Unit 10: Describing people: personality and character traits

impetuous

• acts on a sudden idea without thinking first (often negative)

Eg.

• She’s so ______; I wish she would consider things before acting

impulsive

• similar to impetuous, but can be used in a more positive way

Eg.

• His ______ generosity led him to give money to anyone who asked for help.

effusive

• gives exaggerated expression of pleasure, praise, or gratitude _{(biết ơn)}

Eg.

• She always gives me such an ______ welcome when I visit her.

excitable

• easily excited by things

Eg.

• He’s a very ______ child; he needs to calm down.

pushy

(informal)

• always selfishly promoting your own position or interests

Eg.

• She’s so ______; it’s typical of her to demand a pay rise for herself and not care about the rest of us.

self-conscious

• nervous or uncomfortable because you know what people think about you or your actions

Eg.

• Freddie seemed ______ and uncomfortable when he had to make the announcement at the party.

well-balanced

• calm and reasonable and showing good judgment

Eg.

• The teacher said Maddy was a ______ child who got on well at school.

taciturn

• reserved or says very little (generally negative)

Eg.

• He was a bit ______ when I first met him. He hardly said a word.

diffident

• lacks confidence; has a low opinion of oneself

Eg.

• Mr. Rogers is such a ______ man. He seems to have quite low self-esteem.

reserved

• not immediately sociable

• not often talking about or showing their feelings or thoughts

E.g.

• English people are traditionally thought of as rather ______.

• She is very ______ and doesn’t talk much about her personal life.
  → Cô ấy khá dè dặt và không nói nhiều về đời sống cá nhân.

• Although he seems ______ at first, he becomes more talkative once you get to know him.
  → Mặc dù lúc đầu anh ấy có vẻ kín đáo, nhưng khi quen rồi thì anh ấy nói nhiều hơn.

aloof

• unfriendly and not sociable

Eg.

• Eva tends to be rather ______; I don’t know if she’s just shy.

haughty

• unfriendly and thinks oneself better than others

Eg.

• My auntie can be very ______ at times, but she’s lovely really.

disdainful

• does not believe others deserve respect

Eg.

• He looked at me in a ______ manner, as if I wasn’t worth his time.

unapproachable

• not easy to be sociable with or start a conversation with

Eg.

• I’ve always found Professor Macfot very ______, but his colleague Dr. O’Daly is very approachable.

conceited

• has an exaggerated sense of self-importance

Eg.

• Natasha is very ______, always boasting about her achievements.

self-important

• thinks oneself wonderful

Eg.

• He’s so ______; he never listens to anyone else’s opinions.

gullible

• easily deceived

Eg.

• Telephone sales people often take advantage of ______ people.

restless

• not satisfied with what they are doing now and wanting something new

Eg.

• She’s a ______ individual. I don’t think she’ll ever settle down in a job.

pig-headed

• similar to obstinate but stronger; informal

Eg.

• He’s so ______ that he refuses to admit when he’s wrong.