用法学习: 1. trip (someone) up I. to fall because you hit your foot on something, or to make someone fall by putting your foot in front of the other person's foot: I'm terribly sorry. I didn't mean to trip you up. trip up on She tripped up on the rug. I tripped up on a piece of loose carpet. He deliberately tripped me up. She tripped up and dropped the tray. He tripped up on the doorstep. A fallen branch tripped me up. II. informal to make a mistake, or to cause someone to make a mistake: trip up on The exam went quite well, until I tripped up on the last question. In the interview, they kept trying to trip me up. I did OK on the exam except for the last question, when I got tripped up by a word I didn't understand. Amy: Perhaps you could assuage your guilt through altruism. Which word's tripping you up? Assuage or altruism? Penny: Both. Bernadette: You'll feel better by doing something nice for someone. Penny: I actually knew that. Amy: I never doubted you. III. To cause someone to falter, hesitate, or make an error. She always tries to trip up her opponents with taunts and mind games. The crowd's boos and jeers really tripped me up during my turn. trimmings 所有该有的, 附带的, 零碎 I. extra dishes that are often eaten with a main dish. a roast dinner with all the trimmings. II. The trimming on something such as a piece of clothing is the decoration, for example along its edges, that is in a different colour or material. ...the lace trimming on her satin nightgown. III. Trimmings are pieces of something, usually food, which are left over
after you have cut what you need. Use any pastry trimmings to decorate
the apples. all the trimmings If you say that something comes with all the trimmings, you mean that it has many extra things added to it to make it more special. all the usual or traditional accompaniments to a meal a dinner of turkey and all the trimmings. They were married with all the trimmings, soon after graduation. ...a Thanksgiving dinner of turkey and all the trimmings. 2. ride on something/someone When something important, such as your reputation or money, rides on a particular person or thing, it will be won or achieved if that person or thing is successful. to depend on a particular situation or result in order to survive or succeed: We have a lot riding on 依赖, 依靠, 就指着呢, 就仗着呢, 盼着呢, 很多都等着呢 the successful sale of our Chicago portfolio. The future of the company now rides on the new managing director. I have a lot of money riding on that horse (= I will win or lose a lot of money if that horse wins or loses the race). 认证和公证: Foreign governments sometimes need proof the signatures of Australian officials on documents are genuine before they can be accepted. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), through the Australian Passport Office in your capital city will certify that 认证 a signature, stamp or seal on an official Australian public document is genuine by checking it against a specimen held on file, print and attach a certificate in the form of an 'authentication' or an 'apostille' ( apostille = Apostille = apostil US: [əˈpɒstɪl] [ˈæp.ə.stiːl] 加注. 旁注(一种政府提供的官方证明，使得在某一国签发的文件在另一国同样可接受) a marginal note. a note, esp. one in the margin. an official certificate from a government that makes a document from one country acceptable in another, or the system of using such certificates: If the High Court has any doubt about the authenticity of the Australian documents provided, it may request an Apostille. Apostille is a method of certifying a document for use in another country. ) stating certain facts. The authentication or apostille is then signed by DFAT staff and sealed with a wet and a dry seal. For further information regarding document requirements including fees and charges, locations and the form to lodge documents refer to Smartraveller. DFAT cannot provide advice regarding other countries' specific requirements in order for a marriage to be legal in a particular country. For details of marriage requirements you should contact the Embassy, High Commission or Consulate of the country in which you would like to marry for their advice. Refer to Smartraveller for further information regarding Certificates of No Impediment to Marriage 可以结婚证明 including the application form. 3. ready-made 成品, 现成的 bought or found in a finished form and available to use immediately. Ready-made means extremely convenient or useful for a particular purpose. Those wishing to study urban development have a ready-made example on their doorstep. It provides perfect strangers with a ready-made and infinitely adaptable topic of conversation. a ready-made frozen meal. figurative When she married Giles, she acquired a ready-made family 现成的家庭 - two teenage sons and a daughter. I didn't sew the curtains – they came ready-made. I didn't go to kindergarten, so there was no coming through with a ready-made cohort of friends 现成的朋友 on my first day of school. bought in a finished form and available to use or eat immediately: ready-made food/meals Their range of quality ready-made meals has improved substantially. already available and not needing to be invented or developed: Nobody has a ready-made solution to deal with all your staffing problems. 成品. produced in large quantities in standard sizes and types rather than made to fit a particular customer. the ready-made clothing industry 成衣行业. to buy/purchase something ready-made. If something that you buy is ready-made, you can use it immediately,
