Unit 9

Word

Definition

Example

pressure

an attempt to persuade someone by using influence, arguments or threats

There is pressure on all of us to lose weight

anxiety

the feeling of being very worried about something

There is considerable anxiety among staff about job losses

work part-time

someone who works part-time works for only part of each day or week

She wants to work part-time after she's had the baby

wages

money you earn that is paid according to the number of hours, days or weeks that you work

The factory workers are demanding higher wages

generous

someone who is generous is willing to give money, spend time, etc., in order to help people or give them pleasure

She's always very generous to the kids and often takes them out for a treat

charity

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

Several charities sent aid to the flood victims

purpose in life

a feeling of determination to achieve things in life

My football career was over and I had no purpose in life

equality

a situation in which people have the same rights, advantages, etc

He praised the generations who struggled to achieve racial equality

face

if you face or are faced with a difficult situation, or if a difficult situation faces you, it is going to affect you and you must deal with it

Emergency services are facing additional problems this winter

discrimination

the practice of treating one person or group differently from another in an unfair way

There is still widespread discrimination against older people in the job market

trust

to believe that (someone) is honest or will not do anything bad or wrong

Can they be trusted to look after the house?

have faith in

to have a strong feeling of trust or confidence in (someone or something)

The public no longer has faith in the government's policies

violence

behaviour that is intended to hurt other people physically

The nation has suffered terrorist violence for many years

fact of life

an unpleasant situation that exists and that must be accepted

Persuading others to accept the hard financial facts of life is not a very popular job

tolerance

willingness to allow people to do, say or believe what they want without criticising or punishing them

These role-playing sessions are intended to help people learn tolerance

able

if you are able to do something, you are in a situation in which it is possible for you to do it

I'd like to do more gardening, but I never seem able to find the time

ability

the state of being able to do something

The health centre serves all patients, regardless of their ability to pay

anxious

worried about something

She is anxious about the interview

charitable

relating to giving help to the poor or other people in need

A charitable organisation sponsors the food bank scheme

communal

relating or belonging to all the people living in a particular community

Crops are grown on communal land

community

the people who live in the same area, town, etc

The whole community gets involved in planning the festival

equal

having the same rights, opportunities, etc. as everyone else, whatever your race, religion or sex

Our education system should provide equal opportunities for all children

creative

involving the use of imagination to produce new ideas or things

I teach creative writing at Trinity College

generosity

a generous attitude, or generous behaviour

He is remembered for his generosity to the poor people of the city

national

relating to one particular nation as opposed to other nations

We refuse to sign any treaty that is against our national interests

nationality

the state of being legally a citizen of a particular country

The Olympic Games brings together people of many nationalities

normal

usual, typical or expected

A normal working week is 40 hours

probable

likely to exist, happen or be true

The probable cause of the fire was faulty wiring

poverty

the situation or experience of being poor

Millions of elderly people live in poverty

wealth

a large amount of money, property, etc. that a person or country owns

The family's wealth comes from diamond mining

homeless

without a home

Homeless people can go to the shelter for a hot meal, a shower and a bed for the night

state

the government or political organisation of a country

The state has allocated special funds for the emergency

democracy

a country that has a government which has been elected by the people of the country

It is one of the few countries in the area that is a true democracy

rule

to have the official power to control (a country and the people who live there)

Alexander the Great ruled over a huge empire

own

to have (something which belongs to you), especially because you have bought it, been given it, etc. and it is legally yours

Many more people now own their own homes

fund

to provide money for (an activity, organisation, event, etc.)

The community garden is jointly funded by several local companies

pay

to give (someone) (money) for something you buy or for a service

He didn't even offer to pay me for the ticket

racism

unfair treatment of people, or violence against them, because they belong to a different race from your own

The company has promised to continue to fight against racism in the workplace

majority

most of the people or things in a group

In the vast majority of cases the disease is fatal

rights

something that you are morally, legally or officially allowed to do or have

The new charter establishes the rights and duties of citizens

healthcare

the services that are provided for looking after people's health, or the activity of doing this

An ageing population requires greater expenditure on healthcare

peace

a situation in which there is no war or fighting

The country is at peace with its neighbours for the first time in years

chaos

a situation in which everything is happening in a confused way and nothing is organised or arranged in order

Snow has caused chaos on the roads this morning

take over

to take control of (something)

Ruth moved into our apartment and promptly took over

lose power

to stop having the ability or right to control people or events

The party lost power immediately after the war

control

to have the power to make the decisions about how a country, place, company, etc. is organised or what it does

China gained control of the island in 1683

the elderly

people who are old

My grandma lives in sheltered housing for the elderly

get divorced

to go through the legal process of no longer being married to your wife or husband

My parents are getting divorced

middle class

belonging to the social class that includes people who are educated and work in professional jobs, for example teachers or managers

They live in a middle class neighbourhood where most people own their own home

life expectancy

the length of time that a person or animal is expected to live

A person's life expectancy 200 years ago in Europe was much lower than it is today

vandalism

the crime of deliberately damaging things, especially public property

This area of the city is well-known for vandalism: windows are broken and cars are set on fire almost every night

beg

to ask people to give you food, money, etc., usually because you are very poor

The old man went from door to door begging for food

see life

to experience a wide range of different things, often unusual things

As a police offer in a large city, I really saw life

have the time of your life

to enjoy yourself very much

Julie went to a wedding at the weekend and had the time of her life

drown

to die from being under water for too long, or to kill (someone) in this way

Many people drowned when the boat overturned

come last

to lose a race by beinɡ slower than everyone else

I tripped early on in the race, so I came last

be in the lead

to be in the first position in a race or competition

He was in the lead after the first lap of the race

miss a penalty

to fail to kick the ball or hit the puck into the goal in a game of football, rugby or ice hockey, when you have been given the chance because the other team has broken a rule

He missed that penalty against France

send off

to order (a sports player) to leave the field because they have broken the rules

One of Dundee's players was sent off for punching another player

break the record time

to go faster than has ever been achieved or reached, especially in sport

He broke the world record time for the 1500 metres

knock out

to defeat (a person) in a competition so that they can no longer take part

He hit the headlines when he knocked Nadal out of the French Open Tournament

train

to prepare for a sports event or tell (someone) how to prepare for it, especially by exercising

They have been training for six months for the next World Cup

black belt

(someone who has) a high rank in sports such as judo and karate

Molly is a black belt in judo

represent your country

if you represent your country in a sport, you take part in a sports event for that country

Her greatest ambition was to represent her country at the Olympics

slope

an area of steep ground covered with snow that people ski down

He learned to ski on the slopes around Corvara

the favourite

the team, player, etc. that is expected to win a race or competition

Wilson's Lad is the favourite to win the Irish Grand National

get beaten

to be defeated

Trapero cycled well but got beaten in the last 200 metres