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English Vocabulary in Use Advance (Unit 61: Motion: taking steps)


A. Verbs of movement

Verb Type of movement Reasons for type of movement
limpunevenone leg hurts
hopon one foot, quicklynot using one foot
staggerunsteadydrunk, ill
stumblenearly fallinguneven surface
lurchsudden or irregulardrunk, ill, walking on moving ship, etc.
tiptoequiet and on toesnot to be heard
ambleeasy, gentlepleasure or relaxation, no special aim
stridelong stepspurposeful
strutproud, chest held outto look important
trampfirm, heavy stepswalking for a long time
tramplepressing repeatedly with feetoften, wishing to destroy
stamppushing foot down heavilyanger, or just heavy-footed
trudgeheavy, slow, with difficultytired
chasequicklywanting to catch something or someone

B. Metaphorical examples of motion

  • The maths lesson limped to a conclusion and everyone thankfully left the room.
  • Let’s hop off the bus at the next stop.
  • Miguel’s business staggered on for a few years and then finally collapsed.
  • Lisa did staggeringly well in her exams.
  • The government has lurched from one economic crisis to the next.
  • Maria takes everything that life throws at her in her stride.
  • Parents and teachers should try not to trample on children’s dreams.
  • If the Campbells don’t pay their bill this week, you’ll have to chase them.
  • After several stumbling attempts at writing, Theo finally had a poem published.

C. People and water move in similar ways

  • Crowds of tourists flowed across the square all day long.
  • As soon as the school doors opened, children spilled out into the playground.
  • People streamed into the lecture hall and soon there was standing room only.
  • People have been pouring into the exhibition all day.
  • A trickle of people appeared outside and by midday a crowd had gathered.
  • We meandered round the town, window shopping to our hearts’ content.
  • Refugees have been flooding across the border since the start of the war.

D. Taking steps

When you walk you take (foot)steps. Here are some adjectives often used with taking steps in a metaphorical context:
backward, big, critical, decisive, first, giant, major, significant, unprecedented [never having happened before]

Common mistakes

When talking metaphorically, people take backward/decisive etc. steps (NOT footsteps).



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