用法学习: 1. serene [sɪ'riːn] 安详, 静谧 adj. Someone or something that is serene is calm and quiet. She looked as calm and serene as she always did. He didn't speak much, he just smiled with that serene smile of his. ...the beautiful, serene park. We sailed serenely down the river. She carried on serenely sipping her gin and tonic. ...serenely beautiful. I had a wonderful feeling of peace and serenity when I saw my husband. scoundrel [skaundrəl] If you refer to a man as a scoundrel, you mean that he behaves very badly towards other people, especially by cheating them or deceiving them. a man who behaves in an unfair or dishonest way. He is a lying scoundrel! point man I. 负责人. 责任人. The point man for a particular activity or on a particular issue is in a leading or important position. (especially in a political context) a person at the forefront of an activity or endeavour. "Olson was the defence department's point man when the government recently changed pension legislation". The point man for Denver's new airport says there's no way it'll go under. In 2004, Hathaway began a romantic relationship with Italian real estate developer Raffaello Follieri. Follieri's Manhattan-based foundation, established in 2003, focused on efforts such as providing vaccinations for children in poor countries. In June 2008, it was investigated by the IRS for failure to file required nonprofit information forms. In June 2008, Follieri was arrested on charges of defrauding investors out of millions of dollars in a scheme in which Follieri posed as the Vatican's point man on real-estate investing. It was reported that the FBI confiscated Hathaway's private journals from Follieri's New York City apartment as part of their ongoing investigation into Follieri's activities. Hathaway was not charged with any crime. In October 2008, after earlier pleading guilty, Follieri was sentenced to four and a half years in prison. II. someone who tries to prevent problems. III. In combat, the soldier who takes point; the soldier who assumes the first and most exposed position in a combat military formation; the lead soldier/unit advancing through hostile or unsecured territory. IV. (idiomatic, by extension) A most trusted assistant or associate; the person upon whom one would most rely. wiki: In modern military parlance, to take point, walk point, be on point, or be a point man 先锋官, 先行 means to assume the first and most exposed position in a combat military formation, that is, the leading soldier or unit advancing through hostile or unsecured territory. The term can be applied to infantry or mechanized columns. The soldier, vehicle, or unit on point is frequently the first to take hostile fire. The inherent risks of taking point create a need for constant and extreme operational alertness. However, ambushes 伏击 often intend to let the point element past the prime kill zone in order to be maximally effective. Point position is often rotated periodically so as not to overtax the individual soldier/unit(overtax I. If you overtax someone or something, you force them to work harder than they can really manage, and may do them harm as a result. ...a contralto who has overtaxed 过度使用 her voice. II. If you say that a government is overtaxing its people, you mean that it is making them pay more tax than you think they should pay. You can't help Britain by overtaxing its people. contralto [kəntræltoʊ] 低音歌手 A contralto is a woman with a low singing voice. The score calls for a contralto. I had a very low contralto voice. ). 2. Runaway Vacation script: I gotta take a crap. Time to break in the pooper. You are so disgusting. Dad! The toilet's backed up 返上来了! Carl, what did you eat? Dad, it's not mine. do your level best to try as hard as you can: Tickets are hard to come by but I'll do my level best to get you one. 关于管道, 厕所返臭 Are Your Pipes Backed Up?: Blocked pipes are a disaster waiting to happen and although they take time to accumulate to become a big problem, prevention is simple and a lot more cost-effective than time and money spent unclogging and repairing the pipes. Preventing pipe blockages is essential not only for the efficiency of the plumbing in your home, but also for the wastewater network that keeps water supply running to our businesses, hospitals and other important infrastructure. All flushing and repairs of blocked pipes should be performed by a professional with expertise and tools to carry out the task efficiently and cost-effectively. A sewer drain clog(sewer US and AU, UK [ˈsuər] CA [ˈsjuːə(r)] US ['səʊə(r)] an underground pipe or passage that carries sewage. ) is a very serious problem that can be considered a plumbing emergency and a potential health concern. Since the wastewater has no place to go, it will all come back up into the household