用法学习: 1. cold comfort quite limited sympathy, consolation, or encouragement. poor or inadequate consolation. something that makes a difficult situation slightly better but not much better. If you say that a slightly encouraging fact or event is cold comfort to someone, you mean that it gives them little or no comfort because their situation is so difficult or unpleasant. These figures may look good on paper but are cold comfort to the islanders themselves. "another drop in the inflation rate was cold comfort for the 2.74 million jobless". doll up 打扮时尚 ( = to get dolled up) If you doll yourself up, you put on smart or fashionable clothes, usually for a special occasion. We used to doll ourselves up and go into town. She was dolled up for the occasion. We used to doll ourselves up and go into town. dole out If you dole something out, you give a certain amount of it to each member of a group. to give something, usually money, to several people I got out my wallet and began to dole out the money. dish out informal to give things to a number of people Some doctors are dishing out drugs their patients do not need. a. If you dish out something 分发, you distribute it among a number of people. Doctors, not pharmacists, are responsible for dishing out drugs 分发. The council wants to dish the money out to specific projects. b. If someone dishes out criticism or punishment, they give it to someone. Linzi is well qualified to dish out advice. c. If someone dishes it out to you 全盘奉上, they strongly criticize or punish you. He's a big man and he's prepared to dish it out if he has to. d. If you dish out food 端出, 奉上, you serve it to people at the beginning of each course of a meal. Here in the dining hall the cooks dish out chicken à la king. dish the dirt to tell people what you know about someone, especially things that could damage their reputation. dish (sth) up to make or serve a meal. If you dish up food, you serve it. They dished up a superb meal. I'll dish up and you can grate the Parmesan. Come to the table everybody - I'm ready to dish (supper) up. What's the canteen dishing up for us today? someone can dish it out but he or she can't take it (if you can't take it, then don't dish out = don't dish out what you can't take) someone easily criticizes other people but does not like it when other people criticize him or her: He's mad at me for teasing him – he can dish it out, but he can't take it! Do as you would be done by 己所不欲勿施于人 Treat and respect others as you would hope to be respected and treated by them. said to show that you believe in treating others as you would like them to treat you. peter out 式微. 势衰 to gradually become smaller, less, weaker etc and then come to an end. to gradually stop or disappear: The
strike seemed to be petering out. The fighting which started in the
night had petered out by morning. The track petered out after a mile or
so. mete out [mit] (一般指不好的事情) 百般算计地奉上, 精心计算后得给予 to give a punishment to someone. To mete out a punishment
means to order that someone should be punished in a certain way. to
give or order a punishment or make someone receive cruel or unfair
treatment: In the past, schoolteachers regularly meted out physical punishment to their pupils. This provided an illustrative example of how justice was meted out to the local population at the time. The same treatment should be meted out to politicians who break the rules. vocabulary: To mete out is to distribute, the way you mete out scoops of ice cream one at a time, to make sure all your friends end up with the same amount. When you take your dog out on a leash, you probably mete out her treats (不一下子给完) 均餐, 少量多餐, 一点点的给, 分食, 均匀的给, 分成小份给 making them last for the whole walk. 2. all options stink 所有可选项都不好 There is no good option in this particular situation. I don't know what we're going to do here—all options stink. I don't want to break up with him, but I also don't want to move across the country with him. All options stink, all right. Yeah, all options here stink, but I think this one stinks the least. someone deserves a medal said when you admire someone for dealing with a difficult person or situation for a long time: She deserves a medal for putting up with that husband of hers. someone couldn't act, argue, fight, etc. their way out of a paper bag said about someone you think has no energy or ability. Then-treasurer Peter Costello famously exhorted couples to have "one for your husband, one for the wife and one for your country." 3. offence I. the feeling of being angry, upset, or insulted, caused by something that someone says or does. cause offence If you cause offence or give offence to someone, you say or do something rude which upsets or embarrasses them. It says the photograph is likely cause distress and offence to the public. We have had our differences and I'm sorry if it has caused offence. II. COUNTABLE something that makes you feel angry and upset because it is insulting, unfair, or morally wrong offence to: a building that is an offence to good taste. mean no offence to have no intention of making someone angry and upset by what you are doing or saying I'm sorry, I meant no offence. take offence (at something) to feel angry and upset because of something that someone has said or done I'm not surprised she took offence at his remarks. 4. mechanics 力学 (engineering mechanics 工程力学) I. the study of the effect of physical forces on objects and their movement: He wanted to get a better understanding of the mechanics of his sport. He put his passion for mechanics on hold while he studied theology. He took correspondence courses in engineering and mechanics. She always had an interest in car mechanics. In physics, she chose to do a module on mechanics. II. the way something works or happens: He knows a lot about the mechanics of running a school. I just want to take some pictures without worrying about the mechanics of photography. It's a book for people who are interested in the mechanics of diplomacy. We had difficulty negotiating the mechanics of living together, especially who should be responsible for which chores. Sheldon: No, not that. I understand the mechanics. Professor Proton: Oh, good. Good. 