Vocabulario Inglés B2-C1: Phrasal Verbs, Collocations y Word Formation con Ejemplos

Vocabulario esencial de inglés: expresiones, phrasal verbs y formación de palabras

To turn up – to appear, to visit without letting people know

To set off – to start a trip

To be wary of – cautious, careful, alert, prudent

To bear no relation to – to have no relevance, no connection

Go out of business

Shut down / close down a business

To flick through the pages

Tailor-made – adapted or suited for a specific purpose or person

Tourist trap – attracts many people and things are more expensive

Tight budget – little money available

Off the beaten track – little-known, remote place

Word formation

Respect (v/n) – respectful – disrespectful – respected – disrespected

Aware – unaware – awareness

Appeal (v/n – different meaning) – appealing – unappealing

Familiar (adj) – unfamiliar – familiarise (v) – familiarity (n) – unfamiliarity

Know – knowledge – knowledgeable – unknowledgeable

Discover – discovery – discovered – undiscovered

Expect – expectation – expectancy (the state of hoping that something good will happen) – expected – unexpected – expectant (eager, excited, waiting…)

Kitsch – something over the top, not attractive, in poor taste

Snob – a person who seeks to associate with social superiors, who looks down on people

Driftwood – wood washed onto the shore by winds, waves, man

In all likelihood – very probably

Expat / expatriate – a person who temporarily or permanently lives and works outside of their own country: usually professionals

Immigrant – a person who has come to live in another country permanently (come)

Emigrate – to leave a country permanently and go to live in another one (go)

To cope with – to manage, overcome the difficulties

A sense of belonging

The language barrier – when your mother tongue is not the language spoken in the country

To contend with something – to have to deal with a difficult or unpleasant situation

To be indifferent to – not to mind, not to take interest in

To nurture – care for and protect

Detachment – objectivity, indifference, disinterest

To slip into – gradually start to experience something else: slip into something more comfortable – change clothes

To live up to – to be as good as, to earn respect

Daunting prospect – something you are not looking forward to, you are scared of

Significant – insignificant – insignificance

To embrace – to accept

To blend in – to adapt, become part of the group

Transient – impermanent

Bond (n/v) – to relate, to make connections

Encounter (n/v) – meet unexpectedly, find by chance, experience something difficult or unpleasant

To dawn on someone – to understand something after a while not understanding it

Tendencias y gráficos

To reach a peak

Remain relatively stable

To overtake

Brief dip

To decrease

Steep fall

To surge – boost, grow, go up, rise

Sharp decline – drop, go down, steep decline

Rise a lot – grow substantially, sudden rise, reach a peak

To stare in disbelief

Mind-boggling (adj) – overwhelming, startling

To turn out – happens to be

To get the hang of something – to get used to it, to learn how to do it

To get a kick out of something – to get excited about something

To display behaviour – to show…

Mind reader – can tell what someone is thinking

Brain- (compuestos)

Brain drain – emigration of educated people

Brainchild – an idea or invention, a particular person’s creation

Brain damage – brain haemorrhage

Brainstorm – to look for ideas in your head

Brainwave – an idea

Brainteasers – puzzles that you need to solve mentally

Brainwash – beat certain ideas into a person from an early age

Brainscan

Expresiones con mind

Never mind! – don’t worry!

To bear something in mind – to take into account, to consider

I wouldn’t mind something – I would like one

Mind your language! – don’t use rude vocabulary

Mind you… – well…

If you don’t mind my asking… – asking something personal

Lone (adj) – alone, single, nobody else involved, solitary

• Solitary walks / solitary life / solitary child (doesn’t like company)

• Lone diner / lone survivor / lone voice (the only one speaking) / lone-single parent

