unfettered, feted;

用法学习: 1. unfettered [ʌnˈfɛtəd] 不受束缚的, 不受约束的, 不收禁锢的, 不受控的, 随心所欲的, 没有牵绊的, 毫无保留的, 无拘无束的 adj. unrestrained or uninhibited. "unfettered artistic genius". If you describe something as unfettered, you mean that it is not controlled or limited by anyone or anything. not limited by rules or any other controlling influence: Poets are unfettered by the normal rules of sentence structure. ...unfettered free trade. Unfettered by the bounds of reality, my imagination flourished. He demanded unfettered access to a new nuclear facility. fetter [fetər] verb. [literary, disapproval] If you say that you are fettered by something, you dislike it because it prevents you from behaving or moving in a free and natural way. to keep someone within limits or stop them from making progress: fettered by He felt fettered 绑住, 束缚住 by a nine-to-five office existence. ...a private trust which would not be fettered by bureaucracy. The black mud fettered her movements. noun. I. [literary, disapproval] You can use fetters to refer to things such as rules, traditions, or responsibilities that you dislike because they prevent you from behaving in the way you want. ...the fetters of social convention. II. Especially in former times, fetters were chains for a prisoner's feet. He saw a boy in fetters in the dungeons. fete [feɪt] noun. A fete is an event that is usually held outdoors and includes competitions, entertainments, and the selling of used and home-made goods. a public event, often held outside, where you can take part in competitions and buy small things and food, often organized to collect money for a particular purpose: a summer fete. village fete. They're holding the village fete on the green. verb. If someone is feted 庆祝, 欢迎, 赞扬, they are celebrated, welcomed, or admired by the public. to praise or welcome someone publicly because of their achievements: She was feted by audiences both in her own country and abroad. Anouska Hempel, the British dress designer, was feted in New York this week at a spectacular dinner. The metamorphosis from anxious wife to feted author was rapid and dramatic. 2. redoubtable [rɪˈdaʊtəbl] 可敬畏的 adj. (of a person) formidable, especially as an opponent. very strong, especially in character; producing respect and a little fear in others: Tonight he faces the most redoubtable opponent of his boxing career. "he was a redoubtable debater". redoubt [rɪˈdaʊt] noun. I. 堡垒. 城堡. something that holds or defends a belief or a way of life, especially one that is disappearing or threatened. A redoubt is a place or situation in which someone feels safe because they know that nobody can attack them or spoil their peace. ...the last redoubt of hippy culture. He described British public schools as "the last redoubt of upper-class privilege". When I criticise the work of a young woman, I'm feted – often grotesquely so. When I criticise the work of an Aussie man, I've made a gross moral error. The writer is a good bloke. Hard-working. Generous. Redoubtable. The implication: all criticism is off-limits, literary or otherwise.  II. military specialized a small, often hidden building in which soldiers can hide while they are fighting. lug [lʌɡ] verb 拖着走 (tote, drag, carry). to carry or pull something with effort or difficulty because it is heavy. to carry or pull something heavy with much effort: I lugged my suitcase to the check-in counter.  I'm exhausted after lugging these suitcases all the way across the city. I don't want to lug these shopping bags around with me all day. True crime is fertile ground for fiction, and Dalton's new novel promised a hefty 丰厚的 contribution. Yet in the weeks I've lugged it around, I've been warned against saying what I think – long before I'd formed any opinion at all. I've been urged to shield myself, to save myself, with the armour of faint praise 假赞美, 言不由衷的表演, 淡淡的表扬, 淡淡的称赞. Such is the protective racket of good blokery 兄弟情. noun I. UK humorous an ear: I couldn't hear what they were saying with my hat over my lugs. II. part of an object that sticks out from the main part, often used for carrying the object or fixing something in place: Most models use plastic lugs for fixing. The earthernware pot has two lug handles. III. an awkward or stupid man: I just sat there like a dumb lug while my wife asked the doctor questions. IV. a way of talking to a man you like: Come over here and give me a kiss, you big lug. faint praise praise that is not very strong or enthusiastic, suggesting that you do not admire someone or something very much: Judging by the faint praise from his coach, there's no guarantee he will be picked to play. If that sounds like faint praise, I don't mean it to be. damn with faint praise 有些口不应心地赞许, 口是心非的称赞, 明褒暗贬 to praise someone or something so little or with so little enthusiasm that it suggests you do not really admire them: Of course, to say a restaurant isn't as bad as you thought it would be is to damn with faint praise. Some critics, while respecting his previous work, will damn his new ideas with faint praise. He appeared in his interview to damn his colleague with faint praise. 3. dissolute [ˈdɪsəˌlut] 纵情声色的 [disapproval] spending too much time and money on physical pleasures in a way that most people consider immoral. Someone who is dissolute does not care at all about morals and lives in a way that is considered to be wicked and immoral. (of a person or a way of life) overindulging in sensual pleasures: unfortunately, his heir was feckless and dissolute. vocabulary: The adjective dissolute means unrestrained. If you're a dissolute person, you engage in the kinds of behaviors that cause disapproval. If your mother tells you you're dissolute, she's not trying to be kind. Some kinds of unrestrained behavior are good, like if you're unrestrained by fear, and do something very brave. But someone who is dissolute not only goes against the grain of normal behavior, but is wasteful and offensive — over the limit. If you drop out of school, party all the time, and waste your life, you've chosen a dissolute lifestyle. feckless [ˈfekləs] 不负责任的, 没有责任心的, 没有责任感的, 不靠谱的, 不可靠的, 无能的, 什么事也做不好的, 无一是处的 [formal, disapproval] a feckless person is not reliable, does not care about achieving anything, and has no clear plans. If you describe someone as feckless, you mean that they lack determination or strength, and are unable to do anything properly. He regarded the young man as feckless and irresponsible. Careless with the living, cavalier with the dead, mercenary with the truth: Noah Cork is a feckless prick – "a contagion with a keyboard" – and he knows it. Gravity Let Me Go is his inner voice, a vicious loop of self-pity and self-flagellation ("You sad and empty vessel 空壳子, 草包, 空筒子, 空躯壳, 脑袋空空 … Your heart is a cursed stone"). There's nothing you can say about him that Dalton won't have him say first. But Noah will get the answers, get the girl and learn the big life lessons. And we know it. His torment is performance 做样子的, 给人看的, not risk. A pantomime. "I'm no good," Noah hollers at us. "Oh, yes you are!" we (are meant to) holler back. vocabulary: If a newspaper editorial describes a politician as feckless, you might wonder, "What is feck, and why doesn't he have any?" In fact, the columnist is accusing the politician of being irresponsible and incompetent. Did you know that most varieties of English are in fact "feck"-less? They don't contain a word feck, only the negative counterpart feckless. The "feck" in feckless began as a short form of effect used in the Scots dialect. So feckless essentially means "ineffective," but is also used to describe someone who is irresponsible, incompetent, inept, or without purpose in life. contagion [kənˈteɪ.dʒən] I. the situation in which a disease is spread by touching someone or something: The doctor says there's no chance/danger of contagion. I'm a blood donor; I can't risk any contagion 传染. II. the situation in which feelings, ideas, or problems spread from one place to another. You can use contagion to refer to the spreading of ideas, or attitudes, or feelings that you consider to be bad or unacceptable from one group of people to another. He continues to insulate his country from the contagion of foreign ideas. Brazil's stock markets were battered by contagion from the problems in other emerging markets. III. the fact of economic problems in one country, region, etc. spreading to another: Brazil's stock markets were battered by contagion from the problems in other emerging markets. The planned mega-merger was intended to fortify the industry against financial contagion. flagellation [ ˌfladʒɪˈleɪʃn] 打鞭子, 鞭打 (flogging, thrashing,  beating) flogging or beating, either as a religious discipline or for sexual gratification. the practice of whipping yourself or someone else, especially as a religious practice, for punishment, or for sexual pleasure: Ancient monks advocated flagellation as the path to salvation. "pursuing the path of penance and flagellation". flagellate [ˈflædʒ.ə.leɪt] to whip yourself or someone else, especially as a religious act. self-flagellation 自我鞭笞. 自我鞭打. 