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Headway - Upper Intermediate - Unit 12

Here you will find the vocabulary from Unit 12 in the Headway Upper Intermediate coursebook, such as "cushy", "digest", "apparent", etc.

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Headway - Upper Intermediate
to [take] time
to take time
[phrase]

to need a significant amount of time to be able to happen, be completed, or achieved

Ex: Learning a new language can take time, patience, and practice. 
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get a life
get a life
[sentence]

used to tell someone to change their life style and start doing more exciting or important things

Ex: Stop spying on your ex's posts and get a life. 
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to [kill] (the|) time

to spend or use time in a way that does not achieve anything or have a particular goal

Ex: When the meeting was delayed, they killed time by chatting with each other. 
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third time lucky
third time lucky
[interjection]

used to express that after failing twice, one is bound to succeed on the third try

Ex: Third time lucky—I’m going to get this job on my third interview! 
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no time to lose

used in a situation when there is only a little time to do something and one must be careful not to waste any of it

Ex: We need to get started immediately. There's no time to lose. 
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cushy
cushy
[Adjective]

involving minimal effort or hardship

Ex: He enjoyed his cushy job, which required minimal hours and offered generous pay. 
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to [come] to life

to become lively and energetic

Ex: As the music started, the party came to life with dancing and laughter. 
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to [bet] {one's} (life|boots|bottom dollar)

to express strongly and confidently that something is undoubtedly true or will certainly happen

Ex: I'd bet my life he knew about the plan before the meeting. 
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better luck next time
better luck next time
[interjection]

used to encourage someone who has just missed an opportunity or failed to succeed in a particular field

Ex: That was a tough break, but better luck next time. 
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new lease of life

another chance for someone to become more healthy, energetic, or adopting a more optimistic view on life

Ex: His return to the game gave the team a new lease of life, and they played better than ever. 
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for the time being

for a limited period, usually until a certain condition changes

Ex: For the time being, I am focusing on my studies before deciding on my career path. 
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to [stand] the test of time

to remain strong, valuable, or effective over a long period, despite changes or challenges

Ex: A stable relationship stands the test of time. 
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in the nick of time

just before it is too late

Ex: He arrives in the nick of time to catch his flight before the gate closes. 
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to [do] (anything|) for a quiet life

to be willing to do whatever it takes to avoid trouble or conflict and have a peaceful and stress-free existence

Ex: He did anything for a quiet life, yet here he is. 
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story of {one's} life

used to say that it is typical of a person to experience an unfortunate event

Ex: I finally found a parking space, and then my meter was broken. Story of my life. 
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to [run] the risk of {sth}

to be in or to get oneself into a situation that may result in an unpleasant or dangerous outcome

Ex: By not wearing a helmet while biking, you run the risk of a head injury in case of an accident. 
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to carry out

to complete or conduct a task, job, etc.

Ex: The research team will carry out experiments to test the hypothesis and gather data. 
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research
research
[noun]

a careful and systematic study of a subject to discover new facts or information about it

Ex: Mark spent hours in the library doing research for his history paper. 
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to become
to become
[Verb]

to start or grow to be

Ex: He's training to become a pilot at a flight school. 
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apparent
apparent
[Adjective]

easy to see or notice

Ex: His apparent discomfort was evident from his body language. 
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to [take] {sth} into account

to consider something when trying to make a judgment or decision

Ex: We need to take the extra costs into account before we approve the project. 
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to [get] {sth} going

to start or begin something, often with a sense of urgency or purpose

Ex: We need to get the project going before the deadline approaches. 
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to suffer
to suffer
[Verb]

to experience and be affected by something bad or unpleasant

Ex: They suffered the consequences of their actions. 
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stroke
stroke
[noun]

a dangerous condition in which a person loses consciousness as a result of a blood vessel breaking open or becoming blocked in their brain, which could kill or paralyze a part of their body

Ex: A stroke occurs when a blood vessel in the brain either becomes blocked (ischemic stroke) or bursts (hemorrhagic stroke). 
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to digest
to digest
[Verb]

to break down food in the body and to absorb its nutrients and necessary substances

Ex: Our bodies use enzymes to digest food in the stomach. 
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to [break] the ice

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

Ex: He told a lighthearted joke to break the ice at the beginning of the meeting. 
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to [stand] on {one's} own (two|) feet

to be able to take care of oneself without needing any assistance from others

Ex: After college, he finally learned to stand on his own feet. 
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to grab
to grab
[Verb]

to attract or hold someone's attention or interest

Ex: The movie's intriguing plot and captivating visuals grabbed the audience from the very beginning. 
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to [follow] {one's} nose

to follow one's intuition instead of rules or what others say

Ex: I didn't read the reviews; I just followed my nose and chose the smaller restaurant. 
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to follow
to follow
[Verb]

to act accordingly to someone or something's advice, commands, or instructions

Ex: She followed her doctor's advice and improved her health. 
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pattern
pattern
[noun]

the way according to which something normally happens or is done

Ex: The weather pattern in this region typically includes rainy seasons followed by dry spells. 
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to put on
to put on
[Verb]

to gain weight, often in a short period of time

Ex: She's put on a few pounds since the holidays. 
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awake
awake
[Adjective]

not in a state of sleep or unconsciousness

Ex: He was fully awake and alert during the early morning meeting. 
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to withdraw

to remove oneself from social interaction or avoid contact with others

Ex: Feeling overwhelmed by the crowd, she decided to withdraw to a quiet corner of the room where she could be alone. 
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that is life (for you|)

used to express acceptance or resignation to the way things are, particularly when faced with an unpleasant or difficult situation

Ex: I don’t think I was fairly treated, but then that’s life, isn’t it? 
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two (can|could) play (that|this|the) game

used to show one's confidence in dealing with another person's behavior and using it to their disadvantage

Ex: If he starts leaking stories, two can play that game. 
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enough
enough
[determiner]

to a necessary amount

Ex: The soup wasn't hot enough to serve. 
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whole
whole
[Adjective]

including every part, member, etc.

