Gold Experience C1 - Unit 5 (EN-definitions)

a faint chance (that)

a very small or slight hope, etc.

a soft touch

someone from whom you can easily get what you want, because they are kind or easy to deceive

accumulate

to gradually get more and more money, possessions, knowledge, etc. over a period of time

acquire

to obtain something by buying it or being given it

ahead of the game

in a position where you are more advanced or more successful than your competitors

aptitude (for)

natural ability or skill, especially in learning

breakthrough

an important new discovery, especially one made after trying for a long time

bring in

to employ someone from outside an organisation to solve a problem or do a difficult job

budding

someone who is just starting to paint, act, etc. and will probably be successful at it

bulk

the main or largest part of something

buy into

to accept that an idea is right and allow it to influence you

buyout

a situation in which someone gains control of a company by buying all or most of its shares

check sth out

to make sure that something is actually true, correct, or acceptable

chuck out

to throw something away because you do not want it anymore

clutter up

to cover or fill a space or room with too many things, so that it looks very untidy

cocooned

being wrapped around completely

collect

to get and keep objects of the same type, because you think they are attractive or interesting

come in for

to be criticized, blamed, etc. for something

consume

to eat or drink something

cover up

an attempt to prevent the public from discovering the truth about something

crackdown

action that is taken to deal more strictly with crime, a problem, protests, etc.

cutbacks

a reduction in something, such as the number of workers in a company or the amount of money a government or company spends

defining

crucial

diagnosis

the process of discovering exactly what is wrong with someone or something, by examining them closely

dodgy

seeming to be false, dishonest, or not to be trusted

dole out

to give something such as money, food, advice, etc. to more than one person

downturn

a period or process in which business activity, production, etc. is reduced and conditions become worse

downward spiral

a process, usually a harmful one, in which something gradually but continuously gets worse

drawback

a disadvantage of a situation, plan, product, etc.

easy prey (for)

someone who can easily be deceived or harmed

eat up

to use a lot of something, especially until there is none left

embark upon

to start something, especially something new, difficult, or exciting

emote

to clearly show emotion, especially when you are acting

fallout

the results of a particular event, especially when they are unexpected

feedback

advice, criticism, etc. about how successful or useful something is

flip

to move something with a quick sudden movement so that it is in a different position

flooded (with)

receive so many letters, complaints or inquiries that you cannot deal with them all easily

full-blown

having all the qualities of something that is at its most complete or advanced stage

generate

to produce or cause something

get the hang of

to understand and be able to do something

give a heads up

to warn that something may happen

glass ceiling

the attitudes and practices that prevent women or particular groups from getting high-level jobs, even though there are no actual laws or rules to stop them

go without

to not have something that you usually have

hang onto

to keep something

hard sell

a way of selling something in which there is a lot of pressure on you to buy

hoard

to collect things and hide them somewhere, especially so they can be used later

hold up

a situation that stops something from happening or making progress

hot property

something or someone very valuable and popular

immersive

making you feel you are really taking part in the events you are seeing on a screen or hearing about, or are really in a virtual environment

initial

happening at the beginning

insatiable desire (for)

always wanting more and more of something

intake

the number of people who join a school, profession, etc. at a particular time

knock-down price

a very cheap price

living proof

if someone is living proof of a particular fact, they are a good example of how true it is

mind-blowing

very exciting, shocking or strange

mine

to dig large holes in the ground in order to remove coal, gold, etc.

offspring

an animal's baby or babies

outcome

the final result of a meeting, discussion, war, etc., used especially when no one knows what it will be until it actually happens

outlay

the amount of money that you have to spend in order to start a new business, activity, etc.

outset

the beginning of an event or process

part with our money

to give money to someone else, although you do not want to

pass up an opportunity

to not use the chance, etc. to do or have something when it is offered

pocket

to get an amount of money, especially in a way that is illegal or seems very easy

pulse

the regular beat that can be felt, for example at your wrist, as your heart pumps blood around your body

push the right buttons

to get what you want by behaving in a clever way

sentimental value

when a particuar object has an emotional value to you because it was

owned by someone close to you

set the bar

to establish a high standard

setback

a problem that delays or prevents progress, or makes things worse than they were

spare cash

free money to spend

splash out (on)

to spend a lot of money on something

spouse

a husband or wife

stumble

to hit your foot against something or put your foot down awkwardly while you are walking or running, so that you almost fall

takeover

when one company takes control of another by buying more than half its shares

the rumour's going round that

used to say when a gossip becomes popular

the time is ripe

used to say it is a very suitable time for something to happen, especially when it should have happened sooner

tick a box

to reach expectations

turnover

the amount of business done during a particular period

unparalleled

bigger, better or worse than anything else

upbringing

the way that your parents care for you and teach you to behave when you are growing up

utopian

an imaginary perfect world where everyone is happy

watch your money

to be wise at spending money because you want to save it

workout

a period of physical exercise, especially as training for a sport

albeit

used to add information that reduces the force or importance of what you have just said; although

brilliance

a very high level of intelligence or skill

collectible

a valuable object bought as an investment

compromise

to reach an agreement in which everyone involved accepts less than what they wanted at first

counterpart

someone or something that has the same job or purpose as someone or something else in a different place

drive someone nuts

to make someone very annoyed

estimate

a calculation of the amount of something made using the information that you have, which may not be complete

novelty

the quality of being new, unusual, and interesting

operative

a worker - used in business

prospective

likely to happen

purchase history

a record of things you bought

relevant

directly relating to the subject or problem being discussed or considered

spectrum

a complete range of opinions, people, situations, etc., going from one extreme to its opposite

swiftly

quickly and immediately

targeting

having an effect on a particular limited group or area

wearable

designed to be worn as an item of clothing (e.g. of a computer)

white goods

equipment used in the home, for example washing machines and refrigerators