Essential English Vocabulary: Phobias, Looks, and Idioms

Common Phobias

• Arachnophobia: Fear of spiders
• Technophobia: Fear of technology
• Agoraphobia: Fear of open places
• Acrophobia: Fear of heights
• Claustrophobia: Fear of small places
• Hydrophobia: Fear of water

Expressions of Danger

• In grave danger: To be in a serious and dangerous situation.
• In imminent danger: To be at potential risk in a short period of time.
• Fraught with danger: Full of danger.

Types of Looks and Gazes

Peek

A quick and secret look at something you shouldn't be looking at, especially through a small opening.

• Cautious peek
• Curious peek
• Sneaky peek

Glimpse

To look at something for a short period and not completely.

• Brief glimpse
• Tentative glimpse
• Dreamy glimpse

Glare

An angry look.

• Menacing glare
• Furious glare

Peep

• Surreptitious peep
• Furtive peep
• Intent peep

Gaze

A long, steady look at something.

• Fierce gaze
• Defiant gaze
• Steely gaze
• Intimidating gaze

Glance

• Fleeting glance

Risk and Benefit Terminology

• Risk-averse: Opposed to risky situations.
• Inherent risk: A risk that is naturally contained within something.
• Calculated risk: A risk that is carefully planned.
• To be paid off: To compensate or yield results.
• In the long run: Something that will be beneficial over a large period of time.

Idioms and Phrases

• Fell silent: To express silence due to astonishment.
• Girder: A structural beam.
• Up to this point: Until this time.
• To be little more than a stroll: To be very easy.
• Break a fall: To prevent yourself from falling.
• Daunting: Overwhelming or incredible.
• To drain something out of you: To flow out or exhaust.
• To be burdened with: Full of.
• Stood on: To stay in a place.
• Calm before the storm: A quiet period before a crisis.
• Make heavy weather of something: To take more time than normal.
• Ride the storm: To control a difficult situation.
• Keep a weather eye: To have a careful look at something.
• Take something by weather: To take something literally.
• A storm of protest: A massive protest.
• Under the storm: To endure a scolding.
• But for the fact: If something had not happened.
• To be the whole story: A complete explanation.
• Rich insight: Something that provides clarity to a situation.
• Buddy system: A partnership system for mutual support.