用法学习: 1. have something on good authority to be able to believe a piece of information because you trust the person who told you it. If you say you have it on good authority that something is true, you mean that you believe it is true because you trust the person who told you about it. I have it on good authority that there's no way this light can cause skin cancer. I have it on good authority that she's getting married. "They don't actually have the money," Musk wrote on his social media platform X. "SoftBank has well under $10B secured. I have that on good authority 消息来源绝对可靠." The comments are a notable takedown of a major White House project from someone that is in Trump's innermost circle. As a sign of how involved Musk is in the first days of the administration, Musk said he was in the Oval Office on Tuesday as Trump signed a pardon for Ross William Ulbricht, founder of the dark web marketplace SilkRoad. Musk had also dispatched a top staffer from his SpaceX and X companies to help ensure the release of convicted January 6 rioters after Trump signed a blanket pardon. A source familiar with Stargate said Musk's assertion is not true. Softbank, the source pointed out, has $24.3 billion of cash on its balance sheet per its latest earnings and that it is comfortable taking on more debt to help fund the project, the wherewithal to access more capital. takedown I. wrestling 撂倒. an instance of an opponent being brought down to the floor. the act of bringing an opponent in an amateur wrestling match to the mat from a standing position, a maneuver for which points are awarded. in the sport of wrestling, an occasion when someone is thrown quickly to the floor by the person he or she is fighting against: Neither wrestler got a takedown in the second one-minute sudden death period. II. 拆台, 贬低. an instance of dismantling, undermining, or belittling. III. something such as a television report, speech, or piece of writing in which someone or something is criticized very strongly and in detail: Barris' takedown of reality TV is razor-sharp. IV. an occasion when the police arrest a person or a group of people: He said they had put a major dent in drug sales in the community with the takedown of the gang. V. an occasion when a website or document is officially removed from the internet: Last year a takedown notice targeting a single site parodying the U.S. Chamber of Commerce resulted in a takedown of the websites of over 300 activist organizations. the wherewithal [hweər'wɪðɔːl] 资金, 资本 If you have the wherewithal for something, you have the means, especially the money, that you need for it. She didn't have the financial wherewithal to do it. Some of the companies illegally sent the wherewithal for making chemical weapons. something such as money or a particular quality that is necessary in order to get or achieve something: I'd like to buy a bigger house, but I don't have the wherewithal. Poor families lack the wherewithal to hire good lawyers. The new job has given her the financial wherewithal to support herself and her two children. Many life forms 生命形态 probably don't have the genetic wherewithal to adapt to a more acid ocean. 2. head off 阻止, 阻挡 I. to start a journey or leave a place: What time are you heading off? II. head someone/something off: to force someone or something to change direction. to block someone's movement by getting in front of the person: Police tried to head off the bank robbers at the next exit. I tried to head the dog off by running towards it. to take action to stop something from happening: The Federal Reserve was accused of failing to head off a crisis in home mortgages. head off recession/inflation/legislation, etc. Congress approved a $700 billion bailout package for US banks as efforts to head off 阻止, 阻挡 a spreading global financial crisis hung in the balance. III. to prevent a difficult or unpleasant situation from happening: The company is putting up wages to head off a strike. rearguard 断后 I. a group of soldiers who protect the rear of a military formation, especially during retreat. the people who are the last in a row or group, especially in a military situation. The rearmost part of a force, especially a detachment of troops that protect the rear of a retreating force. II. The term can also be used figuratively to describe a small force that resists a more powerful force. III. a final attempt to prevent something from happening: The unions were determined to fight a rearguard action against the government's plans to strip them of their powers. rearguard action 善后的行为 an effort to do something effective or get an advantage after the main effort has failed. A desperate attempt to forestall the inevitable. to fight a rearguard action. Supporters trying to keep the museum open are fighting a rear-guard action. forestall 阻止事态 I. (transitive) To prevent, delay or hinder something by taking precautionary or anticipatory measures; to