These topics are universal and will be quite the interesting discussion. I seemed to have no difficulty whatsoever in finding plenty to discuss and work with my second-year students on this. I’ll be updating with the vocabulary we discuss in class.
First date taught: 7 Dec 2022
6B – Medical Care
Theme: Healthcare inventions, discussing healthcare systems, and body part collocations.
outcome (n) [C1] – a result or effect of an action, situation, etc.
medical outcome – a specific result or effect that can be measured. Examples of outcomes include decreased pain, reduced tumor size, and improvement of disease.
onset (n) – the moment at which something unpleasant begins; typically used to refer to the onset of a condition or disease
-onset (suffix) – (of an illness or medical condition) starting at the stated time or in the stated way
Examples: early-onset dementia, sudden-onset hearing loss
chronic (adj) [C2] – (especially of a disease or something bad) continuing for a long time
Examples: chronic diseases/conditions, chronic arthritis/pain
acute (adj) [C2] – an acute pain or illness is one that quickly becomes very severe
Examples: acute abdominal pains, an acute attack of appendicitis
blocked nose / stuffed up nose – If you are stuffed up, your nose is blocked with mucus, usually because you have a cold; synonym: stuffy nose
Example: He sounds all stuffed up – is he all right?
ear infection (n) – an infection that affects the ear
ear wax (n) – the yellow sticky substance that forms in the outer ear
earplug (n) – a small piece of soft material, such as wax, cotton, or plastic, that you put into your ear to keep out noise or water
ear drops (n) – liquid medicine put into the ears, usually to cure an ear infection
eyestrain (n) – tired or painful eyes as a result of too much reading, looking at a computer screen, etc.
eye candy (n) – someone or something that is attractive but not very interesting or useful
Example: Most of the images on the website are not more than eye candy.
hook-nosed (adj) – someone who is hook-nosed has a large nose that curves out from the face.
barefoot (adj/adv) – not wearing any shoes or socks
milk tooth / baby tooth (n) – one of the teeth of young children and some other young mammals that fall out and are replaced by permanent teeth
on a full stomach (idiom) – having recently eaten
Example: You might get sick if you go jogging on a full stomach.
on an empty stomach (idiom) – without eating anything
Example: Never go shopping on an empty stomach, you will buy more food than you really need.
rotten (adj) [C2] – to decay, or to cause something to decay or weaken
Example: The room smelled of rotten vegetables.
swollen (adj) [C2] – to become larger and rounder than usual; to (cause to) increase in size or amount; when related to a body part, is means that it is
Example: It was obvious she had broken her toe, because it immediately started to swell (up).
swelling (n) – an enlargement (for example a growth or tumor)
Example: We won’t know how serious the injury is until the swelling subsides.
a growth (n) – a lump (= a solid mass) growing on the outside or inside of a person, animal, or plant that is caused by a disease
turn one’s stomach (idiom) – to make someone feel sick, often because they are angry or upset about something
Example: The sight of Joe eating raw fish is enough to turn your stomach.
upset stomach (n) – a slight illness affecting your stomach and/or bowels characterized by nausea, vomiting, gas, and/or diarrhea.
Example: She’s had an upset stomach and is on antibiotics.
wisdom tooth (n) – one of the four teeth at the back of the jaw that are the last to grow
take care of (sb/sth) – to protect someone or something and provide the things that that person or thing needs
Example: Don’t worry about me, I can take care of myself (= I do not need anyone else to protect me).
I couldn’t care less (phrase) [C1] (Br.Eng.) or I could care less (Am.Eng) – used to emphasize rudely that you are not interested in or worried about something or someone
be well cared for (ph.v.) – to do the things that are needed to help and protect (a person or animal) and do a good job at it; look after (someone or something) in an all-around excellent way
more/longer than (sb) cares to remember/admit/mention (phrase) – used for saying that something has been happening for a long time or very much
Example: He had hurt her more than she cared to admit.
take great care with (sth) (idiomatic phrase) – to be careful or watchful; to exercise caution or prudence
take (great) pains to do something (idiom) – to try very hard to so something
Example: He took great pains to dress well for the occasion.
