justify djAst'fai/ [v T) to show that there are good reasons for doing something that seems wrong to most people: How can you justify a 200% pay rise/ I a desper ate attempt to justify his decision
justi/y doing sth 1 don't think anyone can justify spending so much money on weapons.
justifying - justified - have justified
your beliefs about what is right and wrong
conscience /'копГ^Ц'кснп-/ [n CAJ) the
part of your mind that tells you what is
rightly ,'raitli [adv] formal if someone says or does something rightly, you believe that they are right to say it or do it: His opponents point out, quite rightly, that government money is really taxpayers' money.
principles /pnns^lz/ [n plural] your
beliefs about what is morally right or wrong, which help you to decide what you should or should not do: Some politicians are only interested in power, and don't seem to have any principles at all! against sb's principles (=not morally acceptable to them) I never borrow money - it's against my principles.
to think that something is right
right rait/ [adjj if you think something is right, you believe that there are good reasons lor doing it, or that it is not morally wrong: I don't think they shou/d test drugs on animals. It's not right. it is right to do sth Do you think it is ever right to lie to someone?
approve /э'ргугл/ [и I] if you approve
of what someone does, you think it is morally good or not morally wrong; if you approve of someone, you like them because you think they are sensible,
honest etc: Martha wants to get a motorcycle but her parents don't approve. + of Most people approve of the changes in the gun laws. I Tom s mother doesn't approve of his new girlfriend, approve of sb doing sth Would you approve of your teenage son smoking?
Ж Don't say 'I agree this decision'. Say I agree with this decision
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Don't confuse agree with sth (=think that something is right) and agree to do sth (=say that you will do it): He agreed to meet me after work.
believe in sth /Ы/liiv in (sth)/ [phrasaJ verb T1 to think that a type of behaviour is morally right or is a sensible thing to do. Hilary doesn't believe in sex before marriage. I I don't believe in all these silly diets.
believe in doing sth We'ue afu/ays believed in letting the children haue plenty of freedom.
be in /avour of sth British be in /avor of Sth amtrtcan bi: m 'feivar dv (sth)/ if you are in favour of something, especially something that affects a lot of people, such as a government plan or policy, you strongly support it because you think it is the right thing to do: Are you in favour of the death penalty? be in favour of doing sth 80% of those interviewed were in favour of banning nuclear weapons.
approval э'рги:\'^1/ [n U1 the feeling that
something is good, right, or sensible. When the awards were announced there was general public approval. I shouts of approval from the crowd
the legal right to do
something
RIGHT 630
right or wrong, and makes you feel guilty if you do something wrong: My con science told me that I shouldn't accept the money.
guilty conscience (=a guilty feeling because you know you have done something wrong) Paul couldn't sleep: 'A sign
of a guilty conscience,' he thought. with a clear conscience (=when you feel sure you have not done anything wrong) Ben had treated her so badly, she felt she could leave him with a clear conscience.
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right rait/ |n singular] something that you are legally or officially allowed to do the right to do sth Women fought very hard for the right to vote. have the right to sth Everyone should have the right to a decent education, give sb the right to do sth Having a European passport gives you the right to travel and work anywhere in the European Union.
agree with sth /a'gri: wid (sth)/ [phrasal
verb TJ to think that an action, decision, or type of behaviour is the right thing to do - used especially in questions or negative sentences: I do not agree with the use of violence. I Do you agree with the administration's immigration policy?
A
Don't say 'the right of something' or 'the right of doing something'. Say the right to something or the right to do something
rights /raits/ [n plural] the political and social freedom that everyone in a country
should have: laws that have gradually
taken away workers' rights
human rights (=the basic rights that all
people should have, including the right to
be treated fairly and without cruelty by
their government) The country has a bad
record on human rights.
equal rights (=the right of everyone to be
treated fairly and equally) equal rights for
women
be entitled to sth /bi: in taitld tu: (sth)/ formal to be legally allowed to have something or do something: You may be entitled to compensation for loss of earnings.
be entitled to do sth If she marries him, will she be entitled to live in this country?
RISK
the possibility that something bad
might happen
^ see also dangerous, gambling
Q a risk
risk /risk/ [n C/U] the possibility that something harmful or unpleasant might happen: There are a lot of risks involved when you start your own business.
+ of People continue to smoke, despite all the risks of heart disease, cancer etc. reduce/increase the risk о/ Clean the wound thoroughly to reduce the risk of infection.