用法学习: 1. Houston has been sinking for decades and, like Jakarta, the over-extraction of groundwater 地下水过分开采(depleting 地下水枯竭 groundwater) is partly to blame. BLT: a sandwich filled with bacon, lettuce, and tomato. A BLT is a type of sandwich, named for the initials of its primary ingredients, bacon, lettuce and tomato. It can be made with varying recipes according to personal preference. Simple variants include using different types of lettuce, toasting or not, or adding mayonnaise. More pronounced variants can include using turkey bacon or tofu in place of bacon, or removing the lettuce entirely. death spiral 急剧下滑, 急剧恶化 I. The situation or course of action of one who is on a path toward some sort of inevitable catastrophic failure. a situation that keeps getting worse and that is likely to end badly, with great harm or damage being caused: in a death spiral. We're trying to avoid the death spiral where the electricity supply starts to shrink and prices start to skyrocket. II. a situation in which an aircraft that is out of control flies downward while going around in circles: He went into a death spiral and flew his plane into the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Massachusetts. accounting: The death spiral is a cost accounting phenomenon that occurs when a company repeatedly eliminates products or services without reducing fixed costs. The concept refers to situations in which a company falls into a spiral of increased fixed costs and lower production volumes. gerrymandering manipulate the boundaries of (an electoral constituency) so as to favour one party or class. achieve (a result) by gerrymandering. "an attempt to gerrymander the election result". 2. shit 和 shitty都可以做形容词, UK的人偏爱用shit, US偏爱用shitty. 但shit day, shit job美国人也用, shit有时指真正的shit, 如shit hole, shit house, 这个不能用shitty. shit(More UK than North America, where speakers prefer using shitty) adj. Bad; unpleasant; highly displeasing; unskilled; of poor quality, ability, etc. He was a shit teacher. That restaurant has shit service. That movie was quite shit. I have a shitty car is pretty much the same as I have a shit car, but it doesn't make sense to say This place is a shitty hole when you mean This place is a shit hole, and a shitty show doesn't mean the same thing as a shit show. Whether shitty and adjectival shit are truly equivalent is a matter of debate. Ben Yagoda's exploration of a similar pair—adjectival crap and crappy—suggests that to some speakers, they're subtly distinct semantically. Telling an American that you had a shit day working a shit job for shit pay wouldn't be out of the ordinary. Trust me, they are in more shit than you. I think there's no airlines in the world more shit than United. "All criticism is shitty anyway" and "All criticism is (metaphorical) shit anyway" both make sense. If someone says they are shitting themselves, they mean that they are very frightened. 3. tired out = tired to death 累惨了, 累毙了 very much in need of rest or sleep. Exceptionally exhausted or fatigued. All that running around has the kids pretty tired out, so we might have a relaxed afternoon inside.I'm pretty tired out after all that travel, but it's good to finally be home. We were all really tired out after our long journey. tire (one) out To exhaust, fatigue, or deplete the energy of one. That long meeting really tired me out. Our new puppy has so much energy that I have to take him for a run each day to tire him out. burned-out relationships: When you have relationship burn out, you start feeling badly about yourself. Platonic, professional, familial and social relationships are all at risk of becoming burned out if we do not pay sufficient attention to their care and maintenance. pocket rocket I. (US) vulgar slang A penis, especially when erect and inside one's pants (as if it were in one's pocket). He held his hands over his pocket-rocket and ran for the bedroom. I didn't want to stand up and make it obvious that I was sporting a pocket rocket. II. slang A miniature electric or gas-powered motorcycle, as might be ridden by a child. David's dad bought him a pocket rocket for his birthday—the thing looks like real deal! III. (US) slang A compact vibrator specifically used for clitoral stimulation. I was mortified when my pocket rocket fell out of purse halfway through the date. In Britain, a magic bullet is what Americans call pocket rockets - small, pocket sized vibrators. In America Magic Bullet refers to what Brits and Irish call Nutri Bullets (一种fruit blender). IV. 小钢炮. 小个子但是精干的女人. Petite enough to fit in your pocket, able to make you go off like a rocket. A petite, vivacious woman. Shes a little pocket rocket (meaning pint-sized hot chick). In Australia, pocket rocket is used to described a physically small but athletic person. petite and energetic. 4. give/cause someone grief I. To cause pain to someone. Her elbow has been giving her grief. II. INFORMAL 让人头疼. 让人头大. 