To brand
(To label someone, to cause someone to be known as a particular type of person—used in a negative sense) Examples: It has emerged that many people b ra n d ed him a liar even before his authority began to be undermined. Most people wanted to give him the benefit o f the doubt until, amid all this scandal, he was b ra n d ed a womaniser.
G r o u n d in g (Training, education, instruction—note the word “grounding” is often accompanied by the adjective “good”) Examples: • After the new laws have been phased in, we will all need a good gro u n d in g in European legal administration. • All o f the candidates shortlisted for the job have a good g ro u n d in g in economics. They are lucky enough to have escaped our dumbed-down education system.
To Unveil
(To show something for the first time, to reveal)
Examples: • The Mayor u n ve ile d a new statue o f Queen Victoria before waffling on about overseas trade. Pompous fool! There was an uneasy silence as the marketing director u n veiled his plans for the coming year. He said he was aiming to corner the market in home furnishings. We all have our doubts, and fear he’s clutching at straws.
“A : Her loud laughter is beginning to g ra te on
me. B: Yes, it’s doing my head in as well.” (see page 83)