Advanced English (2) • NOUNS • 'S'

noun [U ] C2 informal • synonyms: insight, shrewdness, acumen • financial/political/tech/media savvy; someone has savvy in dealing with money/people/systems • freq in AmE: 6/10

practical understanding, shrewd awareness, or intuitive grasp of how things work — especially in real-world contexts like business, politics, media, or technology; often implies street-smart insight rather than formal education

noun [C ] C2 • synonyms: spoonful, dollop, ball • scoop of ice cream/potatoes/powder; generous/single/heaping scoop • freq in AmE: 8/10

a rounded portion of something, typically food, taken or served with a spoon or scooping tool; often used for ice cream, mashed potatoes, or powdered ingredients

noun [U ] C1 • synonyms: independence, autonomy, resilience • economic/emotional/food/energy self-sufficiency; achieve/pursue/maintain self-sufficiency; path to self-sufficiency • freq in AmE: 6/10

the ability to provide for oneself without external help; independence in meeting one’s own needs — economic, emotional, intellectual, or practical

collocation with self-sufficiency noun [U ] C1 • synonyms: achieve independence, become autonomous • attain/achieve/pursue self-sufficiency; attain economic/emotional/food/energy self-sufficiency; path to self-sufficiency • freq in AmE: 6/10

to reach a state of independence or autonomy in meeting one’s own needs — economic, emotional, energetic, or practical; to become self-reliant and no longer dependent on external support

noun [plural ] C2 • synonyms: paving blocks, cut stone • granite setts; lay/set/pave with setts; patterned/herringbone setts • freq in AmE: 3/10 (more common in UK)

rectangular or square-cut stones used for paving streets, paths, or courtyards; unlike rounded cobblestones, setts are shaped and laid in regular patterns — often made of granite or other durable stone

noun [U ] C1 social/political • synonyms: gender bias, misogyny, discrimination • sexism in the workplace/media/education; everyday/institutional/blatant sexism; fight/combat/challenge sexism • freq in AmE: 6/10

prejudice, stereotyping, or discrimination based on a person’s sex or gender — especially when it results in unequal treatment, exclusion, or systemic bias

noun [C ] C1 social/political • synonyms: misogynist, chauvinist, discriminator • be called a sexist; accuse someone of being a sexist; blatant/obvious/typical sexist; sexist attitudes/remarks/personality • freq in AmE: 5/10

a person who discriminates against others based on their sex or gender, especially by reinforcing stereotypes or treating one gender as inferior — typically used to describe someone with misogynistic views or behavior

noun [C usually plural ] C1 • synonyms: antics, mischief, schemes, pranks • financial/political shenanigans; be up to shenanigans; silly/late-night shenanigans • freq in AmE: 5/10

a secretive, dishonest, or silly activity — often playful or mischievous, but sometimes deceptive or disruptive; usually used in plural (shenanigans) to describe antics, schemes, or troublemaking behavior

noun [C ] C2 • synonyms: closure, stoppage, halt • government/factory/system shutdown; temporary/complete shutdown; shutdown due to crisis/failure • freq in AmE: 7/10

a situation in which a system, operation, service, or institution stops functioning, either temporarily or permanently; often used in political, industrial, or technological contexts

noun [C ] C2 • synonyms: insult, smear, aspersion • racial/personal/political slur; make/hurl/deny a slur; a slur against someone’s character/integrity • freq in AmE: 5/10

an insulting or damaging remark, especially one that unfairly targets someone’s character, identity, or reputation; often used to express prejudice or contempt

collocation with slur noun [C ] C2 • synonyms: racial insults, ethnic slurs, hate speech • shout/hurl racial slurs; racial slurs in media/schools; condemn racial slurs • freq in AmE: 5/10

offensive or derogatory remarks targeting someone’s race or ethnicity; often used to express prejudice, hatred, or contempt, and considered deeply harmful and unacceptable in public discourse

noun [C ] C1 US informal (also smack-down) • synonyms: takedown, defeat, rebuke • verbal/political smackdown; deliver/receive a smackdown • freq in AmE: 6/10

a decisive defeat, confrontation, or harsh criticism; originally from wrestling, now often used metaphorically in politics, media, or debates

noun [C ] C2 • synonyms: surge, jump, upswing • price/inflation/interest rate spike; a spike in something; spike in demand/traffic/attention • freq in AmE: 7/10

a sudden and sharp increase in something, especially in prices, interest rates, statistics, or public attention; often short-lived and unexpected

noun [S or U ] C2 • synonyms: slant, framing, interpretation • a positive/negative/political spin; media/personal spin on something • put/add/give a spin to something; someone’s spin on events/news • freq in AmE: 7/10

a particular way of presenting or interpreting information, especially one that is intended to influence opinion or make something seem better, worse, or more appealing than it really is

collocation with spin noun [S or U ] C2 informal • synonyms: reinterpret, reframe • put a spin on something; put your (own) spin on something; give something a positive/political spin • someone puts a spin on facts/news/story • freq in AmE: 7/10

to present or interpret something (such as a story, idea, or event) in a particular way that reflects your personal style, opinion, or agenda — often to make it more appealing, persuasive, or aligned with your goals

noun [U] C2 • psychology/economics • antonym of: generativity • synonyms: standstill, inertia, deadlock • economic/emotional stagnation; fall into stagnation • freq in AmE: 4/10

a state of inactivity, lack of growth, progress, or development — often used in psychological, economic, or social contexts

noun [C ] C2 • synonyms: loyalist, pillar, diehard • stalwart of a movement/party/group; political/social stalwart; remain a stalwart • freq in AmE: 4/10

a loyal, reliable, and hardworking supporter of a cause, organization, or belief; someone who consistently stands firm and shows unwavering commitment

noun [C ] C1 • synonyms: position, viewpoint, attitude • stance on issue/policy/conflict; firm/neutral/defensive stance • freq in AmE: 7/10

a publicly stated opinion, attitude, or position on a particular issue, especially one that reflects values, beliefs, or strategic intent

collocation with stance noun [C ] C1 • synonyms: consistent position, unified attitude, logical viewpoint • take/formulate/maintain a coherent stance on something; present/justify a coherent stance to someone • freq in AmE: 6/10

a position or attitude on an issue that is logically consistent, well-structured, and aligned with underlying principles or values

noun [C or U ] C2 • synonyms: excess, oversupply, remainder • budget/trade/food surplus; surplus inventory/workforce • freq in AmE: 7/10

an amount of something that is more than what is needed or used; often refers to excess goods, resources, or financial balance; can be neutral, positive, or problematic depending on context

noun [U ] C1 • synonyms: monitoring, scrutiny, tracking • keep someone/something under surveillance; mass/covert/digital surveillance; under/increase/oppose surveillance • freq in AmE: 7/10

the act of closely observing or monitoring people, places, or activities, often for security, intelligence, or control purposes; metaphorically, the sense of being watched or scrutinized

noun [C ] C1 • synonyms: fraudster, cheat, scammer, trickster • expose/track/arrest a swindler; financial swindler; online swindler • freq in AmE: 6/10

a person who cheats others out of money or possessions through lies, trickery, or manipulation; often used in legal, journalistic, or moral contexts to emphasize dishonesty and exploitation