Mad English TV 1

CELPIP
Vocabulary

Mad English TV
Copyright © 2021 Mad English TV

All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-1-9995415-6-9

Mad English TV 2

 Dear Friends,

Welcome to my CELPIP book! Thank you so much for

buying my book and supporting my work! :)
The easiest way to increase your score is to use better
words, phrases, and sentences. In this book, we will
look at 20 topics, and I will teach you more than 100
sentences that will help you on the exam. Try to
memorize the words and phrases along with the topic I
listed them under.
You need to prove to the CELPIP evaluators that your
English is good, so you need to use words and phrases
that match the context in the question. This is called
“context-specific vocabulary”. For example, if you’re
talking about kittens, you should use words like
“fluffy” or “adorable”. You should not use words like
“nice” or “beautiful”. This book will help you match
different topics with the perfect vocabulary.

You will see four colours in this book:

TOPIC
TIPS
VOCABULARY
EXAMPLES

Mad English TV 3

 Storytelling
Speaking Task 2 on the exam will ask you about a
personal experience that you had in the past. Also,
in Task 1 (giving advice) and Task 7 (giving an
opinion) it is a good idea to use your personal
experiences as examples to defend your points.

So, back in the day,

So, back in the day, my brother and I were
really into fishing. One time when we were
out on the lake…
So, back in the day, my cousin and I were
really into cooking. Every time we saw each
other we…
So, back in the day, my family went camping
every summer. One time we went to…

“Back in the day” is common way to start a

story. It means “a long time ago”.
“Into cooking” means “interested in cooking”.

Mad English TV 4

Far and away

That was far and away the best time we ever
had as a family.
That was far and away the strangest thing we
ever cooked!
That was far and away the scariest
experience of my life.
“Far and away” is an idiom that means “by far”.
It’s good to use this idiom to talk about your
experiences in the past.

Long story short

Anyway, long story short, we made it back
home safe and sound.
Anyway, long story short, we learned a
valuable lesson about cooking seafood.
“Long story short” is a good way to end your
story. It means you’re deciding not to talk about
all the details in a story.

Mad English TV 5

 In one’s element
Every time we went camping, we were in our
element.
Whenever we went fishing, my brother was in
his element.
When I was volunteering at an orphanage, I
was in my element.
“In one’s element” means that a person is good
at doing something and really enjoys it.

Took a toll on
Working two jobs really took a toll on my
health.
That experience took a toll on me
emotionally.
“Took a toll on” means it made you very tired.
This is a perfect idiom to use if the question
asks about something negative.

Mad English TV 6

 Giving Advice
Speaking Task 1 on the exam is about giving
advice. Also, you might need to give advice in the
writing part. Try to use this vocabulary anywhere
you think it will fit.

Take with a grain of salt

To be honest, John, I’m not an expert on cars,
so you might want to take my advice with a
grain of salt, but I think you should buy a
Toyota.
If you don’t know much about the topic in the
question, it’s okay to be honest about it. “Take
with a grain of salt” means that your advice
might not be right, so the person shouldn’t take
it too seriously.

Cross that bridge when you get to it

Don’t worry about the resale value of the car.
You can cross that bridge when you get to it.

Mad English TV 7

 Just focus on your first year of school. Don’t

worry about how you’ll pay for next year. You
can cross that bridge when you get to it.
This is a perfect idiom for giving advice. Think
about a future challenge, then say, “Don’t worry
about _____; you can cross that bridge when you
get to it.”

Bite off more than you can chew

Buying a new car would be nice, but can you
afford the payments for five years? Don’t bite
off more than you can chew.
Amy, I don’t think you should take six classes
this semester. Don’t bite off more than you
can chew.

“Bite off more than you can chew” means to

take on too much responsibility. This is a good
idiom to use if you want to help someone avoid
future stress (e.g., lower cost helps avoid stress,
fewer classes helps avoid stress, less commitment
helps avoid stress, etc.).

Mad English TV 8

 Sleep on it
You don’t have to decide today. Just sleep on
it and see how you feel in the morning.
Jen, this is a big decision, so I think you
should sleep on it.

“Sleep on it” means to delay the decision until

tomorrow.

My two cents
Anyway, that’s my two cents. Let me know
what you decide!

Alright Jack, that’s my two cents. Hope it

helps!
Hi Lia, I’m just calling to talk about your
upcoming decision. I’ll give you my two cents
and you can tell me what you think.
“My two cents” means your advice or opinion.
This is an informal idiom and is typically used
between friends or family.

Mad English TV 9

 Giving an Opinion
Speaking Task 7 will ask for your opinion. It will
probably be a more serious topic than the previous
tasks, so you should use more professional-sounding
vocabulary. For example, the question might ask you
what you think about a government policy or a social
issue. Writing Task 2 will also ask you for your
opinion. The following words will help you anytime
you want to give your opinion in a spoken or written
answer.

My rationale
I believe governments should invest more
into low-income housing. My rationale for
holding this view is that…
“Rationale” is a fancy way to say “reason”.
When you answer the question, first state your
opinion, then provide your rationale.
1. State your opinion
2. Say, “my rationale for holding this view is…”
3. Give your first reason
4. Give your second reason

Mad English TV 10

 Ramification
If the government moves forward with this
law, it will have long-term ramifications on
businesses across Canada.
Not only will this policy hurt the oil and gas
sector, but it will have wider ramifications as
well.

