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0:00 If you know and can use these 15 incredibly advanced English words and phrases, then you are working towards the C2 level of English. This is the maximum level of English. Today's lesson is going to be seriously advanced. We're going to go through the 15 words and phrases in the form of a quiz. So, grab a pen and share your score at the end. Lots of the questions are multiplechoice questions. If you want to learn more about the other words I share, download the PDF lesson guide. In this guide, I go through every single C2 level word discussed in this video. If you'd like that, click on the link in the description box or scan that QR code
0:45 there and join my mailing list. I'll send the lesson guide straight to your inbox. Also, if you are working towards a very advanced level of English, you might be interested to know that I am launching my beautiful British English C2 program in early 2026. Join the waiting list to be the first to know, and I'll also send you a bonus lesson. The link is here. The QR code is there. Let's get started with the lesson. Number one, the kids keep hassling us to get a dog. Does the verb hassle mean a to repeatedly annoy somebody often by asking them to do something many times or b to hurry or rush somebody?
1:33 The correct definition is a to repeatedly annoy somebody. You'll often see the structure to hassle somebody to do something like we have in the example sentence or to hassle somebody for something. For example, the kids keep hassling us for a dog. Number two, look at this sentence. Let's just get the main bullet points down for now. We can flesh out the ideas later. Does the phrasal verb to flesh out mean a to add more detail or information to something or b let people know about something? The correct answer is a again to add
2:20 more detail or information to something. We often talk about fleshing out ideas, details, and plans. Three. Take a look at this sentence. Her excuse about the dog eating her homework just doesn't hold water. Does the idiom not hold water mean a not believable or convincing or b not creative or inventive enough? The answer is a again I'm noticing a trend here. Not believable or convincing. So, if something doesn't hold water, it's not believable or convincing. We often use it with the nouns excuse, statement, and argument. Number four, take a look at
3:08 this sentence. That 12-hour flight has left my body clock totally out of kilter. Does this idiom mean a experiencing jet lag for the first time or b not working properly or in its usual state? The correct answer is B. Finally, a B. It means not working properly or in its usual state. We can also use this idiom to mean that two things do not agree or match each other. For example, the government's policy is out of kilter with public opinion. And notice the preposition there, out of kilter with something. Okay, the last question in this first round number five. Have a
3:54 look at the sentence. She was trying to help, but her suggestions just muddied the waters. Does the idiom to muddy the waters mean A to make a simple situation more complicated and less clear than it was before or B to bring hidden problems to the surface? A to make a simple situation more complicated and less clear than it was before. I love how visual this idiom is. If you muddy the waters, you add mud to water and make it less transparent, less clear. You can muddy the waters both intentionally and unintentionally. Notice how we use the plural muddy the
4:41 waters. We can also say muddy the issue. Okay, that brings us to the end of round one. How many have you got right out of five so far? Keep a note of your score so that you can let me know in the comments. And if you're enjoying this quiz, if you feel it's at your level, if you'd love to learn more super advanced vocabulary, I need to tell you a little more about the C2 program that I'm currently developing. It's my most advanced course yet. As I mentioned, it will be released in early 2026. But if you'd like to be kept up to date about it and know more about it, join the waiting list. Scan that QR code or click the link. You'll also get a bonus C2 lesson. Okay, now it's time for round
5:27 two and we are increasing the difficulty. This round you will get a gapped sentence with three possible answers. You ready? Number six. What phrase best completes this sentence? Let's just split the bill four ways. It's not worth over a few pounds. Is it a quibbling, b niggling, or c quivering? The correct answer is quibbling. Can you guess the meaning from the context? It means to argue or complain about small, unimportant details. We quive over or about something. It's often a number or
6:13 an amount. And if you'd like to know what the other words mean, then you need to download the lesson guide. I've included definitions, transcriptions, and example sentences, not only for the correct C2LE words we're looking at today, but also more challenging incorrect options you'll see on screen like niggle and quiver. So, make sure you click the link or scan the QR code there. You sign up to my mailing list and I'll send you the guide via email. Question seven. Which word best completes this sentence? The twins exchanged glances across the dinner table which made their parents suspicious they were up to no good. Is it a fussy, b fertive, or c frail?
