Unit 1

Word

Definition

Example

service

the help that people who work in a shop, restaurant, bar, etc. give you

The service was terrible and so was the food

packed

extremely full of people

The island was packed with tourists

terrace

a flat outdoor area next to a building or on a roof, where you can sit outside to eat, relax, etc

In the summer, we usually have breakfast on the terrace

vegetarian

used to describe someone who does not eat meat or fish

Mei is vegetarian, so let's make a vegetable curry

the fish place

used to refer to a familiar restaurant or café that specialises in fish dishes, etc

We can have lunch at the fish place near the station

suit everyone

to be acceptable, suitable or convenient for all the people involved

There are countryside walks to suit everyone

decent

of a good enough standard or quality

They offered him a decent salary

good value

used to say that something is worth what you pay for it

The lunch special is really good value

set menu

a set menu in a restaurant has a fixed price and a more limited choice than usual

The restaurant has a set menu for Christmas in addition to the à la carte one

fancy

to want to (do something)

Do you fancy a quick coffee, Liz?

spicy food

food that is spicy has a pleasantly strong taste, and gives you a pleasant burning feeling in your mouth

They serve delicious spicy food that will suit you if you like hot curries

outdoor heater

a machine for making air hotter, for use outside

We had a coffee and watched the sunset, because the waiter had lit the outdoor heaters

top quality

used to say that something is very good

Our chef uses only top quality ingredients

delicious

very pleasant to taste

Our recipes will show you ways of creating simple and delicious dishes

wait ages

to wait for a long time

I had to wait ages to get through airport security

get someone's order wrong

in a café or restaurant, to bring someone the incorrect dish or drink, different from the one they asked for

The server got my order wrong, but I ate the chicken anyway, and it was delicious!

be allergic to something

to have a medical condition in which you become ill or in which your skin becomes red and painful because you have eaten or touched a particular substance

I'm allergic to penicillin

plenty of choice

a wide range of people or things that you can choose from

Although it was a small shop there was plenty of choice

book in advance

to reserve a table, buy tickets, etc. before an event occurs

The band is very popular, so I recommend booking tickets in advance

put up the prices

to increase the cost or value of something

Most big stores admit they daren't put prices up for fear of losing their customers

freezing

extremely cold

It's freezing in this house. Can't I turn on the heating?

could do with somethinɡ

to need or want something

I could have done with some help this morning

tiny

extremely small

The bathroom on the boat was tiny

rough

a rough area is a place where there is a lot of violence or crime

When we first moved here, we lived in quite a rough part of the city

surrounded by somethinɡ

all around (someone or something) on every side

The field was surrounded by trees

move out

to leave the house where you are living now in order to go and live somewhere else

He moved out, and a year later they were divorced

move away

to go to live in a different area

My best friend moved away when I was ten

landlord

someone who rents a room, building or piece of land to someone

We asked the landlord for a new fridge

put up the rent

to increase the money that someone pays regularly to use a room, house, etc. that belongs to someone else

The landlords haven't put the rent up for four years

good condition

the good physical state that something is in

The car has been well maintained and is in good condition

lively

a place or situation that is lively is exciting because a lot of things are happening

The hotel is situated next to the lively bustling port

neighbourhood

the area around you or around a particular place, or the people who live there

Is there a good Chinese restaurant in the neighbourhood?

storage

space, etc. for keeping things in

They moved to a house with lots of storage space

knock down

to destroy a building or part of a building

They want to knock the house down and rebuild it

repair

to fix something that is damaged, broken, split or not working properly

Dad was up the ladder, repairing the roof

put in central heating

to install a system in which water or air is heated in one place and then sent around the rest of the building through pipes, etc. to heat it

They recommended that we change the windows and put in new central heating

basement

a room or area in a building that is under the level of the ground

We use the basement as a games room for the children

move in with someone

to start living with someone in the same home

I've moved in with my cousin until I start my new job

share the cost

to join with someone else to pay the money that you must regularly spend in order to run a home

I shared the cost of running the flat with two other students

rural

happening in or relating to the countryside, not the city

Many rural bus routes have been cancelled recently

central

in the middle of an area

We hope to move our office to a more central location

green

covered with grass, trees, bushes, etc

Birmingham has many parks and green areas

convenient for

used to describe a place where something is close and easy to reach

Grandma's flat is convenient for the shops and she can meet her friends at the local café

huge

extremely large

Our hotel bedroom was huge, with three beds and a sofa!

quite noisy

a place that is quite noisy is fairly full of noise

The café gets quite noisy at the end of the school day

get talking

to begin a conversation (with someone)

We got talking about the old days

get to bed

to go to bed

Our flight was late so we didn't get to bed till two in the morning

stay in

to spend the evening at home rather than go out

I was tired, so I decided to stay in

tidy up

to make a place look neatly arranged with everything in the right place

It's time we tidied up the office

miss

to be too late for (something)

I overslept and missed the train

cost a fortune

to be very expensive

It'll cost a fortune if we all stay in that hotel

stay up (late)

to not go to bed till after the time you would normally go to bed

I let the kids stay up late on Fridays

episode

a television or radio programme that is one of a series of programmes in which the same story is continued each week

Watch next week's thrilling episode!

play

a story that is written to be performed by actors, especially in a theatre

The play was performed by Brighton Youth Theatre

get home

to return to the house, apartment or place where you live

Ben gets home at 6.30 most evenings

throw a party

to have a social event when a lot of people meet together to enjoy themselves by eating, drinking, dancing, etc

The university threw a party to welcome them

celebrate someone's birthday

to show that somebody's birthday is important by doing something special or enjoyable

We're going out for a meal to celebrate Dad's birthday

queue

to form or join a line of people waiting to do something or go somewhere

We had to queue for ages to get served

be worth it

used to say that you gain something from an action

It was a lot of hard work, but it was worth it

go out for dinner

to go and eat in a restaurant

Would you like to go out for dinner on Saturday?

rely on someone

to trust or depend on someone or something to do what you need or expect them to do

Many working women rely on relatives to help take care of their children

get on with someone

if you get on with someone, you like each other and have a friendly relationship with each other

I've always got on well with Henry; we've been friends since we were 11

pass a message on

to give someone a message from someone else

I asked Rob if he would pass on a message for me

hang on

used to ask or tell someone to wait

Hang on! I'll be back in a minute

go on

to continue

I can't go on like this for much longer. I'm exhausted

pick someone up

to let someone get into your car, boat, etc. and take them somewhere

I'll pick you up at the station

stay up

to not go to bed till after the time you would normally go to bed

We stayed up all night talking

hurry up

used to tell someone to do something more quickly

Hurry up! We're late!

give up

to stop trying to do something

We spent half an hour looking for the keys, but eventually gave up and went home