B2 Brainiacs 4 (embrace + slump + live well + comfort food)

broaden my horizons

expand / widen my .,..

= to increase your knowledge, experience, or understanding of the world or a particular subject;

Studying abroad really helped me b_______ my h________.
Volunteering with refugees completely ex_______ my h________ about cultural issues;

fight off

f….. o…… illnesses / disease / cold / try to fight off the urge to

= to resist or defend the body or mind against something harmful or tempting;

I’m drinking ginger tea to f_______ o____ a cold.

She tried to f_______ o____ the urge to check her phone during the meeting;

do a sedentary job

have a s….. lifestyle / life / occupation

= to live or work in a way that involves very little physical activity;

He d____ a s________ job, sitting at his desk for 10 hours a day.
Having a s________ lifestyle can increase the risk of heart disease;

intellectually stimulating

an i…… s ……. discussion / argument / thoughts / tasks

= mentally engaging, challenging or interesting;

I enjoy books that are i__________ s________—they make me think deeply.
We had a s________ discussion about the ethics of AI.
This article really gave me s________ thoughts on how I view success;

vary my diet more

v… my schedule / routine / communication

= to introduce more variety into daily habits or patterns to make life more balanced or interesting;

I’m trying to v_______ my diet by adding more fruit and vegetables.
He wants to v_______ his routine to avoid feeling bored at work;

cut down on

c… d…. o. processed foods / sugar / fat food / salty food / junk food

= to reduce the amount of something unhealthy that you consume;

My doctor advised me to c______ d______ o____ processed foods.
She’s c______ d______ o____ sugar to improve her energy levels;

it is definitely having a damaging effect on

it is definitely h….ing a d…… e…. o… my health / on my body / my mental health / wellbeing,

= causing harm or injury to your physical or mental condition;

All this stress is definitely h….ing a d…… e…. o… my mental health.
Lack of sleep is definitely h….ing a d…… e…. o… my body and ability to concentrate;

work out

it took me so long to w… o… what happened / it was / I feel / he meant / he wanted

= to finally understand or figure something out after some time;

It t______ me ages to w_______ o____ what he meant by that comment.
I eventually w_______ed o____ why she was upset—it wasn’t about me at all;

enroll

e…. at the college / on a course / in a course / for a course,

= to officially join or register for educational studies or training;

I’ve just e________ o____ a course IN business communication.
She wants to e________ at the college this autumn;

a turning point in my life

it was a game-changing moment in my life / eye-opening experience / hit a milestone

reach a t….. p….. in my life

= to experience a moment that changes your direction, perspective, or future;

Quitting my job and moving abroad was a t________ p______ in my life.

it was a watershed moment in my life

= a turning point

The birth of my child was a w________ moment that changed everything;

sign up for

= to officially apply or agree to study for a particular academic program;

I’m planning to s______ u____ for a university degree in economics.
She s______ed u____ for a degree in marketing last year;

give it a go / try / shot / whirl

decide to g… it a g. / t.. / sh.. / w…

= to try something new, often out of curiosity or hope;

I’ve never done yoga, but I’ll g_______ it a sh_____.
He wasn’t sure about the salsa class but decided to g_______ it a w_____;

earn / make a living as

= to receive money for work in order to support yourself;

She m______s a l_______ as a freelance graphic designer.
It’s hard to e______ a l_______ as a writer at the beginning;

I was never particularly interested in

I was never p….. i………. in = curious about / keen on / fond of / passionate about / into …

= to describe a lack of strong interest or enthusiasm;

I was never p_________ i________ i__ history, but now I love documentaries.
He’s not really i______ s_______—he prefers creative subjects;

cut (fatty foods) out = give up (meat) completely

= to stop consuming something entirely;

She’s trying to c_____ o____ salty snacks.
I’ve g_____ u____ meat completely because I feel better without it;

disrupt your sleep

= to negatively affect or interrupt sleeping patterns;

Using your phone in bed d_________s your s______
Noise from the street always d_________s my s_____ at night;

it drains your energy

= to make you feel tired or exhausted;

