ravage VS ravish; roving VS wandering; Commonwealth VS confederation VS federation;

用法学习: 1. scalp [skælp] I. the skin on the top of a person's head where hair usually grows: a dry/oily/itchy scalp 头皮. Some tribes used to collect scalps to prove how many of the enemy they had killed in battle. His hair was cut so short you could see his scalp. II. someone you defeat in a competition or election. someone you defeat: take a scalp They are expected to take some important scalps in the election. Although they are expected to take some important scalps in the election, they are unlikely to form the next government. verb. US informal (UK = tout 黄牛票, 炒票) to buy things, such as theatre tickets, at the usual prices and then sell them, when they are difficult to get, at much higher prices. to buy things, such as theatre tickets, at the usual price and then sell them when they are difficult to get at much higher prices: He made a lot of money scalping tickets for the popular musical show. Sheldon: Gentlemen, I have the solution to our Comic-Con problem. We don't need them. I'm starting my own convention. Leonard: Sheldon, just buy scalped tickets with us. Sheldon: I told you. Buying scalped tickets is against the rules. If you get caught, you get banned from Comic-Con for life. Life, Leonard. You're gonna feel pretty silly when we're 80 years old, and you have to drive me down there and then wait in the car for three days. Leonard: Do what you want. We're getting scalped tickets 黄牛票. Howard: I already found a guy online who's willing to sell. Sheldon: How do you know this isn't a sting operation set up by the Comic-Con police? be out for/after sb's scalp 打败强大对手, 打败大人物 to want to defeat or punish someone in some way, especially to make them lose their job. to want to defeat or punish someone in some way: He's made one mistake too many, and now they're out for his scalp. The other Democrats should be after his scalp. take a scalp They are expected to take some important scalps in the election. AO reporting: Dangerous and aggressive are two words that Alex de Minaur's team shared when describing his Australian Open 2025 second round opponent, Tristan Boyer. They're also fitting adjectives for the top-ranked Australian, who is confident enough in his own game to recognise a match should be on his racquet, regardless of what he learns through scouting reports. "Ultimately, it was about me bringing the best version of myself," said De Minaur, who delivered a commanding 6-2 6-4 6-3 win over the American qualifier on Thursday. De Minaur's first serve averaged 194km/h on Thursday, 11km/h faster than Boyer. "I varied from going for the big ones down the tee with some variety, with the sliders, and just felt like I was hitting my spots quite well," said De Minaur, acknowledging that a well-placed serve – even if it's not a free point (In tennis, a free point is a point that is automatically won by one player. This can happen when the server makes a double fault. An ace in tennis is a legal serve that wins a point for the server without the receiver touching the ball. Aces are often made on a player's first serve, when they can hit the ball harder and place it more riskily. A serve winner = service winner in tennis is a serve that is touched by the opponent but not returned. A serve winner that lands in the opponent's service box without being touched is called an ace. Let 网球: A serve that hits the top of the net but bounces into the correct service box. The server can take that serve again.  ) – helps set up the next shot. "Too often in the past I didn't have enough power where I was really playing that next shot on my terms," he said, crediting his ability to add 10-15km/h on serve without sacrificing accuracy. Buoyed by support from a legion of fans inside Rod Laver Arena, De Minaur also showed off his trademark speed and court coverage by recording 34 sprints, almost double Boyer's 18. The Australian is aware that it might not be smooth sailing on Saturday when he takes the court against 31st seed Francisco Cerundolo for the first time. The 26-year-old, once ranked as high as 19, has earned 11 wins against top 10 players including Jannik Sinner, Zverev and Fritz. "It's going to be tough, he's a quality opponent, lots of firepower 火力十足, great forehand," admitted De Minaur. "He's taken some big scalps and hopefully I'm not the next one." "I'm looking forward to it, it's going to be a really tough one. I've got to be up for it from the very first point, bring that intensity, play some aggressive style of tennis." 