Have you ever had the urge 冲动 to track down your biological parents? Your girlfriend was adopted. She's never met the mother and father who originally gave birth to her. You're having serious discussion with her about her family. You ask her this. track (someone) down "Tracking someone down" means finding out where they are. For example, you might "track down" a coworker who you need to talk to, or you can "track down" an old friend from grade school that you haven't seen in many years. Grammatically, the phrase can be "track ___ down" or "track down ___". Pronouns usually come between "track" and "down": We tracked them down. How'd you track me down? Longer words and phrases usually come after:You should try to track down the person who sold it to you. (someone) has the urge to (do something) Having an "urge" to do something means that you suddenly want to do it. For example: I had the urge to smack him right across his face. Do you ever get the urge to go out dancing? "Wanting" something can happen over a short period of time or a long period, but "having an urge" is always sudden. There were definitely some sparks. You introduced a single friend of yours to one of your husband's college friends. You think that they liked each other. You're commenting on it to your husband afterwards. there were sparks (between two people) A "spark" is a small bit of fire or electricity. For example, you can sometimes see sparks when you unplug something from an outlet. You can also make sparks by hitting a metal blade against a stone. When you're talking about two people, the phrase "there were sparks" means that the people were romantically attracted. You especially use this to talk about when two people meet for the first time and seem to immediately be interested in each other. Another version of this phrase is "feel sparks" or "feel a spark": I like him I guess, but I didn't feel any sparks. Sometimes you meet someone, and you immediately feel a spark, you know? She had it coming 自作自受. A character on a TV show died. The character was a really mean, evil person, so you're happy that she died. You say this while chatting with a friend about the show. (someone) had it coming When something bad happens to a person and you're glad about it, you can say that the person "had it coming". It means something like "It's natural that this happened" or "It's good that this happened." A: He lost all of his money gambling. B: He had it coming if you ask me. You can also say it directly to someone, although it's certain to make them angry: A: Jesse and his boys grabbed me and beat me up. B: Yeah, well, honestly you had it coming. You shouldn't have messed with him. You can also say "I had it coming" about yourself. My ears are still ringing 嗡嗡作响. You went to a concert last night. The music was really loud, so it hurt your ears. Now you hear a strange noise because of it. You explain it to your roommate. (someone's) ears are ringing After a really loud noise like a live concert, you may start to hear a high-pitched noise. You can also hear it sometimes if you're in a really quiet place. We call this noise "ringing" and use it like this: My ears are ringing. There's a ringing in my right ear. What do you think people did back before they had electricity or running water? You want to take your family camping. They've never been camping before, so your daughter is worried about how she'll be able to shower and use the bathroom. She's horrified to hear that there are no bathrooms at the campground, but you think it's silly for her to worry so much about it. You ask this. back (in a time period) Use "back" to talk about a time period in the past: Back in the '80s, there was graffiti all over the place in the city. Back when I was in school, teachers would spank you with a paddlie if you misbehaved. The time period is usually more than a year ago. It would be strange to use this to talk about something that happened yesterday or last week. Adding this word makes the time period seem like it was a long time ago. (people) have running water 活水 "Running water" is water that's moving. The alternative is "standing water 死水". A river, a stream, and a faucet all have "running water". A pond, a lake, and a well all have "standing water". Water in an ocean wouldn't really be considered either "running" or "standing". When people have working faucets in their homes, you can say that they "have running water". Hi. I couldn't help but notice you from across the room 隔着房间. You're at a bar. There's a beautiful woman standing with a group of friends. You want to talk to her, so you walk up to her and say this. do something) from across the room Use this expression to talk about an action that starts on one side of a room, and reaches across to the other side. For example: She'll sometimes throw it to him from across the room. When I saw Janice, I yelled at her from across the room, "Hey! I've been looking for you!" My heart's still racing 心跳加速. You almost got in a car accident. Now you've stopped on the side of the road because you were freaked out. (someone's) heart is racing. When your heart is beating really fast, you can say that it's "racing". Your heart can race when you're scared, nervous, excited, or when you have some kind of medical problem. One other thing that can "race" in this way is your mind: As soon as he said he needed to talk to me, my mind started racing 大脑加速运转, wondering what it could be about. This means to think quickly and nervously. Have you experienced any heart palpitations 心跳过快, 心跳加速, 心率过快?