to one's liking, for one's liking; tight 用法;

用法学习: 1. integer ['ɪntɪdʒər] (variable [ˈveriəb(ə)l]) In mathematics, an integer is an exact whole number such as 1, 7, or 24 as opposed to a number with fractions or decimals. integral [ˈɪntɪɡrəl; ɪnˈtɛɡr(ə)l] adjective Something that is an integral part of something is an essential part of that thing. Rituals and festivals form an integral part of every human society. Anxiety is integral to the human condition. 整数部分, 小数部分: There are two terminologies that I'm familiar with. Sometimes, the part to the right of the decimal (cents) is called the mantissa, and the part to the left, is called the characteristic. But I also like the generic terms integer-part and fractional-part. I prefer to use the terms "Integer digits" and "Fractional digits" (or "Integer part" and "Fractional part"). to someone's liking 正合我意, 合意, 属意 if something is to someone's liking, they like it or approve of it. If something is to your liking, it suits your interests, tastes, or wishes. to one's taste; pleasing. In a pleasing state or form. They are always keen to ensure that the food is to your liking in this restaurant. "his coffee was just to his liking". London was more to his liking than Rome. Simmer over a very low flame until the rice is cooked to your liking. Let's see if we can find something that's more to your liking. for someone's liking if something is too expensive, too dark etc for someone's liking, they do not like it because it is too expensive, dark etc. There are too many out there for my liking. The music was far too loud for my liking. In a way that pleases one; to one's satisfaction. if you say, for example, that something is too hot for your liking, you mean that you would prefer it to be less hot. The wedding reception was too noisy and crowded for my liking. Usage notes: Often found in structures beginning with too much/many, not enough, etc. 2. side-on 侧视图, 侧面照, 侧面的 adj A side-on collision or view is a collision or view from the side of an object. ...steel beams built into the doors for protection against a side-on crash. a side-on collision. from or on the side: a side-on view of the crowd. The bus hit the car side-on. adv. coming from the side The car hit the wall side-on 侧面而来的, 从侧面. a/one side of the picture/story A single perspective or point of view about a given situation, incident, or account. I know she said I cheated her out of the money, but that's just one side of the picture—I actually had a very good reason for what I did! His new play presents a side of the picture not often dealt with when talking about the rebellion. There are two sides to this story, and you've only heard Jim's. This programme on the dispute only shows one side of the picture. 3. hot flush = hot flash: Sudden feeling of warmth, usually most intense over the face, neck and chest, and profuse sweating, commonly due to menopause. Hot flushes can have causes that aren't due to underlying disease. Examples include embarrassment, eating hot food, drinking hot drinks, eating spicy food, menopause or an adrenal rush from a dangerous situation. Your skin might redden, as if you're blushing. Hot flashes can also cause sweating, and if you lose too much body heat, you might feel chilled afterward. Hot flushes, sometimes known as hot flashes, are one of the most common symptoms of the menopause. They affect approximately 80% of women at menopause. Hot flushes are one of the primary symptoms of menopause. Hot flushes are one of the primary symptoms of menopause. Hot flushes and night sweats: Along with irregular periods, hot flushes are one of the primary signs of the onset of the menopause. For most women, hot flushes occur occasionally and do not cause much distress. However, for a smaller percentage of us, around 20%, hot flushes can be severe and interfere with quality of life and sleep. Women tend to experience hot flushes for about two years on average, but for a small percentage, approximately 10%, hot flushes can continue for up to 15 years! 4. cobble together 攒起来, 简单拼凑在一起 If you say that someone has cobbled something together, you mean that they have made or produced it roughly or quickly. [disapproval] The group had cobbled together a few decent songs. You can cobble it together from any old combination of garments. lump together If a number of different people or things are lumped together, they are considered as a group rather than separately. Police officers, bankers and butchers are all lumped together in the service sector. They are lumped together with the troublemakers and basically written off. club together 凑份子, 凑钱 (chip in) If people club together to do something, they all give money towards the cost of it. For my thirtieth birthday, my friends clubbed together and bought me a watch. chip in I. [intransitive] 插嘴. 插话. to add something to someone else's conversation. 'Give her a kiss, Robbie,' chipped in one of the photographers. Other committee members chipped in with suggestions.  'It won't be easy,' Jeff chipped in.  I'd just like to chip in, Bill, if I might. II. [intransitive/ transitive] if people chip in, they each give some money to help pay for something. if each person in a group chips in, they each give a small amount of money so that they can buy something together. We all chipped in to buy Amy a graduation present. They each chipped in $50 to take their parents out to dinner. chip in (with) something Fifty-two people in the music industry each chipped in $250 apiece. The three of us chipped in and bought the boat for Dad. apieceadv each: In good condition, dolls from this period sell for £500 apiece. live together 同居 If two people are not married but live in the same house and have a sexual relationship, you can say that they live together. The couple had been living together for 16 years. scrape together 凑齐, 凑起来, 凑足 If you scrape together an amount of money or a number of things, you succeed in obtaining it with difficulty. They only just managed to scrape the money together. It's possible the Congress Party will scrape together a majority. knock together 东拼西凑, 因陋就简的拼凑出 If you knock something together, you make it or build it very quickly, using whatever materials are available. [mainly British, informal] Find Bernie and get him to knock an agreement together. ..a shelter knocked together 因陋就简搭出来 using wooden doors and door frames. come together I. to start working successfully with each other: I remember how the community came together and were so supportive of each other. II. to start to be good or effective because different parts are combining well I love it When a plan comes together. After several weeks of rehearsals, the play finally started to come together 初见成效, 渐渐成型. III. 聚在一起. if people or groups come together, they meet or join in order to do something The convention gives us a chance to come together. We'd come together to share our thoughts and experiences. 5. chameleon [kəˈmiːlɪən] 变色龙 noun I. a small slow-moving Old World lizard with a prehensile tail, long extensible tongue, protruding eyes that rotate independently, and a highly developed ability to change colour. a lizard that changes skin colour to match what surrounds it so that it cannot be seen. II. a person who changes their opinions or behaviour according to the situation. a person who changes his or her opinions or behaviour to please other people. "voters have misgivings about his performance as a political chameleon". Beach hair is essentially the opposite of dull, lifeless hair. It's got volume, texture, definition. It looks effortless—artfully suspended in perfect form without any effort whatsoever. Except if you haven't been to the beach, in which case you have to work hard for it. 6. 新歌: Swift has never actively 主动地 queer-baited audiences. The rumours are more or less just stan ( noun. 疯狂粉丝. an overzealous or obsessive fan of a particular celebrity. someone who greatly admires a singer or other famous person, to an extent that is unusual: There is a difference between being a stan and being a fan.Beyonce has a powerful stan following. "he has millions of stans who are obsessed with him and call him a rap god" verb. be an overzealous or obsessive fan of a particular celebrity. "y'all know I stan for Katy Perry, so I was excited to see the artwork for her upcoming album" Stop stanning for Rhianna! What would make you stop stanning an idol? ) conjecture ( conjecture [kəndʒektʃər] 推论, 推断, 推测 noun. A conjecture is a conclusion that is based on information that is not certain or complete. That was a conjecture, not a fact. There are several conjectures. The future of the province remains a matter of conjecture. verb. When you conjecture, you form an opinion or reach a conclusion on the basis of information that is not certain or complete. He conjectured that some individuals may be able to detect major calamities. This may be true or partly true; we are all conjecturing here. ). Where she once wrote incisive ( [ɪnsaɪsɪv] You use incisive to describe a person, their thoughts, or their speech when you approve of their ability to think and express their ideas clearly, briefly, and forcefully.[approval] expressing an idea or opinion in a clear and direct way that shows good understanding of what is important: incisive questions/comments ...a shrewd operator with an incisive mind. She's incredibly incisive, incredibly intelligent. incision [ɪnsɪʒən] 切口 An incision is a sharp cut made in something, for example by a surgeon who is operating on a patient. The technique involves making a tiny incision in the skin. [+ in] ), often emotionally complex songs, reputation feels like it was written with branding in mind first, which, admittedly, is understandable when you're being hounded by paparazzi. This isn't to say Swift isn't coming into this with good intentions 这么做是有恶意的, and putting her money where her single is suggests she genuinely cares/wants to make a difference in the world. But even the amount of money points towards the issue — she donated $113,000, another easter egg that winks to her love of the number 13. Of course, pop stars have a long history of writing gay anthems, and of having particular ties to their LGBTIQ fans — particularly gay men. Pop stars often embody a theatrical, unashamed embrace of femininity or frivolity( frivolity [frɪvɒlɪti] 愚蠢行为, 愚蠢的态度 silly behavior or attitudes. If you refer to an activity as a frivolity, you think that it is amusing and rather silly, rather than serious and sensible. There is a serious message at the core of all this frivolity. He was one of my most able pupils, but far too easily distracted by frivolities. frivolous [frɪvələs] I. If you describe someone as frivolous, you mean they behave in a silly or light-hearted way, rather than being serious and sensible. I just decided I was a bit too frivolous to be a doctor. II. If you describe an activity as frivolous, you disapprove of it because it is not useful and wastes time or money. [disapproval] The group wants politicians to stop wasting public money on what it believes are frivolous projects.). Singing, lip syncing or dancing along, whether on a nightclub or bedroom, is a release. There's an important distinction here. The question's not whether Taylor Swift is a gay ally ( noun [ælaɪ]. verb [əlaɪ] I. 