plumbing system in one way or another. When you have a sewer drain clog, you should not use any of the plumbing in the home until the stoppage is cleared. A sewer drain clog is a very serious problem that can be considered a plumbing emergency and a potential health concern. Since the wastewater has no place to go, it will all come back up into the household plumbing system in one way or another. When you have a sewer drain clog, you should not use any of the plumbing in the home until the stoppage is cleared. Your home's sewer drain connects to the city main under the street. If your house drain is backed up, chances are the clog is in your line, but it's possible the city main is backed up instead. Either way, your house drains will behave about the same, although sometimes city backups have enough pressure to force sewage into home drains, flooding bathrooms and creating other yucky problems. The best way to tell whether it's you or the city is to check with your close neighbors on both sides of your house. If one of them also has a backup, it's time to call the city. If city workers come out to investigate, they will repair only problems with the main sewer line; they won't take care of your line from the main to your house. 3. basket case informal I. 行尸走肉. a person or thing regarded as useless or unable to cope. If you describe someone as a basket case, you think that they are insane. someone who is extremely nervous or anxious and is therefore unable to organize their life: By the end of the course I was a complete basket case. You're going to think I'm a basket case when I tell you this. "do that for a couple of days and you become a blithering basket case". (blithering 十足的 [ˈblɪð(ə)rɪŋ] complete; utter (used to express annoyance or contempt). "a blithering idiot 十足的混蛋". blithe [blaɪð] adj. I. literary happy and not worried about anything. Someone who is blithe is cheerful and has no serious problems. She said 'hi' with the blithe assurance of someone who knew how much she'd been missed. II. ignoring or not realizing the real disadvantages of a situation or the possible bad results of something you do. You use blithe to indicate that something is done casually, without serious or careful thought. [disapproval] It does so with blithe disregard for best scientific practice. Your editorial blithely ignores the hard facts. He appears blithely unaware of the disastrous effects of the new system. ) II. a country or organization that is in severe financial or economic difficulties, especially one that is unable to pay its debts. If someone describes a country or organization as a basket case, they mean that its economy or finances are in a seriously bad state. A financial crisis had seen the country become an economic basket case. The country is an economic basket case with chronic unemployment and rampant crime. "sudden meltdowns—such as the financial crisis—can turn flourishing countries into basket cases overnight". 委内瑞拉危机: In a united and seemingly co-ordinated front, the US, Canada and some Latin American and European countries announced that they supported Guaido's claim to the presidency.
如何点单埋单 - When you invite a person for a drink or coffee: Can I buy you a drink? Will you allow me to purchase a drink for you so that we have drinks together? Harry told me, Your presentation was excellent. Can I buy you a drink? Let's go for a drink. Do you have time? OK. What place do you want to go to? Let's go for a beer. With pleasure. I like the Irish pub on Santa Monica Boulevard. What do you think? Let's go for coffee. That sounds good. Let's go downtown. There is a quaint coffee shop on Main Street. How about a cup of coffee? Great idea! I've developed a relish for coffee since I quit smoking. Let's go get coffee. I'd rather not. I'm too busy to take a lunch break today. When you ask what alcohol is available What kind of beer do you have? We have a variety of domestic and imported beers. What kinds of wine do you have? We specialize in 专卖 California wines. But we also carry an assortment of wines from Europe, Australia and South America. When you place an order in a bar or café Give me a beer. We carry 售卖, 经营 a wide selection of American brands. What's your choice? I'll have a beer. I would recommend you to try the product of the local brewery. I'd like a beer. Do you have in mind anything in particular? How about Great American? I'd like a mug of beer. We have a local brand on tap. It's good. Make mine cold. Bartender! Two beers, please! Make mine cold. I'd like a glass of wine. Red or white, sir? I'd like a Scotch. I would like a serving of 一份 Scotch whiskey. Would you like it straight or on the rocks? I'd like a Scotch on the rocks. I would like a Scotch served on ice cubes. I believe Johnnie Hiker will