用法学习: 1. first-mover advantage 先发优势, 先来者(first mover a company that is the first to introduce a new product, service, or technology: They got to where they are today by being first movers, and by running fast enough to keep ahead.): In a business context, a "first mover" is a company that is the first to enter a market or introduce a new product, service, or technology. This can lead to a "first-mover advantage," which refers to the benefits a company gains by being the first to establish itself in a market, such as increased brand recognition and customer loyalty. But Mr Lew said he was not worried and customers would see it being first to the market with a bundled offering, would give it a strong first-mover advantage 先发优势. "Clearly we've done the game-changing move and they've followed, which is quite an indictment on someone that is meant to be the leading telco in the market," he said. indictment I. something that shows a policy, system, society, etc. is bad or wrong. If you say that one thing is an indictment of another thing, you mean that it shows how bad the other thing is. It's a sad indictment of society that police officers are regarded as easy targets by thugs. damning indictment of It seems to me to be a damning indictment of the government's education policy. sad indictment This blog is a sad indictment of our vacuous celebrity obsession. II. a statement that criticizes someone or something strongly for being bad or wrong. a written statement that formally accuses someone of a crime: on an indictment She was held to appear for trial on two indictments. searing indictment He made searing indictments of the Iraq war. scathing indictment I can't remember the last time I read a more scathing indictment of marriage. III. law specialized a formal statement of accusing someone of something: The charges on the indictment include murder and attempted murder. The indictment alleges that she did no work for some of these payments. IV. law specialized the act of making a formal statement accusing someone of something. Prosecutors may soon seek an indictment on racketeering and fraud charges. The government's indictment against the three men alleged unlawful trading. under indictment for sth He's currently under indictment for embezzlement. on indictment The defendent was tried on indictment. The indictment of an officer in connection with a police chase is extremely rare. Some criminal cases are negotiated prior to indictment. 2. get/have the jump on someone 占先机, 占先发优势, 抢先机, 领先一步 = have ahead start North American informal
Get (or have) an advantage over someone as a result of one's prompt
action. to start doing something before other people start, or before
something happens, in order to get an advantage for yourself If I leave work early on Fridays I can get a jump on the traffic. Use this discovery to your advantage before your competitors get the jump on you! So the sooner you figure out the real story, the sooner you'll have the jump on them. You've got me confused with my brother Sandro - he's got the jump on me age-wise, by ten years. Maybe I should get a lawyer. I should go to the police and get ahead of this thing占先机, 先发制人. flounder 不知如何是好, 不知所措, 茫然 (flustered) I. [disapproval] to experience great difficulties or be completely unable to decide what to do or say next. If you say that someone is floundering, you are criticizing them for not making decisions or for not knowing what to say or do. The president is floundering, trying to get his campaign jump-started. I know that you're floundering around, trying to grasp at any straw. He lost the next page of his speech and floundered around/about for a few seconds. Although his business was a success, his marriage was floundering. Richardson resigned as chairman, leaving the company floundering. II. If something is floundering, it has many problems and may soon fail completely. What a pity that his career was left to flounder. The economy was floundering. founder 失败, 溃败 I. (especially of a boat) to fill with water and sink. If a ship founders, it fills with water and sinks. Three ships foundered in heavy seas. The ferry foundered in a heavy storm, taking many of the passengers and crew with it. II. to be unsuccessful. If something such as a plan or project founders, it fails because of a particular point, difficulty, or problem. Talks had foundered over the guarantees offered by the government against possible losses. Her attempt to win legal control over his financial and personal affairs foundered in court and Cher dropped the bid in September 2024. founder on Teaching computers to read and write has always foundered on the unpredictable human element in language. give out I. If a machine or part of your body gives out, it stops working: At the end of the race his legs gave out 瘫软, 体力难支 and he collapsed on the ground. The batteries are likely to give out soon. He was old and his heart just gave out. to last no longer, or to work no longer: Food supplies will give out by the end of the week. II. Irish English informal to complain about something: After this win hopefully people will stop giving out to the team and the coach. She's running out of things to give out about. III. old-fashioned to make a piece of information public, especially information that is not true: give out that 透露 They had given out that he had died of typhoid. It was given out that he had been shot while trying to escape. Fletcher gave it out that it was all part of a grand plan. IV. to give something to each of a number of people: They're giving out 发放 free tickets to the circus. give out (one's) number 随便给手机号, 给手机号码 Telling people your telephone number can be described as "giving