filibuster
gb/fˈɪləbˌʌstɚ/ us/fˈɪləbˌʌstɚ/
C1
English
obstrukció, filibuster, szenátusi obstrukció, obstruál, mellébeszél, szövegel, mellébeszélés, szövegelés
NOUN
C1
1
obstrukció
C1
Usage pattern:
[a/the] filibuster; a filibuster of/against [a bill/nomination]
The opposition mounted a filibuster to stop the bill from reaching a final vote.
Az ellenzék obstrukciót indított, hogy megakadályozza, hogy a törvényjavaslat eljusson a végszavazásig.
After weeks of debate, party leaders struggled to break the filibuster.
Hetekig tartó vita után a pártvezetők nehezen tudták megtörni az obstrukciót.
Her 15-hour speech became the longest filibuster in state senate history.
Learner examples
The senators used a filibuster to delay the vote.
A szenátorok obstrukcióval késleltették a szavazást.
A filibuster can stop a bill from passing.
Az obstrukció megakadályozhatja egy törvényjavaslat elfogadását.
Common mistake:
A filibuster is not just any long political speech; it is usually meant to delay or block official action.
Meaning
Legislative delaying tactic
Collocations
Senate filibuster
|launch a filibuster
|mount a filibuster
|stage a filibuster
|threaten a filibuster
|break a filibuster
|end a filibuster
|defeat a filibuster
|overcome a filibuster
|sustain a filibuster
Synonyms
delaying tactic (broader and more general; not limited to legislatures)
|
obstruction (emphasizes blocking progress, often without specifying the method)
|
stonewalling (more informal; often means refusing to cooperate or answer)
Antonyms
cloture (a formal procedure used to end debate and overcome a filibuster)
|
vote (the decision-making action that a filibuster may delay)
Themes
politics
|government
|law
Definition
a way for lawmakers to delay or stop a vote, often by speaking for a long time
A political tactic in which lawmakers delay or try to block a vote, bill, or nomination, especially by prolonging debate or using procedural rules.
NOUN
C1
2
Usage pattern:
the filibuster; abolish/reform/preserve the filibuster
Several senators want to abolish the filibuster for voting-rights bills.
Több szenátor el akarja törölni a filibustert a választójogi törvényjavaslatok esetében.
The filibuster means most major Senate bills need 60 votes to advance.
A filibuster miatt a legtöbb fontos szenátusi törvényjavaslatnak 60 szavazatra van szüksége ahhoz, hogy továbbléphessen.
Supporters of the filibuster say it protects the minority party.
Learner examples
Many U.S. debates mention the filibuster.
Sok amerikai politikai vita említi a filibustert.
Some politicians want to change the filibuster.
Néhány politikus meg akarja változtatni a filibustert.
Common mistake:
In U.S. news, 'the filibuster' often means the Senate rule or practice, not one particular long speech.
Meaning
Senate supermajority rule
Collocations
abolish the filibuster
|reform the filibuster
|preserve the filibuster
|weaken the filibuster
|protect the filibuster
|Senate filibuster
|filibuster rules
|filibuster threshold
|60-vote filibuster
|exceptions to the filibuster
Synonyms
Senate filibuster (more explicit about the U.S. Senate context)
|
supermajority requirement (describes the practical vote threshold, not the whole procedure)
|
extended-debate rule (descriptive term focused on debate rather than political strategy)
Antonyms
simple majority (a lower voting threshold that does not require a supermajority)
|
majority rule (the principle that a bare majority can decide an issue)
Themes
politics
|government
|law
|united_states
Definition
the U.S. Senate rule or practice that often requires 60 votes to move major legislation forward
In U.S. politics, the Senate practice or set of rules that lets a minority delay or block many actions unless enough senators vote to end debate, now usually 60 votes for legislation.
VERB
C1
3
obstruál
C1
Usage pattern:
[someone] filibusters; filibuster [a bill/nomination/measure]
The minority party threatened to filibuster the defense bill.
A kisebbségi párt azzal fenyegetőzött, hogy obstruálni fogja a védelmi törvényjavaslatot.
Senators filibustered for hours before the vote was postponed.
A szenátorok órákon át obstruáltak, mielőtt elhalasztották a szavazást.
Lawmakers in the state senate tried to filibuster the nomination.
Learner examples
They filibustered the bill.
Obstruálták a törvényjavaslatot.
The senator threatened to filibuster.
A szenátor azzal fenyegetőzött, hogy obstruálni fog.
Common mistake:
The past tense is 'filibustered.' Be careful with the spelling: 'filibuster,' not 'fillibuster.'
Meaning
Block legislation procedurally
Collocations
threaten to filibuster
|plan to filibuster
|attempt to filibuster
|vote to filibuster
|filibuster a bill
|filibuster legislation
|filibuster a nomination
|filibuster a measure
|filibuster for hours
Synonyms
obstruct (broader; can apply to many kinds of blocking)
|
stall (less formal and not necessarily legislative)
|
block (emphasizes the result rather than the procedural method)
Antonyms
advance (to move legislation forward rather than delay it)
|
expedite (to make a process happen more quickly)
|
pass (to approve legislation rather than prevent action on it)
Themes
politics
|government
|law
Definition
to delay or block a law or vote by using a filibuster
To use a filibuster to delay or prevent a legislative vote or approval.
