用法学习: 1. An "exercise in vanity (徒劳无功, 做无用功, 做无谓的努力, 仅为面子, 哗众取宠)" is a futile, pointless, or self-indulgent activity done purely to show off, boost one's ego, or make a good impression, with no real, lasting, or meaningful result. Depending on the context, the phrase can be used in two main ways: The Idiomatic Expression (Metaphorical Meaning) - In general speech and writing, an "exercise in vanity" describes an endeavor that is an empty waste of time.You are going through the motions of doing something, not to achieve a practical goal, solve a problem, or produce value, but simply to feed your own pride or attract praise. For example, writing a 500-page autobiography when you are twenty-five years old and have done nothing noteworthy might be described as a complete exercise in vanity. Fitness and Training Context (Literal Meaning) - In sports and gym culture, the phrase or related terms (like vanity exercises or vanity lifts) refer to workouts chosen strictly for how your body looks rather than how it performs. Vanity Exercises: Isolated movements targeting visible muscles—such as bicep curls, calf raises, or lateral raises—meant to sculpt a look (like beach muscles) rather than build deep functional strength, balance, or athletic performance. The Debate: While some trainers note that training for appearance provides great initial motivation, relying only on vanity work can lead to muscle imbalances or poor movement mechanics over time if it completely ignores core stability and compound functional movements. You can read more about balancing aesthetics and function via Functional Patterns. fool's errand 骗傻小子的, 玩傻小子的, 欺负傻小子的, 骗傻子的(be chasing your tail 瞎忙, 白忙一场, 徒劳无功 to be busy doing a lot of things but achieving very little. to spend a lot of time and energy doing something, but achieving nothing. It feels great to be making some progress on this project at last, and not just chasing my own tail. ) an effort that is unlikely to be successful: It's a fool's errand trying to get Lena to join in anything. In July 2026, Stevens denied that President Donald Trump's actions in Iran were due to Israel's influence, saying, "Donald Trump is gonna do what Donald Trump does. And I think it's a fool's run to place blame on him supposedly being dictated by others. What is clear is that Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister of Israel, have failed in the goal of long-term peace. They have both failed." a fool's game a needless or profitless endeavor. An endeavor or activity that is a futile waste of one's time, energy, or resources. Don't you know that playing the lottery is a fool's game? Just a big waste of money if you ask me. It's important to plan ahead, but basing your decisions now on how your life might look in five years is a fool's game. I know you're worried about your kids, but trying to protect them from every little thing is a fool's game. "No, no. You forced me into visiting him last year, and promised, if I went to see him, he should marry one of my daughters. But it ended in nothing, and I will not be sent on a fool's errand again." note: A fool's errand is a type of practical joke where a newcomer to a group, typically in a workplace context, is given an impossible or nonsensical task by older or more experienced members of the group. More generally, a fool's errand is a task almost certain to fail. Many such errands require the victim to travel some distance and request an impossible object by name; the prank will be widely known within the peer group as an in-joke, and the person they ask for the object will play along, often by sending the victim on to make the same request elsewhere. The errand is an example of a hazing ritual through which a newcomer gains acceptance into a group. The prank's recurrence and similarity in different cultures reflect an exploitation of a universal psychological adaptation for communication under information asymmetry, used by experts to assert a dominance hierarchy. 2. decacorn [ˈdek.ə.kɔːn] 十角兽 business, finance & economics specialized a start-up (= new business) whose value is considered to be over $10 billion. hectocorn [ˈhek.tə.kɔːn] (百角兽) a start-up (= a new business) whose value is considered to be over $100 billion: The company looked set to become the first hectocorn, a massive business by any standards, public or private. unicorn 独角兽 I. a start-up (= new business) whose value is considered to be over $1 billion. II. someone or something that is difficult or impossible to find: The good $15 Pinot Noir is the unicorn of the California wine industry - highly sought after, but no one is actually sure whether it exists or not. adj. consisting of a combination of a number of colours, typically including purple, pink, white, light blue and light green, that are used together to decorate food, clothing, etc. : The easiest way to get that unicorn effect is through soft pastel colours like pinks, greens, and blues. We offer seven different hanging party decorations in unicorn colours. 3. run out the clock = run down the clock 暗度晚年, 等死, 消磨余生, 消磨时间, 消耗时间 I. to use all the time that is still available. He was supposed to fall on the ball, allowing San Jose to run out the clock. The president's strategy is to run the clock down until the elections, then win control of Congress. He was supposed to fall on the ball, allowing San Jose to run out the clock. The quarterback could run out the clock because the defence had no timeouts left. II. to maintain control of the ball in the closing minutes of a game. wiki: In sports strategy, running out the clock, also known as running down the clock, stonewalling, killing the clock, chewing the clock, milking the clock, stalling, eating clock or time-wasting (or timewasting), is the practice of a winning team allowing the clock to expire through a series of preselected plays, either to preserve a lead or hasten the end of a one-sided contest. Such measures expend time but do not otherwise have a tactical purpose. This is usually done by a team that is winning by a slim margin (or, occasionally, tied) near the end of a game, in order to reduce the time available for the opposing team to score. Generally, it is the opposite strategy of running up the score. The process of running out the clock generally involves low-risk, low-event play, intending to minimize the ability of the other team to interfere or counter. As this produces unexciting sport for spectators, many rulebooks attempt to counteract this; some include a time limit for completing a play, such as a play clock or shot clock. Approaches to running out the clock differ, particularly between sports. In some cases it is considered a normal aspect of the game, whereas in others it is considered unsporting 不符合体育精神的. The term "time-wasting" has pejorative implications and is generally reserved for varieties of football. In other timed sports, including basketball, gridiron football, and hockey, the more neutral term "running out the clock" is more commonly used. Running up the score (or "piling on") is a sports strategy that occurs when a winning team continues to play in such a way as to score additional points after the outcome of the game is beyond doubt. Alternatives might include pulling out most of the team's first-string players, or calling plays designed to run out the clock (e.g., in American football, kneeling or running the ball up the middle). Mercy rules are used in some amateur sports, which end the game when the score differential reaches a certain point. 