2. pontificate [pɒnˈtɪfɪkeɪt] verb 自说自话, 自以为是的说 If someone pontificates about something, they state their opinions as if they are the only correct ones and nobody could possibly argue against them. to speak or write and give your opinion about something as if you knew everything about it and as if only your opinion was correct. to speak in an important manner as if only your opinion was correct: Experts get on the tube and pontificate about the economy. I think it should be illegal for non-parents to pontificate on/about parenting. Politicians like to pontificate about falling standards. pontificate [pɒnˈtɪfɪkət] noun The pontificate of a pope is the period of time during which he is pope. Pope Formosus died after a pontificate of four and a half years. (in the Roman Catholic Church) the office or period of office of a pope or bishop. the period of office of a pope (= leader of the Roman Catholic Church): The decision was made during the pontificate of Pope John XX. "Pope Gregory VIII enjoyed only a ten-week pontificate". 3. roving 没固定住址的, 四处游走的, 居无定所的, 游走江湖的 You use roving to describe a person who travels around, rather than staying in a fixed place. travelling from place to place: Left to raise themselves on the streets, these children form roving bands of delinquents.  And now a live report from our roving reporter, Martin Jackson. A roving band of performers will tour schools around the country to boost pupils' interest in verse. ...a roving reporter. Left to raise themselves on the streets, these children form roving bands of delinquents. have a roving eye = wandering eye 色迷迷, 总找机会寻花问柳 old-fashioned humorous If you say that someone has a roving eye, you mean that they are always sexually interested in people other than their partner. If you say that someone has a roving eye, you are criticizing them for continually looking to start new sexual relationships. By his own admission he had a roving eye and was easily infatuated. Although he's going out with one of the world's most beautiful women, the actor still has a roving eye. A roving mechanic is a mobile mechanic who travels to a vehicle's location to perform repairs and maintenance. They are equipped with tools and diagnostic equipment to identify and fix issues. The focused mind 精神集中, 集中精神 (make mind focus, that would focus mind, wandering mind, wandering mind) allows people greater attention to detail and organisational abilities that drive societies functional systems and helping professions. People with a focused mind are highly conscientious (wishing to do one's work well) and empathic (an ability to understand and share the feelings of another). somebody's mind wanders 走神, 精神不集中 if your mind wanders, you no longer pay attention to something, especially because you are bored. used to say that someone has become unable to think clearly, especially because they are old I'm sorry, my mind was wandering. What did you say? Her mind was beginning to wander. My mind wanders as a fox watches me from the clifftop and a shower of meteorites zips across the sky. 4. get a jump on someone/something = get the jump on someone/something 抢先, 抢占先机 I. to get an advantage over other people by doing something before they do: The company is trying to get a jump on their competitors by putting a lot of money into research. II. to start doing something before other people start, or before something happens, in order to win an advantage for yourself: I like to leave work early on Fridays so I can get a jump on the traffic. jump the broom = jump the besom 跳扫帚: Jumping the broom (or jumping the besom) is a phrase and custom relating to a wedding ceremony in which the couple jumps over a broom. It is most widespread among African Americans and Black Canadians, popularized during the 1970s by the novel and miniseries Roots, and originated in mid-19th-century antebellum slavery in the United States. The custom is also attested ( attest 证实 To attest something or attest to something means to say, show, or prove that it is true. to show, say, or prove that something exists or is true. (of a person) to state with authority that something is true, or (of a situation or event) to show that something is likely to be true: As one who worked there for years, I can attest that applications are carefully reviewed. Her wealth was attested to by her fur coat and designer shoes. Thousands of people came out onto the streets to attest their support for the democratic opposition party. attest to The number of old German cars still on the road attests to the excellence of their manufacture. As his career attests, he is a world-class tennis player. Police records attest to his long history of violence. I can personally attest that the cold and flu season is here. His beautifully illustrated book well attested his love of the university. II. to say officially, for example by signing your name, that a document such as a will (= a document in which a person says what should be done with their money and property after they die) has been written and signed correctly: be attested The will needs to be attested by three witnesses. A notary public is an individual authorized by the state to certify documents and attest to their authenticity. Generally, the testimony of at least one attesting witness is required to probate a will. attested 检验过的, 检疫过的 (of cattle, etc) certified to be free from a disease, esp from tuberculosis. ) in Irish weddings. The expression may also derive from the custom of jumping over a besom ("broom" refers to the plant from which the household implement is made) associated with the Romanichal Travellers of the United Kingdom, especially those in Wales. 