自打鞭子, 自责 I. the practice of whipping yourself (= hitting yourself with a long thin piece of leather), especially as a religious practice: The pilgrims were preparing for the day's rituals, which included self-flagellation. II. the act of severely criticizing yourself: After a while, the documentary started to feel like self-flagellation. In the spirit of self-flagellation, I will tell you about a monumental mistake that taught me two very important lessons. empty vessels make (the) most sound 人傻话多 proverb Foolish, unwise, or stupid people are the most talkative. Foolish people make the most noise. People say empty vessels make the most sound or empty vessels make the most noise to mean that people who talk a lot and give their opinions a lot are often not very intelligent or talented. I suspect Amy is not very smart. She chatters constantly, and as they say, empty vessels make the most sound. Of course silly old Aunt Helen babbles constantly—empty vessels make the most sound. Empty vessels make most sound, so don't pay attention to anything that fool says. She has no experience in the field, so of course she's going to try to give you advice. Empty vessels make the most sound, right? Note: People like this can be called empty vessels. These 'experts' who talk a lot but actually say nothing have been shown up for the empty vessels they are. 4. ornery [ˈɔː.nər.i] 臭脾气的, 坏脾气的 likely to get angry and argue with people. tending to get angry and argue with people: He's ornery and opinionated, but he doesn't lie. He had been in an ornery mood all day, arguing with everyone who got in his way. hard-boiled I. A hard-boiled egg has been heated in its shell in boiling water until both the white and yellow parts are solid. II. used to describe a style of story, usually about crime and detectives (= people who solve crimes), that includes unpleasant or violent details: This is a series that comes from the tradition of hard-boiled detective novels. III. 面无表情的. 铁汉子的. 冷脸汉子的 used to describe a typical character from this style of story, who is strong and determined and shows little emotion. appearing not to have emotions or weaknesses. You use hard-boiled to describe someone who is tough and does not show much emotion. She's hard-boiled, tough and funny. a hard-boiled detective. The film stars Kathleen Turner as the hard-boiled detective of Sarah Paretsky's novel. He's hard-boiled, he smokes and drinks, he's too wrapped up in his work to have satisfying relationships. wiki: Hardboiled (or hard-boiled) fiction is a literary genre that shares some of its characters and settings with crime fiction (especially detective fiction and noir fiction). The genre's typical protagonist is a detective who battles the violence of organized crime that flourished during Prohibition in the United States (1920–1933) and its aftermath, while dealing with a legal system that has become as corrupt as the organized crime itself. Rendered cynical by this cycle of violence, the detectives of hardboiled fiction are often antiheroes. Notable hardboiled detectives include Dick Tracy, Philip Marlowe, Nick Charles, Mike Hammer, Sam Spade, Lew Archer, Slam Bradley, and The Continental Op. rollick [ˈrɒlɪk] verb. act or behave in a jovial and exuberant fashion. to behave in a carefree, frolicsome, or boisterous manner. "a satirical novelist who rollicks through the sleaze of the American psyche". There's a perfectly rollicking story here, if you want to get your rollicks off. But Dalton has two Walkley awards to his name. The reporter-turned-novelist could have said something of substance. Instead, he gives us testicular torsion, bullmastiff shit, a mute wife and a good bloke. noun. a boisterous or carefree escapade or event. bull mastiff = bullmastiff [ˌbʊl ˈmæs.tɪf] 斗牛犬 a type of large, strong dog with ears that hang down and skin that hangs in folds on the face, often used for protecting people and property: My father lives there with a big bull mastiff and several German shepherds. Bull mastiffs are still large, but they're smaller than the English mastiff. It is very important to get the bull mastiff socialized with friendly dogs at an early age. If the need arises, the bull mastiff can change into the most determined attack dog imaginable. queasy [ˈkwiː.zi] I. 呕吐的. 恶心的. 想吐的. feeling that you want to vomit: I started to feel queasy as soon as the boat left the harbour. Just the thought of blood makes me queasy. II. 焦虑不安, 担心. feeling worried, unhappy, or uncertain about something: I'm queasy about giving such violent figures celebrity status. Her descriptions of extreme poverty and deprivation can give you a queasy feeling. The president then acknowledges that he saw people were getting "a little bit queasy" as it relates to the bond market. 5. 书评: What finally lured me into the Dalton-verse was the bait of true crime, a subject I once chased as a criminologist. I'm fascinated by the genre's slippery self-righteousness: how it imperils as many cases as it revives; how the bodies of dead women are repackaged as content, and vigilantism recast as virtue 优点, 好事. Hallucinatory skeletons are popping up everywhere – in his bedroom, at his book events – and he's hobbled by a pain in his nuts that feels like a metaphor: "All my bad decisions and all my guilt and all my shame and all my insatiable ambition, physicalised 具象化了 and localised into a ball of knuckle-biting pain in my right testicle." hack work I. 无聊的文字工作. dull, unoriginal writing. undistinguished literary work produced to order. writing, painting, or any professional work done for hire and usually following a formula rather than being motivated by any creative impulse. "his book is a shoddy piece of hack work". II. 例行公事的工作. dull, routine work. literary, artistic, or professional work done on order usually according to formula and in conformity with commercial standards "people take up any hack work they can get". He pays a mortgage to his in-laws on a house he can't afford to fix, and churns out true-crime hackwork for a local Brisbane paper – or he did, before he pissed off the Queensland police. uxorious [ʌkˈsɔ:rɪəs] 惧内的, 宠妻的, 怕老婆的, 听老婆话的, 宠老婆的, 什么都靠老婆的, 疼老婆的 Overly devoted or submissive to one's wife. a husband who dotes on his wife excessively is uxorious. doting upon or affectionately submissive toward one's wife. excessively attached to or dependent on one's wife Dalton's fourth novel is a wife-guy manifesto, an uxorious fable. It's bleakly retrograde: women as redeemers; men as awestruck limpets; love as an unyielding grip. vocabulary: A man who dotes on or really adores his wife is uxorious. Your uxorious grandfather, for example, might plan your grandmother's surprise birthday party months in advance. Uxorious goes back to the Latin root ūxor, "wife," and it came into English in the 16th century. Uxorious is usually negative, a way to show that a husband has too much concern for his wife or is submissive to her desires. It's also an increasingly dated, old fashioned word, as a husband is considered uxorious if he lets his wife "control" him. There's no corresponding adjective you can use of a wife "controlled" by her husband. retrograde I. 逆向的. 逆潮流而上, 逆流而动. moving in the opposite direction to that of most other stars, planets, etc.. used to describe a backward movement or a movement that is opposite to the usual direction of flow: In colour Doppler sonography the patients showed retrograde blood flow. Retrograde ejaculation is a common side effect of this kind of surgery. The apparent retrograde motion of the planets arises from the Earth's motion. II. in astrology (= the study of the movements and positions of the sun, moon, planets, and stars in the belief that they affect the character and lives of people), used to describe a star or planet moving from east to west: Retrograde planets don't so much make things go wrong as make us more aware. III. returning to older and worse conditions, methods, ideas, etc.: He said it would be a retrograde step to remove single parent benefits. The proposal is miserably retrograde. IV. used to describe the fact that someone is unable to remember things that happen before a particular event: There is evidence to show that ECT can cause both retrograde (i.e. before treatment) and anterograde (i.e. after treatment) memory loss. henpecked 惧内的 ( pussywhipped, under the thumb, uxorious ) Particularly of husbands, plagued or overwhelmed by a nagging or overbearing wife. criticized and given orders all the time by a wife or female partner. a henpecked husband. wear the pants (UK) = wear the trousers (US) To be the dominant partner in a relationship. rule the roost (idiomatic) To be the controlling member(s) of a family, organization, or other group. 6. pang of guilt 刺痛, 一丝愧疚, 一丝惭愧 a sudden feeling of worry or unhappiness because you have done something wrong, especially one that lasts for a short time: She remembered with a pang of guilt that she hadn't called her mother. He felt a brief pang of guilt for unintentionally causing so much fear. 白宫发言人被声讨: Leavitt was asked on Fox News for the White House's reaction to New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani's (D) refusal to say whether he thinks Hamas should disarm in Gaza. She spun her answer into a wider attack on Democrats, claiming the interview proved the party's "main constituency [kənˈstɪtʃ.u.ən.si] 选民, 选区 are made up of Hamas terrorists, illegal aliens and violent criminals." Critics slammed Leavitt's comments as divisive rhetoric, "incredibly dangerous" and "sick" and called for her to resign. Karoline Leavitt should resign. They try to make us hate each other to distract from the fact that they're robbing us all blind (rob someone blind rob or cheat someone in a comprehensive or merciless way. "if you put in your payment details, the crooks will rob you blind".). It's sick. This is INCREDIBLY dangerous framing 用辞, 用词, 措辞( I. The framing of an image is the shape and form in which it is presented. The framing of each shot is as eloquent as the dialogue. In his paintings, Manet disrupted old conventions about colour, framing, composition, lighting, and pictorial space. II. The framing of something is the particular style or kind of language in which it is expressed. The framing of the debate comes across as ideological. It is important to remember that historical framing shapes historical meaning.) and should make the hair on the back of your neck stand( Make the hair stand up on the back of my neck = make someone's hair stand on end 毛发倒竖, 汗毛倒竖 To scare or horrify someone. to make someone very frightened: The thought of jumping out of a plane makes my hair stand on end. Walking past the cemetery alone at night made Mary's hair stand up on the back of her neck. Just the thought of going into that abandoned building makes the hair stand up on the back of my neck.), whether you're a Republican, Democrat, or Independent. Chattering class(the chattering classes 