4. exit stage left 溜走, 偷偷提出, 悄然离场, 悄然退场, noun. verb. I. the part of the stage to the left of the actors when they are facing the people watching the performance. An orderly and uneventful departure, timed so as not to detract or distract. To exit or disappear in a quiet, non-dramatic fashion, making way for more interesting events. A timely and inconspicuous exit or departure, done so as not to make a scene or attract attention to oneself. an idiom for leaving a room, conversation, or sticky situation in a quiet, quick, or dramatic fashion. When the rally was interrupted by protesters, the senatorial candidate made a quick exit stage left to avoid undue media attention. Governor Peters, you can't just make an exit stage left—your constituents demand answers! We need to make an exit stage left before these reporters see us and start asking us questions. The CEO decided to exit stage left from the company before his embezzlements became too noticeable. I suggest you exit stage left before I lose my temper. We need to exit stage left before these reporters see us and start asking us questions. Stevens accepts that her political career may be over, telling The Free Press, "I'm exiting stage left." For now, she has been effectively banished from the Michigan Democratic Party, her name erased from its website, and fellow lawmakers in Washington are discussing whether she should be booted from the House Democratic caucus for her final months in office. II. Leave the scene, and don't make a fuss. Etymology: From the direction in theatrical scripts: "Exit stage left", marking the disappearance of a character from the stage in the normal manner. 5. price taker 没有定价话语权的人, 萧规曹随的, 跟着别人走的, 随大流的, 没有定价权的人 a company, buyer, or investor who is not able to influence the price of a product or investment and has to follow what other companies, etc. are doing: The price taker sells every unit at the price that is determined by the market. What does the RBA expect us to do as costs are out of our control — we are all price takers for fuel, insurance, and food. price leader 有价格主导权的公司 I. a company that is the first to decide on a price for a particular product or service, which is then copied by other companies selling similar products or services: A price leader will emerge and set the general industry price for a product. II. a product that is priced lower than usual to attract customers to a store or website: Price leaders are often sold below the cost price. 6. misshape I. 走形. 变形. to make something become an unusual shape, or the wrong shape. Don't rub delicate garments or wring them out - you might damage the fabric or misshape the linings. He suggested using papaya leaves to tenderize the steak without mis-shaping it. II. 往坏的方面影响, 不良影响. to influence something, especially people's beliefs, ideas, or character, in a way that is not correct or good: These were the moments that shaped and misshaped him. The rumours were effective in mis-shaping local people's opinions. There were concerns that college admissions tests were misshaping secondary education. III. mainly UK something, especially a piece of food, that is the wrong shape: My dad worked at the chocolate factory and was always bringing home bags of misshapes 外形不佳的产品, 外形不佳的食物. codger [ˈkɒdʒ.ər] Old codger is a disrespectful way of referring to an old man. an old man, especially one who is strange or humorous in some way: old codger A couple of old codgers were sitting on the park bench, grumbling about the children. wily [ˈwaɪ.li] 老道的, 精干的 (of a person) intelligent, having a very good understanding of situations, possibilities, and people, and often willing to use tricks to achieve an aim. quick to think of things, having a very good understanding of situations and possibilities, and often willing to use tricks to achieve an aim: a wily politician. a wily hunter. At the helm of Slow Horses is another big name playing another wily codger: Gary Oldman as Jackson Lamb, the boss of Slough House. That's the run-down London building, imagined by Mick Herron in the novels the series is based on, to which MI5 spies are sent when they've screwed up too badly to continue their regular duties, but not quite badly enough to be fired outright. Instead, they linger in professional purgatory, performing tedious admin tasks and dodgy off-the-books jobs that have a tendency to lead them into grave peril. But the worst thing about Slough House is having to work for Lamb. 7. inept [ɪˈnept] 无能的, 笨拙的 not skilled or effective: inept at As a child he was awkward and inept at sport. inept handling He was criticized for his inept handling of the situation. socially inept Dick was socially inept and uncomfortable in the presence of women. politically inept He was called out in the press for making a politically inept comment about women in the workplace. ineptitude [ɪˈnep.tɪ.tʃuːd] 无能, 笨拙, 无效 the fact of not being skilled or effective: political/social/economic ineptitude. It was not angry bloggers that rendered the website inaccessible, but sheer technological ineptitude. pratfall [ˈpræt.fɔːl] 摔屁股堆儿 a fall in which a person lands on their bottom, especially for a humorous effect in a play, film, etc. an embarrassing defeat or failure. If someone takes a pratfall, they make an embarrassing mistake. They're waiting for the poor little rich girl to take a pratfall. Most of us get over the pratfalls of childhood. wiki: In social psychology, the pratfall effect is the tendency for a person's likability to change after making a mistake depending on perceived competence: highly competent individuals tend to become more likable, while average individuals may become less likable for the same error. Originally described in 1966 by Elliot Aronson, numerous studies have since been conducted to isolate the effects of gender, self-esteem, and blunder severity on change in appeal and likability. Occasionally referred to as the blemishing effect when used as a form of marketing, generalizations of the pratfall effect are often used to explain the counterintuitive benefits drawn from making mistakes. The show does stretch plausibility by placing proper espionage thrills – a bicycle v taxi surveillance race, or a night-time heist on a high-security data repository – alongside the pratfalling comedy caused by the Slough House team's acid bickering and occasional ineptitude, which the script turns on and off at will. Yet it's always entertaining: odd as they may be, these Slow Horses are a cut above regular spies. repudiation [rɪˌpjuː.diˈeɪ.ʃən] the act of refusing to accept something or someone as true, good, or reasonable: They were surprised by his sudden repudiation of all his former beliefs. Her statement amounted to complete repudiation of the agreement. Where the buyer accepts the seller's breach as a repudiation of the contract, the buyer will be entitled to damages. The election results were a repudiation of the generals(Voters deliver stunning rebuke of Trump as Democrats overperform in places the president handily won two years ago.). repudiate [rɪˈpjuː.di.eɪt] to refuse to accept something or someone as true, good, or reasonable. to refuse to accept or obey something or someone; reject: He repudiated the allegation/charge/claim that he had tried to deceive them. I utterly repudiate those remarks. II. to decide that an agreement is no longer effective and that you will not do what it says you must do: repudiate a contract/agreement Failure to deliver on time will entitle the buyer to repudiate the contract. III. to decide that you will not pay back money that you owe: The Soviet Union repudiated its debt after the 1917 Revolution.
