arbitrate仲裁 VS arbitrary武断; use VS usage; discreet VS discrete; sanitary VS hegienic; She'll be right;

用法学习: 1. inspired adj. I. of extraordinary quality, as if arising from some external creative impulse. excellent, or resulting from inspiration: an inspired performance/choice. an inspired suggestion/guess. "they had to thank the goalkeeper for some inspired saves". II. (of air or another substance) that is breathed in. "inspired air must be humidified". I was thinking, if it isn't too much trouble 不是太麻烦的话, I'd like to get your opinion about my paper. Thank you. It would be an honor. Oh. Uh, great. Well, actually, I don't need that. I hacked into your e-mail account and read it. And what did you think? Well, first, I think the fact that you use your birthday as a password is embarrassing. Mmm. Thank you. Second, um I thought your paper was inspired. Oh, well, that that means a lot to me. drawn to (something) like a moth to a flame 飞蛾扑火 Eagerly drawn or attracted to something. (Bright lights often attract moths.) I had always liked art, and once I got to college, I was drawn to textile design like a moth to a flame My toddler is drawn to anything that could be remotely dangerous like a moth to a flame. Customers were drawn to the sale like a moth to a flame. They came from all over and bought up everything in the store. 2. Glitter 亮粉 (glitter tube) is also used by nail artists and make-up artists to make statements about femininity and beauty standards. The flashy, sparkling nature of glitter allows users to push standard ideas of beauty and what is and isn't considered "excessive" in terms of make-up. Glitter is usually associated with nightlife and not professionalism, but wearing it in different settings can push these boundaries. Glitter is also used for glitter bombing, which is an act of protest in which activists throw glitter on people at public events. Glitter bombers have frequently been motivated by, though not limited to, their targets' opposition to same-sex marriage. Some legal officials argue glitter bombing is technically assault and battery. It is possible for glitter to enter the eyes or nose and cause damage to the cornea or other soft tissues potentially irritating them or leading to infection, depending on the size of the glitter. Whether a prosecutor would pursue the charges depends on a number of factors. 3. infirm [ɪnˈfɜː(r)m] I. weak because of old age or illness. A person who is infirm is weak or ill, and usually old. ... her aging, infirm husband. a. the infirm people who are infirm. We are here to protect and assist the weak and infirm. In spite of his age and infirmity, he still writes plays and novels. Older people often try to ignore their infirmities. Critics also note that children appear to be far less likely to test positive for the virus, and say the government should focus instead on the elderly and infirm 身体弱的, 老弱病残 who account for most of the deaths. frail adj. I. Someone who is frail is not very strong or healthy. She lay in bed looking particularly frail. II. Something that is frail is easily broken or damaged. The frail craft rocked as he clambered in. 病毒报道: In Britain, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said it was "highly likely" the number of coronavirus cases in Britain will grow. There have been 51 confirmed so far. His government revealed a 25-page "action plan" for a worst-case scenario on Tuesday, which included calling retired doctors and nurses back to work and stopping police investigation into minor crimes – though Britain is yet to introduce some of the preventative measures 预防措施 adopted by European countries, such as prohibiting large gatherings 大范围聚集, 禁止大型集会. 4. constitute I. 等同于. 相当于, 算是. linking verb if something constitutes something else, it is considered to be that thing. If something constitutes a particular thing, it can be regarded as being that thing. Testing patients without their consent would constitute a professional and legal offence. The vote hardly constitutes a victory. What constitutes abuse? This letter does not constitute an offer of employment. The invasion constitutes a clear violation of our sovereignty. II. linking verb if several people or things constitute something, they combine to form it. If a number of things or people constitute something, they are the parts or members that form it. Volunteers constitute more than 95% of The Center's work force. one of the countries that constitute the European Union. III. transitive ​usually passive to formally establish an organization, institution, government, etc. and give it the authority to operate. When something such as a committee or government is constituted, it is formally established and given authority to operate. On 6 July, a People's Revolutionary Government was constituted. The accused will appear before a specially-constituted military tribunal. 5. rebuff 回绝, 拒绝 to refuse to talk to someone or do what they suggest. If you rebuff someone or rebuff a suggestion that they make, you refuse to do what they suggest. His proposals have already been rebuffed by the Prime Minister. The results of the poll dealt a humiliating rebuff to Mr Jones. Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel was rebuffed by her interior minister when she extended her hand to greet him. 病毒: Many stores in New York city have run out of sanitary supplies ( sanitary ​adj [ˈsænɪˌteri] I. relating to people's health, especially to the system of supplying water and dealing with human waste. Sanitary means concerned with keeping things clean and healthy, especially by providing a sewage system and a clean water supply. Sanitary conditions 卫生条件, 卫生状况 are appalling. The vast majority live in tin shacks without electricity, clean water or sanitary facilities 卫生设施. Overcrowding has now been added to poor sanitary conditions. II. a sanitary process or method is one that keeps things healthy and clean, especially by killing bacteria. a simple sanitary procedure for dealing with household waste. III. If you say that a place is not sanitary, you mean that it is not very clean. It's not the most sanitary place 干净的地方, 卫生的所在 one could swim. hygienic ​adj US & UK [haɪˈdʒinɪk] US only [haɪˈdʒenɪk] clean and not likely to cause illness or disease. hygienic conditions/supplies.  Something that is hygienic is clean and unlikely to cause illness. ...a white, clinical-looking kitchen that was easy to keep clean and hygienic. clinical [ˈklɪnɪk(ə)l] I. 临床的. ​only before noun involving working with people who are sick, rather than in a laboratory. Clinical means involving or relating to the direct medical treatment or testing of patients. The first clinical trials were expected to begin next year. ...a clinical psychologist. She was diagnosed as being clinically depressed. It has been clinically proved that it is better to stretch the tight muscles first. clinical practice: Undergraduate training is divided between study and clinical practice. a. relating to an illness. clinical signs/symptoms 临床的: They may be unaware that they have any clinical symptoms. II. not showing any excitement or emotion. You use clinical to describe thought or behaviour which is very logical and does not involve any emotion. All this questioning is so analytical [ˌænəˈlɪtɪk(ə)l] and clinical 冷冰冰的, 完全符合规矩的, 不掺杂个人情感的, 照章办事的, 公事公办的 – it kills romance. He told us the story in a cold and clinical manner. III. done in a perfect way or exactly according to the rules, but not in a way that is original or interesting. The Yankees' win was clinical rather than spectacular. by the book 公事公办, 严格, 不留余地, 照章办事 by the numbers following the rules exactly. (Alludes to a (numbered) book of rules. go ~; do something ~; play ~; run something~. The judge of the contest ran things strictly by the rules and disqualified us on a small technicality. Everyone insisted that we go by the numbers and not accept the proposal. frigid [ˈfrɪdʒɪd] I. extremely formal and unfriendly. If you describe the atmosphere in a place or someone's behaviour as frigid, you mean that it is very formal and unfriendly. 态度生硬的, 公事公办的 (prim and proper). 冷淡的. 正式的. He presided at all councils of ministers, where the atmosphere could be frigid on occasions. her frigid tones. prim and proper (idiomatic) prudish, straight-laced. Having very traditional, morally conservative beliefs and behavior. I've never dated someone who is so prim and proper before. I'm not sure how he's going react when he meets my family! She's so prim and proper that I bet she's never even jaywalked before. II. a frigid woman does not enjoy having sex. If a woman is frigid, she finds it difficult to become sexually aroused. Frigid is often used to show disapproval. My husband says I am frigid. ...an inability to experience orgasm (often called frigidity). III. formal extremely cold. Frigid means extremely cold. A snowstorm hit the West today, bringing with it frigid temperatures. The water was too frigid to allow him to remain submerged for long. prim and proper 公事公办, 不留情面, 不留余地 (idiomatic) prudish, straight-laced. Having very traditional, morally conservative beliefs and behavior. I've never dated someone who is so prim and proper before. I'm not sure how he's going react when he meets my family! She's so prim and proper that I bet she's never even jaywalked before. hard-headed I. 不讲人情的, 铁面无私的. 无情的. able to make judgments and decisions in a practical way, without being influenced by emotions. You use hard-headed to describe someone who is practical and determined to get what they want or need, and who does not allow emotions to affect their actions. ...a hard-headed and shrewd businesswoman. They are taking a hard-headed commercial decision. II. unwilling to change your mind or your behavior.  This was a decisive, unexpected move that perhaps suggests she's more assertive 有主见的, 知道自己想要什么的, 坚定的 and businesslike ( hard-headed: 公事公办的, 不讲人情的) than one might have expected. stiff adj. I. 僵硬的. If you are stiff or part of your body is stiff, your muscles hurt when they are moved: Sitting still at a computer terminal all day can give you a stiff neck. II. not easily bent or moved: The handle on this door is rather stiff. The man's body was (as) stiff as a board when it was found in the snow. III. behaving in a way that is formal and not relaxed: The general is a tall man with steel spectacles and a stiff 公事公办, 有一说一的, pompous manner. IV. a stiff breeze/wind: a strong wind. a stiff drink, brandy, gin, etc: an alcoholic drink that is very strong: A stiff whisky - that's what I need. A stiff price is very expensive: We had to pay a stiff membership fee to join the health club. adv. very much, or to a great degree: I got frozen stiff (= very cold) waiting at the bus stop. I was scared stiff when I heard someone moving around upstairs. v. to not pay someone money that you owe them: She stiffed the cab driver. ) such as hand sanitiser, masks and antibacterial wipes. As the public and governments grapple with understanding Covid-19 and how to curb its spread (contain the spread) 控制传播, 限制传播, sales of hand sanitiser gel have soared. In the UK, some supermarkets have already run out and Boots is rationing 限制购买, 限购 purchases to two bottles a customer. But is hand gel really effective against coronavirus? Hygiene experts 卫生专家, the NHS and Public Health England all agree that to kill most viruses, a hand sanitiser requires at least 60% alcohol content (most contain 60-95%). For those with sensitive skin, there are now options that don't contain alcohol 不含酒精, 不包含酒精. Sally Bloomfield, a professor at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, says that viruses are much more resistant to disinfectants 消毒剂 than bacteria. Luckily, she says, coronavirus is an envelope virus, meaning it has a coating around it which the alcohol can attack, thereby eliminating the threat. 6. 疫情控制: The message was echoed by global health officials, who said they were encouraged that even in some countries that had taken far less aggressive measures than China's to contain the spread, the virus remains largely in check. Because the virus is not transmitted as easily as the flu, "it offers us a glimmer. ( noun I. a soft weak light that is not steady. II. a very slight feeling or look that is not easily noticed. There was a glimmer of amusement in his eyes. a glimmer​/​ray of hope  a very small sign that something might improve or succeed The transplant offers Lucy and her parents a new glimmer of hope. ). that this virus can be suppressed and contained," said Dr Mike Ryan, the WHO's emergencies chief. The worst-hit 受损最严重的 places outside China were South Korea, Iran and Italy. Pro basketball and volleyball games are being played in thoroughly disinfected 消毒过的 arenas with no spectators. The Islamic Republic confirmed 2,336 cases and 77 deaths, but many believe the true number is larger. Its reported caseload 患病总数 surged more than 250 per cent in just 24 hours. Italy's caseload rose to 2,502, including 79 deaths – a figured that doubled in 24 hours, and the highest outside of China. 7. fireside chat 火边闲聊 I. an informal conversation. It's 30 years since the leaders of the industrialised west gathered for a quiet 'fireside chat'. II. an informal broadcast by the president or another politician. The Queen agreed to meet Harry for the extraordinary fireside chat to clear the air about his and Meghan's imminent royal departure after a request from the Duke. A royal source said: “The Queen had a lot to talk to Harry about and this was the ideal time for them to both say their piece (say your piece (speak one's mind) 说出心声, 坦诚心事, 说说心里话, 吐露心里话, 心中所想, 开诚布公的谈谈, 好好聊聊, 好好谈谈 to say what you really think about something. If you say your piece, you say everything you want to say about a particular matter without being interrupted, although people may be wanting to express opposing views. I'll answer your questions when I've said my piece. Right, I've said my piece, so now you know what I think.) Sunday was the first time the Queen has had the chance to talk to Harry on his own and really find out what his plans are. It was a much more relaxed environment and they were both able to speak their mind (= say one's piece). The cost of security is something that still needs to be resolved. But Harry is also a much-loved grandson who she has always doted on. wiki: The fireside chats were a series of evening radio addresses given by U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt (known colloquially as "FDR") between 1933 and 1944. Roosevelt spoke with familiarity to millions of Americans about the promulgation ( promulgate [ˈprɑməlˌɡeɪt] I. to make an idea or belief known to as many people as possible. II. to make an official announcement introducing a law or rule. If people promulgate a new law or a new idea, they make it widely known. The shipping industry promulgated a voluntary code. If a new law is promulgated by a government or national leader, it is publicly approved or made official. A new constitution was promulgated last month. ...the promulgation of the constitution. ) of the Emergency Banking Act in response to the banking crisis, the recession, New Deal initiatives, and the course of World War II. On radio, he was able to quell rumors and explain his policies. His tone 语气 and demeanor 做派 communicated self-assurance 让人放心 during times of despair and uncertainty. Roosevelt was regarded as an effective communicator on radio, and the fireside chats kept him in high public regard throughout his presidency. Their introduction was later described as a "revolutionary experiment with a nascent media platform." The term "fireside chat" was inspired by a statement by Roosevelt's press secretary, Stephen Early, who said that the president liked to think of the audience as a few people seated around his fireside. Listeners were able to picture FDR in his study, in front of the fireplace, and could imagine they were sitting beside him. 8. discreet [dɪˈskriːt] I. 