Circadian rhythm; firm; instinctive talent; dream of 想过, 想都不会想, 想都不敢想

用法学习: 1. dusty I. Covered with dust. If places, roads, or other things outside are dusty, they are covered with tiny bits of earth or sand, usually because it has not rained for a long time. They started strolling down the dusty road in the moonlight. ...a dusty old car. If a room, house, or object is dusty, it is covered with very small pieces of dirt. ...a dusty attic. The books looked faded, dusty and unused. a dusty carpet. II. (figurative) Old; outdated; stuffily traditional III. (African-American Vernacular, slang) Ugly, disgusting (a general term of abuse). IV. (Britain, slang, chiefly in negative constructions) Ugly, unwell, inadequate, bad. musty I. Affected by dampness or mould; damp, mildewed, mouldy. Something that is musty smells old and damp. smelling unpleasantly old and slightly wet: musty old books. a musty smell. a musty room. There are racks of musty clothing and piles of junk. ...that terrible musty smell. II. Having an odour or taste of mould; also (generally), having a stale or unfresh odour or taste. III. (figuratively) Of attitudes, ideas, writing, or other abstract things: no longer fresh or interesting; outdated, stale. IV. Of a person: boring and unadventurous; also, old-fashioned, stuck in the past. Femme ([fɛm])("Lipstick lesbian" is slang for a lesbian who exhibits a greater amount of feminine gender attributes, such as wearing make-up, dresses or skirts, and having other characteristics associated with feminine women.) is a term traditionally used to describe a lesbian woman who exhibits a feminine identity or gender presentation. While commonly viewed as a lesbian term, alternate meanings of the word also exist with some non-lesbian individuals using the word, notably some gay men, bisexuals, non-binary, and transgender individuals. Heavily associated with lesbian history and culture, femme has been used among lesbians to distinguish traditionally feminine lesbians from their butch (i.e. masculine) lesbian counterparts and partners. through-line 主线, 贯穿始终的主题 mainly Australian, US and Canadian a theme or idea that runs from the beginning to the end of a book, film, etc. a common or consistent element or theme shared by items in a series or by parts of a whole. "Taylor Swift is often credited with having an 'outsized influence'. It means that her impact is literally larger than life … There are through-lines from Taylor's songwriting work to the fields of philosophy, literature, poetry, and music studies. Her concert tours raise issues of public planning, sustainability, and economic effects." But Kent's latest nonetheless reveals a fascinating through line in her work, which centers on, as she puts it, "disrespect for the feminine"—and the inciting power of female rage. Vang was born in a refugee camp in Thailand, and came to the United States in the late 1980s. For him and his family, food was the throughline keeping them connected to their culture, wherever they were. Perverse moments like these are a throughline in Decker's work. The Texas native specializes in "bad" desires—awkward wants that tend to go unexpressed, or which otherwise seem too compromising to confess even to oneself. Unlike Tokyo's great shopping thoroughfares, which have a certain logical through-line (if not aesthetic, at least socioeconomic), Osaka's arcades are mismatched, high-low jumbles of retail diversions. wiki: A through line is a connecting theme or plot used in media such as films and books. It is sometimes also called the 'spine', and was first suggested by Konstantin Stanislavski as a simplified way for actors to think about characterization. He believed actors should not only understand what their character was doing, or trying to do (their objective), in any given unit, but should also strive to understand the through line that linked these objectives together and thus pushed the character forward through the narrative. Through line is increasingly being used in other contexts as substitutes for words like thread, as seen in the following excerpt from an article by Alex Knapp: "There is a constant through line we see starting with A New Hope and running through to the end of the Return of the Jedi of the Emperor consolidating more and more power into his own hands and that of his right-hand man, Darth Vader." 2. intersect I. 