because the work you would normally have to do has already been done. We rely quite a bit on ready-made meals–they are so convenient. You can buy it ready-made at Chinese groceries. The ready-made bedcovers cost from £200. puerile [ˈpjʊə.raɪl] ( childish disapproving, immature disapproving, juvenile disapproving) 幼稚的, 孩子气的 adj disapproving behaving in a silly way, not like an adult. If you describe someone or something as puerile, you mean that they are silly and childish. Concert organisers branded the group's actions as puerile. The story is simple, even puerile. ...puerile, schoolboy humour. I find his sense of humour rather puerile. puerility [pjʊəˈrɪl.ə.ti] 幼稚, 犯傻, 冒傻气 the quality of being silly in a way that a child would enjoy, not an adult: The plot of the film is just a platform for puerility. They exhibit the puerility of naughty schoolboys. 4. take to someone/something/doing sth I. 很喜欢. 产生好感 to start to like someone or something. to like something or someone: We took to our new neighbors very quickly. He didn't take kindly to the manager's insisting that he leave the restaurant. The children have really taken to tennis. The two dogs took to each other immediately and started to play. We were Catholic, when I was young, I really took to the faith. take to someone/something like a duck to water She's taken to basketball like a duck to water (= she likes it and is good at it). II. to start doing something often. to start to use or do something as a habit: She's taken to walking 开始喜欢做某事, 开始习惯于做某事, 开始养成习惯 along the beach after work. She was so depressed she took to drink. He's taken to staying out very late. III. to go somewhere, usually because you are in a difficult or dangerous situation. to go to or escape to a place: The plane took to the air right on time. Thousands of people took to the streets 上街 to demand a new election. The refugees took to the hills for safety. 4. absolve [əbˈzɒlv] 赦免, 宽恕. 饶恕. (forgive 是原谅) (especially in religion or law) to free someone from guilt, blame, or responsibility for something. to officially remove guilt or responsibility for something wrong that someone has done or might have done. If a report or investigation absolves someone from blame or responsibility, it formally states that he or she is not guilty or is not to blame. A police investigation yesterday absolved the police of all blame in the incident. ...the inquiry which absolved the soldiers. He was absolved of all wrongdoing. The report absolved her from/of all blame for the accident. The priest absolved him (of all his sins). absolution [æbsəluːʃən] (尤指基督教中的) 赦罪, 解罪, 宽恕 If someone is given absolution, they are forgiven for something wrong that they have done. the act of forgiving someone, especially in the Christian religion, for something bad that they have done or thought: She was granted/given absolution. She felt as if his words had granted her absolution. I couldn't bring myself to confession, I honestly couldn't imagine receiving forgiveness and absolution for doing something so wicked. come in waves 一波波的, 波浪式的, 起起伏伏, 是好是坏 To intensify and then attenuate in a continual alternating pattern. The pain keeps coming in waves, Doctor. It subsides for a while, then comes back so strong that I can barely stay on my feet. Support for the politician has come in waves throughout the years, though it remains to be seen if this current surge is enough to finally get her elected to Congress. It's like the panic comes in waves. I'll be able to distract myself for a little bit, but then, bam, it hits me again and I can barely breathe. 5. Humanities courses 文科, 人文科学 can include the study of history, philosophy and religion, modern and ancient languages and literature, fine and performing arts, media and cultural studies, just to name a few. Humanities are academic disciplines that study aspects of human society and culture, including certain fundamental questions asked by humans. During the Renaissance, the term "humanities" referred to the study of classical literature and language, as opposed to the study of religion, or "divinity". The study of the humanities was a key part of the secular curriculum in universities at the time. Today, the humanities are more frequently defined as any fields of study outside of natural sciences 自然科学 ( Natural science or empirical science is one of the branches of science concerned with the description, understanding and prediction of natural phenomena, based on empirical evidence from observation and experimentation. Mechanisms such as peer review and reproducibility of findings are used to try to ensure the validity of scientific advances. Natural science can be divided into two main branches: life science and physical science. Life science is alternatively known as biology. Physical science is subdivided into branches: physics, astronomy, Earth science and chemistry. These branches of natural science may be further divided into more specialized branches (also known as fields). As empirical sciences, natural sciences use tools from the formal sciences, such as mathematics and logic, converting information about nature into measurements that can be explained as clear statements of the "laws of nature".), social sciences 社会科学 (Social science (often rendered in the plural as the social sciences) is one of the branches of science, devoted to the study of societies and the relationships among members within those societies. The term was formerly used to refer to the field of sociology, the original "science of society", established in the 18th century. In addition to sociology, it now encompasses a wide array of academic disciplines, including anthropology, archaeology, economics, geography, history, linguistics, management, communication studies, psychology, culturology, and political science. Positivist 实证主义 social scientists use methods resembling those used in the