“Ramification” means a consequence or result

of a decision or plan. We usually use this word
to talk about negative things. For example, if
you want to talk about a bad policy or a bad
plan, you should use this word. We don’t use
this word much in casual speaking or writing.

Contentious
I know this is a contentious issue, but my
belief is that…
If an issue is “contentious”, it means that
people disagree or argue about it. You should
use this word anytime you think the topic is
controversial.

Mad English TV 11

 In my humble opinion,
In my humble opinion, it would be better to
wait till next year to buy a new laptop.
In my humble opinion, buying new vehicles is
a waste of money.
In my humble opinion, you should take a year
off to travel instead of going to university.
The reason we sometimes add the word
“humble” is because it shows humility. Maybe
you’re not 100% sure what the best decision is.
This is a good idiom to use in casual speaking
and writing.

Not my cup of tea

To be honest, horror movies aren’t really my cup
of tea.
Playing sports isn’t my cup of tea.
“Not my cup of tea” is a nice way to say that
you don’t like something. This is good idiom to
use in casual speaking or writing.
Mad English TV 12

 Comparing/Persuading
There’s a difference between giving advice, giving an
opinion, and persuading someone to do something.
• Giving advice = giving a recommendation
• Giving an opinion = talking about what you believe
and why you believe that
• Persuading = trying to convince someone to do
something
(You can use the same vocabulary for each one, but try to think
about which words and phrases will best match the question.)

Pay off down the line

Buying a new car will cost more up front, but
it will pay off down the line.
Getting a degree is hard work, but it will pay
off down the line.
Living close to a school will pay off down the
line when you have a family.

“Pay off ” means that a good result will come.

“Down the line” means in the future.

Mad English TV 13

On the fence
If you stay on the fence, you’ll miss this great
opportunity.
This sale only lasts till Friday, so don’t stay on
the fence!
I’m on the fence about whether I should travel
this summer or not.
“On the fence” means that you are undecided about
something. If you are trying to persuade someone,
then you should tell them to NOT stay on the fence.

Mark my words
This house will double in value by next year.
Mark my words.
Your wife will love this gift. Mark my words!
If the government raises taxes, the economy
will crash. Mark my words.
“Mark my words” means “I’m sure about this, so
remember my words”.

Mad English TV 14

 No time like the present

There’s no time like the present to start
working toward your fitness goals.
If your dream is to take up birdwatching,
there’s no time like the present to buy a new
camera!
I think you should take this opportunity to
travel. There’s no time like the present!

“No time like the present” means you should do

something right now. Why wait any longer?
The best time to start is now!

Don’t let this opportunity slip through your

fingers
Peter, this is a really great opportunity. Don’t let
it slip through your fingers.
If Uncle Bill is offering to pay for your trip,
don’t let this opportunity slip through your
fingers!
This idiom means “Don’t lose this chance!”

Mad English TV 15

 Making Predictions
In Speaking Task 4, you will see a picture and
make predictions about what you think will
happen. You can also make predictions on other
speaking or writing tasks. Anytime you’re talking
about the future, you’re making predictions
because nobody knows what the future holds.

A likely scenario is that

A likely scenario is that the two boys in the
bottom right corner will get into a fight.
A likely scenario is that prices will increase if
minimum wage increases.
A likely scenario is that other passengers will
start giving her dirty looks because her baby
is screaming. (dirty looks = people looking angry)
This is a good way to start a prediction. You could use it as
the first or second sentence in your prediction. For
example, you could say, “I think the boys will start fighting.
A likely scenario is that the store manager will come and
try to resolve the issue.”

Mad English TV 16

Stick out like a sore thumb

The woman who dropped her groceries will
get really embarrassed because she sticks out
like a sore thumb.
Everyone is going start laughing at the man
because his wig blew away in the wind. Now
he sticks out like a sore thumb. (wig = fake hair)
The boy in the middle of the picture sticks
out like a sore thumb because he is standing
on his head.

“Stick out like a sore thumb” means everybody

notices you because you’re doing something
different from everyone else.

Get out of hand

I think the passengers will start arguing with the
customer service agent because their flight has
been canceled. Things could get out of hand.
If they don’t show some respect for each other,
the situation could really get out of hand.

Mad English TV 17

It looks like the dogs might start fighting and

the situation could get out of hand.

“Get out of hand” means that a situation

becomes chaotic. You should use this idiom if
you think a fight or an argument will start.

I wouldn’t be surprised if
I wouldn’t be surprised if the boat sinks
because there are so many people on it.
If the school implements this policy, I
wouldn’t be surprised if some parents pull
their kids out of school.
I wouldn’t be surprised if the police show up
to break up the party.
You should use this idiom if you’re not sure what the
probability of an action is. Don’t use this idiom if
you know the probability. For example, if a criminal
steals a woman’s purse, you know she will probably
call the police. In that case, don’t use this idiom. But
if two dogs are barking at each other, you don’t know
whether they will start fighting or not. In that case, it
would be good to use this idiom.

Mad English TV 18

 Play out
Alright, so this is what I think will play out in
the scene: the girl in the upper left corner of
the picture will…
Anyway, those are some things I think will
play out in this scene. (This would be a good way
to end Speaking Task 4.)

