English Vocabulary in Use: Advanced Book with Answers and Enhanced eBook Vocabulary Reference and Practice 3rd Edition

tumbling most dramatically of all.
Going slowly
These intransitive verbs emphasise that the movement is slow: 
crawl, creep. They are often used 
metaphorically: Prices have been 
creeping up since May. It was rush hour and the traffic was 
crawling along.
Totter also suggests a fairly slow movement, but it is one that is particularly unsteady as well: Mina 
tottered down the road, laden with parcels and bags.
Sidle means to walk anxiously and nervously: Sam sidled up to the boss’s desk and coughed to 
attract his attention.
Dawdle means to move more slowly than is necessary, or to waste time: Don’t dawdle on the 
way home.
A
B
C

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Exercises
139
English Vocabulary in Use Advanced
Answer these questions.
1 Would you be more likely to dash to the shops if you had plenty of time or if you were in a hurry?
2 If a car accelerates, does it speed up or slow down?
3 If you stop to look in shop windows, are you scampering or dawdling?
4 If traff ic is said to be crawling, is it moving freely or is there a traff ic jam?
5 If you plan to sell some shares, would you prefer their price to rocket or to tumble?
6 If a woman is wearing particularly high heels, is she more likely to scurry or to totter?
7 If a car slips on ice, is it more likely to be said to career or to dart across the road?
8 Who do you think is feeling more confident – a person who races up to greet you or someone who 
sidles up to greet you?
9 If you are thinking of buying your first flat, would you prefer the price of accommodation to be 
creeping up or to be soaring?
10 We sometimes say that people bolt their food. Does this mean that they eat fast or slowly?