让人烦恼不已. to annoy someone or cause trouble or problems for them. to annoy someone, or to cause them problems. To hassle or abuse someone. Fred was giving me grief over the money I owed him. III. to criticize someone in an annoying way. Call-out culture (also known as outrage culture) is a form of public shaming that aims to hold individuals and groups accountable by calling attention to behavior that is perceived to be problematic, usually on social media. A variant of the term, cancel culture, describes a form of boycott in which someone (usually a celebrity) who has shared a questionable or unpopular opinion, or has had behavior that is perceived to be problematic called out on social media is "canceled": they are completely boycotted by many fans, often leading to massive declines in celebrities' (almost always social media personalities) careers and fanbase. Taylor Swift's Lover era is one of rebirth, and while she has no interest in rehashing 重提旧事 the events with (to do something again without adding new ideas or without changing it. We spent most of the meeting rehashing old issues.) Kanye West and Kim Kardashian that went down in 2016, she did use her new interview with Vogue to speak broadly about her mental health following the incident, and share her thoughts on cancel culture in general. The biggest problem, she says, is that those who participate in mob mentality don't truly grasp the consequences. "A mass public shaming, with millions of people saying you are quote-unquote canceled, is a very isolating experience," she told the outlet. "I don't think there are that many people who can actually understand what it's like to have millions of people hate you very loudly...When you say someone is canceled, it's not a TV show. It's a human being. You're sending mass amounts of messaging to this person to either shut up, disappear, or it could also be perceived as, Kill yourself." Swift will officially burst out of her cocoon when Lover drops on August 23, leaving her days of cancellation behind for good. While calling for someone to be canceled may be a cathartic way (cathartic [kəˈθɑrtɪk] 宣泄的, 释放的, 释怀的 allowing you to express strong feelings that have been affecting you so that they do not upset you anymore. Something that is cathartic has the effect of catharsis. His laughter was cathartic, an animal yelp that brought tears to his eyes. ...a liberating and cathartic experience. Tragedy is a form of drama based on human suffering that invokes an accompanying catharsis 宣泄, 发泄 or pleasure in audiences. catharsis [kəˈθɑrsɪs] the process of expressing strong feelings that have been affecting you so that they do not upset you anymore. ) to reclaim some power, it's important to remember that there is a human being on the other side of the conversation. 5. have a way with words = have the gift of the gab 能说会道的, 油嘴滑舌的 glib-tongued to have talent in the effective or stylish use of words. Ask Perry to make the announcement. He has a lovely way with words 真会说话. turn of phrase 说法 (narrative) I. a way of saying something. a particular way of saying something. If someone has a particular turn of phrase, they have a particular way of expressing themselves in words. Rose's stories weren't bad; she had a nice turn of phrase. ...Schwarzkopf's distinctive turn of phrase. What a strange turn of phrase! "Significant other" meaning "partner" - now that's an interesting turn of phrase. II. the ability to express yourself well. the ability to say things in a clever or funny way Kate has a colourful turn of phrase. She has a nice turn of phrase, which should serve her well in journalism. shart 屁屎交流, 屁滚屎流: When you try to fart, but instead you shit in your pants. You've probably LOLed at the term "sharting" before. (For the uninitiated, the word is a combination of sh*t and fart, and it happens when you involuntary poop when you're trying to pass gas.) Cards Against Humanity even has a card that reads, "When you fart and a little bit comes out." 6. moon child = moonchild I. someone who is born under the Cancer astrological sign. II. a hippie. III. A Moon Child is a unique and a curious soul who is often in a daze, his or her mind is always out of this world. They live in their fantasy and refuse to come back to a harsh reality. A Moon Child don't not always mean they are born under the Cancer zodiac sign, but they are just drawn to the moon in a way that can't be explained. Some how they just belong on the moon, to the moon. Her mind is always wandering, she's definitely a Moon Child! He's always looking at the moon, maybe he's a Moon Child. fanny flutter 痒痒的: In case you didn't know, fanny flutter is the slight tingling 酥麻酥麻的 sensation a person with a vagina will get down below when they see someone they have a sexual attraction to. The tingling sensation could range from contractions in the vagina to actually feeling like you're going to have an orgasm. Fanny flutters is when you see someone and get a slight tingling sensation in your private area. It could suggest you could have some sort of have sexual chemistry with them and want so have sexual interactions with them to or just find them extremely attractive.