同党. 同盟军. 自己人. someone who is ready to help you, especially against someone else who is causing problems for you. If you're going to succeed in this job you will need allies. II. a country that makes an agreement with another country that they will work together to help each other, especially in a war. the United States and its European allies. an old friend/ally/enemy etc. someone who has been your friend/ally/enemy etc. for a very long time Pam and Sue are old friends. verb. [əlaɪ] I. 结盟. if a country allies itself with another country, it makes an agreement with it that they will work together to help each other, especially in a war. countries that have allied themselves with the West. II. if you ally yourself with someone, you work together to help each other We should ally ourselves with companies that complement our strengths.), but what it means to have a song shoved down our throats as a community, and feeling a mandate to say thank you. 7. pander [pændər] 拉拢, 如其所愿, 投其所好 If you pander to someone or to their wishes, you do everything that they want, often to get some advantage for yourself. [disapproval] to do or say what someone wants in order to please them, even though you know it is not right. The government was accused of pandering to racial prejudice. He has offended the party's traditional base by pandering to the rich and the middle classes. ...books which don't pander to popular taste. To tempt with, to appeal or cater to (improper motivations, etc.); to assist in gratification. His latest speech panders to the worst instincts of the electorate. wiki: I. Procuring or pandering 拉皮条 is the facilitation or provision of a prostitute or sex worker in the arrangement of a sex act with a customer. A procurer, colloquially called a pimp (if male) or a madam (if female), is an agent for prostitutes who collects part of their earnings. The procurer may receive this money in return for advertising services, physical protection, or for providing, and possibly monopolizing, a location where the prostitute may engage clients. Like prostitution, the legality of certain actions of a madam or a pimp vary from one region to the next. Examples of procuring include: trafficking a person into a country for the purpose of soliciting sex, operating a prostitution business, transporting a prostitute to the location of their arrangement,    deriving financial gain from the prostitution of another. II. Pandering is the act of expressing one's views in accordance with the likes of a group to which one is attempting to appeal. The term is most notably associated with politics. In pandering, the views one is expressing are merely for the purpose of drawing support up to and including votes and do not necessarily reflect one's personal values. 8. 清奈缺水: Water is scarce in most Indian cities at the best of times 即便是好的时候( even in the most favourable circumstances. used for saying that something is fairly bad, difficult, dangerous etc even in normal circumstances, but it is often worse than this. You say at the best of times when you are making a negative or critical comment to emphasize that it is true even when the circumstances are as favourable as possible. A trade war would be bad at the best of times, but in the current climate it would be a disaster. Persuading the bank to lend you money is a difficult task at the best of times. "his memory is poor at the best of times". A Tale of Two Cities: Dickens' famous opening sentence introduces the universal approach of the book, the French Revolution, and the drama depicted within: It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch 纪元 (UK ˈiːpɒk; US also: 'ɛpək epoch-making 创造新纪元的 ) of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way—in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only. ) and residents don't expect their taps to run round the clock, so they store it 存水. unsurpassed 难以企及的, 难以逾越的, 难以超越的 better than anyone or anything else: His knowledge of the subject is unsurpassed. all is well everything is in a good or acceptable state: I hope all is well with Jack. miles = by a mile = by miles 差远了 informal used to say something is much greater or better than something else: Restaurant food is better by miles/miles better than it used to be 20 years ago. 危机: Tensions flared up 危机加剧, 危机爆发 when Sergei Gavrilov addressed an assembly of MPs from Orthodox Christian countries from the seat of the speaker. Russia and Georgia have fought over two breakaway 寻求独立的  ( consisting of people who have decided to separate from a larger group Three senior politicians have formed a powerful breakaway group. ) Georgian regions. 判刑: "It was a complete fabrication, a tissue of lies ( I. 包装纸. Tissue or tissue paper is thin paper that is used for wrapping things that are easily damaged, such as objects made of glass or china. II. A tissue is a piece of thin soft paper that you use to blow your nose. ...a box of tissues. III. an interwoven series. a story that is just a series of lies a tissue of lies. )," Ms Broughton said. Your preoccupation with your reputation and public image are a confabulation ( confabulate [kənˈfæbjʊˌleɪt] I. to talk together; converse; chat. II. to replace the gaps left by a disorder of the memory with imaginary remembered experiences consistently believed to be true. to make up a story to explain some aspect of your own behaviour or experience without intending to deceive. confabulation 记忆混乱 a disturbance of memory, defined as the production of fabricated, distorted, or misinterpreted memories about oneself or the world, without the conscious intention to deceive. Confabulations of memory can be symptoms of neurological conditions.) of a narcissistic individual ... aimed at protecting any constructed public image. 单身汉新一季: "He brings spades [speɪdz] of ( have something in spades to have a lot of something This Glaswegian band have got talent in spades. spade I. A spade is a tool used for digging, with a flat metal blade and a long handle. ... a garden spade. The girls happily played in the sand with buckets and spades. II.Spades is one of the four suits in a pack of playing cards. Each card in the suit is marked with one or more black symbols: ♠. ...the ace of spades. A spade is a playing card of this suit. to call a spade a spade If you say that someone calls a spade a spade, you mean that they speak clearly and directly about things, even embarrassing or unpleasant things. [approval] I'm not at all secretive, and I'm pretty good at calling a spade a spade. ) old-school romance back to The Bachelor," says executive producer Hilary Innes. "He's a Bachelor with natural charm and intelligence, but with a definite twinkle in his eye." 名人: And now that any drama with former fiancée Blac Chyna is officially in the rearview 丢在身后, 抛诸脑后, 成为过去式, Rob is looking forward to a bright future with daughter Dream Kardashian. 9. 美国关于操纵货币: By targeting Draghi directly and responding in real time to an overseas central bankers' policy pronouncement, Trump was dialling up the heat(dial up 强化, 加码 I. to increase something. to increase the amount, degree or power of a quality. She gradually dialled up the pressure on the rest of the team.We are going to dial up our marketing efforts. to make something more forceful or extreme: With talks at a standstill, each side had dialled up the rhetoric 措辞变强硬. Hurricane Ivan dialled up its ferocity as it squeezed through the narrow channel that separates the Caribbean Sea from the Gulf of Mexico. II. to increase the noise, heat, etc. produced by a piece of equipment by moving its controls. turn something up Dial up the volume. dial down to reduce or become reduced to dial down an argument.) - just as his own Federal Reserve was gathering in Washington to decide on rates in a decision expected Wednesday. Coming just days ahead of a summit with other Group of 20 leaders in Japan, the salvo served to highlight his administration's increasingly aggressive currency policies and the place he sees for them in his trade arsenal. They are preparing the ground(prepare the way/ground for somebody/something 创造舆论 to make it possible for something to be achieved, or for someone to succeed in doing something. If you prepare the ground for a future event, course of action, or development, you make it easier for it to happen. ...a political initiative which would prepare the ground for war. Curie's research prepared the way for the work of modern nuclear scientists. ), they are laying out the potential tools 磨刀霍霍, 亮家伙, 亮武器, 亮家底 they may have at their disposal,'' said Cesar Rojas, global economist at Citigroup Global Markets, though he added "we're not at a currency war just yet.'' unheralded [ʌnˈhɛr(ə)ldɪd] adj I. not previously announced, expected, or acclaimed. "he was unwilling to make an unheralded entrance". Multiple NBA stars have come to the defence of unheralded draft prospect Goga Bitadze after a photo of him at his pre-draft media session went viral. II. If you describe an artist or sports player as unheralded, you mean that people have not recognized their talent or ability. They are inviting talented, but unheralded film-makers to submit examples of their work. ...two unheralded players he hopes to turn into stars. III. If you describe something that happens as unheralded, you mean that you did not expect it, because nobody mentioned it beforehand. ...Sandi's unheralded arrival on her doorstep. The complete reversal of this policy was unheralded. 10. kick up a fuss/row/stink 大声抗议, 大声反对 object loudly or publicly to something. to show great anger about something, especially when this does not seem necessary: He kicked up a tremendous fuss about having to wait. "local people are kicking up a fuss about the noise and smells from the farm". movie: A chance encounter 偶遇 leads to them being framed for the murder of an elderly billionaire. 继承: CNN host Anderson Cooper, does not believe in inheriting money because "I think it's an initiative 主观能动性(motivation) sucker(I. If you call someone a sucker, you mean that it is very easy to cheat them. [informal, disapproval] But that is what the suckers want so you give it them. Keep giving us your money, sucker! II. If you describe someone as a sucker for something (a stickler for something 坚持...的人, 奉公守法的人), you mean that they find it very difficult to resist it. [informal] I'm such a sucker for romance. [+ for]. III. If you sucker a person into doing something, you deceive them, usually so that they do something that is against their own interests [mainly US] If you tell folks the truth, they won't vote for you. But if you sucker them, they'll vote for you twice over. He gets people to put the ball exactly where he has suckered them into placing it. IV. The suckers on some animals and insects are the parts on the outside of their body which they use in order to stick to a surface. V. 吸盘. A sucker is a small device used for attaching things to surfaces. It consists of a cup-shaped piece of rubber that sticks to a surface when it is pressed flat. ...sucker pads.). I think it's a curse." Despite his wealth, his feelings towards inheritances are not unique.

