Language Focus
| Word / Phrase | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Roasting | Extremely hot — used for weather, places or people. | "It was roasting out on the pitch, and by half-time three players needed a water break." |
| Melting | Feeling so hot it's as if you're dissolving. | "She stepped off the train melting, after twenty minutes with no shade in sight." |
| Boiling | Extremely hot — used for people, places or objects. | "The office was boiling by midday, since the air conditioning had broken down again." |
| Sweltering | Uncomfortably, oppressively hot, often before a noun. | "Commuters faced a sweltering journey home, packed onto trains with no working fans." |
| Close | Humid and stuffy, with heavy, still air (a very Irish use of the word). | "It's very close this evening; I wouldn't be surprised if there's thunder later." |
| Scorching | Extremely hot, especially describing strong sun. | "The scorching afternoon sun forced the match to be delayed until evening." |
| Baking | Very hot, especially something that has absorbed heat. | "The car had been sitting in the sun all day and was baking by the time we got back." |
| I'm sweating buckets | I am perspiring heavily. | "I'm sweating buckets just walking to the shop and back." |
| I'm wrecked from the heat | I'm exhausted because of the heat. | "I'm wrecked from the heat — I might just lie down for the afternoon." |
| I'm fried | I feel completely drained or overheated (informal). | "By the time the match finished, the players looked absolutely fried." |
| The head's cooked off me | Informal Irish idiom: I feel dazed or overwhelmed by the heat. | "Honestly, the head's cooked off me after standing in that queue in the sun." |
| Jaysus, it's roasting | An exclamation of surprise at intense heat (very informal, spoken Irish English). | "Jaysus, it's roasting — I don't think I've ever seen it this warm in Dublin." |
Reading
Heatwave Grips the Country
Ireland sweltered through its hottest day of the year yesterday, as temperatures across Munster climbed above 28°C. Met Éireann has confirmed that the heatwave, now in its fifth consecutive day, is expected to continue into the weekend, with little relief from the humidity overnight.
Commuters described conditions as unbearable. "It's roasting out here," said one Dublin office worker, fanning herself outside Pearse Street station. "I'm sweating buckets just walking to work." Public transport has struggled to cope, with several train carriages reportedly boiling after air conditioning units broke down during the morning rush.
Farmers are growing increasingly concerned about the scorching conditions damaging crops, while hospitals have reported a rise in cases of heat exhaustion among elderly patients. "The head's cooked off me by three o'clock most days," admitted one postman, who has been delivering letters in baking heat since early morning.
Forecasters have also warned that the close, humid air overnight is providing little respite, with many households reporting broken sleep. "Jaysus, it's roasting, even at midnight," one Cork resident remarked. Health officials are urging the public to stay hydrated and avoid the midday sun where possible, as the heatwave shows no sign of breaking.
1. Odd One Out
In each set, three sentences make sense. One doesn't fit — the heat word is used illogically. Click the sentence that is the odd one out.
2. Multiple Choice
Context: Group chat about a summer barbecue
Choose the best word or phrase to complete each message.
3. Matching
Match each word or phrase to its meaning using the dropdowns.
4. Gap Fill
Context: Personal diary entry
5. Error Correction
Context: Community WhatsApp heatwave notices
Each sentence below originally used the wrong heat word. Choose the word that correctly fits the meaning.
6. Register Rewrite
Context: A news editor's notes, translating quotes into everyday spoken English
Each formal sentence below needs to be rewritten in everyday spoken English. Choose the option that captures the same meaning — the others use a heat word that doesn't quite fit.
7. Complete the Conversation
Context: Text messages between two friends
Your Scores
| Exercise | Score |
|---|