Unit 12.3 Flashcards
reservation
a doubt or feeling of not being able to agree with or accept something completely:
Workers and employees shared deep reservations about the wisdom of the government’s plans for the industry.
He accepted my advice without reservation.
cusp
the dividing line between two very different things:
on the cusp of adulthood
significance
importance:
The discovery of the new drug is of great significance for/to people suffering from heart problems.
repercussion
the effect that an action, event, or decision has on something, especially a bad effect:
Any decrease in tourism could have serious repercussions for the local economy.
President Kennedy’s assassination had far-reaching repercussions.
concern yourself
to become involved with something, or worried about something:
There’s no need for you to concern yourself with what happened.
Don’t concern yourself. She’ll be home soon.
to whom it may concern
something you write at the start of a formal letter or notice when you do not know exactly who it should be sent to
be of concern
to be important:
The results of the election are of concern to us all.
concern
to cause worry to someone:
The state of my father’s health concerns us greatly.
It concerns me that he hasn’t been in contact.
infamous
famous for something considered bad:
The list included the infamous George Drake, a double murderer.
He’s infamous for his bigoted sense of humour.
spot
to see or notice someone or something, usually because you are looking hard:
I’ve just spotted Mark - he’s over there, near the entrance.
If you spot any mistakes in the article just mark them with a pencil.
vivid
Vivid descriptions, memories, etc. produce very clear, powerful, and detailed images in the mind:
He gave a very vivid and often shocking account/description of his time in prison.
He’s one of those people with a very vivid imagination - every time he hears a noise he’s convinced it’s someone breaking in.
statutory
decided or controlled by law:
statutory obligations
outstanding
clearly very much better than what is usual:
an outstanding performance/writer/novel/year
It’s an area of outstanding natural beauty.
come out
If something comes out, it becomes known publicly after it has been kept secret:
After her death, it came out that she’d lied about her age.
When the truth came out, there was public outrage.
caught up in sth
so involved in an activity that you do not notice other things:
I was so caught up in my school work, that I didn’t realize what was happening with my sister.
to be involved in an activity that you did not intend to be involved in:
He got caught up in the demonstrations and got arrested.
commitment
willingness to give your time and energy to a job, activity, or something that you believe in:
I’d like to thank the staff for having shown such commitment.
They don’t want to promote me because they think I lack commitment.
spring up
to start to exist suddenly:
Thousands of new businesses have sprung up in the past couple of years.
cautious
Someone who is cautious avoids risks:
He’s a cautious driver.
manner
a type:
Very little is known about the new candidate - what manner of man is he?
unforeseen
not expected:
Due to unforeseen circumstances the cost of the improvements has risen by 20 percent.
Unless there are any unforeseen problems the whole project should be finished by the spring.
prudent
careful and avoiding risks:
It’s always prudent to read a contract carefully before signing it.
discreet
careful not to cause embarrassment or attract too much attention, especially by keeping something secret:
The family made discreet enquiries about his background.
They are very good assistants, very discreet - they wouldn’t go talking to the press.
set the wheels in motion
to do something that will cause a series of actions to start:
I thought a phone call to the right person might set the wheels in motion.
set the scene
o make something possible or likely to happen:
His resignation set the scene for a company crisis.
