Politics

legitimate

(adj.) lawful, rightful; reasonable, justifiable ləˈdʒɪtəmət/ ●●○ adjective 1 fair or reasonable That's a perfectly legitimate question. Most scientists believe it is legitimate to use animals in medical research. 2 acceptable or allowed by law Their business operations are perfectly legitimate. 3 a legitimate child is born to parents who are legally married to each other OPP illegitimate —legitimately adverb a legitimately elected government He complained quite legitimately about his treatment. —legitimacy noun [uncountable] Opponents have questioned the legitimacy of the ruling.

consent of the governed

The idea that government derives its authority from the people. (It was, of course, a very partial and flawed democracy, but the idea that power should stem from the consent of the governed, that power should flow from below to above, not the other way around, was born in that decade.)

understanding

ˌʌndəˈstændɪŋ $ -ər-/ ●●○ W3 noun 1 [singular, uncountable] knowledge about something, based on learning or experience understanding of How does this add to our understanding of the problem? If you know the neighbourhood, you have an understanding of what the children are like. Linguists currently have little understanding of the exact cause of language change. How can we gain an understanding of other cultures? Over time, you will get a far better understanding of the job. Success depends on a clear understanding of the problem. a basic understanding of AIDS prevention 3 [singular, uncountable] the ability to understand people's behaviour and to forgive them when they do something wrong The principal listened to the boy's story with sympathy and understanding. COLLOCATIONS VERBS have an understanding The authorities don't seem to have a clear understanding of the problem. gain/get/develop an understanding Scientists continued to gain a greater understanding of the effects of radiation. deepen/broaden an understanding It is hoped that the research will broaden our understanding of the disease. increase/improve/enhance somebody's understanding The classes really helped to increase our understanding of the subject. ADJECTIVES a better/greater/deeper understanding All of this will lead to a better understanding of the overseas market. a clear understanding Before you begin, it is vital that you have a clear understanding of what you want to achieve. a complete/thorough/full understanding The degree gives students a thorough understanding of issues relating to housing. a proper/real understanding They lacked any real understanding of the subject. a good understanding The sales force has a good understanding of the market. a basic understanding The aim of the examination is to test basic understanding of the written language. a limited understanding We have only a limited understanding of how the brain processes this information. adjective sympathetic and kind about other people's problems Luckily, I have a very understanding boss. ► see thesaurus at sympathetic Examples from the Corpus understanding • I'm sorry I've been so bad-tempered lately. Anyway, thank you for being so understanding. • He's funny, energetic, understanding, and a great teacher. • They rate themselves as very understanding and believe that women also value shyness. • The bank was usually very understanding, and generally gave us some leeway until we were able to sell something. • He would have been very understanding and would have helped us to find the right specialist. • In the first place, the rhetorical perspective advocates understanding attitudes in terms of the wider social context. • Irene often has to take time off work. Fortunately she has a very understanding boss. • Your local drug project may be able to put you in touch with an understanding dentist or specialist dental clinic. • Now I don't call that being very understanding, do you? • Matt is a very understanding guy. • My parents were wonderfully understanding throughout my divorce. • What it is to have an understanding wife!

president-elect/governor-elect/prime minister-elect etc

the person who has been elected as president etc, but who has not yet officially started their job

Dialogue

(also dialog American English) /ˈdaɪəlɒɡ $ -lɒːɡ, -lɑːɡ/ ●●● S3 noun [countable, uncountable] 1 a conversation in a book, play, or film a boring movie full of bad dialog Students were asked to read simple dialogues out loud. 2 formal a discussion between two groups, countries etc dialogue between/with There is a need for constructive dialogue between leaders.

uncritical

(نسنجیده) ʌnˈkrɪtɪkəl/ adjective unable or unwilling to see faults in something or someone - used to show disapproval uncritical of John's mother is totally uncritical of his behaviour. —uncritically /-kli/ adverb • In this context self-observation must always be uncritical. • an uncritical attitude toward new technologies • He observes, Those of us socialized in modern societies generally maintain an irrationally uncritical attitude toward new technologies. • Clearly, an unreflective or uncritical citizenry would be highly undesirable as well as, strictly speaking, a contradiction in terms. • X-rays were greeted with uncritical enthusiasm. • It is, in short, uncritical in the sense of failing to site Debord's films within an adequate theoretical discourse. • The mutual dependency expressed here can be seen in an almost completely uncritical reading experience. • Kuhn argues that science education is characterized by an uncritical teaching of the dominant paradigm within a subject. • Later on, many pentecostals would accept these very values in a surprisingly uncritical way.

conflict

ˈkɒnflɪkt $ ˈkɑːn-/ ●●○ W3 AWL noun 1 [countable, uncountable] a state of disagreement or argument between people, groups, countries etc conflict over conflicts over wage settlements conflict between the conflict between tradition and innovation in conflict (with somebody) normal kids who are in conflict with their parents political/social/industrial conflict social and political conflict in the 1930s the threat of industrial conflict in the coalfields Marx points out the potential conflicts below the surface of society. His views on the literal truth of the Bible brought him into conflict with other Christian leaders. Doctors exercise considerable power and often come into conflict with politicians. a lawyer specializing in conflict resolution 2 [countable, uncountable] fighting or a war armed/military/violent conflict For years the region has been torn apart by armed conflicts. UN troops intervened to avert a threat of violent conflict. efforts to resolve the conflict ► see thesaurus at war 3 [countable, uncountable] a situation in which you have to choose between two or more opposite needs, influences etc As women increasingly went out to work, the possibility of a conflict of loyalties became stronger. conflict between a conflict between the demands of one's work and one's family in conflict (with something) The principles of democracy are sometimes in conflict with political reality. 4 [countable, uncountable] a situation in which you have two opposite feelings about something a state of inner conflict 5 [countable] American English something that you have to do at the same time that someone wants you to do something else I've got a conflict on Friday. Can we make it Monday? COLLOCATIONS VERBS come into conflict with somebody Local people have often come into conflict with planning officials. bring somebody into conflict with somebody Some of her actions have brought her into conflict with her managers. cause/create/provoke conflict Sometimes very small disagreements can cause conflict within a family. resolve a conflict You may need a lawyer to resolve a serious conflict between neighbours. avoid conflict The prime minister wants to avoid a conflict over the issue. ADJECTIVES/NOUN + CONFLICT political/social conflict Widespread unemployment often leads to social conflict. industrial conflict (=between workers and their employers) The industrial conflict resulted in a series of strikes. ethnic/racial conflict (=between people of different races) The ethnic conflict in the region has become violent. family conflict There are various techniques you can use to try and avoid family conflict. bitter conflict (=very angry) The new law provoked bitter conflict. PHRASES a source of conflict Lack of money is often a source of conflict between spouses. an area of conflict (=a subject or matter that causes conflict) There may be many areas of conflict between parents and teenagers. conflict resolution (=finding a way to end a conflict) The children are learning methods of conflict resolution to use on the playground. verb [intransitive] if two ideas, beliefs, opinions etc conflict, they cannot exist together or both be true conflict with new evidence which conflicts with previous findings

hand over

1 hand something ↔ over to give something to someone with your hand, especially because they have asked for it or should have it The soldiers were ordered to hand over their guns. hand something ↔ over to He handed the phone over to me. 2 to give someone power or responsibility over something which you used to be in charge of hand something ↔ over (to somebody) On his retirement, he handed the business over to his son. Political control has been handed over to religious leaders. to Now she feels the time has come to hand over to someone else. (those documents were handed over to the FBI)

