Vocabulary/ B2 Vocabulary lessons and / Socializing and social events – B2 English Vocabulary
Socializing and Social Events
Learn essential English vocabulary for parties, social activities, and people’s behaviors at events.
About This Lesson
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
B2 English vocabulary chart showing different types of social events, including housewarming party, baby shower, stag party, hen party, fancy dress party, reception, karaoke night, and reunion.
Parties and Events
Vocabulary for describing common types of celebrations and social gatherings.
Housewarming party
A party thrown to celebrate moving into a new home.
Soon after moving into their new house, Jim and Ann threw a housewarming party.
Baby shower
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.
Stag party
A party for a man who is getting married, attended only by men (called a bachelor party in the US).
The entertainment for Harry’s stag party was organised by his brothers.
Hen party
A party for a woman who is getting married, attended only by women (called a bachelorette party in the US).
Most of Anna’s female friends were able to attend her hen party.
Fancy dress party
A party where guests must dress up in costumes.
I dressed up as a witch for Lucy’s fancy dress party.
Reception
A formal celebration held after a special event, such as a wedding or official ceremony.
Although I wasn’t invited to the wedding ceremony, I was invited to the reception.
Karaoke night
An event where people sing along to well-known songs.
As a person who hates singing, I was dreading the karaoke night.
Reunion
A gathering where family or schoolmates who haven’t seen each other for a long time get together.
Most of my cousins and aunts attended the family reunion.
Actions and Activities
B2 English vocabulary chart of social actions, including hang out, go clubbing, crash a party, and call it a night.
Actions and Activities
Common phrasal verbs and expressions used when talking about socializing.
Hang out
To spend time together in an informal way.
Mike and his best friend usually hang out together at the weekend.
Get together
To meet to spend time with each other.
My sisters and I get together for a meal at least once a month.
Go clubbing
To go dancing in a nightclub.
We often go clubbing on Friday nights at one of the nightclubs in the city.
Pre-drink / Pregame
To 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.
Crash a party
To show up at a celebration without being invited.
I was furious when some boys from college crashed our party.
Hit the town
To visit bars, clubs, or restaurants in a city or town for fun.
Do you feel like hitting the town on Saturday and trying out that new bar?
Let your hair down
To relax and enjoy yourself in a party atmosphere.
I love letting my hair down and partying at weekends.
Call it a night
To stop what you’re doing in order to go to bed.
By 11 p.m., we were all tired and decided to call it a night.
Go Dutch
To 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.
Outstay your welcome
To 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.
Stand someone up
To fail to turn up for a date or meeting without telling the person.
I think it’s really rude to stand someone up and leave them waiting.
Turn down an invitation
To 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
B2 English vocabulary chart showing different personality types at social events, such as social butterfly, party animal, outgoing, or clingy.
People and Personality
Terms to describe different types of people and behaviors in social settings.
Social butterfly
Someone who enjoys and attends many parties and social events.
Tara’s a real social butterfly and seems to have loads of friends.
Party animal
Someone known for frequent and often wild partying.
Tim’s such a party animal; he would go out every night if he could.
Party pooper
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.
Life of the party
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.
Wingwoman / Wingman
Someone who accompanies a single person to a party to offer support or help them avoid awkwardness.
Jenny has agreed to be my wingwoman for my sister’s wedding.
Third wheel
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.
Outgoing
Sociable and enjoys talking to different people.
Lara is a very quiet girl while her sister is really outgoing.
Clingy
Too dependent on another person and doesn’t mix well at social gatherings.
Joe’s girlfriend is clingy and doesn’t seem to give him space.