用法学习: 1. The Illuminati [ɪˌluːmɪˈnɑːti] ([ɪˌluːmɪˈnɑːti]; plural of Latin illuminatus, 'enlightened') is a name given to several groups, both real and fictitious. Historically, the name usually refers to the Bavarian Illuminati, an Enlightenment-era secret society founded on 1 May 1776 in Bavaria, today part of Germany. The society's goals were to oppose superstition, obscurantism, religious influence over public life and abuses of state power. "The order of the day( I. the prevailing custom or state of affairs. "on Sundays, a black suit was the order of the day". 流行的, 常见的东西. something that is very common or important. If a particular way of behaving or doing something is the order of the day, it is very common. Hot strong tea is the order of the day here, but coffee is becoming more and more popular. On these TV channels, reality shows and repeats are becoming the order of the day. 稀松平常的事. something that is very common in a particular place or time. a time in Britain’s history when small-scale agriculture was the order of the day. II. 当日议题. 当日议程. (in a legislature) the business to be considered on a particular day. in a parliament or in formal meetings, the list of matters to be discussed on a particular day. )," they wrote in their general statutes, "is to put an end to the machinations ( machinations [ˌmækɪˈneɪʃ(ə)nz, ˌmæʃɪˈneɪʃ(ə)nz] 阴谋诡计, 图谋 [disapproval] secret, complicated, and clever plans and actions intended to achieve a goal. You use machinations to describe secret and complicated plans, especially to gain power. ...the political machinations that brought him to power. ) of the purveyors ( purvey [pərˈveɪ] to provide information, ideas, or products. a. If you purvey something such as information, you tell it to people. ...one who would, for a hefty fee, purvey strategic advice to private corporations. b. If someone purveys goods or services, they provide them. They have two restaurants that purvey dumplings and chicken noodle soup. purvey something to someone: These writers purveyed an important message to the people. A purveyor of goods or services 供给者, 制造者, 提供者, 供应者 is a person or company that provides them. ...purveyors of gourmet foods. a person who sells or deals in particular goods. "a purveyor of large luxury vehicles". b. 贩卖, 倡导. 提倡者. person or group who spreads or promotes an idea, view, etc. "a purveyor of traditional Christian values". ) of injustice, to control them without dominating them." The Illuminati—along with Freemasonry and other secret societies—were outlawed through edict ( edict [ˈidɪkt] an official order given by a government or person in authority. An edict is a command or instruction given by someone in authority. In 1741 Catherine the Great issued an edict of toleration for Buddhism. He issued an edict 颁布法令 that none of his writings be destroyed. ) by Charles Theodore, Elector of Bavaria, with the encouragement of the Catholic Church, in 1784, 1785, 1787 and 1790. During subsequent years, the group was generally vilified by conservative and religious critics who claimed that the Illuminati continued underground 转为地下运作 and were responsible for the French Revolution. In subsequent use, "Illuminati" has been used when referring to various organisations which are alleged to be a continuation of the original Bavarian Illuminati (though these links have not been substantiated). These organisations have often been accused of conspiring to control world affairs, by masterminding events and planting agents in government and corporations, in order to gain political power and influence and to establish a New World Order. Central to some of the more widely known and elaborate conspiracy theories, the Illuminati are depicted as lurking in the shadows and pulling the strings and levers of power. This view of the Illuminati has found its way into popular culture, appearing in dozens of novels, films, television shows, comics, video games and music videos. 2. where the rubber meets the road 实战, 拿出真本事, 见真章 the point at which a theory or idea is put to a practical test. "the differences between effective and ineffective teachers show up where the rubber meets the road, in the brains of the students". A place or circumstance at which the implementation of a plan or intent is to be achieved. Usage notes: almost always used with "that", "when", or "where". A metaphor derived from the point of contact between automobile tires and pavement. fool's gold 金玉其外败絮其中, 自欺欺人, 骗人的把戏 I. A mineral or other substance often mistaken for gold; mainly iron pyrite. II. (figuratively) [disapproval] Something worthless that deceptively seems valuable. If you say that a plan for getting money is fool's gold, you mean that it is foolish to carry it out because you are sure that it will fail or cause problems. something that you are very attracted to that you later find is not worth very much The British establishment seems to be off on another quest for fool's gold. "The assumption that you can compromise your way with this regime, if you make concessions to this regime, and the regime will then change this behaviour is fool's gold," he says. Etymology: From the idea that the mineral fools people (especially those who are fools) into mistakenly thinking that they have found gold. Regarding minerals that were named for deceptive appearance that prompts confusion with others, compare also apatite. 3. turn over I. If you turn something over, or if it turns over 翻过来, 翻转, it is moved so that the top part is now facing downwards. Liz picked up the blue envelope and turned it over curiously. I turned him over on his back. She sat down and turned over the test paper. The buggy turned over and Nancy was thrown out. II. If you turn over, for example when you are lying in bed, you move your body so that you are lying in a different position. Ann turned over 翻身 in her bed once more. III. If you turn something over in your mind, you think carefully about it. to think about something for a period of time. to think carefully about all the details of something He began to turn the scheme over in his mind. His father had been turning the idea over in his mind for some time. Even when she didn't say anything you could see her turning things over in her mind 思前想后, 左思右想, 思来想去, 做思想斗争, 天人交战. IV. If you turn something over to someone, you give it to them when they ask for it, because they have a right to it. I would, indeed, turn the evidence over to the police. The lawyer turned over the release papers. V. If you turn over a job or responsibility that you have 移交, 转交, 交接, you give it to someone else, so that you no longer have it. to give something or someone that you control to someone else: Eventually he turned over control of the company to his son. They are identifying the guilty and turning them over to civil authorities for prosecution. The King may turn over some of his official posts to his son. Parliamentarians were eager to turn over responsibility for the decision. VI. If you turn over 换频道 when you are watching television, you change to another channel. to stop watching one television channel and to start watching another. to change to a different television station: Let's turn over – this is really boring. This programme's boring - can I turn over to BBC2? You turn over fast 很快就找到新男友, 换男友快, 换男朋友快. Godmother asks them if their partners will be coming. Fleabag says she has someone coming over. Godmother asks if it's the same guy from a few weeks ago. Fleabag says it isn't Godmother notes that Fleabag "turns over fast". VII. to steal something from a place or to search it, making it very untidy or causing damage. to enter a place illegally and steal things from it We got back to find the flat had been turned over. Did you hear Paul's flat got turned over 被翻遍了, 被翻到了 被偷窃, 偷盗, 失窃, 招贼 last week? VIII. to sell and replace goods at a particular rate: Last year, the store's inventory turned over three times. to make a particular amount of money from sales in a particular period. If a business turns over a particular amount of money, it does that amount of business during a stated period: The profits are not high, but the company turns over 销售额 more than $3.5 million every year. The company turned over $340 million last year. IX. to use or allow something to be used for a different purpose. to allow something to be used for a particular purpose or by a particular person turn something over to something: The museum has turned all its halls over 改变使用方式, 改变目的 to the dinosaurs. turn over something to something: They have turned over the property to the Conservation Society. Grants are being offered to farmers who agree to turn over their land to parkland. turnover I. The turnover of a company is the value of the goods or services sold during a particular period of time. the amount of business that a company does in a period of time. the amount of money that a company gets from sales during a particular period: Group turnover rose 2% in the period, compared with last year. annual/daily/yearly turnover. The business has an annual turnover of $350,000. The company reported a €500,000 loss on turnover of €4.5 million. overall/total/worldwide turnover 销售额 Total turnover for the year amounted to £17 billion. first-half/full-year turnover. high/low/strong turnover. Large supermarkets have high turnovers (= their goods sell very quickly). The business has an annual turnover