a necessary evil
US
UK
- Noun (Countable/Uncountable)
- Something unpleasant that must be accepted in order to achieve a particular result.
B1Moreachieve
US /əˈtʃiv/
UK /ə'tʃi:v/
- Transitive Verb
- To succeed in doing good, usually by working hard
- To succeed in reaching a particular goal, status, or standard, often after effort or perseverance.
A2TOEICMoreat home
US /æt hom/
UK /æt həum/
- Phrase
- In one's own residence or country.
- Adjective
- Feeling comfortable and relaxed.
avoid
US /əˈvɔɪd/
UK /ə'vɔɪd/
- Transitive Verb
- To prevent from happening
- To stay away from
A2TOEICMoredeal with
US /dil wɪð/
UK /di:l wið/
- Verb (Transitive/Intransitive)
- To buy or sell goods or services.
- Phrasal Verb
- To take action to solve a problem or manage a situation.
- To be about; concern.
A1Moredirt
US /dɚt/
UK /dɜ:t/
- Uncountable Noun
- Loose earth or soil
- A substance, such as mud or dust, that makes something dirty.
- Countable Noun
- A track made of compacted earth or soil.
A2Moreevil
US /ˈivəl/
UK /'i:vl/
- Countable Noun
- Act considered morally bad
- Adjective
- Morally bad; causing harm to people
- Profoundly immoral and wicked.
A2Moreexercise
US /ˈɛksɚˌsaɪz/
UK /'eksəsaɪz/
- Verb (Transitive/Intransitive)
- To work out to become stronger and healthier
- To retain your ability or practice your skills
- Noun (Countable/Uncountable)
- Physical activity to increase health and strength
- Set of questions in a text book
A2Moreextra
US /'ekstrə/
UK /'ekstrə/
- Adjective
- More than necessary; additional
- Of especially good quality or grade.
- Noun (Countable/Uncountable)
- Items more than you need; additional items
- Person who has a small part in a movie
A2Morefit
US /fɪt/
UK /fɪt/
- Adjective
- Good looking; physically attractive
- Having good physical health and strength
- Verb (Transitive/Intransitive)
- To install a machine, equipment etc.
- To adjust or change to the right size or shape
A2Moreflight
US /flaɪt/
UK /flaɪt/
- Noun (Countable/Uncountable)
- Act of leaving a place, usually to escape danger
- Trip by plane, helicopter etc.
A2TOEICMorehave to
US /hæv tu/
UK /ˈhæv tə/
- Auxiliary Verb
- Must do
A1Morehold on
US /hold ɑn/
UK /həuld ɔn/
- Phrasal Verb
- To wait for someone (e.g. on a phone call)
- To wait for a short time.
A1Morein order to
US /ɪn ˈɔrdɚ tu/
UK /in ˈɔ:də tu:/
- Preposition
- For the purpose of; with the aim of.
- Phrase
- In a specific sequence or arrangement.
- With the aim of; for the purpose of.
C1Morelook at
US /lʊk æt/
UK /luk æt/
- Phrasal Verb
- To use your eyes to focus on something
- To focus your eyes on something carefully
A1Morephrase
US /frez/
UK /freɪz/
- Noun
- Common expression or saying
- Section of musical notes in a piece of music
- Verb (Transitive/Intransitive)
- To choose words to say what you mean clearly
A2Morerefund
US /'ri:fʌnd/
UK /'ri:fʌnd/
- Transitive Verb
- To give money back, e.g. if a product is faulty
- Noun
- Money given back, e.g. if a product is faulty
B1TOEICMoreresult
US /rɪˈzʌlt/
UK /rɪ'zʌlt/
- Noun
- Something produced through tests or experiments
- Final score of a competition, election or game
- Intransitive Verb
- To be the outcome of other causes and effects
- To happen or exist as a consequence of something.