有闲阶层, 闲聊阶层 derogatory British English intellectual or artistic people considered as a social group given to the expression of liberal opinions. well-educated middle-class people who enjoy discussing political, cultural, and social matters and who express opinions on a lot of subjects. well-educated members of the upper-middle or upper class who freely express esp. liberal opinions or judgments on current issues and events "the politically correct voice of the chattering classes". ) lost its goddam mind over Clinton's 'basket of deplorables' ("Basket of deplorables" is a pejorative phrase from a 2016 US presidential election campaign speech delivered by Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton on September 9, 2016, at a campaign fundraising event. She used the phrase to describe "half" of the supporters of her opponent, Republican nominee Donald Trump, saying they're "racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic, Islamophobic". The next day, she expressed regret for "saying half", while insisting that Trump had deplorably amplified 夸大 "hateful views and voices". The Trump campaign repeatedly used the phrase against Clinton during and after the 2016 presidential election. Many Trump supporters adopted the "deplorable" moniker for themselves in reappropriation. Some journalists and political analysts questioned whether this speech played a role in the election's outcome. deplorable 凄惨的, 糟糕的, 悲惨的, 可怜的 very bad. If you say that something is deplorable, you think that it is very bad and unacceptable. I thought his behaviour was absolutely deplorable. They are forced to live in deplorable conditions. The children were raised in deplorable conditions. Many of them live under deplorable conditions. The Chief Constable said that sexual harassment was deplorable. The reporters behaved deplorably. a. 可惜的. 可怜的. To be felt sorrow for; worthy of compassion; lamentable. We were all saddened by the deplorable death of his son. b. Deserving strong condemnation; shockingly bad, wretched. Poor children suffer permanent damage due to deplorable living conditions and deplorable treatment by law enforcement. Poor children are often accused of having deplorable manners, when they are, in fact, simply responding to society in ways that mirror how society treats them. ) comment. This - like so much of the White House's most egregious [ɪˈɡriːdʒəs] behavior - will be overlooked as just how they talk, political theatre. 7. lint-balled 起球的: In my bedroom now and it's a difficult choice between two lint-balled sports jackets hanging in a tightly packed built-in wardrobe. Lambrusco problems. A keytarist (Keyboardist 键盘手) is a musician that plays the keytar, a keyboard or synthesizer worn around the neck and shoulders, similar to a guitar. NBA 赌球风波: "They called to tell me FBI agents were trying to arrest him in a hotel," Trusty said. "It is unfortunate that instead of allowing him to self-surrender 自首 they opted for a photo op. They wanted the misplaced 不配的, 配不上的 glory of embarrassing a professional athlete with a perp walk(perp walk: A perp walk, walking the perp, or frog march is a practice in law enforcement of parading an arrested suspect out in public before their initial appearance in court. an instance of a person in police custody being led into a police station, courthouse, etc. in such a way as to enable the media to publicize the event. an occasion when police officers take a person who has been arrested for a crime through a public area so he or she can be seen and photographed by the media "scores of high-ranking executives have been subject to perp walks"). That tells you a lot about the motivations in this case." 8. incisive [ɪnˈsʌɪsɪv] 一语中的的, 表达清楚准确的, 切中要害的, 击中要害的 expressing an idea or opinion in a clear and direct way that shows good understanding of what is important. expressing an idea or opinion clearly and in a persuasive manner. You use incisive to describe a person, their thoughts, or their speech when you approve of their ability to think and express their ideas clearly, briefly, and forcefully. ...a shrewd operator with an incisive mind. She's incredibly incisive, incredibly intelligent. The guide's incisive comments give us a new perspective on the painting. incisive questions/comments. Such capacities are very useful for writers, and Li is a prolific author who brings to her writing a forensic, incisive perspective, along with a marvellous deployment of language and tone. slinky [ˈslɪŋki] adjective informal I. (of a garment) 紧身的. 合身的. fitting closely to the lines of the body. "a slinky black evening dress". II. graceful and sinuous or seductive in movement. "slinky models sashayed down the catwalk". form-fitting 贴身的 (of clothing) fitting someone's body closely. "a pair of form-fitting jeans". 9. 美国牛肉贵: Some say the government could make an impact if it focused on the way a handful of companies dominate the market for meat processing. Today, just four companies control more than 80% of the beef slaughtering and packing market. "These are consolidated markets(Consolidation is the practice, in business, of legally combining two or more organizations into a single new one. Upon consolidation, the original organizations cease to exist and are supplanted by a new entity. In business, consolidation or amalgamation 市场兼并或者融合 is the merger and acquisition of many smaller companies into a few much larger ones. In the context of financial accounting, consolidation refers to the aggregation of financial statements of a group company as consolidated financial statements. The taxation term of consolidation refers to the treatment of a group of companies and other entities as one entity for tax purposes. Under the Halsbury's Laws of England, amalgamation is defined as "a blending together of two or more undertakings into one undertaking, the shareholders of each blending company, becoming, substantially, the shareholders of the blended undertakings. There may be amalgamations, either by transfer of two or more undertakings to a new company or the transfer of one or more companies to an existing company". ) gouging ranchers and gouging ( gouge [ɡaʊdʒ] I. 凿出. to dig or cut into something in a rough or violent way: gouge a hole He drove into some railings and gouged a hole in the back of his car. A symbol was gouged into the surface of the wood. II. 宰客. 被宰. 挨宰. US informal to charge someone too much money for something, in a way that is dishonest or unfair: We didn’t know the value of the foreign money, and the taxi driver gouged us. The bill is intended to prevent loan companies gouging people with poor credit histories. The bank hit me with a £140 charge and two days later they gouged me another £85. noun. I. 车辙. a hole or hollow that has been dug or cut into something: There are deep gouges in the soil where the car left the track. II. 凿子. a tool with a handle, a long, curved blade and a sharp end, used for cutting wood and stone and in surgery (= medical cutting): The debris is cleared out with a gouge. ) consumers at the store," said Austin Frerick, an agricultural and antitrust policy expert and a fellow at Yale University. The meat processing firms - Tyson, JBS, Cargill and National Beef - have faced several lawsuits, including one filed by McDonald's alleging they colluded to 合谋 inflate the price of beef. Though Trump revoked ( revoke 废除 officially cancel (a decree, decision, or promise). "the men appealed and the sentence was revoked". ) a Biden-era order earlier this year that directed agencies to tackle corporate consolidation across the food system, his administration has taken other steps to investigate competition issues in the agricultural industry. 10. [talk] at cross purposes 鸡同鸭讲, 各说各的, 自说自话 misunderstanding or having different aims from one another. If two or more people are at cross purposes, they do not understand each other because they are talking about different subjects without realizing this or they have different intentions. "we had been talking at cross purposes" They're talking at cross-purposes without realizing it. The two friends find themselves at cross-purposes with the officials. I think we've been talking at cross purposes - I meant next year, not this year. cleave cleaved or US clove, cleaved or US also cloven to separate or divide, or cause something to separate or divide, often violently: cleave something in twain 一分两半 With one blow of the knight's axe, he clove the rock in twain (= into two pieces). The volcano cleaved nearly in half after its last eruption. cleave to something I. 紧紧抓住. 牢牢抓住 to stick or hold firmly onto something: The ancient ivy cleaved to the ruined castle walls. II. 坚定相信 坚信. to continue to believe firmly in something: People in the remote mountain villages still cleave to their old traditions. Communism doesn't work was the general view, to which Trump apparently still cleaves. In 2002, the US was busy invading Afghanistan and getting ready to invade Iraq and if America's leaders at the time thought about China at all, they thought that it would never amount to much … because, you know, they are communist losers. At that point America was still basking in the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union, and Francis Fukuyama's 1992 book, The End of History and the Last Man, which argued that the end of the Cold War marked the end of mankind's ideological evolution and the final victory of Western liberal democracy as the enduring form of human government. 11. A slurry 泥浆( Slurry I. a watery mixture of something such as mud, animal waste, or dust. a thin mixture of a liquid, such as water or oil, and small pieces of a solid that do not dissolve in the liquid, produced in an industrial process: The coal company was told it could not put slurry behind the dam. The table shows the chemical composition of the slurries from the two treatment plants. ...farm slurry and industrial waste. II. a mixture of animal waste and water, used in farming as a fertilizer (= a substance that is spread on the land to make plants grow well). A mixture of animal waste, other organic material and sometimes water, stored in a slurry pit and used as fertilizer; also used in combination, as pig slurry, etc. Special machinery is required to move the manure and slurry. There's a disgusting smell when they spread the slurry at the pig farm. The report found that 10 percent of cattle slurries and 23 percent of pig slurries are contaminated with salmonellas. III. 