Essential English Vocabulary: Expressions, Phrasal Verbs, and Collocations

Save a goal = Block a shot

Set a record = Establish best

Left out = Excluded

Getting ahead = Progressing

Stand a chance = Have possibility

Slow down = Decelerate

Qualify for = Become eligible

An edge over = Advantage

Go for = Choose

Just in case = If it happens

As good as new = In perfect condition

All summer long = The whole summer

Take my mind off things = Distract myself

On the ground

Bump into

Squeeze through

Run out of

At high speed

What had hit me

Measure → Height, a room

Grab → A handbag, a sandwich

Stable → Medical condition, person

Shaken → After an accident, after seeing a horror film

Poisonous → Mushroom, chemicals

Sharp → Knife, teeth

Prepositions

Different from

Impact on

Accounts for

Equal to

Classified as

In particular

Devoted to

At sunrise

At dawn

At sunset

Prefixes

Re- → Act, new, start

Sub- → Marine, way, zero

En- → Danger, close, sure

Co- → Worker, operate, star

Un- → Able, believable, fair

Self- → Employed, conscious, confident

TAKE

• Take the train
• Take pride in → Proud of
• Take the trouble → Make the effort
• Take advantage of → Made good use of
• Take any notice of → Pay attention to
• Take it for granted → Accepted as true
• Take place
• Take a look
• Take a ride
• Take notice of

SIGN

• A contract
• Autographs
• A petition

BREAK

• Break my heart
• Break the news

PAY

• Pay attention to
• Pay a compliment
• Pay your price

CAUGHT

• Caught my attention

GIVE

• An explanation
• Approval
• Your word
• The impression

SPREAD

• The word
• The news
• Gossip
• Infection

FULFIL

• An ambition
• An obligation
• A promise

RELEASE

• An album
• A prisoner
• Tension

REACH

• An audience
• Your destination
• A conclusion
• An agreement

GAIN

• A following
• Weight
• Confidence
• Experience

RAISE

• Awareness
• Money
• A question
• A child

Put down (this book)

Out of the ordinary

Set in

Get out of

Spread the word

Put up with

Fed up with = Tired of/bored with

Move on = Progress

Keep up = Continue

Turn up = Arrive

Turn down = Reject

Fool around = Waste time

Fall behind = Not keep up with

Hand in = Submit (work)

Answer back = Reply rudely

Put up = Tolerate

Set up = Establish

Let down = Disappoint

Set off = Start a journey

Put off = Discourage

Get through = Pass

Go on

Go off = Suddenly leave

Bring about = Cause/provoke

Look up = Research, check

Look out for = Guard, watch

Look through = Scan, examine

Look up to = Admire, respect

Make into = Convert, transform

Make up = Invent, reconcile

Make of = Perceive, regard

Make out = Discern, decipher

Make up for = Compensate, atone

Put on = Don, stage

Show off = Boast, flaunt

Stand up for = Defend

Talk sb into = Persuade

Turn sb down = Say no

Making up = Invent

Speak up = Express your opinion

Call off = Cancel

Stand by = Stick to

Keep your mind on = Maintain focus

Backed up = Support

Hand out = Delivery

Make for = Immediately went to

Make (sb) out = Recognize

Make of = Understand from

Make up with = Stopped being angry

Make do with = Accept

Go away = Leave

Chill out = Relax

Sum up = Summarize

Fall over = Trip/Collapse

Get away with = Escape punishment

Click on = Select

Give up = Abandon

Get over = Recover from

Get up = Rise

Look for = Search for

Close down = Shut down

Sit down = Rest

Switch on = Turn on

Get someone down = Depress

Let someone in = Allow entry

Live up to = Meet expectations

Fill in = Complete, supply

Get ahead = Progress, succeed

Get along with = Harmonize, be friendly

Get by = Manage, subsist

Get over = Recover, surmount

Get through = Endure, complete

TAKE

Take off = Remove (clothing)

