Brainstorming

BrainstormingUnit 11. Adjectives for describing personality/character:Positive adjectives: easy-going, honest, open-minded, humorous, interesting, peasant, pleasurable, frank, sympathetic, helpful, loyal, selfless, reliable, considerate, faithful, trusty, versatile, tasteful, warm-hearted, modest, enthusiastic, zealous, polite, generousNegative adjectives: arrogant, dishonest, difficult, narrow-minded, boring, loathsome, unpleasant, selfish, rude, cowardly(懦弱的，胆小的), self-loving, self-admiring, cocky(自大的),boastful(自负的，喜自夸的), vain(空虚的，徒然的), greedy(贪婪的), prejudiced, cruel, patronizing(自我为是，赐恩样子), mean, pretentious(自负的), jealous(妒忌的), hostile(敌对的) Neutral adjectives: complicated, reserved, silent, quiet, talkative, sophisticated, ambitious, aggressive(好斗，有干劲), timid(胆小，害羞), impulsive(冲动), sociable/unsociable, curious, quick-witted(反应灵敏), slow-minded, out-going, shy, unapproachable, aloof(冷淡的), introvert(内向), extrovert, communicative, uncommunicative, flexible, childish2. Expressions for personal appea rance/one’s looks (most of these expressions describe the physical features of a person):Size: thin, skinny(骨瘦如柴), slim, slender(修长苗条), big, large, small, little, stout(肥胖矮胖), plump(丰满), fat, robust(健壮), athletic(运动型，健壮), muscular(肌肉发达的), chubby(圆胖，丰满), tubby [short and slightly fat](桶状，肥胖), strong, weak, slight(纤细的), well-rounded(丰满), roly-poly [short, round and fat](矮胖，卷布丁), heavy, overweightAge: old, young, look old/young, doesn’t look one’s age, youngish(颇年轻的), elderly, middle-aged, in one’s thirties/forties…, teenage, adolescent(青少年), youthful(年轻的), juvenile(少年的), junior(年少的), in the springtime of life, in the prime of one’s life [when one is strongest and most successful](壮年), in one’s salad days [slang, when one is young and doesn’t have much experience](少不更事，年轻无阅历), aged(年老的), grey-haired, senior(年长的), senile [very old and weak due to old age] (衰老的)Resemblance: look like somebody, resemble, take after somebody, have someone’s eyes/nose/hair…, remind someone of someone else, be similar to , bear a resemblance to, be like, mirror, echo3. Expressions for likes and dislikes:Likes: love, like, enjoy, be crazy/mad about, be keen on, be interested in, long for, be longing to , be eager to , be hungry for, be fond of , be devoted to, be thirsty for, care for, have a great/strong/huge crush on someone, a young girl’s crush on someone.Dislikes: feel sick about, hate, be indifferent to, don’t care for, be disgusted with, be uninterested in, sicken, loathe, feel hostile towards, be unable to stand/bear, be tired of, be unwilling to, be fed up with4. Expressions for managing relationships:Improving relations: get along with, have a good or friendly relationship with, be on good terms with, live happily with, be kind/nice/agreeable to, compliment, praise, appreciate one’shelp/advice, encourage, be tolerant to, approachableHurting relations: laugh at, criticize, ridicule, quarrel with, split with, break up with, look down upon, interfere with one’s affairs, have a bad relationship with, there is bad blood between…and…, be difficult/hard on somebodyNeutral: cope with, keep in touch with, be in/out of contact with, communicate with, approach, write to, call, ring up, get hold of, speak to, phone, visit, call on somebody, call at some place5. Expressions for people we know or meet:friends, strangers, acquaintances(熟人), colleagues, classmates, schoolmates, roommates, playmates, fellow students, fellow workers, neighbors, alumnus (pl. alumni)(男校友), alumna (pl. alumnae)(女校友), relatives, comradeemployer—employee, superior—inferior/subordinate(上司-下属), teacher—student, doctor—patient, salesman—customer, host-guest, master-slaveUnit 21. Expressions for general impressions of a person:Positive ones: polite, smart, cute, nice, a good leader, well-educated, gentle, charming, wise man; Negative ones: clumsy, forgetful, rude, careless, stupid, a follower, sb having more age than experience, wise guy;Neutral ones: funny (laughable/strange, peculiar, sensitive,2. Expressions for Expressions for emotional changesChanges for the better: calm, cool, cheer up, feel better, be sympathetic withChanges for the worse: get panicky, feel nervous, have butterflies in the stomach, get irritated/ angry, become anxious, wear / have a questioning expression, be horrified, feel guilty, be embarrassed3. Expressions for behaviorSilly ones: play the fool,( to make people laugh), make a fool of oneself (unintentional), be up to no good/ mischief (intentionally, usually in secret), mess ? fool around ( wasting time, behaving foolishly), behave badly, get into trouble.Good ones: be good, be as good as gold, set a good example, turn over a new leaf, behave oneselfNeutral ones: behave, conduct oneself (behave in a particular way, or conduct oneself responsibly4. Expressions for social positions or titles:Headmaster, doctor, nurse, director, supervisor, head