Unit 7

Word

Definition

Example

bargain

something on sale at a lower price than its true value

Those shoes were a bargain – I should have bought two pairs!

brand-new

new and not yet used

It's a brand-new video game – it only came out yesterday.

cash card

a special plastic card given to you by a bank that allows you to take money out of your bank account using a cash machine

I need to go to the cash machine but I can't find my cash card anywhere.

change

to make or become different

Here's your receipt, and here's your change.

cost

how much you must pay

How much did your coat cost?

exchange

the act of giving something to someone and them giving you something else

I got a shirt for my birthday but it's too small so I'm going to exchange it for a bigger one.

half price

price reduced by 50%

These jeans are normally €40 but I got them half price in the sales.

special offer

a specially reduced price or other financial inducement, usually available for only a limited period of time

We've got this cheese on special offer this week – three packs for the price of two.

order

to ask for something to be made, supplied, or delivered, especially in a restaurant or shop

We haven't got that book in stock, but we can order it for you.

rent

to pay or receive a fixed amount of money for the use of a room, house, car

My grandparents don't own their flat – they rent it.

return

the amount of profit made from an investment

I got a shirt for my birthday but it's got a black mark on it so I'm going to return it.

second-hand

used

They have lots of nice second-hand furniture in that shop.

voucher

a ticket that can be used instead of money for a particular purpose

My uncle usually sends me a gift voucher so I can choose my own birthday present.

add up to

form a total

If you get all these clothes, it'll add up to over €100.

get by

survive (with enough money)

It's difficult to get by if you can't find a job.

give away

to provide sb with something that you no longer want or need

These clothes are too small for Tomek now, so I'll give them away.

pay back

return money you have borrowed

I'll pay you back on Friday, I promise.

run out of

not have any left

We've run out of milk, so I'll go and get some.

save up

keep money until you have enough to buy something

I'm saving up for a new bike.

shop around

look in different shops

If you shop around, you might find the same phone cheaper.

take back

return

I bought a new shirt yesterday but it's got a black mark on it so I'm going to take it back.

be on sb

someone will pay for it

The meal's on me because I'm celebrating!

go on a spending spree

spend a lot

She won the lottery and went on a spending spree.

like a bull in a china shop

awkward

Calm down, George – stop rushing around like a bull in a china shop!

window shopping

the activity of spending time looking at the goods on sale in shop windows without intending to buy any of them

I haven't got any money, but I'm happy to go window shopping.

assistant

someone whose job is to help customers in a shop

He's a sales assistant in the local book shop.

buyer

a person who pays money for something, or a person whose job is to decide what goods will be brought into a store for sale

Many potential buyers don't finish their purchases online

cashier

a person handling payments and receipts in a shop, bank, or business

He made cashiers hand over all the money.

cash

money in coins or notes

I don't carry any cash on me

customer

a person who buys goods or a service

A customer is someone who buys goods or services.

custom

something that is done by people in a particular society because it is traditional

Are there any local customs I should be aware of?

electrician

someone whose job is to connect or repair electrical wires or equipment

I worked as an electrician 2 years ago.

hairdresser

a person who cuts, washes, and arranges people's hair in particular styles

I don't like my hairdresser, I'd better change her

lawyer

someone whose job is to advise people about laws, write formal agreements, or represent people in court

He asked for his lawyer to come negotiate his surrender

law

the whole system of rules that people in a particular country or area must obey

Elected officials ought to obey the law.

librarian

a person in charge of or assisting in a library.

As a librarian, I'm surrounded by books all day, but I don't have time to read any!

library

a room or building containing books that can be looked at or borrowed

He borrowed a few books from the library for a week

manager

someone whose job is to manage part or all of a company or other organization

Ask the manager.

mechanic

someone whose job is repairing the engines of vehicles and other machines

The mechanic pointed out the repair on the front of my car.

optician

a person qualified to prescribe and dispense glasses and contact lenses

I visited the optician yesterday.

owner

someone who owns something

All dog owners must clean after their pets.

receptionist

a person who works in a place such as a hotel, office, or hospital, who welcomes and helps visitors and answers the phone

A receptionist works at a hotel check-in desk.

reception

the action or process of receiving something sent, given, or inflicted

His ideas met with a hostile reception.

salesperson

someone whose job is to persuade people to buy his or her company's products

But if the idea makes you uncomfortable, ask a salesperson to help.

seller

a person who is selling something

Sellers must provide additional service to attract customers

shopper

someone who goes to a shop to buy things

The town was crowded with shoppers today.

supervisor

a person who supervises a person or an activity.

If you have a problem, go to your supervisor

visit

to go to a place in order to look at it, or to a person in order to spend time with them

He visits his parents at the weekend.

waitress

a woman whose job is to serve meals to people in a restaurant

I work as a waitress in a restaurant.