The Economist Newspaper Limited, London, 1999 Flashcards
in spite of(something)
used before one fact that makes another fact surprising
=In spite of his injury, Ricardo will play in Saturday’s match.
=In spite of unification, the country was still faced with the daunting prospect of overcoming four decades of division.
=In spite of the scale of the famine, the relief workers struggled on with dauntless optimism and commitment.
=In spite of its election success, the government is still deeply distrusted on key health and education issues.
=In spite of our best endeavours, it has proven impossible to contact her.
=Jane’s been unfaithful to Jim three times, but he still loves her in spite of everything.
syn:
despite;
productivity
Noun
the rate at which a company or country makes goods, usually judged in connection with the number of people and the amount of materials necessary to produce the goods:
=Studies show that if a working environment is pleasant, productivity increases.
=a productivity bonus/incentive
=Productivity in the steel industry improved by five percent last year.
=The introduction of new working practices has dramatically improved productivity.
=Our main objective is to improve the company’s productivity.
=The productivity figures are down/up on last week’s.
=It’s a question of striking the right balance between quality and productivity.
=The payback for reorganization should be increased productivity.
syn: noun output, work rate; capacity fertility production yield
persuade
verb
to make someone do or believe something by giving them a good reason to do it or by talking to that person and making them believe it:
=If she doesn’t want to go, nothing you can say will persuade her.
=[ + (that) ] It’s no use trying to persuade him (that) you’re innocent.
=[ + to infinitive ] He is trying to persuade local and foreign businesses to invest in the project.
=Using a bunch of bananas, the zoo-keeper persuaded the monkey back into its cage.
=formal The first priority is to persuade the management of the urgency of this matter.
=Her legal advisers persuaded her into/out of mentioning (= to mention/not to mention) the names of the people involved in the robbery.
syn: verb cause to believe; convince to do; advise assure cajole coax enlist entice exhort get impress incline induce influence prompt satisfy sway urge woo
seniority
noun
the advantage that you get by working for a company for a long time:
=In future, promotion will be based on merit not seniority.
syn:
noun rank in organization due to length of service;
preference
proposition
noun
a suggestion
=He wrote to me last week regarding a business proposition he thought might interest me.
=I’ve put my proposition to the company director for his consideration.
syn: noun suggestion; scheme; hypothesis invitation motion premise proposal recommendation
manual
adj
done with the hands
=the manual sorting of letters
=She tried to cure the pain in my knee by putting manual pressure on the joint.
syn: adj. done by hand; noun book giving instruction; cookbook guide guidebook handbook reference book text textbook workbook
piece-rate
noun
a way of paying for work that is based on a fixed rate for a particular amount done rather than the time it takes to do the job:
=They employed workers in developing countries and paid them on a piece rate.
innovation
noun
(the use of) a new idea or method:
the latest innovations in computer technology
devise
verb
to invent a plan, system, object, etc., usually using your intelligence or imagination:
=He’s good at devising language games that you can play with students in class.
=The cartoon characters Snoopy and Charlie Brown were devised by Charles M. Schultz.
=Clinton and Zedillo ordered their respective Cabinets to devise a common counter-drug strategy.
=We need to devise some sort of system whereby people can liaise with each other.
=The umbrella was ingeniously devised to fold up into your pocket.
=The scheme is devised for young people in the 15 - 20 age band.
=The company has also devised a computer program that enables people to design their own homes.
syn:
verb conceive, dream up;
retain
verb
to keep something;
keep; I’ve kept all my grandmother’s jewellery.
store; I’ve stored all Helen’s books in the attic.
stash; His money was stashed in a cupboard.
save; I have some really good chocolates that I’ve been saving for a special occasion.
hang onto; You should hang onto that picture - it might be worth something.
innovation
noun
(the use of) a new idea or method:
=The recording industry is driven by constant innovation.
=His latest innovation is a theater company that will perform for schools.
constant
adj
happening a lot or all the time:
=He’s in constant trouble with the police.
=machines that are in constant use
devise
verb
to invent a plan, system, object, etc., usually using your intelligence or imagination:
=He’s good at devising language games that you can play with students in class.
=The cartoon characters Snoopy and Charlie Brown were devised by Charles M. Schultz.
=Clinton and Zedillo ordered their respective Cabinets to devise a common counter-drug strategy.
