INDEX:
1. what is happening in a particular place or at a particular time
2. your personal situation
3. when a situation affects what happens or what you do
RELATED WORDS
see also
↑ HAPPEN
◆◆◆
1. what is happening in a particular place or at a particular time
▷ situation /ˌsɪtʃuˈeɪʃ ə n/ [countable noun usually singular]
the combination of all the things that are happening in a particular place and at a particular time, especially when this is causing problems :
▪ I tried to explain the situation to my boss.
▪ With no rain for six months, the situation in the region was becoming desperate.
▪ The economic situation in the US is getting better.
▪ The news of more stock market losses could make the difficult economic situation worse.
in a situation
▪ If you are ever in a situation where someone starts shooting, drop to the ground.
▪ In the present situation, I don’t think it would be a good idea to try to sell your house.
▷ circumstances /ˈsɜːʳkəmstænsɪz, ˈsɜːʳkəmstænsəz/ [plural noun]
the situation at a particular time, which influences what people do, what they decide, and what can happen :
the circumstances
▪ TV cameras are sometimes allowed in the courts, but it depends on the circumstances.
in the circumstances
because of the circumstances
▪ We don’t normally allow people in after 8 pm, but in the circumstances we’ll make an exception.
in some/certain/normal etc circumstances
▪ An applicant’s age may be taken into consideration in some circumstances.
under some/the/certain etc circumstances
▪ Under normal circumstances I would never have left the children with a stranger.
▷ things /θɪŋz/ [plural noun] especially spoken, informal
the general situation that exists, especially the way it affects people’s lives :
▪ Don’t worry! Things can’t get any worse.
▪ Things haven’t changed much since I wrote to you last.
▪ Now that we have kids, things are really different.
▷ case /keɪs/ [countable noun]
a particular situation - use this especially when you are comparing one situation with others to show how they are similar or different :
▪ In cases like this, the company has to be sold off to someone who can cope with the debt.
in cases of
▪ The law limits work in underground mines to eight hours per day, except in cases of emergency.
in this/that case
▪ ‘It’s supposed to rain tomorrow.’ ‘Well, in that case, we won’t go.’
in some/a few/many cases
▪ In some cases, mail carriers could not get to mailboxes surrounded by plowed snow.
▷ what’s going on /ˌwɒts gəʊɪŋ ˈɒn/ [noun phrase]
use this especially to ask or say what is happening in a situation :
▪ Nobody could tell her what was going on.
▪ I’ve been waiting here for nearly two hours! Does anyone know what’s going on?
▪ What’s going on? Why won’t you talk to me?
▷ conditions /kənˈdɪʃ ə nz/ [plural noun]
all the things that affect the way people live or work, such as a country’s economic situation, whether people have enough food, the places they live in etc :
▪ Conditions in the city are getting rapidly worse.
▪ How can people live in such dreadful conditions?
▪ Employees are demanding better working conditions and higher wages.
▪ a study into the social conditions of the nineteenth century
▷ state of affairs /ˌsteɪt əv əˈfeəʳz/ [noun phrase]
an unsatisfactory, disappointing, or unusual situation that causes a lot of problems :
▪ Crisis has always been the normal state of affairs in our country’s politics.
sorry/sad state of affairs
bad state of affairs
▪ It’s a sad state of affairs when a leader can’t take the time to address the true problems facing his country.
▷ state of play /ˌsteɪt əv ˈpleɪ/ [noun phrase] British
what is happening now in a situation that is still developing and is likely to change - use this especially in business and political contexts :
▪ Every four weeks we get a briefing from the managers, giving us the state of play.
▪ The current state of play in Anglo-French relations is best characterized as ‘cautious cooperation’.
▷ scenario /sɪˈnɑːriəʊ, səˈnɑːriəʊǁ-ˈnæ-, -ˈne-/ [countable noun]
a situation that could possibly happen but has not happened yet - use this especially when you are discussing what might happen :
▪ Under the most hopeful scenario, it will take 20 years to clean up the mess.
worst-case/nightmare scenario
the worst possible situation
▪ In a worst-case scenario all life on the planet would be wiped out by a nuclear war.
▪ This is every politician’s nightmare scenario.
▷ environment /ɪnˈvaɪ ə rənmənt/ [countable noun]
all the things that influence the way you live, work, and develop, such as the physical conditions you live in and the people around you :
▪ Do girls learn better in an all-female environment?
▪ I didn’t feel that the neighborhood was a very safe environment for kids.
working/home environment
▪ We have tried to create a working environment in which everyone can develop their skills.
▷ climate /ˈklaɪmɪt, ˈklaɪmət/ [countable noun usually singular]
the economic, social, and political situation that exists at a particular time - use this especially when you are discussing what can be done or what people believe at that time :
▪ In today’s political climate the return of communism seems impossible.
