talk Shakespeare to a Hershey bar 对牛弹琴

用法学习: 1. Kim Kardashian West has been quite open about her battle with psoriasis, and she continued that transparency on Instagram last night. The beauty mogul posted three deeply relatable photos of her psoriasis ( [səˈraɪəsɪs] 银屑病 a medical condition in which your skin becomes red and dry and pieces of dead skin fall off ) flare-ups 大爆发, and fans are praising her for it. "Psoriasis is the shits ( get/have the shits (vulgar, slang) diarrhoea. to have or get diarrhoea (=an illness in which solid waste comes out of your body in a much more liquid form than usual). give someone the shits (Australia, colloquial, vulgar) To annoy or frustrate someone to a great degree. Can you stop sending me text messages at two in the morning? You're giving me the shits! the shit (vulgar, colloquial, slang) Something considered to be excellent or the best of its kind. That movie was the shit! give someone the slip 逃脱, 避开 informal evade or escape from someone. If you give someone the slip, you escape from them when they are following you or watching you. "we gave them the slip at the station". )," Kardashian West captioned one selfie, which shows her flare-ups covered in an herbal healing ointment. She shared a second photo to show her followers how she's treating the issue, and a third of the flare-ups on her legs, which she jokingly captioned, "Sexy." wiki: Psoriasis, for the unfamiliar, is a condition in which skin cells build up and form scaly [ˈskeɪli], itchy dry patches on your body. They often show up as red, itchy spots and can pop up anywhere where you have skin (so that includes your scalp, eyelids, knees, face, you name it). According to statistics from the National Psoriasis Foundation, around 8 million people in the U.S. have psoriasis, and it has a greater impact on quality of life in women—especially because trying to cover it with makeup is difficult and treatment can be costly. "Sometimes the rashes are itchy, sometimes they're flaky 起屑的, 脱皮的," Kardashian West wrote on her app in 2016 about living with psoriasis. "Mine flares up from time to time for different reasons.... Scientists are constantly researching and developing new medications to help treat it, but for now, I use a topical cortisone ointment every night before bed. I'm always hoping for a cure, of course, but in the meantime, I'm learning to just accept it as part of who I am." She gets so much shit 被人诟病 from people about this & that but that's something I really appreciate about her. 2. discretionary [dɪˈskreʃ(ə)n(ə)ri] 自行决定的, 没有明文规定的, 灵活掌握的, 自发的, 因地制宜的, 自行决断的. 自己决定的.  Discretionary things are not fixed by rules but are decided on by people in authority, who consider each individual case. decided by officials and not fixed by rules. based on someone’s judgment of a particular situation rather than on a set of rules: Magistrates were given wider discretionary powers. Check whether you are entitled to a discretionary grant for your course. discretionary income 可支配收入 money that you have left to spend after you have paid your bills. discretion [dɪˈskreʃ(ə)n] I. the right or ability to make a judgment or decision. at someone's discretion 由...掌握 (=according to someone's judgment or decision): Shops will exchange unwanted goods entirely at their discretion. exercise/use discretion: Teachers must be allowed to exercise their own discretion in choosing suitable classroom materials. II. careful and sensitive behaviour that does not upset or offend people. The investigation will be carried out with the utmost discretion. Discretion is the quality of behaving in a quiet and controlled way without drawing attention to yourself or giving away personal or private information. Larsson sometimes joined in the fun, but with more discretion. He appreciated his discretion and his fidelity. discretion is the better part of valour used for saying that it is better not to take too many risks. discreet [dɪskriːt] I. If you are discreet, you are polite and careful in what you do or say, because you want to avoid embarrassing or offending someone. They were gossipy and not always discreet. He followed at a discreet distance. I took the phone, and she went discreetly into the living room. II. If you are discreet about something you are doing, you do not tell other people about it, in order to avoid being embarrassed or to gain an advantage. careful not to cause embarrassment or attract too much attention, especially by keeping something secret: The family made discreet enquiries about his background. They are very good assistants, very discreet - they wouldn't go talking to the press. We were very discreet about the romance. She's making a few discreet inquiries with her mother's friends. Everyone tried discreetly to find out more about him. unlikely to attract attention They followed at a discreet distance. III. If you describe something as discreet, you approve of it because it is small in size or degree, or not easily noticed. [approval] She wore discreet 低调的 jewellery. ...stately houses, discreetly hidden behind great avenues of sturdy trees. The two rooms were relatively small and discreetly lit. indiscreet [ˌɪndɪˈskrit] 不谨慎, 不小心, 不当心 saying or doing things that tell people things that should be secret or that embarrass people: In an indiscreet moment, the president let his genuine opinions be known. They have been rather indiscreet about their affair. advertent [ædˈvɜrtənt  or ədˈvɜː.tənt] 小心留意的 Paying attention; attentive; heedful. Damages may be payable if there is advertent wrongdoing. inadvertent [ˌɪnədˈvɜrt(ə)nt] 不经意的, 不注意的, 不留心的, 欠考虑的. 不当心的 adj  I. failing to act carefully or considerately; inattentive. not deliberately, and without realizing what you are doing I'm afraid I inadvertently took your purse when I left. All authors need to be wary of inadvertent copying of other people's ideas. II. resulting from heedless action; unintentional. not deliberately, and without realizing what you are doing. The government has said it was an inadvertent error 无心之过. I inadvertently pressed the wrong button. I'm afraid I inadvertently took your purse when I left. 3. have the measure of sb/sth to understand what someone or something is like and to know how to deal with him, her, or it: I don't think she's under any illusions about her husband - she has the measure of him. give (one's) two pennies (worth) 个人意见, 个人看法 To share one's opinion, idea, or point of view, regardless of whether or not others want to hear it. I find Jeff's husband a bit trying at times. He always has to give his two pennies, even when it's clear he knows nothing about what's being discussed. If I can just give my two pennies worth, I think the staff would really appreciate a bump in their pay, and productivity would increase as a result. "My two cents 个人想法" ("my 2¢") and its longer version "put my two cents in" is an American idiomatic expression,  taken from the original English idiom "to put in my two-penny worth" or "my two cents". It is used to preface a tentative statement of one's opinion. By deprecating the opinion to follow—suggesting its value is only two cents, a very small amount—the user of the phrase, showing politeness and humility, hopes to lessen the impact of a possibly contentious statement. However, it is also sometimes used ironically when expressing a strongly held opinion. The phrase is also sometimes used out of habit to preface uncontentious opinions. For example: "If I may put my two cents in, that hat doesn't do you any favors." (A polite way of saying, for example: That hat is ugly). Another example would be: "My two cents is that you should sell your stock now." 4. 