T ]     old-fashioned   

To speak angrily to someone because they have done something wrong

She doesn’t have any time left for friends

Wish (that) to want a situation that is different from the one that exists

I wish that I didn't have to go to work. (PRESENT/FUTURE)

I wish he would leave. (PRESENT/FUTURE with a different sj.)

I wish I had been there. (PAST)

It took too long to get together.

I wish it hadn’t taken so long to get together.

I wish I had been the first to apologise.

church /tʃɜːtʃ/

learn by heart

cyber- /saɪbə r / prefix

[ INTERNET ] relating to electronic communications, especially the Internet

cyberspace

message 1 /ˈmesɪdʒ/ noun [ C ]

Word partners for message

get / leave / send / take a message • a message for / from sb

1 INFORMATION a piece of written or spoken information which one person gives to another

Did you get my message ?

I left her several messages , but she hasn't returned my call.

2 IDEA the most important idea of a film, book, etc

The book conveys a complex message.

3 get the message

informal to understand what someone wants you to do by their actions

Don't return any of his calls - he'll soon get the message and leave you alone.

old-fashioned /ˌəʊldˈfæʃ ə nd/ adjective

not modern

old-fashioned clothes/furniture

ego /ˈiːgəʊ, ˈegəʊ/ noun [ C ]

your opinion of yourself

He has a huge ego.

cyberspace /ˈsaɪbəˌspeɪs/ noun [ U ]

[ INTERNET ] the Internet, considered as an imaginary area where you can communicate with people and find information

profile 1 /ˈprəʊfaɪl/ noun [ C ]

Word partners for profile

build up / create a profile • a profile of sb/sth

1 DESCRIPTION a short description of someone's life, character, work, etc

profile

2 HEAD a side view of someone's face or head

The picture shows him in profile .

3 ATTENTION the amount of attention that something receives

We need to increase our company's profile in Asia.

4 high profile

important and noticeable

a high profile job

5 [ INTERNET ] a description of yourself and your interests on a website

6 keep a low profile

to try not to be noticed

scare1 /skeər /

religious /rɪˈlɪdʒəs/

email (e-mailn, at email n also e-mail) /ˈiːmeɪl/

ni2 17-18/2/14

Homework: p.84, grammar (C), p.86, reading (A + B)

Charming /ˈtʃɑːmɪŋ/ adjective

Pleasant or attractive

A charming smile/place

Charmingly adverb

Gentle

Prince Charming is a stock character who appears in a number of fairy tales. He is the prince who comes to the rescue of the damsel in distress.

Not have a clue informal to be completely unable to guess, understand, or deal with something [+ question word] I haven't a clue what you're talking about.

sb's looks a person's appearance, especially how attractive they are.

Mischievous /ˈmɪstʃɪvəs/ adjective

Behaving in a way that is slightly bad but not serious

A mischievous grin

A mischievous five-year-old

mischievously adverb

Eventually /ɪˈventʃuəli/ adverb

in the end, especially after a long time

We all hope that an agreement can be reached eventually.

At the end

- (final part) [no plural] the final part of something such as a period of time, activity, or story

I'll pay you at the end of next month.

- The furthest part

She’s at the end of the class

In the end

Finally, after something has been thought about or discussed a lot

We thought we might go abroad for Christmas, but in the end we stayed at home.

Catechism

Fall out phrasal verb UK to argue with someone and stop being friendly with them

Have you and Sam fallen out with each other again?

To ask sb out on a date (pedir salir)

To cut a long story short (resumiendo)

Have an argument with a friend

To be first to apologise

And we have been close friends ever since (since then).

have two left feet

informal to be very clumsy

Personality

Personality

nuts /nʌts/ adjective informal

1 crazy

They thought I was nuts to go parachuting.

2 go nuts

To become very excited, angry, or upset

If I don't have a holiday soon, I'll go nuts.