([ˌpælpɪˈteɪʃənz] the movements of your heart when it beats faster than usual. When someone has palpitations, their heart beats very fast in an irregular way. Caffeine can cause palpitations and headaches. palpitate I. if your heart palpitates, it beats faster than usual. II. mainly literary to shake slightly and quickly. ) You're a doctor. A patient is complaining about a pain in her chest. You want to know what other symptoms she's experienced, to find out if there's a problem with her heart. Have you experienced (a health problem)? Doctors and nurses use this kind of expression when asking about a patient's symptoms. For example: Have you experienced any shortness of breath 喘不上气, 呼吸急促?Have you experienced any trouble urinating? The doctor or nurse can also ask "Have you been experiencing any ___?" for symptoms that are ongoing, like: Have you been experiencing pain in your lower back? A patient can also speak this way toward the doctor: I've been experiencing some memory loss. And finally, you can use "experience ___" for other problems that are not health-related. For example, on an airplane: Ladies and gentlemen, we're experiencing some turbulence. Please return to your seats and fasten your seatbelts. heart palpitations Problems with your heart beating too quickly, skipping a beat, or not beating with a steady rhythm 心率不齐 are called "heart palpitations". You use the phrase "heart palpitations" when describing this feeling to a doctor or nurse, or when telling someone about your medical problems. If your heart beats strangely because of a strong emotion like fear or excitement, it's more common to use phrsases like "my heart was racing" 心跳加速 or "my heart skipped a beat". Oh wow. That sounds fascinating. You're talking to a woman at a party that you've never met before. She says that she's a veterinarian at a zoo. You think that sounds like an amazing job, so you say this. When someone tells you about something, and you want to respond to them, use the phrase, "That sounds ___": That sounds so fun! Do you want to watch it with me? It sounds interesting. How can you stand working in such a cold, sterile environment day in and day out? A friend of yours works at a health clinic. You don't like doctor's offices and hospitals because the atmosphere is scary to you. You ask your friend how he's able to work there. How can you stand this noise? I can tolerate the heat, but what I can't stand is this humidity! day in and day out The expression "day in and day out" means "every day", but it sounds really boring, depressing, or unpleasant. People use it when they're complaining about their lives like this: I'm tired of doing the same boring job day in and day out. (a place) is cold and sterile "Sterile" is a medical term which means that there are no germs on something. Things like needles, bandages, surgical tools, etc. in a hospital all need to be sterile. It's a good thing when you use "sterile" to describe tools like these. However, when you describe a place (like a hospital or someone's home) as "cold and sterile", it's not very positive. It means that the place doesn't feel relaxing because it's too clean and uncomfortable. In this case "cold" doesn't refer to the temperature; it means that the place is emotionally cold. We got disconnected 掉线, 断线. You were talking on the phone with your mother while riding in the car with your sister. You suddenly weren't able to hear anything, so you hang up and say this. When you're talking on the telephone to someone, and the phone stops working for some reason, it's called "getting disconnected". You can say that the phone got disconnected. However, people more often say that "we" or "they" got disconnected: Did you get disconnected? You can also "get disconnected" when you do a video chat on your computer. I'm out there busting my ass and you're in here slacking off 无所事事, 消磨时间? It's a busy day at the store you work at. You go into the back room and see that one of your coworkers is playing games on his phone. You're annoyed, so you say this to him. A: I'm hungry. When are we going to eat? B: Don't rush me! I'm in there slaving away in the kitchen. What are you doing? Just sitting around watching TV! bust (one's) ass "Busting your ass" is an idiom that means "working really hard". I busted my ass waiting tables and working construction to pay my way through college. I know that all of you have really busted your asses on this project, and I really appreciate it. This is a colloquial expression that you use when talking to people you're comfortable with. The word "ass" is a mild swear word. You probably shouldn't use it in formal situations. There's also another meaning of "busting your ass", by the way. It means to injure your butt by falling: You remember that time when you slipped on the ice in the front driveway and busted your ass? (someone) is slacking off "Slacking off" means doing fun or relaxing things instead of doing the work that you're supposed to do. It sounds lazy. For example, if a child is watching TV after school, you can say: I don't think you have time to slack off, Daniel. You have homework to do. "Slacking off" is bad, but sometimes people admit to it: A: What did you do this weekend? B: I just kind of slacked off mostly. I need to work off these love handles. You've gained weight recently. You just got out of the shower, and you're looking at yourself in the mirror. You think you need to exercise. You think this to yourself. work off (something) 减肥, 减掉 To "work off" something means to work hard in order to make something go away. This phrase is used to talk about just a few subjects. One is getting rid of fat or weight by exercising: I need to work off about 15 pounds before beach season! Why don't we go for a little walk after dinner