statement

ˈsteɪtmənt/ ●●● S2 W1 noun 1 [countable] something you say or write, especially publicly or officially, to let people know your intentions or opinions, or to record facts In an official statement, she formally announced her resignation. statement on/about the prime minister's recent statements on Europe ► see thesaurus at speech 2 [countable] a record showing amounts of money paid, received, owed etc the company's annual financial statements I haven't received my bank statement for last month yet. 3 [countable] something you do, make, wear etc that causes people to have a certain opinion about you The type of car you drive makes a statement about you. a fashion statement 4 [uncountable] formal the act of expressing something in words presentation and clarity of statement COLLOCATIONS VERBS make a statement (=say something, especially in public) The minister will make a statement on the matter tomorrow. give a statement (=make a statement, especially to the police) He gave a statement to the police. issue/release/put out a statement (=give a written statement to newspapers, TV etc) The Russian Foreign Ministry issued a short statement saying the meeting was 'useful'. take/get a statement from somebody I asked the police why they didn't take a statement from me four years ago. withdraw your statement (=say that a statement you gave is not true) She later withdrew her statement. ADJECTIVES/NOUN + STATEMENT a short/brief statement Police last night issued a brief statement about the incident. a clear statement (=giving an opinion clearly) The article was a clear statement of his beliefs. a sweeping statement (=one that is too general) Researchers do not want to make any sweeping statements at this stage. a false/misleading statement (=one that is not true) She is accused of making false statements to obtain a passport. an official statement The company is expected to make an official statement tomorrow. a formal statement (=one you must sign to show that it is true) You will be asked to make a formal statement. a public statement (=one made in public) We will be making no public statements about the matter. a written statement One neighbour said in a written statement that she often heard a baby 'crying for help'. a prepared statement (=one that is prepared and then read out) His solicitor read a prepared statement on his behalf. a sworn statement (=one that you officially promise is true) The reports were based on sworn statements of graduates of the terrorist training camp. a policy statement (=one that explains a government policy) In his first major policy statement to Parliament he promised to end corruption in public life. a mission statement (=one in which an organization states its aims) The role of a mission statement is to focus on the purpose of the organization. THESAURUS statement something that someone says or writes publicly in order to tell people what they intend to do, what their opinion is etc The president will make a statement to the press this afternoon. announcement a public or official statement telling people what has happened or what will happen The announcement was heard by millions of radio listeners this morning. The company made an announcement yesterday that Rogers has resigned as managing director. declaration an important official statement, especially about what a government or organization intends to do On the 19th of July a declaration of war was delivered in Berlin. Independence Hall is where the delegates met to sign the Declaration of Independence and write the Constitution. press release an official statement giving information to the newspapers, radio, or television The singer issued a press release saying that she was too ill to continue with the tour. testimony a formal statement saying that something is true, especially one a witness makes in a court of law The testimony of the two arresting officers was an important part of the prosecution case. The jury based their decision almost entirely on the testimony of one witness. affidavit law a written statement that you swear is true, for use as proof in a court of law A prison doctor who treated the accused sent an affidavit about his mental state. verb [transitive] British English if an education authority statements a child who has special educational needs, they give a school additional money to help teach that child statement3 adjective [only before noun] statement pieces of jewellery, shoes etc are very noticeable and impressive - used especially in magazines From Longman Business Dictionary state‧ment /ˈsteɪtmənt/ noun [countable] 1something you say or write publicly or officially to let people know your intentions or opinions, or to record facts False statements on your tax form could land you in jail. The Congressman issued a statement to the press. The brokers had made misleading statements.

government

ˈɡʌvəmənt, ˈɡʌvənmənt $ ˈɡʌvərn-/ ●●● S2 W1 noun 1 (also Government) [countable usually singular] the group of people who govern a country or state The Government are planning further cuts in public spending. The US government has tightened restrictions on firearms. Neither party had the majority necessary to form a government. under a government (=during the period of a government) Structural reforms are unlikely under the present government. GRAMMAR: Singular or plural verb? • In this meaning, government is usually followed by a singular verb: The government is planning to increase taxes. • In British English, you can also use a plural verb: The government are planning to increase taxes. 2 [uncountable] a form or system of government Most people in the country support the return to democratic government. → local government, central government 3 [uncountable] the process or way of governing in government What would the opposition do if they were in government (=governing the country)? the importance of good government in developing countries 4 [uncountable] American English the degree to which the government controls economic and social activities The protest march was really about big government (=when the government controls many activities). COLLOCATIONS ADJECTIVES/NOUN + GOVERNMENT the UK/French/Thai etc government The UK government has offered to send aid. the Labour/Conservative/Social Democratic etc government In August 1931, the Labour government collapsed. the Thatcher/Blair etc government Did the Blair government do more for Africa than previous ones? a coalition government (=government made up of members of more than one political party) The country has had a succession of weak coalition governments. a minority government (=that does not have enough politicians to control parliament) His party had gained only enough seats to form a minority government. a left-wing/right-wing government The new left-wing government restructured the economy. central/national government (=that deals with national rather than local things) Funding will continue to be available from central government for further education for adults. federal government (=in the US, the government of the whole country rather than of the individual states) The state, rather than the federal government, would have to pay the extra cost. local/state/city government The interference in local government by central government is not just financial, but political. GOVERNMENT + NOUN government spending Government spending on health care totals about $60 billion a year. a government minister A government minister said that there would be an inquiry. a government official (=someone who works for a government in an official position) He had a meeting with French scientists and government officials. a government body (also a government agency American English) (=an organization run by the government) Patents are granted by the U.K. Patent Office, a government body. a government department the government department responsible for policing VERBS elect a government (=vote to choose a government) A new government was elected last October. form a government (=become the government) The party attained the majority of seats it needed to form a government. bring down a government (=force it to lose power) It was a major scandal that nearly brought down the government. THESAURUS government [countable, uncountable] the group of people who govern a country or the system they use to govern it The French government did not sign the agreement. a democratic system of government administration [countable] the government of a country, especially one such as the US, which is led by a president the Kennedy administration the problems left by the previous administration regime [countable] a government, especially one that was not elected fairly or that you disapprove of Most people opposed the apartheid regime. the executive [singular] the part of the government that makes sure that laws and decisions work well the separation of powers between the executive, the legislature, and the judiciary democracy [countable, uncountable] a political system in which everyone can vote to choose the government, or a country that has this system The transition to democracy has not been easy. In a democracy, people have freedom of speech. republic [countable] a country that has an elected government, and is led by a president, not a king or queen Mauritius became a republic in 1992. monarchy [countable, uncountable] /ˈmɒnəki $ ˈmɑːnərki/ the system of having a king or queen as the head of state, or a country that has this system Some monarchies have elected governments. controversy about the institution of monarchy AN UNDEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT dictatorship [countable, uncountable] a political system or country that has a dictator (=a leader who has complete power and who has not been elected) Argentina was a military dictatorship until 1983. Hungary's years of dictatorship totalitarian adjective [only before noun] used for describing countries in which ordinary people have no power and the government has complete control over everything totalitarian states such as Nazi Germany a totalitarian dictatorship police state [countable] a country where the government strictly controls people's freedom, for example to travel or to talk about politics It's like living in a police state.

correspondent

ˌkɒrəˈspɒndənt $ ˌkɔːrəˈspɑːn-, ˌkɑː-/ ●○○ noun [countable] 1 someone who is employed by a newspaper or a television station etc to report news from a particular area or on a particular subject → reporter political/foreign/legal etc correspondent the political correspondent for 'The Times' Our correspondent in South Africa sent this report. 2 someone who writes letters I'm not a very good correspondent, I'm afraid. COLLOCATIONS ADJECTIVES/NOUN + CORRESPONDENT a foreign correspondent (=reporting on other countries) He became a top BBC foreign correspondent. our Beijing/Cairo/Washington etc correspondent (=sending reports from a particular place - used by a newspaper or TV station) This report comes direct from our Tel Aviv correspondent. a political correspondent As our political correspondent wrote last week, this decision is welcome. a newspaper correspondent During the war he was employed as a newspaper correspondent. a war correspondent Being a war correspondent is a dangerous job. an education/health/sports etc correspondent Here is our sports correspondent with all the details. a special correspondent (=one with a special area of responsibility) He was a special correspondent for animals and the environment.

presuppose

ˌpriːsəˈpəʊz $ -ˈpoʊz/ verb [transitive] formal 1 to depend on something that is believed to exist or to be true SYN assume The idea of heaven presupposes the existence of God. presuppose that Your argument presupposes that Dickens was a social reformer. 2 to have to happen if something is true Without struggle there can be no progress, and struggle presupposes winners and losers. → See Verb table Examples from the Corpus presuppose • Their whole system of belief presupposes a benevolent God. • Such questions are not only perennially interesting; answers to them are presupposed by much of what counts as human knowledge. • Economic liberalism, which presupposed equal competition among individuals, was no more than a pious fiction. • Accountability usually presupposes evaluation, but evaluation does not necessarily imply accountability. • For example, why do we accept what we have always presupposed rather than proved? • It presupposes that either this government has all the authority it claims over its population or it has none. • Your argument presupposes that it does not matter who rules - that things will remain as they are whoever is in power. • That rather presupposes that the firm's books are prepared correctly. • Both found their analyses in a non-reflexive mode which presupposes the truth of a Marxist analysis of power. presuppose that • A media education programme therefore presupposes that a group of people will continue to work together for several years. • All arguments on behalf of the unities of time and place presuppose that a stage representation can be mistaken for reality. • Conversely, the perception of replacement presupposes that no such identity could be established at the correspondence stage. • These properties of conservation along with stability of boundaries despite the construction of indefinitely many new elements presuppose that structures are self-regulating. • That rather presupposes that the firm's books are prepared correctly.

