Unit 9

Word

Definition

Example

as fit as a fiddle

very healthy and strong

Granddad is 85 but he's as fit as a fiddle and still goes jogging!

blow (your, his, etc.) own trumpet

to tell everyone proudly about your achievements

Max is always blowing his own trumpet and saying how good he is at everything.

change (you're her, etc.) tune

to change your opinion completely, especially because you know it will bring you an advantage

You've changed your tune – yesterday you said you hated fast food and now you're eating a burger!

drum up support

get support for something

My friends and I are trying to drum up support for our local animal charity.

face the music

to experience the results of something bad you have done

I know Mum will be cross but let's tell her what's happened and face the music.

make a song and dance about

to make something seem more important than it really is so that everyone notices it

When I told Dad I'd lost his mobile phone, he made a huge song and dance about it.

play it by ear

to decide how to deal with a situation as it develops, rather than acting according to plans made earlier

I'm not sure what we're doing on Saturday but we can play it by ear depending on the weather

ring a bell

remind somebody of something, sound familiar

I think you've told me about Lucia before because the name rings a bell.

come up

happen soon

Your birthday's coming up, isn't it?

drop out (of)

leave, stop attending

Charlotte started at a local college, but didn't like it and dropped out after a couple of months.

give away

reveal

It's a fantastic film, but I don't want to give away the ending.

go in for

enter, e.g. a contest

I'm thinking of going in for the school music competition.

go on to

stop doing one thing and start another

He started by welcoming everyone, and then went on to introduce the new members of staff.

knock out (of)

defeat and remove from a competition

I took part last year but got knocked out in the semi-final.

put on

hold, perform, e.g. a show

Why don't we put on an end-of-term concert?

take on

accept, agree to do, e.g. responsibility, work, etc.

Have you got time to take on another small project, Caleb?

account

if you have an account with a bank, you can leave money there

Alison drew money out of her account to pay for our trip

accountant

someone whose job is to keep records of how much money a business has received and spent

He's an accountant for a large company.

apply

make a formal application or request

Amy applied the techniques she learnt from the animal trainers to her husband.

application

an official request for something, esp. one made in writing or by sending in a form

Have you looked at John's application for the new job?

assist

help (someone), typically by doing a share of the work

You assist experienced web producers and receive training.

assistance

help

He was of considerable assistance to us.

attend

be present at (an event, meeting, or function)

He did not attend the conference.

attendance

the fact of being at an event or going to a place

There are theories about why attendances are on the decline

consultant

someone who advises people on a particular subject

At the moment I'm working with an external consultant.

contest

a competition to do better than other people, usually in which prizes are given

She's won a lot of beauty contests.

contestant

a person who takes part in a contest or competition

He was a contestant on a TV game show.

cycle

to ride a bicycle

I cycle a lot too.

cyclist

someone who rides a bike

He drove into a cyclist.

guitar

a musical instrument usually with six strings that you play by pulling the strings with your fingers or with a plectrum

Danny plays the electric guitar.

guitarist

a person who plays the guitar

If I were in a band, I would be the guitarist.

journalist

someone who writes news reports for newspapers, magazines, television, or radio

A journalist interviewed the new managing director.

optimist

someone who always believes that good things will happen

Are you an optimist or a pessimist?

participate

to take part in an activity or event

Eight schools participated in the project.

participant

a person who takes part in something

According to the participants, the meeting was good.

perfect

not having any mistakes, faults, or damage

He bought a car in perfect condition.

perfectionist

a person who refuses to accept any standard short of perfection

He was a perfectionist who worked slowly

piano

large musical instrument with a keyboard

I learn to play the piano

pianist

someone who plays the piano

He was an accomplished pianist and composer, although he never published any of his works.

serve

perform duties or services for (another person or an organization)

He was elected to serve another six years.

service

a business that sells help, advice, consultancy, etc., not manufacturing

A lot of companies offer financial services now

special

different from other things or people in some way and often better or more important

I want to do something special for my birthday.

speciality

the speciality of a cook or restaurant is the food that is cooked by them in a special way and is always good

Fish is his speciality, and lots of people go to his restaurant for it.

violin

a small wooden musical instrument that you hold under your chin and play by pulling a bow (=special stick) across the strings

He is an admirable performer on the violin.

violinist

someone who plays the violin

He appeared in public as a violinist, taking part in Chappell's quartette concerts.