5. never say die 永不认输, 永不放弃. 永不言弃 said to encourage people to keep trying. It can also mean to push ahead or soldier on. A person with a "never say die" attitude doesn't get discouraged or give up, no matter what. It's often used to encourage someone to continue something or to remain hopeful. hearty I. Hearty people or actions 发自内心的, 真诚的 are loud, cheerful, and energetic. enthusiastic, energetic, and often loudly expressed: a hearty welcome. a hearty laugh. Wade was a hearty, bluff, athletic sort of guy. He gave a hearty laugh. He laughed heartily. II. Hearty feelings or opinions 强烈的, 发自内心的 are strongly felt or strongly held. very great: She has a hearty dislike of any sort of office work. With the last sentiment, Arnold was in hearty agreement. I heartily agree with her favourable comments on Germany and France. Most of the city's inhabitants are heartily sick of war. III. A hearty meal is large and very satisfying. large or (especially of food) in large amounts: We ate a hearty breakfast before we set off. hearty appetite 好胃口 She's got a hearty appetite (= she eats a lot). The men ate a hearty breakfast. ...a hearty soup delicately flavoured with nutmeg. I ate heartily and always cleared my plate. satisfying to the taste 可口的: a hearty vegetable soup. 6. cavalcade [kævəlkeɪd] 车队, 人队, 马队, 行列 a line of people, vehicles, horses, etc. following a particular route as part of a ceremony. A cavalcade is a procession of people on horses or in cars or carriages. ...a cavalcade of limousines and police motorcycles. primacy [praɪməsi] The primacy of something is the fact that it is the most important or most powerful thing in a particular situation. the state of being the most important thing: Satellite television, boasting 300 digital channels, was threatening the primacy of cable TV. The government insists on the primacy of citizens' rights. The political idea at the heart of this is the primacy of the individual. ...the primacy of experience over analysis. 6. Commonwealth is a term used by four of the 50 states of the United States in their full official state names: Kentucky, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. "Commonwealth" is a traditional English term used to describe a political community as having been founded for the common good, and shares some similarities with the Latin phrase "res publica" ('the public thing') from which ultimately is derived the word republic. The four states are all in the Eastern United States, and prior to the formation of the United States in 1776 were British colonial possessions, although Kentucky did not exist as an independent polity under British rule, instead being a part of colonial Virginia. As such, they share a strong influence of English common law in some of their laws and institutions. However, the "commonwealth" appellation ( appellation [apəˈleɪʃən] a name or title. An appellation is a name or title that a person, place, or thing is given. He earned the appellation 'rebel priest'."the city fully justifies its appellation 'the Pearl of the Orient'". II. the action of giving a name to someone or something.) has no legal or political significance, and it does not make "commonwealth" states any different from other U.S. states. Besides the four aforementioned states, other states have also on occasion used the term "commonwealth" to refer to themselves. The Commonwealth of Nations 英联邦—formerly the British Commonwealth—is a voluntary association of 56 independent sovereign states, most of which were once part of the British Empire. The Commonwealth's membership includes both republics and monarchies. The Head of the Commonwealth is King Charles III, who also reigns as monarch directly in the 15 member states known as Commonwealth realms since his accession in 2022. The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) 独联体 is a loose alliance or confederation consisting of nine of the 15 former Soviet Republics, the exceptions being Turkmenistan (a CIS associate member), Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Ukraine, and Georgia. Georgia left the CIS in August 2008 following the 2008 invasion of the Russian military into South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Its creation signalled the dissolution of the Soviet Union, its purpose being to "allow a civilised divorce" between the Soviet Republics. The CIS has developed as a forum by which the member-states can co-operate in economics, defence, and foreign policy. A confederation 邦联制 (also known as a confederacy or league) is a political union of sovereign states united for purposes of common action. Usually created by a treaty, confederations of states tend to be established for dealing with critical issues, such as defence, foreign relations, internal trade or currency, with the central government being required to provide support for all its members. Confederalism represents a main form of intergovernmentalism, defined as any form of interaction