out your number". I don't usually give out my number, so I'll check back (回头再来). The phrasal verb "give out" means to give something to a lot of people. They're giving out free samples in the lobby. You should go get one! I've gotten a lot of clients just by giving my business card out at parties and events. The phrase "give out your number" is common in relation to dating. Women are usually careful about "giving out" their phone number to men, because the men might call to ask them out a lot. Men are usually the ones who ask for a woman's telephone number. Men don't usually have to worry about women calling them too much. So the speaker in this example is making a little joke. "I don't usually give my number out to people I've just met, but for you I'll make an exception." You met a woman at a work-related conference. You spoke with each other about work, but you also flirted with each other. You want to give her a business card while saying something funny. You say this. I don't usually give my number out to people I've just met, but for you I'll make an exception. People use this expression when they're doing a special favor for someone: It's twenty dollars, but for you, I'll cut it down to fifteen. You can sound generous and helpful by using this expression. But you can also sound a little sneaky or dishonest. make an exception 破个例 If you make or enforce a rule, but you break it one time because of a special situation, you're "making an exception" for that person. For example, if a teacher has a rule that homework has to be submitted by a certain date, he can "make an exception" for a certain student whose computer broke. Use "for ___" to indicate theperson who is allowed to break the rule. 3. cut it close = cut it fine I. to almost not be able to do something. to almost fail, lose, etc. They ended up winning the game, but they really cut it close at the end. It's cutting it a bit fine to get to the station at 9:45 when the train leaves at 9:50! When do you need the money? Early as Tuesday, Wednesday will be cutting it close. II. To barely complete something. To achieve something at the last possible moment, or with no margin for error. Driving 300 miles on one tank of gas was cutting it close, but we arrived safely. cut it/things fine to allow very little time for something: She got to the gate ten minutes before her flight, so she was cutting it very fine. The phrase "need a wire to tide me over" 需要转点钱度过难关 means you need a temporary financial solution, like a loan or money transfer, to help you get through a difficult period, especially until your next payday or when your situation improves. The term "tide me over" signifies the need for a short-term financial aid. "Tide me over": This phrase indicates a temporary need for help, particularly financial assistance, to get through a period of hardship until a more permanent solution is available. "Wire": In this context, "wire" refers to a money transfer, like a bank wire, which is a quick way to send funds electronically. Financial difficulty: The phrase suggests you are facing a temporary financial setback or are short on cash and need a way to bridge the gap 度过难关 until you can get back on your feet. In essence, you're asking for a temporary financial fix, likely a money transfer, to help you manage your expenses until your financial situation improves. wear a wire 窃听器 To wear a concealed electronic device (traditionally involving wires taped to one's body) in order to record private conversations. The FBI want me to wear a wire and incriminate my bosses. If they discover that he's wearing a wire, they'll have him killed! wire I. noun, slang An electronic listening device, especially one that is surreptitiously worn or installed. They made me go through a metal detector to make sure I wasn't armed or wearing a wire. Wires have been planted all over the building, so we'll be able to hear every detail of their illicit schemes. II. verb, slang To install an electronic listening device surreptitiously in (a room, building, etc.). What if they wired this room? Let's talk outside, just to be on the safe side. We need to get someone on the inside to wire the mob boss's compound. wired: slang Overly excited, stimulated, or energetic. Please don't give the kids any sugar. I don't want them to get wired just before bed. The shock from the accident left me feeling really wired. 4. if that 甚至更少, 最多不过了 As a maximum amount; at most. Used after some small amount of something to indicate that it is the most that should be expected. I love making videos for ViewTube, but they certainly don't pay the bills. I probably earn about $30 a week, if that. I've only got about a week's worth of work left for you, if that, so you might want to start looking for something new. You know I never have cash on me. I might have $4, if that! When you came in today and gave yourself the tour, what'd you see? Not sure how I'm supposed to answer that. You can be frank. I saw a shit ton of cash, and enough weaponry to support a rifle platoon. That cash is our operating budget for the next two quarters, if that. All of it legally seized, all of it going back into the community. play about/around I. to behave in a silly way: Stop playing around and get on with your homework! II. to think about or try different ways of doing something: We've been playing around with ideas for a new TV show. III. to keep touching or moving something, often when you are bored or nervous: Stop playing with your hair! play about I. to have sex with someone who is not one's husband, wife, or regular partner. He's not the kind of guy who plays about. She's been playing about on her husband. She's been playing about with one