用法学习: 1. Show jumping 马术, 马跨越障碍, also known as "stadium jumping", "open jumping", or simply "jumping", is a part of a group of English riding equestrian [ɪˈkwestriən] events that also includes dressage, eventing, hunters, and equitation. gel [dʒel] 定型 I. If people gel with each other, or if two groups of people gel, they work well together because their skills and personalities fit together well. They have gelled very well 合作愉快 with the rest of the side. There were signs on Saturday that the team is starting to gel at last. Their partnership gelled and scriptwriting for television followed. II. If a vague shape, thought, or creation gels, it becomes clearer or more definite. Her interpretation has not yet gelled 成形 into a satisfying whole. It was not until 1974 that his ability to write gelled again. III. Gel is a thick jelly-like substance, especially one used to keep your hair in a particular style. come at somebody/something I. 冲过来. to move towards someone in a threatening way. to suddenly move towards someone in order to threaten them or attack them physically. A stranger came at him with a knife. Suddenly, he came at me with a knife. II. if images, questions, facts etc come at you, you feel confused because there are too many of them at the same time. if things such as questions or pieces of information come at you, they are directed at you in order to influence or affect you. Questions were coming at me from all directions. III. informal to consider or deal with a problem in a particular way. to examine or deal with something such as a problem in a particular way. Try coming at it from a different angle 不同的做事方式. We need to come at the problem 解决问题 from a different angle. We come at it from totally different angle. 2. through someone's lens = through the lens of someone 通过...的视角: Meghan about the Queen - To be able to meet her through his lens, not just with his honour and respect for her as the monarch but the love that he has for her as his grandmother, all of those layers have been so important for me.. When I met her I had such a deep understanding and of course incredible respect for being able to have that time with her. She's an incredible woman. rail against someone or something 反对 to complain vehemently about someone or something. Why are you railing against me? What did I do? Leonard is railing against the tax increase again. The verb rail means to criticize severely. When you rail against increased taxes at a town meeting, you speak openly and loudly about how wrong the increase is and point out the problems it will cause. Rail can also mean "to complain." tenacious I. 意志坚定的. 咬定青山不放松的. 认死理的. a tenacious person is very determined and is not willing to stop when they are trying to achieve something. If you are tenacious, you are very determined and do not give up easily. She is very tenacious and will work hard and long to achieve objectives. He is regarded at the BBC as a tenacious and persistent interviewer. II. 根深蒂固的 tenacious ideas, beliefs, or habits continue for a long time and are difficult to change. If you describe something such as an idea or belief as tenacious, you mean that it has a strong influence on people and is difficult to change or remove. ...a remarkably tenacious belief that was to dominate future theories of military strategy. whip smart = smart as a whip 聪明绝顶的 extremely intelligent Obama is overturning old stereotypes about black women by presenting herself as "nurturing, beautiful and stylish as well as whip smart, athletic and strong". 3. feckless a feckless person is not reliable, does not care about achieving anything, and has no clear plans. If you describe someone as feckless, you mean that they lack determination or strength, and are unable to do anything properly. [formal, disapproval] He regarded the young man as feckless and irresponsible. What is a 'Chinese Wall': The Chinese wall is a term describing an ethical barrier within an organization that prevents communication that creates conflicts of interest. For example, a Chinese wall could exist between departments where the exchange of information could unfairly influence trades. The "wall" is figuratively erected to safeguard insider information and protect private data that could create negative implications and legal consequences if improperly shared. For example, a Chinese wall may be erected to separate and isolate people who make investments from those who are privy to confidential information that could improperly influence the investment decisions. Firms are generally required by law to safeguard insider information and ensure that improper trading does not occur. 4. dour [daur] I. 不苟言笑的. very serious, and not smiling or friendly. If you describe someone as dour, you mean that they are very serious and unfriendly. ...a dour, taciturn man. No wonder he looked so dour. II. British not pleasant, interesting, or exciting. a dour industrial city. Big bang theory: If we're going to be real girlfriends, we should talk about you as well. Well, you know, if we're gonna be real girlfriends, we should get a third girl we can trash behind her back. Oh, so we'd be catty. Oh, I like it. What about Sheldon's fiance? She seems a bit dour. catty used for describing someone who enjoys saying cruel or unpleasant things about other people. until advised otherwise = unless otherwise instructed This is a phrase to use when giving instructions. "Unless otherwise instructed" means "unless someone gives you different instructions". For example: When you hear an alarm, stay in your office unless otherwise instructed. This means that the basic instruction is to stay in your office. But if someone gives you different instructions, you should follow them. TBC = to be confirmed 有待确认: tbc is sometimes written in announcements about future events to indicate that details of the event are not yet certain and will be confirmed later. tbc is an abbreviation for 'to be confirmed'. tbf also TBF, to be fair written abbreviation for to be fair: used, for example on social media and in text messages, when you have considered everything that has an effect on a situation in order to make a fair judgment: Tbf she's never done anything bad to me.
