The Hindu Editorial (​Soured relations) – Aug 01, 2025

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The Hindu Editorial (​Soured relations) – Aug 01, 2025:

1. soured (noun) – bitter, unpleasant, worsened, spoil, damaged, marred; angered, infuriated, alienated, estranged, enraged, outraged, disgruntled, disaffected.
2. tariff (noun) – a tax imposed by one country on the goods and services imported from another country.
3. relative (adjective) – considerable, some, reasonable.
4. come as no surprise (phrase) – as expected.
5. for a while now (phrase) – for some time up to the present moment.
6. voice (verb) – express, say, utter, state, vent.
7. displeasure (noun) – annoyance, irritation, vexation, upset, anger, indignation; disapproval, dissatisfaction, discontent, disgruntlement.
8. dealing (noun) – business, trading.
9. with regard to (phrase) – concerning, regarding, in terms of, in respect of, with reference to, relating to.
10. vocal (adjective) – vociferous, outspoken, forthright; relating to someone who expresses his/her views frankly.
11. tariff/trade barriers (noun) – taxes established by each country to restrict foreign trade.
12. trade barriers (noun) – government-induced restrictions on international trade.
13. non-tariff barriers (noun) – it refer to any measures, other than customs tariffs, that regulate imports or exports into a country. Non-tariff barriers include embargoes, sanctions, and levies.
14. cite (verb) – invoke, mention, refer to, point to, adduce, turn to, resort to, have recourse to, use, put to use.
15. add to this/that (phrase) – used to introduce more details to support to what you are saying.
16. U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) (noun) – a key federal agency within the U.S. government responsible for developing and coordinating U.S. international trade, commodity, and direct investment policy, and overseeing trade negotiations with other countries.
17. negotiation (noun) – talks, discussion, discourse, debate, dialogue, deliberation, consultation.
18. officials (noun) – bureaucracy, authorities, officialdom, mandarins, functionaries, the people in charge. 
19. thus (adverb) – therefore, hence, as a result, accordingly.
20. the writing on the wall (phrase) – sign, signal, indication, warning, presage, portent, omen, augury, harbinger (that some catastrophe/disaster is going to happen). 
21. in the offing (phrase) – likely to happen, on the way, coming soon, coming up, close at hand, imminent, on the horizon, in the wings, just around the corner, upcoming, forthcoming.
22. uncertainty (noun) – unpredictability, unreliability, riskiness/precariousness.
23. in the mix (phrase) – practically involved in something (an activity, pursuit, process, etc.)
24. mercurial (adjective) – unpredictable, volatile, erratic, inconsistent, irregular, capricious, temperamental, moody, fluctuating, variable, changeable.
25. position (noun) – stand, stance, perspective, attitude, point of view, viewpoint.
26. materialise (verb) – happen, occur, take place.
27. seem (verb) – appear, look.
28. shift (verb) – change.
29. show up (phrasal verb) – expose, reveal, manifest, come to light.
30. language (noun) – wording, expression, rhetoric, manner of  speaking, way of talking.
31. snide (adjective) – insulting, disparaging, ridiculing, derogatory, scornful, hurtful.
32. remark (noun) – mention, comment, statement, opinion.
33. call (verb) – term; describe as, regard as, consider to be.
34. vent (verb) – express, let out, verbalize, release, emit, discharge.
35. frustration (noun) – anger, vexation, irritation, disappointment, dissatisfaction, depression.
36. trigger (verb) – cause, lead to, bring about, give rise to, provoke, stir up.
37. the fact (is) that (phrase) – used to refer to a specific situation under consideration/discussion.
38. budge (verb) – give way, give in, yield, compromise, retract, do U-turn, change one’s mind.
39. across the board (phrase) – applying to all.
40. hold firm (phrase) – continue to support something despite opposition.
41. ring-fencing (noun) – the process of protecting a specific group of assets by structurally separating them from other assets. the act of separating or isolating funds, assets, or operations to protect them from external risks or for a specific purpose.
42. dairy (adjective) – relating to the products made from milk.
43. negotiate (verb) – discuss terms, hold talks, discuss a settlement, talk, try to reach a compromise.
44. potential (adjective) – possible, likely, probable.
45. Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) (noun) – a formal agreement/deal between two countries which outlines specific terms for trade, commerce, transit, or investment.
46. bilateral (adjective) – involving two groups or countries.
47. constantly (adverb) – continually, continuously, regularly, always.
48. remarkably (adverb) – considerably, markedly, significantly, noticeably, distinctly, exceptionally.
49. Fall (noun) – Fall season. other seasons are spring, summer and winter.
50. sovereign (adjective) – self-determining, independent.
51. reiterate (verb) – say something again; say again, repeat, retell, restate, iterate, recapitulate.
52. commitment (noun) – dedication, engagement, obligation, responsibility, onus, liability, accountability.
53. interest (noun) – common concerns (in politics/business).
54. on the other hand (phrase) – on the contrary, In contrast, on the flip side, in opposition, conversely, contradictorily alternatively.
55. account for (phrasal verb) – constitute, make up, comprise, form, compose, represent.
56. concern (noun) – worry, disquiet, distress, apprehension, consideration.
57. negotiator (noun) – mediator, middleman, moderator, intermediary; representative, spokesperson, agent, diplomat, ambassador.
58. doubly (adverb) – extra, even more, especially, twice as, in double measure.

Note : 

1. Click each one of the words above for their definition, more synonyms, pronunciation, example sentences, phrases, derivatives, origin and etc. from http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/.

2. Definitions (elementary level) & Synonyms provided for the words above are my personal work and not that of Oxford University Press. Tentative definitions/meanings are provided for study purposes only and they may vary in a different context.  

3. This word list is for personal use only. Reproduction in any format and/or Commercial use of it is/are strictly prohibited.

The Hindu Editorial (​Soured relations) – Aug 01, 2025: