A student asked: “What’s the difference between burst and blow“?
Good question! But be careful! We must use the phrasal verb blow up if we mean the same as burst. And I would even add blast and explode to burst and blowup.
There is very little difference between them. The one that might be more “general” than the others is burst, which simply means the failure of a container allowing the contents to spill out. Something can burst without exploding. In many contexts they could all mean the same thing, but there can be some small differences.
So, listen carefully.
BURST When used as a verb, it means that something is being broken open suddenly due to a build up of pressure.
It would usually not be used when speaking of explosives, but rather too much air pressure or water pressure. For example, a balloon will burst if you blow too much air into it. A dam may burst if there is too much water behind it.
When used as a noun, it can refer to themoment of breaking under pressure.
But it has another use where it means a sudden and brief occurrence of something. For example, we speak of a burst of laughter, or a burst of noise, or a burst of hard work, or a burst of interest or a burst into tears as in “She burst into tears”. (She suddenly started crying).
BLOW UP It can mean to destroy something with an explosive, but it can also mean to inflate with air, such as to blow up a balloon.
Blow up is more extreme. For example, a balloon will burst when you pop it, but a bomb will blow up. A pimple (zit) can burst, but a car can blow up in flames.
To blow up is also a term used on social media. It can mean “trending”. i.e “My latest Instagram post is blowing up”. (It’s getting a lot of likes/ it’s drawing a lot of attention).
BLAST When used as a verb, it usually implies the use of explosives such as dynamite. When used as a noun, it can refer to the actual explosion, but often it refers more to the sudden forceful wave of compressed air or energy that spreads out from the explosion. So, for example, you might hear that someone was knocked down by the blast, even though they were not hit by any objects or by the flames.
It is also used to describe a very enjoyable experience, such as “the party was a blast”.
EXPLODE is always a verb. The specific definition is a chemical reaction – the near-instantaneous conversion of a substance (an explosive) from a solid state to a gas. It is also used to describe any sudden, violent outburst.
Its meaning is a bit more general and can include the meanings of both blast and burst. So we can say that a bomb explodes or that a balloon explodes. We can even use it like the second meaning of burst and say things like “the crowd exploded with laughter”.
The noun form, EXPLOSION, is also quite general. The primary meaning is similar to blast and implies something like dynamite, but it has many other uses. It is very common to hear it used for things like “an explosion of joy”, “an explosion of laughter”, or “an explosion of interest.”
Well, burst, blow up, blast, and explode are only four of the verbs that we can use to express this action or experience. But don’t worry. These are the most popular ones.
Two of the words given above confuse learners: warranty and guarantee.
Learn the difference between a warranty and a guarantee, because it might save you a lot of money. And before you buy that new shirt, watch this vocabulary lesson so that you can ask if the store will allow you to return it for a refund, an exchange, or credit.
Get your notebook, listen carefully, and take notes.
So now, are you ready to go shopping? Test yourself.
Okay! Concerning our English studies, I’ll provide you with possibilities and opportunities to apply what you already know and to develop and broaden your knowledge of the language. If you are fully committed to our work, results are guaranteed!
These are words shouted as a way of celebrating or showing approval.
So, hip, hip, hurray because I have many nice things to share with you! But let’s start from the beginning.
At the end of last year, I set a tentative date to resume work with you all for late January. But those who know me know the number of plans and projects I have for this time of the year. During this break from our work, I have the chance to go further with my studies. My goal is always to build the new year on a solid foundation. So my focus is the work with English, teaching, and learning, as well as to improve myself and the structure that gives me support to better cater to your needs.
Let’s first learn how to pronounce tentative:
ˈten.tə.tɪv
The adjective tentative is used to describe something you are unsure or hesitant about.
On Monday, you can make tentative plans for the weekend, but it’s too early to commit to one party or another.
History and Etymology for tentative
Tentative, from the Latin tentātīvus, “testing, trying,” always describes something that is uncertain. If you make a tentative appointment, write it down in pencil, not pen, because it might have to be changed. Here the opposite of tentative is definite or set.
Tentative
Adjective 1Tentativeagreements, plans, ideas, deals, explanation or arrangements are not definite or certain, but have been made as a first step and are still able to be changed.
I have tentative plans to go to Europe in July.
Political leaders have reached a tentative agreement.
Such theories are still very tentative.
That’s just a tentative schedule.
In business:
While analysts are tentative at the moment, they remain basically optimistic.
The company began last year to take tentative steps towards a flotation.
Many cities in Brazil are holding the second round of municipal elections for mayor and vice-mayor, this Sunday. Councilors were already elected in the first round.
We have already learned vocabulary and phrases to talk about the United States presidential election. Now, let’s talk about our municipal elections.
Did you vote in the first round?
Are you going to vote in the second round?
Which party are you voting for?*
Who are you going to vote for?*
Who got the most votes?
Useful Vocabulary
campaign (n) in an election a campaign is a political and organized effort which seeks to win the vote of the electorate. Often called a ‘political campaign’ or an ‘election campaign.’
campaign (v) the things a candidate does to be elected (kissing babies, shaking hands, giving speeches, etc)
candidate (n) the person who is running in an election
debate (n) a formal discussion of the merits of something
debate (v) to argue for and against something
elect (v) the act of voting to select the winner of a political office
election (n) the formal decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual to hold public office
electorate (n) the people who are eligible to vote in an election
government (n) the political body with the power to make and/or enforce laws for a country
local election (n) city or town elections
opposition (n) the major political party opposed to the party in office and prepared to replace it if elected
party (n) an organization formed to gain political power
political (adj) related to politics
politician (n) a person active in politics
politics (n) the process by which governments make decisions
run (v) to campaign to stand for a political position
*Be careful about asking this. For many people, voting is a personal matter.