Working with negative people d_______s my e______.
This heat completely d_______s my e______—I can’t focus at all;

emotionally and physically drained

= extremely tired in both body and mind;

you might be feeling both em________ and ph_________ d________.
After the divorce, she was em________ and ph_________ d________.
Exams and work deadlines left me em________ and ph_________ d________.

get a grip on yourself

= pull yourself together / to regain control of your emotions or behavior;

Stop crying and g_____ a g_____ o___ yourself—you’ll be fine.
You need to g_____ a g_____ o___ yourself before the interview;

have mood swings

= to frequently and suddenly change your emotional state;

Teenagers often h______ m______ s________ due to hormones.
One moment she’s happy, the next she’s furious—those m______ s________ are wild;

weaken your immune system

= long-term stress can harm your body’s ability to fight illness;

Chronic stress even may w________ your immune system if not managed.
Doctors say stress w________s immunity more than people realise;

plays a crucial / key role in maintaining health

= to be very important in keeping you healthy;

Regular sleep p_______s a k_____ r_____ in staying healthy.
Nutrition p_______s a cr_______ r_____ in disease prevention;

spend money / time wisely

= to use resources carefully and thoughtfully;

I try to s_______ my t______ w_______ ON useful things.
She’s great at s_______ing money w_______—never wastes a cent;

it's vital for

= it is extremely important for something;

Exercise is v______ f____ both physical and mental health.
Water is v______ f____ proper body functioning;

know a thing or two about it

= to have a good amount of knowledge or experience in something;

He kn____s a th_______ or t____ about coding—ask him.
I’ve been gardening for years—I kn______ a th_______ or t____ about plants;

essential for

es____ for both physical and mental well-being

= very important for staying healthy in body and mind;

Balanced diet is es________ for both physical and mental well-being.
Rest and recreation are e________ f____ good overall health;

scared me out of my wits

= s______ the crap / shit / hell out of me / to make someone extremely frightened;

That loud bang s________ me o____ o____ my w______.
The horror movie s________ me o____ o____ my w______!

left me absolutely petrified

= made me feel frozen with fear;

SYN - scared me out of my wits

Standing on the glass bridge l_______ me absolutely p________.
The storm was so intense, it l_______ us p________ in the basement;

sb comes across as … = sb strikes me as …

= used to describe the impression someone gives you;

He c_______s ac_______ a__ very confident, but he’s actually shy.
She s_______s me a__ smart and sincere from the start;

the mere thought of

= just thinking about something causes a strong reaction;

The m______ th_______ o__ skydiving makes my stomach turn.
The m______ th_______ o__ public speaking gives me chills;

in the near future

= soon, but not immediately;

I’m thinking of moving house in the n____ f______.
We may adopt a pet in the n____ f______ —we’re not sure yet;

soothe

= to make somebody who is anxious, upset, etc. feel calmer

synonym CALM

a cup of coffee / sweets / a shot of brandy can s_____ my nerves / mind / soul / body / belly

• The music s_____ed her for a while.

• She made a cup of tea to s______her nerves.

mood swings

experience m______ s_______s

it can lead to m______ s_______s

Having an unbalanced breakfast can disrupt your blood sugar levels, leading you to feeling irritable, experiencing m___ s_____s, and leaving you feeling more tired and less able to handle new challenges the day might throw at you

resort

= To do something because you have no better option.

When stress starts to set in, it can be easy to r____ to stress eating.

r____ TO violence / unhealthy snacks / overeating

under stress

+вдаватися до

nutrients

= The good parts in food (vitamins and minerals) your body needs to stay healthy.

Food that provide essential n______ and promote relaxation can help to balance out your body’s stress response.

a lack of essential n______

is rich in essential n______

disrupt

= To stop something from working properly or as expected.

Having an unbalanced breakfast can d_________ your blood sugar levels.

d_______ your sleep

seriously d... your biological clock

refined

= Changed from its natural form, usually by removing parts like fibre or nutrients.

Highly r______ carbs like pasta and white bread can have added sugar.

r______ sugar / oil / carbohydrates - рафінований цукор / олія / вуглеводи

processed

= Changed from its natural form to make it last longer or taste different.

Replace p_______ foods with unrefined options like wholemeal bread.

ultra-p_________ foods

highly p_________ products

avoid eating p______ foods

susceptible

= Easily affected or harmed by something, like stress or illness.