相交. If two or more lines or roads intersect, they meet or cross each other. You can also say that one line or road intersects another. (of lines, roads, etc.) to cross one another: The roads intersect near the bridge. This is the point where the line intersects the curve. The orbit of this comet intersects the orbit of the Earth. The circles will intersect in two places. The centre of the city is full of tiny intersecting alley-ways. II. If one thing intersects with another or if two things intersect, the two things have a connection at a particular point. ...the ways in which historical events intersect with individual lives. Their histories intersect 交汇. If two things intersect, they are connected in some way and influence each other, usually by having some of the same parts, features, etc.: She discusses some of the ways in which work and health intersect. The book explores the intersecting lives of two siblings. Our life experiences intersect with our particular circumstances to shape our values. I chose to study Taylor because one of my key research interests is fan-celebrity interaction, and I've always been fascinated with the way she hand-picks fans to meet, and how that intersects with visible forms of consumption. III. If a place, area, or surface is intersected by things such as roads or lines, they cross it. to divide an area into smaller parts by crossing it with straight lines: The gardens are intersected by gravel paths. The city is intersected 穿过, 贯穿 by three main waterways. IV. If sets (= groups of things with particular characteristics) intersect 有交集, they have some of the same members: These datasets may overlap and intersect. The report lists the numbers of women and minorities, but not the intersecting categories of women who are also members of other minorities. dream I. To envision as an imaginary experience (usually when asleep). I dreamed a vivid dream last night. II. (intransitive) 想都不会想. 根本就不会想着. To consider the possibility (of). If you often think about something that you would very much like to happen or have, you can say that you dream of it. As a schoolgirl, she had dreamed of 想过 becoming an actress. For most of us, a brand new designer kitchen is something we can only dream about. I dream that my son will attend college and find a good job. I wouldn't dream of snubbing you in public. When my thesis title (about Taylor Swift) was read out at my graduation recently, the entire hall laughed, which I did find funny, but also, you wouldn't dream of laughing at a title related to any other kind of research. If you say that you would not dream of doing something 从来都没有想过, 想都不敢想, 做梦都不敢想, 做梦都想不到, you are emphasizing that you would never do it because you think it is wrong or is not possible or suitable for you. I wouldn't dream of making fun of you. My sons would never dream of expecting their clothes to be ironed. 3. PhD candidate 博士在读生, 博士生 ( PhD student and PhD candidate are two terms you may have run across if you have ever looked into getting a doctorate degree. But it's crucial to realize that the two are very different from one another. As you work towards your doctorate degree, you will initially be classified as a PhD student before advancing to the status of a PhD candidate. Who is a PhD Student? A PhD student refers to an individual who has registered for a doctoral degree program. These students, often known as learners, may complete their coursework on campus, online, or in both settings. Students must fulfil a minimum number of academic credits and pass prerequisite tests to enroll in a standard PhD program. Once this phase is completed, the student progresses to the dissertation phase, which involves research, writing, and defense. The distinction between a PhD student and a PhD candidate is that the former is still undertaking coursework and has not yet commenced the dissertation process or passed the qualifying exams, although they may be in the process of doing so. PhD students' education is defined by a predetermined structure, which also sets forth their schedules. Who is a PhD Candidate? A person who has finished all the necessary coursework 上完了所有的课程 and passed their qualifying tests is considered a PhD candidate. Once this goal is met, the individual gains the unofficial status of all but the dissertation (ABD). coursework 课程, 课业 written or oral work completed by a student within a given period, which is assessed as an integral part of an educational course. Students are assessed in performing, composing and listening, the first two by submitting a portfolio of coursework, the third by written examination. Degrees are awarded to individuals and, whether the assessment is based on coursework or examinations, we are required to determine marks for individual students. ) Kate Pattison, who describes herself as a long-time Swiftie, believes that much of her life has been defined by being a fan — so subsequently she was excited to go back to university research fandom. "Overall, it's been so rewarding to do what I love for a living. Every so often I'll come across people who question the value of this sort of research, as there's still work to be done to shift the perceptions of fans and pop music, but the real highlight has been connecting with a broader community of like-minded people." 