用法学习: 1. Activist investors are shareholders who buy a large amount of a company's stock to influence its management, strategy, or operations. Shareholder activism is a form of activism in which shareholders use equity stakes in a corporation to put pressure on its management. A fairly small stake (less than 10% of outstanding shares) may be enough to launch a successful campaign. In comparison, a full takeover bid is a much more costly and difficult undertaking. The goals of shareholder activism range from financial (increase of shareholder value through changes in corporate policy, cost cutting, etc.) to non-financial (disinvestment from particular countries, etc.). Shareholder activists can address self-dealing by corporate insiders, although large stockholders can also engage in self-dealing to themselves at the expense of smaller minority shareholders. Macy's is in deep financial trouble and is working to fend off multiple activist investors – two of which said this week that Macy's would be more valuable if it just shut down its business and sold everything off for parts. 2. "Flee like a bird to your mountain" is a phrase from Psalm 11 of the Bible that means to react to danger with panic and self-preservation, like a bird that flies to a high place. In the psalm, David's advisors tell him to flee, but David chooses to put his faith in God instead. The psalm was written when David and other righteous men were threatened by enemies. David responds to the advice to flee by taking refuge in the Lord, understanding the crisis as a test, and remembering God's judgment. The phrase "flee like a bird to your mountain" is likely a metaphor for a siege, with the bird and mountains imagery having recognizable military associations. Psalm 11 can provide comfort for people struggling with God, and can show how to trust God during a crisis. 3. carping 挑刺的, 找茬的 adj. characterized by fussy or petulant faultfinding; querulous. tending to make petty complaints; fault-finding. continually complaining or finding fault about trivial matters; difficult to please. It's unclear what the final effect of all this carping will be. It can be hard for a new leader to deal with carping from the sidelines. "she has silenced the carping critics with a successful debut tour". A carping person complains all the time about matters that are not important: She shrugged off the carping comments, saying: "We're not bothered". We just ignore the carping critics and get on with the job. noun. continual complaining or finding fault about trivial matters. "he did not enjoy the constant carping of reviewers". in the same vein = in a ... vein = in the same vein = in a similar vein 类似的, 相似的, 类同的 in a particular style of speaking or writing about something. Of similar kind. His comments to the press were in the same carping vein as in previous speeches. Last season he failed to finish a stage race and this season has started in similar vein. The second half began in a similar vein. There was more humour, in much the same vein. in a serious/light-hearted etc vein in the same style of speaking or writing. poems in a lighter vein. These poems along with many others in a similar vein, show that working people were articulating aspects of their experience in verse. She remembered how cruelly those eyes could look at her, turning her blood to vinegar in her veins. in the same breath = in the next breath [disapproval] in the same statement. You can use in the same breath or in the next breath to indicate that someone says two very different or contradictory things, especially when you are criticizing them. He hailed this week's arms agreement but in the same breath expressed suspicion about the motivations of the United States. "she admitted it but said in the same breath that it was of no consequence". vocabulary: When you say two things in the same breath, you say them at the same time. You might apologize for being late and in the same breath criticize the driving directions you were given. In the same breath is a great way to say "at once," or "at the exact same time." In practice, it really means "more or less at the same time," since it's physically impossible to say two things at once. It's fairly common to use this phrase when someone is expressing conflicting opinions or feelings at the same time, as when you beg to be invited to a party and, in the same breath, say you don't really care if you get an invitation or not. mention (someone or something) in the same breath 放一起比较, 混为一谈, 把...和...放在一起作对比 To compare two people or things, especially when one is considered to be superior to the other. compare a person or thing with another much better person or thing: How can you mention the Beatles and the Spice Girls in the same breath? Please don't mention that traitor in the same breath as George Washington. Gina found it incredibly flattering to be mentioned in the same breath as some of her favorite novelists. 