酒吧之王: In the wake of a series of reports about his family that emerged this morning, the 'King of the Cross' said: 'It's a massive breach of privacy ... What purpose does it serve in the public interest except to humiliate a family?' Meanwhile, the infamous eyebrow waxing of two Ibrahim associates believed to have crossed 惹恼, 惹到 members of the clan was all a 'joke' - nothing sinister 邪恶的, he said. peg somebody/something as something = peg someone for something 没有觉得你是, 没有把你归类为 (I. A peg 小夹子 (US clothespin) is a small piece of wood or metal that is used for fastening something to something else. He builds furniture using wooden pegs instead of nails. ...the noise of the hammer striking the steel pegs. II. A peg is a small hook or knob that is attached to a wall or door and is used for hanging things on. His work jacket hung on the peg in the kitchen. verb. I. If you peg something somewhere or peg it down 钉住, 钉起来, you fix it there with pegs. ...trying to peg a double sheet on a washing line on a blustery day. Peg down netting over the top to keep out leaves. ...a tent pegged to the ground nearby for the kids. II. If a price or amount of something is pegged at a particular level, it is fixed at that level. Its currency is pegged to the dollar. U.K. trading profits were pegged at £40 million. It is difficult for banks to peg rates at record lows indefinitely. ...a pegged European currency. level pegging = level-pegging 齐头并进 adj If two opponents in a competition or contest are level pegging, they are equal with each other. An opinion poll published in May showed Mrs Yardley was level-pegging with Mr Simpson. be brought down a peg/be taken down a peg If you say that someone should be brought down a peg or be taken down a peg, you mean that they should be made to realize that they are not so important or wonderful as they think they are. We thought it was time they were brought down a peg or two. We'd have liked to see her taken down a peg, but not this way. off-the-peg 批量生产的 (US off-the-rack) Off-the-peg clothes are made in large numbers and sent to shops, not made specially for a particular person. ...an off-the-peg two-piece suit. Instead of wearing expensive suits, he likes to buy clothes off the peg. square peg in a round hole If you describe someone as a square peg in a round hole, you mean that they are in a situation or doing something that does not suit them at all. Taylor is clearly the wrong man for the job – a square peg in a round hole. peg out [British, informal] I. If someone pegs out, they are too exhausted to carry on with what they have been doing. I nipped round the corner and nearly pegged out. II. If you say that someone pegs out, you mean that they die. I thought the oldest were going to peg out. ) to believe or say that someone has a particular type of character, or that a situation has particular qualities. To believe or consider that one definitely is a certain type of person or thing. I wouldn't peg him for a gambler. I didn't peg you for the the of person who would do that. I pegged her as a total bore when she first started working here, but since getting to know her, she's actually pretty interesting. I'm disappointed, Jake—I never pegged you as a quitter. I'd had him pegged as a troublemaker. So, is this your thing, breaking and entering 破门而入? I mean, the last time I did it, I fucked a cute girl by the end of the night. So, why stop now, you know? So, do you want me to, like, take this stuff back to the studio, and I'll just, like, catch you at the the archives? Yep. I'll text you. Oh, do you want, like, a latte or something? I could keep it warm this time. No. No latte. Just, uh You can go. He's cute. He's free. Interning for college credit. Please don't fuck my intern. So what were you doin' in there? Oh This was one of the first gay bars in the state. Soon to be another fucking cryptocurrency company. I wanted to get some footage before they razed down one of the oldest queer spaces in the country, but it's all boarded up 板子挡起来了, 围起来了, 圈起来了 ( boarded-up with windows and doors covered with boards for security. the boarded-up houses and the derelict factories of Merseyside. Half the shops are boarded up on the estate's small shopping street. wiki: Boarding up is the process of installing boards on the windows and doors of a property to protect it from storm damage, to protect unused, vacant, or abandoned property, and/or to prevent unauthorized access by squatters, looters or vandals. ), so all I got was the exterior. All that law breaking for nothing, huh? Yeah. Currently, I am making a documentary about the outside of buildings. Outside an old bar, outside Barbary Lane. It's riveting ( If you describe something as riveting, you mean that it is extremely interesting and exciting, and that it holds your attention completely. I find snooker riveting though I don't play myself. ) stuff. Look, if you're fishing to 试探, 试图 get in my apartment, you really don't have to try that hard. Is it that obvious? We can walk over right now if you want. I didn't peg you for being easy, Shawna Hawkins. I'm not. Usually. peg someone 八卦 tv. to gossip about someone. Kim is always pegging Jill. What's her problem? 5. Boho-chic is a style of fashion drawing on various bohemian and hippie influences, which, at its height in late 2005 was associated particularly with actress Sienna Miller and model Kate Moss in the United Kingdom and (as "boho" chic) actress and businesswoman Mary-Kate Olsen in the United States. It has been seen since the early 1990s and, although appearing to wane from time to time, has repeatedly re-surfaced in varying guises. Many elements of boho-chic became popular in the late 1960s and some date back much further, being associated, for example, with pre-Raphaelite women of the mid-to-late 19th century. slides 拖鞋. A slider is a form of footwear. They are backless and open-toed, essentially an open-toed mule. Slides can be high-heeled, flat-heeled or somewhere in between, and may cover nearly the entire foot from ankle to toe, or may have only one or two narrow straps. They usually include a single strap or a sequence of straps across the toes and the lower half of the foot to hold the shoe on the foot. The term is descriptive in that this shoe is easy to 'slide' on and off the foot when the wearer wants to do so. Slides are currently trending because of the desire for a more comfortable shoe that still allows participation in activities and sports. have egg on one's face Look foolish or be embarrassed, as in If you ask any more personal questions, you'll end up with egg on your face. This expression possibly alludes to dissatisfied audiences pelting performers with raw eggs. right off the bat If something