 tight 相关用法: I. They're a bit snug 瘦, 紧身, 收身 around the waistline, don't you think. II. You've got to practice your pitch over and over until it's really tight 天衣无缝, 滴水不漏. a tight (presentation) When a presentation or performance is "tight", it means that it's been practiced a lot and seems really professional. There aren't mistakes, or times when the speaker doesn't know what to say. The word "tight" in this situation has a positive connotation. Another word with a similar meaning to "tight" but with a more negative feeling is "slick": Her pitch was certainly slick, but it didn't really make me want to run out and buy one. III. Security was super tight. IV. (someone's muscles) are tense. When something is squeezed tightly, you can describe it as "tense". Things that can be "tense" include: someone's muscles. a rope that's being pulled in both directions. "Tense" muscles are hard from being squeezed tightly, usually because of stress. You can also describe a person's facial expressions as "tense". It means that someone looks worried, stressed out, or concentrated. For example, this sentence might appear in a novel: She bent closer, her expression tense 表情凝重 with concentration. Stressful or worrisome situations can be described as "tense", too. A: How was it? B: It was pretty tense. Jared yelled at some of the salespeople who hadn't hit their goals. V. If you hold someone or something tight 抱紧, you hold them firmly and securely. She just fell into my arms, clutching me tight for a moment. Just hold tight to my hand 抓紧 and follow along. Hold on tight 捉紧, 抓好! As he and Henrietta passed through the gate he kept a tight hold of her arm. She climbed back into bed and wrapped her arms tightly round her body. VI. Tight controls or rules are very strict. The measures include tight control of media coverage. The company is keeping a tight hold on pay rises. Security is tight this week at the polling sites. The internal media was tightly controlled by the government during the war. VII. 关紧. 关好. 关严实. Something that is shut tight is shut very firmly. The baby lay on his back with his eyes closed tight. I keep the flour and sugar in individual jars, sealed tight with their glass lids. Within minutes she was outside, closing her bedroom door tight behind her. She kept her eyes tight closed. Pemberton frowned and closed his eyes tightly.  Despite the heat its windows remained tightly closed with wooden shutters. VIII. 皮肤紧绷. Skin, cloth, or string that is tight is stretched or pulled so that it is smooth or straight. My skin feels tight and lacking in moisture. Pull the elastic tight 拉紧, 绷直 and knot the ends. Her sallow skin was drawn tightly across the bones of her face. IX. Tight is used to describe a group of things or an amount of something that is closely packed together. She curled up in a tight ball, with her knees tucked up at her chin. The men came in a tight group. The people sleep on sun loungers packed tight 紧紧挤在一起, end to end. Many animals travel in tightly packed lorries and are deprived of food, water and rest. X. If a part of your body is tight, it feels rather uncomfortable and painful, for example because you are ill, anxious, or angry. It is better to stretch the tight muscles first. Sarah came forward with a tight and angry face. 'There were no survivors, of course,' said Fred, his throat tight 喉咙发紧, 嗓子发紧. Heart disease often shows itself first as pain or tightness in the chest. XI. A tight group of people is one whose members are closely linked by beliefs, feelings, or interests. We're a tight group 关系紧密, so we do keep in touch. XII. A tight bend or corner 急转弯 is one that changes direction very quickly so that you cannot see very far round it. They collided on a tight bend and both cars were extensively damaged. XIII. A tight schedule or budget allows very little time or money for unexpected events or expenses. It's difficult to cram everything into a tight schedule. Emma is on a tight budget for clothes. Financially things are a bit tight. XIV. A tight contest 竞争激烈 is one where none of the competitors has a clear advantage or looks likely to win, so that it is difficult to say who the winner will be. It was a very tight match. The most recent polls predict a tight three-way race. XV. If you say that someone is tight 小气的, 吝啬的, 不舍得花钱的, you disapprove of them because they are unwilling to spend their money. [informal, disapproval] The theatre was too tight to pay for any champagne for its stars. in a tight corner/in a tight spot If you are in a tight corner or in a tight spot, you are in a difficult situation. That puts the president in a tight spot if the vote is not a resounding 'yes'. They teach you to use your head to get out of a tight corner. skin-tight = skintight 紧身 Skin-tight clothes fit very tightly so that they show the shape of your body. ...the youth with the slicked down hair and skin-tight trousers. sleep tight You can say 'sleep tight' to someone when they are going to bed as an affectionate way of saying that you hope they will sleep well. Good night, Davey. Sleep tight. to sit tight 坐着不用起来 If you sit tight, you remain in the same place or situation and do not take any action, usually because you are waiting for something to happen. Sit tight. I'll be right back. Life would continue to be hard but if they sat tight and trusted him things would get better. keep a tight rein on If you keep a tight rein on someone, you control them firmly. Her parents had kept her on a tight rein with their narrow and inflexible views.

