Advanced English Vocab

day in day out

continuously over a long period of time (e.g. every day)

to swell the ranks

to become larger (and rounder) than usual, used for an army too

to sack a city

destroy

to grind to a halt

gradually slow down and stop

get on your soapbox

to express your opinions about a particular subject forcefully

climb the greasy rope

the difficulty in reaching the top of one's career

forewarned is forearmed

prior knowledge of possible dangers give a tactical advantage

a frank exchange of views

two people are discussing openly and in a straightforward manner

depose

remove from office suddenly and forcefully

to play politics

act for political or personal gain

champagne socialist

a person espousing socialist ideas but being rich and luxurious

spin doctor

a spokesperson giving a favorable interpretation of events to the media

exultation

a feeling of extreme joy

apprehension

anxiety or fear that something bad or unpleasant will happen

incongruous

out of place, not in harmony with the surroundings

pilgrimage

a journey to a holy place

ferocious

very cruel or violent

tantalizing

very tempting or attractive but out of reach

avalanche

great mass of falling snow and ice

repellent

causing disgust or aversion

ascent

a climb or walk to the summit of a mountain or hill

unrelentingly

without considering the feelings of other people

drawn-out

lasting longer than is usual or necessary

tedious

boring

spokes

the thin metal rods that connect the outer rim of a bicycle wheel to the central hub

tires

The rubber covering that fits around the wheel rim

valve

A small, usually protruding, part of the inner tube that allows for air inflation

ostensibly

apparently

purported

claimed as true, but probably false

libel / slander

a published false statement that is damaging to a person's reputation

revelations

a surprising and previously unknown fact

hamper

to hold back

accede to / concur with / assent to

to agree to

condone

to forgive or overlook an offense

acquiesce in

accept something reluctantly but without protest

disclosed

uncovered or revealed

Penniless

without money; poor

aspirations

strong desires or ambitions, hopes

in the nick of time

just in time

attain one's goals

reach the goals

breach one's target

surpass or go beyond the goal

to fulfil a dream

to make a dream come true

to circumnavigate (the earth)

go around

to traverse

to cross

to endure

to put up with; to survive a hardship

to live on borrowed time

survive after you would expect to be dead

to make up for the lost time

do something faster or more often in order to compensate for not having done it before

get tickets in advance

purchase tickets before the day of the event

relative clauses (grammar thing)

phrases that add information about a noun, often starting with words like "who," "which," or "that" e.g.: The cake that I baked is delicious

unbiased

without prejudice

escorted / chaperoned

guided or accompanied by someone

cowardly / fainthearted

a lack of courage or self-confidence

dismal / dreary

gloomy, depressing

cul-de-sac

blind alley; dead end street

hard shoulder

the side of the road where cars can stop if they need to

kerb-curb

the edge of a raised path nearest the road

lay-by

parking space at the side of a road

level crossing

where a railway crosses a road

call a shriek

very loud, high-pitched cry

itinerary

route of a traveler's journey

dinghy

small boat (often ship's boat)

jetty / pier

a long, narrow structure that extends from the shore out into a body of water

disconsolate

deeply unhappy or dejected; without hope

loudhailer

megaphone

mortar

paste-like mixture of sand, water, lime, and cement used in building for holding bricks and stones together

haversack

a bag carried by a strap on your back or shoulder

blighted

damaged; destroyed; ruined

cliché

a worn-out idea or overused expression

congestions / tailbacks

traffic jam

central reservation

An area of land that separates opposing lanes of traffic

flyover

a bridge that takes one road over another road

T-junction

a place where one road meets another without crossing it, forming the shape of a letter T

turbulence

wild or disturbing activity

a puncture

a small hole made by a sharp object

endeavoured

tried very hard

scoop (secure a scoop)

publish a news story before a rival media

demise

death of sth

put one's foot in it

say something that is not proper, embarrassing

do one's utmost

to do their best

put sth into practice

actually do/use an idea

to butt in

to interrupt a conversation or discussion

sterling

excellent or valuable work

columnist

a journalist contributing regularly to a newspaper

exacerbated

make a problem, situation even worse