of £50,000. Her annual turnover is around £45,000. The company had a turnover of £3.8 million. II. The turnover of people in an organization or place 离职率 is the rate at which people leave and are replaced. the rate at which employees leave a company and are replaced by new people: The large number of temporary contracts resulted in a high turnover of staff. US They've had a lot of turnover at the factory recently. Short-term contracts increase staff turnover. The industry has a high turnover of young people. The company has a staff turnover of around 12% a year. high/low turnover. Private nurseries tend to have a high turnover of staff. sales force/CEO turnover. forced/voluntary turnover. III. the rate at which a store sells and replaces its stock: fast/high/rapid turnover 翻新率, 更新换代速度. With the high street's fast turnover, popular fashions often sell out within days. 4. To have a chance (有很多的机会中的一个) VS to have the chance (难得的一个机会, 接近于 opportunity) : To "have the chance to" implies something very definite, and quite possibly a one-time opportunity to do something. To "have a chance to" implies something which might occur again in the future. "I have the chance to go to Australia." (and all expenses will be paid for me). This suggests that while the opportunity to go to Australia might arise again, the chance to go without it costing me anything is not likely to happen again. "I have a chance to go to Australia." (but I might have another chance in two years). This suggests that I have an opportunity now, but that I might have an opportunity again in the future. More commonly, one sees it used in the past tense. "I had the chance to do it." (but did not take it) vs. "I had a chance to do it." (and perhaps I will again). To use your specific example: had the chance to send one message (You had the chance, but you did not use it.) had a chance to send one message (You had a chance, and you might have a chance again.) Your use of "If" adds an element of condition which is contrary to fact. This complicates it, because what you are really saying is: "If you had the chance to send one message . . .." (but, you don't have that chance). "If you had a chance to send one message . . .." (you don't have the opportunity right now, but you might in the future). The subtle difference in this usage will come with experience in using English. Replacing "chance" with "opportunity" might make it a bit easier to distinguish the difference between the two. 5. Harry's book - Spare: After weeks of hype and days of leaks, readers got a chance to judge Prince Harry's book for themselves when it went on sale around the world overnight. In Britain, a few stores opened at midnight to sell copies of Spare to diehard royal devotees and the merely curious. Many said they wanted to form their own opinion of the book after days of snippets and debate on news sites and television. "I'm excited just to hear about Prince Harry's life from Prince Harry," said Sarah Nakana, a surveyor who bought the book at London's Victoria station. He lacerates ( lacerate [ˈlæsəˌreɪt] to make a deep cut in someone's flesh. If something lacerates your skin, it cuts it badly and deeply. Its claws lacerated his thighs. She was suffering from a badly lacerated hand. ) the UK's tabloid press for coverage he considers prurient 变态的, 色情狂的 ( [ˈprʊriənt] [formal, disapproval] involving sex in an unpleasant way. If you describe someone as prurient, you mean that they show too much interest in sexual matters. We read the gossip written about them with prurient interest. prurient interests/thoughts. vocabulary: Something is prurient if it focuses attention on sex not in an artistic way or to teach something, but purely to appeal to your baser instincts. If something is prurient, it's sure to offend somebody. An MTV series that includes explicit scenes might be considered prurient and have censors screaming to have it taken off the air. The word prurient comes from a Latin root that means literally, "to itch," and you may have heard the medical term pruritus, which means "severe itching." The word can also be used to describe any kind of perverse interest, like onlookers who have a prurient curiosity about 变态的好奇心 the details of a particularly gory crime scene. base instinct: A subconscious urge, behavior, or intuition directed by primeval, animalistic, self-serving, or ignoble motivations. Greed and selfishness are unfortunately two of the base instincts ingrained in the human psyche. Though he is an upstanding citizen, when he drinks, he unfortunately succumbs to his base instincts. ignoble [ɪɡˈnoʊb(ə)l] 可耻的 [formal, disapproval] an ignoble feeling or action is not good and should make you feel ashamed. If you describe something as ignoble, you mean that it is bad and something to be ashamed of. ...ignoble thoughts. ...an ignoble episode from their country's past. ignoble feelings of intense jealousy. ), intrusive and sometimes plain wrong, claims his relatives were unwelcoming to his wife Meghan and accuses members of the royal family, including his stepmother Camilla, of leaking stories to the media to burnish ( I. 打磨. to rub metal until it shines. II. 抬高自己, 提高自己形象 to improve your reputation or the way you appear to other people. To burnish the image of someone or something means to improve their image. It was a move that has burnished Mr Hu's populist credentials. vocabulary: That seductive gleam on that Porsche behind the dealer's window? It's called a burnish, a gloss only achieved by loads of polishing (polish dish 洗盘子). Likewise, you can burnish a resume by polishing it until it's perfect. A caution about usage: burnish in the physical sense is usually reserved for inanimate objects, not people — you usually wouldn't say that someone's appearance is "burnished to perfection" or that your freshly scrubbed face is burnished. But you could burnish a car, a suit of armor, or a copper kettle. Reputations are among the most common non-physical things to be burnished.) their own reputations. Harry's exposure of bitter divides inside the House of Windsor — alongside details of his mental health struggles, experiences with sex and drugs and decade-long military career — has generated reams ( reams [rim] I. plural informal a large quantity of something. a large quantity, esp of written matter. reams of information. Their specific task is to sort through the reams of information and try to determine what it may mean. She's written reams of 大量的 poetry. reams of useful information. II. countable American 500 pieces of paper. an order for 7 reams of heavy white paper. reams of paper Kelly spent three hours going through reams of paper. verb. I. ream = ream out. American informal to criticize someone severely. II. to make a hole in something using a special tool. III. to squeeze the juice out of an orange, etc. using a small dish with a raised center called a reamer. IV. to cheat someone. ) of media coverage. The book is already the top-selling book on Amazon's UK site, which like many big retailers is offering it half price, and is expected to be one of the year's biggest sellers. 6. "Hanging judge 判刑严厉的法官" is a colloquial phrase for a judge who has gained notoriety for handing down punishment by sentencing convicted persons to death by hanging, or otherwise imposing unusually harsh sentences. Hanging judges are officers of the court with mandates, as opposed to extralegal lynch law. hanging judge I. a judge who was renowned for sentencing criminals to death by hanging. II. a judge renowned for issuing harsh sentences. alternate [ˈɔltərnət] adj I. happening or coming one after another, in a regular pattern. alternate 交替的 periods of good and bad weather. a pattern of alternate red and green stars. Alternate actions, events, or processes regularly occur after each other. They were streaked with alternate bands of colour. He could alternately bully and charm people. She became alternately angry and calm. II. happening on one day, week, etc. but not on the day, week, etc., that immediately follows. If something happens on alternate days, it happens on one day, then happens on every second day after that. In the same way, something can happen in alternate weeks, years, or other periods of time. Lesley had agreed to Jim going skiing in alternate years. I go and visit him on alternate 隔一年的, 隔天的, 隔一周的 weekends. III. ( Alternate is sometimes used, especially in American English, instead of alternative. ...an alternate lifestyle. ) allowing you to choose a different plan, thing, or situation from one you already have. You use alternate to describe a plan, idea, or system which is different from the one already in operation and can be used instead of it. His group was forced to turn back and take an alternate route. ...alternate forms of medical treatment. I don't suppose you have an alternate plan in case you are sick on that day. We can't get home tonight, because there are no alternate 备选的 flights. Drivers are advised to find alternate routes. verb. I. When you alternate two things, you keep using one then the other. When one thing alternates with another 轮流, 交替, the first regularly occurs after the other. Her aggressive moods alternated with gentle or more co-operative states. The three acts will alternate as headliners throughout the tour. Now you just alternate layers of that mixture and eggplant. The band alternated