UNIT 6 - Destination C1&C2

Time and work

abrupt (adj)

sudden and unexpected, often in an unpleasant way

anachronism (n)

sth that is no longer suitable for or relevant to modern times

anual (adj)

• happening once a year

• calculated or considered over a period of one year

antique (adj)

old and valuable

antique (n)

an old subject which is valuable because it is rare, beautiful or well-made

chronological (adj)

arranged or described in the order in which events happened

contemporary (adj)

• modern or relating to the present time

• alive or existing at the same time as a particular event or person

contemporary (n)

a person who lives or lived at the same time as somebody else, especially somebody who is about the same age

elapse (v)

(of time) to go past

eternal (adj)

without an end; existing or continuing forever

instantaneous (adj)

immediate

interim (adj)

intended to last for only a short time until somebody/something more permanent is found

interim (n) → in the interim (idiom)

during the period of time between two events; until a particular event happens

interval (n)

• a period of time between two events

• a short break between the parts of sth such as a play or concert

lapse (n)

• a small mistake, especially one that is caused by forgetting something or by being careless

• a period of time between two things that happen

lapse (v)

• (of a contract, an agreement, etc.) to no longer be legally recognized because the period of time that it lasts has come to an end

• to gradually become weaker or come to an end (=expire)

long-standing (adj)

having existed for a long time

obsolete (adj)

out of date

overdue (adj)

not done or happening when expected or when needed; late

prior (adj)

happening or existing before something else or before a particular time

prompt (adj)

• immediate or quick

• happening or arriving at exactly a particular time

provisional (adj)

temporary

simultaneous (adj)

happening or done at the same time

span (n)

the amount of time that sth lasts

span (v)

to last for a particular period of time

spell (n)

a short period of time during which something lasts

stint (n)

a period of time that you spend working somewhere or doing a particular activity

timely (adj)

happening at the most suitable time

vintage (adj)

• produced in the past, and typical of the period in which it was made

• used to describe clothing, jewellery, etc. that is not new, especially when it is a good example of a style from the past

• (wine) excellent in quality and was made several years ago

vintage (n)

• the wine that was produced in a particular year or place; the year in which it was produced

• the time when sth was produced

civil service (n phr)

the government departments in a country and the people who work for them, except the armed forces, judges and elected politicians

consultant (n)

• a person who knows a lot about a particular subject and is employed to give advice about it to other people

• a hospital doctor of the highest rank who is a specialist in a particular area of medicine

excecutive (n)

a senior manager in a business or other organisation

headhunt (v)

to find somebody who is suitable for a senior job and persuade them to leave their present job

private sector (n phr)

the part of the economy of a country that is not under the direct control of the government

promotion (n)

• a move to a more important job or rank in a company or an organization

• activities done in order to increase the sales of a product or service; a set of advertisements for a particular product or service

• activity that encourages people to believe in the value or importance of something, or that helps something to succeed

prospects (n)

the possibility that something will happen

recruit (n)

a person who has recently joined the armed forces or the police

recruit (v) (sb to do sth)

• to find new people to join a company, an organization, the armed forces, etc.

• to persuade somebody to do something, especially to help you

union (n)

an organization of workers, usually in a particular industry, that exists to protect their interests, improve conditions of work, etc.

crop up

appear or happen suddenly or unexpectedly

dive in

start doing sth in a very enthusiastic way

end up (doing sth)

to find yourself in a place or situation at the end of a process or period of time

kick off (with)

begin (with)

knock off

stop working

knuckle down

start working hard, esp when you should have done this earlier

lay off

• make sb redundant

• to stop using sth

lie ahead

to be going to happen to somebody in the future

make up

to do something at a different time because you cannot do it at the expected time

press ahead/on (with)

continue doing sth in a determined way, despite difficulties, opposition or interrruptions

set out

start working on sth in order to achieve an aim

snow under

have too much to do

take on

• start to employ someone

• accept some work or responsibities

tide over

help someone to get to the end of a difficult period of time, esp. by giving them money until they can get some more

while away

spend time in a relaxed way when you have nothing else to do

wind down

• end or finish sth gradually

• gradually reduce work before stopping completely

• relax after a period of excitement or worry

a stitch in time (saves nine)

used for saying that it is better to solve a problem now, rather than leave it until later when it may be more difficult to deal with

all in good time

used for telling someone to wait for sth and not try to make you hurry

at the drop of a hat

imediately or in a way that shows you have no doubts about doing sth

before your time

used for saying that sth happened/existed before you were born or before you lived/worked somewhere

for good

permanently, without the possibility of change in the future

for the time being

for now

from time to time

sometimes, but not often

in/for donkey’s years

an extremely long time

in the nick of time

just in time to prevent sth bad happening

once in a blue moon

very rarely

on the spur of the moment

suddenly, without planning in advance

the other day

recently