10

(7 seconds) flat

in exactly three minutes, ten seconds etc - used to emphasize that something happens or is done very quickly

a change of scenery

when you go to a different place or do something different

absorb

to take in liquid, gas, or another substance from the surface or space around something

acrobat

someone who entertains people by doing difficult physical actions such as walking on their hands or balancing on a high rope, especially at a circus

adrenalin

a chemical produced by your body when you are afraid, angry, or excited, which makes your heart beat faster

affordable

to have enough money to buy or pay for something

apart

if people are (...), they are not together in the same place, or not having a relationship with each other

apparently

used to say that you have heard that something is true, although you are not completely sure about it

appeal

if someone or something (...) to you, they seem attractive and interesting

at the expense of

if something is done (...) someone or something else, it is only achieved by doing something that could harm the other person or thing

awash in

containing too many things or people of a particular kind

awe

a feeling of great respect and liking for someone or something

back row

the last line of seats in a theatre or cinema

backstage

behind the stage in a theatre, especially in the actors’ dressing rooms

basically

used to emphasize the most important reason or fact about something, or a simple explanation of something

be a drag

to make it hard for someone to make progress towards what they want

be taken aback

to be very surprised about something

blow up

to destroy something, or to be destroyed, by an explosion

bond

to develop a special relationship with someone

break out

if something unpleasant such as a fire, fight, or war (...), it starts to happen

briefing

information or instructions that you get before you have to do something

build up

if something (...) somewhere, or if you (...) it (...), it gradually becomes bigger or greater

carbohydrate

a substance that is in foods such as sugar, bread, and potatoes, which provides your body with heat and energy and which consists of oxygen, hydrogen, and carbon

ceaseless

happening for a long time without stopping

chill out

to relax completely instead of feeling angry, tired, or nervous

cockpit

the area in a plane, small boat, or racing car where the pilot or driver sits

come to terms with

to accept an unpleasant or sad situation and no longer feel upset or angry about it

come with age

develop as you get older

commit to

to say that someone will definitely do something or must do something

concern

a feeling of worry about something important

conductor

someone who stands in front of a group of musicians or singers and directs their playing or singing

constant

happening regularly or all the time

constraint

something that limits your freedom to do what you want

contortion

a twisted position or movement that looks surprising or strange

contribution

something that you give or do in order to help something be successful

data

information or facts

dehydration

to remove the liquid from a substance such as food or a chemical

determined

having a strong desire to do something, so that you will not let anyone stop you

dig

to move earth, snow etc, or to make a hole in the ground, using a spade or your hands

dimension

a part of a situation or a quality involved in it

disparate

consisting of things or people that are very different and not related to each other

distracting

to take someone’s attention away from something by making them look at or listen to something else

efficiency saving

improve the quality of doing something, without wasting time, money, or energy

ego

the opinion that you have about yourself

end up

to be in a particular situation, state, or place after a series of events, especially when you did not plan it

endurance

the ability to continue doing something difficult or painful over a long period of time

enlightening

the characteristic of explaining something to someone

equipped

containing all the things that are needed for a particular kind of activity or work

euphoria

an extremely strong feeling of happiness and excitement which usually only lasts for a short time

evolution

the scientific idea that plants and animals develop and change gradually over a long period of time

exacting

demanding a lot of effort, careful work, or skill

exhilarated

feeling extremely happy, excited, and full of energy

feat

something that is an impressive achievement, because it needs a lot of skill, strength etc to do

feel part of the scenery

feel that you are in the background and unimportant

fellow

people that you work with, study with, or who are in the same situation as you

first-time

describes someone who is doing something for the first time

flick through

to look at a book, magazine, set of photographs etc quickly

for the good of

in order to help someone or improve a situation

gasp

when you take in a breath suddenly in a way that can be heard, especially because you are surprised or in pain