谨慎的. 不乱说话的. careful not to say anything that is secret or that could upset someone. If you are discreet, you are polite and careful in what you do or say, because you want to avoid embarrassing or offending someone. Harry discreetly walked from his Frogmore Cottage home to Windsor Castle for his chat with the Queen. Harry, 35, had discreetly strolled from his Frogmore Cottage home in Windsor Home Park to the castle, where he and the Queen shared a light lunch and tea as they discussed his future. They were gossipy and not always discreet. He followed at a discreet distance. I took the phone, and she went discreetly into the living room. She's very discreet and loyal. II. unlikely to attract attention. They followed at a discreet distance. III. 低调的. 不引人注意的. 不招摇的. 不张扬的 (understated) small and not very noticeable. If you describe something as discreet, you approve of it because it is small in size or degree, or not easily noticed. She wore discreet jewellery. discreet gold earrings. IV. If you are discreet about something you are doing, you do not tell other people about it, in order to avoid being embarrassed or to gain an advantage. We were very discreet about the romance. She's making a few discreet inquiries with her mother's friends. Everyone tried discreetly to find out more about him. understated ​adjective showing approval not trying to impress people or to attract their attention, and therefore attractive or effective. She dressed with understated elegance 低调的奢华. discrete [dɪˈskriːt] separate. Discrete ideas or things are separate and distinct from each other. ...instruction manuals that break down jobs into scores of discrete steps. discrete categories/units. 9. hot commodity 热门货, 热门商品 someone or something that is highly valued or in much demand. an actor who is a hot commodity in Hollywood right now. If you've been in a supermarket or even just on social media in the last 24 hours, you'll be aware toilet paper is a hot commodity in Australia at the moment. On Tuesday evening, the radio host shared a photo of her two remaining rolls, admitting she was feeling unnerved about her ability to restock(unnerve to make someone nervous or frightened. ). The mother of one then listed (in emojis) some alternatives for when her dwindling stash eventually runs out: a shower, newspaper, cash, and, "if times get really bad", a bare hand. Emdur also posted a screenshot of a webpage explaining that "corn husks 玉米皮 were the earliest toilet paper.". A "hot property(stolen goods)" is one that many people want to buy. It is highly desirable. A person who is a "hot property" is one that is at the peak of his career. An actor who is a hot property, for example, would be one that is highly sought after and well paid. usage I. 用法. uncountable ​linguistics the way that words are used by people when they speak and write their language. Usage is the way in which words are actually used in particular contexts, especially with regard to their meanings. The word 'undertaker' had long been in common usage. He was a stickler for the correct usage of English. There are some major differences between British and American usage. in common usage: technical terms that are now in common usage. a. countable a particular meaning of a word. A usage is a meaning that a word has or a way in which it can be used. It's very definitely a usage which has come over to Britain from America. This usage was first recorded in the 19th century. II. uncountable the process of using something. Usage is the degree to which something is used or the way in which it is used. Parts of the motor wore out because of constant usage 经常使用. If your water usage 用量, 用水 is very small, it may be worthwhile opting for a meter. We charge a monthly usage fee 使用费 of £6. a. 用量. the amount of something that you use. use noun. I. singular/ uncountable the act of using something. use of: the use 使用 of resources/technology/computers. Farmers are reducing the use 减少使用 of pesticides on food crops. Their unnecessary use of force has endangered peace efforts. II. 用途. countable/uncountable a way of using something These rollers have a variety of manufacturing uses. use of: This is not the best use of your talents. use for: I kept hoping to find a use for it. If you run out of toilet paper, Married at First Sight alumnus Ryan Gallagher also chimed in, quipping: "Finally a use 用途 for odd socks 落单的袜子." III. uncountable the right, an opportunity, or permission to use something. have the use of something 使用权, 使用许可: We can have the use of the hall every Thursday. for the use of someone 供使用 (=only for them to use): The pool was built for the exclusive use of residents. IV. uncountable the ability to use a part of your body or mind. lose the use of something: He lost the use of his legs in a car accident. V. countable a meaning of a word, or a way of speaking or writing a word. This use 用法 is now fairly common among young people. namecheck to mention the name of a person, company or product to give them publicity, to show that you know them, or in order to thank them. I met so many wonderful people yesterday and I can't namecheck all of them. They namecheck Mortal Kombat characters a lot. On a more practical level, Brendan Fevola suggested baby wipes (to replace toilet paper), while Marni Little and Judd both mentioned ordering toilet paper online — with Judd name-checking eco-friendly company 'Who Gives a Crap' . However, the Aussie-founded company has now confirmed it, too, has sold out of product, so there goes that option for now. there goes — used to express the destruction or failure of something. used when you are losing something, for example an opportunity or money, as a result of something that has just happened. There go our chances of winning the championship. "there goes my career". used for expressing disappointment that something has failed, has been lost, or has been destroyed. Well, there goes any hope that he'll call me again. 10. defy I. If you defy someone or something that is trying to make you behave in a particular way, you refuse to obey them and behave in that way. This was the first (and last) time that I dared to defy 抵抗, 抗旨不尊, 不服从, 不遵从, 不听从 my mother. Nearly eleven-thousand people have been arrested for defying the ban on street trading. to refuse to obey a person, decision, law, situation, etc.: It is rare to see children openly defying their teachers. A few workers have defied the majority decision and gone into work despite the strike. The fact that aircraft don't fall out of the sky always seems to me to defy (= act against) the law of gravity. A forest fire raging in southern California is defying (= is not changed by) all attempts to control it. II. defy sb to do sth. If you defy someone to do something, you challenge them to do it when you think that they will be unable to do it or too frightened to do it. to tell someone to do something that you think will be impossible: I defy you to prove your accusations. I defy you to tell where I've painted over the scratch on my car. I defy you to read this book and not feel motivated to change. He looked at me as if he was defying me to argue. III. If something defies description or understanding, it is so strange, extreme, or surprising that it is almost impossible to understand or explain. to be extreme or very strange and therefore impossible to believe, describe, or explain: defy belief/description/explanation 难以描述, 无从描述, 难以置信. The chaos at the airport defies description. The skill of the craftsman who made it defies description. It's a devastating and barbaric act that defies all comprehension. defy one's age / the years 冻龄 If you say that someone defies their age, or defies the years, you mean that their appearance or behaviour suggests that they are younger than they really are. 11. the thin/small end of the wedge (idiomatic) Something that if allowed or accepted to a small degree would lead to systematic encroachment. the beginning of a harmful development: Identity cards for students could be the thin end of the wedge - soon everyone might have to carry identification. The MP told parliament that legalising cannabis would be the thin end of the wedge. give them an inch and they'll take a mile 得寸进尺 Granting someone a limited concession will encourage them to take greater liberties. said about someone who has been given a small amount of power or freedom to do something, and then has tried to get a lot more. A slippery slope argument (SSA), in logic, critical thinking, political rhetoric, and caselaw, is often viewed as a logical fallacy in which a party asserts that a relatively small first step leads to a chain of related events culminating in some significant (usually negative) effect. camel's nose: Do not allow a camel to put his nose under the edge of your tent, for soon you will have a camel in your tent. A situation where the permitting of some small act will lead to a larger undesirable act or circumstance. get one's foot in the door (idiomatic) To initiate contact or a relationship; to gain access, especially to an entry-level job. Etymology:  Probably from a practice attributed to door-to-door salesmen of placing a foot in the opening of a prospective customer's door, thereby preventing the person from closing the door until the conclusion of the sales pitch. foot-in-the-door technique = door-in-the-face technique 先骗上船再说, 先上勾再上吊 (psychology) A compliance tactic that involves getting a person to agree to a large request by first having them agree to a modest request. ambit claim 要高价, 讨价还价时的策略, 高走低开( ambit 范围 [ˈæmbɪt] the range within which something, especially a rule or law, is effective or has power. the range or limits of the influence of something: They believe that all the outstanding issues should fall within the ambit of the talks. Her case falls within the ambit of moral law. ): An "ambit claim" refers to a broad, often exaggerated, initial demand made with the expectation of eventually negotiating a more reasonable outcome. It's a tactic used in bargaining where the initial demands are much higher than what is realistically expected to be accepted, allowing for room to compromise and settle on a final agreement. an extravagant initial demand made in expectation of an eventual counter-offer and compromise. In negotiation, an ambit claim is an initial demand made over and above what is expected in counter-offers and settlement. In negotiation, an ambit claim is an extravagant initial demand made in expectation of an eventual counter-offer and compromise. In labor union negotiations, this is called a Blue Sky demand( blue-sky 天马行空的, 不切实际的 using the imagination to think of ideas that do not yet have practical uses or make money. of or denoting theoretical research without regard to any future application of its result a blue-sky project. blue-sky research. blue-sky thinking. blue-sky thinking 天马行空的想法 = blue-sky ideas fanciful; impractical. ways of thinking about a subject or dealing with a problem that are new and original but may not always be practical: What we need at the moment is specialist knowledge and implementation rather than blue-sky thinking. blue-sky laws a state law regulating the trading of securities: intended to protect investors from fraud. laws that exist in US states to prevent people from trading shares on the stock market in a dishonest way: Blue sky laws, so named because they focussed on the sale of issues that had the value of blue sky, related only to state-issued securities. a blue-sky stock having dubious value; not financially sound. ). lowball: I. at a level that is unfairly low. lowball bid/offer/price 低报价 The board issued a statement to make it clear that they would not consider any lowball offers. II. to calculate something at a price or level that is unfairly low. The campaign accused insurance companies of using computer programs designed to lowball claims and increase company profits. verb. I. to deliberately estimate a lower price for (a service or merchandise) than one intends to charge. to lowball the cost of a move. II. to give a false estimate or bid for. III. to so understate (a price, etc.). highball a drink that consists of a small quantity of a spirit (= a strong alcoholic drink) mixed with a larger quantity of a mixer (= a drink without alcohol), and ice, served in a tall glass. A highball is an alcoholic drink consisting of liquor such as whiskey or brandy mixed with soda water or ginger ale and served with ice in a tall glass. ...a bourbon highball. wiki: This is a tactic for sellers, where you make your first offer as high possible without completely putting off the customer. This can be helped by determining what constitutes a reasonable range of prices, so do your research beforehand to find the buyer's zone of acceptability, then start at, or even above, the top of their range. Be careful about asking the other person what they will offer, as their first bid anchors the discussion, quite possibly on the low side (although if they seem particularly keen to settle, asking them might give you a pleasant surprise). Example: A child who wants a parent to fund a night out starts by asking for about three times as much as they really want. When selling goods, a market trader starts with a high price. He then reduces the price without being bargained with, using excuses about being kind, needing to sell everything today and so on. An estate agent takes buyers to houses that they cannot afford. This, however, raises their desires and the house they eventually buy is more expensive than they had anticipated. The low-ball 出超低价, 报低价 is a persuasion, negotiation, and selling technique. When used by buyer, the low-ball is an offer for goods or services far lower than the price the buyer is willing to pay, made in the hope that the seller will at least counter-offer a price lower than the original asking price. Sellers looking to maximize profit but expecting would-be buyers to haggle may conversely make a "high-ball" offer and/or asking price. Eg: A car buyer offers an unreasonably low price to a dealer, hoping to settle for a fair discount. When a seller makes a low-ball offer this means an item or service is offered at a lower price than what is needed actually for the desired profit margin to be realized. The seller makes the offer with the intent of quickly raising the price in order to increase profits and/or with the intent of selling would-be buyers additional, more profitable products and services. An explanation for the effect is provided by cognitive dissonance theory. If a person is already enjoying the prospect of an excellent deal and the future benefits of the item or idea, then backing out would create cognitive dissonance, which is prevented by playing down the negative effect of the "extra" costs. The converse offer from a buyer, a "high-ball" offer, is an offer at a price the buyer hopes is not quickly accepted, made with the intention of being replaced with a reduced price to pressure a reluctant seller. Eg: Airlines offer cheap base fares but charge high fees for baggage, seat selection, and meals. 