Here’s what I think will play out: the

zookeeper will frantically run after the zebras
and try to get them back in their cage.
(frantically = anxiously/desperately)

Amy, if you don’t go to school now, here’s

what I think will play out: you’ll get a job,
start buying things you don’t need, then in a
few years, you’ll feel like it’s too late to go to
school.
“Play out” means what will happen. This is a good
phrasal verb to use in casual speaking and writing.
In formal speaking or writing, it would be better to
say “unfold”. For example: “If the government
implements this policy, I think several things will
unfold: First,…”
Mad English TV 19

 Difficult Situation
In Speaking Task 6, you will need to make a
difficult phone call. For example, maybe you need
to call your best friend and explain why you can’t
attend her wedding. What are you going to say?
You need to use the right words and phrases to
make her feel like you tried your hardest to find a
way to be at her wedding.

In a real jam
Hi Beth, I hate to call you about this, but I’m in a
real jam. Remember I told you about my upcoming
exam? Well, the date got changed to the day of your
wedding!
Hi Uncle Bob, I’m just calling about our camping
trip this weekend. I’m in a real jam here because my
boss has asked me to work this weekend. If I say no
to him, I’ll lose my job.
“In a real jam” means you’re in a very difficult
situation. If the situation is not too bad, you can
say “in a bit of a jam”.

Mad English TV 20

At my wit’s end
I’ve tried so hard to find a way around this, Beth.
I’m at my wit’s end.
I already asked my boss if I could take the
weekend off and he said “no”. I’m really sorry
about this Uncle Bob. I’m at my wit’s end here.
“At my wit’s end” means you tried so hard to find a
way through this situation but you can’t find a way.

Between a rock and a hard place

Jack, I’m between a rock and a hard place right
now. My baseball team has a game out of town
this weekend, but my boss just called and said I
have to work on Saturday.
I have two commitments next weekend, and I
don’t know what I’m going to do. I’m between a
rock and a hard place.
“Between a rock and a hard place” means that you
are stuck in a position where the outcome will
probably be bad no matter what you choose. If you
say no to your boss, you might lose your job. If you
say no to your team, you might get kicked off the
team. Another way to say this is, “I’m in a dilemma”.

Mad English TV 21

 Racking my brain
Beth, I’ve been racking my brain trying to think
of a way around this dilemma.
I don’t know what to do. I’m racking my brain but
can’t think of a solution.
“Racking my brain” means you are trying very hard
to think of a solution to a problem.

Hang in there
I know this is a hard situation for you, John. Just
hang in there and everything will be better soon.
Dear Mia,
I’m really sorry to hear that you’re sick. I had the
exact same thing last year. I got better in less than
two weeks, so I’m sure you’ll be on your feet soon.
Hang in there!
Love,
Gwen
“Hang in there” is a casual way to say, “Be patient
and keep fighting through this difficult situation.”
It’s a great way to end an informal speaking or
writing task when you’re talking to a person who has
a problem.

Mad English TV 22

 Education
Broaden your horizons
Frank, before you settle down into a career, I think
you should travel for a year to broaden your
horizons.
I decided to take some general courses in my first
year of university to broaden my horizons a bit.
I think it’s a good idea for kids to broaden their
horizons after they graduate from high school.
“Broaden your horizons” means to expand your
range of knowledge. If you want to learn new things
or experience new things, you can say, “I want to
broaden my horizons.”

Pay dividends
Getting a master’s degree is hard work but it will
pay dividends in the future.
I studied really hard in college and now my hard
work is paying dividends.

Mad English TV 23

 Eating healthy food will pay dividends later on in

your life.
“Pay dividends” means that you will get benefit from
something.

Gruelling
Getting my PhD was a gruelling experience for
me. I barely slept at all for two years.
The flight from Singapore to New York was more
gruelling than I expected.
Some of my accounting classes were gruelling. I
hope I never have to go through that pain again!
“Gruelling” means extremely difficult.

Crank out a paper

I had to crank out so many papers when I was
studying psychology.
If you don’t mind doing research and cranking
out papers, I think you should go for a master’s
degree.
“Crank out a paper” means to write an essay/paper.

Mad English TV 24

 Ace / Bomb
Jess, just study hard and you’ll ace your exam.
Remember what I always tell you, “Try your best,
and forget the rest.”
I was so nervous to give a speech in front of my
class, but I aced it.
I’m so proud of my son this month because he
aced his interview with Fedex.
I’m so disappointed that I bombed my final exam.
If you don’t practice your driving, you’re going to
bomb your driving test.
I bombed my first CELPIP test, but I didn’t give
up. The next time I got 12 in all categories!

“Ace” means to do a great job on a test, interview,

presentation, etc. “Bomb” means the opposite.
These terms are very informal, so you should only
use them if you’re talking to your family or
friends.

Mad English TV 25

 Government / Politics
Implement
The provincial government implemented new
policies around mask wearing.
Although the new law has been approved, it will
not be implemented until next year.
I think the government should implement tougher
laws around drunk driving.
“Implement” means to come into effect. This word
is almost always used to talk about plans, laws, or
policies.

Under fire
The president is under fire for inciting violence.
The government is under fire for mishandling the
vaccine rollout.
The CEO came under fire for sexual misconduct.
“Under fire” means to get criticized.

Mad English TV 26

 Time will tell

Time will tell if it’s a good policy or not.

