pervasive vs prevalent; 5 days in a row, in succesion, on end; pugnacious, pernicious, perfunctory;

用法学习: 1. Activist investors are shareholders who buy a large amount of a company's stock to influence its management, strategy, or operations. Shareholder activism is a form of activism in which shareholders use equity stakes in a corporation to put pressure on its management. A fairly small stake (less than 10% of outstanding shares) may be enough to launch a successful campaign. In comparison, a full takeover bid is a much more costly and difficult undertaking. The goals of shareholder activism range from financial (increase of shareholder value through changes in corporate policy, cost cutting, etc.) to non-financial (disinvestment from particular countries, etc.). Shareholder activists can address self-dealing by corporate insiders, although large stockholders can also engage in self-dealing to themselves at the expense of smaller minority shareholders. Macy's is in deep financial trouble and is working to fend off multiple activist investors – two of which said this week that Macy's would be more valuable if it just shut down its business and sold everything off for parts. 2. "Flee like a bird to your mountain" is a phrase from Psalm 11 of the Bible that means to react to danger with panic and self-preservation, like a bird that flies to a high place. In the psalm, David's advisors tell him to flee, but David chooses to put his faith in God instead. The psalm was written when David and other righteous men were threatened by enemies. David responds to the advice to flee by taking refuge in the Lord, understanding the crisis as a test, and remembering God's judgment. The phrase "flee like a bird to your mountain" is likely a metaphor for a siege, with the bird and mountains imagery having recognizable military associations. Psalm 11 can provide comfort for people struggling with God, and can show how to trust God during a crisis. 3. carping 挑刺的, 找茬的 adj. characterized by fussy or petulant faultfinding; querulous. tending to make petty complaints; fault-finding. continually complaining or finding fault about trivial matters; difficult to please. It's unclear what the final effect of all this carping will be. It can be hard for a new leader to deal with carping from the sidelines. "she has silenced the carping critics with a successful debut tour". A carping person complains all the time about matters that are not important: She shrugged off the carping comments, saying: "We're not bothered". We just ignore the carping critics and get on with the job. noun. continual complaining or finding fault about trivial matters. "he did not enjoy the constant carping of reviewers". in the same vein = in a ... vein = in the same vein = in a similar vein 类似的, 相似的, 类同的 in a particular style of speaking or writing about something. Of similar kind. His comments to the press were in the same carping vein as in previous speeches. Last season he failed to finish a stage race and this season has started in similar vein. The second half began in a similar vein. There was more humour, in much the same vein. in a serious/light-hearted etc vein in the same style of speaking or writing. poems in a lighter vein. These poems along with many others in a similar vein, show that working people were articulating aspects of their experience in verse. She remembered how cruelly those eyes could look at her, turning her blood to vinegar in her veins. in the same breath = in the next breath [disapproval] in the same statement. You can use in the same breath or in the next breath to indicate that someone says two very different or contradictory things, especially when you are criticizing them. He hailed this week's arms agreement but in the same breath expressed suspicion about the motivations of the United States. "she admitted it but said in the same breath that it was of no consequence". vocabulary: When you say two things in the same breath, you say them at the same time. You might apologize for being late and in the same breath criticize the driving directions you were given. In the same breath is a great way to say "at once," or "at the exact same time." In practice, it really means "more or less at the same time," since it's physically impossible to say two things at once. It's fairly common to use this phrase when someone is expressing conflicting opinions or feelings at the same time, as when you beg to be invited to a party and, in the same breath, say you don't really care if you get an invitation or not. mention (someone or something) in the same breath 放一起比较, 混为一谈, 把...和...放在一起作对比 To compare two people or things, especially when one is considered to be superior to the other. compare a person or thing with another much better person or thing: How can you mention the Beatles and the Spice Girls in the same breath? Please don't mention that traitor in the same breath as George Washington. Gina found it incredibly flattering to be mentioned in the same breath as some of her favorite novelists. 4. experiential [ɪkspɪərienʃəl] 基于经历的 adj Experiential means relating to or resulting from experience. experiential learning. Learning has got to be active and experiential. ...the rediscovery of the experiential path of religious truth. LA fire's impact on LA28: Mr Yaroslavsky says it was highly likely major construction efforts would still be underway throughout the city by the time the Olympics began. "People are going to be rebuilding their homes, they're going to be rebuilding their businesses, they're going to be rebuilding their schools and churches and synagogues," he said. "It's not a foregone conclusion 显而易见的, 定死了的结论( a foregone conclusion a result that can be predicted with certainty. a result that is obvious to everyone even before it happens: Democrats so outnumber Republicans here that if you are nominated as a Democrat, it's a foregone conclusion you will be elected. The result of the election seems to be a foregone conclusion. "the result of her trial was a foregone conclusion". You can refer to something that seems certain to happen as a foregone conclusion. It was a foregone conclusion that I would end up in the same business as him. The championship result was almost a foregone conclusion. ) that the Games can't be put on. "On the contrary, my assumption is the Games will go forward but the key is that the private committee has to be rigorous in maximising its revenues and minimising its costs more than ever because the city is going to be preoccupied." Mr Yaroslavsky said the rebuilding effort "won't be resolved" by then, but "hopefully it will be on its way". 5. pervade [pər'veɪd] 充斥 verb If something pervades a place or thing, it is a noticeable feature throughout it. The smell of sawdust and glue pervaded the factory. ...the corruption that pervades every stratum of the country. Throughout the book there is a pervading sense of menace. pervasive [pəˈveɪ.sɪv] (不好的东西)无所不在的, 到处都是的, 遍地都是的 present or noticeable in every part of a thing or place. Something, especially something bad, that is pervasive is present or felt throughout a place or thing. When qualities, characteristics, or smells pervade a place or thing, they spread through it and are present in every part of it: Spring pervaded the air. The film movie is a reflection of the violence that pervades our culture. ...the pervasive influence of the army in national life. She lives with a pervasive sense of guilt.  The influence of Freud is pervasive in her books. a pervasive smell of diesel. Reforms are being undermined by the all-pervasive corruption in the country. prevalent [ˈprɛv(ə)lənt] 多见的, 常见的, 普遍可见的, 一抓一大把的, 寻常可见 (rife, commonplace, be two/ten a penny, be a dime a dozen) adj. widespread in a particular area or at a particular time. A condition, practice, or belief that is prevalent is common. This condition is more prevalent in women than in men. The prevalent view is that interest rates will fall. ...the prevalence of asthma in Britain and western Europe. "the social ills prevalent in society today". existing very commonly or happening often. existing very commonly or happening often: These diseases are more prevalent among young children. Trees are dying in areas where acid rain is most prevalent. These diseases are more prevalent among young children. Trees are dying in areas where acid rain is most prevalent. existing commonly or happening frequently: Drought conditions have been prevalent across the area for several years. prevalence He was surprised by the prevalence of middle-aged women among the job seekers. predominant more noticeable or important, or larger in number, than others. being the most noticeable or largest in number, or having the most power or influence: Women have a predominant role as health care professionals. Research forms the predominant part of my job. Dancers have a predominant role in this performance. The predominance of white males in powerful school positions sends a signal to youngsters about who is going to be successful in life. This neighborhood is now predominantly Hispanic. 6. the tail end 最末尾, 最尾端 the final part: I only saw the tail end of the news. She was at the front of the queue but I was at the tail end. stoke (煽火, 拱火, 煽动情绪, 煽风点火 stoke up the fire, fan the flame, stoke fear in sb, 拨弄火, 鼓火 ) verb I. add coal or other solid fuel to (a fire, furnace, boiler, etc.). If you stoke a fire, you add coal or wood to it to keep it burning. to add fuel to a large fire and move the fuel around with a stick so that it burns well and produces a lot of heat: Once the fire had been stoked up, the room began to get warm. She was stoking the stove with sticks of maple. He stoked up the fire 拨火 in the hearth. "he stoked up the barbecue 拨旺". Returning to the camp, he stoked the fire. fig. The flag is a symbol used to stoke the flames of (= increase) national pride. II. 煽风点火. encourage or incite (a strong emotion or tendency). If you stoke something such as a feeling, you cause it to be felt more strongly. to encourage bad ideas or feelings in a lot of people: He's been accused of stoking up 燃气仇恨 racial hatred 鼓动仇恨 in the region. Rumours of an emergency meeting of the finance committee stoked the atmosphere of crisis. These demands are helping to stoke fears of civil war. He has sent his proposals in the hope of stoking up interest for the idea. "his composure had the effect of stoking her anger". III. INFORMAL consume a large quantity of food or drink to give one energy. "Carol was at the coffee machine, stoking up for the day". inflame 引燃, 引爆, 引火, 引着, 煽动, 煽风点火 If something inflames a situation or inflames people's feelings, it makes people feel even more strongly about something. to cause or increase very strong feelings such as anger or excitement. to excite someone's strong feelings or make them stronger: The defense objected to the graphic pictures, claiming they were meant merely to inflame the jury. Reducing the number of staff is certain to inflame the already angry medical profession. inflame passions 引燃热情, 引爆激情 Pictures of the bombed and burning city inflamed passions further. The image was used to inflame rather than instruct or reveal truth. The General holds the rebels responsible for inflaming the situation. The shooting has only inflamed passions further. to make a part of the body become red, painful, and swollen; to become red, painful, and swollen: Asthma is a chronic condition that inflames the inside walls of the airways. It triggers antibodies which cause the lining of the gut to inflame, causing abdominal pain. fan the flames cause an emotion such as anger or hatred to become stronger. to make a dangerous or unpleasant mood or situation worse. If someone or something fans the flames of a situation or feeling, usually a bad one, they make it more intense or extreme in some way. He accused the Tories of 'fanning the flames of extremism'. His speeches fanned the flames of racial tension. "instead of being a calming force you fanned the flames of hostility". 7. massage someone's ego 奉承, 讨好, 拍马屁  to say things that make someone feel important and proud. to praise someone in order to make that person think they are better than they are. to boost someone's sense of self-esteem by flattery. The portrait painter had the power to massage the king's ego or to expose his flaws. dovetail 无缝衔接, 丝滑链接 fit or cause to fit together easily and conveniently. If two things dovetail or if one thing dovetails with another, the two things fit together neatly or have some common characteristics. I'm following up a few things that might dovetail. ...an attempt to look for areas where U.S. interests can dovetail with Japanese concerns. It is important that we dovetail our respective interests. The government should dovetail regional interests with those of the country as a whole. "plan to enable parents to dovetail their career and family commitments". Last survey, 2GB's Ray Hadley dropped to third spot in Mornings, marking the first time he hadn't won his slot for twenty years, his fall from the top neatly dovetailing with the announcement of his retirement. 8. on equal terms 同等条件下 = on the same terms having the same rights, treatment, etc.: All companies will compete for the government contract on equal terms. It's a sport in which men, women, the young, and the old all compete on equal terms. Dealers are permitted to participate on equal terms. Regrettably, countries do not trade on the same terms. This is a place where everyone can meet on equal terms. This gives shareholders the chance to compete on the same terms. on easy terms If you buy something on easy terms, you pay for it over a period of time. to pay for something over time, or to borrow money at a low interest rate. You might buy a TV on easy terms by paying a small amount each week. Loans were given on easy terms, with very low interest charges and up to 50 years to repay. Huge numbers of modest-sized houses were quickly built and offered for sale on easy terms. At the time, debt was readily available on easy terms. These homes were sold on easy terms. Oil was provided to these countries on easy terms. on easy street 好过, 生活富足, 富有 rich Their help is not going to put us on easy street. This is not a subsidy to farmers, this does not put the farmers on easy street. They have lived on easy street. 