romantic love songs with bouncy dance numbers. ...an imaginative novel, with alternating chapters presenting each partner's point of view. The alternation of sun and snow continued for the rest of our holiday. noun. An alternate is a person or thing that replaces another, and can act or be used instead of them. In most jurisdictions, twelve jurors and two alternates are chosen. ... meats and meat alternates 替代品. alternative [ɔlˈtɜrnətɪv] something that you can choose instead of something else. Can you suggest an alternative? There was no alternative but to close the road until February. alternative to: The treatment is offered as an alternative to surgery. II. If one thing is an alternative to another, the first can be found, used, or done instead of the second. New ways to treat arthritis may provide an alternative to painkillers. III. An alternative plan or offer is different from the one that you already have, and can be done or used instead. There were alternative methods of travel available. They had a right to seek alternative employment. IV. Alternative is used to describe something that is different from the usual things of its kind, or the usual ways of doing something, in modern Western society. For example, an alternative lifestyle does not follow conventional ways of living and working. ...unconventional parents who embraced the alternative lifestyle of the Sixties. If you like alternative comedy you'll love this book. V. Alternative medicine uses traditional ways of curing people, such as medicines made from plants, massage, and acupuncture. ...alternative health care. VII. Alternative energy uses natural sources of energy such as the sun, wind, or water for power and fuel, rather than oil, coal, or nuclear power. 7. working definition/theory/title 目前的, 当下的 a definition, idea etc that may not be exactly right but is good enough to use when you start working on something. A ground stop is an air traffic control measure that slows or halts the flow of aircraft inbound to a given airport. In other words, a ground stop is the halting of departing aircraft destined for one particular airport or for a specific geographic area. Flight departures in the US are slowly beginning to resume and a ground stop has been lifted after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) scrambled to fix a system outage that grounded all departing aircraft. concern [kənˈsɜrn] noun. I. Concern is worry about a situation. The group has expressed concern about reports of political violence. The move follows growing public concern over the spread of the disease. As the militants gather, there is concern that the protest might again run out of control. There is no cause for concern. II. A concern is a fact or situation that worries you. His concern was that people would know that he was responsible. Unemployment was the electorate's main concern. III. Someone's concern with something is their feeling that it is important. ...a story that illustrates how dangerous excessive concern with safety 为某事而担忧 can be. IV. Someone's concerns are the things that they consider to be important. Feminism must address issues beyond the concerns of middle-class Whites. V. Concern for someone is a feeling that you want them to be happy, safe, and well. If you do something out of concern for someone 出于对某人的关心, you do it because you want them to be happy, safe, and well. Without her care and concern, he had no chance at all. He had only gone along out of concern for his two grandsons. VI. If a situation or problem is your concern, it is something that you have a duty or responsibility to be involved with. The technical aspects were the concern 责任, 指责 of the Army. I would be glad to get rid of them myself. But that is not our concern. VII. You can refer to a company or business as a concern, usually when you are describing what type of company or business it is. If not a large concern, Queensbury Nursery was at least a successful one. verb. I. If something concerns you, it worries you. The growing number of people seeking refuge in Thailand is beginning to concern Western aid agencies. It concerned her that Bess was developing a crush on Max. I've been concerned about you lately. We're naturally concerned for our daughter's safety. Academics are concerned that students are not sufficiently prepared for university courses. ...a phone call from a concerned neighbor. II. If you concern yourself with something 关注, you give it attention because you think that it is important. I didn't concern myself with politics. He would concern himself solely with the plight of the hostages. The agency is more concerned with making arty ads than understanding its clients' businesses. III. If something such as a book or a piece of information concerns a particular subject 关于, 关系到, it is about that subject. The bulk of the book concerns Sandy's two middle-aged children. Chapter 2 concerns itself with the methodological difficulties. Randolph's work was exclusively concerned with the effects of pollution on health. IV. If a situation, event, or activity concerns you, it affects or involves you. It was just a little unfinished business from my past, and it doesn't concern you at all 和你无关, 有关系. It's a very stressful situation for everyone concerned. I believe he was concerned in all those matters you mention. going concern 正常运转的公司, 正常营业的公司, 正常交易的公司 If a company is a going concern, it is actually doing business, rather than having stopped trading or not yet having started trading. The receivers will always prefer to sell a business as a going concern. of concern to sb If something is of concern to someone, they find it worrying and unsatisfactory. Any injury to a child is a cause of great concern to us. The survey's findings are a matter of great concern. 8. A paddy field 稻田 is a flooded field of arable land 耕地 ( [ˈerəb(ə)l] arable land is suitable or used for growing crops. Arable farming involves growing crops such as wheat and barley rather than keeping animals or growing fruit and vegetables. Arable land is land that is used for arable farming. ...arable farmers. ...arable crops 农作物. ) used for growing semiaquatic crops, most notably rice and taro [ˈtærəʊ] 芋头. It originates from the Neolithic rice-farming cultures of the Yangtze River basin in southern China, associated with pre-Austronesian and Hmong-Mien cultures. It was spread in prehistoric times by the expansion of Austronesian peoples to Island Southeast Asia, Southeast Asia including Northeastern India, Madagascar, Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. The technology was also acquired by other cultures in mainland Asia for rice farming, spreading to East Asia, Mainland Southeast Asia, and South Asia. Fields can be built into steep hillsides as terraces [ˈterəs] 梯田 or adjacent to depressed or steeply sloped features such as rivers or marshes. They require a great deal of labor and materials to create and need large quantities of water for irrigation. Oxen 阉公牛 and water buffalo 水牛, adapted for life in wetlands, are important working animals used extensively in paddy field farming. come apart 拆散 (take apart), 分崩离析 散架 to separate into several pieces: I picked up the book and it came apart in my hands. My boots are coming apart at the seams. The windows come apart for easy cleaning. to be unsuccessful, or fail to produce the intended results: The global economy is showing signs of coming apart. His public life began to come apart early in 1987. serialize [ˈsɪriəˌlaɪz] 连载, 连播 to broadcast or publish a story in a series of separate parts. Yet, he said that he and Elton had a disagreement on the last night of the visit when it came out the musician planned to serialise his autobiography in the Daily Mail – a publication Harry and Meghan have taken legal action against previously. 9. You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. You can win people to your side more easily by gentle persuasion and flattery than by hostile confrontation. You win more flies with honey, but if you get yourself a bee, sting first. Beavis and Butt-head [ˌbiːvəs ən ˈbʌt hed] an extremely stupid or inept person. a pair of US television cartoon characters who are very stupid and always behave in an unpleasant way towards each other. The series was popular during the 1990s with the teenagers who watched it but a lot of parents did not like it because they thought it encouraged bad behaviour. wiki: MTV cartoon airing from 1993 until 1997. It was found to be hugely popular, particularly among men in their twenties and teenagers, and resulted in a full length theatrical movie, holiday specials, and a spin-off series featuring the character Daria. Because it did technically air on MTV (back when MTV was interested in music), during breaks in the storyline music videos would air with both characters "reviewing" and commenting on it, somewhat akin to what Mystery Science Theater did with cheesy sci-fi films. The actual storylines followed two 15 year old numbskull boys as they went through everyday life and often wound up in bizarre and hilarious situations. Their basic motivation was always to "score" which of course they never did. Along the way and, on the side, their adventures would often result in one or both of them getting arrested, getting beaten up, getting maimed 身体永久性伤害, or occassionally just releasing general havok themselves. Their trademark was the classic and strange laughter which never seemed to end. Physically Butt-Head had dark brown hair, braces, and a large nose while Beavis had blonde hair, a bit of an underbite 下巴上翘, and a somewhat pointed nose. Behaviorally Butt-Head was typically the more "focused" (which isn't saying a lot) while Beavis was typically more manic. These could be occassionally reversed however with Beavis becoming more contemplative before Butt-Head tried to "kick his ass" and snap him out of it. They frequently got into fights but continued what could be called a friendly relationship and were rarely seen apart 焦不离孟, 孟不离焦 from one another. Aslo worthy of note was that, in rare instances, Beavis would be found to consume ungodly amounts of sugar and caffeine which resulted in him pulling his shirt over his head and donning his alter-ego "Cornholio." When he made his transformation he went into insane bouts of manic activity, paranoia, and a constant desire for "Tee Pee for his bunghole." 