The Hindu Editorial (Freeze out) – Mar 24, 2022

On Tuesday, after possibly the longest pause, of 137 days, in India’s retail fuel prices in recent years, oil marketing companies raised petrol and diesel prices by about 80 paise a litre,… For further reading, visit “The Hindu”. Below is today’s word list-1 for The Hindu Editorial (Freeze out) – Mar 24, 2022.

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The Hindu Editorial (Freeze out) – Mar 24, 2022:

freeze out (phrasal verb) – exclude, leave out, cut out, neglect, ignore, reject, disown, snub, shun, turn one’s back on, leave out in the cold.
pause (noun) – temporary stoppage, break, interval.
ploy (noun) – (cunning) plan, scheme, course of action, tactic, manoeuvre.
freeze (verb) – (of rate, price, etc) fix at a level.
distortionary (adjective) – misrepresenting, twisting, misreporting/misleading.
follow up (phrasal verb) – continue/carry on something further.
effect (verb) – cause, bring about, carry out, cause to happen/occur.
tweak (verb) – adjust, modify, alter, change.
eve (noun) – evening/day before (a religious festival).
excise duty (noun) – the taxes levied on the manufacture of goods within the country, (as opposed to custom duty that is levied on goods coming from outside the country).
interregnum (noun) – period, intervening time/period.
then and now (phrase) – from time to time.
coincide (verb) – occur simultaneously, happen at the same time, coexist.
spike (noun) – a sharp rise/increase of something.
crude oil (noun) – the raw natural resource that is extracted from the earth and refined into products such as gasoline, jet fuel, diesel and other petroleum products.
freeze (noun) – an act of keeping something (e.g. price/rate) at a fixed state.
deregulated (adjective) – relating to the market where the government rules & restrictions are removed.
shoot (verb) – rise, go up, increase, shoot up, soar, surge.
invasion (noun) – occupation, conquering, capture, seizure, annexation, annexing, takeover.
ordinarily (adverb) – usually, normally, generally.
reset (verb) – set again.
basket (noun) – a group of something (taxes, investments, commodities, etc.).
Indian Basket (IB) (or) Indian Crude Basket (noun) – The Indian crude oil basket is derived from sour grade (Oman and Dubai average) and sweet grade (Brent) of crude oil processed at Indian refineries in the ratio of 75.50:24.50. It is used for the purpose of macro-economic calculations as petroleum product prices are linked to their own market.
distance oneself from (verb) – denounce, disown, reject.
assert (verb) – argue, state, avow, insist, announce, declare (confidently).
directive (noun) – instruction, direction, order, charge.
keep down (phrasal verb) – maintain something at a low level.
build up (phrasal verb) – strengthen, improve, augment, raise.
strategic (adjective) – relating to achieving long-term or overall goals.
reserve (noun) – stock, reservoir.
surge (noun) – sudden increase or rise of something.
dose (noun) – an amount/quantity of something.
formation (noun) – inauguration, initiation, setting up, establishment.
election-bound/poll-bound (adjective) – guaranteed to have election (which is imminent/approaching).
abundantly (adverb) – significantly, distinctly, extremely.
make clear (phrase) – explain, clarify, elucidate.
nudge (noun) – reminder, push, prod, encouragement, prompting.
wink (noun) – an act of blinking an eye.
state-run (adjective) – (state) government-owned.
goad (verb) – impel, pressure, pressurize, prompt, induce, urge, motivate/encourage.
swallow (verb) – tolerate, endure, put up with, bear, suffer, accept (something without question).
follow suit (phrase) – emulate, copy, follow, take (another’s actions as an example).
free market (noun) – a type of economic system that is controlled by the market forces of supply and demand, as opposed to government controls that involve price-cutting monopolies. It is different from a regulated market or command economy. In the latter, a central government agency decides the supply and demand, which means the market does not operate freely. In a free market, a majority of companies and properties are owned by individuals or entities in the private sector instead of the state.
hold hostage (phrase) – to keep someone/something as hostage.
deploy (verb) – use, utilize, employ, make use of.
often (adverb) – frequently, many times, again and again, repeatedly.
campaign (noun) – canvassing, electioneering, an act of soliciting (asking for/requesting) votes; an organized effort that seeks to influence the decision-making progress within a specific group.
untenable (adjective) – undefendable, unjustified, unacceptable.
reflect (verb) – indicate, show, display, demonstrate.
cynical (adjective) – bitter, resentful, pessimistic, sceptical, distrustful, suspicious.
machinery (noun) – system, apparatus, structure.
deployment (noun) – the bringing of resources into effective action.
in the offing (phrase) – coming soon, likely to happen, on the way, forthcoming.
close the gap (phrase) – to reduce a difference between two things.
pump price (noun) – the retail selling price of petrol/diesel (to the public).
inflation (noun) – simply meaning “cost of living”; increase of price level of goods & services and vice versa decrease of currency value.
intervene (verb) – intercede, get involved, step in.
red flag (noun) – warning, caution, alarm bells.
fret (verb) – worry, be anxious, feel uneasy, be distressed, be upset, feel unhappy (about someone/something).
sane (adjective) – sensible/practical, advisable, responsible.
bid (verb) – make an offer.
Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) (noun) – an Indian public sector oil and gas company headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra. The Corporation operates two large refineries of the country located in Kochi and Mumbai.
for instance (phrase) – as an example.
price (verb) – fix the price of, set the price of, put a price on, cost, value, rate.
effectively (adverb) – practically, virtually, in effect, all but, more or less, almost.
curtail (verb) – decrease, lessen, reduce, restrict, limit.
briefing (noun) – instructions, directions, guidelines.
warrant (verb) – guarantee, affirm, support.
consternation (noun) – a sudden and unexpected feeling of worry/anxiety that causes confusion; dismay, disquiet, surprise, shock.
undermine (verb) – weaken, subvert, sabotage, damage.
a level playing field (phrase) – a situation in which everyone has a fair and equal opportunity to succeed, and no one has an advantage over the other.
in favour of (phrase) – approving of, pro, on the side of, In support of, to the advantage of, supportive of.
dispensation (noun) – organization, establishment, system; government.
open the door (phrase) – provide someone opportunities (particularly for success).
creeping (adjective) – (of a negative manner) occurring, developing gradually.
diktat (noun) – order, regulation, decree.
deviation (noun) – divergence/departure, abnormality, irregularity.
perception (noun) – understanding, discernment, recognition/realization; interpretation.
mysterious (adjective) – puzzling, strange, peculiar, funny, odd, weird, bizarre, mystifying, baffling, perplexing, bewildering, confusing, incomprehensible, unexplainable, unfathomable.
par for the course (phrase) – normal, typical, usual, routine, ordinary, standard.
transient (adjective) – temporary, short-term or impermanent.
stated (adjective) – identified, specified.
governance (noun) – the act of governing something; administration.
optics (noun) – the way in which something (political action/situation) is recognized by the general public.
benevolence (noun) – kindness, goodwill, compassion, consideration.
rise (up) to (verb) – find the strength/ability to respond adequately to a challenging situation.
stand (noun) – stance, point of view, viewpoint, opinion, standpoint, position, perspective, approach.
reversal (noun) – turnaround, change, swing/shift.
deferral (noun) – postponement, stay, suspension, holdback.