Insight Upper-Intermediate "Unit 9 - 9C" Vocabulary

under attack

phrase

/ˌʌndɚɹ ɐtˈæk/

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as a target of an attack or hostile criticism

Example

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The city was under attack by enemy forces.

His ideas came under attack during the debate.

under the radar

phrase

/ˌʌndɚ ðə ɹˈeɪdɑːɹ/

Idiom

Informal

in a way that goes unnoticed or avoids attracting any attention

What is the origin of the idiom "under the radar" and when to use it?

The idiom "under the radar" originates from military aviation, referring to flying at an altitude or in a manner that avoids detection by radar systems. The phrase has since evolved into a metaphorical expression, signifying actions or activities that go unnoticed or escape attention, often intentionally. In a broader context, "under the radar" suggests a subtle or inconspicuous approach, allowing someone or something to operate discreetly or avoid scrutiny.

under pressure

phrase

/ˌʌndɚ pɹˈɛʃɚ/

stressful or anxious due to having too many tasks or responsibilities to handle within a limited time

under the weather

phrase

/ˌʌndɚ ðə wˈɛðɚ/

Idiom

Informal

feeling unwell or slightly ill

What is the origin of the idiom "under the weather" and when to use it?

The idiom "under the weather" has origins in the sailing world and dates back to the 18th century. It originated from sailors who would often feel sick or unwell due to rough weather conditions, which could cause them to feel unwell or seasick. The phrase evolved to describe someone who is feeling sick or not in good health. It is used to indicate that someone is feeling unwell or experiencing a mild illness. It suggests a temporary state of physical discomfort or sickness.

under one's belt

phrase

/ˌʌndɚ wˈʌnz bˈɛlt/

used for saying that someone has succeeded in, obtained, or experienced something

under scrutiny

phrase

/ˌʌndɚ skɹˈuːtɪni/

under careful and critical observation, often with a high level of attention to details

under control

phrase

/ˌʌndɚ kəntɹˈoʊl/

used to describe a situation in which someone or something is being managed or regulated in an effective and appropriate way

underage

Adjective

u

ə

n

d

e

ɜ

r

a

ɪ

g

ʤ

e

not old enough to legally engage in certain activities such as drinking or getting a driver's license

major

backup

noun

b

a

æ

ck

k

u

ə

p

(computing) a copy of computer data that can be used to restore lost or damaged data

bug

noun

b

u

ʌ

g

an error or fault in a computer program, system, etc.

cookie

noun

c

k

oo

ʊ

k

ie

i

(computing) data that a web server sends to a browser and receives if the user visits the website again, used for identifying or tracking the user's activities

What is a "cookie"?

A cookie is a small piece of data stored on a user's device by a website to remember information about the user’s activity. Cookies can store things like login details, preferences, or items in a shopping cart. When a user visits the same website again, the cookie helps the site recognize them and provide a more personalized experience. While cookies are useful for improving user experience, they can also be used for tracking and advertising purposes. Users can manage cookies through browser settings, including accepting, rejecting, or deleting them.

data

noun

d

a

æ

t

a

ə

information that a computer can use or store

firewall

noun

f

i

aɪ

r

e

w

a

ɑ

ll

l

(computing) a computer program whose task is providing protection against cyber attacks by limiting outside access of data

spam

noun

s

p

a

æ

m

unwanted or irrelevant online advertisements sent to many people

What is "spam"?

Spam refers to unwanted messages, usually sent in bulk, often for advertising purposes. These messages are typically irrelevant or inappropriate to the recipient and are sent to large numbers of people without their consent. Spam can appear in various forms, such as emails, text messages, or even social media posts. It is often considered a nuisance and can clutter inboxes, leading to a loss of productivity. Many email services have spam filters to automatically detect and move these messages to a separate folder.

spyware

noun

s

p

y

aɪ

w

a

ɛ

r

e

a type of software designed to gather information from a computer system or network without the user's knowledge or consent, often to steal personal data or monitor online activity

trojan

noun

t

r

o

oʊ

j

ʤ

a

ə

n

a type of malicious software that appears to be legitimate but actually enables unauthorized access to a computer system

to update

Verb

u

ə

p

d

a

eɪ

t

e

to make something more useful or modern by adding the most recent information to it, improving its faults, or making new features available for it

Grammatical Information:

transitive

virus

noun

v

i

aɪ

r

u

ə

s

a harmful program capable of multiplying itself and corrupting files and not allowing a system, like that of a computer, to function properly

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You learned 18 words from Insight Upper-Intermediate - Unit 9 - 9C. To improve learning and review vocabulary, start practicing.

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