alimony VS palimony; dower, bride price/wealth, dowry, dowager: 1. palimony [ˈpæləˌmouni] 分手费 money that a court orders someone to pay to a partner who they used to live with but were not married to. Alimony is money that a court of law orders someone to pay regularly to their former wife or husband after they have got divorced. Compare palimony. A great deal of Jeff's money went in alimony to his three former wives. Palimony is the division of financial assets and real property on the termination of a personal live-in relationship wherein the parties are not legally married. The term "palimony" is not a legal or historical term, but rather a colloquial portmanteau of the words pal and alimony coined by celebrity divorce attorney Marvin Mitchelson in 1977 when his client Michelle Triola Marvin filed an unsuccessful suit against the actor Lee Marvin. While the suit was unsuccessful in this instance, the courts found that "in the absence of an express agreement, courts may look to a variety of other remedies to divide property equitably." It is unclear as to how many states currently expressly [ɪkˈspresli] ( I. formal 明确无误的 in a way that is clear and definite. The students were expressly forbidden to use the Internet for their research on this occasion. II. for a particular purpose. She came expressly to see you.) forbid any kind of palimony to be awarded. That is to say, how many states allow both partners in an unmarried cohabitation, to expressly keep all that is under their own name, including income and property. But it is widely recommended by legal offices across the country that prior to committing to an unmarried but romantic cohabitation, the couple should enter into a legal cohabitation agreement prior to moving in together. 2. Alimony( ['æliməni] 离婚相关的 配偶抚养费, 赡养费 I. Law
An allowance for support made under court order to a divorced person by
the former spouse, usually the chief provider during the marriage.
Alimony may also be granted without a divorce, as between legally
separated persons. II. A means of livelihood; maintenance.) (also called aliment (Scotland), maintenance (England and Wales), spousal support (U.S./Canada) and spousal maintenance (Australia)) is a legal obligation on a person to provide financial support to his or her spouse before or after marital separation or divorce. The obligation arises from the divorce law or family law of each country. Traditionally, alimony was paid by a husband to his former wife, but since the 1970s there have been moves in many Western countries to gender equality 性别平等 with a corresponding recognition that 相应的承认 a former husband may also be entitled to alimony from his former wife. Once dissolution proceedings commence, either party may seek interim 过渡期的 or pendente lite ( pendente lite [pɛnˌdɛnteɪ ˈlʌɪti,-ˌdɛnti] during litigation. depending on the outcome of litigation. ) support during the course of the litigation. Where a divorce or dissolution of marriage 婚姻解体 (civil union) is granted, either party may ask for post-marital alimony. It is not an absolute right绝对权利, but may be granted, the amount and terms varying with the circumstances根据实际情况而不同. Unless the parties agree on the terms of their divorce in a binding written instrument, the court will make a determination based on the legal argument and the testimony submitted by both parties. This can be modified at any future date未来任何时候 based on a change of circumstances by either party on proper notice to the other party and application to the court. The courts are generally reluctant to modify an existing agreement unless the reasons are compelling除非理由充分. In some jurisdictions the court always has jurisdiction to grant maintenance should one of the former spouses become a public charge. One who allows his or her alimony obligations to go into arrears 过期不偿付, where there is an ability to pay有支付能力, may be found in contempt of court藐视法庭 and be sent to jail. Alimony obligations are not discharged 责任免除 as a result of the obligee filing bankruptcy. Ex-spouses who allow child-support obligations to go into arrears may have certain licenses seized, be found in contempt of court, and/or be sent to jail. Like alimony, child-support obligations抚养孩子义务 are not discharged as a result of the obligee filing bankruptcy. 3. Dower is a provision accorded by law, but traditionally by a husband or his family, to a wife for her support in the event that she should become widowed. It was settled on the bride (being gifted into trust) by agreement at the time of the wedding, or as provided by law. The dower grew out of the Germanic practice of bride price (Old English weotuma), which was given over to a bride's family well in advance for arranging the marriage, but during the early Middle Ages, was given directly to the bride instead. However, in popular parlance, the term may be used for a life interest in property settled by a husband on his wife at any time, not just at the wedding. The verb to dower is sometimes used. In popular usage, the term dower may be confused with: A dowager([ˈdauədʒər] I. a woman who has a title or property because her dead husband belonged to a high social class. II. informal an impressive older woman, especially one who