=We need to devise some sort of system whereby people can liaise with each other.
=The umbrella was ingeniously devised to fold up into your pocket.
=The scheme is devised for young people in the 15 - 20 age band.
=The company has also devised a computer program that enables people to design their own homes.
invent
verb
to make something
make; Can I make you a cup of coffee?
produce; California produces a lot of grapes.
create; Leonardo da Vinci created the masterpiece we know as “Mona Lisa”.
invent; Alexander Graham Bell is credited with inventing the telephone.
develop; They are working to develop the next generation of underwater vehicles.
manufacture; The car is manufactured in Germany.
decide
verb
to choose or choose to do something
choose; There are thirty-one flavours of ice cream to choose from.
pick; He’s been picked for the school football team.
select; We’ve selected three candidates.
opt (for)Mike’s opted for early retirement.
decide (on) ;I’ve decided on blue walls for the bathroom.
go for; UK I think I’ll go for the chocolate cake.
decide; I’ve decided to move to Sweden.
fix UK The price has been fixed at £10.
set; Have you set a date for the wedding?
finalize; We’ve chosen a venue for the wedding, but we haven’t finalized the details yet.
settle OK then, we’re going to Spain. That’s settled.
settle on/upon; Have you settled on a place to live yet?
intellectual
adj
intelligent
intelligent; He seems like a very intelligent young man.
clever; I’m the cleverest kid in the class.
smart; She’s incredibly smart and a great writer.
bright; Jacob was a very bright boy.
sharp; How can we stay mentally sharp as we age?
capital
noun
a city that is the centre of government of a country or smaller political area:
=In defiance of the ceasefire, rebel troops are again firing on the capital.
Fighting around the capital has intensified in the last few hours.
More people live in the capital than in the whole of the rest of the country.
There is strong support here for the tough economic reforms ordained in the federal capital, Prague.
a letter of the alphabet in the form and larger size that is used at the beginning of sentences and names:
=Names always start with capitals.
If you write your emails in capitals, it looks as though you are shouting.
The company’s trademark is written in capitals.
If the text is in capitals, it is difficult to read.
For some reason, she always writes in capitals.
It’s considered rude to use capital letters in an email because it looks like YOU ARE SHOUTING.
The poet e. e. cummings wrote his name with small letters, not capital letters.
Don’t forget to put a capital letter on a proper name, like the name of a place or person.
Every sentence should begin with a capital letter.
Romantic, written with a capital letter, refers to a specific movement in art and literature.
money and possessions, especially a large amount of money used for producing more wealth or for starting a new business:
=The central bank has announced controls on capital outflows.
I want to start my own business if I can raise the capital.
We’re only a small business and don’t have the capital to compete with the big boys.
They’ll need to raise £1 million in venture capital if they’re to get the business off the ground.
She leaves her capital untouched in the bank and lives off the interest.
syn: noun financial assets; business cash financing investment money
noun city of governmental seat;
metropolis
municipality
access
noun
the method or possibility of getting near to a place or person:
=The only access to the village is by boat.
=The main access to (= entrance to) the building is at the side.
=The children’s father was refused access to them at any time (= refused official permission to see them).
verb
to be able to get to or get inside a place:
=It is too difficult for anyone using a wheelchair to access the building.
=Students need a card to access restricted areas such as residences and labs.
=The basement room is accessed from outside.
syn: noun admission, means of entry, approach; approach connection entry
admission
noun
the act of agreeing that something is true, especially unwillingly:
=Her silence was taken as an admission of guilt/defeat.
[ + that ] I felt he would see my giving up now as an admission that I was wrong.
By/On his own admission (= as he has said) he has achieved little since he took over the company.
Synonyms
avowal
confession
entry
noun
the act of entering a place or joining a particular society or organization:
=A flock of sheep blocked our entry to the farm.
=I can’t go down that street - there’s a “No entry” sign.
=The actress’s entry into the world of politics surprised most people.
=She made her entry to the ceremony surrounded by a group of photographers.
=The burglars gained entry by a top window.
approach
verb
to come closer in space or time:
approach; A stranger approached and asked to have her picture taken with him.
come/get closer; The swarm of bees was coming closer and closer.
come/get nearer; As she came nearer the building the movement of the crowd became slower.
draw closer/nearer; The holidays are drawing closer.
come up; A stranger came up to me and shook my hand.
walk, go, etc. up; I went up to him and asked him who he was.
to deal with something:
=We really ought to approach the problem in a more scientific manner.