Slow horses: 1. Better out than in 放出屁来比憋着好. God, you're vile 你太恶心了. vile 恶心的, 不道德的, 道德低下的, 邪恶的 I. Loathsome; disgusting. If you say that someone or something is vile, you mean that they are very unpleasant. The weather was consistently vile. She was in too vile a mood to work. vile language. II. Unpleasant or objectionable. extremely unpleasant: This cheese smells vile. He's in a vile mood/temper today. vile weather. a vile smell. vile epithets. III. a. Contemptibly low in worth or account; second-rate. b. Of mean or low condition. only slaves would perform such vile tasks. IV. Miserably poor and degrading; wretched: a vile existence. V. 异常邪恶的. Morally depraved; ignoble or wicked. abominably wicked; shameful or evil. unpleasant, immoral, and unacceptable: This vile policy of ethnic cleansing must be stopped. the vile development of slavery appalled them. a vile conspiracy. "would do something as despicable as murder"; "ugly crimes"; "the vile development of slavery appalled them"; "a slimy little liar". wicked (morally bad in principle or practice) I. Evil by nature and in practice: "This wicked man Hitler, the repository and embodiment of many forms of soul-destroying hatred". II. Playfully malicious or mischievous: a wicked prank; a critic's wicked wit. a wicked grin. III. Severe and distressing: a wicked cough; a wicked gash; wicked driving conditions. IV. Highly offensive; obnoxious: a wicked stench. V. Slang Strikingly good, effective, or skillful: a wicked curve ball; a wicked imitation. [There's] no peace/rest for the wicked! (humorous) something that you say which means you must continue an activity although you might like to stop. It's because you are wicked that you have to work hard. (Usually jocular.) I can't talk - I've got to finish this essay. There's no rest for the wicked. A: I can't seem to ever get all my work done. B: No rest for the wicked. have your wicked way with somebody (humorous) to have sex with someone He invited her to France for the weekend, thinking he would have his wicked way with her. vile (生理恶心, 加道德低下) VS repulsive (多指生理反应, 让人避之三舍, 也可以指行为和个性让人coil) VS disgusting (生理或道德, 强调感觉) VS gross (多指生理反应, 比较轻微) VS despicable (仅指道德) VS revolting (仅指生理让人作呕): vile: Strongest moral/ethical flavor. Often means "wicked, despicable, base" as much as "physically revolting." Can describe people, actions, or attitudes: a vile act of cruelty. Also used for intensely nasty physical things: a vile smell. Implies evil or corruption, not just queasiness. repulsive: Strongest "pushes you away" flavor. From the idea of repellere (to drive back). Often physical or visceral: a repulsive sore, a repulsive sight. Can also describe personalities or behavior that make you want to recoil: a repulsive arrogance. Slightly more formal/literary than "gross"; emphasizes revulsion, a strong instinct to back away. disgusting: The most general and versatile. Covers physical nastiness, bad taste/smell, and moral offense. Disgusting food, a disgusting smell, disgusting behavior. Focuses on the feeling of disgust it produces; can be mild or strong depending on context. Very common in everyday speech. gross: Most informal/colloquial. Often mild or even playful. Typically physical: gross food, a gross smell, gross habits. Can also mean "unfair/annoying" in slang (that's gross) or, separately, "total" (gross income)—unrelated sense. Least intense of the four in many uses; often used by kids or in casual complaints. despicable: Almost purely moral condemnation. Means "deserving contempt," "worthy of scorn." Rarely used for physical nastiness—you wouldn't normally call a smell or food despicable. Targets people, actions, behavior: a despicable betrayal, despicable cruelty. Stronger moral judgment than disgusting; more contempt than revulsion. Closest to vile but even more focused on contempt rather than physical loathing. revolting: Strongest physical/visceral revulsion of the group. From revolt (to turn away in disgust). Very close to repulsive, but often feels even more intense and immediate: a revolting smell, revolting slime. Can extend to behavior, but its core is the gut-level "I can't stand this" reaction. Slightly more emphatic/emotional than repulsive; often used for sensory nastiness. Quick comparison: Intensity (physical revulsion): repulsive ≈ disgusting > vile > gross (in casual use). Moral weight: vile > repulsive > disgusting > gross. Formality: repulsive/vile (more formal) > disgusting (neutral) > gross (informal). Most general: disgusting. Most "evil": vile. Most "makes you recoil": repulsive. Most casual/playful: gross. Example contrast: a rotting carcass could be called gross (casual), disgusting (general), or repulsive (strong recoil); a cruel betrayal would more naturally be vile than gross. 2. Time's up, Cartwright. Screw all this. Come on. Unbelievable. You love it when I'm hard on you. What about that story about you tailing Taverner? Is that just a myth? No. Not a myth, actually. That really did happen. be hard on someone I. 太严厉. 苛责. 逼得太紧. to criticize someone severely, or to treats omeone unfairly. To treat one overly strictly or harshly. Don't be too hard on him - he's new to the job. A good manager knows exactly when to be hard on players and when to go easy on them. Don't be so hard on yourself - you're doing great! He was hard on his kids but he was also extremely proud of them. I'm probably harder on myself than on anyone else. Please don't be hard on Tessa—she's such a sensitive kid. I know I didn't do well on the exam, but I didn't expect my dad to be so hard on me about it—he grounded me for a month! A: "Mom and Dad never let me have any fun! Can you tell them not to be so hard on me?" B: "Yeah, like they take parenting advice from their first-born. Right." II. To be unfair or difficult for one to endure. It's hard on me to watch you suffer like this. The tragedy has been really hard on 难以承受, 难受 our whole family, but my wife has ben a rock through it all. When a young person dies suddenly, the pain just ripples out—it's hard on everyone. be hard on someone VS be harsh on someone: Don't be too hard on her = don't pressure/judge her excessively (sympathetic, personal). Don't be too harsh on her = don't criticize/punish her too severely (focus on the sharpness of the judgment). The teacher was hard on the class = demanding, strict, maybe unfairly so. The teacher was harsh on the class = the teacher's treatment/criticism was severe and unkind. Rough rule of thumb: hard on = pressure and personal demand (often with sympathy); harsh on = severity and unsparing judgment (often criticizing the severity). 3. Home Office, ma'am. Barrowby. Tell him I'm operational. I'll call him back when I can. Yes, ma'am ( operational: "I'm on duty and able to carry out my work" or "I'm currently active and functioning". "I'm in the middle of a live operation right now." It's intelligence/military jargon for "an op is underway and I'm actively running it." So "Tell him I’m operational. I'll call him back when I can'" amounts to: "I'm busy running an active mission and can't talk. He'll have to wait."). operational (东西operational: 可以用的或已经在使用的, 东西(rules, laws, systems)operative: 在使用中的, 人opertional: 在工作中, 准备好, 可以开展工作. 