Nowhere boys: 1. So now we sneak into the witch's lair ([ler] I. a place where a wild animal lives. A lair is a place where a wild animal lives, usually a place which is underground or well-hidden. a wolf's lair. II. 根据地. 秘密基地. 据点. hideout藏身之地 a place where you can be alone and feel safe. Someone's lair is the particular room or hiding place that they go to, especially when they want to get away from other people. a secret or private place in which a person seeks concealment or seclusion. "he led the police to the criminals' lair". Green recounts how he once went to see Bremner in his lair. The village was once a pirates' lair. III. informal the room or home of a frightening or dangerous person. ) to steal her magic book. Jake and Andy, distract 吸引注意力 (side-track, detour) her in the shop. Sam and I will sneak into the back room. That's where she keeps it. Except when she keeps it in her bag. So what's Plan B? No, we'll go after her. You guys go into the shop to see if you can find any clues. If she is behind these attacks, she'll need things from us for her spell. Like what? Stray hair, some flaky skin. Just as long as it comes from us. You want us to collect bodily secretions? There's a spare key under the pot plant below the wind chimes [ˌtʃaɪmz] (风铃 a decoration that you hang outside, with parts that move in the wind to make a pleasant sound. Wind chimes are a type of percussion instrument constructed from suspended tubes, rods, bells or other objects that are often made of metal or wood. The tubes or rods are suspended along with some type of weight or surface which the tubes or rods can strike when they or another wind-catching surface are blown by the natural movement of air outside. They are usually hung outside of a building or residence as a visual and aural garden ornament. Since the percussion instruments are struck according to the random effects of the wind blowing the chimes, wind chimes have been considered an example of chance-based music. The tubes or rods may sound either indistinct pitches, or fairly distinct pitches. Wind chimes that sound fairly distinct pitches can, through the chance movement of air, create simple melodies or broken chords. ). It's where she hides it in our world. So hopefully that's one of the things that hasn't changed. I recognise that stare. Mega-death. She asked me to meet her yesterday but I got detoured 分神, 分心, 搞忘了(I. to go from one place to another by a way that is not the shortest or usual way. On the way back, Jarvis detoured to check the time of services at the church. One evening we detoured to Crystal Bay to watch the sunset. We had to detour around downtown, so it took us longer than usual. II. to prevent someone from doing something or making progress for a period of time: Detoured by family and children, she didn't focus on performing until the early 1990s. noun. I. 绕远. 绕路. make/take a detour. diversion [British] If you make a detour on a journey, you go by a route which is not the shortest way, because you want to avoid something such as a traffic jam, or because there is something you want to do on the way. a different or less direct route to a place that is used to avoid a problem or to visit somewhere or do something on the way: You'd be wise to make a detour to avoid the roadworks. He did not take the direct route home, but made a detour around the outskirts of the city. II. BRIT, use diversion A detour is a special route for traffic to follow when the normal route is blocked, for example because it is being repaired. ). You stood her up? There is no known universe where Ellen forgives someone for standing her up. I guess I just have to face the music. Hey, I thought you were gonna proofread my new blog entry. Oh, sorry, I got side-tracked 忙其他的事情, 走神了, 分心了. You are cute when you get side-tracked. Do you remember the last time we were in here? It was so romantic. What, being attacked by wild dogs? No, before that. When the lights flickered. Oh, yeah. What if the power went out now? I hope not. This laptop has no back-up power supply. Don't mind me. I'll just sit over here and throw up in silence. How come you're getting invitations to dinner? What about the rest of us? Yeah, we like food too. Andy! Let's not get side-tracked by your lover. 2. But Jake ate poisoned 下了毒的 pickles. 3. Didn't go so great with Ellen? She hates me. You never had a chance. Why? Because even under that terrible dress sense 穿衣品味, there is a very cool girl. I'd tell her the truth. Just be honest with her. In front of all her friends? Absolutely. There's nothing cooler than a public declaration of your feelings. 4. If I've already called your names, can you please get into your groups? Come on, now, get organised. This way. Just hop into your groups there, new boys. The other Year Tens won't bite, I hope. But if they do, they've all had their shots so. 5. What is that thing? It's a talisman. Like a good-luck charm. I got it from Phoebe when the attacks started. Do you think she has something to do with us being here? How is she connected to a wormhole? Well, maybe it's your wormhole theory that's the problem. 