9. hinky 紧张不安的, 焦虑不安的 adj US informal I.  nervous or worried: I've been feeling hinky all day, like something bad is about to happen. Your wedding is next Saturday, so I hope you're not still hinky about getting married. II. strange and making you feel that something is wrong, dishonest, or illegal: He was acting hinky and kept looking over his shoulder like he expected someone to barge into the room. I would back out of the deal the moment you suspect anything hinky about the other party. That's a choice A commonly used term in the lgbtq+ community making fun of dumb heteros who think being gay is a choice. Usually used when someone does something that they couldn't control. You seriously bumped into him?! That's a choice! The phrase "that's a choice" can be used sarcastically to imply that someone made a poor or questionable decision. It suggests that there were better options available, and the person deliberately selected a less desirable one. be minded to do something 想着做某事, 想做某事 formal to want or intend to do something. "Be minded" means to be inclined or disposed to do something, or to have a mind of a particular kind or be concerned with a specific thing. For example, "I am not minded to answer any questions".  The Home Office said at that time that it was minded to reject his application for political asylum. If the Americans were so minded then they could take sanctions against them. have half a mind/a good mind to do something 真想做某事, 真打算做某事 to think that you might do something, often because something has annoyed you: I have a good mind to go without him if he's going to be such an idiot! 10. a long way I. a great distance Their house is a long way (away) from here. She went a long way to see him. II. often used figuratively in various phrases. These changes will go a long way toward/towards making the system more efficient. We've done a lot of work already, but we have a long way to go 很远的路要走. A long way off something is a great distance away or out of the way: "Their house is a long way (away) from here". "Those birds are swimming a long way off shore". can see/spot/tell something a mile off/away informal if you can see something a mile off, it is very easy to notice You can tell a mile off that he likes you. If you can see or tell something a mile off, you notice it easily and quickly. If you say that you can see or recognize something a mile off, you are emphasizing that it is very obvious and easy to recognize. You can spot undercover cops a mile off.  She's lying - you can tell it a mile off. "Color me intrigued" is an idiom that expresses interest or curiosity in something. It's a casual way to say that you're interested in learning more about something. "Intrigued" means to interest someone a lot, especially by being unusual, mysterious, or strange. For example, "The plan intrigues me, but I wonder if it will work". color me ... (followed by an adjective describing an emotion) I am (adjective). Well, color me surprised! I wasn't expecting you here. Oh, phew. Color me relieved. color me surprised/confused/embarrassed etc American English spoken informal used to say that you are very surprised, confused etc by something. 'Color me amazed!' says prize-winner Angela Harris. 11. coddle (mollycoddle) 保护, 娇惯 verb I. treat (someone) in an indulgent or overprotective way. "I was coddled and cosseted". II. cook (an egg) in water below boiling point. "you may have your eggs scrambled, poached, coddled, or boiled". coddle noun. a stew of meat and vegetables, typically bacon, sausages, potatoes, and onions. "Dublin coddle is best served with a pint of Guinness on the side, and lots of Irish soda bread to mop up the gravy". cosseted [ˈkɒs.ɪt] 惯着, 宠着, 保护着 adjective disapproving cared for and protected in an overindulgent way; pampered. pampered; spoilt. to give a lot of attention to making someone comfortable and to protecting them from anything unpleasant. Children sometimes need to be cosseted. The country has been cosseted (= too protected) by the government for so long that people have forgotten how to take responsibility for themselves. I don't want to be treated like a cosseted movie queen. "the cosseted daughter of an upper-class New England family". commonality 共同点, 共通点 I. the state of sharing features or attributes. the fact of sharing interests, experiences, or other characteristics with someone or something: They found a commonality in discussing their experiences. There are some commonalities between the different stories. "the explanations show a high degree of commonality in their reasoning". What's the commonality there? II. another term for commonalty. "noble intent lifts you as hero above the commonality". a head of steam the force produced by a large amount of steam in a closed space. a situation in which a person or an activity starts to become very active or successful. a lot of support for something such as a plan or cause. A significant amount of energy, vigour or momentum, sufficient to make progress or succeed in a task. While most senior Conservative MPs still believe an election next year is more likely, there's an increasing head of steam behind going to the polls this November. build up a head of steam They're really beginning to build up a head of steam for their campaign. pernicious [pəˈnɪʃ.əs] having a very harmful effect or influence. If you describe something as pernicious, you mean that it is very harmful. The cuts in government funding have had a pernicious effect on local health services. Parents are blaming not only peer pressure but also the pernicious influence of the internet. There is a pernicious culture of excellence: everything has to be not merely good but the best. pugnacious [pʌɡˈneɪ.ʃəs] 好斗的, 好战的 wanting to start an argument or fight, or expressing an argument or opinion very forcefully. Someone who is pugnacious is always ready to quarrel or start a fight. ...the pugnacious little Scouse striker who terrorised defences across the North West in a prolific playing career. I found him pugnacious and arrogant. vocabulary: Pugnacious means ready for a fight. If you're pugnacious, you might find it hard to make friends. On the other hand, you might be a very successful professional boxer one day. Your brother is a pugnacious thug — always ready to use his fists to settle arguments, and he has the strength to do so. That's the literal sense of pugnacious. You can use pugnacious figuratively, too. When two candidates face off in a debate during a close election, one or the other might be pugnacious. He looks to pick a fight with his opponent and is willing to say almost anything, no matter how outrageous, to make his opponent look bad. perfunctory 礼貌性的, 习惯性的,不由衷的, 草草地 [pəˈfʌŋk.tər.i] done quickly, without taking care or interest. done quickly and without showing that you care or have much interest. A perfunctory action is done quickly and carelessly, and shows a lack of interest in what you are doing. She gave the list only a perfunctory glance. ...a perfunctory handshake. Our interest was purely perfunctory. She asked a few perfunctory questions about my family and then ended the conversation. His smile was perfunctory. confound I. to confuse and very much surprise someone, so that they are unable to explain or deal with a situation: confound someone by doing something A man has confounded doctors by recovering after he was officially declared dead. confound someone with something The singer confounded her critics with a remarkable follow-up album. confound expectations 让人讶异 The sector recorded another month of strong growth, confounding expectations of a slowdown. II. 复杂化. to affect the result of a scientific experiment in a way that makes it less clear that one thing causes another: Variables such as temperature and rainfall can confound the analysis. We were able to eliminate two factors that can confound experiments involving wild birds. With any model, findings may be confounded by unobserved influences. 12. The European Union is grappling with ( I. to hold onto someone and fight with them: Two officers grappled with the gunman. II. to try to deal with or understand a difficult problem or subject: Today, many Americans are still grappling with the issue of race. The Government has to grapple with the problem of unemployment. Molly's upstairs grappling with her maths homework. ) how to respond to posts by Musk on his social media site X in recent weeks that have castigated ( 狠批, 痛批 If you castigate someone or something, you speak to them angrily or criticize them severely. to criticize someone or something severely: Health inspectors castigated the kitchen staff for poor standards of cleanliness. Marx never lost an opportunity to castigate colonialism. She castigated him for having no intellectual interests. ...Bradley's public castigation of the police chief. ) elected leaders and generated consternation ( Consternation is a feeling of anxiety or fear. a feeling of worry, shock, or confusion. a feeling of strong annoyance and anger, usually because of something bad that you cannot change or that is completely unexpected: His decision caused consternation in the art photography community. Sam stared at him in consternation. fill someone with consternation The prospect of so much work filled him with consternation. to someone's consternation To his consternation, when he got to the airport he found he'd forgotten his passport.) across Europe. fraught I. If a situation or action is fraught with problems or risks, it is filled with them. The earliest operations employing this technique were fraught with dangers. II. If you say that a situation or action is fraught, you mean that it is worrying or difficult. It has been a somewhat fraught day. causing or having extreme worry or anxiety: This is one of the most fraught weekends of the year for the security forces. The atmosphere in the office is rather fraught. fraught with: full of unpleasant things such as problems or dangers: fraught with difficulties The negotiations have been fraught with difficulties right from the start. "In the fraught days" refers to a period of time that was full of problems, risks, or anxiety. The word "fraught" means something is full of something bad or unwanted, or that it is causing or having a lot of emotional stress or worry. Drawing on F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Rich Boy, Shields offered a stinging literary parallel to Musk's behaviour, suggesting that his wealth and privilege have left him out of touch with the real world: "They possess and enjoy early, and it does something to them, makes them soft where we are hard, and cynical where we are trustful." Shields concluded with a warning: "In these fraught days 多事之秋, there is no place in US politics for such softness and cynicism." 13. soluble [ˈsɒl.jə.bəl] 可溶解的 I. A substance that is soluble will dissolve in a liquid. able to be dissolved to form a solution. able to be dissolved when mixed with a liquid: soluble aspirins. Uranium is soluble in sea water. Sugar is soluble in water. If something is water-soluble or fat-soluble, it will dissolve in water or in fat. The red dye on the leather is water-soluble 水溶性的. ...fat-soluble vitamins. godspeed The term Godspeed is sometimes used in order to wish someone success and safety, especially if they are about to go on a long and dangerous journey. used to wish someone good luck when they are setting out on a journey: "Farewell and godspeed," the general said, ending his speech, and then it was time to go. I know you will join me in wishing them Godspeed. "Godspeed" is a phrase used to express well wishes, such as "good luck" or "have a safe journey". It's often used when someone is about to start a new venture or embark on a challenging endeavor. For example, you might say "Godspeed" to someone who is setting out on a journey. Friday's half-hour hearing, largely a formality 走走形式 after Merchan previewed the sentence he intended to impose, lacked the invective that had come to characterize their relationship. "I was treated very, very unfairly, and I thank you very much," Trump said. In the end Merchan said: "Sir, I wish you Godspeed as you assume your second term in office." invective [ɪnvektɪv] 骂人话 Invective is rude and unpleasant things that people shout at people they hate or are angry with. criticism that is very forceful, unkind, and often rude: A stream of invective from some sectors of the press continues to assail the government. A woman had hurled racist invective at the family. Crowley maintained a stream of invective and abuse against Waite. 