natural sciences as tools for understanding societies, and so define science in its stricter modern sense. Interpretivist 诠释解读派 or speculative social scientists, by contrast, may use social critique or symbolic interpretation rather than constructing empirically falsifiable theories, and thus treat science in its broader sense. In modern academic practice, researchers are often eclectic, using multiple methodologies (for instance, by combining both quantitative and qualitative research). To gain a deeper understanding of complex human behavior in digital environments, social science disciplines have increasingly integrated interdisciplinary approaches, big data, and computational tools. The term social research has also acquired a degree of autonomy as practitioners from various disciplines share similar goals and methods. eclectic [ekˈlek.tɪk] 融合各家之长的, 多种方式方法信仰融合在一起的 Methods, beliefs, ideas, etc. that are eclectic combine whatever seem the best or most useful things from many different areas or systems, rather than following a single system. consisting of different types, methods, styles, etc.: Pilard, who takes an eclectic approach to identifying cheap stocks, invests in small and midsize companies, as well as large ones. It was an eclectic mix of our ethnic foods and traditional Thanksgiving food. an eclectic style/approach. an eclectic taste in literature. ), formal sciences 纯理科 (like mathematics. Formal science is a branch of science studying disciplines concerned with abstract structures described by formal systems, such as logic, mathematics, statistics, theoretical computer science, artificial intelligence, information theory, game theory, systems theory, decision theory and theoretical linguistics. Whereas the natural sciences and social sciences seek to characterize physical systems and social systems, respectively, using theoretical and empirical methods, the formal sciences use language tools concerned with characterizing abstract structures described by formal systems and the deductions that can be made from them. The formal sciences aid the natural and social sciences by providing information about the structures used to describe the physical world, and what inferences may be made about them.), and applied sciences (or professional training) 工科. They use methods that are primarily critical, speculative, or interpretative and have a significant historical element—as distinguished from the mainly empirical ( empirical [ɪmˈpɪr.ɪ.kəl, emˈpɪr.ɪ.kəl] 基于实践而非理论的 based on what is experienced or seen rather than on theory. based on what is experienced or seen rather than on theory. Empirical evidence or study relies on practical experience rather than theories. There is no empirical evidence to support his thesis. ...empirically based research. They approached this part of their task empirically. We have no empirical evidence that the industry is in trouble. empirical data/evidence This theory needs to be backed up with solid empirical data/evidence. empirical study Empirical studies show that some forms of alternative medicine are extremely effective. unempirical based on theory, rather than on what is experienced or seen: Their position is unempirical and anti-scientific. So far, the subject has only been studied in a relatively unempirical manner. unembittered not angry, even though unfair or unpleasant things have happened to you: She emerged from her experience unembittered. remain unembittered Although he lost his seat in the election, he remains unembittered. embittered 心怀不满的, 要报复社会的, 被委屈了的, 仇世的, 仇恨社会的, 被亏待了的, 深感不平的, 戾气重的, 变得愤世嫉俗的, 忿忿不平的 very angry about unfair things that have happened to you. If someone is embittered, they feel angry and unhappy because of harsh, unpleasant, and unfair things that have happened to them. He had turned into an embittered, hardened adult. Gerald turned sour and embittered when he felt people were not dealing honestly with him. They ignored all her pleas and she became very embittered. He died a disillusioned and embittered old man. ) approaches of science. The humanities include the academic study of philosophy, religion, history, language arts (literature, writing, oratory, rhetoric, poetry, etc.), the performing arts (theater, music, dance, etc.), and the visual arts (painting, sculpture, photography, filmmaking, etc.). 6. be/live in each other's pockets 密不可分, 形影不离, 天天腻在一起, 孟不离焦, 焦不离孟 ( inseparable, conjoined twins, ) disapproving to be with each other all the time and depend on each other: I don't think it's healthy the way you two are always in each other's pockets. joined at the hip Sl. closely connected; always together. Those two are joined at the hip. They are always together. Sam and Martha are joined at the hip. two/three etc of a kind 同类人, 一路人 used to say that two, three etc people or things are very similar and therefore go well together or belong together. I'm not surprised they're friends – they're two of a kind一丘之貉, 同一种人. of a kind used for saying that something is not as good as it should be. Town planning of a kind got underway after the war. cut
from the same cloth = like two peas in a pod = of a kind = cut of the