Over time, chronic stress can leave us more s_______ to infection.

become s_________ TO infection / disease / flattery / colds and flue

be highly s_________ TO infection / disease / flattery / colds and flue

fluctuate

= Changing often, especially rising and falling in level or amount.

Eating little and often can help minimise f______ing energy levels.

My weight f....ed wildly depending on how much I ate.

f....ing appetite due to stress

f...ing prices

My mood seems to f... from day to day.

weaken

= To make something less strong or less effective.

This is because chronic stress w________s our immune system.

smth can w_____ the body

stress w______s self-control around food

exacerbate

= Making a problem or situation worse than it was before.

Work with a nutritional professional to recognise areas that may be ex____ing your stress

ex____ a problem / the situation / symptoms / health issues / stress

ex____the conflict

crave

= To strongly want something, especially food, even if you're not hungry.

If you’re c____ing a hot drink, switching to matcha can be a great option.

c_____ attention / drugs

c_____ alcohol / sweets

c_____ carbohydrates/ cigarettes/ coffee

rich in

= be high in

to be r___ IN antioxidants / Vitamin A, B, C / magnesium /mæɡˈniːziəm/

Oranges are r____ in vitamin C.

The country is r____ in natural resources.

Consider including dark chocolate (r____ in antioxidants), nuts and seeds (r____ in magnesium), and berries (high in vitamin C and antioxidants).

high

SYN - to be rich in

OPP - low in

• a h___-fat diet

• h___ IN something foods that are h___ in fat

• Oranges are h___ IN vitamin C.

• Consider including dark chocolate (rich in antioxidants), nuts and seeds (rich in magnesium), and berries (h___ in vitamin C and antioxidants).

• Ensuring you focus on foods h___ in vitamins B, C, and magnesium can be particularly helpful when you are feeling stressed.

low

= below the usual average amount

to be l_____ in

OPP - to be rich in / to be high in

This yogurt is very l____ in fat.

Ultra-processed foods can often be c

alorie-dense but l___ in essential nutrients, meaning that while you may get a temporary good feeling from that sugar fix, you are likely to not stay full for long, and may also end up feeling irritable or even anxious.

a walk in the park

= something that is very easy to do

• That exam was a w___ i_ t__ p___—I finished it in 20 minutes!

• Compared to last year’s hike, this one was a w___ i_ t__ p___.

it doesn't hurt to

= it’s a good idea to

• I know the shop might be closed, but it d______ h____ t_ check.

• It d______ h____ t_ ask for help if you’re confused.

Congratulations are in order for

= used to say someone deserves praise for something they’ve achieved

• Congratulations are i__ o____ f___ Mariia — she finally passed her driving test!

• I heard you got the promotion. Congratulations are i__ o____ f___ you!

catch some z's

= to take a nap or sleep

• I need to ca____ s___ z__ before the night shift starts.

• He looked so groggy and sluggish, I told him to go ca____ s___ z__ for a bit.

as cunning as a fox

= very clever and tricky

• Don’t trust him with your secrets—he’s a_ c______ a_ a f___.

• She came up with a brilliant plan—she’s a_ c______ a_ a f___.

as sober as a judge

= completely sober and not under the influence of alcohol

• Despite the party, he stayed a_ s_____ a_ a j____ all night.

• I don’t drink at weddings—I like to remain a_ s_____ a_ a j____.

my eye twitches

= an involuntary spasm of the eyelid, often due to stress or fatigue

• When I’m stressed, m_ e__ t_______ all day.

• I’ve had too much coffee and now m_ e__ t_______.

speak of the devil

= used when the person you’ve just been talking about appears

• S____ of the d____! We were just talking about you!

• Oh look, S____ of the d____—here comes Max.

look a little tense

= appear nervous or anxious

• You l___ a little t____—are you okay?

• She l___s a little t____ before her presentation.

weight absolutely ballooned

= gained a lot of weight quickly

• After quitting the gym, my w_____ a________ b________ed.

• His w_____ a________ b________ed during the lockdown.

a moment of respite

= a short period of rest or relief

• The rain gave us a m______ of r______ from the heat.