happens right off the bat, it happens immediately. He learned right off the bat that you can't count on anything in this business. You can't expect to be accepted in a new town right off the bat. 6. foreshadow 伏笔, 预告 verb. to act as a warning or sign of a future event. If something foreshadows an event or situation, it suggests that it will happen. The disappointing sales figures foreshadow more redundancies. The change proposed last month was foreshadowed in the March Budget. The recent outbreak of violence was foreshadowed by isolated incidents in the city earlier this year. if something foreshadows a future event, it shows or gives a warning that it will happen The storms and rains of that year foreshadowed a long period of unstable weather conditions. wiki: Foreshadowing 伏笔, 伏线 is a literary device in which a writer gives an advance hint of what is to come later in the story. Foreshadowing often appears at the beginning of a story, or a chapter, and it helps the reader develop expectations about the upcoming events. A writer may implement foreshadowing in many different ways. Some of these ways include: character dialogues, plot events, and changes in setting. Even the title of a work or a chapter can act as a clue that suggests what is going to happen. Foreshadowing in fiction creates an atmosphere of suspense in a story, so that the readers are interested and want to know more. A "red herring", is a hint that is designed to mislead the audience. However, foreshadowing only hints at a possible outcome within the confinement of a narrative, and purposely leads readers in the right direction. A "flashforward" is a scene that takes the narrative forward in time from the current point of the story in literature, film, television, and other media. Foreshadowing is sometimes employed through characters' explicitly predicting the future. Flash-forward occurs when scenes are shown out of chronological order in a nonlinear narrative, and chronology is inconsistent in a anachronist order such as to get the reader or audience thinking about the climax or reveals. The "Chekhov's gun", everything superfluous must be deleted. By analogy to foreshadowing, the literary critic Gary Morson describes its opposite, sideshadowing. Found notably in the epic novels of Leo Tolstoy and Fyodor Dostoyevsky, it is the practice of including scenes that turn out to have no relevance to the plot. This, according to Morson, increases the verisimilitude of the fiction because the audience knows that in real life, unlike in novels, most events are in fact inconsequential. This "sense of structurelessness" invites the audience to "interpret and question the events that actually do come to pass".

 Two and a half men: 1. So where's Julie? Julie we had to let go. She was playing a little fast and loose with ( play fast and loose 动手脚 If you say that someone is playing fast and loose, you are expressing disapproval of them for behaving in a deceitful, immoral, or irresponsible way. To ignore proper behavior or social conventions, especially when it suits one's purpose. I cannot say that there were any outright lies in the editorial, but it does play fast and loose with the truth. There have been people who have played fast and loose with the rules. ) the old prescription pad. I'm guessing Valium. Is there somebody else who can see him? Yeah, but not Dr. Schwartz's doctor, okay? Dr. Talmadge took over Dr. Schwartz's practice. It's a little tight right now 现在有点忙, but I could squeeze you in 插个队, 把你加进去, 加个塞. That's kind of how this happened. Oh, my. So this was a sexual injury. 2. This is really gross. Why do I have to do it? You want your toilet seat back? Yes. Then keep scrubbing 刷马桶. You know, taking it wasn't funny. I could have broke my butt. Oh, come on. How could that not be funny? Don't forget to clean on the outside. That's all you 都是你的活儿. And the floor, and the wall. Okay, okay. How in the hell did you hit the wall anyway? I don't know, it just gets away from me sometimes. After a day scrubbing toilets I'm betting you'll be able to pee through a Cheerio at 10 paces. 3. So I see you're having some back pain. That will be $100, please. Yeah, it started in my back but now it's kind of radiating out 延伸, 扩展 into a body-wide unbearable agony. You have a really cute little nose, you know that? Did the pain start in your lower back? Best I can tell it's a spasm between L4 and L5. Oh, are you a doctor? Yes, I'm a chiropractor. So no. How did this happen? Well, I slipped. On an actress. I can handle this, Alan. Okay, see, the thing is, I was in the middle of. An actress. I'm warning you. Do the details really matter? No, no, I think I got the picture. There's video if you need it. Keep it up. Okay, I see here your last visit was four years ago. A mild hernia brought about by Okay. I think I'm seeing a pattern here. He's a sexual compulsive with narcissistic tendencies. Oh, so you're a pretend psychiatrist too. So, what's the course of treatment 治疗方案, 治疗方式 here? A pill, a shot? Maybe one of those epidurals? First I'm going to get your blood pressure and take x-rays. I take blood pressure and x-rays. Your mother must be very proud. Actually, no. Someone will be in to take you to x-ray. Wait. I'm still in pain. Try and hang in there 忍者点吧. In the meantime maybe your little buddy can give you a massage. Please don't tell me you're interested in that condescending arrogant excuse for a woman( excuse If someone is excused from a duty or responsibility, they are told that they do not have to carry it out. She is usually excused from her duties during the school holidays. She was excused duties on Saturday. make your excuses to explain why you cannot be present somewhere: Please make my excuses at the meeting on Friday. make excuses to give false reasons why you cannot do something: You're always making excuses for not helping me. a pathetic/poor/sad excuse for something someone or something that is of very bad quality We have a failing economy and a pathetic excuse for a President. a poor/rotten etc excuse for something used when you think someone or something is very bad He's a rotten excuse for a lawyer. Why on earth did you hire him? ). Pardon me, Alan, but that is a condescending arrogant, hot excuse for a woman. She's just your typical obnoxious MD. I'm a doctor. I have special license plates. I can park wherever I want. I know where I wanna park. You're unbelievable. Does your penis have an off switch? A pause button? No, just a little freckle. You're always telling me I should date a better class of woman. What's classier than a doctor? Oh, please. Four years of med school, two years of internship a year of residency, and everybody thinks they're so special. 