用法学习: 1. steady the buffs 冷静, 别慌, 镇定:
means "Keep calm!" or "Steady on, boys!". In 1858, the 2nd Battalion
was stationed in Malta. Lieutenant John Cotter, Adjutant of the 2nd
Buffs, would shout "Steady, The Buffs!", a phrase which has entered
common parlance. The "Buffs" in the phrase is a reference to a famous
British Army unit, the Third Regiment of Foot. The regiment, founded in
1572, was nicknamed "the Buffs" in the early 18th century because of the
colors of its uniforms. steady the ship I. To steer a ship so that it sails smoothly. I'm really glad they've steadied the ship—those waves were making me so nauseous! II. By extension, to restore calm and order to a situation. I just recently got divorced, so I hope my mother moving in and helping with the kids will steady the ship. We just hired a new supervisor to steady the ship after this merger. keep a steady hand (on something) 牢牢把控 To maintain strong, unwavering discipline and control over a situation. You have to keep a steady hand when you're raising kids. It's so important for them to have structure and rules in their lives. The new CEO has managed to steer the company back into profitability in less than a year. It seems they have finally found someone who can keep a steady hand on the business. Children need parents with a steady hand growing up—they crave structure and rules, despite their protests to the contrary. The new CEO has managed to steer the company back into profitability in less than a year. It seems they finally have a steady hand at the helm. With the company's president making a series of brilliant decisions, it seems they finally have a steady hand at the helm. a steady hand on the tiller 能掌控局势的人, 掌控局面 BRITISH If you have a steady hand on the tiller, you are keeping control of a situation in a calm and reliable way. 'If ever there was an urgent need for a steady hand on the tiller, it is now,' said one European diplomat. He was convinced that the job of those in power was to keep a firm hand on the tiller guiding the course of national development. Note: Adjectives such as firm can be used instead of steady. Note: In a boat, the tiller is the handle with which you steer. The tiller of a boat is a handle that is fixed to the rudder. It is used to turn the rudder, which then steers the boat. A cash register 款台, sometimes called a till, cashbucker, or automated money handling system, is a mechanical or electronic device for registering and calculating transactions at a point of sale. It is usually attached to a drawer for storing cash and other valuables. steady on! 别动, 别碰, 稳住, 别妄动 Be more careful; don't be so reckless. Steady on, kids—don't break anything in here. Steady on, there's no need to fight! Let's all just take a minute and calm down. be more careful about what you do or say; slow down: Steady on, you two, let's not get angry! Steady on, you'll break it! slow and steady wins the race proverb Persistent, consistent, and diligent progress, even if it is somewhat slow, will produce better results than rushing to get somewhere or achieve something, as the latter can result in mistakes or may prove unsustainable or unreliable. Derived from the classic Aesop fable of "The Tortoise and the Hare 龟兔赛跑," in which the titular tortoise is able to beat the hare in a race because the hare, overconfident in his superior speed, decides to take a nap along the way. Look, I know you're eager to get all this data entered so you can move on to the next stage of the project, but slow and steady wins the race, OK? We'll be much worse off if the data has errors in it than if it takes a little longer to get done. A: "Tom has been finishing about 10 articles a week—why are you so far behind him?" B: "Because his articles are all poorly written and researched. I've always believed that slow and steady wins the race, and I think my work shows it." slow but sure, slowly but surely Slow or incremental but yielding steady, dependable progress. It's going to be slow but sure writing my thesis, as I have to balance my part-time job with my research. A: "Hey, how's the new novel coming along?" B: "It's been slow but sure." Nancy is finishing the paint job on her house, slowly but surely. steady as we go 稳妥的, 稳稳当当的 Describing an strategy or situation that is progressing in a stable manner. This nautical phrase was originally used in reference to a ship that was sailing steadily. A: "How's your new business coming along?" B: "Steady as we go! We expect to break even the first year before we start making a profit." In the midst of all this social upheaval, I hope our government can maintain a steady-as-we-go approach. 2. binding wire 绑绳 By definition, binding wires are thin and flexible wires. They are typically used to fasten or secure objects. More so, they are widely used in the construction industry. For example, the main purpose of binding wire is to fasten or tie rebars at joints. Binding wire is used for tying purposes in the construction industry. It's utilized broadly in the development area for tying the rebars at the joints in order to keep the structure complete. Binding wire is a mild steel wire that has been annealed. 3. square meal 丰盛的晚餐, 丰盛的晚宴, 丰盛的一餐 a satisfying meal that fills you and provides you with all the different types of food that your body needs in order to stay healthy: You need a good square meal. fair and square in an honest way and without any doubt: We won the match fair and square. He won the election for president fair and square. Our team was having a bad day and our opponents beat us fair and square. We followed all the rules and got the money fair and square. substitute verb. I. to use something or someone instead of another thing or person: substitute something for something You can substitute oil for butter (= use oil instead of butter) in this recipe. Industry must reduce fuel consumption by substituting alternative fuels for fossil fuels. substitute something with something You can substitute the wheat flour with almond flour (= use almond flour instead of wheat flour). It takes time to substitute local brands with your own brand names. be substituted for He made his film debut when he was substituted for the actor who was originally cast. I took out the words "he" and "his" and substituted them with "they" and "their". to take the place of another person or do their job for a period of time: She was asked to substitute for the absent committee chairman. substitute for someone/something to perform the same job as another thing or person or to take their place: Gas-fired power stations will substitute for less efficient coal-fired equipment. to do the same job as another thing or take its place: The government expects natural gas to substitute for oil exports in the future. Many dot.com companies have learnt that technology can never substitute for customer service. II. in sports, to use a player for part of a game after removing another player from the game: Ronaldo was substituted early in the second half. Dayton was substituted 换下来, 换下场, 替换掉 for Williams in the second half of the game. I don't know why the coach substituted me. noun. a thing or person that is used instead of another thing or person. something different or new that is used instead of another thing: (as) a substitute for sth We are looking at the possibility of using foreign production as a substitute for exports to foreign markets. cheap/good/poor substitutes Cheaper substitutes displaced the product from the world market. egg/fat/meat substitutes. Early warning of a layoff is no substitute for a job. Tofu can be used as a meat substitute in vegetarian recipes. substitute for someone who takes the place of another person or does their job for a period of time: a substitute for sb Fixed-term contract workers and agency workers are not always direct substitutes for one another. Talk is a poor substitute for action. Vitamins should not be used as a substitute for a healthy diet. II. in sports, a player who is used for part of a game instead of another player: come on as a substitute 作为替补出场 Johnson came on as a substitute towards the end of the game. bring on a substitute The manager brought on another substitute in the final minutes of the game. there is no substitute for something (also something is no substitute for something 无可替换, 无可取代, 无可替代). nothing else is as good as the stated thing or action: In this industry, there's no substitute for experience. You can read about other countries, but there's no substitute for visiting them yourself. III. a substitute 代课老师 teacher = supply teacher UK. a teacher who replaces teachers who are absent from work. We had a substitute in math yesterday. 4. skinflint 小气鬼, 吝啬鬼 noun INFORMAL a person who spends as little money as possible; a miser [ˈmʌɪzə]. Patrick Pennyman was a skinflint. Would that be reason enough? tight-fisted not willing to spend or give much money; miserly. "tight-fisted to the point of miserliness". miserly 财迷的, 守财奴的 My father was pretty miserly. miser someone who has a strong wish to have money and hates to spend it. someone who has a great desire to possess money and hates to spend it, sometimes living like a poor person because of this: On environmental spending, the president is a miser. Sticks and stones is a retort one uses when taunted or insulted; the expression means that one is unaffected by the taunt or insult. The idiom sticks and stones is an abbreviation of the proverb, sticks and stones may break may bones but words will never hurt me. wiki: "Sticks and Stones" is an English-language children's rhyme. The rhyme is used as a defense against name-calling and verbal bullying, intended to increase resiliency, avoid physical retaliation, and/or to remain calm and indifferent.