• I finally got a m______ of r______ after a long week.

have miserable health

= to often feel unwell or be in poor condition

• I h___ m________ h______ last winter—sick all the time.

• She always h___s m________ h______ when the seasons change.

get my 10k steps in

= complete 10,000 steps as a daily fitness goal

• I like to g__ m_ 10k s_____ i_ before lunch.

• Even on busy days, I find time to g__ m_ 10k s_____ i_.

wind down

= to relax after a period of stress or activity

• After a long day at work, I like to w___ d____ with a cup of tea.

• Let’s play some calm music to help us w___ d____ before bed.

Things don’t go as planned

Use: When reality doesn't match what you expected or organized.

Example: We wanted a quiet dinner, but th_____s didn’t g_ a_ pl______ed

Sometimes projects don’t g_ a_ pl______ed—deadlines get moved, clients change their minds— but I try to navigate uncertainty and adapt on the fly.

Plans go awry

Use: "plans fail or go wrong."

Example: Every time I try to organize something, the p____s g_ a____ ✈

🇺🇦: Плани йдуть шкереберть.

We planned a perfect beach day, but as soon as we arrived, it started pouring rain and the car got stuck in the sand. Sometimes, no matter how hard you prepare, p____s g_ a____✈

Things don’t go according to plan

Use: A neutral, natural way to say "something didn’t work out as expected."

Example: The project was delayed because th____s didn’t g_ a_____ to p____.

Sometimes lessons don’t g_ a_____ to p____ —like when students ask unexpected questions or technology fails—and I have to deal with things as they come.

Things don’t work out

Use: When efforts or expectations don’t succeed.

Example: Sometimes relationships don’t w___ o___, and that’s okay.

🇺🇦: Все не склалося.

Something random comes up / pops up

Use: When an unexpected event or issue appears suddenly.

Example: Sorry, something p____ed u_ at work and I can’t make it.

🇺🇦: Щось несподівано з'явилося / виникло.

We were supposed to catch the early train, but just as we were leaving, I realized I’d left my phone at home. Something random always p___s u_!

Things go south

Use: Informal – when a situation gets worse very quickly.

Example: The meeting was fine until it all went s_____

🇺🇦: Все пішло не так / все погіршилося.

I thought I had the perfect strategy, but everything went s_____ when the client changed their requirements at the last minute.

Let life happen

Use: Accept life as it is, without trying to control everything.

Example: Sometimes you just have to l__ l___ h_____

🇺🇦: Просто дозволь життю йти своїм шляхом.

I used to struggle with last-minute changes, but now I’m trying to l__ l___ h_____ and not stress over the small stuff.

Deal with things as they come (up)

Use: Handle problems or situations one by one, when they appear.

Example: I don’t plan too much — I d____ with th___s as they c____

🇺🇦: Розбираюсь з проблемами по мірі їх виникнення.

Sometimes lessons don’t go according to plan—like when students ask unexpected questions or technology fails—and I have to d____ with th___s as they c____

Go with the flow

Use: Relax and follow what's happening, not trying to control things.

Example: On vacation, I like to g_ with the f____

🇺🇦: Пливти за течією

I was looking forward to a peaceful evening, but then my neighbours started throwing a loud party, so I decided to go for a walk. Sometimes, you just have to take a deep breath and g_ with the f____

Take it in (your) stride

Use: Stay calm when something bad or unexpected happens.

Example: She t__V2___ the criticism i_ s_____ and kept working.

🇺🇦: Сприймати спокійно / без паніки.

I thought I’d pick up yoga easily, but my first class was a disaster. Guess I’ll just have to t___ it in my s____. I won’t give up — I’ll just give it another try

Shift gears

Use: Change direction, focus, or approach.

Example: We had to sh___ g____ and go from planning a party to organizing a funeral.

🇺🇦: Різко змінити напрямок / перебудуватися.

We’d planned a fun night out, but my friend got stuck at work, so I just had to sh___ g____ and go solo.

Navigate uncertainty

Use: Find your way or make decisions in unclear or unpredictable situations.

Example: Leaders need to know how to n_____ un______

🇺🇦: Орієнтуватися в невизначеності.