=He approached the task in a very mature and systematic way.
=It’s difficult to know how to approach such a complex situation.
=The new boss approaches staff discipline much more strictly.
=My two children have very different ways of approaching things.
to speak to, write to, or visit someone in order to do something such as make a request or business agreement:
=The whole system was corrupt - every official she approached wanted money before helping her.
=Be careful how you approach her - she’s very temperamental.
=PJH Corporation said it had been approached by two possible suitors who had submitted bids to buy the company.
=At first, they refused to sign the agreement, but they caved in when they heard another firm was being approached.
=He was in a snit this morning and I didn’t dare approach him.
noun
a feeling or opinion about something or someone:
attitude; His attitude towards authority has often got him into trouble.
outlook; I wish I could share your positive outlook on life.
frame of mind; I need to be in the right frame of mind to talk about this.
approach; It’s time to try a different approach to the problem.
viewpoint; His viewpoint is his own and does not affect how I think about the issue.
point of view; From a strictly financial point of view it looks like a positive change.
avowal
noun
a statement in which you say or admit something that you believe, support, or intend to do:
=They were imprisoned for their avowal of anti-government beliefs.
=Her public avowals to reduce crime have yet to be put into effect.
Synonyms
admission
confession
confession
noun
the act of admitting that you have done something wrong or illegal:
=I have a confession to make - I’ve lost that book you lent me.
=I can’t ask for help. It feels like a confession of failure.
=Confession is the first stage of coming to terms with what you’ve done.
=He made a full confession to the police.
Synonyms
admission
avowal
swarm
noun
a large group of insects all moving together:
admit
verb
to accept that something is true and to say that you are wrong:
confess; Rawlinson finally confessed to the robbery.
own up; Come on, own up - who’s eaten the last sandwich?
fess up; Fess up - you wanted to go to the cinema instead, didn’t you?
come clean; I decided to come clean about the broken vase.
concede; She did eventually concede that the instructions were not very clear.
admit; He admitted that he had been wrong.
accept; I fully accept that I was wrong.
acknowledge; I acknowledge that the project has faced delays, but we will do all we can to make up time.
recognize; I do recognize that mistakes were made.
admit; Why don’t you just admit you got it wrong?
imprison
verb
to put someone in prison:
=He was imprisoned in 1965 for attempted murder.
=Unable to go out because of the deep snow, she felt imprisoned in her own house.
syn:
jail
otherwise
conj
used after an order or suggestion to show what the result will be if you do not follow that order or suggestion:
=Come in now, otherwise you’ll get wet.
=I’d better tell him about the letter, otherwise he might be angry.
=You’d better hurry, otherwise you’ll miss the train.
=Take that chocolate away, otherwise I’ll eat it all.
=They had to leave early, otherwise the children would have been up too late.
adv
differently, or in another way:
=The police believe he is the thief, but all the evidence suggests otherwise (= that he is not).
=Under the Bill of Rights, a person is presumed innocent until proved otherwise (= guilty).
=Protestors were executed, jailed or otherwise persecuted.
=Marion Morrison, otherwise known as the film star John Wayne, was born in 1907.
=I can’t meet you on Tuesday - I’m otherwise engaged/occupied (= doing something else).
tempt
verb
to make someone want to have or do something, especially something that is unnecessary or wrong:
=The offer of free credit tempted her into buying a new car.
=They tempted him to join the company by offering him a huge salary and a company car.
attract; We were attracted to the high street, with its variety of shops and cafés.
draw; The game drew a crowd of 30,000.
entice; The smell of coffee enticed people to enter the shop.
lure; I was lured into the store by the smell of fresh bread.
tempt; I was tempted by the offer of a free phone.
seduce; I wouldn’t normally have bought this but I was seduced by the low price.
gradual
adj
slow
slow; You’re so slow - hurry up!
leisurely; We took a leisurely drive along the quiet coast road.
unhurried; I like the unhurried pace of life in the countryside.
gentle; Start off with a gentle jog, then gradually increase your speed.
leisurely
adj
used to describe an action that is done in a relaxed way, without hurrying:
=We enjoyed a leisurely picnic lunch on the lawn.
