PET Vocabulary List - difficult words

cab

(American word for taxi)

cushion

(a cloth bag usually filled with feathers. Used to make a seat more comfortable)

bin

(a container for putting rubbish in)

bug

(a general word for insect)

stadium

(a large building, usually without a roof, where people watch sports events such as football matches or races)

customs officer

(a person who works in customs)

cabin

(a private room on a ship / the part of a plane where the passengers sit / a small wooden building in the wilderness)

bucket

(a round open container with a handle used to carry liquid)

handkerchief

(a small square piece of cloth or paper used for wiping your nose or eyes)

materials

(a substance; often used for building and making clothes, for example: wool, brick, stone, denim, cotton, wood)

raw

(not cooked / natural / not processed)

colleague

(someone you work with)

customs

(the area in an airport where they check and scan your luggage)

sleeve

(the part of a piece of clothing that covers your arm)

to carry out

(to complete a job or task - 2 words)

customer

22,000 ______________________ visit an Apple store every week (someone who buys products or services)

cheerful

ADJECTIVE (a happy person)

pollution

Air _________________________ kills 3 million people every year The ________________________ is caused mainly by traffic... Water ________________________ is caused by many events such as oil pollution from boats, sewer water being pumped into the oceans, plastic and other materials falling into the water, oil disasters at sea... (the process of damaging the air, water, or land with chemicals or other substances)

delivery

Almost 20% of deliveries are now from orders placed on Amazon's website (the NOUN of 'deliver')

absent

Angela was __________________ from class yesterday (ADJECTIVE) (to not be present --usually from a class) Also: absent-minded - to be forgetful and a dreamer

accurate

Atomic clocks are _______________________ to one second in every 300 years. If the weather forecast is ______________________ it is going to snow tomorrow ADJECTIVE (correct in all details / exact)

to cough

Because he is a smoker he often has a __________________. She went straight to the doctor because she was ___________________ up blood VERB and NOUN (when something is forced out of your mouth by your body / sometimes used to get someone's attention)

to contain

Coca-Cola ___________________ a lot of caffeine The tea was removed from sale because it was found to __________________ small amounts of metal The package was seized by police because it ______________________ over 1 kilo of cocaine (To have something inside of something)

amount

Did you give me the right __________________ of change? No ________________ of money would change my decision Music gives me a huge __________________ of pleasure A certain ___________________ of stress can be a good thing at work (the quantity of something)

to share

Do you want to ____________________ a dessert? I ____________________ my flat with two other people I car ____________________ with one of my colleagues (to use or have something at the same time as someone else)

fans

Football ________________ are very loyal. They support their team through the highs and lows. They travel to watch matches and they often follow the team for their whole life. Music __________________ sometimes become obsessed with their idols. Just recently an Italian singer was killed by a fan because she didn't respond to his letters and he didn't want anyone else to be with her. (the people who support a team, music artist, actor or a celebrity)

to appear

He ________________________ to be threatening her but it's hard to tell from the video He ____________________ to be drunk [formal] (looks as if)

broad

He has very ___________________ shoulders (wide)

ankle

He slipped on the wet grass and broke his _______________ A large bone that allows the foot to move up and down and left to right / It connects the foot to the leg

track

He took the corner too fast and his car went off the _________________ and crashed into the audience The circular ______________________ used for running races was 5 km long (a piece of ground used for racing)

brakes (to brake)