4. experiential [ɪkspɪərienʃəl] 基于经历的 adj Experiential means relating to or resulting from experience. experiential learning. Learning has got to be active and experiential. ...the rediscovery of the experiential path of religious truth. LA fire's impact on LA28: Mr Yaroslavsky says it was highly likely major construction efforts would still be underway throughout the city by the time the Olympics began. "People are going to be rebuilding their homes, they're going to be rebuilding their businesses, they're going to be rebuilding their schools and churches and synagogues," he said. "It's not a foregone conclusion 显而易见的, 定死了的结论( a foregone conclusion a result that can be predicted with certainty. a result that is obvious to everyone even before it happens: Democrats so outnumber Republicans here that if you are nominated as a Democrat, it's a foregone conclusion you will be elected. The result of the election seems to be a foregone conclusion. "the result of her trial was a foregone conclusion". You can refer to something that seems certain to happen as a foregone conclusion. It was a foregone conclusion that I would end up in the same business as him. The championship result was almost a foregone conclusion. ) that the Games can't be put on. "On the contrary, my assumption is the Games will go forward but the key is that the private committee has to be rigorous in maximising its revenues and minimising its costs more than ever because the city is going to be preoccupied." Mr Yaroslavsky said the rebuilding effort "won't be resolved" by then, but "hopefully it will be on its way". 5. pervade [pər'veɪd] 充斥 verb If something pervades a place or thing, it is a noticeable feature throughout it. The smell of sawdust and glue pervaded the factory. ...the corruption that pervades every stratum of the country. Throughout the book there is a pervading sense of menace. pervasive [pəˈveɪ.sɪv] (不好的东西)无所不在的, 到处都是的, 遍地都是的 present or noticeable in every part of a thing or place. Something, especially something bad, that is pervasive is present or felt throughout a place or thing. When qualities, characteristics, or smells pervade a place or thing, they spread through it and are present in every part of it: Spring pervaded the air. The film movie is a reflection of the violence that pervades our culture. ...the pervasive influence of the army in national life. She lives with a pervasive sense of guilt. The influence of Freud is pervasive in her books. a pervasive smell of diesel. Reforms are being undermined by the all-pervasive corruption in the country. prevalent [ˈprɛv(ə)lənt] 多见的, 常见的, 普遍可见的, 一抓一大把的, 寻常可见 (rife, commonplace, be two/ten a penny, be a dime a dozen) adj. widespread in a particular area or at a particular time. A condition, practice, or belief that is prevalent is common. This condition is more prevalent in women than in men. The prevalent view is that interest rates will fall. ...the prevalence of asthma in Britain and western Europe. "the social ills prevalent in society today". existing very commonly or happening often. existing very commonly or happening often: These diseases are more prevalent among young children. Trees are dying in areas where acid rain is most prevalent. These diseases are more prevalent among young children. Trees are dying in areas where acid rain is most prevalent. existing commonly or happening frequently: Drought conditions have been prevalent across the area for several years. prevalence He was surprised by the prevalence of middle-aged women among the job seekers. predominant more noticeable or important, or larger in number, than others. being the most noticeable or largest in number, or having the most power or influence: Women have a predominant role as health care professionals. Research forms the predominant part of my job. Dancers have a predominant role in this performance. The predominance of white males in powerful school positions sends a signal to youngsters about who is going to be successful in life. This neighborhood is now predominantly Hispanic. 6. the tail end 最末尾, 最尾端 the final part: I only saw the tail end of the news. She was at the front of the queue but I was at the tail end. stoke (煽风点火 stoke up the fire, fan the flame) verb I. add coal or other solid fuel to (a fire, furnace, boiler, etc.). If you stoke a fire, you add coal or wood to it to keep it burning. to add fuel to a large fire and move the fuel around with a stick so that it burns well and produces a lot of heat: Once the fire had been stoked up, the room began to get warm. She was stoking the stove with sticks of maple. He stoked up the fire 拨火 in the hearth. "he stoked up the barbecue 拨旺". Returning to the camp, he stoked the fire. fig. The flag is a symbol used to stoke the flames of (= increase) national pride. II. 煽风点火. encourage or incite (a strong emotion or tendency). If you stoke something such as a feeling, you cause it to be felt more strongly. to encourage bad ideas or feelings in a lot of people: He's been accused of stoking up 燃气仇恨 racial hatred 鼓动仇恨 in the region. Rumours of an emergency meeting of the finance committee stoked the atmosphere of crisis. These demands are helping to stoke fears of civil war. He has sent his proposals in the hope of stoking up interest for the idea. "his composure had the effect of stoking her anger". III. INFORMAL consume a large quantity of food or drink to give one energy. "Carol was at the coffee machine, stoking up for the day". fan the flames cause an emotion such as anger or hatred to become stronger. to make a dangerous or unpleasant mood or situation worse. If someone or something fans the flames of a situation or feeling, usually a bad one, they make it more intense or extreme in some way. He accused the Tories of 'fanning the flames of extremism'. His speeches fanned the flames of racial tension. "instead of being a calming force you fanned the flames of hostility". 7. massage someone's ego 奉承, 讨好, 拍马屁 to say things that make someone feel important and proud. to praise someone in order to make that person think they are better than they are. to boost someone's sense of self-esteem by flattery. The portrait painter had the power to massage the king's ego or to expose his flaws. dovetail 无缝衔接, 丝滑链接 fit or cause to fit together easily and conveniently. If two things dovetail or if one thing dovetails with another, the two things fit together neatly or have some common characteristics. I'm following up a few things that might dovetail. ...an attempt to look for areas where U.S. interests can dovetail with Japanese concerns. It is important that we dovetail our respective interests. The government should dovetail regional interests with those of the country as a whole. "plan to enable parents to dovetail their career and family commitments". Last survey, 2GB's Ray Hadley dropped to third spot in Mornings, marking the first time he hadn't won his slot for twenty years, his fall from the top neatly dovetailing with the announcement of his retirement. 