Unit 3 - Arts and media

far-fetched

(adj) very difficult to believe

laboured

(adj) (of writing, speaking, etc.) not natural and seeming to take a lot of effort

lowbrow

(adj) (of entertainment) not complicated or demanding much intelligence to be understood

naturalistic

(adj): (of artists, writers, etc. or their work) showing things as they appear in the natural world

pacy

(adj) (of a book, film, etc.) having a story that develops quickly

rambling

(adj) (of a speech or piece of writing) very long and confused

readable

(adj) (of a book, an article, etc.) that is easy, interesting and enjoyable to read

spine-chilling

(adj) (of a book, film, etc.) frightening in an exciting way

biopic

(n) ​a film about the life of a particular person

cliffhanger

(n) a situation in a story, film, competition, etc. that is very exciting because you cannot guess what will happen next, or you do not find out immediately what happens next

flashback

(n) a part of a film, play, etc. that shows a scene that happened earlier in time than the main story

page-turner

(n) a book that is very exciting

paperback

 (n) a book that has a thick paper cover

parody

(n) a piece of writing, music, acting, etc. that deliberately copies the style of somebody/something in order to be humorous

sequel

(n) a book, film, play, etc. that continues the story of an earlier one

subplot

(n) a series of events in a play, novel, etc. that is separate from but linked to the main story

whodunnit

(n) a story, play, etc. about a murder in which you do not know who did the murder until the end

anti-hero

(n) the main character in a story, but one who does not have the qualities of a typical hero, and is either more like an ordinary person or morally bad

dramatist

(n) a person who writes plays for the theatre, television or radio

extra

(n) a person who is employed to play a very small part in a film, usually as a member of a crowd

filmgoer

(n) ​a person who goes to the cinema, especially when they do it regularly

protagonist

(n) ​the main character in a play, film or book

carry off

manage to do

clear away

move things aside

go into sth

used/needed by sth (usually money, time, effort)

hold sb back

keep sb from doing sth

hold down

keep a job

line sth/sb up

make a plan for sb/sth

plunge into sth

 jump into sth/do sth enthusiastically

run through

do sth quickly

set out

start/begin

stand by

support

store sth up/store up sth

keep sth without using

subject sb/sth to sth

cause sb/sth to endure/experience sth

take off

go very well

exult in

to express great pleasure or happiness

entrance

(v) to make somebody admire and like somebody/something very much, so they give them/it all their attention

sequel (to sth)

 a book, film, play, etc. that continues the story of an earlier one

on location

(of filming) in natural surroundings outside the studio

implicate sb (in sth)

to show or suggest that somebody is involved in something bad or criminal

be engrossed in sth

so interested or involved in something that you give it all your attention

a drain on

taking resources (from sth)

a leading role

a main part (in a film/play)

along the lines of sth

similar to sth

call sb names

use rude or offensive words to describe sb

chair a meeting

be in charge of a meeting

have the cheek to

be slightly rude to do sth

lost cause

a hopeless situation or case

on the dole

receiving state money when unemployed

play it by ear (1)

play a piece of music by remembering the notes

play it by ear (2)

decide what to do as a situation develops

strum a guitar

“stroke” the strings of a guitar

take a bow

bow/bend the body to acknowledge praise

the opening night

the first night (of a film/play/etc.)

with flying colors

very successfully

be on the cards

 to be likely to happen

beat about the bush

discuss a matter without coming to the point

take someone/somewhere by storm

to be suddenly extremely successful in a place or popular with someone

down the drain

be spoiled or wasted

around/round the clock

all day and all night without stopping

get hot under the collar

embarrassed or angry about something

a pain in the neck

someone or something that is annoying or difficult to deal with

at odds with

very different from

down in the dumps

 unhappy

go/sell like hot cakes

to be bought quickly and in large numbers

take something on board

fully consider or assimilate a new idea or situation

get off on the wrong foot

make a bad start at something, especially a task or relationship

make a splash

to become suddenly very successful or very well known

read between the lines

to try to understand someone's real feelings or intentions from what they say or write

get the hang of

to learn how to do something, especially if it is not obvious or simple

go through the motions

to do something without believing it is important

cross your mind

if an idea crosses your mind, you think about it for a short time

be devoid of sth

completely without something

give sb the sack

a situation in which someone is removed from their job

good chance

likelihood

take (an instant) dislike to

to begin to dislike

draw

(v) if something draws a reaction, people react in the stated way

prospect

(n) the possibility that something might happen in the future, especially something good

in contrast to

a very different situation from the one you have just mentioned