Midsomer Murders: 1. Let's see if it'll stay up this time. Unlike last year Check the mince pies, then I want to get the brandy butter down in plenty of time. Bendy wire ( bendy I. Something that is bendy can be easily bent into new shapes without breaking: a bendy toy. She was threading beads onto a bendy piece of wire. The carrots were old and bendy. II. A bendy road has many curves and changes of direction in it: a bendy road. The trains tilt around corners, so that they can negotiate the bendy route 拐弯 faster. III. Someone who is bendy is able to bend their body easily: People wrongly think you have to be really bendy to do yoga. He contorts his amazingly bendy body. ) please? Keep yourself together. You've got a home here for as long as you want. Stop being silly. negotiate I. If you negotiate an area of land, a place, or an obstacle, you successfully travel across it or around it. to manage to travel along a difficult route. to move carefully or with difficulty past, through, or along something: She was able to negotiate the climb with some help from younger campers. Frank Mariano negotiates the desert terrain in his battered pickup. I negotiated the corner on my motorbike and pulled to a stop. I negotiated my way out of the airport and joined the flow of cars. The only way to negotiate the muddy hillside is on foot. II. to deal with something difficult: The company's had some tricky problems to negotiate in its first year in business. 2. Oh come on mummy, please! When any of my friends go home with their girlfriends their parents always put them in the same room. I mean you know what the score is ( what's the score? used to ask someone about what is going to happen, especially when arrangements have been confused: What's the score, then - are they coming? know the score 知道怎么回事, 了解情况 be aware of the essential facts about a situation. If you know the score, you know what the real facts of a situation are and how they affect you, even though you may not like them. "he had already appeared in a dozen films, and knew the score before he reached Hollywood". ). You can do what you like in your grubby little flats in university. But when you're in my house, there is no bonking ( I. If two people bonk, they have sexual intercourse. to have sex with someone: "I never bonked him," she claimed. II. to reach a point where you have no energy left and feel you cannot continue physical exercise, especially when riding a bicycle or running: He lost significant time to key rivals in a mountain stage, when he didn't eat enough and bonked on the final climb. a point during physical exercise, especially riding a bicycle or running, where you have no energy left and feel you cannot continue: Anything you eat provides some energy and helps avoid a bonk. "The bonk" is a cycling term for a sudden loss of pace and energy. III. the act of hitting someone or something, usually not very hard: a bonk on the head. I bet that bonk on the nose surprised them. to hit someone or something, not very hard: He bonked me on the head with his newspaper. bonkers adj. [British, informal, disapproval] If you say that someone is bonkers, you mean that they are silly or act in a crazy way. silly or stupid: She must be bonkers to do that. The man must be bonkers to take such a risk. I nearly went bonkers with frustration. very enthusiastic; crazy: Kids really went bonkers over that video game. ) till you've tied the knot. I'm sure Emily could survive without your attention for a couple of days. Aunt Lydia! Will you stop this silliness now. I will not have you ruining Christmas. 3. We should have left earlier. Like we're in a hurry to get there. Phoebe, do you think you can try to be a little positive this time? Christmas, you know the season of goodwill. That sort of thing. 4. The first time in Draycott Hall is always a bit of an ordeal. They are all barmy (barmy [British, informal, disapproval] If you say that someone or something is barmy, you mean that they are slightly crazy or very foolish. behaving strangely, or very silly: Not another one of her barmy ideas! Bill used to say I was barmy, and that would really get to me. This policy is absolutely barmy. ...a barmy idea. balmy [bɑːlmi] Balmy weather is fairly warm and pleasant. (of weather) pleasantly warm: a balmy summer evening. ...a balmy summer's evening. ). Aren't you Lydia?Anymore bad vibes lately? Mock (笑话我). I am very sensitive to these things. So how is the crossword going? Thirteen down. Bit of a sticker 不容易做的 ( sticker I. A price tag. II. The listed price ( sticker price 标价). the advertised retail price of an article. When buying a car, know the sticker and the invoice price 实卖价. sticker price = list price = catalogue price 官方售价 the official price of something such as a car, given by the company that made it: I got my truck for $2,000 less than the sticker price. the usual or advertised price of a product, before any reductions are made: It is selling for $18.89 instead of for the list price of $34.95. invoice price the amount of money charged for goods or services on an invoice: The invoice price was higher than we had expected. The invoice price is the actual price that the end-customer retailer pays to the manufacturer or distributor for a product. However, in many industries, the "invoice cost" actually varies from the "net purchase cost," or the actual price of a product. The invoice cost of a product is the price that the merchant pays for the product before marking it up to sell. The invoice cost is sometimes used in industries such as automobile sales to entice customers to buy. ). 5. No sign of them 还没有人影 yet. Enjoy it while you may. I heard that. You will try a little patience with him? He does not always know what he says 不知道自己在说些什么. Not much, he doesn't. What do you think of the tree? They're very realistic 仿真的, 像真的 these days. It's lovely, Mum. And no needles on the carpet. 6. Cmon everybody, you'll get soaked. Lets get you inside. Howard, no dilly dallying 磨磨叽叽的. 磨磨唧唧的. Kate Digby, get yourself sorted out 收拾好 and we'll all meet in the hall for drinks. Oh Dominic, come and meet Ross. Our long lost brother. A good friend. And a very useful bridge partner. The whole thing could do with rewiring, but it all costs so much these days. The switches at the other end are fine, its just that these ones don't function. And careful of the sockets in your room. It can be slightly, you know.. Dangerous?Temperamental 闹脾气的. 6. Cmon I'll help you unpack. Please, there's really no need. I'd like to. How does it fit? What do you think? Perfect. 7. I think you've got a mischievous streak in you, Howard. I like that in a man. 8. State of the place 状况. Even the decorations. Are the same from the time Mom and Dad were alive. What's she clinging on to? Happier times maybe? Seems our sister has something of a ( = "something of a/an . . . " = "somewhat of a/an . . . ") problem with moving on. 9. Feelings run a bit high this time of year. It all happened just before Christmas, nine years ago. You didn't know about it. Hit the red wine is my advice. Its the only way I get through it. That and thermal underwear. 