14. preference I. the fact that you like something or someone more than another thing or person: Her preference is for comfortable rather than stylish clothes. preference for I have a preference for sweet food over spicy. personal preference Choosing furniture is largely a matter of personal preference. sexual preference It would be wrong to discriminate against a candidate because of their sexual preference (= the sex of the people they are sexually attracted to). II. an advantage that is given to a person or a group of people: preference to We give preference to those who have worked with us for a long time. Special preferences were offered initially to encourage investment. III. used to describe a company's shares that have the right to fixed dividends (= payments from profits) before the dividends on its ordinary shares are calculated and paid in a particular period, or in periods when dividends on these shares are not paid at all: Nokia is to increase its capital with about $100 million of new preference stock. in preference to something 而不是... If you choose one thing in preference to another thing, you choose it because you like or want it more than the other thing: He studied chemistry in preference to physics at university. He would always use ten words in preference to two. If you forbid children to eat certain foods, they will often want them in preference to others. He arranged to go to Perth in preference to staying in Canberra. Their current strategy seems to be to seek peace in preference to military confrontation. instead of (something or someone): rather than (something or someone). an advantage or better treatment that is given to a person or a group of people: give preference to sb/sth This small-business program gives preference to minority- and women-owned companies. They chose her in preference to me. Qantas will make Tokyo's Haneda Airport its primary base in the Japanese capital, in preference to the more distant Narita Airport, with daily flights from Melbourne and Brisbane shifting from Tokyo Narita to the more ‘downtown’ Tokyo Haneda this year. 15. blowhard 吹牛皮, 说大话的人, 爱吹嘘的人 [US, informal, disapproval] a boastful or pompous person. If you describe someone as a blowhard, you mean that they express their opinions very forcefully, and usually in a boastful way. He doesn't like to be a blowhard about what he's developed. "the segregationist blowhards who would dominate the politics of my state for a generation". vintage adj I. produced in the past, and typical of the period in which it was made: a vintage plane. a vintage comic book. II. used to describe clothing, jewellery, etc. that is not new, especially when it is a good example of a style from the past: She loves buying vintage clothing. vintage cars. The actress turned up at the Oscars in a classic vintage dress. Vintage cars or aeroplanes are old but are admired because they are considered to be the best of their kind. The museum will have a permanent exhibition of 60 vintage cars. III. of high quality and lasting value, or showing the best and most typical characteristics of a particular type of thing. You can use vintage to describe something which is the best and most typical of its kind. At the press conference, James is on vintage form. This is vintage comedy at its best. This film is vintage Disney. It has not been a vintage year for the club (= it has not been very successful). His performance was not vintage, but it was capable enough. He battled on bravely because he didn't want to let fans down, and had the packed crowd on their feet with some vintage efforts in the third set. After looking down and out, he fought to the very end before crashing to the 7-6 (7-3), 6-3, 7-6 (7-2) loss. IV. Vintage wine is of high quality and was made in a particular year and can be kept for several years in order to improve it: vintage champagne/port/claret. The vintage of a good quality wine is the year and place that it was made before being stored to improve it. You can also use vintage to refer to the wine that was made in a certain year. ... the Spanish vintage of 2008. This wine is from one of the two best vintages of the decade in this region. The heatwave-affected 2003 vintage gave exceptionally ripe flavours. down and out 穷困潦倒 I. (of a person) without money, a job, or a place to live; destitute. "a novel about being down and out in London". II. (of a boxer) knocked down and unable to continue fighting. (of a competitor) facing certain defeat. "behind, away from home, and down to 14 men, Kelso ought to have been down and out, but Jeffrey rallied his men". noun. a person without money, a job, or a place to live. "a hostel for down-and-outs". 16. slimming 瘦身的, 显瘦 UK informal I. Slimming food is food that you can eat without getting fat: Have a salad - that's slimming. II. making you look thinner: Black is very slimming. noun. the act of trying to become thinner by eating less food: With all the diet-food and books on the market, slimming is big business these days. slimming aids/clubs/magazines. Raj: Uh, Lucy's coming over. I need some advice. Howard: However long you think the foreplay should be, triple it. Raj: Just tell me which one you think is more manly. This hockey jersey or this football jersey. Howard: I don't know. Go with hockey. Raj: Good, black is more slimming. 17. As Turkey looks to bolster ( I. If you bolster something such as someone's confidence or courage, you increase it. More money is needed to bolster the industry. She tried to bolster my confidence/morale (= encourage me and make me feel stronger) by telling me that I had a special talent. They need to do something to bolster their image. Hopes of an early cut in interest rates bolstered confidence. ...a number of measures intended to bolster morale. More money is needed to bolster the industry. She tried to bolster my confidence/morale (= encourage me and make me feel stronger) by telling me that I had a special talent. They need to do something to bolster their image. II. If someone tries to bolster their position in a situation, they try to strengthen it. Britain is free to adopt policies to bolster its economy. ...an aid programme to bolster up their troubled economy. noun. A bolster is a firm pillow shaped like a long tube which is sometimes put across a bed under the ordinary pillows. vocabulary: When you cheer up a friend who's feeling down, you bolster them. To bolster is to offer support or strengthen. A bolster 垫背 is also the name of a long pillow you might use to make your back feel better. And the two uses are not dissimilar. When you bolster your friends, you support them and prop them up, just like the pillow does for your back. When you're trying to bolster your credibility, you find people and/or documents that support you or your view. Bolster efforts to learn this word! ) its economy in a bid to boost ( I. If one thing boosts another, it causes it to increase, improve, or be more successful. It wants the government to take action to boost the economy. The move is designed to boost sales during the peak booking months of January and February. It would get the economy going and give us the boost that we need. The proposal received a boost on Sunday when The New York Times endorsed it in a leading article. II. If something boosts your confidence or morale, it improves it. We need a big win to boost our confidence. Do what you can to give her confidence and boost her morale. It did give me a boost to win such a big event. III. to give someone a booster vaccine 加强针 (= a small amount of a substance put into a person's body to protect them from illness, that increases the effect of the same substance that was given some time before): The government mounted a public health campaign urging everyone to get boosted before the winter flu season. More than half of over 18s in the country have now been boosted against Covid. noun. I. an occasion when something is improved or increased. encouragement, improvement, or help: It did give me a boost to win such a big event. The lowering of interest rates will give a much-needed boost to the economy. Passing my driving test was such a boost to my confidence. a boost to morale. II. an upward thrust or push. a push from below that lifts a person or thing: I need a boost to get over the wall. give me a boost 助推, 推一把 over this wall. III. an increase or rise. a boost in salary. IV.  a publicity campaign; promotion. V. the amount by which the induction pressure of a supercharged internal-combustion engine exceeds that of the ambient pressure. vocabulary: Think of the word boost as meaning "help up." Maybe you need a boost getting over a fence (hmm — are you sneaking in or sneaking out?), or maybe you are feeling low and need to boost your spirits — chocolate, anyone? Sometimes words appear that really don't have any clear origins. Boost is one of those words, but it's a fun word, and it's thought that maybe it has some connection to boose, a Scots dialect word that carries the idea of a push. A slang meaning of the word is to sneakily steal, like shoplifting. You gave your cousin a boost into the window, not knowing he was planning on boosting 偷窃, 偷盗, 顺手牵羊 some sneakers. ) footfall, Georgia, which also borders Russia and Azerbaijan, is implementing similar schemes in a bid to grow its reputation as a tourist hotspot too. 18. delectableness = delectability noun the quality of being highly enjoyable, esp pleasing to the taste; delightfulness. delectable [dɪlektəbəl] I. 秀色可餐的. If you describe something, especially food or drink, as delectable, you mean that it is very pleasant. ...delectable desserts, cakes and puddings. II. 赏心悦目的. If you describe someone as delectable, you think that they are very attractive. He didn't seem to notice the delectable Miss Campbell. vocabulary: Something delectable is extremely delicious or appealing. Nothing tastes better at the end of a meal than an array of delectable desserts and pastries! Don't let the de- at the beginning of delectable fool you. There is nothing negative about this word. Related to delicious through the Latin word for delight, if something is delectable, it is very tasty! Maybe your mom has promised you a delectable dinner of lobster and steak for your birthday meal? sample: Potatoes (one of the carb-iest and most delectable vegetables of them all) have long been chastised, and for no good reason. Call me a potato advocate if you will, but they contain a wealth of micronutrients, are low in calories (a medium-sized one contains just 110 calories), and due to their high amount of carbohydrates and a type of fibre called resistant starch (which takes longer to digest), they are actually really helpful in keeping you satiated for longer. "Impose someone on someone 强加于人" means to force someone to accept or put up with someone else's company, even if they may not want to. For example, "I didn't want to impose myself on my married friends". impose on sb 麻烦别人 to ask or expect someone to do something that may give them extra work or trouble: I hate to impose on you, but could I stay the night? 19. subject adjective I. To be subject to something 受影响 means to be affected by it or to be likely to be affected by it. Prices may be subject to alteration. Foreign wine was subject to an import tax. ...a disorder in which the person's mood is subject to wild swings from mania to depression. II. If someone is subject to a particular set of rules or laws 受制约, they have to obey those rules or laws. The tribunal is unique because Mr Jones is not subject to the normal police discipline code. ...arguing that as a sovereign state it could not be subject to another country's laws. subject to sth 受约于, 受限于,  If an event will take place subject to a condition, it will take place only if that thing happens. They had agreed to a summit, subject to 以...为先决条件 certain conditions. III. Subject peoples and countries 从属国, 属民 are ruled or controlled by the government of another country. The subject peoples of her empire were anxious for their own independence. ...colonies and other subject territories. verb. If you subject someone to something unpleasant, you make them experience it. They subjected me 让遭受 to endless threats to sabotage my business. Innocent civilians are being arrested and subjected to inhumane treatment. noun. I. 臣民. The people who live in or belong to a particular country, usually one ruled by a monarch, are the subjects of that monarch or country. ...his subjects regarded him as a great and wise monarch. Roughly half of them are British subjects. to change the subject When someone involved in a conversation changes the subject, they start talking about something else, often because the previous subject was embarrassing. to start talking about a different subject: I'd tried to explain the situation, but he just changed the subject. My advice is to listen politely before tactfully changing the subject. We kept trying to change the subject back to what we wanted to talk about. I tried to ask about the money, but Jake quickly changed the subject. She keeps trying to change the subject from the economy. He tried to change the subject, but she wasn't to be put off. subjectable Capable of being subjected (to something). capable of being made subject. 20. Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) ( Meta, one of the world’s largest companies by market cap and brand value, announced on the company's Workplace internal communications forum that management would "share some changes we're making to our hiring, development, and procurement practices." The announcement continued, speaking in very clear terms about the name DEI: "The term 'DEI' has also become charged, in part because it is understood by some as a practice that suggests preferential treatment of some groups over others.? ) are organizational frameworks which seek to promote the fair treatment and full participation of all people, particularly groups who have historically been underrepresented or subject to discrimination on the basis of identity or disability. These three notions (diversity, equity, and inclusion) together represent "three closely linked values" which organizations seek to institutionalize through DEI frameworks. Diversity refers to the presence of variety within the organizational workforce, such as in identity and identity politics. It includes gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, age, culture, class, religion, or opinion. Equity refers to concepts of fairness and justice, such as fair compensation and substantive equality. More specifically, equity usually also includes a focus on societal disparities and allocating resources and "decision making authority to groups that have historically been disadvantaged", and taking "into consideration a person's unique circumstances, adjusting treatment accordingly so that the end result is equal." Finally, inclusion refers to creating an organizational culture that creates an experience where "all employees feel their voices will be heard", and a sense of belonging and integration.

