Others Flashcards
(226 cards)
Impact on / of
The anti-smoking campaign had had/made quite an impact on young people.
The new proposals were intended to soften the impact of the reformed tax system.
Output
the amount of something that a person, a machine or an organization produces
Manufacturing output has increased by 8 per cent.
The plant plans to increase output to 10 000 cars a year.
10 per cent of the country’s total output
a steady output of new ideas
changes in the level of output
her prodigious literary output
the fall in output due to outdated equipment
economic/industrial/manufacturing output
global/national/domestic output
annual/total/overall output
output per hour/employee/worker
Classic vs Classical
Classic
having a high quality or standard against which other things are judged:
Fielding’s classic novel “Tom Jones”
Another classic goal there from Corley!
Classical
traditional in style or form, or based on methods developed over a long period of time, and considered to be of lasting value:
Does she study classical ballet or modern ballet?
I tend to listen to pop music rather than classical.
Mainstay
the mainstay of something
the most important part of something, providing support for everything else:
Cattle farming is the mainstay of the country’s economy.
The white blouse will be the mainstay of your wardrobe this summer.
The local library has been a mainstay in this community for over 50 years.” In this sentence, “mainstay” is used to describe something that has been a consistent and reliable part of the community for a long time.
“In the early days of the internet, email was the mainstay of online communication.” Here, “mainstay” is used to describe something that was a fundamental and essential component of a larger system.
“Fishing has long been a mainstay of the coastal economy.” In this sentence, “mainstay” is used to describe an activity or industry that has been a core part of a region’s economy for a long time.
go round
If there is enough of something to go round, there is enough for everyone in a group of people:
Are there enough pencils to go round?
There weren’t enough chairs to go round.
Are there enough leaflets to go round?
There’s only one slice of cake left, so it will have to go round between the four of us.
The rumor about the new employee’s behavior started to go round the office.
We need to find a way to make the limited resources go round for all the projects we have.
The music festival tickets are limited, so we need to make sure they go round all our friends who want to go.
The company’s policy is that everyone gets a chance to speak during the meeting, so we need to make sure that the time goes round fairly.
ploy
something that is done or said in order to get an advantage, often dishonestly:
There are various ploys we can use if necessary.
[ + to infinitive ] He only said he had a meeting as a ploy to get her to leave.
The politician used a clever ploy to avoid answering the reporter’s question.
The salesperson’s ploy to offer a “limited time only” discount was just a way to pressure customers into making a quick decision.
The spy used a clever ploy to obtain classified information from the enemy.
The magician’s ploy of distracting the audience with one hand while performing a trick with the other is a classic technique.
The team’s ploy of faking an injury to waste time and disrupt the other team’s momentum was frowned upon by the referee.
defeat the object of
to prevent you from achieving the result you were hoping for:
The balance transfer deal to this card completely defeats the object because any money you save will be cancelled by the higher interest on new purchases.
If we don’t follow the instructions, we will defeat the object of this experiment.
Skipping meals to lose weight defeats the object of maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
If we don’t listen to the customer’s feedback, it will defeat the object of improving our product.
If we don’t finish the project on time, it will defeat the object of meeting the deadline.
Using a calculator to solve simple math problems defeats the object of learning and practicing mental arithmetic.
Whiff
a slight smell, carried on a current of air:
He leaned towards me and I caught/got a whiff of garlic.
During the first few months of pregnancy the slightest whiff of food cooking made my stomach turn.
There was a whiff of smoke in the air, and I quickly realized that the building was on fire.
He took a whiff of the perfume and immediately knew it was his wife’s favorite scent.
The restaurant had a whiff of garlic, which made my mouth water in anticipation of the delicious food to come.
I caught a whiff of something foul and quickly realized that my dog had gotten into the garbage again.
The singer’s performance had a whiff of nostalgia, taking the audience back to a time when music was simpler and more heartfelt
Last Resort
last resort
used for talking about something that you only think of doing or using if all other methods fail:
As a last resort, savers could always open an ISA with their current bank or building society.
Experts say warning labels are a last resort when a hazard can’t be designed out of a product.
differentiate
Embryonic stem cells are able to differentiate into any cell type.
These five vesicles differentiate into the final structure of the brain.
It’s important to differentiate between fact and opinion when conducting research.
The company had to differentiate its products from those of its competitors to stand out in the market.
The doctor had to differentiate between two similar diseases to make an accurate diagnosis.
She could easily differentiate the twins by their distinct personalities.
The teacher had to differentiate her lessons to accommodate students with different learning styles.
The artist used bold colors to differentiate the foreground from the background in the painting.