10. Aunt Lydia alright? Yes, she's just putting the car away. I think I'll go and see about that coffee ( see about something I. to prepare for or deal with an action or event, or to arrange for something to be done. When you see about something, you arrange for it to be done or provided. Tony announced it was time to see about lunch. I must see about selling the house. It's getting late - I'd better see about lunch. You should see about getting your hair cut. II. to get information or knowledge of whether something can be done: I'll see about movie times and call you back. ). 11. There might be a bit of a run of the kettle this evening. Hot water bottles. Is something wrong? I thought I heard something banging. Probably the heating trying to work. 12. An electric carving knife. Its from Mum. Dad discovered them recently and thought you should have one. Its no reflection on your carving abilities. 13. Do we know if the landing lights were turned on? They were not, sir. The switch nearest Miss Villiers room is not working. Looks like the whole place could do with rewiring or knocking down. 14. So, if you have anything to do with this. Anything at all, now is the time to tell us. You won't get into any kind of trouble if you tell us the truth. It had nothing whatsoever to do with me. And... And can you tell me why initially you admitted to it? I suppose it was a bit like when the police use undue pressure on a suspect and he confesses just to get the coppers off his back. None of them would believe I hadn't done it, so... I admitted to it, to keep them happy. Any idea how this riddle got into the cracker? A disgruntled employee at the cracker factory perhaps? Some kind of industrial terrorism? But then again it might be a result of a much more sinister motive. When your aunt fell.. Great aunt. And.. I don't believe it was a fall. Pushed. Is more like it. A push? There is a great deal of anger in this house. And pain. Don't ask me what its about. I know nothing of the details being considered far too young and sensitive... 15. He fell in love with a manipulative drug addicted woman. They're engaged to be married, and then he found out just what a deceitful, thieving little gold digger she was. And it broke his heart. He simply couldn't cope with it. Ferdy was due to inherit a large fortune from our Uncle Bart. When he died it went to Ross, the next in the male line. Uncle Bart was a stickler for tradition. And there's nothing apart from this riddle to suggest it wasn't an accident? Nothing at all. She just went down for a glass of water and missed her footing. It was dark. 16. Cheese? The coffee is coming. I'm not sure I've got room 吃不下, 没地方. Overdid the pudding 吃多了. So delicious. A bit lumpier than usual, I think. 17. She just regained consciousness. Apparently she is very anxious and frightened. 18. I switched off the ignition. And I did not knock the wardrobe over. Cars not start on their own and wardrobes do not fall over by themselves. That's what I'm saying. I'm not mad. We're not saying you are. Its just when Dominic tried the inside door, it wasn't locked as you said it was. And when Emily tried the remote control the garage door opened without a problem. And you said it wasn't working. But I'm sure It was an accident. You must have stumbled and pulled the wardrobe over and then it hit your head. You were confused and your imagination ran wild. Probably because of Howards little practical joke earlier. 19. May I ask you sir whats your connection with the family? I'm just a friend. And a bridge partner. A sad ole waif from Australia they took pity on for Christmas. How long have you known them? 20. And you were about to describe what happened at a breakfast. Was it? Phoebe? Listen, I need to get the background to all of this. I was only 12 at the time. I have a daughter Phoebe, and at that age girls can be as perceptive 明察秋毫的, 洞察力的, 观察力的 ( If you describe a person or their remarks or thoughts as perceptive, you think that they are good at noticing or realizing things, especially things that are not obvious. very good at noticing and understanding things that many people do not notice: Her books are full of perceptive insights into the human condition. He was one of the most perceptive U.S. political commentators. ...a very perceptive critique of Wordsworth. The stages in her love affair with Harry are perceptively written. The task I have in mind requires little more than perceptiveness and a good memory. observant [əbˈzəːvnt] I. Someone who is observant pays a lot of attention to things and notices more about them than most people do. That's a marvellous description, Mrs Drummond. You're unusually observant. An observant doctor can often detect depression from expression, posture, and movement. II. An observant follower of a religion 忠实信徒 performs all the duties that his or her religion requires. ...a profoundly observant Islamic country. observation [ˌɒbzəˈveɪʃn] I. the act of observing something or someone: close observation of nature/human nature/animal behaviour. The police are keeping the suspect under observation. She was admitted to hospital for observation 留院观察 (= so that doctors could watch her and see if anything was wrong with her). II. the fact that you notice or see something. the ability to notice something or someone: He has remarkable powers of observation 观察力. She has remarkable powers of observation (= is very good at noticing things). III. a remark about something that you have noticed: The book is full of interesting observations on/about the nature of musical composition. May I make an observation? She made an interesting observation about the poet's intentions. IV. the recorded information that results from studying a scientific event. ) as any grownup. Now, this breakfast that you were talking about, when was it? About nine years ago. A couple months before Uncle Ferdy died. Mom had brought me and Howard down for the weekend. Ross was still working in the city then, before he went all peculiar ( I. 奇奇怪怪的. 不正常的. unusual and strange, sometimes in an unpleasant way: She has the most peculiar ideas. What a peculiar smell! It's peculiar that they didn't tell us they were going away. The video on road accidents made me feel rather peculiar 怪怪的 (= ill). II. belonging to, relating to, or found in only particular people or things. characteristic especially of a particular person, group, or thing: He gets on with things in his own peculiar way/manner/fashion. They noted that special manner of walking that was peculiar to 特有的. 独有的, 专有的 her alone. This type of building is peculiar to the south of the country. ). 