ESL Podcast 488 - Getting Around Regulations
qualm - a feeling of uneasiness and a little bit of fear; an uncomfortable feeling that one gets because one thinks that something is wrong or dangerous
She's having a lot of qualms about leaving her job and looking for a new one.
regulation - a law or rule; something that someone must legally do or not do
Does the school have any regulations about the kind of clothing that students should wear?
to govern - to control; to have authority or power over something
We are governed by city, state, and national law.
to violate - to go against a rule or law; to break a rule or law; to do something that is not allowed under a rule or law
Tsung violated company policy by working on weekends for a competing business.
interpretation - the way that something is understood or explained by one person
What is your interpretation of that painting?
to flout - to break a law without hiding one's actions; to break a rule or law on purpose, usually to show other people that one does not respect a rule or law
The customer was flouting the restaurant's no-smoking rule by smoking at the table.
to follow the letter of the law - to obey a law exactly; to do exactly what a law says one should do
If you followed the letter of the law, you'd need to report all your income when you file your taxes, even including coins that you find on the ground!
to cross the line - to do too much of something so that it becomes a problem
I don't mind if you borrow my clothes, but if they're torn and dirty when you return them to me, you're crossing the line.
creative accounting - reporting financial information in ways that will make a company seem more profitable or that will let one make more money without openly breaking the law
A lot of companies get in trouble for their creative accounting.
to border on (something) - to almost be something; to be very close to doing or having something
The way they're treating that animal borders on cruelty.
to blow things out of proportion - to treat something as being much more important or significant than it really is
Doran's boss blew things out of proportion, firing him for turning in his report a few hours late.
to get around (something) - to find a way to not have to do something; to find an exception to a rule
They're trying to get around the tax laws by hiding their money in foreign bank accounts.
loophole - something that was accidentally written in a law that lets certain people not have to do what the law was supposed to make them do
Restaurants aren't supposed to serve alcohol in this town, but there is a loophole for certain types of coffee shops.
to turn a blind eye - to pretend not to see or notice something, especially when someone is doing something wrong; to ignore something
Too many people are turning a blind eye to the way that homeless people are being treated in this city.
to comply - to follow a rule or law; to do what a rule or law says one should do
The bank has to file reports four times a year in order to comply with federal law.
hot water - a situation where one is in trouble, often because one has broken a law or a rule
Umberto was in hot water for staying out past midnight after his parents told him to come home early.
in for - going to have; going to experience
Shelby is in for some medical problems if she doesn't start to change the types of food she eats.
overactive - too busy; too active; doing too much of something; never stopping
The twins have an overactive imagination and think that monsters live in their closet.
conscience - the part of one's mind that says whether something is good or bad, right or wrong
If you don't know what to do, just listen to your conscience.