10. The game of telephone (Chinese whisper) is a game where everyone sits in a circle or a line. The first player comes up with a word or phrase, and they whisper it to the next player. That person whispers what they hear to the next person, until the word reaches the last player. Then, the last player says what the previous person said out loud. The point of the game is to see if the last person heard what the first person said. For example, the first person may have said "Fruit", and the second player might have said "Foot," and the next person might have said "Food", so the last player gets the word wrong. A windmill
is a structure that converts wind power into rotational energy using
vanes called sails or blades, specifically to mill grain, but the term
is also extended to windpumps, wind turbines, and other applications, in some parts of the English speaking world. turban [ˈtəːb(ə)n] a long piece of cloth wrapped around the head, worn especially by Sikh, Hindu, and Muslim men. Turbine [ˈtɜrˌbaɪn] 涡轮: an engine or a machine that uses the pressure of liquid or gas on a wheel to get power. wind turbine 风车: a large machine like a windmill used for producing electricity from the wind Power from wind turbines now makes up a large part of our electricity supply. wiki: A turbine is a device that harnesses the kinetic energy of some fluid - such as water, steam, air, or combustion gases - and turns this into the rotational motion of the device itself. Turbines are generally used in electrical generation, engines, and propulsion systems. A wind turbine is a device that converts the kinetic energy of wind into electrical energy. As of 2020, hundreds of thousands of large turbines, in installations known as wind farms, were generating over 650 gigawatts of power, with 60 GW added each year. 11. perimeter 周长 [pɪˈrɪmɪtə] I. the total length of the sides of a shape such as a square or rectangle. the continuous line forming the boundary of a closed geometrical figure. The perimeter of an area of land is the whole of its outer edge or boundary. ...the perimeter of the airport. Officers dressed in riot gear are surrounding the perimeter fence. II. an instrument for measuring the extent and characteristics of a person's field of vision. III. the outer edge of an enclosed area of ground such as a field or airport. circumference 圆周 [səˈkʌmf(ə)rəns] I. the enclosing boundary of a curved geometric figure, especially a circle. The circumference of a circle, place, or round object is the distance around its edge. ...a scientist calculating the Earth's circumference. The island is 3.5 km in circumference. II. the distance around something. "babies who have small head circumferences". III. The circumference of a circle, place, or round object is its edge. Cut the salmon into long strips and wrap it round the circumference of the bread. 12. become of = what has/will become of someone/something used for asking what has happened to someone or something, because you have not seen them for a long time, or what will happen to them, because you are worried about them If she is sent to prison, what will become of her children? Whatever became of the painting that used to be in your grandfather's library? If you ask what became of someone or something, you want to know where they are and what happened to them: Whatever became of that parcel you sent? And Mickey Adams - I wonder what became of him. do someone ditty To deliberately treat someone in an unfair or harmful manner. do the dirty on sb (idiomatic, transitive, UK, Australia, informal) To treat (someone) in an unfair manner; to cheat or betray. dirty look If someone gives you a dirty look, they look at you in a way which shows that they are angry with you. Michael gave him a dirty look and walked out. to look at someone in a disapproving way: He gave me a really dirty look. outside the range/realm [relm] of possibility = not beyond the realms/bounds of possibility not possible. If you say that something is not beyond the realms of possibility, you mean that it is possible. A fall of 50 per cent or more on prices is not beyond the realms of possibility. This is a target which is surely within the realm of possibility. Space travel was once thought to be outside the range/realm of possibility. It is not outside the range/realm of possibility that he could get laid off. You can say 'It is not beyond the realms of possibility' or 'It is not beyond the bounds of possibility' when you are stating something that you believe is possibly true, but which other people might consider unlikely or impossible. It's not beyond the realms of possibility that the security services do bug important public figures. svelte [svɛlt] adj. (of a person) slender and elegant. Someone who is svelte is slim and looks attractive and elegant. "she was svelte and sophisticated".
brusque VS snippy VS snappy VS snide VS snarky VS chippy: curt [kəːt] rudely brief. "his reply was curt". markedly short and abrupt a brusque reply. II. blunt in manner or speech often to the point of ungracious harshness was brusque with the customers. brusque [brʌsk] adj. If you describe a person or their behaviour as brusque, you mean that they deal with things, or say things, quickly and shortly, so that they seem to be rude. speaking quickly in an unfriendly way using very few words His tone was brusque. She often seems a little brusque when she is interviewing people. The doctors are brusque and busy. They received a characteristically brusque reply from him. 'It's only a sprain,' Paula said brusquely. National Catholic Reporter editor Joshua McElwee told ABC Radio Melbourne Cardinal Pell had been seen as a "kind of reformer". "[He was] someone who was kind of brusque, could kind of make enemies by a very bruising attitude or kind of always wanting things to go his way," McElwee said. using quick movements that show that you do not feel friendly toward someone. her brusque manner. chippy (cranky, grumpy, crusty, prickly) 没好气的 adj INFORMAL (of a person) touchy and defensive, especially on account of having a grievance or a sense of inferiority. tending to become angry or upset very easily. "I thought she was hostile and chippy". snarky [snɑrki] I. said in a way that is intended to make someone feel stupid or bad. unpleasant and scornful. II. Snide and sarcastic; usually out of irritation. Howard: "Completely empty box as you can see. you can examine it." Leonard: "Yup. Nothing in this box except for a wasted childhood." Howard: "A little snarky 不满意的, 有所指, 有怨言 there, cello lessons. And we have this completely ordinary cylinder. If you'd like to examine it?" Raj: Ordinary, yet I sense it is dripping with magical potential. Sheldon: Oh, dear Lord. A man pops out for a moment to evacuate his bowels and catch up on the adventures of the Caped Crusader, only to emerge and discover his apartment has been transformed into a cabaret. Leonard: Sheldon, he's just practising for his cousin's birthday party.". So what are you listening to, This American Life? Okay, so walk up to that chest and push X. X. Push X. Which one's X? The one with the X on it. Take it easy, I'm new at this. What, the alphabet? You don't have to be snarky. Hey, do you want to play the game, or do you want to crawl back up your mommy's shirt and chow down like a baby? Damn, what is wrong with you? I'm sorry, I thought you wanted to beat your husband. I do. Well, then suck it up 忍着, 受着! snide adj. I. A snide comment or remark is one which criticizes someone in an unkind and often indirect way. He made a snide comment/remark about her weight. They kept making snide remarks about each other. She couldn't tell if he was being snide, so she took the question straight. 'What are you doing here?' he asked snidely. II. Tricky; deceptive; false; spurious; contemptible. He was a snide lawyer. I received a shipment of snide goods. vocabulary: snide means insulting or contemptuous in an indirect way. If your friend is wearing too much purple eye shadow and your other friend whispers to you, "What? Was she in a car wreck?" that's a snide comment. Snide remarks are the kinds of things people say with a sneer on their face. When you leave a movie theater and your friend says, "I can't believe someone was actually paid to write that screenplay," he's being snide. Instead of saying, "That movie was terrible," he's expressing his disdain in a more underhanded and indirect way. noun. informal 阴险狡诈的人. an unpleasant or underhand person. An underhanded, tricky person given to sharp practise; a sharper; a cheat. "he's not a snide, he's better than most". Big Bang Theory: snide [snaɪd] adj deliberately unkind in an indirect way. A snide comment or remark is one which criticizes someone in an unkind and often indirect way. He made a snide comment about her weight. They kept making snide remarks about each other. She couldn't tell if he was being snide, so she took the question straight. 