糊糊. a mixture of water and a food such as flour, cornflour (= a white flour made from maize used for making sauces, soups, etc. thicker), or yeast (= a type of fungus used for making bread swell): The bread begins with a slurry of yeast and water. If the sauce is too liquid, add more cornstarch slurry to thicken it. Cement slurry 水泥浆, 灰浆 is a liquid mixture of water, cement, and other fine aggregates produced during wet concrete work like cutting, grinding, or polishing. It can be used for some repairs or construction tasks, but more often it is a byproduct that requires careful management due to its high alkalinity, which can damage tools, stain surfaces, and harm the environment if not disposed of properly. Slurry ice, a mixture of ice crystals, freezing point depressant, and water. ) is a mixture of denser solids suspended in liquid, usually water. The most common use of slurry is as a means of transporting solids or separating minerals, the liquid being a carrier that is pumped on a device such as a centrifugal pump. The size of solid particles may vary from 1 micrometre up to hundreds of millimetres. The particles may settle below a certain transport velocity and the mixture can behave like a Newtonian or non-Newtonian fluid. Depending on the mixture, the slurry may be abrasive and/or corrosive. fluff verb. I. mainly UK = US flub. to fail something or do it badly: I fluffed my driving test three times before I finally got it. fluff your lines All the time I was acting with him, I never once heard him fluff his lines (= say the wrong words when acting). a. (informal, transitive) To do incorrectly, for example mishit, miskick, miscue etc. b. (informal, transitive, intransitive, of an actor or announcer) To make a mistake in one's lines. II. 弄蓬松 to shake a mass of fibers, feathers, or hair so the mass appears larger: Make the beds and don't forget to fluff the pillows. She fluffed out her hair. fluff something up = flub sth up = fluff out something to make something appear bigger or full of air by hitting or shaking it: I'll just fluff up your pillows for you. III. (transitive, slang) 弄大点. To arouse (a male pornographic actor) before filming. IV. (transitive, slang, by extension) To bring to a state of excitement. noun. I. a soft mass of fibers, feathers, or hair: cotton fluff. The cat, a ball of white fluff, darted into the house and started to lick its fur. We'd lie on our backs and blow the dandelion fluff into the neighbor's yard. II. useless or unimportant information. Anything inconsequential or superficial. That article was basically a bunch of fluff. It didn't say anything substantive. Don't expect all fluff – like most good satire, this contains some moments of truth. III. (LGBTQ) A passive partner in a lesbian relationship. 12. A steady parent (responsible parent) provides consistency and a stable environment, while the "fun parent" (or "Disneyland parent") is more playful and seeks to be a "cool friend" by avoiding discipline. A good balance involves being a steady, reliable parent while also incorporating fun, play, and emotional connection into the relationship. A "stable person 情绪稳定的人" is calm, emotionally steady, and reliable, not prone to sudden mood changes. They are often seen as dependable and well-balanced, and can handle life's challenges without being easily upset. This stability can also refer to a consistent and reliable lifestyle, such as having a stable job or relationship. A "stable person" is generally understood to be someone who is emotionally and mentally healthy, calm, and consistent. These individuals are resilient in the face of stress, have a strong sense of self, and their actions are consistent with their words. An andrologist 男科医生( dick doctor, gynecologist 妇科医生) is a medical doctor specializing in the male reproductive system and urinary tract, focusing on health issues unique to men. They diagnose and treat conditions such as erectile dysfunction, infertility, and hormonal imbalances, and can perform procedures like vasectomies. Andrology is often closely related to urology, and many specialists have training in both fields. 13. Calipers or callipers 卡尺, 游标卡尺 are an instrument used to measure the linear dimensions of an object or hole; namely, the length, width, thickness, diameter or depth of an object or hole. The word "caliper" comes from a corrupt form of caliber. Many types of calipers permit reading out a measurement on a ruled scale, a dial, or an electronic digital display. A common association is to calipers using a sliding vernier scale. Some calipers can be as simple as a compass with inward or outward-facing points, but with no scale (measurement indication). The tips of the caliper are adjusted to fit across the points to be measured, and then kept at that span while moved to separate measuring device, such as a ruler, or simply transferred directly to a workpiece. Orthotics ( 装具, 矫具 ) also known as orthology is a medical specialty that focuses on the design and application of orthoses, sometimes known as braces, calipers 踝足支架, or splints (矫形支架, 骨科支架(Orthopedic brace), 或称支架、护具). An orthosis is "an externally applied device used to influence the structural and functional characteristics of the neuromuscular and skeletal systems." Orthotists are medical professionals who specialize in designing orthotic devices such as braces or foot orthoses. 14. (as) strong as an oak = sturdy as an oak I. 坚固. 固若金汤. Extremely durable or hardy in construction; able to withstand a lot of stress or rough use. I was apprehensive when he said he was going to build the house himself, but the whole structure is as strong as an oak! Don't worry about dropping that end table—it's strong as an oak. I was surprised that our tent proved to be as strong as an oak 牢固, 牢不可破 during that windy storm. (end table North American English a small table placed beside a sofa or other piece of furniture. "he put the wine glass down on an end table". ) II. 健壮. 壮得像牛. 强壮. Having or displaying extremely robust physical health or strength. A lifetime of physical labor has left the man strong as an oak. My grandmother exercises every day and always eats a balanced diet, so even in her 80s, she is as strong as an oak. Our father was always as strong as an oak, so it took us all by surprise when he was hospitalized by a heart attack at the age of 48. III. 强硬. 坚定. Having or exhibiting uncompromising and indomitable resolve, spirit, and strength(indomitable [ɪnˈdɒmɪtəbl] adj. 打不死的. 打不败的. 不服输的. impossible to subdue or defeat. used to say that someone is strong, brave, determined, and difficult to defeat or frighten: The indomitable Mrs Furlong said she would continue to fight for justice. an indomitable spirit/will. "a woman of indomitable spirit". ) of character. He was a titan of industry. As strong as an oak in negotiations, he always got what he wanted. During such times of hardship, this country needs a leader who is strong as an oak. A: "I can't believe that Vanessa is still so positive and upbeat after that horrific accident." B: "I know, she's strong as an oak." a reed before the wind lives on(, while mighty oaks do fall) 能屈能伸, 能软能硬强过宁折不弯 proverb Those who remain flexible and adaptable will be able to survive change, hardship, or adversity more easily than those who try to challenge or stand against it. The CEO doesn't tolerate people who won't go along with his ideas or change to meet his demands. A reed before the wind lives on, at least when you're working at this company. Luckily, I had diversified a lot of my revenue streams before the economic crash hit, so I was able to change tack and withstand the blow better than the large companies that had no room to maneuver. A reed before the wind lives on, while mighty oaks to fall. Come on, you can't cling steadfast to business practices that are ineffectual. Haven't you ever heard that a reed before the wind lives on? great oaks from little acorns 橡树果 grow = great oaks grow from small acorns = mighty oaks from little acorns grow 所有的参天大树都来自小小果实(an oval nut that grows on an oak tree and has an outer part shaped like a cup.) Large and powerful things once were very small and insignificant. It's hard to believe that her successful clothing line was once a small business run from her tiny studio apartment. Great oaks from little acorns grow. Every day, you just need to do one thing, however small, toward making your dream a reality. Remember, great oaks from little acorns grow. A: "Wait, June has a whole lifestyle brand now. You're saying all of that grew out of a blog she started in grad school?" B: "Yep. Great oaks from little acorns grow, huh?" heart of oak 意志坚定如铁 A trait said to belong to a very emotionally or mentally strong person. I don't know how a soldier does it—they must have a heart of oak. My brother has a heart of oak and has remained totally calm while coping with his wife's sudden illness. Look, I need people with hearts of oak to help me correct this massive mistake. If you're already panicking, please get out of the conference room. oak(s) (oks) mod. OK; satisfactory; worthy. (Prisons.) That dude's oaks. Ted: And you didn't give him his pants? Barney: Theodore Evelyn Mosby, of course I gave him his pants. I gave Lily my word. My word is oak ( = my word is my bond. My word is gold. My word is as good as gold) 我说话算话, 说话算数. (How I Met Your Mother - S04E16). Oak is hard. Oak doesn't break. your word is your bond If someone's word is their bond, they always keep a promise: "But listen, you have to promise never to tell anyone." "My word is my bond."