of department, chairman, professor, coach, president5. Expressions for commenting on personalities:Can’t stand, can’t put up with, it takes all sorts, to err is human, to forgive is divine; (sb’s silly behavior) almost brings down the house, arouse hilarious laughter, be disgusted at/ withUnit 31. Expressions for describing difficult or problem situationsAccident, event, happening, crash, (of vehicles, planes etc,) shipwreck, (of boats or ships etc),, overturn ( of automobiles or ships etc, sink ( of boats, ships), bump (of people/ vehicles hitting sth), be in difficult / trouble? Danger, have difficulty / trouble (in) doing sth, have a hard time doing sth, be left stranded on, /in/ at, be landed with (unpleasant tasks, people), be caught / stuck /jammed in ( a traffic jam), get stuck, be in danger2. Expressions for fear:Afraid, alarmed, anxious, startled, unnerved, frightened, scared , horrified, terrified, astounded, panicky, become hysterical, act frantically,/ furiously, desperately, live in fear, get a fright, go as white as a sheet, nearly jump out of one’s skin, scared stiff3. Expressions for solving problems:Take action, fight against, get to the bottom of things ( discover the real cause of the problem), figure/ work out what to do, take measures, get/ act together, put sth right, find a solution, sort things out, clear things up, straighten things out.4. Expressions for rescue work:Save, help, rescue, give fist aid, bandage, pull out of ( a difficult situation, a calamity), dig out, save one’s life, come to one’s rescue, / help, get sb out of ( a difficult situation), pick up sb (from a dangerous place), be picked up (by helicopter, boat)Unit 81. Expressions for understanding/ getting across message:understand, know learn, acquire (knowledge, information), have an idea of, take/ get the message, be well informed about sth., get/ put the message across, express, reveal, display, make oneself understood, dawn on sb., sth. clicks in one’s mind, sth. occurs to sb.2. Expressions for failure of communication:misunderstand, don’t know…, be confused about…, get… wrong, take too much for granted, be ignorant about sth., have misconceptions about…,be biased/ prejudiced against…, be puzzling/ puzzled, be mystifying/ mystified, make a faux pas (a culturally embarrassing mistake), blunder in etiquette3. Expressions for emotional states:happy/ unhappy, satisfied/ dissatisfied, friendly/ unfriendly, hospitable, hostile, cold, enthusiastic, be embarrassed/ embarrassing, sad, depressed, low-spirited, moody, cheerful, delighted, glad, overjoyed4. Expressions for body language:nod, winking, raise one’s eye-brows, stare at sb., avert one’s eyes from sb., purse one’s lips, thrust out one’s tongue, make a face, put on a smiling/ good/ happy face, move/ turn one’s head, wave,beckon, palm up/ down, take… into one’s arms, kiss sb. on the cheek/ mouth/ forehead etc., touch, eye contact, his/her eyes speak fo r himself/ herself…, a cloud crosses his/ her face…, be red in the face, blush, beam5. Expressions for differentiating between various meanings:meaning(s), nuances of meaning, (fine) shades of meaning, tell the slight differences between…, recognize the importance/ significance of…, with serious consequences, capture the delicate meaning of…, … speak louder than wordsUnit 91. Expressions for language:Accent（口音）, (regional) dialect （地方方言）, standard English, RP (Received Pronunciation), British / American /Australian English, rhythm, stress, tone, grammar2. Expressions for assessing language behavior:Appropriate, suitable, out of place, rude, polite, over-polite, formal, informal, doesn't sound right, doesn't feel right, doesn't look right, beautifully / well written, poorly written, fluent, accurate, precise, to the point, readable, (in)comprehensible, make (no) sense3. Verbs expressing the use of language:Speak (language, accent, dialect), write in (English / German / French, etc.), listen, read, communicate, translate, interpret, paraphrase4. Expressions for forms of language use:Articles, poems (poetry), verse, nursery rhymes (童谣、歌谣), stories, novels, theses, papers, nursery rhymes, lines (in poems), scripts (of dramas, plays, films, songs, recordings, etc.), lyrics (of songs), letters, memos (memoranda), compositions, notes, posters, forms (表格), speeches, documents, announcements,5. Expressions for types of language users:Speaker, listener (audience), writer, author, poet, reader, translator, interpreter, pen-friend, scriptwriter, playwright, copywriter, reporter, radio / TV announcer, journalist6. Expressions for language learningMemorize, learn something by heart, rote learning, understand, use, review, revise, make notes, take down notes, repeat, practice, make oneself understood, memory fails one, be rusty Unit 101. Expressions of shop:Department store, the