Ex: He ate the whole pizza by himself. 
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all
all
[determiner]

used to refer to every number, part, amount of something or a particular group

Ex: All books on this shelf belong to me. 
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each
each
[determiner]

used to refer to every one of two or more people or things, when you are thinking about them separately

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plenty
plenty
[pronoun]

a plentiful or abundant amount of something

Ex: She found plenty of interesting books at the library to read over the summer. 
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a great deal
a great deal
[phrase]

to a large extent

Ex: She cares for him a great deal, which is why she's always there when he needs her. 
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hardly
hardly
[Adverb]

to a very small degree or extent

Ex: She hardly knew him, yet she agreed to help. 
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several
several
[determiner]

used to refer to a number of things or people, more than two but not many

Ex: He owns several cars, each for a different purpose. 
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none
none
[determiner]

not any of the members of a group of people or things

Ex: None of the students in the class had completed the assignment on time. 
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no
no
[determiner]

used to say there is none of something

Ex: There is no reason to be afraid. 
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few
few
[determiner]

a small unspecified number of people or things

Ex: Few people understand the complexity of this issue. 
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few
few
[determiner]

a small unspecified number of people or things

Ex: Few people understand the complexity of this issue. 
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a little
a little
[Adverb]

used to indicate a small or limited amount of something, often uncountable

Ex: She smiled a little when she heard the news. 
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little
little
[determiner]

used to indicate a small degree, amount, etc.

Ex: I have little time to finish the project. 
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most
most
[determiner]

used to refer to the largest number or amount

Ex: He eats most vegetables, but he doesn't like broccoli. 
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to [get] the bug

to become interested or enthusiastic about something, often to the point of obsession

Ex: After attending a gaming convention, she got the bug and now spends all her weekends playing video games. 
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(such|what) a pain
such a pain
[phrase]

someone or something that is irritating, troublesome, or causes inconvenience

Ex: What a pain writing good grant descriptions can be if you don't know where to begin. 
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to [hit] {sb} like a ton of bricks

to experience the sudden, surprising, and overwhelming impact of something, that catches someone off guard and leaves them feeling stunned or overwhelmed

Ex: The news of her accident hit me like a ton of bricks. 
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(and|) not before time (too|)

used to express relief that something has finally happened, after a long delay or period of waiting

Ex: A new law is proposed to curb this type of blatantly dishonest description, and not before time 
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any old time
any old time
[phrase]

at any convenient or available time, without the need for careful planning or scheduling

Ex: I'm free all day tomorrow, so we can meet at any old time. 
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(that|this) [is] more like it

used to indicate satisfaction or approval with a change or improvement in a situation

Ex: "I've done twice as much today as yesterday!" "Well, that's more like it! Congratulations!" 
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fancy that
fancy that
[interjection]

used to express surprise, disbelief, or amazement about something that has just been said or observed

Ex: Fancy that! Tell me more about your new hobby. 
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this and that

a variety of unspecified things or situations

Ex: I’ve been busy with this and that, so I haven’t had time to relax. 
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those were the days

used to refer nostalgically to a past time or era, often implying that the time being referred to was a better or more enjoyable time

Ex: When I was a kid, we spent our summers at the beach. Those were the days! 
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that is all {~noun}
that is all
[sentence]

used to indicate that there is nothing more to say or do about a particular matter

Ex: The presentation was clear, and that is all I need to know. 
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these things happen

used to say that unfortunate or unexpected events sometimes occur and that it is a natural part of life to experience them

Ex: The project got delayed, and we’re all frustrated, but these things happen. 
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to [be|have] one of those days

used to describe a day that is particularly difficult or frustrating

Ex: I’m sorry for snapping, I’m just having one of those days. 
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these things are sent to try us

used to say that difficult or challenging situations are a natural part of life and are meant to test our strength and resilience

Ex: I know it’s hard, but these things are sent to try us—we’ll get through it. 
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to [leave] it at that

to stop talking about or discussing something, especially when there is no need for further elaboration or action

Ex: I was furious but just left it at that since he obviously didn't care about me. 
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how does {sth} grab you?

used to ask for someone's opinion or reaction to a particular idea, proposal, or suggestion

Ex: How does going to Hawaii for Christmas grab you? 
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that is the spirit

used to encourage or praise someone for their positive attitude or determination in a difficult or challenging situation

Ex: Yeah, that's the spirit! 
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to [have] (a|the|this) feeling

to have an intuition or a premonition about something without any logical or rational explanation

Ex: I had a feeling it was going to end this way. 
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to come to

to reach a conclusion or make a choice after careful consideration and evaluation of various options or possibilities

Ex: After hours of debate, the committee finally came to a unanimous decision. 
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dead
dead
[Adverb]

to an absolute or complete extent

Ex: She was dead wrong about the outcome of the trial. 
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on time
on time
[Adverb]

exactly at the specified time, neither late nor early

Ex: He completes his tasks on time without any reminders. 
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(about|high) time
about time
[phrase]

used to indicate that something should have happened or been done earlier

Ex: It is about time you called your mother. 
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