Sometimes projects don’t go as planned—deadlines get moved, clients change their minds— but I try to n_____ un______ and adapt on the fly.

Adapt on the fly

Use: Make quick decisions and changes without time to prepare.

Example: We lost the script, so we had to a____ o_ the f___

🇺🇦: Пристосовуватися на ходу.

I've got a job interview, and I haven't prepared so I think I'm going to have to make my answers up o_ the f___

So, I'm supposed to be going on this backpacking trip tomorrow with a friend, but we haven't planned anything so we're just going to make it up o_ the f___

I don't feel like this presentation is good at all. We just did it o_ the f___, we should have prepared more.

Throw everything off course

it threw (V2) everything off course

it has thrown (V3) everything off course

Use: Cause everything to go in the wrong direction.

Example: The sudden storm th__V2__ all our travel plans o___ c______.

🇺🇦: Збити з курсу / зруйнувати всі плани.

I had planned to study every evening, but a sudden family emergency th__V2__ everything o___ c______.

Let life come to you a little bit

Use: Stop chasing everything; allow things to unfold naturally.

Example: Don’t overthink it — l__ l___ co___ to y____ a little bit.

🇺🇦: дозволь життю йти своїм шляхом.

I didn’t see it coming, but my dream apartment got rented out before I could sign the lease, so I had to extend my current rental contract. I guess sometimes, you just have to loosen the grip and l__ l___ co___ to y____ a little bit.

Loosen the/your grip

Use: Let go of the need to control everything.

Example: It’s okay to l___ your g___ and trust the process.

🇺🇦: відпустити ситуацію.

I didn’t see it coming, but my dream apartment got rented out before I could sign the lease, so I had to extend my current rental contract. I guess sometimes, you just have to l______ the g____ and let life come to you.

I didn’t see it coming

Use: Express shock or surprise about something unexpected.

Example: When he quit his job, I didn’t s___ it co______

🇺🇦: Я не очікував(ла) цього / Це було несподівано для мене.

I didn’t s___ it co______, but my dream apartment got rented out before I could sign the lease, so I had to extend my current rental contract. I guess sometimes, you just have to loosen the grip and let life come to you.

cross that bridge when we come to it

= to not worry about a possible problem until it actually happens

I don't know how we'll pay the bills if you quit your job, but we'll cr____ that b_____ when we c_____ to it.

reset your expectations around sth

= change what you expect about a situation

+переосмислити свої очікування щодо чогось

-I believe we need to r____ our e______s a______ summer and that we should even embrace the summer slump

— You may need to r______ y_____ e___________s ar_______ what a “perfect holiday” looks like.
— I had to r______ my e___________s ar_______ summer plans when my flight got cancelled.

embrace the summer slump

= accept and work with the fact that summer can feel slow and unmotivating

+прийняти літній спад активності

I believe we need to reset our expectations around summer and that we should even em_______ the s______ s______.

— Don’t stress if you feel less productive—just em_______ the s______ s______.
— I used to hate lazy days, but now I em_______ the s______ s______.

fall behind

= not keep up with work or others

+відставати

Here’s how to do so while simultaneously ensuring you don’t f___ b____ at work.

— I missed a few days of work and started to f____ b______.
—1st Cond. — If you don’t do your homework regularly, you’ll f____ b______.

pace yourself

= do things slowly and carefully over time, not all at once

+розподіляти сили, не поспішати

These four techniques can help you find a balance between performance and p____ing yourself during the lovely, but sometimes slower, summer months.

— On hot days, it’s important to p____ yourself when exercising.
— There’s no rush—just p____ yourself and enjoy the process.

ride out the dip

= stay calm and wait until a difficult or low period ends

+пережити спад (настрою, енергії тощо)

But it’s possible to manage your productivity decline and r___ o___ the d__ —without risking your well-being or your credibility at work.