人不可以用operative ) I. When someone is described as operational, it generally means they are active, functioning, and capable of performing their duties or carrying out tasks. Depending on the context, the phrase can mean a few different things: a. Ready for Duty: A person (such as a worker, technician, or military personnel) is on-duty, fit for service, and actively handling their responsibilities. b. Active or Practicing: Someone who is back up and running after an illness, leave, or disruption, meaning they are back to work and functioning normally. c. Execution-Minded: In a business or organizational setting, being "operationally focused" means someone prioritizes practical workflows, getting things done reliably, and managing day-to-day execution rather than just high-level planning. II. If something is operational, it's up and running and ready to go. When something is operational, it's ready to use or is already in use. A machine or piece of equipment that is operational is in use or is ready for use. If a system is operational, it is working: fully operational Repairs have already begun and we expect the factory to be fully operational again with six months. The whole system will be fully operational by December. If you've been waiting for a new skating rink to open, you'l jump for joy when it's finally operational. Don't get on an elevator that's not fully operational unless you like getting stuck. Any gadget being used is operational. If someone calls you and you pick up and talk, then both phones are operational. If the compost bin you've been working on is operational, go ahead and throw in the banana peels. Operational things are functional. If your skates are operational, lace up and go! III. Operational factors or problems 操作上的, 操作方面的, 操作相关的, 实操的, 实际操作上的 relate to the working of a system, device, or plan. operational activities/decisions/control The majority of shareholders are interested in investment, not in operational control of the firm. operational aspects/difficulties/constraints. operational effectiveness/efficiencies. There are operational advantages in putting sales and admin in the same building. We cannot give any more details at this stage for operational reasons. The device had been used operationally some months previously. relating to a particular activity: There are operational advantages in putting sales and admin in the same building. operative [ˈɒp.ər.ə.tɪv] noun. I. 操作员. a worker, especially one who is skilled in working with their hands: In an automated car plant there is not a human operative to be seen. a database/call-centre/factory operative. a factory operative. II. mainly US a person who works secretly for an organization. An operative is someone who works for a government agency such as the intelligence service. Naturally the CIA wants to protect its operatives. a CIA operative. adj. I. 启用了(used for rules, laws or systems). working or being used. working, or in existence. A system or service that is operative is working or having an effect. The commercial telephone service was no longer operative. Our computerized stock-control system is now operative. The green light comes on when the machine is operative. The agreement will not become operative until all members have signed. II. medical specialized relating to a medical operation: an operative technique 操作技巧. the operative word the most important word in a phrase, which explains the truth of a situation: He was a painter - "was" being the operative word, since he died last week. I'm looking for a large, affordable apartment – and "affordable" is the operative word 重点, 关键词 (= it has special importance). 4. Sons of Albion can refer to a few different subjects depending on the context: In Slow Horses (TV Series / Novels): The Sons of Albion are a far-right, nationalist, and white supremacist domestic terrorist group featured in Season 1 (originally called Voices of Albion in the book). They are secretly funded by Greg Simmonds and orchestrated in a false-flag kidnapping plot by MI5's Diana Taverner. In William Blake's Mythology: The Sons of Albion are symbolic figures representing parts of the giant Albion. In the visionary poetry of 18th-century writer and artist William Blake (such as in his epic poem Jerusalem), Albion represents the universal man or the soul of Britain. The Sons of Albion: Blake names twelve Sons of Albion (representing fragmentation, rationalism, industrial-age alienation, and forces opposing spiritual awakening). In his mythology, they represent the parts of humanity or society that fall away from unity and love into conflict and self-destruction. In their fallen state, they turn against their father, the Savior, and Jerusalem, including twelve Spectre Sons associated with ancient deities. In Greek Mythology: Alebion (or Albion) was a giant son of Poseidonfrom Liguria. for Britain (likely derived from the Celtic word for "white," referring to the white cliffs of Dover). In Patriotic and Historical Tropes In broader British romanticism, folklore, and speeches (alluding to figures like Winston Churchill or patriotic hymns), calling people "Sons of Albion" is a dramatic or poetic way of addressing the "sons of Britain," calling on them to defend their homeland, heritage, or shared soil. 5. or thereabouts 接近, 那附近, 差不多吧, 差不了多少, 左右吧, 上下, 大差不差 approximately. You add or thereabouts after a number or date to indicate that it is approximate: He's lived in Norwich for 40 years, or thereabouts. He told us that her age was forty-eight or thereabouts. Thousands of people cycle in London every day. They don't all get killed. Most of them aren't middle-aged idiots trying to prove a point, are they? Anyway, I proved my point because the reason they mumbled the name of the hotel is 'cause they're staying in a doss house on the Edgware Road. You don't know for sure. You said you lost them. Well, okay... ( stammers )... but thereabouts 那一块儿, 那附近. Who lives here then? Ilya Nevsky. Here. The boss of the guy that Spider's gonna meet. So whilst you were having your little midlife crisis, I decided to do some actual work. 6. Knew it would all fall apart when I got kicked out. Duffy still in charge of the Dogs? Oh, yeah. He was ahead of me on this one. I should hope so. She ran over one of my Joes. Ran the numbers on her. Gave her a clean bill of health. Because she's clean? Because he did a half-arse job. What he should've done is take her entire life and shake it in a high wind 翻个底掉, 翻个底朝天. Care to expand 展开说说, 详细说说? Well... ...let's just say she did a little sightseeing in Moscow with a lot of disreputable locals. Everything else you need's in the envelope. Address, employment, narrative of a fucked-up life. 7. I know Pashkin because we swim in the same waters. He is a roving fixer of Ilya Nevsky. He knew I had done business with MI5, so he asked me to make contact. For what, I don't know. That's what you said to James Webb. There is the trade, like for like. You gave me your pawn. You can't expect my rook. If you want my rook, you will have to give me your knight and two of your pawns. You're not being fair. No, I'm not. Now scurry back behind your desk. You are too naïve for this work. If you please, I have another game. I've just spoken to the man who connected 搭线, 牵线搭桥 Pashkin with Webb. Jackson: Victor Krymov? What you wasting your time with him for? I wouldn't trust him to tell me the time if we were standing in front of Big Ben. He insists he's known Pashkin for years, but he's reluctant to go into details. Jackson: Well, he'd have run rings around ( run rings around someone = UK run rings round someone 玩得团团转, 围着...跑圈, 打转 If someone runs rings around you, they are very much better, faster, or more successful at something than you are. If you say that someone runs rings round you or runs rings around you, you mean that they are a lot better or a lot more successful than you at a particular activity. Mentally, he can still run rings round men half his age! Our girls' hockey team have run rings around all their opponents this year. ) ya. And his story's a crock of shit. He'd have been paid to lie that Pashkin works for Nevsky. Catherine: How do you know he doesn't? Because Nevsky's been murdered, likely by Pashkin's goons. What? I'm sure Krymov knows more, but he'll have to wait. I'm still trying to work out what the fսck Katinsky wants. 