ELL HubSheila Heen
Sheila Heen
Episode 204
Vocabulary
fester (verb)
- Definition:
- to become worse or more painful because a problem or feeling is not dealt with
- Example from the episode:
- “The other half of the ledger is what are the potential costs of avoiding it and letting it fester.”
- Example sentence:
- “The problem began to fester because no one tried to fix it.”
tactic (noun)
- Definition:
- a way or method to do something or solve a problem
- Example from the episode:
- “What tactics can we use to stay calm and focused as emotions escalate, and how can we reflect on those emotions in advance?”
- Example sentence:
- “The teacher showed a new tactic to solve the math problem.”
underlying (adjective)
- Definition:
- something hidden or not obvious that is the real cause or reason
- Example from the episode:
- “In your book Difficult Conversations, you emphasize the importance of understanding the underlying emotions and assumptions in tough conversations.”
- Example sentence:
- “We need to find the underlying reason for her sadness.”
get one’s way (idiom)
- Definition:
- to do what you want, even if others do not agree
- Example from the episode:
- “Because you never listen, because you always think you're right and need to get your way.”
- Example sentence:
- “She wants to get her way when choosing a game to play.”