English Words for "Making Tough Choices"

quorum

noun

q

k

u

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ɔ

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m

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the minimum number of people that must be present for a meeting to officially begin or for decisions to be made

Example

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The board meeting could not proceed as scheduled because there was not enough members present to meet the quorum requirement.

According to the organization's bylaws, at least 50% of members must be present to establish a quorum for voting on important decisions.

to reconsider

Verb

/ˌɹikənˈsɪdɝ/

to think again about an opinion or decision, particularly to see if it needs changing or not

Grammatical Information:

transitive

resolution

noun

/ˌɹɛzəˈɫuʃən/

a firm decision to do something or to behave in a certain way, often made after careful consideration

to resolve

Verb

/ɹiˈzɑɫv/

to make a decision with determination

Grammatical Information:

transitive

to retreat

Verb

r

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to allow people's negative comments and criticisms change one's mind about something

Grammatical Information:

intransitive

to reverse

Verb

r

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v

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ɜ

r

s

e

to alter a previous decision, judgment, etc. to the contrary one

Grammatical Information:

transitive

to rule

Verb

r

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to make an official decision about something

Grammatical Information:

intransitive

ruling

noun

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n

g

a decision made by someone with official power, particularly a judge

say

noun

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ɪ

the right or chance to give an opinion about something

to settle on

Verb

/sˈɛɾəl ˈɑːn/

to decide something, after considering all possible alternatives

Grammatical Information:

transitive

Phrasal Status

inseparable

phrase's verb

settle

phrase's particle

on

to sleep on

Verb

/slˈiːp ˈɑːn/

to postpone making a decision until the next day or a later time, often to think about it more

Grammatical Information:

transitive

Phrasal Status

inseparable

phrase's verb

sleep

phrase's particle

on

to take a chance

phrase

/tˈeɪk ɐ tʃˈæns/

Collocation

to undertake an action, often involving risk or uncertainty

to take something into account

phrase

/tˈeɪk ˌɛstˌiːˈeɪtʃ ˌɪntʊ ɐkˈaʊnt/

Idiom

to consider something when trying to make a judgment or decision

What is the origin of the idiom "take something into account" and when to use it?

The origin of the idiom "take something into account" can be traced back to Middle English. The word "account" in this context refers to consideration or regard. The usage of "take into account" evolved from the combination of the verb "take" and the noun "account," which meant to include or consider something when assessing a situation. Over time, the phrase became firmly established in the English language, and it has been in use for several centuries. It is frequently used in decision-making processes, problem-solving discussions, analytical assessments, and evaluations.

to take something into consideration

phrase

/tˈeɪk ˌɛstˌiːˈeɪtʃ ˌɪntʊ kənsˌɪdɚɹˈeɪʃən/

to give thought to a certain fact before making a decision

taste

noun

t

a

eɪ

s

t

e

the ability to recognize something with good quality or high standard, especially in art, style, beauty, etc., based on personal preferences

the lesser of two evils

phrase

/ðə lˈɛsɚɹ ʌv tˈuː ˈiːvəlz/

Idiom

Informal

a choice or option that seems less harmful or unpleasant out of two that one is confronted with

What is the origin of the idiom "the lesser of two evils" and when to use it?

The idiom "the lesser of two evils" can be traced back to ancient Greek philosophy, particularly the works of Aristotle. Aristotle introduced the concept of "choosing the lesser of two evils" as a means of ethical decision-making. However, the exact phrase itself gained popularity in English literature during the 19th century. It was used by various authors and thinkers to describe the act of selecting the option that is perceived to have the least negative consequences when faced with two unfavorable choices.

to think over

Verb

/θˈɪŋk ˈoʊvɚ/

to consider a matter carefully before reaching a decision

Grammatical Information:

transitive

Phrasal Status

separable

phrase's verb

think

phrase's particle

over

to think twice

phrase

/θˈɪŋk twˈaɪs/

Idiom

Informal

to think about something very carefully before doing it

What is the origin of the idiom "think twice" and when to use it?

The idiom "think twice" has its origins in the idea of being cautious and considerate before making a decision. It highlights the importance of taking a moment to reevaluate one's choices to avoid hasty or regrettable actions. This idiom is widely used in everyday language to encourage prudence, especially in situations where a hasty decision could lead to negative outcomes.

toss-up

noun

/tˈɑːsˈʌp/

an unclear situation that either of two possibilities have an equal chance of happening

What is a "toss-up"?

A toss-up is a situation in which the outcome is uncertain and could go either way. It is often used to describe a decision or event where the chances of one result happening are just as likely as another. The term comes from the act of tossing a coin, where both sides have an equal chance of landing face up. In casual conversation, a toss-up may refer to anything where there is no clear favorite or winner, such as a close contest, decision, or prediction. It emphasizes that the result is equally balanced and unpredictable.

unanimous

Adjective

u

ju

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æ

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ou

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s

(of a group) fully in agreement on something

undecided

Adjective

u

ə

n

d

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ɪ

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s

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aɪ

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unable to make a decision or form a definite opinion about a matter

to uphold

Verb

u

ə

ph

o

oʊ

l

d

(particularly of a law court) to state that a previous decision is correct

Grammatical Information:

transitive

verdict

noun

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t

an official decision made by the jury in a court after the legal proceedings

versus

preposition

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ə

s

used to compare or to show contrast between two choices, decisions, etc.

Grammatical Information:

preposition of agent

veto

noun

v

e

i

t

o

oʊ

refusal of or disagreement with something

volition

noun

v

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oʊ

l

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ɪ

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ʃ

io

ə

n

the faculty to use free will and make decisions

vote

noun

v

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oʊ

t

e

an official choice made by an individual or a group of people in a meeting or election

to vote

Verb

v

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oʊ

t

e

to decide someone’s position, status, or recognition through a voting process

Grammatical Information:

transitive

to waver

Verb

w

a

eɪ

v

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ɜ

r

to hold back and hesitate due to uncertainty

Grammatical Information:

intransitive

to weigh

Verb

w

ei

eɪ

gh

to consider all the possible outcomes and different aspects of something before making a definite decision

Grammatical Information:

transitive

when push come to shove

phrase

/wɛn ɪf pˈʊʃ kˈʌmz tə ʃˈʌv/

Idiom

Informal

used when a situation reaches a critical point and one must take action in order to deal with it

What is the origin of the idiom "when push comes to shove" and when to use it?

The phrase "when push comes to shove" is an idiom used to describe a situation when things become difficult or critical, often requiring decisive action or revealing one's true intentions. The origin of this phrase is not precisely documented, but it likely draws from the idea that when external pressure is applied (a push), individuals may be compelled to act or make a decision (shove).

whether

conjunction

wh

w

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ɛ

th

ð

e

ə

r

used to talk about a doubt or choice when facing two options

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