1. Shotgun Wedding
• A shotgun wedding is a wedding that is arranged to avoid embarrassment due to an unintended pregnancy, rather than out of the desire of the participants.
2. Muddle
• Bring into a disordered or confusing state.
Usage: I fear he may have muddled the message.
Synonyms: confuse, mix up, and jumble.
3. Floodplain
• An area of low-lying ground adjacent to a river, formed mainly of river sediments and subject to flooding.
4. Hydrology
• Hydrology is the scientific study of the movement, distribution, and quality of water on Earth and other planets, including the water cycle, water resources and environmental watershed sustainability.
5. Watershed moment
• A watershed moment is a turning point, the exact moment that changes the direction of an activity or situation.
• A watershed moment is a dividing point, from which things will never be the same.
• It is considered momentous, though a watershed moment is often recognized in hindsight.
Usage: Arnold’s response to that question was a watershed moment in his political life.
6. Priority Sector Lending
• Priority Sector Lending is an important role given by the RBI to the banks for providing a specified portion of the bank lending to few specific sectors like agriculture and allied activities, micro and small enterprises, poor people for housing, students for education and other low income groups and weaker sections.
• This is essentially meant for an all-round development of the economy as opposed to focusing only on the financial sector.
7. Vanguard
• A group of people leading the way in new developments or ideas.
Usage: The experimental spirit of the modernist vanguard.
• The foremost part of an advancing army or naval force.
8. Veneer
• A thin decorative covering of fine wood applied to a coarser wood or other material.
Usage: When there are bubbles, cut into the veneer with a sharp razor blade using a steel rule for guidance.
9. Pacesetter/Pacemaker
• A person or animal who sets the pace at the beginning of a race, sometimes in order to help a runner break a record.
Usage: That is some record for a horse used primarily in those races as a pacemaker.
• A person who sets standards of achievement for others.
Usage: Unbeaten Rangers are the surprise pacemakers.
10. Schizophrenia
• Schizophrenia is a chronic and severe mental disorder that affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves. People with schizophrenia may seem like they have lost touch with reality.
11. Albatross around one’s neck
• An annoying burden
Usage: That old car is an albatross around my neck.
12. Countenance
• A person’s face or facial expression.
Usage: His impenetrable eyes and inscrutable countenance gave little away.
• Admit as acceptable or possible.
Usage: He was reluctant to countenance the use of force.
