On the rocks – The Hindu (March 15, 2017)

On the rocks – The Hindu (March 15, 2017)

The timing of the announcement by Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s first minister, to seek a second referendum on independence for Scotland may be no more than strategic. For further reading, visit “The Hindu”.

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Courtesy: The Hindu

Word List-2:

1. on the rocks (phrase) – in difficulty, in trouble, breaking down.
2. referendum (noun) – public vote; a direct vote in which people cast ballots to decide on a specific issue or policy (Courtesy: VOA Learning English).
3. overwhelmingly (adverb) – extremely, very intensely, to a great degree.
4. recede (verb)- diminish, lessen, decrease.
5. revive (verb) – re-introduce, re-establish, restore/relaunch.
6. futile (adjective) – pointless, useless, ineffective.
7. assuage (verb) – decrease, reduce, ease.
8. red line (noun) – boundary, limit.
9. counterpart (noun) – a person who serves the same job/function but in a different location; equivalent.
10. bloc (noun) – alliance, association, coalition.
11. coherent (adjective) – logical, reasonable, rational.
12. slump (noun) – steep fall, collapse/decline, tumble/plummet.
13. mounting (adjective) – increasing, growing, intensifying.
14. fiscal deficit (noun) – the difference between total expenditure and total income of the government.
15. champion (noun) – advocate, proponent, promoter/supporter.
16. run up against (phrasal verb) – experience, encounter, face/meet (a difficulty/problem).
17. cut much ice (phrase) – have much influence or effect.
18. tear/rip apart (phrasal verb) – divide, split, disunite.
19. sovereignty (noun) – autonomy, independence, self-government/rule.
20. devolution (noun) – decentralization, delegation, distribution.
21. short-sighted (adjective) – narrow-minded, unimaginative, lacking foresight.
22. promise the moon (phrase) – excessive/elaborate/fancy promises which can not be realized.
23. secessionist (noun) –  a person who supports the withdrawal of a group from a larger entity, especially a political entity.
24. ratify (verb) – give consent (to agreement) or make agreement official; authorize, approve.
25. undermine (verb) – subvert, weaken/reduce, compromise.

Note:

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