Destination C1-C2 – Units 2, 4, 6 (Core Vocabulary & Phrasal Verbs)

80 key terms, collocations, and phrasal verbs drawn from Destination C1-C2 Units 2 (Thinking & Learning) and associated sections, providing concise English definitions for rapid revision.

assess

to judge or evaluate; to estimate the value or amount of something
đánh giá, ước tính

assume

to accept something as true without proof; to take on responsibility or a quality
cho rằng, nhận trách nhiệm, mang (1 đặc điểm)

baffle

to completely confuse or perplex
làm bối rối

biased

• showing an unreasonable preference for or against something; prejudiced

• thiên vị, có thành kiến

concentrate

• to focus all attention on something;

• to gather things together;

• to make a substance stronger

• tập trung, gom lại, cô đặc

consider

• to think carefully before deciding

• to regard something in a particular way

• xem xét, cân nhắc

contemplate

• to think deeply for a long time;

• to look at something thoughtfully

• suy ngẫm, nhìn ngắm

cynical

• distrustful of human sincerity;

• doubtful about whether something will happen or is worthwhile

• hoài nghi nhân sinh, nghi ngờ

deduce

to reach a conclusion by reasoning from known facts; to infer

suy luận, rút ra

deliberate (v)

to think about or discuss something very carefully
cân nhắc, suy nghĩ thấu đáo

dilemma

a difficult situation requiring a choice between two options
tiến thoái lưỡng nan

discriminate

to recognize a difference;

to treat someone unfairly because of that difference

phân biệt

dubious

doubtful, uncertain, or suspicious

nghi ngờ, khả nghi

estimate (v)

to roughly calculate or judge the value, number, or cost of something

ước tính, đánh giá

faith

strong belief or trust; religious belief

niềm tin

gather

to collect or assemble; to understand from evidence

thu thập, gom lại

genius

a person of exceptional intellectual or creative power

thiên tài

grasp

to seize firmly; to understand fully

nắm bắt

hunch

an intuitive feeling or guess

phỏng đoán

ideology

a system of ideas and ideals, especially one forming the basis of economic or political theory

tư tưởng

ingenious

clever, original, and inventive

inspiration

a stimulating influence or sudden brilliant idea

intuition

the ability to understand something instinctively without conscious reasoning

justify

to show or prove something to be right or reasonable

naive

lacking experience or sophistication; innocent

notion

a conception or belief about something

optimistic

hopeful and confident about the future

paradox

a statement or situation that seems self-contradictory yet may be true

pessimistic

expecting bad outcomes; negative

plausible

seeming reasonable or probable

ponder

to think about something carefully; to reflect

prejudiced

having an unreasonable dislike or preference; biased

presume

to suppose something is true based on probability

query (v)

to ask a question; to express doubt

reckon

to think or suppose; to calculate

reflect

to think deeply; to show an image; to indicate

skeptical

having doubts; not easily convinced

speculate

to form a theory without firm evidence; to trade in stocks for profit

suppose

to assume something without certain knowledge; to pose a possibility

academic (adj)

relating to education or scholarship; theoretical rather than practical

academic (n)

a teacher or scholar in higher education

conscientious

wishing to do one's work thoroughly; diligent

cram

to force a lot into a small space; to study intensively just before an exam

curriculum

the subjects comprising a course of study

distance learning

education that takes place remotely without physical presence

graduate (v)

to complete a degree or course of study

graduate (n)

a person who has received a degree

ignorant

lacking knowledge; rude or discourteous

inattentive

not paying attention; distracted

intellectual (n)

a person with highly developed intellect

intellectual (adj)

relating to the intellect; requiring mental effort

intelligent

having or showing high mental capacity

intensive

thorough, concentrated, and detailed

knowledgeable

well-informed and intelligent

lecture (v)

to deliver an educational talk; to scold seriously

lecture (n)

an educational talk; a long serious reprimand

mock exam

a practice test taken as preparation for a real exam

plagiarise

to take someone else's work or ideas and pass them off as one’s own

seminar

a meeting for discussion or training

tuition

money paid for instruction; the act of teaching

tutorial

a small-group or one-to-one teaching session; a step-by-step instructional program

brush up on

to improve or refresh knowledge of something not used for a while

come around (to)

to change one’s opinion; to regain consciousness; to visit briefly

come up with

to think of an idea, plan, or solution

face up to

to accept and deal with something difficult or unpleasant

figure out

to understand after thinking; to calculate

hit upon

to discover or think of something by chance

mull over

to think about something for a long time

piece together

to assemble bits of information to understand a whole

puzzle out

to solve a confusing problem by careful thinking

read up on

to research by reading a lot about a topic

swot up on

to study hard, especially before an exam; cram

take in

to understand information; to deceive someone

think over

to consider something carefully

think through

to consider all facts in an organised way

think up

to invent or imagine, especially an excuse

account for

to explain the reason for; to make up a proportion of something

strike a balance

to find a compromise between two things

jump to conclusions

to make a decision too quickly without all facts

rack your brains

to think very hard to remember or solve something

brainstorm

to generate many ideas collectively

come to/arrive at a conclusion

to reach a decision after consideration

contrary to popular belief

opposite to what most people think

put into perspective

to compare with something similar to give a clearer view

stand by your principles

to refuse to change one’s beliefs

beg the question

to raise a point that requires answering; to assume the truth of what is to be proved

make sense of

to understand something complicated or unclear

take sides

to choose to support one party in a dispute

look on the bright side

to see the positive aspect of a negative situation

set the record straight

to give the true facts about something

come into view

to become visible

ring a bell

to sound familiar without clear memory why

go to your head

to make someone feel overly proud or self-important

split hairs

to argue about insignificant details

take stock (of)

to carefully assess a situation before deciding