12. She'll be right (often followed by a friendly term of address such as mate) is a frequently used idiom in Australian and New Zealand culture that expresses the belief that "whatever is wrong will right itself with time", which is considered to be either an optimistic or apathetic outlook. The term can also be used to refer to a situation or object which is not perfect but is good enough to fulfil its purpose. In this usage, "she" represents everything, allowing the phrase to be used both in circumstances of extreme hardship and in casual speech referring to everyday events. Related terms also used with the same meaning include She'll be bananas (Australia) and She's good (New Zealand). In recent years, the term has taken on a less than flattering connotation, with "a she'll-be-right attitude 对付着过, 忍辱负重, 忍忍就好, 无所谓, 得过且过, 忍辱偷生, 不抗争, 不上进" referring to a willingness to accept a low-quality or makeshift situation rather than seek a more desirable solution. 13. staple noun. I. a small piece of wire that you press through pieces of paper with a small object called a stapler so that the ends of the wire bend over and fasten the pieces of paper together. a. a small piece of metal shaped like a U with pointed ends that you force into a surface to hold something in place. II. an important product, especially a food, that people eat or use regularly. The shops are running out of staples 主食 such as rice and cooking oil. A spokesperson for Woolworths confirmed some stores were experiencing "partial stock shortages" due to an increase in demand for long life pantry items and household staples (essential items 生活必需品). a. 常备品. 常见用品. 常品. a regular and important part or feature of something. The black dress was an enduring staple of Diana's wardrobe. staple diet I. the things that someone uses or receives most regularly. the television viewer's staple diet of soaps and talk shows. II. the main food or foods that a person or animal eats regularly. the ermine's 白鼬 staple diet of rats and mice. Italians eat a lot of pasta as part of their staple diet 日常饮食. (stoat, also known as the ermine [ˈɜːrmɪn] 白鼬, short-tailed weasel.) staple gun a tool used for putting large heavy staples into wood or brick. staple adj. used for describing the products, especially foods, that are the most basic and important for a particular place or group of people. Potatoes are a staple element of our diet. staple verb to fasten pieces of paper together with a staple. 14. 抢购Woolworths to enforce buying limits 配给. 配额 ( ration [ˈræʃ(ə)n] I. to control the supply of something such as food so that people are allowed only a particular amount. During the strike, gas had to be rationed. II. to allow someone to have only a small amount of something. I've rationed myself to one candy bar a week. noun. I. countable a limited amount of something, especially food, that you are allowed to have, for example when there is not much available or when someone else is controlling it. They cut his daily ration of bread and water. II. rations plural amounts of food that are provided for people who do not have enough or for people such as soldiers. The organization will provide refugees with emergency rations. your ration of something someone's ration of something such as bad luck is the amount that they are likely to have in their life. ration out to divide something among people so that each one gets a small amount. With only one PC in the classroom, the teacher has to ration out computer time. ) on toilet paper as suppliers struggle with panic buying: "Our teams have been working hard to replenish these products as quickly as possible," the spokesperson said. "We have good stock levels to draw on in our distribution centres and will continue working closely with our suppliers to maintain supply." A spokesperson for Coles denied the supermarket chain was experiencing shortages 缺货 on essential pantry items and said the only stock issues were related to hand washing products. "Coles has increased the number of deliveries to stores this week to improve availability on popular products, such as long-life pantry staples and healthcare items," the spokesperson said. Like many retailers, we currently have a shortage of some antibacterial handwashes and hand sanitiser products due to high customer demand. Woolworths will apply a quantity limit on toilet paper to cope with a spike in demand as shoppers raid supermarket shelves amid panic buying ahead of a possible coronavirus pandemic. In a statement from Woolworths, the supermarket giant said they will be limiting the number of toilet paper packs to four per person. "It will help shore up stock levels 增加库存 as suppliers ramp up 提高产量 local production and deliveries in response to higher than usual demand," the statement said. The popular sustainable toilet paper company, Who Gives A Crap, tweeted on their Australian account informing customers they were working hard to restock and had revered ( revere [rɪˈvɪr] to have a lot of respect and admiration for someone or something. a professor he once revered but ultimately came to despise. revered ​adj respected, venerated. some of the country's most revered institutions. the country's most revered universities, Harvard and Yale. ) stock to ensure those with subscriptions would still receive deliveries. Mr Harrison said aside from paper-goods and long-life products, supplies of meat and other fresh foods are also starting to dwindle. "We are starting to see red meat shoot off the shelves as well. Obviously you can freeze the meat so I think people are taking opportunity to stock up and put extra packs of meat in the freezer." Mr Harrison urged consumers not to panic buy and said stockpiling 囤积 will only put more pressure on suppliers. "The trouble is, manufacturers can tool up but it takes time. It is not something you can fix in 24 hour, 48 hours. If we are not careful we will have gaping gaps aplenty ( adj. [əˈplenti] more than enough. ) on the supermarket shelves by the weekend." "I'm involved in the middle of all of this. I'm certainly not out buying up. I think we should be quite calm about the issue," Mr Hazzard said. "I think we should be very cautious, washing our hands, but not rushing out and buying up, that's unnecessary," he said. Shocked customers began posting photos online of empty supermarket shelves over the weekend, with supermarkets in suburbs such as Chatswood, Epping, Hornsby on the lower and upper north shores particularly hard hit 最严重, 情况最糟糕, 疫情最严重 with shortages. 15. "We are normally reluctant to suggest extra duties for the State's already over-stretched ( I. 资源紧张的, 资源不足的. without enough money, people, etc. to operate effectively. overstretched services. II. an overstretched muscle 过度拉伸, 拉伤 has been injured by stretching it too far. over-stretch I. to try to do too much with the money, people, etc. that are available. Police resources are overstretched in their fight against crime. II. to do more than you are capable of. overstretch yourself: He tends to overstretch himself in his efforts to succeed. outstretched 极力伸展的 ​adj stretched out as far as possible A bird was eating crumbs from her outstretched hand. overreach to try to do more than your ability, authority, or money will allow. overreach yourself: He has overreached himself financially. ) paramedic workforce. However, these are not normal times," Mr Hayes said. "Coronavirus will add massive strain 压力 to the flu season by clogging up emergency departments and medical centres. This also creates an environment for the virus to spread. Our paramedic members are prepared to do their bit by lifting their restriction on home diagnoses so they can test for Covid-19. This will allow potential patients to at least be diagnosed at home and ease the strain 减轻压力 on already clogged emergency departments. In a spirit of co-operation 本着合作的精神 we also request Treasurer Perrottet release the funds our health system desperately needs. An additional $100 million needs to be pumped into the health system to cope with this extraordinary state of affairs. Together we can overcome 战胜 coronavirus."A man in Tasmania who has tested positive to coronavirus 检测为阳性 went to a supermarket before self-isolating but the risk of transmission is considered low. While older people and those with pre-existing conditions are more susceptible 更容易被感染, anyone can catch it. The flurry was filmed 抢购卫生纸引起的骚乱 at Woolies in Revesby, in Sydney's south west, where shoppers were seen scrambling to grab packs 一包卫生纸 of toilet paper at 7am on Wednesday. It comes after a 24-roll pack of toilet paper was seen being advertised on Facebook Marketplace for $24,000. The rise in coronavirus cases has resulted in Australians panic buy essential items (household staples), including pasta, water bottles, flour, medical supplies and tinned foods.

 仲裁法庭: 1. tribunal 特别法庭 a special law court organized to judge a particular case. A tribunal is a special court or committee that is appointed to deal with particular problems. His case comes before an industrial tribunal in March. ...when a tribunal finds that an employee has been unfairly dismissed. a war crimes tribunal. A tribunal, generally, is any person or institution with authority to judge, adjudicate on, or determine claims or disputes—whether or not it is called a tribunal in its title. 2. arbitrate [ˈɑrbɪˌtreɪt] ( arbitrator 仲裁人, arbitration 仲裁, arbitration court 仲裁法庭 ) to officially try to settle a disagreement by considering all the facts and opinions. When someone in authority arbitrates between two people or groups who are in dispute, they consider all the facts and make an official decision about who is right. He arbitrates between investors and members of the association. The tribunal had been set up to arbitrate in the dispute. He served as an arbitrator in a series of commercial disputes in India. A committee will arbitrate between management and unions. The tribunal arbitrates in disputes. If your two best friends are fighting over the last piece of gum in the pack, you might arbitrate by telling them to split the last piece. Arbitrate is when a neutral third party helps end a conflict. In the US, to avoid litigation, many choose non-binding arbitration—where a neutral third party suggests a settlement. arbitration the official process of trying to settle a disagreement between two people or groups by considering all the facts and opinions. go to arbitration (=use arbitration): Some salary claims will go to arbitration. Arbitration, a form of alternative dispute resolution (ADR), is a way to resolve disputes outside the courts. The dispute will be decided by one or more persons (the "arbitrators", "arbiters" or "arbitral tribunal"), which renders the "arbitration award". An arbitration award is legally binding on both sides and enforceable in the courts. Arbitration is a proceeding in which a dispute is resolved by an impartial adjudicator whose decision the parties to the dispute have agreed, or legislation has decreed, will be final and binding. There are limited rights of review and appeal of arbitration awards. 3. arbitrary ['ɑːrbɪtri , US 'ɑːbɪtrəri] adj [disapproval] I. If you describe an action, rule, or decision as arbitrary, you think that it is not based on any principle, plan, or system. It often seems unfair because of this. not based on any particular plan, or not done for any particular reason. an arbitrary decision. The selection of the 100 participants was completely arbitrary. Arbitrary 无根无据的, 毫无根据的, 武断的, 无道理的, 无缘由的, 无理由的, 无理的, 无凭无据的 arrests and detention without trial were common. The victims were not chosen arbitrarily. He is horrified by the apparent arbitrariness by which she sets the prices. This is a country where arbitrary arrests are commonplace 稀松平常的. II. (of power or a ruling body) unrestrained and autocratic in the use of authority. "a country under arbitrary government". commonplace adj. not unusual It is now commonplace for people to use the Internet at home. noun. I. something that often happens or is often done and is therefore not unusual. II. a statement or idea that is expressed very often. Arbitrariness is the quality of being "determined by chance, whim, or impulse, and not by necessity, reason, or principle". It is also used to refer to a choice made without any specific criterion or restraint. Arbitrary decisions are not necessarily the same as random decisions. For example, during the 1973 oil crisis, Americans were allowed to purchase gasoline only on odd-numbered days if their license plate was odd, and on even-numbered days if their license plate was even. The system was well-defined and not random in its restrictions; however, since license plate numbers are completely unrelated to a person's fitness to purchase gasoline, it was still an arbitrary division of people. Similarly, schoolchildren are often organized by their surname in alphabetical order, a non-random yet an arbitrary method—at least in cases where surnames are irrelevant.