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flotilla; lollygag = lallygag = loiter= dawdle;

用法学习: 1. flotilla [fləˈtɪl.ə] 舰队 a large group of boats or small ships. a large group of boats or small ships, esp. military ships. These are the boats too large to sail with the rest of the flotilla. The Freedom Flotilla was intercepted by Israeli authorities on Wednesday morning, local time, and there is believed to be at least one Australian among them. DFAT said it was aware of this. "Officials in Tel Aviv are liaising with authorities, and consular officers stand ready to offer assistance to any affected Australians," a spokesperson said. Madeleine Habib, the Tasmanian captain of one of the ships in the Freedom Flotilla, said in a social media video yesterday that the group was "not deterred" by other flotillas being intercepted. "We feel very positive about our mission and we absolutely intend to arrive in Gaza," she said. spritz [sprɪts] 喷撒, 喷洒 verb. I. to spray a mass of very small drops of liquid out of a container, usually by pressing a part of the container:  For tighter, more sculpted curls, spritz setting lotion thickly on to dry hair. I spritzed myself with water. She spritzed perfume on the insides of her wrists. After you've applied your powder, spritz with a little mineral water. noun. I. an amount of liquid that is sprayed as a mass of very small drops of liquid out of a container, usually by pressing a part of the container: A quick spritz of scent and I'm ready. Add a spritz of hairspray for control. A quick spritz of perfume lingers on the skin. II. a drink consisting of sparkling wine (= with bubbles) mixed with a bitter-tasting liqueur (= a strong alcoholic drink), and sparkling water: Visit one of the many wine bars where you can drink a spritz 一种鸡尾酒 – a typical Venetian aperitif. III. (in a drink) the quality of being fizzy. The wine is dry to medium-dry, with a slight spritz, full-bodied and fruity. 2. "Fudging it" means to handle a situation vaguely, ambiguously, or dishonestly, often to avoid a clear answer or decision, to conceal the truth, or to make a flawed outcome appear acceptable. The phrase can also refer to a specific technique in quilting where fabric is manipulated to correct minor errors and make a block look perfect. Concealing or Altering the Truth: This is a common meaning, where someone is being dishonest or misleading. For example, fudging casualty figures means falsifying numbers to make them look better. "The government continues to fudge the issue by refusing to give exact figures". "He had to fudge the numbers on the report to make it look like the project was more successful". Avoiding a Clear Answer: Fudging an issue involves evading a direct question or decision to avoid commitment or scrutiny. Failing to Meet Standards: It can mean to exceed proper limits or to cheat, such as fudging on an exam to get a better grade. In quilting, "fudging it" is a specific term for adjusting and manipulating pieces of fabric to make them fit together, even if the initial measurements were slightly off. This technique is particularly useful when a quilt block is slightly too small and requires some stretching or careful trimming to ensure the seams line up correctly. "The quilt block was a little off, so she had to fudge it to make it fit. fudge the issue To dodge or avoid doing something. The phrase often has a connotation of deceit. The finance department is fudging the issue for now, but once news reaches the CEO, they will have to admit whatever they did to make these figures so impressive. I know you didn't do any of the chores I assigned you, and you can't fudge the issue any longer! How long did you plan to fudge the issue? Did you really think I wouldn't notice you hadn't finished the project? fudge factor Room for error or mistakes. I'm not very good at math, so I always leave a fudge factor when I'm tallying up my expenditures for the month. I'm not too worried because that small amount is well within the fudge factor. Should I build in a fudge factor when I'm processing expense reports? To fudgel 装模作样的工作 is an 18th-century English verb meaning to pretend to work while actually doing nothing productive. It involves appearing busy or occupied to give the impression of working, when in reality one is not performing any useful tasks. "He spent the whole afternoon fudgeling at his desk, staring at the screen but getting nothing done". "Instead of helping with the chores, he chose to fudgel and look occupied". cudgel [kʌdʒəl] A cudgel is a thick, short stick that is used as a weapon. verb. to strike with a cudgel or similar weapon. take up the cudgels 抄起棒子 If you take up the cudgels for someone or something, you speak or fight in support of them. The trade unions took up the cudgels for the 367 staff made redundant. cudgel one's brains to think hard about a problem. 3. surveil 监视 [səˈveɪl] to carefully watch a place or person or listen to private conversations over a period of time, usually in order to get information about illegal activity: The new Patriot Act lets the FBI wiretap and surveil more easily. The warrants give agents broad powers to electronically monitor and surveil people who they allege are connected to terrorism or espionage cases. "Sing it 说得对, 说得好, 太对了": a slang term used to express strong agreement or encouragement for someone to speak their mind, similar to "you said it". "sing it" is a way to tell someone you strongly agree with them or are urging them to express their thoughts boldly. to show that you strongly agree. Of course, if you are saying it to a male speaker, you would say "Sing it brother!" Other similar expressions are "Tell it like it is!" and "You said it!" or "You got that right!" "You said it". "You got that right". "Tell it like it is". sideswipe I. If you take a sideswipe at someone, you make an unexpected critical remark about them while you are talking about something else. He sulks at setbacks, can't accept blame for failure, and makes gratuitous sideswipes at other golfers. make a sideswipe at During her lecture on her discoveries, she took several sideswipes at the leaders of the expedition. II. 侧面剐蹭. to strike with a glancing blow along the side. to hit on the side. The motorcycle turned the corner too quickly, and sideswiped a car coming towards it. sideswiped a parked car. "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet 好的总是好的" is a popular adage from William Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet, in which Juliet seems to argue that it does not matter that Romeo is from her family's rival house of Montague. The reference is used to state that the names of things do not affect what they really are. This formulation is, however, a paraphrase of Shakespeare's actual language. Juliet compares Romeo to a rose saying that if he were not a Montague, he would still be just as handsome and be Juliet's love. This states that if he were not Romeo, then he would not be a Montague and she would be able to marry him without hindrances. lollygag = lallygag (drag one's feet) 溜溜达达的, 磨磨唧唧的. 闲晃, 闲逛, 四处晃荡 informal North American English I. spend time aimlessly; idle. "she goes to Arizona every January to lollygag in the sun". II. dawdle. to loiter aimlessly "We're lollygagging along". Quit lollygagging. vocabulary: To lollygag is to be slow or idle or lazy. You might say to your dawdling friends, "Don't lollygag! We'll miss our bus!" You lollygag when you take you own sweet time walking to your piano teacher's house, and you also lollygag when you lounge lazily in a hammock under a tree. The word lollygag is an American invention, a slang term that's sometimes spelled lallygag and may stem from the dialectical "tongue" meaning of lolly. 4. drill I. to make a hole in something using a special tool: Drill three holes in the wall for the screws. drill for They are going to drill for oil nearby. II. to practise something, especially military exercises, or to make someone do this: We watched the soldiers drilling on the parade ground. They drilled daily to learn the routine exactly. to make someone practice a skill by repeating the same thing several times: The teacher drills 操练, 反复操练, 反复练习, 一遍遍的练习 them in arithmetic 练习算术 every day. To cause to drill (practice); to train in military arts. The sergeant was up by 6:00 every morning, drilling his troops. III. 进入血液. 引入骨髓. 