'cause I have no idea what kids these days are calling their parts. Sheldon: I think they say "junk." Professor Proton: What is happening to this world? logistics [lədʒɪstɪks] 组织起来 If you refer to the logistics of doing something complicated that involves a lot of people or equipment, you are referring to the skilful organization of it so that it can be done successfully and efficiently. The logistics of organising such a big show pose enormous practical problems. Logistics is now more important in our industry than technology. James Marsden from Jury Duty: He said he knew he could play the exaggerated, entitled actor version of himself – "That was just fun, I knew how to play that" – but it was the logistics of everything else that was challenging. "It was a highwire act 高空走钢丝 ( A risky job or operation. something that you have to do very slowly or carefully, because it involves a lot of risk The university press is not allowed to either make or lose money—that's a high-wire act. This expression alludes to the aerialist performing on a tightrope stretched high above the ground. II. journalists talk about a person performing a high-wire act when he or she is dealing with a situation in which it would be easy to do the wrong thing. This year's Budget looks set to be a precarious high-wire act for the Chancellor. ). You have to pivot, and you have to have adaptability. If Ronald wants to take a left turn and we want him to take a right turn, you have to take a left with him and just adjust.” It got dicey a few times. Marsden said someone accidentally called one of the actors by their real name instead of their character name, or Gladden almost noticed one of the hidden panels on the wall which secreted the cameras. “And there was a moment where there was a scripted beat where the security guard was arguing with somebody and it got a little silly and Ronald was like, ‘This can’t be real.’ So, we were like, ‘OK, everybody heard him say that, so pull it back, pull it back.’” But what the audiences didn’t see, the parts of that were edited out of the eight-episode series, were the hours and hours of sitting around and doing nothing. The banality was necessary to sell the concocted reality to Gladden. “Anytime he became suspicious, we would have a day in court where the judge and the two attorneys would just do legalese speak ad nauseam,” Marsden said. “And it was like nothing absurd [can happen]. There were no crazy beats happening. In the series, a real-life man named Matt Kennedy Gould thought he was a reality TV contestant on a Big Brother-esque show called “Lap of Luxury”. He was the only one who didn’t know it was fake, and everyone were actors, including a then-unknown, pre-Saturday Night Live Kristen Wiig.
Gould later said the experience made him feel dumb and afterwards he holed himself up in an apartment and smoked a lot of pot. A few years on from that, with a bit more distance, he managed to make peace with it. Marsden admitted he was initially nervous about the ethics of the piece when he heard the pitch. mechanic [məˈkænɪk] I. 机械修理师, 机修工(mechanical shop: An automobile repair shop (also known regionally as a garage or a workshop) is an establishment where automobiles are repaired by auto mechanics and technicians. ). someone whose job is repairing the engines of vehicles and other machines: a car/garage/bike mechanic. Buying that second-hand car without having it checked by a mechanic first cost us dear. At that time she was just a humble mechanic. "Don't worry, your car will be ready tomorrow, " the mechanic assured him. I applied for a job as a mechanic in a local garage, but I was rejected. The mechanic pointed out the repair on the front of my car. A mechanic is someone whose job is to repair and maintain machines and engines, especially car engines. A mechanic is an skilled tradesperson who uses tools to build, maintain, or repair machinery, especially cars. If you smell gas fumes or burning, take the car to your mechanic. An elevator mechanic can work the machinery directly by turning this lever. II. The mechanics of a process, system, or activity are the way in which it works or the way in which it is done. What are the mechanics of this new process? The mechanics of the job, however, have changed little since then. III. Mechanics is the part of physics that deals with the natural forces that act on moving or stationary objects. ...the other great theory of 20th-century physics, quantum mechanics. He has not studied mechanics or engineering. the branch of science, divided into statics 静力学, dynamics 动力学, and kinematics 运动学, concerned with the equilibrium or motion of bodies in a particular frame of reference. mechanician [ˌmɛkəˈnɪʃn] 机械工程师 a person skilled in the design or construction of machinery. a person skilled in making machinery and tools; technician. mechanical [məˈkænɪk(ə)l] I. A mechanical device has parts that move when it is working, often using power from an engine or from electricity. ...a small mechanical device that taps out the numbers. ...the oldest working mechanical clock in the world. Most mechanical devices require oil as a lubricant. The air was circulated mechanically. II. Mechanical means relating to machines and engines and the way they work. ...mechanical engineering 机械工程. The company undertakes mechanical work on all types of cars. The train had stopped due to a mechanical problem. The car was mechanically sound, he decided. III. If you describe a person as mechanical, you mean they are naturally good at understanding how machines work. He was a very mechanical 天生对机械敏感的 person, who knew a lot about sound. I'm not mechanical like my father; I have to follow the instructions. I'm not mechanically minded. IV. If you describe someone's action as mechanical 机械的, 机械性的, 不经过大脑的, you mean that they do it automatically, without thinking about it. It is real prayer, and not mechanical repetition. Her retort was mechanical. He nodded mechanically, his