Dark personalities Pt.1

бросаться словами

To use a word casually, without thinking carefully about its meaning. (informal)

People sometimes call their exes “narcissists” after one argument, without really knowing what the word means. They t_____ the word a____ too casually.

throw a word around

подрывать нормы

To gradually weaken accepted standards of behaviour.

1. At first, everyone laughed when Max made rude jokes about the new girl. A few months later, nobody thought twice about insulting her. His behaviour had e_____ed the n_____ of the group.

2. If nobody speaks up about cheating, it can e___ n___ over time.

erode norms

ставят конкуренцию во главу угла

To establish something firmly as an accepted principle or practice. (formal)

At this school, children get prizes for being the best at everything, even tidying up fastest. The system e________s c___________ rather than cooperation.

enshrine competition

приходить в голову

To suddenly come to mind.

You're choosing a birthday present for your dad. Suddenly, you remember the fishing trip he keeps talking about. The perfect idea p___ i___ your h____.

pop into your head

черствый, бессердечный

Showing no concern for other people's feelings or suffering, uncaring

After his colleague lost her job, he joked that she should have worked harder. His c______ attitude shocked everyone in the room.

callous

склонный манипулировать

Trying to control or influence people unfairly for your own benefit, controlling

Whenever Anna wants to borrow her sister's car, she reminds her of everything she's ever done for her. She's being m___________.

manipulative

сеть / комплекс (черт характера)

a connection, link, or bond between people, things, or ideas (formal)

1. In their family, money, jealousy and control are all tangled together. It's a n_____ o_ complicated relationships.

2. The city has become a n____ o_ art, technology and independent businesses.

a nexus of

пользоваться кем-то в своих интересах

To treat someone unfairly to gain an advantage for yourself, exploit someone

She always asks him to drive her around but never offers to help when he needs something. She t___s a________ o_ him.

take advantage of

присваивать себе чужие заслуги

To claim that you are responsible for something someone else has done.

Lena spent all weekend organising the party, but when everyone praised it, her brother said he'd done everything. He took c_____ for her work.

take credit for something

враждебный

Unfriendly or aggressive, showing opposition towards someone.

1. When the neighbour asked them to turn down the music, they started shouting and told him to mind his own business. Their response was h______.

2. The discussion became h_______ when people started attacking each other's personal choices.

hostile

дергать за ниточки

To secretly control a situation or other people.

1. Everyone thought Grandma let the children make their own decisions, but somehow they always did exactly what she wanted. She knew how to p___ t__ s______.

2. Nobody knew who was really p______ t__ s______ behind the scenes.

pull the strings

в силу чего-либо, благодаря чему-либо

Because of something; as a result of something (formal)

1. And b_ v______ o_ it being consistent, that means you take your personality with you wherever you go.

2. She was given extra responsibilities b_ v______ o_ her experience.

by virtue of

приторно милый

So sweet or nice that it feels excessive or insincere.

1. He calls her “his precious angel” every five minutes, even in front of strangers. He's s__________ s____.

2. The message was s________ s____ — every sentence was full of exaggerated compliments.

sickeningly sweet

повседневная жизнь

The ordinary events and activities of everyday life.

They look like the perfect couple in holiday photos, but in d___-t-d___ l___ they barely speak to each other.

day-to-day life

куда бы ты ни пошёл, свою личность ты берёшь с собой

The idea that your personality remains with you wherever you are.

Mark moved to another city because he couldn't stand his old friends. Six months later, he was having exactly the same problems with his new ones. W________ you go, you t___ your p__________ w___ you.

wherever you go, you take your personality with you

пересечение, совпадение

A situation in which two things share some features or occur together, have things in common

Sophie loves true-crime podcasts, and her brother loves psychology. Their interests o_______ when they discuss why people commit crimes.

overlap

соотноситься, иметь взаимозависимость

If two or more facts, numbers, etc. correlate or are correlated, there is a relationship between them.

People who exercise regularly sometimes report better moods, but plenty of active people have bad days too. Exercise and mood are moderately c________.

be correlated

или-или (строгий выбор из двух альтернатив)

A situation presented as a choice between only two options.

1. It doesn't have to be an e______-o_ between being kind and standing up for yourself.

2. Choosing between a stable job and a creative career doesn't have to be a_ e______-o_.

an either-or

принцип «и то и другое»

An approach that accepts an idea and builds on it rather than treating it as an either-or choice.

A friend says that people who constantly seek approval are simply insecure. Instead of dismissing her view or blindly agreeing, you acknowledge her point and explore what else might explain the behaviour. You take a y__-a__ approach.

a yes-and

континуум, непрерывная шкала

A range of things that gradually change, with no clear divisions between them.

Some people are shy with strangers but very outgoing with friends. Confidence isn't an on-or-off switch; it's a c________.

a continuum

подробно разбирать, углубляться в тему

To examine or explore something in detail.

The team noticed that their new project was falling behind schedule, so they decided to d__ i___ the reasons in detail before changing the plan.

dig into

скорее всего, велика вероятность

likely to be true or happen, probably

1. Jake is rude to the waiter, impatient with his children and dismissive of his friends. C______ a__, this isn't just a bad day.

2. C______ a__, if you leave without an umbrella, it'll start raining.

chances are

иметь задатки или потенциал для чего-либо

To have the qualities or potential needed to become something.

1. She stays calm when everyone else panics, listens carefully and finds practical solutions. She h___ the m_______ o_ a great leader.

2. She's curious, patient and observant — she h__ the m______ o_ a good researcher.

have the makings of

труднопроизносимое или громоздкое выражение

Something that is awkward, complicated or difficult to say. (informal)

“Antidisestablishmentarianism” is a b__ of a m________, isn't it?

a bit of a mouthful

улавливать, замечать и учитывать что-либо

be aware of and sensitive to something

1. Nina always notices when her friends are pretending to be fine, even when everyone else believes them. She's really k_____ i___ other people's emotions.

2. Good teachers are k___ i___ the small changes in their students' confidence.

I'm keyed into

зациклиться на чём-то, слишком увлечься

To become so involved in something that it is difficult to step back from it.

1. They spent three hours arguing in the family group chat about who had forgotten to buy milk. They got c______ u_ i__ the argument and forgot it was only milk.

2. I got c_____ u_ i_ comparing my holiday photos with everyone else's and forgot to enjoy my own trip.

get caught up in something

ситуация без полутонов, однозначная ситуация

A situation seen as having only two opposing sides, with no middle ground.

1. Her friend says that if you forgive someone, you must trust them completely again. But relationships aren't always a b____-a__-w_____ situation.

2. It's not a b____-a__-w____ situation: both people made mistakes, and the truth is somewhere in the middle.

a black-and-white situation