Solely (adv) – nobody else involved

To pull out – to drop out

To devise – plan, invent, come up with, think of…

Dolt (n) – a stupid person, fool

Vigil (n) – the act of staying awake at night

To go on to + n/gerund – to do something else

Breakthrough – sudden dramatic discovery

Subsequent – following

To torment – suffer, torture

Dismal (adj) – dim, dark, gloomy, depressing

Premise (n) – argument, theory

Mismatch – discrepancy, it doesn’t match

Written off – cancelled, disqualified

To get the joke – understand it

Multi-storey – more than one floor

Jam-packed – completely full of

To do the trick – to work, to achieve the desired result

To give something a go – to try it

To put something right out of your mind – stop thinking about it

To slip your mind – not to remember something, not to consider it, forget

Crestfallen – sad and disappointed

To commit something to memory – to remember

Muddled up – to mistake someone or something for someone else because they are very similar

Heap – pile, mass, load, jumble

Straighten out in your mind – to get your ideas straight, organise them

To rack your brains – make a great effort to think of or remember

To come into my mind – to occur to me, to think of

To conjure up – to bring something such as a feeling or memory to your mind

Preposiciones dependientes

About: concerned, worried, satisfied

In: interested, disappointed

Of: scared, terrified, accused, approve

To: opposed, dedicated, committed, object, lead, devoted, jump

At: aim, look, point

With: satisfied, frustrated, confused, disappointed

On: focus

By: inspired, influenced, motivated, confused

Expresiones y vocabulario general

To take each day as it comes

To have something mapped out

At some point

Fleeting – passing by fast

To harvest – to collect crops when ripe and ready

Venture – a business which involves some kind of risk

Crop – wheat, corn, rice…

Texture – feel

Staple – basic

Supplement – addition, accessory, companion

Insatiable – (appetite) impossible to satisfy

Viable – possible

To rear – to care for until old enough, bring up kids, rear animals

Under the assumption – assuming, guessing something is true

Outcome – result

Sceptic – a person who questions or doubts accepted opinions

Yields – amount produced

Prone to – likely to get

Maturity – adulthood

Nagging – harassing, annoying

To nudge – 1. To push gently with an elbow in order to encourage someone to do something. 2. Nudge theory in behavioural science which proposes positive reinforcement

Cut energy consumption

Cause harm to someone or something

Move in the right direction

Lead to a reduction in something

Act in our own interest

Follow an example

Hand-me-down – used, second-hand

Estimated – guessed, valued, worth

Enterprise – a business, company

To pay upfront – to pay in advance

To enable something – to make it happen, to allow it

Compatibility (n) – compatible with / incompatible (adj)

To be similar to / to differ from

To be on the same wavelength as someone – to think in a similar way and understand each other

To be as different as chalk and cheese

To get on like a house on fire – to get on very well

To correspond with / to something or someone

To have nothing to do with something – to be very different

Kindred spirits – two people who think or feel exactly the same

To hit it off straightaway – to get on extremely well from the first time you meet

To get along famously – to get on very well

Not have a lot in common

SUIT vs MATCH vs FIT

Match – go with, reach, be identical, offer as much (the same amount)

Suit – it doesn’t look nice, looks nice

Fit – right size

To pop up (phr. v.) – appear, come up

Nerd (n) – nerdy (adj)

To go grey

To get something right / wrong

To come up (phr. v.) – to appear

To get to + v – e.g. get to see, get to hear, get to discover… – manage to

To be willing to do something

To be in charge of – to be responsible for, have control over

To match-make (v) / match-maker (n)

Online dating

Sophistication (n) / sophisticated (adj)

To fulfil (v) – to satisfy, to make something happen

To prompt (v) – inspire

To undermine (v) – to gradually weaken and destroy; to make it less confident and powerful

Valid (adj) / validity (n)

Chances of + -ing – e.g. What is my chance of passing the course?