Take down = Dismantle

Take after = Resemble

Take on = Assume a role or hire

Take up = Commence a hobby

Take back = Return

Take out = Bring out

Stand up to = Refuse to give in

Picking on = Treat badly

Relationships

• Strong bond
• Affection, trust, confidence
• Stay/keep in touch
• Get together = Meet up
• Encourage = Support
• Walk alongside = Accompany
• To be proud = Take pride in
• Count on = Rely on
• Go through = Undergo
• Upbringing = Childhood
• Fiancé = Partner
• Acquaintances = Contacts
• Foster parents = Temporary guardians
• Companion = Friend
• Socialise = Interact
• Fall for = Develop feelings for
• Keep company = Be with
• Loyal = Faithful
• United = Joined
• Hate = Loathe
• Feel like = Fancy
• Break her heart = Make her extremely sad
• Break up with = Stop seeing
• Despise = Really don’t like
• Turn off = Make sb lose interest
• Hit it off = Dislike (contextual)
• Can’t stand = Became friends (contextual)
• Bring up = Raise
• Reassure = Convince
• Consult = Ask for advice
• Get my hopes up = Raise my expectations
• Oddball = Strange person
• Schemes = Plans
• Tightened = Made smaller
• Peek = Look
• Squeezed = Pressed
• Steer = Guide
• Dropped a bombshell = Told shocking news
• Could use = Would like
• Nickname = Informal name
• Polish = Varnish
• Stammer = Hesitate
• Brakes = Stop mechanism
• Marching = Parading
• Coat = Jacket
• Blink = Wink
• Adjust = Adapt
• Restored = Repaired
• Stare = Look intently
• Been through thick and thin = Experienced good and bad times
• A good laugh = Someone funny
• Like brothers/sisters from another mother = Very close friends
• Turn to = Go to someone for help
• Stands up for me = Defends me
• Has got my back = Support and protect
• Lips are sealed = Promise not to tell
• Spill the beans = Reveal a secret
• A fair-weather friend = Only a friend when things are good

Business & Professional

• Lifelong friends = Friends for life
• Drifted apart = Become less close
• Joined at the hip = Spend all time together
• Crash at = Stay temporarily
• Invested = Committed
• Soothing = Calming
• Purchase = Buy
• Consultant = Advisor
• Target customers = Clientele
• Chain of shops = Retailer
• Crafted = Made
• Meet the deadline = Finish on time
• On duty = Working
• At risk = Endangered
• On the line = At stake
• Promote = Advance
• Establish = Found
• Fire = Dismiss
• Hire = Employ
• Head = Chief
• Resign = Quit
• Intern = Trainee
• Unemployment benefits = Welfare
• Reject = Decline
• Unskilled labour = Manual labor
• Skilled labour = Qualified labor
• Paperwork = Administration
• Partnership = Collaboration
• Duties = Responsibilities
• Reference = Recommendation
• Wages = Salary
• Position = Role
• Overtime = Extra hours
• Workaholic = Overworker
• Income = Revenue
• Post = Job
• Apprentice = Learner
• Vacancy = Opening
• Shift work = Rota
• A steady job = Stable work
• Stiff competition = Fierce rivalry
• Work flexitime = Flexible hours
• Work nine to five = Standard hours
• Making a profit = Earning
• Incident = Event
• On a regular basis = Consistently
• Aircraft = Plane
• Reckon = Believe
• Basically = Essentially
• Convinced = Sure
• Incredible = Amazing
• Quit = Leave
• Hazardous = Dangerous
• Condition = Illness
• Pull through = Recover
• Tear = Hole
• Had it = Would die
• Make it = Survive
• Predict = Say what will happen
• Sweat and blood = Hard work
• Worked her fingers to the bone = Worked very hard
• Learned the ropes = Understood how to do a job
• Talked shop = Discussed business
• Got the sack = Was fired
• Cooked the books = Changed financial figures dishonestly
• Brought home the bacon = Earned money