▪ Hopefully, when the financial climate gets better we’ll be able to take on more workers.
climate of hostility/distrust etc
▪ The revelations of corruption have led to a climate of distrust in the capital.
climate of opinion
what people generally think
▪ The climate of opinion on the sensitive topic of euthanasia is changing gradually.
▷ set-up /ˈset ʌp/ [countable noun]
the way something such as a family, company, or country is arranged, especially a way that you do not understand or do not approve of :
▪ They’re divorced, but they’re still living in the same house - it seems like a strange set-up to me.
▪ It’s an impressive set-up. The foundation brings in half a million dollars a day.
2. your personal situation
▷ situation /ˌsɪtʃuˈeɪʃ ə n/ [countable noun usually singular]
the situation you are in, for example how much money you earn, where you live, whether you are married or have children etc :
▪ For most refugees, the situation is pretty hopeless.
▪ In your situation, I would have done exactly the same thing.
▪ The proper investment balance depends on each investor’s situation.
▷ circumstances /ˈsɜːʳkəmstænsɪz, ˈsɜːʳkəmstænsəz/ [plural noun]
your personal situation, for example how much money you earn, where you live, whether you are married or have children etc - used especially in official contexts :
▪ The organization provides aid to people in desperate circumstances.
▪ Please contact your Social Security office if there is any change in your circumstances.
▷ position /pəˈzɪʃ ə n/ [countable noun usually singular]
the situation that someone is in, especially a difficult or embarrassing situation that restricts what they can do :
▪ In her position, I’m not sure what I’d do.
the position of somebody
▪ Few rich people can really appreciate the position of the single mother living on welfare.
put somebody in an awkward/difficult/embarrassing etc position
▪ Ed asked me to lie for him to help save his job, which put me in a very awkward position.
▷ case /keɪs/ [countable noun usually singular]
a particular person’s or group’s situation - use this especially to compare one situation with others to show how they are similar or different :
in somebody’s case
▪ In my case, when I started teaching I enjoyed it right away.
in the case of
▪ Doctors have often achieved amazing results, as in the case of 11-year-old Jason.
case-by-case
considering each person’s situation separately
▪ 72-hour airport visas can be extended, but decisions are made on a case-by-case basis.
▷ plight /plaɪt/ [singular noun] especially written
a very difficult, unpleasant, or dangerous situation that is difficult to escape from :
▪ Roy was sympathetic to her plight and offered to help her look for her daughter.
the plight of
▪ His chief concern is the plight of kids growing up in the ghettoes.
3. when a situation affects what happens or what you do
▷ under/in the circumstances /ˌʌndəʳ, ɪn ðə ˈsɜːʳkəmstænsə̇z/ [adverb]
use this to say that you think something should happen because of the situation now :
▪ Normally I would have gone straight home, but under the circumstances I thought I should check on my mother.
▪ Under the circumstances, I think the only thing you can do is apologize.
▪ In the circumstances, it might be better if I gave the lecture rather than you.
▷ given the situation/circumstances /ˌgɪv ə n ðə sɪtʃuˈeɪʃ ə n, ˈsɜːʳkəmstænsə̇z/ [adverb]
use this when you think that something is not surprising if you consider the situation it happened in :
▪ They tried to contact everyone and given the circumstances, I think they did very well.
▪ Given the situation, the police officer’s reaction is understandable.
▷ the way things are /ðə ˌweɪ θɪŋz ˈɑːʳ/
use this when you are saying that something is necessary, impossible, difficult etc because of the present situation, which is not very good :
▪ The way things are, we hardly ever manage to go out together except at the weekend.
▪ The way things are at work, I’m surprised more people haven’t quit.
▷ as it is /ˌæz ɪt ˈɪz/ [adverb]
use this when the situation now is different from the situation you expected or needed :
▪ We were hoping to finish by 5 o'clock, but as it is, we’ll be lucky to finish by 8!
▪ Why start an argument? You’re in enough trouble as it is!
▷ as things stand/the way things stand /ˌæz θɪŋz ˈstænd, ðə ˌweɪ θɪŋz ˈstænd/ [adverb]
use this when something happens, is true, or must be done because of the way the situation is now, although the situation may change in the future :
▪ People talk about the British constitution, but as things stand there is no real constitution.
▪ We may get a few more applicants, but the way things stand Mr. Davis looks like the best candidate.
▷ force of circumstances /ˌfɔːʳs əv ˈsɜːʳkəmstænsə̇z/ [noun phrase] especially British
if something happens by force of circumstances, it happens differently from the way you expect or intend because the situation has changed :
▪ By force of circumstances, I found myself having to share an office with my previous manager.
▪ Force of circumstances compelled the senator to retire in 1934.