Face up to something

ADMIT A PROBLEM EXISTS (also face up to something) to accept that a difficult situation or problem exists, even though you would prefer to ignore it Many couples refuse to face the fact that there are problems in their marriage. You've got to face facts, Rachel. You can't survive on a salary that low. He had to face the awful truth that she no longer loved him. Face it, kid. You're never going to be a rock star.

the authorities

[plural] the people or organizations that are in charge of a particular country or area an agreement between the US and Colombian authorities ( • On January 12, the local authorities decided that the strike had gone on long enough. • The country is facing famine, and the authorities are doing little to prevent it. • The fires of May 1862 only confirmed the authorities in their antipathy to students. • How could the authorities treat children in this heartless and dispassionate manner? • But she knew the Authorities would never recognise this, or acknowledge that they did. • By the end of the emancipation process, the authorities lacked the wherewithal to pay for the transference of land. • Please report any suspicious activities to the authorities immediately. • Officially the case has never been cleared up, as not a soul reported the man to the authorities. • Rumors come and go and we pass them on to the authorities. • Meanwhile Mr and Mrs M's concern over the way the authorities handled the case of the W family grew.

conflict of interest/interests

a) a situation in which you cannot do your job fairly because you will be affected by the decision you make There is a growing conflict of interest between her position as a politician and her business activities. b) a situation in which different people want different things • A conveyancer must be acutely conscious of the problems a conflict of interest might impose. • We don't see any conflict of interest. • E denied the charges, saying Satrap left while under investigation for conflicts of interest. • There were gross conflicts of interest involved in that land deal. • The question of conflicts of interest and duty within financial conglomerates and the regulation thereof is not entirely academic. • It helps to avoid potential conflicts of interest, but equally it has pitched for business against its parent - and won. • Both failed to sell stock they owned after being warned of potential conflicts of interests.

I don't suppose (that)

a) used to ask a question in an indirect way, especially if you think the answer will be 'no' I don't suppose you have any idea where my address book is, do you? b) used to ask for something in a very polite way I don't suppose you'd give me a lift to the station? c) used to say that you think it is unlikely something will happen I don't suppose I'll ever see her again. → suppose Examples from the Corpus I don't suppose (that) • I don't suppose the painting will ever be worth a thousand dollars. • I don't suppose you'd be willing to go get the napkins? • I don't suppose you have any idea where my address book is, do you?

unanimous

juːˈnænɪməs/ ●○○ adjective 1 a unanimous decision, vote, agreement etc is one in which all the people involved agree It was decided by a unanimous vote that the school should close. almost/virtually unanimous The decision to appoint Matt was almost unanimous. 2 agreeing completely about something unanimous in (doing) something The banks were unanimous in welcoming the news. —unanimously adverb

be supposed to do/be something

a) used to say what someone should or should not do, especially because of rules or what someone in authority has said We're supposed to check out of the hotel by 11 o'clock. I'm not supposed to tell anyone. What time are you supposed to be there? b) used to say what was or is expected or intended to happen, especially when it did not happen No one was supposed to know about it. The meeting was supposed to take place on Tuesday, but we've had to postpone it. The new laws are supposed to prevent crime. c) used to say that something is believed to be true by many people, although it might not be true or you might disagree The castle is supposed to be haunted. 'Dirty Harry' is supposed to be one of Eastwood's best films. Mrs Carver is supposed to have a lot of money. → suppose Examples from the Corpus be supposed to do/be something • "Ultra Velvet" is supposed to perform at the club on Friday. • And he was supposed to be a friend. • By law, the costs of holding a fund-raising event are supposed to be reported as a noncash campaign contribution. • He was supposed to be getting that for the gerbil babies, but his hopes were fading. • I was supposed to be at work in my bookshop in Petersfield, Hampshire. • She wouldn't understand that it was supposed to be a protest. • This was supposed to be her final victory over him, supposed to establish her rule once and for all. • Truthfully, the weather in South Florida is supposed to be balmy. • You were supposed to be Gibson in the role-playing. • I didn't really like the book, but the movie is supposed to be very funny. • Mrs. Carver is supposed to have a lot of money.

I suppose

a) used to say you think something is true, although you are uncertain about it SYN I guess I suppose (that) I suppose you're right. So things worked out for the best, I suppose. 'Aren't you pleased?' 'Yes, I suppose so.' b) used when agreeing to let someone do something, especially when you do not really want to SYN I guess 'Can we come with you?' 'Oh, I suppose so.' c) used when saying in an angry way that you expect something is true SYN I guess I suppose (that) I suppose you thought you were being clever! d) used to say that you think that something is probably true, although you wish it was not and hope someone will tell you it is not SYN I guess I suppose (that) I suppose it's too late to apply for that job now. e) used when guessing that something is true SYN I guess She looked about 50, I suppose. → suppose Examples from the Corpus I suppose • It was a relief, I suppose. • "The kids will love it, don't you think?" "I suppose." • Having a burglar alarm makes you feel safer, I suppose. • It is I suppose an ordinary willow. • In the beginning he would always win and then one day, inevitably I suppose, I beat him. • I have been on at Desmond about it, as a matter of fact, which I suppose is what she wanted. • There was no reply when I phoned - I suppose she's still at work. • "Is Bill coming too?" "I suppose so." • "Will the children be disappointed?" "Yes, I suppose so." • And they say, Well, yes, I suppose so. • Uncle's gone doolally again. I suppose that's what happens when you get old. • I suppose that they'll do some sightseeing while they're here.

deep-seated

adjective a deep-seated attitude, feeling, or idea is strong and is very difficult to change → deep-rooted a deep-seated fear of failure (Social ecology is based on the conviction that nearly all of our present ecological problems originate in deep-seated social problems.) • The decline of empire has only made these deep-seated attitudes more pronounced. • Part of the command-and-control legacy includes our deep-seated belief that there is only one answer. • A deep-seated brain tumor was diagnosed. • Many people in the community have a deep-seated distrust of the police. • This violates such deep-seated feelings of justice that it has proved to be unacceptable under any criminal law jurisdiction. • Spiritual healing aims to correct these deep-seated imbalances by strengthening the flow of the life-force and removing any negative forces or imbalances. • A growing number of industry experts say the industry itself is to blame for its deep-seated perception problems. • My sister Janie Ming-li also enjoyed the benefits of deep-seated superstition. • Even recent liberalisation has failed to dispel deep-seated suspicions that discrimination still lurks beneath the surface.

legitimize

also legitimise British English) /lɪˈdʒɪtəmaɪz/ verb [transitive] 1 to make something that is unfair or morally wrong seem acceptable and right There is a danger that these films legitimize violence. 2 to make something official or legal Acceptance by the UN would effectively legitimize the regime. 3 when parents legitimize a child, they get married so that the child becomes legitimate From Longman Business Dictionary le‧git‧i‧mize /lɪˈdʒɪtəmaɪz/ (also legitimise British English) verb [transitive] 1to make something legal or official that had not been before He hopes to legitimize private ownership of toll roads in California. 2to make something acceptable or popular Those scandals have legitimized selfishness

idealistic

aɪˌdɪəˈlɪstɪk◂/ ●○○ adjective believing that you should live according to high standards and principles, even if they cannot really be achieved, or showing this belief → realistic idealistic young doctors the idealistic values of the 1960s —idealistically /-kli/ adverb • John Ridd's sense of honour is practical as well as idealistic and his motives are relevant outside their historical context. • An even higher dropout rate, 28. 1 percent, correlated with those who were especially idealistic and people-oriented. • One can be more idealistic by valuing the restlessness that can be found in certain dedicated scholars. • Open admissions proved to be a chastening experience for some of the most idealistic people at City College. • There is no sense of possible anticlimax when reality cuts across Kemp's idealistic view of the girl.

amoral

eɪˈmɒrəl, æ- $ eɪˈmɔː-, -ˈmɑː-/ adjective having no moral standards at all OPP moral → immoral a completely amoral person —amorality /ˌeɪmɒˈræləti, ˌæ- $ ˌeɪmə-/ noun [uncountable] • For some one who appeared so gleefully wicked and amoral, Cleo seemed surprisingly dim when it came to character judgment. • Only Humphrey Bogart, in his later years, could bring the right sort of edge to this amoral, curmudgeonly character. • an amoral, greedy businessman • Guy was greedy, amoral, obsessed with power and self-gratification. • The completely technocratic and amoral society emerges, able to manipulate anything but appreciate nothing; a desert of the mind. • His soulless eyes are narrowed and sullen, and his arch goatee recalls an amoral Transylvanian count.

on the ground

in the place or situation where something important is happening, rather than somewhere else - used especially in news reports While the politicians talk of peace, the situation on the ground remains tense. (On the ground in Egypt frontlines William Smith with special coverage online and on the news hour as it unfolds) • That marked the first time that solar neutrons were detected on the ground. • The egg is infective on the ground in about two weeks at optimal temperatures. • He sat cross-legged on the ground and stared into the black grid on the front of the radio. 2.25 p.m. • People on the ground would be trying to blast us out of the air. • Putting these things in place on the ground will be our job. • But when you sleep on the ground a lot, you get to see all sorts of bugs. • That does not say much for the top chasers of the day, which are very thin on the ground. • Over five thousand dead and wounded men were on the ground, in every attitude of distress. among the general public: Their political ideas have a lot of support on the ground. MAINLY JOURNALISMin the place being discussed, especially a place where there is a war or another serious situation We will be monitoring the situation on the ground.

consecutive

kənˈsekjətɪv/ ●●○ adjective consecutive numbers or periods of time follow one after the other without any interruptions OPP non-consecutive It had rained for four consecutive days. Can they win the title for the third consecutive season? —consecutively adverb Number the pages consecutively. (Also known as the "leader of the free world", this great world political figure was born in 1954 in the city Hamburg and has been elected to rule German for 4 consecutive terms, a feat which no female politicians have ever achieved in the world's history.) After two consecutive months of decline in available work, David became concerned about the security of his job. This is our twenty-eighth consecutive day of rain! The ground is soggy and roads are flooded everywhere.

