Private Eye – vocabulary

1. [Match]

See if you can match the vocabulary with its definitions!

(Notes
magnate – noun – person who is very rich and successful in business or industry eg a well-known shipping magnate
libel – noun – piece of writing which contains bad and false things about a person eg He threatened to sue the magazine for libel.
sue – verb – take legal action against a person or organization, especially by making a legal claim for money because of some harm that they have caused you. This harm is called ‘damages’ so you sue for damages’ i.e. damage to your reputation or business eg He was so furious about the accusations in the letter that he threatened to sue. She is suing her husband for (= in order to obtain a) divorce.
Something which is / Someone who is a thorn in the side (or flesh) of a person or an organisation is a source of continual annoyance or trouble.
The verb break is used of news which has only just become known – you may see ‘breaking news’ on some TV channels, letting you know the news has only just become known. We also break (the) news to a person when informing someone of bad news eg ‘It was her sister who broke the news of John’s illness to Brenda.’ “Are you going to break it to him, or shall I?” i.e. “Are you going to tell him the bad news, or shall I?”
satirical – adj – humorously critical
)

Answers for Quiz [1].

• 1. deem (correct)
• 2. magnate (correct)
• 3. libel (correct)
• 4. satirist (correct)
• 5. lawsuit (correct)
• 6. quip (correct)
• 7. sue (correct)
• 8. consensus (correct)
• 9. a thorn in the side / flesh (correct)
• 10. a fat cheque (correct)
• 11. humbug (correct)
• 12. lampoon (correct)
• 13. reprisal (correct)
• 14. bounce (correct)
• 15. the mainstream (correct)
• 16. break (correct)