6. This is Ellen O'Donnell from the internationally renowned blog, "Wot the Elle", reporting from Bremin High, where a pack of mad dogs went even madder. There have been no injuries and everyone has been accounted for. I can assure you that Bremin High will be open again tomorrow. 7. Come on, then. Eyes on the prize ("to keep your eyes on the prize 盯好了, 别看漏了, 看好了, 盯着看好了" to remain focused on achieving a positive end result, without being distracted by problems or setbacks.). She could have snuck in while we were out and found things that belong to us. 8. Is it still breaking and entering if you have a key? We haven't broken anything so, technically it's just entering. Tell that to the judge. Man, I'm starved. There's no single edible thing in here. 9. You've got a meal tonight. I'll get you a doggie bag 打包点东西给你吃. 10. Hey, these look like pickles. Think they're edible? Um, no. They're foul 变质了, 坏掉了, 过期了. There's four kinds of hair here. Maybe it's ours. I thought you didn't believe in magic. I don't. But I'm very goal driven and don't like under-achieving. Maybe this is a clue to those scary crows. 11. Hey, Mr Bates. Um, Sam forgot his bag because of all the crazy dog action. Is it okay if we get it? Sure, but I'll be locking up 上锁 in a minute. Oh, did you get these consent forms? They're for your guardian 监护人 to sign. Yeah, we're on our way to see her now so we'll totally get these signed. 12. you da man 你厉害! you're the man! American English spoken used to praise someone for having done something well. Here, give me a go. Well, if I can't do it, I don't see how you. Who da man 看看谁厉害(The question yelled by a person who has just done something amazing. If anyone answers by yelling 'You da man!' then this person has succeeded at being awesome. However, if nobody answers then this person has failed.)? 13. Be careful with this. Still don't trust her. Feeling's mutual. That's the spell she used against us. Just like you said, Felix. It's not a spell, airhead. This is the demonology section. Demonology? I've been trying to work out what's been attacking you, and I think I've found the answer. you boys have a demon after you, a bona fide, hell-bent-on-murder demon. Oh, man. She's right. These haven't just been elemental attacks. It's the same thing in different forms. What kind of demon is it? There's more than one kind of demon? From the signature, it looks like a restoring demon, created to restore the natural order after a magical disturbance. 14. I don't feel so good. What's wrong? I think that pickle Was poisonous 毒性的? We need to get you to a hospital. 15. I need you to find the spell that Alice cast And reverse it 逆向, 逆转. If you've been trying for ten years, what chance have I got? You can do magic, Felix. And you can't? I've studied magic all my life, but I've never had any real ability. Only a true witch can harness the power of the elemental talisman. If Felix helps, can you get us home? If he helps me find Alice, she can get you home. 16. Ugh, that tastes like sludge ( [slʌdʒ] thick soft mud. a. a thick soft substance that remains when liquid has been removed from something in an industrial process. Sludge is thick mud, sewage, or industrial waste. All dumping of sludge was banned.). 17. What if I work? In the kitchen? What can you do? All you do is make trouble. I know how to wash the dishes. Come on, you're short-staffed. 18. Hayfever again? Should be fine. I've dosed myself up 加多剂量, 增加剂量 with antihistamines. Thanks for having me. The more, the merrier. You eat as much as you like, Sam. Just nice to see Oscar with some friends. Mum, you're doing it again. Oscar's great. You all are. You're like My family. You boys should visit more often. Stay for a weekend. Done. 19. We may have just found a way home today. What, Phoebe? Sure, we're going home through Phoebe and her non-existent magic. You're a real downer, you know that? Magic is irrational and counter-intuitive. 20. He really is sorry about standing Ellen up. You, I mean. I know who I am. He was just overwhelmed by your awesomeness. I was? Well, tell him I was overwhelmed by his rudeness. 21. You believe in wormholes and every hare-brained scientific theory ever invented, but not magic. Quantum physics can be proven. What if magic's just science that hasn't been explained yet? hare-brained [ˈhɛːbreɪnd] adj rash; ill-judged. "a hare-brained scheme". 22. I suppose we have to do the same again. If we want to be scientific. I don't remember it being this high. Come on. We've done it before. Accidentally. Yeah, but you're a man of action (a man of action 行动多于语言 a man who prefers to do things rather than think about and discuss them.) now, right? Yes. But there's action and then there's pure stupidity. Let's do it. Just psyching myself up. 23. So what's the last thing you remember? The party. Andy running off. You don't remember anything after that? Not a thing. You remember the alternate universe, though, right? I could use a précis. "Précis"? It means 'recap'( [ˌriˈkæp] 复述. to describe what has already been done or decided, without repeating the details. We'll just recap briefly on what we did.). I know what it means. Since when does Sam? Er, dudes, I have a dictionary. precis [ˈpreɪsi] 总结, 复述 a summary or abstract of a text or speech. verb. make a precis of (a text or speech). 