to work off some of those calories. The other situation to use "work off ___" with is a debt or obligation: It takes some graduates over 15 years to work off their college loans. They have their way into the country paid for, and then have to work it off doing cheap labor. In addition to "work off ___", you can also use "work __ off". The word that goes between is usually something like "it" or "them": How long did it take you to work it off? Dude! Have you been living under a rock? She's über-famous! You and a friend watched a Hollywood action movie together. Your friend asks who the lead actress was. She's really famous, so you're shocked that your friend doesn't know her name. This is your response. living under a rock When a person doesn't know about recent news, culture, or entertainment that's extremely well-known, you can ask: Have you been living under a rock? It means "How is it possible for you to not know about this?" Another way that people use "living under a rock" is: Unless you've been living under a rock, you've probably heard about... (something) is über-(adjective) "Über" is an adverb that means "very" or "extremely". It's taken from German, but English speakers use it from time to time. The most common adjectives that combine with "über" are: über-famous, über-rich, über-cool, über-stylish. You can see that it's mostly for talking about very cool, fashionable, high-status things. I'll just let that one soak 泡一会儿 for a little while. You're doing the dishes. There's one baking dish that has food stuck to it and is hard to clean. You want to put it in the water and wait a while. You say this to yourself. soak (dishes) "Soaking" something means putting it in water and waiting for the water to come into it. You soak dishes in soapy water so that the food that's stuck on the dishes starts to come off. You can also soak (in a bathtub) to relax and soak dried beans before cooking them. I've been feeling kind of lightheaded 头晕 lately whenever I stand up. You have a strange health problem. It makes you feel a little dizzy. You're describing it to a doctor. I get a sharp pain in my shoulder when I raise my arm. If you say this, the doctor might ask, "Does it hurt every time?" But if you used "whenever", the doctor would already know that it was every time. I've been (adjective) lately This is a way to describe how you've acted for a few days or months that's different from how you were in the past. When you describe yourself in this way, it sounds like this is a characteristic that isn't usual for you. I've been pretty tired lately. Or you can use a longer phrase like "in my own little world" in this example: Sorry, I've kind of been in my own little world lately. The phrase you use should be similar to an adjective, meaning that it should describe the noun ("I" in this case). There's a little confusion about the difference between "recently" and "lately". "Lately" is more appropriate for continuing situations, while "recently" is better for events that happened just once, a couple of times, or that have continued but are finished now (these days 表示更长的时期): Have you been going to the gym a lot lately? You look great! I ran into Stacy recently at the Food Emporium. It seems to be trendy these days to have a bit of stubble. To me, it just looks messy. You're watching a TV show, and the actor looks like he hasn't shaved in several days. You've noticed that this is common, but you don't like it. You say this to your roommate. "These days" means "recently". But "recently" is used to talk about things that have happened over the last few weeks or months. "These days" is a longer time period, usually from the last 6 months to the last 20-30 years. You use "these days" to talk about major changes in your life or in society. I don't watch much TV these days. Kids these days don't even remember what life was like before mobile phones and the Internet. It's getting harder and harder to earn a living as a photographer these days. I think the difference is that lately has more of a continuous or repetitive meaning (similar to the perfect aspect/tense), and doesn't work well for individual events, while recently can be used for both. For example, "
"I haven't seen her lately" and "I haven't seen her recently" are both fine. "Have you been to the movies lately?" and 'Have you been to the movies recently?" are both fine. I'm hoping someone else can elaborate on this, though. (something) seems to be (happening) Use this phrase to talk about things that you don't know for sure, but you think are true based on evidence that you see or hear. For example, you can talk about changes to the economy this way: The unemployment situation seems to be getting worse. You don't know if this is true or not; you're just guessing because you've talked to several people who have gotten laid off recently. In the example at top, the speaker says that her neighbor "seems to be" having construction done because she hasn't seen anyone working or spoken with the guy who lives there. She's just guessing based on the noises she hears. (something) is trendy 流行的, 大火的 "Trendy" means "fashionable" or "in style". But "trendy" can be used either positively or negatively. Here's a positive example: That's a nice jacket. It would look great paired with a trendy 时下正流行的, 时尚的 top. When you call something "trendy" negatively, it means that something is fashionable in a very temporary way, that's going to change soon. For example: I can't waste time paying attention to what's trendy 网红的! You can call clothes and other fashion "trendy". You can also use "trendy" to describe things that are recently popular like restaurants, diets, specific