8. on equal terms 同等条件下 = on the same terms having the same rights, treatment, etc.: All companies will compete for the government contract on equal terms. It's a sport in which men, women, the young, and the old all compete on equal terms. Dealers are permitted to participate on equal terms. Regrettably, countries do not trade on the same terms. This is a place where everyone can meet on equal terms. This gives shareholders the chance to compete on the same terms. on easy terms If you buy something on easy terms, you pay for it over a period of time. to pay for something over time, or to borrow money at a low interest rate. You might buy a TV on easy terms by paying a small amount each week. Loans were given on easy terms, with very low interest charges and up to 50 years to repay. Huge numbers of modest-sized houses were quickly built and offered for sale on easy terms. At the time, debt was readily available on easy terms. These homes were sold on easy terms. Oil was provided to these countries on easy terms. on easy street 好过, 生活富足, 富有 rich Their help is not going to put us on easy street. This is not a subsidy to farmers, this does not put the farmers on easy street. They have lived on easy street. 9. hinky 紧张不安的, 焦虑不安的 adj US informal I. nervous or worried: I've been feeling hinky all day, like something bad is about to happen. Your wedding is next Saturday, so I hope you're not still hinky about getting married. II. strange and making you feel that something is wrong, dishonest, or illegal: He was acting hinky and kept looking over his shoulder like he expected someone to barge into the room. I would back out of the deal the moment you suspect anything hinky about the other party. That's a choice A commonly used term in the lgbtq+ community making fun of dumb heteros who think being gay is a choice. Usually used when someone does something that they couldn't control. You seriously bumped into him?! That's a choice! The phrase "that's a choice" can be used sarcastically to imply that someone made a poor or questionable decision. It suggests that there were better options available, and the person deliberately selected a less desirable one. be minded to do something 想着做某事, 想做某事 formal to want or intend to do something. "Be minded" means to be inclined or disposed to do something, or to have a mind of a particular kind or be concerned with a specific thing. For example, "I am not minded to answer any questions". The Home Office said at that time that it was minded to reject his application for political asylum. If the Americans were so minded then they could take sanctions against them. have half a mind/a good mind to do something 真想做某事, 真打算做某事 to think that you might do something, often because something has annoyed you: I have a good mind to go without him if he's going to be such an idiot! 10. a long way I. a great distance Their house is a long way (away) from here. She went a long way to see him. II. often used figuratively in various phrases. These changes will go a long way toward/towards making the system more efficient. We've done a lot of work already, but we have a long way to go 很远的路要走. A long way off something is a great distance away or out of the way: "Their house is a long way (away) from here". "Those birds are swimming a long way off shore". can see/spot/tell something a mile off/away informal if you can see something a mile off, it is very easy to notice You can tell a mile off that he likes you. If you can see or tell something a mile off, you notice it easily and quickly. If you say that you can see or recognize something a mile off, you are emphasizing that it is very obvious and easy to recognize. You can spot undercover cops a mile off. She's lying - you can tell it a mile off. "Color me intrigued" is an idiom that expresses interest or curiosity in something. It's a casual way to say that you're interested in learning more about something. "Intrigued" means to interest someone a lot, especially by being unusual, mysterious, or strange. For example, "The plan intrigues me, but I wonder if it will work". color me ... (followed by an adjective describing an emotion) I am (adjective). Well, color me surprised! I wasn't expecting you here. Oh, phew. Color me relieved. color me surprised/confused/embarrassed etc American English spoken informal used to say that you are very surprised, confused etc by something. 'Color me amazed!' says prize-winner Angela Harris. 11. coddle (mollycoddle) 保护, 娇惯 verb I. treat (someone) in an indulgent or overprotective way. "I was coddled and cosseted". II. cook (an egg) in water below boiling point. "you may have your eggs scrambled, poached, coddled, or boiled". coddle noun. a stew of meat and vegetables, typically bacon, sausages, potatoes, and onions. "Dublin coddle is best served with a pint of Guinness on the side, and lots of Irish soda bread to mop up the gravy". cosseted [ˈkɒs.ɪt] 惯着, 宠着, 保护着 adjective disapproving cared for and protected in an overindulgent way; pampered. pampered; spoilt. to give a lot of attention to making someone comfortable and to protecting them from anything unpleasant. Children sometimes need to be cosseted.
