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Party games
– games you play at the 
party. 
Slow dance
– a dance to a slow song 
with someone you like. 
To party
– to enjoy yourself at a party. 
In full swing
– if a party is “in full swing” when you arrive, 
everyone is already enjoying themselves. 
Guest list
– a list of the people who are invited to the party. 
Gatecrasher
– an uninvited guest at the party. 
Party pooper
– someone who isn't enjoying the party and 
who ruins it for everyone else. 
Party animal
– someone who goes wild at parties and who 
has a great time. 
Party planner
– someone who organises 
parties (often as part of their job) for other 
people. 
Wall flower 
– someone at the party 
who doesn’t participate and who just sits 
there.
l
m
j
i
d
k
h
c
a
b
When was the last time you had a party? How 
did it go? When was the last time you went to 
a party? What was it like? What do you like/
dislike about parties? What’s your idea of the 
ultimate party? 
f
e
Think 
about
it!
Let’s 
party!
n
g
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Parties! 
USEFUL
LANGUAGE
USEFUL 
LANGUAGE
Types of party
Barbecue 
–
a party outside 
with food that’s cooked on 
a barbecue (a fire). 
Family gathering
– a party 
for members of your family. 
Get-together
–
an informal social event 
with friends. 
Anniversary party
– 
a party to celebrate an 
anniversary. 
Birthday party
– a party 
to celebrate someone’s 
birthday. 
Cocktail party
– 
a sophisticated party at 
which cocktails are served. 
Dinner party
– a formal (or 
semi-formal) party at which 
dinner is served. 
Fancy dress party
– 
a party in which people 
dress up as famous people 
or people from stories. 
Wedding party
– a party that is 
held after a wedding ceremony. 
Going away party
– a party 
for someone who is going to 
live in another country/city. 
Graduation party
– a party 
for someone who has finished 
their studies at university, etc. 
Baby shower
– a party for 
a pregnant woman. Guests 
bring presents for the baby. 
Hawaiian party
– a party 
in which everyone wears 
Hawaiian shirts.
Pyjama party
– a party 
in which everyone wears 
pyjamas or bed clothes.
Toga party
– a Roman-
themed party in which guests 
wear togas (white sheets).
Useful verbs and 
expressions
Have a party
– to organise 
a party: “We had a party last 
week.” 
Make a racket
– to make a 
lot of noise: “They made a 
racket in the party.” 
Trash a house
– to destroy 
the inside of 
a house: “The 
house was 
trashed during 
the party.”
Invite someone
– to 
ask someone to come to 
your party: “She invited 60 
people to her party.” 
Boogie / boogie on down: 
to dance: “All the guests 
were boogying.” 
Pass out
– to lose 
consciousness 
(often after 
drinking too 
much alcohol): 
“One of the 
guests had passed out.” 
Have a good time
– to 
really enjoy yourself: “We 
had a really good time.” 
Call the police
– to 
telephone the police: “They 
were making so much noise 
that we had to call the 
police.” 
Show up
– to arrive: “Most 
of the guests showed up 
late.” 
Gatecrash a party
– to go 
to a party that you aren’t 
invited to: “They tried to 
gatecrash the party.”