8. Yeah, you seem really chilled 放松的 right now. He is hiding something, Marcus. That is why he sat down with me. He wanted to see if I was on to him. This is insane. He's... ( stammers ) His watch ticks. Yeah, it's a watch. He's a fricking fraud. What? His watch ticks. Watches like that, they don't tick, they sweep (Mechanical and Automatic Watches: Powered by a mainspring and regulated by a balance wheel and escapement, these watches beat multiple times per second (typically 5 to 8 times per second, or 18,000 to 28,800 vibrations per hour). This rapid sequence of tiny ticks creates an optical illusion of a smooth, continuous sweep. Brands like Rolex, Rado, and Tissot use mechanical movements. Most quartz watches tick once per second, but specialized quartz movements oscillate at a much higher frequency to produce a sweep. Most watches with a quartz movement produce a distinct, visible "tick" once per second, driven by a battery sending an electrical pulse to a vibrating quartz crystal. ). That's what you pay for. You want to murder a guy for having a fake watch? Yeah, I've got Louisa. Look, she was just about to drug and kill Pashki... Hey, give him to me 让我来和他说. Yeah, hi. Pashkin is a fake. I don't know what his game is, but he is not real. He killed Min. No, no. He didn't kill Min, but I have no doubt he ordered it. I'm pretty sure he was there. He had Nevsky killed too. I could literally take him right now and question him. Or he could take you. As much as I love the idea of you going all Ilsa, She Wolf of the SS on him, he's Russian and he might not crack. So, I want you to stand down and go to that meeting tomorrow like nothing is wrong. Sorry, you want me to go to a meeting with the man that had Min killed and the men who did it, and do nothing? Look, right now, I am going out of my way to avenge the death of Dickie Bough, a man I didn't even like. So, you can imagine what I'm gonna do to the person who murdered Min Harper, a man who I at least tolerated. So, I want you to stand down, and that's an order 命令. 9. Oh, the years have not been kind to you. Mmm. Nor you. I see your leg hasn't grown back. The only advantage 好处是 is I shall never have to dance with you. Christ. I'm getting your breath from here. Really? Well, I brush twice a month. 10. So what the hell are you doing here, Jackson? Nikolai Katinsky. Moscow cipher clerk. Came over in the early '90s. Power struggles 争权夺势 in the new FSB meant old KGB were being purged. I need to go over his file, full rectal(a humorous or sarcastic expression meaning an extremely thorough examination or investigation of someone's file.). 11. Security first. Feel free. You two as well. In case you've forgotten the rules about carrying. Thank you. No. I need to check that. It contains sensitive documents. And I have no intention of hurting their feelings. Open it. We accept your apology. Okay. Looks like we're good to go. 12. Are you going to be able to manage the steps 台阶 at the Royal Exchange with that boot? Let me just check my phone, then I'm all yours. Why? You offering me your arm? No. Let's go. Peter: It's certainly put me off skiing. Diana: I heard you slipped getting out of a hot tub at your chalet. Ah. A missed call from you. Quite a few missed calls. And a message. Oh, you can ignore that. Diana through phone: Peter. Diana Taverner here. Have you finished your toast yet? Ooh, that's a keeper. Second Desk of MI5 trying to keep a lid on her rising anger at being treated like a common cabbie. I'm not angry, Peter. Home Secretary, if you don't mind. I am just trying to make sure that you get to your speech on time. We have a security schedule to stick to. I know. And I'm sorry I made you wait, but I was busy making you wait. Well, if that's how you get your kicks, it seems like a misuse of office to me. Mmm. I really didn't appreciate it when you came round to my house to blackmail me into getting you off the hook for a false flag kidnapping. That I did not appreciate. Of course, at the time, I was a humble backbencher, shit on your overpriced shoes. But now I'm not only the holder of one of the great offices of state, I'm also your de facto boss. I think you're just as exposed as I am. We have a mutually-assured-destruction pact. I'm not quite sure where this is leading. Well, for me it's leading to Number 10. 13. Nevsky's dead. They injected him with radiation. Then he shot himself. It was grim 惨烈, 惨不忍睹. Did you take any pictures? No, I didn't take any pictures. Next time, take some pictures. Why is Chernitsky heading into London? Maybe to sample the best our city has to offer. Tussauds. Hard Rock Cafe. Jesus Christ, hо. He's a killer, and he's heading into town. I know. And we've got front-row seats. 14. At the time, defectors like Katinsky were ten a penny 多如牛毛. Nothing really to recommend him(recommend I. to suggest that someone or something would be good or suitable for a particular job or purpose, or to suggest that a particular action should be done: I can recommend the chicken in mushroom sauce - it's delicious. She has been recommended for promotion. The headmistress agreed to recommend the teachers' proposals to the school governors. The doctor recommended (that) I get more exercise. I recommend writing your feelings down on paper. recommend that sb do sth Most financial advisers recommend that you buy individual life insurance, at least as a supplement. We recommend changing your internet provider. The board will recommend the offer to shareholders. II. If something or someone has a particular quality to recommend them, that quality makes them attractive or gives them an advantage over similar things or people. The city has much/little to recommend it (= it has many/few pleasant qualities). The restaurant has much to recommend it. He had little but his enthusiasm to recommend him. These qualities recommended him to Olivier. III. to suggest that something is the best thing to choose: They've recommended some software to help with the planning process. Can you recommend a good restaurant in this area? recommend sth to sb This is the package that we recommend to most clients. III. to suggest that someone is the best person to do a job: I can recommend several candidates. recommend sb to sth This is the package that we recommend to most clients. ). He was a minnow 小虾米(A minnow is a very small fish that lives in lakes and rivers. an organization or person that is not important and has little influence or power. ). young Katinsky on video: But this I think you'll appreciate. I heard discussion of cicadas. The man on this video is the same shambling loser(shambling adj. moving with an awkward or unsteady gait. noun. the action of walking or moving in an awkward or unsteady manner. shamble 拖着腿走路 to walk slowly and awkwardly, without lifting your feet correctly. If you shamble somewhere, you walk clumsily, pulling your feet along the ground. The conductor shambled to the next carriage. ...his tall, shambling figure. Sick patients shambled along the hospital corridors. He was a strange, shambling figure. shuffle I. to walk by pulling your feet slowly along the ground rather than lifting them: I love shuffling through the fallen leaves. He shuffled into the kitchen, leaning on his walking stick. Don't shuffle your feet like that! Walk normally. II. to move your feet or