4. Mr Schmucker raced out 赶过去, 冲过去 ( = rush to ) on a jetski to where Todd had been attacked and was circled several times by a "big female" shark, which he believed to be responsible. serendipitously [ˌsɛrənˈdɪpɪtəslɪ ] 意外的, 碰巧的, 实属凑巧的, 凑巧的 in a way that happens or is found by chance or luck: They serendipitously had business in the same city, so they met for dinner and to catch up after many years. She got her first break serendipitously when a performer cancelled and the festival organizers needed a last-minute replacement. A serendipitous event is one that is not planned but has a good result. ... a serendipitous discovery. Roy, a captain in the Rendleshire Fusiliers on his way to the front, and Myra, a ballerina, serendipitously meet crossing Waterloo Bridge during an air raid, striking up an immediate rapport while taking shelter. Myra invites Roy to attend that evening's ballet performance and an enamored Roy ignores an obligatory dinner with his colonel. vocabulary: Serendipitous is an adjective that describes accidentally being in the right place at the right time, like bumping into a good friend in some unusual location, or finding a hundred dollar bill on the ground. The root of serendipitous comes from the fairy tale "The Three Princes of Serendip," in which three princes make one lucky and surprising discovery after another. A serendipitous moment happens by accident, usually when you're doing something completely unrelated, like digging a hole in your yard to bury your hamster and finding a treasure chest of jewels. That's a sad but serendipitous funeral. serendipity [ˌsɛrənˈdɪpɪti] Serendipity is the luck some people have in finding or creating interesting or valuable things by chance. Some of the best effects in my garden have been the result of serendipity. vocabulary: If you find good things without looking for them, serendipity — unexpected good luck — has brought them to you. Serendipity does not come from Latin or Greek, but rather was created by a British nobleman in the mid 1700s from an ancient Persian fairy tale. The meaning of the word, good luck in finding valuable things unintentionally, refers to the fairy tale characters who were always making discoveries through chance. You can thank serendipity if you find a pencil at an empty desk just as you walk into an exam and realize that you forgot yours. 5. teetotal [ˌtiːˈtəʊtl] 滴酒不沾的, 戒饮酒的, 戒酒的, 不喝酒的 adj choosing or characterized by abstinence from alcohol. Someone who is teetotal does not drink alcohol. He will not be having a celebratory drink, as he is teetotal. "a teetotal lifestyle". ask after 问好, 问安, 问候 BRITISH inquire about the health or well-being of someone. If someone asks after you, they ask someone how you are. I had a letter from Jane. She asks after you. "if I see him I'll tell him you were asking after him". incentivize [ɪnsentɪvaɪz] 激励. 刺激, 鼓励 I. If you incentivize someone, you provide them with a good reason for wanting to do something. The new scheme is meant to incentivize employers to keep staff on at least part-time hours. Staff are incentivised with flexible hours and share options. We thought that the parents would be incentivised by long-term benefits to their children. II. If you incentivize something, you encourage it. Everyone accepts that the market needs reform to incentivise 刺激, 鼓励 investment. I believe the system should incentivize good behaviour. abnormality [ˌabnəˈmalɪti,ˌabnɔːˈmalɪti] 不正常 noun I. an abnormal feature, characteristic, or occurrence. An abnormality in something, especially in a person's body or behaviour, is an unusual part or feature of it that may be worrying or dangerous. Further scans are required to confirm the diagnosis of an abnormality. Genetic abnormalities are more often associated with faults in paternal DNA than in maternal DNA. "babies with congenital abnormalities". Travis barker's neck is so long. I think it's abnormality. II. "the quality or state of being abnormal. "miscarriage can be caused by fetal abnormality". ingrate [ˈɪnɡreɪt] 不知好歹的, 不知感恩的人 noun. an ungrateful person. a person who is not grateful "the ingrates find something wrong with everything". adjective ungrateful. ingratiate [ɪŋˈɡreɪ.ʃiː.eɪt] yourself with someone 巴结, 逢迎 to make someone like you by praising or trying to please them: He's always trying to ingratiate himself with his boss. 6. A 2iC or second-in-command 二把手, 副手(a title denoting that the holder of the title is the second-highest authority within a certain organisation. denote verb I. If one thing denotes another, it is a sign or indication of it. Red eyes denote strain and fatigue. There was a message waiting, denoting that someone had been here ahead of her. to represent something: The colour red is used to denote passion or danger. II. What a symbol denotes is what it represents. In figure 24 'D' denotes 表示, 代表 quantity demanded and 'S' denotes quantity supplied. III. What a word or name denotes is what it means or refers to. In the Middle Ages the term 'drab' denoted a very simple type of woollen cloth which was used by peasants to make their clothes. ) is the next in line after the CEO. The 2iCs may have different position titles but they have two major roles, which are to help manage the business, especially during the absence of the CEO, and manage their relationship with the