'What are you doing here?' he asked snidely. Sheldon: Just to be clear here, you're asking for my assistance. Penny: Yes. Sheldon: And you understand that will involve me telling you what to do? Penny: I understand. Sheldon: And you're not allowed to be sarcastic or snide 嘲讽的, 说话带刺的 to me while I'm doing so. Penny: Okay. Sheldon: Good. Let's begin with the premise that everything you've done up to this point is wrong. Penny: Oh, imagine that. Sheldon: All right, are you familiar with the development that resulted from Honoré Blanc's 1778 use of interchangeable parts? The assembly line, of course. Penny: Okay, you know what, if I'm not allowed to be snide, you're not allowed to be condescending. Sheldon: That wasn't a part of our original agreement, and I do not agree to it now. loopy I. full of loops; curly or twisted. II. slightly mad, crazy, or stupid. crazy, or silly. go loopy informal I. to become crazy II. British to become very angry. snippy [ˈsnɪpi] 没好气的, 爱答不理的, 看不起人的, 说话只有一两个字的 adjective INFORMAL NORTH AMERICAN curt or sharp, especially in a condescending way. "a snippy note from our landlord". slightly rude and impatient, and using only a few words: A secretary asked in a snippy voice whether she could help him. A snippy person is often bad-tempered and speaks rudely to people. It is your job to correct them gracefully and not to be snippy about it. ...Muriel's snippy, prudish father. Bernadette: Howard's not here. Raj: Oh, I know. He's been at the lab every night this week with his work wife. Bernadette: That's weird. I thought his work wife was standing in my kitchen. Raj: Don't be snippy. I came to see how you were doing. Like, uh, do you need help with anything? Bernadette: Oh, thank you. There are a few things around the house that I've been waiting for Howard to get to. The smoke alarms... Raj: No, I meant emotionally. How are you feeling? Bernadette: Like you're not really here to help me. Raj: Wow. Still snippy. Howard: What were they thinking, putting Doctor Octopus's mind in Spider-Man's body? Raj: Well, I've been quite enjoying that. It combines all the superhero fun of Spider-Man with all the body-switching 换身 shenanigans of Freaky Friday. Both versions, original and Lohan. Howard: Both versions: original and Lohan. You're an idiot. Raj: Hey, what's your problem? Howard: I'm sorry, I've been kind of snippy lately. It's probably this stupid diet I'm on. Raj: Why are you on a diet? Howard: I've put on a couple pounds. Had to buy these pants in the men's section. Mrs Wolowitz (off): Howard. Can you hear me? Howard: I can hear you without the phone, Mrs Wolowitz (off): Don't be snippy. I'm just excited to talk to my baby. Howard: I'm excited to talk to you, too. Mrs Wolowitz (off): So, what's this mishegas 疯话, 疯言疯语 ( Insanity or craziness. A meshugener is a crazy man. meshugaas [mɪˈʃʊɡɑːs] senseless behaviour; foolishness. meshuga [meˈʃuɡə] a crazy person That guy over there is laughing like a meshuga! Note: "Meshuga" comes from a Yiddish word "meshuge" which means "crazy." ) about you moving out to go live with the little Polish girl? Howard: How about calling her my wife? Mrs Wolowitz (off): Wives don't take boys from their mothers. Howard: They do. That's why we marry them. Mrs Wolowitz (off): I just hope I'm not dead from a broken heart before you get back. Howard: Ma, please. Everyone from NASA is listening to this phone call. Mrs Wolowitz (off): Good. They should know what a horrible son you are. Howard: Okay, Ma, great talking to you. Gotta go. Well, space is ruined. snappy adjective INFORMAL I. irritable and inclined to speak sharply; snappish. If someone is snappy, they speak to people in a sharp, unfriendly manner. He wasn't irritable or snappy or anything, just slightly perplexed. "anything unusual made her snappy and nervous". II. cleverly concise; neat. "snappy catchphrases". III. If someone has a snappy style of speaking, they speak in a quick, clever, brief, and often funny way. Each film gets a snappy 简短有趣的 two-line summary. ...snappy American film dialogue. IV. If someone is a snappy dresser or if they wear snappy clothes, they wear smart, stylish clothes. She has already made a name for herself as a snappy dresser. ...snappy sports jackets. ...his usual band of snappily dressed friends. make it snappy 快点, 简短截说 If you tell someone to make it snappy, you tell them to do something quickly. Look at the pamphlets, and make it snappy. snarky adjective INFORMAL NORTH AMERICAN I. critical or mocking in an indirect or sarcastic way. "snarky remarks". II. bad-tempered or irritable. "Bobby's always a bit snarky 坏脾气的, 脾气不好的, 心情不好的, 不爽的 before his nap". snarky 讽刺的, 讥讽的, 嘲讽的 said in a way that is intended to make someone feel stupid or bad. Snide and sarcastic; usually out of irritation, often humorously. Snide and sarcastic; usually out of irritation, often humorously. unpleasant and scornful. said in a way that is intended to make someone feel stupid or bad. You okay? No. No, all these comments online about Wil, they're nothing but supportive and kind. Where's the mean, snarky Internet that shows up every time I get a haircut? 评高湛高公公: I love how snarky he is and how he always knows what to say and do. Not trying to be snarky, but just pointing out the potential double-standards at play here. snide adj. I. A snide comment or remark is one which criticizes someone in an unkind and often indirect way. He made a snide 讥讽的, 批评的 comment/remark about her weight. They kept making snide remarks about each other. She couldn't tell if he was being snide, so she took the question straight. 'What are you doing here?' he asked snidely. II. Tricky; deceptive; false; spurious; contemptible. He was a snide lawyer. I received a shipment of snide goods. vocabulary: snide means insulting or contemptuous in an indirect way. If your friend is wearing too much purple eye shadow and your other friend whispers to you, "What? Was she in a car wreck?" that's a snide comment. Snide remarks are the kinds of things people say with a sneer on their face. When you leave a movie theater and your friend says, "I can't believe someone was actually paid to write that screenplay," he's being snide. Instead of saying, "That movie was terrible," he's expressing his disdain in a more underhanded and indirect way. noun. informal 阴险狡诈的人. an unpleasant or underhand person. An underhanded, tricky person given to sharp practise; a sharper; a cheat. "he's not a snide, he's better than most". Big Bang Theory: snide [snaɪd] adj deliberately unkind in an indirect way. A snide comment or remark is one which criticizes someone in an unkind and often indirect way. He made a snide comment about her weight. They kept making snide remarks about each other. She couldn't tell if he was being snide, so she took the question straight. 'What are you doing here?' he asked snidely. Sheldon: Just to be clear here, you're asking for my assistance. Penny: Yes. Sheldon: And you understand that will involve me telling you what to do? Penny: I understand. Sheldon: And you're not allowed to be sarcastic or snide 嘲讽的, 说话带刺的 to me while I'm doing so. Penny: Okay. Sheldon: Good. Let's begin with the premise that everything you've done up to this point is wrong. Penny: Oh, imagine that. Sheldon: All right, are you familiar with the development that resulted from Honoré Blanc's 1778 use of interchangeable parts? The assembly line, of course. Penny: Okay, you know what, if I'm not allowed to be snide, you're not allowed to be condescending. Sheldon: That wasn't a part of our original agreement, and I do not agree to it now. swipe noun I. a movement in which you swing your arm and you hit or try to hit someone or something, using your hand or an object. take a swing at (someone or something) to attempt to punch someone. To attempt to hit someone or something with one's fist or an instrument in a broad, sweeping stroke. Bill didn't hear me coming up behind him, and he took a swing at me when I touched his shoulder. They arrested her for taking a swing at a police officer with a metal pipe. He stood taking swings at the golf ball for nearly five minutes before he finally hit it. take a swipe at someone/something (=try to hit them): He leaned forwards and took a swipe at me. II. informal a spoken or written attack on someone or something. take a swipe at someone/something ( = criticize them, take a dig/jab at sb): Do you think he was taking a swipe at the President? The internal report, written by an Accountability Review Board (ARB) after a four-month investigation, is highly critical of the Trump administration's response, including veiled swipes at then-Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. III. an act of moving your finger across the screen of a smartphone or tablet. You can access the menu with a swipe across your screen. spray