of her coworkers. II. to deal with or treat something in a careless way When it comes to protecting his family, he doesn't play about. You can't play about with diabetes; it's a very serious disease. III. to use or do something in a way that is not very serious It's time to stop playing about and get busy. I spent the evening playing about on the piano/computer/Internet. I'm not really a painter; I just like to play about with paints. Look, I sent what I could to an old inkjet. I'll grab you the print-outs after work, but that's it. I wasn't playing about my job 拿工作开玩笑, 那工作去赌. I got a little girl. Okay. But this could get Mike out? If it’s a big deal. Maybe. But if your timeframe's a day? No chance. hit a snag 遇到麻烦 to have a problem (with something). To encounter an issue, drawback, or challenge. Our plans for a relaxing night at home hit a snag when a pipe burst in the basement. My hope was to get there early, but that hit a snag when my train was delayed. We've only hit a snag in our research—don't be so pessimistic! We hit a snag with our travel plans. Everything okay?No, sir. Uh, hit a snag. Might need a wire to tide me over. Yeah. How much? Ten thousand. When? Early as Monday. Wednesday would be cutting it close. That's going to be rough. There's a Western Union? Uh, just a post office. So, uh, money orders, they're capped at a grand. So you need ten. Yeah, I hate asking 真不好意思. 5. I will say bail's set really high for that charge. He had priors? No. I mean, yeah, but they're expunged. He's had a good run. But before, out east, got into some deep shit. Ended up a cooperating witness on a capital murder charge. Dude he helped put away was high up in a gang, so… Okay, and if Mike ends up in a state facility… Yeah, they spot him? He'll get swarmed. Yikes. 6. Yeah, well, Mr. Liu was a field medic 战地医生 in Korea. Oh. Thank you for your service, sir. He's Chinese. Fought for the other side. Well, it's good we can all come together. Make sure he finishes his. 7. All right, they're expecting a blaze. We got 30 seconds tops. Okay, pull those. I'll get these. Damn it. Okay, we exfil ( exfiltrate [ˈɛksfɪlˌtreɪt] I. military = exfil 撤退. to remove or withdraw (an intelligence agent, soldier, etc) surreptitiously from an enemy-held area. II. to remove (data) from a computer, network, etc surreptitiously and without permission or unlawfully. ). Weigh our options. Hold on. SD cards. They write over 'em in the field so they never get wiped. Straight from their dash cams. It's just last week's but… Mike's in there? 8. How's that for a dummy check 最后核实一下, 最后查看一下? 'Confidence is high,' Billy says. 'You ready? Don't want to dummy-check the room?' 'I'm ready.' She's wide awake now. The phrase is also used in 11.22.63, where a character does a "dummy check" on a safety deposit box, to double check he got everything inside. I figured he might've meant, like tilted/shook the box to expose anything hidden by the covered part where the hinged lid attaches, but I think "dummy check" must just be like "double check, so I don't leave something behind like a dummy". Like walking around your hotel room one last time before you leave, to make sure you got your phone charger from the wall, and nothing rolling around forgotten in your now empty dresser drawers. 9. soup sandwich (US, idiomatic) Someone or something that is not as it should be; something disorganized or unfinished. That's as messed up as a soup sandwich.That guy is a big soup sandwich. The fire last
night… Yeah, I heard about that. Yeah, it's gotten out of hand. Real
soup sandwich. We can agree on that. Got me thinking about that
conversation we had in the cruiser, about de-escalation. Etymology: An expression of military origin, calling to mind a picture of soup being poured over bread. shit sandwich (slang, vulgar) Something highly undesirable made triflingly more palatable by attempting to surround it with more tolerable things. nothing sandwich = nothingburger I. (informal) A bland sandwich with nothing, or very little, between the bread. II. (figuratively) (something of less importance than its treatment suggests). shit show I. (slang, vulgar) A messy situation, especially involving drunkenness and partying. II. (slang, vulgar) A situation characterized by chaos, confusion or incompetence. People getting hurt now either way. 10. Disable the perp ( = perpetrator 犯罪者, 犯人) locks, please. Not my cruiser. I can pull over, figure it out. Just keep going. I'll shoot the glass out if I have to. I see they got you rolling in an old-ass Crown Vic while they get brand-new Chargers for themselves. Chief says we need a diversified fleet, in case of a recall. And I like my Crown Vic. Hey, you stay cool, I'll stay cool. 例子: The photo of Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan does not show her face, but shows her being escorted by three law enforcement agents in a perp walk. The caption by Patel read, "No one is above the law." "The arrest is the point," Craig Mastantuono, an attorney for Dugan, told CNN in an interview. "It's a clear departure of the policy 不符合, 转变, 明显违反政策( a change from what is expected, or from what has happened before. A departure from usual behavior is a change in the way you do something: His departure from his usual optimism startled his staff. departure from There can be no departure from the rules. new departure Selling men's clothing is a new departure for the store. The restaurant is a departure for Fabbio who has spent his career starting software companies. The rule did not represent any departure from current immigration laws. ). There was no threat to public safety. She was not afforded the chance to come in and offer her side of the story."
