Unit 7 - Survival

Word

Definition

Example

be in danger of (disappearing)

a situation in which something unpleasant might happen

Rainforests are in danger of disappearing unless we do something about it

be under threat from

likely to be harmed or damaged

High street shops are under threat from online shopping

(find it hard) to make ends meet

(find it difficult) to have just enough money to buy  the things that you need

My friend is a student and finds it hard to make ends meet

may not survive much longer

unlikely to continue to exist

Board games may not survive much longer unless parents encourage their kids to play them

put the survival of sthg at risk

put something in a situation in which it is unlikely to survive

Illegal downloading is putting the survival of cinemas at risk

stay alive

remain living, survive

You need water to stay alive

the biggest threat to

the largest danger to something

The biggest threat to books is the fact that people don't read enough

agree on sthg

to have the same opinion as someone else

Natasha and Danilo couldn't agree on what film to watch

apologise for sthg

to tell someone that you are sorry for doing something wrong or for causing a problem

The football player had to publicly apologise for his behaviour

apply for sthg

to make an official request for a job or a place in a college or university, or for permission to do or have something

Kathrine applied for the job last week

believe in sthg

to think that something is true or real

My niece believes in magic and fairies

belong to sthg/sbdy

to be owned by someone or something

That book belongs to me

complain about sthg/sbdy

to say that you are not satisfied with something or someone

Davide rang the helpline to complain about the poor customer service

concentrate on sthg

to give all your attention to the thing you are doing

I found it very difficult to concentrate on my work with all the noise outside

depend on sthg

if one thing depends on another, it is changed or affected by the other thing

What we do this weekend will depend on the weather

dream about sthg/sbdy

to experience things in your mind while you are sleeping

I often dream about what I would do if I won the lottery

forget about sthg/sbdy

to be unable to remember a fact or piece of information

Pierre forgot about his wife's birthday

go by yourself

to go somewhere alone

Juliette often goes to the cinema by herself

go on your own

to go somewhere alone

If no one wants to go with you, you could always go on your own

insist on sthg

to say very firmly that something must happen or must be done

He insisted on paying the bill

invest in sthg

to use your money with the aim of making a profit from it, for example by buying property or buying shares in a company

Richard invested a lot of money in the company

listen to sthg/sbdy

to pay attention to a sound or someone, or try to hear a sound or someone

They listened to the music and relaxed

look at sbdy

to direct your eyes towards someone so that you can see them

Please look at me when I'm talking to you

object to sthg/sbdy

to be opposed to something, or to express your opposition to it in words

We strongly object to the new law that the government is proposing

participate in sthg

to take part in something

Over 100 athletes participated in the competition

pay for sthg

to give money in order to buy something

I had to pay for a new phone as I lost mine last week

respond to sthg/sbdy

to react to something by taking a particular course of action

The man responded angrily to the question the interviewer asked

result in sthg

to be caused directly by something that has happened previously

The conference resulted in an historic agreement to cut emissions

save up for sthg

to regularly put money in a bank or invest it so that you can use it later

Antonio is saving up for a new guitar

shout at sbdy

to say something to someone in a loud voice

The teacher shouted at the student for not doing their homework

smile at sbdy

to raise the corners of your mouth when you are happy, pleased, or being friendly, or when you think something is funny

I always smile at my neighbour when I see them on the street

stare at sbdy

to look at someone very directly for a long time

Can you please stop staring at me?

stay in touch

to continue to write or speak to someone although you do not see them often

Social media has made it really easy to stay in touch with old school friends

worry about sthg/sbdy

to feel nervous and upset because you keep thinking about a problem that could happen in the future

I'm really worried about taking my driving test next week

at fault

responsible for a bad or unpleasant situation

It was difficult to say who was at fault for the car accident

at home

to be at the place where you live

Jack likes to spend his evenings watching TV at home

at risk

in a situation where something unpleasant or dangerous could happen to you

The fire chief said that three hundred homes were at risk from the forest fire

at work

to be at the place where you do your job

I'm afraid Maya isn't here right now – she's at work

by accident

by chance, without being planned or intended

I broke a chair at school by accident

by bus

to travel on a large vehicle with lots of seats

Daniel goes to university by bus

by chance

the way things happen without being planned or expected

I met my husband completely by chance on a coach

by heart

if you know something by heart, you can remember all the words in it without any help

We had to learn the poem by heart for homework

in charge

if you are in charge, you are in control over something or someone and are responsible for them

The woman in charge of the project said that we had two days to hand in our work

in danger

a situation in which harm, death, damage or destruction is possible

At the time I didn't realise my life was in danger

in theory

used for saying that something is believed to be true, although it may not be true

In theory, it was a great idea but in reality it was a disaster

in practice

used for talking about what really happens as opposed to what you think will or should happen

Drivers say we need speed limits but, in practice, they don't respect them

in the end

finally, after a period of time or thought

In the end,  Ian decided not to buy the ring

on average

used for talking about what is usually true, although it may not be true in every individual situation

On average, women live between five and seven years longer than men

on fire

burning

The building was still on fire three hours later

on offer

being sold for a lower price for a short time

These are just some of the items on offer this week

on purpose

deliberately

They think the fire was started on purpose

out of breath

breathing fast and with difficulty, for example because you have been running

She was out of breath from climbing the stairs

out of date

old and no longer legal or safe for modern processes or consumption

The food was out of date and had to be thrown away

out of order

a machine or piece of equipment that is out of order is not working correctly

I'm afraid the vending machine is out of order

out of sight

in a place that you cannot be seen from where you are

They passed behind the hill and out of sight