pattern

Total English - Advanced - Unit 3 - Reference

Here you will find the vocabulary from Unit 3 - Reference in the Total English Advanced coursebook, such as "level-headed", "tall story", "elaborate", etc.

Review

Flashcards

Forms

Spelling

Quiz

Start learning
Total English - Advanced
plot
plot
[noun]

the events that are crucial to the formation and continuity of a story in a movie, play, novel, etc.

Ex: The plot of the novel kept readers on the edge of their seats with its unexpected twists. 
Close
Sign in
biographical
biographical
[Adjective]

relating to or describing the life or history of a particular person, often focusing on significant events, achievements, or experiences

Ex: The museum featured a biographical exhibit about the artist. 
Close
Sign in
sketch
sketch
[noun]

a brief literary description that presents a scene, character, or event with minimal detail

Ex: His travel journal contained a sketch of the bustling marketplace. 
Close
Sign in
fake
fake
[Adjective]

designed to resemble the real thing but lacking authenticity

Ex: The counterfeit watch was identified as fake, lacking the quality and craftsmanship of the genuine product. 
Close
Sign in
myth
myth
[noun]

a story involving the ancient history of a people, usually about heroes and supernatural events that could be unreal

Ex: The myth of the phoenix tells of a bird that rises from its ashes. 
Close
Sign in
tall story

a story that one finds hard to believe because it seems far from reality

Ex: He told us a tall story about encountering a legendary creature during his camping trip. 
Close
Sign in
fairy tale

a type of folktale that typically features mythical creatures, magical events, and enchanted settings, often with a moral lesson or a happy ending

Ex: Children love to immerse themselves in the magical world of fairy tales, where anything seems possible. 
Close
Sign in
legend
legend
[noun]

an old story that is sometimes considered historical although it is not usually proved to be true

Close
Sign in
anecdote
anecdote
[noun]

a short interesting story about a real event or person, often biographical

Ex: She shared a funny anecdote about her first day at work. 
Close
Sign in
punch line

the final part of a joke or a humorous story that is intended to make the audience laugh or surprise them with a clever twist or unexpected ending

Ex: The punch line of the joke was so funny that I fell over laughing. 
Close
Sign in
joke
joke
[noun]

something a person says that is intended to make others laugh

Ex: He told a funny joke that made everyone at the party laugh. 
Close
Sign in
white lie
white lie
[noun]

a small lie that does not cause any harm, especially told to avoid making someone upset

Ex: She told her friend a white lie about liking her new haircut, not wanting to hurt her feelings. 
Close
Sign in
rumor
rumor
[noun]

a piece of information or story that is circulated among a group of people, often without being confirmed as true or accurate

Close
Sign in
gossip
gossip
[noun]

informal or idle talk about others, especially their personal lives, typically involving details that may not be confirmed or verified

Ex: The office was filled with gossip after the new manager arrived. 
Close
Sign in
to elaborate

to give more information to make the understanding more complete

Ex: The author elaborated on the historical context to provide readers with a deeper understanding of the events. 
Close
Sign in
hoax
hoax
[noun]

a deceptive act or scheme intended to trick people

Ex: The news about the celebrity’s death turned out to be a hoax. 
Close
Sign in
prone
prone
[Adjective]

having a tendency or inclination toward something

Ex: He is prone to making impulsive decisions. 
Close
Sign in
exaggeration

the act of overstating or stretching the truth beyond what is accurate or realistic

Ex: He resorted to exaggeration to make his argument seem stronger. 
Close
Sign in
readable
readable
[Adjective]

easy, interesting and enjoyable to read

Ex: The novel was highly readable, with a smooth and engaging style. 
Close
Sign in
hooked
hooked
[Adjective]

addicted to something, particularly to narcotic drugs

Ex: He got hooked on painkillers after his injury. 
Close
Sign in
moving
moving
[Adjective]

causing powerful emotions of sympathy or sorrow

Ex: The moving speech by the survivor brought tears to the eyes of everyone in the audience. 
Close
Sign in
gripping
gripping
[Adjective]

exciting and intriguing in a way that attracts one's attention

Ex: The gripping novel kept me on the edge of my seat, unable to put it down until I reached the last page. 
Close
Sign in
bookworm
bookworm
[noun]

a person who loves reading books and often spends a lot of time reading

Ex: She’s a real bookworm who finishes a novel every week. 
Close
Sign in
one-dimensional
one-dimensional
[Adjective]

existing or moving only in one direction or along a single line

Ex: A one-dimensional figure, like a line, has only length. 
Close
Sign in
best-selling
best-selling
[Adjective]

(of a book or other product) sold in large quantities because of gaining significant popularity among people

Ex: She wrote a best-selling novel that topped the charts for months. 
Close
Sign in
avid
avid
[Adjective]

extremely enthusiastic and interested in something one does

Ex: He's an avid reader, spending hours immersed in books every day. 
Close
Sign in
to depict
to depict
[Verb]

to describe a specific subject, scene, person, etc.

