Ready for C2 Wordlist - Unit 3

bring down

(phrasal verb) to reduce the rate, level, or amount of something

come round to

(phrasal verb) to change your opinion or decision because someone has persuaded you to agree with them

come up with

(phrasal verb) to think of something such as an idea or a plan

draw on

(phrasal verb) to use something that you have gradually gained or saved

flick through

(phrasal verb) to turn the pages of a book, magazine, newspaper, etc. very quickly looking at some of the pages for a very short time

hold back

(phrasal verb) to stop something from progressing or developing as it should

hold out little hope

(phrasal verb) to not have much hope that something will happen

meet with

(phrasal verb) to get a particular result or reaction

plough into

(phrasal verb) to invest a lot of money in something in order to improve it or make it successful

put forward

(phrasal verb) to offer an idea, opinion, reason etc., especially so that people can discuss it and make a decision

run up against

(phrasal verb) if you ____ ____ ____ problems, difficulties etc., you have to deal with them

stumble across

(phrasal verb) to find something by accident

throw out

(phrasal verb) if someone in authority ____ ____ a plan, proposal etc., they refuse to accept it

at a loss

confused and not knowing what to do

at best

used for showing that something is not very good by emphasising that your description of it is the best thing you can say about it

at odds with

if things are ____ ____ ____ each other, they are different or opposite when they should be the same

at stake

used about important issues that are involved in a situation or could be decided by it

at the expense of

if one thing exists or happens ____ ____ ____ ____ another, the second thing suffers or is not done properly because of the first

at the forefront of

in a leading or important position in something

be on the lookout for

to be watching carefully in order to find, obtain, or avoid something or someone

in a big way

if someone does something ____ ____ ____ ____, they do it a lot, or they think it is important

in all likelihood

almost certainly

in awe of

feeling great respect and admiration for someone or something

in force

if a law or rule is ____ ____, it is being applied and people must obey it

in jeopardy

likely to be damaged or destroyed

in poor taste

rude and not at all appropriate

in retrospect

considering something that happened in the past, using knowledge or information that you did not have at that time

on a par with

of the same quality as or at the same level as

on display

in a place that is able to be seen by many people

on edge

nervous and unable to relax because you are worried

on the market

available to buy

on the spot

at that exact moment or place

under attack

strongly criticized or damaged

under oath

having formally promised to tell the truth in a court of law

under scrutiny

carefully examined

under siege

if a place is ____ ____, it is surrounded by soldiers in order to attack those defending it

under threat

likely to be harmed or damaged

under wraps

being kept secret

a long shot

an attempt or guess that is not likely to be successful but that is worth trying

at the leading edge

at the most modern and advanced point in the development of something

dead end

a situation in which no further progress is possible

from scratch

from the beginning again, not using all the work that you have done before

go round in circles

to do something for a long time without achieving any results because you always return to the same problem that you cannot solve

in the pipeline

being planned or prepared in order to happen or be available soon

on the right track

doing or thinking the right things

stumbling block

a difficulty that causes mistakes or prevents progress

teething problems

minor problems that a new company, project, product etc. may have in the beginning

think outside the box

to find new ways of doing things, especially of solving problems