24. Do you mind if I hold onto 先拿着 this? Detective, I don't mean to be disrespectful. Then don't be. I'll be in touch. We have to find him, detective. I always do. You're not seriously considering this, are you? Always good to look at every angle 从每个角度. 25. Did you see the look in Alice's eyes? She's dangerous. You cured me when I was turning to clay. This is different. How? She's a golem. In Jewish folklore, a golem ([ˈɡoʊləm]) is an animated 能动的, 能活动的 anthropomorphic being that is magically created entirely from inanimate matter (usually clay or mud). The word was used to mean an amorphous 没有形状的, 无形的 ( [əˈmɔrfəs] with no clear shape, design, or structure. an amorphous mass of buildings and highways. ), unformed material in Psalms and medieval writing. The most famous golem narrative involves Judah Loew ben Bezalel, the late-16th-century rabbi of Prague. There are many tales differing on how the golem was brought to life and afterward controlled. According to Moment Magazine, "the golem is a highly mutable metaphor with seemingly limitless symbolism. It can be victim or villain, Jew or non-Jew, man or woman—or sometimes both. Over the centuries it has been used to connote war, community, isolation, hope and despair." 26. What do you know about twisters? Uh visible funnels of rotating air? No, in Bremin. How common are they? Uh not very, not that I'm aware of. I want you to pull everything you can up 找出来 on Alice Hartley(pull sb up on something 不放过某人, 批评, 叫住某人 to tell someone that they have done something wrong. to criticize someone about something they are not doing well enough. To hold one responsible or accountable for something they did or said. The boss pulled Larry up for his erratic behavior and sloppy attire. The reporter repeatedly pulled the senator up for his comments about mental health issues. Last week my five-year-old pulled me up on my spelling! She's always pulling me up for/on/over my bad spelling. pull someone up short to make someone unexpectedly stop in surprise and think. The question pulled Rory up short. pull your socks up 打起精神来, 好好干 used when you are telling someone that they are not doing a job well enough and that they must do better. pull sth up 收集信息, 找出信息 to get information to show on a computer screen: Click on a square to pull up an overview of the site with name, description, location, and domain. pull up to something 开到 to drive up close to something. I pulled up to the drive-in window and placed my order. When the taxi pulls up to the curb 停到路边, open the door and get in. ). Really? Why? I wanna know how she's connected to Andy Lau. 27. Where would she go to lay low? T-there is a place We used to bushwalk there with Dad. You? Bushwalking? Oh, because you're so outdoorsy [aʊtˈdɔrzi] 喜欢户外运动的(enjoying outdoor activities like camping and walking)? It's worth a crack. It's good having you back. We've missed you. OK, don't get all creepy on 别恶心我, 别恶心人了 me, kiddo 小孩子. 28. I mean, in my universe, you and I, we don't really talk. So the other Phoebe's not a caring, sharing, maternal figure, like me, then? Sharing is caring 分享就是关心. When you have something (usually food) and your friend wants some, its common to use this phrase. Sharing is caring is a common phrase but had a big meaning that when we share something with someone else it is equal to caring him. we show care and our interest in him by sharing, sharing is not only limited to tangible things, we can share an intangible thing as well like a spiritual thought, any kind of idea, our learning's or may be our experiences. 29. man flu noun INFORMAL HUMOROUS a cold or similar minor ailment as experienced by a man who is regarded as exaggerating the severity of the symptoms. "Greg was off sick with man flu, according to his wife". 30. You gonna turn that thing off? How long's this gonna take? I know it feels strange, but just give it a chance. You two might hit it off. He's my science teacher. Hello! Ah, welcome. OK, well, come in. Jake, I'll give you the grand tour. No, you better give your shoes a spritz(spritz [sprɪts]
verb squirt or spray a liquid at or on to (something) in quick, short
bursts. to spray a mass of very small drops of liquid out of a container,
