Overview
This lecture covers advanced C1-level English vocabulary, including verbs, adjectives, descriptive language for appearance, useful phrases related to lifestyle, work, and people, as well as grammar structures and challenge questions to assess proficiency.
Advanced Verbs for C1/C2
- Advocate: publicly support or recommend a policy or action.
- Amplify: increase the effect, strength, or loudness of something.
- Articulate: express clearly and effectively.
- Comprehend: understand the meaning or significance.
- Convey: communicate or express an idea to others.
- Corroborate: confirm with supporting evidence.
- Decipher: interpret or discover the hidden meaning.
- Differentiate: recognize differences between things.
- Dissect: analyze in detail by breaking into parts.
- Efface: erase or remove something intentionally.
- Elaborate: add more detail or explanation.
- Exacerbate: make a problem or situation worse.
- Extrapolate: estimate using known information.
- Facilitate: make something easier or possible.
- Galvanize: stimulate or excite to take action.
- Integrate: blend or combine harmoniously.
- Mitigate: make less severe or harmful.
- Perceive: become aware through senses or intuition.
- Reconcile: make compatible opposing ideas or people.
- Scrutinize: examine closely and critically.
Advanced Adjectives
- Ambivalent: having mixed or contradictory feelings.
- Capricious: unpredictable or prone to sudden mood changes.
- Derogatory: showing disrespect or criticism.
- Esoteric: understood by only a specialized group.
- Flippant: lacking seriousness or respect.
- Grandiose: impressive but often impractical.
- Histrionic: overly dramatic or theatrical.
- Incongruous: unsuitable or out of place.
- Juxtaposed: placed together for contrast.
- Laudable: deserving praise.
- Mercurial: subject to sudden changes.
- Nonchalant: calm and unconcerned.
- Pernicious: subtly harmful.
- Quixotic: exceedingly idealistic and impractical.
- Resplendent: richly colorful and impressive.
- Subservient: excessively obedient.
- Supercilious: behaving as superior to others.
- Tenacious: determined and persistent.
- Ubiquitous: everywhere; very common.
- Vicarious: experienced indirectly through others.
Describing Appearance (Advanced Level)
- Angelic: resembling or characteristic of an angel.
- Dimple: small indentations on cheeks or chin.
- Tweezers: tool for removing small objects or hair.
- Pluck: remove hairs with tweezers or fingers.
- Complexion: natural skin color or texture.
- Sunkissed: tanned from the sun.
- Tangoed: unnaturally orange from fake tan.
- Vertically challenged: euphemism for being short.
- Lanky: tall and thin in an awkward way.
- Unkempt: untidy appearance.
- Windswept: hair appearing disturbed by wind.
- Scruffy: dirty or untidy look.
- Scrub up well: look nice when making an effort.
- Posture: body's position while sitting or standing.
- Salt and pepper: hair with mixed dark and light colors.
- Wrinkle: small line on the skin from aging.
- Crow's feet: lines around the eyes from aging.
Lifestyle, People, and Work Vocabulary
Lifestyle & Well-being
- At face value: accept as it appears.
- Have a crack at: try or attempt something.
- Burn the midnight oil: work late into the night.
- Strike a balance: find a compromise.
- Let off steam: release anger or frustration.
- Count one’s blessings: appreciate good things.
- Bloom: grow in health and confidence.
Describing People
- Stick one’s neck out: take a risk.
- Knee-jerk reaction: automatic, unthinking response.
- Split hairs: argue over minor details.
- Pecking order: social hierarchy.
- Shrewd: astute and able to judge well.
- Obstinate: stubborn, refusing to change.
- Placid: calm and not easily upset.
Work-Related Phrases
- Pull some strings: use influence to achieve results.
- Have a field day: take full advantage of a situation.
- Be privy to: have access to confidential information.
- On the back burner: given low priority.
- Cushy: very easy and comfortable.
- Get your foot in the door: enter at a low level for future opportunities.
- Go belly up: fail completely, especially a business.
Challenge & Assessment (Grammar & Usage)
- Use “any” in negative plural/uncountable sentences.
- Present simple questions use “do/does” + base verb.
- Comparative adjectives: add “-er” (easy → easier).
- “Be going to” for predictions with present evidence.
- Don’t mix present perfect with specific past time references.
- “Get round to” is followed by the gerund.
- “Gain a reputation” is a strong collocation.
- Third conditional: if + past perfect, would have + past participle.
- “At a loss” means not knowing what to do; also means death or financial loss.
- “Husky” voice is low and attractive; “gruff” or “hoarse” are less positive.
- “On the brink of” means about to have a significant change.
- “Encircled” is past participle of encircle, meaning to surround.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Advocate — to publicly support a cause.
- Scrutinize — examine closely and in detail.
- Ambivalent — having mixed feelings.
- Ubiquitous — present everywhere.
- Scruffy — untidy or dirty in appearance.
- Pull some strings — use influence for advantage.
- Cushy — easy and comfortable (usually referring to a job).
- Third conditional — grammar structure for hypothetical past situations.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Download and review the free two ebooks mentioned in the lecture.
- Homework: Write a detailed description of yourself or a celebrity using advanced appearance vocabulary.
- Practice using new verbs and adjectives in sentences.
- Complete self-assessment using the 12 challenge questions provided.