Acquaintance meaning in English
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Definition
an acquaintance: a person you know or have met but do not know very well
That's John. He's a new business acquaintance; I met him at a conference last week.
Pronunciation examples
UK: Pleased to make your acquaintance, Mr Jones.
US: I have 400 acquaintances and two very good friends.
Examples
- "Also present will be Cheryl Mackenna, the corporate buyer for your acquaintance Sheik Jafar."
- "Dr. Badguy : The real purpose of this meeting is to put you in touch with a business acquaintance of mine."
- "I was given your name by an honorable acquaintance."
- "Everyone in the office was talking about it, and I even forwarded it to some of my other business acquaintances."
Exercise 1
The author of this email was informed about Jean through an "acquaintance".
An acquaintance could best be defined as a .
An acquaintance could best be defined as a .
The author of this email was informed about Jean through an "acquaintance".
An acquaintance could best be defined as a contact.
An acquaintance could best be defined as a contact.
contact: An "acquaintance" is simply someone one knows. The relationship cannot be considered a friendship because it is not intimate enough.
business partner: An "acquaintance" is not a partner, and the term isn't necessarily related to business. An acquaintance is simply someone one knows.
friend: An "acquaintance" isn't considered a friend. The term refers to someone one knows and nothing more than that.
consultant: An "acquaintance" is not a consultant, and the term isn't necessarily related to business. An acquaintance is simply someone one knows.
lawyer: An "acquaintance" is not a lawyer, and the term isn't necessarily related to business. An acquaintance is simply someone one knows.
Exercise 2
Dr. Badguy mentions a business acquaintance
Which of the following is the best definition of a "business acquaintance"?
Which of the following is the best definition of a "business acquaintance"?
Dr. Badguy mentions a business acquaintance
Which of the following is the best definition of a "business acquaintance"?
Which of the following is the best definition of a "business acquaintance"?
An "acquaintance" is simply someone one knows. The relationship cannot be considered a friendship because it is not intimate enough. A "business acquaintance" is a professional contact.
An "acquaintance" is not a partner. The term "acquaintance" simply describes someone one knows, or a contact.
A "customer" is a client or patron, someone who purchases services or goods. An acquaintance is simply someone one knows.
An "acquaintance" is not a consultant. An acquaintance is simply someone one knows.
A "rival" is a competitor or an opponent of some sort. A business rival often competes in the same field or market as another. An acquaintance is simply someone one knows.
Exercise 3
Fill in the blanks below with terms used in this conversation. Use the hints to help you.
This adjective describes someone or something "brave", "courageous", or "adventurous".
Example: We need a team of men to save the lost tourists from the volcano.
Hint: The term also describes a dark, thick font used when typing.
This word describes the area right under the arm which is naturally hairy and doesn't always smell very good.
Example: He has really stinky , so I'm going to buy him deodorant for Christmas.
This word describes someone that you have met, but don't necessarily know very well.
Example: "Is Joseph a close friend of yours?" "No, he's just an . We worked at the same factory last year."
Hint: In this conversation, this term is used in a formal idiom meaning "It was nice meeting you".
This adjective describes someone or something "brave", "courageous", or "adventurous".
Example: We need a team of men to save the lost tourists from the volcano.
Hint: The term also describes a dark, thick font used when typing.
This word describes the area right under the arm which is naturally hairy and doesn't always smell very good.
Example: He has really stinky , so I'm going to buy him deodorant for Christmas.
This word describes someone that you have met, but don't necessarily know very well.
Example: "Is Joseph a close friend of yours?" "No, he's just an . We worked at the same factory last year."
Hint: In this conversation, this term is used in a formal idiom meaning "It was nice meeting you".
Fill in the blanks below with terms used in this conversation. Use the hints to help you.
This adjective describes someone or something "brave", "courageous", or "adventurous".
Example: We need a team of bold 1 men to save the lost tourists from the volcano.
Hint: The term also describes a dark, thick font used when typing.
This word describes the area right under the arm which is naturally hairy and doesn't always smell very good.
Example: He has really stinky armpits 2, so I'm going to buy him deodorant for Christmas.
This word describes someone that you have met, but don't necessarily know very well.
Example: "Is Joseph a close friend of yours?" "No, he's just an acquaintance 3. We worked at the same factory last year."
Hint: In this conversation, this term is used in a formal idiom meaning "It was nice meeting you".
This adjective describes someone or something "brave", "courageous", or "adventurous".
Example: We need a team of bold 1 men to save the lost tourists from the volcano.
Hint: The term also describes a dark, thick font used when typing.
This word describes the area right under the arm which is naturally hairy and doesn't always smell very good.
Example: He has really stinky armpits 2, so I'm going to buy him deodorant for Christmas.
This word describes someone that you have met, but don't necessarily know very well.
Example: "Is Joseph a close friend of yours?" "No, he's just an acquaintance 3. We worked at the same factory last year."
Hint: In this conversation, this term is used in a formal idiom meaning "It was nice meeting you".
1 bold: This is the correct choice. "Bold" is a synonym for "brave", "courageous" or "adventurous". In this conversation, Cheryl Mackenna calls Brian Jones's offer to buy back any unsold perfume, "bold". In this context, Cheryl means that Brian's offer is courageous but also risky. The term also describes a dark, thick font used when typing (like this).
2 armpits: This is the correct choice. An "armpit" is the underside of the arm under the shoulder. That's where you apply deodorant! In this conversation, Cheryl tells Philip that she has a market of 400 million consumers ready to buy deodorant, which equates to 800 million armpits!
3 acquaintance: This is the correct choice. An "acquaintance" is simply someone one knows. The relationship cannot be considered a friendship because it is not intimate enough. At the end of this dialogue, Cheryl says "it was a pleasure making your acquaintance" to Brian, which is a formal expression meaning "It was a pleasure meeting you".
Exercise 4
Select the TRUE statements about Sigourney, the woman who appears in this scene.
There may be more than one correct answer!
There may be more than one correct answer!
Select the TRUE statements about Sigourney, the woman who appears in this scene.
There may be more than one correct answer!
There may be more than one correct answer!
This is incorrect. Sigourney is not an employee of the Delavigne Corporation. Bruno introduces her as a "journalist" who has come to "write a feature about Team Delavigne in the dodgeball tournament". A "feature" is synonymous with an "article" in this context.
This is correct. Bruno introduces Sigourney as "a journalist I know", which means that he has met her at some point in the past. An "acquaintance" is simply someone one knows.
This is incorrect. When Sigourney says "life is short", she is not literally saying that she does not have long to live, but rather that one should try new things, because life does not last for ever.
This is correct. Bruno introduces Sigourney as "a journalist I know" and that he has "asked her to write a feature about Team Delavigne in the dodgeball tournament."
This is correct. Bruno says "Sigourney, you wouldn't like to join us, would you? We're a player short", Bruno is asking her to play in the dodgeball team because Delavigne has a player who is absent.
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