用法学习: 1. conundrum [kə'nʌndrəm] I. a riddle, esp one whose answer makes a play on words. A riddle in which a fanciful question is answered by a pun. II. a puzzling question or problem. A paradoxical, insoluble, or difficult problem; a dilemma. the odd man/one out 特殊的, 格格不入的人, 不合群的人 someone or something that is different from the other people or things in a group. She was always the odd one out at school - she didn't really mix with the other children. I felt like the odd man out yesterday. Everyone was watching football except me. odd something an extra or spare something; a chance something. The tailor repaired the odd loose button on my shirt. When I travel, I might buy the odd trinket小饰品, 小装饰 or two, but I never spend much money. make odd/strange bedfellows奇怪的组合 If two people or groups make strange bedfellows, they are connected in a particular activity though they are very different and would not usually have the same opinions or be seen together. Priests and pop stars make strange bedfellows, but on this issue they agree. 2. sleep up (Verb) To get all the rest one needs. Implies sleeping late rather than going to bed early. "I'll let you sleep up in the morning; I know you have a long drive ahead of you." He woke up and rubbed the sleep out of his eyes揉眼揉去睡意. to catch up on some sleep补觉 catch it 遭报应, 受到惩罚 Informal to be scolded or reprimanded. to get into trouble and receive punishment. I know I'm
going to catch it for denting mom's car when I get home. Bob hit Billy
in the face. He really caught it from the teacher for that. you'll catch it死定了, 麻烦大了, 有你受的了 (British informal) something that you say in
order to tell someone they will be punished for something bad they have
done. You'll catch it if dad sees you smoking. catch someone napping/up short/off balance 出其不意的, 毫无准备的, 猝不及防的 to come upon someone who is unprepared; to surprise someone. (asleep at the switch.) to be surprised by something that you have not given attention to. I was caught napping by the last storm, but this time I've already got batteries and flashlights and canned food on hand. The enemy soldiers caught our army napping. The thieves caught the security guard napping. I didn't expect you so soon. You caught me off balance. The teacher asked a trick question and caught me up short. The robbers caught Ann off balance and stole her purse. asleep at the switch/wheel I. Fig. not attending to one's job; failing to do one's duty at the proper time. (Alludes to a technician or engineer on a train sleeping instead of turning whatever switches are required. be ~; fall ~.) The security guard fell asleep at the switch and a robber broke in. If I hadn't been asleep at the switch, I'd have noticed the car being stolen. II. not paying attention. Health experts were asleep at the switch when the disease began to spread rapidly again. Etymology: based on the idea of someone going to sleep while they are responsible for operating the switch (device) that allows a train to move from one track to another. catch someone up on (someone or something) to tell someone the news of someone or something (Fixed order.) Oh, please catch me up on what your family is doing. Yes, do catch us up! I have to take some time to catch myself up on the news. catch up on something 补上, 赶上, 追上 I. to do whatever you have not had time to do. I have to catch up on my reading. II. to find out about something. Most folks stop here for a cup of coffee while they catch up on the day's news. 3. Whatever turns you on I. Inf. Whatever pleases or excites you is okay. whatever tickles your fancy/pickle. Mary: Do you mind if I buy some of these flowers? Bill: Whatever turns you on. Mary: I just love to hear a raucous saxophone play some smooth jazz. Bob: Whatever turns you on, baby. II. Inf. a comment implying that it is strange to get so excited about something (Essentially sarcastic.) Bob: I just go wild whenever I see pink gloves on a woman. I don't understand it. Bill: Whatever turns you on. Jane: You see, I never told anybody this, but whenever I see snow falling, I just go sort of mushy inside内心变得多愁善感. Sue: Weird, Jane, weird. But, whatever turns you on. mushy ['mʌʃi] I. Excessively sentimental. II. Given to or displaying mawkish affection or amorousness. 5. can't do something for nuts (British & Australian informal) if someone cannot do something for nuts, they cannot do it at all. So Roger had prepared a beautiful meal? I thought you said he couldn't cook for nuts. steady on (英)太过了, 太夸张了, 过分了! used to tell someone that what they are saying is too extreme: Steady on, Chris - she's nice but she's not that nice! In a country where a polite cough is the only acceptable way of warning the captain that he is about to hit an iceberg - then 'steady on' is about the most extreme comment you can make about somebody's behavior in English. This derived from instructions to the helmsman to "hold your course" (in the face of some event) and evolved into the meaning of "don't act precipitously ( [pri'sipitəs] I. 陡峭的. 险峻的. Resembling a precipice; extremely steep. precipitous mountain trails. II. Having several precipices: a precipitous bluff. a precipitous wall of rock. III. 