get along

if two or more people (...), they have a friendly relationship

get caught up in

to be or get involved in something, especially something bad

get sick of

to be angry or bored with something that has been happening for a long time

get stuck with

to have something you do not want because you cannot get rid of it

gifted

having a natural ability to do one or more things extremely well

glamorous

attractive, exciting, and related to wealth and success

glide

to move smoothly and quietly, as if without effort

go off at tangents

to suddenly start thinking or talking about a subject that is only slightly related, or not related at all, to the original subject

go-kart

a small vehicle with an open frame and four wheels, used in races

gregarious

friendly and preferring to be with other people

handover

the act of giving someone else control of a place or business

high

a feeling of great happiness or excitement

highs and lows

the mixture of good and bad experiences that happen in any situation or relationship

holistic

considering a person or thing as a whole, rather than as separate parts

household name

a name of a product, company etc that is very well known

imagine the worst

imagine a situation that is worse than anything else

in good hands

being dealt with or cared for by someone who is capable and responsible

in the spotlight

the centre of attention

in touch with

talking or writing to someone

inclusive

including a wide variety of people, things etc

inevitable

certain to happen and impossible to avoid

insecurity

not feeling at all confident about yourself, your abilities, or your relationships with people

insistence

when you demand that something should happen and refuse to let anyone say no

intake

a tube, pipe, etc through which air, gas, or liquid enters a machine

intensive-care

a department in a hospital that treats people who are very seriously ill or badly injured, or the continuous and thorough treatment given to patients there

invariably

if something (...) happens or is (...) true, it always happens or is true

keep someone going

to have or to give someone enough hope and emotional strength to continue living and doing things, in a bad situation

know the ropes

understand all the things someone needs to know to do a job or deal with a system

lap

a single journey around a race track

let go

to accept that you cannot change something and stop thinking or worrying about it

let one's hair down

to enjoy yourself and start to relax, especially after working very hard

letdown

an event, performance etc that is not as good as you expected it to be

lift your spirits

make someone happier

load

a large quantity of something that is carried by a vehicle, person etc

look on the bright side

to see the good points in a situation that seems to be bad

loyal

always supporting your friends, principles, country etc

maintain

to strongly express your belief that something is true

merit

an advantage or good feature of something

move the goalposts

to change the rules, limits etc for something while someone is trying to do something, making it more difficult for them - used to show disapproval

nail down

to reach a final and definite agreement or decision about something

nevertheless

in spite of a fact that you have just mentioned

no point in

no purpose or aim of doing something

no wonder that

used to say that you are not surprised by something

nuisance

a person, thing, or situation that annoys you or causes problems

nutrition

the process of giving or getting the right type of food for good health and growth

on the ball

able to think or act quickly and intelligently

operating theatre

a room in a hospital where operations are done

outcome

the final result of a meeting, discussion, war etc – used especially when no one knows what it will be until it actually happens

peasant

a poor farmer who owns or rents a small amount of land, either in past times or in poor countries

physique

the size and appearance of someone’s body

protein

one of several natural substances that exist in food such as meat, eggs, and beans, and which your body needs in order to grow and remain strong and healthy

qualify

to have the right to have or do something, or to give someone this right

quite the contrary

the opposite of what has been said or suggested

race track

a circular course around which runners, cars etc race, which often has a specially prepared surface

rational

(...) thoughts, decisions etc are based on reasons rather than emotions

rationalise

if you (...) behaviour that is wrong, you invent an explanation for it so that it does not seem as bad

reassurance

something that is said or done which makes someone feel calmer and less worried or frightened about a problem

reckless

not caring or worrying about the possible bad or dangerous results of your actions

refreshing

pleasantly different from what is familiar and boring

register

if something (...) or if you (...) it, you realize or notice it, and then remember it

rehearsal

a time when all the people in a play, concert etc practise before a public performance

rein in

to start to control a situation more strictly

reject

to refuse to accept, believe in, or agree with something

rely upon

to trust or depend on someone or something to do what you need or expect them to do