The country has been cosseted (= too protected) by the government for so
long that people have forgotten how to take responsibility for
themselves. I don't want to be treated like a cosseted movie queen. "the cosseted daughter of an upper-class New England family". commonality 共同点, 共通点 I. the state of sharing features or attributes. the fact of sharing interests, experiences, or other characteristics with someone or something: They found a commonality in discussing their experiences. There are some commonalities between the different stories. "the explanations show a high degree of commonality in their reasoning". What's the commonality there? II. another term for commonalty. "noble intent lifts you as hero above the commonality". a head of steam the force produced by a large amount of steam in a closed space. a situation in which a person or an activity starts to become very active or successful. a lot of support for something such as a plan or cause. A significant amount of energy, vigour or momentum, sufficient to make progress or succeed in a task. While most senior Conservative MPs still believe an election next year is more likely, there's an increasing head of steam behind going to the polls this November. build up a head of steam They're really beginning to build up a head of steam for their campaign. pernicious [pəˈnɪʃ.əs] having a very harmful effect or influence. If you describe something as pernicious, you mean that it is very harmful. The cuts in government funding have had a pernicious effect on local health services. Parents are blaming not only peer pressure but also the pernicious influence of the internet. There is a pernicious culture of excellence: everything has to be not merely good but the best. pugnacious [pʌɡˈneɪ.ʃəs] 好斗的, 好战的 wanting to start an argument or fight, or expressing an argument or opinion very forcefully. Someone who is pugnacious is always ready to quarrel or start a fight. ...the pugnacious little Scouse striker who terrorised defences across the North West in a prolific playing career. I found him pugnacious and arrogant. vocabulary: Pugnacious means ready for a fight. If you're pugnacious, you might find it hard to make friends. On the other hand, you might be a very successful professional boxer one day. Your brother is a pugnacious thug — always ready to use his fists to settle arguments, and he has the strength to do so. That's the literal sense of pugnacious. You can use pugnacious figuratively, too. When two candidates face off in a debate during a close election, one or the other might be pugnacious. He looks to pick a fight with his opponent and is willing to say almost anything, no matter how outrageous, to make his opponent look bad. perfunctory 礼貌性的, 习惯性的,不由衷的, 草草地 [pəˈfʌŋk.tər.i] done quickly, without taking care or interest. done quickly and without showing that you care or have much interest. A perfunctory action is done quickly and carelessly, and shows a lack of interest in what you are doing. She gave the list only a perfunctory glance. ...a perfunctory handshake. Our interest was purely perfunctory. She asked a few perfunctory questions about my family and then ended the conversation. His smile was perfunctory. confound I. to confuse and very much surprise someone, so that they are unable to explain or deal with a situation: confound someone by doing something A man has confounded doctors by recovering after he was officially declared dead. confound someone with something The singer confounded her critics with a remarkable follow-up album. confound expectations The sector recorded another month of strong growth, confounding expectations of a slowdown. II. 复杂化. to affect the result of a scientific experiment in a way that makes it less clear that one thing causes another: Variables such as temperature and rainfall can confound the analysis. We were able to eliminate two factors that can confound experiments involving wild birds. With any model, findings may be confounded by unobserved influences. 12. The European Union is grappling with ( I. to hold onto someone and fight with them: Two officers grappled with the gunman. II. to try to deal with or understand a difficult problem or subject: Today, many Americans are still grappling with the issue of race. The Government has to grapple with the problem of unemployment. Molly's upstairs grappling with her maths homework. ) how to respond to posts by Musk on his social media site X in recent weeks that have castigated ( 狠批, 痛批 If you castigate someone or something, you speak to them angrily or criticize them severely. to criticize someone or something severely: Health inspectors castigated the kitchen staff for poor standards of cleanliness. Marx never lost an opportunity to castigate colonialism. She castigated him for having no intellectual interests. ...Bradley's public castigation of the police chief. ) elected leaders and generated consternation ( Consternation is a feeling of anxiety or fear. a feeling of worry, shock, or confusion. a feeling of strong annoyance and anger, usually because of something bad that you cannot change or that is completely unexpected: His decision caused consternation in the art photography community. Sam stared at him in consternation. fill someone with consternation The prospect of so much work filled him with consternation. to someone's consternation To his consternation, when he got to the airport he found he'd forgotten his passport.) across Europe. fraught I. If a situation or action is fraught with problems or risks, it is filled with them. The earliest operations employing this technique were fraught with dangers. II. If you say that a situation or action is fraught, you mean that it is worrying or difficult. It has been a somewhat fraught day. causing or having extreme worry or anxiety: This is one of the most fraught weekends of the year for the security forces. The atmosphere in the office is