— Business is slow now, but we’ll r____ o____ the d____.
— Just r____ o____ the d____—things will get better soon.

experience pure relaxation

= feel completely calm and free from stress

+відчути справжній релакс

Social media can make it seem like everyone else is ex_____ing p___ r__________ and enjoyment, complete with idyllic family gatherings, cookouts, and delicious summer recipes

— Lying on the beach, I ex_________ p___ r__________ and enjoyment
— A long bath helped me ex_________ p___ r__________ and enjoyment after a busy week.

have idyllic gatherings

= very peaceful, happy, and perfect get-togethers

+ атмосферні зустрічі / затишні посиденьки (сімейні, дружні зустрічі в гармонійній, приємній атмосфері)

Social media can make it seem like everyone else is experiencing pure relaxation and enjoyment, complete with i_____ family g________s, cookouts, and delicious summer recipes

— We had i_______ g_________ by the lake with friends and music.
— The sunset made our i_______ g_________ even more special.

have a totally terrific time

= experience very fun and enjoyable moments / enjoy yourself very much.

+чудово провести час

This kind of media sends a message that everyone should be h___ing a totally t_____ time

— I h____ a totally t________ time at the summer picnic.
— We h_V2 a totally t________ time dancing and laughing all night

fall short

fell short OF what I imagined

= not meet expectations or goals

+не виправдати очікувань / не досягти мети

On the other hand, if you expect it to be outstanding and it f__s sh___, you’ll be less happy with the experience

— The party was okay, but it f__V2__ sh______ OF what I imagined.
— I studied hard but still f__V2__ s______ OF passing the test.

put your feet up with sth

= relax and enjoy something (like a book, drink, etc)

+розслабитися з чимось

On top of the usual responsibilities, you feel you should also have time to go to the beach, sip iced tea in the backyard, or p____ your f____ u__ with a good book.

— I p____ my f____ u__ with a good book.
— On Sunday, I like to p____ my f____ u__ with a cold drink and a film.

flawless summer moments

= perfect, beautiful summer experiences with no problems

+бездоганні літні миті

Reduce your expectations and avoid thinking that you must create f_______ s______ moments.

— The beach sunset was one of those f_______ s______ moments.
— Swimming in the lake felt like a f_______ s______ moment.

conform to unrealistic standards

= try to follow expectations that are too high or not real

+гнатися за нереалістичними стандартами

Instead, focus on the season as one more part of the year when you’ll do your best and get done what you can—without having to co_____ to unrealistic s_______s.

— Don’t co_____ TO unrealistic s_______s from social media.
— Many people feel pressure to c______ TO beauty s________s during summer.

do your fair share

= do your part of the work or responsibility

+виконувати свою частку / вносити свій внесок

When people fail to d_ their f__ sh___, they often experience worsening memory, focus, quality of sleep, mood, productivity, and creativity

— Everyone should d__ their f____ sh______ when cleaning up.
— I’m happy to help, but you have to d__ your f____ s______, too.

to pay off in your mood

to paid off in your mood

= bring positive feelings or better emotional state.

+позитивно впливати на настрій / давати результат у вигляді покращення настрою

When you work hard and commit to performing and contributing, it often p___s o__ in your m____, your outlook, and your energy levels.

— Taking breaks can p___ o___ in your m____.
— That short walk really p_V2_ o___ in my m____— I feel great now.

flawless

=perfect; without any mistakes or imperfections

– Her English is almost f______

– Her performance in the school play was f________.
– The cake looked f________, like it came from a bakery.

have your fair share of problems

= to experience a normal or more than usual amount of difficulties

– We’ve had out f________ s________ of p________ during the project.
– He had his f________ s________ of p________ since moving to a new city.

• He has more than his f______ s________ of p________ right now

here and there

= in different places but not everywhere

There were a few people sitting h___ and th___ in the park;

I’ve seen his books h___ and th___, but never read one;

tedious

= dull, boring and taking a long time

Filling out all these forms is t_______;

The lecture was so t______ that I nearly fell asleep;

frankly

= to be honest and direct, even if it’s unpleasant

F______, I don’t think this plan will work;

Quite f_____, she could have done a better job on the project;

scorching hot

= extremely and uncomfortably hot

It was s______ hot on the beach, so we stayed in the shade;

I couldn’t walk barefoot because the sand was s______ hot;

turn over a new leaf

= to start behaving in a better way or making a fresh start

He’s t____ed o____ a new l____ and stopped smoking;

After failing the exam, she decided to t____ o____ a new l____ and study harder;