He was such a fast driver that he hardly ever used the _________________________ The car has really efficient ____________________. It can stop on a coin!! NOUN and VERB (Noun usually plural) (the equipment you use on a car/bike/motorbike/truck that you use to slow down and stop)

chain

He wore a thick __________________ around his neck The prisoner was kept in a single room and a metal ___________________ prevented him from leaving He always used a thick _________________ and a lock to prevent his motorcycle from being stolen (a series of connected metal circles) Also: BIOLOGY - the food chain TIME - a chain of events

to complain

I _______________________ to the waiter because there was a fly in my soup! (To say that you are not satisfied with something)

to rip

I accidentally ___________________ my dress on a metal fence yesterday. Now there's a big hole in it. I was so angry I ____________________ our marriage certificate in half (to pull something so that it separates into pieces or gets a hole in it) (ALSO: to tear) (ADJECTIVES: ripped / torn)

ceiling

I am not tall enough to touch the ______________________ (The top part of a room)

to attract

I am very ______________________ to bright colours A magnet ___________________ metal The Amalfi coast ___________________ millions of tourists every year (Often with 'to' in the PASSIVE) (To make someone interested in you / To pull something closer with a force)

tight

I bought some jeans from Zara but they are far too __________________. I can hardly move in them. (used about clothes that are uncomfortable because they are so close against your body)

refund

I bought these jeans and they are too small so can I please have a ____________________? (=I want my money back) NOUN and VERB (To return an item to a shop and receive the money you paid for it)

to exchange

I bought these jeans but they are too tight so can I ____________________ them for a larger size? (To swap a bought item for another item)

anxious

I feel very ___________________ before exams (worried / nervous)

by mistake

I gave the wrong homework to my teacher _____ ________________ He took the wrong turning _____ ____________________ She gave him the wrong phone number ____ ________________ so he was angry when he saw her again in the bar PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE (when you do something by accident / accidentally)

to pack

I hate __________________________! I usually do it in the morning just before I leave for the airport (to put the things you need for a holiday into your bag or suitcase)

to have something in common

I have a lot in ___________________ with my brother. We like similar music and we both hate cheese and neither of us smokes. (to share characteristics with someone)

to doubt

I have many __________________________ about the new government Did you ever have any ________________________ about your religion? I never ________________________ you for a moment!!! I knew you would win!!! (NOUN and VERB - have doubts about something / to doubt something) (to be uncertain about something)

lively

I like this bar because it's always so _____________________; it has a great atmosphere and there's always a crowd. She's such a _______________________ person! She is always happy and goofing off about stuff. (full of energy and enthusiasm)

edge

I live on the __________________________ of town (=opposite of the centre) (the part of something that is furthest from its centre / the sharp side of a blade or tool that is used for cutting things)

far away

I live so __________ __________________ from my job that it takes up to one hour by train It was a nice apartment but it was too __________ __________________ from the city How ____________ ___________________ is your house? (a very long distance from)

plain

I need to buy some __________________ shirts for work. I don't like shirts with stripes or a pattern. It was a very ____________________ room with no colour on the walls and just a few pieces of furniture. (of one colour and no pattern / simple design)

live

I prefer listening to _____________ music at a concert rather than just listening to the album at home (when you watch a sports event or match in real time (when it is not recorded))

bright

I really like ___________________ colours so painted my room orange and yellow The stars are very ____________________ tonight She is a very ______________________ student (strong colour / full of light / intelligent)

performance

I saw an incredible ________________________ by Radiohead last night 'What an incredible _________________________ by Chelsea!!' (NOUN of 'perform')

enormous

I visited Egypt last year and I have to say the pyramids are ____________________________. Much bigger than I expected! They don't look that big on a postcard. ADJECTIVE (very very big)

satisfied

I was very __________________________ with the hotel we booked. Everything was clean and the staff were friendly and helpful. The boss was satisfied with our sales for this month (pleased with what has happened or with what you have achieved)

exhibition

I went to the new art ____________________________ in the museum showing all the recent bodies found at Pompeii (a public show where art or other interesting things are put so that people can go and look at them)

complaint

I will make a ______________________ about a meal if the service is really bad. I hate it when waiters are rude or the service is really slow! I made a ______________ about the noise of our neighbours last night. I think they were having a party. Usually I don't mind but it was so loud I couldn't sleep and the party was still going at 4am!! (the noun of complain)

ancient

I'm very interested in __________________________ civilisations such as the Greeks and Romans She looks __________________________! She must be about 90 years old. ADJECTIVE (when something is very very old)

