ELL HubHal Hershfield
Hal Hershfield
Episode 179
Vocabulary
inflict (verb)
- Definition:
- to cause something unpleasant or painful to happen to someone or something
- Example from the episode:
- “Would I inflict pain on a loved one?”
- Example sentence:
- “The storm can inflict damage on houses.”
procrastination (noun)
- Definition:
- when you delay or put off doing something that you should do, often choosing to do something less important instead
- Example from the episode:
- “Procrastination is a great example of thinking about the future, but doing it at a very surface level.”
- Example sentence:
- “She struggles with procrastination every time she studies.”
empirical (adjective)
- Definition:
- based on observation or experience rather than just ideas or theories
- Example from the episode:
- “I have not examined that in an empirical way.”
- Example sentence:
- “The study is based on empirical evidence.”
grease the wheels (idiom)
- Definition:
- to make things run more smoothly or efficiently, often by helping or giving support where it's needed
- Example from the episode:
- “So I'll have them write a letter to themselves 10 years ago to almost grease the wheels, because it's a weird thing to do this, and I fully recognize, you know, this is slightly uncomfortable.”
- Example sentence:
- “Good communication can grease the wheels in a team.”