Phrase mix 3

1. Stand clear of the closing doors please. You're getting into a subway car. The doors are going to close in a minute, so the train driver announces this. To "stand clear of" something means to stand away from it. You "stand clear of" things like: the scene of an emergency. falling rocks. large machinery. a crime scene. In a situation in which you want people to move away from somewhere quickly, you can yell: Stand clear 让开, 闪开, 起来, 起开, 让路! Or if you want to say what people should stay away from, include "of ___": Everybody stand clear of the window. Stand clear of the closing doors please. This is a standard announcement that the train conductor makes on subways and other trains, right before the doors close. It's a warning that people should move away from the door. 2. We might as well make the most of it. You're on vacation with your daughter. You were supposed to return home, but your flight was cancelled because of weather. Now you have to stay for another day. You've rescheduled your flight and there's nothing else you can do, so you say this. (someone) might as well (do something) Use "might as well" to talk about doing something that you didn't originally want to, but is now your best choice. For example, if you wanted to wanted to go to sleep, but you can't sleep, you might think: I might as well read a book. Your first choice was sleeping, but reading a book is better than laying in bed without sleeping. Here's another example: A: There's so much work to do! B: You might as well get used to it. That's how things normally are around here. Read this lesson for a different explanation of how to use "might as well": I guess I might as well stick around and have one more. We might as well stock up. You're shopping at a grocery store with your son. You see that toilet paper is on sale there, so you think it's a good idea to buy a lot of it now. You make this suggestion. (someone) might as well (do something) Saying that you "might as well" do something means that: you think it's a good idea to do it. it's easy to do. For example, buying a lot of something while it's on sale is a good idea because it's cheaper. If the item on sale is also easy to carry and to store, then there's no reason not to buy a lot of it: We might as well buy a few more. Another example of "I might as well" is: I guess I might as well stick around and have one more. stock up (on something) 留库存 To "stock up" means to buy a lot of something, so that you'll have it ready. Use "on" to express what you're buying a lot of: Make sure to stock up on food and water before the storm hits. Cigarettes are cheap over here, so a lot of people who visit stock up on them. People usually stock up on consumable goods, like food, drinks, batteries, paper towels, etc. make the most of (a situation) When a situation is bad, but you have a good attitude about it and work to make it better, you're "making the most" of the situation. For example, if you're on a long, boring train trip, you can "make the most of it" by reading a book, taking a nap, or talking with the person next to you. 3. She makes a compelling argument 他说的很对啊, 很有说服力. You're shopping for a new car with your wife. The car saleswoman is trying to convince you to buy a car that's more expensive than you originally planned on. She's a very good salesperson so you've started to change your mind. You say this to your wife. (someone) makes an argument When you "make an argument" for something, it means that you try to convince people to do it or support it. For example: Marty made an argument for keeping the red one and getting rid of the green one instead. On the other hand, you could also make an argument for having kids while you're still young and healthy too. compelling argument A "compelling" argument is one that's convincing. It makes you agree with what the person making the argument is trying to say. In the example above, the salesperson made a compelling argument that the couple should buy a more expensive car. Other common combinations for "compelling" are: make a compelling case. Antonio makes a compelling case for sticking with our current suppliers. present compelling evidence. Most of the jury was suspicious of him, but the prosecution just wasn't able to present enough compelling evidence to convict him. have a compelling reason for (something) Unless there's a compelling reason to stay, I say we call it a day and head home. 4. Party of 6 几人组的, right this way. You're eating out at a restaurant with 5 of your friends. After you check in with the host and wait for a few minutes, the host invites you to follow him to your seats. He says this. Party of (a number) 几人桌, 几个人, 几人位, 几人组 In restaurants, the word "party" is used to describe a group of people who are eating together: How many are in your party? An automatic service charge of 18% is included for parties of 6 or more. To describe how many people are in a group, restaurant employees will use "party of ___": Hey, a party of eight just walked in. right this way This is a polite phrase to use when you're leading people or showing them where to go. Receptionists, waiters, and other service staff use this phrase when they're leading customers somewhere: Right this way, Mr. Lee. 5. Bethany is a lot quieter in real life than she is over the phone. One of the salesperson you often communicate with came to visit your office for the first time. She seemed different than you imagined her. You're talking with a co-worker who also works with her. You say this. (be/do something) in real life You can talk about the way that a person is when you meet or see with the phrase "in real life". When you know someone from seeing them on TV, talking to them on the telephone, etc., you get ideas about that person. After you meet them "in real life" you can compare your ideas about them with reality with how they really are. This phrase is very similar to "in person": He's a lot shorter in person. (be/do something) over the phone Use "over" to talk about information or emotions that get communicated through the telephone. You sound different over the phone. Most drug dealers know better than to discuss their criminal activities over the phone. 6. Don't feel obligated to come if you're too busy. You're having a party next weekend. You want to invite one of your friends, who's a very busy person. You don't want to make her feel pressured, so you say this. feel obligated to 不必勉强 (do something) "Feeling obligated" to do something means that you feel like you have to do it. You're afraid that it would be rude not to do it. People usually feel obligated to do things for social reasons, like because a friend or neighbor asked them to do it. For instance, if someone gives you a gift, you might "feel obligated" to give them a gift back in return. We usually talk about "feeling obligated" to do things that we don't want to do. You can use this phrase in a sentence like this: I feel obligated to help because, you know, he helped us out a couple of months ago. I don't really want to go, but I feel kind of obligated. You can also tell someone not to feel obligated to do something: Don't feel obligated to come if you're too busy. 7. You have to spend money to make money. She paid for the trip out of her own pocket 自掏腰包.  pay for (something) out of (one's) own pocket Paying for something "out of your own pocket" means that you pay for it yourself, rather than having it paid for by someone else. You especially use "out of ___ own pocket" when: someone pays for something that should have been payed for by someone else (like in the example above). someone pays for something that's really expensive and hard to afford. For example: No, I financed the entire company out of my own pocket. A few notes: people can only pay out of their own pocket. It doesn't make sense to talk about paying out of someone else's pocket. And it's always singular "pocket", not "pockets". I'm sorry. I just don't get what you're trying to say. I don't get (clause) Use the phrase "I don't get ___" to talk about things that you don't understand: I don't get it. I don't get this movie. You can follow "I don't get ___" with a clause that starts with a question word like "what", "why", "how", etc.: I don't get why he said that. I don't get what I'm supposed to do. I don't get how this works. 8. It's a routine procedure 例行公事. You're visiting a doctor because of a problem with your knee. The doctor recommends that you get surgery. You're worried about getting surgery. The doctor sees this and tries to reassure you by saying this. a routine procedure When a doctor says that something is a "routine procedure", it means that he or she often does it, and it's nothing new or scary. The word "routine" means "usual". You might know that "routine" can be used as a noun: So, have you settled back into the routine?. But it can also be an adjective like in the example at top. When you're talking to a doctor, a "procedure" usually means a surgical procedure. Or, in other words, some kind of surgery. In general, a "procedure" is a set of actions that follow specific steps. Here are some other common types of procedures: a legal procedure. a testing procedure. a company's standard operating procedure. 9. My mom is plump like me, but my dad is tall and wiry. You're chatting with a group of friends about your body shapes. You want to explain how you got your shape, so you describe what your parents look like, you describe your parents like this. (someone) is plump 圆润的 A "plump" person is a little bit round and fat, though not too fat. You can call someone "plump" if they are this shape. Or if someone is quite fat, you can call them "plump" as a way of being nice instead of calling them "fat" or "obese". However, "plump" isn't such a polite expression that you can freely say it directly toward a fat person. Food that is round and soft can also be described as "plump": I'm cooking a plump, juicy chicken for tonight. When you're describing food, "plump" is usually good. (someone) is wiry 精瘦 A "wiry" person is really thin, but strong. The word "wiry" is related to "wire". You can think of a "wiry" person as having strong muscles that are thin like wires. The word "wiry" usually describes men. It's usually a positive description. wiry [waɪəri] I. Someone who is wiry is rather thin but is also strong. His body is wiry and athletic. II. Something such as hair or grass that is wiry is stiff and rough to touch. Her wiry hair was pushed up on top of her head in an untidy bun. 10. Your mind's always on food! You're having a conversation about something with your boyfriend, and he interrupts to ask what's for dinner. You're annoyed that he always talks about food. You say this. (someone's) mind is always on (something) 老是想着 Use this expression to talk about a topic that someone thinks about a lot. Aside from food, here are some of the most common topics that people's minds are "always on": His mind is always on work. Your mind is always on sex. Her mind was always on other things 心不在焉的. Most of the time, when you say that someone's mind is "always on" something, it's a complaint. You want to say that they think about that topic too much. You can also use the phrase "get your mind off of ___": It's nice to take some time off and get your mind off of work for a few days. 11. People say that Detroit is long past its prime, but some still hold out hope that the city will revive itself. You're writing an essay for school about the city of Detroit. The city used to be rich and full of people, but now it's poor. You're writing about people who are trying to improve the city. You write this. People say that (clause) This is an expression for introducing an idea that you've heard from several different places.  After "People say that", use a clause, which is like a sentence that goes inside of another sentence: People say that green tea helps to reduce your risk of cancer. (something) is past its prime Something that is "past its prime" is no longer as strong as it used to be. You can use "past its prime" to talk about a country or city is "past its prime" when it is used to be economically strong but is now poor and run-down. You can also use it to talk about people who aren't as healthy and strong as they were in the past: He's past his prime now, but he was a great player at his peak. If something is still young, strong, and healthy, you say that it is "in its prime": In his prime, he was one of the strongest players in the league. Something that was in its prime a long time ago is now "long past its prime". hold out hope that (clause) To "hold out hope" means to still hope for something, even though it doesn't seem very likely to happen. For example: I sent in my application three weeks ago. They're probably not going to call me back. I'm still holding out hope, though. Kevin's family continues to hold out hope that their missing son will be returned safely to them. revive (something) To "revive" something means to bring it back to life, or to make it healthy again after it was sick. Here are some things you can "revive": a plant that was almost dead. a trend that's gone out of style. the economy of a country that's been weak for a while. In the example above, some people hope that the city will "revive itself". That means that the people of the city will make the city rich, safe, and healthy again. 