be all right? I'd like a whiskey with soda. We carry American, Scotch, Irish and Canadian whiskies. Do you have any preference? I'd like a gin and tonic. Would you like it garnished with a slice of lemon? I'd like a diet cola. Would you like Pepsi or Coke? I'd like a mineral water. I would like a glass of mineral water. We have French water that is highly mineralized and effervescent. Alternatively, I can offer Italian water that is soft and still. I'd like coffee. Do you need cream or sugar with your coffee? Nothing for me. I don't want anything. We have beer, wine, and hard drinks. Nothing for me, thanks. When you make a toast: Cheers! Jeremy, your victory in the contest was spectacular. Cheers! To your health! Bill, you are a real friend. To your health! Here's to you! Thanks to your efforts we succeeded. Here's to you, Mike! Here's to us! We've done a good job. Here's to us! To life! Guys! Life is good! To life! Bottoms up! Raise your glass high so that all the liquor pours in your mouth. I am drinking for our friendship. Bottoms up! Drink up! Boys! Today we proved that we are the best team in town. Drink up! When a person has drunk too much That's all for you tonight. Jeremy, we have to go home now. That's all for you tonight. I think you've had enough. Bill, put the glass down. I think you've had enough. I think this is your last one. OK, Mike, drink it up 喝光, 喝净, 喝干. I think this is your last one. When a person is drunk He's tipsy 喝晕了. Help me to walk Jeremy to the car. He is tipsy. He's inebriated [ɪˈniːbrɪeɪtɪd]. Help Bill to get up 扶起来, 扶着. He is inebriated. He's drunk as a skunk. Mike is falling asleep. He is drunk as a skunk. He's stone drunk. You have to take the captain of our team home. He is stone drunk. When you place an order at a fast-food place Give me a burger and fries. May I take your order, please? Give me a burger and fries. I'd like a burger and fries. What would you like? I'd like a burger and fries. Give me a cheeseburger and a shake. What will it be? Give me a cheeseburger and a shake. I'll have a burger and a shake. What will you have? I'll have a burger and a shake. Give me a small soda. May I help you? Give me a small soda. I'll have a soda. Can I help you? I'll have a soda. No ice, please. Is there anything I can get for you? Give me a glass of ginger ale. No ice, please. Can I have some napkins? Oh, Miss! Can I have some napkins? I'll have the same. I am ordering the same thing that the person before me has just ordered. What are you going to order? I'll have the same. The same for me. Can I take your order? The same for me. Make it two. May I take your order? I'll have a sandwich and a small salad. Make it two. I always order what my wife does. When you order food to take out or to eat in a shop To go, please. Here is our order. Two burgers and two large sodas. To go, please. I'd like that to go. Give me a chicken sandwich and a milk shake. I would like that to go. I'll eat it here. A garden salad, please. I will eat it here. It's for here. I'll have a breakfast combo and a banana split. It's for here. When you ask for a table in a restaurant A table for one, please. Do you want your table inside or on the terrace? It's kind of cold outside. I like that table by the fireplace. A table for two. Do you have a reservation? No, we don't. Then, there'll be a fifteen-minute wait. Two, please. How many people do you have in your party? Two, please. We are a party of four 四人组, 四个人. How many people? We are a party of four. I have a reservation. The name is Johnson 预定的. I see Johnson on my list. We'll have your table ready in just a few minutes. When you wait for somebody else in a restaurant I'm waiting for someone else. Would you like to order a drink while you are waiting? I am expecting someone else. Can I get you something to drink? Coffee? My friend will be along 马上就到 shortly. Are you waiting for someone? My friend will be along shortly. We are waiting for another couple. Will someone be joining you? We are waiting for another couple. When you request attention from a waiter or waitress in a restaurant Oh, waiter! Oh, waiter! We are ready to order. Just a moment. Oh, Miss! Oh, Miss! We are ready for desert. Excuse me, ma'am. Excuse me, ma’am. May I have more hot water, please? Pardon me, ma'am. Pardon me, ma'am. Can I have the check? Can you come here when you have a minute? I'll be with you in a minute. When you ask for something to drink in a restaurant I'd like some coffee. Would you care for a drink? I would like some coffee. I'd like an espresso. Would anyone like coffee? I would like an espresso. I'd like tea. Would you like something to drink first? I would like tea. Just coffee for the moment 眼下. Would you care for some wine? Just coffee for the moment. Just coffee for