Consumerism

kənˈsjuːmərɪzəm $ -ˈsuː-/ noun [uncountable] 1 the belief that it is good to buy and use a lot of goods and services - often used to show disapproval the growth of consumerism 2 actions to protect people from unfair prices, advertising that is not true etc —consumerist adjective (They believed the scheme, which was known as the Witte Fietsenplan, was an answer to the perceived threats of air pollution and consumerism. ) • Green consumerism is a hopeful token of more substantial change. • But the growth in consumer debt should not be simply seen and condemned as a complete descent into mindless consumerism. • Fans of the novel claim that its stomach-turning violence is a brilliant metaphor for the 1980s culture of consumerism and self-gratification. • The culture-ideology of consumerism in the Third World will be the subject of Chapter 5. • The extreme western edge of the square has the now compulsory big city billboards extolling the virtues of consumerism. • Here, we showcase our consumerism. • The Eastern Bloc has been transformed into a gigantic Enterprise Zone for western capitalists eager to reap the benefits of suppressed consumerism. • Here protection was being offered to the husband, but also to the wife against her apparently uncontrollable consumerism. From Longman Business Dictionary con‧sum‧er‧ism /kənˈsjuːmərɪzəm-ˈsuː-/ noun [uncountable] 1 the idea or belief that buying things is very important for people Consumerism is the new religion, and department stores are important temples. 2 the activity of protecting consumers from bad products, dishonest producers etc

be sensible of something

literary to know or realize that something exists or is true SYN aware He was very sensible of the difficult situation she was in. • Now all of us are sensible of the inconvenience this is causing, so we'll try to hurry.

Intellectual

noun [countable] an intelligent well-educated person who spends time thinking about complicated ideas and discussing them → academic a leading British intellectual —intellectualism noun [uncountable] • It's an organization of writers, artists and intellectuals, who come together to discuss their ideas. • The third task of universities is a sort of Olympic games for intellectuals. • The reaction from most intellectuals to these three cases has either been approval or silence. • Both were ambitious, leery of intellectuals, and contemptuous of liberals, whom they thought were hypocrites. • Park imprisoned dissenters, including opposing politicians, intellectuals, and journalists. • Some intellectuals of the Cold War vintage support the bill ardently. • Soviet intellectuals helped change the political climate of the country. • It was not long before such people became the butt of the intellectuals. • The restaurant was once the meeting place for leading French left-wing intellectuals such as Sartre and de Beauvoir. ˌɪntəˈlektʃuəl◂/ ●●○ W3 adjective 1 relating to the ability to understand things and think intelligently → mental intellectual development/ability/activity etc a job that requires considerable intellectual effort 2 an intellectual person is well-educated and interested in serious ideas and subjects such as science, literature etc → academic Mark's very intellectual. 3 needing serious thought in order to be understood an intellectual film —intellectually adverb intellectually stimulating

irrationality

noun, plural ir·ra·tion·al·i·ties for 2. the quality or condition of being irrational. an irrational, illogical, or absurd action, thought, etc. (It follows, from this view, that these ecological problems cannot be understood, let alone solved, without a careful understanding of our existing society and the irrationalities that dominate it.) noun plural noun: irrationalities 1. the quality of being illogical or unreasonable. "the sheer irrationality of continuing a policy doomed to failure" 2. MATHEMATICS the quality of a number, quantity, or expression being irrational. "the irrationality of square roots"

suppose/supposing (that)

used when talking about a possible condition or situation, and then imagining the result Look, suppose you lost your job tomorrow, what would you do? Supposing it really is a fire! → suppose Examples from the Corpus suppose/supposing (that) • Well, we all are, I suppose. • It seems reasonable to suppose that they should be, if the contentious area of imaginative literature is ruled out. • Other economic news from the federal government that was supposed to be released has been postponed. • Whom are we supposed to forgive? • So I was supposed to meet this bike trainer this afternoon in Brooklyn, right? • It is supposed to save money and impose some market discipline on bureaucracy's natural tendency to swell. • I am supposed to say no.

discourse on/upon something

phrasal verb formal to make a long formal speech about something, or to discuss something seriously • Sherman had heard Gene Lopwitz discourse on that subject.

talks

plural] formal discussions between governments, organizations etc peace/trade etc talks The peace talks look promising. The president held talks with Chinese officials. talks with Talks with the rebels have failed. talk with • Kostunica hesitant on holding talks with U.S. • It is in talks with Jaguar. • Jackie Aitchison, chairman of the consortium, has spent much of the last few weeks in talks with potential partners. • Then Tymoshenko and other opposition leaders disagreed over whether to enter into talks with Kuchma or organize a popular referendum against him. From Longman Business Dictionary talks /tɔːkstɒːks/ noun [plural] formal discussions between governments, organizations etc Talks are continuing about lifting trade restrictions.

progressive

prəˈɡresɪv/ ●○○ adjective 1 supporting new or modern ideas and methods, especially in politics and education a progressive administration progressive and forward-looking policies 2 happening or developing gradually over a period of time progressive decline/reduction/increase etc the progressive increase in population Britain's progressive decline as a world power progressiveness noun [uncountable] —progressivism noun [uncountable] the government's progressive policies for dealing with inner city problems • She went to a progressive private school where the pupils could choose which lessons to attend. • I began to consistently ally myself, in my heart and mind, with the progressive side of political movements. • the progressive wing of the Republican Party progressive decline/reduction/increase etc • The result is a progressive decline in physical abilities. • The progressive decline in the course of addictive disease follows similar patterns in differing individual sufferers. • A progressive reduction in tissue perfusion may accompany recurrence of Crohn's disease while at a subclinical stage. • Their rise was not, however, one of simple and progressive increase in variety. • The disease does not go away if one ignores it: progressive decline is inexorable. progressive2 noun [countable] someone with modern ideas who wants to change things Examples from the Corpus progressive • But progressives may not be bought so easily; for there are a hundred reasons to deny Labour support. • Modern progressives committed to diversity often fail to acknowledge this. • Being in sympathy with the underdog he would be classed as a radical progressive. • The efficient and the progressive were rewarded with survival and growth. • What progressive couldn't want that? From Longman Business Dictionary pro‧gres‧sive /prəˈgresɪv/ adjective 1happening or changing over a period of time, and often becoming worse The results reflect the progressive collapse of sales of the company's high-end computers. 2approving supporting new or modern ideas, methods etc He begam his career as a progressive economist before becoming prime minister at the age of 40. پیش رونده

rough justice

punishment that is not decided in a court in the usual legal way, and that is often severe or unfair Gangs practise a kind of rough justice on their members. • Exiled by Bolcarro to that judicial Siberia, Judge Lyttle applied his own rough justice. • For that he was put to death and there was, in one respect, a rough justice about it. • Perhaps this was rough justice for my having ridden that one mile on the workmen's lorry on the sixth day. • So there was rough justice in the world. • the rough justice of the Old West • Here rappers become vigilantes or revolutionaries: machines for dispensing rough justice or revenge. • It seemed to her to be the nearest thing to rough justice that would ever present itself. • On the other hand this meted out only a very rough justice to owners.

affairs

əˈfeə $ əˈfer/ ●●● S2 W1 noun [countable] plural] a) public or political events and activities Are you interested in world affairs? the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Women had little role in public affairs. b) things connected with your personal life, your financial situation etc I am not prepared to discuss my financial affairs with the press.

