Hello to all of you who came on the English Conversation Walk on Saturday in Clerkenwell. I really enjoyed spending the day with all of you. Thank you to all of you for participating throughout the walk with the history, the vocabulary and asking so many useful questions.
Here are some of the new words that we used on Saturday and went over again in the cafe at the end. Of course, I cannot include every new word that we looked at, but if there is something that you would like to have included here, please add it yourself.
Words relating to buildings:
slum (noun). A very run-down area where very poor people live. Often two or three families live in the same room.
a slum dweller – the person who lives in a slum
e.g. this is a slum area
to slum it (phrasal verb). When a person lives in a place that is not as good as the one they have had in the past.
to demolish (verb used with an object). To destroy or ruin a building or other type of structure. Often done deliberately.
e.g. the fire demolished the street.
We also use ‘to demolish’ informally. E.g. If we are very hungry and eat our dinner very quickly, we might say ‘I demolished that lot quickly!’ or ‘he demolished his meal in no time!’ or ‘she demolished that chocolate bar!.’
demolition (noun). The act of demolishing something. E.g. Demolition work began on the old office building this morning.
dilapidated (adjective). When something (usually a building or similar structure) has been left to fall to pieces. When it has become ruined and decayed.
Words relating to demonstrations, rebellions and riots:
riot (a noun: A noisy, often violent public disorder caused by a group of people or a crowd protesting against something such as government policy.
to riot (verb). To take part in a riot. E.g. they rioted in Clerkenwell last week.
Other uses:
a riot of colour (idiom): Something that is extremely colourful and bright, e.g. ‘her garen was a riot of colour last spring’.
to have a riot (phrasal verb). To have a lot of fun.
rebellion (noun). Organised action against a government or ruler. This can include armed resistance.
to rebel (verb). To reject and resist the government or ruler. To rise up in arms (when the people are angry and start to take action).
e.g. the people rebelled
to demonstrate (verb). To take part in an action against something such as a government e.g. they demonstrated against the war in London today.
to clash (verb). When two groups of people who disagree come together, often violently. E.g. the demonstrators clashed with the police.
to loot (verb). To steal goods, usually during a riot or war. E.g. the rioters were looting the shops all night.
e.g. He was a looter during the riots in London last August.
a wage freeze (noun). When a company or government fixes the amount paid to workers and will not allow any increases. E.g. The government imposed a two-year wage freeze on a million teachers.
a pickpocket (noun). A person who steals money, wallets or anything else from the pockets of people in the street or other crowded places.
to pickpocket (verb). To steal money, wallets or other items from someone’s pockets. You may have heard this in London sometimes: Beware of pickpockets!
decapitated!! Ha ha, I’m sure you’ll remember this one!
to decapitate (verb). To cut off a person’s head.
Words relating to tourists:
(to be) off the tourist path. An expression we use to describe an area that tourists don’t usually go to.
touristy (adjective). E.g. It’s too touristy in Oxford Street. Let’s go somewhere off the tourist path.
Other words that we used on the walk:
Lilac Tree (noun). A shrub or tree with large, fragrant purple or white flowers.
a bluebell (noun). A type of flower with blue, bell-shaped flowers. It is common in England.
livestock (noun used with singular or plural verb). E.g. the horses, cattle, sheep etc. Animals we find on farms, in the countryside and in live aninal meat markets.
Words relating to water (excluding those on the English Worksheet):
a puddle (noun) A small pool of water, often made by rainwater.
Now it's your turn! Please add any new words that we used on Saturday that are not included here! Or, if you have any questions, we will do our best to answer them ...
Best Wishes
Gail
Here are some of the new words that we used on Saturday and went over again in the cafe at the end. Of course, I cannot include every new word that we looked at, but if there is something that you would like to have included here, please add it yourself.
Words relating to buildings:
slum (noun). A very run-down area where very poor people live. Often two or three families live in the same room.
a slum dweller – the person who lives in a slum
e.g. this is a slum area
to slum it (phrasal verb). When a person lives in a place that is not as good as the one they have had in the past.
to demolish (verb used with an object). To destroy or ruin a building or other type of structure. Often done deliberately.
e.g. the fire demolished the street.
We also use ‘to demolish’ informally. E.g. If we are very hungry and eat our dinner very quickly, we might say ‘I demolished that lot quickly!’ or ‘he demolished his meal in no time!’ or ‘she demolished that chocolate bar!.’
demolition (noun). The act of demolishing something. E.g. Demolition work began on the old office building this morning.
dilapidated (adjective). When something (usually a building or similar structure) has been left to fall to pieces. When it has become ruined and decayed.
Words relating to demonstrations, rebellions and riots:
riot (a noun: A noisy, often violent public disorder caused by a group of people or a crowd protesting against something such as government policy.
to riot (verb). To take part in a riot. E.g. they rioted in Clerkenwell last week.
Other uses:
a riot of colour (idiom): Something that is extremely colourful and bright, e.g. ‘her garen was a riot of colour last spring’.
to have a riot (phrasal verb). To have a lot of fun.
rebellion (noun). Organised action against a government or ruler. This can include armed resistance.
to rebel (verb). To reject and resist the government or ruler. To rise up in arms (when the people are angry and start to take action).
e.g. the people rebelled
to demonstrate (verb). To take part in an action against something such as a government e.g. they demonstrated against the war in London today.
to clash (verb). When two groups of people who disagree come together, often violently. E.g. the demonstrators clashed with the police.
to loot (verb). To steal goods, usually during a riot or war. E.g. the rioters were looting the shops all night.
e.g. He was a looter during the riots in London last August.
a wage freeze (noun). When a company or government fixes the amount paid to workers and will not allow any increases. E.g. The government imposed a two-year wage freeze on a million teachers.
a pickpocket (noun). A person who steals money, wallets or anything else from the pockets of people in the street or other crowded places.
to pickpocket (verb). To steal money, wallets or other items from someone’s pockets. You may have heard this in London sometimes: Beware of pickpockets!
decapitated!! Ha ha, I’m sure you’ll remember this one!
to decapitate (verb). To cut off a person’s head.
Words relating to tourists:
(to be) off the tourist path. An expression we use to describe an area that tourists don’t usually go to.
touristy (adjective). E.g. It’s too touristy in Oxford Street. Let’s go somewhere off the tourist path.
Other words that we used on the walk:
Lilac Tree (noun). A shrub or tree with large, fragrant purple or white flowers.
a bluebell (noun). A type of flower with blue, bell-shaped flowers. It is common in England.
livestock (noun used with singular or plural verb). E.g. the horses, cattle, sheep etc. Animals we find on farms, in the countryside and in live aninal meat markets.
Words relating to water (excluding those on the English Worksheet):
a puddle (noun) A small pool of water, often made by rainwater.
Now it's your turn! Please add any new words that we used on Saturday that are not included here! Or, if you have any questions, we will do our best to answer them ...
Best Wishes
Gail
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