now. Would you like to start with a cocktail? Just coffee for now. Coffee, please. Is there anything I can get you? Coffee, please. Do you need cream and sugar?Can you get me a glass of water? Could you get me a glass of water? No ice, please. Sure. Just a minute. Could I have some water, please? Surely. Can I have your glass? When you are not ready to order in a restaurant I'm not ready to order yet. Do you know what you want? No. I’m not ready to order yet. May I have a few more minutes to decide? I haven't decided what I want yet. Are you ready to order? No. I haven‘t decided what I want yet. I need a few more minutes to decide. Can I take your order now? I need a few more minutes to decide. When you are ready to order in a restaurant I'm ready to order. I'll take your order in a minute. Can you take my order now? I'll be back in a minute. Can I order now [please]? I'll be right with you. When you inquire your dining partner about their ordering plans What are you ordering? What food are you planning to order? I'm ordering a bowl of soup and a beef sandwich. What are you having? I'll have a steak with a small salad. What are you drinking? What drink are you planning to order? I'm drinking a glass of red wine with my meal and then a cup of coffee with my desert. Have you decided on something? I think I'll take lamb chops. When you ask a waiter about restaurant special? Do you have any specials today? The specials are listed on the back of the menu. What are your specials today? Let me tell you about our specials. What is the special of the day? The special of the day is fried salmon with white rice and steamed vegetables. What would you suggest? Pork chops with red wine is very good. What would you recommend? Shrimp cocktail is good for starters. Do you have any recommendations? I would recommend lobster bisque and crab cakes made from the local variety of crab. What's the soup of the day? Our soup of the day is chicken noodle soup. When you give instructions how your steak is to be cooked in a restaurant I'd like my steak rare. How would you like your steak prepared? I would like my steak rare. Excellent choice! I'd like my steak medium How would you like your steak? I'd like my steak medium. I'd like my steak well-done. How would you like that done? I'd like my steak well-done. Can I get it well-done? Sure. Would you like soup or salad with it? Please make sure it's well-done. Yes, I will. Would you like a baked potato or rice with it? I want the steak thoroughly cooked. I will make sure of it. What kind of dressing would you like on your salad? We have Italian, Ranch, and Blue Cheese.When you order an additional serving in a restaurant I need more water. Oh, waiter! I need more water. Sure. Is there anything else I can get for you? I need more bread. Ma'am! I need more bread. I need more coffee. Pardon me! I need more coffee. I need more butter. Excuse me! I need more butter. May I have some more bread, please? Miss! Can I have some more bread, please? Oh, sure! Is there anything else? Could I have more coffee, please? Just a moment. Could I have some more butter, please? I'll be right there. When you ask for a bill in a restaurant I'd like the bill, please. I would like to receive the bill for my food and drink. The waiter asked, "How was your dinner? Jane replied, "It was really good. I'd like the bill, please. Check, please. After Bob had finished his dessert, he said, "Check, please. Could I have the bill? Waiter! Can I have the bill? Could I have the check? Did you enjoy your meal? Yes, it was great. Could I have the check? When you want to pay for the meals or drinks of your friends I'm buying the dinner. Jim told me, "I am buying the dinner." The dinner is on me. I am paying the bill for the dinner. John grabbed the check and told his friends at the table, "The dinner is on me." I'm buying the drinks. I am buying the drinks. Thank you, dear friend. It's so nice of you. The drinks are on me I am paying for the drinks. Guys, the drinks are on me, said Bill at the end of the dinner. When you want each person to pay for their meals or drinks Let's go Dutch. Let us split the cost of our meal 各付各的 so that everyone pays for his or her own expenses. After the dinner my girlfriend told me, "Let's go Dutch." 