Some people think it was a bad idea to legalize
marijuana. I guess time will tell.
The government is implementing a new plan to
eradicate homelessness by 2030. Only time will tell
if it works out.
“Time will tell” means we have to wait and see what
happens. Very often the government is confident
about something, but nothing good happens. So this
is a good phrase to use any time you’re talking about
a government.

In hot water
The president is in hot water over his comments.
The government is in hot water over the financial
crisis.
The CEO is in hot water over his bad decision.

“In hot water” means the same thing as “under fire”.

The difference is that we say “under fire for” and “in
hot water over”. Politicians are always in hot water.

Mad English TV 27

 Cut corners / Vested interest

The government wants the new highway to be
finished by the next election, so they’re cutting
corners.
It’s not a good idea to cut corners in life. It might
help you in the short term, but it will hurt you in
the long term.
Many companies offer stock options to their
employees in order to give their workers a vested
interest in the success of the company.
Trudeau doesn’t have a vested interest in Alberta
because knows he doesn’t need to get any votes
from the province to win the election.

“Cut corners” means to sacrifice quality in order to

complete a project as quickly and easily as you can.
Government workers often care more about quick
results than about good quality.
If you have a “vested interest” in something, it means
you really care about it. For example, if your kids go
to a school, you have a vested interest in that school.
You want the school to offer good education and safe
food for your kids. You don’t care about other schools
because your kids don’t go to those schools.

Mad English TV 28

 Business
In the ballpark
The CEO’s net worth is somewhere in the
ballpark of $15 million.
I can’t remember the exact price of the house. It’s
somewhere in the ballpark of $300,000.
I told my coworker that I want to buy a car for
$3000. He offered to sell me his BMW for $15,000.
He wasn’t even in the ballpark.

“In the ballpark” means “approximately” or “close

to a certain number”. This is a good idiom to use for
both formal and informal speaking or writing. Try to
use this idiom if you have to talk about money.

Asset / Liability
Our restaurant has always been our family’s
biggest asset, but during the pandemic, it has
been a big liability because we still have to pay all
the property fees even though the government is
forcing us to stay closed.
Mad English TV 29

 Fred, don’t buy a new car while you’re in school.

It will just be a liability for you. If you don’t get a
job when you graduate, how will you make the
payments?
I would recommend studying Chinese. It will be
an asset for you for the rest of your life.

“Asset” means a good thing that helps you make

money. “Liability” means a bad thing that takes
away your money.

Capital
At the moment, we don’t have enough capital to
expand our business.
I’m going to sell half my business to free up some
capital.
The CEO is hoping that the new product will
generate $100,000 capital for the company.

“Capital” is just a fancy way to say “money”. Use

this word if you’re talking about business-related
activities. It’s okay to use this word for informal
situations as well.

Mad English TV 30

 Incentive
If people get free money from the government,
they have no incentive to work.
The bank is offering a free iPad to anyone who
signs up for an investment account. That sounds
like a good incentive to me!
The salesman was trying to sell me a new phone
plan where I can make international calls, but I
told him I don’t have any friends overseas, so what
incentive would I have to spend more money on
that plan?

“Incentive” means something that motivates you do

do something. If you have no incentive, it means you
have to motivation to do something.

Gamble
Opening a new restaurant during the pandemic
would be a gamble, because what if the economy
stays shut down for a few more years?
Eat fresh food. Don’t gamble with your health.

“Gamble” means “risk”. It can be a noun or a verb.

Mad English TV 31

 Environment / Scene
In Speaking Task 3, you will need to describe a
scene. You should use as many descriptive words
as you can. For example, if there are lots of
people on a beach, you should say, “This is a
picture of a crowded beach.”

Festive
This is a picture of a festive outdoor market.
It looks like everyone in the picture is feeling
festive.
The family is in a festive mood because they’re
setting up their Christmas tree.
I’m not a very festive person. I rarely put up
decorations for Christmas or Halloween.

“Festive” means that people are celebrating a

holiday like Christmas or Easter. You can describe
the picture as a “festive atmosphere” or “festive
scene”. For people, you can say, “She is feeling
festive” or “She is in a festive mood”.

Mad English TV 32

 Crowded
I usually don’t go to touristy places when I travel
because they’re always so crowded.
This is a picture of a crowded shopping mall.
I’m guessing it must be a holiday because the
park is so crowded.

“Crowded” means that there are a lot of people.

Tranquil
I love going to the mountains because there’s
such a tranquil atmosphere there.
This is a picture of a tranquil lake in the forest.
Sometimes I escape to the library for a few
minutes because it’s so tranquil in there compared
to the rest of the campus.

“Tranquil” means quiet and peaceful. The word

“tranquilizer” means medicine that makes a human
or animal relaxed and sleepy. If an animal escapes
from the zoo, the zookeeper will come and shoot it
with a tranquilizer gun to put the animal to sleep.

Mad English TV 33

 Atmosphere
I would recommend going to the Greek restaurant
on 8th street. It has a really nice atmosphere.
This is a picture of an outdoor concert with a
festive atmosphere.
I don’t like that bar because it has a dingy
atmosphere. (dingy = dark, dirty, cheap)

“Atmosphere” means the feeling of a place.

Vibe
I would recommend going to the Greek restaurant
on 8th street. It has a really nice vibe.
This is a picture of an outdoor concert with a
festive vibe.
I don’t like that bar because it has a dingy vibe.

