point /point;' [n C] something that you say. which people had not thought about or discussed until you mentioned it: That's a good point, and we should take it into consideration.
make a point (=say something in a discussion. which people had not thought of before) In his speech, Marks made the point that far more people died from smoking tobacco than from taking drugs.
announcement ^'naonsmant/ [n CI a
public or official statement telling people what has happened or what will happen: The announcement was heard by millions of radio listeners this morning. + o//about I read the announcement of her death in today's newspaper. make an announcement Si/ence, please. Mr Bennett is about to make an announcement.
Statement 'steitmant/ [n C] something that someone says or writes publicly in
order to tell people what they intend to do. what their opinion is etc: In a state ment. the BBC admitted that it had given incorrect information. make a statement (=say something publicly) The President will make a statement to the press this afternoon.
IВ what people say about something
according to /3'ko:rdii] tu;/ use this to tell someone what someone else has said or
written
according to Johnjmy sister/the newspaper etc According to the paper, 20 people died in the fire. I Rob's go/ a new girlfriend, according to Janine.
Qthey say/people say /Oei seu
pi:pc?l sci spoken use this to say what a lot of people believe and are talking about + (that) They say her husband's in prison.
so they say (=when you are not sure whether something is true) The test isn 't
difficult, or so they say.
О apparently /э'раегэтН/ [adu] spoken
use this to say what you have read or been told, although you do not know about it yourself: It's going to be hot this weekend, apparently. I Apparently, Jim's a really good tennis player.
rumour British rumor american /ги;тэг jn C/U) a story that is passed from one person to another among a lot of people, and which may or may not be true + about Have you heard the rumor about him and his secretary? + that There are rumors that the band may be splitting up.
spread a rumour (=tell other people а rumour) Someone's been spreading nasty rumours about me.
gossip . gDs^pf'ga:-/ [n U] things people tell each other about other people's private lives, which may or may not be true: I got back from my vacation eager to hear all the latest gossip.
A Don't say 'gossips'. Just say gossip
ltd not saying anything
^ see also quiet
silent /'sa/tanf [adj] especially written not
speaking: She was silent for a moment
as she tried to think.
fall silent (^become silent) The crowd
fell silent as the President stood up to
speak.
SECRET
when only a few people know about something, and they do not
tell anyone else
see also private, tell, hide
information/plans/ places/meetings
secret /'si:kri>t/ [adj] if something is secret,
not many people know about it, and they agree not to tell anyone else about it: The tunnel had a secret entrance, which only the children knew about. I The decision was made at a secret meeting yesterday. top secret {=when an official document is
very secret) I tuas allowed to see top
secret plans for a new fighter plane.
secretly [ado] without anyone else knowing: They were secretly married last week.
secret /'sirkr^t/ [n C] something that you do not want other people to know about: Her exact age remained a secret
Qbe a secret especially spoken Don't tell
anyone. It's a secret. I The recipe is a family secret.
tell sb a secret П! tell you a secret if you promise not to tell anyone else. state secret ^information that a government keeps secret from other countries) Burgess was accused of giving away state secrets to the enemy.
When you see ИИ, go to the ESSENTIAL COMMUNICATION section.
confidential /.konfJ/denpHkain-,/ [odj]
confidential information is known only by a few official people, and must not be told to anyone else, for example because it contains military secrets or private details about people: We can't give out
confidential information about our patients. 1 confidential records on each employee
highly confidential (=very confidential) This is a highly confidential matter - can she be trusted? confidentially [adu] Wyatt had been told confidentially that the President planned to invade Grenada.
in secret m 'sixkr^t/ if you do something in secret, you do it secretly, especially because other people do not want you to do it: They planned the attack in secret. I Church services were held in secret, because they were not officially allowed.
in private /m praiv^t/ if you talk to someone or discuss something in private, you do it where other people cannot see you or hear you: I'd like to talk to you in private. I The judge heard the case in private.
undercover >nd9r'kAvarW [adj only before noun] working secretly - use this about the activities of the police, the army
etc
undercover agent/detective/police ojjicer
The bomb was found by an undercover detective.
undercover operation/investigation Six
members of a drug-smuggling gang were arrested after an 18-month undercover police operation.
thoughts/feelings
secret /'siikr^t/ [adj] secret thoughts and feelings are ones that you do not tell anyone else about: Her secret ambition was to be a dancer. I He kept a secret diary for fifteen years. secretly [adv] He was secretly ashamed of his family.
private / praiv^t/ [adj] private thoughts
SECRET 650
Ql didn't know what to say ai
didnt пэо wdI te "sei/ spoken say this when you are suddenly surprised or embarrassed about something, and you cannot think of
anything suitable to say: I didn't know what to say. It was such a wonderful present,
speechless 'spiitjbs/ [adj not before noun] unable to say anything because you are very angry, surprised, or upset: Anna lugs speechless. She had never seen such luxury before.