noun. I. Spray is a lot of small drops of water which are being thrown into the air. The moon was casting a rainbow through the spray from the waterfall. The rope whipped clear of the water, throwing up a spray of droplets. II. A spray is a liquid kept under pressure in a can or other container, which you can force out in very small drops. ...hair spray. ...a can of insect spray. III. A spray is a piece of equipment for spraying water or another liquid, especially over growing plants. IV. A spray of flowers or leaves is a number of flowers or leaves on one stem or branch. ...a small spray of freesias. His 30-minute on-air spray 狂喷 prompted Meghan to contact ITV's CEO to 'raise concerns' about Piers' derisive comments on mental health and suicide and the effect they might have on others experiencing similar issues. And now, the former actor has added her complaint to an estimated 41,000 made by members of the public to Ofcom following Piers' fiery rant that resulted in his storm off and, later, resignation. spray verb. I. If you spray a liquid somewhere or if it sprays somewhere, drops of the liquid cover a place or shower someone. A sprayer hooked to a tractor can spray five gallons onto ten acres. Two inmates hurled slates at prison officers spraying them with a hose. Drops of blood sprayed across the room. II. If a lot of small things spray somewhere or if something sprays them, they are scattered somewhere with a lot of force. A shower of mustard seeds sprayed into the air and fell into the grass. The intensity of the blaze shattered windows, spraying glass on the streets below. The bullet slammed into the ceiling, spraying them with bits of plaster. III. If someone sprays bullets somewhere 扫射, they fire a lot of bullets at a group of people or things. The men sprayed the vehicle with automatic gunfire. He ran to the top of the building spraying bullets into shoppers below. The army lorries were sprayed with machine gun fire from guerrillas in the woods. IV. If something is sprayed, it is painted using paint kept under pressure in a container. The bare metal was sprayed with several coats of primer. V. When someone sprays against insects, they cover plants or crops with a chemical which prevents insects feeding on them. He doesn't spray against pests or diseases. Confine the use of insecticides to the evening and do not spray plants that are in flower. Because of the immunity of the immature insects, it's important to spray regularly. to cover crops or a large area of land with a chemical spray in order to kill insects or to prevent diseases Health officials have sprayed the areas where the virus was active. Farmers have to apply for permits to spray from the air. They're spraying for mosquitoes this weekend. VI. if a cat sprays a particular area, it urinates in many places around the area to show other cats that it lives there. tirade [ˈtaɪˌreɪd] 大发飙 a long angry speech criticizing someone or something. Rob Kardashian unleashes tirade( dish out, rant ) alleging Blac Chyna cheated on him, abused drugs. rant verb. If you say that someone rants, you mean that they talk loudly or angrily, and exaggerate or say foolish things. to complain or talk loudly and angrily for a long time, sometimes saying unreasonable things. Ned paced back and forth, ranting about some imagined injustice. As the boss began to rant, I stood up and went out. ...the mentally ill patient we heard ranting about demons. Even their three dogs got bored and fell asleep as he ranted on. 'Let's get it over and done with!' he ranted. Part I is a rant against organised religion. He had been listening to Goldstone's rantings all night. There was no occasion for ranting. to rant and rave [disapproval] If you say that someone rants and raves, you mean that they talk loudly and angrily in an uncontrolled way. I don't rant and rave or throw tea cups. tole-rant verb & noun. A tole-rant is a constructive rant about a social problem that points to a solution. Tole-rant can also be used as a verb and a person who tole-rants is known as a tole-ranter. A tole-rant usually takes the form of a 60 second video featuring an individual's personal viewpoint spoken directly to camera. However, the term is also being used to refer to a constructive rant of any length in any format or context. I'm inspired by your tole-rant about climate change. I'm going to tole-rant about homophobia. A tole-rant is a constructive rant. Rather than ranting about everything that is wrong in the world, tole-ranters speak from the heart about social problems and point to potential solutions. She went into a tole-rant about homophobia so I changed my mind. notes: The term tole-rant is a clever play on the verb/noun rant, describing the concept of angrily complaining about something, and the adjective tolerant [ˈtɑlərənt], meaning 'willing to accept someone's beliefs or way of life without criticizing them'. barb I. A barb is a sharp curved point near the end of an arrow or fish-hook which makes it difficult to pull out. II. A barb is an unkind remark meant as a criticism of someone or something. The barb stung her exactly the way he hoped it would. He trade barbs with 打嘴仗 his critics. war of words a prolonged, often acrimonious, debate. serious or angry discussions about something that people disagree on, especially discussions that continue for a long time: The war of words over sanctions remains furious. Politicians in California, Illinois, and other states engaged in an escalating war of words. "the political war of words over tax". a situation in which two people or groups continuously criticize each other in public because they disagree seriously about something. a war of words a situation in which two people or groups of people argue or criticize each other because they strongly disagree about a particular issue A war of words has blown up over who is to blame for a confrontation between police and fans outside the venue. acrimonious [ˌækrɪˈməʊniəs] 激烈的 an acrimonious situation is unpleasant because people feel angry towards each other. Acrimonious words or quarrels 吵得很凶 are bitter and angry. There followed an acrimonious debate. Our relationship ended acrimoniously. an acrimonious divorce ( amicable 和平的离婚, 和平分手). . lover's spat 小吵小闹, 小打小闹, 打打闹闹, 夫妻斗嘴, 情人斗嘴: You probably recognize the word spat from the phrase "lover's spat," which describes a minor squabble between a couple. The spat is usually over something as silly as which partner has to do the laundry, and the relationship usually recovers quickly, with no long-term harm done. A lover's spat involves only one lover ~ in other words, lover's spat is the illiterate version of the correct lovers' spat. spat [spæt] a short argument. dust-up Leonard: What do you want? Sheldon: Hey, good buddy. So, uh, I was just talking to Amy, and she made me realize that this little dust-up 小争吵, 斗嘴 between you and me is much ado about nothing 没事找事. Leonard: Is that so? Sheldon: Yes. All is forgiven, so come back home. tiff 夫妻斗嘴: a minor argument, especially between people in a sexual or romantic relationship. A tiff is a small unimportant quarrel, especially between two close friends or between people in a romantic relationship. bicker [ˈbɪkər] 打嘴仗, 拌嘴, 争吵, 吵架, 斗嘴 to argue about things that are not important. When people bicker, they argue or quarrel about unimportant things. I went into medicine to care for patients, not to waste time bickering over budgets. The two women bickered constantly. ...as states bicker over territory. He is still bickering with the control tower over admissible approach routes. The election will end months of political bickering. bicker (with someone) over/about something: children bickering with each other over whose turn is next. I'm tired of the constant bickering. n. the selection process that people have to go through in order to join an eating club at Princeton University. Even though the purpose of bicker is so the members can meet you and determine if you're a good fit for the club, a lot of the time that is already pre-determined based on your affiliations (frats, sororities, sports team, etc. jab I. 戳. 捅. 推搡. to push something with a sudden straight movement, usually with your finger, your elbow, or a narrow object. That man jabbed me with his umbrella! jab at: She kept jabbing at the letter as she spoke. n. I. a hard straight push with your finger, your elbow, or a narrow object. a. 勾拳. in boxing, a short quick hit with a closed hand. Mueller has a dangerous left jab. II. 预防针. 防疫针. British an injection (=amount of medicine given through a needle) that is intended to stop you from getting a disease. After working for a few months, we still haven't had a jab for ebola. a flu jab. III. a critical comment about someone. jab at: In a sharp jab at the White House he said that the system relied on good faith and honour on both sides. Trump rips 挞伐, 鞭笞 McConnell in lengthy statement after being acquitted in impeachment trial (broadside attack, ad hominem attacks, potshot at, lob harsher attack at, lashing out at, at each other's throat, jab, a dig. ): Facebook did the right thing. Its decision to ban all Australian media organisations from its platform has been derided as a brazen act of censorship. dig 笑话 I. a remark or joke that you make in order to criticize someone or annoy them. If you have a dig at someone, you say something which is intended to make fun of them or upset them. She couldn't resist a dig at Dave after his unfortunate performance. That's a dig for sure. II. 