21. Impeccable family. And for some reason she's mad 着迷 about ( mad about someone 痴迷, 迷恋 crazy (about or over) filled with an intense or excessive love for. to love someone or something: He's the first real boyfriend she's had and she's mad about him. He's mad about football. Her sons were mad about cricket and played every weekend, but she never really understood the game. Both of the children were mad about computer games. They're mad about each other but they argue all the time. he's virtually inseparable from his new girlfriend and seems to be just mad about her. ) you. Despite you spending months at the end of piers at Blackpool docks or god knows where. And she has persuaded her brother in the city to offer you a job. I mean what more do you want? Here we all are trying to sort out your life, and you just throw it back at us( throw something back at somebody to remind someone of something they have said or done in the past, especially to upset or annoy them. If you throw something back at a person, you remind them of something bad they did in the past, in order to upset them. I should never have told you that. I knew you'd throw it back at me. His unwise remark was frequently thrown back at him by his colleagues. throw back If someone is thrown back on their own powers or resources, they have to use them, because there is nothing else they can use. We are constantly thrown back on our own resources. throwback a person or thing that is similar to an earlier type: He's an unappealing throwback to the days of 80s City slickers. In some ways the new applet technology was a throwback to the old pre-PC days. something that is like a thing from an earlier time: This year's styles are throwbacks to the fashions of the 1940s. ). I'm a professional magician. For God sake. Its what I do, Jennifer. Yes and I think we have all been tolerant 容忍的, 忍让的, 忍着, 忍受着, 忍耐者, 宽容的, 宽宏大量的( I. If you describe someone as tolerant, you approve of the fact that they allow other people to say and do as they like, even if they do not agree with or like it. willing to accept behaviour and beliefs that are different from your own, although you might not agree with or approve of them: The present government is even less tolerant of dissent. People in Italy are more tolerant of children in public places than in Britain. They need to be tolerant of different points of view. Other changes include more tolerant attitudes to unmarried couples having children. She had listened tolerantly to his jumbled account. II. If a plant, animal, or machine is tolerant of particular conditions or types of treatment, it is able to bear them without being damaged or hurt. having the ability to bear something unpleasant or annoying, or to keep going despite difficulties: Some grasses are very tolerant of 不怕 drought. ...plants which are more tolerant 耐受的 of dry conditions. Alpine strawberries are tolerant of most soils. III. 耐受的. 能忍受的. 能忍耐的. able to deal with something unpleasant or annoying, or to continue existing despite bad or difficult conditions: I think men are less tolerant of stress than women. Compared to other plants, rye is more tolerant of drought. ). But there comes a point. I mean what age are you? Look we're not saying you shouldn't carry it on as a hobby, but please Ferdy. I mean pantomimes ( Pantomime is a participatory form of theatre, in which the audience is encouraged and expected to sing along with certain parts of the music and shout out phrases to the performers. The Christmas Pantomime colour lithograph book cover, 1890, showing harlequinade characters. ) and summer seasons. You don't have the faintest idea what I'm talking about, do you? Not a clue. 22. I don't think Aunt Jennifer really understood what made Ferdy tick ( what makes someone tick something that motivates someone; something that makes someone behave in a certain way. If you know what makes someone tick, you understand why that person behaves the way he or she does. the things that cause someone to behave a certain way : the feelings, opinions, concerns, etc., that are parts of someone's personality. the thoughts, feelings, opinions etc that give someone their character or make them behave in a particular way I've never really understood what makes her tick. I've always wondered what makes people like that tick.). D'you think that someone thought that she was responsible for Ferdy death? She was hardly sympathetic. But if she'd had her way, he'd never had met the loathsome Claire. What happened? She recognised she was bad luck the moment she saw her. It was the next time we were down. I remember I was watching out for Dad 翘首以盼爸爸. Couldn't wait to go home. 23. Love at first sight. At least from Ferdy's point of view. Hook Line and Sinker. Whirlwind romance, engaged at the wedding date. And then he discovered that she was just out for what she could get ( 贪婪的人. 自私自利的人. (of a person, action, or motive) Making decisions based solely on one's own self-interest or personal profit. selfish. inconsiderate. ungiving. out for making a determined effort to get or do. aggressively determined to acquire, achieve, etc He's out for all the money he can get. ). It broke him. 24. I really cant see what the ghastly ( If you describe someone or something as ghastly, you mean that you find them very unpleasant. ...a mother accompanied by her ghastly unruly child. It was the worst week of my life. It was ghastly. ...a particularly ghastly murder. ) woman has got anything to do with this? If you could humour me a little Mrs. Carter. How did you establish that she was as you say, a gold digger? The valuable art deco statuette went missing from the drawing room. Ferdy's assistant Fiancee, was caught red handed trying to sell it. We then discovered that she'd an extensive criminal record for theft and drug. Okay? 25. Whats the matter? Nothing. Its just that lamp was on the bookshelf. She must have moved it for more light or something. A letter writer, your Auntie? No as far as I know. Certainly didn't receive much post 收到很多信. 26. Can I get this right? Miss Villiers went out through that corridor. Yes? She closed the door behind her And then she heard the car's engine starting up again. That's what she said. I think that was it? She'd just gone down the corridor when she heard it. That's what she said. So she came back into here. She saw the wardrobe. Realised she couldn't get down to turn the ignition off. And so she tries her remote on the garage door. But It doesn't open when she tries it. And she had the adjoining door closed behind her. When she tried, she said it was locked. But it wasn't locked when you tried it? 27. Have you got financial problems? I couldn't help noticing the house... well could do with some attention. It'll get done. One way or another. My son is due to inherit a substantial amount of money and that'll go towards it. Inherits from who? Uncle Barts estate. Aiden just continues to not smoke till his 21st birthday and he gets £100,000. 