around states that takes place on the basis of sovereign independence or government. The nature of the relationship among the member states constituting a confederation varies considerably. Likewise, the relationship between the member states and the general government and their distribution of powers varies. Some looser confederations are similar to international organisations. Other confederations with stricter rules may resemble federal systems. These elements of such confederations, the international organization and federalist perspective, has been combined as supranational unions. Since the member states of a confederation retain their sovereignty, they have an implicit right of secession. Under a confederation, compared to a federal state, the central authority is relatively weak. Decisions made by the general government in a unicameral legislature, a council of the member states, require subsequent implementation by the member states to take effect; they are not laws acting directly upon the individual but have more the character of interstate agreements. Also, decision-making in the general government usually proceeds by consensus (unanimity), not by the majority. Historically, those features limit the union's effectiveness. Hence, political pressure tends to build over time for the transition to a federal system of government, as in the American, Swiss and German cases of regional integration. A federation (also called a federal state) 联邦制 is an entity characterized by a union of partially self-governing provinces, states, or other regions under a federal government (federalism). In a federation, the self-governing status of the component states, as well as the division of power between them and the central government, is constitutionally entrenched and may not be altered by a unilateral decision, neither by the component states nor the federal political body without constitutional amendment. Sovereign power is formally divided between a central authority and a number of constituent regions so that each region retains some degree of control over its internal affairs. Overriding powers of a central authority theoretically can include: the constitutional authority to suspend a constituent state's government by invoking gross mismanagement or civil unrest 骚乱, or to adopt national legislation that overrides or infringes on the constituent states' powers by invoking the central government's constitutional authority to ensure "peace and good government" or to implement obligations contracted under an international treaty. 7. failing that 这个还不行的话, 这个还不够的话 used for saying that if something you have mentioned is not possible, there is another thing you can try. You say failing that to introduce an alternative, in case what you have just said is not possible. Find someone who will let you talk things through, or failing that, write down your thoughts. Buy her some flowers, or failing that, just send her a card. Try quitting the application you're in; failing that, restart your computer. failing grade = failing mark 不及格的分数 the number of points achieved on a test or in an examination or judgment that shows that someone or something has not been successful or did not achieve the necessary standard: They accused her of allowing students with failing grades to pass. This election will be a comment on the president's performance, and right now he's earning a failing grade. His grades 考试成绩 have been solid. D's and failing grades accounted for less than 1 percent each. Eight of every 10 students earned failing grades on the biology test. The area is visited by 2 million people a year, yet it constantly gets failing grades for water quality. More than half the states received a failing grade on monitoring pollution in rivers and lakes. a grade/mark that shows that someone did not pass a test or course of study. He received a failing grade/mark in chemistry. His boss, says Barnett, reposted by giving the inspector, who’d always received top grades in annual performance reviews, a failing mark on his 2014 card. In Australia, a failing grade is usually an F or an E. In some universities, a failing grade is a mark of 49% or less. In other universities, a failing grade is a mark of 0–49%. 8. giddy I. = dizzy 晕乎乎的. If you feel giddy, you feel unsteady and think that you are about to fall over, usually because you are not well. having a slight feeling of spinning around or being unable to balance; slightly dizzy: When she got off the roller coaster, she felt giddy and lightheaded. He felt giddy and light-headed. A wave of giddiness swept over her. II. If you feel giddy with delight or excitement, you feel so happy or excited that you find it hard to think or act normally. feeling silly, happy, and excited and showing this in your behaviour: giddy with 窃喜 She was giddy with excitement. Anthony was giddy with self-satisfaction. Being there gave me a giddy pleasure. There's almost a giddiness surrounding the talks in Houston. "Democrats are all 'giddy'" about the notion that flags will be lowered on Inauguration Day, Trump wrote Jan. 3 on social media. dizzy I. feeling as if everything is turning around, and that you are not able to balance and may fall over:  Her head still hurt, and she felt slightly dizzy and disoriented. He began to get dizzy spells. Her head spins dizzily as soon as she sits up. His complaint causes dizziness and nausea. Going without sleep for a long time makes me feel dizzy and light-headed. dizzy with I felt dizzy with excitement as I went up to collect the award. II. 