same cloth = cut out of the same cloth 一丘之貉, 一样一样的, 同类人 ( one of a kind [approval] If you refer to someone or something as one of a kind, you mean that there is nobody or nothing else like them. She's a very unusual woman, one of a kind.) (idiomatic, of two or more persons or things. of a kind used to describe something that exists but is not very good: The school had a swimming pool of a kind 算是, but it was too small for most classes to use. ) Very similar; possessing many of the same fundamental characteristics. All floor traders are of a kind, and most burn out by their late thirties. hand in glove (in league, in collaboration) 密切合作, 勾搭一起, 勾结, 沆瀣一气 (US also hand and glove) working together, often to do something dishonest: It was rumoured at the time that some of the gangs were working hand in glove with the police. If you work hand in glove with someone, you work very closely with them. The U.N. inspectors work hand in glove with the Western intelligence agencies. Regulatory capture 官商勾结 is a form of political corruption that occurs when a regulatory agency, created to act in the public interest, instead advances the commercial or special concerns of interest groups 利益集团 that dominate the industry or sector it is charged with regulating. Regulatory capture is a form of government failure; it creates an opening 缺口, 漏洞 for firms to behave in ways injurious to the public (e.g., producing negative externalities). The agencies are called "captured agencies = agency capture 被收买的机关". Regulatory capture occurs when a regulatory agency, meant to serve the public interest, is unduly influenced by the very industries it's supposed to regulate, leading to decisions that prioritize those industries' interests. This can result in policies that weaken oversight and benefit the regulated entities, potentially at the expense of consumers and the broader public. 7. glitzy [ˈɡlɪt.si] 光鲜靓丽 耀眼的, 闪闪发亮的, 闪闪发光的 having a fashionable appearance intended to attract attention. Something that is glitzy is exciting and attractive in a showy way. ...Aspen, Colorado, one of the glitziest ski resorts in the world. He celebrated his birthday at a glitzy party in Beverly Hills. glitz [ɡlɪts] the quality of being exciting and attractive, but often in a way that has no real worth: glitz and glamour 光鲜靓丽 The party's electoral message may be obscured by the glitz and glamour of its presentation. The extraordinary thing about Cannes is that despite the surface glitz 表面的光鲜靓丽, most people get up early and work. out of one's gourd = off one's gourd [ɡʊəd, US: ɡɔːrd] informal North American I. out of one's mind; crazy. affected by a mental illness. After yet another sleepless night, I'm starting to feel like I'm off my gourd. He's off his gourd if he thinks this plan is going to work! II. under the influence of alcohol or drugs. "he was obviously stoned out of his gourd". Back then he was a stoner guy who would sit there blazed out of his gourd. anonymity [ˌænəˈnɪməti] noun the condition or fact of being anonymous. the situation in which someone's name is not given or known: a crowd of faceless anonymities. The police have reassured witnesses that they will be guaranteed anonymity. Both the letter and the information sheet set out plans for assuring their anonymity and confidentiality. Because of the anonymity factor, it is impossible to trace a particular patient to check on, for example, his/her geographical exposure details. Interviews were audiotaped for transcription and the use of pseudonyms protected participants' anonymity. One can hide behind anonymity to commit online fraud or spread disinformation and hate mail among other things. I have always counted myself fortunate when receiving the generosity of another. I have never paused to ask questions about the circumstances of the giver, or to weigh the relative merits of a gift. To be graced with the kindness of another is enough. Perhaps what matters more is the sincerity of the giver; for a gift wrapped in cold anonymity is valued less than a benefaction derived from proximate familiarity. We appreciate any generosity, but are more likely to cherish that which carries this aura. You know I adore ceremony, even while refusing to stand on it, but this, this is too inane. And the cold anonymity of the station takes over, reins in the crowds that were sifting to the furthest exits. No one is here. Now I know why I've always hated the tango, yet loved the intimacy secreted in its curls. And for this to continue, we've got to get together, renew old saws, let old grudges ride. The two groups encountered both community hospitality and narrow-minded hatred in the small towns, contrasting sharply with the cold anonymity of the urban pecking order in the larger cities. We had left a high-rise apartment in Queensland - bathed in sunshine and overlooking the water – for the cold anonymity 代名词 of winter in the national capital, which was crisp and biting and unrelenting. 8. be in its infancy 早期, 起步状态, 起步阶段, 初创阶段, 婴儿期 to be very new and still developing. the time when something is just starting to be developed the infancy of radio broadcasting Genetic engineering is still in its infancy. when the Internet was still in its infancy. The system is still in its infancy. When science was in its infancy, the Greeks believed that the Earth was at thecentre of the universe. At that time, the automobile industry was still in its infancy. He was a comedy star when the network was in its infancy. Biofuel technology is still in its infancy. in infancy the period of a child's life before they can walk or talk In the past, many children died in infancy. like ships that pass in the night 夜航船, 擦肩而过的人 (ships in the night) I. (simile) Two or more people who encounter one another in a transitory, incidental manner and whose relationship is without lasting significance; two or more people who almost encounter one another, but do not do so. If two people are like ships that pass in the night, they meet once or twice by chance for a short time then do not see each other again. II. (by extension) Things which have no significant connection or commonality. Usage notes: Often used in the prepositional phrase like ships that pass in the night. 