Advanced English Language Skills: Phrasal Verbs & Idioms

English Vocabulary and Expressions Compendium

Key English-Spanish Vocabulary

• Cliff - acantilado
• To crave - tener muchas ganas de
• Professor - profesor universitario
• Teacher - profesor (general)
• To throw a game - perder un partido a propósito
• To be stripped of - quitarle algo a alguien
• The tip of the iceberg - la punta del iceberg
• Disgrace - vergüenza
• Bad luck - desgracia
• Deception - engaño
• Disappointment - decepción
• Anticipate - prever
• Bring forward - anticipar (una fecha, un evento)
• A point - una idea, un argumento
• Parent - madre/padre
• Relative - pariente
• Ordinary - normal, común
• Rude - ordinario, maleducado
• Subject - asignatura
• Character - sujeto, personaje
• Prove - demostrar
• Try - probar, intentar
• Put on (weight) - engordar
• Drop out - abandonar (estudios, una carrera)
• Get on (with someone) - llevarse bien con alguien
• Liven up - animar
• Billboards - vallas publicitarias
• To grab - captar, agarrar
• Bus shelter - marquesina
• Advert / Advertisement - anuncio
• Warning - advertencia
• Advertising - publicidad
• Phenomenal - espectacular
• Great - fenomenal
• Commercial - anuncio (de televisión/radio)
• Trade - comercio, intercambiar

Intensifiers and Stronger Adjectives

• Scared to death / Scared - Petrified (miedo a la muerte)
• Hair-raising - Terrifying (los pelos de punta)
• Breathtaking / Impressive - Spectacular (asombroso)
• Thrilling - Exhilarating (emocionante)
• Huge / Big - Gigantic (enorme)
• Hungry - Starving (hambriento)
• Dirty - Filthy (puerco)
• Interested - Fascinated (interesado, fascinado)
• Tired - Exhausted (cansado)

Common Idiomatic Expressions

• A close shave - salvarse por los pelos
• Safe and sound - sano y salvo
• Just in case - por si acaso
• Cutting it fine - apurar mucho el tiempo (leaving very little time)
• The coast was clear - la costa estaba despejada (no había peligro)

Phrasal Verbs and Advanced Vocabulary

• Toy with: consider an idea or plan without being serious about it.
• Take on: decide or agree to do something; employ someone.
• Pick on: treat someone unfairly, criticize them repeatedly.
• Left out: not included in something.
• Throw out: force someone to leave a place.
• Turn up: arrive unexpectedly or without planning.
• Pull out: stop being involved in something.
• Call off: cancel an event or agreement.
• Thrill-seeker: a person who needs excitement and adventure.
• Think twice: hesitate or consider carefully before doing something.
• Starving: feeling extremely hungry.
• Stand out: be noticeable or prominent.
• Get across: succeed in communicating something clearly.
• Do away with: stop having or using something; abolish.
• Catch on: become popular or fashionable.
• Gigantic: extremely large.
• Dare: be brave enough to do something.
• Close shave: a situation where you narrowly avoid danger or disaster.
• Stick to: continue with a plan, decision, or habit.
• Get around to: do something that you have intended to do for a long time.
• Cut out: stop eating or doing something, especially to improve health.
• Work out: do physical exercise; solve a problem.
• A foul: an action that is against the rules of a sport.
• Drop out: to leave a course, university, or competition before finishing.
• Bully: to frighten or hurt a weaker person.
• Graduate: to complete a university degree or other course of study.
• An A-level: a school-leaving qualification in the UK.
• Outgoing: sociable and friendly.
• Cram: to learn a lot of things in a short time, usually for an exam.
• Master: to learn or understand something completely.
• Degree: a university qualification.
• An opponent: a person you are competing or fighting against.

Synonyms, Antonyms, and Binomials

Synonyms and Antonyms

• Unfail (Antonym of) Fail
• Useless (Antonym of) Useful
• Senior (Synonym for) Old (often implying higher rank or age)
• To raise (Synonym for) Increase
• Rich (Synonym for) Wealthy
• Looking (Synonym for) Browsing (in a specific context)
• Inactive (Synonym for) Sedentary
• Commercial (Synonym for) Advert / Advertisement
• Given in (Synonym for) Handed in
• Crying (Synonym for) In tears
• Continue with (Synonym for) Stick to
• Excellent marks (Expression) Flying colors (e.g., 'pass with flying colors')
• Had its ups and downs (experienced good and bad periods)
• Got none left (Synonym for) Sold out

Common Binomial Expressions

• Ups and downs
• The haves and the have-nots
• Here and there
• Now and then
• Give and take
• Fast asleep
• Wide awake
• Brand new
• Soaking wet
• Wide open
• Pitch black

Binomials with Spanish Equivalents

• Down and out - sin blanca y sin hogar (penniless and homeless)
• Fame and fortune - fama y fortuna
• Neat and tidy - limpio y ordenado
• Trial and error - ensayo y error
• Sick and tired - harto y cansado
• Cheap and cheerful - barato y alegre
• Peace and quiet - paz y tranquilidad