深入骨髓. (transitive) To repeat an idea frequently in order to encourage someone to remember it. to tell someone something repeatedly to make them remember it. to tell someone something repeatedly so that they remember it: The instructor drilled into us the importance of reading the instructions. It was drilled into us at an early age that we should always say "please" and "thank you". My mother drilled certain ideas into me from when I was very little. be drilled into It was drilled into us at an early age that we should always say "please" and "thank you". drill someone in something He drilled the children in what they should say. IV. To investigate or examine something in more detail or at a different level. Drill deeper and you may find the underlying assumptions faulty. V. (slang, vulgar) To have sexual intercourse with; to penetrate. incarnate adj [ɪnˈkɑːnət] ([ɪnˈkɑːneɪt] as verb) I. If you say that someone is a quality incarnate, you mean that they represent that quality or are typical of it in an extreme form. She is evil incarnate 邪恶化身. He is cynicism incarnate. II. You use incarnate to say that something, especially a god or spirit, is represented in human form. Why should God become incarnate as a male? The pharaoh is Osiris, the moon bull incarnate. verb. [ɪnˈkɑːneɪt]. I. 深深嵌入, 深深烙印, 融入血液, 融入基因. If you say that a quality is incarnated in a person, you mean that they represent that quality or are typical of it in an extreme form. The iniquities of the regime are incarnated in one man. ...a writer who incarnates the changing consciousness of the Americas. II. If you say that someone or something is incarnated in a particular form, you mean that they appear on Earth in that form. The god Vishnu was incarnated on Earth as a king. iniquity [ɪˈnɪk.wə.ti] 邪恶行为, 邪恶行径, 不公平的行为 a very wrong and unfair action or situation. You can refer to wicked actions or very unfair situations as iniquity. He rails against the iniquities of capitalism. A disco isn't exactly a den of iniquity. They fought long and hard against the iniquities of apartheid. The writer reflects on human injustice and iniquity. 5. tourniquet [ˈtʊə.nɪ.keɪ] 止血带, 止血布 a strip of cloth that is tied tightly around an injured arm or leg to stop it bleeding. a strip of cloth that is tied tightly around an injured arm or leg to stop the flow of blood. A tourniquet is a strip of cloth that is tied tightly round an injured arm or leg in order to stop it bleeding. He made a tourniquet to stanch the blood and was driven to the field station. If it continues to bleed, you may have to apply a tourniquet to the limb. stanch [stɑːnt] = staunch [stɔːntʃ] adj. always loyal in supporting a person, organization, or set of beliefs or opinions: a staunch defender of free speech. a staunch friend and ally. He gained a reputation as being a staunch defender/supporter of civil rights. verb. 截断, 切断, 阻断, 阻止. 截断. 截流. to stop something happening, or to stop liquid, especially blood, from flowing out. to stop liquid, esp. blood, from flowing out: Mike pressed hard on the wound and staunched the flow of blood. The country's asylum laws were amended to staunch the flow/flood of economic migrants. Mike pressed hard on the wound and staunched the flow of blood. spiel 漂亮话 [ʃpiːl, spiːl] INFORMAL an elaborate or glib speech or story, typically one used by a salesperson. Someone's spiel is a well-prepared speech that they make, and that they have usually made many times before, often in order to persuade you to buy something. a sales/marketing spiel. They gave us a long spiel about why we needed to install double glazing in our house. The spiel ended with the announcer saying anyone with any queries could go and see her. "he delivers a breathless and effortless spiel in promotion of his new novel". As a selling technique, a sales presentation or sales pitch is a line of talk that attempts to persuade someone or something, with a planned sales presentation strategy of a product or service designed to initiate and close a sale of the product or service. A sales pitch is essentially designed to be either an introduction of a product or service to an audience who knows nothing about it, or a descriptive expansion of a product or service that an audience has already expressed interest in. Sales professionals prepare and give a sales pitch, which can be either formal or informal, and might be delivered in any number of ways. A sales pitch may be invited by an organization looking to obtain supplies or services, for example in a commissioning context. Sales Pitch: Neutral / professional tone, a planned, persuasive presentation to sell a product, idea, or service. Connotation: neutral or positive, often used in business or marketing. Common in: sales meetings, investor presentations, job interviews. She gave a great sales pitch for the new software. The startup prepared a pitch to attract investors. sales spiel: Informal / slightly negative tone Definition: a talk or speech that sounds rehearsed or insincere, often meant to sell or persuade. Connotation: slightly negative or mocking — suggests someone is being pushy or too slick. Common in: casual or critical speech. I don’t want to hear another sales spiel about miracle vitamins. The salesman launched into his usual spiel about why I needed the deluxe model. "Spiel" can also mean any practiced speech, not just for sales — e.g. "He gave me his spiel about why he was late." rancor = rancour [ˈræŋkər] 苦涩, 愤恨, 不满, 愤怒, 仇恨 a feeling of hate or anger that continues for a long time. Rancour is a feeling of bitterness and anger. bitterness or resentfulness, especially when long standing. "he spoke without rancour". 'That's too bad,' Teddy said without rancour. 'That's too bad,' Teddy said without rancour. rancorous [ˈræŋ.kər.əs] having or showing a feeling of hate and continuing anger about something in the past: a rancorous dispute. Government leaders appear increasingly rancorous. There's no rancour, no venom as the former world number four women's tennis player shares her thoughts with Leigh Sales in a special interview with Australian Story. The physical and emotional pain she suffered as her father drove her to be a champion tennis player in his voracious quest for riches left a mark. She developed post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, an eating disorder, and attempted suicide at 22. take umbrage (at something) [ˈʌmbrɪdʒ] 不满, 不高兴, 不同意 If you say that a person takes umbrage, you mean that they are upset or offended by something that someone says or does to them, often without much reason. to be offended by something. They're liable to take umbrage if we don't invite them. He takes umbrage against anyone who criticises him. He takes umbrage against anyone who criticises him. In one particular tweet, Minaj expressed her dissatisfaction that videos celebrating women with "very slim bodies" often get nominated over those without, which Swift apparently took umbrage at. 6. rack I. 一大块肉. a large piece of meat cut from the neck of a sheep or pig: The butcher prepared a rack of pork. We're having rack of lamb for dinner. II. a bar with tooth-like parts along one edge that fits into a pinion 齿轮 (= a wheel with tooth-like parts) allowing change between circular and straight-line movement. III. the rack 车裂架子: in the past, a device to which people were tied that stretched their bodies by pulling their arms in one direction and their legs in the other direction, usually used as a way of forcing them to give information. be on the rack to be suffering great physical or mental pain. IV. rack and ruin = US also wrack and ruin a state of decay: go to rack and ruin The whole farm was going to rack and ruin. V. (UK frame) 斯诺克的整理球的三角框 a wooden or plastic triangle used to arrange the balls at the start of a game of billiards, pool, snooker, etc. verb. to cause physical or mental pain, or trouble, to someone or something: Even at the end, when cancer racked his body, he was calm and cheerful. be racked with The dog was already racked with the pains of old age. be racked with guilt 充满罪恶感 She is racked with guilt for not acting on earlier suspicions. be racked by 被...