eyes fixed on the girl. 5. stick to I. to do something that you promised or decided you would do, or that you believe you should do We said we'd give her the cash, and we must stick to our agreement. II. to continue to do or use one particular thing and not change it or stop it for any period of time. If you stick to a law, rule, or promise, you obey it or do what it states: If you make a promise, you should stick to it. I think we should stick to our original plan. stick to the rules (=obey the rules): If everyone sticks to the rules, we shouldn't have any problems. stick rigidly/resolutely to something (=without changing or stopping): If you stick rigidly to your diet, you will lose weight. (UK stick at something 坚持不懈) to continue trying hard to do something difficult: You'll never learn to play the piano if you're not prepared to stick to it. I think I'll stick to my first plan. I'd better stick to the rules. I find it very hard to stick to a diet. We've made the agreement so we have to stick to it. He tends to stick to the same old recipes. III. to talk or write about one particular thing only. 'Forget your opinions – just stick to the facts,' said Mel impatiently. I do wish you'd stick to the point. stick to doing something: Writers should stick to writing about things they know about. III. to continue to follow a particular path, especially in order to avoid danger or to avoid getting lost. to limit yourself to doing or using one particular thing and not change to anything else: Could you stick to the point, please? We'd better stick to the main road, because the other roads are blocked with snow. IV. to stay very close to someone and follow them wherever they go. stick close to someone 亦步亦趋, 紧跟着, 跟紧: Moore stuck close to the race leader until the last lap. stick to your guns INFORMAL to refuse to change what you are saying or doing despite the opposition or criticism of other people They tried to persuade me, but I stuck to my guns. stick to your story INFORMAL to refuse to change your account of an event or situation, especially when it is not true or when people doubt it. stick with I. to continue using or doing (something) You need to find a job and stick with it. I'll stick with my usual brand. II. to not change (a decision, belief, etc.) The company is sticking with its decision to close the store. III. to force (someone) to deal with (something or someone unpleasant). Whenever we go out to eat, they always stick me with the bill. The teacher always sticks me with Tom. —often used as (be/get) stuck with I was stuck with washing dishes. I got stuck with Tom again. IV. to stay close to (someone) in a race or competition The challenger stuck with the champion until the very last round. V. to stay near (someone) in order to gain knowledge, protection, etc. Stick with me, kid, and you'll learn something! VI. to be remembered by someone for a very long time The lessons she learned from that experience stuck with her. stick with something/someone I. to continue doing something or using someone to do work for you, and not stop or change to something or someone else: He said that he was going to stick with the traditions 坚持传统 established by his grandfather. He's a good car mechanic - I think we should stick with him. II. to force someone to have or do something less desirable: Big power companies grab cheap supplies and stick everyone else with more expensive ones. III. to stay close to someone, or to continue to do something: Stick with me, and we'll do lots of interesting things. Once Stephen takes up a hobby, he sticks with it. stick out for something to continue to demand or try to get something: The unions have said that they are going to stick out for a ten percent rise. stick someone with something to force someone to have or do something that is not very good: Big power companies grab cheap supplies and stick everyone else with more expensive ones. 6. 基廷反对AUKUS: "This week, Anthony Albanese screwed ( put the screws on/to (someone or something) to use force or the threat of force to make (someone or something) do what one wants The government is finally putting the screws to an industry that's been evading environmental laws for years.) into place the last shackle 最后一环 in the long chain the United States has laid out to contain China," Mr Keating said in a written statement issued before he addressed the National Press Club on Wednesday. "No mealy-mouthed ( mealy [ˈmili] I. 干瘪的. mealy fruit or vegetables are soft and feel rough, dry, and unpleasant in your mouth. Food that is dry and powdery can be described as mealy. ...the mealy stodge of pulse, grain and potato dishes. a mealy apple. II. made of crushed grain or covered with it. mealy-mouthed 闪烁其词的, 说话闪躲的 not willing to express yourself in a simple and direct way, usually in order to hide the truth. afraid to speak frankly or straightforwardly. "mealy-mouthed excuses". Spokesmen have been mealy-mouthed in defense of the president. ) talk of 'stabilisation' in our China relationship or resort to softer or polite language will disguise from the Chinese the extent and intent of our commitment to United States's strategic hegemony in East Asia with all its deadly portents ( portent [ˈpɔrˌtent] a warning or warnings about the future. A portent is something that indicates what is likely to happen in the future. The savage civil war there could be a portent of what's to come in the rest of the region. I hope this is a portent for the rest of the year. As for her engagement with Adam, I would say the portents are gloomy. ). "History will be the judge of this project in the end. But I want my name clearly recorded among those who say it is a mistake. Who believes that, despite its enormous cost, it does not offer a solution to the challenge of great power competition in the region or to the security of the Australian people and its continent." Mr Keating has been critical of the AUKUS defence pact since it was first struck between the three nations 18 months ago. 7. the gift of the gab the ability to speak with eloquence and