补充: "Would you like to start with a drink?" and you can reply "Yes, we'd like (type of drink) while we decide on our food." If you order a bottle of wine, the waiter might ask "Would you like to taste the wine?" when he opens the bottle for you. If you like it, you can reply 'Yes, that's fine." If you are not sure what to order, ask the waiter "What would you recommend?" to get some advice or "What are the specialities 特色菜, 招牌菜?" to find out what the most famous dishes are at that restaurant. You could also ask "What are today's specials?" to find out if there are any dishes being served today that are not usually on the menu. If you want to order wine with your main course, you can use the waiter’s expert knowledge to help choose something great. Ask the waiter "What wine goes well with this?" or "What wine matches this?" to make sure they taste great together. Special considerations: If you cannot eat certain things because of your religion or health, check the menu carefully. Vegetarian and vegan dishes are usually marked but if not you can point at the dish on the menu and ask the waiter "Does this contain meat/nuts/dairy?" to find out if it's OK for you to eat. Or, when the waiter gives you the menu, you can say "I can't eat _____, which dishes would you recommend for me?" 要东西: Can I get a drip coffee, please? May I have a drip coffee, please? Do you have drip coffee? Can I order a drip coffee? Especially when you go to a sit-down restaurant (this is a term for any restaurant that isn't fast food or take out, but it doesn’t have to be anything expensive either) you may have more questions asked while ordering and after ordering. When ordering a coffee, you may need to specify if you’d like it iced (cold) or hot, or what size you want. Some places will ask you if you want cream and sugar, and then they'll add it for you. If you order eggs or steak you need to answer how you'd like them cooked. Eggs may be scrambled (mixed up and cooked in little bits), omelettes (cooked in a circle and folded), over easy (a simple fried egg) and sunny side up (fried egg cooked only on the bottom side, so the yolk — the yellow part — on top stays liquid). You may be asked if you'd like any fillings (cheese, meat, vegetables and other things to put inside the egg) or side dishes (smaller plates of food which accompanies the main meal). You may also be asked if you want something on top of your food, a certain preparation style for your food, if you'd like to order any desserts and much more. When the time comes to pay for the meal, they may ask you if you're paying with credit, debit or cash. Always give time to let the employee ask these things. If you know they'll ask certain questions, you may want to state those answers beforehand to save them the trouble. Say what size order you want, or how you'd like your coffee. Ask for a steak and tell them if you want it cooked well done (cooked thoroughly), medium (average) or rare (less cooked, still red inside). "Would you like to try our new chocolate scone?" "No, thank you." "Alright, one large coffee. Your total is $2.50. Will that be cash or card?" "Card, please." "Please sign…here's your receipt." "Thank you." "Please wait at the counter over there for your coffee. Thank you, have a nice day!" "Thank you, you too." Excuse me, I ordered a while ago, I wonder where my order is 我点的菜, 我的单子怎样了( Where is my order / How do I track my order? As your order is dispatched, you will receive an e-mail with your tracking number. You can use the tracking number on Australia Post's website here to see how far they are. He received an order of fries 他点的薯条, but allegedly became upset for not getting hot sauce with his order.)? This seems to be the wrong dish, I ordered the fish and chips. The meal was delicious, absolutely delightful. May I please have a menu? Excuse me, there seems to be a mistake in this bill. "Is this served with ... (salad)?" The customer can say: "Excuse me, but I didn't order this." "I'm sorry, but this is cold." "Can I change my order please?" The waiter can say: "I'm so sorry about that..." "Let me take it back for you." (take it back = return it to the kitchen) "Let me change it for you."打包: Wait, I would like to take the rest please, can you please wrap them up (pack up) for me? Sure, I'll get you doggy bag. 但更准确的说法是: Could I have a to go container 餐盒, 打包盒子 for this? Thanks. I'd like to take this home. Could you box this up 打包 for me? Thank you. I haven't heard "doggie bag" used in a long time. If you had a sandwich it makes sense to use "wrap up" but for some things, not. Some fine dining places will not have take out containers and will politely decline. 关于打包Is it tacky to bring my own containers for leftovers?: I'm a cautionary person so this may seem like a silly question. I'm not always great at finishing a meal so I want to bring containers. Is it ok to just whip out your container and start stuffing the food in or do you ask first? I know I'm paying for the meal but I don't want to be rude. Edit: Thank you for all your responses! I do want to point out, I didn't word this all correctly. I took leftovers home but in their takeaway containers. It's always a good lunch the next day. I love tables that bring reusable containers. (I'm a server 服务生). It's less work for me AND good for the world. As someone who's worked in restaurants for 10 years, I don't think there would ever be a problem with packing your own leftovers with your own containers. It saves the staff product and time. Go for it!! Not tacky 穷气 unless it's a super fancy restaurant that doesn't box leftovers. 