Small talk

like-minded people

People who are described as *** share the same opinions, ideas, or interests: A dedicated football fan herself, she started the magazine for ***.

genuine

[C1] If people or emotions are ***, they are honest and sincere: He's a very *** person.

within reason

[idiom] if you use good judgment: You can say whatever you like, ***.

bucket list

a list of the things that a person would like to do or achieve before they die: I have so many things on my *** yet to do.

interlocutor

someone who is involved in a conversation

recipe

/ˈres.ə.pi/ a set of instructions telling you how to prepare and cook food, including a list of what food is needed for this: For real South Asian food, just follow these ***.

to strike the balance

If you *** between two things, you accept parts of both things in order to satisfy some of the demands of both sides in an argument, rather than all the demands of just one side: It's a question of *** right *** between quality and productivity.

It doesn't (quite) add up.

It doesn't produce the anticipated/desired result.

to lessen

[C1] If something ***s or is l***d, it becomes not as strong: A healthy diet can *** the risk of heart disease.

counterpart

[C1] a person or thing that has the same purpose as another one in a different place or organization: The prime minister is to meet his European *** to discuss the war against drugs.

peer

[C1] a person who is the same age or has the same social position or the same abilities as other people in a group: Do you think it's true that teenage girls are less self-confident than their male ***?

to be fake

[C1] not real, but made to look or seem real: He was charged with possessing a *** passport. *** fur/blood

to opt for sth

[C1] to make a choice, especially of one thing or possibility instead of others: Many students *** business studies simply because it sounds like a passport to a good job.

How come?

[C1] used to ask how or why something has happened: So *** you missed the train? "We had to stop in Birmingham." "***?"

to be superficial

[C2] disapproving (of a person)] never thinking about things that are serious or important: He's fun to be with, but he's very ***. [C2] not complete and involving only the most obvious things: I thought that article was written at a very *** level.

to make a resolution

[C2] to make a promise to yourself to do or to not do something: [ + to infinitive ] I *** to give up chocolate.

to bark up the wrong tree

[US] to misdirect one's attack, energies, etc. [UK] to misdirect one's attention, efforts, etc; be mistaken to make the wrong choice; to ask the wrong person; to follow the wrong course. (Alludes to a dog in pursuit of an animal, where the animal is in one tree and the dog is *** at another ***.): If you think I'm the guilty person, you're ***.

to be flattering

[adjective] making someone look or seem better or more attractive than usual: a *** photograph He's always making *** remarks.

devil-may-care

[adjective] not considering or worrying about the results of your actions: He has a *** attitude to life.

to establish rapport

[build, establish, have, develop] a good understanding of someone and an ability to communicate well with them: We'd worked together for years and developed a close/good ***. She has an excellent *** with her staff.

to be self-righteous

[disapproving; уверенный в своей правоте] believing that your ideas and behaviour are morally better than those of other people: He's so *** - like he's never done anything wrong in his life.

to be attainable

[formal] possible to achieve; achievable: We must ensure that we do not set ourselves goals that are not ***.

It's not rocket science.

[idiom] [also "It doesn't take a *** ***ist] used to say that you do not think that something is very difficult to do or to understand: Come on, it's only a crossword, ***.

to pass the buck

[idiom] to blame someone or make them responsible for a problem that you should deal with: She's always trying to *** and I'm sick of it!

to show your true colors

[idiom] to show someone's real character for the first time, especially when it is unpleasant: It was only when they started to work together that she began to ***.

to dumb sth down

[informal; synonym - "to simplify"] to make something simpler and easier for people to understand, especially in order to make it more popular: The media was accused of ***ing *** the issue.

to kick the bucket

[informal] to die

to slack

[informal] to work more slowly and with less effort than usual, or to go more slowly: Everyone *** off/up at the end of the week.

flattery

[noun] the act of praising someone, often in a way that is not sincere, because you want something from them: I was really pleased when he said how well I'd done, because he isn't known for ***.

to be worked up

[pay attention to this phrasal verb; it has two absolutely different meanings] upset or very excited about something: It's easy to get *** when you're tired and everything seems to be against you. He was very *** about seeing his family again after so many years.

