Page 107 - English Vocabualry In Use 3 (Upper Intermediate)

50 Commenting on problematic situations

A Types of problems and difficulties

There are many words for different types of The earthquake was a dreadful disaster for the
difficulties. Chaos is a state of total confusion, country. The transport system was in chaos for
where there is no order at all. A disaster is an some time afterwards. The government were
event which causes great harm or damage. If you faced with a dilemma: start reconstruction
are facing a dilemma or are in a dilemma you work at once or wait until the likelihood of
are in a situation where you have to make aftershocks had passed.
a difficult decision between two things.

tobeinafix=beinadifficultsituation tobeinatightcorner=beinasituationthatishardto
getoutof tobeinamuddle=beconfused/mixedup

Thewordchallengeputsapositiveslantonaproblemsituationinthatitfocusesonthefactthatit
needsgreatmentalorphysicaleffortinordertobedonesuccessfullyandthereforetestsaperson’s
ability.

B Specific difficulties
1
2
Youcanbebadlyaffected byallsortsofthings,fromthosethataremildlyirritating tothe
3
intensely annoying .
1 things can have a negative impact on you 2 slightly annoying 3 extremely annoying

Yourplansmaybedisrupted.[preventedfromcontinuingasintended]
Negotiationsorabuildingmaycollapse.[failbecauseofalackofsupport]
Youcanbedeprivedofsomethingyouvalue.[havesomethingtakenawayfromyou]
Someone’sheartcanbebroken.[madeextremelysad]
Yourlifemaylacksomethingthatyouwouldlike.[nothave(enoughof)something]

Thenounsrelatedtothewordsinthissectionareeffect,irritantorirritation,annoyance,
disruption, collapse, deprivation, heartbreak and lack.

C Idioms about dealing with problems and difficulties

totakeabackseat[nottodoanything;letothersactinstead]≠totakethebullbythehorns
[actpositivelytofaceandattacktheproblem]
tostirthingsup[do/saythingsthatmakethesituationworse]≠topouroilontroubledwaters
[do/saythingsthatcalmthesituationdown]
Ican’tface(thethoughtof)clearingupallthismesstoday.[don’twanttodealwith]
Ithoughtitwouldbebestjusttolaymycardsonthetable.[stateexactlywhatmypositionis]

Thishastobedonebynextweek;wemustgetouracttogetherbeforeit’stoolate.[organise
ourselves to respond; infml]

Weneedaproperinvestigationtogettothebottomofthings.[findthetrueexplanation]
It’squitedifficulttogetpeopletositupandtakenotice.[makethempayattention]
I’mtryingtogetagraspofwhat’shappening;it’snoteasy.[findout/understand]

D Idioms relating to changes in problem situations
The tide has turned forus;betterdaysareahead.

Wecanseethelightattheendofthetunnelatlast.[seethatadifficultsituationmaybeendingsoon]
I’mafraidwe’vejustcometoadeadendwithourplans.
IthinkI’vereachedaturningpointinmycareer.
Thegovernmentandtheunionshaveburiedthehatchetforthetimebeing.[madepeace/stopped
fighting each other]
Allthattroublelastyearwasjustsweptunderthecarpetintheend.[ignored/deliberatelyforgotten,
without solving it]

106 English Vocabulary in Use Upper-intermediate