rather fraught. fraught with: full of unpleasant things such as problems or dangers: fraught with difficulties The negotiations have been fraught with difficulties right from the start. "In the fraught days" refers to a period of time that was full of problems, risks, or anxiety. The word "fraught" means something is full of something bad or unwanted, or that it is causing or having a lot of emotional stress or worry. Drawing on F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Rich Boy, Shields offered a stinging literary parallel to Musk's behaviour, suggesting that his wealth and privilege have left him out of touch with the real world: "They possess and enjoy early, and it does something to them, makes them soft where we are hard, and cynical where we are trustful." Shields concluded with a warning: "In these fraught days 多事之秋, there is no place in US politics for such softness and cynicism." 13. soluble [ˈsɒl.jə.bəl] 可溶解的 I. A substance that is soluble will dissolve in a liquid. able to be dissolved to form a solution. able to be dissolved when mixed with a liquid: soluble aspirins. Uranium is soluble in sea water. Sugar is soluble in water. If something is water-soluble or fat-soluble, it will dissolve in water or in fat. The red dye on the leather is water-soluble 水溶性的. ...fat-soluble vitamins. godspeed The term Godspeed is sometimes used in order to wish someone success and safety, especially if they are about to go on a long and dangerous journey. used to wish someone good luck when they are setting out on a journey: "Farewell and godspeed," the general said, ending his speech, and then it was time to go. I know you will join me in wishing them Godspeed. "Godspeed" is a phrase used to express well wishes, such as "good luck" or "have a safe journey". It's often used when someone is about to start a new venture or embark on a challenging endeavor. For example, you might say "Godspeed" to someone who is setting out on a journey. Friday's half-hour hearing, largely a formality 走走形式 after Merchan previewed the sentence he intended to impose, lacked the invective that had come to characterize their relationship. "I was treated very, very unfairly, and I thank you very much," Trump said. In the end Merchan said: "Sir, I wish you Godspeed as you assume your second term in office." invective [ɪnvektɪv] 骂人话 Invective is rude and unpleasant things that people shout at people they hate or are angry with. criticism that is very forceful, unkind, and often rude: A stream of invective from some sectors of the press continues to assail the government. A woman had hurled racist invective at the family. Crowley maintained a stream of invective and abuse against Waite. 14. preference I. the fact that you like something or someone more than another thing or person: Her preference is for comfortable rather than stylish clothes. preference for I have a preference for sweet food over spicy. personal preference Choosing furniture is largely a matter of personal preference. sexual preference It would be wrong to discriminate against a candidate because of their sexual preference (= the sex of the people they are sexually attracted to). II. an advantage that is given to a person or a group of people: preference to We give preference to those who have worked with us for a long time. Special preferences were offered initially to encourage investment. III. used to describe a company's shares that have the right to fixed
dividends (= payments from profits) before the dividends on its ordinary
shares are calculated and paid in a particular period, or in periods
when dividends on these shares are not paid at all: Nokia is to increase its capital with about $100 million of new preference stock. in preference to something 而不是... If you choose one thing in preference to another thing, you choose it because you like or want it more than the other thing: He
studied chemistry in preference to physics at university. He would
always use ten words in preference to two. If you forbid children to eat
certain foods, they will often want them in preference to others. He
arranged to go to Perth in preference to staying in Canberra. Their current strategy seems to be to seek peace in preference to military confrontation. instead of (something or someone): rather than (something or someone). an advantage or better treatment that is given to a person or a group of people: give preference to sb/sth This small-business program gives preference to minority- and women-owned companies. They chose her in preference to me. Qantas
will make Tokyo's Haneda Airport its primary base in the Japanese
capital, in preference to the more distant Narita Airport, with daily
flights from Melbourne and Brisbane shifting from Tokyo Narita to the
more ‘downtown’ Tokyo Haneda this year. 15. blowhard 吹牛皮, 说大话的人, 爱吹嘘的人 [US, informal, disapproval] a boastful or pompous person. If you describe someone as a blowhard, you mean that they express their opinions very forcefully, and usually in a boastful way. He doesn't like to be a blowhard about what he's developed. "the segregationist blowhards who would dominate the politics of my state for a generation". vintage adj I. produced in the past, and typical of the period in which it was made: a vintage plane. a vintage comic book. II. used to describe clothing, jewellery, etc. that is not new, especially when it is a good example of a style from the past: She loves buying vintage clothing. vintage cars. The actress turned up at the Oscars in a classic vintage dress. Vintage cars or aeroplanes are old but are admired because they are considered to be the best of their kind. The museum will have a permanent exhibition of 60 vintage cars. III. of high quality and lasting value, or showing the best and most typical characteristics of a particular type of thing. You can use vintage to describe something which is the best and most typical of its kind. At the