qualmqualm /kwɑːm $ kwɑːm, kwɑːlm/ noun [countable usually plural] 
Despite my qualms, I took the job. The manager has no qualms about dropping players who do not perform well.
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Doctors expressed qualms about the ethics of the treatment.
- Chambers hoped to reconcile those readers with religious qualms to the general idea of transmutation.
- Jeske has no qualms about coming to Grand Forks and operating an event center that has no proven track record.
- Politicians may have qualms about subsidizing profitable businesses owned by multimillionaires.
- We protected ourselves without a qualm.
Longman Language Activatorto not feel guilty about something
· I made her cry but I don't feel guilty -- she deserved it.not feel guilty about · Working mothers shouldn't feel guilty about wanting a career.· I don't understand how on earth he can go on lying like that and not feel guilty about it.
if you have a clear conscience , you feel that you have not done anything wrong, so that you do not feel guilty about anything you have done: with a clear conscience: · You can face Lionel with a clear conscience -- you've done nothing to harm him.have a clear conscience: · Let them say whatever they like. I have a clear conscience.
if you have no qualms about doing something, you have no worries or doubts about whether what you are doing is right, even though other people may think it is wrong: have no qualms about: · She had no qualms about sending her young children to boarding school.· Donald had been stealing stationery from work for years and had no qualms about it at all.
formal to not feel guilty about doing something, even though other people may think it is wrong: · I warn you. These people have no compunction whatsoever and cannot be trusted.have/feel no compunction about: · Eliot felt no compunction about living at the expense of his friends.
not worried also unconcerned formal · Sam had stayed out late before, so we weren't particularly worried when he didn't return.· Brian didn't seem at all concerned when the car broke down.not worried/concerned about · He insists that he is not worried about the poor showing his party made in the recent local elections. · For once, Karen seemed unconcerned about the possibility of being late for class. not in the least bit worried etc (=not at all worried) · Even after losing her job, she doesn't seem in the least bit worried.
feeling relaxed again because you do not need to worry about something that you worried about before: · "Oh," she said, relieved. "I'm so glad you're back."seem/feel/look/appear relieved: · The hostages simply look relieved to be going home.relieved that: · I was relieved that John was there to help me explain.· The government will be relieved that a crisis has been averted.relieved at: · Sahlin appeared relieved at my news.relieved to know/hear/find/learn etc something: · I'm so relieved to see you!· Polly was relieved to learn that her mother's illness was not a serious one.· Andrew was relieved to discover that he was not himself under suspicion.
spoken if something is a weight off your mind you do not have to worry any more because something has happened to make you feel happier about it: be a great/big/enormous weight off somebody's mind: · No doubt the news will be a huge weight off his mind.take a weight off somebody's mind: · Now that Peter has passed all his exams, it's taken a great weight off my mind.
the pleasant feeling you have when you no longer have to worry about something: · A white envelope lay on the mat. Holmes felt considerable relief.a feeling/sense of relief: · Edwards commented that the convictions give him a feeling of relief that he hopes the victim shares.with relief: · To her own surprise, she began sobbing with relief.to somebody's relief (=making them feel relieved): · To Greg's relief, nobody asked to check his ticket.· The rains came this weekend, much to the relief of tomato growers in Florida. breathe/heave a sigh of relief (=show by your behaviour that you are no longer worried about something): · You could hear the students breathing a collective sigh of relief when the final bell rang.it is a relief to know/hear/see/find etc: · It was such a relief to see Liz looking healthy again.· Mary says it's a relief to have someone to talk to at last.come as a relief: · The decision, announced on Thursday, came as a huge relief to the factory's 300 workers.
to not be worried by a problem because you do not think it is important enough: · I tried my best, and I certainly won't be losing any sleep over the result.· It's not that serious. I wouldn't lose sleep over it if I were you.
if you have no qualms about something, you are not worried about it, especially because you are sure it is the right thing to do: have no qualms about: · One protestor said he would have no qualms about bombing the clinic.· He was a man who had no qualms about preaching one thing and practising another in his private life.
cheerful and not worried about anything, because you do not have any real problems or responsibilities in your life: · I felt carefree for the first time in my life.· They both laughed, feeling like two carefree schoolgirls.
if someone is without a care in the world , they are not worried about anything at all and are happy: · I was just sixteen, young, confident and without a care in the world.· He puffed away on his pipe as if he didn't have a care in the world.
to laugh and refuse to worry or be serious about a problem, when someone is trying to talk to you about it: laugh off something: · Venables laughed off suggestions that he will be asked to retire.· She took praise with delight, and laughed off any criticisms with good humour.laugh it off: · She was genuinely angry, but Luke just tried to laugh it off.
to feel worried about something · My husband worries when I'm late home from work.· Don't worry, there's plenty of time.· Mom, stop worrying. I'll be fine.worry (that) · He began to worry he might lose his job.· I was worried that Shannon was too small, but the doctor says she's fine.worry about · I was really worried about it at the time.· I don't know what you're worrying about.
to worry a lot about something, especially something that is not very serious: · She worries and frets all the time -- I think it's because she's got no one to talk to about her problems.fret about/over: · I'd sit in meetings, fretting about what was happening at home.· There's no point in fretting over it now.fret that: · Opponents fret that the system might not provide enough help in times of rural economic crisis.
to keep thinking about and worrying about a problem for a long time after it has happened: · There's no point in brooding -- forget about her.· Dad alternately brooded and raged, and Mum wasn't much better.brood about/over/on: · Don't sit at home brooding about how badly you've been treated.· Achilles sits in his tent, brooding over the wrongs done to him.
to be very worried and upset about something: · Where were you last night? I was worried sick.be worried sick about: · She's worried sick about the possibility of losing her job.· I'm worried sick about Sandy. I haven't heard from her for days. worry yourself sick: · Jenny had worried herself sick trying to think of a way to pay back the money.
extremely worried and frightened about a situation and unable to think or behave calmly: · Inspector Grimes was used to dealing with frantic parents.get/grow/become frantic: · The knocking on the door and shouts became frantic.· There is still no news of the missing child and her parents are getting frantic.· The dog's barking grew frantic as I approached.frantic with worry/fear: · Her eyes were frantic with fear, and she couldn't keep still.
to be very worried about a problem, especially something that has been happening for a long time that you feel you cannot deal with any longer: · I don't know what I can do to keep our marriage together -- I'm at my wits' end!· It was two days before the baby was due, and Robert was at his wits' end.
to be worried that something you are going to do might be morally wrong: · Few so-called animal lovers have qualms when they purchase meat from supermarkets.· Despite my qualms, I accepted the job.have qualms about: · Shareholders seem to have few qualms about companies sponsoring overseas abortion programs.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY The manager has no qualms about dropping players who do not perform well.
a feeling of slight worry or doubt because you are not sure that what you are doing is right: The manager has no qualms about dropping players who do not perform well. Despite my qualms, I took the job. The manager has no qualms about dropping players who do not perform well.