9. suburbia [səˈbɜː.bi.ə] 郊区 mainly disapproving I. the outer parts of a town, where there are houses, but no large shops, places of work, or places of entertainment. the suburbs of a city, or suburbs in general. Journalists often use suburbia to refer to the suburbs of cities and large towns considered as a whole. ...images of bright summer mornings in leafy suburbia. They live in a two-bedroomed house in the heart of suburbia. II. the way of life of people who live in the outer parts of a town: He has written a book about middle-class suburbia. TBBT: Sheldon (answering): Hello Penny. Leonard just left. Penny: I know. I want to talk to you. Sheldon: What would we talk about? We've no overlapping 重叠的, 交叉的 areas of interest I'm aware of, and you know I don't care for chit-chat. Penny: Okay, can you just let me in. Sheldon: Well alright, but I don't see this as a promising endeavour. Penny: Okay, here's the deal, we are going to throw Leonard a kick-ass surprise party for his birthday on Saturday. Sheldon: I hardly think so, Leonard made it very clear he doesn't want a party. Howard: Did someone say party? Penny: He just doesn't know he wants one because he's never had one. Howard: I suppose that's possible, but for the record, I've never had a threesome and yet I still know I want one. Penny: Howard, here's the difference. The possibility exists that Leonard could have a birthday party before hell freezes over ( Until/when hell freezes over until some time in the impossibly distant future; forever. If you say that something will happen when hell freezes over, you mean that it will never happen. "they'll have to wait until hell freezes over". ). Howard: Fine. If I do have a threesome, you can't be part of it. I'm just kidding, yes you can. Can you bring a friend? Sheldon: I think a birthday party is a terrible idea. I envy Leonard for growing up without that anguish. Penny: Anguish?Sheldon: Year after year, I had to endure wearing conical hats while being forced into the crowded sweaty hell of bouncy castles, not to mention being blindfolded and spun towards a grotesque tailless donkey as the other children mocked my disorientation. Penny: Okay, sweetie, I understand you have scars that no non-professional can heal, but nevertheless we are going to throw Leonard a birthday party. Sheldon: Have I pointed out that I am extremely uncomfortable with dancing, loud music and most other forms of alcohol induced frivolity. Penny: Nevertheless we are…. Sheldon: In addition I really don't think that Leonard wants a… Penny: Okay, here's the deal, you either help me throw Leonard a birthday party or, so help me God, I will go into your bedroom and I will unbag all of your most valuable mint condition comic books. And on one of them, you won't know which, I'll draw a tiny happy face in ink. Sheldon: You can't do that, if you make a mark on a mint comic book it's no longer mint. Penny: Sheldon, do you understand the concept of blackmail? Sheldon: Well of course I… oh! Yeah, I have an idea, let's throw Leonard a kick ass birthday party. 10. contortionist [kənˈtɔː.ʃən.ɪst] someone who can twist their body into shapes and positions that normal people cannot. contortion [kənˈtɔːʃn] 变形, 扭曲 I. a twisted or bent condition, state, or form. "their facial contortions are hilarious". II. the skill of twisting and bending one's body into strange and unnatural positions, as a form of entertainment. "she has been performing contortion internationally for twelve years". Contortion (sometimes contortionism) is a performance art in which performers called contortionists showcase their skills of extreme physical flexibility. Contortion acts often accompany acrobatics, circus acts, street performers and other live performing arts. Contortion acts are typically performed in front of a live audience. An act will showcase one or more artists performing a choreographed set of moves or poses, often to music, which require extreme flexibility. The physical flexibility required to perform such acts greatly exceeds that of the general population. It is the dramatic feats of seemingly inhuman flexibility that captivate audiences. constitutionally [ˌkɒnstɪˈtjuːʃənəli] 与生俱来的, 生来的, 天生的 ( inherently, innate , Inborn, Intrinsic, God-given. ) (He has an innate curiosity. He is naturally very curious. He was born with a strong sense of curiosity. He has an inborn tendency to be curious. He's just not built for lying. He couldn't lie if he tried. He just can't lie — it's not in him. ) I. in a way that is in accordance with a political constitution. with respect to a constitution. according to the rules in a constitution: There was some doubt as to whether the government were behaving constitutionally. constitutionally protected rights. constitutionally invalid law. "basic constitutionally mandated 宪法赋予的 rights". II. 外形上的, 体制上的 in a way that relates to someone's nature or physical condition. in composition or physique. in respect to physical makeup He is constitutionally fitted for heavy labor. constitutionally frail. "a person constitutionally incapable of compromise". III. 