Expectation - Objective Proficiency

get off the beaten track

go to less touristy places. Example: We wanted to ____ and explore small villages.

have to rough it

live without comfort. Example: We had to ____ in a tent with no electricity.

get by on a shoestring budget

manage with very little money. Example: They travelled around Europe on a ____ .

a culture vulture

someone very interested in art/culture. Example: She’s a ____ and visits every museum.

be in the lap of luxury

live very comfortably. Example: They spent their holiday in the ____ .

prospect (of a holiday)

possibility of something in future. Example: The ____ made him happy.

to be liable (to)

likely to happen/do. Example: He is ____ forget things.

to persuade

convince someone. Example: She ____ me to go with her.

downcast

sad, depressed. Example: He looked ____ after the news.

to anticipate

expect/look forward to. Example: They ____ the trip eagerly.

to embody

represent an idea. Example: The trip ____ freedom.

a staple (of office chat)

something very common. Example: Travel complaints are a ____ .

despair

complete hopelessness. Example: He felt ____ after missing the flight.

dreary

boring, dull. Example: The journey was full of ____ passengers.

lethargy

lack of energy. Example: The heat caused ____ .

to prove (a temperamental partner)

turn out to be. Example: The weather ____ difficult.

to savour

enjoy slowly. Example: She ____ the sunset.

enervating

making you weak/tired. Example: The heat was ____ .

stickiness

humid, uncomfortable feeling. Example: The ____ made it hard to sleep.

to pore over

study carefully. Example: He ____ maps for hours.

oblivious

not aware. Example: She was ____ to the noise.

bedfellows

closely connected things. Example: Stress and travel are uneasy ____ .

isle

small island (literary). Example: They stayed on a tropical ____ .

panes of distorting glass

glass that changes perception. Example: It felt like looking through ____ .

sublime

extremely beautiful. Example: The view was ____ .

flawless

perfect. Example: The service was ____ .

a row

an argument. Example: They had a ____ about dinner.

rigid

strict, inflexible. Example: His ____ logic annoyed everyone.

peril

serious danger. Example: They ignored the warning at their ____ .

anticipation

excitement about future. Example: The ____ was exciting.

itineraries

travel plans. Example: They prepared detailed ____ .

frame itineraries

display them on walls. Example: He ____ on walls.

seaweed

plant in the sea. Example: The beach was covered in ____ .

rigging

ropes on a ship. Example: The sailors checked the ____ .

a pot of tar

container with sticky substance. Example: They used a ____ on the boat.

uncongenial fellow passengers

unpleasant travel companions. Example: The trip was ruined by ____ .

recurrent

happening repeatedly. Example: He had ____ travel problems.

self-contained

independent, self-sufficient. Example: The apartment was ____ .

intrepid

brave, adventurous. Example: ____ travellers explored the jungle.

canoe

small narrow boat. Example: They travelled by ____ .

fatigued

very tired. Example: We felt ____ after hiking.

judicious

showing good judgement. Example: She made a ____ choice of hotel.

discerning

having good taste. Example: ____ travellers choose quality.

inveterate

having a strong habit. Example: He is an ____ traveller.

hotel touts

people trying to attract customers. Example: ____ waited at the station.

lodgings

accommodation. Example: We found cheap ____ .

in the region of

approximately. Example: It costs ____ €500.

on the brink of

close to something serious. Example: The country is ____ crisis.

to some extent

partly. Example: I agree ____ .

in conjunction with

together with. Example: The event was ____ a charity.

on behalf of

as a representative. Example: She spoke ____ the group.

in vain

without success. Example: He searched ____ .

on the verge of

very close to happening. Example: She was ____ tears.

on the grounds of/that

because of. Example: He was fired ____ misconduct.

with the exception of

except for. Example: Everyone came ____ Tom.

to get my goat

to annoy or irritate someone. Example: A Conservative ideas about women in the workplace really ____ .

to get carried away

to become overly excited or lose control of emotions/actions. Example: I ____ when I went shopping and spent far too much money.

to fork out

to pay money, usually reluctantly or unexpectedly. Example: How much did you ____ for your new shoes?

hefty

large, heavy, or significant (often used for amounts of money). Example: The credit card bill was pretty ____ this month – I’ll have to watch my step in future.

to watch my step

to be careful, cautious, or avoid mistakes. Example: I’ll have to ____ in future.

(on a) tight (budget)

having very little money to spend. Example: My sister was ____ when she was at college.

to let imagination run wild

to be creative without limits. Example: She ____ when she painted her room.

to be dead set on

to be determined or firmly decided about something. Example: I’m ____ going to university and getting my degree.

to be in line with

to agree with or be consistent with something. Example: His ideas are ____ mine.

elitist

believing that a small, privileged group is superior. Example: Some people think that only elite schools are ____ .

dumbing down

making something simpler, less challenging, often reducing quality. Example: Critics say TV shows are ____ content to appeal to more people.

widespread

existing or happening over a large area or among many people. Example: There is ____ concern about the impact of social media on learning.

content-lite

lacking substance or depth. Example: Many educational apps are ____ , focusing on entertainment rather than learning.

judicious (use of technology)

using technology wisely and carefully. Example: Teachers need a ____ of technology to support learning without distraction.

at the expense of substance

losing quality, depth, or meaning in favor of something else. Example: Modern media can be flashy ____ .