 stack it 以头抢地, 跌倒摔倒, 绊倒, 跌倒, 摔跤, 摔个狗啃泥, 摔个狗吃屎 To fall over in a spectacular or amusing fashion, often to the immense amusement of the people around you. to stack it is to fall over. To fall over in a spectacular or amusing fashion, often to the immense amusement of the people around you. I can't believe I stacked it up the stairs and passed out. I'm such a klutz 笨手笨脚的人(klutz [klʌts] 粗笨的人, 拙手笨脚, 拙笨, 笨拙, 笨手笨脚的人 mainly US informal a silly and clumsy person (= one who moves awkwardly and often has accidents). a person who moves awkwardly and often drops things: Don't expect Mark to catch the ball – he's a klutz. ). James stacked it and broke his leg. I can't believe I stacked it up the stairs and passed out. I'm such a klutz. You might have heard Kyle talking about this moment on air this morning – but trust us, that's NOTHING compared to the footage we managed to get of the moment that Kyle absolutely STACKED IT! It all went down on the roof during one of our ad breaks and just following the news that the Kyle and Jackie O Show had been ranked number 1 for FM breakfast once again. face plant 脸朝地, 大狗爬, 狗啃泥, 狗啃屎, 脸抢地 an instance of falling face first into or on to something. "a face plant to the ground left me with a scar". verb fall face first into or on to something. "he fell off the bottom step of the stairs and face-planted on the floor". faceplant 摔个狗吃屎, 狗啃泥 I. (informal) The act of landing face first, as a result of an accident or error. The skater slipped off his board and did a painful faceplant. II. (video games) Death or defeat in popular multiplayer online games. III. A wrestling move in which an attacking wrestler forces his/her opponent down to the mat face-first without a headlock or facelock. Usage notes: Other variants are more rarely found, such as assplant ("land on one's ass, buttocks (unintentionally)"), in addition to variants of the intentional handplant, such as elbow plant. stack verb I. to arrange things so that they are placed one on top of another. She began stacking plates on the trolley. a. to fill a machine or space by putting things in it on top of each other. He got a job stacking shelves at the supermarket. They went down to a small yard stacked high with rubbish. II. to put things so that they are standing one beside another. She was examining the paintings stacked against the wall. III. to make planes fly above or below other planes while waiting to land. IV. If someone in authority stacks an organization or body, they fill it with their own supporters so that the decisions it makes will be the ones they want it to make. They said they were going to stack the court with anti-abortion judges. The committee is stacked with members from energy-producing states. V. (transitive, US, Australia, slang) To crash; to fall. Jim couldn′t make it today as he stacked his car on the weekend. be stacked against you if something is stacked against you, it is unfair and will probably cause you to fail. The evidence seems stacked against me. the cards/odds are stacked against you used for saying that you are likely to fail, often because people are being unfair. chimney stack A chimney stack is the brick or stone part of a chimney that is above the roof of a building. stack noun. I. a pile of things placed one on top of another. a stack of 一摞 unopened mail. There were stacks of books on the floor. a. a pile of things standing or lying together. a stack of firewood. b. a pile of hay (=dry grass) or straw (=dry stems from a crop). II. countable a chimney (=a tube for letting smoke or gases escape into the air). smokestack. III. the stacks 书架子 plural the place in a library where books are stored and, where ordinary readers cannot go. IV. countable ​computing a system for storing information on a computer. V. (Australia, slang) A fall or crash, a prang. have a massive stack. 摔了一大跤. 跌了一跤. a stack of a large quantity of something. Prosecutors have produced a stack of evidence against him. They were given stacks and stacks of toys. blow your top​/​stack to suddenly become very angry The boss will blow his top when he hears about this. tumble (滚翻下去, 翻滚下去, 一个滚一个滚的下去) verb I. if a price or value tumbles 狂跌, it suddenly becomes much lower. If prices or levels of something are tumbling, they are decreasing rapidly. Oil prices took a tumble yesterday. House prices have tumbled by almost 30 per cent in real terms since mid-1989. Share prices continued to tumble today on the stock market. ...tumbling inflation. Unemployment tumbled to 5.6% in November. II. tumble or tumble down if a building or other structure tumbles, it falls to the ground. It seemed that the walls had tumbled from the inside. a. if someone tumbles, they fall to the ground. If someone or something tumbles somewhere, they fall there with a rolling or bouncing movement. A small boy tumbled off a third floor fire escape. The dog had tumbled down the cliff. He fell to the ground, and the gun tumbled out of his hand. He injured his ribs in a tumble from his horse. III. if water tumbles somewhere, a lot of it flows there. If water tumbles, it flows quickly over an uneven surface. Waterfalls crash and tumble over rocks. ...the aromatic pines and tumbling streams of the Zonba Plateau. a. used about large amounts of other things that move. Great white clouds tumbled over the mountain peaks above us. IV. if an organization or system tumbles, it suddenly stops existing. V. to do gymnastic movements in which you roll your body over on the floor. VI. If you say that someone tumbles into a situation or place 误闯进, 跌跌撞撞的跌进, you mean that they get into it without being fully in control of themselves or knowing what they are doing. [mainly British] The whole region seemed to be tumbling into crisis. They tumble into bed at eight o'clock, too tired to take their clothes off. tumble noun. I. a sudden fall in something such as a price or a value. take a tumble 狂跌, 大跌: The dollar took its biggest tumble in over two years. II. an occasion when someone falls to the ground. III. singular a large amount of long hair that hangs down. her red hair flashing in a tumble of angry waves. rough-and-tumble the rough way in which a particular activity is usually done, especially one in which there are no rules. You can use rough and tumble to refer to a situation in which the people involved try hard to get what they want, and do not worry about upsetting or harming others, and you think this is acceptable and normal. ...the rough-and-tumble of political combat. Rough and tumble is physical playing that involves noisy and slightly violent behaviour. He enjoys rough and tumble play. rough-and-tumble of: It's all part of the rough-and-tumble of a political campaign. tumble into if you tumble into a situation, you get into it without really trying to or without knowing what you are doing. I never studied acting – I just kind of tumbled into it 偶然撞上. tumble down 轰然倒塌 I. If a building tumbles down, it collapses or parts of it fall off, usually because it is old and no-one has taken care of it. The outer walls looked likely to tumble down in a stiff wind. If the foundations are flawed the house will come tumbling down. The scaffolding tumbled down, burying him under it. Communism came tumbling down all over Eastern Europe. II. if long hair tumbles down, it hangs down in large amounts Long dark hair tumbled down her back. tumble to I. to realize or understand something. II. if you tumble to something such as a solution, you discover it suddenly. tumble over If someone or something tumbles over, they fall, often with a rolling or bouncing movement. The man tumbled over backwards. take a tumble to fall suddenly to a lower level: Company profits took a tumble last year. a. To fall suddenly to the ground, typically from stumbling or tripping. I took a bit of a tumble walking home last night, hence the bruises. b. To suffer a sudden fall or decline, as of profits, health, quality, etc. The price of shares in the tech giant took a tumble on Tuesday after it emerged that they had been manipulating sales figures over the last five years. My father has been doing remarkably well in his battle with cancer, but he has taken a tumble in the last few days.

gravitate towards/to VS lean to/towards;

用法学习: 1. game I. Someone's game is the degree of skill or the style that they use when playing a particular game. Once I was through the first set my game 技能提升 picked up. II. You can describe a situation that you do not treat seriously as a game. Many people regard life as a game: you win some, you lose some. It's a cat-and-mouse game to him, and I'm the mouse. III. You can use game to describe a way of behaving in which a person uses a particular plan, usually in order to gain an advantage for himself or herself. When the uncertainties become greater than the certainties, we end up in a game of bluff. Until now, the Americans have been playing a very delicate political game. IV. Wild animals or birds that are hunted for sport and sometimes cooked and eaten are referred to as game. ...men who shot game for food. game for something If you are game for something, you are willing to do something new, unusual, or risky. After all this time he still had new ideas and was game to try them. He said he's game for a similar challenge next year. gamely [geɪmli] If you do something gamely, you do it bravely or with a lot of effort. Mary Ann smiled at her gamely. He gamely defended his organisation's decision. to give the game away I. 泄露了天机. 泄露天机. 洩露秘密, 露餡, 露馬腳, 穿幫… If someone or something gives the game away, they reveal a secret or reveal their feelings, and this puts them at a disadvantage. to let people know a secret or surprise when you did not want or intend to let them know. The expression on her face gave the game away. The faces of the two conspirators gave the game away. II. to spoil a surprise or a joke by telling someone something that should have been kept secret: It's a secret, so don't give the game away, will you? on the game If a man or woman is on the game, he or she is working as a prostitute. someone has raised their game 状态提升, 开始表现好 If you say that someone has raised their game, you mean that they have begun to perform better, usually because they were under pressure to do so. He admitted he would have to raise his game against the Spaniard. The competition it offers should force the other airlines to raise their game. to beat someone at their own game 以硬碰硬, 以牙还牙 If you beat someone at their own game, you use the same methods that they have used, but more successfully, so that you gain an advantage over them. He must anticipate the maneuvers of the other lawyers and beat them at their own game. The police knew that to trap the killer they had to play him at his own game. all part of the game If you say that something is all part of the game, you are telling someone not to be surprised or upset by something, because it is a normal part of the situation that they are in. For investors, risks are part of the game. the game is up If you say the game is up, you mean that someone's secret plans or activities have been revealed and therefore must stop because they cannot succeed. Some thought they would hold out until Sunday. The realists knew that the game was already up. off one's game 不在状态, 状态不佳 I. playing badly. Playing or competing below one's usual level of performance. II. Performing in any activity below one's usual level; behaving in an irregular, inept, or awkward manner; feeling unwell. bigamy [bɪgəmi] 重婚罪 Bigamy is the crime of marrying a person when you are already legally married to someone else. -gamy denoting marriage or sexual union. endogamy [ɛnˈdɒɡəmɪ] 近亲结婚 Anthropology The custom of marrying within a particular social or cultural group in accordance with custom or law. monogamy 一妻一夫制 The practice or condition of having a single sexual partner during a period of time. polygamy [pəˈlɪɡəmi] 一妻多夫, 一夫多妻 the custom of having more than one husband or wife at the same time in societies where this is legal. gamey (of meat) having the strong flavour or smell of game, especially when it is high. a gamy stew of various. high game: 'Game' refers to the birds or animals shot or hunted for sport, in England partridges, pheasants, grouse etc, as well as venison. It is the practice to 'hang' such birds after they have been bled so that the meat matures. If this is overdone, and they are left too long the meat becomes 'high' (approaching a state of decomposition. tending toward a desirable or undesirable amount of decomposition.) and eventually decomposed. Hence the meaning of 'as rotten as high game''. The term 'gamey', 'gamy' refers to this usually desirable taste 野味的. Chapter 15 of Lady Chatterlay's Lover, when the keeper talks about the English middle class: ... full of conceit of themselves, frightened even if their boot-laces aren't correct, rotten as high game, and always in the right. Game 猎物 or quarry ( quarry ​[ˈkwɔri] I. 石场. 采石场. 矿场. 采矿场. a place where stone is dug out of the ground. A place where coal or minerals are dug out of the ground is called a mine. A quarry is an area that is dug out from a piece of land or the side of a mountain in order to get stone or minerals. ...an old limestone quarry. a slate/limestone quarry. II. singular ​formal a person or animal that someone is trying to find or catch. A person's or animal's quarry is the person or animal that they are hunting. Wolves often pursue their quarry for up to three miles before attacking them. verb. When stone or minerals are quarried or when an area is quarried for them, they are removed from the area by digging, drilling, or using explosives. The large limestone caves are also quarried for cement. ...locally quarried stone. Farming, quarrying and other local industries have declined. ) is any animal hunted for sport or for food and the meat of those animals. The type and range of animals hunted for food varies in different parts of the world. 