political opinions, slang phrases, websites, neighborhoods, etc. My brother dragged me out to this trendy nightclub that just opened up downtown. (someone) feels lightheaded When you feel "lightheaded", you feel dizzy, like you might faint. Your vision might turn dark for a moment. The difference between "lightheadedness" and "dizziness" is that we call a more long-lasting feeling of being off balance "feeling dizzy". Lightheadedness usually just lasts for a moment. You might "feel lightheaded" if you stand up too fast, or after exercising too hard. Would you care to join me on the dance floor? You're at a party. There's music and some people are dancing. You want to ask a friend to dance with you. You ask in a funny way to make her laugh. Would you care to (do something)? This is a really polite, formal way to invite someone to do something. You use it like this: Would you care to accompany me? You can also ask with "for": Would you care for a drink? It's so polite that sometimes people use it with their friends as a joke. The joke is that you're speaking in a really formal way, even though it's not necessary. join (someone) (somewhere) This means to go somewhere where a person is going to be: Will you be able to join us at the party? Would you care to join me in the bedroom? No thanks. I'm too wired up 精力充沛 as it is. A coworker offers to get you a coffee. You're an energetic person, but you don't drink coffee. You refuse your coworker's offer. (someone) is wired up When you drink a lot of coffee or get really excited about something, you feel energetic in a nervous kind of way. We call this feeling "being wired up". You can use "wired up" to describe children: Please don't give them any more candy. They're going to be wired up for the rest of the day. (something) is (adjective) as it is This phrase means something like "It's already bad, so don't make it even worse." You use it like this: A: You're so smart. B: Why, thank you. C: Don't tell her that. She already has a huge ego as it is. Come on! Let's go! We're already late as it is. Listen, I don't want any trouble. You're at a bar. A big, muscular guy is threatening you because you were talking to his girlfriend. You don't want to fight him, so you say this. You were doing 55 in a 35 mile per hour zone. It's never a dull moment! You have young children who are really active and sometimes cause trouble. A friend asks how you like having children. You say this. something) is dull "Dull" means "boring" or "not interesting". It's less negative-sounding than "boring", so you can use it when you want to be a little polite. It's/There's never a dull moment. Use this set phrase to talk about something that's stressful and doesn't allow you to relax, like your job, raising children, etc. You say this with a bit of humor in your voice, because "never a dull moment" seems to mean that something is exciting and fun. But what you really mean is that it's too exciting, so you never get to rest. The correct word to start this phrase is "There's": There's never a dull moment with those two. But people sometimes use "It's" as well when they're referring to something that just came up in conversation: A: What's it like working at a TV station? B: It (working at a TV station)'s never a dull moment. Take one capsule of this two or three times a day; it'll help ease the pain 止痛, 减轻疼痛. You went to a doctor because of pain in your lower back. The doctor is writing a prescription for medication. He says this when he hands you the prescription. It might seem like no big deal, but it reflects badly 显得不好 on the entire organization. There are some spelling mistakes on your company's website. You think that it's really embarrassing for the company. You complain about it to the person in charge of maintaining the website. It might seem like (something), but (sentence) When someone is making a bad decision, you can use this phrase to change their mind. It means that their way of thinking is incorrect. For example: It might seem like a waste of time at first, but as you continue to practice you'll see better and better results. It might seem like you can make more money by quitting school and getting a job directly, but in the long run you'll end up earning a lot more money if you earn a degree. (something) reflects badly on (a person or organization) 带来不好的影响, 给人不好的印象 When you do something bad, it makes people lose respect for you. It might also make people lose respect for people who are connected to you, like your parents, your boss, your coworkers, or even your entire country. To describe this, we say that your actions "reflect badly on ___": Scandals like these reflect very badly on the current administration. You're only thinking about yourself. Did you ever stop to consider that it reflects badly on us as well? You can also say that an action "reflects well on" something. For example, the principal of a school might say this in a speech to the students: We're here to do everything we can to help you achieve, because when you accomplish great things, that also reflects well on us. She's a big shot in Hollywood now. (someone) is a big shot A "big shot" is an important person. This phrase sometimes has a little bit of a negative tone. You can call someone a "big shot" if they have a high-paying job but don't have time to pay attention to their old friends, for example. Or if you want to tease a friend who's bragging too much, you can say: All right, Mr. Big Shot! Can you check to see if the battery's charged? You're getting ready to leave your house to go to a wedding. You're in a hurry, but your husband isn't. You're worried that there's not