Oxford Business English Dictionary for Learners of English

sweeping /'swi:pir)/ adjective [usually before noun] having an important effect on a large part of sth: Consumer groups are calling for sweeping changes in the European car market.

the sweeps /swi:ps/ noun [pi.] (AmE) (informal) a time when television companies examine their programmes to find out which ones are the most popular, especially in order to calculate advertising rates: Which news network will have the highest daytime viewership in the November sweeps?

sweeten /'swi:tn/ verb [+ obj] to make sth more pleasant or acceptable: The supermarket has sweetened its offer (= offered more money) for its smaller competitor.

sweetener /'swi:tna(r)/ noun [C] (informal) something that is given to sb in order to persuade them to do sth: Staff were offered an extra day's holiday as a sweetener, о He was accused of accepting sweeteners from suppliers. bribe

'sweetheart dealnoun [c] a private agreement between two groups or organizations which benefits one or both of them but is often unfair to other people who are involved: Critics have accused the government of having a sweetheart deal with the airline.

a sign, number, letter, etc. that has a particular meaning: The company uses a lion as its symbol.

a company, a person, an object, an event, etc. that represents a more general quality or situation: Fiat was a symbol of Italy's economic success.

(Stock Exchange) = ticker symbol

.sympathetic strike = sympathy strike

sympathy /'simpaGi/ noun [u;c, usually pi ] (plural sympathies)

the act of showing support for or approval of an idea, a cause, an organization, etc: I have a lot of sympathy with what he has to say. ШШ in 'sympathy with sth happening because sth else has happened: Share prices slipped in sympathy with the German market.

'sympathy strike (also .sympa thetic strike, less frequent) noun [C]

[HR) an occasion when a group of workers stop work in order to show support for another group who have stopped work: Train drivers staged a sympathy strike to show solidarity with the firefighters.

symposium /sim'paoziam; AmЈ -'poo-/ noun [C] [plural symposia /-zia/ or symposiums) a meeting at which experts have discussions about a particular subject: an international symposium on change in the financial environment

syndicate noun, verb

noun /'sindikat/ [C]

[Finance) a group of people or companies who work together and help each other in order to achieve a particular aim: a 24-strong syndicate of banks о a 24-member banking syndicate о An international syndicate is negotiating to buy the carmaker.

• verb [+ obj]

(BrE) to present sth formally for discussion: The firm tabled a motion to shareholders to reduce the number of board members.

(especially AmE) to leave an idea, a proposal, etc. to be discussed at a later date: They voted to table the proposal until the following meeting.

talks [pl ] formal discussions between organizations or governments: Talks between the airline and the union will begin today.

crisis/merger/pay/takeover/trade talks

[C] a speech or lecture on a particular subject: He's giving a talk on e-publishing.

'talking point noun [c]

a subject that is talked about or discussed by many people: The company's disappointing results were the day's main talking point.

(AmE) an item that sb will speak about at a meeting, often one that supports a particular argument: He goes into meetings armed with talking points.