English Vocabulary in Use B2

clever or good at doing something

способный

She's a very ____ student.

able

adverb

умело

______ assisted by her mother, she learnt how to make jam.

ably

good at judging situations and making decisions that give you an advantage

проницательный, практичный

[ + to infinitive ] He was _____- enough not to take the job when there was the possibility of getting a better one a few months later.

She is a _____ politician who wants to avoid offending the electorate unnecessarily.

It was a ______ move to buy your house just before property prices started to rise.

shrewd

Кто такой shrewd person?

Shrewd person — это человек, который быстро понимает, как другим выгодно его обмануть, и делает так, чтобы выгода была ему, а не им.

Он не просто умный. Он хитро-умный.

Вы продаёте яблоки. Говорите: «Самые сладкие!»

• Обычный человек поверит и купит.

• Shrewd надкусит одно яблоко, увидит, что оно кислое, скажет: «Врёшь. Давай скидку 50% за обман». И получит скидку.

quick to notice and understand things

сообразительный

a _____ mind

When it comes to new situations, I'm not very ______ — it's difficult for me to quickly understand things and do them the right way

sharp

used to say that someone is not very intelligent or is not able to learn things quickly or easily – used humorously

When it comes to undrestaning if I am truly liked by someone - I am not __________

also: not the brightest bulb on the Christmas tree

not the sharpest tool in the shed/ box

having special ability in a particular subject or activity:

одаренный, талантливый

a school for _____ children

I think Charlie Puth with his perfect pitch is a truly ______ musician

gifted

informal of “clever“

brainy

silly and not wise

глупый

a _____ man/mistake

[ + to do sth ] It would be ______ to ignore his advice.

foolish

Synonyms of stupid

brainless - inf

daft- UK unf

dim

dumb - mainly US informal

thick- UK informal

obtuse -formal

something you remember slightly, but not very well

 a ___ memory/recollection, etc

"I have ____ memories of my childhood because it was traumatic."

opp - vivid

dim/ vague

adjective

not bright or clear:

He could hardly see her in the _____ light.

opp - bright

adverb

a ____ly lit room

dim/ dimly

idiom informal UK

used to describe someone who behaves in a very foolish or crazy manner

He believes in conspiracy theories and wears a tin foil hat.He's ______________!

"He's a nice bloke, but he's ___________"

be (as) daft as a brush

clever at getting what you want, especially by tricking people

хитрый, коварный

a _______ plan/ploy/ man

cunning

deceiving people in a clever way to get what you want

хитрый, пронырливый

Kate is very ____ — she says she won't order food, but then she eats ours on the ____.

a smile that shows you know something that other people do not

лукавая улыбка

"When I asked my friends about my birthday present, they just gave me a ___ smile and said, 'We'll see.'"

on the ____ - secretely

I snuck into the bar on the ____. My parents never found out.

sly

Diffrerence between cunning sly and crafty

Слово	Запомните как
sly	😏 лукавая улыбка, тайком
cunning	🦊 умный и опасный (лиса-злодей)
crafty	🧐 бывалый пройдоха, находит лазейки

sly - безобидно, легко

cunning- опасный и хиртый

crafty - в быту найду хитрость

clever at getting what you want, especially by deceiving people

хитрый, коварный

• a ______ lawyer — хитрый / изворотливый адвокат (находит лазейки)

• a ______ way to save money — хитрый способ сэкономить

crafty

nervous and worried and unable to relax:

She was very _____- as she waited for the interview.

2 synonyms to tense

wound up

stressed out

based on or acting on good judgment and practical ideas or understanding:

• a ________ answer/approach/compromise/option

• It would be ________ to take an umbrella.

• "My friend is _______ — she didn't go by looks but by how he treated her."

• "A foolish person would emigrate without any money or plan. A sensible person, on the other hand, would save up, find a job, and arrange housing first."

clothes or shoes are practical and suitable for the purpose they are needed for, rather than being attractive or fashionable:

It could be cold and wet so pack some ______ clothes.

sensible

very excited or upset about something:

It usually implies that someone has become overly emotional or stressed over a situation

• It's easy to get ________when you're tired and everything seems to be against you.

• He was very _______ about seeing his family again after so many years.

• "There's no point in getting ______ over people who ignore you. They just weren't meant for you, so move on."

worked up

(of people) liking to be with other people :

Emma's a ________, outgoing sort of person.

gragarious

​disapproving

a person who likes arguing or often starts arguing

"Alina is so ___________ — she never agrees with what I say."

argumentative

disapproving

A ______ person repeatedly argues with other people.

• He's always been moody and ________ like that.

quarrelsome

relaxed

laid-back

easy-going

rude and unpleasant

"Kids nowadays seem so _______- to me."

syn. rude

opp. well-mannered

ill-mannered

formal

rude

ude and not considering other people's feelings:

The employees were unhelpful and discourteous.

extremely unpleasant, especially in a way that offends people

syn. offensive

• Some of his colleagues say that he's loud and _______.

• be _______ to When she's in a bad mood she's _______ to everyone.

• "The guys at school were so ________ — they kept joking about my small chest."

• _______ behaviour/ laugh/ odour

obnoxious

What is negative for…

DETERMINED

obstinate

stubborn

pig-headed

What is negative for…

THRIFTY, ECONOMICAL

stingy

mean

tight-fitsed

miserly*

careful use of money so that you do not spend too much

(people’s behaviour)

They have plenty of money now, but they still tend to be ______.

thrifty

= describes a thing or action that doesn't cost much money, fuel, time, or other resources. It's about efficiency, not personality.

This fridge is very _____ — it uses little electricity.

Taking the train is more _______ than flying.

 __________ with the truth

humorous

avoiding stating the true facts about a situation, or lying about it:

Anyone who tells you that this is a simple process is being ______ with the truth.

economical

unwilling to spend money:

Don't wait for Nikita Mokrushin to buy you a drink - she's too ______

syn.

mean (mainy UK)

stingy

tight-fisted

What is negative for…

SELF-ASSURED

CONFIDENT

self-important

full of ypurself

arrogant

having confidence in your own abilities:

The interview showed her as a self-assured and mature student.

syn. assertive, confident

self-assured

What is negative for…

unconventional

original

eccentric

odd

peculiar

weird

different from what is usual or from the way most people do things:

an unconventional childhood/lifestyle/marriage

unconventional

What is negative for…

FRANK

DIRECT

OPEN

blunt

abrupt

brusque

curt

honest, sincere, and telling the truth, even when this might be awkward or make other people uncomfortable:

a full and _______ discussion

There followed a _______ exchange of views.

The magazine, which gives _______ advice about sex and romance, is aimed at the teenage market.

to be frank (also to be frank with you)

used when giving your honest opinion, even though this might shock, offend, or annoy someone:

To be frank, what you are suggesting is impossible.

frank

A blunt pencil, knife, etc. is not sharp and therefore not able to write, cut, etc. well.

saying what you think without trying to be polite or considering other people's feelings:

I'll be blunt - that last piece of work you did was terrible.

blunt

1) sudden and unexpected, and often unpleasant:

• Our conversation came to an _____ end when George burst into the room.

• There was an _____ change in her attitude towards me when she heard that I was Alan's boyfriend.

2) using too few words when talking, in a way that seems rude and unfriendly:

• He is sometimes very _____ with clients.

• an ______ manner/reply

abrupt

quick and rude in manner or speech:

Zhirinovsky is quite ________ — he yells at people and isn't afraid to insult them.

brusque

If someone's manner or speech is curt, it is rude as a result of being very quick:

to give a curt nod/reply

curt with Andy was very curt with him.

curt