Personality (先天后天的加一起) VS Character (后天养成的) VS Temperament 脾性 VS Demeanor VS disposition 天性 VS attribute (特性, 特质, 性格特点) VS virtue (美德, 优点, 优势, 好处), trait: trait [treɪt] 特征, 特点, 性征 I. a particular characteristic that can produce a particular type of behaviour. a characteristic, esp. of a personality. A trait is a particular characteristic, quality, or tendency that someone or something has. Many of our personality traits are developed during those early months. Creativity is a human trait 人类特征. Patience is one of his best traits. His sense of humour is one of his better traits. Arrogance is a very unattractive personality/character trait 个性特点. 个性特征. 品格特征. II. 遗传的性格特征. A trait is also a characteristic of an organism that is passed from parent to child. Temperament 天性, 先天的脾性 [temp(ə)rəmənt] someone's temperament is their basic character, for example their tendency to be happy, angry, etc. She could cope with his demanding artistic temperament 脾气. She was famous for her long red hair and fiery temperament. He's a radical by temperament. Your temperament, sometimes called disposition, refers to aspects of your personality influenced by your biology, not your experiences. Your personality involves your thoughts, beliefs, dispositions, preferences, behaviors, and traits. Both your temperament and character influence your personality. The temperament reflects the biological and the inherited features, and the character reflects the social and cultural contribution of the person. The role of the main functions of the person is to integrate the cognitive and the emotional features regarding adequate social functioning. The four temperaments 四种个性 described individuals as sanguine [ˈsæŋɡwɪn] 乐观的 (optimistic, social, and associated with the element of air. confident and hopeful about what might happen, especially in a difficult situation. She was her usual sanguine self. Josh was less sanguine about the situation in the eastern region of the country.), melancholic (analytical, quiet, earth), choleric [ˈkɑlərɪk] [kəˈlerɪk] 坏脾气的, 臭脾气的 (short-tempered, irritable, fire. a choleric person becomes angry very easily. A choleric person gets angry very easily. You can also use choleric to describe a person who is very angry. ...his choleric disposition. He was affable at one moment, choleric the next. ), and phlegmatic [fleɡˈmætɪk] 镇定自若的 (relaxed, peaceful, water. able to be calm in a dangerous or frightening situation. Someone who is phlegmatic stays calm even when upsetting or exciting things happen. ...a most phlegmatic man, steadily working on as the rain splashed down. phlegm [flem] 鼻涕. 痰. a thick yellow or green substance that you get in your nose and throat, especially when you have a cold. ) (Buckingham, 2002). Modern personality theory suggests personality begins with inborn temperament. Over time, you develop your character as you engage in everyday experiences, and that's how your personality evolves. Character and temperament blend and contribute to your personality traits, but they're not all of it. But before we start to look at their differences, you have to remember that temperament and character are parts of personality, meaning they're both fundamental parts of it. Temperament is the natural part of your personality that comes from your genes. And that's why we see it as the biological and instinctive part of personality. In fact, it's the part of your personality that always shows up first. Because it's genetic and comes from your inherited traits, temperament is hard to modify, manipulate, or change. In some way or another, that tendency will always be there. But that doesn't mean you can't make an effort to encourage it or stop yourself from doing it. If you were an iceberg, it would be part of the bit that's underwater. And that would mean that you can still take some control over how it comes up in the bit that sticks out of the water. Hippocrates was an Ancient Greek doctor. His theory of the 4 humors was one of the first that tried to explain the idea of temperament. He thought a person's personality and their health both depended on a balance of 4 different substances: yellow bile, black bile, phlegm, and blood. He called them the boily humors. Centuries later, Galen of Pergamon took Hippocrates' idea further to categorize people according to their temperaments and came up with 4 types of people: Choleric (yellow bile): passionate and energetic people who get angry quickly. Melancholic (black bile): sad people who get upset easily and have a great artistic sensibility. Phlegmatic (phlegm): cold and rational people. Sanguine (blood): happy and optimistic people who express affection towards other people and are sure of themselves. Character: the reflection of your experiences. This is the aspect of personality that includes temperament (inherited traits) and the social and educational habits that you've learned. That is, it's both a natural component of personality and one you learn. It's also a result of the experiences and social interactions in your life, the ones you learn lessons from. And that makes it so these habits have an influence on your temperament and biological predispositions. The habits also adjust those predispositions and polish