English Vocabulary: Advanced Phrases, Idioms, and Collocations

Advanced English Vocabulary

Theme 4

Event = incident; Give off = emitir; To jump out of the frying pan and into the fire; Impact = effect = influence; Preserve = position carefully; Dramatically = noticeably = substantially; Significant = major = considerable; Take up = start; Pull out = parar coche; Be fond of = tener cariño; Go off + ing = dejar de gustar; Just as = justo cuando; Ever since = desde entonces; To endure = resistir.

Theme 5

Vicinity = area nearby; Determine = discover; To adept = chose a path; Copse = bosquecillo; Brook = arroyo; Green credential = reputation for positive support of the environment; Piecemeal conservation = carrying out conservation without overall plan; Death toll = tasa de muertos.

Theme 6

Genetic engineering = make artificial changes to the genetic structure; Gene therapy = changing genes in order to prevent a disease; Care about healthy eating; Excruciating/unbearable pain; Acutely/intensely painful; Relieved/alleviate the pain; Prescription charge = charge for the medication; Get over it = recovered; Recover from = getting better; Aches and pains = non-serious way to minor injuries; Dizzy = spinning round and can’t balance; Stiff neck = difficulty in moving; To tremble = shaking; Blocked = bunged up; Clotting = partly solid lump; Prognosis = how experts expect it to develop; Ailing organization = one that has a lot of problems; Election fever = great excitement; Carry the scars of = be permanently affected by a negative experience; To claim = to say something is true; Trace back = find the origin of something; Eliminated = cut out; Cut down on = reduce; Pick germs up = catch.

Theme 7

Create awareness = crear conciencia; Spark off riots/rumours = desencadenar; Strengthened the impact = aumentar impacto; Unforeseen (unexpected)/Predictable, inevitable outcome; Adverse effects; Direct, inevitable result; Indirect result; To cause an uproar = complain angrily; Narrow-minded: mente cerrada; Pitch dark = muy negro; To make her way = ir a casa; Life he led = llevar una vida; Stick to the rules; To get in your way = entrometerse; To give a way = dar paso al trafico; Take you up on = aceptar oferta; Bequeathed = dejar herencia; Spoilt my appetite; Sharpen the appetite.

Drifted (clouds); Fluttered (flag); Stirred (leaves); Swayed (trees); Swerved (car); Crawling along = avanzar despacio; Stop dawdling!; Shot past = rapido; Rushing = apresurarse; Trundling/plodding = arrastrarse.

Phrasal Verbs

  • Get by = manejar situación
  • Keep up with = alcanzar andando
  • Look forward to = mirar vacaciones
  • Let yourself in = estar tranquilo
  • Dive in = zambullirse
  • Take sb in = engañar
  • To be locked out = bloqueado
  • Drop out = abandonar colegio
  • Get out = evitar hacer algo
  • Rub out = tachar
  • Blow out a candle = apagar vela
  • Work out = progreso/calcular
  • Carry out = realizar
  • Fall out with = dejar de ser amigos /reñir con
  • Sort sth out = solucionar/ordenar
  • Turn out = cambiar el tiempo/resultar ser
  • Call sth off = cancelar
  • Put sth off = posponer algo
  • Put off doing = dejar de hacer
  • Be off to a place = irse a
  • Keep on = continuar hacienda algo repetidamente
  • Get on with sb = congeniar con
  • Drop/doze/nod off = dormirse
  • Put sb off = arrepentirse de
  • Rid sb off = mentir
  • Close down = cerrar negocio
  • Let sb down = defraudar
  • Turn down = rechazar
  • Make up sth = componen/forman
  • Tear sth up = romper en trozos

Verb + Preposition

  • Know of = enterarse de algo
  • Hear of: saber de/oir hablar (new)
  • Hear from: saber de alguien por telf.
  • Laugh at/About (recuerdo)
  • Agree on: 2 o mas
  • Wonder at: maravillarse por
  • Wonder about: pensar en hacer
  • Attend to: asistir a
  • Attribute to: relacionado con
  • Resort to: recurrir a
  • Subject to: sujeto a
  • Boast about: presumir de
  • Hint at: dar a entender
  • Blame sb for: culpar por
  • Account for: contar con
  • Stem from: provenir de
  • Refrain from: dejar de
  • Abuse from: abusar de
  • Deter sb from: desanimar
  • Bar sb from: echar de
  • Pleased with: complacido con
  • Do sth about sth: hacer algo para mejorar
  • Leave (place) for (place)
  • Complain about: estar molesto con
  • Warn sb about: advertir sobre
  • Congratulate sb on: felicitar por
  • Crash into: chocar contra
  • Remind me of: recordarme