ESL Podcast 922 - Getting a Second Opinion
second opinion - a conclusion or recommendation reached by another person after one has already received a conclusion or recommendation from someone else, when everyone is reviewing the same information
Whenever a doctor recommends a risky surgery, it's a good idea to get a second opinion to find out whether you really need it.
to diagnose - to identify a problem; to identify someone's medical condition
How old was your mother when she was diagnosed with breast cancer?
medical condition - a disease or illness that affects one's health, abilities, and/or lifestyle
What would you do if you found out your unborn child had a serious medical condition?
to take (something) - to accept something passively, without questioning it or fighting against it, especially talking about something that is negative or unpleasant
The manager started yelling at employees a few months ago, and over time it has worsened until finally we just couldn't take it anymore.
at face value - as something appears on the surface, without digging deeper or trying to find more information or make a more detailed assessment
At face value, the merger appears to be very profitable, but the company still needs to perform more financial analyses.
to second-guess - to question someone's opinion or belief, especially in a disrespectful way
I don't mean to second-guess you, but have you considered the impact of your decision to quit your job and to move to Hawaii to surf?
conservative - trying only those things that have been tested in the past and are proven to work well, not trying anything new or risky
It's fine for the COO to have a conservative approach to the business's day-to- day operations, but the CEO needs to be more visionary and willing to take risks.
treatment - the medications and therapy that are intended to help a patient improve
What treatment options are available for severe headache sufferers?
aggressive - doing things forcefully to get what one wants, not waiting or things to happen on their own
We never realized how aggressive blackberry plants could be until they started taking over our garden!
specialist - a professional who focuses in a particular area of a larger field, usually having obtained a lot of education and special skills in that area
Jenna was advised to find a specialist in high-risk pregnancies.
records - written information about one person or organization, especially documenting changes over time
For tax purposes, please keep your records for seven years.
test result - the outcome of an exam or analysis, especially when talking about a blood test or a urine analysis for medical purposes
Doctor, when do you expect to have my test results back from the laboratory?
fresh perspective - a new opinion on something from someone who has not been involved in the issue previously and is not being influenced by others
As our managers and executives get older, we need to keep hiring young people to get fresh perspectives on our products.
patient history - a detailed written record of all interactions between a person and his or her doctor, including descriptions of the individual's health
According to the patient history, you haven't come to see Dr. Vanderbush for the past three years. Is that correct?
best-case scenario - the most optimistic outcome; the most positive thing that could happen of all the things one is imagining or anticipating
The business is failing. Even in the best-case scenario, it's going to be a struggle to pay all the employees next month.
dubious - doubtful; not believing or trusting someone or something
Krzysztof told the police that he had been at his grandmother's house that evening, but the police officers were dubious.