13. Over time, crud starts to build up in the engine. You're showing your son how to change the oil in your car. You want to explain why you need to change it. You say this. crud 污垢 (You use crud to refer to any disgustingly dirty or sticky substance. [informal] Remember the motel with all the crud in the pool?) "Crud" is kind of like "dirt". But while "dirt" is technically stuff that comes from the ground, "crud" could be anything. "Crud" could be things like: dust. dried toothpaste. useless files on your computer. a mixture of dirt, dust, and oil on the chain of your bicycle. (something) builds up Something that "builds up" becomes stronger or thicker over time by gradually adding more and more. For example: No one cleans over there, so the grease just keeps building up. You have to gradually build up a base of clients. In the example above, the speaker wants to explain that crud gradually becomes thicker and thicker inside the car's engine. Some other things that also "build up" include: build up your confidence. build up military forces. build up tension (in a movie, book, or TV show). 14. You can hear the gas coming out when you turn the knob, but it doesn't ignite. (something) ignites To "ignite" means to catch on fire. The word "ignite" describes just the moment when something first begins to burn. For example, a match "ignites" when you strike it. You can use "ignite in the pattern "(someone) ignites (something): She ignited each of the candles, one by one. But you shouldn't use "ignite" without an object when talking about people, unless the people themselves are burning! 15. You have to keep plugging away, 不断努力 you know?  A friend of yours is an actor. He auditioned to get a part, but he didn't get it. Now you're trying to cheer him up with some friendly advice. You say this. plug away at (something) To "plug away at" something means to keep working hard on it for a long time, without expecting a quick reward. The example above uses the shorter version, "keep plugging away". The full version uses "at": Keep plugging away at your acting career, and I'm sure that one day you'll be a huge star. Although it describes working really hard, the phrase "plug away" sounds positive and friendly. 16. Kneel down on your hands and knees and arch your back. An "arch" is a circular shape. It can describe an architectural feature, like some doorways or gates that have a circular area at the top. "Arch" also describes some parts of the body that take that shape. The middle part of a person's foot is known as "the arch" of the foot. "Arch" can be used as a verb to describe raising your eyebrows when something is interesting or surprising. And you can also "arch" your back, which means to bend it backward. Confusingly, it's also possible to describe bending your back in the other direction as "arching your back". But most of the time it means to bend it so that your shoulders move closer to your hips, and your stomach stretches. 17. Toasting the nuts really brings out their flavor! You made a really delicious banana nut bread. Your sister-in-law asks how you made it, and so you explain to her the recipe. You describe one step in the recipe like this. toasting (something) "Toasting" is a kind of cooking. It means cooking something with dry heat, usually in an oven or on a grill. You "toast" things like bread and nuts. (doing something) brings out (something) To "bring out" a quality means to make that quality stronger or easier to see, taste, etc. In the example above, the speaker says that toasting the nuts "brings out their flavor". That means that it makes the nuts taste better by increasing their natural flavor. Other examples of "bringing out" something include: Difficult situations like this really bring out the best in people. This is a chance for you to go wild and bring out your inner child for a day or two. Money brings out the worst in us. "Bring out" is also used quite often to talk about flavors in food, like in the example at top. 18. We're collecting canned goods and other non-perishable items to donate to a local homeless shelter. You've volunteering for a charity organization by standing outside a supermarket and asking for donations. A customer slows down as she walks by you, so she seems to be interested, and so you explain to her this. collect (donations) You can use the word "collect" to talk about getting money or items from people for things like: a charity. buying someone a gift together as a group. The phrase "take up" is also used in a similar way: Excuse me, we're taking up donations 接受捐赠 for the Haiti Relief Fund. Do you have a moment? However, "take up" only works with money. You can't "take up" canned goods. "Collect" works with both money and physical items. canned goods "Goods" are things that people buy. However, the word is only used in a few specific situations. One of those situations is in the phrase "canned goods", which means food that's in a can. You usually use the phrase "canned goods" when you're talking about: donating canned goods to someone. stocking up on canned goods in case of an emergency. non-perishable items The word "perishable" describes something that goes bad somewhat quickly, like vegetables, fruit, meat, and other fresh food. So "non-perishable items" are things that don't go bad quickly. Examples of non-perishable items are: canned goods. cereal. dried beans. crackers. nuts. food in jars. Like "canned goods", you usually talk about "perishable items" in the context of: donating canned goods to someone. stocking up on canned goods in case of an emergency. donate (something) to a homeless shelter 救助站 A "homeless shelter" is a place where homeless people can come to get food, a place to sleep, and sometimes other services like showers, counseling, and medical care. Homeless shelters are usually run by charities, churches, volunteer organizations, etc. "Donating" something to a homeless shelter means giving the organization money, food, or other things to help them out. You can also "donate your time". 19. Can you hold it steady for me? You're trying to change a light bulb in a light fixture that's high up. You don't have a ladder, so you're standing on a stool. You're a little worried that you'll fall, so you ask your girlfriend to hold the stool, and ask her like this. hold (something) steady 扶住, 扶着, 扶稳 When something is "steady", it means that it's not changing a lot. For example: They seem to have a steady relationship. The stock market has been steady this week. Be careful stepping on that. It's not steady 稳当, 不摇晃. 不晃来晃去的. So "holding ___ steady" means holding it so that it doesn't move around. You can hold a ladder steady, a stool that someone is standing on, a piece of wood that you're nailing, etc. 20. I'll have a chef’s salad, dressing on the side please. You're ordering lunch at a restaurant. You're on a diet, so you're trying to eat healthy. You order a salad but you want to put the dressing on it yourself so that you can control the amount and you say this. I'll have (something) This is one way to order food at a restaurant. Other ways include: I'd like (something). Can I get (something). Can I have (something). Of these, "I'll have ___" probably sounds the most confident and commanding. But any of them are OK to use in most dining situations. (something) on the side When you're ordering food at a restaurant, you can ask for dressing, sauces, ketchup, cheese, etc. "on the side". The restaurant will then separate them instead of mixing them with your food or putting them on top of your food. Often the sauce or condiment will come in its own little cup. 21. This is my first time going to Europe, so I'm super pumped. (someone) is pumped 激动万分 Being "pumped" means that you're really excited about something. "Pumped" is a slang expression. It's common in situations where you're talking about sports, music, movies, or other things that make people excited and enthusiastic. 22. I'd appreciate any feedback you can give me on the content, as well as the spelling and grammar. Every so often I'll have a dream where I'm being chased by some kind of monster. You're talking with a group of friends about your dreams. There is a recurring dream that happens to you sometimes. Every so often (something will happen) You can use this phrase to talk about things that sometimes happen. "Every so often" means that something happens again and again, but not very often. For example: I run into him in the city every so often. I don't eat sweets all that much, but every so often I'll get a craving for a bowl of ice cream. (something) where (clause) You might be surprised that the speaker uses the word "where" to describe a dream. A dream isn't a place, right? Actually, there's a more formal way to say this: Every so often I'll have a dream in which I'm being chased by some kind of monster. But in normal conversation, "where" replaces "in which", "at which", "on which", "about which", and so on. Here are a few more examples: I'm at the point where I can understand most of what's going on around me. I like watching movies where you don't have to think too hard. He bought one of those expensive coffee makers where you can precisely set the temperature of the water to a certain temperature. some kind of (something) The phrase "some kind of ___" can be used when you don't know exactly what you're talking about or you don't want to specify: What's this? Some kind of stew? I hear some kind of siren in the background. 23. Please note that these dates are tentative. You're in charge of planning a release schedule for the software that your team creates at work. You're sending the schedule for the next 6 months to a large group of people. You want everyone to know that the dates might change a little. dates are tentative "Tentative" dates are ones that might change. Other things that can be "tentative" are: tentative plans. a tentative answer. a tentative agreement. take tentative steps toward (something). 24. Hey, don't sweat it. You're having a party at your house. The guests were supposed to bring some food or drink for everyone to share. One of your friends came without anything. He's apologizing for not bringing anything, but you don't want him to worry and so you say this. Don't sweat it. This phrase means "don't worry about it". That meaning comes from the fact that, when people worry, they sweat. You can use "Don't sweat it" to calm down someone who's worried: A: I'm so nervous. B: Ah, don't sweat it. You'll do fine. You can also use it as a reply when someone thanks you: A: Thank you so much for your help. B: Don't sweat it. Be a little careful using "don't sweat it" in this way, though. It sounds like something that a person says to a close friend or someone who's lower in status, like an employee. 25. Your shoulders are so tense! You're giving your girlfriend a shoulder massage. The muscles in her shoulders feel hard and you this it's because she's stressed out, so you say this. (someone's muscles) are tense. When something is squeezed tightly, you can describe it as "tense". Things that can be "tense" include: someone's muscles. a rope that's being pulled in both directions. "Tense" muscles are hard from being squeezed tightly, usually because of stress. You can also describe a person's facial expressions as "tense". It means that someone looks worried, stressed out, or concentrated. For example, this sentence might appear in a novel: She bent closer, her expression tense 表情凝重 with concentration. Stressful or worrisome situations can be described as "tense", too. A: How was it? B: It was pretty tense. Jared yelled at some of the salespeople who hadn't hit their goals. 