theme Bi:m< [n C] an important idea that appears several times in a book, film etc. and slowly influences the way it develops: One of the themes of the book is the relationship between humans and nature. I The idea of duty is a favourite theme in the President's speeches. main/central theme (=the most important theme) The play's central theme is greed and its corrupting effects.
issue /'ifu:, isjuiU'iju: [n C] an important subject that people discuss and argue about: The control of nuclear weapons is an important issue.
+ of the issue of drugs in sports political/environmental/educational etc issues a book dealing with environmental issues
major/big/key issue (=a very important issue) Unemployment and crime were the key issues in the election campaign.
question /'kwestpn/ [n C| a difficult
subject or problem that has often been discussed but still needs to be solved + of The question of where to hold the conference has still not been settled. the Irish/Bosnian etc question (=the political problems of Ireland, Bosnia etc) raise a question (=make people consider a problem) These operations can saue fiues, but they raise difficult questions about animal rights.
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the point /йэ point [n singular) the main subject of a meeting, discussion, speech etc
stick to the point (=keep talking about the main subject, not about other less important things) Just stick to the point. John - what we want to know is how much the plan will cost. come/get to the point (=start talking about the main subject, not about unimportant details) Mr Bai/ey came siraighf to the point and asked me why I wanted the job.
miss the point (=not realize what the main subject is)
a subject that you study at school or university ^ see also education, test, learn,
STUDY, TEACH
Subject s\bdykt [n C] one of the things that you study at school or university, such as English, history, or mathematics: English u>as my favourite subject at school.
course (also class amkrican) koi's. klu:.s||
kiss [n С] a series of lessons in one subject, often with an exam at the end: Are you enjoying the course? language/computing/history etc course/ class The college is offering three basic computer courses this year. + in/on с course in journalism take a course}class (also do a course british informal) She's taking a class in art
history.
A Oon't say 'a course/class of business studies'. Say a course/class in business studies
^^ Don't say 'make a course/class' or 'attend a course/class'. Say take a course/ ciass
major /'meid33r; {n C] american the main subject that you study at university: "What was your major?" 'Political Science."
When you see Щ go to the ESSENTIAL COMMUNICATION section
SUCCEED
^ opposite fail
see also win, improve
U to succeed in doing
what you hoped to do or tried to do
succeed /sak'siid/ [u II to do something
that you hoped to do, tried to do, or wanted to do: She wanted to be the first woman to climb MountQomolanQma and she almost succeeded, succeed in doing sth In one year we've succeeded in increasing pro/its by 40%. I If they succeed in getting across the border,; the police will never catch them.
Don't say 'he succeeded to do it'. Say he succeeded in doing it
A Succeed 's fairly formal, and is not often used in conversation. Don't say 'I succeeded in my course/studies/exam'. It is better to say} did well
Qdo well <'du: we II ESPECIALLY SPOKEN to
achieve good results at school, in your job, in a sport etc: She's working for a record company in London - / think she's doing i>ery well. I Bill and Jim always did well in the swimming races.
success/ully /sak'sesfoli/ (adu) if you do
something successfully, you try to do it and you succeed: Mr Malik has successfully completed the advanced course in Business Management. I The film successfully combines a good storyline with a serious political message.
manage /'maenid3/ {u I/T] to succeed in doing something difficult after trying very hard, especially when you almost do not succeed: She has to do all that work be/ore Friday - do you think she'll manage?
manage to do sth He finally managed to jmd an apartment near his office. I I couldn't manage to get it downstairs - it mas so big.
Qmanage it/that especially spoken You got him to change his mind? How did you manage that? I I said we'd be there by seven, but I doubt if we'll manage it.
achieve /э'фгу/ (u T] to succeed in doing
something important, especially something that other people will admire you for: She's achieved a lot in the short time she's been with the company. I He hopes to achieve his dream of playing
for the Red Sox. I When you get your MA. you really feel that you've achieved something.
make progress '.meik ■prsugresl-'pra:-
to gradually start to achieve something that you want to achieve, by working hard: I'm not very good at Japanese yet, but I feel I am making progress. + with At last I began to make some progress with my research.
В when something has the result that you want it to have
Succeed s^k siid/ [i> I) if something that you plan to do or try to do succeeds, you get the result that you hoped for: If the terrorists' plan had succeeded, the bomb would have killed hundreds of people. ! The new government's efforts to control inflation are unlikely to succeed.
successful /sak'sesfol/ [adj] if something
that you plan to do or try to do is successful you get the result that you hoped for: If the treatment is successful, she could be back at school next month. I successful peace negotiations highly successful (=very successful) a highly successful election campaign
work /vv3irk./ [u IJ if a plan or method works, it produces the result that you want: "I can't open the jar." "Try putting it in hot water. That sometimes works." \ The recipe works just as well if you cook the fish in a microwave.
go well ^S30 'wel/ if something goes well, such as a meeting, party, or performance, everything happens in the way you wanted and there are no problems: Did the party go well? 1 If everything goes well, we'll be on the plane to the US by this time next week.