CEO. Circadian rhythm 身体时钟: A circadian rhythm, or circadian cycle ( [sɜːˈkeɪdɪən] of or relating to biological processes that occur regularly at about 24- hour intervals, even in the absence of periodicity in the environment. used to describe the processes in animals and plants that happen naturally during a 24-hour period: The authors discuss the evolutionary history of circadian systems in mammals, birds, insects, fungi, and bacteria. a natural process in animals and plants that controls when things such as sleeping, eating, or growing happen during a 24-hour period: Our bodies function in 24-hour cycles called circadian rhythms. This is an area of the brain known to regulate circadian rhythm. biological clock Your biological clock is your body's way of registering time. It does not rely on events such as day or night, but on factors such as your habits, your age, and chemical changes taking place in your body. For women, the 'biological clock' governs the time for having children. ), is a natural oscillation that repeats roughly every 24 hours. Circadian rhythms can refer to any process that originates within an organism and responds to the environment. 7. Residential Upzoning and Open Space Rezoning: New rules that could bypass anti-development councils are likely to be considered by the NSW cabinet soon, although how they would work is unclear, according to the state's property development lobby group. The Sydney Morning Herald reported on Tuesday that the government was working on a plan for seven "priority development zones 优先开发区" around Sydney Metro train stations. The zones could supersede ( supersede [suːpərsiːd] 取代 替代 If something is superseded by something newer, it is replaced because it has become old-fashioned or unacceptable. to replace something, especially something older or more old-fashioned: Most of the old road has been superseded by the great interstate highways. Hand tools are relics of the past that have now been superseded by the machine. override v. [ˌəʊ.vəˈraɪd] n. [ˈəʊvərʌɪd] verb. I. 高于. 优先于. If one thing in a situation overrides other things, it is more important than them. to be more important than something: Parents' concern for their children's future often overrides all their other concerns. The welfare of a child should always override the wishes of its parents. Their work is frequently an obsession that overrides all other considerations. to take control over something, especially in order to change the way it operates: The pills are designed to override your body's own hormones. II. If someone in authority overrides a person or their decisions, they cancel their decisions. (of a person who has the necessary authority) to decide against or refuse to accept a previous decision, an order, a person, etc.: Every time I make a suggestion at work, my boss overrides me/it. The president used his veto to override the committee's decision. The president vetoed the bill, and the Senate failed by a single vote to override his veto. I'm applying in advance for the authority to override him. Big companies think they can sometimes override local opinion. III. to operate an automatic machine by hand: He overrode the autopilot when he realized it was malfunctioning. IV. to travel on public transport further than your ticket allows you to: There is a $20 penalty for passengers who travel without a ticket or override 坐过站. noun. An override is an attempt to cancel someone's decisions by using your authority over them or by gaining more votes than them in an election or contest. The bill now goes to the House where an override vote is expected to fail. An override of the veto appears unlikely. ) local planning rules, allowing bigger apartment buildings to be built than permitted now. Mr Minns, who was elected premier in March, has promised to increase the density of Sydney housing to help restrain or reduce the cost of housing. Tom Forrest, the chief executive of lobby developer group Urban Taskforce Australia, said the Department of Planning was working on the plan, but it was unclear what rules would apply in the zones. Councils could be asked to enforce state regulations, he said. "Our greatest fear is they would go with too few precincts [ˈpriːsɪŋkt] ( I. A shopping precinct is an area in the centre of a town in which cars are not allowed. The Centre was a pedestrian precinct with a bandstand in the middle. II. A precinct is a part of a city which has its own police force and fire service. The shooting occurred in the 34th Precinct. III. The precincts of an institution are its buildings and land. No one carrying arms is allowed within the precincts 地界, 范围 of a temple. )," Mr Forrest said. "I would say it is imminent. That's why you're getting leaks." The Herald reported the government plans to encourage more apartments and townhouses up to 1.2 kilometres from the centre of the precincts. Land could be rezoned at the same time owners request approval to build, instead of having to go through the processes sequentially. Some councils are likely to complain changing the rules would be unfair to existing residents, who would have to put up with busier roads and more crowded schools while long-standing plans to orderly grow suburbs are ignored. The Sydney YIMBY group, which advocates for more housing, said it was concerned seven development zones would not be enough to meet housing accord targets. “There are more than seven stations on the Metro alone that should get this upzoning(A rezoning for more intensive use.), and we worry that places closer to the city like Hurlstone Park are going to be exempted entirely," it said on social media. 