Luke's dad vocab

Success in this industry requires a great deal of hard work and maybe a little bit of luck too.

means a lot of or lots of, meaning a large amount.

Technically, we’re not supposed to park here, but it should be ok.

It means when something is true based on specific rules, but in practice things are a bit different.

Technically speaking you’re supposed to provide a doctor’s note for any absence from work, but it’s ok if it’s just one day.

Don’t talk to me. Officially I’m not here.

means that whereas something i s publicly true, things are different i n private.

His technique was not as good as theirs, but he was still a great drummer because music is not always about technical skill

describe a person, meaning that they have really good practical skills, specific skills or technique i n something

A judge in a courtroom is supposed to give a totally impartial judgement of a case.

If something is impartial it means that it is unbiased, without any preference to one side

I am just an impartial mediator in the dispute and I will not be taking sides.

It’s my responsibility to remain impartial throughout the process.

I don’t have an impartial position on this I’m afraid.

You can use our free helpdesk to get impartial financial advice to help you make the right investment for your future.

I’ve said before that I’d like to make more videos for my YouTube subscribers, and that is still the case.

This is a nice alternative to saying this is true or this is the situation.

It is still the case that t he healthcare system in the UK needs more support, and we are committed to doing that.

We ate pretty much all of the food.

This is like saying almost, and it works like almost in a sentence too.

We’re going over old ground here, but i t’s worth restating that...

To go over old ground means to talk about topics you have previously talked about.

Brexiters talked a lot about regaining our freedom after we l eft the EU.”

means to get something back that was previously lost.

“I hit my head and passed out. I didn’t regain consciousness for about 3 hours.”

“I went on a diet before my wedding and lost about 6kg, but i t was really hard not to regain the weight afterwards.

Are you implying that I’m a bad parent?

If you imply something i t means you say that something i s true, or something i s the case, without saying i t directly.

“Take back control” suggests that we don’t have any control.

suggest can also mean that someone’s statement has an indirect meaning to it.

When we’re teenagers we only have a vague notion of just what kind of career we'd like to have i n the future.

A notion is an idea or belief.

The notion that the Earth is in fact flat is absolutely farcical.

Our Zoom meeting w as plagued by technical issues.

this one refers generally to something that brings a lot of trouble, difficulty or unpleasantness. This doesn’t just refer to diseases, but it could be other issues like technical problems, disagreements, diplomatic setbacks and so on.

There are so many competing factions i n the region that it seems almost impossible to come to a compromise in this conflict.

A f action is an organised group of people which is part of another larger group and which disagrees with some ideas of the larger group, and fights against those ideas.

These are Eurosceptics who want to get out of the EU.

remove or withdraw from.

Her comments failed to appease her critics.

to give some what they want in order to stop them being unhappy or to stop them protesting or complaining

Brexit is proving to be a bit of a nightmare.

If something p roves to be something, or p roves to be true, or p roves to be the case, i t means that after time this was revealed to be true.

They are dragging out the negotiation, because they’re not getting what they want.

means to make something last longer than is necessary.

This negotiation has been dragged out for months and months.

Their discussion w as dragged out for hours and hours.

If you don’t comply with the rules of this forum, you might get blocked.

to follow the rules, not break the rules.

Everything has to be i n compliance with health & safety regulations.

usually comes in the expression to be in compliance with...

Potentially, we could see a decrease i n road traffic accidents as self-driving cars become more and more widespread.

It expresses the idea that something might happen or might be something in the future (can be used at the beggining of the sentence and at the end of the sentence)

We have to keep moving forward, no matter what obstacles or challenges face us.

a problem that you have to deal with, or get over.

These new rules have frustrated our efforts to import the products we need for our business.

relating to things that can make plans or arrangements more difficult

Our quality of life has changed significantly in the last 200 years, and this trend looks set to continue.

means “a lot” or “in a big way” or “in an important way”.

These restrictions will impact on producers and farmers all over the country. (Im'pact)

It means that something is going to have a serious effect on something else.

