Issue 143
17 October 2010
Word power
Wrongdoing and Corruption
Here are some expressions commonly used in discussing Wrongdoing and Corruption matters
arson - fire raising, malicious burning to destroy property
assault - a threatened or attempted physical attack by someone who appears to be able to cause bodily harm if not stopped
blackmail - a threatening to reveal substantially true information about a person to the public, a family member, or associates unless a monetary demand is met
bribe - make illegal payments to in exchange for favours or influence
bribery - the practice of offering something (usually money) in order to gain an illicit advantage
corruption - inducement to wrong by improper or unlawful means (as bribery)
counterfeiting - make a copy of with the intent to deceive, forgery
embezzlement - take or use dishonestly (money or property with which one has been entrusted)
fake - not genuine or real; being an imitation of the genuine article
fraud - something intended to deceive; deliberate trickery intended to gain an advantage
hijack a plane - to take control of a vehicle, especially an aircraft, and force it to go to an unscheduled destination, often taking any passengers present as hostages, skyjack a plane
hit-and-run driving - departing or leaving quickly and usually secretly, especially because one has done something wrong and wants to avoid punishment or arrest
hostage taking - taking a prisoner who is held by one party to insure that another party will meet specified terms
joyriding - borrowing a car illegally without the owner's permission although intending to return the car
kickback - an illegal, secret payment made in return for a referral which resulted in a transaction or contract; a commercial bribe paid by a seller to a purchasing agent in order to induce the agent to enter into the transaction
kidnapping - the unlawful act of capturing and carrying away a person against their will and holding them in false imprisonment
money laundering - concealing the source of illegally gotten money
mugging - assault with intent to rob
murder - unlawful premeditated killing of a human being by a human being
pickpocketing - stealing from the pockets or purses of others in public places
pimping - arranging for ---ual partners for others
racket - a dishonest business or practice, especially one that obtains money through fraud or extortion
racketeer - someone demanding ‘protection money’ from businesses
rape - the crime of forcing a woman to submit to ---ual intercourse against her will
robbery - the act of unlawfully taking the property of another by the use of violence
shoplifting - the act of stealing goods that are on display in a store
smuggling - secretly importing prohibited goods or goods on which duty is due
tax evasion - failure to pay taxes legally due the government, often by failure to report some income received or claiming false deductions
theft - stealing
trespassing - entering unlawfully on someone's property
vandalism - malicious destruction of the property of others
violence - an act of aggression (as one against a person who resists)
Now we put new vocabulary into context, so you can see how you might use these terms yourself. The expressions are in
boldface in the text.
He was accused of accepting or taking
bribes from wealthy businessmen.
Corruption is a greatest obstacle to economic and social development.
The
counterfeiting of money is one of the oldest crimes in history.
No
trespassing.
Trespassing will be prosecuted.
According to one recent estimate, worldwide money
laundering activity amounts to roughly $1 trillion a year.
Tax
evasion is one of the most common economic crimes.
The authorities can get the
kidnap victim back if it is possible to do so if you contact them right away at the first sign of trouble.
Hostage taking has proved to be immensely successful in generating terror.
The word
blackmail became popular in the 1800´s and comes from the clan chieftains who ran protection rackets on farmers in Scotland. If the farmers didn´t pay the mail (an old term for rent), the chiefs would steal their cattle and crops. Since this was considered evil, it was considered black.
Smuggling now is considerably diversified: the smuggling of immigrants, armaments, illegal drugs, as well as smuggling of alcohol and tobacco are widespread throughout the Western world.
In California, the penalties for
hit-and-run driving are severe. You may be jailed for up to four years, fined up to $100,000.00, and could lose your license.
Theft is the unlawful taking of property from another person. Some more common examples include
shoplifting,
pickpocketing,
theft from buildings.
Joyriding is: the crime of stealing a vehicle and driving fast and dangerously for fun.
Practise vocabulary: http://www.word-power.us/english-Wrongdoing+and+Corruption-19.php
Slang
whiz kid
a young person who is exceptionally intelligent, innovatively clever or successful
Proverbs
You can´t tell a book by its cover.
We cannot know what it´s like just by looking at the front or back cover. This proverb can be applied to everything, not only books.
Tongue Twisters
The seething sea ceaseth; thus the seething sea sufficeth us.
Quotes
“Become a possibilitarian. No matter how dark things seem to be or actually are, raise your sights and see possibilities – always see them, for they’re always there.”
~ Norman Vincent Peale
Word of the Day
Read the task below and click on a link which you think is the correct answer.
deadline
Abbreviations
Read the task below and click on a link which you think is the correct answer.
What does the abbreviation asap stand for?
Idioms
Read the task below and click on a link which you think is the correct answer.
catch on -
E.g. He is a smart child he catches on very fast.
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