28. I'm sorry about the timing of this. Listen Ferdy Villiers. You knew him? Slightly. Terrible business. No chance that the suicide was faked and that in fact it was a murder? There was no sign of a struggle. I suppose its possible. It wouldn't be very easy to fake. Yes that's what I thought. You know the woman committed suicide? What woman? The fiancee. Claire I think it was. 29. The two cards you pick, the six of hearts and the seven of spades Which you put back in the pack separately are now have come together. Six of hearts and the seven of spades will now miraculously be side by side. They're not there. You did put them back in the pack? You saw me put them back. Are you sure you didn't pocket them? Yeah. Chief Inspector, could I ask you to check the Sergeant's right hand jacket pocket? How did you do that? I don't normally explain, but It's quite simple. Hardly a trick at all I slipped the cards into your pocket as we came from the drawing room to here. How did you know I was gonna ask you for a card trick? I sat here looking sad fiddling with the cards, and you felt sorry for me. You thought it would cheer me up. How did you know which cards I was gonna pick? I forced you there as well. Obviously. Getting you pick the cards that I wanted. Which weren't the six of hearts and the seven of spades. They were the six of spades and the seven of hearts. I just said they were after you'd put them back in the pack and you accepted it. It's all to do with the power of suggestion. Its a big part of magic. Persuading people they've seen things that they haven't. A bit sneaky. 30. After drifting around the world 四处游荡 for nine years, because you were too weak and too pathetic to face what happened here. Jennifer. No, lets get this all out 全发泄出来. While you've been contemplating your navel ( gaze at/contemplate your navel 自我陶醉, 为自己算计 humorous to spend too much time thinking about yourself and your own problems. To spend time thinking about oneself or one's own interests, especially to the exclusion of others. People keep coming to me for advice that they go on to ignore, so I've decided to stop wasting effort on ingrates and instead dedicate more time to contemplating my navel and my many other attractive features and admirable qualities. navel-gazing = navel-watching I. Contemplation of one's navel as an aid to meditation. II. (derogatory) Excessive focus on oneself; self-indulgent introspection. II. (sometimes derogatory) (Disproportionate) concentration on a single issue. ), I have been looking after Lydia. Bringing up a child, trying to keep the family house together, and without a penny of the millions you inherited Family house? I know it means nothing to you. But some of us had to cope with what happened. I mean we couldn't run away. Anyway, you know Lydia was main parts mad by the time she fell down those stairs. Oh and thank you very much for ruining this Christmas. I am so glad you came. If you feel so blameless then why aren't you going on the shoot tomorrow? Well Lydia just died. I thought it would be good idea to show her a little respect. Nothing to do with you being scared? This isn't helping, Ross. Jennifer, no ones saying that you got anything to fear at the shoot tomorrow. Its just perhaps not such a good idea. Of course I have nothing to fear. Anyway I didn't say, we weren't going on the shoot. Its still on. 31. It's not the diaries sir, its the the video. That's Emily, but that's not whats interesting. You see the bloke there in the morning suit with his back to the camera? One who's smoking. That's Aiden. Exactly. Back view But you can tell its him. If the executor saw this, he's down a 100 grand. I call that a motive. What did you find out about Claire's suicide? Looks like she did it after Ferdy topped himself. She drove up to Pritchards wood. Put a hosepipe ( A hosepipe is a hose that people use to water their gardens or wash their cars. a long plastic or rubber pipe, used to direct water onto fires, gardens, etc.: A hosepipe can be used to fill a paddling pool. I need to buy a length of hose pipe. hosepipe ban The severe drought has led to a hosepipe ban in eastern England. What happens when the hosepipe is switched off? ) on the exhaust and gassed herself. Family? Its a bit patchy( I. A patchy substance or colour exists in some places but not in others, or is thick in some places and thin in others. Thick patchy fog and irresponsible driving were to blame. Bottle tans can make your legs, arms and face look a patchy orange colour. ...the brown, patchy grass. II. 时好时坏的, 时有时无的. If something is patchy, it is not completely reliable or satisfactory because it is not always good. The evidence is patchy. Transport is difficult, communications are patchy. The rest of the acting is patchy at best. III. If information is patchy, only small parts of it are known: My knowledge of physics is pretty patchy. ). I've asked George Bullard to get the report see if he can find who identified the body. 31. The medium's name is Rosetta. She goes into these trances. Rosetta? Bet she wasn't born with that name! What's happened to that salad? Anyway, when she's in one of her trances she makes contact with the dear departed. The people in the audience love it. Sometimes it scares them, but they really love it. 32. I see the child. No, no. A girl. Younger than me. Yes, younger. And...a gate. A wooden gate. A five-barred gate ( five-bar gate a wide gate consisting of five horizontal bars and usually one or two bars going from corner to corner. ). 33. I had the feeling we were well-visited 来客不少, 访客众多 this evening. Not so bad. There was such an energy. I could almost touch it. 34. He was well respected. Well, some people might have found him difficult to get on with. Why? Why would they do that? He was a no-nonsense sort of man. He didn't suffer fools ( suffer fools gladly = doesn't suffer fools gladly 有耐心 If you do not suffer fools gladly, you are not patient with people who you think are stupid. She doesn't suffer fools gladly and, in her view, most people are fools. to be kind to and patient with people who are annoying or bothersome. to have very little patience with people who you think are stupid or have stupid ideas My mother was a woman who did not suffer fools gladly.). 35. You can tell when he's on a quest... looking for something new and exciting, like Sheba pouches in jelly varieties. The finest ingredients with tender strips of succulent chicken. Go on. Share the experience. Discover Sheba pouches in new jelly varieties. I have to juggle being a mother and being a teacher and being a wife. And I tend to find I just grab things on the go. So I used to feel quite sluggish, quite bloated. After I'd started eating Activia, I began to feel the benefits, and now I've continued to do it, I do feel a lot better. Activia, with its unique culture Bifidus ActiRegularis, works alongside the good bacteria in your gut and helps improve slower digestive transit. I have every female in my family eating it. Yeah, I'm spreading the word. 36. We had a lovely time. She's great to be with. She was telling me about some spiritualist meeting she went to just for the fun of it. The fun of it! It's the way she is 她就是这样的人. Is she from these parts ( these parts used to refer to an area of the country: We don't see many foreigners in these parts. In these parts, no one locks their doors and people are always dropping in. He's very much a hero in these parts. Nothing changes around these parts. There are a lot of keen hunters around these parts. There never was much support for the President in these parts. You're not from these