This is going to have a significant impact ('impact)

The launch of Tesla’s new product is likely to be very impactful on the industry.

something has a powerful effect or creates a strong impression. This is usually quite positive.

I was enormously let down by the latest Star Wars film.

This is an adverb that means “ a lot”, “in a big way” or “to a large extent”.

I found his behaviour highly suspicious.

We were greatly impressed by her English.

It was a deeply moving performance.

Your guitar playing is seriously impressive.

Sorry, I’m utterly lost. What’s everyone talking about?

She’s terribly frightened of being left alone.

So we're just letting EU products in without checking them. That's what it comes down to.

If something comes down to something, it means that ultimately this is the bottom line, the most important thing at the end of the process, the final situation. It’s like the phrase “When all is said and done”.

Shall we touch on Northern Ireland situation or not?

If you touch on something in a conversation, it means that you talk about it briefly

This is increasing their costs significantly.

It can take a while to absorb grammar rules when you read them.

also mean to understand and retain information.

The security guard raises the barrier and I drive in.

make something go up

The barrier rises and I drive in.

go up

Inflation destroyed Venezuela.

Inflation is the general increase in the prices of goods and services in the economy.

If I didn’t pass the English exam, it wouldn’t be the end of the world. I’d still be able to re-take it next month.

means that the situation is not absolutely terrible. It could be worse.

I can't see a single advantage of us leaving the EU, not one. It's all damage limitation and f refighting and trying to make sure it's not too bad.

means finding ways to reduce the damage that something could cause.

Both of these situations refer to making efforts to reduce the negative impacts of something.

Donald Trump's presidency shows how democracy can come unstuck

To go wrong, to fall apart, to break down.

So, this was a bad decision that upset people and caused a big fuss. This was a political gaffe.

A gaffe is a mistake, usually one which embarrasses you or makes you look stupid because it upsets or offends people.

As an English teacher, my desire to entertain people shouldn’t override my duty to help them improve their English, in theory.

In politics or law, override can mean when one decision or l aw becomes more important than another, or when one law or decision supercedes or replaces another.

t’s important t o be careful when you overtake.

This is when something passes in front of someone or something else.

Every villain in a James Bond film is trying to take over the world - to take control of the entire world.

This one means to take control of something.

Drug companies Zeneca and Astra are planning to merge, forming a new company

when two companies come together to create one

There are lots of elements in t he UK’s new relationship with t he EU which are problematic.

Word stress: Proble ma' tic

on their own, without consulting anyone else

The software system is nearly ready. It just needs a few tweaks before we can start using it.

to change it slightly in order to make it just right.

We’ll just have to wait and see

we will have to wait in order to find out what happens

One of the benefits of giving up smoking is that you get your sense of smell back.

(benefit of + the thing which causes the benefit)

A good trade deal would be a great benefit to the economy.

(Benefit to + the thing which gets the benefit)

Food, shelter, comfort - these are basic things that we all take for granted.

it means that you don’t stop to think how useful, important or beneficial they are to you, or how lucky you are to have them.

Sorry to put you on the spot, but could you tell us what you think of Brexit?

This means to put someone in a difficult or potentially embarrassing situation by asking them a question that is hard to answer.

We often use monsters, ghosts or aliens to explain the unexplainable

It means to try and explain something which is impossible to explain

we'll wait and see how it pans out after the first few weeks.

It just means to develop or progress as time moves forwards.

Parents play a crucial role in preparing their child for school.

This is one of those words which means very important, along with these other synonyms: vital, critical, imperative, fundamental, key.

It’s a historic victory for England.

means that it is important in history. It’s so important that people will remember it in the future

This place is of great cultural and historical significance.

related to history, related to the past, or something that really existed in the past.

The economy has eclipsed all other issues during this election campaign.

when something is no longer noticed or talked about, because it has been covered by something which appears to be larger or more important.

Tomorrow it's due to be minus seven degrees

Due to the pandemic, the concert has been cancelled.

Here in t he middle of t he country today i t's quite a nice day, a few occasional little flakes of snow drifting down with patches of sunshine.