精神上的. by nature or temperament. in respect to mental or emotional makeup. in a way that relates to or is caused by your general health or your character: constitutionally weak. She seems constitutionally unable to make decisions 天生犹豫不决. constitutionally unable to speak before an audience. constitutionally incapable of lying. TBBT: Sheldon (appearing behind her): You must release me from my oath. Penny: Sheldon, I'm working. Sheldon: Why don't you take a minute to decide (leads her away) I can't keep your secret Penny. I'm going to fold like an energy based anobo protein in conformational space. Like a renaissance triptych. Like a cheap suit. Penny: Oh, look, why is it so hard for you to keep one little secret? Sheldon: I'm constitutionally incapable. That's why I was refused clearance for a very prestigious government research fellowship at a secret military supercollider, located beneath a fake agricultural station 12.5 miles south east of Travers City, Michigan. Which you did not hear about from me. Penny: Look, just forget I told you about me not graduating from community college. Okay? Sheldon: Forget! You want me to forget? This mind does not forget. I haven't forgotten a single thing since the day my mother stopped breast feeding me. It was a drizzly Tuesday. Penny: Okay, look, you promised me you would keep my secret so you're just going to have to figure out a way to do it. constitutional old-fashioned humorous noun. a walk that you often do to keep yourself healthy: take a constitutional She's nearly 86 and still takes a constitutional every morning. adj. I. relating to or following the rules of the US Constitution. relating to or allowed by a constitution: Freedom of speech is a constitutional guarantee in the United States. Freedom of speech is a constitutional right. They argued that such action would not be constitutional. ..efforts to resolve the country's constitutional crisis. We have a constitutional right to demonstrate. A Romanian judge has asked for a Constitutional Court ruling on the law. ...a nationwide conspiracy to deprive women of their constitutionally protected rights. II. relating to someone's general state of health: constitutional weakness. 11. skid row = skid road noun informal North American I. a run-down part of a town frequented by vagrants and alcoholics. a street or part of a town that is poor and dirty, where many people who have no jobs or homes spend time. a dilapidated section of a city inhabited by vagrants, etc. You can refer to the poorest part of town, where drunks and homeless people live, as skid row. He became a skid row type of drunkard. II. a desperately unfortunate or difficult situation. "with no money to spend, the club are on skid row". on skid row poor, without a job or a place to live, and often drinking too much alcohol. wiki: A skid row, also called skid road, is an impoverished area, typically urban, in English-speaking North America whose inhabitants are mostly poor people "on the skids ( on the skids: In decline; going downhill; in trouble. hit the skids: To fail; to decline. )". This specifically refers to people who are poor or homeless, considered disreputable, downtrodden or forgotten by society. A skid row may be anything from an impoverished urban district to a red-light district to a gathering area for people experiencing homelessness or drug addiction. In general, skid row areas are inhabited or frequented by impoverished individuals and also people who are addicted to drugs. Urban areas considered skid rows are marked by high vagrancy, dilapidated buildings, and drug dens, as well as other features of urban blight. Used figuratively, the phrase may indicate the state of a poor person's life. The term skid road originally referred to the path along which timber workers skidded logs. The term "skid road" dates back to the 17th century, when it referred to a log road, used to skid or drag logs through woods and bog. When a logger was fired he was "sent down the skid road". The term "skid row" may often be interchangeable with the term tent city (A tent city is a temporary housing facility made using tents or other temporary structures. State governments or military organizations set up tent cities to house evacuees, refugees, or soldiers. UNICEF's Supply Division supplies expandable tents for millions of displaced people. Informal tent cities may be set up without authorization by homeless people or protesters. Tent cities set up by homeless people may be similar to shanty towns, which are informal settlements in which the buildings are made from scrap building materials. Shoddy and lower-condition tent cities may be considered skid rows or a facet of them. shanty [ˈʃæn.ti] I. a small house, usually made from pieces of wood, metal, or cardboard, in which poor people live, especially on the edge of a city. a small, badly built house, usually made from pieces of wood, metal, or cardboard, in which poor people live: He lived in a little shanty in the desert, miles from anything else. II. (also chanty); (US also chantey) a song that sailors sang in the past while they were working on a ship. A shanty town, squatter area, squatter settlement, or squatter camp 贫民区, 贫民窟 is a settlement of improvised buildings known as shanties or shacks, typically made of materials such as mud and wood, or from cheap building materials such as corrugated iron sheets. A typical shanty town is squatted and, at least initially, lacks adequate infrastructure, including proper sanitation, safe water supply, electricity and street drainage. Over time, shanty towns may develop their infrastructure and even change into middle class neighbourhoods.They can be small informal settlements or they can house millions of people. ). A tent city may exist on the premises of a skid row, but many tent cities are in areas not known as skid rows. TBBT: Raj: Thanks again for letting me crash girls' night. Penny: Are you kidding? You brought fancy wine and made fondue. I've slept with guys for less. It's a joke. Based on real events. Raj: Anyway, I was hoping I could, uh, pick your brains a little. I'm supposed to take Lucy out Friday and I need a killer first date. Amy: Well, evolutionary biology says that women are attracted to a man who is steady in the face of danger 临危不惧, so I recommend an unsafe environment. Seedy bar on the wrong side of the tracks( the wrong/other side of the tracks/town 贫民区 the unfashionable or poor district or stratum of a community. a part of a town that is considered poor and dangerous. a poor or less prestigious part of town. The part of town that is not inhabited by the wealthy. An area where the working class, poor or extremely poor live. He grew up on the wrong side of the tracks, but he made a success of himself. "a former bad kid from the wrong side of the tracks". Her boyfriend came from the wrong side of the tracks. ), picnic near a lunatic asylum, a wine tasting on Skid Row. Raj: Uh, Lucy has some, uh, social anxiety issues. Maybe we could start with something simpler. Bernadette: Why don't you take her to Disneyland? You go on Space Mountain, you're in the dark, she's holding onto you. Penny: Yeah, but you just have to remember, that ride is shorter than you think and they take a picture of you at the end, so make sure you got your clothes back on. It's a joke. Based on real events. Raj: Mm, Disneyland? I don't know. With all the crowds and the weird characters walking around, just reminds me too much of India. Amy: I haven't been to Disneyland since I was a kid. We should definitely go one weekend. Bernadette: Weekends are too crowded. Penny: So, blow off work, go on a weekday. 12. A rashie is an informal term for a rash guard, which is a tight-fitting, thin shirt made from synthetic materials that's designed to protect against sunburn and abrasions, particularly in water sports like surfing and swimming. It's also known as a rash vest or rash shirt. incorrigible [ɪnˈkɒr.ə.dʒə.bəl] 无可救药的 顽固不化的, 死不悔改的, 无药可治的, 没救的 adj mainly humorous An incorrigible person or incorrigible behaviour is bad and impossible to change or improve. (of people and their behavior) impossible to improve or correct: an incorrigible liar/rogue. If you tell someone they are incorrigible, you are saying, often in a humorous way, that they have faults which will never change. 'Sue, you are incorrigible!' he said. They are incorrigible optimists. bidding I. 出价. the action of offering to buy something for a particular amount of money, especially at an auction (= public sale). the act of offering to pay a particular amount of money for something, by different people: Most of the bidding was done by phone. For the first half hour of the auction the bidding was slow and cautious. He opened the bidding at £2,000. online/internet bidding. II. a request or an order: At my grandmother's bidding, I wore my best dress. at someone's bidding 在...的要求下 old-fashioned You do something at someone's bidding if they have asked or told you to do it. You do something at someone's bidding if they have asked or told you to do it: At my grandmother's bidding, I wore my best dress. She was here in Venice at his bidding. Was that not enough? What made these people do such things, and at his bidding? She expects us to drop everything we're doing and come running at her bidding. At her bidding, I called all the guests and asked them to arrive half an hour earlier. At my grandmother's bidding, I wore my best dress. open the bidding to make the first offer of money for an object at a public sale of goods: Who will open the bidding at £200? do sb's bidding 帮...做事, 助纣为虐 为...卖命 = do the bidding of someone [formal, disapproval] If you say that someone does another person's bidding, you disapprove of the fact that they do exactly what the other person asks them to do, even when they do not want to. to do what one is told or ordered to do especially by one in a position of power or authority. He was at the beck and call of powerful interest groups and was always willing to do their bidding. She is very clever at getting people to do her bidding! 13. Thumbcuffs 拇指拷 are a metal restraining device that lock thumbs in proximity to each other. Thumbcuffs were originally intended for use by detectives, narcotics officers and off-duty policemen, their size allowing them to be carried in the pocket. Most are rigid devices, while some used in Asian countries are chain-linked, like miniature handcuffs. Thumbcuffs are rarely used due to an increased possibility of injury, most commonly by tight cuffs blocking blood circulation. Their trade is illegal in the European Union. Handcuffs are usually used instead. Thumbcuffs may also be used as improvised toecuffs by locking the big toes in proximity to each other. reckon I. to consider or have the opinion that something is as stated: I don't reckon much to (US of) their chances of winning (= I do not think they will win). She was widely reckoned (to be) the best actress of her generation. II. to calculate an amount: Angela quickly reckoned the amount on her fingers. The inflation rate is now reckoned to be 10 percent. to be reckoned with worth taking seriously because of being powerful, important, or good: Are unions still a force to be reckoned with? Her new novel marks her as a writer to be reckoned with. reckoning I. The action or process of calculating or estimating something: By my reckoning 照我的算法, we should arrive in ten minutes. the sixth, or by another reckoning eleventh, Earl of Mar. II. A person's opinion or judgement: By ancient reckoning, bacteria are plants. III. [count noun] archaic A bill or account, or its settlement. IV. The avenging or punishing of past mistakes or misdeeds: the fear of being brought to reckoning. there will be a terrible reckoning. If you say that you will have a reckoning with someone, you mean that you will