4. Don't you get it? Your entire life is about jumping from one shallow, meaningless relationship to the next. And? You're a grown man. You can't go through life drinking 一辈子做某事 and partying and humping anything that doesn't shake you off. Yes, I can. But sooner or later, it's gonna catch up to you. Eventually, you will have to pay the piper 付出代价, 交学费(to pay for one's pleasures or bear the consequences of one's actions.). Who says? Everybody says. Really? Because I'm just hearing you. If 2000 years of human history has taught us anything it's that there is karmic justice 因果报应 in the world and that when people live the way you do bad things happen to them to even things out 平衡起来, 平衡一下. Well, I don't agree. It's not up for debate 不可辩驳, 无可辩驳的. It's a law 公理, like gravity. Oh, I agree with gravity. Good, we wouldn't want you flying off the planet with nothing to hump but satellites. If it makes you feel better, something bad happened. I'm in excruciating pain. That's not enough. Trust me, Charlie. The piper has yet to be paid. The only question is how high a tab you want before the bill comes due( to reach the date by which payment is required The rent is coming due next week. due process 正当法律程序 fair treatment through the normal judicial system, especially a citizen's entitlement to notice of a charge and a hearing before an impartial judge. Due process is the legal requirement that the state must respect all legal rights that are owed to a person. Due process balances the power of law of the land and protects the individual person from it. When a government harms a person without following the exact course of the law, this constitutes a due process violation, which offends the rule of law. ). Okay. I get it. Well, good. So you think I have a shot with that doctor, or what? It's like trying to talk (explain) Shakespeare to a Hershey bar 对牛弹琴. Two and a half man: If 2000 years of human history has taught us anything... ...it's that there is karmic justice 因果报应 in the world... ...and that when people live the way you do... ...bad things happen to them to even things out 公平, 平衡一下. Well, I don't agree. It's not up for debate 这是公理, 没什么好争辩的. It's a law, like gravity 无可争议的, 是事实, 是公理. Oh, I agree with gravity. Good, we wouldn't want you flying off the planet... ...with nothing to hump but satellites. If it makes you feel better, something bad happened. I'm in excruciating pain. That's not enough. Trust me, Charlie. The piper has yet to be paid 你说了不算 ( He who pays the piper, calls the tune)( pay the piper I. to pay for one's pleasures or bear the consequences of one's actions. To pay expenses for something, and thus be in a position to be in control. II. To pay a monetary or other debt or experience unfavorable consequences, especially when the payment or consequences are inevitable or a result of something one has enjoyed. Etymology Sense 1 is from the English phrase who pays the piper calls the tune; sense 2 may allude to the pied piper. pay the fiddler I. (idiomatic) To face the consequences of one's actions. The three-day party had been a lot of fun, but now it was time to pay the fiddler. II. (idiomatic) 付出代价 To contribute in order to participate. If you want to dance, you've got to pay the fiddler. ). The only question is how high a tab you want 筑多高的债务 ( tab I. [mainly US] 账单. A tab is the total cost of goods or services that you have to pay, or the bill for those goods or services At least one estimate puts the total tab at $7 million. 'I'll get my purse out of the bedroom.'—'No sweat, Mrs. Day. We can put it on your tab.' II. A tab is a metal strip that you pull off the top of a can of drink in order to open it. III. A tab is a drug, especially one that is sold illegally, which is in tablet form. [informal] He was prosecuted for possessing a hundred tabs of ecstasy. keep tabs on sb If someone keeps tabs on you, they make sure that they always know where you are and what you are doing, often in order to control you. It was obvious Hill had come over to keep tabs on Johnson and make sure he didn't do anything drastic. pick up the tab If you pick up the tab, you pay a bill on behalf of a group of people or provide the money that is needed for something. Pollard picked up the tab for dinner that night.Today any employee with back or shoulder pain can go straight to Mr Jay and the company will pick up the tab. ) before the Bill comes due( come due = become due = fall due to become payable as previously arranged. to reach the date by which payment is required The rent is coming due 到期, 该支付了 next week. ). Okay. I get it. Well, good. So you think I have a shot with that Doctor, or what? It's like trying to talk Shakespeare to a Hershey bar. Who's Piper? Oh, you poor, clueless bitch. Never trust a drifter with an eye patch. Berta(人名). What? I'm tired, and my hands are all red and pruney 干巴巴的, 皱皱巴巴的, 皱皱的( The skin on the fingers can become wrinkly or "pruney" when soaked in water. ... The skin on human fingers and toes is known as glabrous, meaning it is smooth and hairless. When it has been in contact with water for a long time, the glabrous skin on the fingers can look like a prune. prune noun A prune is a dried plum. verb. I. When you prune a tree or bush, you cut off some of the branches so that it will grow better the next year. You have to prune a bush if you want fruit. There is no best way to prune. Apples, pears and cherries can be pruned back when they've lost their leaves. II. If you prune something, you cut out all the parts that you do not need. Firms are cutting investment and pruning their product ranges. The company has pruned back its workforce by 20,000 since 1989. ). I've seen your grades 学习成绩, 见过你的成绩了. Get used to it 习惯习惯吧. How do I know when I'm done? Don't worry about that, honey, I'll tell you. Oh, for God's sakes, don't kiss him. He's your brother. I have x-rays. Oh, good. Let me see them. Oh, golly, no. Only for a Doctor. Hey, I'm a Doctor. Oh, yeah? Where you parked ( parked adj If you are parked somewhere, you have parked your car there. My sister was parked down the road. We're parked out front. )? Alan, you gotta relax. You're harboring the kind of resentment 心怀愤恨, 心怀恨意 that eats away at your insides... ...until you wake up one day peeing blood and crapping into a bag. Thanks for the advice. You know the difference between you and me? I have a functioning liver... ...and somehow, you're gonna get laid tonight. That's ridiculous, Alan. She's an educated professional. Probably gonna have to throw a few fancy meals 请客, 请吃饭 at her first. Boo-hoo, you'll have to wait a couple of weeks. Couple of weeks? Anyway, the difference between you and me... ...is that when life gives me lemons, I make lemonade. When you get lemons, you just bite into them... ...and suck them inside out. Okay. Let's see what we've got. No fractures, no dislocations. Looks like just a simple muscle spasm. Between L4 and L5? Oh, good for you. Okay, I am gonna give you a shot, which should ease the pain... ...and also allow your muscles to relax. Have you had Demerol before? No, but I've heard nice things about it. Okay, I'm just gonna pull your shorts down a little. But Dr. Talmadge, I don't even know your first name. 5. Well, statistically I'm only slightly above average. But I make up for it with enthusiasm and perseverance. No, what's amazing is that you don't remember me. Well, sure I remember you. You're the pretty woman cupping my testicles from earlier. Back when I was in medical school, you and I went out for a couple months. You wanna loosen your grip there? Then for reasons I never understood you stopped calling me, and started seeing my roommate. The