on the table If a plan or suggestion has been put/laid on the table, it has been made available for people to hear, read, or discuss. By selling the wrong stock, Apple, Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway has left over $35 billion on the table this year. Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway clearly sold the wrong stock this year. By selling some 600 million shares of Apple, Buffett's company has left over $35 billion on the table so far in 2024. For some perspective, HP Inc. in its entirety is currently worth $31 billion. There's no two ways about it: Leaving over $35 billion on the table in a single year on a single stock is simply legendarily bad investing. If Buffett's calling these nonsensical, losing shots, maybe it's time he wasn't. If Buffett's no longer making the calls, that doesn't bode well for Berkshire Hathaway's future. Leave something on the table 留着不用, 浪费不用, 浪费掉, 没有使用, 留置不用 To "leave something on the table" is to not take advantage of something that might have been available. Today's expression is to leave something on the table. Americans, collectively, leave millions of vacation days on the table. In fact, I'm embarrassed to say that last year, even I left about five vacation days on the table, and I love my vacation. When you leave something on the table, you fail to claim it for yourself. It might have been available to you had you taken it, had you claimed it, but because you didn't you missed out. In my case, I was being offered about 25 vacation days per year, but I only actually took 20. I was offered 25, it was there for me to take, but I only took 20, so I left five days on the table. If you go into a negotiation with another party, you want to get as much advantage for yourself as possible. Otherwise, you'll leave something on the table, and you don't want to do that. So let's think about a few times when you might be in a negotiation. Imagine you get a new job and it's time to talk about how much you'll get paid by your new employer. The new company has an amount that it's willing to pay you, but of course they don't tell you that. They make an offer, which is usually—at least in many jobs in the US—a little bit less than the maximum they're willing to pay. Pretend an employer offers you a salary of $7,000 per month, but they're secretly willing to pay you a maximum of $8,000 per month. If you accept the $7,000 offer right away, you're leaving money on the table. If you negotiate a little bit, you might be able to get more—who knows, maybe even the full $8,000. Again, here in the US, studies generally show that women are more reluctant than men to negotiate their salaries, so women tend to leave money on the table for their reluctance to negotiate. When you go into a negotiation, your objective is not to leave anything on the table. If you ever have any sales training, then you know that sooner or later you have to ask for the sale. You have to ask the customer to buy; you can't just assume the customer will approach you first. In sales, you don't want to be too pushy , but if you don't ask the customer to buy, you'll be leaving some sales on the table. If you're going to college and you don't at least try to get a scholarship , then you might be leaving some money on the table. If you're selling a house, you want to make sure the house is clean and all the small repairs are done. If you don't, then you'll wind up leaving some money on the table because buyers will pay less for your house. Sometimes in negotiations, as a sign of good faith , you want to leave a little something on the table. In these cases, you may decide not to quite take everything you might get. And by doing so, you build goodwill with the other party. You may consciously decide to leave a little something on the table, just so you’re not perceived as trying to take advantage.