胳膊肘捅了一下. If you give someone a dig in a part of their body, you push them with your finger or your elbow, usually as a warning or as a joke. Cassandra silenced him with a sharp dig in the small of the back. dig verb. I. If you dig one thing into another or if one thing digs into another, the first thing is pushed hard into the second, or presses hard into it. She digs the serving spoon into the moussaka. I grab George's arm and dig my nails into his flesh. He could feel the beads digging into his palm. Graham was standing there, his hands dug into 插进 the pockets of his baggy white trousers. If you dig into something such as a deep container, you put your hand in it to search for something. He dug into his coat pocket for his keys. dig into one's pockets/purse If someone digs into their pocket or digs into their purse, they manage after some difficulty to find the money to pay for something. Holidaymakers are digging deep into their pockets to book late summer breaks. II. If you dig into a subject or a store of information, you study it very carefully in order to discover or check facts. The enquiry dug deeper into the alleged financial misdeeds of his government. He has been digging into the local archives. With so many books on the subject, one must dig hard for reliable new material. III. If you dig yourself out of a difficult or unpleasant situation, especially one which you caused yourself, you manage to get out of it. He's taken these measures to try and dig himself out of a hole. IV. If you say that you dig something, you mean that you like it and understand it.'They play classic rock'n'roll,' states her boyfriend, 'My dad digs them too.'. I can dig it. I don't expect a band always to be innovative. dig a hole for yourself to do something that will make your situation difficult or embarrassing. dig your heels in to refuse to do something even though other people are trying to persuade you. The more we argued, the more she dug her heels in. dig someone in the ribs 捅了一下 to push someone with your elbow because you want to get their attention. withering [wɪðərɪŋ] adj. A withering look or remark is very critical, and is intended to make someone feel ashamed or stupid. a withering look, expression, or remark deliberately makes you feel silly or embarrassed. She lowered her eyes, unable to face his withering scorn. Deborah Jane's mother gave her a withering look. She launched a withering attack on the Press. vocabulary: Withering is the process of becoming weaker. You can watch the withering of a flower bouquet in water — over the days and weeks, the blossoms become droopy 耷拉脑袋的, 发蔫的(wilted) and faded. You might talk about the withering of trees in a drought or the withering of people's bank accounts during an economic recession. Withering can also be used as an adjective, to describe something with a terrible, destructive strength, like a withering hurricane. It comes from the verb wither, to dry up or shrivel, from the Old English word wydderen, which is a variation on wederen, "to expose to the weather.". censure [ˈsenʃər] 谴责 severe criticism of someone. If you censure someone for something that they have done, you tell them that you strongly disapprove of it. The ethics committee may take a decision to admonish him or to censure him. I would not presume to censure Osborne for hating his mother. It is a controversial policy which has attracted international censure. The North Carolina Republican Party central committee voted Monday to censure Sen. Richard Burr for his vote to convict former President Donald Trump during his second impeachment trial -- a move that made him the latest GOP senator to be reprimanded by his state party for siding with Democrats in the trial. vote of censure a voting process in which members of a legislature show that they consider one of their members is responsible for something bad. A censure is an expression of strong disapproval or harsh criticism. wiki: In parliamentary procedure, it is a debatable main motion that could be adopted by a majority vote. Among the forms that it can take are a stern rebuke by a legislature, a spiritual penalty imposed by a church, or a negative judgment pronounced on a theological proposition. It is usually non-binding (requiring no compulsory action from the censured party), unlike a motion of no confidence (which may require the referenced party to resign). chasten [ˈtʃeɪs(ə)n] If you are chastened by something, it makes you regret that you have behaved badly or stupidly. to make someone feel ashamed or less confident. She seemed suitably chastened by the experience. He has clearly not been chastened by his thirteen days in detention. ...a chastened England out to prove they are indeed one of the best teams in the world. The President now seems a more chastened and less confident politician than when he set out a week ago. vocabulary: To chasten someone is to correct him or her, often with the use of some pretty steep punishment. Chasten can also mean "to restrain." Either of these actions may be necessary when someone isn't behaving like they're supposed to. The verb chasten is often used with the verb "to be" as in "be chastened." If students are caught writing graffiti on the bathroom wall, you can expect them to be chastened by both the school and their parents. Chasten is related to the word chastise, meaning "to punish severely." Both words can be traced back to the Latin root castus, meaning "morally pure." So keep yourself on the straight and narrow when it comes to morality and you can avoid being chastened. chastise [tʃæstaɪz] If you chastise someone, you speak to them angrily or punish them for something wrong that they have done. Thomas Rane chastised Peters for his cruelty. The Securities Commission chastised the firm but imposed no fine. I just don't want you to chastise yourself. Castigate 表示"严厉地谴责, 严厉批评某人或某事"，尤其是指在公开场合指出的"批评"; reprimand 通常指上级对下属的"训斥". 正式对某人的表现或行为提出严厉的训斥或申斥. 怒斥. Reprimand 多用于正式官方场合, 尤其是上司对下属的表现极为不满的情况. 例如: 学生表现不好被老师"批评"时. reprimand 作为名词常指"非常严重的、正式的官方的警告"，比如：警察给未成年人"一个正式口头警告"就可以被称为"a reprimand"; 行业监管机构对其成员发出的"正式警告"也是"a reprimand". 例如: The Football Association issued a reprimand 郑重警告 to Paul Smith for swearing on the pitch. castigate [ˈkæstɪˌɡeɪt] If you castigate someone or something, you speak to them angrily or criticize them severely. Marx never lost an opportunity to castigate colonialism. She castigated him for having no intellectual interests. ...Bradley's public castigation of the police chief. The judge castigated the bank for lack of fraud prevention support to elderly customers. The media castigated Mr Philips for making millions for himself while the company went bankrupt. In his report, the inspector castigated the Sunshine Nursery for not meeting the standards of education. vocabulary: Use castigate when you mean "to reprimand in an especially harsh way." If you accidentally spill coffee all over your sister's favorite sweater, you might worry that she's going to castigate you as soon as she finds out. Castigate means punish, and punish harshly, but the punishment is always a severe scolding. Sometimes it means criticize severely. Politicians in the Senate are always castigating each other for their alliances and opinions. Castigate and chasten, which also means "to reprimand" but is less severe, share the Latin root castus which means "pure." Ideally, if you castigate someone, you mean to guide someone away from the wrong path and toward a more pure one. But it sure doesn't feel like that when you're being castigated! reprimand [ˈreprɪˌmænd] (官方和组织) 痛斥 If someone is reprimanded, they are spoken to angrily or seriously for doing something wrong, usually by a person in authority. He was reprimanded by a teacher for talking in the corridor. Her attempts to reprimand him were quickly shouted down. He has been fined five thousand pounds and given a severe reprimand. Molly gave her secretary a sharp reprimand for being late. The headmaster reprimanded Chris for his continued lateness. vocabulary: If you're reprimanded, someone in authority speaks to you in an angry way because you've done something wrong. Or you might reprimand your dog if he steals your hot dog. The House of Representatives has a couple of ways to punish naughty members. One way is to reprimand them by voting to express disapproval. In 2009, Representative Joe Wilson was reprimanded after his outburst of "You lie!" during President Obama's speech. In the halls of Congress, this is considered "unparliamentary language," but if you yell at your congressman, that's okay. 正文: Former President Donald Trump went after Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell on Tuesday, calling him "a dour, sullen, and unsmiling political hack" in a broadside attack just days after the Kentucky Republican voted to acquit Trump in his second impeachment trial. Trump's call for compassionate leadership came in a petty statement full of ad hominem [ˌæd ˈhɑmɪnem] attacks 人身攻击, including a jab at McConnell's family( jab I. If you jab one thing into another, you push it there with a quick, sudden movement and with a lot of force. He saw her jab her thumb on a red button–a panic button. A needle was jabbed into the baby's arm. Stern jabbed at me with his glasses. Nick jabbed his finger at the clothes on the bed. noun. I. A jab is a sudden, sharp punch. He was simply too powerful for his opponent, rocking him with a steady supply of left jabs. II. 