resentment

a feeling of anger because something has happened that you think is unfair

retired

having stopped working, usually because of your age

risk-averse

not willing to take risks

row

a short angry argument, especially between people who know each other well

run out of

to use all of something and not have any more left

sail through

to succeed very easily in a test, examination etc

same flesh and blood as

someone who is part of your family

scenario

a situation that could possibly happen

self-improvement

the process of trying to become a better and happier person, for example by gaining new knowledge

set aside

to decide not to consider a particular feeling or thing because something else is more important

shift

if workers in a factory, hospital etc work (...), they work for a particular period of time during the day or night, and are then replaced by others, so that there are always people working

sibling

a brother or sister

sing-song

when a group of people sing together, informally

skate around

to avoid mentioning a problem or subject, or not give it enough attention

snowflake

a small soft flat piece of frozen water that falls as snow

soar

to fly, especially very high up in the sky, floating on air currents

sponsor

a person or company that pays for a show, broadcast, sports event etc, especially in exchange for the right to advertise at that event

stable

steady and not likely to move or change

stall

to stop making progress or developing

stamina

physical or mental strength that lets you continue doing something for a long time without getting tired

stand back

step away from something in order to be safe

state-of-the-art

using the most modern and recently developed methods, materials, or knowledge

strain

worry that is caused by having to deal with a problem or work too hard over a long period of time

streamline

to make something such as a business, organization etc work more simply and effectively

stressful

a job, experience, or situation that is (...) makes you worry a lot

strike someone

if something (...) you, you think of it, notice it, or realize that it is important, interesting, true etc.

stuff oneself

to eat so much food that you cannot eat anything else

survival

the state of continuing to live or exist

swap

to give something to someone and get something in return

sweat

to have drops of salty liquid coming out through your skin because you are hot, ill, frightened, or doing exercise

swoop

if a bird or aircraft (...), it moves suddenly down through the air, especially in order to attack something

take the wind out of one's sails

to make someone lose their confidence, especially by saying or doing something unexpected

team spirit

willingness to work as part of a team

tedious

something that is (...) continues for a long time and is not interesting

temperament

the emotional part of someone’s character, especially how likely they are to be happy, angry etc

tendency

if someone or something has a (...) to do or become a particular thing, they are likely to do or become it

therapy

the treatment of an illness or injury over a fairly long period of time

thereabouts

near a particular time, place, number etc, but not exactly

throughput

the amount of work, goods, or people that are dealt with in a particular period of time

tip

a helpful piece of advice

to an extent

partly

to one's liking

being just what you wanted

toddler

a very young child who is just learning to walk

train

to teach someone the skills of a particular job or activity, or to be taught these skills

trap

to prevent someone from escaping from somewhere, especially a dangerous place

trust

to believe that someone is honest or will not do anything bad or wrong

turn up

to arrive at a place, especially in a way that is unexpected

typecast

to always give an actor the same type of character to play

under pressure

a way of working or living that causes you a lot of anxiety, especially because you feel you have too many things to do

under the watchful eye of

following someone's instructions or with someone's help

underestimate

to think or guess that something is smaller, cheaper, easier etc than it really is

undergo

if you (...) a change, an unpleasant experience etc, it happens to you or is done to you

unflappable

having the ability to stay calm and not become upset, even in difficult situations

unforgiving

an (...) place is very uncomfortable, for example because it is extremely hot or cold

unity

when a group of people or countries agree or are joined together

unwind

to relax and stop feeling anxious

ups and downs

the mixture of good and bad experiences that happen in any situation or relationship

vital

extremely important and necessary for something to succeed or exist

wag

if a dog (...) its tail, or if its tail (...), the dog moves its tail many times from one side to the other

weird

very strange and unusual, and difficult to understand or explain

well-being

a feeling of being comfortable, healthy, and happy

well

a deep hole in the ground from which people take water

worn

a (...) object is old and damaged, especially because it has been used a lot