 连着: 1. 5 days in a row. 2. succession I. a number of similar events or people that happen, exist, etc. after each other: succession of A succession of scandals and revelations has undermined the government over the past year. Life was just an endless succession of parties and dinners. in succession happening one after another: in rapid succession She had her first three children in rapid succession. II. a process in which someone automatically takes an official position or job after someone else: succession to His divorce will not prevent the Prince of Wales's succession to the throne. line of succession Who comes after the vice-president in the presidential line of succession? 3. on end 不间断的, 连续的. 不停歇的 continuously. When something happens for hours, days, weeks, or years on end, it happens continuously and without stopping for the amount of time that is mentioned. He is a wonderful companion and we can talk for hours on end. I spend days on end in this studio. She practices the violin for hours on end. 

没素质, 没教养; Parallel construction 同步证据建设;

用法学习: 1. bring (someone or something) up to date 更新 I. To share or incorporate the most current information about someone or something. Bring me up to date on these candidates for the job. This schedule doesn't include the latest changes—can you bring it up to date? Hannah will bring you up to date on the policy changes happening this year. to inform someone of the latest information about something. Let me bring you up-to-date on what is happening in the village. Please bring me up-to-date. II. to modernize someone or something. We brought the room up-to-date with a little paint and some modern furniture. I can bring you up-to-date with a new hairdo. III. Looking at your account, you have a balance due of 26 dollars, that I'm not gonna waive  that. So whenever you are ready, I'll go ahead and take the credit card number if you'd like to proceed with your payment. Otherwise, you'll have a blanace due we will suspend your services temporarily until that payment is brought up to date. "Bringing up to date" an account refers to updating account entries to the current time. In the context of an overdue invoice, "bringing an account up to date" means the customer has paid the invoice and their account is current again. If a customer hasn't paid an invoice on time, a business can try to bring the account up to date by sending a reminder. up to date I. If something is up-to-date, it is the newest thing of its kind. ...Germany's most up to date electric power station. ...enhancing the system and bringing it up to date. This production is bang up-to-date. II. If you are up-to-date about something, you have the latest information about it. We'll keep you up to date with any news. I am very up to date on this sort of thing because I listen to the news. 2. "Thank you for holding 谢谢你的帮忙, 谢谢你的支持" I. can be used to express gratitude for someone's support. Here are some other ways to say "thank you for your support". Call centre: Thank you so much for holding, Tom. I had to walk away for a moment. I'm going to be taking over your call at this time. II. an expression that means listening to someone work through a problem without commenting. It can also mean "shut up, I need to work this out". The expression originated from a story about a researcher who would pick up a rubber duck when he was stuck on a problem, ask a colleague to hold it, and then say "thank you for holding my duck" when he came up with a solution. III. "Thank you for holding" is a polite phrase used to acknowledge someone's patience and time when they have been waiting on the phone. It is often used in customer service or professional settings. submit [səbˈmɪt] I. to give or offer something for a decision to be made by others: Companies are required to submit monthly financial statements to the board. You must submit your application before 1 January. The developers submitted building plans to the council for approval. to formally send a document, plan, etc. to a person or group in authority so that they can make a decision about it: submit a bid/plan/proposal. The consortium has yet to submit a bid. submit a letter/report/request They submitted the report after the retailer said that it might choose a replacement ad agency last year. Applications must be submitted by December 5. II. to suggest or say something: In conclusion, I submit that the proposal will not work without some major changes. III. to allow another person or group to have power or authority over you, or to accept something unwillingly. to give power or authority over a person or group to someone, or to accept something unwillingly. to allow another person or group to have authority or control over you, or to accept something unwillingly: They were required to agree that future industrial disputes would be submitted to arbitration. He had never been able to submit himself to that sort of discipline. All newly hired employees must submit to a background check. We protested about the changes for a long time, but in the end we had to submit. She decided to resign from the party rather than submit herself to the new rules. If you want to sue me for some reason, you need to come to my state. But if I get into my car and I drive to another state. By choosing to drive in that other state, I've submitted to their laws and I've submitted to their courts. So I can be sued in that state. IV. submit your resignation to tell your employer that you are leaving your job or position: He was given the choice on Wednesday to either submit his resignation, or be fired. 3. take a meeting 开会, 参加会议 to attend a business conference To attend a business meeting. I can't take a meeting today, I have a report that I really need to finish. traipse [treɪps] verb I. walk or move wearily or reluctantly. If you traipse somewhere, you go there unwillingly, often because you are tired or unhappy. If traipsing around shops does not appeal to you, perhaps using a catalogue will. Joyce traipsed from one doctor to another, praying that someone would listen. "students had to traipse all over London to attend lectures". I spent the day traipsing around the shops, but found nothing suitable for her. More than 6 million people traipse through the national park each year. II. walk about casually or needlessly. "there's people traipsing in and out all the time". [disapproval] 慢腾腾的走. If you talk about people traipsing somewhere, you mean that they are going there or moving about there in a way that annoys someone or gets in their way. You will have to get used to a lot of people traipsing in and out of your home. She doesn't want security men traipsing round with her every minute of the day. Phoebe: You ask us to find you a guy and you come traipsing in here with your own! Rachel: You found me a guy? Monica: Yes! We found you a really cute and funny guy from Chandler's work! Phoebe: Yeah and I found you one too who is not a weirdo. Rachel: Well, y'know what though 虽然如此但是 you guys? I really appreciate that but I think I'm just gonna take Sebastian to the charity. Chandler: Are you sure?! Because our guy smells incredible! Monica: Uh, would you stop it with that already?! Penny: How did you even get in, you weirdo? Sheldon: Yeah, really? I've seen strange men traipsing in and out of here for years, but when I do it, it's weird? Howard: Do I get an honourable mention for designing the telescope camera mounting bracket you used. Raj: Sorry, it's not part of my heartwarming and personal narrative, in which a humble boy from New Delhi overcame poverty and prejudice and journeyed to America to reach for the stars. Howard: Poverty? Your father's a gynaecologist, he drives a Bentley. Raj: It's a lease. Sheldon: I'm confused. Was there some sort of peer review committee to determine which scientists would be included? Raj: Peer review?It's People magazine. People picked me. Sheldon: What people? Raj: The people from People. Sheldon: Yeah, but exactly who are these people? What are their credentials 资格, how are they qualified, what makes accidentally noticing a hunk of rock that's been traipsing around the solar system for billions of years more noteworthy than any other scientific accomplishment made by someone under thirty? Raj: Boy, I bet Ellen Pages friends aren't giving her this kind of crap. credential I. something that entitles a person to confidence, authority, etc. II. a piece of information that is sent from one computer to another to check that a user is who they claim to be or to allow someone to see information. a letter or certificate giving evidence of the bearer's identity or competence. credentials the abilities and experience that make someone suitable for a particular job or activity, or proof of someone's abilities and experience: All the candidates had excellent academic credentials. 4. missive [mɪsɪv] A missive is a letter or other message that someone sends. an official, formal, or long letter: She sent a ten-page missive to the committee, detailing her objections. ...the customary missive from your dear mother. invective 骂人话 insulting, abusive, or highly critical language. Invective is rude and unpleasant things that people shout at people they hate or are angry with. A woman had hurled racist invective at the family. Crowley maintained a stream of invective and abuse against Waite. "he let out a stream of invective". inventive 创造性的 adj. An inventive person is good at inventing things or has clever and original ideas. ...Stroman's ceaselessly inventive choreography. It inspired me to be more inventive with my own cooking. He has surprised us before with his inventiveness. I worked with a lot of inventive, intelligent people. But there was an absolute stonewalling of [our] operations because of the mole we had at the time. long odds = the oddds are long 可能性很小 a poor chance of winning. if there are long odds against something happening, it is very unlikely that it will happen The team has made some major improvements, but they still face long odds. (at) long/short odds (=high or low numbers, that show a high or low risk of losing) Everyone was surprised when Desert Zone won the race, at very long odds. hit/strike pay dirt 找到矿了, 发横财. 发洋财. 大获成功 chiefly US, informal: to do, find, or get something that results in money or success The band hit pay dirt with their first single. The police struck pay dirt when a witness came forward with new information. vocabulary: Gravel or earth that contains valuable minerals is called pay dirt. If you're panning for gold in a rocky stream and suddenly realize your pan is full of gold, you've found pay dirt. This North American term pay dirt dates from the 1850s, during the California Gold Rush. When miners found an area rich with gold ore, they would say they'd hit pay dirt. Today, you're more likely to use this term informally to mean "reward, profit, or success." If you win a fancy new TV in a raffle at your school, you might exclaim, "I totally hit pay dirt!" give /quote something/someone chapter and verse 几章几节 to give exact information about something, especially something in a book: I can't quote you chapter and verse but I think it's a line from "Macbeth". They would've been giving chapter and verse not just on me but on my family, my friends, everything I did, my vulnerabilities [in case] they could recruit me. 5. exfiltrate [ˈɛksfɪlˌtreɪt] 偷偷回撤, 撤回, 偷偷后退 verb. I. (transitive) military to remove or withdraw (an intelligence agent, soldier, etc) surreptitiously from an enemy-held area. withdraw (troops or spies) surreptitiously, especially from a dangerous situation. "US special forces agents have all been exfiltrated from Iran". After being recalled to Moscow under suspicion, he was exfiltrated from the Soviet Union in July 1985 under a plan code-named Operation Pimlico. The Soviet Union subsequently sentenced him to death in absentia. II. to remove (data) from a computer, network, etc surreptitiously and without permission or unlawfully. extricate [ekstrɪkeɪt] I. If you extricate yourself or another person from a difficult or serious situation, you free yourself or the other person from it. It represents a last ditch attempt by the country to extricate itself from its economic crisis. He wanted to extricate her from the immediate influence of Catherine de Medici. Gordievsky felt, given the huge benefits MI6 would reap if he remained rezident of the embassy, that he was being encouraged by MI6 to return to Moscow as ordered, and decided on that; MI6 began to revive a plan to extricate him if necessary. II. If you extricate someone or something from a place where they are trapped or caught, you succeed in freeing them. ...extricate the survivors. He endeavoured to extricate the car, digging with his hands in the blazing sunshine. III. to remove, release, or free someone or something from a difficult condition or situation: They need education and other economic opportunities in order to extricate themselves from poverty. The president outlined a plan to extricate the troops if the situation worsened. extricate something from something It took hours to extricate the car from the sand. extricate yourself from something I tried to extricate myself from the situation. Following his exfiltration from the USSR to the UK in 1985, he became of even greater use to the West, in that information he would disclose or had previously disclosed could be immediately acted upon and shared without endangering his life, identity, or position. revive 起死复生. 复活 to come or bring something back to life, health, existence, or use: to revive someone's hopes/confidence/fortunes. My plants revived as soon as I gave them some water. A hot shower and a cup of tea will revive you. Traditional skills are being revived. to come back to life, health, existence, or use, or bring something back to such a state: She tried to revive the unconscious woman. My plants revived as soon as I gave them a little water. bring someone around = UK bring someone round I. (MAKE CONSCIOUS) to make someone become conscious again after being unconscious. I gave him a sniff of smelling salts to bring him around. II. to persuade someone to have the same opinion as you have: At first they refused but I managed to bring them around to my way of thinking).

Parallel construction 同步证据建设 is a law enforcement process of building a parallel, or separate, evidentiary basis for a criminal investigation in order to limit disclosure as to the origins of an investigation. In the US, a particular form is evidence laundering, where one police officer obtains evidence via means that are in violation of the Fourth Amendment's protection against unreasonable searches and seizures, and then passes it on to another officer, who builds on it and gets it accepted by the court under the good-faith exception(In United States constitutional law and criminal procedure, the good-faith exception (also good-faith doctrine) is one of the limitations on the exclusionary rule of the Fourth Amendment. For criminal proceedings, the exclusionary rule prohibits entry of evidence obtained through an unreasonable search and seizure, such as one executed under an invalid search warrant. However, the good-faith exemption allows evidence collected by law enforcement officers pursuant to a defective search warrant if the officers reasonably relied on the validity of the warrant in good faith (bona fides). ) as applied to the second officer. This practice gained support after the Supreme Court's 2009 Herring v. United States decision. In August 2013, a report by Reuters revealed that the Special Operations Division (SOD) of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration advises DEA agents to practice parallel construction when creating criminal cases against Americans that are based on NSA warrantless surveillance. The use of illegally obtained evidence is generally inadmissible under the fruit of the poisonous tree doctrine. Two senior DEA officials explained that the reason parallel construction is used is to protect sources (such as undercover agents or informants) or methods in an investigation. One DEA official had told Reuters: "Parallel construction is a law enforcement technique we use every day. It's decades old, a bedrock concept."