扎针. A jab is an injection of something into your blood to prevent illness. ...painful anti malaria jabs. III. You can refer to a sudden and unpleasant critical remark as a jab. a critical comment about someone. In a sharp jab at the White House he said that the system relied on good faith and honour on both sides. They have been sniping at each other, with the Democrats taking jabs at 挖苦, 讥讽 the president's handling of foreign policy. jerk/jab/cock your thumb 用拇指指着 to point your thumb at someone or something in order to show that you are talking about them. Thumbing one's nose 蔑视, 轻蔑, also known as cocking a snook, is a sign of derision or contempt, made by putting the thumb on the nose, holding the palm open and perpendicular to the face, and wiggling the remaining fingers. It is used mostly by schoolchildren, often combined with blowing raspberries. It is also known as thumbing the nose, Anne's Fan or Queen Anne's Fan. The phrase "cocking a snook" can be used figuratively: the Oxford English Dictionary cites a 1938 usage "The Rome–Berlin axis...cocked the biggest snook yet at the League of Nations idea" by Eric Ambler in his Cause for Alarm. cock verb I. 竖起, 举起, 立起. to raise or turn a part of your body. If you cock a part of your body in a particular direction, you lift it or point it in that direction. He paused and cocked his head as if listening. The Brigadier thought about this for a moment, head cocked to one side. She cocked her head to listen. He stood looking amused, with one eyebrow cocked. II. 枪上膛. to make a gun ready to fire. When someone cocks a gun, they set a small device in the gun so that it is ready to fire. His hands were too weak to cock his revolver. III. 歪戴帽子, 斜戴帽子. to wear or move your hat so that one side of it slopes downward. IV. If someone cocks their ear 竖起耳朵, 支棱起耳朵, they try very hard to hear something from a particular direction. He suddenly cocked an ear and listened. All ears were cocked for the footsteps on the stairs. stopcock (阀门) A stopcock is a tap on a pipe, which you turn in order to allow something to pass through the pipe or to stop it from passing through. cock up 搞砸 [British, informal, rude] If you cock something up, you ruin it by doing something wrong. 'Seems like I've cocked it up,' Egan said. They've cocked up the address. If you make a cock-up of something, you ruin it by doing something wrong. He was in danger of making a real cock-up of this. This was just an administrative cock-up. ), and after years of some of the most vitriolic political leadership in American history. Despite the potshot at McConnell's family and the insulting characterization of his personality, Trump wanted to lob harsher personal attacks at McConnell, according to a source familiar with Trump's desires. Trump adviser Jason Miller said an "earlier (version of the) statement was likely tougher. There was never a consideration to make a personal attack, though." Trump asserted Tuesday that McConnell's shortcomings had contributed to the party's loss of the Senate majority and alluded to his baseless claims of election fraud. Trump's lashing out follows his impeachment by a bipartisan vote in the House of Representatives last month for his role inciting the January 6 violent riot at the US Capitol. The clash between the current and former GOP leaders comes as the Republican Party at large grapples with ( grapple with to try hard to understand a difficult idea or to solve a difficult problem. The government continued to grapple with the issue of public transportation. ) warring factions 各派系 at odds 争论不休, 意见不一致, 达不成统一意见 over whether to continue in Trump's likeness 继续同样的路线 or forge a path veering from 找新方向 the former President's legacy. Sen. Lindsey Graham, a longtime Trump loyalist, told Fox News on Tuesday that while the two men together "did a hell of a job, they're now at each other's throat 互掐脖子, 互看不顺眼. I'm more worried about 2022 than I've ever been. I don't want to eat our own." "What I would say to Senator McConnell: I know Trump can be a handful 很难搞, but he is the most dominant figure in the Republican Party," the South Carolina Republican continued. "We don't have a snowball's chance in hell ( not have a snowball's chance in hell 完全没机会, 完全无可能 informal to have no chance of succeeding. Little to no likelihood of occurrence or success. That small boat has a snowball's chance in hell of surviving the hurricane. If he can't afford a good lawyer, he doesn't have a snowball's chance in hell of winning the case. Usage notes: Often, the expression is used in the negative for even more emphasis (implying that the referent has even less chance of success than a snowball in hell because the heat would melt it near-immediately). That small boat doesn't have a snowball's chance in hell of surviving the hurricane.) of taking back the majority without Donald Trump. If you don't get that, you're just not looking (not paying attention) 你就是傻瓜, 你就是瞎子, 你就是傻子." McConnell has repeatedly rebuked Trump's incitement of the January 6 insurrection at the US Capitol, though he voted to acquit the former President of the charge. "There is no question former President Trump bears moral responsibility," McConnell wrote Monday in an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal of the riot. "His supporters stormed the Capitol because of the unhinged falsehoods he shouted into the world's largest megaphone. His behavior during and after the chaos was also unconscionable 不要脸的, 无耻的, 不知羞耻的( If you describe something as unconscionable, you mean that the person responsible for it ought to be ashamed of it, especially because its effects are so great or severe. ... speech that it would be unconscionable for a democratic society to suppress. [+ for] ), from attacking Vice President Mike Pence during the riot to praising the criminals after it ended." In the last weeks of Trump's presidency, the relationship between the then-Senate majority leader and Trump -- the two most powerful men in the Republican Party -- had essentially collapsed, multiple sources told CNN. CNN reported last month that Trump is focusing his political energy on Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming, the third-ranking House Republican, who voted for his impeachment last month. Trump's push comes as House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, a California Republican, is working to shore up his relationship with the ex-President, including meeting with Trump at his Palm Beach resort, Mar-a-Lago, in January. McCarthy and Trump discussed the midterm elections in 2022, according to a readout ( transcript The substance of what the two leaders will discuss will be left to official readouts from each government. a record of information produced by a computer or other piece of electronic equipment, shown on a screen or printed on paper. ) provided by his Save America PAC.
acquire, obtain, procure: procure [prəˈkjʊr] I. If you procure something, especially something that is difficult to get, you obtain it. to obtain something, especially with effort or difficulty. procure something for someone/something: She asked him to procure visas for her family. procure someone something: He had endeavored to procure 获取 them some assistance with their luggage. It remained very difficult to procure food, fuel and other daily necessities. II. If someone procures a prostitute 拉皮条, they introduce the prostitute to a client. to provide prostitutes (=paid sexual partners) for others. He was arrested for allegedly procuring prostitutes. obtain I. 获得. 得到. To obtain something means to get it or achieve it. obtain something by (doing) something: He was charged with obtaining property by deception. obtain something from someone/something: Details can be obtained from the Department of Education. Evans was trying to obtain a false passport and other documents. The perfect body has always been difficult to obtain. II. If a situation obtains, it exists. if something such as a rule or condition obtains, it exists, is used, or is accepted This situation generally obtains 存在, 真实存在, 被接受 in early language learning. The longer this situation obtains, the more extensive the problems become. acquire I. If you acquire something, you buy or obtain it for yourself, or someone gives it to you. He yesterday revealed he had acquired a 2.98 per cent stake in the company. I recently acquired some wood from a holly tree. She was sitting in her newly-acquired 购买的, 购得的 wheelchair. II If you acquire something such as a skill or a habit, you learn it, or develop it through your daily life or experience. I've never acquired a taste for spicy food. Having read the book, she will be able to pass on the acquired knowledge 学来的, 学会的 to trainee teachers. III. If someone or something acquires a certain reputation 获得一种名声, they start to have that reputation. He has acquired a reputation as this country's premier solo violinist. acquired taste If you describe something as an acquired taste, you mean that a lot of people do not like it when they first experience it, but often start to like it more when they get to know it better. Broad beans are very much an acquired taste. Living alone is an acquired taste.