poll

pəʊl $ poʊl/ ●●○ W3 noun 1 [countable] the process of finding out what people think about something by asking many people the same question, or the record of the result SYN opinion poll, survey A recent poll found that 80% of Californians support the governor. Polls indicate that education is the top issue with voters. Labour is ahead in the polls. The latest public opinion poll showed that 25% of us consider ourselves superstitious. conduct/carry out/do a poll a poll conducted by 'USA Today' poll on a poll on eating habits poll of a poll of 1,000 people 3 [singular] British English the process of voting in an election, or the number of votes recorded Labour won the election with 40% of the poll. The result of the poll won't be known until around midnight. COLLOCATIONS VERBS carry out/take/do a poll A similar poll was carried out among academics in the United States. A poll taken last month gave the Democrats a seven-point lead. conduct a poll formal (=carry out a poll) The poll was conducted with a sample of 1,023 adults. a poll shows/indicates/suggests something Polls show that older voters are most concerned about economic issues. a poll finds something Our poll found that 29 percent rated his performance as good. POLL + NOUN poll results/findings The poll results are very encouraging. a poll rating (=showing how popular someone is) His poll ratings keep slipping. ADJECTIVES/NOUN + POLL an opinion poll (=that measures what people think about something) A recent opinion poll showed strong support for the government. an exit poll (=when people are asked how they have just voted) The exit polls said that 46 percent of women had voted for Obama. a popularity poll (=measuring how popular someone is) In most popularity polls, he is in fourth or fifth place. a local/national/statewide etc poll Local polls show him leading by only two or three points. PHRASES somebody's lead in the polls Labour soon regained its lead in the polls. somebody's standing in the polls (=how popular a poll shows them to be) The president's standing in the polls declined sharply. be ahead/leading in the polls The good news is that we are ahead in the polls. be behind/trailing in the polls At the moment the Democrats are trailing in the polls. public opinion poll • Thirty-seven percent is a benchmark this year, and Dole has hovered near that number in public opinion polls. • His chances of accomplishing policy change will also be enhanced if he maintains high levels of support in public opinion polls. • Reduced expectations have shown up in many public opinion polls taken in recent years. verb [transitive] 1 to ask a lot of people the same questions in order to find out what they think about a subject 18% of the women we polled said their husbands had a drinking problem. ► see thesaurus at ask 2 to get a particular number of votes in an election Labour polled just 4% of the vote.

political

pəˈlɪtɪkəl/ ●●● S2 W1 adjective 1 relating to the government, politics, and public affairs of a country → politically Education is now a major political issue. a time of political and social change political party/system/institutions The U.S. has two main political parties. The UN is seeking a political solution rather than a military one. political jokes the workers' struggle for political power 2 relating to the ways that different people have power within a group, organization etc a purely political decision The appointment was given to Wellington, mainly for political reasons. 3 [not before noun] interested in or active in politics Most students aren't very political. 4 → political football COLLOCATIONS NOUNS a political party I am not a member of any political party. a political system Our political system should give ordinary citizens more power. a political leader a strong political leader political power The poor have little political power. political rights Every individual should have equal political rights. somebody's political career He is facing the biggest decision of his political career. political life At that time women were excluded from the political life of the country. a political issue Health care has become a major political issue. a political solution They are eager for a political solution after years of war. political party/system/institutions • First, such classification can provide us with useful descriptive information about political systems. • Locke also suggests that a man's presence in a particular state implies tacit consent to its political system. • The new senator must come from the same political party as the old one. • In a few cases, the continued support for a political party can be explained by reference to an historical connection. • Organizations are political systems; eliminate politics and you eliminate the organization.

repressed

restrained, inhibited, or oppressed rɪˈprest/ adjective 1 having feelings or desires that you do not allow yourself to express or think about, especially sexual feelings SYN frustrated a repressed middle-aged woman 2 repressed feelings or desires are ones which you do not allow yourself to express or think about repressed anger • As if some one like me should have sat there quietly like a mouse, demure and repressed! • I had a lot of repressed anger toward my family that I didn't realize till my father died. • The Victorian era is characterized by its strict conventions and repressed emotion. • The vicious circle of repressed feeling is finally broken. • An initial period of identification is important to a repressed group that has never had adequate self-images. • The repressed is, says Freud, the prototype of the unconscious.

political figure

someone who works in a political field, such as a governor, mayor, or president someone who is important or famous in some way a leading/key/central figure Several leading figures resigned from the party. the outstanding political figure of his time political figure • Produced news reports have shifted from focusing on the words of candidates and political figures to concentrating on their images and actions. • Mr Heseltine was one of the most colourful political figures of the past 30 years. • Sportsmen, journalists, newspaper photographers and local political figures were among the many walking in the cortege. • He has not yet found a running mate, although he has approached several minor political figures. • He is arguably the third most powerful political figure in the state, after Gov. • He returned to his contact lists, abandoning the military personnel and concentrating upon purely political figures. • The political figure who has tried the hardest to harness this newfound enthusiasm is Pat Robertson. (Also known as the "leader of the free world", this great world political figure was born in 1954 in the city Hamburg and has been elected to rule German for 4 consecutive terms, a feat which no female politicians have ever achieved in the world's history.)

supplant

səˈplɑːnt $ səˈplænt/ verb [transitive] to take the place of a person or thing so that they are no longer used, no longer in a position of power etc SYN replace Barker was soon supplanted as party leader. (Chicago supplanted New Orleans as the interior of American's main commercial hub.)

suppose

səˈpəʊz $ -ˈpoʊz/ ●●● S1 W1 verb [transitive] to think that something is probably true, based on what you know SYN presume There were many more deaths than was first supposed. suppose (that) What makes you suppose we're going to sell the house? There's no reason to suppose (=it is unlikely that) he's lying. Grammar In more formal English, you can say it is supposed that something is true: It is usually supposed that girls are less aggressive than boys.

the establishment

the group of people in a society or profession who have a lot of power and influence and are often opposed to any kind of change or new ideas Young people are supposed to rebel against the Establishment. the medical/legal/military etc establishment The public is treated with contempt by the art establishment. COLLOCATIONS - Meaning 2: ADJECTIVES the British/American/Spanish etc establishment (=the people who have power in a particular country) The affair caused acute embarrassment to the British establishment. the political establishment (=the political rulers) His resignation stunned the political establishment. the military/defence establishment The committee has many political figures who are close to the military establishment. the scientific establishment Professor Walker's views are not shared by the scientific establishment. the medical establishment The measures were introduced despite protests from the medical establishment. the religious/clerical establishment His teachings were unacceptable to the religious establishment of the time. the legal establishment Prominent members of the legal establishment have opposed the bill. the educational establishment The proposals sent shock waves throughout the educational establishment. • Loyal party followers viewed Deri as a scapegoat in the scandal for both Likud Party operatives and the legal establishment. • As the medical establishment tightened its monopoly on diagnosis and prescription, it also expanded the area under its control. • These Districts contain the most prestigious teaching hospitals, which are staffed by the medical establishment. • And that tosses it into the lap of the medical establishment. • Leaders of the military establishment do not, any more than their civilian colleagues, define their economy by its defects. • Despite the growing protests of the medical establishment, boxing still thrives at the championship level. • Shockingly, the medical establishment is responding. • The last traces of independence within the military establishment were removed and the State's powers of coercion greatly enhanced.

the polls

the place where you can go to vote in an election The polls will close in an hour. • The polls open at 7 a.m. • City officials do not expect many people at the polls. • An impressive victory at the polls provides temptations that are hard to resist. • This is difficult since the polls are so unprecedentedly ghastly for the Tories. • Among those considered most likely to attend a caucus, there appears to be less support for Forbes than the polls indicate. • So people go to the polls convinced their only choice is the lesser of two evils. • The probe will last into early November, just as voters are going to the polls. • His first election was 1959, when the polls did rather better than this year.

freedom from something

the state of not being affected by something that makes you worried, unhappy, afraid etc freedom from fear/pain/worry etc The contraceptive pill gave women freedom from the fear of pregnancy. • Rest and relaxation Rest involves the cessation of action and freedom from worry. • The first duty of the Government is to work with the people to ensure security and freedom from fear for the people. • We have for instance to transpose the freedom from fear into present circumstances and to help others to make the same journey. • For them its most significant feature was freedom from fear.

somebody's understanding (of something)

the way in which someone judges the meaning of something According to my understanding of the letter, it means something quite different. (It follows, from this view, that these ecological problems cannot be understood, let alone solved, without a careful understanding of our existing society and the irrationalities that dominate it.) • My understanding is that none of us are required to attend. • What's your understanding of the letter?

be an indictment of something

to be a very clear sign that a system, method etc is very bad or very wrong The fact that these children cannot read is a damning indictment of our education system. (". Your ideal life and your actual life will start to diverge more and more, and you'll feel that distance to be an indictment of your weakness and smallness of character.) • This list, by no means complete, is an indictment of a careless society. • Every adult illiterate... is an indictment of us all.. • That in itself is an indictment of the Government. • Steinbeck's novel "The Grapes of Wrath" was an indictment of agricultural labor relations.

stem from something

to develop as a result of something else His headaches stemmed from vision problems. (It was, of course, a very partial and flawed democracy, but the idea that power should stem from the consent of the governed, that power should flow from below to above, not the other way around, was born in that decade.)

displaced

to make a group of people or animals have to leave the place where they normally live Fifty thousand people have been displaced by the fighting. In fact, Angela Markel's decision to allow more than one million political refugees, displaced because of wars, into German was a landmark decision which would make the world to remember her for a long, long time. Displaced family means a family in which each member, or whose sole member, is a person displaced by governmental action, or a person whose dwelling has been extensively damaged or destroyed as a result of a disaster declared or otherwise formally recognized pursuant to Federal disaster relief laws.