avert. to prevent something from happening by acting first: The company executives forestalled criticism by inviting union leaders to meet. Fred forestalled disaster by his prompt action. If you forestall 预估到而出手阻止 someone, you realize what they are likely to do and prevent them from doing it. O'Leary made to open the door, but Bunbury forestalled him by laying a hand on his arm. Large numbers of police were in the square to forestall any demonstrations. II. (transitive) To preclude or bar from happening, render impossible. In French, an aspired h forestalls elision. make to do something 正要做, 正想做, 上前去做某事, 伸手去做某事, 要做某事 If you make to do something, you are just going to do it when something interrupts you: I made to leave but she called me back. 3. 美国政坛纷争: Following the post, Altman and Musk have traded barbs on the platform, with Musk, who's in an ongoing lawsuit with OpenAI, sharing former posts critical of Trump from Altman to his own X page. Asked in a follow-up exchange if he was frustrated with Musk's very public criticism of the AI announcement he helped broker, Trump demurred ( demur [dɪˈməː] 拒绝评价, 不愿讲, 不愿意说, 不想说 raise objections or show reluctance. If you demur, you say that you do not agree with something or will not do something that you have been asked to do. to express disagreement or refuse to do something: The lawyer requested a break in the court case, but the judge demurred. Hunt asked me to take over the whole operation. At first I demurred. The doctor demurred, but Piercey was insistent. "normally she would have accepted the challenge, but she demurred". without demur 没有抗议, 没有争论, 没有说什么 If you do something without demur, you do it immediately and without making any protest. His plan was accepted without demur. demure [dɪˈmjʊə, dɪˈmjɔː] I. 害羞的. 羞怯的. reserved, modest, and shy (typically used of a woman). (especially of women) quiet and well behaved: She gave him a demure smile. "a demure young lady". II. (of clothing) 保守的. 中规中矩的. 不夸张的. giving a modest appearance. affectedly modest or prim; coy "a demure knee-length skirt". The outfit caused an uproar with Censori arriving in a demure black coat, before removing it during the red carpet walk to reveal she was wearing a sheer body stocking dress with no underwear.) Thursday. Pressed on Musk's comments Thursday, Trump told reporters, "I don't know if they do, but you know, they're putting up the money– the government's not putting up anything, they're putting up money. They're very rich people, so I hope they do. The people in the deal are very, very smart people– but Elon, one of the people he happens to hate. But I have certain hatreds of people too." 4. David Miliband: In September 1976, he passed the entrance examination to 考上了, 通过了入学考试 the newly independent, fee-paying Bradford Grammar School and from 1978 to 1983, attended Haverstock Comprehensive School in North London. He obtained four 成绩得了4个A A-levels (grades BBBD), and won admission to 考上了 the University of Oxford. He was an undergraduate student at Corpus Christi College, Oxford, and obtained 获得了 a first-class honours degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE). From 1988 to 1989, he received 取得硕士学位 a master's degree in Political Science at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he was a Kennedy Scholar. Obama: During his time in Indonesia, Obama's stepfather taught him to be resilient and gave him "a pretty hardheaded ( = hard-nosed
You use hardheaded to describe someone who is practical and determined
to get what they want or need, and who does not allow emotions to affect
their actions. ...a hardheaded and shrewd businesswoman. practical and determined: His hard-nosed business approach is combined with a very real concern for the less fortunate in society.) assessment of how the world works". His mother spent most of the next two decades in Indonesia, divorcing Lolo Soetoro in 1980 and earning 获得学位, 得到学位 a PhD degree in 1992, before dying in 1995 in Hawaii following unsuccessful treatment for ovarian and uterine cancer. Clinton: With the aid of scholarships, Clinton attended the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., receiving a Bachelor of Science in foreign service degree in 1968. Georgetown was the only university where Clinton applied. Upon graduating from Georgetown in 1968, Clinton won a Rhodes Scholarship to University College, Oxford, where he initially read 读大学学位 for a B.Phil (bachelor of philosophy). in philosophy, politics, and economics but transferred to a B.Litt (Bachelor of Letters). in politics and, ultimately, a B.Phil. in politics. Clinton did not expect to return for the second year because of the draft and so he switched programs; this type of activity was common among other Rhodes Scholars from his cohort. He was offered to study at Yale Law School. So he left early to return to the United States and did not receive a degree from Oxford. Clinton befriended fellow