International Politics 2D - 2F Flashcards
(formal) the fact of making sb. less likely to do sth.
[uncountable] deterrence
/dɪˈterəns/
- Strategic deterrence no longer relies exclusively upon nuclear weapons.*
- His view is that prison sentences must be long enough to satisfy the requirements both of retribution and deterrence.*
- These are the circumstances in which robust conventional deterrence would settle the argument.*
(idiom.) in comparison with sb./sth. else; in relation to sb./sth.
relative to sb./sth.
/ˈrelətɪv/
- the position of the sun relative to the earth*
- The movements of the continents relative to each other can be measured.*
- The company employs too many people relative to the size of its business.*
to form a group in order to achieve sth.
[phrasal verb] to band together
/bænd təˈɡeðə(r)/
- Local people banded together to fight the drug dealers.*
- Opposition parties must band together and tell the federal government that it is not doing its job on this issue.*
- We decided to band together and organize a protest.*
a number of people or organizations that have the same interests, aims or characteristics and are often part of a larger group
français: ?
[countable] grouping
/ˈɡruːpɪŋ/
- These small nations constitute an important grouping within the EU.*
- A better grouping of orders will reduce delivery times.*
- There were two main political groupings pressing for independence.*
français: regroupement
(informal) a large or sudden increase in prices, costs, taxes, etc.
hike
/haɪk/
- Higher crude oil prices mean price hikes for consumers too.*
- Borrowers will be hit hard by the latest hike in interest rates.*
hike in sth. The drought caused a hike in the price of water.
a person who has been given the authority to represent sb. else
français: ?
[countable, uncount.] proxy
/ˈprɒksi/
- Your proxy will need to sign the form on your behalf.*
- They were like proxy parents to me.*
proxy for sb. She is acting as proxy for her husband.
français: mandataire
to help sth. to happen or develop
syn.: ?
[transitive] to foster
/ˈfɒstə(r)/
syn.: to encourage
/ɪnˈkʌrɪdʒ/
- The club’s aim is to foster better relations within the community.*
- The school has carefully fostered its progressive image.*
- Such organizations need to foster innovation.*
(noun) the quality sth. has when it is possible for you to know in advance that it will happen or what it will be like
[uncountable] predictability
/prɪˌdɪktəˈbɪləti/
- Many young offenders commit further crimes with alarming predictability.*
- The precise predictability and stability of the system is partly why it has become too rigid.*
- The former system had lacked predictability and the ability to respond quickly to emergency situations.*
to mention sth. in order to give sb. information about it or make them notice it
to point (sth.) out (to sb.)
/pɔɪnt aʊt/
- She tried in vain to point out to him the unfairness of his actions.*
- As you so rightly pointed out, our funds are not unlimited.*
to point out (to sb.) that… I should point out that not one of these paintings is original.
to point out + speech. ‘It’s not very far,’ she pointed out.
smallest in size, amount, degree, etc.
least (usually the least)
/liːst/
- He’s the best teacher, even though he has the least experience.*
- He gave (the) least of all towards the wedding present.*
the least of sth. How others see me is the least of my worries (= I have more important things to worry about).
suddenly or quickly
overnight
/ˌəʊvəˈnaɪt/
- Don’t expect it to improve overnight.*
- She became famous overnight.*
- The rules are not going to change overnight.*
(adj.) filled with sth.; with a full supply of sth.
[not before noun] replete (with sth.)
/rɪˈpliːt/
- After two helpings of dessert, Sergio was at last replete.*
- literature replete with drama and excitement*
- history is replete with examples of policy makers relying on historical analogies*
(idiom.) in a way that suggests sth., when you are giving a possible explanation for them or saying that sth. appears to be the case when it is not.
also: ?
as though
/əz ðəʊ/
also: as if
/əz ɪf/
- It sounds as though you had a good time.*
- He behaved as if nothing had happened.*
- ‘Don’t say anything.’ ‘As if I would!’* (= surely you do not expect me to)
to have no confidence in sb./sth. because you think they may be harmful
syn.: ?
to mistrust (sb./sth.)
/ˌmɪsˈtrʌst/
syn.: to distrust (sb./sth.)
