📅 2026-10-01📊 C2 Proficient📚 20 new words🎧 daily podcast
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meritocracy /mer-i-TOK-ruh-see/
noun
a system in which power and rewards go to the most talented and hardworking people, not the best connected
"She believes in meritocracy, where promotions go to the hardest-working employees, not the boss's friends."
nepotism /NEP-uh-tiz-um/
noun
the unfair practice of giving jobs or advantages to relatives and friends rather than the most qualified people
"Nepotism in the family firm meant the founder's nephew became director at twenty-five."
sycophant /SIK-uh-funt/
noun
a person who praises powerful people excessively and insincerely in order to gain favor
"The office sycophant laughed at every one of the manager's jokes, however unfunny."
acumen /uh-KYOO-men/
noun
the ability to make good, quick judgments, especially in business
"Her financial acumen turned a failing startup into a market leader."
shrewd /SHROOD/
adjective
clever and sharp in practical judgment, especially in business; able to see what will be advantageous
"The shrewd investor bought shares when everyone else was panicking."
industrious /in-DUS-tree-us/
adjective
hardworking and diligent
"The industrious apprentice stayed late every evening to master the machinery."
assiduous /uh-SIJ-oo-us/
adjective
showing great care, attention, and persistence in one's work
"Assiduous networking over five years finally opened doors for her in the industry."
conscientious /kon-shee-EN-shus/
adjective
careful, thorough, and guided by a strong sense of duty
"A conscientious auditor double-checks every figure before signing off."
lackadaisical /lak-uh-DAY-zi-kul/
adjective
lacking enthusiasm, energy, or care; casually lazy
"His lackadaisical attitude toward deadlines cost him the promotion."
drudgery /DRUJ-uh-ree/
noun
hard, dull, repetitive work that feels like a grind
"Months of data-entry drudgery left her desperate for a more creative role."
sinecure /SY-nih-kyoor/
noun
a well-paid position requiring little or no real work
"He treated the advisory board seat as a comfortable sinecure."
perquisite /PUR-kwi-zit/
noun
an extra benefit or privilege granted in addition to a salary
"Free first-class flights were the most valuable perquisite of her executive role."
remuneration /ri-myoo-nuh-RAY-shun/
noun
a formal word for payment or reward for work done
"The board approved a generous remuneration package for the incoming CEO."
lucrative /LOO-kruh-tiv/
adjective
producing a large profit or income
"The consultancy contract proved extremely lucrative within its first year."
glass ceiling /GLAS SEE-ling/
noun
an invisible barrier that prevents women or minorities from rising to top positions
"She shattered the glass ceiling to become the bank's first female chair."
attrition /uh-TRISH-un/
noun
the gradual loss of employees who leave and are not replaced
"High attrition in the support team forced constant, costly recruitment."
redundancy /ri-DUN-dun-see/
noun
(British English) job loss caused by a position being eliminated
"The merger led to three hundred redundancies across middle management."
trajectory /truh-JEK-tuh-ree/
noun
the path or arc of development that a career follows over time
"His trajectory carried him from junior analyst to partner in nine years."
micromanage /MY-kroh-man-ij/
verb
to control every small detail of employees' work excessively
"Good leaders delegate; they don't micromanage every email their team sends."
bootstrapping /BOOT-strap-ing/
noun
building a business using only one's own money and revenue, without outside investors
"Bootstrapping kept them debt-free but made growth painfully slow."
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📝Grammar: Obligation and prohibition at C2: have to, must, should, ought to, be supposed to, had better
Obligation in English is a ladder of strength. At the top sits **MUST** for the speaker's own urgent decision: ‘I **must** finish this report tonight.’ It comes from inside you.
**HAVE TO**, by contrast, reports an external rule: ‘New analysts **have to** log their hours; it's company policy.’ Same grammar, opposite source of pressure.
**MUSTN'T** is prohibition, full stop: ‘You **mustn't** discuss the redundancies outside HR.’ It is far stronger than **SHOULDN'T**, which is only advice. Never confuse **mustn't** with **don't have to** — one forbids you, the other frees you.
**OUGHT TO** me
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