Unit 7 - Choice

Word

Definition

Example

indecisive

Unable to make decisions easily

She was indecisive about which dress to wear

mull over

To think carefully about something

Take your time to mull over the options before deciding

minefield

A situation with hidden dangers or difficulties

The topic of politics can be a minefield at family gatherings

slant on

A particular view or perspective

The news report provided a biased slant on the issue

range from

To include everything between two points or limits

The prices range from affordable to extravagant

agonise over

To worry a lot about making a decision

He would agonise over every decision, big or small

destiny

A future that is believed to be predetermined or meant to happen

Some believe in fate and destiny guiding their lives

impactful for

Having a strong effect on something

The experience was impactful for her personal growth

glaring omission

Something important that was clearly left out

The absence of a safety net was a glaring omission in the plan

drown out

To make another sound unnoticeable or harder to hear

The noise from the construction site drowned out their conversation

regard to

In connection with or about something

We need to consider the safety regulations with regard to the new project

figure out

To understand or solve something

It took him a while to figure out the puzzle

be swayed

To be influenced by something or someone

She was swayed by his convincing argument

comprehension

The ability to understand something

The textbook provided clear comprehension of the subject

be spoilt for choice

To have many good options to choose from

With so many options, she was spoilt for choice

dig your heels in

To refuse to change your opinion or decision

She decided to dig her heels in and fight for what she believed in

have second thoughts

To reconsider or doubt a decision

After hearing the news, she began to have second thoughts about the plan

in a quandary

In a difficult or uncertain situation

He found himself in a quandary about which job offer to accept

sit on the fence

To be unable or unwilling to make a decision

He preferred to sit on the fence rather than take sides in the argument

sleep on it

To think about something overnight before deciding

I'll sleep on it and give you my decision in the morning

take the path of least resistance

To choose the easiest option

He decided to take the path of least resistance and avoid confrontation

um and ah

To hesitate while deciding

She tends to um and ah when making important decisions

anti-clockwise

Moving in the opposite direction of a clock's hands

Twist the lid anti-clockwise to open the jar

be faced with

To be presented with a difficult situation or decision

She was faced with the challenge of completing the project on time

concur with

To agree with something

I concur with your assessment of the situation

embark upon

To start something new or important

They decided to embark upon a journey around the world

go ahead with

To start or proceed with a plan or decision

Despite the risks, they chose to go ahead with the plan

have clout/influence

To have power or influence over others

As a prominent leader, he has clout and influence in political circles

isolated

Separated or alone

The small village felt isolated from the rest of the world

secluded

Private and away from other people

The cabin was secluded, surrounded by dense forest

subscribe to

To agree with or support an idea

She subscribes to the belief that honesty is the best policy

take-away

The main point or lesson learned from something

Let's order take-away for dinner tonight

vexing

Annoying or worrying

Dealing with the constant noise from construction was vexing

worrying

Causing concern or anxiety

The worrying news about the economy affected everyone's mood

glaring

Very obvious

There was a glaring mistake in the report that needed to be corrected

cast an eye over

To quickly look at something

He quickly cast an eye over the document before signing it

dip into

To read small parts of something, like a book

Feel free to dip into the snacks if you're hungry

flick through

To quickly turn the pages of a book or magazine

She flicked through the magazine while waiting for her appointment

peruse

To read something carefully

He perused the menu before deciding what to order

plough through

To go through something difficult or lengthy

She had to plough through a pile of paperwork before the deadline

pore over

To read or look at something very carefully

He spent hours poring over his notes for the exam

read up on

To research or read about a topic

She decided to read up on the topic before the meeting

scrutinise

To examine closely and carefully

The accountant will scrutinise the company's financial records

skim

To quickly read to get the main idea

She skimmed through the article to get the main points

skip to

To move directly to a certain part of something

Feel free to skip to the next chapter if you're bored

bookworm

Someone who loves reading a lot

She's always been a bookworm, spending hours lost in novels

cover-to-cover

Reading a book from start to finish

I read the novel cover-to-cover in one sitting

curl up with

To relax and read a book comfortably

He likes to curl up with a good book on rainy days

die-hard

Very loyal or dedicated

He's a die-hard fan of the team, never missing a game

get lost in

To be deeply absorbed in something, like a book

She could get lost in the world of fiction for hours

have your nose in a book

To be reading a book intently

He always has his nose in a book, even during lunch breaks

heavy-going

Difficult or slow to read or understand

The textbook was heavy-going, making it difficult to understand

hit

To experience or reach a certain level or amount

The news of her promotion hit her like a ton of bricks

accustomed to

Used to something

She was accustomed to waking up early for work

angry with

Feeling mad at someone

He was angry with the rude comments

annoyed about

Feeling irritated or bothered by something

She was annoyed about the constant interruptions

aware of

Knowing about something

He was aware of the dangers of driving in the snow

amazed at

Extremely surprised by something

She was amazed at the beautiful sunset

ashamed of

Feeling guilty or embarrassed about something

She felt ashamed of her behavior at the party

based on

Using something as a foundation or starting point

His decision was based on the information provided

certain of

Sure or confident about something

She was certain of her decision to move abroad

committed to

Fully dedicated to something

He was committed to finishing the project on time

concerned about

Worried or interested in something

She was concerned about the impact of climate change

conducive to

Helpful or beneficial for something

The peaceful atmosphere was conducive to studying

confident of

Feeling sure about an outcome

She was confident of her ability to succeed

conscious of

Aware of or noticing something

He was conscious of the time ticking away

convinced of

Fully believing in something

She was convinced of the benefits of exercise

eligible for

Qualified or allowed to have something

She was eligible for a scholarship based on her grades

guilty of

Responsible for doing something wrong

He felt guilty of forgetting his friend's birthday

horrified at

Extremely shocked by something