让人头晕目眩的 confusing and very fast: dizzy pace. In the computer industry, change comes at a dizzy pace (= very fast). Who could have predicted the dizzy pace of change in the country? III. informal A dizzy person, especially a woman, is silly. You can use dizzy to describe someone who is careless and forgets things, but is easy to like. She is famed for playing dizzy blondes. ...a charmingly dizzy great-grandmother. dizzy blonde 傻白甜的. In the film, she played the part of a dizzy blonde. the dizzy heights of something a very important position: reach the dizzy heights of 盘上高位 If you say that someone has reached the dizzy heights of something, you are emphasizing that they have reached a very high level by achieving it. I escalated to the dizzy heights of director's secretary. Do you think Tess will reach the dizzy heights of Senior Editor before she's 30? verb. If something dizzies you, it causes you to feel unsteady or confused. The sudden height dizzied her and she clung tightly. We're descending now at dizzying speed. 9. pantomime [ˈpantəmʌɪm] I. A pantomime is a funny musical play for children. Pantomimes are usually based on fairy stories and are performed at Christmas. II. Pantomime is the form of entertainment which involves producing a pantomime. What she does very well is pantomime. He is currently starring in pantomime in Weston-super-Mare. III. 默剧. Pantomime is acting something out without speaking. the art or act of expressing thoughts and emotions with movement rather than speech; mime. Chaplin feared that the art of pantomime was under threat. =  mime: It's an evening of music, drama and pantomime. IV. [mainly British] 夸张. If you say that a situation or a person's behaviour is a pantomime, you mean that it is silly or exaggerated and that there is something false about it. They were made welcome with the usual pantomime of exaggerated smiles and gestures. The rights of every American to good government have been damaged by the pantomime on Capitol Hill. American pantomime villain Danielle Collins was labelled a "brat" by Jones on radio station 3AW after Collins told the crowd to kiss her backside following her second-round win over Australian Destanee Aiava. mend I. to find a solution to a problem: The new government pledged to mend the country's broken society. If you try to mend divisions between people, you try to end the disagreements or quarrels between them. He sent Evans as his personal envoy to discuss ways to mend relations between the two countries. I felt that might well mend the rift between them.II. If you mend something 修补 that is broken or not working, you repair it, so that it works properly or can be used. They took a long time to mend the roof. Somebody else lent me a pump and helped me mend the puncture. I should have had the catch mended, but never got round to it. III. If a person or a part of their body mends or is mended, they get better after they have been ill or have had an injury. You'll mend. The X-rays show that your arm will heal all right. I'm feeling a good bit better. The cut aches, but it's mending 愈合, 变好, 痊愈. He must have a major operation on his knee to mend severed ligaments. mend fences/bridges/relations 改善关系, 修补关系 (build a bridge) to try to improve a relationship with someone you have had a disagreement with. If one country tries to mend fences with another, it tries to end a disagreement or quarrel with the other country. You can also say that two countries mend fences. Washington was last night doing its best to mend fences with the Europeans, saying it understood their concerns. The two countries fought a border war a decade ago, but now they are mending fences. The industry is trying to mend fences with government, environmental groups, and the public. "He's not understood our humour, so there's a bit of a clash of cultures. But he's had a bit of a rough go here for a guy that's won the tournament 10 times, there's some crowd that really like to get at him and crowd behaviour [that's] sometimes unruly. "You layer that, layer that 一层层的, 层层叠加 and then something like this and he's not reacted well, but hopefully we can mend all these bridges and we'll start the game at love-all." layer verb If you layer something, you arrange it in layers. Layer the potatoes, asparagus and salmon in the tin. By lifting and layering her hair, Michael created a lighter frame for her face. mend your ways 变好, 变乖, 变得听话 to begin to improve your behaviour after you have been behaving badly. If someone who has been behaving badly mends their ways, they begin to behave