fluency. "my friend had the gift of the gab and gradually defused the situation". If someone has the gift of the gab, they are able to speak easily and confidently, and to persuade people. You can also say the gift of gab, especially in American English. They are naturally good salesmen with the gift of the gab. in one's wheelhouse within one's area of expertise or interest: There are some subjects that are in your wheelhouse and some that are not. in the same wheelhouse very similar and usually in the same category: The two folk singers are in the same wheelhouse. wheelhouse a structure with a roof on a boat that provides shelter for the person who is controlling the direction of the boat: The boat was hit by a 12-foot wave that broke over the wheelhouse. On another trip, I took a cargo boat, sleeping on the wheel-house roof. I was alone in the wheel house when the ship was sighted. someone's wheelhouse an area that someone is interested in and skilled at: Finding new ways of advertising our products has always been my wheelhouse. I first needed to figure out what was in my wheelhouse. Unfortunately, for most of the time I had been working outside my wheelhouse. II. In baseball, if a pitcher throws the ball in a batter's wheelhouse, they throw the ball to a place where the batter can hit it powerfully: The ball was up and right in the hitter's wheelhouse. I got a pitch in my wheelhouse but I hit it right at the second baseman. fashion forward I. interested in fashion and wearing things that will soon become very fashionable: clothes for fashion-forward teenagers. II. more modern than things that are fashionable now: fashion-forward jeans. III. conforming to, attuned to, or characterized by the latest trends in fashion. fashion-forward clothing. Like a proud parent, Goldstein-Lynch shows off her fashion-forward students' bags—some with matching shoes. They are the alpha teens—fashion-forward young people who educate clothing company executives about style. straight shot 直来直去的, 径直的: It's not a straight shot from Beijing. 8. adulation [ˌædʒəˈleɪʃ(ə)n] 褒奖, 赞誉, 崇拜 great praise or admiration, especially for someone who is famous. Adulation is uncritical admiration and praise of someone or something. The book was received with adulation by critics. on/at the hustings making speeches before an election to try to persuade people to vote for you. The political campaigns and speeches before an election are sometimes referred to as the hustings. With only days to go before elections in Pakistan, candidates are battling it out at the hustings. Former prime minister John Howard was there, and got the welcome from Liberal Party members you'd expect — pure excitement and adulation. So, Ms Berejiklian suddenly showing up on the hustings was a surprise. flustered feeling confused, embarrassed, or nervous, especially because you have too much to do or too little time to do something. in a state of confusion or agitation Marianne noted his flustered appearance. He gets all flustered and doesn't know what to say. She was so flustered that she forgot her reply. She arrived at the interview late, flustered, and hot. rouse [raʊz] I. If someone rouses you when you are sleeping or if you rouse, you wake up. Hilton roused him at eight-thirty by rapping on the door. When I put my hand on his, he stirs but doesn't quite rouse. II. If you rouse yourself, you stop being inactive and start doing something. to make someone become active, especially when they are tired, lazy, or unwilling to do something. He roused the crowd to stand up and fight back. rouse yourself: After a few more minutes in the sun, she roused herself and went in. She seemed to be unable to rouse herself to do anything. He roused himself from his lazy contemplation of the scene beneath him. III. If something or someone rouses you, they make you very emotional or excited. to produce an emotion or feeling in someone Passions were roused and threatened to boil over into violence. He did more to rouse the crowd there than anybody else. Ben says his father was good-natured, a man not quickly roused to anger or harsh opinions. ...a rousing 煽动的, 煽情的 speech to the convention in support of the president. Rouse means "get angry/frustrated and yell at." Kind of means "to yell crankily". But it isn't always yell, but the feeling behind yelling. She was talking about wanting to rouse someone for not doing something he was supposed to do. IV. If something rouses a feeling in you, it causes you to have that feeling. It roused a feeling of rebellion in him. This roused my interest in politics and I went to work for the Democrats. chatterbox 话匣子, 话痨 someone who talks a lot. I was a chatterbox at school. Goldilocks [ˈɡoʊldilɑks] 正好的, 恰到好处的 used to describe a situation in which something is or has to be exactly right: The Mayor takes a Goldilocks approach to his city's 18 percent growth: It's not too fast and not too slow. Its nickname is the Goldilocks Bird, because it nests only when water levels are "just right". not prone to extremes of temperature, volatility, etc. used before another noun to describe a situation where something is at the ideal, most effective or advantageous point within a range of conditions. Astronomers sometimes call such planets Goldilocks planets, because their conditions are just right for the evolution of life. a Goldilocks economy. a goldilocks planet. a goldilocks economy. taciturn [ˈtasɪtəːn] 沉默寡言的, 寡言少语的, 话少的, 不爱说话的 (of a person) reserved or uncommunicative in speech; saying little. A taciturn person does not say very much and can seem unfriendly. someone who is taciturn does not speak often and does not say very much A taciturn man, he replied to my questions in monosyllables. "after such gatherings she would be taciturn and morose". The actor was often put in a suit or a crisp uniform during his career, playing tall, taciturn and elegant men of distinction. morose [məˈroʊs] 心情低落的, 无心讲话的, 心情不好的, 不想讲话的 feeling unhappy, in a bad mood, and not wanting to talk to anyone. feeling unhappy, in a bad mood, and not wanting to talk to anyone.
