Wordlist Unit 2 UpstreamB2

1. abrupt - sudden and unexpected : an abrupt change of plan 2 seeming rude and unfriendly, especially because you do not waste time in friendly conversation abruptly adverb abruptness

2. absorb is to read or hear a large amount of new information and understand it :

3. Announce iito officially tell people about something, especially about a plan or a decision :

4. avid is doing something as much as possible SYN keen :

an avid collector of old jazz records an avid reader

enthusiastic feeling or showing a lot of interest or excitement about something

eager wanting to do something or know about something very soon

keen eager to work or learn :

avid [ only before noun ] written used when you want to emphasize that someone does something a lot or is very interested in something : an avid golfer | She was an avid reader all her life. | I’ve become an avid collector of his work. | Henry is an avid fan of the sport. | As a schoolboy he had an avid interest in birds.

fervent written believing or feeling something very strongly and sincerely : Galinsoga was one of Franco’s most fervent supporters. | One of Allen 's fervent admirers was Richard Nixon. | her fervent belief in promoting the work of good women artists

5. banner 1 a long piece of cloth on which something is written, often carried between two poles : 4 a flag

6. brace is to mentally or physically prepare yourself or someone else for something unpleasant that is going to happen

7. bump is to hit or knock against something

bump against bump into

Tim was a clumsy boy, always bumping into the furniture.

bump something on something

She bumped her arm on the table.

The roof was so low he bumped his head (= his head hit the roof ) .

bump into somebody phrasal verb to meet someone who you know, when you were not expecting to SYN run into :

I bumped into Jean in town.

hit : I’ve got a bad bruise where I hit my leg against the table. | The car hit a tree.

bump to hit a part of your body against something, especially because you do not see or notice it :

bang/bash to hit something hard, so that you hurt yourself or damage something :

stub to hit your toe against something and hurt it : I stubbed my toe on the piano

8. bustling is very busy

bustling with somebody/something

The flower market was bustling with shoppers.

9. capable of (doing) something having the qualities or ability needed to do something :

I don’t think he’s capable of murder.

The company isn’t capable of handling an order that large.

I’m perfectly capable of looking after myself, thank you!

2 able to do things well : capable hands someone who is able to do something well : Helen was put in the capable hands of hair stylist Daniel Herson. capably adverb

10. charge with to state officially that someone may be guilty of a crime

charge somebody with something

Gibbons has been charged with murder.

11.chilly - chilly weather or places are cold enough to make you feel uncomfortable

chilly day/night/evening etc chilly wind/breeze/air etc SYN frosty :

The speech met with a chilly reception . chilliness

12. cling (clung ) to hold someone or something tightly, especially because you do not feel safe

cling to/on/at etc He wailed and clung to his mother.

to stick to someone or something, or seem to surround them

cling to/around etc

His wet shirt clung to his body.

The smell of cigarette smoke clung to her clothes.

cling on phrasal verb to continue trying to stay in power, in business etc :

Other businesses cling on and hope.

13. Congregate to come together in a group OPP disperse :

Crowds began to congregate to hear the President’s speech.

14. cope with to succeed in dealing with a difficult problem or situation

Sometimes I find it hard to cope.

He coped quite well as manager while still captaining the team.

She feared she wouldn’t be able to cope with two new babies.

Local authorities have to cope with the problems of homelessness.

cope well Most schools coped well with the change.

cope easily The exam was tough but she coped easily.

cope successfully Careful planning will help you to cope successfully.

it is difficult/hard to cope We were finding it difficult to cope financially.

14. criticize to express your disapproval of someone or something, or to talk about their faults OPP praise :

Ron does nothing but criticize and complain all the time.

be strongly/sharply/heavily criticized

The decision has been strongly criticized by teachers.

The new law has been widely criticized .

criticize somebody/something for (doing) something

He has been criticized for incompetence.

Doctors have criticized the government for failing to invest enough in the health service.

criticize somebody/something as something

The report has been criticized as inaccurate and incomplete.

criticize somebody/something on the grounds that The survey was criticized on the grounds that the sample was too small.

find fault with somebody/something to criticize things that you think are wrong with something, especially small and unimportant things : He’s quick to find fault with other people’s work.

pick holes in something informal to criticize something by finding many small faults in it, in a way that seems unreasonable and unfair : Why are you always picking holes in my work?

knock to criticize someone or something, in an unfair and unreasonable way I know it’s fashionable to knock Tony Blair, but I think he did a good job.

slag off British English informal to criticize someone in an unfair and unpleasant way : He’s always slagging you off behind your back.