Ready for C2 Wordlist - Unit 6

pay a compliment

to say something nice about someone or to someone

pay dividends

to bring you a lot of benefit

pay it forward

to do something kind for someone because another person has done something kind for you

pay lip service to

to say that you support something although you do not really, especially when you do nothing to prove your support

pay the consequences

to accept responsibility for your actions and deal with what happens because of them

pay the price

to have to deal with the bad effects of something that you have done

pay through the nose

to pay much too much for something

pay tribute to

to praise someone or something publicly

pay your own way

to pay for everything that you need or use yourself, rather than allowing or expecting other people to pay for you

pay your respects

to show respect for someone by visiting them, sending them a message, or attending their funeral

accelerate

to happen or make something happen at a faster rate

diminish

to become less or make something become less

dwindle

to become gradually less or smaller over a period of time until almost nothing remains

escalate

to increase, especially at a fast rate that causes problems

hike up

to suddenly increase the amount or level of something

mount

to get larger or stronger over a period of time

plummet

if something such as an amount, rate, or value ____, it suddenly becomes much lower

plunge

if an amount or level ____, it suddenly becomes much lower

recede

to become less strong or likely

skyrocket

if an amount, value, or cost ____, it rises quickly to a very high level

slump

to be suddenly reduced to a much lower level

soar

to quickly increase to a high level

spiral

to continuously become worse, more, or less

surge

to increase a lot very quickly

swell

to increase in amount or number

wane

to become weaker or less important

be made of money

to have a lot of money

be on a roll

to be having a lot of success or good luck

be rolling in it

to have a lot of money

bread and butter

something that provides your main income

feel the pinch

to have less money than you need

hard up

not having much money

keep your head above water

to manage to live or keep a business working even though you are not earning much money

money for old rope

money that you earn very easily without much work or effort

not for love nor money

used for emphasising that something is not available or possible, or that you will not do it

put your money where your mouth is

used for saying that someone should do something, especially spend money, to show that they mean what they say instead of just talking about it