/dɪsˈtrʌst/
- She mistrusts anyone in a position of authority.*
- I’ve always mistrusted politicians.*
- He is a secretive man who mistrusts cameras.*
(adj.) using, or willing to use, force or strong pressure to achieve your aims, especially to achieve social or political change
militant
/ˈmɪlɪtənt/
- militant groups/leaders*
- Some trade unions have a more militant approach to pay negotiations.*
- Partly because of the militant feminist movement, women got the vote in 1918.*
to be extremely angry about sth. but try not to show other people how angry you are
syn.: ?
[intransitive] to seethe
/siːð/
syn.: to fume
/fjuːm/
She seethed silently in the corner.
to seethe with sth. He marched off, seething with frustration.
to seethe at sth. Inwardly he was seething at this challenge to his authority.
the act of taking part in sth.
syn.: ?
[uncountable] involvement
/ɪnˈvɒlvmənt/
syn.: participation
/pɑːˌtɪsɪˈpeɪʃn/
The project needs full involvement from all members of the group.
involvement in sth. US involvement in European wars
Employees are demanding greater involvement in decision-making.
involvement with sb. When she was promoted, she missed the day-to-day involvement with customers.
(adj.) doing sth. well and thoroughly with no waste of time, money or energy
opp.: ?
efficient
/ɪˈfɪʃnt/
opp.: inefficient
/ˌɪnɪˈfɪʃnt/
We offer a fast, friendly and efficient service.
efficient at doing sth. As we get older, our bodies become less efficient at burning up calories.
efficient at sth. These magnificent animals were remarkably efficient at survival.
efficient in sth. Modern water boilers are highly efficient in fuel use.
efficient in doing sth. He was ruthlessly efficient in acquiring estates.
to do sth. that you have said you will do or have been asked to do
to carry out
/ˈkæri aʊt/
- None of them could carry out that promise because it was not feasible.*
- He did not carry out his threat and soon regretted it.*
- To carry out a plan to reduce flooding, Mumbai needed infrastructure projects that were beyond the city’s resources.*
- A soldier who carries out an order which is illegal may be guilty of a war crime.*
- the training necessary to enable them to carry out their duties*
completely lacking in sth.
devoid of sth.
/dɪˈvɔɪd/
- The letter was devoid of warmth and feeling.*
- The land is almost devoid of vegetation.*
- Furthermore, the contest encourages children to imagine a future full of hope and devoid of violence.*
action that a person takes against sb. who has harmed them in some way
syn.: ?
[uncountable] retaliation
/rɪˌtæliˈeɪʃn/
syn.: reprisal
/rɪˈpraɪzl/
The Congress has threatened retaliation if they do not comply.
retaliation against sb. retaliation against UN workers
retaliation for (doing) sth. She may face retaliation for speaking out.
in retaliation. He never said a single word in retaliation.
in retaliation for sth. The shooting may have been in retaliation for the arrest of the terrorist suspects.
to damage sth. badly
syn.: ?
[usually passive] to ravage sth.
/ˈrævɪdʒ/
syn.: to devastate
/ˈdevəsteɪt/
- a country ravaged by civil war*
- a recession that has ravaged the textile industry*
- the flood-/quake-/tornado-/war-ravaged country*
suddenly and by a large amount
sharply
/ˈʃɑːpli/
- Profits fell sharply following the takeover.*
- The road fell sharply to the sea.*
- The temperature drops sharply at night.*
to make an agreement officially valid by voting for it
to ratify sth.
/ˈrætɪfaɪ/
- The treaty was ratified by all the member states.*
- All the member states have ratified the agreement.*
- The signatories of the Charter have been slow to ratify it.*
- Progressively conclude, ratify and implement all of the main international conventions in the field of migration.*
up to the point in time or the event mentioned
(informal) also: 3
until
/ənˈtɪl/
(informal) also: till, til, ’til
- You’re not going out until you’ve finished this.*
- He continued working up until his death.*
- The street is full of traffic from morning till night.*
(formal, usually disapproving) a strategy of avoiding war by acceding to the demands of rival powers
[uncountable] appeasement
/əˈpiːzmənt/
- It is a policy of non-resistance and appeasement in the face of the present dangers.*
- Appeasement was also a policy used in the 1930s by England and France in response to Germany’s military attempts to take more land.*
- Appeasement and silence make a perilous strategy.*
a thing that you have promised or agreed to do, or that you have to do
[countable, usually plural] commitment
/kəˈmɪtmənt/
- He’s busy for the next month with filming commitments.*
- Women very often have to juggle work with their family commitments.*
- I don’t want to take on* (= to accept sth. as a responsibility) any more commitments.
to have a particular attitude or opinion about sth. or towards sb.
