Unit 9, Language, Literature and Culture

Word

Definition

Example

crime fiction

narratives that centre on criminal acts and especially on the investigation, either by an amateur or a professional detective, of a crime, often a murder

My favourite genre is crime fiction. I love trying to guess who's guilty before the detective!

critic

someone whose job is to make judgments about the good and bad qualities of art, music, films etc

He's a good critic, but he can be a bit cruel in his reviews!

editor

the person who is in charge of a newspaper or magazine, or part of a newspaper or magazine, and decideswhat should be included in it

My uncle is the editor of the local newspaper and sometimes he writes articles too

fantasy

a story, film etc that is based on imagination and not facts

I think the best fantasy novel ever written is The Lord of the Rings

graphic novel

in which the story is told in a series of pictures drawn inside boxes like in a comic

I like reading graphic novels to chill out – all the pictures mean you don't have to think too much!

historical fiction

a novel set in a real place, during a culturally recognizable time

My sister loves historical fiction. She's reading a book about the Tudors at the moment

legend

a traditional story sometimes popularly regarded as historical but not authenticated

The story of Robin Hood is a legend, no-one really knows if he existed or not

novelist

a writer of novels

He wants to be thought of as a serious novelist, but he's most famous for his funny short stories

playwright

a person who writes plays

William Shakespeare is probably the most famous playwright the world has ever known

romantic novel

a type of genre fiction novel which places its primary focus on the relationship and romantic love between two people

That must be a romantic novel – look at the cover. It's pink with little hearts all over it!

science fiction

stories about events in the future which are affected by imaginary developments in science, for example about travelling in time or to other planets with life on them

I don't really like science fiction. Stories about aliens and strange planets don't interest me at all

tragedy

a serious play or book that ends sadly, especially with the death of the main character

The play is a tragedy, but although the end is very sad, there are

some funny bits too

bring up

mention

I'm not sure if now's the right time to bring this up, but have you thought any more about our holiday?

flick through

look at but not read in detail

I've flicked through your report but I'll study it in detail later

get across

explain, communicate

We need to get across the idea that this product is the best!

go on

talk more than is necessary and become boring

I love my grandmother very much but she does go on

put forward

suggest

Some of the students have put forward the idea of a trip to a castle

read up about

get detailed information about something by doing research

I read up about the author before I went to hear him read extracts from his new novel

spell out

explain something very clearly and in detail

I know it's not difficult, but I'm going to spell it out very clearly so I'm sure you've understood

talk through

discuss something, e.g. a problem or an idea

Let's sit down and talk it through. I'm sure there's a solution

say hello/goodbye/goodnight

to greet someone/ used when you are leaving someone, or when they are leaving /used to say goodbye when you are leaving someone or they are leaving at night

Dan, your cousins are going now, so come and say goodbye

say sorry

very bad, especially in a way that makes you feel pity or disapproval

You'd better say sorry to Annie for ripping her jacket

speak against / in favour of sth

to vocalize one's criticisms of or arguments against someone or something / to state your support for someone

Some people at the meeting spoke against the proposals

speak for yourself

give one's own opinions

Speak for yourself! You may be happy about having an extra 30 minutes of classes every day, but I'm not!

speak well/highly of sb

to say or indicate something favorable about

The new headteacher's doing a really good job – all of the teachers and students speak highly of her

speak your mind

express one's opinions frankly

My mum always speaks her mind, which some people think is a bit impolite sometimes

tell a joke

to say things in an amusing or playful manner

I'm bad at telling jokes – I can never remember the endings

tell a lie/the truth

to speak falsely or utter untruth knowingly, as with intent to deceive / to tell  someone something in an open and honest way, without trying to hide anything

Angie told me that her uncle is a millionaire, but I'm not sure she was telling the truth

tell a story

to tell someone about something that has happened or what someone has said

Our dad always used to tell us a story before we went to sleep

tell sb a secret

to give information about something, especially something that should be kept secret

If I tell you a secret, will you promise not to tell anyone else?

tell the difference between things

to see how two or more people or things are unlike each other

How can you tell the difference between a dove and a pigeon?

tell the time

to be able to know what time

I learnt to tell the time when I was about six years old

able

clever or good at doing something

Mrs Thomas is a very able teacher

unable

not able to do something

Lucy was unable to find out what had happened

capable

able to do things well

She is a strong capable woman

disabled

someone who is disabled cannot use a part of their body properly, or cannot learn easily

They joined a support group for parents of disabled children

ability

the state of being able to do something

The health center serves all patients, regardless of their ability to pay

capability

the natural ability, skill, or power that makes a machine, person, or organization able to do something, especially something difficult

I can speak French, but simultaneous translation is beyond my capabilities

appear

to start to be seen, to arrive, or to existin a place, especially suddenly

Two faces appeared at our window

disappear

to become impossible to see any longer 

The sun had disappeared behind a cloud

appearance

the way someone or something looks to other people

He was always criticising his wife's appearance

apparent

easy to notice

It soon became apparent that we had a major problem

apparently

used to say that you have heard that something is true, although you are not completely sure about it

Apparently the company is losing a lot of money

know

to have information about something

Who knows the answer?

knowledge

the information, skills, and understanding that you have gained through learning or experience

He did not have much knowledge of American history

knowledgeable

knowing a lot

Graham's very knowledgeable about wines

known

used about something that people know about or have discovered

Apart from vaccines, there is no known way to protect against meningitis

knowing

showing that you know all about something, even if it has not been discussed directly

She exchanged a knowing smile with her mother

lonely

unhappy because you are alone or do not have anyone to talk to

Don't you get lonely being on your own all day?

speak

to talk to someone about something

I spoke to her last Wednesday

speaker

someone who makes a formal speech to a group of people

She was the guest speaker at the conference at her university

speech

a talk, especially a formal one about a particular subject, given to a group of peoplemake/give/deliver a speech

Each child had to give a short speech to the rest of the class

speechless

unable to speak because you feel very angry, upset etc

When I told him I was pregnant, he was totally speechless

unspeakable

used for emphasizing how bad someone or something is

That accident was an unspeakable tragedy for the family

surround

to be all around someone or something on every side

The field was surrounded by trees

surroundings

the objects, buildings, natural things etc that are around a person or thing at a particular time

He switched on the light and examined his surroundings

surrounding

near or around a particular place

We decided to explore the surrounding countryside

think

to have a particular opinion or to believe that something is true

I think that you're being unfair

thinker

someone who thinks carefully about important subjects such as science or philosophy, especially someone who is famous for thinking of new ideas

Binh was a man of ideas, a thinker ahead of his times

thought

something that you think of, remember, or realize

It's an interesting thought

thinking

your opinion or ideas about something, or your attitude towards it

The Administration's thinking changed as the war progressed

thoughtful

always thinking of the things you can do to make people happy or comfortable

It was really thoughtful of you to remember my birthday

thoughtless

not thinking about the needs and feelings of other people, especially because you are thinking about what you want

It was thoughtless of her not to tell you where she was going

vary

if several things of the same type vary, they are all different from each other

Test scores vary from school to school

various

if there are various things, there are several different types of that thing

The jacket is available in various colours

variable

likely to change often

These fish are highly variable in color and pattern

variation

a difference between similar things, or a change from the usual amount or form of something

White bread is really just a variation of French bread

variety

the differences within a group, set of actions etc that make it interesting

I really like the variety the store has to offer

invariably

if something invariably happens or is invariably true, it always happens or is true

The security guards were invariably ex-servicemen