Lesson 2 · Street Talk 2 Vocabulary List

to make two or more strangers get comfortable with each other and engage in a conversation

"He told a joke to break the ice."

"He told a funny joke to break the ice at the beginning of the awkward business meeting."

someone who does not express emotions and is considered unfriendly

"He's a cold fish."

"My new boss is a bit of a cold fish, rarely showing any enthusiasm or warmth during meetings."

driven insane

"The crazed fan ran onto the stage."

"The crazed fan ran onto the stage and tried to hug the singer before security tackled him."

to get straight to the point or the most important part of a matter without wasting time on irrelevant details or preamble

"Let me cut to the chase."

"Please cut to the chase and tell me how much money you need instead of telling me a long story."

gossip that can harm a person's reputation, especially about their private life

"The tabloid prints all the dirt on the celebrity."

"The journalist dug up some dirt on the politician that ended his career."

to begin talking about basic or important facts of a situation

"Let us get down to brass tacks."

"We have wasted enough time chatting so let us get down to brass tacks and discuss the budget."

to treat a person in a more gentle and caring way and be less harsh or strict with them

"Please go easy on him."

"The teacher decided to go easy on the students because they had already studied very hard for the exam."

to hate someone to an extreme degree

"I hate his guts so much."

"She said she hates his guts after he betrayed her trust and lied to everyone at work."

a strong and muscular man who is sexually attractive

"Her new personal trainer is a real hunk with perfect muscles."

"The actor was considered a hunk and was frequently cast in romantic leading roles opposite beautiful actresses."

conspicuously or grossly unconventional or unusual

"His ideas are off-the-wall."

"The off the wall suggestion to paint the classroom purple was rejected by the principal as too extreme."

to regain composure, control emotions, or focus, especially in a stressful or emotional situation

"You need to pull it together."

"After crying for an hour she finally managed to pull it together and finish her presentation."

to examine someone or something in order to form a judgment

"She sized up her opponent carefully."

"The experienced detective could size up a suspect within seconds of meeting them."

a single piece of furniture, often used to emphasize an individual item rather than a set

"No stick of furniture here."

"The studio apartment was completely empty without even a single stick of furniture inside it."

used to advise someone to trust one's judgment or experience concerning a particular matter

"Take it from me — this route is much faster."

"Take it from me, having worked in this industry for twenty years — shortcuts always cost more in the long run."

used to describe something impressive, intense, or persistent, often referring to physical traits, energy, or quality

"A fire that will not quit."

"Her energy and enthusiasm for the project is something that will not quit even after working for twelve hours."

used to refer to someone who is not paying attention or is not intelligent enough

"Lights are on but nobody is home."

"He stared at the wall without responding so the lights are on but nobody is home."

a person trained to compete in sports

"The high school jock is popular and athletic."

"The high school jock was popular and athletic but struggled with his academic classes."

a person or an object that is considered extremely attractive or impressive

"She is a knockout."

"The vintage sports car, meticulously restored to its former glory, was a true knockout among the classic automobiles."

to succeed in something, such as getting a job, achieving something, etc.

"She will land the job."

"After countless interviews, she was thrilled to finally land the prestigious position she had always desired."

any undertaking that is easy to do

"This job is a picnic."

"Compared to climbing Mount Everest, this simple task was an absolute picnic."

to lessen the value or esteem of something or someone, often through spoken words or criticism

"Do not put down your friends."

"He tried to put down the new artist's work, but his criticism lacked any real substance."

(of a woman's body) having a large bosom and pleasing curves

"She is very stacked."

"The actress was known for her stunning figure and was often described as beautifully stacked."

an exciting or mind-expanding experience

"That was a fun trip."

"The psychedelic drug induced a profound and introspective trip, changing his perspective forever."

to develop in a particular way, especially with regard to the final outcome of a situation or process

"It will turn out fine."

"Despite the initial setbacks, the project managed to turn out successfully in the end."