8. A trapeze [trə'piːz] 高空秋千( A trapeze is a bar of wood or metal hanging from two ropes on which people in a circus swing and perform skilful movements. Margot Robbie was enrolled in a circus school by her mother, where she excelled in trapeze, in which she received a certificate at age eight. ) is a short horizontal bar hung by ropes or metal straps from a ceiling support. It is an aerial apparatus commonly found in circus performances. Trapeze acts may be static, spinning (rigged from a single point), swinging or flying, and may be performed solo, double, triple or as a group act. The name of the apparatus reflects the trapezoid ( trapezoid [ˈtræpɪˌzɔɪd] 梯形 I. a flat shape with four sides, none of which are parallel. a quadrilateral having neither pair of sides parallel. Also called: (Brit, Austral., NZ, and South African) trapezium [trəˈpiːzɪəm ] US and Canadian. II. 梯形 a quadrilateral having two parallel sides of unequal length. a flat shape with four sides, where two of the sides are parallel. II. a small bone of the wrist near the base of the index finger. ) shape made by the horizontal bar, ropes and ceiling support. 9. unattainable [ʌnəteɪnəbəl] 不可能实现的, 无法实现的 If you say that something is unattainable, you mean that it cannot be achieved or is not available. not able to be achieved: an unattainable ideal. Many economists think that full employment is an unattainable goal. There are those who argue that true independent advice is unattainable. ...an unattainable dream. To play Gleeson's unattainable 得不到的, 爱而不得的 teenage love interest, she adopted a British accent. The film was a modest commercial success. She later said that the fame and attention the movie brought her led her to consider quitting acting, but her mother was philosophical about her profession and explained to her that it was probably too late to quit. She fully understood and stuck with it 坚持了下来. With the aim to produce more female-driven projects, Robbie and her future husband, Tom Ackerley, and their respective longtime friends Sophia Kerr and Josey McNamara, started their own production company LuckyChap Entertainment. The company was founded in 2014 and its name was inspired by Charlie Chaplin. instinct I. Instinct is the natural tendency that a person or animal has to behave or react in a particular way. I didn't have as strong a maternal instinct 母性本能 as some other mothers. The basis for training relies on the dog's natural instinct to hunt and retrieve. He always knew what time it was, as if by instinct. II. If you have an instinct for something, you are naturally good at it or able to do it. Farmers are increasingly losing touch with their instinct for managing the land. Irene is so incredibly musical and has a natural instinct 天性, 天生的能力 to perform. III. If it is your instinct to do something, you feel that it is right to do it. I should've gone with my first instinct, which was not to do the interview. IV. Instinct is a feeling that you have that something is the case, rather than an opinion or idea based on facts. There is scientific evidence to support our instinct that being surrounded by plants is good for health. He seems so honest and genuine and my every instinct says he's not. "instinctive talent 本能的天分" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to refer to someone's natural aptitude for a particular skill or activity. For example, "He had an instinctive talent for drawing and was able to create beautiful artwork without any formal training.". He had no formal schooling, but showed an instinctive talent for the guitar. delusional believing things that are not true. Suffering from delusions; having false or faulty beliefs. You're delusional if you think that plan will work. Delusional thinking is common in schizophrenia. deluded believing things that are not real or true: What a deluded fool I've been. Talking to him, I wondered how anyone could be so deluded. He was deluded to think that she cared in the slightest. delusion I. A delusion is a false idea. I was under the delusion that he intended to marry me. II. Delusion is the state of believing things that are not true. This was not optimism, it was delusion. delusions of grandeur [disapproval] If someone has delusions of grandeur, they think and behave as if they are much more important or powerful than they really are. He suggested that we suffer delusions