convulsion 是全身抽搐 (having a seizure), cramp 是抽筋, spasm 是更小范围的抽搐, epilepsy 导致 convulsion, tick 和 twitch 都是局部的肌肉抽动 (nervous ticks), fit 指发作, contract 是肌肉收缩. seizure I. If someone has a seizure, they have a sudden violent attack of an illness, especially one that affects their heart or brain. ...a mild cardiac seizure. I was prescribed drugs to control seizures. II. If there is a seizure of power or a seizure of an area of land 强占, a group of people suddenly take control of the place, using force. ...the seizure of territory through force. III. When an organization such as the police or customs service makes a seizure of illegal goods 没收, they find them and take them away. Police have made one of the biggest seizures of heroin there's ever been in Britain. ...arms seizures. IV. If a financial institution or a government makes a seizure of someone's assets, they take their money or property from them because they have not paid money that they owe. A court ordered the seizure of two ships for non-payment of the debt. seize I. If you seize something 抓住, 攫取, you take hold of it quickly, firmly, and forcefully. 'Leigh,' he said, seizing my arm to hold me back. ...an otter seizing a fish. II. When a group of people seize a place or seize control of it 夺取控制, 夺去, they take control of it quickly and suddenly, using force. Troops have seized the airport and railroad terminals. Army officers plotted a failed attempt yesterday to seize power. III. If a government or other authority seize someone's property, they take it from them, often by force. Police were reported to have seized all copies of this morning's edition of the newspaper. Bailiffs need a certificate from the county court to seize goods for rent arrears. IV. When someone is seized, they are arrested or captured. Two military observers were seized by enemy troops yesterday. Men carrying sub-machine guns seized the five soldiers and drove them away. V. When you seize an opportunity, you take advantage of it and do something that you want to do. During the riots hundreds of people seized the opportunity to steal property. The government now hopes to seize the initiative on education. seize on: If you seize on something or seize upon it, you show great interest in it, often because it is useful to you. Newspapers seized on the results as proof that global warming wasn't really happening. The main fear was that both sides may seize upon a ceasefire and free food aid to rearm. seize up I. If a part of your body seizes up 僵硬, 僵直, it suddenly stops working, because you have strained it or because you are getting old. After two days' exertions, it's the arms and hands that seize up, not the legs. We are all born flexible but as we grow older, we tend to seize up a little. II. If something such as an engine seizes up, it stops working, because it has not been properly cared for. She put diesel fuel, instead of petrol, into the tank causing the motor to seize up. cramp 抽筋 ( spasm 痉挛. ) I. A painful contraction of a muscle which cannot be controlled.
A sudden, involuntary, spasmodic muscular contraction causing severe
pain, often occurring in the leg or shoulder as the result of strain or
chill. II. A temporary partial paralysis of habitually or excessively used muscles. temporary partial paralysis of a muscle group. writer's cramp. III. cramps
Spasmodic [spæzˈmɑdɪk] contractions of the uterus, such as those occurring during
menstruation or labor, usually causing pain in the abdomen that may
radiate to the lower back and thighs. IV. (usually plural in the US and Canada) severe abdominal pain. verb. To suffer from or experience cramps. My leg/muscles cramped up. cramp2. I. Also called cramp iron
a strip of metal with its ends bent at right angles, used to bind
masonry. II. a device for holding pieces of wood while they are glued;
clamp. III. something that confines or restricts. vt. I. to secure or
hold with a cramp. II. to confine, hamper, or restrict. cramp (someone's) style Informal
to prevent (a person) from using his abilities or acting freely and
confidently. to prevent someone from enjoying themselves as much as they
would like, especially by going somewhere with them. to limit someone
in some way. I hope this doesn't cramp your style, but could you please not hum while you work? To ask Bob to keep regular hours would really be cramping his style. Are you sure you don't mind your old mother coming along with you? I'd hate to cramp your style. writer's cramp 手腕酸疼. 手指酸疼
(idiomatic) An debilitating pain preventing easy movement of the wrist,
hand, or fingers, resulting from prolonged use of a pen or pencil. Henry
James, after he suffered an attack of writer's cramp, began to dictate
to a typist. Christmas dividend checks and checks covering Christmas
presents to his employees were always signed by him. . . . He had
writer's cramp by the time he finished. brain cramp 大脑失忆, 大脑短路
A temporary mental lapse, such as an inability to remember something,
to focus one's attention, to understand something, or to perform some
other mental task of which one would ordinarily be capable. I
had a brain-cramp there for a minute, the smile said, but now sanity
has reasserted itself. Republican presidential hopeful Rick Perry
suffered through a cringe-inducing brain cramp during a recent
prime-time television debate and was unable to name the third agency of
government that he, as president, would eliminate. cramp (leg cramps 晚上的腿抽筋)
Cramp is a sudden strong pain caused by a muscle suddenly contracting.
