ESL Podcast 1014 - Becoming a Spy

spy novel - a book-length story written about international espionage, with people hiding their true identity in order to learn important governmental secrets

This spy novel is set during the Cold War.

to recruit - to get someone to join an organization, especially the military

Is it harder to recruit men or women for the Navy?

C.I.A. - Central Intelligence Agency; the part of the U.S. government responsible for gathering secret information about countries and for coordinating information- gathering and espionage activities

Do you think it's okay for the C.I.A. to give money to rebels to remove political leaders from power?

counterintelligence - efforts and activities intended to make it difficult or impossible for other organizations, and governments to learn one's secrets

The counterintelligence team is responsible for making sure that none of our competitors learn about our new products still being developed.

code breaking - cryptography; the art and science of analyzing coded or hidden information and figuring out how to make it understandable again

If their code breaking is successful, it could change the outcome of the war.

embroiled - completely or entirely involved in something, especially in an argument or a difficult situation

How did you become so embroiled in the argument between your sister and her husband?

espionage - spying; the practice and profession of trying to get secret information held by governments or companies

The company engages in espionage, paying money to the employees of their competitors to get information about their manufacturing processes.

mission - an important assignment, especially one that involves travel, with a specific purpose

They went on a scouting mission to see if the path ahead is safe.

to infiltrate - to get into an organization secretly when one should not be there; to gain access to information or organizations that one would not normally be allowed to access

It's shocking to study how large corporations have infiltrated American politics.

misinformation - information that is not true; lies

Due to some misinformation, we launched the rocket about 20 minutes too soon to reach the satellite.

to live a double life - to have a hidden or secret identity that is separate from one's normal life

Everyone was shocked to learn that Bryan had been living a double life, with another wife and children in another state.

operative - a worker in espionage; an intelligence agent; a secret agent; a spy

If you've been dating for nine months and he still hasn't told you what he does for a living, maybe he's an operative for a foreign government.

clandestine - secretive and hidden, especially if it is related to something that is wrong, criminal, or immoral

Don't you think it's strange that our business meetings are always so clandestine, late at night in dark office buildings far from downtown?

to thwart - to interfere with something so that someone cannot do what he or she was planning to do; to prevent something from happening

Justin is very determined. Once he has set a goal, no one can thwart him.

sabotage - to destroy or ruin something on purpose so that one's enemy cannot have or use it

Evgeny was so worried that Sheila's research would prove him wrong that he sabotaged her experiments.

to divulge - to share a secret, making it known to one or more people

Why did you tell Pierre she has a crush on him? I thought you swore you'd never divulge her secret.

classified - information or documents that contain confidential, secretive information that can be shared with only a small group of qualified people

Most of this information about the location of troops is classified.

loose lips sink ships - a phrase often used during World War II to remind people not to talk about secret information that could be used by the enemy

We have to keep this a secret! Remember, loose lips sink ships.

for (one's) cover to be blown - for one's true identity or purpose to be revealed or recognized by others, so that one cannot continue to hide or be secretive

The thief's cover was blown when the man recognized him from news reports.