Phrases & Expressions

To compare two things to show how they are similar, often in order to explain an idea.

• The lecturer drew an analogy between the human brain and a computer to explain how memory works.
• It is tempting to draw an analogy with the financial crisis of 2008, but today's situation is quite different.

To make debts easier to manage, for example by lowering interest rates or allowing more time to pay.

• The new agreement aims to ease the debt burden on the world's poorest nations.
• The government plans to ease the debt burden on students by freezing interest rates.

A strange, unnatural quiet that makes people feel uneasy.

• After the storm passed, an eerie silence fell over the village.
• During the lockdown, an eerie silence hung over the normally busy city centre.

A speech that uses language skilfully and powerfully, so that it moves or persuades listeners.

• The head of the charity made an eloquent speech about why every child deserves access to clean water.
• Even the most eloquent speech will not change people's minds if the evidence behind it is weak.

To recover from an economic downturn, with output and employment beginning to rise again.

• The economy emerged from recession last spring, but many families are still struggling.
• The country took almost three years to emerge from recession after the banking crisis.

To send gases such as carbon dioxide into the air, where they trap heat.

• Cars, power stations and factories emit greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming.
• Countries that emit the most greenhouse gases are under growing pressure to cut their emissions quickly.

To use a particular plan or method in order to achieve something.

• Successful readers employ a range of strategies, such as skimming and predicting, to understand difficult texts.
• The company employed a clever marketing strategy to attract younger customers to its products.

To try very hard to do something, used mainly in official language.

• The university will endeavour to respond to all applications within four weeks of the closing date.
• We endeavour to reply to every customer complaint within forty-eight hours of receiving it.

To say officially that you support or approve of a plan.

• The student council endorsed a proposal to keep the library open later during the exam period.
• Most of the doctors at the conference endorsed the proposal to ban junk food adverts aimed at children.

To ensure that laws are followed and to take action against those who break them.

• Local councils are responsible for enforcing the law on noise, litter and illegal parking.
• Many countries ban smoking in restaurants but fail to enforce the law properly.