Ex: The artist’s work often depicts scenes from daily life in a vibrant style. 
Close
Sign in
single-minded
single-minded
[Adjective]

focusing on one particular goal or purpose, and determined to achieve it

Ex: He was single-minded in his pursuit of a successful career. 
Close
Sign in
self-sufficient
self-sufficient
[Adjective]

capable of providing everything that one needs, particularly food, without any help from others

Ex: After years of practice, the farm became self-sufficient, growing enough food and resources to sustain itself year-round. 
Close
Sign in
thick-skinned
thick-skinned
[Adjective]

not easily affected by criticism, insults or negative comments

Ex: She is thick-skinned and doesn’t let negative comments bother her. 
Close
Sign in
kind-hearted
kind-hearted
[Adjective]

having a compassionate and caring nature, showing kindness and generosity toward others

Ex: The kind-hearted volunteer spent every weekend helping at the local animal shelter. 
Close
Sign in
standoffish
standoffish
[Adjective]

reserved, aloof, or distant in one's interactions with others, often conveying a sense of unfriendliness or coldness

Ex: Despite his warm smile, she found him to be rather standoffish at the party, keeping to himself in the corner. 
Close
Sign in
career-oriented
career-oriented
[Adjective]

(of a person) prioritizing and focusing on their professional growth, development, and advancement, often with a strong dedication to their chosen career path

Close
Sign in
level-headed
level-headed
[Adjective]

capable of making good decisions in difficult situations

Ex: She remained level-headed during the crisis and handled everything efficiently. 
Close
Sign in
absent-minded
absent-minded
[Adjective]

failing to remember or be attentive to one's surroundings or tasks due to being preoccupied with other thoughts

Ex: The absent-minded professor often forgot where he left his keys but was brilliant in his field. 
Close
Sign in
farce
farce
[noun]

a play or movie that uses exaggerated humor, absurd situations, and improbable events to entertain

Ex: The play was a classic farce, filled with mistaken identities and ridiculous twists. 
Close
Sign in
pun
pun
[noun]

a clever or amusing use of words that takes advantage of the multiple meanings or interpretations that it has

Ex: She made a clever pun during the meeting that had everyone laughing. 
Close
Sign in
cartoon
cartoon
[noun]

a movie or TV show, made by photographing a series of drawings or models rather than real people or objects

Ex: My all-time favorite cartoon is 'Tom and Jerry'. 
Close
Sign in
black humor

a type of humor that finds the funny side of difficult or painful situations, often in a way that is considered inappropriate or offensive by some people

Ex: His jokes about death and suffering were filled with black humor. 
Close
Sign in
surreal
surreal
[Adjective]

related to an artistic style that emphasizes the bizarre, dreamlike, or irrational, often blending reality with fantasy in unexpected ways

Ex: The surreal style of painting uses distorted forms and illogical scenes to create a sense of mystery. 
Close
Sign in
irony
irony
[noun]

a form of humor in which the words that someone says mean the opposite, producing an emphatic effect

Ex: His irony was so sharp that some people didn’t realize he was mocking them. 
Close
Sign in
exaggeration

the act of overstating or stretching the truth beyond what is accurate or realistic

Ex: He resorted to exaggeration to make his argument seem stronger. 
Close
Sign in
satire
satire
[noun]

humor, irony, ridicule, or sarcasm used to expose or criticize the faults and shortcomings of a person, government, etc.

Ex: Satire in literature often challenges societal norms and conventions. 
Close
Sign in
to [follow] in {one's} footsteps

to try to do the exact same things as others did before one

Ex: She decided to follow in her father's footsteps and pursue a career in medicine. 
Close
Sign in
dead end
dead end
[noun]

a situation that shows no signs of progress or improvement

Ex: The investigation reached a dead end when the witness disappeared. 
Close
Sign in
frosty
frosty
[Adjective]

unfriendly or distant in one's manner or interactions with others

Ex: His frosty response made it clear that he was not interested in making new friends. 
Close
Sign in
reception
reception
[noun]

the way in which something is perceived or received by others, often referring to the response or reaction to an idea, message, or product

Ex: The movie had a mixed reception, with some critics praising it and others disappointed. 
Close
Sign in
under the weather

feeling unwell or slightly ill

Ex: I'm feeling a bit under the weather today, so I'll stay home. 
Close
Sign in
stormy
stormy
[Adjective]

involving bitter arguments and angry feelings

Ex: The debate became stormy as the two sides clashed over key issues. 
Close
Sign in
to [call] the (shots|tune)

to be in control of a particular situation and be the one who decides what needs to be done

Ex: In this project, Maria calls the shots. 
Close
Sign in
firing line

the position of being directly involved in a challenging or risky situation

Ex: As the spokesperson, she was in the firing line when the scandal broke. 
Close
Sign in
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. 
Close
Sign in
warm
warm
[Adjective]

displaying friendliness, kindness, or enthusiasm

Ex: She greeted us with a warm smile and made us feel right at home. 
Close
Sign in
to set {one's} sights on {sth}

to aim or target something with a specific goal or objective in mind

Ex: She set her sights on becoming a doctor and never wavered. 
Close
Sign in
LanGeek
Download LanGeek app