not have a care in the world (idiom) – to have no worries at all; synonym: carefree
anesthesia / anaesthesia (n) – a state in which someone does not feel pain, usually because of drugs they have been given
anesthetic / anaesthetic (n) – a substance that makes you unable to feel pain
nip and tuck (idiom) – an informal way of referring to plastic surgery, a medical operation to bring a damaged area of skin, and sometimes bone, back to its usual appearance, or to improve a person’s appearance
Example: I suspect she’s had a nip and tuck to look like that at her age.
commonplace (adj) – happening often or often seen or experienced and so not considered to be special
deaden (v) – to make something less painful or less strong
Example: Morphine is often used to deaden the pain of serious injuries.
first aid (n) – basic medical treatment that is given to someone as soon as possible after they have been hurt in an accident or suddenly become ill
Example: first-aid equipment
help is at hand (idiom) [C1] – when assistance or aid is easily available and will occur soon
Example: We want to ensure that help is at hand (= easily available) for all children suffering abuse.
inhale (v) – to breathe air, smoke, or gas into your lungs
exhale (v) – to send air out of your lungs
kill two birds with one stone (idiom) – to succeed in achieving two things in a single action
Example: I thought I would kill two birds with one stone and so I picked the kids up on the way to the supermarket.
lifelike (adj) – used to describe something that appears real or very similar to what is real
light-hearted (adj) – happy and not serious
nauseous (adj) – feeling as if you might vomit
Example: Roller coasters make me feel nauseous.
nitrous oxide (n) – a gas which is inhaled, used especially in the past by dentists to prevent you from feeling pain; also called “laughing gas” (informal)
ordeal (n) [C2] – a very unpleasant and painful or difficult experience
Example: The hostages’ ordeal came to an end when officers stormed the building.
pediatric nurse (n) – a person who cares for children in a medical setting
plaster cast (n) -a covering made of plaster of Paris that is put around part of someone’s body, forming a hard case to protect them while a broken bone repairs itself; may be shortened to just be called “cast”
pluck up courage (idiom) [C2] – to force yourself to be brave enough to do something, although you are frightened or worried about it; (also pluck up (the) courage to do something)
Example: He finally plucked up courage to ask her to marry him.
pressed for time (idiom) – to be in a hurry
Example: I’d love to stop and talk, but I’m pressed for time.
prop oneself up on (sth) (ph.v) – to lift and give support to something by putting something under it
Example: He was sitting upright in his hospital bed, propped up by pillows.
put two and two together (idiom) – to guess the truth about a situation from what you have seen or heard
Example: “How did you know they were having an affair?” “I’d seen them out together a couple of times, so I just put two and two together.”
stretcher (n) – a light frame made from two long poles with a cover of soft material stretched between them, used for carrying people who are ill, injured, or dead
splint (n) – a long, firm object used as a support for a broken bone so that the bone stays in a particular position while it heals
tongue-in-cheek (adj) – said or done as a joke
tongue twister (n) – a phrase or sentence that is difficult to say quickly because it has many similar sounds in it
tongue-tied (adj) – unable to say anything because you are nervous
sweat (n) – drops of liquid that appear on the surface of your skin when you are hot, ill or afraid
sweat of one’s brow (idiom) – hard work or effort
Example: She achieved success by the sweat of her brow (= by working very hard).
brow (n) – the part of the face above the eyes and below the hair; forehead
Example: Her brow furrowed in concentration.
blood, sweat and tears (idiom) – very hard work; a lot of effort
Example: The only way to succeed is through old-fashioned blood, sweat and tears.
break a sweat (idiom) – to use a lot of physical effort
no sweat (idiom) – used to tell somebody that something is not difficult or a problem when they thank you or ask you to do something
Example: ‘Thanks for everything.’ ‘Hey, no sweat!’
shiver (v) [B2] – to shake because you are cold or frightened
shiver (n), example: He felt a shiver run down his spine (= He felt afraid).
Listening:
Attribution: Image by wirestock on Freepik
English With Dixie 