Unit 15

Word

Definition

Example

a win-win situation

a win-win situation, solution etc is one that will end well for everyone involved in it

It's a win-win situation for all concerned

afford to

to have enough time to do something

This is a chance I can't afford to miss

appreciate

to understand how good or useful someone or something is

You'll really appreciate the time off work

batteries recharged

to rest and relax in order to regain energy and strength

I came back with my batteries recharged and with new enthusiasm

broaden somebody's horizons

to increase the range of one's knowledge, understanding, or experience

I would like to broaden my horizons through travel

career development

lifelong process of managing learning, work, leisure, and transitions in order to move toward a personally determined and evolving preferred future

I see a break as an important part of my career development

catch up on

to improve and reach the same standard as other people in your class, group etc

I caught up on some DIY jobs I started in the summer

charity

an organization that gives money, goods, or help to people who are poor, sick etc

I spend one day a week volunteering with a children's charity

company policy

a guideline to help employer's dealing with employee accountability, health, safety, and interactions with customers

Allowing career breaks is our official company policy

costly

very expensive, especially wasting a lot of money

He made a costly mistake, but he didn't get the sack

feel grateful for

feeling that you want to thank someone because of something kind that they have done, or showing this feeling

I feel grateful for the things I have got

feel uncertain

not clear, definite, or decided

If you're feeling uncertain about a career break, just do it

fit in

to manage to do something or see someone, even though you have a lot of other things to do

We managed to fit in a visit to my partner's family

get away with something

to leave a place, especially when this is not easy

Did you manage to get away with that?

get up to

to do something, especially something slightly bad

What did you get up to on holiday?

hardly fair

not really reasonable or acceptable

That's hardly fair as I've never refused to take on more work

head off

to leave to go to another place

A break might help me head off in a new direction

hesitate

to pause before saying or doing something because you are nervous or not sure

I think she's now hesitating about taking a career break

be inspired by

having very exciting special qualities that are better than anyone or anything else

I've been inspired by the people I studied with

invaluable

extremely useful

The experience was invaluable

lifelong ambition

the thing one most wants to do in one's life

It would fulfil a lifelong ambition

long-term goal

something you want to do in the future

It's been a long-term goal of mine

misgivings

a feeling of doubt or fear about what might happen or about whether something is right

I understand your misgivings

once-in-a-lifetime

unlikely to occur more than once in a person's life

It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity

outlook

the way things are expected to develop in the future

It broadened my outlook and I experienced a different pace of life

perspective

a way of thinking about something, especially one which is influenced by the type of person you are or by your experiences

It gave me a new perspective on life and reordered my priorities

piece of advice

an opinion you give someone about what they should do

It was the best piece of advice I'd ever been given

postpone

to change the date or time of a planned event or action to a later one

I postponed my planned departure for a year to suit them

put off

to delay doing something or to arrange to do something at a later time or date, especially because there is a problem or you do not want to do it now

I put off looking for a permanent job for a while

relaxing

making you feel relaxed

It was a relaxing way to spend a few days

renewed enthusiasm

happening again after a pause, and with more energy, strength, or enthusiasm than before

I think I would return to work with renewed enthusiasm

retention rate

when workers stay with a company rather than taking a job with another employer

Allowing career breaks would help our staff retention rate

revitalize

to put new strength or power into something

My career break revitalized me

sabbatical

a period when someone, especially someone in a university job, stops doing their usual work in order to study or travel

She has decided to request a nine-month sabbatical to make a documentary in the Antarctic

soft skills

a combination of people skills, social skills, communication skills, character or personality traits, attitudes, career attributes, social intelligence and emotional intelligence quotients, among othe

I would like the opportunity to develop some soft skills

spend

to use time doing a particular thing or pass time in a particular place

How did you spend the weekend?

turn out

to happen in a particular way, or to have a particular result, especially one that you did not expect

Actually, it turned out to be a lot of fun

unfulfilled

an unfulfilled hope, desire, dream etc has not been achieved

Have you got any unfulfilled ambitions that you would still like to achieve?

valuable

worth a lot of money

It was a valuable piece of equipment

voluntary organization

is a group of individuals who enter into an agreement, usually as volunteers, to form a body (or organization) to accomplish a purpose

It was a voluntary organization working with local communities