well. He has promised drastic disciplinary action if they do not mend their ways. The outcry over third-world child exploitation has shamed some employers into mending their ways. be on the mend informal to be improving after a period of difficulty or failure. If a relationship or situation is on the mend after a difficult or unsuccessful period, it is improving. More evidence that the economy was on the mend was needed. The economy finally seems to be on the mend. 10. facsimile [fakˈsɪmɪli] 一模一样的版本 noun. an exact copy, especially of written or printed material. A facsimile of something is a copy or imitation of it. ...a facsimile of his writing desk. a facsimile of the original manuscript. ...a facsimile edition of Beethoven's musical manuscripts. "a facsimile of the manuscript". verb. make a copy of. "the ride was facsimiled for another theme park". brush noun. I. A brush is an object which has a large number of bristles or hairs fixed to it. You use brushes for painting, for cleaning things, and for tidying your hair. We gave him paint and brushes. Stains are removed with buckets of soapy water and scrubbing brushes. ...a hair brush. II. [vagueness] If you have a brush with someone, you have an argument or disagreement with them. You use brush when you want to make an argument or disagreement sound less serious than it really is. My first brush with a headmaster came six years ago. It is his third brush with the law in less than a year. III. If you have a brush with a particular situation 死里逃生, 九死一生, 擦肩而过, 险险..., usually an unpleasant one, you almost experience it. a brush with something a situation in which you experience something, or almost experience something, especially something unpleasant: have a brush with death Jim had a brush with death (= was nearly killed) on the motorway. ...the trauma of a brush with death. The corporation is fighting to survive its second brush with bankruptcy. IV. Brush is an area of rough open land covered with small bushes and trees. You also use brush to refer to the bushes and trees on this land. ...the brush fire that destroyed nearly 500 acres. ...a meadow of low brush and grass. verb. I. If you brush something or brush something such as dirt off it, you clean it or tidy it using a brush. Have you brushed your teeth? She brushed the powder out of her hair. Using a small brush, he brushed away the fine sawdust. I gave it a quick brush with my hairbrush. II. If you brush something with a liquid 刷上, you apply a layer of that liquid using a brush. Take a sheet of filo pastry and brush it with melted butter. III. If you brush something somewhere 梳理, you remove it with quick light movements of your hands. He brushed his hair back with both hands. She brushed away tears as she spoke of him. He brushed the snow off the windshield. IV. If one thing brushes against another or if you brush one thing against another 碰了一下, 擦了一下, 扫了一下, the first thing touches the second thing lightly while passing it. Something brushed against her leg. I felt her dark brown hair brushing the back of my shoulder. She knelt and brushed her lips softly across Michael's cheek. V. If you brush past someone or brush by them 擦肩, 擦身而过, you almost touch them as you go past them. My father would burst into the kitchen, brushing past my mother. He brushed by with a perfunctory wave to the crowd. broad-brush 从大处着眼, 从大处着手 A broad-brush approach, strategy, or solution deals with a problem in a general way rather than concentrating on details. describing or considering something or someone in a very general way, without paying attention to small details or differences: The analysis takes a very broad-brush approach to the question of regional inequalities. In broad brush terms, he is by far the most successful leader in our party's history. He is a details 注重细节的, 面向细节的 man, whereas his boss is broad-brush 粗线条的, 掌握大概的, 大概其的. He's giving a broad brush approach to the subject. paint (something/someone) with a broad brush (also use a broad brush) to describe or consider someone or something in a very general way, without paying attention to small details or differences: I hate to paint all young men with the same broad brush, but it's true. His narratives are lacking in subtlety; he uses a broad brush. tarred with the same brush 以偏概全 If some people in a group behave badly and if people then wrongly think that all of the group is equally bad, you can say that the whole group is tarred with the same brush. Football supporters all get tarred with the same brush when there's trouble. brush aside = brush away 置之一旁, 置之不理 If you brush aside or brush away an idea, remark, or feeling, you refuse to consider it because you think it is not important or useful, even though it may be. Perhaps you shouldn't brush the idea aside too hastily. He brushed away my views on politics. brush something away He brushed away a tear 擦去眼泪, 擦干眼泪. brush up (on) something 提高, 改进, 加强, 重拾 to improve your knowledge of something already learned but partly forgotten: I thought I'd brush up (on) my French before going to Paris.