bottom around, while staying in the same place, especially because you are uncomfortable, nervous, or embarrassed: The woman in front of me kept shuffling around in her seat all the way through the performance. When I asked him where he'd been, he just looked at the ground and shuffled his feet. III. to move similar things from one position or place to another, often to give an appearance of activity when nothing useful is being done: She shuffled her papers nervously on her desk. Many prisoners have to be shuffled around police stations because of prison overcrowding. IV. to mix a set of playing cards without seeing their values before beginning a game, so that their order is not known to any of the players: It's your turn to shuffle the cards. shuffle your feet If you shuffle your feet, you move your feet slightly because you are uncomfortable or embarrassed: When I asked where he’d been, he just stared at the ground and shuffled his feet. shuffle something off to get rid of something unwanted, usually by giving it to someone else: Not until this turbulent region can shuffle off the burdens of the past will it be able to settle peacefully into the community of nations. The local authority may then try to shuffle these responsibilities off onto another authority. shambles [ʃæmbəlz] If a place, event, or situation is a shambles or is in a shambles, everything is in disorder. The ship's interior was an utter shambles. The economy is in a shambles. ) I met the other day, but he is not the same man I spoke to on the phone tonight. What was different? He was ahead of me 处处抢在前面. So? You're well past your peak. Well, not so past it that I can be bested by a dying minnow. interviewer on video: Interview paused at... Which makes me wonder, what if he's not a minnow? What if he's a whale? Do you have his defection form handy? I need to see who signed him in. 15. You fancy a flutter on the method? So far we've had death by poisoning, traffic accident and radiation. What do you reckon next? Sword? Thumbs in the eyeballs? Roddy, this is serious. If we don't do something, someone else is going to die. You need to go after him. He's a trained assassin. You go after him. I have some unfinished business. No, you don't. Well, actually, Roddy, I do. Last night I met the man who put the Russians in touch with Webb. He knows something, and he was enjoying keeping it from me, so... I'm gonna wipe the smile off his smug face 笑不出来. 16. Did you make Webb meet you here? He wouldn't have liked that. Not his cup of tea at all. Not his idea to use Slough House either. That must have been requested 要求的. By whom? You? No, you only have opinions for money, so Pashkin then? Surely even you must know words cost lives. Well, I'm sure you could find a scapegoat to take the blame for the leak of whatever you tell me. I mean, you've done it before. Prague in '93. Zagreb in 2001. I mean, you always find someone to pay for your mistakes. I didn't know you played. If I win, you tell me the truth about Pashkin. 16. Everyone knows the PM can't win the next election. It's only a matter of time before he's shot in what's left of his balls and toddles off to be a third-tier pick on the speaking circuit. And you will put yourself forward for the leadership contest. Oh, no. I'll be reluctantly prodded into it. I was at school with 同学 the PM, remember. He's one of my oldest friends. And I'm very loyal to my friends. Oh. And what would you like me to do to demonstrate our newfound friendship? You know how the party membership loves security, defense and the like? I'd like you to put out the word, off the record, that I am the only candidate you trust to keep the nation safe. This is the bit where you say, "And in return?" Why haven't you taken this to Tearney? Unfortunately, First Desk has already expressed doubts about my being a sufficiently serious character to lead the country. But then, I'm not sure if she's a serious enough character to lead MI5. But I am? Peter: Undoubtedly. So, do we have an understanding? Ah. Now you're making me wait. Nice. But I know you'll say yes. Mmm. God. That sounds like a line that you use on one of your pitiful little mistresses. 17. I think first we should discuss security for Mr. Nevsky. This meeting is a dry run for him to step in here with Diana Taverner. And doing so will put him at great potential risk. Dry run? You're doing yourself down 自我贬低, Arkady. You and I, we're the power behind the thrones. Our bosses meeting, it's a... it's a formality. We get to make the world anew. They just initial the changes. Mr. Webb, if you're going to talk this big, you need to get a better suit. That's good. You had me there. That's good. This is Cucinelli, as I'm sure you're aware. I am. And I will give you the details of a real tailor. 18. You called a Code September? Yes, ma'am. Air traffic control affirmed there are no commercial or military flights off course 偏航. Well, it's a small plane, ma'am. But it's packed with explosives, and it's headed directly for the Glasshouse. You are absolutely sure? I pull the cord on this and there's no going back. I'm sure, ma'am. You better be right. 19. We have to leave now. Because of that lot? Not on your nelly (not on your nelly 绝对不行 British slang not under any circumstances; certainly not. An expression of one's refusal to do something. Primarily heard in UK, Australia. A: "Will you go out to the barn and clean up after the horses?" B: "Not on your nelly!" ). I'm not scared of some smelly lefties. There has been an alert. Wha... Well, one of those twats has thrown a brick through the window. It's Code September. We have to evacuate now. As in September the 11th? 20. Katinsky's intake. Who signed him in? Apparently, you did. Ugh. You beast. Yeah, I know. It, uh... It lingered. I never signed this. I never signed this. Are you sure? You were drinking a fair bit back then. Hmm. When have I not? Yeah, besides... Yeah, I was in Prague when this was signed. No. It was off the books. The Yanks thought they had first dibs on defectors. Uh, the Foreign Office ordered us to hang back, but I went in anyway. How many people knew that? Well, enough to make it hard for me to point the finger. Although one candidate does stand out. We had a traitor, Molly. Right at the top. I think he signed Katinsky in. And this traitor was running Katinsky... Katinsky mentioned cicadas at his debrief to make us think he was a nobody. And in one sense, he's even less than a nobody. He's a ghost. Cicadas were meant to be a fiction, dreamt up by a made-up spymaster. Nikolai Katinsky was that spymaster. fսck me. And he's dying. And he has unfinished business. Me. This is a three-pronged campaign 三股并进的, 一石三鸟, 一箭三雕, online, internationally and in person. You run bots and influencers. We bend the ear of our allies, and then Nevsky returns to Russia to campaign on the ground. Bingo. After his sweeping victory, you and I take a bow, as the king... Oh, come on. 21. Did you do that on purpose? No, that was an air pocket (air pocket an area in the sky where the air is flowing differently from the way it is in the surrounding parts. Air pockets can sometimes cause aircraft to go up or down suddenly. a localized region of low air density or a descending air current, causing an aircraft to suffer an abrupt decrease in height. ). This is on purpose, though. Try to relax. It's just like a roller coaster. Yeah. Yeah, well, I hate them. 22. How's it going listening in on Chernitsky's mobile? Phone's switched off. And once it's on I'll need to do a whole load of stuff you won't understand. Just showing an interest. Roddy: Right. Can you not? You sure there's any actual point going through hours of CCTV footage? Shirley: We know Chernitsky got on a flight to Estonia, so he must have been at one of these check-in desks. I'm looking for a match. 