“Vibe” means the same as “atmosphere” except it

is more informal. If you’re talking to family or
friends, you should use “vibe”. If the situation is
more formal, use the word “atmosphere”.

Mad English TV 34

 Family / Friends

On the same page

My friends are all on the same page about where
to go camping this weekend.
Katie, the only relationship advice I have for you is
to make sure you’re on the same page with him
before getting married.
My job is really frustrating at the moment because
none of the managers are on the same page.

“On the same page” means that people agree about

something.

Have a soft spot for something

My wife has a soft spot for ice cream.
I think Brian has a soft spot for me. I hope he asks
me out soon!
“Have a soft spot” means that you like something or
someone a lot. This idiom is most commonly used with
food or people.

Mad English TV 35

 Give it a shot
Mike: I wonder what would happen if I ate a
teaspoonful of wasabi.
Pete: Give it a shot!
When I started my business, I didn’t know what I
was doing, but I gave it a shot.
My grandpa didn’t know how to use a cellphone,
but I’m proud of him for giving it a shot!
“Give it a shot” means just try it. We use this
idiom when we don’t know how to do something
or don’t know what the outcome will be.

Get on my nerves
Whenever my family goes on a road trip, my sister
always gets on my nerves.
I hate driving in traffic. It really gets on my
nerves.
When people chew with their mouth open, it really
gets on my nerves.
My neighbour’s dog always gets on my nerves.

Mad English TV 36

When I was in high school, I always got on my

teachers’ nerves for talking in class.

“Get on my nerves” means that something annoys

you. This is a great idiom to use when you’re talking
to your family or friends, or if you’re telling a story
about your childhood.

Do something at the drop of a hat

My family is always ready to go camping at the
drop of a hat!
Gwen loves baking. Just ask her to bake you some
cookies, and she’ll do it at the drop of a hat!
If you need any help, just call me. I’ll come at the
drop of a hat!
My grandpa loves to go out for coffee. He’s always
ready to go at the drop of a hat!

If you do something at the drop of a hat, it means

that you do it immediately without any planning.
When people really enjoy doing something, they
don’t need any reason to do it. For example, if you
like fishing, you will say “yes” right away if your
friend asks you to go fishing with him. You don’t
need to think about it.

Mad English TV 37

 Animals
Pets are common in Canada, so it’s very likely that
you will have a question about animals. This is a
good opportunity to use descriptive words. Don’t
use low-level words like “nice” or “cute”. Use high-
level words that specifically describe the animal.

Vocabulary for Cute Animals

Rabbits, Kittens, Puppies, etc.
Adorable / Fluffy / Playful / Cuddle/ Nibble
When I was in elementary school, I had a kitten.
She was so adorable.
My puppy loves to cuddle with me while I do my
homework every evening.
My sister loves animals, so I gave her a fluffy brown
bunny for her birthday.
I have two baby goats who are so playful. They love
to nibble on my fingers. (nibble = eat in a cute way)

Mad English TV 38

 Vocabulary for Aggressive Animals

Stray dogs, Tigers, Dinosaurs, etc.
Vicious / Fierce / Venomous / Wild
If you go hiking in Canada, you have to watch out
for wild animals.
I don’t like venomous animals like snakes or spiders.
My neighbour’s dog is really vicious. It always
growls at me when I walk by.
Polar bears look really friendly and cute, but actually
they’re extremely fierce animals!

Snout

Fur / Hair

Paws

Mad English TV 39

 Antlers

Hind legs
Front legs

Hooves

Scales

Fins

Mad English TV 40

 Beak

Feathers

Feet

Don’t use the wrong words when you

describe the parts of an animal. Birds
have a beak, not a nose. Animals like
cows, goats, or deer have hooves, not
feet. Dogs and cats have paws, not feet.
The nose and mouth of most mammals
is the snout, not the nose. If you use
correct words for these things, it will
really help your score!

Mad English TV 41

 Community
In Writing Task 2, you might need to answer a
survey question about something happening in
your community. Try to use at least one or two of
the following phrases in your answer. (These
would also be good to use in speaking as well.)

Kickstart our economy

Building a swimming pool in our town would
really kickstart our economy because none of the
neighbouring towns have swimming pools.
I think the government should lower business
taxes to help kickstart our economy.
I hope the prime minister finds a way to kickstart
our economy.

“Kickstart our economy” means to make the

economy start growing quickly. You can use this
when you’re talking about the economy of a country,
city, town, or community.

Mad English TV 42

Community spirit
I hope our town builds a new park. We need more
community spirit!
The pandemic ruined our city’s community spirit.
The new ride-sharing program is designed to
boost community spirit.

“Community spirit” means a feeling of togetherness.

In the long run

Yes, it would be a big project, but it would pay off
in the long run.
Going to college costs a lot of money, but it pays
off in the long run.
Heavy drinking seems harmless when you’re
young, but it really hurts you in the long run.
If you buy a good car now, it will save you money
in the long run.

“In the long run” means it will take some time

achieve a result.

Mad English TV 43

 Kill two birds with one stone

Building a new mall would kill two birds with one
stone because it would kickstart our economy and
boost our city’s community spirit.
I always check my emails while I eat breakfast.
That way I can kill two birds with one stone.
If we build a subway in our city, it would kill two
birds with one stone because it would reduce CO2
emissions and make transportation more
convenient for low-income residents.