The 2020 presidential elections in the US, in which President Donald Trump faces the Democrat candidate Joe Biden, are causing a lot of controversy. In the US many votes are cast digitally and there were plans to enlist the help of hackers to reduce the risk of cyber-attacks on election day.
Here is a lesson that teaches us the vocabulary to discuss this initiative.
In 2000 the presidential race between Al Gore and George W. Bush ended inrecounts and disputesovermissing votes. George Bush became the first modern president to win the election despite gaining fewer popular votes than his opponent. How many fewer votes than Gore did Bush win by in the 2000 American presidential election?
a) half a million votes
b) a million votes
c) two million votes
Listen to the programme to find out the answer.
Vocabulary
volunteer someone who works willingly without being paid, because they want to
hacker someone who breaks into computer systems without permission in order to find information or do something illegal
eligible qualified to do something by having the necessary requirements
high-profile attracting a lot of attention and interest from the public, newspapers and the media
(have) the keys to the castle (idiom) information or knowledge which gives the possessor access to power
cybersecurity measures that are taken to protect organisations and their computer information against crimes and attacks carried out through the internet
Transcript
Rob Hello. This is 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English. I’m Rob.
Sam And I’m Sam.
Rob When it comes to US presidential elections, some are more dramatic than others.
Sam But few elections have been as controversial as this November’s contest between current President Trump and his Democratic rival, Joe Biden.
Rob In America, where many votes are cast digitally, there is a risk of cyber-attacks on election day and with so much depending on the result, US election officials are worried.
Sam In this programme we’ll be hearing about plans to prevent election cyber-attacks which involve election officials working with a very unusual group of people: volunteer hackers. Volunteers are people who work willingly, without being paid…
Rob … and hackers are people who break into computer systems without permission in order to find information or do something illegal.
Sam But cyber-attacks from hackers are not the only threat to fair and democratic elections.
Rob In 2000 the presidential race between Al Gore and George W. Bush ended in recounts and disputes over missing votes. George Bush became the first modern president to win the election despite gaining fewer popular votes than his opponent – but how many fewer? That’s our quiz question – how many fewer votes did Bush win than Gore in the 2000 American presidential election? Was it: a) half a million votes?, b) a million votes?, or c) two million votes?
Sam I’ll say b) a million votes.
Rob OK, we’ll find out later. Now, the project Sam mentioned, where official administrators team up with expert volunteers to keep the election secure, is called The Election Cyber Surge.
Sam BBC World Service programme Digital Planetmet up with project organiser Maya Worman to discuss the importance of keeping the election free from interference.
Maya Worman Any attempt to manipulate or interfere with election infrastructures – the machines or the information sets that determine who is eligible to vote and where – undermines the right to vote. And it puts burdens on voters and it impacts public confidence; and high-profile elections, especially like the one coming up, heighten the types of risks that we’re talking about.
Rob You can only vote in an election if you are eligible – qualified by having the necessary requirements, for example being a US citizen who’s aged 18 or over.
Sam It’s up to each of the eight thousand local jurisdictions around the United States to keep their area free from cyber-attacks and misinformation – risks which have increased because the coming election is so high-profile – attracting a lot of attention and interest from newspapers and the public.
Rob The Cyber Surge project to put expert volunteers in touch with local officials aims to prevent these risks. It covers everything from making sure administrators are using the latest anti-virus software to more serious threats from troublemakers.
Sam Now that’s got me thinking actually, Rob. Suppose I’m a troublemaker who wants to influence the election result – so I sign up as a volunteer and gain access to all kinds of information. How do we know that the volunteers who sign up are trustworthy?
Rob That’s a good question, Sam, and one that BBC World Service programme, Digital Planet, put to Maya Worman.
Maya Worman The expectation is not that the volunteer will have the keys to the castle by any means, more that they will have an open dialogue with an election administrator who wants to know more to explore cybersecurity enhancements in general or specifically.
Sam Volunteers are carefully selected according to their experience and skills incybersecurity – measures that help organisations and countries keep their computer information safe against crimes and attacks carried out through the internet.
Rob Volunteers share their expert advice by talking with election officials. They won’t be given access to sensitive information so they won’t have the keys to the castle – an idiom meaning to possess information or knowledge which gives the possessor access to power.
Sam All of which means that the 2020 election result will, hopefully, be accepted by everyone.
Rob Unlike the situation twenty years ago.
Sam Ah, you mean our quiz question, Rob, about the 2000 US presidential election which George W. Bush won despite securing fewer votes than his opponent.
Rob I asked you how many fewer votes Bush won than Al Gore that year.
Sam And I said b) a million votes.
Rob But in fact, it was even closer – just a) half a million votes in Florida.
Sam In this programme we’ve been looking ahead to the US presidential elections and its cybersecurity – measures taken to protect countries and their computer information against online crimes and attacks.
Rob The Cyber Surge project aims to put officials in touch with volunteers – people who work for free, who also happen to be expert hackers – people who break into computer systems without permission.
Sam But the idea isn’t to commit election crime – rather to prevent it by making sure only those who are eligible – or qualified – to vote, do so.
Rob The project was set up because the November 2020 election has become so high-profile – attracting a lot of attention and interest from the public and the media.
Sam And of course the volunteers themselves are carefully chosen to be impartial experts who give advice without holding the keys to the castle – an idiom about possessing information which gives access to power.
Rob What’s certain is that the world will be watching this election, so if you’re eligible, remember to vote.
Sam And remember to join us again soon. Bye for now!
Rob Bye bye!
What do you think? Do you feel safe casting your vote digitally? Is the public accepting electionhacking as a new normal? And would election hacking be the end of democracy as we know it?
