Unit 12 · New Headway Advanced Vocabulary List

using a word, phrase, etc. not for its ordinary meaning, but for the idea or symbol that it represents or suggests

"Her language is metaphorical."

"The metaphorical language in the poem compared love to a rose and time to a river."

radiating light or brightness, whether natural or artificial

"The stars are shining."

"The newly polished silverware was shining brightly under the dining room lights."

to become clear to the mind

"The truth will dawn."

"Slowly, the realization of his mistake began to dawn on him."

(of people) lacking in intelligence or common sense, and as a result, one's ideas or actions seem foolish or absurd

"His plan was half-baked."

"His half-baked plan to start a business with no capital was clearly foolish."

something that is worth thinking about or considering deeply

"This is food for thought."

"The documentary provided a lot of food for thought about our environmental impact."

to attempt to do something that is beyond one's capability

"He bit off too much."

"Taking on three major projects simultaneously, he clearly bit off more than he could chew."

a subject or issue that is currently trending or receiving a lot of attention and discussion

"AI is a hot topic."

"The ethical implications of artificial intelligence are a hot topic in academic circles."

a sense of gloom, worry, doubt, or uncertainty that follows or affects someone

"A cloud hangs over him."

"A cloud of uncertainty hung over the team's future after the unexpected announcement."

so large or impressive that it is difficult to comprehend or believe

"The debt is staggering."

"The sheer amount of data collected by the project was staggering."

to tremble or shake involuntarily, often as a result of fear, cold, or excitement

"The building shuddered during the earthquake."

"The old house shuddered as the powerful storm winds battered its walls and roof."

the motion of an object or person falling solely under the influence of gravity

"The price is in free fall."

"After the scandal broke, the company's stock price went into free fall."

incapable of behaving normally or thinking clearly due to mental illness

"The person seemed deranged."

"The deranged killer left a note at the crime scene and the police psychologist analyzed it to understand his twisted mind."

a collection of devices and tools used to physically restrain and control a person's movement, typically for medical or safety reasons

"The doctor used a restraint kit."

"The hospital staff were trained in the proper use of the restraint kit."

a difficult or painful experience, often one that lasts long and requires great effort and endurance to overcome

"It was an ordeal."

"Surviving the harsh desert conditions was a true ordeal for the stranded hikers."

the final resolution of a situation or the reaching of a definitive conclusion or agreement

"They need closure."

"The family hoped that finding the missing evidence would bring them closure."

to end something in an unpleasant or negative way

"The party ended sour."

"The otherwise successful conference ended on a sour note due to a technical malfunction."

to have some understanding or knowledge of something

"I have foggiest idea."

"When asked about the solution, he admitted he didn't have the foggiest idea how to proceed."

a romantic relationship that develops quickly and intensely, often with a sense of spontaneity and excitement

"Their whirlwind romance was fast."

"They met at a party and experienced a whirlwind romance, marrying just a few weeks later."

to move slowly and with great effort, as if walking through deep mud

"Walking through treacle is slow."

"Trying to finish the project with limited resources felt like walking through treacle."

a person who is experiencing intense feelings of sadness, anger, anxiety, or any other strong emotion that causes them to feel overwhelmed and unable to function normally

"The divorce leaves him an emotional wreck."

"After the divorce she was an emotional wreck who could barely get out of bed."

the system of communication by spoken or written words, that the people of a particular country or region use

"English is a language."

"Learning a new language opens up opportunities to understand different cultures and connect with more people."

to provide the energy or inspiration needed to drive or enhance a specific activity or process

"Fuel the fire."

"Her passionate speech seemed to fuel the students' determination to demand change."

to arouse, provoke, or inspire strong emotion, enthusiasm, or imagination

"Her story will fire them."

"The inspiring documentary aimed to fire the viewers' imaginations and encourage them to pursue their own creative endeavors."

to cause a person or thing to come across as less significant

"His fame overshadows his brother's achievements."

"The tragic news of the accident overshadowed the positive achievements of the organization during the same period."

to trigger or ignite a reaction, response, or action, often by provoking or inspiring someone or something to action

"It may spark debate."

"Her controversial statement was enough to spark a heated discussion among the audience members."

a sudden moment of clear understanding

"A flash of insight."

"Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck her, solving the complex mathematical problem."

having a suspicious or dishonest quality

"He is shady."

"The businessman was involved in several shady deals that raised suspicions among his colleagues."

capable of thinking and learning in a good and quick way

"She is a bright student."

"The bright young scientist quickly grasped the complex theories and contributed innovative ideas to the research project."

to become covered or filled by water

"Rivers flood."

"The torrential rain caused the river to flood, submerging nearby farmlands and villages."

unremarkable and lacking in distinctive or interesting qualities

"The food was bland."

"His conversation was rather bland, offering no new or exciting information."

indicating the highest or maximum point or level of something

"This is peak performance."

"The company announced that sales had reached their peak for the quarter."

having or showing excessive or uncontrollable worry or interest in something

"He is obsessed with video games."

"He is obsessed with video games and plays for hours every day without taking breaks."

(of a person) to fall and become unconscious

"The man will collapse."

"Due to extreme exhaustion and dehydration, the hiker began to collapse on the trail."

to recover from an illness, a serious operation, or other difficult situations

"The patient pulled through finally."

"The doctors were not sure if the patient would pull through after the serious accident."

to allow a patient to leave the hospital because they have recovered and no longer need to receive inpatient care

"They will discharge him."

"The doctor decided to discharge the patient after a full recovery from the operation."

the fact or condition of being regarded or treated as more important than others

"Safety is our number one priority."

"Reducing the national debt was the government's top priority for the upcoming fiscal year."

to cease to make progress or move forward

"The project will stall."

"The old car tends to stall in cold weather because the engine does not warm up quickly enough to run smoothly."

restrained or toned down in style, quality, or intensity

"The mood subdued."

"The normally vibrant colors of the room were subdued by the heavy, overcast sky outside."

to have trouble keeping one's balance and be at the risk of falling

"He will reel from the blow."

"After the unexpected punch, the boxer began to reel, struggling to stay upright."

something that is easy to do or accomplish

"It's a breeze."

"Learning the new software proved to be a breeze for the experienced IT professional."