AGREEMENT - DISAGREEMENT

ABROGATE /ˈæbrəɡeɪt/ (v).

# Abrogate something: to officially end a law, an agreement, etc.; Bãi bỏ, hủy bỏ, bài trừ.

The rule has been abrogated by mutual consent.

>>> Synonym: REPEAL


REPEAL /rɪˈpiːl/;

# (v) ​Repeal something: If a government or other group or person with authority repeals a law, that law no longer has any legal force.

The committee does not have the power to repeal the ban.


# (n) [uncountable] The act of repealing a law (= making it no longer a law).

The repeal of the Corn Laws in 1846.


BOYCOTT /ˈbɔɪkɑːt/ (v):

# Boycott something: to refuse to buy, use or take part in something as a way of protesting; Tẩy chay.

We are asking people to boycott goods from companies that use child labour.

They have urged people to boycott foreign products.


PROTEST /prəˈtest/ (v):

# [intransitive, transitive] To say or do something to show that you disagree with something or think it is bad, especially publicly.

There's no use protesting, I won't change my mind.

They were taken away protesting loudly.

Protest about/against/at something: Students took to the streets to protest against the decision.

Protest something (North American English): They fully intend to protest the decision.


OBJECT /əbˈdʒekt/ (v):

# [intransitive] to say that you disagree with or oppose something.

If nobody objects, we'll postpone the meeting till next week.

Object to somebody/ something: Members of the council strongly objected to plans to sell off the land.

Many local people object to the building of the new airport.

Object to doing something: I really object to being charged for parking.

Object to somebody doing something: Who could object to people having fun?


OPPOSE /əˈpəʊz/ (v):

# To disagree strongly with somebody’s plan, policy, etc. and try to change it or prevent it from succeeding.

Oppose somebody/ something: This party would bitterly oppose the re-introduction of the death penalty.

He threw all those that opposed him into prison.


CONSENT /kənˈsent/ (n).

# [uncountable] Permission to do something, especially given by somebody in authority; Sự chấp thuận, sự ưng thuận, sự đồng ý, sự cho phép.

The written consent of a parent is required.

Consent to something: Children under 16 cannot give consent to medical treatment.

To refuse/ withhold your consent.

Without (somebody's) consent: He is charged with taking a car without the owner's consent.


# [uncountable] Agreement about something.

She was chosen as leader by common consent (= everyone agreed to the choice).

By mutual consent, they didn't go out (= they both agreed not to).


# [countable] An official document giving permission for something.

Your family, in effect, signs the consent for you.


ACCEDE /əkˈsiːd/ (v).

# [intransitive] (formal) Accede (to something): To agree to a request, proposal, etc.

He acceded to demands for his resignation.

Japan had little choice but to accede.

The Planning Committee has finally acceded to growing pressure.


ACCOMMODATE /əˈkɑːmədeɪt/ (v).

# [transitive] (formal) Accommodate something: To consider something such as somebody’s opinion or a fact and be influenced by it when you are deciding what to do or explaining something.

Our proposal tries to accommodate the special needs of minority groups.

She modified her views so as to accommodate the objections of American feminists.


# [transitive] (formal) Accommodate somebody (with something): To help somebody by doing what they want.

I’m sure the bank will be able to accommodate you.

>>> Synonym: OBLIGE


SUBMISSIVE /səbˈmɪsɪv/ (adj).

# Too willing to accept somebody else’s authority and willing to obey them without questioning anything they want you to do.

He expected his daughters to be meek and submissive.

She followed him like a submissive child.

>>> Opposite: Assertive - See related entries: Abilities;


OBLIGE /əˈblaɪdʒ/ (v).

# ​[intransitive, transitive] To help somebody by doing what they ask or what you know they want.

Call me if you need any help - I'd be happy to oblige.

Oblige somebody (with something): Would you oblige me with some information?

Oblige somebody (by doing something): Oblige me by keeping your suspicions to yourself.


compromise /ˈkɒmprəmaɪz/ /ˈkɑːmprəmaɪz/ (n):

#1.​ [countable] an agreement made between two people or groups in which each side gives up some of the things they want so that both sides are happy at the end.

After lengthy talks the two sides finally reached a compromise.

In any relationship, you have to make compromises.

a compromise solution/agreement/candidate


#2. [countable] compromise (between A and B): a solution to a problem in which two or more things cannot exist together as they are, in which each thing is reduced or changed slightly so that they can exist together.

This model represents the best compromise between price and quality.

It was a fair compromise between the two sides.


#3. [uncountable] the act of reaching a compromise.

Compromise is an inevitable part of life.

There is no prospect of compromise in sight.

There could be no compromise with the nationalists.


alliance /əˈlaɪəns/ (n):

#1.​ an agreement between countries, political parties, etc. to work together in order to achieve something that they all want.

to form/ make an alliance.

alliance with somebody/ something: The Social Democrats are now in alliance with the Greens.

alliance between A and B: an alliance between education and business to develop the use of technology in schools.


quarrel /ˈkwɒrəl/ /ˈkwɑːrəl/ (n):

#1. ​[countable] an angry argument or disagreement between people, often about a personal matter.

a family quarrel

quarrel with somebody: He did not mention the quarrel with his wife.

He got involved in a quarrel with his neighbour.

quarrel about something: They had a quarrel about money.

quarrel over something: a quarrel over the ownership of a piece of land

quarrel between A and B: Were you at any time aware of a quarrel between the two of them?

quarrel (with somebody/ between A and B) (about/ over something): Paul's incessant quarrels with his sisters over investments.


#2. [uncountable] quarrel (with somebody/something) (especially in negative sentences) a reason for complaining about somebody/ something or for disagreeing with somebody/ something.

We have no quarrel with his methods.


>>> pick a fight/quarrel (with somebody) (idiom):

#1. ​to deliberately start a fight or an argument with somebody.

He had drunk too much and was ready to pick a fight with anyone who crossed his path.

She tried to pick a quarrel with me.


altercation noun

/ˌɔːltəˈkeɪʃn/

/ˌɔːltərˈkeɪʃn/

[countable, uncountable] (formal)

​a noisy argument or disagreement

A youth became involved in an altercation with a police officer over a parking ticket.


complaisance noun

/kəmˈpleɪzəns/

/kəmˈpleɪzəns/

[uncountable] (old-fashioned)

​the fact of being ready to accept other people's actions and opinions and to do what other people want


sink your differences

​to agree to forget about your disagreements

We need to sink our differences and present a united opposition to the plan.


split the difference

​(when discussing a price, etc.) to agree on an amount that is at an equal distance between the two amounts that have been suggested

I offered €200 but he wanted €300. In the end, we split the difference and I paid him €250.

(figurative) I wanted to leave early and Ian wanted to leave late, so we split the difference and left at noon.