缠身, 摆脱不掉. The country is still racked by violence. He was racked by doubts. And there was her bittersweet comeback — playing for Australia again but racked by depression and injury, finally bowing out at the age of 29. rack your brain[s] to think very hard: I've been racking my brains all day but I can't remember her name. rack something up I. to gradually get more points, profits, etc.: He has racked up 450 points in three months. to gradually gain a large amount of something: The government and debt counsellors believe it is too easy to rack up large numbers of loans. The company's dozen vehicles rack up 144,000 miles a year. He'll rack up $10,000 in bonus money. rack sth up into sth Try to rack these small returns up into modest but consistently positive returns. Jacob racked up large debts while working his way through college. losses are racked up Astronomical losses were racked up by airlines last year. rack up debt 债台高筑, 累积债务, 累积失败. II. accumulate. to increase something such as a rent or price, especially by an amount that is considered to be too much: Our landlord racked up the rent by 15 percent this year. 7. Jelena's story: But telling the unvarnished 没有装点的 truth about what went on behind the scenes in her tennis career helped rebuild her identity and confidence, and prompted her to seek professional mental health help for the first time. "It saved my life, being vulnerable and being open and honest and raw and shattering this perfection," she says. "[Perfection] is such a dangerous standard to set and it's unattainable. People … suffer in silence 默默承受 because they're worried about the judgement, shame and stigma. One way to fix that is actually to be vulnerable." Things started to look up for Jelena after the book's release. Years of working as an occasional tennis commentator, trying to get a permanent gig, paid off in 2018 when she signed with the Nine Network. topspin 旋球 In sports such as tennis, topspin is the way that a ball spins rapidly when you hit it in a certain way. Sabatini used her exaggerated topspin to good effect. He put a lot more topspin on his backhand. But life still served up some gnarly 棘手的, 难对付的 top spins. The COVID-19 lockdowns caused anxiety and depression to creep back in and Jelena put on weight. gnarly I. rough and twisted, especially because of old age or no protection from bad weather: There were low trees with thick, gnarly branches. He served an amazing artichoke soup with gnarly black truffles and Parmesan shaved over the top. II. mainly US slang used to describe something extreme, especially something that is very dangerous and exciting: The waves were what surfers would call "pretty gnarly". Have you ever had a gnarly car incident? III. difficult to deal with because of being very complicated: This is a gnarly, worldwide problem. His relaxed delivery helps him to sail smoothly through the gnarliest of topics. IV. (slang) Excellent; attractive. Usage notes: Note the word's contradictory senses of "good" and "bad". Its meaning varies by community and context, and may be indicated by extra-verbal cues such as tone of voice. The sense of "good" is particularly associated with surf culture, to the point of being somewhat clichéd as in "gnarly wave, dude!". dictionary: Something gnarly is twisted, knotty, or bent, like the gnarly branches of an old apple tree or the gnarly fingers of an elderly person. "Gnarled and knotted" is the original meaning of this adjective, from the Middle English knar, "knob, knot, or mass." Confusingly, though, it's just as commonly used in two other (completely opposite) ways, to mean both "difficult" and "wonderful." In the 1970s, North American surfers adopted gnarly into their slang to describe a huge, dangerous wave. Later it came to mean "awesome," as in: "Listen to this gnarly guitar solo!" gnarled I. rough and twisted, especially because of old age or no protection from bad weather: a gnarled 老树枝桠, 狰狞的 tree trunk. The old man drew a long, gnarled finger across his throat. II. rough and twisted in shape: ancient gnarled trees. gnarled hands. 8. Hackers have released Qantas customer data onto the dark web, realising the fears 成真 of millions of affected Australians who were first alerted to the significant cybersecurity incident in July. come/be a poor second, third, etc. 排后面, 排第二位 to be considered much lower in value, quality, or importance than the one, two, etc. other things or people mentioned: For Jackie, I'm afraid, money is always of first importance and the children come a poor second. sombre = somber [sɒmbər] I. 哀伤的. 悲哀的. If someone is sombre, they are serious or sad. serious, sad, and without humour or entertainment: a sombre atmosphere/voice/face. The funeral was a sombre occasion. I left them in a sombre mood. The pair were in sombre mood. His expression became increasingly sombre. Unfortunately, this happy story finishes on a more sombre note. 'All the same, I wish he'd come back,' Martha said sombrely. She felt more sympathy for Neil's sombrely stolid manner than she ever had before. Our field of dreams engulfed in fire. Your arson's match, your somber eyes. And I'll still see it until I die. You're the loss of my life. air, atmosphere, moment, mood, occasion, scene, tone 肃穆的, 凝重的, 沉重的. The death of Queen Victoria cast a sombre mood over the nation. This is a somber moment in American history, the first time a ex President is indicted. II. Sombre colours and places are dark and dull. ...a worried official in sombre black. It was a beautiful house, but it was dark and sombre and dead. valiant [ˈvæl.i.ənt] 勇往直前的, 奋不顾身的, 虽千万人吾往矣, 决绝的, 义无反顾的, 明知不可为而为之的,  very brave or bravely determined, especially when things are difficult or the situation gives no cause for hope. brave or determined, esp. when conditions are difficult or dangerous. A valiant action is very brave and determined, though it may lead to failure or defeat. Despite valiant efforts by the finance minister, inflation rose to 36%. ...a valiant attempt to keep the business going. He suffered further heart attacks and strokes, all of which he fought valiantly. The team made a valiant effort to take the lead in the third quarter, but they were too far behind. The company has made a valiant effort/attempt in the last two years to make itself more efficient. Oh, what a valiant roar. What a bland goodbye. The coward claimed he was a lion. I'm combing through the braids of lies. "I'll never leave," "Never mind". salient [ˈseɪ.li.ənt] 最根本的, 最基本的 The salient facts about something or qualities of something are the most important things about them: She began to summarize the salient features/points of the proposal. The article presented the salient facts of the dispute clearly and concisely. most noticeable or important: The salient fact about the case is that it involves an American. talk someone under the table 把某人说烦, 滔滔不绝, 喋喋不休, 说个没完 (idiomatic) To bore (someone) with excessive talk. To bore one or waste one's time with excessive, tedious talking. Don't start a conversation with Stu if you want to leave on time tonight—he'll talk you under the table. A: "How was your date?" B: "He spent the whole night talking me under the table about his model train hobby. I nearly fell asleep, like, five times." drink (someone) under the table 喝倒, 把某人喝趴下 to drink more alcohol than (someone else) without becoming extremely drunk, unconscious, etc. To drink more alcohol than (someone) while remaining relatively sober. She had class, but she could drink most of the guys under the table. I've been known to have a few beers, but Lucy can drink me under the table. He tried to drink me under the table. 9. undertow [ˈʌndətəʊ] I. a current of water below the surface and moving in a different direction from any surface current. a strong current flowing underwater in a different direction to the way the water on the surface is moving, especially one that flows away from the land at the same time as a wave hits the beach "I was swept away by the undertow". II. 隐隐的感觉, 暗暗的觉得. 一丝丝的... an implicit quality, emotion, or influence underlying the superficial aspects of something and leaving a particular impression. If there is an undertow of a feeling, that feeling exists in such a weak form that you are hardly aware of it, but it influences the way you think or behave. The existence of an emotional undertow is an aspect of all politics. ...an undertow of sadness. "there's a dark undertow of loss that links the novel with earlier works". first in, best dressed 先到先得 = first in, first served (Australia) Those who arrive or get in sooner will receive a more desirable outcome. To acquire something before someone else. 