[intransitive] to stand (on sth.)
/stænd/
- Where do you stand on private education?*
- How/Where does he stand on foreign policy issues?*
- The amendment will force senators to show where they stand on the issue of sexual harassment.*
(adj.) before sth.
prior to sth.
/ˈpraɪə(r) tu/
- during the week prior to the meeting*
- the weeks prior to her death*
- Prior to his Japan trip, he went to New York.*
to move back or away from a place or situation; to make sb./sth. do this
syn.: ?
[transitive, intr.] to withdraw
/wɪðˈdrɔː/
syn.: pull sb./sth. out (of sth.)
/pʊl aʊt ɒv/
- He always withdrew to his study after dinner.*
- Government troops were forced to withdraw.*
to withdraw (sb./sth. ; from sth.) Both powers withdrew their forces from the region.
She withdrew her hand from his.
a doctrine in which the rights or goals of individuals are subservient to those of the nation, which is viewed as a single organism
[uncountable] fascism
/ˈfæʃɪzəm/
- They served with honour overseas in the defence of freedom and the defeat of fascism.*
- Franco based the political, economic and social structures of his regime on fascism and corporatist ideas.*
- Fascism develops from right-wing extremism, supported traditionallyby the middle classes, in contrast to Communism.*
not important or serious; not worth considering
trivial
/ˈtrɪviəl/
- I know it sounds trivial, but I’m worried about it.*
- He made a few essentially trivial changes.*
- I’ll try to fix it—but it’s not trivial* (= it may be difficult to fix).
the money that you spend on sth.
[uncountable] expense
/ɪkˈspens/
- The results are well worth the expense.*
- The bridge was built at public expense.*
- No expense was spared* (= they spent as much money as was needed) to make the party a success.
(formal) to delay or stop the progress of sth.
syn.: 2
to impede
/ɪmˈpiːd/
syn.: to hinder, to hamper
/ˈhɪndə(r)/ , /ˈhæmpə(r)/
- Work on the building was impeded by severe weather.*
- A number of practical difficulties impeded the process.*
- In what ways did economic factors impede progress?*
to fall down (and usually become unconscious), especially because you are very ill/sick
[intransitive] to collapse
/kəˈlæps/
She collapsed and was rushed to hospital.
to collapse + adv./prep. The man collapsed in a heap on the floor.
- He collapsed in the street and died two hours later.*
- One night he practically collapsed from exhaustion.*
(formal) involving, or done by, several people or groups of people working together
[only before noun] collaborative
/kəˈlæbərətɪv/
- Support is available for collaborative and individual research projects.*
- The presentation was a collaborative effort by all the children in the class.*
- The First Day’ is their first collaborative album.*
an international organization formed after World War I intended to resolve disputes without force, and to use military force against aggressors
the League of Nations
/liːɡ əv ˈneɪʃnz/
- the League of Nations could not fulfil such unrealistic expectations.*
- The League of Nations was officially dissolved on April 18, 1946, to be replaced by the United Nations.*
- The General Assembly was the organ in which now the power to terminate a League of Nations mandate was located.*
to break or make sth. break into small pieces or parts
[transitive, intr.] to fragment (sth.)
/’fræɡment/
- Frequent explosions caused the chalk to fragment.*
- The Soviet Union fragmented into fifteen separate states.*
- The dangers of fragmenting the health service.*
to make a determined effort to deal with a difficult problem or situation
[transitive] to tackle (sth.)
/ˈtækl/
- The government is determined to tackle inflation.*
- I think I’ll tackle the repairs next weekend.*
- Firefighters tackled a blaze in a garage last night.*
(rather formal) to keep sth.; to continue to have sth.
syn.: ?
to retain (sth.)
/rɪˈteɪn/
syn.: to preserve
/prɪˈzɜːv/
- He struggled to retain control of the situation.*
- The house retains much of its original charm.*
- to retain your independence*