conduct of something

to organize and/or do a particular activity the way in which an activity is organized and carried out complaints about the conduct of the elections Disclosure of information would compromise the proper conduct of the investigation.

cast a vote/ballot

to vote in an election Barely one in three will bother to cast a ballot on February 26th. To qualify, candidates must get at least 10% of the votes cast.

go to the polls

to vote in an election Ten million voters went to the polls. • A week after that, three big Midwestern states hold primaries, and on March 26, Californians go to the polls. • So people go to the polls convinced their only choice is the lesser of two evils. • In June 1983, Margaret Thatcher went to the polls for the second time. • As they go to the polls the voters know what package of compromises they are voting for. • Next week, they go to the polls in a presidential election that should indicate where their sympathies lie. • If so, on past form only a third of the electorate will bother to go to the polls. • We're trying to encourage young people to go to the polls. • The people of Houston will go to the polls next week to elect a new mayor. • This Tuesday, August 5, voters will go to the polls to accept or reject the proposed charter. • Republican voters will go to the polls for four hours to select the first batch of delegates of the presidential primary season.

justice has been done/served

used to say that someone has been treated fairly or has been given a punishment they deserve • Mr Townsend says he feels justice has been done. • He can continue to appeal, or go to some other level, until he feels justice has been done. • Mrs Alliss' solicitor says justice has been done. • He has successfully persuaded the crowd that justice has been done.

agenda

əˈdʒendə/ ●●○ noun [countable] 1 a list of problems or subjects that a government, organization etc is planning to deal with be high on the agenda/be top of the agenda (=be one of the most important problems to deal with) Measures to combat terrorism will be high on the agenda. The government set an agenda for constitutional reform. political/economic/legislative/domestic etc agenda Our Centre has limited its research agenda to four areas. 2 the ideas that a political party thinks are important and the things that party aims to achieve The Republicans have stuck to their conservative agenda. COLLOCATIONS PHRASES be high on the agenda New measures to combat terrorism are high on the agenda. be (at the) top of the agenda Energy efficiency is top of the agenda. be on the political agenda Immigration is an important issue on the political agenda. VERBS have an agenda Brown has an agenda for the university's future. set an agenda (=decide on the problems you want to deal with) The new government set an agenda for constitutional reform. put something on the agenda This incident has put the issue of racism firmly back on the agenda. agree an agenda The meeting ended in chaos as representatives were unable to agree an agenda. establish/create/provide an agenda (=begin to have an agenda) We need to establish an agenda for future research.

announcement

əˈnaʊnsmənt/ ●●● S3 W3 noun 1 [countable] an important or official statement The minister made the announcement at a news conference. announcement about an important announcement about tax increases announcement that They heard the announcement that the mayor was resigning. 2 [uncountable] the act of telling people that something important is going to happen announcement of the announcement of the company's annual results 3 [countable] a small advertisement or statement in a newspaper a wedding announcement in the local paper COLLOCATIONS VERBS make/issue an announcement The next day an announcement was issued to staff, saying the company would be closing. The government issued an announcement saying that it was not prepared to negotiate with terrorists. hear an announcement Everyone was shocked when they heard the announcement. welcome an announcement (=say that you are pleased about it) Environmental groups welcomed the announcement. greet an announcement formal (=react to it in a particular way) The announcement was. greeted with cheers on both sides of the House. an announcement comes (=it happens) His announcement came after two days of peace talks. ADJECTIVES a formal announcement A formal announcement will be made in Parliament. an official announcement No official announcement is expected until next year. a surprise announcement/an unexpected announcement The Senator made the surprise announcement that he will not be seeking re-election. a dramatic announcement (=sudden and important) The dramatic announcement came after a cabinet meeting on Tuesday. a further announcement A further announcement will be made in the near future.

elect

ɪˈlekt/ ●●○ S3 W3 verb [transitive] 1 to choose someone for an official position by voting the country's first democratically elected government a new method for electing the leader of the party be elected to something He was elected to a US state governorship. be elected (as) president/leader/mayor etc In 1768, John Wilkes was elected as their Member of Parliament. Grammar Elect is often passive in this meaning. ► see thesaurus at vote (this great world political figure was born in 1954 in the city Hamburg and has been elected to rule German for 4 consecutive terms, a feat which no female politicians have ever achieved in the world's history.) democratically elected • The press was horrified and questioned whether Britain was still governable under a democratically elected administration. • The politician may have been democratically elected but the politician does not have the same experience as the career official. • S.-backed coup which overthrew a democratically elected government. • They saw their democratically elected president overthrown by a military coup. ɪˈlekt/ verb [transitive] to choose someone for an official position by voting the country's first democratically elected president elect somebody to John Brown was elected to the board last year. elect somebody (as) president/chairman etc Steven J. Shapiro was elected vice president, corporate planning. —elected adjective an elected member of the board → See Verb table elect2 adjective chairman/president elect a person who has been elected to a particular job but has not yet started doing it the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce's chairman elect

Irrational

ɪˈræʃənəl/ ●○○ AWL adjective not based on clear thought or reason SYN unreasonable OPP rational, reasonable an irrational fear of flying He's becoming increasingly irrational. —irrationally adverb —irrationality /ɪˌræʃəˈnæləti/ noun [uncountable] (It follows, from this view, that these ecological problems cannot be understood, let alone solved, without a careful understanding of our existing society and the irrationalities that dominate it. ) • This, you understand, is purely sentimental and wholly irrational. • Yet although these medical theories were wrong, they weren't altogether irrational. • Vance is becoming increasingly irrational. • Fighting hard to prevent such losses is not irrational. • If Dane drinks even a couple of beers, he becomes irrational and even violent. • His behaviour can be somewhat irrational at times. • It was a pathetic gesture on my part, an irrational breach of the wall. • I knew I was being irrational but I began to fear the worst. • She struggled to overcome her irrational fear of the dark. • Jane's irrational hopes began to rise as she listened to him. • A man once famed for his intolerance, xenophobia and irrational rages has become a husk of his former self. • This never worked, but I did it every time: tried to talk her out of her irrational ways. • In retrospect their structure seems irrational with no clear division between territorial and functional responsibilities.

discourse

ˈdɪskɔːs $ -ɔːrs/ ●○○ noun formal 1 [countable] a serious speech or piece of writing on a particular subject discourse on/upon a discourse on art 2 [uncountable] serious conversation or discussion between people Candidates should engage in serious political discourse. 3 [uncountable] the language used in particular types of speech or writing a study of spoken discourse discourse on/upon • Should I launch into a discourse on why I didn't value male above female children? • Blackwell's radical ideas point to the tentative beginnings of a discourse on active female sexuality. • The book opens with a discourse on the environment. • Sherman had heard Gene Lopwitz discourse on that subject.

dislocate

ˈdɪsləkeɪt $ -loʊ-/ verb [transitive] 1 to move a bone out of its normal position in a joint, usually in an accident I dislocated my shoulder playing football. ► see thesaurus at hurt 2 formal to spoil the way in which a plan, system, or service is arranged, so that it cannot work normally SYN disrupt Communications were temporarily dislocated by the bad weather. —dislocated adjective a dislocated elbow —dislocation /ˌdɪsləˈkeɪʃən $ -loʊ-/ noun [countable, uncountable] a period of economic dislocation (To make this point more concrete: economic, ethnic, cultural, and gender conflicts, among many others, lie at the core of the most serious ecological dislocations we face today - apart, to be sure, from those that are produced by natural catastrophes.) • Hawkins dislocated a shoulder in the third game of the season. • They had thought he'd split a kidney as well as fracturing an elbow and dislocating a shoulder. • Viewers were treated to pictures of skulls, arms, legs and dislocated bodies. • Thousands of workers have been dislocated by recent military base closures. • Through these planes the bodies of the fish, fragmented and dislocated, can be traced in a series of subsidiary diagonals. • Fredrickson dislocated his right shoulder early in the second quarter and did not return to the game.

justice

ˈdʒʌstɪs/ ●●● W2 noun 1 SYSTEM OF JUDGEMENT [uncountable] the system by which people are judged in courts of law and criminals are punished a book on the criminal justice system The killers will be brought to justice (=caught and punished). Acts of terrorism must not escape justice. 2 FAIRNESS [uncountable] fairness in the way people are treated OPP injustice Children have a strong sense of justice. His people came to him demanding justice. 3 BEING RIGHT [uncountable] the quality of being right and deserving fair treatment No one doubts the justice of our cause. 7 JUDGE [countable] (also Justice) a) American English a judge in a law court b) British English the title of a judge in the High Court escape justice • Some critics might favour the pragmatic solution of convicting both, to ensure that the guilty party does not escape justice. demanding justice • Public protests demanding justice in the Gongadze case have mostly fizzled out, partly thanks to police harassment of demonstrators. 1[uncountable] the system by which people are judged in courts of law and criminals are punished There are many problems with our criminal justice system. 2[countable] American English a judge in a law court Justice Sandra O'Connor The justices ruled that the company had acted illegally. 3[countable] British English the title of a judge in the high court Mr Justice Saville ruled in favour of Lloyd's.