by hand

In the past they used to make clothes _____ ______________ The fruit is picked _____ __________________ by almost 300 pickers during the summer harvest PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE (when something is made/done using your hands and not a machine)

common

It is very ___________________ to see many types of bird in this region Having too many possessions is a very __________________ problem these days Terrorist attacks have become increasingly ________________ in the last ten years (frequent / existing in large amounts or numbers)

useful

It is very _______________________ to know English! This guidebook contains lots of _______________________ information about visiting Naples (ADJECTIVE: helpful for doing or achieving something)

admission

It is very difficult to gain _______________________ to this university They have guards at the door to control ____________________ to the museum The ______________________ fee is £10 NOUN (permission to join a club or school/university/course or to enter a building)

anniversary

It was their tenth wedding ___________________________ (a celebration of the date something happened)

hard to tell

It's _____________ _____ ______________ if she likes me or not From the photo it's _______________ ____ _____________ if it's a man or a woman (when something is difficult to decide from visual evidence)

calm

Keep _________________ and carry on If there is an emergency try and stay ___________________. Do not panic. Leave the building through an emergency exit. Do not run. ADJECTIVE (not affected by strong emotions such as excitement, anger, shock, or fear)

detail

Look at the ______________________ in this photograph! You can see everything ... all the wrinkles on his face and you can almost see all the leaves on the trees in the background. More _______________________ can be found on our website NOUN (the small features of something / the small pieces of information about something)

destination

Naples is a popular tourist ___________________________ The airport handles flights from over 200 ___________________________ around the world (the place where a journey ends / the place you are going to on a journey)

to perform

Radiohead are _______________________ at this year's Glastonbury festival What songs did they ________________________ last night? Also for football: Chelsea _______________________ well last night (to do something in front of an audience in order to entertain them, for example by acting in a play or singing)

ambition

She has a lot of _______________________! She wants to become a lawyer and set up her own company one day. I wish I had more ______________________but I am lazy and I am scared of failure. She had political _______________________; she wants to be president. (NOUN) (when you really want to do something or be something and you will work hard for it)

to deliver

Some people think that in the future mail will be _______________________ by drones It took a long time for my new phone to be _______________________ because it was sent from overseas (to take something (usually goods or services) from one place to another)

pitch

Suddenly a dog ran onto the _______________ and help up the match. They couldn't start playing again until they caught the dog! (the area of grass where a football match is played)

coast

The Amalfi _____________________ is one of the most famous coastlines in the world I love the __________________ in general. I am not much of a beach fan but I love cliffs and rocks and being by the sea. (the area of land next to the sea including beaches and cliffs)

noise

The _______________ from the cars on the motorway made it difficult to sleep at night The concert created so much ___________________ that you could hear it over ten miles away (a loud or unpleasant sound) (ADJECTIVE: noisy) (Also: 'loud' to describe a noisy event: 'The party was so loud that all the neighbours complained to the police.'

to persuade

The cheap price ________________________ me to buy my holiday from that company Adverts use many techniques to _______________________ you to buy their products After a long discussion he ________________________ me to take a loan to cover my debts I spend months ________________________ her to sign the contract (to use words or an argument or a threat to make someone do something)

pattern

The detective started to see a _________________________ in the murders and he suspected a serial killer Butterfly wings have beautiful symmetrical ______________________ on them NOUN (a series of actions or similarities that reveal information about something) (a set of lines, shapes or colours that repeat)

convenient

The location of my flat is very ____________________ because I live very close to where I work and also the local shops. Fast food is very _______________________ when you are in a rush but you should think twice because it is extremely unhealthy (easy to use or suitable for a particular purpose)

disgusting

The meal was ____________________________. I couldn't eat any of it!! I think it was burnt! (adjective: when something tastes really bad and is inedible)

lasts for

The meeting will ________________ for about one hour The concert only __________________ one hour and a half. I paid £50 for the ticket ... I was disappointed (for length of TIME)

surrounded by (to surround)