关于Melanie Phillips的例句: Phillips became a "scathing critic of modern Britain" which she regards as "a debauched and disorderly culture of instant gratification 及时满足, 及时享乐, 即时享乐, with disintegrating families, feral children and violence, squalor and vulgarity on the streets". In 2008, Ruth Runciman, chair of the UK Drugs Policy Commission, called "allegations" Phillips made that the commission was "intent on bringing about the legalisation of drugs" "an absolute travesty and a wilful misrepresentation 故意歪曲, 肆意歪曲, 曲解". In All Must Have Prizes, published in 1996, Phillips offered a critique of the British education system, saying that an egalitarian ( adj. 均等的. 均贫富的. believing in or based on the principle that all people are equal and deserve equal rights and opportunities. "a fairer, more egalitarian society". noun a person who advocates or supports the principle of equality for all people. "he was a social and political egalitarian". ) and non-competitive ethos (progressivism; multicultural education) had led to a catastrophic fall in standards. debauched [dɪˈbɔːtʃt] 腐化堕落的, 纵情声色的, 花天酒地的 adj. [old-fashioned, disapproval] indulging in or characterized by excessive indulgence in sex, alcohol, or drugs. made weaker or destroyed by bad sexual behaviour, drinking too much alcohol, taking drugs, etc.. If you describe someone as debauched, you mean they behave in a way that you think is socially unacceptable, for example because they drink a lot of alcohol or have sex with a lot of people. ...a debt-ridden 负债累累的 and debauched lifestyle. "a debauched lifestyle". debaucherous Excessively indulgent in sensual pleasures. involving or tending toward debauchery, which is behavior that is considered excessive, indulgent, and depraved. Debaucherous behavior is often associated with a disregard for social norms and can be seen as immoral or reckless. debauchery [dɪbɔːtʃəri] 声色犬马的生活 uncountable noun [disapproval] You use debauchery to refer to the drinking of alcohol or to sexual activity if you disapprove of it or regard it as excessive. bad sexual behaviour, drinking too much alcohol, taking drugs, etc.: a life of debauchery. ...scenes of drunkenness and debauchery. disintegrate 分崩离析 verb. I. If something disintegrates, it becomes seriously weakened, and is divided or destroyed. During October 1918 the Austro-Hungarian Empire began to disintegrate. ...the violent disintegration of Yugoslavia. ...the disintegration of an ordinary marriage. disintegrate into The situation disintegrated into chaos. II. If an object or substance disintegrates, it breaks into many small pieces or parts and is destroyed. to become weaker or be destroyed by breaking into small pieces: The spacecraft disintegrated as it entered the earth's atmosphere. disintegrate into The Ottoman Empire disintegrated into lots of small states. At 420mph the windscreen disintegrated. ...the catastrophic disintegration of the aircraft after the explosion. squalor [skwɒlər] 腌臜, 肮脏 uncountable noun You can refer to very dirty, unpleasant conditions as squalor. the condition of being extremely dirty and unpleasant, often because of lack of money: These people are forced to live in squalor. It was a dirty, damp, smelly flat - the usual student squalor. He was out of work and living in squalor. squalid disapproving I. (of places) extremely dirty and unpleasant, often because of lack of money. A squalid place is dirty, untidy, and in bad condition. He followed her up a rickety staircase to a squalid bedsit. The migrants have been living in squalid conditions. Many prisons, even today, are overcrowded and squalid places. II. Squalid activities are unpleasant and often dishonest. They called the bill 'a squalid measure'. ...the squalid pursuit of profit. wilful = willful 肆意的, 故意的 I. [disapproval] If you describe actions or attitudes as wilful, you are critical of them because they are done or expressed deliberately, especially with the intention of causing someone harm. Wilful neglect of our manufacturing industry has caused this problem. He admitted wilful misconduct in public office by disclosing a report to a journalist. He seems to have wilfully misunderstood. The present crisis is the result of years of wilful neglect by the council. They eat huge quantities of sweet and fried foods, in wilful disregard of their health. II. If you describe someone as wilful, you mean that they are determined to do what they want to do, even if it is not sensible. (of a person) determined to do exactly as you want, even if you know it is wrong: She developed into a wilful, difficult child. Francesca was a lively child, quite wilful 任性的, 固执的, 有主见的 and demanding. The new foster parents couldn't cope with her wilfulness.

down to a science, down cold, down to a fine art, down to a T/Tee; have something down pat, have something under one's belt: have something under your belt to have learned or succeeded in something that might be an advantage in the future. to have already achieved or done something After a few years, I had enough recipes under my belt to put them into a book. Basic computer skills are a good thing to have under your belt. have/know something down/off pat 烂熟于心, 滚瓜烂熟 have something memorized perfectly. to know something so well that you can say or do it without having to try or think. Thoroughly practiced, rehearsed, or understood; mastered: I'd given the talk so many times I had it down pat. "she had the baby's medical routine down pat". to a T 已臻化境, 完美无缺, 精确无比 (idiomatic) Precisely; exactly; perfectly; with great attention to detail. exactly; to perfection. "I baked it to a T, and of course it was delicious". The announcement of the political endorsement was timed to a T. You can use to a T or to a tee to mean perfectly or exactly right. For example, if something suits you to a T, it suits you perfectly. If you have got an activity or a skill down to a T 熟练掌握, you have succeeded in doing it exactly right. The description fits us to a tee. Everything had to be exactly right, rehearsed down to a T. down to a science = down cold = down to a fine art 熟能生巧 Perfected; to the point of practiced ease and confidence. I have my painting technique down to a science. mastered or learned perfectly Another hour of studying and I'll have the math lesson down cold. Usage notes: Usually used after have or got (something). Having something down to a science implies skill developed through long practice or repetition. To a point of exceptional proficiency. They've got it down cold. have something down to a fine art to know the best way of doing something because you have practised it a lot and have tried many different methods. to be able to do something very well or quickly, often because you have done it so many times They've got fruit selling down to a fine art. You can be sure that your pears will ripen in a day.

没素质, 没教养: 1. uncultured, uncivilized, uneducated. Did you have to wipe your dirty hands on my jacket? You are so uncultured. 2. trashy. This guy keeps shit posting about women online, he's so trashy. I hate people who litter, it's so trashy. 3. No class, have class, classy. Having class means: having good manners, being polite, showing humility. So someone with no class 没素质的人. This trashy guy on the tube kept playing videos out loud, he has absolutely no class. She had her feet on the table the whole journey, real classy 反讽没素质. 4. Rude. Those rude little dickheads keep hitting the Disney characters. You guys are so rude. 5. No manners, bad manners. ill-mannered. You need to learn some manners 太没教养了, 你太没素质了. I'm gonna teach you some manners 教你学做人. Who taught you such bad manners?

 COME IN: This is where I came in 我就是从这里开始看的, 这些我已经看过了, 这之后的我已经看过了. I already know or have heard all of this before; this it not new information. I have heard all this before. (Said when a situation begins to seem repetitive, as when a film one has seen part of before reaches familiar scenes.) When it became clear the meeting was just going to recap Monday's meeting for those who hadn't been there, Tom excused himself and muttered, "This is where I came in." John sat through a few minutes of the argument, and when Tom and Alice kept saying the same thing over and over John said, "This is where I came in," and left the room. The speaker stood up and asked again for a new vote on the proposal. "This is where I came in," muttered Jane as she headed for the door. This is where I began, my knowledge dates from this point. For example, Do you have anything more to add, because if not, this is where I came in. note: This idiom, dating from the 1920s, originally alluded to the continuous showing of a motion picture, with customers entering the theater at any stage while the film was running and leaving when it reached the point where they had started. This is where you come in 这时候就需要你了!: This is the moment at which you will be useful or important! "Hogwash has expressed an interest in the project, though we will of course have to agree to terms. This is where you come in!" "I believe that's where I come in." We need expert advice, and that's where you come in. His character doesn't come in until about halfway through the film. as (...) as they come ...的不行不行的 used to describe someone or something as having a characteristic to the highest degree Their daughter is as clever as they come. The movie was as boring as they come. come in I. to enter a room or building: Do you want to come in for a cup of tea? Hi, come in - great to see you! II. (of a bus, train, plane, etc.) to arrive at a particular place: Hasn't his train come in yet? Our flights came in within an hour of each other. III. (of a product) to become available: We are waiting for new stock to come in. He has the book on order and expects it to come in 到货 next week. IV. (of a law, rule, or system) to be introduced and start to be used: Many thousands of people have given up smoking since this legislation came in. It will be several months before the new rules come in 生效. V. to become fashionable or popular: Flared trousers first came in 风行 during the 1970s. As with so many other fashions, the trend for dressing down at work seems to be going out almost before it has come in. VI. BE RECEIVED. When news or information comes in, it is received: Reports are just coming in of a major accident on the motorway. VII. If you have money coming in, you receive it as income: With Dave unemployed, we don't have much money coming in at the moment. If more funding comes in, we may be able to restore some of our services. VIII. to become involved in a situation, story, or plan: We need expert advice, and that's where you come in. His character doesn't come in until about halfway through the film. come in on sth 参加意见, 参与进来 Can I come in on that issue? X. 进来. to begin playing or singing as part of a piece of music, either for the first time or after a pause: My favourite part of the song is that moment when the horns come in. The soloist has a long wait before coming in again. The DJ has to cue up the second piece of music so it comes in on the first beat of a bar. XI. When the sea or the tide comes in, the water moves forwards to cover more of the beach. come in handy (also mainly UK come in useful) to be useful for a particular purpose: Keep it, it might come in useful. come in first, second, etc. to finish a race in first, second, etc. position: Burns came in second in the 100 metres.

strife VS strive; Torah Scroll; discerning VS observant;