parts, are you? in these parts = round these parts 这附近, 这个区域, 这块儿 In or around this specific region or locality. We don’t get many tourists in these parts. You won't find anything like that in these parts. I haven't seen you in these parts before—what's your name? )? Yes. She grew up in Midsomer, but moved away. She's only recently come back. 37. I don't have to help your boss, you know. I do this for you. If I didn't she'd have you running around. You do enough for her as it is. Oh. Shan't be home till late. Too much work on, love. Shame about old Pennyman. I bet them spirits of hers are having a laugh. Cos the dead will have to die elsewhere now, won't they? John. Yeah. You shouldn't make fun of Rosetta, or what she does. I believe in her. I know you do. 38. His name is Patrick Pennyman. He owned this place. He was killed early yesterday evening. For an undertaker 殡葬业者 he's not exactly travelling in style ( in style I. popular or fashionable. II. in a way that is impressive or admired because it shows talent, good taste, etc. in a stylish way. When she travels she likes to do it in style. He finished the tournament in style by winning his last match very easily.). No. His wife was just upstairs. She heard nothing. There were neighbours outside. They saw nothing. Still I suppose it is a fairly busy street. People come and go. 39. Are you looking for a particular gravestone 墓碑? No. No, I'm not. I see. Just browsing, is that it? 40. I do voluntary work here. Someone has to. The rector has to spread himself 分身, 奔忙于 around three parishes. And he's not a well man. Would you believe that Fletcher's Cross once had a church and two chapels? No. I didn't know that. By the way my husband's choirmaster. Only you wouldn't think so from the racket he's making ( racket I. a loud noise or clamor, especially of a disturbing or confusing kind; din; uproar. He makes such a racket I'm afraid he disturbs the neighbours. My dream was interrupted by the most awful racket coming through the walls. The racket of drills and electric saws went on past midnight. The traffic made a terrible racket in the street below. II. a dishonest scheme, trick, business, activity, etc.. a dishonest or illegal activity that makes money: They were jailed for running a protection/prostitution racket. the latest weight-reducing racket. III. Usually the rackets. organized illegal activities. You can refer to an illegal activity used to make money as a racket. A smuggling racket is killing thousands of exotic birds each year. Suspicious fans exposed the racket and police arrested a man last night. Some say that the revenue from legalized gambling supports the rackets. IV. an object used for hitting the ball in various sports, consisting of a net fixed tightly to a round frame with a long handle: a tennis/squash/badminton racket. ). 41. Is there no-one else to help you, Mrs Pennyman? My sister and her husband are coming down from Yorkshire next week. They're a very efficient couple. They'll know what to do. But your husband, he didn't employ any full-time staff? Thomas used to work for him on a part-time basis. Thomas used to work for him on a part-time basis. He owns the crystal shop in Market Street. Crystal... shop. But nobody else? Well, a couple of the local lads used to get hired as pallbearers from time to time. Mind you, they had to provide their own suits. Patrick wasn't silly with money. He did have a partner once. Mind you, they didn't get on. They were always arguing. They even almost came to blows once during a funeral service. It was very embarrassing for the mourners. 42. I was about to tell him why this village is going even further into decline. There are now wicked things here. It's true. There's another form of worship here in Fletcher's Cross. It's one that doesn't allow souls to rest in peace. Are we talking about the spiritualists? Yes. The Spirit of Friendship Group. The rector's too ill, and too busy to see it. But some of us are not happy. We believe that the dead should stay dead. Sorry about that, Mr Barnaby. Sylvia gets a bit overexcited at times. That spiritualist lot has never bothered me personally. The thing is...Fletcher's Cross is a close community. Too close sometimes. Most wouldn't want people getting in touch with their dead relatives. Too many secrets. 43. I just thought I'd drop by to offer my condolences. Thank you, Thomas. This must be a very sad time for you. Yes, it is. Er... Ahem. There's just one small problem. I haven't been paid up to date since we buried Mrs Caldercott. Oh, I'm sorry. Er... Look, erm...don't worry about it. I'll see to it as soon as I've got somebody to go through the accounts. Right. Erm... Just as a matter of interest who's arranging Patrick's funeral? I really haven't had time to think about that yet. 44. I managed to go through Patrick Pennyman's paperwork. Yes. Yeah. Now the business is sound. There were a few outstanding bills with local tradesmen. Got the list? There were two recent funerals in the last six weeks. The details are right there. 45. I've been told you once worked for Patrick Pennyman. I did. Yeah. On and off. Was he good to work for? Not really. He was too tight-fisted. So tell me, Mr Marr, did you dislike him for that reason? No. Or for any other reason? Well, let's just say I put up with him as a boss, but wouldn't have had him as a friend. Patrick Pennyman cut a lot of corners in his business dealings. He could have upset quite a few people. 46. The old line is just beyond those trees there. You mean you get trains thundering 呼啸, 轰隆隆 past? No. Not any more. We get the odd steam train. I quite like those. I'm told that line's been extended to Midsomer Mallow. Yep. They're all set to celebrate it. Some enthusiasts hope to link up with the main line. Put Fletcher's Cross back on the map. I love this cottage. Has it always been in your family? Yes. Ever since they were sold off by the railways. 47. Patrick Pennyman was enough to drive any sane man round the bend. If I'd worked for him any longer I'd have done him harm. Why? I wanted to expand the business. Improve the service. But he'd have none of it. He didn't like spending money. By the way, who's doing the funeral? 48. That's Rosetta. She often uses a spirit guide. She was a young Victorian servant girl called Charlotte. She was putting coals on a fire when her dress caught alight. No-one was there to save her. 49. Take a deep breath. There is an energy source that flows through the cosmos. Let the energy flow. Do you know what the problem was with Patrick and me? No. What? It was our sеx life. You see, it had been a failure for years. I could never really stand him putting his hands on me after he'd been touching the dead. Just try to relax. Let the energy flow. Let the energy heal. I have a message from someone now resident in spirit. 