hit the road to leave a place or begin a journey I'd love to stay longer but I must be hitting the road. condense /kənˈden t s/ verb REDUCE 1. [ T ] to reduce something, such as a speech or piece of writing, in length I condensed ten pages of comments into/to two. 2. [ T ] to make a liquid thicker by removing some of the water incline to/towards sth phrasal verb to think that a belief or opinion is probably correct I incline to the view that peace can be achieved. inclined /ɪnˈklaɪnd/ adjective [ after verb + to infinitive ] 1. tending or wanting to do something Tom is inclined to be lazy. No one seemed inclined to help. 2. artistically/technically, etc. inclined having natural artistic/technical, etc. ability She's very bright, but she's not academically inclined. set /set/ verb setting , set , set ESTABLISH 6. [ T ] to establish or cause to exist The school has been criticized for failing to set high standards for its students. The government has set new limits on spending. Lewis has set a new world record . The court's decision has set a legal precedent . Parents should set a good example to their children. He's set himself the goal/target of making his first million by the time he's 30. frustrated /frʌsˈtreɪ.tɪd/ /-t ̬ɪd/ adjective 1. feeling annoyed or less confident because you cannot achieve what you want Are you feeling frustrated in your present job? 2. [ before noun ] describes a person who has not succeeded in a particular type of job Frustrated writers often end up in publishing. 3. [ before noun ] A frustrated emotion is one that you are not able to express her frustrated love for him 4. [ before noun ] unhappy because you are not having as much sex as you want frustrate /frʌsˈtreɪt/ verb [ T ] DISCOURAGE 1. to make someone feel annoyed or less confident because they cannot achieve what they want It frustrates me that I'm not able to put any of my ideas into practice. frustrate /frʌsˈtreɪt/ verb [ T ] PREVENT 2. to prevent the plans or efforts of someone or something from being achieved The continuing civil war is frustrating the efforts of relief agencies. laid-back /ˌleɪdˈbæk/ adjective INFORMAL relaxed in manner and character; not usually worried about other people's behaviour or things that need to be done I've never seen her worried or anxious in any way - she's so laid-back. People’s personality inquisitive /ɪnˈkwɪz.ɪ.tɪv/ /-t ̬ɪv/ adjective wanting to discover as much as you can about things, sometimes in a way that annoys people an inquisitive child an inquisitive mind She could see inquisitive faces looking out from the windows next door. apathetic /ˌæp.əˈθet.ɪk/ /-ˈθet ̬-/ adjective showing no interest or energy; unwilling to take action, especially over something important Young people today are so apathetic about politics. Don't be so apathetic - how are you going to get a job if you don't even write a letter? obstinate /ˈɒb.stɪ.nət/ /ˈɑːb.stə-/ adjective 1. unreasonably determined, especially to act in a particular way and not to change at all, despite what anyone else says He can be very obstinate at times. her obstinate refusal to compromise 2. [ before noun ] describes a problem, situation or thing that is difficult to deal with, remove or defeat obstinate weeds Invading troops met with obstinate resistance by guerilla forces. conscientious /ˌkɒn. t ʃiˈen t .ʃəs/ /ˌkɑːn-/ adjective putting a lot of effort into your work a conscientious student mature /məˈtjʊə r / /-ˈtʊr/ adjective LIKE AN ADULT 1. MAINLY APPROVING Mature people behave like adults in a way that shows they are well developed emotionally He's very mature for his age. 2. A mature decision is one which is made after a lot of careful thought Upon mature reflection, we find the accused guilty. neurotic /njʊəˈrɒt.ɪk/ /nʊrˈɑː.t ̬ɪk/ adjective behaving strangely or in an anxious (= worried and nervous) way, often because you have a mental illness neurotic behaviour/tendencies She's neurotic about her weight - she weighs herself three times a day. open-minded /ˌəʊ.p ə nˈmaɪn.dɪd/ /ˌoʊ-/ adjective willing to consider ideas and opinions that are new or different to your own Doctors these days tend to be more open-minded about alternative medicine. prejudiced /ˈpredʒ.ʊ.dɪst/ adjective DISAPPROVING showing an unreasonable dislike for something or someone The campaign is designed to make people less prejudiced about AIDS. The media has been accused of presenting a prejudiced view of people with disabilities. Some companies are prejudiced against taking on employees who are over the age of 40. insensitive /ɪnˈsen t .sɪ.tɪv/ /-sə.t ̬ɪv/ adjective 1. DISAPPROVING (of a person or their behaviour) not feeling or showing sympathy for other people's feelings, or refusing to give importance to something It was a bit insensitive of Fiona to go on so much about fat people when she knows Mandy is desperate to lose weight. The police have been criticized for being insensitive to complaints from the public. 2. SPECIALIZED not showing the effect of something as a reaction to it, or unable to feel something The protective covering must be insensitive to light and heat. His feet seem to be insensitive to pain. solitary /ˈsɒl.