关于服务员的称呼: Unless you've been under a rock for a while, you know that you are no longer supposed to call a female waiter a waitress. However, at the same time, hardly anyone refers to a female server as a waiter, and most restaurants are using the term server for both male and female employees: "Hi, I'm Shelley, and I'll be your server today." gender neutral terms: So females who act are called actors, not actresses, and we don't say comedienne; we say comedian or comic(I. a comedian. "he is training as a stand-up comic". II. a periodical containing comic strips, intended chiefly for children. "the shop sold newspapers and children's comics". ). In both these cases, the normal unmarked form came to be used. In other instances, this wouldn't work. For instance, barman and barmaid became bartender. This makes sense. And, apologies to Angie Dickinson, but if her show were on today, it would have to have a different name, unless you think "Police Officer" would make a good name for a TV show. Again, we couldn't have started calling female police officers policemen. Firefighter replaced fireman, as women began to enter that service, and again, this makes sense. But when there does exist a perfectly good base or gender-neutral form, why don't we use it? It is because of the reason I stated above, we often do not understand that these forms are gender neutral and well-meaning people or organizations, often governments, invent or substitute new terms.
英脱欧: 1. Ms May now faces an uphill battle to bring together political parties with competing objectives to strike a compromise deal. The embattled leader unveiled her Brexit Plan B on Monday (local time) — but critics say it looks a lot like Plan A. Ms May launched a mission to resuscitate ([rɪˈsʌsɪˌteɪt] 起死回生 I. to make an unconscious person start to breathe again. II. to make something effective or successful again. the government's efforts to resuscitate the economy. ) her rejected European Union divorce deal, setting out plans to get it approved by Parliament after securing changes from the EU to a contentious 有争议的 Irish border measure. Ms May's opponents expressed incredulity: British politicians last week dealt the deal a resounding ( resounding [rɪˈzaʊndɪŋ] I. complete: used for emphasizing how successful or unsuccessful someone or something is. a resounding success/victory/defeat. II. a resounding sound is very loud and continues for a long time. a resounding burst of applause. ) defeat, and EU leaders insist they won't renegotiate it. Opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn of the Labour Party accused Ms May of being in "deep denial" about her doomed deal.
"This really does feel a bit like 'Groundhog Day’," he said, referring
to the 1993 film starring Bill Murray, in which a weatherman is fated to
live out the same day over and over again. Outlining what she plans to
do after her EU divorce deal was rejected by Parliament last week, Ms
May said that she had heeded politicians' concerns over an insurance policy known as the "backstop" ( I. in baseball, a fence or screen behind the home plate that prevents the ball from leaving the field. The ball hit the backstop and bounced right back to the catcher. II. another name for a catcher in baseball. He is expected to open next season as the Braves' starting backstop. III. something that can be used to solve problems after everything else has been tried. The central bank's job is to act as a backstop to the banking system during times of market and economic stress.) that is intended to guarantee there are no customs checks along the border between EU member Ireland and the UK's Northern Ireland after Brexit. While Ms May stuck doggedly 不屈不挠的
( [dɒgɪd] If you describe someone's actions as dogged, you mean that
they are determined to continue with something even if it becomes
difficult or dangerous. They
have gained respect through sheer dogged determination. ...his dogged
insistence on their rights. She would fight doggedly for her rights as
the children's mother. Most of my accomplishments came as the result of
sheer doggedness. ) to her deal, she also acknowledged that control over Brexit wasn't entirely in her hands. Groups of "soft Brexit"-backing politicians — who want to keep close economic ties to the bloc — are planning to use amendments to try to rule out a "no-deal" Brexit and make Ms May ease her insistence
that leaving the EU means quitting its single market and customs union.