She was horrified at the sight of blood

indicative of

Showing or suggesting something

His actions were indicative of his true intentions

justified in

Having a good reason for something

She felt justified in standing up for herself

keen on

Liking or enthusiastic about something

She was keen on trying the new restaurant in town

mindful of

Aware of or careful about something

He was mindful of his budget when shopping

terrified of

Very scared of something

She was terrified of spiders

proud of

Feeling pleased about something you or others did

She was proud of her daughter's accomplishments

typical of

Usual for or expected from someone or something

His behavior was typical of a teenager going through puberty

upset about

Feeling sad or disturbed by something

She was upset about the news of her grandmother's illness

necessity of

The need for something

The necessity of proper nutrition is well-documented

talent for

A natural ability for something

She has a talent for playing the piano

motivation for

A reason to do something

His family was his motivation for pursuing his dreams

hope of

Expectation or desire for something to happen

She held onto the hope of finding her lost dog

a consequence of

A result or effect of something

The traffic jam was a consequence of the accident

the risk of

The possibility of danger or harm

Smoking increases the risk of developing lung cancer

hesitation in

Delay or pause in doing something

He showed hesitation in accepting the job offer

implications for

Possible effects or results for something

The new policy has implications for employees' benefits

anger about

Feeling of displeasure or rage toward something

She couldn't hide her anger about the unfair treatment

little chance of

Not much likelihood of something happening

There's little chance of rain this afternoon

a course in

A series of lessons or studies on a subject

She enrolled in a course in photography

a hint of

A small or slight amount of something

There was a hint of sadness in her voice

an increase in

A rise in amount or level of something

There has been an increase in the price of groceries

no justification in

No good reason or excuse for something

There's no justification in his rude behavior

the likelihood of

The probability of something happening

The likelihood of success depends on proper planning

a possibility of

The chance that something may happen

There's a possibility of snow tonight

a reason for

A cause or explanation for something

There's a reason for his absence; he's sick

a regret about

Feeling sorry about something

She felt a regret about not spending more time with her family

the thought of

The idea or imagining of something

The thought of failing the exam made her anxious

a focus on

Concentration or emphasis on something

The workshop had a focus on improving communication skills

believe in

To have faith or confidence in something

She believed in the power of positive thinking

benefit from

To gain an advantage from something

She will benefit from the extra study time

compliment on

To praise someone for something

He received many compliments on his new haircut

decide on

To choose or make a choice about something

They couldn't decide on which movie to watch

depend on

To rely on something or someone

Your success will depend on your hard work

dream of

To imagine or hope for something

She often dreams of traveling the world

insist on

To demand firmly or strongly about something

He will insist on having his own way

plan on

To intend or expect to do something

We plan on having a picnic in the park

pride yourself on

To feel proud of something you do well

She prides herself on her ability to cook

result from

To be caused by something

His success resulted from years of hard work

struggle with

To have difficulty with something

She struggles with math problems

specialise in

To focus on a specific subject or activity

The doctor specialises in treating rare diseases

succeed in

To accomplish or achieve something

She worked hard and succeeded in her goals

out of work

Unemployed or without a job

He has been out of work for months

at an advantage

In a better position or situation

She was at an advantage with her advanced knowledge

at the beginning of

At the start of something

At the beginning of the story, the characters meet

at the scene of

At the location where something happened

The police arrived at the scene of the crime

by mistake

Done unintentionally or accidentally

She deleted the file by mistake

within limits

With some restrictions or boundaries

You can spend money, but within limits

in the face of

Despite or when confronted with something

He remained calm in the face of adversity

obsolete

No longer in use or outdated

The old computer system became obsolete

scrawl

To write quickly and messily

His handwriting was a messy scrawl

finesse

Delicate skill or precision in doing something

She completed the project with finesse

notoriously

Widely known, often for something negative

The city is notoriously known for its traffic congestion

retention

The ability to keep or remember something

Employee retention is a challenge for many companies

perpetrator

Someone who commits a crime or does something wrong

The police are searching for the perpetrator of the crime

cull

To remove unwanted parts or members

The farmer culled the weaker plants from the field

abandon

To leave or give up on something

She felt like she had to abandon her dreams

rummage

To search through something in a messy way

She rummaged through the drawer looking for her keys

encroachment

Gradual invasion or intrusion into a space or rights

The encroachment of the city on the forest led to conflicts

cuddly

Soft and nice to hold or hug

The puppy looked cuddly and adorable

banish from

To force someone to leave a place

He was banished from the kingdom for his crimes

dwindle

To gradually become smaller or fewer

The food supplies began to dwindle as winter approached

actively involved

Taking part in something with interest and energy

She was actively involved in the community project

completely oblivious

Totally unaware of something

He was completely oblivious to the danger

deeply divided

Strongly separated by opposing opinions

The country was deeply divided over the issue

hotly debated

Discussed with strong emotions or differing opinions

The topic of climate change is hotly debated

patently obvious

Very clear and easy to see

The answer was patently obvious to everyone

strictly enforced

Applied firmly and without exception

The rules were strictly enforced by the referee

chop and change

To frequently change plans or decisions

He tends to chop and change his mind frequently

investigate

To look into or examine something carefully

The police will investigate the crime scene

limitations

Restrictions or boundaries on something

There are limitations to what we can achieve

narrow something down

To reduce options or choices to a smaller number

She needs to narrow something down to make a decision

overwhelmed

Feeling too much to handle

She felt overwhelmed by the amount of work

restricted

Limited or confined

Access to the building is restricted to authorized personnel

variable

Likely to change or not consistent

The weather in this region is highly variable

be torn between

Unable to decide between two options

She was torn between studying abroad or staying home