is rich. ) is a widow (who may receive her dower). The term is especially used of a noble or royal widow who no longer occupies the position she held during the marriage. For example, Queen Elizabeth was technically the dowager queen after the death of George VI (though she was referred to by the more informal title "Queen Mother"), and Princess Lilian was the Dowager Duchess of Halland in heraldic parlance. Such a dowager will receive the income from her dower property. (The term "Empress Dowager", in Chinese history, has a different meaning.) Property brought to the marriage by the bride is called a dowry. But the word dower has been used since Chaucer (The Clerk's Tale) in the sense of dowry 嫁妆, and is recognized as a definition of dower in the Oxford English Dictionary. Property made over to the bride's family at the time of the wedding is a bride price 彩礼(Bride price, best called bridewealth, also known as bride token, is money, property, or other form of wealth paid by a groom or his family to the family of the woman he will be married or is just about to marry. Bride price can be compared to dowry, which is paid to the groom, or used by the bride to help establish the new household, and dower, which is property settled on the bride herself by the groom at the time of marriage. Some cultures may practice both dowry and bride price simultaneously. Many cultures practiced bride pricing prior to existing records.). This property does not pass to the bride herself.
Greg Hunt, the health minister whose bedside manner deserted him: Greg Hunt regularly wears a furrow-browed expression 总是皱着眉头, which suits a fellow who is the Minister for Health - it makes him look a bit like a GP who knows that at any moment he might have to deliver very bad news. But Hunt's appearance deepened to agony this week after it was revealed his bedside manner (Bedside manner, an old term describing how a healthcare professional handles a patient in a doctor–patient relationship. A good bedside manner 医患关系 is typically one that reassures and comforts the patient while remaining honest about a diagnosis. Vocal tones, body language, openness, presence, honesty, and concealment of attitude may all affect bedside manner. Poor bedside manner leaves the patient feeling unsatisfied, worried, frightened, or alone. Bedside manner becomes difficult when a healthcare professional must explain an unfavorable diagnosis to the patient, while keeping the patient from being alarmed 被吓坏. ) had deserted him altogether when he came up against the mayor of the Northern Territory town of Katherine last year, and the bad news was all coming his way. The minister spent Thursday falling over himself ( [informal] 不遗余力的. To be unusually enthusiastic. If you say that people are falling over themselves to do something, you mean that they are very enthusiastic about doing it, and often that you disapprove of this. Within days of his death those same people were falling over themselves to denounce him. Usage notes: I. This is usually followed by to and a verb, as in the examples. II. There are also literal meanings of the phrase, parsed as fall over, which see, plus oneself.) to apologise to the mayor, Fay Miller, for having used extremely blue language to her( Blue humor 有色笑话, blue movies, blue talk—what's so obscene about the color blue? Nobody really knows, as it turns out. The origin of blue in the sense of lewd, coarse, or pornographic has been tough to pin down: Etymologists have put forward a bunch of theories but haven’t found anything conclusive. Blue comedy is comedy that is off-color, risqué, indecent or profane, largely about sex. It often contains profanity or sexual imagery that may shock and offend some audience members. "Working blue" refers to the act of using curse words and discussing things that people do not discuss in "polite society". Purple prose 辞藻华丽 is a term of literary criticism used to describe passages, or sometimes entire literary works, written in prose so extravagant, ornate, or flowery as to break the flow and draw attention to itself. Purple prose is sensually evocative beyond the requirements of its context. Purple prose is characterized by the excessive use of adjectives, adverbs, and metaphors.), and for having taken six months to actually make the apology. If he were a GP, he'd stand accused of malpractice. Alderman Miller said she met Hunt in Canberra last year to lobby for greater assistance to deal with contamination from fire-fighting foam in her district. Tackled in question time by Labor's health spokeswoman, Catherine King, and deputy Labor leader Tanya Plibersek, for having unleashed "a torrent of expletives [ˈeksplətɪv] 一连串的, 连珠炮似的粗话 to a grandmother", Hunt could barely apologise enough. Labor wanted to know whether there had been other such occasions, and Hunt eventually owned - without too much detail - that he had once had "a strong discussion" with a former secretary of health relating to the progress of screenings for cervical cancer. "This was a matter of life and death, literally," he said, adding that he had the "utmost respect for the public servant involved". Ms King later tweeted that "the pattern of behaviour is becoming clear".