grip. I always hoped I'd run into you again. Please. Just leave me one. 6. What's happening, boyfriend? Oh, you're terrible. Do you kiss your mother with that mouth? So, what's up? Saturday? Let me check my book. Saturday is marvelous. How dressy? Eveningwear, or California casual? Oh, goody. An excuse to shop. Like I need one. Okey-dokey, artichokey. Ciao for now. He's the head of a big ad agency. Throws a lot of jingle work my way. He wouldn't be gay, would he? What difference does it make? A person's sexuality is a personal thing. It has no relevance in the business world. But he is gay. Oh, yeah. You know, it's okay to call them queer again. Good to know. Good to know. Would it fair to assume that you've led him to believe that you are of a similar persuasion ( Persuasion is an umbrella term of influence. Persuasion can attempt to influence a person's beliefs, attitudes, intentions, motivations, or behaviors. In business, persuasion is a process aimed at changing a person's (or a group's) attitude or behaviour toward some event, idea, object, or other person(s), by using written, spoken words or visual tools to convey information, feelings, or reasoning, or a combination thereof. Persuasion is also an often used tool in the pursuit of personal gain, such as election campaigning, giving a sales pitch, or in trial advocacy. Persuasion can also be interpreted as using one's personal or positional resources to change people's behaviors or attitudes. Systematic persuasion is the process through which attitudes or beliefs are leveraged by appeals to logic and reason. Heuristic persuasion 启发式说服 on the other hand is the process through which attitudes or beliefs are leveraged by appeals to habit or emotion. leverage [liːvərɪdʒ , US lev-] I. 影响力. the power to make someone do what you want. Leverage is the ability to influence situations or people so that you can control what happens. His function as a Mayor affords him the leverage to get things done through attending committee meetings. II. 杠杆力. physics the power that a lever gives you to move things. Leverage is the force that is applied to an object when something such as a lever is used. The spade and fork have longer shafts, providing better leverage. verb. I. to use something that you already have in order to achieve something new or better: We can gain a market advantage by leveraging our network of partners. II. to borrow money to buy a business, hoping that the business will make enough profit to pay the interest on the money that is borrowed. To leverage a company or investment means to use borrowed money in order to buy it or pay for it. to use borrowed money to buy an investment or company or to get more money: One of the easiest ways to leverage a charitable gift is to get your employer to match it. Home equity is invaluable if you leverage it to build wealth. Leveraging the company at a time of tremendous growth opportunities would be a mistake. The committee voted to limit tax refunds for corporations involved in leveraged buyouts.)? Not deliberately. I kind of sort of backed into it. Excuse me? Okay. Poor choice of words. When we first met, I found myself falling into his, What do you call it? Futon? No, no, his manner of expressing himself. Tone, gestures. Like talking to a Southerner you start saying "y'all" and "grits" and "tobaccy. Oh, Charlie. It's harmless. He throws me work. I want him to feel comfortable with me. And how far do you go to make him feel comfortable? Don't worry. I just sparkle a little bit. I don't burst into flames. I don't know how you live with yourself 心理平衡的(to continue to believe that you are a good person after doing something bad I could never live with myself if I hit a child with my car. live with someone I. to live in the same house and have a sexual relationship with someone who you are not married to. I've been living with my boyfriend for two years. II. if something lives with you, you keep remembering it or thinking about it The memory of that day would live with her for ever. live with something to accept something unpleasant that you cannot change How does she live with the guilt? He had learned to live with her moodiness. ). Actually, I don't live with myself. I have a significant other. We're both invited to a cocktail party Saturday night. What? No. You always complain we don't hang out. I didn't mean I wanted to date you. You don't think I'm gonna go to a gay cocktail party stag, do you? The way I sparkle? I'm not going to be your gay lover so you can make a few bucks. Okay, first of all, it's considerably more than a few bucks. This man was responsible for almost half my income last year. And that's the half I didn't gamble away. And second of all, you're not just my lover you're my life partner. That makes you special. Forget it. It's immoral and deceitful, and I don't want any part of it. What's the big deal? Gay people pretend to be straight. They don't wanna be discriminated. And neither do I. The minute this guy finds out I'm a breeder, I'm history. I don't care. If you wanna engage in a fraudulent escapade have one of your oafish poker buddies be your partner. You see? You see? Right there. Escapade. Oafish. What poker buddy of mine talks like that? But you, a couple of squirts of Paco Rabanne, you're good to go. Having a reasonable command of English isn't the exclusive domain 独有的权利, 独有的特制, 禁区 of the gay community( Once the exclusive domain of women, childbirth practices are now dominated by a largely male obstetric workforce, displacing the traditionally female dominated practice of midwifery. There the defendant unquestionably chose to interfere in the victim's exclusive domain of choice, and so there is no doubt about his liability to punishment.). Listen to you. You're just making my point. Forget it. You're asking too much. Oh, really? Was it too much when you showed up on my doorstep, looking for a place? Charlie. Too much when I took in your son on weekends and holidays? This isn't fair. Too much when I set up a college fund for Jake? You set up a college fund for Jake? You bet I will. Unless, of course, my income were to suddenly decline. I can't believe you would sink so low. To actually use emotional and financial blackmail You're both in my will. First thing Monday. All right. But I want it on the record I'm doing this under protest. Noted. If we're gonna be a couple, I'm the husband. 7. Am I starting to sag? What I'm sorry, were you talking to me? Am I hanging a bit low? I don't know. Give me the blouse. I am a woman, Charles. Wanna see my nipples? No. Why not? You made me look at yours. God, you are so frisky( A frisky animal or person is energetic and playful, and may be difficult to control. His horse was feeling frisky, and he had to hold the reins tightly. ). How does Alan ever put up with you? How does his mother put up with him? Oh, boy. Charles, didn't I ask you to confine your debauchery to outlet [ˈaʊtˌlet] stores(debauchery 寻欢作乐 [dɪbɔːtʃəri] You use debauchery to refer to the drinking of alcohol or to sexual activity if you disapprove of it or regard it as excessive. [disapproval] ...scenes of drunkenness and debauchery. outlet I. An outlet is a shop or organization which sells the goods made by a particular manufacturer. ...the largest retail outlet in the city. [+ in] II. An outlet or an outlet store is a place which sells slightly damaged or outdated goods from a particular manufacturer, or goods that it made in greater quantities than needed. ...the factory outlet store in Belmont. III. 