You sometimes get cramp in a muscle after you have been making a
physical effort over a long period of time. Hillsden was complaining of cramp in his calf muscles. ...muscle cramp. She started getting stomach cramps this morning. convulse 全身的抽搐 If someone convulses or if they are convulsed by or with something, their body moves suddenly in an uncontrolled way. Olivia's face convulsed in a series of twitches. He let out a cry that convulsed his bulky frame and jerked his arm. The opposing team were so convulsed with laughter that they almost forgot to hit the ball. convulsion [kənˈvʌlʃən]
I. violent movements of a person's body that they cannot control. If
someone has convulsions, they suffer uncontrollable movements of their
muscles. II. mainly journalism a sudden or extreme change that
causes major problems or serious harm. If there are convulsions in a
country, system, or organization, there are major unexpected changes in
it. ...the political
convulsions that led to de Gaulle's return to power in May 1958. ...the
great convulsion of the eighteenth century. A convulsion is an episode in which you experience rigidity and
uncontrolled muscle spasms along with altered consciousness. The spasms
cause jerky motions that generally last a minute or two. be in convulsions to be laughing a lot, especially in a way that you cannot control. have a fit = throw a fit ( = conniption fit = hissy fit ) to become very angry. If you say that someone will have a fit when they hear about something, you mean that they will be very angry or shocked. Will Mrs Winterton have a fit if we add one more to the guest list at this late stage? He'd have a fit if he knew what we were up to! My mother threw a fit when she saw the mess we made. spasm [spæzəm] I. an occasion when a muscle suddenly becomes tighter in a way that cannot be controlled. A spasm is a sudden tightening of your muscles, which you cannot control. A muscular spasm in the coronary artery can cause a heart attack. A lack of magnesium causes muscles to go into spasm. a muscle/muscular spasm. a sudden movement in which one of your muscles becomes tight and painful. Athletes know that cold weather can induce muscle spasms 抽筋. His muscles went into spasm and he couldn't straighten up.
A spasm is a sudden strong pain or unpleasant emotion which lasts for a
short period of time. a sudden strong feeling, usually an unpleasant
one. A spasm of pain brought his thoughts back to the present. Kemp felt a spasm of fear. II. mainly UK A spasm is a sudden strong pain or unpleasant emotion which lasts for a short period of time. A spasm of pain brought his thoughts back to the present. Kemp felt a spasm of fear. My leg suddenly went into spasm. spasm of something a short period of something, especially something that cannot be controlled: a spasm of guilt/coughing/laughing 一丝丝的, 一阵阵的.
鼓励生育政策: It is almost 20 years since the federal government introduced the baby bonus, a cash payment designed to encourage people to have more children. Then-treasurer Peter Costello famously exhorted ( exhort [ɪɡˈzɔrt] 说服, 苦劝 to try to persuade someone to do something. If you exhort someone to do something, you try hard to persuade or encourage them to do it. Kennedy exhorted his listeners to turn away from violence. He exhorted his companions, 'Try to accomplish your aim with diligence.' Foreign funds alone are clearly not enough, nor are exhortations to reform. ) couples to have "one for your husband, one for the wife and one for your country." Aside from the $5,000 lump sum, the policy sent a powerful social message that it was not only responsible to have another child, but that families would be doing the government a favour in the process 同时, 顺便 捎带着, 捎带脚的 ( If you are doing something and you do something else in the process, you do the second thing as part of doing the first thing. He finished ahead of the Spaniard, and in the process picked up his first time trial win as a pro. You have to let us struggle for ourselves, even if we must die in the process.). The result was a mini baby boom and those babies, part of Gen Z, are now coming of age 长大成年, 成人 and some will be voting for the first time in this month's New South Wales election.