American Rhodes Scholar Frank Aller during his time at Oxford. In 1969, Aller received a draft letter that mandated 强制 deployment to the Vietnam War. Aller's 1971 suicide had an influential impact on Clinton. British writer and feminist Sara Maitland said of Clinton, "I remember Bill and Frank Aller taking me to a pub in Walton Street in the summer term of 1969 and talking to me about the Vietnam War. I knew nothing about it, and when Frank began to describe the napalming of civilians I began to cry. Bill said that feeling bad wasn't good enough. That was the first time I encountered the idea that liberal sensitivities weren't enough and you had to do something about such things". Clinton was a member of the Oxford University Basketball Club and also played for Oxford University's rugby union team. In 1971, he met his future wife, Hillary Rodham, in the Yale Law Library; she was a class year ahead of him 高一年级. They began dating and were soon inseparable. 5. ghost I. ghostwrite 影子写手, 代写, 代笔 to write something for someone else whose name will appear on it as the writer. II. 消失, 玩失踪. (be bailed) to end a relationship by simply disappearing, without any explanation; to do this to someone. Being "ghosted" is one of the toughest ways to be dumped. not have the ghost of a chance 一点机会也没有 to have even a very small chance of succeeding. I know I don't have a ghost of a chance for advancement. a/the ghost of something 轻微的, 一点点的, 一丝丝的 a slight sign or possibility of something. the ghost of a smile. a ghost of a chance. look as if you have seen a ghost to look very frightened and upset. give up the ghost 认了, 认输, 不玩了, 放弃, 放手了 I. to stop trying to do something because your efforts have been unsuccessful. to stop trying to do something because you know that you will not succeed: All I'd cherished from early childhood had been denied me, so I simply gave up the ghost. Some firms give up the ghost before they find what they are looking for. The battery in my car gave up the ghost. Many people have given up the ghost and left their party. II. if a car or other machine gives up the ghost, it stops working completely. Our old TV had finally given up the ghost 玩蛋, 彻底不行了. The printer's finally given up the ghost 彻底坏了, 彻底不行了. never say die 永不认输, 永不放弃. 轻言放弃, 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. 6. "Win the morning, win the day" is an expression that means to start the day well and be prepared for success. It's about being energized, motivated, and productive throughout the day. win the day to persuade people to support your ideas or opinions. To be successful. It sounds like your presentation to the committee won the day—well done. carry/win the day (formal) win a contest, an argument, etc.; be successful: It was a difficult match, but the New Zealand team finally carried the day. in-country 国内的 adj. adv. I. being or taking place in a country that is the focus of activity (such as military operations or scientific research) by the government or citizens of another country. operating within a country rather than from outside of it. "they are working primarily with in-country partner organizations". scientists and in-country colleagues will carry out field research. readied my gear for my first mission in-country. "selection for the posts takes place in London, or occasionally in-country". II. 在国外. In a foreign country, often for military service. This phrase is
commonly used to refer to US troops in Vietnam during the Vietnam War. He saw unimaginable things while he was in country and still struggles with PTSD as a result. Yes, my father was a military man. He was drafted and did some time in country. I don't know what was worse: being in country or being one of the few from my unit to come back alive. in the country of the blind, the one-eyed man is king said about a difficult situation in which someone with only a few skills is in a better position and more successful than those people who have none. native country the country someone is born in or native to She made her way home to her native country, Russia. go to the country 大选, 举行选举 If a head of government or a government goes to the country, they hold a general election. to have an election: The prime minister has decided to go to the country. The Prime Minister does not have to go to the country for another year. 7. don't you dare 你敢做试试!!! 你敢!!! used to order someone threateningly not to do something. used to tell someone angrily not to do something: "don't you dare touch me". "I think I'll just walk my dirty shoes over your nice clean floor." "Don't you dare!" Don't you dare go without me! If you say to someone 'don't you dare' do something, you are telling them not to do it and letting them know that you are angry. Don't speak to me like that. Don't you dare. Allen, don't you dare go anywhere else, you hear? 