ravage VS ravish: 0. ravings [ˈreɪ.vɪŋz] 疯言疯语, 疯话 crazy statements that have no meaning. irrational or incoherent talk. If you describe what someone says or writes as their ravings, you mean that it makes no sense because they are mad or very ill. mad, incoherent or deleterious utterances the ravings of a soul in torment. Haig and Robertson saw it as the lunatic ravings of a mad politician. "the ravings of a madwoman". The things he said are simply the ravings of a disturbed mind. the ravings of a demented man. raving 绝对的, 十足的的, 十分的 adj. complete or extreme, or completely or extremely: He must be a raving idiot/lunatic. Her last book was a raving best-seller/success. She's no raving beauty. I think you're (stark) raving mad to agree to do all that extra work without being paid for it. complete or extreme, or completely or extremely: He was raving mad near the end of his life. 1. extremity [ɪkˈstrɛmɪti] 极端 I. the furthest point or limit of something. The extremity of something is its furthest end or edge. ...a small port on the north-western extremity of the Iberian peninsula. ...the extremities of the aeroplane. "the peninsula's western extremity". II. the degree to which something is extreme. The extremity of a situation or of someone's behaviour is the degree to which it is severe, unusual, or unacceptable. In spite of the extremity of her seclusion she was sane. The region is protected by the extremities of its climate. Only in extremity, after six weeks of bombing, was he ready to leave. "the extremity of the violence concerns us". extremities 手脚 hands and feet. Your extremities are the end parts of your body, especially your hands and feet. He found that his extremities grew cold. Exercise is very important as it keeps the circulation moving and warms the extremities. The warmth spread outwards till it reached his extremities. He found that his extremities grew cold. Exercise is very important as it keeps the circulation moving and warms the extremities. 2. ravish [rævɪʃ] verb [usually passive] I. to force a woman to have sex against her wishes. To ravish someone means to rape them. Penny: Okay, it's done. Look, guys, for the future, I don't mind killing the big spiders, but you have to at least try with the little ones. Sheldon: Penny, please, we're facing a far more serious problem than stray arachnids. Leonard: Sheldon, it's not that bad. Sheldon: Not bad? It's horrible. I mean, you hear stories about this sort of thing, but you never think it'll happen to you. Leonard: So they steamed your dumplings, get over it. New topic, please. Howard: All right, Penny, let me take this opportunity to point out that you are looking particularly ravishing today. Penny: Not with a thousand condoms, Howard. She'll never know how close she came to being dragged off and ravished. Katee Sackhoff: Why am I wearing my Battlestar Galactica flight suit in bed? Howard: Why are you in bed with me? If we start to question this, it all falls apart. Katee Sackhoff: Sorry. Oh, ravish me, Howard. My loins ache for you. Howard: Okay, if you insist. I look amazing in all of these dresses! Wow. Look at your waist. Where you been hiding that thing? Bernadette, stop. Penny, you say something nice now. Boy, you know, when Sheldon sees you in that dress, he's gonna want to methodically take it off, fold it up, carefully place it in a storage box, label it, and then ravish you. Should I try on some more? Penny: Okay, now this time try drinking it all at once. Beverley: Yikes. Penny: I've been responsible for my own buzz since 2003. Another round for me and my homegirl. Beverley: I feel a spreading warmth through my extremities. Penny: As long as you don't feel it running down your pants, you're fine. Beverley: Oh, that is fascinating. I'm noticing an immediate lowering of my inhibitions. For example, I'm seriously considering asking that busboy to ravish me in the alleyway while I eat cheesecake. What do you think? II. to give great delight to; enrapture. to give great pleasure to someone: I was utterly ravished by the way she smiled. ravishing [ˈravɪʃɪŋ] 美丽异常的, 赏心悦目的 delightful; entrancing. If you describe someone or something as ravishing, you mean that they are very beautiful. She looked ravishing/She was a ravishing sight in her wedding dress. The Beaujolais hills are ravishingly pretty. She looked ravishing. ...driving through the ravishing scenery of Cumbria and Yorkshire. "she looked ravishing". delectable [dɪlektəbəl] 秀色可餐的 I.  