grocer’s, book-shop, supermarket, the butcher’s, fruit shop, greengrocer, confectioner, the baker’s, shoe shop, the florist’s, chain stores, superstore, general store, corner shop, kiosk, shopping center, shopping mall, boutique (精品店)，exclusive agency; franchised store专卖店；2. Expressions for buying and selling:buy, sell, go shopping, do the shopping, go to the shops, shop around, shop at / in, go window shopping, get, purchase, pick up something, wholesale, retail, sell out, out of stock, make / strike a bargain, bargain for, on the market, sale, for sale, on sale, discount 1/2, 1/3, 50% ... off (the original price), shopping list, haggle over the price (讨价还价), paying on credit (using the credit card), paying with a debit card[Credit cards allow the card holder to buy things on credit while the debit card doesn’t. To use a debit card you must have sufficient funds in your account.], swipe one’s card through a POS machine (在购物终端机器上刷卡)3. Expressions for money:change, cash, credit card, cheque (British English), check (American English), coin, note (British English), bill (American English)，RMB, pound, dollar…4. Expressions for shopping facilities:counter, shelf, window, trolley, vending machine (售货机), checkout, cash-register (收银机),shopping basket, shopping cart5. Expressions for people in a shop:shop owner, boss, manager, shopkeeper, shop assistant (sales assistant), cashier (收银员), customer, shopper, buyerUnit 111. Expressions of time for describing past eventsonce, once upon a time, a long time ago, at one time, ages ago, some time ago, donkey's years (many years) ago, when I was little, the day before yesterday, a fortnight (2 weeks) ago, yesterday evening, in the end, from 1981 to 1997, from May to July, since 1995, since June, since the middle of last month, since last night2. Adjectives for describing childhood memoriesPositive adjectives: wonderful, innocent, easy, fantastic, unrestrained, carefreeNegative adjectives: terrible, troublesome, gloomy, confusing, painful, scary, uncertain, fearful Neutral adjectives: unforgettable, vague, hazy, nebulous, clear, vivid3. Expressions for places for children:nursery, kindergarten, kindie (slang, children's language), nursery, day-care centre, nursery school, play-center, pre-school center4. Expressions for people looking after children:teacher, nanny, baby-sitter, nursemaid, nurse5. Expressions for games or for children's play apparatus:hide-and-seek, playing birdie / kicking shuttlecock（踢毽子）, riding tricycle（三轮童车）, slide （滑滑梯）, skipping rope（跳绳）, swing（荡秋千）, seesaw / teeter-totter（跷跷板）, merry-go-round（转马）, marbles（弹珠）, toy bricks / building blocks（积木）, rubber bandskipping（跳皮筋）, whipping tops（打陀螺）, hopscotch（跳房子）, Frisbee（飞盘），catapult / slingshot（弹弓）, iron hoop（滚铁环）, drop handkerchief（丢手绢）, cat’s cradle（翻绳儿）, jackstone（抓子儿）, kite flying (放风筝), play a game of tag (玩捉人游戏), tug-of-war (拔河)Unit 121. Expressions of natural phenomena:dawn, sunrise, twilight, sunset, moonlit, mist, fog, rain, snow, storm, hail, flowering, budding2. Expressions of flowers:lily, rose, tulip, gardenia, daisy, daffodil, chrysanthemum (mum), poinsettia, violet, sunflower, cactus3. Expressions of trees:pine, willow, poplar, fir, plane tree, magnolia, redwood4. Expressions of animals / insects:sheep, pig, buffalo, cow, bull, deer, goat, lizard, cicada, butterfly, dragonfly, frog, tadpole, ant, bee, termite, wasp, mosquito, fly, beetle, cricket, grasshopper5. Verbs for talking about the countryside / changes (of life):(The trees / flowers) blossom in April, (Morning) awakens at the crack of the day, (The leaves) decay in winter, (The little pond) sparkles in the sun, (Early morning mist) disappears with the sunrise, (The wind) wanes / dies away, (The storm) subsides, (The flood water) recedes, (The garden) thrives after rain, (Changes) bring new life into the village; (Old occupations) die / disappear / are replaced by ..., (New entertainment) comes into being, (Village life) declines / is gone forever, (Automobiles / Machinery) sweep(s) away ...Unit 131. Names of small stationery objects:pins, clips, staples (订书钉), paper, envelopes, pens, ball-point pens, pencils, rulers, paper fasteners (装订散页纸张的夹子), punch (打孔机), adhesive tape (透明或不透明的胶带), rubbers / erasers, pencil sharpeners, glue2. Verbs expressing the use of small stationery objects:handle, hold, make it work, punch holes, pull, staple, bind, sharpen a pencil, rub out / erase, pedal / push (a bike), wind up, press the button, plug it in, unplug, switch / turn on / off the radio / TV / lamp ...,3. Names of tools for using on small objects:screwdriver, staplers (订书机), pincers (镊子/ 钳子), pliers (钳子), spanner, hammer, nails, drill4. Names of parts of machines or gadgets in everyday life:bike, wheels, handle grips, spokes, brake, bell, tyre, mudguard, pedal, chain, plug, button, switch, wire, sockets (电源插座), adapter (电源适配器/ 电源变压器), power。