to butter smb up

[phrasal verb] to be very kind or friendly to someone or try to please someone, so that that person will do what you want them to do: You'll have to *** a bit before they'll agree.

to jot sth down

[phrasal verb] to write something quickly on a piece of paper so that you remember it: I carry a notebook so that I can *** any ideas.

to be contagious

[this word is particularly useful to know when everyone gets sick] A *** disease can be caught by touching someone who has the disease or a piece of infected clothing: The infection is highly ***, so don't let anyone else use your towel.

clementine

[turns out there are two pronunciations possible - UK and US; check https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/clementine for more info] a fruit like a small orange

to flatter

[verb] to praise someone in order to make them feel attractive or important, sometimes in a way that is not sincere: I knew he was only *** me because he wanted to borrow some money.

Europe

[watch the pronunciation https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/europe] the continent that is to the east of the Atlantic Ocean, to the north of the Mediterranean, and to the west of Asia

to be prudent

[благоразумный] [decision, choice, suggestion] [opposite - im***] careful and avoiding risks: [ + to infinitive ] It's always *** to read a contract carefully before signing it.

rightful

[правомерно] A *** position or claim is one that is morally or legally correct: Don't forget that I am the *** owner of this house.

to be a daredevil

[сорвиголова] a person who does dangerous things and takes risks

nicety

a minor aspect of polite behavior: Washing your hands before dinner is a "social ***."

hoodie

a sweatshirt (= cotton clothing for the upper body) that has a hood to cover the head

to be appealing to smb

attractive or interesting: The idea of not having to get up early every morning is rather ***.

to be confrontational

causing or involving angry disagreement: You should try to be less *** if you want to work well in a team.

to be affable

friendly and easy to talk to: He struck me as an *** sort of a man. She was quite *** at the meeting.

to put sth in jeopardy

in danger of being damaged or destroyed: The deal could be *** if it emerges the company is engaged in activities prohibited by the US government. The 1.2 billion euro investment programme was being *** by the strikes.

to be passable

satisfactory but not excellent: Mary can speak *** French. How was your weekend? - ***.

It's a change for the better/worse.

something new or different that leads to an improvement/decrease of the initial state of affairs: He has started drinking a lot less, which is definitely ***.

It's a game changer.

something such as a product or event that affects a situation or area of business very much: The hit show has been a *** for the network.

to interrogate

to ask someone a lot of questions for a long time in order to get information, sometimes using threats or violence: Thousands of dissidents have been *** or imprisoned in recent weeks.

to be a couch potato

to be a person who watches a lot of television and does not have an active life

to be a nuisance

to be or someone that annoys you or causes trouble for you: I've forgotten my umbrella - what a ***! I hate to be a ***, but could you help me?

Bear with me.

to be patient and wait while someone does something: If you'll just *** for a moment, I'll find you a copy of the drawings.

to be tipsy

to be slightly drunk: Auntie Pat is getting a little *** again.

to encounter

to come across sth; to find something or someone by chance: I've *** this word many times in various sources.

to make a fool of yourself

to do something that makes other people think you are silly or not to be respected: I got a little drunk and ***.

to come across sth

to encounter; to find something or someone by chance: He *** some old love letters.

to appeal to smb

to interest or attract someone: It's a programme designed to *** mainly to 16 to 25-year-olds.

to nod

to move the head down and then up again quickly, esp. to show agreement, approval, or greeting: [ I/T ] The teacher *** (his head) in agreement.

to jeopardize

to put something such as a plan or system in danger of being harmed or damaged: She knew that by failing her finals she could *** her whole future.

to sing a carol

to sing a happy or religious song, usually one sung at Christmas

to know your audience

to understand what is suitable and what isn't for a specific group of people

Each to their own.

used to say that everyone likes different things: You actually like modern jazz, do you? ***.

undoubtedly

very likely; almost certainly: It is *** one of the best movies of the year.

Don't flatter yourself.

Не льсти себе.

to pay a compliment

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to set off/light fireworks

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