出口. 发泄口. If someone has an outlet for their feelings or ideas, they have a means of expressing and releasing them. Her father had found an outlet for his ambition in his work. [+ for] IV. An outlet is a hole or pipe through which liquid or air can flow away. ...a warm air outlet 出气孔, 排气孔, 出气口. ...an underwater outlet pipe discharging waste into the sea. V. An outlet (UK socket) 电源接口 is a place, usually in a wall, where you can connect electrical devices to the electricity supply. wiki: An outlet store, factory outlet or factory shop 工厂直销店 is a brick and mortar or online store in which manufacturers sell their stock directly to the public. Traditionally, a factory outlet was a store attached to a factory or warehouse, sometimes allowing customers to watch the production process such as in the original L.L. Bean store. In modern usage, outlet stores are typically manufacturer-branded stores such as Gap or Bon Worth grouped together in outlet malls. The invention of the factory outlet store is often credited to Harold Alfond, founder of the Dexter Shoe Company.  )? Pamela, this is my mother, Evelyn. Your son is adorable. That seems to be the conventional wisdom. I met him and his partner last night, but we immediately hit it off.

 For many Christians, Israel Folau has become the talisman in the fight for religious freedom. This week, some Australian Christians rallied behind Folau's legal battle against Rugby Australia, stepping in 介入 when the rugby star's GoFundMe campaign was shut down. On its first day, the new campaign raised more than A$1 million in donations – and counting. Some Christian leaders have urged the newly re-elected Coalition government to make religious freedom protections a priority in the wake of Folau's sacking by Rugby Australia. There's even been talk among some conservative Coalition MPs of pushing for a "Folau Law", or a new statute that would exempt religious beliefs from employment contracts. The debate is a perfect storm of race, religion, sport, politics, sex, law and rights. But for me, neither Folau himself, nor his personal faith, are the issue. Certainly, I find his use and interpretation of the Bible cavalier ( cavalier [kævəlɪər] 漠然的, 无视他人的, 不关心他人的, 冷漠的 If you describe a person or their behaviour as cavalier, you are criticizing them because you think that they do not consider other people's feelings or take account of the seriousness of a situation. The Editor takes a cavalier attitude to the concept of fact checking. Cavalry 骑士 or horsemen are soldiers or warriors who fight mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the most mobile of the combat arms. An individual soldier in the cavalry is known by a number of designations such as cavalryman, horseman, dragoon, or trooper. caviar [ˈkæviˌɑr] fish eggs eaten as food, usually spread on bread. In many countries caviar is considered to be a special and expensive food, eaten mainly by rich people.) and uninformed, disturbingly indifferent to its impact, and strikingly incurious 漠不关心的 ( not curious; indifferent or uninterested. not interested in knowing what is happening, or not wanting to discover anything new: He's strangely incurious about what goes on around him.). But beyond those issues, the question that warrants exploration is why he has so galvanised 镀锌的 ( Galvanized metal, especially iron and steel, has been covered with zinc in order to protect it from rust and other damage. ...corrosion-resistant galvanized steel. ...75mm galvanised nails. galvanise to shock or affect someone enough to produce a strong and immediate reaction. galvanize someone into (doing) something: The results of the study galvanized residents into action.) portions of the Christian community around him. For many, it doesn't seem to matter how he's used or interpreted the Bible. They support him because he's upheld 坚持 traditional Christian teaching and been prepared to take a stand on it. But there seems to be another reason behind much of the support. As some Christians see it, Folau is holding the line against the dominant beliefs ( hold the line 坚守阵地 To firmly maintain one's viewpoint, principles, or situation; to refuse to change one's practices or plans. Etymology: Probably an allusion to a line of soldiers remaining steadfastly in position during combat. stick to/by one's guns 坚持己见 (idiomatic, by extension) To maintain one's position or viewpoint when faced with opposition. to maintain one's opinions or intentions in spite of opposition. ) in contemporary Western culture on the flashpoints ( I. A flashpoint is the moment at which a conflict, especially a political conflict, suddenly gets worse and becomes violent. The immediate flashpoint was Wednesday's big rally in the city centre. There are still plenty of potential flashpoints in relations between the two countries. II. A flashpoint is a place which people think is dangerous because political trouble may start there and then spread to other towns or countries. The more serious flashpoints are outside the capital. It could become the next Balkan flashpoint. ) of gender and sexuality. And for this, some Christians especially honour him. The question remains, though – why have these issues, and not others, have become flashpoints? There are other equally provocative biblical teachings that don't generate the same passions among Christians. Imagine if a high-profile Christian sportsman, for instance, tweeted Jesus' teachings about how difficult it will be for the rich to enter the kingdom of God (especially if it was paraphrased as "Hell awaits you"). In this scenario, it is very easy to imagine a less fraught ( I. If a situation or action is fraught with problems or risks, it is filled with them. The earliest operations employing this technique were fraught with dangers. II. If you say that a situation or action is fraught, you mean that it is worrying or difficult. It has been a somewhat fraught day. ) response from many Christians. Instead of wholeheartedly backing his stand against wealth, the athlete's Christian supporters might demur on ( [dɪmɜːr] If you demur, you say that you do not agree with something or will not do something that you have been asked to do. Hunt asked me to take over the whole operation. At first I demurred. The doctor demurred, but Piercey was insistent. without demur If you do something without demur, you do it immediately and without making any protest. His plan was accepted without demur. )  the issue, saying how the teachings on wealth need to be "interpreted" in their context. Some Christians don't feel the need to similarly interpret biblical references to sexuality and gender. Their meaning is taken as straightforward. As always, sex, like money, does strange things to theology. As Simon Smart has argued, the changing cultural mores [ˈmɔˌreɪz] ( the traditional practices and