ɪ.tri/ /ˈsɑː.lə.ter.i/ adjective 1. A solitary person or thing is the only person or thing in a place On the hill, a solitary figure was busy chopping down trees. In the distance was a solitary building. He was a solitary child (= He enjoyed being alone) . 2. done alone solitary walks by the river fishing and other solitary pastimes circumspect /ˈsɜː.kəm.spekt/ /ˈsɝː-/ adjective FORMAL careful not to take risks Officials were circumspect about what the talks had achieved. considerate /kənˈsɪd. ə r.ət/ /-ɚ-/ adjective kind and helpful It wasn't very considerate of you to drink all the milk. Opposite inconsiderate conservative /kənˈsɜː.və.tɪv/ /-ˈsɝː.və.t ̬ɪv/ adjective AGAINST CHANGE 1. often not liking or trusting change, especially sudden change a conservative society/outlook Older people tend to be quite conservative and a bit suspicious of any supposed advances. Compare liberal 2. If you are conservative in your appearance, you usually do not like fashionable or modern clothes or hairstyles He's a very conservative dresser - he always looks like he's wearing his father's clothes! temperamental /ˌtem.p ə r.əˈmen.t ə l/ , /-prə-/ /-pɚ.əˈmen.t ̬ ə l/ adjective PERSON 1. describes someone whose mood often changes very suddenly Be careful how you approach her - she's very temperamental. 2. caused by your own character and feelings There are temperamental similarities between the brothers. impetuous /ɪmˈpet.ju.əs/ adjective 1. likely to act on a sudden idea or wish, without considering the results of your actions He's so impetuous - why can't he think things over before he rushes into them? 2. An impetuous word or action is said or done suddenly, without considering the likely results The Prime Minister may now be regretting her impetuous promise to reduce unemployment by half. easy-going /ˌiː.ziˈgəʊ.ɪŋ/ /-ˈgoʊ-/ adjective APPROVING relaxed and not easily upset or worried an easy-going attitude/manner a friendly, easy-going type of guy uptight /ˌʌpˈtaɪt/ adjective INFORMAL worried or nervous and not able to relax Don't get uptight about the exam - just do your best. gregarious /grɪˈgeə.ri.əs/ /-ˈger.i-/ adjective (of people) liking to be with other people, or (especially of animals) living in groups Emma's a gregarious, outgoing sort of person. See also sociable perceptive /pəˈsep.tɪv/ /pɚ-/ adjective very good at noticing and understanding things that many people do not notice Her books are full of perceptive insights into the human condition. sh , ALSO shh , ssh /ʃː/ exclamation ( ALSO shush ) used to tell someone to be quiet Sh, you'll wake the baby! There are the ones who ‘shh” you when you tell them a good story. nitpicking /ˈnɪtˌpɪk.ɪŋ/ noun [ U ] INFORMAL DISAPPROVING giving too much attention to details which are not important, especially as a way of criticizing If you spent less time nitpicking, you'd get more work done. sweeping /ˈswiː.pɪŋ/ adjective [ before noun ] GENERAL 1. affecting many things or people; large It is obvious that sweeping changes are needed in the legal system. We need to make sweeping cuts to our budget. 2. sweeping statement/generalization/generalizer DISAPPROVING something that you say or write that is too general and that has not been carefully thought about Sweeping generalizations about this complex and difficult situation are not helpful. infuriating /ɪnˈfjʊə.ri.eɪ.tɪŋ/ /-ˈfjʊr.i.eɪ.t ̬ɪŋ/ adjective extremely annoying It's infuriating when people keep spelling your name wrong, isn't it? Idioms for people Yes-man He is a bit of a yes-men. He agrees with anything the boss says whizzkid /ˈwɪz.kɪd/ noun [ C ] INFORMAL a young person who is very clever and successful They’ve taken on some financial whizzkid. The new engineer knows what he is doing. He is a real whizzkid busybody /ˈbɪz.iˌbɒd.i/ /-ˌbɑː.di/ noun [ C ] INFORMAL a person who is too interested in things that do not involve them He knows everything about everyone. He is the office busybody chatterbox /ˈtʃæt.ə.bɒks/ /ˈtʃæt ̬.ɚ.bɑːks/ noun [ C ] INFORMAL a person, especially a child, who talks a lot Your sister's a real chatterbox! a pain (in the neck) INFORMAL someone or something that is very annoying That child is a real pain in the neck. a pain in the arse/backside UK AND AUSTRALIAN ENGLISH ( US pain in the ass/butt ) OFFENSIVE someone or something that is very annoying The kids were a real pain in the arse. ˌ dark ˈ horse noun [ C usually singular ] SECRET 1. UK a person who keeps their interests and ideas secret, especially someone who has a surprising ability or skill Anna's such a dark horse - I had no idea she'd published a novel. ˌ old ˈ hand noun [ C ] someone who is very experienced and skilled in a particular area of activity We should be able to trust Silva to negotiate a good deal for us - he's an old hand at the game. He has had plenty of experience. He’s an old hand at the job. be set in your ways to do the same things every day and to not want to change those habits As people get older, they often become set in their ways. ˌ black ˈ sheep noun [ S ] a person who has done something bad which brings embarrassment or shame to their family He's the black sheep of the family . Jack is a rebel. He’s the black sheep of the family. life and soul of the party someone who is energetic and funny and at the centre of activity during social occasions I am glad we’ve invited Sinead. He is always the life and soul of the party.