Britain and the EU sealed a divorce deal in November after months of
tense negotiations. Brexit-backing politicians say it will leave the UK tethered to the bloc's rules and unable to forge an independent trade policy. Pro-Europeans argue it is inferior to the frictionless economic relationship
Britain currently enjoys as an EU member. In a nod to opposition
parties' concerns, she promised to consult lawmakers, trade unionists,
business groups and civil society organisations "to try to find the
broadest possible consensus" on future ties between Britain and the EU,
and said the government wouldn't water down protections for the environment and workers' rights after Brexit. Ms May also said the government had decided to waive a 65 pound
($AU116) fee for EU citizens in Britain who want to stay permanently
after Brexit. The backstop proposes to keep the UK in a customs union
with the EU in order to avoid checks on the Irish border. It is meant as a temporary measure 临时措施 that would last until a permanent solution is found. But pro-Brexit UK politicians fear Britain could become trapped in it,
indefinitely bound by EU trade rules. 2. 北爱和爱尔兰边界问题: The international
border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland is about 310
miles long with, depending on how many tracks you include, as many as
275 crossing points.
In reality, the entire border is a crossing point because, apart from
road signs changing from miles per hour to kilometres per hour, there is no physical infrastructure to see. The 1998 Good Friday Agreement, the basic building block of peace in Northern Ireland, removed security checkpoints
from the border and helped make it all but invisible. Customs checks
could undermine much of that progress. Like many peace deals, the Good
Friday Agreement is a masterpiece of creative ambiguity,
allowing different people to take different things from different parts
of the text. The other concern of course is economic. The economies of
Northern Ireland and the Republic are completely interconnected. Huge
amounts of goods and services cross the border every day without checks
of any kind. But there would have to be checks somewhere between the EU
and the UK, wouldn't there? Yes. It would - in effect - push the customs border out into the Irish Sea...
an internal customs border, if you like, between Northern Ireland and
Great Britain. Would that be acceptable to the UK government, or to its
Unionist political allies in Northern Ireland, the DUP? In a word, no.
"We respect the European Union desire to protect the legal order of the
single market and customs union," the UK's Brexit Secretary David Davis
said in Brussels recently. "But that cannot come at a cost to the constitutional and economic integrity
of the United Kingdom." So is there a solution? If it was easy, it
would already have been done. The EU argues that the UK's red lines on
Ireland - no border on the one hand, and UK exit from the single market
and the customs union on the other - are fundamentally incompatible 自相矛盾的, 不相容的. The British government has spoken of technological fixes such as pre-screening of goods, and trusted trader schemes. The EU says such things could speed up border transit,
but it would be nowhere near enough to avoid the return of some border
checks. Intense negotiations are taking place to try to come up with a
solution that would ensure a) no divergence of regulations in key areas;
and b) the creation of some form of customs partnership on the island
of Ireland, which doesn't threaten the constitutional order of the UK. But if a fix emerges that seems to turn Northern Ireland into a back door route into the single market, then other EU countries will cry foul. 3. backstop:
Under Mrs May's deal, if there is not a trade deal or other agreement
between the UK and the EU when the transition period ends, the backstop
kicks in. It would see Northern Ireland staying aligned to some rules of the EU single market. It would also involve a temporary single custom territory
- effectively keeping the whole of the UK in the EU customs union -
unless both the EU and UK agree it is no longer necessary. But this has
been a huge issue for many Conservative MPs and the DUP, who have
supported Theresa May's government since the 2017 election. Removing or
amending the backstop could provide Mrs May with enough backing from
Brexiteer Tory MPs and the DUP to get an agreement passed. The backstop
is meant to be a last resort and the prime minister insists that if all
goes as planned it will never be used. But it has annoyed some MPs, who
are angry that the UK would not be able to end it without the EU's
permission and so EU rules could remain in place for good. Other MPs
would prefer to stay closer to the European Union - or even still in it.
And others say Northern Ireland should not be treated separately from
the rest of the UK.
