Everyday English (Unit 9) · New Headway Upper Intermediate Vocabulary List

to make a deep, low sound, typically expressing pain, despair, or disapproval

"He groaned in pain."

"The injured man let out a low groan of pain as the paramedics carefully lifted him onto the stretcher."

experiencing great sadness, shock, or disappointment

"She was gutted."

"The fans were gutted when their team lost the championship in the final seconds of the game."

to be understandable in a way that is reasonable

"This makes good sense."

"Her explanation of the complex scientific theory finally made sense to the students after she used visual aids."

an activity or situation that does not produce any benefit or value, and instead consumes time and resources that could be better utilized elsewhere

"Waiting for the bus is a waste of time."

"Waiting for the bus is a waste of time so he listens to podcasts to stay productive."

to stop being harsh or strict with someone

"Give him a break, please."

"Please give the new employee a break; he's still learning the ropes and needs some patience."

causing slight anger

"The noise is annoying."

"The annoying sound of the dripping faucet kept her awake all night and she finally got up to tighten the valve."

to feel regret or disappointment in oneself for a past mistake or missed opportunity

"I kicked myself after that."

"She kicked herself for not applying to the university that offered her a full scholarship last year."

to start becoming a source of trouble or worry

"His behavior is beyond a joke."

"The constant noise from the construction site has gone beyond a joke and is seriously affecting our daily lives."

to make a low sound that often expresses pain, grief, or disappointment

"The patient moaned in pain."

"The injured patient continued to moan softly in his sleep as the nurse checked his vital signs."

to accept something to be true even without proof

"You should believe in your own abilities."

"Many people still believe that hard work and determination are the most important factors for achieving success in any field of life."

treating everyone equally and in a right or acceptable way

"The game was fair."

"The judge made a fair decision based on all the evidence presented."

impossible or very hard to control

"The situation got out of hand."

"After the initial incident, the protest quickly escalated and became completely out of hand."

an uneasy feeling that we get because of our own or someone else's mistake or bad manner

"She felt a deep shame for her actions."

"He felt a burning sense of shame after lying to his parents about where he had been."