Unit 6

Word

Definition

Example

kill off

if a writer kills off a character, they write that characterˈs death into a series of books, films, TV episodes, etc

The actor died, so they had to kill off the character he had played for 20 years

character

a person in a book, play, film, etc

Homer Simpson is a great comic character

hilarious

extremely funny

The film was absolutely hilarious

make someone laugh

to cause someone to make sounds with their voice, because they think something is funny

I like Ron; he makes me laugh

episode

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

We watched the first episode of a new drama series, and we'll definitely be watching the rest!

switch over

to change the television channel you are watching or the radio station you are listening to

Switch over to BBC 2: the tennis is about to start

dull

not interesting or exciting

The weekly meeting tends to be very dull

useless

unable or unwilling to do anything properly

That plumber was useless; he made the problem worse!

vote off

in game shows and reality TV programmes, to dismiss somebody from a position by voting

Louisa was the first baker to be voted off the show

a fan of something/someone

someone who likes a particular sport or performing art very much, or who admires a famous person

He's a big fan of Elvis Presley

blockbuster

a book or film that is very good or successful

He starred in the latest Hollywood blockbuster

special effects

unusual images or sounds that have been produced artificially to be used in a film or television programme

Nowadays, computers can create special effects more cheaply

ending

the way that a story, film, etc. finishes

She prefers a story with a happy ending

be in tears

to be crying

When Evelyn put the phone down, she was in tears

series

a set of television or radio programmes that have the same characters or deal with the same type of subject, and are usually broadcast every week

A new drama series, set in Sri Lanka, starts next week

scene

a single piece of action that happens in one place in a film, book, etc

The film contains some violent scenes

tense

a tense situation is one in which you feel very anxious and worried because of something bad that might happen

Marion spoke, eager to break the tense silence

filming

the use of a camera, or the way the camera is used, to record a story or real events so that they can be shown in the cinema or on television

Filming starts in October

complex

consisting of many different parts and often difficult to understand

It was a very complex relationship between two complex people

confusing

unclear and difficult to understand

The road signs were very confusing and we ended up getting lost

dreadful

used to emphasise how bad something or someone is

The food was absolutely dreadful

enjoyable

something enjoyable gives you pleasure

Games can make learning more enjoyable

ordinary

average, common or usual, not different or special

The book is about ordinary people

predictable

if something or someone is predictable, you know what will happen or what they will do

The play was entertaining but predictable

ridiculous

very silly or unreasonable

None of us believed his ridiculous story

romantic

relating to being or falling in love

They said they were just friends, and there was no romantic relationship

shocking

making you feel very surprised or upset

His death was particularly shocking since the government were obviously involved in some way

violent

involving or showing actions intended to hurt people physically

Do violent films cause violent behaviour?

deliver

to take (goods, letters, packages, etc.) to a particular place or person

I'm having some flowers delivered for her birthday

assess

to make a judgement about (a person or situation) after thinking carefully about it

We'll have to assess the situation carefully, and then decide what to do next

replace

to remove (something) from its place, and put a new thing there

Two of the tyres had to be replaced

fix

to repair (something that is broken or not working properly)

He's outside fixing the brakes on the car

remove

to make (something) no longer exist, especially something that was causing problems

Some stains are difficult to remove with ordinary washing powder

look at something

to examine (something) and try to find out what is wrong with it

You should get the doctor to look at that cut

make a mistake

to do something in the wrong way, or give an opinion or statement that is incorrect

We may have made a mistake in our calculations

make a copy

to create something that is exactly like another thing

Be sure to make copies of all the documents

on time

at the correct time or the time that was arranged

Jack was worried about whether he'd be able to get there on time

leave a mess

if you leave a mess somewhere or a place is left in a mess, things there are dirty or not neatly arranged

The burglars left an awful mess in the house

efficient

if someone or something is efficient, they work well without wasting time, money or energy

We aim to provide our clients with an efficient and friendly service

reasonable

reasonable prices are not too high

Can you recommend somewhere with good food at a reasonable price?

