General Vocabulary
Thanks to- as a result of/ because of; with the help of.
Sentence- The family sent a heartfelt message of thanks to everyone who helped.
To watch someone’s back- to protect someone against danger from an unexpected situation.
Sentence-The police officer’s partner always watches his back. I am happy that you watched my back.
Turn down- reject an offer made by someone.
Sentence- We could turn down the heat some if that would make you more comfortable.
Thought-provoking- making someone think seriously about a particular subject or issue.
Sentence-There was a thought-provoking article about poverty in the paper.
(To) take something into account- to consider particular facts before making a decision about something.
Sentence-If they took inflation into account, they actually spent less then.
Turn into = become- be transformed into.
Sentence- My beautiful evening gowns would turn into home-made minis.
Turn to- to go in a new direction to improve a situation.
Sentence- Without someone to turn to for advice, making the most appropriate choice can be difficult.
Take special note of- to pay a special attention to something.
Sentence-And it was also done with genuine enthusiasm and sincerity. London take special note of that.
To tell off- to speak or criticize someone angrily because he/she has done something wrong.
Sentence-The farmers used a special system of counting to tell off their sheep.
(To) turn out- to be discovered to be something.
Sentence-I meant it to be an informal discussion, but it didn’t turn out as I intended.
To keep abreast of-to have the most recent and important information about something.
Sentence- It’s important to keep abreast of the latest developments in computers.
Unspecified- not mentioned or stated exactly or clearly.
Sentence- The meeting will take place at an unspecified date in the future.
Understandable- to be easy to understand or comprehend (seems normal and reasonable in a particular situation).
Sentence-Under certain conditions, conformity thus assumes an understandable significance.
Understandable- to be easy to understand or comprehend (seems normal and reasonable in a particular situation).
Sentence-Under certain conditions, conformity thus assumes an understandable significance.
Unfamiliar- not familiar, unknown or not recognized.
Sentence- We’re unfamiliar to the geography of New England.
Unglamorous-not attractive or exciting.
Sentence-Unglamorous, usually unexciting and normally invisible , the world’s financial plumbing is gummed up.
Unfamiliarity- the fact of lacking knowledge or experience of
something; not familiar.
Sentence- I’ve not heard that for quite a while and its unfamiliarity makes it sound strange.
Unexpected- surprising; not expected.
Sentence-The experiment produced some unexpected results.
Unnecessary- not necessary; needless; unessential.
Sentence- We should trim off the unnecessary parts of our spending.
Unreasonable- something that is not reasonable; beyond what can be accepted.
Sentence-This clause in the contract was held unreasonable.
Universal- involving all people or things in the world).
Sentence- Perhaps it is the almost universal use of flavourings that makes it so hard to tell the products apart.
Unquestionable- not able to be doubted; obvious and undeniable.
Sentence-We give and receive unquestionable trust.
Update – up to date-to make something more modern.
Sentence- Could you update me on how the work is progressing?
Unthinkable-unimaginable (impossible to imagine or accept).
Sentence- It is unthinkable that we shall allow a nuclear holocaust to occur.
Unscrupulous- dishonest, unfair and without moral principles.
Sentence- It’s an unscrupulous way of exploitative discounting.
Vast- very big/ extremely large.
Sentence-A vast audience watched the broadcast.
Vitally important- very important.
Sentence- Histone is vitally important for survival.
Viewpoint- point of view; opinion.
Sentence-She will have her own viewpoint on the matter.
Various- different, a variety of, many types of.
Sentence- The gallery hosts various exhibitions and a permanent collection.
Vivid-producing very strong and clear memories in your mind.
Sentence-The changing vivid colours of the sunset fascinated the eye.
Venerable-someone or something that deserves respect.
Sentence-The battle was the venerable one of pure, formalist art versus art with a social function.
