[A+] Negative Opinions About People

LET'S UNLOCK WORDS AND PHRASES 🔐

jeopardize

[ 'jep-er-dahyz ]

verb

- to put something such as a plan or system in danger of being harmed or damaged

He would never do anything to jeopardize his career.

confrontational

[ kon-fruhn-'tey-shuh-nl ]

adjective

- behaving in an angry or unfriendly way that is likely to cause an argument

In an attempt to improve his image, Stevens has decided to be less confrontational.

dismissive

[ dis-'mis-iv ]

adjective

- showing that you do not think something is worth considering

He's so dismissive of anybody else's suggestions.

compromise

[ 'kom-pruh-mahyz ]

verb

- to risk having a harmful effect on something

We would never compromise the safety of our passengers.

give someone a piece of one's mind

phrase

- tell someone what one thinks of them, especially in anger

Boy, the boss really gave me a piece of his mind after that awful meeting.

LET'S UNDERSTAND! 📚

Direction: Read and understand the different idiomatic expressions below.

A. take the flak

if you take the flak, you get the blame for something

2024-VPP-NEGATIVE OPINIONS...

Dialogue

Icon_Cindy

Cindy

Hey John, it seems like the new policy isn’t popular among the team, and I’ve had to take the flak for it even though it wasn’t solely my decision.

John_Happy Icon

John

I understand, Cindy. It’s tough being the point of contact. How about we address the team together, so it doesn’t fall on you alone?

Icon_Cindy

Cindy

Thanks, John. That sounds like a fair approach, and it might help in clarifying the reasons behind the new policy.

B. have an attitude problem

used to mean that someone behaves somewhat arrogantly or disrespectfully

2024-VPP-NEGATIVE OPINIONS...

Dialogue

Icon_Anna Happy

Anna

John, several team members have mentioned that they feel you’ve been quite confrontational lately. They feel you might have an attitude problem.

John_Happy Icon

John

I apologize if I've come across that way. I've been under a lot of stress lately, but I’ll definitely work on improving my interactions with the team.

Icon_Anna Happy

Anna

I appreciate your openness, John. We can look into ways to manage the workload and stress better to improve the team’s overall working environment.

C. stoop to one's level

to lower your moral standards by doing something that is unpleasant, dishonest, or unfair

2024-VPP-NEGATIVE OPINIONS...

Dialogue

Icon_Sally

Sally

Cindy, I can't believe how rudely Jane spoke to me today! I'm so tempted to give her a piece of my mind.

Icon_Cindy

Cindy

Sally, I know it's tough, but let's not stoop to her level. We should maintain our professionalism and handle conflicts maturely.

Icon_Sally

Sally

You're right, Cindy. Responding with anger won’t solve anything. Thanks for reminding me.

D. betray one's trust

to do something very bad and hurtful to someone that causes a loss of respect.

2024-VPP-NEGATIVE OPINIONS...

Dialogue

Icon_Anna Happy

Anna

I just found out that Derek shared our confidential conversation with others. I feel like he really betrayed my trust.

Icon_Sally

Sally

I'm really sorry to hear that, Emily. Trust is hard to rebuild once it’s broken. Have you considered talking to Derek about how you feel?

Icon_Anna Happy

Anna

Yes, I plan to. It’s important that he understands the impact of his actions and hopefully, it doesn’t happen again in the future.

E. cloud one's judgment

to cause someone to be unable to think clearly

2024-VPP-NEGATIVE OPINIONS...

Dialogue

John_Happy Icon

John

I think the recent success of our project has started to cloud Jake's judgment. He's taking on way more risks than before.

Icon_Cindy

Cindy

It's true, sometimes success can make us overconfident. We should talk to him about balancing optimism with a dose of reality.

John_Happy Icon

John

Agreed. We can't let short-term wins jeopardize our long-term goals.

LET'S PRACTICE! 📝

Part I

Direction: Choose the appropriate expressions to complete each of the sentences.

take the flak	have an attitude problem
stoop to one's level	betray one's trust
cloud one's judgment

Allowing personal biases to influence professional decisions can and lead to unfair outcomes.
The captain of the football team often has to for the team's overall performance, whether good or bad.
When confidential information from the meeting was leaked, it not only of the team but also compromised the project.
The coach pulled Mia aside, suggesting that her dismissive comments might give others the impression she .
Just because someone is being rude, doesn’t mean you should and respond with rudeness.

Part II

Direction: Listen as your mentor reads the statements twice. Then, repeat after your mentor.

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Part III

Direction: Paraphrase the following sentences. Make sure to paraphrase the underlined idiomatic expressions.

It's important not to stoop to their level and engage in petty arguments, maintaining your dignity and composure instead.
When she used the confidential information against me, it felt like she had completely betrayed my trust.