of grandeur as a football nation. ...mansions built by men with delusions of grandeur. disillusioned 大失所望的, 失望的 [ˌdɪsɪˈl(j)uːʒnd] disappointed in someone or something that one discovers to be less good than one had believed. If you are disillusioned with something, you are disappointed, because it is not as good as you had expected or thought. disappointed and unhappy because of discovering the truth about something or someone that you liked or respected: I've become very disillusioned with politics. He had become disillusioned because he could not find a job. All the other teachers are thoroughly disillusioned with their colleague. "the minority groups were completely disillusioned with the party". In 1973, the family joined the religious organization known as the Children of God. His family settled in Caracas, Venezuela, where the Children of God had stationed them to work as missionaries and fruit gatherers. Arlyn and John eventually grew disillusioned with the "Church" and left the cult in 1977. In the aforementioned interview with Details magazine, Phoenix said he was "completely celibate [selɪbət]" between the ages of ten and fourteen. 9. peel away/off I. When vehicles, people, or animals peel away/off 离开, they separate from the group or structure they were part of and move away in a different direction. to leave a moving group of vehicles, aircraft etc and go in a different direction. Two motorcycles peeled off from the line. One motorbike peeled away from the formation and circled round behind the rest. a. to leave a flying formation of aircraft with a banking turn, usually from one end of an echelon. to veer away from a flight formation in an abrupt maneuver. b. informal to turn off or leave (a road). We peeled off the highway onto a dirt road. II. to remove (clothing) in a swift upward or downward motion, to take your clothes off. If you peel off a tight piece of clothing, you take it off, especially by turning it inside out. She peeled off her gloves. Tom peeled off his wet T-shirt and shorts. III. to go away or cause to go away. peel off $20/£50 etc informal to take a piece of paper money from the top of a pile of paper money. Manville peeled off a 20, and pressed it into the man's hand. He is not my idol. I just think his show is the only one that's worth listening to in the entire world. Even that has peeled off a bit now. get on the front foot [of this story] 做出攻势, 占据攻势, 先发制人, 控评 at an advantage, outclassing and outmanoeuvring one's opponents. To be in an advantageous position, especially over an opponent; to be in an aggressive or attacking state or position. The defending champions started the first half of the match truly on the front foot, but they've started losing momentum here in the second half. The senator was on the front foot during the debate, remaining on the attack the whole way through. put one's best foot forward 使出浑身解数 to try as hard as you can. embark on an undertaking with as much effort and determination as possible. If you put your best foot forward, you act in a cheerful, determined way. Put your best foot forward and find an acceptable solution to the problems you face. a. to behave very well in order to gain someone's approval When I visited my girlfriend's parents I tried to be very polite and put my best foot forward. b. British: to try as hard as possible to do something difficult. I've got to put my best foot forward to meet this deadline. 10. satiety [səˈtʌɪɪti, səˈtaɪə.ti] 饱足感 the feeling or state of being sated. the state of being satiated. the state of being completely satisfied, especially with food or pleasure, so that you could not have any more "a molecule that seems to regulate satiety". When working with clients, I recommend that they include a source of protein with all meals to help with fullness and satiety. satiate [ˈseɪʃɪeɪt] 饱足 (satiated) verb If something such as food or pleasure satiates you, you have all that you need or all that you want of it, often so much that you become tired of it. to completely satisfy yourself or a need, especially with food or pleasure, so that you could not have any more: He drank greedily until his thirst was satiated. The dinner was enough to satiate the gourmets. The festival offers enough choice to satiate most appetites. She finished the meal and sat back with a satiated sigh. sated [seɪtɪd] 足够的, 吃饱的, 喝足了的 adj. If you are sated with something, you have had more of it than you can enjoy at one time. having had more of something than you can easily have at one time: sated with drink/food. ...children happily sated with ice cream. two-time verb INFORMAL deceive or be unfaithful to (a lover or spouse). "he was two-timing a fiancée back in England". adj. denoting someone who has done or experienced something twice. "a two-time winner of the event". firm 确切的, 准确的, 明确的 I. If something is firm, it does not change much in shape when it is pressed but is not completely hard. Fruit should be firm and in excellent condition. Choose a soft, medium