In the course of a discussion there definitely come moments when some clarification is asked for and given.
Asking for clarification: I'm sorry I don't quite understand what you mean by...; I'm sorry, could you explain what you mean by...? I'm afraid, I'm not really very clear about what you mean by... (tentative); I'm sorry, but could you possibly explain what you mean by...? (tentative); Did you mean that...? Do you really think that...? Did you say...? But you said earlier that...; I don't understand what you mean by...; What (exactly) do you mean by...? Giving clarification: Well, what I'm trying to say is (that)...; The point I'm trying to make is (that) …; Well, I think/ suppose what I mean is (that)... (tentative); What I mean is (that), What I'm saying is (that)... (both direct); All I'm trying to say is (that)... (informal); Well, to be frank …/ Frankly... (strong, blunt). If you are asked awkward questions, the following phrases may be useful: I'd like to think about that one; Let me see; The best way I can answer.... Another "delaying tactic" is to repeat the question you have been asked. [1] descriptions of the lives of famous people who have just died [2] an article giving the newspaper editor's opinion [3] pages of advertisements in different categories [4] separate magazines included with the newspaper [5] an article or set of articles devoted to a particular topic [6] sections in a paper or magazine that deal with readers' private emotional problems [7] person, typically a woman, who answers letters in the agony column [8] people trying to influence what other people think about a particular issue [9] express their opinions [10] want to reach a wider audience [11] meetings to give information to and answer questions from the press [12] give a formal announcement to the press [13] short memorable sentence or phrase that will be repeated in news bulletins and articles [14] time of year, summer in the UK, when there is not much happening and trivial stories end up on the front page [15] making use of people or organisations which regularly provide news [16] regularly checking [17] space [18] present a story in a particular way [19] collecting scandal (informal and disapproving) [20] Constitutional mandate: The First Amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees the freedom of speech and of the press [21] enlightenment: the state of being informed [22] L.C.C.: London County Council [23] detractor: critic [24] sound (here): good [25] pursuit (here): work, activity [26] shutter: the part of a camera which opens to allow light through the lens [27] to snap: to click [28] bulb (here): flashlight [29] to crane one's neck: to stretch one's neck in order to see better [30] glib: quick, easy [31] involuntary: without intention [32] colour bar: discrimination because of colour [33] travesty: parody, farce [34] heat: anger [35] sop: offering intended to pacify [36] conscience: part of your mind that tells you whether something is right or wrong [37] to put someone through their paces: to make someone show how well they can do something [38] vest: a piece of clothing which you wear on the top half of your body underneath a shirt [39] slack s: trousers, esp. casual ones [40] malicious: bad, harmful, spiteful [41] outrage: scandal, shocking event [42] to pass for: to be accepted as something that it is not [43] caption: text under a photograph [44] sleazy: dirty and unkempt [45] uncouth: rough, bad-mannered [46] depravity: moral corruption, sinfulness [47] recess: break [48] to infer (here): to suggest, to imply [49] to soothe: to calm, to quieten [50] twing e: sudden sharp feeling of an emotion [51] volubl e: talkative [52] slight (here): attack, insult [53] distressed: upset [54] grist to the mill: support for, useful material [55] to malign somebody: say unpleasant and untrue things about someone [56] Yom Kippur: Jewish holy day (Day of Atonement); Yom Kippur war: war started by the attack of several Arab states on Israel in 1973, at the time of Yom Kippur [57] quod erat demonstrandum (Latin): used to say you have proved what you set out to prove
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