contest

ˈkɒntest $ ˈkɑːn-/ ●●○ W3 noun [countable] 1 a competition or a situation in which two or more people or groups are competing with each other contest for the bitter contest for the Republican presidential nomination Stone decided to hold a contest to see who could write the best song. I only entered the contest for fun. It is clear that the election will be a close contest. contest between/against the 1960 contest between Kennedy and Nixon the 1975 Liberal leadership contest COLLOCATIONS VERBS enter a contest (=take part in one) Anyone over 18 years old can enter the contest. take part in a contest Twenty-five countries took part in the contest. compete in a contest The band has competed in many contests over the years. win/lose a contest He won a public-speaking contest at his school. withdraw from a contest (=stop taking part in a contest) Two candidates had withdrawn from the contest. have/hold a contest My college holds an athletics contest once a year. a contest takes place The contest took place in Berlin. ADJECTIVES/NOUN + CONTEST a leadership contest (=in which two politicians compete to become leader of their party) The party did not want the turmoil of a leadership contest. a presidential contest the 1987 U.S presidential contest an electoral/election contest What will be the outcome of the electoral contest? a beauty contest (=to find the most beautiful person) Miss Colombia won the beauty contest. a talent contest (=to find the best performer) She's singing a song in the school talent contest. a popularity contest (=to decide which person people like the most) The competition has turned into a popularity contest. close (=one which someone wins by a very small amount) The race was a close contest between two evenly matched crews. fair (=one in which everyone has the same chance of winning) Divide the class into groups in a way that will make it a fair contest. even/equal British English (=one in which everyone has the same chance of winning) One of the men was much older so it was hardly an even contest. uneven/unequal British English (=one in which one of the people, groups etc has a better chance of winning) Given their military strength, the war was a pretty unequal contest. kənˈtest/ ●●○ verb [transitive] formal 1 to say formally that you do not accept something or do not agree with it His brothers are contesting the will. 2 to compete for something or to try to win it His wife is contesting a seat on the council.

Concrete

ˈkɒŋkriːt $ kɑːnˈkriːt/ ●●○ adjective 2 definite and specific → abstract What does that mean in concrete terms? the lack of any concrete evidence a dialogue about concrete issues and problems —concretely adverb COLLOCATIONS - Meaning 2: definite and specific NOUNS concrete evidence First, the police must have concrete evidence of an offence. a concrete example I can illustrate this point with a concrete example. a concrete proposal People talked a lot but made few concrete proposals. concrete results The negotiations failed to achieve any concrete results. concrete action In order to solve this problem, the government must take concrete action. (a) concrete form A society's culture is expressed in a concrete form in the arts. PHRASES in concrete terms Let me explain what I mean in more concrete terms. take concrete steps to do something The country has to take concrete steps to end the violence. (To make this point more concrete: economic, ethnic, cultural, and gender conflicts, among many others, lie at the core of the most serious ecological dislocations we face today - apart, to be sure, from those that are produced by natural catastrophes.)

coverage

ˈkʌvərɪdʒ/ ●○○ noun [uncountable] 1 when a subject or event is reported on television or radio, or in newspapers media/press etc coverage The allegations received widespread media coverage. live coverage of the match (=the match is broadcast at the same time that it is happening) 2 American English the protection an insurance company gives you, so that it pays you money if you are injured, something is stolen etc SYN cover British English health care coverage 3 the range of subjects and facts included in a book, programme, class etc coverage of Prestel's website provides good coverage of the subject. 4 when something affects or covers a particular area or group of things More satellites are needed to provide telephone coverage in remote areas. COLLOCATIONS ADJECTIVES/NOUN + COVERAGE media/press coverage (=on television, in newspapers etc) The case has received wide press coverage. television/newspaper/radio coverage (=provided by television newspapers etc) The private lives of celebrities get a lot of newspaper coverage. news coverage The BBC won an award for its 24-hour news coverage. election/sports/political etc coverage He claims the election coverage has been biased against him. live coverage (=broadcast at the same time as something is happening) There will be live coverage of the concert. full coverage (=with all the details) Both channels are giving the election full coverage. local/national/international coverage (=provided by local, national etc media) Bangladesh doesn't get much international coverage. extensive/wide/widespread coverage Newspapers and magazines have wide coverage of diet and health topics. VERBS receive/get/have coverage The exhibition has received extensive coverage in the press. provide coverage Satellite coverage of the Olympics was first provided in 1968. give something coverage In the west, the story wasn't given any media coverage.

Politics

ˈpɒlətɪks $ ˈpɑː-/ ●●● S2 W2 noun 1 [uncountable] ideas and activities relating to gaining and using power in a country, city etc → political, politician a good understanding of politics in China modern American politics Politics have always interested Anita. national/local etc politics Brooke's been involved in city politics since college. The president should stand above party politics (=working only for your political party). GRAMMAR: Singular or plural verb? • In this meaning, politics is usually followed by a singular verb: Politics plays no part in this decision. • In British English, you can also use a plural verb: Politics play no part in this decision. 2 [uncountable] the profession of being a politician Flynn retired from politics in 1986. Her father's trying to enter politics. Smith went into politics in his early twenties. 3 [plural] the activities of people who are concerned with gaining personal advantage within a group, organization etc I'm tired of dealing with all of the office politics. Her art examines sexual politics (=how power is shared between men and women). the politics of something the politics of race and class at American universities 4 [plural] someone's political beliefs and opinions I assume her politics must be fairly conservative. 5 [uncountable] especially British English the study of political power and systems of government SYN political science Tom is studying for a degree in politics. COLLOCATIONS ADJECTIVES/NOUN + POLITICS national politics Mark had always been keen to have a career in national politics. local politics Ann is very active in local politics. international politics The two superpowers that dominated international politics. world/global politics There was much going on in world politics at the time. domestic politics (=within a country) The war had a major impact on the country's domestic politics. party politics (=trying to make your party successful) He believes that party politics has no place in local government. power politics (=attempting to get power by using or threatening to use force) The party argued that power politics would always lead to war. PHRASES be involved in politics After university, he became involved in local politics. take part in politics Young people should be encouraged to take part in politics. be active in politics (=be involved in) I was very active in politics before I retired. interfere/meddle in politics He warned the army against interfering in politics. THESAURUS right-wing adjective a right-wing person or group wants low taxes, a strong army and police force, and the individual to be free from government interference as much as possible right-wing political parties Some of his supporters are very right-wing. right-wing policies on gun control left-wing adjective a left-wing person or group wants the government to make society more equal by increasing taxes for rich people, and taking control of important industries and services a left-wing newspaper His views are very left-wing. green adjective [usually before noun] supporting policies and principles which will protect the environment green politicians the Green Party The government is under pressure to improve its green credentials (=to seem more like it wants to protect the environment). radical adjective supporting political ideas that will involve great change radical politicians a radical economic reform programme liberal adjective supporting political ideas that will allow people to have greater freedom They want the government to have a more liberal policy on drugs. moderate adjective having political opinions which are not extreme People generally become more moderate as they get older. The bill is supported by moderate Republicans. extreme adjective having political opinions which are considered to be very unreasonable by many people His views on immigration are very extreme. an extreme right-wing organization

rational

ˈræʃənəl/ ●●○ AWL adjective 1 rational thoughts, decisions etc are based on reasons rather than emotions OPP irrational Parents need to be fully informed so they can make a rational decision. I'm sure there's a rational explanation for all this. It's impossible to have a rational conversation with him. 2 a rational person is able to think calmly and sensibly OPP irrational Culley was quite rational at the time of her baby's death. 3 formal able to make sensible judgments Man is a rational animal. rationally adverb We were too shocked to think rationally. —rationality /ˌræʃəˈnæləlti/ noun [uncountable] COLLOCATIONS NOUNS a rational explanation I told myself that there must be some simple, rational explanation. a rational decision/choice The patient was incapable of making a rational decision. a rational approach We must adopt a rational approach when dealing with this problem. a rational analysis Emotions are running so high that any rational analysis of the situation is difficult. rational thought Babies were thought to be incapable of rational thought. rational argument Nuclear weapons are so absurd that rational argument about their use is scarcely possible. a rational conversation/discussion Let's all calm down and have a rational discussion. ADVERBS perfectly rational I'm sure there's a perfectly rational explanation. Consequently rational members of organizations are more likely to stay loyal and inactive than to be vocal participants. • There appears to be no rational motive for the attack. • Exactly how a rational person will solve it we shall show later on. • No rational person would have agreed to those terms. • Taking action to defend yourself is a completely rational reaction if you're being attacked. rational explanation • In any case, Amiss's mind was racing, grappling with a situation devoid of any rational explanation. • The subsequent references by the deceased to £17,000 as the value of his portfolio were not the subject of any rational explanation. • Through their various plights, the drama questions a world where feminine ideals regularly defy rational explanation. • There was a rational explanation for all this and, when Carol arrived, he'd discover what it was.