Limit (v/n) – the maximum number or amount of something / limitation (n) – the controlling of something; when something is not as good as expected

Method of + -ing

Phrasal verbs

To sign up for

To turn someone down

To cut back – to reduce

To back someone / something up

To chat up someone

To weed out – to eliminate

To take someone up on something – to accept an offer or invitation

To set out to do something – to start an activity with a particular aim

To change the course of someone’s life

Guarantee (n/v)

There is more to this than meets the eye (idiom) – more complicated than expected

To click with someone – to become friendly, to get on

Right there and then – on the spot

Directed at – aimed at

Income – opp. expenses

Roam through (v) – wander

Niche (n) – exactly suitable for a certain person

Supposedly (adv) – apparently

To pour cold water on – to criticise a lot in order to put someone off something, to discourage

To subject something to – to make someone experience something unpleasant

To be subjected to scrutiny / to come under scrutiny – detailed examination in order to learn

Bias (n/v) – personal opinion influencing judgement in an unfair way

Sample (n) – a small amount of something used as a try

Disposable (adj) – can be thrown away, to dispose of something

Pool (n) – a total amount, number of people collected for something

Eligible (adj) – having the necessary qualities and conditions

Soul mate (n) – someone you love and get on perfectly well with

Aura (n) – feeling or character that a person or place seems to have

Inherent (adj) – existing as a basic and natural part of something; synonyms: inbuilt, integral

Valid (adj) / validity (n) – based on truth and reason; to validate (v) – make something officially acceptable or approved

Discrepancy (n) / discrepant (adj) – a difference between two things that should be the same

To get to know each other

To have someone worried sick

On the spur of the moment (idiom) / spur-of-the-moment (adj) – suddenly, without any thinking

To thrive on (v) – grow, develop, be successful

Wide of the mark (idiom) – inaccurate, incorrect

Sucker (n) – you like it so much you cannot refuse it

In order of preference

Spot on – exactly right

To get to the bottom of something – to find the truth behind it, a hidden reason

To go along (phr. v) – to agree or accept something

Stuffy (adj) – unpleasant because of lack of fresh air

To be fed up

To be taken aback – surprised and confused

Not take kindly to someone or something (idiom) – not to like it, to react unfavourably towards

To pick something or someone to pieces (idiom) – to criticise it harshly

To lash (v) – to hit with a lot of force

To lash out at someone – to criticise or to physically attack somebody

To be associated with

Exhilaration (n) / exhilarate – happiness, thrill

To loathe (v) – to hate, to detest

To shudder (v/n) – to shake because of an unpleasant thought

To assure / reassure / reassurance / reassuring

To resist / resistance / (ir)resistible / (ir)resistibility

Surprise / (un)surprising (ly) / (un)surprised

To soothe / soothing / soothed

Rank / ranking

To anticipate / anticipated / anticipation

Power / powerful (ly) / empower / empowering / empowered

Centre / centred / central

To predict / prediction / (un)predictable / (un)predictably / (un)predictability

To repel (v) – opp. to attract

To loiter (v) – to walk slowly around a building without an obvious reason; linger

To disturb / (un)disturbed / (un)disturbing (ly) / disturbance

To deter (v) – to dissuade, to discourage, to demotivate

Deter / (un)deterrent / deterrence

To ban (v) – prohibir

Bland music – música insípida

Canned music – música enlatada (grabada)

To be a bit hard of hearing – to be a bit deaf

Something is unheard of – very unusual

To overhear – to listen to someone’s conversation

I cannot hear myself think – cannot concentrate

I won’t hear of you + -ing – I won’t let you

A hearing aid – hearing device

To eavesdrop – to listen to someone’s conversation, to overhear

Incessant – constant, never-ending, perpetual

Buzz – low and continuous

Hum – low and continuous

Chatter / a chatterbox

Snap – snap your fingers / snap out of something

Perky (adj) – energetic and lively

Wide / width / widen

Unsettling – causing change

Creak

Click

Shuffle – move dragging your feet, move around / shuffle the cards

To whoosh – a past voice

To gurgle – water gurgles, babies too when asleep

Random / randomly / randomness

To roar

To splash

Secluded (adj) –

Wild / wilderness –

Deaf / deafen / deafening

To patter – dog’s paws, raindrops make this sound

To whisper

To mutter

To burst into an uproar – estallar

Infuriate / infuriated / fury / furious

Dismay – sadness and regret / to make someone feel sad

To rustle – leaves make this noise

To cluck – hens

To squeal – mice

Música: colocaciones y expresiones

• adoring fans: people who love a particular band or singer

• background music: music that is played while something else is happening

• a catchy tune: a song that is easy to remember and makes you want to sing it

• classical music: music that is regarded as part of a long, formal tradition

• to download tracks: to obtain music from the Internet

• to have a great voice: to sing well

• to go on tour: to go on a planned series of performances around a region or country