轻率的, 草率的, 鲁莽的. )". It means "calm down" or "hold on" - it can refer both to actual calmness, and to holding off from some (allegedly) hasty action. The closest American equivalent with which I am familiar is "slow your roll". Slow your roll I. to slow down. II. to stop a certain behavior, such as drinking too much or too quickly, getting loud and obnoxious in a bar, or spending too much money. Hey, slow your roll with those shots! Slow your roll! It's my play! (In the game of dominoes, to indicate that someone is playing out of turn.). Hey, slow your roll! III. In a nutshell it means relax, take it easy. calm down, slow down and just relax. simmer down I. Lit. to decrease in intensity. (As boiling dies down when the heat is lowered or removed.) The hectic activity of the day finally simmered down. When things simmer down in the fall, this is a much nicer place. II. Fig. [for someone] to become calm or less agitated. to become less angry or excited about something: Come on kids! Simmer down and get on with your work! I wish you would simmer down. Please simmer down, you guys! 7. brasco ['bræskəu] n. Austral slang a lavatory [from a toilet manufacturer named Brass Co.]. Toilet. Working class prison Australian word for the ceramic bowl used in modern WC's. Comes from a makers brand Brasco written on the top rear, under the lip of the bowl(Like Royal Doulton). Some say it is a reference to the mafia grass, "Donny Brasco". 'Where's Donny"? "On the Brasco, mate. kick back. He'll be out soon". "Where's the Brasco man! I'm busting'". "He's once shared a toilet with Roger, when they were both busting for a pee 尿急 after a car journey." I could tell she was nearing the point where she no longer cared who knew, she must have been absolutely busting for a wee by now! lavatory ['lævətəri -trɪ] A room equipped with washing and often toilet facilities; a bathroom. 8. come along (with someone) 一起来吧, 来吧, 一起吧, 加入我们吧. to come with or go with someone. Please come along with me to the store. Come along, let's go. come along I. to develop or improve. Thomas is more relaxed and his skills are coming along. II. to appear or be available. Sometimes an album comes along that just sounds better than anything else you've heard in a long time. presentation I. 婴儿体位. the position of the fetus in the uterus during labor, esp. in relation to its appearance at the cervix: a breech(The lower rear portion of the human trunk; the buttocks.) presentation. II. Something, such as an award or gift, that is offered or given. A farewell presentation will be held for him at 1.30pm today in the PD area. III. Something, such as a lecture or speech, that is set forth for an audience: gave a presentation on drug abuse.
新闻故事: 1. 关于Moto搬回美国生产: So at the lowest rung( 指招聘工作中最低档的assembler工作的薪水. be on the lowest/bottom rung of the ladder 最低档的, 最后一档的: to be at the lowest level of an organization. I started my life on the bottom rung of the ladder in this company. sit at the lowest rung of something.), we're talking Walmart wages. For better-educated technicians and production leads, we're in a more middle-class pay range. There's no mention of benefits福利 in the ads, but I'm not going to draw any hard conclusions from that. None of this should be particularly shocking. The generous manufacturing wages of mid-century America are mostly a memory 只能是一种回忆 at this point. Even the United Auto Workers have negotiated a two-tiered wage system that start's new assembly hands装配新手 at about $14 an hour, half of what their older colleagues make. But in general, I think this is a reminder that even if the United States really is on the verge of bringing back loads of manufacturing work from overseas, as many believe, we have to temper our expectations for 不要寄望太高, 不用期望太高 what that will mean. 2. Nexus 7 is the best?: The base model Nexus 7 is now $30 more expensive than last year's version, but what you're getting in return are some of the best guts any tablet has to offer on the inside, which translates into beautiful results on outside. One caveat(发音似"开胃亚特")警告, 告诫, 附加说明: The bezels running the length of the device are noticeably slimmer纤细 on this year's model, When holding the tablet vertically in portrait mode, the narrower bezel makes one-handed page turning a bit awkward. It's not that it's an impossible feat不可能完成的事情, but it takes some getting used to( It takes (some) getting used to 需要花点时间去适应, 需要一阵子去适应. It is very unpleasant at first, but after a time it will not be so bothersome. (Said in recognition of the unpleasantness of something.) I never ate raw oysters before. It takes some getting used to. These hot Mexican dishes seem impossible at first. They take some getting used to, I agree. But it's worth it.) -- and self-assuring that (self-assured adj confident of one's own worth. Having or showing confidence and poise.) the tablet isn't going to slip out of your hand. Conversely, the bezels running the width of the tablet are thicker than before. This gives the device a bit of an awkward appearance, but it does make holding the tablet horizontally in landscape mode a bit more comfortable. For those who watch a lot of video on the go, this -- and the excellent screen -- will bring joy. Unless you're streaming high-definition movies non-stop with the brightness cranked all the way up, the Nexus 7 will get you through an entire day of use -- if not days of use. And even if you decide to tax ( tax I. 穷尽. 耗尽. To make difficult or excessive demands upon. to make heavy demands on; strain. to tax one's intellect. a boss who taxed everyone's patience. II. To make a charge against; accuse. to accuse, charge, or blame. He was taxed with the crime. He was taxed with failure to appear on the day appointed. ) the battery, it will still last you the better part of a work day. The Nexus 7 also has stereo speakers and a 5-megapixel camera. Like most tablets, these are solid enough features to use in a pinch, but you'll be better served by using headphones and a smartphone camera. 