sensible

ˈsensəbəl/ ●●○ S3 W3 adjective 1 reasonable, practical, and showing good judgment She seems very sensible. sensible advice It's sensible to keep a note of your passport number. Moving house seemed like the sensible thing to do. ► A sensible person is reasonable and shows good judgment. A sensitive person is easily upset, or understands other people's feelings and problems. 2 suitable for a particular purpose, and practical rather than fashionable Eat a sensible diet and exercise daily. an old woman in sensible shoes and a neat skirt 3 formal noticeable a sensible increase in temperature —sensibly adverb • Laura's a pretty sensible girl. I don't think she'd talk to strangers. • On the whole, Sam was a sensible, intelligent person. • But as the table below suggests, they distort reality well beyond sensible limits. • He's one of the few sensible people on the council. • She said that sensible people weren't led astray by infatuation. • If anyone has any sensible suggestions as to how to deal with this, please let me know. • The sensible thing to do would be to rest until you feel better. • Perhaps - in fact most certainly - it would be sensible to face the possibility. • They're sensible to keep us in here. • It would have been more sensible to save the money than to spend it all on clothes. • Be sensible - you can't go out without a coat in this weather. the sensible thing to do • Isn't this the sensible thing to do? • It drives men mad, but it's the sensible thing to do. • Might be the sensible thing to do, all things considered. • She knew the sensible thing to do was to go, yet she wanted to stay. • No, the sensible thing to do was to put it out of his mind and never refer to it again. • He knew the sensible thing to do was to remain silent and let her cry away.

survey

ˈsɜːveɪ $ ˈsɜːr-/ noun [countable] 1 a set of questions that you ask a large number of people in order to find out about their opinions or behaviour → poll carry out/conduct a survey (=do a survey) We conducted a survey of parents in the village. survey of a survey of US businesses survey shows/reveals (that) The survey showed that Britain's trees are in good health. COLLOCATIONS VERBS carry out/do a survey The survey was carried out by Warwick University. conduct a survey formal (=do a survey) a survey conducted by the British Medical Association. a survey shows/reveals something Our survey showed that many women are afraid to go out alone at night. a survey finds something A survey found that 37 percent of students were born outside the country. a survey suggests something Recent surveys suggest that these are the foreign languages most in demand by employers. ADJECTIVES/NOUN + SURVEY a recent/new survey According to a recent survey, students buy an average of 11.33 books a year for their courses. an annual survey Every council will be required to conduct an annual survey of residents. a national survey A national survey revealed that one in four 15-year-olds smokes regularly. an extensive survey We conducted an extensive survey asking patients to suggest ways in which the service could be improved. a detailed survey The author carried out a detailed survey of 32 organizations in Japan and Korea. an opinion survey Opinion surveys showed consistently that unemployment remained a matter of concern. a customer survey They have begun to listen carefully to their customers, through customer surveys, focus groups, etc. PHRASES the results of a survey The results of the survey have not yet been analysed. verb [transitive] 1 to ask a large number of people questions in order to find out their attitudes or opinions Of the 100 companies surveyed, 10% had a turnover of £50m to £99m. Grammar Survey is often passive in this meaning.

citizenry

ˈsɪtəzənri/ noun [uncountable] formal all the citizens in a particular town, country, or state Well, we know that the Festival of Dionysus gathered the entire citizenry of Athens on the side of the Acropolis, and they would listen to music, they would watch dancing, and they would have stories told as part of the Festival of Dionysus.

advocate

ˈædvəkeɪt/ ●●○ AWL verb [intransitive, transitive] to publicly support a particular way of doing something Extremists were openly advocating violence. advocate for American English Those who advocate for doctor-assisted suicide say the terminally ill should not have to suffer. ► see thesaurus at recommend noun [countable] 1 someone who publicly supports someone or something SYN proponent advocate of She's a passionate advocate of natural childbirth. advocate for an advocate for the disabled 2 a lawyer who speaks in a court of law, especially in Scotland (she advocated for Asian American actors.)

governance

ˈɡʌvənənsə $ -ər-/ noun [uncountable] formal the act or process of governing From Longman Business Dictionary gov‧er‧nance /ˈgʌvənəns-vər-/ noun [uncountable] (also corporate governance) the way a company is managed at the highest level There is growing interest by institutional investors in the governance of companies in which they own stock. At the shareholders' meeting, directors should expect questions about corporate governance, executive pay and internal financial controls ( New media have wide-ranging implications for democratic governance and political practices)

thoughtful

ˈθɔːtfəl $ ˈθɒːt-/ ●○○ adjective 1 always thinking of the things you can do to make people happy or comfortable OPP thoughtless Paul is very thoughtful. it is thoughtful of somebody to do something It was really thoughtful of you to remember my birthday. ► see thesaurus at kind 2 serious and quiet because you are thinking a lot a thoughtful look a thoughtful silence 3 well planned and carefully thought about a thoughtful analysis —thoughtfully adverb —thoughtfulness noun [uncountable] (Their primary purpose is to inform the public, providing citizens with the information needed to make thoughtful decisions about leadership and policy. ) • thoughtful analysis • Suddenly he became more thoughtful, and his eyes filmed over with sadness. • Let us be kind and thoughtful and not to be unkind and hurt other people. • He stood silent and thoughtful, by himself. • My mother sat and watched me eating my food with a thoughtful expression on her face -- I could tell she had something to say. • a thoughtful expression • It is still a thoughtful, finely acted and daringly all-encompassing film, suggesting that no-one has a fixed nature. • Paula's such a thoughtful girl. • Woody Allen is a sober, thoughtful, intelligent guy. • Some things encourage a more thoughtful, inventive kind of play than others. • They encourage corporate and individual responsibility by rewarding thoughtful management of food supply and demand. • She seemed a thoughtful person, some one of like nature to Mary Smith, but with much more up top. • From the sunlit atrium with its glass elevator to the tasteful rooms and thoughtful service, this hotel shines with refined comfort. thoughtful silence • She turned and greeted her friend, then continued sitting in thoughtful silence. • But he accepted the proffered wine and took a long draught, letting a thoughtful silence fall.

declaration

ˌdekləˈreɪʃən/ ●●○ noun [countable, uncountable] 1 an important official statement about a particular situation or plan, or the act of making this statement a ceasefire declaration Under Islamic law it was possible to divorce by simple declaration. declaration of the declaration of war 2 an official or serious statement of what someone believes declaration of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights declarations of undying love 3 a statement in which you officially give information about yourself a declaration of taxable earnings

politician

ˌpɒləˈtɪʃən $ ˌpɑː-/ ●●● W2 noun [countable] 1 someone who works in politics, especially an elected member of the government politicians who are trying to get the minority vote a British Labour politician 2 someone who is skilled at dealing with people or using the situation within an organization to gain an advantage the office politician COLLOCATIONS ADJECTIVES/NOUN + POLITICIAN a Labour/Republican etc politician Her mother was a Labour politician. an opposition politician (=belonging to the party that is not in power - used in some political systems) Opposition politicians argued that there was not enough reason to go to war. a left-wing/right-wing politician He had been under attack from right-wing politicians for some time. a leading/prominent politician The scandal ruined the careers of several leading politicians. a senior politician Talks between senior politicians in Zagreb and Belgrade took place. a local politician The plan is strongly supported by local politicians. an elected politician Are the country's elected politicians trustworthy? popular He is the most popular politician in the country. corrupt (=one who is not honest) They make quiet deals with corrupt politicians. astute/shrewd (=one who is good at getting what he wants done) He proved to be an astute politician. THESAURUS politician someone who works in politics, especially an elected member of the government senior politicians statesman a political or government leader, especially one who is well-respected a respected elder statesman great statesmen like Roosevelt and Churchill He would later describe the king as 'one of the most brilliant statesmen I have ever been privileged to meet'. MP/Member of Parliament in Britain, someone who has been elected to a parliament to represent people from a particular area of the country Ken Newton, MP congressman a man who is a member of a congress, especially the US House of Representatives a Republican congressman congresswoman a woman who is a member of a congress, especially the US House of Representatives Mrs McKinney was the state's first black congresswoman. senator a member of the senate, especially in the US Senator Clinton representative in the US, a member of the House of Representatives Democratic Representatives mayor someone who has been elected to lead the government of a town or city Boris Johnson was elected mayor of London. the former New York mayor, Rudy Giuliani spin doctor someone who is used by a political party to influence people's opinions by cleverly controlling what is reported in the news The party spin doctors would like us to believe that the government is committed to improving the environment.