Rattling uncertainty
/ˈrætəlɪŋ ˌʌnsərˈtɛnti/
B2
Definition
"Rattling" here means very strong or intense, like something shaking or making a loud noise. "Uncertainty" means not being sure about something or having doubt about the future. Together, "rattling uncertainty" means a very strong and unsettling feeling of doubt or worry about what will happen.
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See It in Action
A very strong feeling of doubt or worry about the future
- •She faced the rattling uncertainty of moving to a new country alone.
- •The company’s future was full of rattling uncertainty after the market crash.
- •During the crisis, people lived with rattling uncertainty every day.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "rattling uncertainty" like "big worry," but much stronger and shaking inside you, not just small doubt
- ✓Picture a window shaking loudly during a storm—this shaking is like your mind when you feel rattling uncertainty
- ✓It's the feeling when you can't sleep because you are very unsure about an important decision or event
- ✓Sounds like "RATTLE-ing" → imagine a box full of loose things shaking loudly, making you nervous because you don’t know what will come out
- ✓Think of a story where a character is scared and unsure, like waiting for exam results or news about a job
- ✓NOT like "small doubt" (quiet, calm)—rattling uncertainty is loud and strong inside your feelings
- ✓NOT like "confidence" which is sure and calm; rattling uncertainty is the opposite, full of shaking worry
Try Other Words
- •Deep uncertainty: very strong doubt or not knowing (Use when focusing on the intensity of not knowing)
- •Great worry: large amount of worry or fear (Use when emotional feeling is strong but less physical shaking)
- •Severe doubt: strong feeling of not believing or trusting (Use when focusing on lack of trust or belief)
Unboxing
- •"rattling": from verb "rattle," meaning to shake or make a quick noise; here used as adjective meaning very strong or intense
- •"uncertainty": noun from "uncertain," meaning not sure or definite; "uncertainty" means the state of not knowing or doubt
- •"rattling" as adjective is informal and often means "very" or "extremely" in speaking
- •The phrase combines a physical feeling (rattling = shaking) with an emotional state (uncertainty = doubt)
- •Used in writing and speech to describe strong emotional states, especially in difficult or unclear situations
Reflect & Connect
•How does the feeling of rattling uncertainty affect the way people make decisions?
•Can rattling uncertainty ever be helpful, for example, by making someone more careful or thoughtful?
Fill in the blanks
1.The rattling uncertainty about the future ___ many people to feel anxious and stressed.
2.When faced with rattling uncertainty, people often ___ for answers or support.
3.Unlike small doubts, rattling uncertainty ___ the mind like shaking a glass full of water.
4.The phrase "rattling uncertainty" shows a feeling that is both ___ and ___.
5.In stories, rattling uncertainty often appears before a ___ or important choice.
6.People usually describe rattling uncertainty with words like "deep," "intense," or ___.
7.After hearing bad news, she was full of rattling uncertainty and could not ___ clearly.