• a huge following: a large number of fans

• live music: music that is listened to while it is performed (not recorded)

• live performance: (see live music)

• a massive hit: a record that sells lots of copies

• a music festival: music performances at a venue often over several days

• musical talent: skilled at music

• to be/sing out of tune: to not be in harmony / to sing the wrong notes

• a piece of music: an item of music

• to play by ear: to play without reading the musical notes

• a pop group: a small group of people who play or sing pop music together

• to read music: to understand and follow written musical notes

• a rock band: a group of musicians that play rock music

• to sing along to: to join in singing

• a sing-song: to sing informally, often with other people

• a slow number: a song with a slow tempo

• to take up a musical instrument: to begin learning a musical instrument

• taste in music: the music someone likes

• to be tone deaf: to be unable to distinguish the different notes in music

Otros verbos y expresiones

To frown at someone (v) – facial expression showing unhappiness and feeling annoyed

To relieve (v) – to make better, to improve an unpleasant situation

Bitterness / bitter – anger, feeling annoyed

Misconception (n) – an idea that is wrong because it is based on a failure to understand

To differentiate (v) – compare and contrast; find differences

To stamp one’s feet

Genuine (adj) – real and exactly what they are supposed to be; emotions honest and sincere

Instinct / instinctive (ly)

To fade (v) – to lose colour, brightness, strength gradually

To fade away (phr. v) – to become weaker, lose importance, slowly disappear

To come across (phr. v) – to find by accident, to meet

Statistics (n)

To be struck by – affected

To be tempted to + inf

To advocate (v) – to recommend publicly, to speak in favour of

To be in favour of

To lighten up (v) – to be less serious

Deep / depth / deepen

To tickle (v) – to amuse by touching, make someone laugh by touching

Contagious (adj) – easily spread

Attic – space under the roof used for storing things

Auction – public sale of goods and properties

Bid – competing with other people to buy something by offering money

Bidder – the highest bidder / the lowest bidder

Shatter – to break into tiny pieces or break and destroy

Turn of events – a twist, an unexpected change in a situation

To be judged on

To be conscious of

To be relevant to

To be committed to

Utter (adj) – complete, 100 per cent

To focus on

Insight into – able to understand something

Sitter – a person who looks after a specific thing or a person; a person posing for a portrait to be painted, carved…

Trappings of something – the accessories and adornments that characterize or symbolize a condition, office, etc.

To depict (v) – to describe in writing; to show or represent them in a work of art

Depiction / depicted / depicting

To portray (v) – in a film or a play an actor portrays a character; to describe them in writing or paint them

Portrait / portrayal / portraiture – the practice or art of making portraits

To highlight – to emphasise

To expose / exposure – exposure to something dangerous or harmful; publicity that a person or company receives; revealing things about a person not necessarily pleasant

To endure (v) / endurance – to experience a painful and difficult situation; to undergo without giving up

To omit / omission

Meticulous / meticulousness – thorough, detailed, strict

Out of date – old-fashioned

Span – period between two events; attention span (how long able to concentrate)

Prop – an instrument that helps something; in a play or a film it is the furniture: stage props

It goes without saying – expression

Attire – fine and decorative clothes and garments; (v) – to dress

Affluence (n) – abundant supply of money

To utter (v) – to say something

High-flying (adj) – having great ambition or ability

To boost (v) – to encourage, to increase, to rise, to lift by giving a push

Scruffy (adj) – dirty and untidy

To be required to + inf