Reaching the 'Tipping Point'
2024-08-25
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1And now, Words and Their Stories, from VOA Learning English.
2Today we talk about an important time in a movement or experience.
3It is the moment when something cannot be stopped.
4There is a momentum or force pushing something forward or making it more known or popular.
5One term for that kind of moment is tipping point.
6The online dictionary Merriam-Webster defines tipping point as "the critical point in a situation, process, or system beyond which a significant and often unstoppable effect or change takes place."
7The tipping point can also be the time at which a change or an effect cannot be stopped.
8For example, some scientists believe Earth may have passed the tipping point in global warming.
9Efforts taken now will not prevent environmental disaster.
10It is too late to stop the damage. In other words, that ship has sailed.
11When something reaches a tipping point it is too late to turn back. It is a point of no return.
12Here is another definition.
13The online Cambridge Dictionary defines the tipping point as "a time during an activity or process when an important decision has to be made or when a situation changes completely."
14Used this way, we often say we reach, approach, or near a tipping point.
15Here are some examples:
16In class, the students' anger toward their teacher reached a tipping point.
17She had again given them a test on a subject she hadn't taught.
18Prices at the food store are nearing a tipping point.
19If they go much higher, people will just shop elsewhere.
20Malcolm Gladwell wrote about the subject in his book Tipping Point published in 2002.
21He describes tipping point this way: "The tipping point is that magic moment when an idea, trend, or social behavior crosses a threshold, tips, and spreads like wildfire."
22For example, you could say, "The writer's best-selling second book was the tipping point in her career. Now, everything she publishes is popular!"
23And that's the end of this Words and Their Stories.
24Until next time, I'm Anna Matteo.
1And now, Words and Their Stories, from VOA Learning English. 2Today we talk about an important time in a movement or experience. It is the moment when something cannot be stopped. There is a momentum or force pushing something forward or making it more known or popular. 3One term for that kind of moment is tipping point. 4The online dictionary Merriam-Webster defines tipping point as "the critical point in a situation, process, or system beyond which a significant and often unstoppable effect or change takes place." 5The tipping point can also be the time at which a change or an effect cannot be stopped. 6For example, some scientists believe Earth may have passed the tipping point in global warming. Efforts taken now will not prevent environmental disaster. It is too late to stop the damage. In other words, that ship has sailed. When something reaches a tipping point it is too late to turn back. It is a point of no return. 7Here is another definition. The online Cambridge Dictionary defines the tipping point as "a time during an activity or process when an important decision has to be made or when a situation changes completely." 8Used this way, we often say we reach, approach, or near a tipping point. Here are some examples: 9In class, the students' anger toward their teacher reached a tipping point. She had again given them a test on a subject she hadn't taught. 10Prices at the food store are nearing a tipping point. If they go much higher, people will just shop elsewhere. 11Malcolm Gladwell wrote about the subject in his book Tipping Point published in 2002. He describes tipping point this way: "The tipping point is that magic moment when an idea, trend, or social behavior crosses a threshold, tips, and spreads like wildfire." 12For example, you could say, "The writer's best-selling second book was the tipping point in her career. Now, everything she publishes is popular!" 13And that's the end of this Words and Their Stories. 14Until next time, I'm Anna Matteo. 15Anna Matteo wrote this lesson for VOA Learning English. 16________________________________________________ 17Words in This Story 18momentum - n. strength or force gained by motion or by a series of events 19significant - adj. having much importance 20approach - v. to draw closer to 21trend - n. a current style or preference 22threshold - n. the place or point of entering or beginning 23We want to hear from you. Do you have similar expressions in your language? In the Comments section, you can also practice using any of the expressions from the story. Our comment policy is here. Or send us an email at LearningEnglish@voanews.com.