them, shaping your personality. That's why character's roots are in culture. Character isn't as stable as temperament. Because it's not genetic, it doesn't show up fully in the early stages of development. It actually goes through different stages and takes its fullest form during adolescence. That's also why you can modify it and make changes to it, for example, through social education. People nowadays tend to mix this term up with personality, so it's very common for people to use them in the exact same way. Personality: biology and environment. Personality comes from adding up character (temperament and learned habits) and behavior. This means it includes both of these things at the same time. And that connection is also what makes it easier to clear up the differences between personality, temperament, and character. This is why you can't just look at it as a product of genetic inheritance. It’s also a result of the environmental influences swirling around a person. Personality is something that distinguishes individuals, which means it's characteristic of each person. And according to many studies, it's stable over time and through different situations. character I. The character of a person or place consists of all the qualities they have that make them distinct from other people or places. Perhaps there is a negative side to his character that you haven't seen yet. The character of this country has been formed by immigration. II. If something has a particular character, it has a particular quality. The financial concessions granted to British Aerospace were, he said, of a precarious character. The state farms were semi-military in character. III. You can use character to refer to the qualities that people from a particular place are believed to have. Individuality is a valued and inherent part of the British character. IV. You use character to say what kind of person someone is. For example, if you say that someone is a strange character, you mean they are strange. It's that kind of courage and determination that makes him such a remarkable character. What a sad character that Nigel is. McMahon is one of the sport's most colourful characters. a shady/suspicious/unsavoury character. a reformed/changed character: Jake used to be pretty wild, but he's a reformed character now. V. Your character is your personality, especially how reliable and honest you are. If someone is of good character, they are reliable and honest. If they are of bad character, they are unreliable and dishonest. good personal qualities, especially the qualities of being brave and determined when doing something difficult. She had to stand up and make a speech to 500 people, so it was quite a test of character. The team showed real character in coming back from two goals down. character-building (=helping to develop someone's character): the idea of competitive sport as a character-building activity. He's begun a series of personal attacks on my character. Mr Bartman was a man of good character. someone's reputation, especially when this shows how honest or reliable they are. How dare she cast a slur on my character? My client is a man of good character. VI. If you say that someone has character, you mean that they have the ability to deal effectively with difficult, unpleasant, or dangerous situations. She showed real character in her attempts to win over the crowd. I didn't know Ron had that much strength of character. VII. If you say that a place has character, you mean that it has an interesting or unusual quality which makes you notice it and like it. An ugly shopping centre stands across from one of the few buildings with character 有个性的. VIII. The characters in a film, book, or play are the people that it is about. the main/central character: The film's central character is played by George Clooney. The film is autobiographical and the central character is played by Collard himself. He's made the characters believable. IX. If you say that someone is a character, you mean that they are interesting, unusual, or amusing. He'll be sadly missed. He was a real character. X. A character is a letter, number, or other symbol that is written or printed. character reference 人品证明 a reference for a job. in character/out of character If someone's actions are in character, they are doing what you would expect them to do, knowing what kind of person they are. If their actions are out of character, they are not doing what you would expect them to do. It was entirely in character for Rachel to put her baby first. What else could make him behave so out of character? demeanor 为人处世的态度, 作风, 做派, 行事风格: the way you look and behave. It's the way one acts. If a person is cool and collected they can be said to have a calm demeanor. The social, non-verbal behaviours (such as body language and facial expressions) that are characteristic of a person. The man's demeanor made others suspicious of his intentions. A confident demeanor is crucial for persuading others. His demeanor 作风, 做派 in court is usually quiet and timid. someone's mask/demeanor slips 塌房, 人设崩塌, 露出真面目 if your mask or demeanor slips, people start to see what you are really thinking or feeling. "Of course," she said quickly, her professional