23. Didn't know we were hot-desking(hot-desking 无固定工位, 办公桌轮用制, 无固定办公桌的制度 a way of saving office space in which workers do not have their own desk and are only given a desk when they need it: Hot-desking allows a company to have significantly smaller premises. wiki: Hot desking (sometimes called "non-reservation-based hoteling" or "desk sharing") is a work office organization system where each space is available for any worker, rather than reserved for a specific worker, so different workers may use the same spot along the day or week. The "desk" in the name refers to a table or other work space being shared by multiple workers on different shifts as opposed to every staff member having their own personal desk. ). Better not be looking at pοrn. Sorry. I haven't been allocated a workstation 工位 yet. You've been here months now. Yeah, hо's supposed to be sorting it. He's refusing unless I kneel and address him as Emperor Electrofist or some shit. You don't have to kneel. I'd settle for a bow. Arkady Pashkin. Digging into his background, but I can't find much. Loads on his boss, though. What's it all in aid of 有助于? All Spider said is they're trying to get Nevsky in a room with Taverner, supposedly to discuss energy security. I guess I'll find out the truth when I'm in there. All right, you've got your seat back. Mug. Should have charged him data rent. 24. You were right. He's definitely on to me. Are you sure? Yep. When his daughter took me up in a plane, which was lovely, I'm pretty sure he went through my phone and wallet. It was sloppy trade craft( tradecraft 谍报技术 I. the skills and methods used by people who work for organizations involved in secret activities such as intelligence and spying (= finding out secret information about enemies and competitors) or terrorism (= violent political crime): For years they used the same planes, with the same registration numbers, to carry out secret missions, which was not good tradecraft. II. the skills and methods used by someone doing a particular skilled job: My mentor, Professor Jane Slater, taught me the basic "tradecraft" of history. ) too. So, I don't know... Either he wants me to know he's looking at me, or he's just out of practice 手生了, 不熟练了, 疏于联系. Yeah, well, your legend's ( A legend in espionage is a fabricated background, identity, or biographical history created for a spy, intelligence officer, or person in witness protection to help them blend in. ) tight, so he won't find anything. Which means he'll wanna get closer. Do you reckon the daughter took you up so that he could have a snoop about? I don't think so, but I don't know. Maybe. You given her one(give someone one British vulgar, slang to have sex with someone.)? No. And not that that's any of your business anyway. Well, if it's on the cards and you get a green light, don't blow your cover. Steam in there ( steam in I. To enter (some place) under the power of a steam engine. We stood on the pier and watched the ship steam in the harbor. The train steamed in at exactly 8:35 AM. II. To enter (some place) in a very angry and animated manner. The child steamed in the kitchen and sat down at the table in a grumpy huff. The boss steamed in and started shouting at everyone about the latest financial results.). There's just a whole set of ethics there that you really need to catch up on. Yes. And the day they introduce ethics into what we do, they might as well shut us down. 25. Sorry. Uh, were you yelling? Is that why you picked up the lamp? Just in case I was an assassin? No. I just... I knocked it 撞到 as I came to the door. Oh. I didn't hear that. Oh, well, you had your earphones in. And I caught it as well. Thank God. So, um, can I help you? Yeah. Sorry. Yeah, uh, dinner invite. Don't get too excited. Not from me, from my mum. She heard you were writing an article and wants to protect the image of the village. Yeah. She thinks she's the mayor or something. I should warn you that my dad might be a bit touchy. What? Because of me or... No. He, uh... He thinks my mom over-hosts, and he finds it stressful having to be on his best behavior. Ah. Right. Well, I'll, uh, eat in silence and leave. Don't worry. Great plan. That'll definitely relax everyone. 26. Look, I know we don't know each other, and being at Slough House obviously marks me down( mark someone down as something 看做某类人 I. To place a mark next to someone's name on a list to indicate a particular status. Go through the guest list and mark down each person as either present or absent. I marked over 20 items down as missing from the inventory, so I felt pretty certain someone had been stealing from the warehouse. II. To serve as an indication or piece of evidence that someone or something is a particular type of person or thing. Your outdoorsy clothing and massive backpack marked you down as a tourist before you even opened your mouth. The overwhelmingly positive reviews mark this place as one of the must-see spots in the city. III. To come to the conclusion that someone or something is a particular type of person or thing. to consider someone as a particular type of person: I'd marked her down as a Labour Party supporter, but I was completely wrong. I had always marked him down as a bit of a doofus, but it turns out he's smarter than he looks. The oppressive government marks down dissenting opinions as political agitation. another example: I saw you. You got here first then left to keep me waiting. Well, that's because I knew you were watching and waiting so you could arrive after me. What a pair we are. Made for each other. If this bench marks my coat 弄脏, I'm going to send you the cleaning bill. You can get coats cleaned? Yeah. Coats cleaned, teeth fixed, hair washed. I know it's news for you. I've been busy lately. It's possible I've let myself go. ), but... It marks me down too. Look, I just wanna do a good job, all right? Yeah, sure. No one's stopping you. 27. You went quiet. Well, I wasn't aware I was required to make a noise. Well, I rather thought you might have anticipated this call. I thought you might want to preempt what I'm about to say. Oh, dare I hope you've decided to relocate your speech or reroute the march? Why on Earth would I do that? I have a right to speak, and they have a right to march. You're giving a speech to the city on a day that people have organized an anti-capitalist march to protest against people like you. People like me? You wanna watch it 注意点, 注意言行, 注意用词, Diana, or I'll set HR on you. Pretty sure that sort of language is offensive to some. You're giving your speech in view of the Glasshouse, the corporate temple 企业的圣殿 in the heart of the city, which may seem to some people like a "up yours(up yours 去你妈的 I. (mildly vulgar) used to show that you very much dislike someone or the things that someone has just said or done. Expression to show discontent with the other party, or to show contempt. You dare come here dressed so horribly? Well, up yours! II. (dismissive, vulgar) Go away! Go to hell! Up yours!