TBBT: 1. Sheldon: This song is never going to stop. Have you ever dealt with something so relentlessly irritating? Leonard: That's a trick question, right? trick question: If someone asks you a trick question, they ask you a question which is very difficult to answer, for example because there is a hidden difficulty or because the answer that seems obvious is not the correct one. a question that makes you believe you should answer it in a particular way, when the real question is hidden or there is no right answer. a question which seems easy to answer but has a hidden difficulty. A question that tries to make someone answer in a certain way, usually incorrectly (i.e. that seems to have an obvious answer that is however incorrect), or that doesn't have a correct answer or that hides the real question or some difficulty. Usually a loaded question. wife-beating question (rhetoric) A question that presupposes some controversial premise, such that it cannot be directly answered without incriminating oneself or, at least, unintentionally conceding a point; a loaded question. leading question A question that suggests the answer or that contains the information for which the examiner is looking. loaded question (有陷阱的问题) A loaded question is a form of complex question that contains a controversial assumption (e.g., a presumption of guilt). Such questions may be used as a rhetorical tool: the question attempts to limit direct replies to be those that serve the questioner's agenda. a question containing a hidden trap or implication. That's a loaded question. a rigged referendum with a loaded question. 2. Sheldon: Amy, if you want to be my girlfriend again, I really want to be your boyfriend. Amy: I really want that, too. Sheldon: Good. Because I love you. Amy: I love you, too. Dave: Kiss her, you brilliant fool. Sheldon: Well, I'll let you get back to your date. Amy: Get back here. Dave: Okay, then. I'll, uh, see myself out. Amy, thank you for dinner. Dr. Cooper, pleasure to meet you, sir. Uh, if perhaps sometime you have a spare moment, I'd, uh, love to discuss physics, or shoot the breeze ( shoot the breeze ( offensive shoot the shit ) INFORMAL NORTH AMERICAN have a casual conversation. "we've been shooting the breeze for well over an hour now". to spend time talking about things that are not important: We sat out on the porch, just shooting the breeze. straight-shooting communicating honestly and directly He's an exceptionally solid, straight-shooting character. She's a wonderful public speaker: funny, charming, and straight-shooting. straight-shooting advice. ), as you Yanks say. Ah. What a lovely evening.
pensive, broody, ruminative, reflective: pensive 表情深沉的, 可能是苦思冥想的样子, 也可能是忧郁伤感的, 深沉的样子, 沉思的, 若有所思的 (look deep in thought) (pensive 是一种形态, 暂时的一种动作, ruminative 是一种情绪, 性格, broody也是一种情绪, 一种个性特征, 是外貌特征) thinking in a quiet way, often with a serious expression on your face: She became withdrawn and pensive, hardly speaking to anyone. He looked suddenly sombre, pensive. He gazed pensively at the glass in front of him, lost in thought. Nicole looked pensive in the photo and captioned it: "What do you think I'm thinking in this photo?. pensive 沉思的, 若有所思的, thinking in a quiet way, often with a serious expression on your face: She became withdrawn and pensive, hardly speaking to anyone. He looked suddenly sombre, pensive. He gazed pensively at the glass in front of him, lost in thought. vocabulary: See that person staring out the window who looks so sad and lost in thought? He is pensive, the opposite of cheery 欢快的 and carefree. If you've studied Spanish, you know that the verb pensar means "to think." If you're pensive, you might simply be thinking hard about something. Having no expression or maybe even frowning can be a result of being so engrossed in your thoughts — it might not reflect a melancholy [ˈmelənˌkɑli] attitude. Remember this the next time you're about to ask a pensive person, "What's wrong?" It could very well be nothing. 心不在焉的例句: She had a dreamy look 眼神涣散, 眼神空洞 in her eyes. He listened with an absent air神情 and kept glancing at the door. The absent-minded脑子不知在想什么的 professor forgot to get off at Newcastle and was taken on to Edinburgh. He wore a look of abstraction若有所思 and I knew his thoughts ware far away. He pretended not to notice that Mildred was inattentive没注意的. He had an absent look on his face. She glanced at them a moment with the benign but vacant eye 空洞的眼神 of the tired hostess. broody adj. I. If a hen (= female chicken) is broody, she is ready to produce eggs and sit on them. wanting to lay eggs or sit on them. A broody hen is ready to lay or sit on eggs. a broody hen. II. 想要孩子的. If someone, especially a woman, is broody, she feels as if she would like to have a baby. If you describe someone as broody, you mean that they want to have a baby and keep thinking about it. Much to her surprise, Ruth started feeling broody in her late twenties. III. 苦大仇深的样子. always thinking about things that make you unhappy. thinking and worrying about something a lot. You say that someone is broody when they are thinking a lot about something in an unhappy way. He became very withdrawn and broody. Tim plays the role of a broody teenager. brooding [ˈbrudɪŋ] I. literary making you feel as if something bad or dangerous is about to happen. Brooding is used to describe an atmosphere or feeling that makes you feel anxious or slightly afraid. The same heavy, brooding silence descended on them. II. looking as if you are thinking and worrying about something. the brooding 沉思的, 若有所思的 expression in his dark eyes. If someone's expression or appearance is brooding, they look as if they are thinking deeply and seriously about something, especially something that is making them unhappy. She kissed him and gazed into his dark, brooding eyes. brood verb I. to think and worry about something a lot. If someone broods over something, they think about it a lot, seriously and often unhappily. I guess everyone broods over things once in a while. She constantly broods about her family. I continued to brood. Would he always be like this? brood about/over: Don't sit and brood over it for weeks. II. 