Unit 9

Word

Definition

Example

bill

a piece of paper that shows how much you have to pay for something.

Did the electricity bill come in the post this morning?

cash

money in the form of coins or banknotes.

Could you lend me £10? I haven't got any cash on me.

cashpoint

a machine where you can take money out of your bank account (also called an ATM).

Excuse me, is there a bank near here? Or a cashpoint?

change

the money you get back after paying more than the exact amount.

I'd get a drink from the machine but I haven't got any change – only a €10 note.

credit card

a plastic card used to buy things and pay later.

Some people say that using a credit card makes it easier to control spending.

discount

a reduction in the usual price of something.

I got an amazing discount on these shoes – they had 50% off.

PIN

a secret personal number used to access your bank account.

You shouldn't use the same PIN for all your cards and your phone – it's not secure.

receipt

a printed paper that shows you have paid for something.

Shall I put the receipt in the bag for you?

refund

to give money back to someone; (n) money returned after a purchase.

Could I have a refund on this jacket, please? It's not my style.

till

a machine in a shop used to keep money and record sales.

I'm sorry but this till is closed. There are two open at the front of the store.

carry on

continue

Please carry on until I get back.

decide on

choose one thing from various options

We arrived at the party late because my friend couldn't decide on what to wear.

pick on

keep treating sb badly

I wish you wouldn't keep picking on me all the time!

press on

continue doing sth despite difficulties

I was tired but I had to finish before the end of the day so I decided to press on.

put on

make a machine or piece of electrical equipment start working

I always put the radio on as soon as I wake up.

sleep on

wait until the next day to make a decision

I'll sleep on your suggestion and let you know tomorrow.

start on

begin to criticise sb

Don't start on me! It wasn't my fault.

switch on

make a machine or piece of electrical equipment start working

You need to switch the computer on at the back.

do business with

to trade or work together with another person or company.

They're so demanding that I really can't do business with them.

get a bargain

to buy something at a lower price than usual.

You really got a bargain when you bought your new tablet in the sales.

go bankrupt

to lose all your money and be unable to pay your debts.

Anushka went bankrupt when her business failed.

make a fortune

to earn or gain a large amount of money.

Sarah made a fortune when she sold her company.

make a living

to earn money to support yourself or your family.

It's getting harder to make a living from photography.

make a loss

to spend more money than you earn in business.

The business made a huge loss last year.

make a profit

to earn more money than you spend.

This year, we've made a profit of over a million pounds!

make a purchase

to buy something.

We'll give you a bonus every time you use your credit card to make a purchase!

produce

to create or make something, especially in large amounts.

This factory produces cars for markets all over Europe.

economy

the system by which money, goods, and services are produced and used in a country.

The global economy is slowly recovering after the crisis.

grow

to increase in size, number, or amount.

The company hopes to grow its customer base by 20% this year.

harm

(v) to cause damage or injury; (n) damage or injury caused.

Pollution can harm both people and wildlife.

revolution

a big change in society, politics, or technology.

The internet started a revolution in how people communicate.

manufacture

(v) to make goods in large quantities, usually in a factory; (n) the process of producing goods.

The company manufactures high-quality sports equipment.

reduce

to make something smaller or less in amount, size, or degree.

We can reduce waste by recycling more and using less plastic.

protect

to keep someone or something safe from harm or danger.

The new law aims to protect endangered species from extinction.