UNIT 12-20

lay off

meaning: (phr v): to stop employing somebody because there is not enough work for them to do

narrow sth down

meaning: (phr v): to make a number or list of things smaller, by removing the things that are least important, necessary, or suitable

unsocial

meaning: (adj): outside the normal times of working

menial

meaning: (adj): (of work) not considered important; not needing special skills and often boring or badly paid

have a change of heart

meaning: (idiom): if you have_______, your attitude towards something changes, usually making you feel more friendly, helpful, etc.

sack → get a sack

meaning: (n) \[S\]: being told by your employer that you can no longer continue working for a company, etc., usually because of something that you have done wrong

go part-time/freelance

meaning: (adv): if you work______,__ you work for yourself and do projects with different companies rather than being a company employee __(__work or go____)

meaning: (adj/adv): If you work___or do________ work, you work for only some of the day or the week

run errands

meaning: (phr): to go out to buy or do something

strike → stage a strike/ call a strike

meaning: (n): a period of time when an organized group of employees of a company stops working because of an argument over pay or conditions

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daunting

meaning:(adj): making somebody feel nervous and less confident about doing something; likely to make somebody feel this way

pencil in

meaning: (phr v): to write down somebody’s name or details of an arrangement with them that you know might have to be changed later

turnover → a turnover of staff

meaning: (n) \[S\]: the rate at which employees leave a company and are replaced by other people

take up the post

meaning: (phr v): to continue something that somebody else has not finished, or that has not been mentioned for some time

meaning (n): \[S\]: a job, especially an important one in a large organization

industrial action

meaning: (n) \[U\]: an occasion when workers do something that is intended to force an employer to agree to something, especially by stopping work

fast-track

meaning: (n) \[S\]: the quickest route to a successful position

relieve sb of sth

to take from a person something that they are carrying, in a helpful or polite way

→ be________heavy duties

clear one’s desk

meaning: (idom): to take all your possessions away from your desk or office because you have been told to leave your job

Overtime

meaning: (n): the money somebody earns for doing overtime

livelihood

meaning: (n) \[C, usually S, U): ​a means of earning money in order to live

land → land a job

meaning: (v): To successfully acquire something, such as a job or piece of information.

throw a sickie

meaning: (n): to say to your employer that you are ill when you are not so that you do not have to go to your place of work for a day

sweated labour

meaning: (n) \[U\]: people who work for long hours and very low pay in an unhealthy situation

stay the course

meaning: (idiom): to continue doing something until it is finished or until you achieve something you have planned to do

give sth some thought/attention/consideration

meaning: (phr): to spend some time thinking about something carefully or give______to sth

It’s common knowledge

meaning: (n): a fact that everyone knows

take the view

meaning: (idiom): to have an opinion (about something) **:** to believe

a forgone conclusion

meaning: (n): \[C or S\]: a result that is obvious to everyone even before it happens

rough idea

meaning: (n): An approximate estimate or general conception (about something).

subscribe to

meaning: (phr v): to agree with or support an opinion, a theory, etc.

conviction

meaning: (n) \[C, U\]: a strong opinion or belief

pass judgement on sb/sth

meaning: (idiom): to express a strong opinion about someone or something

against your better judgement

meaning: (idiom): If something is_____________, you think it would be wiser not to do it

think laterally/ lateral thinking

meaning: (phr): a way of solving a problem by thinking about it in a different and original way and not using traditional or expected methods

fertile imagination/mind/brain

meaning: (phr): an imagination, mind etc that is able to produce a lot of interesting and unusual ideas

meaning: (adj) \[usually before noun\] (of a person’s mind or imagination) that produces a lot of new ideas

wrestle with

meaning: (phr v): to try very hard to deal with a problem or to make a difficult decision

nagging

meaning: (adj): continuing for a long time and difficult to cure or remove (and it’s only before noun)

fuel

meaning: (v): to increase something; to make something stronger

go into production

meaning: (idom): to begin being made

allocate

meaning: (v): to give something officially to somebody/something for a particular purpose

chair

meaning: (v): to act as the chairman or chairwoman of a meeting, discussion, etc.

pay dividends

meaning: (idiom): If something you do__________, it causes good results at a time in the future

make business sense

meaning: (idiom): if something_______________, it will help a business to succeed

hike

meaning: (n) \[C\]: a large or sudden increase in prices, costs, etc.

bottom line

meaning: (n) \[S\]: the final line in the accounts of a company or organization, stating the total profit or loss that has been made

balance the books

meaning: (phr): to make certain that the amount of money spent is not more than the amount of money received

call in the receivers

meaning: (phr): to officially appoint someone to manage the finances of a company that cannot pay its debts

do the shopping

meaning: (phr): go shopping

value

meaning: (n) \[U\]: how much something is worth compared with its price

it oges with good/great and bad/poor

fit for purpose

meaning: (phr): (of an institution, a system, a thing, etc.) suitable for the function or purpose that it was designed for

place an order

meaning: (phr): To register an order for some product or service that one will receive in the near future.