press conference, James is on vintage form. This is vintage comedy at its best. This film is vintage Disney. It has not been a vintage year for the club (= it has not been very successful). His performance was not vintage, but it was capable enough. He battled on bravely because he didn't want to let fans down, and had the packed crowd on their feet with some vintage efforts in the third set. After looking down and out, he fought to the very end before crashing to the 7-6 (7-3), 6-3, 7-6 (7-2) loss. IV. Vintage wine is of high quality and was made in a particular year and can be kept for several years in order to improve it: vintage champagne/port/claret. The vintage of a good quality wine is the year and place that it was made before being stored to improve it. You can also use vintage to refer to the wine that was made in a certain year. ... the Spanish vintage of 2008. This wine is from one of the two best vintages of the decade in this region. The heatwave-affected 2003 vintage gave exceptionally ripe flavours. down and out 穷困潦倒 I. (of a person) without money, a job, or a place to live; destitute. "a novel about being down and out in London". II. (of a boxer) knocked down and unable to continue fighting. (of a competitor) facing certain defeat. "behind, away from home, and down to 14 men, Kelso ought to have been down and out, but Jeffrey rallied his men". noun. a person without money, a job, or a place to live. "a hostel for down-and-outs". 16. slimming 瘦身的, 显瘦 UK informal I. Slimming food is food that you can eat without getting fat: Have a salad - that's slimming. II. making you look thinner: Black is very slimming. noun. the act of trying to become thinner by eating less food: With all the diet-food and books on the market, slimming is big business these days. slimming aids/clubs/magazines. Raj: Uh, Lucy's coming over. I need some advice. Howard: However long you think the foreplay should be, triple it. Raj: Just tell me which one you think is more manly. This hockey jersey or this football jersey. Howard: I don't know. Go with hockey. Raj: Good, black is more slimming. 17. As Turkey looks to bolster ( I. If you bolster something such as someone's confidence or courage, you increase it. More money is needed to bolster the industry. She tried to bolster my confidence/morale (= encourage me and make me feel stronger) by telling me that I had a special talent. They need to do something to bolster their image. Hopes of an early cut in interest rates bolstered confidence. ...a number of measures intended to bolster morale. More money is needed to bolster the industry. She tried to bolster my confidence/morale (= encourage me and make me feel stronger) by telling me that I had a special talent. They need to do something to bolster their image. II. If someone tries to bolster their position in a situation, they try to strengthen it. Britain is free to adopt policies to bolster its economy. ...an aid programme to bolster up their troubled economy. noun. A bolster is a firm pillow shaped like a long tube which is sometimes put across a bed under the ordinary pillows. vocabulary: When you cheer up a friend who's feeling down, you bolster them. To bolster is to offer support or strengthen. A bolster 垫背 is also the name of a long pillow you might use to make your back feel better. And the two uses are not dissimilar. When you bolster your friends, you support them and prop them up, just like the pillow does for your back. When you're trying to bolster your credibility, you find people and/or documents that support you or your view. Bolster efforts to learn this word! ) its economy in a bid to boost ( I. If one thing boosts another, it causes it to increase, improve, or be more successful. It wants the government to take action to boost the economy. The move is designed to boost sales during the peak booking months of January and February. It would get the economy going and give us the boost that we need. The proposal received a boost on Sunday when The New York Times endorsed it in a leading article. II. If something boosts your confidence or morale, it improves it. We need a big win to boost our confidence. Do what you can to give her confidence and boost her morale. It did give me a boost to win such a big event. III. to give someone a booster vaccine 加强针 (= a small amount of a substance put into a person's body to protect them from illness, that increases the effect of the same substance that was given some time before): The government mounted a public health campaign urging everyone to get boosted before the winter flu season. More than half of over 18s in the country have now been boosted against Covid. noun. I. an occasion when something is improved or increased. encouragement, improvement, or help: It did give me a boost to win such a big event. The lowering of interest rates will give a much-needed boost to the economy. Passing my driving test was such a boost to my confidence. a boost to morale. II. an upward thrust or push. a push from below that lifts a person or thing: I need a boost to get over the wall. give me a boost 助推, 推一把 over this wall. III. an increase or rise. a boost in salary. IV. a publicity campaign; promotion. V. the amount by which the induction pressure of a supercharged internal-combustion engine exceeds that of the ambient pressure. vocabulary: Think of the word boost as meaning "help up." Maybe you need a boost getting over a fence (hmm — are you sneaking in or sneaking out?), or maybe you are feeling low and need to boost your spirits — chocolate, anyone? Sometimes words appear that really don't have any clear origins. Boost is one of those words, but it's a fun word, and it's thought that maybe it has some connection to boose, a Scots dialect word that carries the idea of a push. A slang meaning of the word is to sneakily steal, like shoplifting. You gave your cousin a boost into the window, not knowing he was planning on boosting 偷窃, 偷盗, 顺手牵羊 some sneakers. ) footfall, Georgia, which also borders Russia and Azerbaijan, is implementing similar schemes in a bid to grow its reputation as a tourist hotspot too. 18. delectableness = delectability noun the quality of being highly enjoyable, esp pleasing to the taste; delightfulness. delectable [dɪlektəbəl] I. 