| No. | Term | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | abject poverty | extreme lack of money and resources |
| 2. | acid test | decisive proof of quality |
| 3. | act in good faith | behave honestly and sincerely |
| 4. | acute awareness | keen understanding of something |
| 5. | back burner | lower priority for now |
| 6. | balanced budget | spending equals income |
| 7. | bare minimum | least acceptable amount |
| 8. | bitter disappointment | deep feeling of letdown |
| 9. | calculated risk | risk taken after careful thought |
| 10. | call it quits | stop trying or end involvement |
| 11. | candid conversation | frank, open talk |
| 12. | cast doubt | make something seem uncertain |
| 13. | damning evidence | strong proof of guilt or fault |
| 14. | daring venture | bold, risky undertaking |
| 15. | dead end | situation with no progress |
| 16. | deep regret | strong sorrow about past actions |
| 17. | earn a living | make money to support oneself |
| 18. | ease tensions | reduce conflict or strain |
| 19. | economic downturn | period of declining economy |
| 20. | ethical dilemma | hard choice about right and wrong |
| 21. | face the facts | accept reality as it is |
| 22. | fair warning | advance notice of possible trouble |
| 23. | false alarm | mistaken sign of danger |
| 24. | firm commitment | strong promise to do something |
| 25. | gain momentum | increase speed, support, or progress |
| 26. | gaping hole | large opening or obvious gap |
| 27. | gentle reminder | soft prompt to remember something |
| 28. | genuine concern | real worry or care |
| 29. | habitual offender | person who repeatedly breaks rules |
| 30. | hard evidence | solid, verifiable proof |
| 31. | harsh reality | unpleasant truth |
| 32. | heated debate | intense argument with strong feelings |
| 33. | idle chatter | casual, unimportant talk |
| 34. | immediate family | closest relatives |
| 35. | in broad daylight | during full daytime |
| 36. | ironclad guarantee | promise that cannot be broken |
| 37. | joint effort | work done together |
| 38. | jump to conclusions | decide too quickly without evidence |
| 39. | just cause | valid reason for action |
| 40. | juvenile delinquent | young person who breaks laws |
| 41. | keen interest | strong curiosity or attention |
| 42. | key takeaway | main point to remember |
| 43. | kick the habit | stop a harmful routine |
| 44. | knee-jerk reaction | automatic response without thought |
| 45. | landmark decision | important ruling or choice |
| 46. | lasting impression | memory that remains strong |
| 47. | level playing field | equal conditions for everyone |
| 48. | looming deadline | approaching time limit |
| 49. | make amends | repair harm done to others |
| 50. | make ends meet | manage financially with difficulty |
| 51. | material evidence | physical proof in a case |
| 52. | mutual respect | shared regard for each other |
| 53. | narrow escape | close avoidance of danger |
| 54. | natural disaster | catastrophic event caused by nature |
| 55. | near future | time not far away |
| 56. | notable achievement | worthy accomplishment |
| 57. | objective assessment | fair evaluation without bias |
| 58. | obvious mistake | clear, easily seen error |
| 59. | official statement | formal announcement from authority |
| 60. | out of reach | not attainable or accessible |
| 61. | painful truth | fact that is hard to accept |
| 62. | passive income | earnings requiring little ongoing work |
| 63. | peak performance | best possible level of output |
| 64. | pressing issue | urgent problem needing attention |
| 65. | qualifying round | stage to determine advancement |
| 66. | quantum leap | sudden major advance |
| 67. | quick fix | temporary, easy solution |
| 68. | quiet confidence | calm belief in oneself |
| 69. | raging storm | violent, intense storm |
| 70. | raise awareness | increase public knowledge |
| 71. | rapid growth | fast increase in size or amount |
| 72. | reach consensus | agree as a group |
| 73. | sacred trust | duty to protect something valued |
| 74. | safe haven | secure place of refuge |
| 75. | salient point | most important detail |
| 76. | scathing critique | very harsh criticism |
| 77. | seasoned professional | highly experienced worker |
| 78. | serious consequences | major results from an action |
| 79. | set a precedent | create an example for future cases |
| 80. | shake things up | cause major change or disruption |
| 81. | sharp contrast | clear difference between things |
| 82. | short notice | little time in advance |
| 83. | significant other | romantic partner |
| 84. | simmering resentment | quiet, lasting anger |
| 85. | solid foundation | strong base for future success |
| 86. | sound judgment | good decision-making ability |
| 87. | spare no expense | spend freely for best result |
| 88. | stark reality | plain, often unpleasant truth |
| 89. | steady progress | consistent improvement over time |
| 90. | steep learning curve | difficulty learning quickly |
| 91. | stern warning | serious caution about consequences |
| 92. | strictly speaking | in exact terms |
| 93. | stunning revelation | surprising disclosure of facts |
| 94. | sweeping changes | large-scale reforms |
| 95. | take responsibility | accept blame and duty |
| 96. | tangible benefits | real, measurable advantages |
| 97. | time will tell | future will reveal the outcome |
| 98. | troubled past | history marked by problems |
| 99. | unforeseen circumstances | unexpected events affecting plans |
| 100. | unspoken rule | custom not formally stated |