“Kill two birds with one stone” means to achieve two

things by doing one thing. You can also kill three or
more birds with one stone. If you’re not sure how
many outcomes will be achieved, you can just say,
“kill several birds with one stone.”

Come together
This program will help our community come
together.
To beat Covid, we all need to come together.

“Come together” means to be united.

Mad English TV 44

 Social Issues
In Speaking Task 6, you might need to answer a
question about a social issue. For example, do you
think the government should provide free housing
for people who are unemployed with disabilities?
Or, what do you think the punishment should be
for pet-owners who leave their pets in hot cars
during the summer? Or, do you think
homeowners should be allowed to cut down trees
on their own property? The following words and
phrases will help you get a good score on these
questions.

Marginalized
I believe the government should provide free
housing for members of society who are
marginalized.
Education on race-related issues is important to
prevent people from becoming marginalized.
Marginalized members of society are at greater
risk of job loss.

Mad English TV 45

I think society should rely on private charities like

the Mustard Seed to provide shelter for
marginalized members of society.

“Marginalized people” are people who are not

accepted by the rest of society. Look at this red dot.
It is in the margin (edge) of the page. So people
who are marginalized are on the edges of society,
not in the middle. This is a perfect word to use for
social issues like poverty or racism.

A lot riding on
Our city has a lot riding on the 2028 Olympic bid.
If we win, our economy will skyrocket. If we
don’t win, then we wasted a lot of money trying!
In order to be the valedictorian, I need perfect
grades. I have a lot riding on this! (valedictorian =
a high-achieving student who gives the speech at
their graduation ceremony)

I hope the oil and gas sector improves soon.

Albertans have a lot riding on this!
“A lot riding on something” means that something is very
important because if you get the result you want, it will
benefit you a lot. If you don’t get your desired result, it will
hurt you in some way.

Mad English TV 46

 Shed light on
Hopefully the investigation will shed light on the
organization’s corrupt behaviour.
The new scientific discovery sheds light on the
nature of black holes.
This information sheds light on why the
government tried to postpone the election.

“Shed light on” means to reveal something about

something. Very often if a person, organization, or
government does something bad, they try to hide
the evidence, but most of the time, some
information comes out that sheds light on the
situation.

Hot topic
I know this is a hot topic, but I’d like to provide
several reasons why I believe _____.
Gun rights and abortion are hot topics in the U.S.,
but not so much in Canada.
It’s best not to bring up hot topics at work.
“Hot topic” means a controversial topic.

Mad English TV 47

 Set personal interests aside for the greater

good
I think the prime minister should set his personal
interests aside for the good of the country.
True leaders set their personal interests aside for
the greater good.
I chose to give up my career in order to be a good
mother. Sometimes in life we have to set our
personal interests aside for the greater good.
My brother wanted to join a soccer team so badly
this summer, but he set his personal interests
aside and got a job to support our family.

This is a good idiom to use when a hard choice

needs to be made. Most of the time, social issues
are difficult issues where part of society needs to
accept the fact that a decision didn’t go the way
they wanted it to. You can also add “come
together” onto your sentence: “It’s time to come
together and set personal interests aside for the
greater good.”

Mad English TV 48

 Food
Food is obviously a huge part of our lives, so it’s
very likely that some of the speaking or writing
questions will relate to this topic. It’s easy to use
basic words like “good” or “sweet” when you’re
talking about food, but if you want to get a good
score, you need to use higher-level vocabulary. Try
to practice using the following words in your daily
speaking so that you will remember them on the
exam.

Mouthwatering
My Italian friend makes a cake called “mango
heaven cake”. It’s so mouthwatering!
Wow! That dessert looks mouthwatering!
Every Christmas season, my aunt bakes the most
mouthwatering treats!

“Mouthwatering” means super delicious!

Mad English TV 49

Have a sweet tooth

My sister can never say no to chocolate. She has a
real sweet tooth.
My doctor told me I need to lose weight, but that’s
a problem for me because I have a sweet tooth!
Christmas is the best time of year for me because
I have such a sweet tooth!

If you have a “sweet tooth” it means you love

sugary foods like cake or chocolate.

Exquisite
The food at our 5-star resort was simply exquisite!
Brenda’s wedding cake had five layers and each
layer was a different kind of cake. I’ve never seen
something so exquisite in my life!
Mary’s wedding dress is exquisite!

“Exquisite” means extremely beautiful and

carefully made. When we use this word for food, it
refers to the appearance of the food, not the taste.

Mad English TV 50

 Nutrient-dense
If you want to have a healthy diet, try eating
nutrient-dense foods like broccoli or spinach
instead of sugary foods like cookies.
Liver is a nutrient-dense food, but I hate the taste
of it!

“Nutrient-dense” means that a food has lots of

nutrients. It’s a good word to use if you’re talking
about health or fitness related things.

Acquired taste
I hated olives when I was a kid, but now I really
like them. I guess it’s an acquired taste.
Liver is an acquired taste.
I think coffee is an acquired taste because my kids
hate how bitter it tastes.
“Acquired taste” means that most people don’t like
it when they first try it, but after more exposure to it,
they start to enjoy it more and more. For example,
many people don’t like beer for the first time, but
after a while, they acquire a taste for it.