The first people to do something will get some kind of reward or advantage. Come on, the first hundred customers today get a free gift! First in, best dressed! Step right up to have your fortune read! First in, best dressed! "First in, best dressed"? Ooh, I'm intrigued—what will they give us? "I hope l get front row seats." "Well its first in best dressed.!" Usage notes: Although similar in spirit to first come, first served (also used in Australia), first in, best dressed suggests that better quality (for example, the best seats in a theatre) will be available to those who get in first, as opposed to prompt service. dastardly [ˈdæs.təd.li] adj old-fashioned or humorous I. evil and cruel. If you describe an action as dastardly, you mean it is wicked and intended to hurt someone. In the manner of a dastard; marked by cowardice; pusillanimous. Treacherous; given to backstabbing. He described the killing as a dastardly act. ...a dastardly attack on the queen. It's the story of a woman who plots a dastardly revenge on her unfaithful lover. "the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on...December 7th" - Franklin D. Roosevelt in response to the attack on Pearl Harbor (1941). II. If you describe a person as dastardly, you mean they are wicked. be given to something 习惯于做某事, 经常做某事, 习惯性的做某事 to do something regularly or as a habit: She was given to staying in bed till lunchtime. She is friendly and given to easy laughter. Neither parent was much given to talking about their feelings. I'm inclined to believe him - he's not given to exaggeration. She was not a woman much given to introspection. be glowing 红扑扑的, 面红耳赤的, 脸蛋红红的 to be hot or red from exercising: When we got back from our walk in the snow, my whole body was glowing. Have you been running? You're glowing! The kids had run all the way and by the time they arrived, their faces were glowing. I've just seen my reflection - my face is glowing! I finished my run half an hour ago and I'm still glowing. 10. temporal I. 非精神层面的. 物质或者是实用性层面的 Temporal powers or matters relate to ordinary institutions and activities rather than to religious or spiritual ones. relating to practical matters or physical things, rather than spiritual ones: The tyranny of the monarchy lies in its spiritual rather than its temporal power: it tyrannizes the imagination. ...their spiritual and temporal leader. He firmly believed the clergy should not become pre-occupied with temporal matters. Fraser's lawyers tried to argue he was "plainly subordinate" in the incident and his role was "limited temporally仅限于操作层面的, 没有主观意识的". II. The temporal parts 太阳穴的 of your brain are the parts near the sides of your head. relating to the temple (= the side of the head behind the eyes) or the temporal bone of the skull beneath the temple: the temporal bone/lobe. ...a small but important area of the temporal lobe of the brain. III. Temporal means relating to time.One is also able to see how specific acts are related to a temporal and spatial context. 时间上, 和时间相关的 The drug reduces spatial and temporal awareness 时空意识, 时间意识, 空间意识. This book will appeal to anyone interested in temporal reference in child language. The two fossils were found in temporally distant strata, so there is no reason to believe the organisms that produced them lived at the same time. Doctors determined that the patient's exposure to the toxin was temporally related to the onset of her symptoms. The present world crisis should in principle be analysed from different temporal perspectives. In the last stages of dementia, persons will be spatially and temporally disoriented. be part and parcel of something 不可避免的部分 to be a feature of something, especially a feature that cannot be avoided. 
If you say that something is part and parcel of something else, you are emphasizing that it is involved or included in it. Payment was part and parcel of carrying on insurance business within the U.K. It's all part and parcel–just a day's work really you know. Being recognized in the street is part and parcel of being a celebrity. Among ardent soccer fans, it's part-and-parcel to have strong feelings against the opposing team, and the need to defend one's turf and club. Many far-right groups reframe this tribalist thinking as their nation versus outsiders. An integral or essential piece; that which must be done or accepted as part of something else. Regular maintenance is part and parcel of owning a car. 11. terrace
[ˈter.əs] I. a flat raised area. II. a flat area of stone or grass outside a house, where people sit and sometimes eat. A terrace is a flat area of stone or grass next to a building where people can sit. Some guests recline in lounge chairs on the sea-facing terrace. III. one of several narrow strips of land that are built like steps on the slope of a hill, used for growing crops on. Terraces are a series of flat areas built like steps on the side of a hill so that crops can be grown there. ...massive terraces 梯田 of maize and millet carved into the mountainside like giant steps. the terraces 看台(grandstand noun. A grandstand is a covered stand with rows of seats for people to sit on at sporting events. a terraced 连成一排的, 连成排的, 连成片的 block of seats, usually under a roof, as at a stadium or racetrack. The site for the proposed grandstand lies vacant. verb. (intransitive) informal, mainly US and Canadian to behave ostentatiously in an attempt to impress onlookers. to perform in a flashy manner in an attempt to impress onlookers. adj. I. intended to impress an onlooker or onlookers. a grandstand catch. II. a terraced block of seats, usually under a roof, commanding the best view at racecourses, football pitches, etc. grandstand tickets. the spectators in a grandstand. grandstand seats. From our office windows on the third floor, we had a grandstand view of the parade. terrace hooligans, terrace fashion. Much of Stone Island's loyalty, however, has historically stemmed from its roots in football culture, where its iconic compass badge has become a symbol of belonging, exclusivity, and identity for fans — particularly among the 1990s British "casuals" (also known as terrace culture), when a significant number of young men attending soccer matches wore the likes of Burberry, Fred Perry, Lacoste, and Ellesse, instead of team-specific clothing, as a way to express social status and tribal identity while eluding police and rival fans. This is arguably the case with Robinson and his penchant for Stone Island. "It's a status symbol, an expensive product, which is the very basis of why people wear it in the first place on the terraces — to show off".  ) sports UK wide steps on which people stand to watch a football match. The terraces at a football ground are wide steps that people can stand on when they are watching a game. You hear insults like that all the time on the terraces. IV. (US row 联排别墅) a row of often small houses joined together along their side walls. A terrace is a row of similar houses joined together by their side walls. ...a terrace of stylish Victorian houses. ...3 Queensborough Terrace. verb. 建梯田 to build narrow strips of land on a slope so that people can plant crops there. 12. "Does the CIA have authority to take out Maduro?" one journalist asked at the White House on Wednesday." Oh, I don't want to answer a question like that. That's a ridiculous question for me to be given," Trump said, demurring (demur [dɪˈmɜr] 抵抗, 抗争, 抗议到 verb. If you demur, you say that you do not agree with something, do not approve of something or will not do something that you have been asked to do. to refuse to do something Hunt asked me to take over the whole operation. At first I demurred. The doctor demurred, but Piercey was insistent. without demur 没有抗争, 没有异议, 没有意见 If you do something without demur, you do it immediately and without making any protest. refusal or disagreement. Both teams accepted the decision without demur. His plan was accepted without demur. demur at (something) To dispute or contest something. I'm sorry, but I demur at the suggestion that I'm not qualified for this job just because I made one mistake! Of course I demur at their decision to fire me—it's completely unfair! I have to demur at the city's incredibly shortsighted decision to end this project. dissent [dɪˈsent] verb. I. to express strong disagreement, especially with what people in authority think or with what most people think. If you dissent, you express disagreement with a decision or opinion, especially one that is supported by most people or by people in authority. Just one of the 10 members dissented. No one dissents from the decision to unify. There are likely to be many dissenting voices. II. ​legal 不同意. 非议. to officially disagree with the judgment made by the other judges working with you on a legal case. a dissenting voice/view/opinion. The second appeal is heard over three days, eventually being dismissed in a 2-1 judgement, with Justice Stephen Estcourt dissenting 持不同意见, saying he would order a retrial. noun. Dissent is strong disagreement or dissatisfaction with a decision or opinion, especially one that is supported by most people or by people in authority. He is the toughest military ruler yet and has responded harshly to any dissent. Political dissent would no longer be tolerated. I made a gesture of dissent. ). "Not really a ridiculous question, but wouldn't it be a ridiculous question for me to answer?" Trump's responses, at times meandering (meander [miˈændər] 兜圈子, 绕弯子的 I. 蜿蜒曲折的. 弯弯曲曲的. a river or road that meanders follows a path with a lot of turns and curves. If a river or road meanders, it has a lot of bends, rather than going in a straight line from one place to another. ...roads that meandered round the edges of the fields. A rural single railway track meanders through the valley. The small river meandered in lazy curves down the centre. We crossed a small iron bridge over a meandering stream. II. 到处浪荡的. to move slowly without a particular direction or purpose in mind. If you meander somewhere, you move slowly and not in a straight line. We meandered through a landscape of mountains, rivers, and vineyards. It's so restful to meander along Irish country roads. meandering Wandering around aimlessly, looking for nothing, in a funk, in another world mentally. He meandered around the lake cottage in a fog. He walked in circles, meandering in a daze, when he heard the news of his sister's death. meander along/through/about: Visitors can meander through 100,000 square feet of exhibit space. meander on to talk or write for a long time, changing subjects or ideas, so that people become bored or confused. If a speech, account, or piece of writing meanders, it seems to move from one topic to another without any order or purpose. His talk appears to meander but by the end focuses attention on the true state of affairs. ...a rich and meandering novel. ), touched on his oft-repeated claims about Venezuela. Since taking office for a second term, Trump has sought to assume wartime powers – using laws like the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 – by alleging that Venezuela had masterminded an "invasion" of migrants and criminal groups onto US soil. He has offered little proof for his assertions, though, and his statements have been undercut by the assessments of his own intelligence community.