Have a screw loose

Informal to be slightly crazy

Spontaneous /spɒnˈteɪniəs/

Thorough /ˈθʌrə/ /ˈθɜːrəʊ/ adjective

Careful and covering every detail

The government has promised a thorough investigation of the matter.

thoroughness noun [ U ]

Easy-going /ˌiːziˈgəʊɪŋ/ adjective

Relaxed and not easily upset or worried

imaginative /ɪˈmædʒɪnətɪv/

efficient /ɪˈfɪʃənt/

Appealing /əˈpiːlɪŋ/ adjective

attractive or interesting

The idea of living in Paris is very appealing.

appealingly adverb

nonsense /ˈnɒns ə ns/ noun [ U ]

Word partners for nonsense

talk nonsense • absolute / complete / utter nonsense • a load of nonsense

1 SPEECH AND WRITING If something someone has said or written is nonsense, it is silly and not true.

She talks such nonsense sometimes.

That's a load of nonsense.

These claims are utter nonsense.

It's nonsense to suggest they could have cheated.

2 BEHAVIOUR silly behaviour

Will you stop this childish nonsense!

3 make a nonsense of sth

UK to spoil something or make it seem stupid

Cuts to the text made a nonsense of the play.

decisive /dɪˈsaɪsɪv/

intuitive /ɪnˈtjuːɪtɪv/

thoughtful /ˈθɔːtf ə l/ adjective

1 QUIET quiet because you are thinking about something

You look thoughtful.

2 KIND kind and always thinking about how you can help other people

Thank you for the card - it was very thoughtful of you.

thoughtfully adverb

She gazed thoughtfully into the distance.

thoughtfulness noun [ U ]

supportive /səˈpɔːtɪv/

No hard feelings

Spoken

used to tell someone that you do not want to be angry with them or for them to be angry with you:

I'm sorry it didn't work out, but no hard feelings, eh?

Lively /ˈlaɪvli/ adjective

Full of energy and interest

A lively conversation/debate

A lively child

liveliness noun [ U ]

Cautious /ˈkɔːʃəs/ adjective

Taking care to avoid risks or danger

She is cautious about lending money to anyone.

Cautiously adverb

He crept cautiously towards the door.

bothered /ˈbɒðəd/ adjective [never before noun]

If you are bothered about something, it is important to you and you are worried about it.

He's very bothered about what other people think.

I can’t be bothered making plans.

I leave things to the last minute.

Procrastinate /prəʊˈkræstɪneɪt/ verb [ I ] formal

To wait a long time before doing something that you must do

I know I've got to deal with the problem at some point - I'm just procrastinating.

Hands-on /ˌhændzˈɒn/ adjective

Physically doing something and not only studying it or watching someone else do it

hands-on experience

 

Bother  verb                                                  

both‧er

1make an effort [intransitive,transitive usually in questions and negatives]  

to make the effort to do something

(not) bother to do something

He didn't bother to answer the question.

not bother about/with

He didn't bother with a reply.

(not) bother doing something

Many young people didn't bother voting.

don't/didn't/won't etc bother

'Do you want me to wait for you?' 'No, don't bother.'

 Why bother      to go abroad, when there are so many nice places here?

2worry [intransitive and transitive]  

to make someone feel slightly worried, upset, or concerned:

Being in a crowd really bothers me.

It was very noisy, but that didn't bother me.

bother about     especially British English

I try not to bother about what other people think.

It really bothered me that he'd forgotten my birthday.

both‧ered [not before noun]

1 worried or upset

bothered about

He doesn't seem too bothered about the things that are written about him in the papers.

bothered that

No one else seemed bothered that Grandfather wasn't there.

2

 not bothered

especially British English if you are not bothered about something, it is not important to you:

'What film do you want to see?' 'I'm not bothered.'

not bothered about

He's not bothered about getting the facts right.

A straight-away person

I like being out and about meeting people.

Party animal