50. How's Mrs Pennyman? Still in a bit of a state ( in a state/into a state If you are in a state or if you get into a state, you are very upset or nervous about something. I was in a terrible state because nobody could understand why I had this illness. People will work themselves up into a state about anything. ). I've asked her to come here later today. Might cheer her up a bit. 51. I've got such a bad back, Anne. Have you now? Mm. Perhaps...perhaps I could try some of your healing, I've heard a lot about it. Is it hands-on(I.亲子实践的. 亲自动手的. relating to, being, or providing direct practical experience in the operation or functioning of something. Someone who has hands-on experience of something has done or used it rather than just read or learned about it: Many employers consider hands-on experience to be as useful as academic qualifications. hands-on training. II. involving or allowing use of or touching with the hands. III. Someone with a hands-on way of doing things 亲力亲为的 becomes closely involved in managing and organizing things and in making decisions: She's very much a hands-on manager. )? No, it isn't. Oh! That's a shame. Ronald, get your hands off me! 52. So, a couple more miles of track and we can reconnect with Causton, which means that one of these days we can rejoin the main line. Don't listen to him. It will never happen. If you just want to come this way I can show you the sheds ( shed verb. I. (often used in newspapers) to get rid of something you do not need or want: 900 jobs will be shed over the next few months. Psychotherapy helped him to shed some of his insecurity/inhibitions. I'm going on a diet to see if I can shed (= become thinner by losing) a few pounds. shed workers/employees/staff. II. to lose a covering, such as leaves, hair, or skin, because it falls off naturally, or to drop something in a natural way or by accident: shed its leaves The trees shed their leaves in autumn. They ran down to the water, shedding clothes as they went. A lorry had shed 卸载, 卸下 a load of gravel across the road. shed tears, blood, etc. to allow tears or blood to flow: She shed a few tears at her daughter's wedding. III. 释放病毒. to release a virus or bacterium from a cell or body into the environment where it can infect other people: Those who have contracted the new coronavirus shed the virus most heavily in the first few days of the illness. People shed the virus in respiratory droplets and aerosols. IV. to spread light: A single bulb shed a harsh light on the table. V. to lose value in the stock market or other financial markets: The stock shed another 16% of its value yesterday, closing at $15.25. The Dow Jones industrial average shed 242.66 points, or 1.97%, to close at 12,075.96. ). 52. Would you...would you care to make a small contribution? Ronald, never ever shake your tin 乞讨 at those people. We don't need their money. 53. You've chosen well 选的好. This is herkimer ( Herkimer diamonds are double-terminated quartz crystals discovered within exposed outcrops of dolomite in and around Herkimer County, New York, and the Mohawk River Valley in the US. They are not diamonds; the "diamond" in their name is due to both their clarity and well formed faces. Because the first discovery sites were in the village of Middleville and in the city of Little Falls, respectively, the crystal is also known as a Middleville diamond or a Little Falls diamond. ). The ultimate attunement stone. Right. It's often given as a keepsake to people who are travelling or moving away. 54. Stand well back, please, ladies and gentlemen. If you wouldn't mind taking a few paces back 退后几步 for safety. Thank you. Just take a few paces back. Everyone can see. 55. She went to them for comfort, Joyce. And they frightened her. They told her things about my father that not even I knew. That scared her. It made her ill. She told me that just before she died. But Tom thinks whatever it is Rosetta Price is up to it's a big con trick. Yeah. I expect it is. So that's the real reason you're going to these meetings. Yes! I want to expose them. And that's not the only thing going on in this godforsaken village. My mother used to wear this. Always. She was hardly ever seen without it. It belonged to her mother. It's lovely. I asked for her to be buried with that brooch. I wanted her never to be separated from it. But she was. Yes. A few weeks later I was here sorting out the probate ( I. Probate is the act or process of officially proving a will to be valid. the legal process of deciding if a person's will has been made correctly and if the information it contains is correct: Before probate can be granted, all business assets have to be identified and valued. Probate cases can go on for two years or more. II. a tax paid on money or property you have received from someone who has died. inheritance tax a tax paid on money or property you have received from someone who has died. death duty the unofficial name for tax on a person's money and possessions when they die. ). I saw this. It was for sale in an antique shop. 56. She was Joyce's friend. And I believe she was conducting her own kind of investigation. Well, nothing's been disturbed 动过, 碰过. But... it looks like she had a visitor. Mm. At least one. And I know who that was. 57. Elizabeth Key's mother also came to your meetings after the death of her husband Mr David Key. What's wrong with that? A lot of bereaved people come to us. I'm sure they do. But, you see, Mrs Key died of a heart failure shortly after attending one of your sessions. Do you expect me to run a health check on everyone who comes here? Rosetta tries to help people feel better, Chief Inspector. Does that include vulnerable people? Does that include suggestible 没主见的, 没主意的( Someone who is suggestible can be easily influenced by other people. A suggestible person is easily influenced by other people's opinions: The success of advertising proves that we are all highly suggestible. ...highly suggestible and compliant individuals. ) people? I believe Elizabeth Key came here to confront you. Well, you're wrong! Because she was convinced that something seen, said, or heard here in this place precipitated ( precipitate verb. [prɪˈsɪpɪteɪt] I. 加剧, 加速. If something precipitates an event or situation, usually a bad one, it causes it to happen suddenly or sooner than normal. to make something happen suddenly or sooner than expected: An invasion would certainly precipitate a political crisis. Fear of losing her job precipitated (= suddenly forced) her into action. The recent killings have precipitated the worst crisis yet. A slight mistake could precipitate a disaster. II. to throw someone or something from a height with great force. III. If a liquid precipitates, substances in it become solid and separate from the liquid: Cooling the beaker helps precipitate the compound. If any organic salt is formed, it will precipitate (out) immediately. noun. a solid substance that is produced from a liquid during a chemical process: After filtration, the precipitate was dried at 90°C. adj. [prɪˈsɪpɪtət] = precipitous A precipitate action or decision happens or is made more quickly or suddenly than most people think is sensible. If an action is precipitate, it is done sooner or faster than expected and without enough thought or preparation: We were alarmed by his precipitate actions. Don't be precipitate - think it through before you make a decision. I don't think we should make precipitate decisions. Many of our current problems have been caused by precipitate policy making in the past. Somebody hired from another country is not likely to resign precipitately. He hurried precipitately away. ) the death of her mother. Oh, yes. I do seem to remember some woman shouting the odds after one of our meetings. And was that woman Elizabeth Key? I wouldn't know. I was coming out of my trance at the time. We still have further enquiries to make, Miss Price, so I'd rather you didn't leave the village for the time being. 