A2Morerob
US /rɑb/
UK /rɒb/
- Proper Noun
- Person's name
- Transitive Verb
- To steal money or property from (bank or person)
- To prevent from getting something deserved
A2Moreseaside
US /ˈsiˌsaɪd/
UK /'si:saɪd/
- Noun
- Resort area next to the sea shore
B2Morespend
US /spɛnd/
UK /spend/
- Transitive Verb
- To use money to pay for something
- To use time in order to do something
A2TOEICMorespend more time
US
UK
- Phrase
- To dedicate a greater amount of time to a particular activity or person.
A1Moretax
US /tæks/
UK /tæks/
- Transitive Verb
- To require a lot of physical or mental effort
- (Government) to take money from a country's people
- Noun (Countable/Uncountable)
- Money taken by a government from its people
- A heavy demand or burden.
A2TOEICMoretraffic
US /ˈtræfɪk/
UK /'træfɪk/
- Noun (Countable/Uncountable)
- The cars or vehicles on the road
- Amount of activity over a communication system
- Verb (Transitive/Intransitive)
- Deal or trade in something illegal.
- To direct and control traffic.
A2TOEICMoreunavoidable
US /ˌʌnəˈvɔɪdəbəl/
UK /ˌʌnəˈvɔɪdəbl/
- Adjective
- That cannot prevent from happening
B1Morewonderful
US /'wʌndərfl/
UK /ˈwʌndəfl/
- Adjective
- Producing feelings of enjoyment or delight
A2More
Vocabulary
- have to: Must do
- a necessary evil: Something unpleasant that must be accepted in order to achieve a particular result.
- look at: To use your eyes to focus on something
- in order to: For the purpose of; with the aim of.
- at home: In one's own residence or country.
- hold on: To wait for someone (e.g. on a phone call)
- deal with
- spend more time: To dedicate a greater amount of time to a particular activity or person.
- phrase: Common expression or saying
- achieve: To succeed in doing good, usually by working hard
- describe: To tell the appearance, sound, smell of something
- exercise: To work out to become stronger and healthier
- avoid: To prevent from happening
- mean: Average of a set of numbers
- deal: To cope with something - usually troubles
- extra: More than necessary; additional
- result: Something produced through tests or experiments
- guess: To give an answer without knowing if it is correct
- accept: To agree to receive or take something offered
- fit: Good looking; physically attractive
- place: To put someone in a particular type of situation
- order: Religious or social group, as of nuns
- learn: To get knowledge or skills by study or experience
- spend: To use money to pay for something
- dirt: Loose earth or soil
- public: Owned by the government
- wrong: Action that is harmful, unjust or illegal
- basic: At the most important or easiest (beginner) level
- flight: Act of leaving a place, usually to escape danger
- drive: A person's ambition and motivation to do something
- find: To become aware of something that is happening
- traffic: The cars or vehicles on the road
- evil: Act considered morally bad
- hold: To agree to keep something for someone
- return: To hit something back to the other player or team
- refund: To give money back, e.g. if a product is faulty
- rob: Person's name
- tax: To require a lot of physical or mental effort
- unavoidable: That cannot prevent from happening
- wonderful: Producing feelings of enjoyment or delight
- seaside: Resort area next to the sea shore
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01:03
She took a brave step forward, leaving behind her comfort zone to chase her dreams.
Vocabulary
- brave
adj. Having courage
- comfort zone
phr. A familiar situation where one feels safe
Explanation
a brave step is a noun phrase, where brave is an adjective modifying the noun step, meaning "a courageous step".
forward is an adverb modifying step, meaning "ahead".
The whole phrase serves as the object, answering the "what" of took (verb) — she took a brave step forward.
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brave
US/brev/
UK/breɪv/
adj.Brave
v.t.To bravely face
A2 Elementary
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Evangeline posted on 2021/04/04Ever wondered if something you dislike is actually unavoidable? This fun episode of "The English We Speak" breaks down the handy idiom "a necessary evil" with a relatable dialogue about travel and taxes. You'll pick up practical phrases and improve your understanding of everyday English!
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