IELTS Shopping

shopaholic (/ˌʃɒpəˈhɒlɪk/ noun)

• Someone who loves shopping a lot and buys many things even if they don't need them {shop lover, spender, buyer} My wife is a ______ who visits the mall every weekend. My friend loves shopping so much that they go to the mall every single weekend.
• Something that someone likes or is interested in {interest, preference, favorite} Soccer isn't really my _______ of tea. I don't really like soccer.
• To relax and let go of stress {relax, rest, chill} He likes to _______ by watching TV after school. He relaxes and lets go of stress by watching TV.
• A design that looks modern and smooth {stylish, modern, elegant} The new phone has a _______ design. The new phone looks modern and stylish.

have a taste for something (/teɪst/ verb)

• To like something a lot and enjoy it {enjoy, prefer, appreciate} I have a ______ for adventure games on my phone. I really like playing adventure games on my phone.
• Another way of looking at something, often opposite to the first {however, on the flip side, alternatively} _______ the other hand, spending money can be fun. Looking at it from another side, spending money is enjoyable.
• When you strongly want to do something {desire, impulse, want} He _______ the urge to buy the toy immediately. He wanted to buy the toy right away.
• To look around without a plan to buy anything {look, skim, search} She likes to _______ for clothes online. She enjoys looking at clothes on the internet without planning to buy them.

wander around somewhere (/ˈwɒndə/ verb)

• To walk or move around a place without a specific direction {stroll, roam, meander} They like to ______ around the park on weekends. They enjoy walking around the park without any particular place to go.
• Something you can't get or it's too far away {unavailable, inaccessible, distant} That expensive car is _______ of reach for me right now. The car costs too much money for me to buy.
• Light that comes from the sun {sunlight, daylight, solar light} The room has lots of _______ light. The room has lots of sunlight coming in.
• To reconsider or think again {reconsider, rethink, review} He gave it a ______ and didn't buy the video game. He thought again and decided not to buy the video game.

window shopping (/ˈwɪndəʊ ˈʃɒpɪŋ/ noun)

• Looking at things in store windows without buying them {browse, look, observe} My sister enjoys ______ shopping at the mall. My sister likes looking at things in stores without actually buying anything.
• A place where you can buy many different things {all-in-one, multi-purpose, mall} This store is a _______ for all your needs. This store has many items so you can buy different things all at once.
• To agree on a good price for something {deal, agreement, discount} She made a ______ for the video game. She got the video game at a lower price by agreeing with the seller.
• Devices like computers, phones, and TVs {gadgets, devices, tech} They sell _______ like tablets and cameras. They sell technology items like tablets and cameras.

plan ahead (/plæn əˈhɛd/ verb)

• To think and prepare for something in the near future {prepare, organize, schedule} It's always good to ______ ahead for school projects. It's wise to get ready for school projects before the last minute.
• A very low price, usually a discount {bargain, discount, sale price} The bike was on sale at a _______ price. The bike was being sold for a much lower price than usual.
• To buy something without seeing it first {risky buy, blind purchase, uncertain deal} Buying that online was like buying a _______ in a poke. Buying it online was risky since he didn't know exactly what he'd get.
• Ways to keep people or things safe {protections, safeguards, defenses} They increased _______ measures at the bank. They added more things to keep the bank and people safe.

impulsive buying (/ɪmˈpʌlsɪv ˈbaɪɪŋ/ noun)

• Buying something without thinking it through {unplanned, spur, spontaneous} I made an ______ buy at the candy shop yesterday. I bought something at the candy shop without planning it in advance.
• A big store that has many different sections {store, mall, retail center} They went to the _______ store to buy some clothes. They visited a big store with lots of sections to shop for clothes.
• Find items at low or affordable prices {cheap, affordable, budget} They love getting ______ deals online. They like finding low-cost things when shopping online.
• Another way of looking at something, often opposite to the first {however, on the flip side, alternatively} _______ the other hand, spending money can be fun. Looking at it from another side, spending money is enjoyable.

compulsive (/kəmˈpʌlsɪv/ adjective)

• Feeling a strong need to do something again and again {obsessive, uncontrollable, urge} He has a ______ habit of checking his phone. He feels like he has to keep checking his phone repeatedly.
• To buy something without seeing it first {risky buy, blind purchase, uncertain deal} Buying that online was like buying a _______ in a poke. Buying it online was risky since he didn't know exactly what he'd get.
• What happens because of something else {result, outcome, effect} He didn't study, and _______ a consequence, he didn't pass the test. Because he didn't study, he didn't pass his test.
• Buying and selling things on the internet {online shopping, digital sales, internet commerce} _______ makes shopping from home very easy. Buying things online lets you shop without leaving your home.

keep abreast of something (/əˈbrɛst/ phrase)

• To stay informed or know about new things {stay updated, informed, aware} She ______ of fashion trends. She makes sure to stay up-to-date with what's new in fashion.
• To keep shopping until you're very tired {shop a lot, go shopping crazy, spend long time shopping} They _______ till they dropped on Black Friday. They shopped for a very long time on Black Friday.
• A large building with many stores {plaza, complex, shopping area} The _______ has everything from clothes to electronics. The large building has many different stores where people can buy various things.
• To keep shopping until you're very tired {shop a lot, go shopping crazy, spend long time shopping} They _______ till they dropped on Black Friday. They shopped for a very long time on Black Friday.

have one's eye on something (/aɪ/ phrase)

• To be watching something because you want it {want, desire, target} I have my ______ on that cool bike in the store. I'm interested in and want that cool bike I saw in the store.
• To put on clothes to see if they fit {test, check, fit} She ______ on the dress to see if it looked nice. She put the dress on to see if it fit her and looked good.
• To go shopping or visit stores {go shopping, visit, shop} We'll ______ the stores tomorrow to find gifts. We'll go shopping tomorrow to look for gifts.
• Cheating or lying to get something, often money {scam, deceit, fake} The company was accused of ______. The company was blamed for cheating people to get money.

a second thought (/ˈθɔːt/ phrase)

• To reconsider or think again {reconsider, rethink, review} He gave it a ______ and didn't buy the video game. He thought again and decided not to buy the video game.
• To be good at noticing what looks stylish and trendy {style sense, fashion taste, keen eye} She has an _______ for fashion and always dresses well. She has a good sense of what's stylish, so she always looks well-dressed.
• To be as good as one hoped or expected {meet, satisfy, fulfill} The new movie ______ to her expectations. The new movie was as good as she hoped it would be.
• Losing money {monetary loss, deficit, expense} The company faced a big _______ loss last year. The company lost a lot of money last year.