Mad English TV 51

 Holidays
The word “holiday” can mean either a public
holiday like Christmas Day, or it can mean
“vacation”. If your coworker tells you that he went
on a holiday to Mexico, then he means “vacation”.
In every other situation, “holiday” means public
holiday (government holiday/bank holiday). Most
public holidays in Canada fall on a Monday or a
Friday. This means that the weekend is three days
instead of two days. This is called a “long weekend”.
Most public holidays are the same all across Canada,
but sometimes provinces have their own holidays.
Here is a list of the public holidays all across
Canada for 2021.
• New Year - Friday, January 1, 2021
• Good Friday - Friday, April 2, 2021
• Easter Monday - Monday, April 5, 2021
• Victoria Day - Monday, May 24, 2021
• Canada Day - Thursday, July 1, 2021
• Civic Holiday - Monday, August 2, 2021
• Labour Day - Monday, September 6, 2021
• Thanksgiving Day - Monday, October 11, 2021
• Remembrance Day - Thursday, November 11, 2021
• Christmas Day - Saturday, December 25, 2021
• Boxing Day - Sunday, December 26, 2021

Mad English TV 52

Long weekend
My family usually goes camping on long
weekends in the summer.
I love long weekends because I can visit my
boyfriend who lives in Halifax.
It usually snows on May long weekend in Calgary.

Family gathering
We usually have a family gathering during the
Christmas holidays.
I think we should go to Lake Louise for our next
family gathering. I know it would be a bit pricey,
but it would be worth it! (pricey = expensive)
My friend kindly offered to let us use his cabin for
our family gathering.

A family gathering is when your extended family

gets together (grandparents, uncles and aunts,
cousins, etc.) We usually don’t use the term
“family gathering” when only our immediate
family gets together (parents, children, siblings).

Mad English TV 53

Kick back
I usually just kick back on long weekends and
enjoy some R&R. (R&R = rest and relaxation)
Whenever we go on holidays, my wife loves to do
all kinds of activities, but I just like to kick back
and enjoy the beach.

“Kick back” is a casual way to say “relax”.

Cook up a storm
My Filipino relatives cook up a storm every family
gathering. It’s impossible not to gorge myself !
(gorge yourself = eat until you are too full)
My Aunt Bertha cooks up a storm every
Thanksgiving.

“Cook up a storm” means cook a lot of food.

Shoot the breeze

I like to just hang out with my friends and shoot
the breeze.
“Shoot the breeze” means “have a casual conversation.”

Mad English TV 54

 Employment
Steep learning curve
When I started my job, I felt a bit overwhelmed
because the learning curve was so steep.
If you want to become a rocket scientist, be
prepared for a steep learning curve!
When I started taking Portuguese classes, I didn’t
realize that the learning curve would be so steep!

“Steep learning curve” means that something is

difficult to learn. The term “learning curve” refers
to the process of learning something. We usually
use this idiom to describe jobs, but you can also
use it to talk about learning anything else.

Learn the ropes

When I started my job, it took me a while to learn
the ropes, but now I can do everything confidently.
My boss expects me to learn the ropes in two days!

Mad English TV 55

 I could probably make more money at a different

job, but I don’t want to learn the ropes all over
again.
“Learn the ropes” means to learn how to do a job.

Have a lot on my plate

I wish I could go camping with you guys, but I
have a lot on my plate right now.
I often babysit for my sister because she has a lot
on her plate right now.
When I was in college, I was really stressed out
because I had a lot on my plate.

“A lot on my plate” means you have a lot of

responsibilities.

Dead-end job
Josh, if you don’t go to college, you’re just going
to have a dead-end job your whole life.
I decided to change careers because I had a dead-
end job for 12 years.

Mad English TV 56

 When I started at this company, I thought I’d be

able to advance really quickly, but it turned out to
be a dead-end job.

A “dead-end job” is a job with no advancement

opportunities.

Get your feet wet

Mike, I would recommend working part-time at
the company just to get your feet wet before you
dive in full-time. (dive in = fully commit)
I’ve always been interested in learning how to
make pottery, so I think I’m going to take a
pottery-making class this summer just to get my
feet wet.

“Get your feet wet” means you become used to

something new. If you want to learn something
new, sometimes it’s a good idea to just start in a
small way to see if you like it. For example, if you
want to become a photographer, it’s probably a
good idea to buy a cheap camera first just to try it
out for a while before you spend thousands of
dollars on expensive gear.

Mad English TV 57

 Health
On the mend
I’ve been sick for two weeks, but I think I’m
finally on the mend now.
Jo, I’m so happy to hear that you’re on the mend!

“On the mend” means that your health is getting

better after you went through a period of sickness.

Under the weather

I’ve been under the weather the past few weeks.
Work has been pretty busy this week because a
few of my coworkers are under the weather.
Sorry to hear that your mom is under the weather.

“Under the weather” is a casual way to talk about

sickness. We usually don’t use this idiom to talk
about serious diseases like cancer.

Mad English TV 58

Back on my feet
I got Covid last month. It took me a few weeks to
get back on my feet.
I’m glad to hear that you’re back on your feet!
Sorry to hear about your health, Jen. Don’t worry,
you’ll be back on your feet soon!

“Back on my feet” means that you’re feeling

better after a period of sickness.

Rough shape
My grandma was in really rough shape after
getting Covid. Thank God she recovered!
I was in really rough shape after my boyfriend
broke up with me.
After taking six exams in a row, I was in pretty
rough shape.

“Rough shape” means that you’re physically,

mentally, or emotionally sick.