or firm 硬实的 mattress to suit their individual needs. Vegetables should retain some firmness and should not be soggy and waterlogged. IV. If something is firm, it does not shake or move when you put weight or pressure on it, because it is strongly made or securely fastened. If you have to climb up, use a firm platform or a sturdy ladder. The front door is locked and all the windows are firmly shut 牢固的, 结实的. V. If someone's grip is firm or if they perform a physical action in a firm way, they do it with quite a lot of force or pressure but also in a controlled way. The quick handshake was firm and cool. He managed to grasp the metal, get a firm grip of it and heave his body upwards. She held me firmly by the elbow and led me to my aisle seat. Tim stretched out a hand in apology and was comforted by the firmness with which Marc gripped it. VI. If you describe someone as firm, you mean they behave in a way that shows that they are not going to change their mind, or that they are the person who is in control. She had to be firm with him. 'I don't want to see you again.' Perhaps they need the guiding hand of a firm father figure. 'A good night's sleep is what you want,' he said firmly. ...a manner that combines friendliness with compassion and firmness 坚定. VII. A firm decision or opinion is definite and unlikely to change. He made a firm decision to leave Fort Multry by boat. It is my firm belief that 坚信 partnership between police and the public is absolutely necessary. Political values and opinions are firmly held 坚守, 固守, and can be slow to change. He is firmly convinced that it is vital to do this. What's impressed me has been his considerable firmness of purpose. certain or of a good standard, and not likely to change: firm believer 坚定的相信 He is a firm believer in traditional family values. firm evidence 真凭实据 Some people still claim that there is no firm evidence linking smoking with lung cancer. firm grasp of You need a firm grasp of mathematics to become an astronaut. VIII. Firm evidence or information is based on facts and so is likely to be true. This man may have killed others but unfortunately we have no firm evidence 确切证据. There's unlikely to be firm news 确切消息 about the convoy's progress for some time. "firm answer 明确的答案, 确切答案" a response that is not easily changed or swayed. "When I asked for a raise, my boss gave me a firm answer and said there was no possibility of an increase in salary.". Emilio's sisters tell us that they have their suspicions about what happened to their beloved brother, but no firm answers. IX. You use firm to describe control or a basis or position when it is strong and unlikely to be ended or removed. A goalkeeping mistake put Dagenham in firm control of the first half. The company, a household name in the States, has a firm foothold in the British market. This tradition is also firmly rooted in the past. It placed reggae music firmly in the mainstream of world culture. forceful and making people do what you want: I was always very firm with my children - they knew the rules and I made sure they followed them. firm grip on No one seems to have a firm grip on the company at the moment. a firm hand strong control: Reforming these young offenders will require a firm hand. hold/stand firm to remain in the same place or at the same level: The protesters stood firm as the police tried to disperse them. hold firm against The dollar held firm against the Euro today. stand firm against We will stand firm against any policies that undermine our economic security. X. If people are firm friends 挚友, they have been close friends for a long time and their friendship is likely to continue. The couple met about two years ago and soon became firm friends. XI. If a price, value, or currency is firm, it is not decreasing in value or amount. Cotton prices remain firm 坚挺 and demand is strong. The shares held firm at 280p. Firm prices and stability will allow both producers and consumers to plan confidently. ...the firmness of the dollar against other currencies. verb. If you firm soil around a plant, you press it so that it is fairly solid rather than loose. Firm more soil over the roots and water thoroughly. firm up 变硬, 变坚固 I. If you firm up something or if it firms up, it becomes firmer and more solid. This treatment helps tone the body, firm up muscles and tighten the skin. I now go swimming five times a week, which helps firm me up. The mixture will seem too wet at this stage, but it will firm up when chilled. II. If you firm something up or if it firms up, it becomes clearer, stronger, or more definite. Looking to the future, the Government will firm up their plans for a cleaner, greener, safer Britain. The ground rules have been firmed up. At least the bank situation had firmed up. III. If a financial institution firms up the price or value of something 稳定物价, 稳定价格, they take action to protect and maintain its price or value. OPEC has agreed to freeze its global oil production slightly in order to firm up crude prices.