Use: all your colourful vocabulary: Title: for films/books/restaurants use the name/title or if Phrasal verbs/idioms/impressive collocations. think up an imaginative title using an idiom/expression. Book reviews: Film/TV reviews: Vocab to describe the book in general: General: a page-turner / a tearjerker / a laugh a minute / I couldn't An all-star cast put it down. heavily influenced by the films of.. Vocab to describe specific parts: glowing reviews a slow start / a gentle introduction /gripping climax / nail- startling originality biting conclusion / cliff-hanger ending/ a shocking twist in suspense builds up the tail a polished performance Setting: a bold experiment The book is set in _______(place/time) an accomplished actor The action takes place in ______ (place/time) an unmitigated disaster (bad film) the present day (now) a dazzling display of his/her talents an alternate reality where vampires / wizards walk the made a lasting impression on me. earth Brought a tear to my eye a sleepy village in the USA Like watching paint dry (boring) the bustling city of New York I was on the edge of my seat (exciting) Plot: A blockbuster (big commercial film eg Superman) The plot centres around / focuses on (the adventures / lives … sets off an amazing chain of events of _________) Gripping film (exciting) The plot follows the adventures of _________(character The director/author evoked a magical atmosphere name) … awakened my interest in… Characters: Hold my attention Villain / hero / heroine / anti-hero / main character / Capture the audience’s imagination. protagonist Spectacular set-pieces (main action scenes) The characters are believable / well-crafted / a bit 2 … is cast in the role of… dimensional. … is miscast in the role of… …gives a(n) (un)convincing performance as… The film is let down by a clichéd script. Restaurant review: Restaurants cont.
Hearty meal A plate piled high To feast/gorge on (eat a lot of)
Wholesome food with.. To eat/drink to your heart’s content Piping-hot Mouth-watering Devour/gobble up Succulent/juicy (meat) To die for Savour Creamy Heavenly Nibble With a kick (spicy) To lick your lips Bite Crunchy/crispy in anticipation Lick Well-seasoned Roast Aromas wafting from the kitchen Packed with flavour Pan-fried Cheap – economical/reasonably-priced A steaming plate of.. Grilled Expensive – pricey/costs an arm and a leg Hungry/starving/ravenous/famished Steamed €20 a head (per person) Bustling eatery(restaurant) Freshly-baked Lively atmosphere Service with a smile Killer Lines: Grammar check list Were I to sum up … in one word, it would be… Have you included? … left a lot to be desired (wasn’t good enough) An inversion (not only/no sooner/seldom) …more than lives up to the hype (is as good as everyone An inverted conditional (Were we to…) says it is) A participle clause (Being…/Having gone…) … is by far and away the best … you’re likely to … this year A double comparative (The more we… the more) … really raises the bar (sets a higher standard) A cleft sentence (What is most crucial is…) … sets the benchmark for other (others will be judges Idioms against how good it is) Phrasal verbs … ticks all the right boxes … holds up well in comparison with … …comes off badly in comparison with …