That means you try to choose the less bad option. In this case you might have to choose the lesser of two evils. Sometimes you need to decide between two things which are both bad, unfortunately. This means to delay making a final decision or a final commitment. Some people like to keep their options open. If you are really in a difficult situation and you have no idea what decision to make, then you can say, “I’m in a quandary.” A quandary is a very difficult situation where you don’t know what decision to make and there could be negative consequences based on your decision. You can also say, “I can’t make up my mind.” “Make up my mind” is a very common expression which means make a decision. If you are having difficulty making a decision, you can say, “I’m on the fence.” “On the fence” means you’re in the middle, between one side and the other. The opposite of a rational decision (a rational decision is one that is logical and considers the facts) is an arbitrary decision, one that doesn’t seem to have much support in true facts or information. The word arbitrary means based on chance or based on impulse, not based on logical, rational facts. Unwise is the opposite of wise.Īnother word that’s often used to describe a decision that’s not so good is an arbitrary decision. To describe a decision that was bad, you can say it was a poor decision or an unwise decision. All three of these have a positive connotation. Three more words to describe a decision that was good are a sensible decision, a wise decision, and a rational decision. It means the decision was made too quickly without considering all the facts properly.Ī decision that cannot be changed after it has been made is an irreversible decision. All of these words have a negative connotation. Some words to describe a decision that was made quickly and which was really not a good decision are a hasty decision, a rash decision, or a knee-jerk decision. Now, a decision which is made quickly is not always the best decision because maybe you didn’t have all the necessary information. A snap decision is one that is done instantly. The word “snap” is also used for making a “pop” sound with your fingers. It’s a no-brainer.Ī decision that is made quickly can be called a prompt decision or a snap decision. This is an informal way to say that it doesn’t require much thought. Now, if a decision is quite easy and it’s obvious which one is the best choice, that type of decision is called a no-brainer. A “tough call” simply means a difficult decision. The more informal way of saying that is it’s a tough call. If a decision is difficult, you can say it’s a difficult decision, it’s a hard decision, or it’s a tough decision. You might say it’s a momentous decision or a landmark decision if it will have some importance in history. This decision will serve as a precedent, as an example, for future cases that are similar. You’ll often see phrase when a judge or a court makes a decision in a legal case. If a decision has some historical importance, then you can say it’s a momentous decision or a landmark decision. If you want to emphasize the importance of a decision, then you can say it’s a key decision or a crucial decision. If a decision is big, you can call it a big decision or a major decision. Let’s use this as a starting point to learn some collocations and idioms about decisions. If you arrive at a decision, come to a decision, or reach a decision, it usually means that decision took some time and deliberation to make. The decision required a lot of discussion, debate, or a lot of thought on your part for example. Now, three more verbs that you can use with the word decision are:Īll three of these are usually used when the process of decision making was long and drawn out. Again, both are correct, but “make a decision” is more common. I checked the dictionary and I was surprised to learn that it is possible to “take a decision,” but the more common expression is make a decision. Which one is correct: make a decision, or take a decision? Hello, students! Today I want to answer a question that a student sent to me.
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