用法学习: 1. galore [gə'lɔːr] = in abundance adj. You use galore to emphasize that something you like exists in very large quantities. in great amounts or numbers: And to satisfy your sweet tooth, this café has desserts galore. You'll be able to win prizes galore. ...a popular resort with beaches galore. After the shipwreck there was whisky galore to be had for the taking. disenfranchise [ˌdɪs(ɪ)nˈfrantʃʌɪz] verb I. 剥夺投票权的. deprive (someone) of the right to vote. To disenfranchise a group of people means to take away their right to vote, or their right to vote for what they really want. Opponents say that the laws are a Republican ruse to disenfranchise entire groups of voters. ...the helplessness of disenfranchised minorities. "the law disenfranchised some 3,000 voters on the basis of a residence qualification". II. 剥夺权利的. 夺去特权的. deprive (someone) of a right or privilege. "we strongly oppose any measure which would disenfranchise people from access to legal advice". He tapped into cohorts of disenfranchised young men, who believed efforts for "gender quality" under the previous administration were giving women a free pass. President Yoon pledged to dismantle the Minister of Gender Equality, stating structural gender discrimination did not exist. over-egg 过分渲染, 夸大其词 (resume padding) overembellish or exaggerate (something). to make something seem larger, more important, better, or worse than it really is: Yes, there is a risk that the deal won't complete, but the market is over-egging it. Many celebrities' memoirs overegg their difficult childhoods in order to flatter their later achievements. "investors want to be clear that companies are not over-egging their results". She had already come under controversy for allegedly not paying taxes, manipulating stock prices, taking kickbacks for hosting art exhibitions and for over-egging her resume. padding 填充废话充数 unnecessary words or information added to a speech or piece of writing. unnecessary words or information added to something to make it seem longer or better: His presentation was interesting but there was too much padding.  Of the sonnet eleven of the lines are mere padding and say nothing. ...the kind of subject that politicians put in their speeches for a bit of padding.  It could have been an interesting essay, but there was too much padding. The first lady is no stranger to controversy – over the past few years, she has apologized for resumé-padding and has faced allegations ranging from academic plagiarism to stock manipulation, which the presidential office has repeatedly denied. over-egg the pudding I. to make something seem larger, more important, better, or worse than it really is: We all know insurance claimants who have over-egged the pudding to increase their payouts. It would be overegging the pudding to describe the system as universally popular. II. to spoil something by trying too hard to improve it. to try so hard to improve something that you spoil it, for example by making it seem exaggerated or extreme The movie obviously over-eggs the glowing childhood pudding with lots of cuddles, warm milk and snow pattering against the window panes. There are some great moments, but the writer tends to over-egg the pudding with metaphors and similes 比喻 when all she's describing is a group of women getting through the day. simile [ˈsɪmɪli, ˈsɪməli] 明喻, 比喻 ( analogy [əˈnalədʒi]  类比. metaphor 暗喻, 隐喻) A simile is an expression which describes a person or thing as being similar to someone or something else. For example, the sentences 'She runs like a deer' and 'He's as white as a sheet' contain similes. a figure of speech involving the comparison of one thing with another thing of a different kind, used to make a description more emphatic or vivid (e.g. as brave as a lion ). What is the difference between a metaphor 暗喻, 隐喻 and a simile? 2. tamp If you tamp something, you press it down by tapping it several times so that it becomes flatter and more solid. Then I tamp down the soil with the back of a rake. Philpott tamped a wad of tobacco into his pipe. tamp down I. to pat or pack something down. Tamp the soil down over the seeds after you plant them. Please tamp down the soil firmly. II. to reduce the amount, level, size, or importance of something: As the price of gasoline rose above $3 a gallon, consumers cut their spending elsewhere, tamping down profits in retail, travel and other industries. The party retained power by boosting the economy and tamping down corruption. III. To suppress or demoralize someone. My ex-husband was always trying to tamp me down so that I would think I didn't deserve anything better in life. There will always be bullies who tamp you down for being different. IV. To limit, manage, or moderate someone. My doctor prescribed some medication to tamp me down when my food swings become too erratic. Whenever I get really stressed out or angry because of work, I always listen to classical music to help tamp me down. V. To lower or dampen something. The analyst is recommending that investors tamp down their expectations for the economy's performance. I don't want to tamp his hopes down, but I don't want him to end up disappointed, either. ask down 邀请到家里来, 邀请家访 to invite someone to come to one's home [for a visit]. To invite another person to one's home. I've been asked down to the MacLeods' farm this weekend. Haven't I asked you down to our new house before? I did ask Maureen down, but she's busy this weekend. She might be able to stop by during the week, though. Sam asked us down for Friday evening. Shall we go? We asked down some old friends for the evening. Note: (Usually said when someone must go to a lower level, travel south, down a hill, or into the country for the visit.) 3. jackpot 奖池 A jackpot is the most valuable prize in a game or lottery, especially when the game involves increasing the value of the prize until someone wins it. any large prize, kitty, or accumulated stake that may be won in gambling, such as a pool in poker that accumulates until the betting is opened with a pair of jacks or higher. the largest prize in a competition or game: The jackpot was over $1 million. A nurse won the £5 million jackpot. verb. (intransitive) Australian to accumulate 奖金累积 stake money in a prize fund. Powerball jackpots to $100 million, third highest prize this year. hit the jackpot 中奖, 中乐透 If you hit the jackpot, you have a great success, for example by winning a lot of money or having a piece of good luck. A prize pool is a collection of funds that is used to pay out the winnings in a lottery or other event. A large portion of the money from lottery tickets goes into the prize pool, which is then divided up among the different prize divisions. The larger the combination of winning numbers, the bigger the prize. unsecured I. 没有担保的. relating to a loan (= an amount of money that is lent) for which the person who has lent the money has no right to take property from the person who has borrowed it, if the money is not paid back: While we may request security for your loan, it can be unsecured. Total unsecured borrowing has increased by 60% over the past year. With an unsecured loan you do not offer your home as security and it is therefore a popular form of borrowing among consumers. II. 没有固定的. 没有弄紧的. not made secure or firm; not kept firmly in place. not made safe; not protected from danger or risk: According to the insurance company's report, the garage door had been left unsecured. III. 没有保障措施的. (of a creditor) having no security against a specific asset and with a claim inferior to those of secure creditors. An unsecured creditor is a creditor who does not have a security interest in the assets of a debtor. This means that if the debtor defaults on payment, the unsecured creditor has nothing to fall back on. The administrators' report lists 124 unsecured creditors, including customers, who are owed money from the company. The administrators say unsecured creditors may receive 19 cents for every dollar they're owed once Redflow's assets have been sold. IV. not protected against tapping or interception, as a telephone line or radio communication. notwithstanding I. preposition 尽管. 虽然. in spite of. If something is true notwithstanding something else, it is true in spite of that other thing. despite the fact or thing mentioned: Notwithstanding some members' objections, I think we must go ahead with the plan. Injuries notwithstanding, the team won the semifinal. He despised William Pitt, notwithstanding the similar views they both held. His relations with colleagues, differences of opinion notwithstanding, were unfailingly friendly. "notwithstanding the evidence, the consensus is that the jury will not reach a verdict". II. adv. nevertheless; in spite of this. 虽然是那么说. 尽管如此. 虽然如此. 即便如此. "I didn't like it. Notwithstanding, I remained calm". It's just the way the cookie crumbles. Notwithstanding it was a very bloody expensive cookie for me. wheels come/fall off 忽然就不行了, 猝死, 戛然而止 —used to say that someone or something fails in a sudden or unexpected way. Something failed, often after or amidst a laborious, tiring process. The coach said, "We were doing well for a while, but they got tired and then the wheels fell off". The pitcher was doing well for the first four innings, then the wheels fell off in the fifth. For the last several years, it felt like unless we could figure out a way to to raise a bigger chunk of money … eventually the wheels might fall off. demonstrable [dɪˈmɒnstrəbl] clearly apparent or capable of being logically proved. A demonstrable fact or quality can be shown to be true or to exist. The road safety programme is having a demonstrable effect on road users. Despite its demonstrable speed and safety, the boat failed to become popular. "the demonstrable injustices of racism". 4. Torah scroll ( torah [tɔrə] In the Jewish religion, the Torah is the first five books of the Old Testament of the Bible, regarded collectively. ...the first school for the study of the Torah. scroll [skroʊl] noun. I. 书卷 A scroll is a long roll of paper or a similar material with writing on it. a long roll of paper or similar material with usually official writing on it: The ancient Egyptians stored information on scrolls. Ancient scrolls were found in caves by the Dead Sea. II. A scroll is a painted or carved decoration made to look like a scroll. ...a handsome suite of chairs incised with Grecian scrolls. verb. If you scroll through text on a computer or phone screen, you move the text up or down to find the information that you need. I scrolled down to find 'United States of America'.) is a sacred handwritten copy of the Torah, the first five books of Moses, that is used in Jewish rituals and prayers. Torah scrolls are made from parchment ( parchment I. 羊皮. In former times, parchment was the skin of a sheep or goat that was used for writing on. the thin, dried skin of some animals that was used in the past for writing on, or a high-quality paper made to look like this: ancient parchment. He'd been ill for a long time, and his skin was like parchment. ...old manuscripts written on parchment. II. 牛皮纸. Parchment is a kind of thick yellowish paper. ...an old lamp with a parchment shade. Cover with a sheet of non-stick baking parchment. III. A parchment is a document written on parchment. parched [pɑːtʃt] adj I. 干旱的. dried out with heat. If something, especially the ground or a plant, is parched, it is very dry, because there has been no rain. parched earth/fields/corn. It was the height of summer and the land was parched and brown. The clouds gathered and showers poured down upon the parched earth. ...a hill of parched brown grass.  "the parched earth". II. informal 口渴的. extremely thirsty. If your mouth, throat, or lips are parched, they are unpleasantly dry. "I'm parched—I'll die without a drink". If you say that you are parched, you mean that you are very thirsty. III. lightly roasted. "parched corn". ) from a kosher animal, usually a cow, and are written in Hebrew by a trained scribe, or sofer. The scroll contains 304,805 letters that must be written precisely. The process of making a Torah scroll is complex and can take up to 18 months. The parchment is specially prepared, and the scribe uses a quill or other permitted writing utensil dipped in ink. Torah scrolls are kept in synagogues in special cabinets called arks. Torah scrolls are read from regularly during prayer services and on the Sabbath and holidays. Torah scrolls are so sacred that if one is accidentally dropped in the synagogue, the congregation must fast for 40 days. 5. shoulder season noun a travel season between peak and off-peak seasons, especially spring and fall, when fares tend to be relatively low. In the travel industry, a shoulder season is a period just before or after most people take their holidays. In Peru, the shoulder seasons are April–May and October–November. Main character syndrome 主角症候, 主角光环(主角 leading character, protagonist ) is a term used to describe a person who views themselves as the main character in their life, believing they are the most important person in most situations: They see their lives like a movie or book, focusing on their own experiences and feelings; They act according to the narrative of their plot, however they define it; They see everyone else as secondary, often a sidekick or a villain. While the term is popular on social media and in pop culture, it's not an actual medical diagnosis or psychiatric condition: It's a colloquial term that originated on social media platforms; It's similar to narcissism, but the two are not the same thing. Main character syndrome can be a warning sign for other mental health disorders, such as anxiety, depression, and narcissistic personality disorder (NPD). If you think you may be living with a mental health condition, you should speak to a psychiatrist or psychologist. 6. top flight noun. 顶级. the highest rank or level. The Sheffield Eagles move down to the second division after two seasons in the top flight. adj. 顶级的. 第一流的. of the highest rank or level. of superior or excellent quality; outstanding He's one of our top-flight engineers. "a top-flight batsman". high-flying adj. I. flying at a high altitude. "the remotely piloted, high-flying aircraft". II. 非常成功的. very successful, especially academically or in business. A high-flying person is successful or is likely to be successful in their career. ...a high-flying management consultant. a high-flying investment banker. "a high-flying, stressed-out Los Angeles tax attorney". A high-flying top Melbourne model who partied with A-list celebrities ended up homeless and in jail after party drugs wrecked her life and led to her downfall. The former private schoolgirl ended up at Melbourne's notorious Dame Phyllis Frost Centre women's prison after her party-drug addiction took a grip of her life. discernment [dɪˈsəːnm(ə)nt] 明辨是非 the ability to judge well. the ability to judge people and things well. Discernment is the ability to judge which things of a particular kind are good and which are bad. Over the years, I have learnt discernment, acceptance and patience (to a degree). ...their lack of discernment and acceptance of inferior quality.  It's clear that you are a person of discernment. "an astonishing lack of discernment". discern 辨别, 看得出来 verb. I. If you can discern something, you are aware of it and know what it is. to see, recognize, or understand something that is not clear. to be able to see, recognize, understand, or decide something: He could discern the note of urgency in their voices. The exhibit is arranged in no important order that the viewer can discern. I could just discern a figure in the darkness. It is difficult to discern any pattern in these figures. You need a long series of data to be able to discern such a trend. It was hard to discern why this was happening. II. If you can discern something, you can just see it, but not clearly. Below the bridge we could just discern a narrow, weedy ditch. discerning 明辨是非的, 看得出好赖的, 有眼力的 adj. having or showing good judgement. showing good judgment, especially about style and quality. If you describe someone as discerning, you mean that they are able to judge which things of a particular kind are good and which are bad. ...tailor-made holidays to suit the more discerning traveller. Her childhood passion for collecting has not dimmed, but now she is more discerning. a discerning customer. "the brasserie attracts discerning customers". observant ( alert, sharp-eyed, eagle-eyed, hawk-eyed, with eyes like a hawk, keen-eyed) adj. I. 眼尖的. 明察秋毫的. Someone who is observant pays a lot of attention to things and notices more about them than most people do. good or quick at noticing things: "That's a new dress, isn't it?" "Yes, you are observant!" That's a marvellous description, Mrs Drummond. You're unusually observant. An observant doctor can often detect depression from expression, posture, and movement. II. An observant follower of a religion performs all the duties that his or her religion requires. obeying religious rules or customs: As an observant Muslim, she wore a headscarf. ...a profoundly observant Islamic country. keen-eyed extremely observant. "an accident was averted by a keen-eyed officer". 7. on account of 因为, 鉴于, 原因或者理由, 由于...的原因: Owing to, because of the fact that. You use on account of to introduce the reason or explanation for something. The President declined to deliver the speech himself, on account of a sore throat. A newly-married couple, he thought, on account of their walking so close together. Penny: Okay. What do you watch on Thanksgiving? Sheldon: The parade. Penny: Oh, you know, that reminds me, I usually go back to Nebraska for thanksgiving, but this year they're calling it off on account of my brother's trial. Leonard: What's he on trial for? Penny: Oh, just a big misunderstanding. You know, you'd actually like my brother, he's kind of a chemist. Anyway, I was thinking I'd have thanksgiving here, and you are all invited. on that/this account 有鉴于此, 因而, 因此 You can use on that account or on this account when you want to say that something happens for the reason you have just mentioned. Wine is radioactive but few people stop drinking it on that account. on sb's account 为了某人, 因为某人 If something is said to be on someone's or something's account, it is because of that person or thing: I'm not very hungry, so please don't cook on my account (= don't cook just for me). They were tired, but not any less enthusiastic on that account.