7:03 It is be fertive. This is a gorgeous adjective used to describe suspicious or secretive behavior. It collocates strongly with the nouns glance and look. Number eight. Which word completes this sentence? I don't find the prospect of camping in a field for a week in this terrible weather particularly what is it? A alluring, B eluding or C enduring. It is a alluring. This means attractive or exciting. A less formal alternative that would work well in this sentence is
7:49 appealing. I don't find the idea of camping in the rain appealing. Alluring collocates strongly with words like prospect and offer. But we also use it to talk about a person's attractiveness. For example, an alluring smile, scent, or voice. Number nine. Which word best completes this sentence? The last question completely me. I didn't have a clue how to answer. Is it a flattered, b duped, or c flumxed? It is c flumxed. Such a good word. To flumx somebody means to confuse somebody so much that
8:36 they don't know what to do or say. We also say to leave someone or be left flamed. For example, that last question left me completely flammaxed. Or I was left utterly flammaxed by the packet instructions. Okay, last word in this multiplechoice round number 10. Which word best completes this sentence? Don't listen to her. What she's saying is a load of old what is it? A rigmarole, b hogwash, or c pragmatism? Three gorgeous words. I'll talk about them more in the PDF.
9:21 The correct answer is B. Hogwash. Not to be confused with Hogwarts. Have you heard this word before? It's an informal noun for an idea or talk that is stupid. Nonsense and rubbish have similar meanings in this context. It collocates well with the adjectives absolute, complete, and pure. Okay, so that brings us to the end of round two of three. How are you doing so far? Honestly, I'd give yourself a big pat on the back if you've even managed to get a quarter of these ridiculously advanced words. It's time for our final round. I'll show you the word with an example sentence, and I'll pause to see if you can come up with the meaning. This round is going to be very
10:07 challenging. Are you ready? Number 11. Tantamount. Leaving your dog at home alone all day is tantamount to cruelty. We always use this adjective in the structure tantamount to something. It is generally used to say that something has the same or almost the same effect as something bad. An example, copying another student's work is tantamount to stealing. Copying another student's work is equivalent or nearly equivalent to stealing. Number 12, strenuous. Streuous.
10:52 The doctor advised me to refrain from any strenuous exercise in the weeks after my operation. If something is strenuous, it requires a lot of effort and energy. For example, strenuous exercise, activity, or work. We can also use it more figuratively to mean determined. For example, the company is making strenuous efforts to cut its carbon emissions. Propagate. Propagate. The internet has made it easier than ever to propagate misinformation. Okay, here's another word with a couple
11:37 of meanings. In this context, to propagate means to spread. It's often used with nouns like message, agenda, or an ideology. It often has a negative connotation to describe the spread of hateful ideas, beliefs, and lies. The second meaning is much more positive. Have you ever had a go at propagating your plants? This is when you take cutings from a parent plant to grow new plants. For example, you can easily propagate pus by cutting the stem and placing it in water. Okay. Our penultimate word now, shoddy. Shoddy. The builder did such a shoddy job installing the kitchen cabinets.
12:23 Half of them didn't close properly. This means poor quality work done carelessly, badly or cheaply. If we describe goods as shoddy, they're made with lowquality materials or have been badly or carelessly made. Okay, time for our final C2 word of the lesson. I love this word. It's very fun. It is nefarious. nefarious. It was a nefarious scheme designed to trick people into giving up their bank details. Nefarious means morally bad, evil, or wicked. We can use it to describe
13:09 criminal acts. Okay, there you have it. 15 C2 level words and phrases. How many did you get right? Please let me know in the comments and let me know your favorites, too. Don't forget to download the lesson guide where I go into detail on all of the other words we shared. And if you're interested in mastering the C2 level of English, join the waiting list for my beautiful British English C2 program set to launch in 2026, early 2026. I'm having a blast developing it with my team at the moment. You are going to love it. I really hope you enjoyed this much more advanced lesson. I will see you in the next one. [Music]