usually by pressing a part of the container: She spritzed perfume on the insides of her wrists. After you've applied your powder, spritz with a little mineral water. "she spritzed her neck with cologne". noun an act of squirting or spraying liquid in short bursts or the liquid sprayed. ). You've got half of Bremin on them. Wow, this smells fantastic. Yeah, I backpacked through Italy after uni and came across this recipe in a little village there. Of course, I've refined 细调, 微调 it over time. Added my own little twist 加了点自己的微调. You knew I love Italian. Did I? Yes, you did. I thought Thai was your favourite. You can love both. I make a mean green chicken curry too. Mmm. Jake, you have got to try this. Pass. Come on, Jake. Jake! Jake, are you alright? Uh all good! Will you please come out and talk to me? Just a minute. Now, please! Oh! Oh, Jake, you're really hot 浑身发烫! You got an upset stomach? 31. scry [skrʌɪ] 占卜, 算卦 verb. to divine, esp by crystal gazing. foretell the future using a crystal ball or other reflective object or surface. "a mirror used for scrying". This should be enough water for a tracking spell. 'Should'? I thought you said you knew what to do. I do kind of. If it works, the water will turn into a scrying pool. In English? We'll be able to see Andy and track where he is. Scrying, also known by various names such as "seeing" or "peeping", is the practice of looking into a suitable medium in the hope of detecting significant messages or visions. The objective might be personal guidance, prophecy, revelation, or inspiration, but down the ages, scrying in various forms also has been a prominent means of divination or fortune-telling. It remains popular in occult circles, discussed in many media, both modern and centuries old. 32. To pinky swear, or to make a pinky promise 勾手指发誓, is the locking of the pinkies of two people to signify that a promise has been made. 33. out-there 怪诞 different from what most people regard as normal or usual. Someone or something that is out-there is very extreme or unusual. It takes a certain type of person to carry off the more out-there looks. She's a bit out-there and artistic, but she's such a fun character. So far we've asked questions about regular travel-related stuff, but we've got some more out-there themes lined up for the near future. You know, in a world of out-there plans, this is the out-therest. 34. You're all doubty 不相信的, 抱有疑虑的 now, but once I get the hang of this superpower stuff, stand by for all kinds of awesomeness. 35. Did something happen when you guys were away? Like what? I don't know. He just seems different. It was intense. Still is, sort of. That's what I wanted to talk to him about, that, and what's going on between us. Overshare 过度分享(to give other people too much information about yourself, or information that would normally be private, especially on a social networking website. Young people do have a tendency to overshare online. The article emphasizes the fact that Generation Y has been trained to overshare their personal information. noun. an occasion when someone gives other people too much private information about themselves, especially on a social networking website. I got a prescription (is this an overshare? Well, shut up, we're all human here).). Sorry. If I see him, I'll tell him you're looking for him. 36. Hi! Where are you going? You're not well. Is the main street as dull as it used to be? You're supposed to be resting. Oh, Phoebe, stop worrying. We could do some shopping. We're just going to pretend the last ten years didn't happen? I know it was hard on you. 'Hard' doesn't come close. The way you disappeared in that forest without a trace 消失的无影无踪. You don't know what that was for me. It's not gonna happen again. You bet it isn't. That's why we're putting magic behind us. I'm back. I want to move forward, make a fresh start. Please For me? Look at you suddenly all sunshine and fresh starts(life isn't all sunshine and rainbows Real life does not just consist of innocent, carefree happiness; there is more hardship or suffering in reality than one realizes. I know it's ugly having to see someone you cared about betray you like that, but life isn't all sunshine and rainbows. Friends who aren't parents themselves will have a harder time realizing that life isn't all sunshine and rainbows when you have a new baby in the house. sunshine and rainbows: (informal) Happy, positive things (sometimes with a connotation of unrealistic expectations). ). 37. Do you know what they're saying? They lost me at 'ley lines. ' Mm. Ley lines [leɪ laɪnz] are apparent alignments of landmarks, religious sites, and man-made structures. The pseudo-scientific belief that these apparent lines are not accidental speculates that they are straight navigable paths and have spiritual significance. The phrase was coined in 1921 by the amateur archaeologist Alfred Watkins, who identified apparent alignments of places of geographical and historical interest, such as ancient monuments, ridge-tops and fords. In his books Early British Trackways and The Old Straight Track, he sought to identify prehistoric trackways in the British landscape. Watkins later developed theories that these alignments were created for ease of overland travel by line-of-sight navigation during neolithic times, and had persisted in the landscape over millennia. The writer John Michell revived the term "ley lines" in the 1960s, associating it with spiritual and mystical theories about alignments of land forms, drawing on the Chinese concept of feng shui. He believed that a mystical network of ley lines existed across Britain, a notion actively promoted by The Ley Hunter magazine, edited at the time by his biographer, Paul Screeton.