秀色可餐的. If you describe something, especially food or drink, as delectable, you mean that it is very pleasant. ...delectable desserts, cakes and puddings. II. 赏心悦目的. If you describe someone as delectable, you think that they are very attractive. He didn't seem to notice the delectable Miss Campbell. vocabulary: Something delectable is extremely delicious or appealing. Nothing tastes better at the end of a meal than an array of delectable desserts and pastries! Don't let the de- at the beginning of delectable fool you. There is nothing negative about this word. Related to delicious through the Latin word for delight, if something is delectable, it is very tasty! Maybe your mom has promised you a delectable dinner of lobster and steak for your birthday meal? sample: Potatoes (one of the carb-iest and most delectable vegetables of them all) have long been chastised, and for no good reason. Call me a potato advocate if you will, but they contain a wealth of micronutrients, are low in calories (a medium-sized one contains just 110 calories), and due to their high amount of carbohydrates and a type of fibre called resistant starch (which takes longer to digest), they are actually really helpful in keeping you satiated for longer. "Impose someone on someone 强加于人" means to force someone to accept or put up with someone else's company, even if they may not want to. For example, "I didn't want to impose myself on my married friends". impose on sb 麻烦别人 to ask or expect someone to do something that may give them extra work or trouble: I hate to impose on you, but could I stay the night? 19. subject adjective I. To be subject to something 受影响 means to be affected by it or to be likely to be affected by it. Prices may be subject to alteration. Foreign wine was subject to an import tax. ...a disorder in which the person's mood is subject to wild swings from mania to depression. II. If someone is subject to a particular set of rules or laws 受制约, they have to obey those rules or laws. The tribunal is unique because Mr Jones is not subject to the normal police discipline code. ...arguing that as a sovereign state it could not be subject to another country's laws. subject to sth 受约于, 受限于, If an event will take place subject to a condition, it will take place only if that thing happens. They had agreed to a summit, subject to 以...为先决条件 certain conditions. III. Subject peoples and countries 从属国, 属民 are ruled or controlled by the government of another country. The subject peoples of her empire were anxious for their own independence. ...colonies and other subject territories. verb. If you subject someone to something unpleasant, you make them experience it. They subjected me 让遭受 to endless threats to sabotage my business. Innocent civilians are being arrested and subjected to inhumane treatment. noun. I. 臣民. The people who live in or belong to a particular country, usually one ruled by a monarch, are the subjects of that monarch or country. ...his subjects regarded him as a great and wise monarch. Roughly half of them are British subjects. to change the subject When someone involved in a conversation changes the subject, they start talking about something else, often because the previous subject was embarrassing. to start talking about a different subject: I'd tried to explain the situation, but he just changed the subject. My advice is to listen politely before tactfully changing the subject. We kept trying to change the subject back to what we wanted to talk about. I tried to ask about the money, but Jake quickly changed the subject. She keeps trying to change the subject from the economy. He tried to change the subject, but she wasn't to be put off. subjectable Capable of being subjected (to something). capable of being made subject. 20. Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) ( Meta, one of the world’s largest companies by market cap and brand value, announced on the company's Workplace internal communications forum that management would "share some changes we're making to our hiring, development, and procurement practices." The announcement continued, speaking in very clear terms about the name DEI: "The term 'DEI' has also become charged, in part because it is understood by some as a practice that suggests preferential treatment of some groups over others.? ) are organizational frameworks which seek to promote the fair treatment and full participation of all people, particularly groups who have historically been underrepresented or subject to discrimination on the basis of identity or disability. These three notions (diversity, equity, and inclusion) together represent "three closely linked values" which organizations seek to institutionalize through DEI frameworks. Diversity refers to the presence of variety within the organizational workforce, such as in identity and identity politics. It includes gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, age, culture, class, religion, or opinion. Equity refers to concepts of fairness and justice, such as fair compensation and substantive equality. More specifically, equity usually also includes a focus on societal disparities and allocating resources and "decision making authority to groups that have historically been disadvantaged", and taking "into consideration a person's unique circumstances, adjusting treatment accordingly so that the end result is equal." Finally, inclusion refers to creating an organizational culture that creates an experience where "all employees feel their voices will be heard", and a sense of belonging and integration.