enough power in your camera's battery, so you ask your husband to find out. check to see if (something is true) It's a little bit repetitive, but English speakers sometimes use the phrase "check to see". It just means to check something and find out what the situation is. Here are some examples: Before you pull out, check in your rear view mirror to see if there's anyone behind the car. I'll check to see if they have one of these at the hardware store around the corner. Sir, (sentence) Employees who deal with the public, like cashiers, receptionists, security guards, hotel staff, etc. often call male customers "Sir". It's supposed to show respect. For example: Sir, can I get you something to drink while you wait? In the U.S., you can also call any adult man who you don't know "Sir". On the other hand, it's a little strange to call someone "sir" who you know well, like a coworker or friend. Unless someone has a clear position of authority over 是你上级 you (like a teacher), don't call him "sir" if you've had friendly conversations with each other. The equivalent title for women is "Ma'am" (ma'am [US mæm, UK mɑːm ] (plural ma'ams) A contracted form of madam (chiefly used as a form of address). Usage notes: I. In British English, ma'am has become uncommon, although it is prescribed when addressing the queen more than once: after first addressing her as Your Majesty, one uses ma'am. The term is also sometimes still used in the armed forces and security services when addressing female superiors. Both ma'am and its full form madam are only rarely (far less commonly than in the US) used to express respect outside of these circumstances. II. In American English, the full form madam is limited as a form of address to certain highly formal environments, while ma'am is the usual term. Ma'am is not often used in the other sense of madam, but is used as a polite form of address toward (for example, but not strictly limited to): a female stranger presumed old enough to have children, particularly if older than the speaker, a female customer one is serving, one's mother, a female teacher or school official in a school which emphasizes formality, or a female superior in the military. III. In the Southern (southeastern) and Southwestern US, ma'am is used to address any female, regardless of her age or position. IV. South African usage mirrors American English usage except that ma'am is not used to address one's mother. V. In Pakistan and India, ma'am is used to address female teachers. VI. In Australian English, an outranking female military officer is addressed as Ma'am. VII. The usage of yes, ma'am connotes deference, particularly by one who has been scolded for misbehavior, but also in more friendly circumstances.). Pop the hood, will you? Your son's car has some kind of problem in the engine. You know a little about cars, so you're going to try to fix it. You want him to open the front of the car so you can look at the engine. pop the hood (of a car) The "hood" of a car is the flat part in front that covers the engine. To "pop the hood" means to open it up. You can also "pop" the trunk of a car: Hey, can you pop the trunk? Of course, "open the hood" and "open the trunk" are both OK, but "pop" is more casual and conversational-sounding. (do something), will you? Ask "will you?" at the end of a small request in very casual conversation. For example: Pass me the salt, will you? Give me a hand with these boxes, will you? How long's it been since you clipped 剪指甲 those suckers? Your roommate is wearing sandals. His toenails are really long, and it looks gross. You tease him about it. How long has it been since 多久没有 (something happened)? This is a way to ask about how much time has passed between a past event and now. Here are some examples: How long has it been since you first started experiencing these symptoms? How long has it been since you last saw him? In casual English, you can contract "long has" to "long's": How long's it been since we last got together? clip (one's nails) We use the verb "clip" to talk about cutting your fingernails or toenails. that sucker / those suckers In very casual speech, "sucker" can mean "thing". Here are some examples of things that you can call a "sucker": a fish that you're trying to catch, a remote control that you're trying to find, a steak that you're putting on the grill to cook, your computer which recently broke. There's something lively-sounding about "sucker", so don't use it to talk about things which aren't doing anything interesting. You did the right thing 做得对, 做对了 by telling me. You found that your tablet computer was broken when you came home. Your son admitted that he dropped it. You're angry, but you want to encourage him for telling you the truth. When someone does "the right thing", it means that they do what is honest or morally right. For example, you can tell someone that they "did the right thing" in situations like: a student reports some dangerous behavior by another student to their teacher. someone found a missing wallet and returned it to the owner. This is different from telling someone that they were "right", which means "correct": You were right. It's scheduled for Monday, not Tuesday. To mention which action was "the right thing", you can say "by ___ing": You did the right thing by coming to me. We can be fined tens of thousands of dollars if we miss one of the filing deadlines. You're an accountant. You're talking to a cousin that you don't see very often about your job. You're explaining why your job is stressful sometimes. This is one reason. a filing deadline The day that you have to finish something by is a "deadline". A "filing