2. whereabouts I. SINGULAR NOUN [with singular or plural verb, with poss] If you refer to the whereabouts of a particular person or thing, you mean the place where that person or thing may be found. The police are anxious to hear from anyone who may know the whereabouts 去处, 去向 of the firearms. Once he knew his father's name, finding his whereabouts proved surprisingly easy. II. You use whereabouts, usually in questions, when you are asking or talking about where something or someone is exactly. Whereabouts in Liverpool are you from? [+ in] Whereabouts are you living? 'I actually live near Chester.'—'Whereabouts?' I spoke with him three days ago but I don't know whereabouts he is. walkabout A walkabout is a walk by a king, queen, or other important person through a public place in order to meet people in an informal way. He was ambushed by angry protesters during a walkabout in Bolton. go (on a) walkabout If a king, queen, or other important person goes walkabout or goes on a walkabout, he or she walks through crowds in a public place in order to meet people in an informal way. The Prime Minister insisted on going walkabout in Belfast. go walkabout to become lost, or to disappear. If you say that an object has gone walkabout you mean that it is missing, often because someone has taken it: My pen was here this morning but it seems to have gone walkabout. My glasses have gone walkabout again. 4. scrap I. A scrap 废物 of something is a very small piece or amount of it. A crumpled scrap of paper was found in her handbag. ...a fire fuelled by scraps of wood. They need every scrap of information they can get. II. Scraps 废品, 厨余 are pieces of unwanted food which are thrown away or given to animals. ...the scraps from the Sunday dinner table. III. Scrap is metal from old or damaged machinery or cars. Thousands of tanks, artillery pieces and armored vehicles will be cut up for scrap 废铁, 废料. verb If you scrap something, you get rid of it or cancel it. President Hussein called on all countries in the Middle East to scrap nuclear or chemical weapons. It had been thought that passport controls would be scrapped. adj. Scrap metal or paper 废铁, 废纸, 废料 is no longer wanted for its original purpose, but may have some other use. There's always tons of scrap paper in Dad's office. scrape I. to rub a sharp edge or tool against a surface. You'll have to scrape the walls before you paint them. a. to remove something by pulling a hard tool across the surface it is on. scrape something 刮去, 刮掉 off/into/onto/out of etc. (something): Scrape the mud off 蹭掉 your boots before you come inside. I scraped the bits of meat into the dog's bowl. The bottle's label had been scraped away. II. to injure a part of your body or damage something by rubbing it against a rough surface. If you scrape a part of your body, you accidentally rub it against something hard and rough, and damage it slightly. She stumbled and fell, scraping her palms and knees. I scraped my elbow 刮伤, 擦伤, 划伤, 蹭破, 蹭伤 when I fell. He scraped his van while he was parking it. 猫互相抓, 打架, 两猫打架: "So we gonna ignore the cats in the back scrapping 抓伤, 挠伤, 抓挠?" one person on Twitter asked. People sharing the video called the feline "biblical" scrap between the cats, some saying they couldn't keep their attention on the woman's dance. As she dances happily, the two cats stand on their hind legs and repeatedly swipe at each other. III. to make a rough unpleasant noise by rubbing against a hard surface. If something scrapes against something else or if someone or something scrapes something else, it rubs against it, making a noise or causing slight damage. The only sound is that of knives and forks scraping 划过 against china. The cab driver struggled with her luggage, scraping a bag against the door as they came in. The car hurtled past us, scraping the wall and screeching to a halt. There was a scraping sound as she dragged the heels of her shoes along the pavement. Simon's chair scraped as he pushed it back. a. transitive to move something, causing it to make a rough unpleasant noise. IV. intransitive/transitive if a sharp edge or point scrapes a surface 划破, 划伤, or if you scrape it across the surface, it moves across the surface. scrape against/across/along etc. something: He felt the knife blade scrape against the back of his neck. scrape something against/across/along etc. something: She scraped her nails along the blackboard. V. transitive ​computing to use a computer program to copy data from a website. scrape something from something: We have sophisticated tools that enable you to scrape data from the most complex websites. wiki: Web scraping, web harvesting, or web data extraction is data scraping (Data scraping is a technique in which a computer program extracts data from human-readable output coming from another program.) used for extracting data from websites. Web scraping software may access the World Wide Web directly using the Hypertext Transfer Protocol, or through a web browser. While web scraping can be done manually by a software user, the term typically refers to automated processes implemented using a bot or web crawler. It is a form of copying, in which specific data is gathered and copied from the web, typically into a central local database or spreadsheet, for later retrieval or analysis. to scrape the [bottom of the] barrel If you say that someone is scraping the barrel, or scraping the bottom of the barrel, you disapprove of the fact that they are using or doing something of extremely poor quality. scratch/scrape a living 艰难度日, 勉强维生 If you say that someone scrapes a living or scratches a living, you mean that they manage to earn enough to live on, but it is very difficult. In American English, you say they scrape out a living or scratch out a living. He almost manages to scrape a living as an artist. scrape by If someone scrapes by, they earn just enough money to live on with difficulty. We're barely scraping by on my salary. scrape through 擦边过 If you scrape through an examination, you just succeed in passing it. If you scrape through a competition or a vote 勉强赢, you just succeed in winning it. Both my brothers have university degrees. I just scraped through a couple of A-levels. If we can get a draw, we might scrape through. scrape together 攒出来, 凑够, 凑足, 凑数, 凑出来 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. swipe 不指名批评. swipe I. (transitive) To steal or snatch. Hey! Who swiped my lunch? II. (transitive) To scan or register by sliding something through a reader. He swiped his card at the door. III. (intransitive) To grab or bat quickly. The cat swiped at the shoelace. IV. A rough guess; an estimate or swag. Take a swipe at the answer, even if you're not sure. V. Informal A critical remark. take a swipe at someone or something I. Sl. to hit at someone or something. Max took a swipe at the cop by mistake. Lefty took a swipe at the punching bag—and missed. II. Sl. to have a try at someone or something. I think I can persuade him. I'll take a swipe at him and see. I will probably fail, but I'll take a swipe at it. veiled 蒙着面纱的, 不指名的. I. Hidden, such as by a veil. disguised. a veiled insult. His veiled threat was terrifying. JULIA Gillard has taken a veiled swipe at her predecessor Kevin Rudd, warning leadership was not about always being "the smartest person in the room". lift the veil 揭开面纱 to make something known that was secret before. The company lifted the veil on its planned online magazine. 5. bastardized [ˈbæstərˌdaɪzd] badly copied from something and of bad quality. a bastardized version of a classic tragedy. bastardization = bastardisation [ˌbɑːstədaɪˈzeɪʃən] a. an initiation ceremony in a school or military unit, esp one involving brutality. b. brutality or bullying. gravitas [ˈɡravɪtas,ˈɡravɪtɑːs] noun. dignity, seriousness, or solemnity of manner. If you say that someone has gravitas, you mean that you respect them because they seem serious and intelligent. He is pale, dark, and authoritative, with the gravitas you might expect of a Booker prize winner. "a post for which he has the expertise and the gravitas". gravitate towards/to sth/sb to be attracted by or to move in the direction of something or someone. If you gravitate towards a particular place, thing, or activity, you are attracted by it and go to it or get involved in it. Traditionally young Asians in Britain have gravitated towards medicine, law and engineering. Susie always gravitates towards the older children in her playgroup. I. 更喜欢. 更愿意. to be attracted to someone and go to be with them. He was the sort of politician whom people gravitated towards. II. to be interested in something and want to do it or to have it. Customers gravitate to/towards the products that best reflect their social status. lean to/towards 倾向于 incline or be partial to (a view or position). to be interested in something and be likely to do a particular activity: He said he was leaning toward entering the race for governor. "I now lean towards sabotage as the cause of the crash". If you lean towards or lean toward a particular idea, belief, or type of behaviour, you have a tendency to think or act in a particular way. Politically, I lean towards the right. Most scientists would probably lean toward this viewpoint. 6. red sky at night, shepherd's delight A red sky at sunset is a sign that good weather will follow. The full phrase is "Red sky at night, shepherd's delight; red sky in the morning, shepherd's warning." I think we're going to have a nice sunny day tomorrow. Look at that sunset—red sky at night, shepherd's delight. shepherd noun. a person whose job is to take care of sheep and move them from one place to another: a shepherd boy. verb. to make a group of people move to where you want them to go, especially in a kind, helpful, and careful way: He shepherded the old people towards the dining room. "Soaking wet 湿透, 湿漉漉的" is a common phrase that means that someone is very wet, usually because of rain or the weather. To "soak" means to become completely filled with water like a sponge. So when you say that you or your clothes are "soaked" or "soaking wet", it's often an exaggeration. drenched [drentʃt] I. thoroughly wet. We got completely drenched by the rain. II. something that is drenched in a liquid has too much of the liquid on it. a salad drenched in olive oil. rain-drenched. To drench something or someone means to make them completely wet. They turned fire hoses on the people and drenched them. They were getting drenched by icy water. We were completely drenched and cold. I reached Kilmarnock in the early morning in drenching rain. ...the rain-drenched streets of the capital. impair to make something less good or effective, especially by causing damage that affects the way something works. If something impairs something such as an ability or the way something works, it damages it or makes it worse. impair your judgement. Consumption of alcohol impairs your ability to drive a car or operate machinery. His movements were painfully impaired by arthritis. The blast left him with permanently impaired hearing. The condition does not seem to impair his ability to work. 7. gentrification [ˌdʒɛntrɪfɪˈkeɪʃ(ə)n] 高级化, 中产阶级化 I. the process of renovating and improving a house or district so that it conforms to middle-class taste. "an area undergoing rapid gentrification". II. the process of making a person or activity more refined or polite. "football has undergone gentrification". wiki: Gentrification is a process of changing the character of a neighborhood through the influx of more affluent residents and businesses. This is a common and controversial topic in politics and in urban planning. Gentrification often increases the economic value of a neighborhood, but the resulting demographic change is frequently a cause of controversy. Gentrification often shifts a neighborhood's racial/ethnic composition and average household income by developing new, more expensive housing, businesses and improved resources. The gentrification process is typically the result of increasing attraction to an area by people with higher incomes spilling over from neighboring cities, towns, or neighborhoods. hamstrung adj [ˈhæmˌstrʌŋ] prevented from doing what you want to do. Seeing Anna finally here in front of me, back where she belongs, I am suddenly hamstrung by both fear and fury. I mean, the public doesn't want us hamstrung when it comes to doing our job, but they don't want us to get ideas above our station, either. State and local health officials have been hamstrung in their ability to test widely for the coronavirus. Until very recently, the C.D.C. had insisted that only its test could be used, and only on patients who met specific criteria — those who had traveled to China within 14 days of developing symptoms or had contact with a known coronavirus case.  8. 美国传播: Dr. Famulare's estimate was based on a simulation using what scientists have learned about the incubation period and transmissibility 传播性 of the virus. He called his figures a "best guess, with broad uncertainty 很大不确定性." Another method, based on the size of the local population, the number of tests performed and the proportion of those that were positive, produced similar estimates of how widely the virus may have spread in the community. The scientists immediately reported the genomic sequence and their findings to state and federal health officials. Dr. Scott Lindquist, the state epidemiologist for communicable diseases with the Washington State Department of Health, said on Sunday that though Dr. Bedford's laboratory had "very limited" data to work with, "I would not be surprised if there was transmission and these two were related." 9. resile [rɪˈzaɪl] vi. to spring or shrink back; recoil or resume original shape. to abandon a position or a course of action. Well, Kyoto was binding, and when it suited them Canada, Russia and Japan simply resiled 放弃立场, 退出 from it, with no penalties whatsoever. Mr Dutton said her comments were 'regrettable' but he did not resile from the policy.