on the table If a plan or suggestion has been put/laid on the table, it has been made available for people to hear, read, or discuss. By selling the wrong stock, Apple, Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway has left over $35 billion on the table this year. Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway clearly sold the wrong stock this year. By selling some 600 million shares of Apple, Buffett's company has left over $35 billion on the table so far in 2024. For some perspective, HP Inc. in its entirety is currently worth $31 billion. There's no two ways about it: Leaving over $35 billion on the table in a single year on a single stock is simply legendarily bad investing. If Buffett's calling these nonsensical, losing shots, maybe it's time he wasn't. If Buffett's no longer making the calls, that doesn't bode well for Berkshire Hathaway's future. Leave something on the table 留着不用, 浪费不用, 浪费掉, 没有使用, 留置不用 To "leave something on the table" is to not take advantage of something that might have been available. Today's expression is to leave something on the table. Americans, collectively, leave millions of vacation days on the table. In fact, I'm embarrassed to say that last year, even I left about five vacation days on the table, and I love my vacation. When you leave something on the table, you fail to claim it for yourself. It might have been available to you had you taken it, had you claimed it, but because you didn't you missed out. In my case, I was being offered about 25 vacation days per year, but I only actually took 20. I was offered 25, it was there for me to take, but I only took 20, so I left five days on the table. If you go into a negotiation with another party, you want to get as much advantage for yourself as possible. Otherwise, you'll leave something on the table, and you don't want to do that. So let's think about a few times when you might be in a negotiation. Imagine you get a new job and it's time to talk about how much you'll get paid by your new employer. The new company has an amount that it's willing to pay you, but of course they don't tell you that. They make an offer, which is usually—at least in many jobs in the US—a little bit less than the maximum they're willing to pay. Pretend an employer offers you a salary of $7,000 per month, but they're secretly willing to pay you a maximum of $8,000 per month. If you accept the $7,000 offer right away, you're leaving money on the table. If you negotiate a little bit, you might be able to get more—who knows, maybe even the full $8,000. Again, here in the US, studies generally show that women are more reluctant than men to negotiate their salaries, so women tend to leave money on the table for their reluctance to negotiate. When you go into a negotiation, your objective is not to leave anything on the table. If you ever have any sales training, then you know that sooner or later you have to ask for the sale. You have to ask the customer to buy; you can't just assume the customer will approach you first. In sales, you don't want to be too pushy , but if you don't ask the customer to buy, you'll be leaving some sales on the table. If you're going to college and you don't at least try to get a scholarship , then you might be leaving some money on the table. If you're selling a house, you want to make sure the house is clean and all the small repairs are done. If you don't, then you'll wind up leaving some money on the table because buyers will pay less for your house. Sometimes in negotiations, as a sign of good faith , you want to leave a little something on the table. In these cases, you may decide not to quite take everything you might get. And by doing so, you build goodwill with the other party. You may consciously decide to leave a little something on the table, just so you’re not perceived as trying to take advantage.
连着: 1. 5 days in a row. 2. succession I. a number of similar events or people that happen, exist, etc. after each other: succession of A succession of scandals and revelations has undermined the government over the past year. Life was just an endless succession of parties and dinners. in succession happening one after another: in rapid succession She had her first three children in rapid succession. II. a process in which someone automatically takes an official position or job after someone else: succession to His divorce will not prevent the Prince of Wales's succession to the throne. line of succession Who comes after the vice-president in the presidential line of succession? 3. on end 不间断的, 连续的. 不停歇的
continuously. When something happens for hours, days, weeks, or years
on end, it happens continuously and without stopping for the amount of
time that is mentioned. He
is a wonderful companion and we can talk for hours on end. I spend days
on end in this studio. She practices the violin for hours on end.