26. It's one building over from a little playground. You've invited a new friend over to your apartment. You're giving her directions to get there. You end by explaining where your apartment building is by saying this. (something) is one (something) over from (something) In the example above, the speaker's apartment building isn't right next door to the playground. It's next to the building which is next to the playground. That means that her building is "one building over from" it. You can use this expression to describe the location of anything that's arranged in a row. For example: She lives two doors over from me. There was shooting three blocks over from my house last week. See the woman sitting two seats over from Jimmy? That's the director. You can also include the direction: See the woman sitting two seats to the left of Jimmy? That's the director. a playground 游乐场 A "playground" is an outdoor area where children can play. It has things like slides, swings, merry-go-rounds, a sandbox, etc. 27. Is it just me, or was that a bit of a letdown? Is it just me, or (question)? Use this when you're complaining about something. You start your complaint with "Is it just me, or..." to find out if other people agree with your opinion: Is it just me, or is it hot in here? Is it just me, or has the writing on this show gone downhill this season? (something) was a letdown A "letdown" is something that wasn't as good as you expected it to be. Here are some things that might be letdowns: a movie that looked good in previews, but was boring when you watched it. an album by a singer that you used to like, but who has now changed her style. a restaurant that you read good reviews of, but didn't like when you went there. The phrase "___ was a letdown" is a little casual. A more formal alternative is "___ was disappointing." 28. There is a hurricane warning in effect 生效, 有效 throughout Delaware and southern New Jersey. a hurricane warning Some branches of the government monitor the weather, and release warnings when dangerous weather is likely to occur. If you watch or read the news, you might find out about: tornado warnings. tsunami warnings. flash flood warnings. By the way, "hurricanes" are big storms that happen in the Atlantic Ocean. In the Pacific Ocean, they're called typhoons. (something) is in effect The example above says that a hurricane warning "is in effect". That means that there is currently an active hurricane warning. Other things that can be "in effect" are laws, policies, rules, etc.: There's a new "no-bag" policy in effect at Spartan Stadium. It's supposed to prevent people bringing weapons into the stadium. Several states have laws in effect banning cell phone usage while driving. When a rule, law, or warning first begins to be in effect, you say that it was "put into effect": A ban on indoor smoking was put into effect in New York in 2003. (something is happening) throughout 全省, 全国, 全州, 全县, 里里外外, 全包括 (a location) If something happens "in" Delaware, that might mean that it's only in one specific city or one part of the state. But something that happens "throughout" Delaware is all over the state, or in several different locations spread across the state. Things can happen "throughout" a country, a state, a region, a company, an industry, a building, etc. You can also talk about things that happen "throughout" a time period: England and France repeatedly warred with each other throughout the Middle Ages. 29. His resignation definitely marks the end of an era for Ample. It sounds vaguely familiar 模模糊糊有点耳熟. You and a friend are going to have lunch together. She asks if you've heard of a restaurant called "Pedro's Cafe". The name reminds you of something, but you don't remember what kind of restaurant it is, and you can't remember if you've eaten there. You say this. (something) sounds vaguely familiar You can use the phrase "That sounds vaguely familiar" when someone mentions something that you've heard of, but don't know much about. For example, A: Have you heard of the term "cognitive dissonance"? B: That sounds vaguely familiar. The word "familiar" describes things that you know about or have experienced. "Vaguely" means "a little bit" or "kind of". Some other phrases that use "vaguely" include: (someone) is vaguely aware of (something). (something) seems vaguely threatening. 30. I don't think I'd be able to endure that kind of pain. "Enduring pain" means feeling the pain, but continuing on even so. If you can't "endure" a painful feeling, you might pass out, die, start crying, or ask for medicine to stop the pain. Other things that people might "endure" include: a boring class. hardships (like being poor). humiliation. 31. Hi. You've reached Misty. I'm not available to take your call right now, but please leave a message and I'll get back to you as soon as I can. You call a client at her office. She doesn't answer the phone. Instead, you get sent to her voice mail. This is her recorded message. You've reached (someone). Use this phrase to identify yourself on a telephone voice mail message. When you answer the phone in person, don't use this; it's too formal. Instead, say "This is ___." Hi Amy. This is Zack. (someone) is not available to (do something) When someone is "not available" to do something, it means that they can't do it; they're too busy, they have another appointment, or they're not allowed to do it. In telephone messages, the phrase "I'm not available to take your call" just means "I can't answer the phone now." 31. I'd like to cash this. Do I need to fill out a deposit slip or anything? You have a paycheck from your part-time job. You'd like to get cash instead of putting the money into your bank account. This is what you ask the teller at the bank. fill out (a form) A "form" is a document with blank lines or boxes that you write information into. Forms were originally printed on paper, but now forms are common on the Internet. You can see them whenever you sign up for a new website and have to enter your name, email address, and other information. To "fill out" a form means to write answers into the blank lines or boxes. Here are some words that you can use after "fill out": fill out an application. fill out paperwork. fill out a registration form. fill out a survey. cash (a check) "Cashing" a check means giving it to a bank, and getting the cash value of the check from them. You can "cash" a paycheck, a personal check, a tax-return check, etc. a deposit slip. A "slip" is like a form, but it's usually smaller than a full sheet of paper. Some examples of "slips" are: permissions slips (for school field trips, etc.). deposit slips. wire transfer slips. a pink slip (which is a piece of paper telling someone that they've been fired or laid off). "Deposit slips" are pieces of paper that you have to fill out when you're depositing money into a bank account. You write your name, the amount of money you're depositing, your account number, and so on. 32. He throws a mean curveball! You have a nephew who's in high school. You're proud of him because he's a good athlete, and the pitcher on his school's baseball team. You say this, bragging about him to a friend. He throws a mean curveball! (someone does) a mean (something) In the example above, the speaker wants to say that his nephew can throw curve balls really well. You can use the phrase "___ a mean ___" when you want to talk about something that a person is quite good at: I bake a mean apple pie! He plays a mean game of chess! She does a mean James Brown impression. You can't use this for everything. For example, "he drives a mean car" sounds really funny. It's usually used with "makes a mean ___", "does a mean ___" or "plays a mean game of ___". "A mean ___" sounds kind of tough and cool. That's because the word "mean" in this phrase is the version that means "not nice" or "cruel". throw a curve ball A "curve ball" is a kind of pitch in baseball. When you throw a curve ball, the ball doesn't travel in a straight line; it curves downward as it gets close to the batter. That makes the ball hard to hit. There's also a metaphorical meaning of "curve ball". People use it to talk about anything that was unexpected: Don't be surprised if they throw you a curve ball 冷枪暗弹 in the interview; they just want to see how well you respond under pressure. In this example, a "curve ball" means an unexpected question. 33. That's a drag 太糟糕了, 太不幸了, 太烦人了. You're talking to your friend on the phone. He tells you that he lost his wallet. You can imagine how annoying and difficult that is, so you say this, sympathetically. "That's a drag" means "That's too bad" or "That sucks". You say these expressions when someone tells you about bad things that have happened to them. You can use "That's a drag" to talk about situations that are kind of bad, but not too horrible. For example, here are some situations where "That's a drag" is a good response: Your friend says that she wasn't able to get tickets to the concert that she wanted to go to. Your coworker's car broke down, and he has to pay a thousand dollars to get it fixed. Your son's homework was deleted because his computer crashed. Now he has to do it again. For more serious situations, use a different expression. For example, if someone's father has passed away, you should say something like this: Oh, Steven. I'm so, so sorry to hear that. be a drag on somebody/something to make it hard for someone to make progress towards what they want. to slow down or limit the development of someone or something: She didn't want a husband who would be a drag on her career. Moreover, the excessive resort to public ownership is a drag on economic development. Maggie thinks marriage would be a drag on her career. Any slowdown in the economy is going to be a drag on the president's re-election campaign. a drag I. something or someone that is boring Don't be such a drag! Come to the party. II. 烦人事. 讨人厌的事. 缺点. something that is annoying and continues for a long time It's a major drag having to share a bathroom with four people. It's a real drag having to travel so far to work every day. 34. I don't want to burn any bridges. You've been offered a new job, but your new boss wants you to start immediately. You think that you need to give at least 3 weeks' notice at your old job. This is your explanation why. burn bridges 断了后路 "Burning bridges" is a metaphor for ruining your relationship with someone. Think about it this way: if an army crosses a bridge, and then burns the bridge when they're finished crossing, it's impossible for them to cross back over it later. In the same way, you might think it's OK to make your old bosses and coworkers angry when you leave a job. But one day you might need to ask a favor of them, get a job recommendation, or even get another job at that company again. If you've "burned bridges" with them, they won't help you in the future. People mostly talk about "burning bridges" when discussing coworkers, professors, business partners, and other professional relationships: They asked me to start immediately, but you know, I didn't want to burn any bridges with Logicorp, so I asked to give them a standard three weeks' notice. 35. Do not use if seal 封印 is broken. You're looking at a bottle of pain medicine in a drug store. It has plastic wrapped around the cap. You read this in the instructions on the side of the bottle. Beware of dog. Do not close. Please flush. Falling rocks ahead. Notices like these leave out objects ("this medicine"), "be" verbs ("are", "is", etc.) and articles ("the", "a"). break a seal A "seal" is something that keeps something closed. There's actually a wide range of things that can be called "seals": When you install something like a window into a new home, you have to use a substance to seal the area around the window. If you go diving in the ocean, there's a seal around the area of your mask where it touches your skin and doesn't allow any water to get in. In the Middle Ages, kings used to use wax to seal their letters. There are seals on lots of products. The seals show when someone has opened the product. "Breaking a seal" means opening up something that was closed and sealed. So, for example, if you open a sealed letter, you've "broken the seal". There's also a funny meaning to "breaking the seal". You can read about it on Urban Dictionary. 36. Fortunately the judge ruled in my favor. You once got sued by a customer of your home business. You're telling someone the story of what happened. You've explained all of the background information, and this was the result. (a judge or jury) ruled in (someone's) favor In a court case, a judge or jury decides who wins. To talk about the result of that decision, you say that they "ruled in (the winner's) favor". In the same way, an official decision by a judge or a committee is called "a ruling". The opposite of "ruling in someone's favor" is "ruling against" someone. 37. I'll warn you - It's still pretty damp. You and a friend are at a swimming pool. Your friend is about to get out of the pool, but he doesn't have a towel. You have one, but it's wet. You offer him the towel with this caveat. I'll warn you - (sentence) Use this phrase to let people know about a problem or weakness before they find it themselves. For example, if you're going to play on a softball team but you're not a good player, you can tell the other team members: I'll warn you - I'm not very good. You use this phrase so that people won't get disappointed or complain. a damp towel. The word "damp" means "a little wet", but it's more specialized. It's only used with a few other words. Here are the main ones: damp hair. damp air. a damp cloth. the ground is damp 潮湿的, 湿湿的. "Damp" also sounds a little literary, so you're more likely to read this word in a book than to hear it in daily conversation.

