Vocabulary

• on edge: Anxious, nervous, or irritable.
• boil over: When a boiling liquid overflows the container.
• come at: To approach someone to attack them
• in the middle of: In the central part or point of something.
• cut off: To end a process, e.g. a phone call
• threat to: A person or thing likely to cause damage or danger.
• with it: Intelligent, alert, and up-to-date.
• push out: To prevent others from competing, e.g. in business
• cash in: To sell asset to get money back
• symbol of: Something that represents or stands for something else, especially an object representing an abstract idea.
• hit back: To retaliate; to respond to an attack or criticism with a similar action.
• in light of: Because of; considering
• on the brink of: Very near to experiencing something, usually something unpleasant.
• kiss and make up: To reconcile and become friends again after an argument.
• make up: To invent or create a story
• over time: Gradually; as time passes.
• think over: To consider a problem or issue carefully
• window of opportunity: A favorable period of time for doing something that will lead to a successful outcome.
• rule out: To eliminate as a possibility; exclude.
• in particular: Specifically; especially.
• in return: As a reciprocal action or gesture; in exchange or repayment.
• all along: From the beginning; all the time.
• finish off: To complete the last part of something.
• for sure: Definitely; certainly; without a doubt.
• play out: To use up or exhaust
• absolutely: Completely; totally; very
• intelligence: Collection of secret information about something
• relationship: Connection between two or more people or things
• military: Army or armed forces
• political: Being active or interested in government matters
• collapse: To fold (e.g. a stroller) down to make it smaller
• concern: To be about a particular topic
• state: Region within a country, with its own government
• regime: A system of management; a form of government
• notorious: Being famous or publicly known for something bad
• security: Department in a company in charge of protection
• hemisphere: One half of a rounded, ball-like object
• administration: Act of giving e.g. medicine to a patient
• vision: Ability to see; eyesight
• intervention: Getting involved to solve a disagreement, problem
• create: To make, cause, or bring into existence
• communist: Believer in communism
• infamous: Famous because of something bad
• economy: Using money, resources in a careful, effective way
• honor: To fulfill an agreement
• revolution: When a group overthrows an existing government
• allegedly: According to what has been alleged
• goal: Something you try to do or achieve; an aim
• dictatorship: Form of government with an absolute rules
• century: Period of 100 years
• policy: Document stating terms of an insurance agreement
• sentimental: Displaying emotions too easily or strongly
• assign: To give someone a particular job to do
• control: A device designed to operate a machine
• president: Person in charge of a country, or organization
• system: Set of organized, planned ideas that work together
• block: Solid piece of material used for building
• explode: To express an emotion in a sudden and loud way
• economic: Concerning trade, industry, and money
• education: Academic field studying the practice of teaching
• support: To give assistance or advice to someone
• government: Group of people and system that rule a nation
• middle: Place that is halfway between two things
• solar: Concerning the sun, or its heat
• own: To have something as your property
• fail: To be unsuccessful in passing a class or exam
• electricity: Energy generated positive and negative charges
• suffocate: To (cause to) die from lack of air to breathe
• change: To exchange one set of clothes for another
• nuclear: Concerning or involving the center of an atom
• alliance: Group of people/organizations working together
• hedge: To select words to avoid saying something directly
• repel: To make or force someone or something go away
• nation: Area or region controlled by a government and army
• part: Division of a book
• train: Line of people, animals moving the same direction
• govern: To officially control land and make policies
• bay: Part of an ocean or lake partly surrounded by land
• geopolitical: Concerning geopolitics
• embargo: Order from a government which prohibits something
• buildup: Making people feel excited about some new event
• mistrust: To feel that you cannot trust someone or something