CAUSE & EFFECT
A. COLLOCATIONS WITH CAUSE & EFFECT
We have yet to establish the cause of this latest outbreak of foot and mouth disease
Mass unemployment is believed to be the root cause of the riots
The research team thinks that a virus is the primary cause of this type of cancer
The President said it would take a time for the reforms to produce the desired effect
It is likely to be some weeks before we feel the full effect of the rise in interests rates
This morning delays to flights have had a knock-on effect (indirect) on departures all day
The children involved on the hijack are not expected to suffer any long-term ill effects
B. OTHER WORDS MEANING CAUSE
- Provoke an outcry: cause public anger
- If teacher show favouritism, it breeds resentment
- Mary didn't believe the rumours about her boss but they planted doubts in her mind
- The actress's photo promted speculation that she may be pregnant
- Email has more or less rendered the fax machine obsolete
- If you want to ..., you can set the wheels in motion by ... (make sth start to happen)
- This wind will wreak havoc with my flowers
- The strike could spell disaster for the country
- There must be some compelling reason surely (very powerful reason)
- He must have known there'd be dire consequences
- I think his parents' financial problem might be a contributing factor but he refused to give me a reason. I'm sure the headteacher will demand an explanation.
*dire: extremely serious
The lessons appear clear: engage the moderates or the consequences could be dire.’
‘Neglect of the physical constraints of holiness could be punished with the most dire consequences.’
‘Discussion then moved on to other potential candidates in similar dire need of counselling.’
‘As winter sets in, as many as 5 million face dire food shortages.’
‘"The situation is pretty dire, " said Thomas.’
‘There are others though who, not only cannot do this, but are in fact in very dire circumstances.’
‘The situation isn't so dire in Northeast Asia, especially in booming China.’
‘Today, ten years later, the situation is just as dire, especially in rural areas.’
‘He also warned the government of dire consequences if the administration tried to stop either of the batches.’
‘People are very reluctant to accept pay cuts, even when the company is in pretty dire straits.’
‘I choked helplessly as the need for air became dire.’
‘"In this village most families are in dire poverty, " he said.’
From "English Collocations in Use - Advanced" by Cambridge University Press
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