mask never slipping. Glyn's calm demeanor seemed to be slipping. She gets along much better with Toga, who has a gentle demeanor. They will make your party come alive with excitement while still maintaining a professional demeanor and not relying on cheesy antics and props. But with her icy cool demeanor 冷淡的态度 & nerves of steel, Penelope has proven to be a very valuable member of the organization. By changing her routine, Mimi's pleasant demeanor was setting a new example for the group. disposition [ˌdɪspəˈzɪʃ(ə)n] for violence 天性, 性格倾向, 脾性, 脾气 ( 驴子和马的区别: When it comes to training, the animal's disposition has been a sticking point. "I thought they're probably a little bit temperamental 更有脾气的 sometimes, so I was always a bit dubious," Mr Maher said. disposition [ˌdɪspəˈzɪʃ(ə)] I. 性格倾向. Someone's disposition is the way that they tend to behave or feel. the way that someone normally thinks and behaves, that shows what type of person they are. The rides are unsuitable for people of a nervous disposition. He was a man of decisive action and an adventurous disposition. ...his friendly and cheerful disposition. a tendency to behave in a certain way. He is not known for having a warm and friendly disposition 暖男的性格, 个性. of a nervous disposition 爱紧张的人: This movie is not suitable for viewers of a nervous disposition. have/show a disposition to do something: Mowbray has shown a disposition to take unnecessary risks. II. A disposition to do something is a willingness to do it. This has given him a disposition to consider our traditions critically. They show no disposition to improvise or to take risks. III. If you refer to the disposition of a number of objects, you mean the pattern in which they are arranged or their positions in relation to each other. [formal] the order or arrangement of something. the size and disposition 分配, 配置, 配备, 调配 of the security force. ...to understand the buildings from the disposition of walls and entrances. IV. The disposition of money or property 处置, 处理 is the act of giving or distributing it to a number of people. the process of giving property or money to someone. [law] Judge Stacks was appointed to oversee the disposition of funds. vocabulary: Someone's disposition is their mood or general attitude about life. If your friend woke up on the wrong side of the bed, tell her that she might need a disposition makeover. Disposition means the positive or negative way a person views the world. In contrast, your character is determined by your inner moral values, and your personality reflects what you're like as an individual. An animal with an excellent disposition is friendly towards people. If you are cheerful, you're often said to have a sunny disposition 个性阳光. Disposition can also mean "getting rid of something," so cleaning your room might involve the disposition of empty pizza boxes and soda cans. attribute [ˈæt.rɪ.bjuːt] 性格特点, 特质 a quality or feature of a person or thing, esp. one that is an important part of its nature: Organizational ability 组织能力 is an essential attribute for a good manager. Self-confidence is a rare attribute in a 17-year-old. She has the physical attributes to become a championship swimmer. a key/essential attribute: A key attribute of the new service will be flexibility. What are the skills and personal attributes needed for success? a positive/negative attribute. verb. [əˈtrɪbjuːt] I. to say or think that something is the result of a particular thing: attribute sth to sth Her success can be attributed to three main factors. II. to say that a particular person was the first person to say something, do something, invent something, etc.: attribute sth to sb This idea has long been attributed to Keynes, but in fact he was not the first to think of it. virtue I. 优点. 美德, 美好品质. a good moral quality in a person, or the general quality of being morally good. A virtue is a good quality or way of behaving. His virtue is patience. Her flaws were as large as her virtues. Humility is considered a virtue. Patience is a virtue. Virtue is thinking and doing what is right and avoiding what is wrong. Virtue is not confined to those who follow a faith. She could have established her own innocence and virtue easily enough. II. 优势, 好处. an advantage or good thing. The virtue of something is an advantage or benefit that it has, especially in comparison with something else. There was no virtue in returning to Calvi the way I had come. Its other great virtue, of course, is its hard-wearing quality. Would there be any virtue in taking an earlier train? The actress has appeared in many TV ads extolling (= praising) the virtues of hair products. by virtue of because of; as a result of: She succeeded by virtue of her tenacity rather than her talent. make a virtue (out) of something 劣势变成优势, 就势, 干脆, 一不做二不休, 将 (尤指坏事) 变好事, 对…因势利导 to use something, especially a bad situation, to your advantage. If you make a virtue of, or make a virtue out of something, you pretend that you did it because you chose to, although in fact you did it because you had to. The movie makes a virtue out of its economy. make a virtue (out) of necessity I had a couple of months to spare between jobs so I thought I'd make a virtue of necessity by acquiring a few new skills.
"Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth": It suggests that those who are gentle, humble, and patient will be rewarded with a spiritual inheritance, a positive impact on the world, and a future relationship with God. What does the attribute of meekness ( attribute [ˈæt.rɪ.bjuːt] 特质, meek disposition 天性, virtue 特性 ) truly mean? In today's culture, does this term still have the same meaning and application for leaders and organizations? This article will explore this crucial issue as it relates to values and ethics in order to demonstrate the significant impact it can have on greatly improving strategic leadership within organizations. More over, it will illustrate the assertive aspect of meekness in action by emphasizing that it does not represent a general distain for business but an example of business bereft of meekness. To that end, this manuscript will examine how meekness could be instilled in modern organizations and what the nature of leadership might be if meekness was a required part of the job description. In order to evaluate and discern this objective, it is imperative to fully understand the meaning of meekness. Dictionary.com describes meekness as docile, overly compliant, spiritless, yielding or tame. When exegetically ( exegetical [ˌek.sɪˈdʒet.ɪ.kəl] 解读的, 寻章摘句的, 追本溯源的, 考据的 adj religion, literature specialized relating to the careful study of a text, especially a religious text such as the Bible, in order to produce an explanation of it: The basic texts of some religions are subjected to exegetical analysis. He mastered both Greek and Latin, and wrote theological and exegetical treatises in both languages. exegesis [eksɪdʒiːsɪs] 解读 复数: exegeses [eksɪdʒiːsiːz] An exegesis is an explanation and interpretation of a piece of writing, especially a religious piece of writing, after very careful study. ...the kind of academic exegesis at which Isaacs excels. ...a substantial exegesis of his work.) analyzing the New Testament connotation of "meek", it is essential to dissect it in Greek in order to correctly interpret its meaning. In this dialect, the word used is prautes, which connotes ( connote [kəˈnəʊt] 暗含着, 让人想起 If a word, object, or situation connotes something, it makes you think of a feeling or an idea that is more than its basic meaning: To me, chocolate connotes pleasure and indulgence. The number 8 connotes prosperity in Chinese. ) a total lack of self-pride, to the point of a lack of self-concern. The poor and oppressed are often labeled as such, but not because they are cowed but as a result of their humility for their own position, and therefore place a greater emphasis on serving others. It is largely an explanation about the circumstance someone is willing to endure, rather than a state to succumb to. A great example of someone who lived this virtue was Moses, who was the meekest man to ever live. For instance, Moses never complained to God about the grief Miriam and Aaron caused him. He simply choose to bear the burden. Moses' meek disposition 逆来顺受的天性 was also evident in Exodus when he was literally wearing himself out trying to help everyone solve their problems. In spite of this, he never complained or even gave thought to how it could affect him personally. Hence, Moses' meekness wasn't a character of timidity or letting other people run over him. On the contrast, it was a powerful demonstration of disciplined strength beyond what most people could endure. Based on this spiritual example of meekness, it should start to become more clear that this virtue 美德 refers to those who are willing to share and sacrifice on behalf of others. Conversely, those who seek dominion and will use any means to trample 践踏 and crush 压榨 others are the opposite of what God refers to in Scripture. Consequently, meekness does not mean weakness! It doesn't mean that we must cower or retreat from our principles 放弃原则, and does not involve the surrender of our rights 放弃权利. Meek men and women of the Bible demonstrated firm resolve 坚定的意志, courage, conviction 坚定的信念 and strength 坚定的力量. Furthermore, meekness in our organizations, as well as toward God's word, requires speaking out 发声 against immoral behavior and wickedness. Thus, it demands that we deny ourselves and act on behalf of our followers. Meekness is also not a submissive or pacifying state 服从或讨好, but rather an active proponent of what we know is right. For example, recall the anger Moses exhibited when he came down from Mount Sinai and chucked down the tablets and Jesus fury when He threw the merchants and money changers out of the temple on two separate occasions. Thus, the main point about the meek is not their self control, but rather their absolute faith and trust in God. Hence, to be meek means to always turn to God for help, for direction, for training and for the sheer joy of this blessing. Given the significance that Scripture places on meekness, it is disappointing that it doesn't depict more of us who claim to be Christians. This is primarily attributable to our predominant concern with justifying ourselves rather than with edifying (edify [ˈedəˌfaɪ] to teach someone something that increases their knowledge or improves their character. vocabulary: Anything edifying is enlightening. Edifying things uplift people intellectually or morally and help them learn. Good literature, art, and music are edifying. The original meaning of edify was "to build," and things that are edifying build up a person, especially in an intellectual or moral way. It's often used in