孵蛋. if a bird broods, it sits on its eggs until the young birds are born. noun. I. A brood is a group of baby birds that were born at the same time to the same mother. II. You can refer to someone's young children as their brood when you want to emphasize that there are a lot of them. ...a large brood of children. reflective I. 反光的. A reflective surface sends back most of the light that shines on it and can therefore be seen easily. A reflective surface or material sends back light or heat. ...a garden of flowing streams, water basins, waterfalls, and a reflective pool. Avoid pans with a shiny, reflective base as the heat will be reflected back. II. thinking carefully and quietly. If you are reflective, you are thinking deeply about something. showing that something exists, or showing what something is like. reflective of: These cases are reflective of a more general problem. I walked on in a reflective mood to the car. Mike is a quiet, reflective man. 'The first part of her life hasn't been all that good,' he said reflectively. He gazed reflectively at his companion. After hearing the news they sat in a quiet, reflective silence. III. If something is reflective of a particular situation or attitude 反映, it is typical of that situation or attitude, or is a consequence of it. The German government's support of the U.S. is not entirely reflective of German public opinion. The pupil's answers may not have been reflective of what the class as a whole had understood. ruminative [ˈruːmɪnətɪv] 沉思的, 若有所思 ( broody, cogitative, contemplative, meditative, melancholy, musing, pensive, reflective, ruminant, thoughtful ) adj. expressing or involving deep thought. If you are ruminative, you are thinking very deeply and carefully about something. a quiet and ruminative temperament. Her writing is less descriptive, more ruminative. He was uncharacteristically depressed and ruminative. He smiles and swirls the ice ruminatively around his almost empty glass. "a deeply ruminative, mysterious lament". ruminant [ˈrumɪnənt] I. an animal such as a cow or a sheep that brings food back from its stomach into its mouth to chew it (=break it into small pieces with its teeth) a second time. II. meditating or contemplating in a slow quiet way. vocabulary: Use the word ruminant for any cud-chewing animal, like a cow or a camel. A ruminant is a mammal with hooves and a complicated system of stomach compartments whose digestion works by chewing partly digested food a second time in order to soften it. Cows, moose, giraffes, and goats are all ruminants. The Latin meaning of ruminant is literally "chewing over again" or "chewing the cud." A similar word is ruminate, which comes from the same root and means "think deeply about something." ruminate [ˈrumɪˌneɪt] I. to think about or discuss something very carefully. ruminate on something: In the article, Alex Ross ruminates on the differences between live and studio recordings. II. biology 反刍. if an animal ruminates, it brings food back from its stomach into its mouth and chews it (=breaks it into small pieces with its teeth) a second time. vocabulary: When you ruminate, it means you are thinking very deeply about something. You're likely to be so lost in thought that you stare off into space and don't hear people when they call your name. Another meaning of ruminate is to "chew the cud," which can mean "to turn it over and over in your mind." Or, if you're a cow, to turn food over and over in your stomachs in order to digest it. Whether you're a human or a cow, if you ruminate, it will take a LONG time. regurgitate [rɪˈɡɜrdʒɪˌteɪt] I. formal 死记硬背. to repeat facts or ideas that you have heard or learned without understanding them or thinking about them for yourself. II. to vomit forth (partially digested food). III. 喂食. biology (of some birds and certain other animals) to bring back to the mouth (undigested or partly digested food with which to feed the young). to bring food up from your stomach back into your mouth. To be thrown or poured back; to rush or surge back. Food may regurgitate from the stomach into the mouth. The young gulls were fed by their mother's regurgitated food. IV. (intr) 吐奶. to be cast up or out, esp from the mouth. V. (Medicine) (intr) 血液倒流. (of blood) to flow backwards, in a direction opposite to the normal one, esp through a defective heart valve. 婴儿吐奶: Almost every baby spits up. It may be that she's eaten more than her stomach can hold, or it may follow a burp. Most of the time, she will spit up a tablespoon or two of milk—not enough to interfere with her nourishment. Most babies grow out of this "spitting up" phase by the time they can sit. 动物的喂食: Regurgitation is used by a number of species to feed their young. This is typically in circumstances where the young are at a fixed location and a parent must forage or hunt for food, especially under circumstances where the carriage of small prey would be subject to robbing by other predators or the whole prey is larger than can be carried to a den动物窝 or nest动物巢穴. Some bird species also occasionally regurgitate pellets of indigestible matter such as bones and feathers. It is in most animals a normal and voluntary process unlike the complex vomiting reflex in response to toxins. Honey is produced by a process of regurgitation by honey bees, which is stored in the beehive as a primary food source.