deadline" is the last day to file, or submit, a set of paperwork. We usually use the phrase "filing deadline" to talk about doing one's taxes: I always put off doing my taxes until right before the filing deadline. Sure. Blame it on me. You and your husband are traveling. You got to the airport late and missed your flight. He blames you for missing the flight because you took longer to get ready. You think that it's his fault that you missed the flight, and you can't believe that he's blaming you. blame (someone) for (something) "Blaming" someone for a bad situation means saying that they caused it. You can blame someone for a mistake, a bad decision, an accident, etc. Are you going to keep on blaming your parents for all of your problems and flaws? At some point, you need to take responsibility for your own life. If someone has caused something good, you don't "blame" them for it. Instead, you "give ___ credit for ___" or "attribute ___ to ___." Mandy gave me credit for being the one who came up with the original idea. This one really speaks to me 有共鸣. You're at an art gallery. You find one painting that you really like. It makes you feel great. You say this to a friend who's standing next to you. (a work of art) speaks to me You can use this phrase to talk about a painting, a movie, a song, or other work of art that gives you strong positive emotions. When art "speaks to you", it makes you notice new things about life. You can also use this phrase in the past tense: Her poetry really spoke to me. Actually, if you could give us a few more minutes...? You're eating at a restaurant. The waiter comes to your table to take your order, but you're not ready. You tell him to come back again a few minutes later. "A few" is a number that's not specific, but it usually means somewhere between 3-10. It's a little less formal than "several" and also sounds like a slightly lower number. Here are some examples: You may want to consider hiring a personal trainer for a few sessions. That's a very generous offer. Um, let me think it over for a few days and get back to you. if you could (do something)... People ask questions this way sometimes when they're being polite: If you could just move over there to the side... If you could email me the form you were talking about... Instead of finishing the sentence by giving a conclusion to the "if" clause, the speaker just lets the sentence fade off. The meaning is "Please do this" but it sounds less direct. Sometimes people do finish the sentence with "that would be great" or "I would appreciate it": If you could turn down the volume just a little, I would really appreciate it. Tell me what we need to do in order to make this go through. One of your employees is trying to do a sales deal to get a big client. The deal is taking too long. You want to know what's preventing the deal from being sold, so that you can help sell it. Tell me what we need to do in order to make this go through. make (something) go through When something "goes through", it completes successfully. Some examples of things that can "go through" are: an attempted credit card payment, a business deal, a formal request. "Making" a deal or a sale "go through" means that you help to complete it, or cause it to finish successfully: I can tell that you're working really hard to make this deal go through, and I really appreciate the effort. Another phrase which uses the same words but isn't related is "go through (an experience)": We've been going through a period of weak sales. If you decide somewhere down the road that you need some of the more advanced features, you can always sell it and upgrade to a more advanced model. You work at an electronics store. A customer wants to buy a camera, but isn't sure if he should get a cheaper one or a more professional one. You don't think he needs the professional camera, so you're trying to convince him to buy the cheaper camera. down the road (down the line) The phrase "down the road" means "some time in the future" ( along/down the road in the future, especially at a later stage in a process Two years down the road, you might feel very differently. It's a decision that may well have an impact further down the road. Lots of things will have changed a few years down the road. You can always upgrade a bit further down the road if you want. Somewhere down the road, they're going to clash. down the line informal later, after an activity or situation has been continuing for a period of time. There may be more costs further down the line. Now, three years down the line, we’re beginning to see the problems with the treatment. all along/down the line (=at every stage): If you say that something happens all along the line, or right down the line, you mean that it happens in every case. Excellent acting all down the line captures the sound and feeling of that semi-feudal age. Democrats and Republicans differed right down the line on what the proper responses were. Our supporters have been magnificent all along the line 全称, 一直始终. somewhere along/down the line (=at some stage): Somewhere along the line vital information has been withheld. further along/down the line (=at a later stage): The judge said compensation would be considered further down the line. kick the can down the road (sweep under the carpet) to delay dealing with a serious problem in the hope that it will go away. You can't solve a debt problem with more debt. That's just kicking the can down the road. ). English speakers especially use "down the road" when discussing decisions. Some decisions can be changed "down the road". Other decisions might have bad consequences "down the road". For example: Yeah, it works for now. I'm worried that it could present some problems down the road, though. Ten or fifteen years down the road, you may decide that you want to move somewhere bigger. advanced features Electronics, appliances, and software programs have "features". Features are useful things that the product is able to do. "Advanced features" are abilities that are more difficult to use or not needed by most people. For example, a professional photographer would need a camera with "advanced features", but a typical family would not. a model (of a product) Products such as electronics and cars usually have new "models" each year or every few years. The new "model" has an updated design and new features. By the way, some products don't have new "models". For example, computer software has new "versions" instead of "models". Books that are updated have new "editions". you can always do (something) Use this expression to communicate that a decision is not permanent; it can be changed later. For example, if someone has tried to recruit your friend for a job, you might have a conversation like this: A: I don't know if I want to leave my current job... B: Well, you can always go for the interview and decide later once they've made a job offer. upgrade (something) to (something) "Upgrading" something means getting a better version. Here are some things that you can "upgrade": upgrade your seat on an airplane to first class, upgrade your computer to a newer model, upgrade to PhraseMix Premium. She claims to be all about honesty and integrity? What a hypocrite! There's a politician that you don't like at all. This politician says that she is truthful in her campaign commercials, but you think she lies about a lot of things. You saw a new commercial from her, and you comment on it on a social networking site. (someone) claims to (do/be something) 自称, 自己宣称 Use "claim to ___" when you want to tell what a person said, but you also want to suggest that you don't believe them, or don't know if what they said is true. For example: I once knew a guy who claimed to be able to remember every telephone number he'd ever called. There are two different patterns that people use "claim" in. One is "claim that ___", and the other is "claim to ___": They claimed to be police officers, so I let them in. They claimed that they were police officers, so I let them in. (someone) is a hypocrite A "hypocrite" is someone who loudly pretends to be good, but secretly does bad things. Or someone who does the same bad things that they criticize others for. For example, a preacher who teaches his congregation not to chase after money, but actually lives in an expensive house and drives a luxury car himself, is a hypocrite. Another example is a parent who tells her teenage daughter not to smoke, but is secretly a smoker herself. Politicians, religious leaders, parents, and teachers are often accused of being hypocrites. someone) is all about (something) You can describe a philosophy that someone often talks about and emphasizes this way: Mom and Dad were all about me going to college and studying medicine, even when I was just a little girl. The marines are all about respect and loyalty. You can also use "all about ___" to talk about something that you're strongly interested in, or something that you concentrate on: These days, I'm all about cutting loose and enjoying myself. honesty and integrity 诚实诚信 "Honesty" means telling the truth. "Integrity" is a more general kind of honesty. It means doing the right thing and following a set of moral rules. These words often appear together in the phrase "honesty and integrity". This phrase is common in formal speeches, like political speeches or school ceremonies. This doesn't do it justice at all. You can't possibly capture the essence of that experience on film.You went hiking to the top of a really beautiful mountain in a foreign country. It was one of the most beautiful places you've ever seen. You're showing a photo of it to a friend, but the photo doesn't match how beautiful it was. (something) doesn't do (something) justice When a description, a photograph, or a recording of something isn't as great as the original, you can say "it doesn't do it justice". You can say "it doesn't do it justice" about things like: a joke that was originally very funny, but you re-told it incorrectly, a view was very beautiful, but your photographs of it aren't as beautiful. You can't possibly (do something) This phrase means that something isn't possible. You use this expression to strongly state an opinion. You can't possibly understand what it's like if you've never had children of your own. You can't possibly prefer strawberry ice cream to vanilla! (In this case, it means "I can't believe that you prefer..."). the essence [ˈesəns] 精华, 精妙 of (something) The "essence" of something is its most important and essential qualities. It's hard to give a simple example because English speakers think of the "essence" of something as being like a kind of shapeless liquid or gas. Here are some things that English speakers often talk about "the essence" of: the essence of the problem, the essence of who you are, the essence of an experience. capture (something) on film / video "Capturing" something on film means taking a photo or a video of it. You should especially use this phrase to talk about shooting film or photos of a short, special, rare event. For example, if you take a video of the first time that your child walks, you can say that you "captured the moment on video". Even though most modern cameras don't use film, you'll probably still hear English speakers say "capture on film" sometimes.