VERB
C1
INFORMAL
4
mellébeszél
B2
szövegel
B2
Usage pattern:
[someone] filibusters; filibuster with [stories/explanations]; filibuster for [time]
When asked about the budget, he filibustered with a ten-minute story about office morale.
Amikor a költségvetésről kérdezték, mellébeszélt, és előadott egy tízperces történetet az irodai hangulatról.
Please don't filibuster; we only have five minutes left.
Kérlek, ne szövegelj; már csak öt percünk van.
She filibustered long enough for the team to find the missing slides.
Learner examples
Stop filibustering and answer the question.
Ne beszélj mellé, hanem válaszolj a kérdésre.
He filibustered until the meeting ended.
Addig szövegelt, amíg véget nem ért az értekezlet.
Common mistake:
Outside politics, 'stall' or 'ramble' is often simpler and more common.
Meaning
Talk to avoid progress
Collocations
try to filibuster
|stop filibustering
|filibuster in a meeting
|filibuster with anecdotes
|filibuster with explanations
|filibuster for time
Synonyms
stall (more common and general for delaying)
|
ramble (emphasizes talking too long or without focus)
|
stonewall (emphasizes refusing to answer or cooperate)
Antonyms
answer directly (to respond clearly instead of delaying with talk)
|
summarize (to make a short statement instead of speaking at length)
Themes
communication
|meetings
|workplace
Definition
to keep talking so that something is delayed or so you do not have to answer
To talk at unnecessary length, or use talk to delay something or avoid answering directly.
NOUN
C1
INFORMAL
5
szövegelés
B2
Usage pattern:
a filibuster about [something]; turn into a filibuster
The CEO's answer turned into a filibuster about market conditions.
A vezérigazgató válasza a piaci körülményekről szóló hosszú mellébeszéléssé vált.
What was supposed to be a brief update became a half-hour filibuster.
Aminek rövid helyzetjelentésnek kellett volna lennie, abból félórás szövegelés lett.
Her explanation felt less like an answer and more like a filibuster.
Learner examples
His answer was a filibuster.
A válasza egy hosszú mellébeszélés volt.
The short meeting became a filibuster.
A rövid megbeszélésből végül hosszas szövegelés lett.
Common mistake:
This informal use can sound humorous or critical; it is not just a neutral word for a long talk.
Meaning
Long delaying speech
Collocations
long filibuster
|verbal filibuster
|mini-filibuster
|turn into a filibuster
|become a filibuster
|deliver a filibuster
Synonyms
monologue (a long speech by one person, not necessarily meant to delay)
|
ramble (a long, unfocused speech or piece of writing)
|
delaying speech (plain description of the purpose)
Antonyms
brief reply (a short answer instead of a long delaying speech)
|
summary (a concise version rather than an extended talk)
Themes
communication
|meetings
|workplace
Definition
a very long speech or answer that wastes time or avoids the point
A long, often rambling speech or explanation that delays progress or avoids the main point.
Grammar
Dictionary form
filibuster
IPA
GB/fˈɪləbˌʌstɚ/
US/fˈɪləbˌʌstɚ/
Syllables & stress
fili - buster (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (fili)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: filibuster
- Plural: filibuster, filibusters
Verb
- Base: filibuster
- 3rd Person Singular: filibusters
- Present Participle: filibustering
- Past: filibustered
Expressions
break a filibuster
1/bɹˈeɪk ə fˈɪləbˌʌstɚ/
fixed phrase
End a delaying tactic
to stop a filibuster so a vote can happen
Examples
- Leaders needed three more votes to break the filibuster.
- The compromise helped break a filibuster on the spending bill.
- Opponents said they would keep debating unless the majority could break the filibuster.
Learner examples
- They could not break the filibuster.
- The vote broke the filibuster.
filibuster-proof majority
1/fˈɪləbˌʌstɚ pɹˈuf məd͡ʒˈɔɹəti/
fixed phrase
Votes enough to overcome
enough votes to stop opponents from using a filibuster
Examples
- The party won a filibuster-proof majority in the state senate.
- Without a filibuster-proof majority, the bill needed support from both parties.
- The coalition was two seats short of a filibuster-proof majority.
Learner examples
- They did not have a filibuster-proof majority.
- A filibuster-proof majority can pass the bill more easily.
silent filibuster
1/sˈaɪlənt fˈɪləbˌʌstɚ/
fixed phrase
Filibuster without speeches
a filibuster that does not require a senator to keep speaking
Examples
- Critics argue that the silent filibuster makes it too easy to block legislation.
- The reform would replace the silent filibuster with a talking filibuster.
- Under a silent filibuster, the bill can stall even if no senator is speaking on the floor.
Learner examples
- A silent filibuster can block a bill.
- No long speech is needed for a silent filibuster.
talking filibuster
1/tˈɔkɪŋ fˈɪləbˌʌstɚ/
fixed phrase
Continuous-speech filibuster
a filibuster where a lawmaker has to keep speaking
Examples
- Some senators proposed bringing back the talking filibuster.
- The lawmaker held a talking filibuster that lasted through the night.
- A talking filibuster is the version many people know from movies.
Learner examples
- He held a talking filibuster.
- A talking filibuster can last for hours.