face them at some time in the future and punish them for something they have done. She knew their truce would not last. There would be a reckoning. There would be another fight. There is a definite reckoning between 现实和梦想之间的权衡和和解 what you think your glamorous life in the Harbour city will be, and what it actually is sometimes. V (the reckoning) Contention for a place in a team or among the winners of a contest: He has hit the sort of form有状态 which could thrust him into the reckoning. reckon something up to calculate the total amount of something: She can reckon up a bill faster than any calculator. reckon with someone/something to deal with a difficult or powerful person or thing. to consider the effect something or someone will have: Experts did not reckon with his determination. Bening is a force to be reckoned with. If you harm her, you're going to have the police to reckon with. reckon without something 忽略, 没有算上, 没有考虑到, 忘考虑到 to fail to think about something when you are making plans and therefore not be prepared to deal with it: We'd expected a two-hour drive but had reckoned without the rain. in/out of the reckoning 出局, 考虑中 being/not being considered for a job or position. Only three candidates are still in the reckoning. day of reckoning 末日大审判, 大审判, 最终大清算. 末日清算, 算总账 a time when you are forced to deal with the results of your actions. a time when something must be dealt with. Taking out another loan to cover your debts will only postpone the day of reckoning. Etymology: based on the Biblical day of reckoning ( the day when God will judge everyone). reckon without something to not consider or include something in your plans and so not be prepared for it. I'd reckoned without the heavy traffic on the highway. reckon with something to consider something important when you are making plans and so be prepared for it. Napoleon had not reckoned with the severity of the Russian winter. have someone/something to reckon with to be forced to deal with someone or something. If he threatens you again, he'll have me to reckon with. Short reckonings make long friends 好借好还, 再借不难. Prov. If you borrow something from a friend, pay it back as soon as possible so that the two of you remain friendly. Now that you've finished using Bert's saw, take it right back to him. Short reckonings make long friends. East Asian age reckoning (虚岁计算法 traditional age虚岁 modern age周岁) is a concept and practice that originated in China and is widely used by other cultures in East Asia and Vietnam, which share this traditional way of counting a person's age.
Newborns start at one year old, and each passing of a Lunar New Year,
rather than the birthday, adds one year to the person's age. In other
words, the first year of life is counted as one instead of zero, so that
a person is two years old in their second year, three years old in
their third, and so on. Since age is incremented on the new year rather
than on a birthday, people may be 1 or 2 years older in Asian reckoning
than in the Western system. 14. In the context of business and travel, "per diem 出差补助 [pəː ˈdiːɛm]" refers to a daily allowance given to employees to cover expenses while on business trips. It essentially means a fixed amount of money per day, often used to cover expenses like accommodation, meals, and incidental costs. Per diem (Latin for "per day" or "for each day") or daily allowance is a specific amount of money that an organization gives an individual, typically an employee, per day to cover living expenses when travelling on the employer's business. A per diem payment can cover part or all of the expenses incurred. For example, it may include an accommodation allowance or it may only cover meals (with actual accommodation costs reimbursed separately, be prepaid or billed directly to the employer). Travel, particularly by motor vehicles, is often reimbursed at a rate determined only by distance travelled, e.g., the US business mileage reimbursement rate. Fixed per diem (and per mile) rates eliminate the need for employees to prepare, and employers to scrutinise, a detailed expense report with supporting receipts to document amounts spent while travelling on business. Instead, employers pay employees a standard daily rate without regard to actual expenditure. In some countries, the income tax code specifies a maximum daily allowance: although an employer may pay a higher rate, the excess is subject to income tax. 15. every stick has two ends Every situation has two sides. But every stick has two ends, says a Russian proverb, and if the chemical shells helped the Germans, so, by and by, when we and our Allies began to adopt them, they caused also a great deal of damage to the Germans. The saying "every stick has two ends" is apropos here. Every situation has an upside and downside, and the bigger the stick, the bigger the ends. wide-eyed I. 眼睛睁的大大的. 惊奇的. 吓傻的. having one's eyes wide open as a result of surprise, fear, etc. having your eyes open much wider than usual. If you describe someone as wide-eyed, you mean that their eyes are more open than usual, especially because they are surprised or frightened. She is wide-eyed with astonishment. ...an expression of wide-eyed amazement. Wide-eyed is also an adverb. Trevor was staring wide-eyed at me. II. 没有经验的, 稚嫩的. 天真的. inexperienced; innocent. too willing to believe and admire what you see or are told. If you describe someone as wide-eyed, you mean that they are inexperienced and innocent, and may be easily impressed. Her wide-eyed innocence soon exposes the pretensions of the art world. ...a wide-eyed boy ready to explore. At that time, I was still a wide-eyed youngster. "a wide-eyed country boy".
