state of affairs
33
3.4
- noun
:
situación
- A way must be found to put an end to this state of affairs.
- current state of affairs
- present state of affairs
- existing state of affairs
We just have a realization of a moral state of affairs, which is no longer morality.
- We just have a realization of a moral state of affairs, which is no longer morality.
- Like how can one determine the current state of affairs?
- But not everyone in Russia is pleased with the new state of affairs.
- And what we really need to do is to continue to push while we're in this state of affairs to make sure these things take hold.
- Can you comment on, I think you've mentioned that the current state of affairs is the de facto three class state.
- So something that was handed on down from on high ordaining a certain state of affairs.
- What a sad state of affairs that RadioShack could not figure out a way here to stay in business.
- And I think waiting in line causes a lot of friction that we currently see in today's state of affairs.
- What do you think about the man, the state of affairs in Russia in general, the system they have there?
Examples
-
How did this sad state of affairs come to be?
Academic text (2011) -
But I am far from satisfied with the current state of affairs in the West.
Academic text (1991) -
And that is obviously a state of affairs that we do not wish to continue.
-
So the best way to cause a change is to take the current state of affairs and push it as far as it will go.
-
What do you think about the man, the state of affairs in Russia in general, the system they have there?
-
Whatever brought you to this state of affairs?
-
And there is little reason to believe that this state of affairs will change anytime soon.
Academic text (2008) -
In almost any modern society, such a state of affairs normally creates strong desires for political change.
Academic text (1992) -
A regrettable but increasingly frequent state of affairs, I'm afraid.
-
The government plans to address the troubling state of affairs in public healthcare.
Synonyms
∞
1.9
The conditions someone or something is in at a time
∞
1.6
The condition of someone or something at a particular time
893
2.1
How good or bad something is at a particular time
713
4.8
The general situation or facts about something
658
2.9
A current condition of something at a specific time
151
4.6
The present situation in society, politics, or the economy
16
4.5
The current situation and main facts about a place or group
1
2.2
The situation that affects a person's life, especially their money and home
How Serious
Surface Forms
Morphology
The overall meaning 'the general situation' is directly built from the constituents: 'state' (condition) + 'of' (linking preposition) + 'affairs' (matters), so a learner who knows these words can compose the meaning. This compositional pattern (state of X = condition of matters) is common in English and parallels constructions in many other languages, making it immediately comprehensible to a B1 learner.
Etymology
The phrase state of affairs comes from joining state, meaning 'condition', and affairs, meaning 'things that are happening'. Imagine a short report that tells how things are now, and that's why the phrase means 'the general situation' at a particular time.