Unit 11

acquit

to decide officially in a law court that someone is not guilty of a particular crime

affluent

wealthy

an eye for an eye

the idea that a person who causes another person to suffer should suffer in an equal amount

justice

fairness

assassin

sb who kills a famous or important person, usually for political reasons or in exchange for money; murder

assault

a violent attack

backfire

(of a plan) to have the opposite result from the one you intended

blackmail

the act of getting money from people or forcing them to do sth by threatening them

badly off

poor

basic salary

guaranteed minimum salary without overtime or bonuses

be knighted

to give sb the rank of knight

be priced out of something

to be unable to buy or pay for something because the price is too high

boldly

in a brave and confident way, without showing any fear

breathalyser

a device to find out how much alcohol a person has drunk

lack of scruples

without a feeling that prevents you from doing sth that you think is morally wrong

late-night shifts

a period in the night during which a particular group of people work

lavish lifestyle

rich and extravagant way of life

legal limit

limit allowed by law

lenient

not as severe or strong in punishment or judgment as would be expected

life imprisonment

the punishment of being put in prison for a very long time without an arranged time for release or until death; life sentence

to live below the poverty line

to be very poor

loaded

not fair; rich

loiter

to move slowly around or stand in a public place without an obvious reason

luxurious

very comfortable and expensive

make ends meet

to have just enough money to pay for the things that you need

manslaughter

the crime of killing a person when the killer did not intend to do it

minimum wage

a minimum price that an employer can pay a worker for an hour of labor

mugger

someone who attacks people in a public place and robs them

needy

poor people

notorious

famous for something bad; infamous

obscene

offensive, rude, or shocking

on one's mind

in one's thoughts; preoccupying one

on the dole

the money that the government gives to people who are unemployed

on trial

The court process to determine whether someone committed a criminal act

out of bounds

prohibited, forbidden (place)

outlaw

to make something illegal or unacceptable; criminalize

outrageous wages

shocking and morally unacceptable wages

outspoken

expressing strong opinions very directly without worrying if other people are offended; blunt

overpriced

too expensive

penthouse flat

an expensive apartment or set of rooms at the top of a hotel or tall building

perfomance-related bonuses

money that someone earns that is directly related to their success at doing their job

petty criminal

a criminal whose crimes are not very serious

pickpocket

a thief who steals things out of pockets or bags, especially in a crowd

poor (the poor)

poor people considered together as a group

opulent mansion

luxurious property

poverty-stricken

a poverty-stricken person or place is suffering from the effects of being extremely poor

bribe, bribery

to try to make sb do sth for you by giving them money, presents, or sth else that they want

pre-emptive

done before someone else can act, especially to prevent them doing what they had planned

product endorsement

the use of a well-known person to advertise products

prosperous

successful, usually by earning a lot of money

random

happening, done, or chosen by chance rather than according to a plan

reckless driving

very dangerous driving, without any care for others

recklessly

in a way that is dangerous and shows that you are not thinking about the risks and possible results of your behaviour; carelessly

retribution

deserved and severe punishment

rich (the rich)

rich people considered together as a group

broad-minded

willing to accept other people's behaviour and beliefs

rolling in money

to be extremely rich

run-down housing estate

dilapidated residential area

scrape by

to have only enough money to pay for the basic things you need

scrape together every penny

to gather money with difficulty

set free

to emancipate

broke

without money

shoplifting

the illegal act of taking goods from a shop without paying for them

slum

a very poor and crowded area, especially of a city

smuggling

the act of taking things or people to or from a place secretly and often illegally

burglary

the crime of illegally entering a building and stealing things

spate

a larger number of events than usual, especially unpleasant ones, happening at about the same time

starkly

very obviously and clearly

business concern

a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it

take the law into one's own hands

take revenge without using the legal system

teenage delinquency

juvenile delinquency; crime that is committed by young people

the other side of the coin

a different way of considering a situation, making it seem either better or worse than it did originally

prejudices

an unfair and unreasonable opinion or feeling, especially when formed without enough thought or knowledge

trespass

to go onto one's land or enter their building without permission

troublemaker

someone who intentionally causes problems for other people

undermine

to make sb less confident, less powerful, or less likely to succeed, or to make sth weaker, often gradually

wealthy

very rich

well-off

rich, wealthy; rich people

CEO (Chief Executive Officer)

the person who is in charge of a company

come into effect

to start working or being used (e.g. law)

country estate

villa

dead (adv)

completely

destitute

indigent; without money, food, a home, or possessions

detention

the act of officially detaining someone