convenient

useful to you because it saves you time, or does not spoil your plans or cause you problems

Is three o'clock convenient for you?

trust

to believe that (someone) is honest or will not do anything bad or wrong

Can they be trusted to look after the house?

reliable

someone or something that is reliable can be trusted or depended on

People living in the city want a reliable bus and train service

by chance

without being planned or caused by people

I bumped into her quite by chance in Oxford Street

by heart

when you know something by heart, you remember all of it exactly

After a few days of phoning Stephanie, he knew her number by heart

on average

based on a calculation about how many times something usually happens, how much money someone usually gets, etc

Nearly 80% of Swiss citizens on average turn out to vote

by accident

in a way that is not planned or intended

The discovery was made by accident

in a real hurry

much more quickly than usual

Sorry, I can't stop, I'm in a real hurry

in debt

when you owe money to someone

Nearly half the students said they were in debt

on your own

alone

I've been living on my own for four years now

on/by the coast

on the land near the sea

I used to live in a small village on the coast

in trouble

if someone is in trouble, they have done something which someone will punish them for or be angry about

We'll get in trouble if Mr Elliott finds out

celebrity

the state of being famous

She used her celebrity status to raise money for charity

culture

activities that are related to art, music, literature, etc

If it's culture you're looking for, the city has plenty of museums and art galleries

environment

the air, water and land on Earth, which is affected by man's activities

Legislation to protect the environment was discussed at the international summit

opinion

your ideas or beliefs about a particular subject

We asked people for their opinions about the Olympics

politics

ideas and activities relating to gaining and using power in a country, city, etc

There was much going on in world politics at the time

sport

(a) physical activity in which people compete against each other

He picked up the newspaper and turned to the sports pages

travel

journeys to places that are far away, usually for pleasure

My interests are travel and photography

record

the fastest speed, longest distance, highest or lowest level, etc. that has ever been achieved or reached, especially in sport

Pollution in the lake has reached record levels

profit

money that you gain by selling things or doing business, after your costs have been paid

Our profits are down this year

go on strike

if a group of workers go on strike, they stop working as a protest against something relating to their work,

An estimated 70,000 public sector workers went on strike

breakthrough

an important new discovery in something you are studying, especially one made after trying for a long time

Their findings led to a major technological breakthrough

treatment

something that is done to cure someone who is injured or ill

There have been great advances in the treatment of cancer

hit

if something bad hits a place or a person, it suddenly happens and affects people badly

Our business has been badly hit by the downturn in consumer spending

injury

a wound or damage to part of your body caused by an accident or attack

She was taken to hospital with serious head injuries

scandal

an event in which someone, especially someone important, behaves in a bad way that shocks people

He has been at the centre of a political scandal

find someone guilty of something

to make an official decision in a court of law that someone has done something that is a crime

The jury found her guilty of murder

sentence

a punishment that a judge gives to someone who is guilty of a crime

She received an eight-year prison sentence

side

one of the people, groups or countries opposing each other in a quarrel, war, etc

He fought on the Republican side in the Spanish Civil War

opinion poll

the process of asking a large group of people the same questions in order to find out what most people think about something

An opinion poll showed that 70% of the students were against raising the speed limit on motorways

quit

to leave (a job, school, etc.), especially without finishing it completely

People are now calling on the chairman to quit

keep out of the sun

to avoid being outside in strong sunlight

Parents were advised to keep their children out of the sun during the heatwave

slow

to become slower or to make something slower

The icy road conditions slowed the traffic

bid

an offer to pay a particular price for something

We've made a bid of nearly £400 million for the company

drop

to fall to a lower level or amount, especially a much lower level or amount

The number of deaths on the roads has dropped sharply

cut

a reduction in the size or amount of something, especially the amount of money that is spent by a government or company

Cuts in public spending mean that fewer people can go on to higher education

seize

to take control of (a place) suddenly and quickly, using military force

A group of soldiers seized the airport

row

a situation in which people disagree strongly about important public matters

They are holding talks in an effort to end the row