 big bang theory: 1. First of all, when you say things like that, people think you're crazy. Second, the reason I'm cancelling is because I have to attend a memorial service for Professor Tupperman. It sounds like a long and tedious evening. Eh, it will be. Honestly, if I must endure a long and tedious evening, I'd rather it be with you on date night. But I have no choice. The tenure committee's going to be there. Oh! Well, in that case, perhaps I should come along. Well, now that I think about it, that would be most helpful. Of course it would. I'm well-versed in academic politics, and as a respected scientist, I can only raise your stock as a candidate. Actually, I meant you could drive me. But if it makes you happy, that other stuff, too. Do anything interesting today? Oh, not really. I was out shopping with Amy. She wanted me to help her find something for this memorial thing. Wait-- Sheldon's going to be there? We all promised we weren't going to go. Oh, what a jerk. 2. Hello, SyFy Network? Yeah, this is your vice president of programming. Now, we have made a horrible mistake regarding Alphas. Yeah, we need to uncancel it immediately. Well, you just put me through to the people who handle that, you tell them it's me, and I don't want to answer a lot of questions about if I really am who I say I am, you know? I just I want this done. No, I am not the person who just called. That man was clearly a cowboy. Yeah, who was plumb concerned about y'all canceling his favorite show. Why do they keep hanging up on me? I'm sorry you're upset. You know, Sheldon, sometimes people seek the comfort of physical contact in moments like this. I am not flying back to Texas just so my mom can give me a hug. Okay. Well, what I think is going on here is you have a pathological [ˌpæθəˈlɑdʒɪk(ə)l] 病态的 need for closure( pathological behavior or feelings are not based on reason and cannot be controlled by the person experiencing them. a pathological liar. a pathological fear of spiders.). Oh, that's nonsense. I mean, you tell me stories about your day all the time. I don't care how they end. You know, I might be able to help you with this. There's a whole field of behavioral neuroscience that examines ways to retrain your neural pathways so stuff like this bothers you less. Yeah, but I just told you, I don't have a problem with closure. You sure about that? Oh, quite sure. That proves nothing. Ready to go to lunch? 3. Do you think I'm feminine 女性化的? Yeah. Thanks a lot. What's going on? I broke down, and I read Lucy's blog. And in one of the entries, she said, when we first met, I struck her as a little feminine. Just a little? That's great. I have to talk to her about this. Oh, geez, why do you girls always want to talk about things? Listen to me, if she's writing about your relationship, use it to your advantage. Rig the game. Well, that doesn't seem fair. Is it fair that girls like confident, normal guys more than nervous weirdos? No, it's not. I've always thought that was unfair. So take what's in that blog and use it to get her pants off. Why do you have to make everything so filthy? Why couldn't you just say the blog is like her giving me the key to her heart? "The key to her heart." 4. This is weird. What? I was Googling that girl I've been dating, and I found her blog. Cool. Anything juicy? She said she recently went on a date with a guy named Roger? And he's Indian? And he's an astrophysicist, too? You know what's going on, don't you? Yes. Mummy was right. American girls are sexually voracious devils ( veracious [vəˈreɪʃəs] 实事求是的 speaking or representing the truth. truthful or true. honest and not telling or containing any lies: a veracious and trustworthy historian. He is a veracious person. "a veracious account". voracious [vəˈreɪʃəs] adj. I. 贪得无厌的, 欲求不满的, 吃不够的, 管不够的 wanting or devouring great quantities of food. "a voracious 吃不饱的 appetite". II. engaging in an activity with great eagerness or enthusiasm. "she's a voracious 热衷的, 热情的 reader". If you describe a person, or their appetite for something, as voracious, you mean that they want a lot of something. Joseph Smith was a voracious book collector. ...the band's voracious appetite for fun. He read voraciously. very eager for something, especially a lot of food: He has a voracious appetite (= he eats a lot). He's a voracious reader of historical novels (= he reads a lot of them eagerly and quickly). ). I can't believe I have to explain this. People change names on blogs to protect their privacy. Roger is Raj. Oh. I always thought, if I had a white name, it would be Gavin. Keep reading. What does it say? No, no, I don't know if I should. If she wanted me to know about her blog, she would've told me. It's almost like I'm reading her diary. 5. So, I was thinking how excited you get about stuff like Buffy or science or which TV remote you and Sheldon should buy. The "Harmony One" was fine. We didn't need to upgrade to the 1100, which he knows is too big for my hand. See, that's the kind of passion I didn't think I had. But then I realized I'm passionate about you. Oh my cute little tushy strikes again. No, I'm serious. Look, I've always had these plans. I was gonna be in movies and live this glamorous life, and anything less than that just wasn't worth getting excited about. Those things can still happen. Oh, obviously it's gonna happen. Yeah, a psychic at a bachelorette party told me so. Anyway, what I meant was I shouldn't wait, you know? I've got you, I've got Sheldon, all these wonderful friends. My life is exciting right now. That's a big deal. It is, isn't it? So, does that mean we get to do stuff like talk about cool shows or get dressed up in matching costumes and go to Comic-Con? Leonard, I had an epiphany, not a stroke. Amy, I must say, I was skeptical 抱有怀疑态度的, 不相信的 at first, but this has truly been a transformative evening. I'm a little surprised to hear you feeling so positive. Well, you're an excellent neuroscientist, you're a wonderful girlfriend, and And? Doesn't matter, does it? I'm proud of you, Sheldon. And a complete sucker. 6. Let's watch another one. Really? Yeah, it was fun. Kind of reminded me of my high school. But instead of vampires, we had meth heads. But both came out at night and had messed up teeth. All right, cool. I think you'll like the next one better. All the cheerleaders are suffering from an evil curse. Oh. Well, that's like my high school, too. But instead of a curse, it was crabs. I've come up with a series of exercises to help with your compulsive need for closure. I take issue with 不满. 有意见 My only gripe is that ... . ) the word "compulsive." All I'm saying is, we live in a world where closure isn't always an option. Okay. For the sake of argument, let's say I have a problem. What would be your plan for addressing it? I'm going to recondition your brain so that the need for completion isn't so overwhelming. By playing tic-tac-toe (Tic-tac-toe (American English), noughts and crosses (British English), or Xs and Os is a paper-and-pencil game for two players, X and O, who take turns marking the spaces in a 3×3 grid. The player who succeeds in placing three of their marks in a horizontal, vertical, or diagonal row is the winner. )? Yep. And you wonder why people think neuroscience is nothing but a goofy game for diaper babies. Tic-tac-toe can only end in win, lose or draw none of which will deny me closure. Especially since I'm about to win. But we didn't finish. Exactly. How does that make you feel? The same way any normal person would. Feel like I want to peel off my own face and tear it in two and then again and again until I have a handful of Sheldon-face confetti. And that's exactly the feeling we want to address with this course of treatment. Yeah, or you could pitch in, grab a nostril and help me get this face off. Come on, you can do this. You don't know what it's like to feel completely frustrated. To have a desire build up within you and be denied any opportunity for release. Yeah, sounds like a drag ( a drag informal I. something or someone that is boring Don't be such a drag! Come to the party. II. something that is annoying and continues for a long time It's a real drag having to travel so far to work every day. "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. a knock-down drag-out fight a very emotional, angry, or even violent argument or fight Nobody had much of a stomach this year for another knock-down drag-out fight over the state budget. ). 6. Hey, what's up? Uh, Lucy's coming over. I need some advice. However long you think the foreplay should be, triple it. Just tell me which one you think is more manly. This hockey jersey or this football jersey. I don't know. Go with hockey. Good-- black is more slimming 让人显瘦. Oh, that's her. I got to go be butch ( Slang. I. (of a girl or woman) having traits of personality, dress, behavior, or appearance usually associated with males. II. (of a male) decidedly or exaggeratedly masculine in manner or appearance. Butch and femme are terms used in the lesbian subculture to ascribe or acknowledge a masculine (butch) or feminine (femme) identity with its associated traits, behaviors, styles, self-perception, and so on. ). Oh, look how cute your little doggy is. Yeah, well, I wouldn't get too close. If I give the right command in German, she'll rip your face off. 7. Hey, I just found out I have to be at the telescope lab all weekend. Any chance you and Bernadette could take care of my dog? Why don't you put her in a kennel ( [ˈken(ə)l] I. plural a place where dogs stay while their owners are away, or a place where dogs are bred (=kept in order to produce young dogs). Kennels or a kennels or a kennel is a place where dogs are bred and trained, or looked after when their owners are away.
The guard dog was now in kennels as it was not aggressive. Pauline runs a kennels. Once you have chosen a kennel, don't forget to make a booking for your pet. II. ​British a doghouse. A kennel is a small building made especially for a dog to sleep in. US, use doghouse. )? Why don't you put your mother in a home? To be honest, she'd do better in the kennel. 8. She really tuckered herself out ( tucker out (tr; often passive; usually foll by out) informal, mainly US and Canadian to weary or tire completely. tucker noun. [mainly Australian, informal] food ...a man who knows what constitutes decent tucker and how to go about serving it up. tuck verb I. If you tuck something somewhere, you put it there so that it is safe, comfortable, or neat. to put something in a particular place, especially in order to keep it safe or hidden. He had a newspaper tucked under his arm. tuck something behind/into/under something: She tucked her glasses in her pocket. He tried to tuck his flapping shirt inside his trousers. She found a rose tucked under the windscreen wiper of her car one morning. a. to put an arm, leg, or other part of your body into a position where it is not sticking out or sticking up. Keep your elbows tucked firmly into your sides. II. 叠边. 折边. to make a fold in a piece of clothing and sew it, either for decoration or to make the clothing tighter. a. ​informal if a part of someone's body is tucked, they have plastic surgery to make their skin tighter and make them look younger or thinner. I've been thinking about having my tummy tucked. noun. I. Tuck is food that children eat as a snack at school. [British, informal, old-fashioned] He stole a Mars bar from the school tuck shop. II. You can use tuck to refer to a form of plastic surgery which involves reducing the size of a part of someone's body. She'd undergone 13 operations, including a tummy tuck. ) at the park, huh? Yeah, you two were so cute playing together. It was kind of fun throwing a ball and not having anyone laugh at me. And you were sweet not to throw it too far so she didn't wear out 累着 her tiny legs. Yeah, that's what I was doing. You know, there were a few moments today when I almost felt like we were a little family. Really? Yeah. I never thought of myself as a mom, but when the three of us were out there having fun, I felt like maybe someday we could do it. Of course we can. Especially if our baby's as calm and quiet as little Cinna Son of a bitch, she's gone! Where'd she go?! I don't know! She didn't leave a note! You were the one who was supposed to put her back in the stroller! 9. Where is he? The third floor landing. The poor old guy's been walking up the stairs for half an hour. Mr. Jeffries, I am so sorry. We should've told you about the broken elevator. Look at me. I can get as close to you as I want without my mom saying it's going to ruin my eyes 毁眼睛, 看坏眼睛. We just wanted to hang out with you and maybe learn a little about your life. Well, there really isn't too much to tell 没有什么好说的. After the TV show was canceled, nobody in the scientific world would, uh, would take me seriously. So I was forced to do these, uh, children's parties to make a living. That's too bad. But still, working with kids-- it must be rewarding 有回报的. You get bit a lot. Let me see if I have this straight( get sth straight If you get something straight, you make sure that you understand it properly or that someone else does. to correctly understand something Let me get this straight – you didn't know they had your car. You need to get your facts straight. Let's get things straight. I didn't lunch with her.  = have sth straight. Understand correctly or make something clear. Now let's get it straight-you'll take over at four, or Do I have it straight about when you're leaving? This expression uses straight in the sense of "in proper order" or "not confused."). You two are physicists, and you, and you want me to do a children's science show? Yes. And if there's time, take 12 pictures with us in seasonal clothing.

