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Headway - Upper Intermediate - Unit 11

Here you will find the vocabulary from Unit 11 in the Headway Upper Intermediate coursebook, such as "groggy", "inconsistency", "tedious", etc.

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Headway - Upper Intermediate
to sink or swim

to be left in a situation where one either succeeds or fails

Ex: In this business, you either sink or swim. 
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to wait and see

to be patient in order to find out about the outcome, answer, or future happenings

Ex: We’ll just have to wait and see if the weather improves for our picnic tomorrow. 
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far and wide
far and wide
[Adverb]

over a great distance or in many places, often used to describe the extent of someone's search, travels, or influence

Ex: They searched far and wide for the missing dog but couldn't find it. 
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to [give] and [take]

(of two or more parties) to agree with each other's terms or opinions in order to reach an agreement

Ex: Both sides had to give and take before they reached an agreement. 
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ifs, ands, or buts

the various objections or reasons why something might not be possible, or the conditions that need to be met for something to happen

Ex: I want to go on vacation, but there are too many ifs and buts to consider first. 
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once and for all

in a way that finalizes and completes the matter at hand

Ex: We need to settle this dispute once and for all. 
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hit-and-miss
hit-and-miss
[Adjective]

an inconsistent and unpredictable approach or method with no clear pattern of success or failure

Ex: The quality of his work is hit-and-miss, so I’m not sure whether to hire him again. 
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short and sweet

used to describe something that is brief and to the point, yet pleasant or enjoyable

Ex: The speaker's presentation was short and sweet, delivering the key points in a concise and engaging manner. 
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the ins and outs of {sth}

a complete set of facts or details about how something is done or how it works

Ex: She knows the ins and outs of the hiring process. 
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by and large
by and large
[Adverb]

used to indicate that something is mostly the case or generally true

Ex: By and large, people in this town are friendly and welcoming. 
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to tense
to tense
[Verb]

to make someone feel nervous, anxious, or uneasy

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groggy
groggy
[Adjective]

feeling unsteady or dazed, often due to lack of sleep or recovery from anesthesia

Ex: After staying up late, he felt groggy in the morning and struggled to wake up. 
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inconsistency

the state or quality of being irregular or unpredictable

Ex: His inconsistency in meeting deadlines led to frustration among his colleagues. 
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to slip
to slip
[Verb]

to pass or escape unnoticed or undetected

Ex: The spy managed to slip through the heavily guarded compound, evading security cameras and patrols. 
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to do up
to do up
[Verb]

to fasten, button, zip, or otherwise secure something, often related to clothing or accessories

Ex: She asked for help to do up the zipper on the back of her dress. 
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mind-boggling
mind-boggling
[Adjective]

extremely surprising, confusing, or difficult to understand

Ex: The complexity of the theory was mind-boggling, even for the experts. 
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to munch
to munch
[Verb]

to chew steadily or vigorously, often making a crunching sound

Ex: During the movie, we sat on the couch and munch on popcorn. 
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random
random
[Adjective]

chosen, done, or happening by chance and without any particular plan, method, or purpose

Ex: He found a random book on the shelf that turned out to be quite interesting. 
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worst-case scenario

the most severe or negative outcome that could happen in a given situation

Ex: The worst-case scenario would be having to cancel the event at the last minute. 
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recurring
recurring
[Adjective]

happening or appearing repeatedly

Ex: She experienced recurring headaches every few days. 
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painstakingly

in a way that shows or involves great care, effort, and attention to detail

Ex: She painstakingly painted each petal of the flower by hand. 
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tedious
tedious
[Adjective]

boring and repetitive, often causing frustration or weariness due to a lack of variety or interest

Ex: The tedious task of filing paperwork made the afternoon drag on. 
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stroke
stroke
[noun]

a gentle, intentional touch, often with the hand, used to comfort, show affection, or provide reassurance

Ex: She gave the cat a comforting stroke. 
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bizarre
bizarre
[Adjective]

strange or unexpected in appearance, style, or behavior

Ex: The bizarre sculpture in the park, with its surreal combination of animal and human features, intrigued passersby. 
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vividly
vividly
[Adverb]

in a clear and detailed manner

Ex: She vividly remembers the first time they met, as if it were yesterday. 
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to struggle

to put a great deal of effort to overcome difficulties or achieve a goal

Ex: He struggled to lift the heavy box onto the shelf, but with determination, he eventually succeeded. 
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contest
contest
[noun]

a competition in which participants compete to defeat their opponents

Ex: The contest for the championship title was intense and thrilling. 
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vision
vision
[noun]

a mental image of what one wants or hopes to achieve in the future

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monstrous
monstrous
[Adjective]

very ugly to an extent of being unnatural or frightening

Ex: The monstrous creature in the horror movie terrified the audience. 
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melody
melody
[noun]

the arrangement or succession of single musical notes in a tune or piece of music

Ex: The melody of the song was catchy and easily recognizable, making it a favorite among listeners. 
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ready-made
ready-made
[Adjective]

made in advance and available for immediate use or purchase, without the need for any additional preparation or assembly

Ex: They bought a ready-made cake from the bakery to save time for the party. 
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round
round
[noun]

a period of play in certain sports during which one team or competitor is on the offensive, attempting to score or defeat their opponent

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ups and downs

a combination of both good things and bad things that can happen to one

Ex: In the world of business, you have to be prepared for the ups and downs of the market, which can be unpredictable. 
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sooner or later

eventually, particularly after a long delay or dispute

Ex: Sooner or later, everyone faces challenges and adversity in their lives; it's a part of the human experience. 
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pros and cons

the positive and negative elements, arguments, outcomes, etc. of something

Ex: Before making a decision on whether to accept the job offer, she carefully weighed the pros and cons, considering factors such as salary, work-life balance, and career growth. 
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(every|) now and then

on irregular but not rare occasions

Ex: She enjoys a dessert now and then. 
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sick and tired

annoyed or disgusted by someone or something one has been dealing with for a long time

Ex: I'm sick and tired of waiting for him to call. 
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more or less
more or less
[phrase]

used to indicate a rough estimate without precise measurements or exact figures

Ex: The trip will take more or less five hours, depending on traffic. 
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touch and go
touch and go
[phrase]

involving risk and uncertainty

Ex: It's touch and go whether he'll pull through at the end of this month. 
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peace and quiet

a state or situation that is free from disturbance, noise, or any kind of interruption or disruption, typically characterized by calmness, serenity, and tranquility

Ex: After a busy week, all I want is some peace and quiet to relax. 
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safe and sound

not damaged or injured in any way

Ex: After the storm, the children were found safe and sound. 
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slowly but surely

with gradual progress, steadily, and consistently over time

Ex: Slowly but surely, she improved her fitness by sticking to her workout routine. 
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come rain or come shine

no matter what happens

Ex: We'll meet at the park, come rain or come shine. 
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