大全: other than, rather than. would rather, prefer to

1. other than (other than 后边跟动名词表示习惯性行为或者一般性行为, 表示特定的某次的行为用不定式, 或者名词) I. in addition to someone or something. The truth was known to no one other than herself. He doesn't eat pork, but other than that he'll eat just about anything. It was the greatest honor, other than getting accepted in heaven. Sam refused to discuss the argument, other than to say that Diane had called him 'gutless'. Are you studying any science subjects other than chemistry? II. except for someone or something I had no treatment other than taking two tablets every day for some years. I don't take these pills for anything other than/other than for colds. I don't do much during vacation other than to talk to my friends and to watch TV. She yells at me for lots of things other than for talking to my friends. I had no ambitions other than to have a happy life and be free. You use other than after a negative statement to say that the person, item, or thing that follows is the only exception to the statement. She makes no reference to any feminist work other than her own. The journey by road to Wolverhampton is not recommended to anyone other than the most experienced cyclist. none other (than) 不是别人, 正是 used for expressing surprise that a particular person, often someone famous, has done something or is connected with something The songwriters are none other than Sir Tim Rice and Sir Elton John. 2. rather than (后边跟动词原形或者动名词) used for saying that one thing is preferred to another or happens instead of another. Doug chose to quit rather than admit that he'd made a mistake. Rather than criticizing your husband, why not find out if there's something wrong? We want the matter settled sooner rather than later. I think you'd call it a lecture rather than a talk. Rather than go straight on to university why not get some work experience first? Bryson decided to quit rather than accept the new rules. We merely suggest or advise rather than give orders. 3. I would prefer it if spoken a. used to say that you wish a situation was different. Sales have gone down, and obviously we'd prefer it if that didn't happen. b. used when telling someone politely not to do something. I'd prefer it if you didn't 虚拟语气 smoke in front of the children. I'd prefer it if you would not insult my friends. I would prefer it if we had a bigger house, but we can't afford it.

