state of affairs en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- (Australia) audio
Meanings
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(idiomatic) A specific situation; a set of circumstances.
Now this doubtness is an unhappy state of affairs to the lover of the steam locomotive, but we cannot, like the proverbial ostrich, bury our heads in the sand and refuse to face facts.
1950 January, Cecil J. Allen, “British Locomotive Practice and Performance”, in Railway Magazine, page 13:An independent oversight body is just setting up, but at full strength it will have a core team of just five. This is a state of affairs that cossets and enriches bailiffs at the expense of families who’ve fallen into debt.
2023 August 17, Aditya Chakrabortty, “Can’t pay and they really do take it away: what happens when the bailiffs come knocking”, in The Guardian:His uncooperative attitude creates a difficult state of affairs for all of us.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| states of affairs | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Translations (37)
cmn 情況 /情况 (specific situation) · fr situation (specific situation) · ba хәл (specific situation) · pl stan rzeczy (specific situation) · vi tình hình (specific situation) · es situación actual (specific situation) · eo stato de aferoj (specific situation) · fi asianlaita (specific situation) · sl okoliščina (specific situation) · ru положе́ние дел (specific situation) · ja 事体 (specific situation) · fr état des lieux (specific situation) · ja 事態 (specific situation) · gd suidheachadh (specific situation) · it stato (specific situation) · de Lage (specific situation) · ru состоя́ние дел (specific situation) · ru состоя́ние (specific situation) · fi asiaintila (specific situation) · es estado de los asuntos (specific situation) · ru положе́ние (specific situation) · de Sachlage (specific situation) · hu tényállás (specific situation) · it stato delle cose (specific situation) · de Zustand (specific situation) · eo aferstato (specific situation) · cmn 狀態 /状态 (specific situation) · ka საქმეთა მდგომარეობა (specific situation) · it situazione (specific situation) · tr gidişat (specific situation) · pt circunstância (specific situation) · cmn 事態 /事态 (specific situation) · nl situatie (specific situation) · nl stand van zaken (specific situation) · nl toestand (specific situation) · pt estado de coisas (specific situation) · fr état de choses (specific situation)