the negative. If you say something is not edifying, you mean that it's unpleasant and unacceptable. Edifying applies to things that help you become a better person. A wise saying is edifying. A powerful documentary is edifying. The words of a good teacher are often edifying. Word definitions are definitely edifying! unedifying [ʌnˈedɪˌfaɪɪŋ] 一无是处的, 低俗的, 无意义的 unpleasant and without any useful or positive features. not having the result of improving morality, intellect, etc. (especially of an event taking place in public) distasteful; unpleasant. "the unedifying sight of the two leaders screeching conflicting proposals". The unedifying saga of their divorce was played out in the newspapers. Ungraceful, usually due to a clash of expectations or disparity of knowledge.) our brother, and at the corporate level, where we are more successful at organizing rallies, institutions, and pressure groups than at extending the kingdom of God. Thus, in addition to the vastly different meanings that meek has when it's examined, the other reason for making this deliberate distinction is to consider the source behind this yielding behavior. In other words, spiritual meekness is worthy of this surrender because it is made to the omniscient 无所不在的, 无处不在的 and loving God that is worthy of our praise, worship and glorification. The Bible, specifically in the Gospels (Matthew 19:24, Mark 10:25, Luke 18:25), uses the phrase "eye of a needle 针眼" as a hyperbole to illustrate the difficulty for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God. It's not referring to a literal gate in Jerusalem, but rather a metaphorical comparison of something extremely narrow and difficult to pass through. The phrase "eye of a needle" is a metaphor, meaning it's not meant to be taken literally. Jesus uses it to make a point about the challenges faced by the wealthy in entering the kingdom of God. The "kingdom of God" refers to God's rule and presence in the world. It's a central concept in Jesus' teachings, and entering this kingdom is presented as a key goal for believers. Wealth and Spiritual Need: Jesus' teaching about the difficulty for the wealthy to enter the kingdom of God highlights the potential for wealth to create spiritual obstacles. The wealthy may find it challenging to recognize their dependence on God and to humble themselves, which are essential for faith. The saying "it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven" is a biblical proverb that emphasizes the difficulty for wealthy individuals to embrace humility and faith. The phrase highlights the challenges wealthy individuals may face in surrendering their possessions and material desires to prioritize spiritual values. The "eye of a needle" is a very small opening, making it physically impossible for a large camel to pass through. This is used as a metaphor to illustrate the extreme difficulty of a rich person entering the kingdom of heaven. The proverb suggests that wealth can create an attachment to material possessions and worldly desires, making it hard for people to embrace humility and spiritual values. Biblical Context: This proverb appears in the Gospels of Matthew and Mark, where Jesus uses it to illustrate the difficulty a rich young man has in following him and embracing the teachings of the kingdom of heaven. Spiritual Poverty: The proverb contrasts material wealth 物质财富with spiritual poverty 精神贫穷, 精神贫瘠, emphasizing the importance of recognizing one's need for God's grace and forgiveness. Unloading Possessions: Some interpretations suggest that the "eye of the needle" represents a narrow gateway, and the camel would need to be unloaded before it could pass through. This can be seen as a metaphor for rich individuals needing to "unload" their possessions and attachments to wealth to enter the spiritual realm.
In the Bible, renunciation 放下, 放弃 refers to a deliberate rejection or giving up of something, often worldly possessions or personal desires, in order to follow God's will and become a disciple of Jesus. It's a commitment to prioritizing spiritual matters over material concerns and dedicating one's life to God's service. Self-Denial: A fundamental aspect of renunciation involves denying one's own desires, ambitions, and self-interest in favor of God's will. This is highlighted in Matthew 16:24, where Jesus states, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me". Renunciation also involves giving up worldly possessions and material wealth. Jesus emphasizes this in Luke 14:33, saying, "In the same way, any one of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be My disciple". Surrendering to God's Will: Ultimately, renunciation involves surrendering one's entire life to Christ and dedicating oneself to his service. Spiritual Warfare: Renouncing Satan and his works is a crucial part of spiritual warfare, where believers commit to resisting evil 抵制邪恶, 抵抗邪恶 and aligning themselves with Christ's Lordship, says Firebrand Magazine. Renewal of Baptismal Vows: Renewing one's commitment to renunciation through baptismal vows serves as a reminder of the believer's separation from evil and allegiance to Christ, says Firebrand Magazine. Job's Wife: In Job 2:9, Job's wife urges him to "renounce God" and die, highlighting the temptation to abandon faith in the face of suffering. Jesus' Teaching: Various passages in the Gospels, like the one in Luke 14:33 mentioned above, illustrate Jesus' expectation that disciples renounce worldly things and commit to following him wholeheartedly.