moral values of a particular society or group of people. The mores of a particular place or group of people are the customs and behaviour that are typically found in that place or group. ...the accepted mores of British society. ...profound changes in social and sexual mores. ) around questions of sex, gender and sexuality are at the centre of the debate over Folau's social media posts and the reaction among Christians to his sacking. These new cultural mores are posing significant legal, doctrinal, and ethical challenges to Christian churches. For many, the identity of Christianity is at stake. The traditional line on sexuality and gender must be held – so it is said. But not all Christians see it that way. The line is not so sharply defined 界限并不分明. There are many other Christians who find it hard to understand how traditional teachings on sexuality and gender have been elevated to such a prominent place within some strands of Christianity. That's not to say that these Christians automatically disregard the theological arguments for traditional stances on these issues. For instance, Christian proponents of same-sex marriage can accept there are carefully worked-out arguments against it, even if they are unpersuaded by them. The puzzle, to many, is how these issues have become so definitive to Christian thinking. For these Christians, there's also a deep disquiet ( [dɪskwaɪət] noun Disquiet is a feeling of worry or anxiety. There is growing public disquiet about the cost of such policing. Verb. If something disquiets you, it makes you feel anxious. 不安分, 焦急, 焦虑 This information disquieted him.) that sexuality and gender are being held up as a test case for religious freedom in Australia. Even apart from the churches' involvement in the child sexual abuse scandals, the public's perception 认知 of Christianity has been deeply affected by the church's frequently moralistic stance on sexuality. This often obscures the other important themes of Christianity – love, hope and compassion as they are embodied in the example of Jesus. A 2017 McCrindle survey found that the church's objection to homosexuality was the biggest obstacle preventing people from becoming more religious in Australia, much more so than the role of women in Christianity and the debate over science and evolution. It's worth comparing the current angst over sexuality with the long-running debate in the church over science and evolution. There was a similar line-in-the-sand 看不见的界限, 看不见的分隔点 reaction (and there still is) by some Christians to the theory of evolution. But the willingness of many Christians to navigate that debate with care and informed theological reflection has produced deeper understandings of Christianity, especially its doctrine of creation. So why hasn't the same thing happened in the debate over sex, gender and sexuality? For one, the fault lines around these issues within Christianity are complex. There aren't simple divisions between "conservative" and "progressive" versions of Christianity, or between those who read the bible "literally" and those who read it "metaphorically.". There are deeper underlying differences between Christians over the extent to which Christianity can be open to exploring new forms of itself while staying true to its founding message. Recognising this would involve a serious discussion of the diverse theological meanings of tradition, culture and ethics. But if we're able to have this deeper discussion within Christianity, it could affect how we view those "lines in the sand" between the church and broader society – and whether religious freedoms are truly at stake. And the world at large might get better insights into the breadth of contemporary Christianity.

What I learned about myself by agreeing to peg a guy on the third date. Our first date was promising. My date, let's call him Pete, had compelling ideas about( compelling I. A compelling argument or reason is one that convinces you that something is true or that something should be done. A compelling answer was provided in the final session from two different sources. There was no longer any compelling reason to continue this line of investigation. II. If you describe something such as a film or book, or someone's appearance, as compelling, you mean you want to keep looking at it or reading it because you find it so interesting. ...a frighteningly violent yet compelling film. Her eyes were her best feature, wide-set and compelling. She wrote compellingly, with great zest. ) gender, a quirky sense of style, and finely honed 精心修炼过的, 雕琢过的 ( to improve your skill at doing something, especially when you are already very good at it. He set about honing his skills as a draughtsman. finely honed (=extremely well-developed) intuition. ) listening skills. He was tall, with broad shoulders, long sandy hair that he wore in a sloppy man bun, and a fanny pack. We shared drinks in my neighborhood, listened to live jazz and talked about deep shit like the creative process and toxic masculinity. If I'm being honest, which I always am, I'm looking for a husband. I'm 30, live in Brooklyn and work at a non-profit with an all-female staff. At night I tell jokes in dive bars ( Dive bar is a colloquial American term for a disreputable bar or pub. It may also refer to a neighborhood bar where local residents gather to drink and socialize. Individual bars may be considered to be disreputable, sinister, of poor upkeep, or even a detriment to the community. ), surrounded by guys in their early 20s. I'm not meeting eligible bachelors in my day-to-day. So like most singles in the 21st century, I date online. Pete and I met on OKCupid. On our second date, we danced in a crowded back room 黑屋 in Crown Heights. I could really like him, I thought, through a layer of whiskey. He was loose and completely comfortable on the dance floor—more of a hippie type than I'd usually go for, but his enthusiasm was infectious. When we kissed to a mash-up of Michael Jackson and Bruno Mars, I barely noticed his damp hair sticking to my forehead. Later on, we went back to his apartment where we drank whiskey out of jam jars and bullshitted for the socially acceptable amount of time before getting naked. I had barely taken my bra off when he leaned in 靠过来, 靠近 and whispered into my ear, "Have you ever pegged before?" This seemed like the feminist thing to do. But deep down, I still wasn't sure. I didn't expect to enjoy it. I certainly wasn't going to get off from it. And even as I tried to psych myself up 打气, I was stressing about the logistics. I Googled, of course. I mostly found videos of Australian women speaking in dulcet tones about the importance of lube, patience, and communication. That part's obvious, though! I wanted specifics: I was hoping for a diagram. So I brought my concerns to my roommate, one of my oldest childhood friends who also happens to be a gay man. But he couldn't give advice on how to navigate a man's backside with a plastic penis; he has the real deal. So I finally realized this is one of those things I'll have to learn by doing. Our third date had a rocky start 开局不顺. I was flustered ( in a state of confusion or agitation Marianne noted his