2.3 WHO DO YOU TRUST? IDIOMS OF OPINION

" I've got a real vested interest"

Dr David Bailey. To have a vested interest means you are not neutral because you have personal reasons for wanting to be a particular way.

"We don't have an axe to grind"

Professor Justin Lewis. The opposite.

I'm going to play devil's advocate. Let's imagine the company goes bankrupt. What happens to the employees?

take a deliberately contrary position in an argument to force people to justify their opinions.

I'm going to speak my mind. I think this situation is absolutely terrible and we have to find a solution.

say what you really believe

If you have to make a decision, it's no use sitting on the fence. You must choose one or the other.

being unable to commit yourself to one opinion or one side

Let's not beat about the bush. You have committed a serious crime, and now you must pay for it.

talk a lot, but avoid directly addressing the most important point

Which idioms above can be used to introduce opinions or knowledge?

All of these can be used to introduce opinions or knowledge

poll

the process of finding out what people think about a subject by asking a lot of people the same questions SYN opinion poll: Polls show that most people support the President.

clergy

the clergy [plural] the official leaders of organized religions

qualify

to pass an examination that shows you are trained to do a particular job