Phrases & Expressions

To deliberately obstruct a police or court case, for example by lying or destroying evidence.

• The driver was jailed for perverting the course of justice after persuading a friend to take the blame.
• Deleting the emails after the investigation began could be seen as an attempt to pervert the course of justice.

To suggest that two things are connected, as a starting point for discussion or research.

• The author posits a link between childhood poverty and poor health in later life, but offers little evidence.
• The report posits a link between low wages and high staff turnover in the care sector.

To criticise something strongly and show that you think it is foolish or worthless.

• Several scientists poured scorn on the claim that the supplement could cure memory loss.
• Critics poured scorn on the minister's plan, calling it unrealistic and badly thought out.

To make a serious situation happen suddenly or sooner than expected.

• The sudden collapse of several banks precipitated a crisis that spread rapidly across the global economy.
• Analysts fear that a sharp rise in food prices could precipitate a crisis in some of the region's poorest countries.

To begin a speech or piece of writing with a particular remark, question or story.

• The speaker prefaced her talk with a short video about plastic waste in the ocean.
• Before announcing the job cuts, the director prefaced the news with a warm thank-you to all staff.

To make someone formally promise to tell the truth, especially in a court of law.

• A journalist who is put on oath may be asked to reveal her sources, which raises difficult ethical questions.
• The inquiry has the power to put officials on oath and demand that they hand over documents.

To officially cancel a court's guilty verdict, usually after an appeal.

• The appeal court quashed her conviction after new DNA evidence proved she had been elsewhere that night.
• Lawyers for the three men are confident that they will have their convictions quashed next year.

To regret something very deeply and wish that it had never happened.

• Companies that ignore climate risks today may rue the day they failed to plan ahead.
• Sign a contract without reading the small print, and you might well rue the day you did.

To use power to stop people from expressing opinions that oppose official views.

• Human rights groups accuse the regime of using online surveillance to suppress dissent.
• Governments that suppress dissent often find that public anger grows rather than disappears.

To expect little good from something, having been let down in similar situations before.

• After three failed reorganisations, the staff take a jaundiced view of the management's latest plan.
• Having been cheated online before, my father takes a jaundiced view of any deal that seems too good to be true.