flustered appearance. He gets all flustered and doesn't know what to say. She was so flustered that she forgot her reply. ) and running late from work. It was a sunny summer evening and 7 pm felt conspicuously early for dinner once we sat down in the Mexican restaurant. Our meals were on the table within fifteen minutes. "Sorry I suggested we meet up so early," I said. Why am I apologizing? I thought. What a stupid thing to apologize for! "Yeah, it is super early, but whatever," Pete replied. Oh, so he does care?! Dinner passed quickly. Brief answers to interview style questions were punctuated with longer and longer pauses. "So you have three sisters?" "Yes… And you have a brother?" "...Yes." The conversation improved with the gin and tonics, but I couldn't shake the feeling of tension. Time passed excruciatingly slow but it finally got dark, and we went to his place. He brought me a beer, and we sat with our knees touching on cushions on the floor. The physical contact helped ease the tension; when he kissed me I felt like we were back to the vibe we had created the week before. Then, just as I was starting to relax into the kiss, he stopped and asked me: "So, have you thought any more about pegging?" I was nervous, but with the cries of a thousand YAS QUEENs echoing in my ears, I decided to put on my big girl panties and fuck him like a man. "Yeah, ok. I have no idea what I'm doing, but let's go for it," I said. He sat up straight 坐起来 with a bright smile. "Ok great," he said. "I think we should start with regular sex, and then we can put on the strap on and take it from there." He kissed me hard and we quickly undressed. He was very thorough, not rushing the "regular" part—but I felt impatient myself. I'd spent all week gearing up for this, and I wanted to see how I handled the "not so regular" sex.  He hurried to his dresser and returned with a leather g-string harness fitted with a slim, black, six-inch dildo. I stepped into it, and he tightened the straps on my hips. I resisted the urge 抑制住冲动 to ask when it had last been used... or cleaned. Better to not know. I put it on and was surprised at how comfortable I felt. I checked myself out in the full length mirror with my sexy leather harness and its average-sized "penis" dangling and felt…confident. That confidence was about to disappear quickly, however, once I attempted to get that dick inside of a man. This wasn't even the first obstacle. This is Brooklyn, so Pete of course had a huge lofted bed accessible only by climbing. I'm not physically graceful, so pulling myself upon on his bed with my brand-new external genitalia was no small feat. But nevertheless, I persisted. After a clumsy ascent, I kneeled on the bed, slightly out of breath, my head nearly brushing the ceiling. He just kept looking at me with this eager smile, so I took a deep breath and summoned my most convincing fake-it-til-you-make-it swagger. He turned down the lights, then pushed himself onto all fours. There was nothing I found sexually attractive about this situation, but I was committed at this point. I had climbed up the goddamn bed already. I inched closer 靠近一点, 靠近一步, 走进一步, feeling totally at a loss on how to proceed. In the dark, I couldn't see well, so he reached back to guide me. I lifted my hips at an uncomfortable angle, trying to brace my arms on the ceiling for better leverage for an extra inch or two of height. I had no idea if I was hitting my target, since I couldn't feel anything but low-level panic. I experienced a brief moment of respect for men for consistently locating vaginas without a map. Hoping for reassurance or directions, I murmured an interrogative 试探性的 "hmmm?' But he stayed quiet as I fiddled with the straps, hoping that might miraculously help me find his butthole. After I gave a few more half-hearted thrusts, he suggested we change positions. I audibly sighed in relief, hoping the break in action would come with some specific instructions. He silently flipped over so that we were spooning and I was left to my own devices once again. I have no idea what I'm doing. This is ridiculous. I could hear him making small noises, but not of pleasure. It sounded like a kitten purring in an attempt to get you to pet him in the right spot. Luckily, we were facing the same direction so he couldn't see my expression flicker between grim determination and utter defeat. It took two more position changes—including him sitting on top of me while I lay on my back—for him to finally declare we were finished. As I unbuckled the harness and wriggled out of it, I searched his face for some encouragement. My 15 minutes of pegging had not been the pinnacle of feminist sexual empowerment that my friends had expected. I hadn't enjoyed it, but I was hoping that it hadn't been a total failure. I wanted him to assure me it had been ok, to kiss me gratefully, to at least give me a "you'll get ‘em next time kid!" chuck on the arm. This was my first time fucking someone! Throw me a bone! As a teenage girl, I spent a good five minutes encouraging my virgin boyfriend after our first painful—and brief—intercourse. And after the next three dozen times. He kissed me goodnight, and we each rolled over facing different directions, pulling the sheet over ourselves. At least I don't have to climb down to go pee immediately after sex, I thought. Our interaction in the morning was brief but cordial; I had to leave pretty early for work. We didn't kiss. As he closed the door, I said, simply, "see you soon." After two days without hearing from him, I was annoyed. He had mentioned a camping trip, but that doesn't prohibit a quick "Hey, thanks for the pegging, want to see a movie next week?" text. By the third day I was frustrated enough to remember that I had just fucked a guy—why do I need to wait for him to text first? He replied back within an hour, citing a busy week. I suggested we get together after he returned from camping; his response was prompt but noncommittal 不表态的, 不置可否的. When a full week passed with no additional texts, I was furious. Ghosting someone after three dates is bad enough. Three dates deserves at least the courtesy of an "I reconnected with an old girlfriend" or a "work is just too crazy right now" text. Encouraging someone to peg you for the first time on a third date and then ghosting her crosses a red line. That means either he lost interest in me during the bad third date, and decided to go for the pegging anyway. Or he thought my first-time pegging attempt was so bad that he lost interest in me after that. Neither are ok! Who is going to be good at pegging their first time?! As I refuse to live in a world in which people behave like that without getting yelled at, I texted him a final time: Hey. I don't know when you lost interest or why, it doesn't really matter. But you knew I was nervous about pegging, and you knew that I wouldn't have if I knew we'd never see each other again. That was really shitty! Don't do that to someone else, it's mean. Have a great summer. I never heard back. The next weekend after a comedy show, I had a one night stand with a handsome acquaintance. Turns out I feel more like a badass bitch when I don't have a dick.