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? vocabulary: If you are ravished by a piece of music, you are overcome with intense feeling while listening to it. The older meaning of ravish is to overcome by physical assault (especially sexual assault) and is still sometimes used. Ravish is a verb of contrasts, having two meanings that, while both dealing with emotional issues, are polar opposites — the first being to fill with joy, the second being to assault and violate a woman against her will. The history of ravish began with the negative connotation — that of seizing by violence and carrying someone, usually a woman, away. It comes from the Latin rapere, although the meaning wasn't always sexual violation — the idea of rape didn't appear until the mid-15th century. 3. ravage [rævɪdʒ] verb [usually passive] A town, country, or economy that has been ravaged is one that has been damaged so much that it is almost completely destroyed. to cause great damage to something: Hurricane Mitch ravaged the tiny Central American country. The area has been ravaged by drought/floods/war. For two decades the country has been ravaged by civil war and foreign intervention. The camerawork makes the ravaged streets of New Orleans look exquisite. ...Nicaragua's ravaged economy. Sheldon: Oh, dear. My mother warned me this is what happens to pretty boys in the big city. Penny: No, we just want information. Sheldon: Oh. Oh, I’ve got that in spades. Ravage me. Penny: We heard you read the letter from Howard's father. Sheldon: I did. Penny: What did it say? ravages noun. destructive action. They survived the ravages of disease and malnutrition. the ravages of time. 

An ectomorph 肌肉型的 is a body type characterized by a lean, slim build, narrow shoulders and hips, and low body fat percentage. People with this body type are often described as "hardgainers" because they have a fast metabolism and find it difficult to gain weight and muscle. Characteristics: Body shape: Tall, slim, with long arms and legs; Bone structure: Small bones; Muscle mass: Low muscle mass percentage; Metabolism: Fast metabolism; Weight: Tends to lose weight easily. A mesomorph 瘦型的人 (slender, slim) is a body type characterized by a muscular build, high metabolism, and a natural tendency to gain and lose weight easily. People with this body type are often described as strong, solid, and athletic. Characteristics:   Muscular: Mesomorphs have well-defined muscles, broad shoulders, and a narrow waist; Rectangular: Their bodies are often rectangular in shape with an upright posture. High metabolism: Mesomorphs have a fast metabolism, which allows them to gain muscle and lose fat relatively easily. Respond well to weight training: Mesomorphs often find it easier to build and maintain muscle than others. Balanced diet: Mesomorphs can benefit from a balanced diet that includes healthy fats, fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein. Endomorph 肥胖型 is a body type characterized by a higher percentage of body fat, a rounder body shape, and a tendency to gain weight. People with an endomorph body type are often described as having: A wide waist and hips; Large bones; Short limbs; A large head; A slower metabolism; A higher risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and cancer.

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.