people and relationships

• systematic, careful

  methodical
• too patriotic

  chauvinistic
• ready to help

  obliging
• hard-working

  diligent
• calm, does not easily become excited or angry

  placid
• having good judgement

  shrewd
• gloomy

  morose
• acts on a sudden idea without thinking first (often negative)

  impetuous
• gives exaggerated expression of pleasure, praise or gratitude

  effusive
• calm and reasonable and showing good judgement

  well-balanced
• reserved or says very little (generally negative)

  taciturn
• lacks confidence

  diffident
• unfriendly and not sociable

  aloof
• unfriendly and thinks herself better than others

  haughty
• does not believe others deserve respect

  disdainful
• thinks herself wonderful

  conceited
• always takes his work very seriously

  conscientious
• unwilling to change, despite persuasion

  obstinate
• similar to obstinate but stronger; informal

  pig-headed
• romantically obsessed with

  infatuated with
• almost stupidly or blindly in love with

  besotted with
• someone you admire because they do or think the same as you

  a man/woman after your own heart
• very close, good friend (Busenfreunde)

  bosom friends
• having or displaying a friendly and pleasant manner

  amiable/amiability
• insincere; pleasant with someone and then

  unpleasant about them behind their back

  two-faced towards smb.
• extremely honest

  scupulously honest
• extreme loyalty

  unswerving loyalty
• best ally

  staunchest ally
• disagreement and discontent

  discord
• family split up by divorce

  a broken home
• to want to possess it very much

  to covet (coveted)
• stop someone feeling angry

  placate
• end a disagreement between two people or groups by acting in a friendly way towards both sides; formal

  conciliate
• It is used about someone’s opinions and feelings and means that they cannot be changed,

  implacable
• feeling great pleasure and happiness, usually because of a success

  exultant
• expressing great happiness, especiallyat a victory; formal

  jubilant
• happy, informal

  full of the joys of spring