ubiquitous VS oblivious VS obsequious;

用法学习: 1. antithesis [ænˈtɪθəsɪs] 正相反, 大相反 the exact opposite of something. The antithesis of something is its exact opposite. The little black dress is the antithesis of fussy dressing. If there is an antithesis between two things, there is a contrast between them. ...the antithesis between instinct and reason. Greta Thunberg's 'antithesis' emerges in the form of a German teenager. Mr Kenny said German teenage conservative social media personality, Naomi Seibt, has emerged as the "antithesis" to Swedish environmentalist Greta Thunberg. antithetical [æntɪθetɪkəl] Something that is antithetical to something else is the opposite of it and is unable to exist with it. Their priorities are antithetical to those of environmentalists. 2. well-meaning If you say that a person or their actions are well-meaning, you mean that they intend to be helpful or kind but they are unsuccessful or cause problems. He is a well-meaning but ineffectual leader. Even well-meaning attempts at conservation can bring problems. leap of faith an act of believing in or attempting something whose existence or outcome cannot be proved or known. If you take a leap of faith, you do something even though you are not sure it is right or will succeed. A leap of faith, in its most commonly used meaning, is the act of believing in or accepting something outside the boundaries of reason. Take a leap of faith and trust them. "anyone investing in new media today has to make a leap of faith". in good faith If you do something in good faith, you seriously believe that what you are doing is right, honest, or legal, even though this may not be the case. This report was published in good faith but we regret any confusion which may have been caused. honesty or sincerity of intention. "the details contained in this brochure have been published in good faith". wiki: In contract law, the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing is a general presumption that the parties to a contract will deal with each other honestly, fairly, and in good faith, so as to not destroy the right of the other party or parties to receive the benefits of the contract. It is implied in a number of contract types in order to reinforce the express covenants or promises of the contract. A lawsuit (or a cause of action) based upon the breach of the covenant may arise when one party to the contract attempts to claim the benefit of a technical excuse for breaching the contract, or when he or she uses specific contractual terms in isolation in order to refuse to perform his or her contractual obligations, despite the general circumstances and understandings between the parties. When a court or trier of fact interprets a contract, there is always an "implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing" in every written agreement. sincerity [sɪnˈserəti] ( sincere [sɪnˈsɪr] ) an honest way of behaving that shows that you really mean what you say or do. He's like a politician who wants to convince you of his sincerity. in all sincerity used for showing that you really mean what you are saying In all sincerity, I didn't mean to cause you any trouble. 3. disgruntled 心怀不满的 disappointed and annoyed about something. If you are disgruntled, you are cross and dissatisfied because things have not happened the way that you wanted them to happen. Disgruntled employees recently called for his resignation. Party members are disgruntled at the way the campaign is being handled. boob tube = tube top 无肩带, 吊带背心: Boob tube, British term for a tube top. A tube top, colloquially known in the UK as a boob tube, is a shoulderless, sleeveless women's garment that wraps around the upper torso. It is generally tight over the breasts, and usually uses elastic bands 橡皮筋 at its top and bottom to prevent it from falling. The tube top's precursor was a beachwear or informal summer garment worn by young girls in the 1950s that became more widely popular in the 1970s and returned to popularity in the 1990s and 2000s. have a blue 澳洲俚语 have a fight. He was having a blue with his wife. make a blue: To make a blue In Australian parlance, it can mean to make a mistake. I have a feeling it may have come from dock workers. On the other hand, criminals used to be prone to calling charges they faced, 'blues', probably because of the color of the paper on which they were printed. Any other, explanatory contribution would be welcome. I think I just allowed myself to make a blue. have the blues = feel blue( = be in a [blue] funk If someone is in a funk, they are frightened, especially because they are in a situation they cannot control. a state of great terror or loss of nerve. very frightened Wall Street's in a funk right now but it's starting to recover. If you're in a funk, it means that you've been feeling sad. You might be in a serious funk after your best friend moves across the country. One way to use funk is to mean "blues" or "depression." Everyone's in a funk sometimes — for some people, the shorter, darker winter days automatically put them in a bit of a funk. ) Feel depressed or sad, as in After seeing the old house in such bad shape, I had the blues for weeks, or Patricia tends to feel blue around the holidays. The noun blues, meaning "low spirits," was first recorded in 1741 and may come from blue devil, a 17th-century term for a baleful demon, or from the adjective blue meaning "sad," a usage first recorded in Chaucer's Complaint of Mars (c. 1385). The idiom may have been reinforced by the notion that anxiety produces a livid skin color. have a pink/blue fit (British English, informal) be very angry. To become extremely angry. Primarily heard in UK. Don't have a blue fit—I wasn't trying to insult you. If your mother catches you smoking, she'll have a pink fit. out of the blue If something happens out of the blue, it is completely unexpected: One day, out of the blue, she announced that she was leaving. 4. stroke (one's) ego (面子) To appeal to one's pride or vanity. to flatter and praise someone. If you have trouble with him, just take a few minutes and stroke his ego. You'll soon have him eating out of your hand. You're not going to get what you want by stroking the boss's ego. If anything, that's a good way to get in trouble with her! I couldn't resist stroking my ego a bit by reading some of the good reviews for my latest film. ego-stroking Michael: Hah! Anyway… Jennifer: I'm going to stop complimenting you if you do that. Michael: That's the last time you're complimenting me. Jennifer: No more ego-stroking. Michael: Now, um I'm good at ego-stroking, um, so this podcast will be weekly. And we should maybe explain that this is a podcast so it's "iPod" plus "broadcast." Ego Stroker 爱面子的人, 要面子的人 Someone who flirts with you just for the attention but when push comes to shove they aren't interested in you, just the attention you give them. Sam flirts with Sally everyday. Sally blushes and flirts back. Sally works up the nerve to ask Sam out, Sam declines but still attempts to flirt because he's an ego stroker. 5. silver lining If you talk about a silver lining, you are talking about something positive that comes out of a sad or unpleasant situation. The fall in inflation is the silver lining of the prolonged recession. every cloud has a silver lining If you say that every cloud has a silver lining, you mean that every sad or unpleasant situation has a positive side to it. As they say, every cloud has a silver lining. We have drawn lessons from the decisions taken. A silver lining is a metaphor for optimism in the common English-language which means a negative occurrence 事件 may have a positive aspect to it. ballsy [ˈbɔlzi] brave and confident. And don't expect that ballsy 目空一切的 attitude to go anywhere any time soon — Bhabie likes to keep it real and tell it like it is. She's not afraid to smackdown with Aussie rapper Iggy Azalea and has even told Minaj what's good.

 pervasive VS endemic VS ubiquitous VS wall-to-wall: pervasive [pərˈveɪsɪv] 到处都是的 spreading through the whole of something and becoming a very obvious feature of it. Something, especially something bad, that is pervasive is present or felt throughout a place or thing. ...the pervasive influence of the army in national life. She lives with a pervasive sense of guilt. ...the pervasiveness of computer technology. a pervasive farmyard smell. the pervasive influence of Christianity in the Middle Ages. endemic adj [enˈdemɪk] I. very common, or strongly established in a place or situation. If a disease or illness is endemic in a place, it is frequently found among the people who live there. Polio was then endemic among children my age. countries where malaria is endemic. Polio, short for poliomyelitis 小儿麻痹症, or infantile paralysis, is an infectious disease caused by the poliovirus. In about 0.5 percent of cases, there is muscle weakness resulting in an inability to move. This can occur over a few hours to a few days. II. If you say that a condition or problem is endemic, you mean that it is very common and strong, and cannot be dealt with easily. Street crime is virtually endemic in large cities. Ambition often stems from endemic dissatisfaction. endemic to: Strikes were endemic to the industry during the 1970s. endemic in: Corruption is endemic in the country's judicial system. ubiquitous [juˈbɪkwɪtəs] ( oblivious [əˈblɪvɪəs] ) present everywhere. If you describe something or someone as ubiquitous, you mean that they seem to be everywhere. Sugar is ubiquitous in the diet. The company's logo has become ubiquitous all over the world. She is one of the wealthiest, most ubiquitous media personalities around. Their HQ comprises miles of lunch rooms with their ubiquitous coffee machines. obsequious [əbˈsikwiəs] 谦卑的, 卑微的, 讨好的 too eager to please someone, in a way that does not seem sincere. If you describe someone as obsequious, you are criticizing them because they are too eager to help or agree with someone more important than them. Perhaps your mother was very obsequious to doctors. He smiled and bowed obsequiously to Winger. His tone quickly changed from obsequiousness to outright anger. obsequious waiters. wall-to-wall I. Completely covering a floor: wall-to-wall carpeting. II. Informal  You can use wall-to-wall to describe something that fills or seems to fill all the available space. ...television's wall-to-wall soccer coverage. There were wall-to-wall people, all invited guests and celebrities. a. 满眼都是的. Present or spreading throughout an entire area. as far as the eye can see; widespread: wall-to-wall sales in the high street shops. wall-to-wall people at the reception. b. 无处不在的. 到处的. 处处的. Found everywhere or including everything; pervasive: wall-to-wall luxury.