The resort is _____________________ ______ mountains. (There are mountains in every direction) The army _______________________ the town and forced the residents to surrender VERB (when something is all around)

sandy

The resort was located next to long _________________ beaches with crystal clear waters (=lots of sand / a positive adjective for beaches)

fare

The train _______________ from London to Edinburgh is so expensive!! (the money you pay for a transport ticket)

shared

The university only provides _____________________ accommodation We had to sleep in __________________ tents (When something is used or owned by two or more people)

plenty of

There are ____________________ of reasons to visit Naples such as great food, great coffee and friendly people. (QUANTIFIER) (=lots of)

dark

There are no street lights here so it is completely _________________ at night I don't like to walk home when it is ___________________ When I was young I was afraid of the _________________ (Adjective: when there is no light in a place) (NOUN: dark / darkness)

advert

There are so many _____________________ on TV these days. I find it so annoying! You have to wait and wait for the next programme to start NOUN (SHORT FORM FOR: advertisement) (a short article, image, banner, video or audio that is intended to persuade people to buy something)

scenery

There is a lot of beautiful ____________________ to enjoy during the long train journey (UNCOUNTABLE) (the views of surrounding nature in a place)

brief

There wasn't much to discuss so they had a very ______________ meeting I had a ______________ encounter with a bear once (adjective for a short time)

pedestrian

There were many _________________________ crossing the street when the accident happened (someone walking in a city)

path

They followed a __________________ into the forest The park has plenty of _________________ for walking and cycling There is only one _________________ through the mountains (a way from one place to another that people can walk along)

venue

They needed to find a _____________________ for their wedding (a place where you can hold a special event such as a concert, wedding or conference)

roundabout

Turn left at the ___________________________ and then walk for 100 metres. The restaurant is just before the bridge. (a circular area where three or more roads meet that you have to drive around in one direction in order to get onto another road.)

delay (to delay)

Unfortunately our flight is ________________________ by over two hours because of bad weather We had to _______________________ the match because it was raining (NOUN and VERB) (when something happens later than is expected) (a situation when a plane/train arrives late)

crowded

Via Toledo is too _______________________ at the weekend --it's almost impossible to walk down the street sometimes. I don't like ______________________ places because I feel trapped and there is too much noise ADJECTIVE (when there are lots of people in a place / busy)

accommodation

We still need to book some ________________________ in Berlin NOUN (a place to stay / UNCOUNTABLE)

so far

What do you think of the job ______ ___________? _____ ____________, I am enjoying the course but it's only the first month There have been no problems _____ __________ (until now)

actual

What is the _______________________ name of this monument? (not the name used locally) We don't know the ________________ number of immigrants that gain access to the UK every year We don't know his _________________ date of birth ADJECTIVE (used to emphasise what is true or exact)

cliff

When you sail to England from France the first thing you see are the white _________________ of Dover (The side of an area of high land --found at the coast)

access

You can ____________________ our website online You must be a citizen to _____________________ state benefits such as a disability allowance We provide free internet ____________________ The police have ___________________ to phone records and bank accounts while they are investigating NOUN and VERB (the ability to enter a place or have something provided)

a range of

You can buy this sweater in a large __________________ of colours The new iphone 5C comes in a ________________ _____ colours You can do a huge __________________ ______ watersports and outdoor activities at our centre (a number of different things of the same type / a group of products of the same type)

gap

You look funny in this photo! There is a big _______________ between your two front teeth! There is always a ___________________ under a door An announcement on the London Underground reminds you to 'mind the _______________!' when you get on a train (a space or opening in the middle of something or between things)

belongings

You should always lock up your ________________________ somewhere when you stay in a hostel When you arrived at the prison you must give up your personal _______________________ to the guard (the things you own)

according to

____________________ ______ the map the hotel should be straight in front of us!! ____________________ ______ my father, this cafe serves the best coffee in Naples PREPOSITION (as stated by / in the opinion of )