strife VS strive: strife noun. I. 困境. 困局. violent or angry disagreement. angry disagreement or violent actions: What are the prospects for overcoming the strife between the Christian minority and Muslim majority? 20 years of civil strife have left the country's economy in ruins. Money is a major cause of strife in many marriages. The boardroom strife at the company is far from over. It remains a highly unstable and strife-torn country. civil/ethnic/political strife. At no point was there any hint that we were in financial strife?. He led the union through several years of labor strife. The killer reportedly wrote that he acted alone and that he was self-funded. 'To save you a lengthy investigation, I state plainly that I wasn't working with anyone,' Mangione said. 'These parasites had it coming. I do apologize for any strife and trauma, but it had to be done.' II. 分歧. disagreements between groups of people: industrial/financial/political strife. boardroom/internal strife. strive 努力, 寻求, 致力于 If you strive to do something or strive for something, you make a great effort to do it or get it. to try very hard to do something or to make something happen, especially for a long time or against difficulties: Mr Roe has kindled expectations that he must now strive to live up to. In her writing she strove for a balance between innovation and familiar prose forms. He strives hard to keep himself very fit. She strove to read the name on the stone pillar. The region must now strive for economic development as well as peace. ...a politician consumed by his own passionate striving for leadership. strive after something to try very hard to obtain something. I am always striving after perfection. Ted was striving after a promotion and finally got it. strive against something to work against something. He worked hard, striving against failure at every turn. Things were difficult. I had to strive against quitting almost every day. strive for something to try to obtain or bring about something. I am striving for the best possible result. Mary strives for perfection in everything she does. strive to do something to try hard to do something. She strove very hard to do what she had set out to do. Please strive to do it as best you can. strive toward something to work toward a goal. DI always strive toward perfection. Mary strove toward doing her best at all times.

 Executives sucking up to Trump now have to factor in the 'first buddy': And in this bareknuckle 你死我活, 竞争白热化(Bareknuckle fighting is a sport in which two competitors fight by hitting each other with their hands, which are not protected by gloves (= thick hand coverings that are worn for protection): The men went to a bare-knuckle fighting club. He is a bare-knuckle campaigner who is not scared to take on any political opponent. A bareknuckle brawl broke out in the airport terminal.) world of corporate executive leadership, Zuckerberg and the like have little choice but to spin up some flattery and lay it on thick. Failing to do so risks upsetting a leader with a short fuse and the power to sink a company's stock or ignite a boycott with a single social media post. Trump also welcomed his faithful "first buddy" Elon Musk into his inner circle, where Musk appears to be relishing his role as a kind of gatekeeper for executives hoping to snag an audience with the president-elect, per the Wall Street Journal. (Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI and the most prominent spokesman for the AI industry, is reportedly persona non grata around Mar-a-Lago because Musk "despises" him.)  The Musk factor adds a wrinkle ( add a new wrinkle To bring or contribute a new and often unexpected aspect, dimension, innovation, development, or stratagem (to something). If proven to be true, the discovery could add a new wrinkle to the way we think about the evolutionary process. Their new, and unorthodox, pitcher has added a new wrinkle to the team's offensive game. Well, this certainly adds a new wrinkle—no one foresaw that the experiment would yield a rubber-like substance. A clever device or expedient, a novelty, as in The players added a new wrinkle to victory celebrations by tossing their shirts to the crowd after the game.) to an already tricky diplomacy that Zuck, who has a history of beef with both men, would have had to engage in anyway. But zooming out 全局来看, 从大的方面看, 从大处着眼, it also reflects a broader shift in recent years in the way business leaders approach their job. If at one point it was cool to speak out on political issues — as many executives did during the first Trump administration and early in Joe Biden's term — the pendulum has swung fully back. The mood now: Bend the knee, or say nothing and pray no one notices. We can see that happening not only in the parade of tech CEOs tweeting fawning congratulations to Trump but more broadly in the wave of companies backtracking on diversity, equity and inclusion programs. To be sure, plenty of companies are still committed to DEI programs, and not all executives are morphing into insufferable suck-ups 拍马屁, 拍须溜马, 逢迎巴结. But now that Trump has locked up a second term, businesses feel less pressure to fake it till they make it on the DEI front. "Trump's election gives business leaders who were never committed to DEI an easy out," Shaun Harper, a professor of education and business at the University of Southern California, recently told my colleague Nathaniel Meyersohn. In other words, as the country embraces its strongman era, the idea of "stakeholder capitalism( Shareholders: Have partial ownership of a company because they've bought stock in it. Shareholders are always stakeholders, but not all stakeholders are shareholders. Stakeholders: Anyone who is impacted by a company's decisions, regardless of whether they own part of the company. Stakeholders can have an interest in a company's decisions, plans, and financial stability. Shareholder capitalism: Companies focus on maximizing profits, which can lead to short-term goals that don't align with the long-term interests of other stakeholders. Stakeholder capitalism: Companies consider the interests of multiple stakeholders, including shareholders, employees, customers, suppliers, and communities. Stakeholder capitalism is more focused on long-term management strategies that promote better business practices. )" — that companies should strive to be more than just profit machines — is losing its tug of war 角力 with the more traditional profit-at-all-costs model of "shareholder capitalism."

How a stowaway avoided identity and boarding pass checks on a flight from New York to Paris: A TSA spokesperson told CNN the woman first bypassed an airport terminal employee in charge of the security lane reserved for airline flight crews at JFK's Terminal 4 main checkpoint. It was at that point the woman skipped the station where her ID and boarding pass would have been checked, the spokesperson said. She then joined the line for standard TSA screening. It remains unclear how the woman was able to get past Delta gate agents at JFK. Delta has not said how the woman was able to board the plane once she made it past the TSA checkpoint. A review of JFK's security camera video shows the woman first blended in with a flight crew before the security screening, and later proceeded to the gate where she then placed herself in the middle of what appeared to be a family traveling together, according to a senior law enforcement official briefed on the investigation. TSA Administrator David P. Pekoske, speaking at the American Association of Airport Executives Aviation Security Summit on Tuesday, said the agency occasionally has "a very, very small number" of people who skip the identity verification stage undetected. He suggested electronic gates might be a solution to making sure all passengers are screened. What's really important here is, now the world knows our security is once again – just like before 911 – extremely porous 筛子似的, 漏洞百出. The flight attendants are required to check the bathrooms. Some airlines lock the bathrooms but Delta doesn't require them to be locked on takeoff," Schiavo said. "The airlines that require that is obviously to stop this bathroom dodgeball (四处躲藏的人)." Pekoske added, "We don't use e-gates in our system, and that's a problem." Schiavo said bypassing the first identity verification station with its facial recognition technology was among the glaring mistakes committed that day. "She came in and she didn't have any facial recognition, and obviously they didn't check to see she was ticketed passenger because she wasn't," Schiavo said.