—I'm not giving you any! You've done enough to ruin our outing, so up yours! )." And changing location might mean I have something to hide, which I don't. The parliamentary investigation was quite clear on that point. Peter, may I speak off the record? I'm Second Desk, and I am rather busy. So if there's a point to this unscheduled call, I'd like to hear it. I'm Home Secretary, Diana. I can ring you whenever the fսck I like. I can also tell you to do whatever the fսck I want. And I don't want to share the back seat with this Nick Duffy. I want to share it with you. May I ask why you consider this a necessity? I just want to make sure everything goes smoothly. Ingrid Tearney's unavailable, so I get the second choice. Understood? Absolutely. Oh, of course I'll come with you. Yes. And I look forward to hearing your speech. Ta. Dress to impress. 28. I can tell we're gonna get along just fine. Ah, having said that, I didn't bring any tonic in. Would you mind fetching some from the garden shed? Yeah, yeah. Just at the end? Yeah. That's it, thanks. Sorry, I've been sent to find 派来 tonic water. You're writing an article on village life? Yes, I am. Yes, yeah. Gonna give my flying club a plug? Of course. Yeah. The pilot might not get the best review, though. Throw you about, did she? (j解释1: It’s a common British pattern called a same-polarity tag question: the statement is positive and the tag is also positive. This kind of tag doesn’t ask for information. It means something like “Oh, so she threw you about, did she?” The speaker is guessing or drawing a conclusion from what was just said. Here, the comment that the pilot “might not get the best review” is the clue. The tone is often knowing, amused or a little teasing. Compare it with the reverse-polarity tag (positive statement, negative tag): “She threw you about, didn’t she?” The speaker already believes it and wants you to agree. Both are grammatical, but they sound different. “Did she?” is a wry reaction to a hint. “Didn’t she?” sounds more like pressing for confirmation. “Did she or didn’t she” is an actual question with two options, so it would break the idiom. Other examples of the same pattern: “You’re leaving, are you?” “Fancy yourself a detective, do you?”“Had a bit too much, did we?” A same-polarity tag question (also called a same-way tag) is a tag question where the auxiliary verb and polarity of the mini-question match the polarity of the main clause (positive-plus-positive or negative-plus-negative), rather than flipping like standard English tag questions. • Standard Pattern (Opposite Polarity): Positive statement + negative tag ("You're coming, aren't you?") or negative statement + positive tag ("You aren't coming, are you?"). • Same-Polarity Pattern: Positive statement + positive tag ("So you think you're clever, do you?") or negative statement + positive tag / echo. • Purpose: They are rarely used to ask a neutral question for information. Instead, they express surprise, skepticism, irony, challenge, or reaction to something already known or inferred. Examples: • "So you're the new manager, are you?" (Expresses surprise, curiosity, or gentle testing/skepticism). • "You think that was funny, do you?" (Expresses a challenge or irony). 解释2: This is an example of a British conversational construction called a declarative question (or a statement followed by a question tag, in a broader sense). Let's break it down: - “She threw you about, did she?” – A more conventional way of expressing the same question. - “Throw you about, did she?” – A shortened, colloquial version. The subject and verb are rearranged, with the auxiliary did appearing at the end. - “Didn't she throw you about?” – A grammatically conventional negative-interrogative form. What does it mean here? In the Slow Horses context, someone is asking whether the female pilot gave the passenger a rough ride. "Throw you about" means to toss or jolt someone around, usually because of turbulence or rough flying. Why not "didn't she"? Because the speaker is using a slightly sceptical or teasing tone. The question is essentially: "So, she threw you around a bit, did she?" It's a way of inviting confirmation, sometimes with a hint of amusement or sarcasm. You'll hear this construction quite often in British English: - "So, you got the job, did you?" - "He told you that, did he?" - "You think you're clever, do you?" - "Been causing trouble, have you?" It's particularly common in informal British conversation. Note: A declarative question is a sentence that has the normal word order and structure of a statement (subject + verb + object), but is spoken or written with a question mark to ask for confirmation or express surprise. Key Characteristics: • Structure: Follows the same format as a regular declarative sentence (e.g., "You're going by plane?") rather than a standard interrogative structure like "Are you going by plane?" • Intonation: In spoken English, it typically ends with a rising intonation. • Purpose: It functions as a yes/no question, usually used when you think you know something and want to verify it, or when you are surprised by a situation. Examples: • "You're going to Thailand?" (Confirming an understanding) • "You've already bought the tickets?" (Expressing surprise or checking a fact). • "You think I'm kidding you?" (Asking for confirmation of a reaction).) Just a bit, yeah. Always been a daredevil. Tonic's over there. 29. You must forgive me. Jet lag leaves me ravenous ( ravenous [ˈræv.ən.əs] 饿疯了 extremely hungry: I'm ravenous - where's supper? Growing boys have ravenous appetites.). Please begin. Well, we walked through the route that we'll be taking for the meeting tomorrow. We accessed the building via the underground loading area, which we can control. There are six lifts. No cameras. It's glass, but reflective on the outside. Three of them have access to floor 30. The other three reach the 47th floor. How would Nevsky join any future meetings unobserved 悄无声息的, 不被发现的, 不被看见的? Well, we stopped off at the 42nd floor to check his potential route from his office there. So, for any future meetings, we would disable the cameras outside of his office. He would then join us in the service lift. There are four cameras in the foyer of the 47th floor that lead to the boardroom, which are currently disabled. I hear the boardroom has quite a view. Well, it's only five floors higher than Nevsky's. Surely you've been there loads of times? I rarely visit. I'm more of a roving 巡回的, 巡游的 operations manager, working on special projects for Mr. Nevsky. I have little to do with the day-to-day running of his companies. Please, continue. The boardroom is soundproofed, but we also swept for bugs. 30. You buying tomorrow is about setting up a back channel on energy security? That's what they're saying. I'm not paid to speculate. Where you headed? That way. Yeah, works for me. 31. Now, listen. No more gambling on the detail, okay? Don't fսck this up for me. Doesn't interfere with my work. It literally did earlier. You held us up to place a bet. No more gambling on the detail. 32. So, what makes you wanna write about Upshott, Jon? Oh, um... Well, it obviously has its own very rural identity. You know, got its own country identity, but it's near enough to London that... ...you get a lot of, uh... weekenders and commuters. So, yes. So I'm interested in whether those cultures clash. 33. But you guys moved here. You're not from here? Well, is that a question? Sounds like you already know. Oh, sorry... Kelly told me. Why am I being made to feel like a snitch? Alex sighs: Because your father reacts to conversation like it's an interrogation. Uh, yes. We're the standard cliché, I'm afraid. We moved here to escape the rat race. You were not in the rat race. You were student radicals. Ah, excuse me, I wasn't. That was your father and Leo. Leo is a darling, but... ...get a few whiskeys in him, and... Oh, my God, it all comes out. He's one notch down from "hang the rich." Ah. Um, shall I get another bottle of wine?