prefer doing VS prefer to do something: a. prefer doing 用于表示一般性的偏好. When we are talking about general preferences, prefer is followed by verb-ing, thus: I prefer listening to music to watching TV. I'd rather listen to music than watch TV. b. prefer to do 和 would rather do 是一样的, 用于特定情况下的偏好. would rather 后边跟句子时是虚拟语气, 用过去式. 'd rather do something 和 prefer to do something rather than 是一样的 However, when we are talking about specifics, would rather is used as an alternative to would prefer to followed by an infinitive. Would rather is very common in spoken English and is often abbreviated to 'd rather. It is used in this form with all personal pronouns: I'd / you'd / he'd / she'd / we'd / they'd rather… Study these examples: Would you like to go out for dinner tonight? No, I think I'd rather eat at home / I'd prefer to eat at home. Would you rather drink beer or wine with the curry ~ I'd rather drink beer. What about you? They'd rather have the strawberries by themselves, but I'd prefer to have them with cream. c. would rather 后边跟原形. prefer 后跟不定式. Note that would rather is followed by a bare infinitive without to, whereas prefer requires to + infinitive. Would rather (but not would prefer to prefer 后边好像一般不跟that句子, 而是用 would prefer it if, 如果跟句子的话也是要虚拟语气的) is also followed by a past tense when we want to involve other people in the action, even though it has a present or future meaning. Study the following: Shall we go out for dinner tonight? No, I'd rather we ate at home, if you don't mind. Shall I write to Harry and tell him that we've sold the car? I'd rather you didn't. My mother would rather we caught the bus, rather than walk home after the party. I would prefer it if spoken a. used to say that you wish a situation was different. Sales have gone down, and obviously we'd prefer it if that didn't happen. b. used when telling someone politely not to do something. I'd prefer it if you didn't smoke in front of the children. d. would rather 和 would prefer to 后边都可以接rather than do something. Rather than means instead of and can be used in combination with would prefer to and would rather. Study the following and note the intricacies of the verb forms: Rather than lose precious sleep discussing it now, I think we should go to bed and talk about it in the morning. My mother would prefer us to email each other once a week, rather than spend half an hour on the phone every night. My mother would rather we emailed each other once a week instead of spending half an hour on the phone every night. In fact, she insists on it. So we'd better do that, I suppose. e. 'd better Note that 'd better, which is similar structurally to 'd rather, is used to suggest necessary action. In this case however, 'd is the abbreviated form of had, not would. Like 'd rather, 'd better is followed by the bare infinitive without to. Study the following: We'd better not be late for the Ambasador's party. It would be unforgivable to arrive late. You'd better phone him and tell him that you're not going. They'd better buy me a Christmas present or I shall never forgive them. Note that it is sometimes slightly threatening in tone, as in the last example. Had better is always more urgent than should or ought to and has the same force as I would advise you strongly to…. or We must / we mustn't….

Prefer 的用法:

 Expressing preference: We use prefer to say we like one thing or activity more than another. We can use a prepositional phrase with to when we compare two things or actions:

I prefer tea to coffee.

We prefer going by ferry to flying. We don't use than after prefer:

She prefers books to magazines.

Not: She prefers books than magazines.

I have to admit, I do prefer bottled water. You're talking with a friend who's very serious about doing things to improve the environment. You mostly agree with him, but he mentions that bottled water causes a lot of pollution. You always drink bottled water, so you say this. prefer (something) To "prefer" something means to like it more than something else. This is used to compare two things. In the example at top, the speaker compares bottled water with tap water. If you want to name both of the things you're compared, you say: I prefer bottled water to tap water. Or I prefer bottled water over tap water. 

We can use a to-infinitive or an -ing form after prefer. A to-infinitive is more common.

She's not keen on coffee. She prefers to drink tea. (or She prefers drinking tea to coffee.)

Would prefer: We use would prefer or 'd prefer, followed by a to-infinitive or a noun, to talk about present and future preferences:

I'd prefer to go by myself.

Would you prefer a quieter restaurant?

She'd prefer not to drive at night.

When we want to say that we would like to do one thing more than another, we can introduce the second thing with rather than, followed by an infinitive without to:

I'd prefer to go skiing this year rather than go on a beach holiday.

When we are talking about our preferences for the actions of another person, we can use would prefer + object pronoun + to-infinitive or would prefer it if + past simple:

They'd prefer us to come later. (or They'd prefer it 才好呢 if we came later.)

Would you prefer me to drive? (or Would you prefer it if I drove?)

Typical errors 典型错误:
We use a to-infinitive after prefer, not an infinitive without to:

I prefer to drive.

Not: I prefer drive.

Whenever I have time I like to read but I prefer not to read in the evening.

Not: … but I prefer not read in the evening.

We make comparisons using to or rather than, not just than:

A lot of young people prefer computer games to football. (or A lot of young people prefer computer games rather than football.)

Not: A lot of young people prefer computer games than football.

would rather 的用法:  would rather 的变形: would much rather do sth. would sooner do sth. would just as soon do sth.

1.  Would rather We use would rather or 'd rather to talk about preferring one thing to another. Would rather has two different constructions. (The subjects are underlined in the examples.)

same subject (+ base form)

different subject (+ past simple clause)

I'd rather stay at home than go out tonight. I'd rather you stayed at home tonight.

I'd rather not go out tonight. I'd rather you didn't go out tonight.

In negative sentences with a different subject, the negative comes on the clause that follows, not on would rather:

She'd rather you didn't phone after 10 o'clock.

Not: She wouldn't rather you phoned after 10 o'clock.

不定式的情况: When the subject is the same person in both clauses, we use would rather (not) followed by the base form of the verb:

We'd rather go on Monday.

Not: We'd rather to go … or We'd rather going …

More than half the people questioned would rather have a shorter summer break and more holidays at other times.

I'd rather not fly. I hate planes.

过去式: When we want to refer to the past we use would rather + have + -ed form (perfect infinitive without to):

She would rather have spent the money on a holiday. (The money wasn't spent on a holiday.)

I'd rather have seen it at the cinema than on DVD. (I saw the film on DVD.)

宾语从句的情况 (虚拟语气): When the subjects of the two clauses are different, we often use the past simple to talk about the present or future, and the past perfect to talk about the past:

I would rather they did something about it instead of just talking about it. (past simple to talk about the present or future)

Would you rather I wasn't honest with you? (past simple to talk about the present or future)

Not: Would you rather I'm not honest with you? or … I won't be honest with you?

I'd rather you hadn't rung me at work. (past perfect to talk about the past)

2. Much rather: We can use much with would rather to make the preference stronger. In speaking, we stress much:

I'd much rather make a phone call than send an email.

She'd much rather they didn't know about what had happened.

Short responses: I'd rather not
We often use I'd rather not as a short response to say no to a suggestion or request:

A: Do you want to go for a coffee?

B: I'd rather not, if you don't mind.

3. Would sooner, would just as soon: We use the phrases would sooner and would just as soon when we say that we prefer one thing to another thing. They mean approximately the same as would rather:

I don't really want to go back to France again this year. I'd sooner go to Spain.

Thanks for the invitation, but, if you don't mind, we'd just as soon stay at home and watch it all on TV.

Would sooner is more common than would just as soon. However, would rather is more common than both of these phrases.

Would rather, would sooner: typical errors
We don't use would rather or would sooner with an -ing form or a to-infinitive:

I don't need a lift, thanks. I'd rather walk.

Not: I'd rather to walk. or I'd rather walking.

When we use not referring to a different subject, we attach not to the second clause, not to would rather or would sooner:

I'd rather they didn't tell anyone.

Not: I'd rather not they told anyone.