Phrases & Expressions

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.

Serious damage done to the natural world, such as forests, rivers, wildlife and the climate.

• Uncontrolled mining has caused widespread environmental destruction in parts of the Amazon rainforest.
• Many tourists are unaware of the environmental destruction caused by building hotels along fragile coastlines.

To treat two things as if they were the same or equally important.

• Many parents equate success with exam grades, ignoring other important skills such as creativity and teamwork.
• Too many people equate wealth with happiness, even though money cannot buy close friendships or good health.

To get rid of a disease completely so that it no longer exists.

• Health organisations hope to eradicate diseases such as polio and malaria within a generation.
• Thanks to a nationwide vaccination campaign, the health authorities managed to eradicate the disease in less than ten years.

To end poverty entirely, so that no one lacks basic necessities such as food and shelter.

• Some economists doubt that any society can eradicate poverty, however wealthy it becomes.
• Education is often described as the most effective tool governments have to eradicate poverty in the long term.

Shaped so that it is comfortable, safe and easy for people to use, especially at work.

• The company bought ergonomically designed chairs to reduce back problems among office staff.
• An ergonomically designed keyboard can help prevent wrist pain if you type for many hours a day.

To choose the safer course of action, even if it turns out to be unnecessary.

• If you're not sure whether the chicken is cooked properly, err on the side of caution and put it back in the oven.
• When the storm warning was issued, the school decided to err on the side of caution and close for the day.

To grow into something worse and harder to control, such as an argument turning into a fight.

• A minor disagreement between two neighbours over a fence escalated into a court case lasting three years.
• Online bullying can quickly escalate into physical violence if teachers and parents do not step in early.