New Words

mountain bike [countable]

a strong bicycle with a lot of gears and wide tyres, specially designed for riding up hills and on rough ground

 

 

 

cru‧ci‧fix [countable]

a cross with a figure of Christ on it
crucifix  and cross jewelry

 

 

 

 

 

 

peb‧ble [countable]

a small smooth stone found especially on a beach or on the bottom of a river:

The beach was covered with smooth white pebbles.

—pebbly  adjective:

a pebbly beach

not be the only pebble on the beach (idiom) to not be the only person who is important in a situation or in a group Laura always expects to get her own way. It's time she learned that she's not the only pebble on the beach.

 

dom‧i‧no plural dominoes

1 [countable]one of a set of small flat pieces of wood, plastic etc, with different numbers of spots, used for playing a game

2 dominoes [uncountable]

the game played using dominoes

3 domino effect

a situation in which one event or action causes several other things to happen one after the other

Talking about Parties

“Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we're here we should dance.” birthday party - a party held on the anniversary of someone's birth children's party - a party for children fancy-dress (UK) or costume party (US) - a party where people wear clothes that make them look like someone or something else farewell party – leaving party, going-away party dinner party - a small sometimes formal party where a meal is eaten bachelor party - a party for a man who is going to get married, to which only his male friends are invited cocktail party - a formal party with alcoholic drinks, usually in the early evening dinner party - a formal evening meal to which a small number of people are invited garden party or (US - also known as a lawn party) - a formal party that happens outside in the afternoon, often in a large private garden hen night or hen party (in the UK) - a party for women only, usually one held for a woman before she is married housewarming (party) - a party which you give when you move into a new house party animal - someone who enjoys parties and party activities very much and goes to as many as possible party favour - small presents given to guests, usually children, at a party party pooper - someone who spoils other people's enjoyment by disapproving or not taking part in a particular activity slumber party or sleepover - an overnight party in which guests, usually girls, wear nightclothes, socialize, and spend the night at a friend's home tea party - an occasion when people meet in the afternoon to drink tea and eat a small amount of food life and soul of the party - someone who is energetic and amusing and at the centre of activity during social occasions costume party or masquerade - a party of guests wearing costumes and masks office party - an event held by corporations or businesses often either at the site of the business or in high class venues New Year's Party – a party usually hosted in a person's house on New Year's Eve to celebrate the changing of the calendar reception - a formal party of people; as after a wedding open house - an informal party of people with hospitality for all comers potluck - a meal at which each guest brings food that is then shared by all wedding party - a party of people at a wedding reunion - a party of former associates who have come together again Now we put new vocabulary into context, so you can see how you might use these terms yourself. The expressions are in boldface in the text. A birthday party is a celebration that occurs to celebrate the birth of the person being honoured. The birthday party is the most celebrated event in the world. While a child's party is usually at home and consists of soft drinks and sweet food as well as savoury, adults' often take place in clubs with a buffet of savoury food and alcohol. In the United States, birthday parties are often accompanied by colourful decorations. A traditional birthday cake is often served with candles that are to be blown out after a "birthday wish" has been made. This wish is usually kept secret, and represents some desire for the time between the current birthday and the next. A birthday party may even be an event planned carefully through a special agency or through a party service.

Confusing words

Read the task below and click on a link which you think is the correct answer. BRING UP and the noun UPBRINGING are mostly used for the moral and social training that children receive at home Examples: He was brought up by his grandparents. Their kids were brought up to respect authority. Their daughter is very badly brought up – always screaming and fighting. EDUCATE and EDUCATION are used for the intellectual and cultural training that people get at school and university Examples: How much does it cost to educate a child privately? It's important for children to get a good education. Education is what remains after one has forgotten everything he learned in school. - Albert Einstein

Talking about Christmas

Christmas (literally, the Mass of Christ) is a holiday in the Christian calendar, usually observed on December 25, which celebrates the birth of Jesus. Christmas allowance - Christmas bonus Christmas cake - a rich fruitcake (usually covered with icing and marzipan) and eaten at Christmas Christmas card - a greetings card that people send to friends and family at Christmas Christmas carol - a song whose lyrics are on the theme of Christmas, or the winter season in general Christmas cracker - consists of a cardboard tube wrapped in a brightly decorated twist of paper (making it resemble an oversized sweet-wrapper). It is pulled by two people and much in the manner of a wishbone, the cracker splits unevenly. The split is accompanied by a small bang Christmas Day - a Christian holiday celebrating the birth of Christ, 25 December Christmas Eve - the day before Christmas Christmas holidays - the holiday period for about a week before and after Christmas Day Christmas present - a present given at Christmas time Christmas stocking - a large sock which children leave out when they go to bed on Christmas Eve so that it can be filled with small presents Christmas pudding - plum pudding: a rich steamed or boiled pudding that resembles cake Christmas rose - European evergreen plant with white or purplish rose like winter-blooming flowers Christmas shopping - buying Christmas presents Christmas tree - an evergreen or artificial tree decorated, as with lights and ornaments, during the Christmas season Father Christmas - chiefly British - - Santa Claus Christmas tree ball - Christmas ball ornament white Christmas - a Christmas when it snows Merry Christmas! - said at Christmas to wish people a pleasant Christmas period Some expressions containing the word Christmas: Happy Christmas! Merry Christmas! When do you break up for Christmas? at Christmas for Christmas Now we put new vocabulary into context, so you can see how you might use these terms yourself. The expressions are in boldface in the text. Each of our employees who have been with our firm for a period of six months or more receives a Christmas bonus. The Christmas Cake as we know it today comes from two customs which became one around 1870 in Victorian England. Originally there was a porridge, the origins of which go back to the beginnings of Christianity. Then there was a fine cake made with the finest milled wheat flour, this was baked only in the Great Houses, as not many people had ovens back in the 14th century. Many businesses, particularly smaller local businesses, send Christmas cards to the people on their customer lists, as a way to develop general goodwill and reinforce social networks. Christmas carols can be sung by individual singers, but are also often sung by larger groups, including professionally trained choirs. Many Christians traditionally celebrate a midnight mass at midnight on Christmas Eve, which is held in churches throughout the world, marking the beginning of Christmas Day. Christmas pudding is the dessert traditionally served on Christmas day in Britain. It has its origins in England, and is sometimes known as plum pudding, though this can also refer to other kinds of boiled pudding involving a lot of dried fruit. The Christmas tree is normally an evergreen tree that is brought in the house or used in the open and is decorated with Christmas lights and colourful ornaments during the days around Christmas.