Socializing and social events – B2 English Vocabulary

Socializing and social events

In this Pre-advanced Vocabulary Lesson about Socializing and Social Events, you will learn essential terms for parties, social activities, and people’s behaviors at events. The pictures, descriptions, and examples below will help you understand and remember the terms.

Parties and events

1 A housewarming party is a party which you throw to celebrate moving into a new home.

• Soon after moving into their new house, Jim and Ann threw a housewarming party.

2 A baby shower is a party to celebrate a woman who is going to have a baby.

• Sara’s friends arranged a baby shower for her a week before she was due to give birth.

3 A stag party (or bachelor party in the US) is a party for a man who is getting married, attended only by men.

• The entertainment for Harry’s stag party was organised by his brothers.

4 A hen party (or bachelorette party in the US) is a party for a woman who is getting married, attended only by women.

• Most of Anna’s female friends were able to attend her hen party.

5 A fancy dress party is a party for which guests must dress up in costumes.

• I dressed up as a witch for Lucy’s fancy dress party.

6 A reception is a formal celebration held after a special event, such as a wedding or an official ceremony.

• Although I wasn’t invited to the wedding ceremony, I was invited to the reception.

7 A karaoke night is an event where people sing along to well-known songs.

• As a person who hates singing, I was dreading the karaoke night.

8 A reunion is a party where family or schoolmates who haven’t seen each other for a long time get together and celebrate.

• Most of my cousins and aunts attended the family reunion.

Actions and Activities

1 When you hang out with someone, you spend time together in an informal way.

• Mike and his best friend usually hang out together at the weekend.

2 When people get together, they meet to spend time with each other.

• My sisters and I get together for a meal at least once a month.

3 When you go clubbing, you go dancing in a nightclub.

• We often go clubbing on Friday nights at one of the nightclubs in the city.

4 When you pre-drink (or pregame in the US), you have a few drinks at home before going out or to a party.

• Bill invited his friends to pregame at his house before going to the club.

5 When you crash a party, you show up at a celebration that you haven’t been invited to.

• I was furious when some boys from college crashed our party.

6 When you hit the town, you visit bars, clubs, or restaurants in a city or town.

• Do you feel like hitting the town on Saturday and trying out that new bar?

7 When you let your hair down, you relax and enjoy yourself in a party atmosphere.

• I love letting my hair down and partying at weekends.

8 When you call it a night, you stop what you are doing in order to go to bed.

• By 11 p.m., we were all tired and decided to call it a night.

9 When you go Dutch with someone, you each pay for your own meal or drinks.

• I would rather go Dutch on a first date than have a stranger pay for my meal.

10 When you outstay your welcome, you stay longer at someone’s home than they expect or want you to.

• I think we’d better go now before we outstay our welcome.

11 When you stand someone up, you fail to turn up for a date or meeting with someone without telling them.

• I think it’s really rude to stand someone up and leave them waiting.

12 When you turn down an invitation, you refuse an invitation to a party or event.

• I had to turn down Sue’s invitation because we had already made plans.

People and Personality

1 A social butterfly is someone who enjoys and attends many parties and social events.

• Tara’s a real social butterfly and seems to have loads of friends.

2 A party animal is someone who is known for their frequent and often wild partying.

• Tim’s such a party animal; he would go out every night if he could.

3 A party pooper is someone who ruins a celebration by refusing to join in the fun.

• Don’t be such a party pooper – stay and have a few drinks.

4 The life of the party is an outgoing person who is usually the centre of attention at social events.

• Marco is the life of the party and loves to be the centre of attention.

5 A wingwoman or wingman is someone who accompanies a single person to a party to show support or save them from awkwardness.

• Jenny has agreed to be my wingwoman for my sister’s wedding.

6 A third wheel is someone who feels left out when spending time with a couple or two close friends.

• I hate going out with Sandra and her boyfriend; I always feel like a third wheel.

7 A person who is outgoing is sociable, and likes talking to different people

• Lara is a very quiet girl while her sister is really outgoing.

8 A clingy person is someone who is too dependent on another person or other people and doesn’t mix at social gatherings.

• Joe’s girlfriend is clingy and doesn’t seem to give him space.

After completing the exercises in this lesson on Socializing and Social Events, you can use the unit’s Vocabulary Flashcards to revise and help you memorize the terms.