58. There's a job going if you want to give the Heritage Office a quote. What? The signal box steps by the old holding yard need replacing. All right. I'll take a look. I'm there most days. Still busy with that little railway of yours? Yes. Missing out, then, aren't you? Surprised you don't hang around your old place of work. What are you talking about? Janet Pennyman. Up for grabs now, isn't she? The poor woman's in mourning. What difference does that make? Just shut your mouth, John, or I'll take my trade elsewhere. Me? What have I said? Don't act the innocent with me( play innocent To act as if one had no knowledge or involvement in something. He always plays innocent whenever something goes wrong in his department. Quit playing innocent, Dana—we have proof that you're the one who stole from the register.). You're the biggest troublemaker in this village. At least I'm not a grown man playing with toy trains. Oi! There's been enough violence in this village already! 59. I take it that Eve Whittle is your wife, yeah? Yes. Why? I've just paid a visit to the spiritualist church. You're not one of that set, are you? I took you for a more down-to-earth sort of man. I am. I just do a few odd jobs for them. So you don't build disappearing cabinets and trapdoors? No, nothing like that. Hey. How do they do it? Do what? You must have sat through a few of those sessions. How do they manage to tell people certain, very private things about their lost loved ones? I don't know. Ask them. 60. I was wondering if you'd ever seen that before. No. Why? Where would I have seen it? Well, I don't know. Maybe here in your husband's office. I don't understand. That is a personal effect 个人物品 of someone your husband er... laid to rest. Then I would never have been allowed to see it. Patrick kept things like that to himself. Did he? Yes. OK. Thank you. It was good to see you at the railway celebration the other day. Yeah. Well, friends said it would do me good to get out and about a bit. Your friends are right. Take my mind off things. 61. They should get their money back. Why was the meeting stopped? It's obvious. Rosetta was doing a number ( do a number to injure someone or something, or to hurt or embarrass someone. to abuse or mistreat in some way, as by injuring, disparaging, cheating, or humiliating. to hurt or damage someone or something badly Tod really did a number on the old house. I don’t envy the new tenants. I really did a number on my ankle when I fell. She really did a number on her old boyfriend, making him beg her to come back and then turning him down.). Probably because we were in the audience. Didn't want to commit herself. 62. Where were you last night, Mr Griss? At home, of course. And what about during the evening? I was here till late, working on the track - packed it in 收工 when it got too dark. Was anybody else working with you? No. Now wait a minute. I didn't kill him. You've admitted you didn't like the man. Yesterday you were arguing with him in the street 在大街上. And now he's dead. But I wouldn't kill the man. I couldn't do that. 63. I had this phone call, asking me to go down to the level crossing at Ram's Lane. I was told that if I did I might hear something to my advantage. But there was no-one there. 63. Mr Burgess. Just er...just a little something for you, Janet, in your hour of need( in someone's hour of need 需要的时候 at a time when someone really needs help: She helped me in my hour of need. ). I feel quite moved. The neighbours have been so kind and thoughtful. 64. We were wondering if you had anything to tell us. About what? About Patrick Pennyman. No. Or about a little something or other ( something or other 某种, 某个 some unspecified or unknown thing (used to express vagueness or uncertainty). something whose exact nature you do not know or have forgotten: He's a professor of something or other, and now he's living in China. "they were protesting about something or other". used when the specific details about something are not important or have been forgotten He said he had to go buy something or other at the grocery store. ) for Janet Pennyman in her hour of need. Now what's wrong with that? How many of those have you enjoyed since Mr Pennyman died? You've no right to talk to me in that way. Or had it been going on before then? I'm a married man. Yes. Indeed you are, Mr Burgess. But not a very happy one I'd say. Janet Pennyman, she didn't have much of a domestic life, did she? Not with that husband of hers. So I reckon you'd make a fine pair 天造地设的一对, 天生一对. Your wife's not here, Mr Burgess, but we can go and fetch her if you like. Did Janet Pennyman lead you on? No, no. Of course she didn't. Well, John Whittle used to work from time to time for Patrick Pennyman, so he'd have gone to the funeral parlour on various occasions. Now, did he see something he shouldn't have seen? Did he catch you at it 人赃并获, 当场抓奸? Whittle wouldn't have let that rest. What did he want? Something in exchange? A little sеxual favour or two from Janet, was that it? Of course you couldn't let that happen, could you? So what did she do? Lure him to the line in the same way Thomas Marr was asked to go? Thomas Marr. James Griss. They made perfect suspects, didn't they? What did you hit the man with? Did you find something suitable by the railway line? 65. Oh, no! The world and his wife's ( the world and his wife everybody. a great many people, especially in a particular place at a particular time: It's going to be quite a party - the world and his wife will be there. "now all the world and his wife seems to have heard of them". ) here. It's kind of the idea, Dad! A couple of drinks and you won't notice them. That's the sort of thing ( (and) that sort of thing 诸如此类的, 那一类的 used to show that what you have just said is only an example from a much larger group of things: They sell souvenirs, postcards, that sort of thing. You can get burgers and pizza there and that sort of thing. You have to make sure your kids are showering regularly, brushing their teeth, that sort of thing. She's always liked skiing and skating and that sort of thing. They'll help people write their CV or their personal statement, that sort of thing. )! Only maybe more old-fashioned and stylish. That'll be it... Your mother thinks I need to relax more. Weekends on the river. Our own boat perhaps. That's a good idea. There's loads for sale in the local paper. Is this a conspiracy? In my job, you get ten years for that.