Mad English TV 59

 New lease on life

I was in the hospital for three months. I thought I
was going to die, but when I finally recovered, I
had a new lease on life.
Having kids gave me a new lease on life. They are
my biggest joy!
After my uncle got married, he had a new lease on
life. He was always a bit depressed before that,
but now he can’t stop smiling.
In my opinion, the most important thing a person
can do is find their true passion in life. When they
find it, it will give them a new lease on life.

“New lease on life” means something happens

that gives you a new perspective on life. You feel
like you have a brighter future. You’re more
energetic than before. We use this idiom when
something happens that leads to big changes in a
person’s life. The changes are always very
positive.

Mad English TV 60

 Nature
Off the beaten track
Whenever I travel, I like to go off the beaten track.
I hate going to crowded tourist spots.
I like to eat at restaurants that are off the beaten
track.
On weekends I like to go hiking alone in the
mountains. It’s just nice to get off the beaten
track every now and then.

The “beaten track” is the path most people take.

For example, when tourists go to Paris, they
always visit the Eiffel Tower. But some travellers
go “off the beaten track” and visit other parts of
Paris that are less popular. So, “off the beaten
track” means to get away from the crowd.

Breathtaking
There’s a mountain near my house where I like to
go hiking. The view from the top is breathtaking!

Mad English TV 61

 The diamond earrings my boyfriend gave me are

breathtakingly beautiful!
The final match of the World Cup was
breathtaking!

“Breathtaking” means that something is amazing.

It takes your breath away.

Rejuvenate
After my vacation, I feel rejuvenated and ready for
work again.
My wrinkles make me look old. Can you
recommend a product to rejuvenate my skin?
John, I think you need to take a break from your
business to rejuvenate. You’ve become a
workaholic. (workaholic = someone who is
addicted to their work)

“Rejuvenate” means to feel mentally, emotionally,

or physically young again. It’s very similar to the
word “recuperate”. The idea is that you need to
recover something that you lost (usually because
of stress).

Mad English TV 62

 Habitat
I love seeing plants and animals in their natural
habitat.
It really bothers me when I see garbage in nature.
We should all try to protect our natural habitat!
I went snorkelling for the first time last month. It
was so cool to see fish in their natural habitat!

“Habitat” means the natural environment of a

plant or animal.

Take in
I love taking in all the sights and smells when I go
hiking. It’s so rejuvenating!
We hiked up the mountain really early in the
morning so we could take in the sunrise.
When you go to India for the first time, spend a
few days taking in the sights and smells.

“Take in” means to absorb something from your

surroundings. If you take in a sunset, it means
you enjoy the sunset.

Mad English TV 63

 Technology
Conk out
My laptop conked out over the weekend, and I lost
all my files.
My car’s engine conked out on my drive to work
this morning. I had to call a tow truck which cost
me a hundred bucks.
I’m only taking my cell phone on vacation with
me, so I hope it doesn’t conk out otherwise I’ll
have no way to check my emails.

“Conk out” means that something stops working.

We use this word especially for electronic devices
like computers and phones.

On the pricey side

Apple products are always on the pricey side, but I
still buy them because of their superior quality.
That restaurant is a bit on the pricey side.

Mad English TV 64

 My friends and I did a road trip through Europe

after high school. We were planning to go through
Switzerland but then decided not to because
hotels there were a bit on the pricey side.

“On the pricey side” means something is a bit

expensive.

Glued to
Whenever the Olympics are on, I’m always glued
to the TV.
I decided to take a break from social media
because I was always glued to my phone.
I bought my son an iPad for Christmas. He’s been
glued to it ever since!

“Glued to” means that something is taking all

your attention and you can’t leave it. We usually
use this term when we’re talking about a TV,
phone, or anything else with a screen. If you’re
watching an interesting movie, your eyes will be
glued to the screen. If the movie is boring, you
might go to the bathroom and leave the movie
playing because you’re not glued to it.

Mad English TV 65

Peace of mind
Cam, I would recommend buying the extended
warranty for your TV. It’ll just give you some
peace of mind in case something happens.
I don’t know much about vehicles, so I decided to
buy a new one instead of a used one just so I have
some peace of mind.
Having a financial cushion gives a person some
peace of mind in the event that they lose their job.
(financial cushion = savings)

“Peace of mind” means that you’re not worried

about something bad happening.

Cutting-edge
I’m still happy with my old phone. I don’t really
care about cutting-edge technology.
I heard about a cutting-edge medical procedure
that can cure blindness. I hope it’s true!

“Cutting-edge” means the newest and most

advanced innovation.

Mad English TV 66

 Closing Comments
In this book, I tried to make your CELPIP studying
easier by telling you exactly which words you should
use for each topic. If you follow my advice, you will
definitely get a higher score on speaking and writing.
Knowing these words and phrases will also help you on
the listening and reading parts because they are
commonly used with the topics I mentioned. For
example, if you are reading or listening to something
about a social issue, there’s a high chance you will hear
the word “marginalized”. If you don’t know what that
word means, you will probably not understand what
the person is saying. So try to memorize these words
within the topic I listed them under. This will also help
you with your daily English communication skills.

Thanks again for reading this book and supporting my

work! I wish you all the best as you study for CELPIP!

You will definitely succeed if you do these things:

1. Relax
2. Keep learning
3. Keep trying

Mad English TV 67