prompt

meaning: (adj): done without delay (=immediate)

next-day

meaning: (adj): used to refer to something that will happen or be done on the next day

on hold

meaning: (phr): If you are_______when using the phone, you are waiting to speak to someone

kick up a fuss/row/stink

meaning: (idiom): to show great anger about something, especially when this does not seem necessary

take sb’s custom elsewhere

meaning: (phr): To stop dealing with; to switch to another business for one's dealings.

ground → cover a lot of ground

meaning: (n) \[U\]: an area of interest, knowledge or ideas

meaning: (n) \[C, usually P\]: a good or true reason for saying, doing or believing something

conform to/with sth

meaning: (v): to agree with or match something

come up to sth

meaning: (idiom): to reach the usual or necessary standard

agility

meaning: (n) \[U\]: the ability to think quickly and in an intelligent way

seat of learning

meaning: (idiom): a place where people are educated

set text

meaning: (n) \[C\]: a book or piece of writing that must be studied for a particular course

attention wanders

meaning: (v): (of a person’s mind or thoughts) to stop being directed on something and to move without much control to other ideas, subjects, etc.

waver→ concentration wavers

meaning: (v): to be or become weak or unsteady

truant → play truant

meaning: (n): a child who stays away from school without permission

detail

meaning: (v): to give a list of facts or all the available information about something

research ethics

meaning: (n): ___________ involves the application of fundamental ethical principles to research activities which include the design and implementation of research, respect towards society and others, the use of resources and research outputs, scientific misconduct and the regulation of research.

background reading

meaning: (n): __________ involves reading works related to your topic, in order to get a bigger pictur~~e~~ before diving into the deeper research.

critique

meaning: (n) \[C\]: a piece of written criticism of a set of ideas, a work of art, etc.

rationale behind/for/of sth

meaning: (n) \[C, U\]: the principles or reasons which explain a particular decision, course of action, belief, etc.

lay out

meaning: (phr v): to present a plan, an argument, etc. clearly and carefully

vigorous

meaning: (adj): very active, determined or full of energy

make the case for

meaning: (idiom): to argue that something is the best thing to do, giving your reasons

put the case for

meaning: (phr): to suppose a hypothetical or illustrative case.

thurst

meaning: (n) \[S\]: the main point of an argument, a policy, etc.

first-hand → first-hand experience

meaning: (adj): obtained or experienced yourself

flying visit

meaning: (n) \[C, usually S\]: a very short visit

spring sth on sb

meaning: (phr v): to suddenly tell or ask someone something when they do not expect it

spend quality time

meaning: (n) \[U\]: time that you spend with someone, giving them your full attention because you value the relationship

whirlwind

meaning: (adj): happening very fast

social whirl

meaning: (n): busy social activity

go clubbing

meaning: (n): to go out dancing in clubs

play the host to

meaning: (idiom): to serve as a host for (someone or something)

wine and dine

meaning: (idiom): to entertain someone with food and drink, esp. expensive food and drink

convivial

meaning: (adj): cheerful and friendly in atmosphere or character

idle → idle chatter

meaning: (adj): \[usually before noun\] with no particular purpose or effect

pleasantry → exchange pleasantries

meaning: (n): \[C, usually P, U\] a friendly remark made in order to be polite

fly around

meaning: (phr v): If ideas, remarks, or accusations are___________, they are passed quickly from one person to another and cause excitement

open sb’s heart to sb

meaning: (idiom): to tell someone about your problems and secrets

draw sb into sth

meaning: (phr v): to involve somebody or make somebody take part in something, although they may not want to take part at first

broach sth to/with sb

meaning: (v): to begin talking about a subject that is difficult to discuss, especially because it is embarrassing or because people disagree about it

bombard sb/sth with sth

meaning: (v):  to attack somebody with a lot of questions, criticisms, etc. or by giving them too much information

generalisation

meaning: (n):\[C,U\] a general statement that is based on only a few facts or examples; the act of making such statements

drop the subject

meaning: (idiom): to stop talking about something, especially because it is upsetting or annoying

foul

meaning: (adj): (of language) including rude words and swearing

four-letter word

meaning: (n) \[C\]: a short word that is considered to be extremely rude and offensive

opening gambit

meaning: (n): A remark made in order to start a conversation

a rash promise

meaning: (n): \[C\] A binding oath, promise, or vow made with much haste and little consideration, usually in the heat of emotion.

an empty promise

meaning: (n) \[C\]: A promise that is devoid of worth or meaning, one that cannot or was never intended to be carried out.

find time

meaning: (idom): have enough time

put in/make an appearance

meaning: (phr): to be present somewhere for a short time