Big bang theory: 1. Have you noticed that Howard can take any topic and use it to remind you that he went to space? Interesting hypothesis. Let's apply the scientific method, perform an experiment. Okay. Hey, Howard, any thoughts on where 有什么想法吗 we should get dinner? Anywhere but the Space Station. On a good day 好的时候, dinner was a bag full of meat loaf. But, hey, you don't go there for the food, you go there for the view. It's fascinating. Let me see if I can duplicate 重复 the result. Howard, I've always thought the lemon was an underrated fruit. Care to weigh in 想加入讨论吗, 你的看法呢, 你觉得呢? Not really. Oh, well. You know, people say the Soyuz capsule was a lemon. But, hey, that baby got me to space and back. 2. Sheldon told me he had a new assistant named Alex. He didn't mention that Alex was a girl. Maybe he didn't notice. You're right. I don't have to worry about Sheldon. (laughing): No, you do not. It's her I have to worry about. Oh, Amy, really? She is not going to come on to Sheldon ( come on to/to something to start to deal with a new subject in a discussion. to start talking about a new subject I'll come on to this question in a few moments. We'll come on to the politics of the situation in a moment. come on to someone ​informal to behave towards someone in a way that shows you would like to have a sexual relationship with them. if someone comes on to another person, they make it very clear that they are sexually interested in them The way she was coming on to Jack, I'm amazed he managed to get out alive! ). Oh, really? Look at this face. How can any woman spend eight hours a day alone with this face and not fall in love with it? Well, for starters, at some point, that face starts talking. Amy, this is crazy. You have nothing to be suspicious about 没什么好怀疑的. I'm not suspicious. 3. I guess we both share blame on 咱俩都有错 this one. 4. Exactly what it was half an hour ago. It's like you're not even trying to get better. Sheldon, you don't get over the flu in half an hour. Well, not with that attitude. I have to say, I'm finding your bedside manner a little lacking 有点不足, 有点欠缺( bedside manner a doctor's approach or attitude to a patient. the way in which a doctor treats people who are ill, especially showing kind, friendly, and understanding behaviour: He has a very good bedside manner. "my reputation for a sympathetic bedside manner"). I'm sorry. I just want you to get better as soon as possible. And with that goal in mind, let me ask you a question. Do you believe in the placebo effect? Of course I do. There have been many studies proving its validity. Great. Now, this may look like a Tic Tac but it is really a powerful medication specifically designed to cure your illness as well as freshen your breath. Sheldon, this isn't helping. Why don't you just let me get some rest. How can you sleep? I'm not done making you feel better. I still have to put a cold rag on your head, sing to you and apply VapoRub to your chest. You want to rub something on my chest? Yes. All over it. Maybe we should start with that. Now you're being a responsible patient. Now, you may notice some tingling. Oh, I'm counting on it (count on someone/something I. If you count on something or count upon it, you expect it to happen and include it in your plans. 期待不已, 热盼, 热切期盼 She didn't count on rain, and didn't bring an umbrella. The government thought it could count on the support of the trades unions. I'll be back. You can count on it. He is counting on winning seats and perhaps a share in the new government. II. 指望 If you count on someone or count upon them, you rely on them to support you or help you. You can always count on Michael in a crisis. Don't count on Lillian. I can always count on you to cheer me up. ). 4. How you liking retirement? It's fine. I'm sensing a theme (事事都是fine). You ever really think about the Spider-Man theme song? How's that dinner coming [along] 怎么样了, 到什么程度了? I just put it in. It's gonna be a while. I like rare chicken. Let's do this. You could die. Death by chicken. That's a pretty "fowl" way to go. 5. I feel like I've got poached testicles. Oh, you poor thing; you're sweating. That's so much worse than having your car stolen. Insurance is gonna buy you a new car. It's not gonna de-funk my junk. Gentlemen, a little less bellyaching ( bellyache 唠唠叨叨, 默默叨叨, 抱怨​ verb intransitive ​informal [ˈbeliˌeɪk] to complain a lot in a way that annoys other people. ). We're Starfleet officers and a member of the Borg Collective. Please, Sheldon, I am so not in the mood. Leonard, all our lives we have dreamed of finding ourselves inside one of the fantasy worlds we love. And look at us. At this moment, we are, in fact, a Star Trek landing party stranded in an alien 陌生的 and unforgiving environment( I. If you describe someone as unforgiving, you mean that they are unwilling to forgive other people. He was an unforgiving man who never forgot a slight. He finds human foibles endearing, but is unforgiving of pretension. II. If you describe a situation or activity as unforgiving, you mean that it causes a lot of people to experience great difficulty or failure, even people who deserve to succeed. Business is a competitive activity. It is very fierce and very unforgiving. ), relying only on our wits, our fortitude 坚毅 and our moxie ( courage, nerve, or vigour). 6. Dumbledore dies in that one. Yeah, I know, I didn't see it coming, either. Why would you say that? You brought up the subject. I contributed an interesting fact on that subject. It's called the art of conversation. Okay, your turn. That was a huge spoiler. Good. What is wrong with you? If I did that, you'd bitch about 唠叨个没完 it for weeks. Oh, really, Leonard? Are you going to have another one of your hissy fits 发癔症, 发疯? Hissy fits? I have hissy fits? Yes, and I have a theory why. Because of your lactose intolerance, you switched over to soy milk. Soy contains estrogen-mimicking compounds. I think your morning Cocoa Puffs are turning you into a hysterical woman. You are unbelievable. I don't know why I put up with you. You're controlling, you're irritating There you go again-- nag, nag, nag. You're only proving my point, little lady. You know what? Screw you, Sheldon. You are the most annoying person I have ever met. What? I'm annoying? You criticize my behavior all the time. "Sheldon, don't talk about your bowel movements over breakfast." "Sheldon, when the president of the university is giving a eulogy at a funeral, don't yawn and point at your watch." "Sheldon, don't throw away my shirts 'cause you think they're ugly." You're impossible. That's it. I don't I don't have to put up with this. Actually, I have your signature on a roommate agreement that says you do. Aw. 7. Why are they staring? Who cares? Just soak it in ( soak it [all] in: to observe and/or enjoy something. When I'm traveling and visit beautiful places I make sure to really take a moment to soak it all in. ...but I've never been to a high school party before, so I was curious. I decided to just keep my mouth shut and soak it all in. take it all in To absorb completely; listen attentively. Bill's piano music filled the room and we took it all in with admiration. soak in I. if a liquid soaks in, it goes into the surface or substance that it touches, so that you can no longer see it. Put some cleaning foam on the carpet and wait for it to soak in. II. transitive to spend time experiencing and enjoying the mood or feeling in a place. We soaked in the charming 17th century ambiance of the place. soak something up I. Lit. to gather up moisture or a liquid, using an absorbent cloth, paper, etc. I spilled some Ocha. Better soak it up with a towel. Alice soaked the spill up with a sponge. she soaked up the spilled milk. II. Lit. [for cloth, paper, or other absorbent material] to absorb moisture or a liquid. Please get some paper towels to soak the spill up. The sponge soaked up the orange juice. III. Fig. to learn or absorb some information; to learn much information. I soaked up the atmosphere as I wandered its streets. The student soaked up everything the teacher said. I can't soak information up 吸收, 消化 as fast as I used to be able to. The tourists will soak up anything you tell them. take in I. If you take someone in 收留, you allow them to stay in your house or your country, especially when they do not have anywhere to stay or are in trouble. He persuaded Jo to take him in. The monastery has taken in 26 refugees. II. 带回警局. 带回去. If the police take someone in, they remove them from their home in order to question them. The police have taken him in for questioning in connection with the murder of a girl. III. If you are taken in by someone or something, you are deceived by them, so that you get a false impression of them. I married in my late teens and was taken in by his charm 迷惑, 被蛊惑, 被欺骗–which soon vanished. I know I was a naive fool to trust him but he is a real charmer who totally took me in. IV. If you take something in, you pay attention to it and understand it when you hear it or read it. Lesley explains possible treatments but you can tell she's not taking it in. Gazing up into his eyes, she seemed to take in all he said. V. If you take something in, you see all of it at the same time or with just one look. The eyes behind the lenses were dark and quick-moving, taking in everything at a glance. VI. If you take in something such as a film or a museum, you go to see it. I was wondering if you might want to take in a movie with me this evening. VII. If people, animals, or plants take in air, drink, or food, they allow it to enter their body, usually by breathing or swallowing. They will certainly need to take in plenty of liquid. VIII. If one thing takes in another, it is big enough to include the other thing within it. Ethiopia's large territorial area takes in a population of more than 40 million people. IX. If you take in a dress, jacket, or other item of clothing, you make it smaller and tighter. She had taken in 收紧一点, 收一点, 收小一点 the grey dress so that it hugged her thin body. X. If a store, restaurant, theatre, or other business takes in a certain amount of money, they get that amount from people buying goods or services. [mainly US, business] They plan to take in $1.6 billion. ). Hello, boys. Oh, hey. Could you please stop staring? They're just girls. It's nothing you haven't seen in movies or in drawings. 8. One Game of Thrones collector's edition Longclaw sword. Oh Leonard and I bought that together. That's a bit of an ethical conundrum 道德上的两难. Eh, I'll keep it. So, uh, what's your plan moving forward? Uh, suppose I'll have to find and cultivate a new roommate. What a task that will be. Do you know how uncivilized 没教养 Leonard was when I took him in? No. Oh, it took me forever to get him on a bathroom schedule. He would just go whenever the mood struck him 什么时候心情高兴, 凭心情. Like a dog-boy. Exactly. What if you could find a roommate who was a scientist and already familiar and comfortable with your ways? That would be ideal. If a person like that existed, I would sign on, no further questions asked. Great. Here I am! Wait. Here who is where? Me. Aren't I your perfect roommate? Um Think about it, Sheldon. I'm not a stranger, we're intellectually compatible 知识层面上, I'm willing to chauffeur you around town, and your personality quirks, which others find abhorrent or rage-inducing 惹火的, 让人恼火的, I find cute as a button. What do you think? Um Tell me one reason why this isn't a fantastic idea. Um See? You can't. I'm gonna go see if Leonard's room is big enough for my water bed. 9. So, uh, I was just talking to Amy, and she made me realize that this little dust-up ( A dust-up 争吵 is a quarrel that often involves some fighting. He's now facing suspension after a dust-up with the referee.) between you and me is much ado about nothing. Is that so? Yes. All is forgiven, so come back home. I'll make you some soy hot chocolate, and then I'll you tell you about our exciting new devil-may-care bathroom policy. Cut to the chase, Sheldon. Okay. Amy's decided she wants to move in with me, so I need you to come back home, you lovable scamp. That's a lot of product. What's going on? Oh, get this: Suddenly, Sheldon wants me back because Amy wants to move in with him. Really? Interesting. Well, too late, pal. I'm not going anywhere. Penny and I are very happy living together. 10. All right, thank you. That's weird. I'm getting called in to 找我 Human Resources. What did you do? I don't know. Huh. I just got called in to Human Resources. Why? I don't know. 11. If you don't want to live with Leonard, why don't you just tell him? Well, you know how he is. He's sensitive and emotional. That's because he drinks too much soy milk. Well, I don't know what else we can do but tell them the truth. I suppose there's no choice but to face the crying, angry accusations and the high-pitched wails of despair. Yeah. And who knows how Amy will react. Here's some more ice. 12. Amy will be here shortly, expecting the perfect Valentine's gift, so you're up kid. Dazzle me. Go. Okay, I think I have some really great choices. I went on Amy's Facebook page and read up on her interests. Now, see, I never would have thought to do that. Clearly, I made a good choice farming this out 转交给你来做 to you. But I am telling you, Amy hit the boyfriend jackpot. Anyway, my socks are on. Let's knock them off( To knock somebody's socks off to surprise somebody by showing or providing them with something really impressive. ). Well, um, I know she loves playing the harp, so I found this beautiful music box that plays one of her favorite songs. Now, Amy already has a real harp. And it can play any song. What are you trying to pull here 你是希望能怎样呢? No, I just thought it would be Next. Okay. Um, I know she's a fan of The Canterbury Tales, Mmm. so I found this cool map that illustrates the character's journey through England. I thought we could put it in a really nice frame. But she's got Google Maps on her phone. I don't know how to respond to that. Well, I hope it's with a third good option, because these first two blah. Okay. 13. Anyway, I was just hoping that maybe you could check in on her tomorrow night and make sure she's doing okay. Dude, I'm a single man. Saturday night is my party night. Really? What do you got going on 你有什么要做的? I don't know, maybe drive down to Hollywood, hit a few hot spots, see if I can get lucky. Okay, tell me if this sounds familiar. You pay $15 to park, you stand on the sidewalk for an hour until you break down and give the bouncer You push your way to the bar, where you drink an $18 cosmopolitan, then you stare at a pretty girl and imagine your perfect life together. Your children, grandchildren. Meanwhile, she leaves with a guy who claims he wrote Beverly Hills Chihuahua. Then you give up on anyone ever loving you, go to Marie Callender's, buy a pie and eat it in your car in the parking lot. What time should I be at your mother's? I told her around 7:00. 14. I swear, that man is the most egotistical ( [ˌiɡoʊˈtɪstɪk(ə)l] thinking that you are more important than other people and need not care about them. An egotist is someone who is egotistic. ) , insufferable human being I have ever met. Yeah, but you two make such a cute couple. Like Burt and Ernie. You guys even teach me stuff about words and numbers. Well, I've had it 受够了. I am done. I can't I can't live with him for one more minute. 15. Hey, my acting class is putting on a play Friday night. I could put you and Amy on the guest list. Oh, that sounds terrible. Why would I want to do that? Well, so much for ( I. used for showing that you think a particular idea, statement, or activity has no value. Another rise in income tax. So much for all those election promises. II. used for showing that you have finished talking about something. Well, so much for 差不多了, the producers. But what of the consumers? So much for 够了, 差不多了 polite introductions. It's now time to get down to business.) your advice on complimenting Penny. Why? What happened? She tried to rope us into going to her acting class to see a play. Don't worry. Luckily, I had the good sense 反应够快, 够机智 ( good sense The quality someone has when they are able to make sensible decisions about what to do. Mrs Booth showed a lot of good sense. have the good sense to do something Mark had the good sense not to argue. It makes good sense (=is sensible) to do some research before buying. ) to drown that kitten in the river. Sheldon, that's very rude. She helped you with your show. The right thing to do is reciprocate 投桃报李, 回报, 以德报怨 by going to see her play. Oh, so many crazy rules. That better be Tootsie Rolls you're throwing at me! 16. Can we go now? Well, is that all of it? Just set 放下 it down. Just so you know, this is not a stupid play. A Streetcar Named Desire is an American classic. It's about streetcars? Oh, great. I won't need this. 17. It's nice of your old school 母校 to let us try out our science talk on some female students. Well, they're actually pretty excited. I'm their most famous alum. If you don't count the serial killer who ate all those prostitutes. This must feel pretty good for you, coming back to your alma mater 母校 as an astronaut. Yeah, last time I was here, I was just a scrawny little nerd ( scrawny [ˈskrɔːni] (of a person or animal) unattractively thin and bony. "he had a scrawny physique and a protuberant Adam's apple".). And now you're also an astronaut. So many memories. I mean, how many times in these hallways was I tripped, punched and spit on? Oh, look, here's my old locker. I have a masters in engineering and I still can't figure out how Scott Kapinski got me and my briefcase to fit in there.