板球比赛: Rogers won't blame mate as Ashes ton goes begging(ton: In the sport of cricket, a century is a score of 100 or more runs in a single innings by a batsman. The term is also included in "century partnership" which occurs when two batsmen add 100 runs to the team total when they are batting together. A century is regarded as a landmark score for batsmen and a player's number of centuries is generally recorded in his career statistics. Scoring a century is loosely equated in terms of merit to a bowler taking five wickets in an inning, and is colloquially referred to as a ton or hundred. Scores of more than 200 runs are still statistically counted as a century, although these scores are referred as double (200–299 runs), triple (300–399 runs), and quadruple centuries (400–499 runs), and so on. Accordingly相应的, 同样的, reaching 50 runs in an innings is known as a half-century; if the batsman then goes onto score a century, the half-century is succeeded in statistics by the century. go begging Fig. 过剩. 没有要. 找买家. 找主儿. to be left over, unwanted, or unused. (As if a thing were begging for an owner or a user.). to be available. Good jobs still go begging in the health care and teaching fields. There is still food left. A whole lobster is going begging. Please eat some more, There are many excellent books in the library just going begging because people don't know they are there.): Australia's Chris Rogers refused to blame a restless friend for missing out on what would have been a maiden Test hundred at Old Trafford on Thursday. The 35-year-old opener batted impressively after Australia captain Michael Clarke won the toss on the first day of the third Ashes Test and was in sight of a cherished century 胜利在望, 指日可待 when he was lbw to England off-spinner Graeme Swann for 84. But the day's play was repeatedly held up by movement behind the bowler's arm at the Pavilion End. After stumps (stump I. To cause to be at a loss; baffle: stumped the teacher with a question. II. Cricket (of a fielder, esp a wicketkeeper) to dismiss (a batsman) by breaking his wicket with the ball or with the ball in the hand while he is out of his crease. ) Rogers, asked if Salpietro had contributed to his missing out on a Test century, replied: "No, not really. These things crop up ( crop up to appear without warning; to happen suddenly; [for something] to begin to reveal itself in the open. to appear by chance. Officials fear that the virus could crop up in the United States. Interest in international issues has cropped up on many university campuses. Some new problems cropped up at the last minute.) every now and again. I'll make a phone call because I know the guy who was up there. 斯诺登获准入境俄罗斯: The US has labelled Russia's decision to grant asylum to fugitive intelligence leaker Edward Snowden as "extremely disappointing". However, White House spokesman Jay Carney said: "We're extremely disappointed that the Russian government would take this step despite our very clear and lawful requests in public and in private to have Mr Snowden expelled to the United States to face the charges against him. "We're evaluating the utility of a summit ( utility 作用, 功用. 有用性. the quality of practical use; usefulness; serviceability. The quality or condition of being useful; usefulness. "I have always doubted the utility of these conferences on disarmament". ) in light of this and other issues." Russia has consistently played down the importance of the issue and insisted relations with the US should be unaffected. Relations between the US and Russia were already bad and, after what appears to be a deliberate move by Mr Putin, they have now taken a definite turn for the worse. Moscow and Washington are already at loggerheads on a number of issues, particularly the Syria conflict, where Russia supports the government and the US backs the rebels. Mr Kucherena said his client "assured me that he is not planning to publish any documents that blacken the American government". Mr Kucherena said Mr Snowden had been given shelter in a private home of American expatriates. The systems analyst also disclosed that the NSA had tapped directly into the servers of major internet firms to track online communication in a surveillance programme known as Prism.
Simon Cowell Expecting a Baby: The notoriously prickly Brit, 53, is expecting a baby with New York socialite Lauren Silverman. "She's around 10 weeks along怀孕十周," the insider shares. And that's only part of the story. "Lauren and Andrew have been unhappy in their marriage for some time, and their divorce has been in the works for a while," a source tells Us. "As their marriage deteriorated, she and Simon became close." In any case, diaper duty is a big deal for the X Factor judge, who has said on more than one occasion in the past that he's not cut out to be a dad. "God, no. I couldn't have children. If I had them here drawing on the walls I'd go nuts," he crowed( crow [krəu] I. To utter the shrill cry characteristic of a cock or rooster. II. To exult loudly, as over another's defeat; boast. III. To make a sound expressive of pleasure or well-being, characteristic of an infant.) in 2009. "With kids, you've got a routine you can't escape from. You've got to be up at a certain time. Got to listen. When all you want to do is sit in a corner thinking." In recent years, however, his stance on the issue seems to have softened立场软化. Last year, he hinted in an interview with AOL Music that he hadn't entirely ruled out the idea of someday becoming a father. "Well...yes," he said when asked if he'd changed his mind about children. "And no. I do really, really like kids, because I can talk to them and listen to them. The problem has always been how much time you need to devote to bringing up kids. I've always dedicated all my life to work, and at 52, I've probably missed the opportunity."