Lair
a place where a wild animal lives, often underground and hidden, or a place where a person hides:
a fox’s lair
the thieves’ lair
quarry
a person or animal being hunted or looked for:
The dogs pursued their quarry into an empty warehouse.
a large artificial hole in the ground where stone, sand, etc. is dug for use as building material:
a granite/limestone/marble/slate quarry
shoplifting
the illegal act of taking goods from a shop without paying for them:
He was charged with shoplifting.
Deterrent
something that deters people from doing something:
a nuclear deterrent
Tougher prison sentences may act/serve as a deterrent to other would-be offenders.
In the form of
Help in the form of money will be very welcome.
Some received substantial occupational assistance in the form of low-interest loans.
17 They received a benefit in the form of a tax reduction.
prompting
the act of trying to make someone say something:
[ + to infinitive ] Kids of that age really shouldn’t need prompting to say thank you for things.
Amazingly - without any prompting - my husband actually said how nice I looked in my new dress!
The loud noise outside was prompting the dogs to bark incessantly.”
“Her success in the competition was prompting others to join and participate in it.”
“The teacher’s encouraging words were prompting the students to work harder.”
“The worsening weather conditions were prompting residents to evacuate their homes.”
“His constant procrastination was prompting his boss to give him warnings.”
“The growing demand for eco-friendly products was prompting companies to adopt sustainable practices.”
“The tragic incident was prompting people to donate to the relief fund.”
“The coach’s motivational speech was prompting the team to give their best performance.”
“The rise in crime rates was prompting the government to increase police patrols.”
“The customer’s complaints were prompting the company to improve their customer service.”
gimmick
something that is not serious or of real value that is used to attract people’s attention or interest temporarily, especially to make them buy something:
a publicity gimmick
They give away free gifts with children’s meals as a sales/marketing gimmick.
The advertisement relied on a gimmick to get people’s attention, but the product itself was mediocre.
The magician’s performance was full of gimmicks, but the audience was still amazed by the illusions.
The politician’s campaign was criticized for relying too heavily on gimmicks instead of presenting concrete policy proposals.
The restaurant offered a free dessert as a gimmick to attract customers, but the food quality was subpar.
plight
an unpleasant condition, especially a serious, sad, or difficult one:
the plight of the poor/homeless
Few of us can be unmoved by the plight of the refugees.
The plight of refugees who have been forced to flee their homes is a major humanitarian crisis that requires immediate attention.
The government has announced plans to address the plight of farmers who have been struggling with drought and low crop yields.
The plight of endangered species such as elephants and tigers is a pressing environmental issue that demands urgent action.
The nonprofit organization is dedicated to improving the plight of underprivileged children through education and social services.
consent
permission or agreement:
They can’t publish your name without your consent.
Patients must be informed of the risks of the surgery and give their informed consent.
You can only come on the trip if you have your parents’ written consent.
realm
an area of interest or activity:
Her interests are in the realm of practical politics.
Entering the realm of Nirvana is only possible for those who have become pure.
He made outstanding contributions in the realm of foreign affairs.
A field or domain of activity: “Her expertise is in the realm of computer programming.”
A kingdom or domain ruled by a monarch: “The knights defended the realm against invaders.”
A sphere or area of knowledge or thought: “Quantum mechanics lies in the realm of theoretical physics.”
An abstract or imaginary place or state: “The novel is set in a fantastical realm of dragons and magic.”
A specific area or level of society or experience: “Art and culture are part of the realm of human experience.”
get your act together
get your act together
(informal) to organize yourself and your activities in a more effective way in order to achieve something
He needs to get his act together if he’s going to pass.
gaucherie
behaviour that shows you are shy or uncomfortable when dealing with people and often saying or doing the wrong thing
Linda’s naive gaucherie
such gaucheries as blushing
She apologized for her gaucherie in knocking over the vase.
His gaucherie was evident in the way he stumbled over his words during the presentation.
The politician’s gaucherie during the debate cost him many votes.
Her gaucherie at the dinner party made everyone feel uncomfortable.
Despite her gaucherie on the dance floor, she still managed to have a good time.
run-through
a practice for a performance of a play, show, etc.
SYNONYM rehearsal
Can we have just one more run-through?
Before the performance, the theater company did a quick run-through of the play to make sure everything was in place.
The coach did a run-through of the team’s strategy before the big game.
The editor did a run-through of the article to check for any errors or inconsistencies.
The singer did a run-through of the song to practice her vocals before the concert.
The director asked the actors to do a run-through of the scene to get a better sense of the pacing.
The contractor did a run-through of the renovation plans with the homeowner to ensure they were on the same page.
The teacher did a run-through of the lesson to make sure she had all the necessary materials and was fully prepared.
Lap
the top part of your legs that forms a flat surface when you are sitting down
on somebody’s lap
There’s only one seat so you’ll have to sit on my lap.
in somebody’s lap
She sat with her hands in her lap.