Headway - Advanced - Unit 4

Here you will find the vocabulary from Unit 4 in the Headway Advanced coursebook, such as "hoax", "lost cause", "bedridden", etc.

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lost cause [noun]

a thing or person that is impossible to improve or succeed

Ex: Trying to convince him otherwise felt like a lost cause .

the (last|final) straw [phrase]

the final and decisive event or action that pushes someone beyond their tolerance or patience, leading to a significant reaction or decision

Ex: The team had been performing poorly , and the coach 's public criticism of the star player was the final straw that caused him to request a trade .

gray area [noun]

a situation that is hard to define or categorize and therefore unclear

Ex: The ethics of using animals in medical testing can be a gray area , as it involves balancing scientific progress with animal welfare .

to [level] the playing field [phrase]

to create equal opportunities for all individuals or groups, regardless of their background or circumstances

Ex: They created a mentorship program to level the playing field for young professionals .

slippery slope [noun]

a situation where a small initial action or decision leads to a chain of events that ultimately results in a more significant and often negative outcome

Ex: Borrowing money to pay off debts can become a slippery slope into financial trouble .

wake-up call [noun]

a phone call that is made at a particular time to wake someone up, at their request, for example in a hotel

Ex: He relied on the wake-up call service to make his morning meetings on time .

a (fine|thin) line [phrase]

a delicate distinction between two things, particularly two apparently similar situations or concepts

Ex: In competitive sports , there is a fine line between pushing oneself to the limit and risking injury .

itchy feet [noun]

a strong urge to travel or leave somewhere

Ex: His constant itchy feet led him to change jobs frequently , seeking new challenges and experiences .

long shot [noun]

an attempt made without having any high hopes of achieving success

Ex: Starting a successful business with no prior experience is a long shot , but with hard work and determination , it can be done .

raw deal [noun]

a treatment that is not fair or equal

Ex: We 're constantly being given a raw deal by our landlord .

sore point [noun]

a sensitive or vulnerable topic or issue that causes discomfort, distress, or irritation when discussed or mentioned

Ex: His poor performance last year is still a sore point , even though he ’s improved .

wishful thinking [noun]

the act of imagining or hoping for something to be true, despite there being little or no evidence or likelihood of it actually happening

Ex: It ’s wishful thinking to believe that he ’ll change his habits overnight .

foregone conclusion [noun]

something that is so certain to happen that it can be considered inevitable

Ex: After months of rumors , his resignation felt like a foregone conclusion .

(last|final) resort [noun]

an option or solution that is only chosen when every other alternative has failed

Ex: The company turned to layoffs as a last resort to cut costs .

on second thought [phrase]

used to state that one has adopted a different opinion

Ex: She agreed to the proposal , but on second thought , she realized it was n’t practical .

saving grace [noun]

a redeeming quality or factor that prevents a situation or outcome from being completely negative or disastrous

Ex: His dedication to his work is his saving grace , balancing out his occasional tardiness .

mixed blessing [noun]

something that has both advantages and disadvantages, making it both positive and negative

Ex: Owning a pet is a mixed blessing ; they bring joy but require a lot of care and responsibility .

cold feet [noun]

the state in which one loses all one's confidence and willingness to continue doing something

Ex: The investor got cold feet about the risky business venture and withdrew their financial support .

hooked [adjective]

addicted or extremely enthusiastic about something

Ex: They became hooked on the excitement of rock climbing .

outcry [noun]

a loud, sustained noise or shout of disapproval, protest, or outrage

Ex: The insensitive remarks made by the celebrity on social media led to a widespread outcry and subsequent public apology .

spiritualism [noun]

the belief that the human spirit or soul can survive after death and communicate with the living

Ex: He practiced spiritualism to connect with his deceased relatives .

hoax [noun]

a deceptive act or scheme intended to trick people

Ex: They fell for a viral hoax about a hidden treasure .

bedridden [adjective]

having to stay in bed, usually for a long time, due to illness or injury

Ex: Despite being bedridden , Mary remained in good spirits , enjoying visits from friends and family .

to clutch [verb]

to seize or grab suddenly and firmly

Ex: Trying to prevent the papers from scattering , she clutched them tightly in her hands .

handcuff [noun]

a pair of rings made of metal with a chain attached to them, used for putting on the wrists of prisoners

Ex: The detective carried a set of handcuffs in case they needed to restrain a dangerous suspect .

to dismiss [verb]

to disregard something as unimportant or unworthy of consideration

Ex: It 's easy to dismiss minor issues , but they can accumulate and lead to larger problems .

to withstand [verb]

to resist or endure the force, pressure, or challenges imposed upon oneself

Ex: Plants in arid climates have adaptations to withstand drought conditions .

acute [adjective]

(of an illness) suddenly becoming severe but for a short time

Ex: Tom 's acute migraine headache was so intense that he had to lie down in a dark room until it subsided .

to collapse [verb]

(of a person) to fall and become unconscious

Ex: A sudden drop in blood pressure caused her to collapse during the meeting .

inauspicious [adjective]

putting someone or something at a disadvantage

Ex: The sudden change in leadership was viewed as an inauspicious move by the staff .

thoughtful [adjective]

caring and attentive to the needs, feelings, or well-being of others

Ex: The thoughtful friend remembers important dates and occasions , always sending heartfelt messages or gifts .

eccentric [adjective]

slightly strange in behavior, appearance, or ideas

Ex: People found his eccentric ideas both interesting and confusing .

uncanny [adjective]

beyond what is ordinary and indicating the inference of supernatural powers

Ex: The uncanny silence in the abandoned house sent shivers down their spines .

deduction [noun]

the process of using general rules or ideas to make a specific conclusion

Ex: His deduction was that the dog had gone outside because of the muddy tracks .

skeptical [adjective]

having doubts about something's truth, validity, or reliability

Ex: As a scientist , Alex approached the extraordinary discovery with a skeptical mindset until further evidence was provided .

Headway - Advanced
Unit 1	The Last Word (Unit 1)	Unit 2	The Last Word (Unit 2)
Unit 3	The Last Word (Unit 3)	Unit 4	Unit 5
The Last Word (Unit 5)	Unit 6	Unit 7	The Last Word (Unit 7)
Unit 8	The Last Word (Unit 8)	Unit 9	Unit 10
Unit 12	Unit 11