美国政坛: Musk's ability to ice out Ramaswamy, who for a variety of reasons had irked some Republicans in Trump's circle, is the latest sign of his influence in the incoming administration. It presages ( presage [presɪdʒ] 预警 verb If something presages a situation or event, it is considered to be a warning or sign of what is about to happen. to show or suggest that something, often something unpleasant, will happen: But still the economy is not showing signs of any of the excesses that normally presage a recession. Psychiatrists say the painting presages the artist's development of Alzheimer's disease. ...the dawn's loud chorus that seemed to presage a bright hot summer's day. ) an encore of all of the infighting that marked Trump's first term. In December last year, the Indian-origin leader criticised American culture, saying that tech companies hire foreign workers because the country that has "venerated mediocrity over excellence." "They wanted him out before the tweet -- but kicked him to the curb 一脚踢开 when that came out," one of the three people familiar with his departure, told Politico. grandstand finish 惊心动魄的结局 (in sport) a close or exciting finish to a race or competition. a close or exciting ending to a sports match or competition. A very close ending to a sports match, race or competition. Could we be in for a grandstand finish? Lewis Hamilton isn't hitting the mark Mercedes have requested, with his lap a 1:46. insular [ˈɪnsjʊlə] 封闭的, 排外的, 对外界不感兴趣的 disapproving ignorant of or uninterested in cultures, ideas, or peoples outside one's own experience. interested only in your own country or group and not willing to accept different or foreign ideas."a stubbornly insular farming people". If you say that someone is insular, you are being critical of them because they are unwilling to meet new people or to consider new ideas. ...the old image of the insular, xenophobic Brit. in other news I. (conjunctive, idiomatic, broadcasting) Used by newsreaders to introduce an unrelated piece of news. II. (by extension, conjunctive, idiomatic) Used to introduce an unrelated topic: by the way, apropos. fizzer I. BRITISH an outstandingly lively, energetic, or excellent thing. "that fizzer of a letter". II. AUSTRALIAN NEW ZEALAND 失败的东西. 不如预期的东西. a failure or fiasco. a person or thing that disappoints, fails to succeed, etc the horse proved to be a fizzer. "the greatest fizzer in the history of Australian politics". wonky adj. [British, informal] I. 歪斜的. 不直的. 歪的. Lopsided, misaligned or off-centre. If something is wonky, it is not straight or level. not straight or level: wonky teeth. a wonky picture. I don't enjoy those programmes with wonky camera angles and pop music. ...a tiny house with lots of little rooms, wonky floors and doors. The wheels keep going wonky. II. Feeble, shaky or rickety. weak, unsatisfactory, or not firm: One of the legs on this chair is a bit wonky. He may have to stop playing tennis because of his wonky knee. The jury system may be a bit wonky but nobody's ever thought of anything better. III. 奇形怪状的. (of fruit or vegetables) not of a regular shape, or different in shape to what is usual: The rules have been changed on the sale of wonky vegetables. You'll sometimes find wonky carrots that are a bit crooked, wonky parsnips that might be extra pointy and wonky fruit that comes in different shapes and sizes. IV. knowing, or showing that you know, a lot of details about something, especially politics or science: He gave a wonky speech about climate change. pants man (Australia, slang) A promiscuous male. sawhorse 锯木凳 a rack supporting wood for sawing. 8. Withania somnifera, known commonly as ashwagandha 睡茄, is an evergreen shrub in the Solanaceae or nightshade family that grows in Nepal, India, the Middle East, and parts of Africa. Several other species in the genus Withania are morphologically similar. The plant, particularly its root powder, has been used for centuries in traditional Indian medicine. Ashwagandha supplements, typically containing root or leaf powder or extracts, are commonly sold. Its use in herbal medicine and dietary supplements notwithstanding, scientific evidence is insufficient to show that W. somnifera is safe or effective for treating any health condition or disease. Limited clinical studies have found that supplementation with various ashwagandha extracts may decrease anxiety and perceived stress, and improve sleep. As the studies used different extract preparations, durations of use, doses, and types of subjects, how ashwagandha may have effects in people remains undetermined, as of 2023. Ashwagandha is also sometimes known as winter cherry or Indian ginseng, although it does not belong to the ginseng family. Ashwagandha root has been used in the traditional Ayurvedic and Unani medicine systems of India as an adaptogen ( [əˈdæptədʒən] any of various natural substances used in herbal medicine to normalize and regulate the systems of the body. Adaptogens are herbs, roots, and mushrooms that help the body manage stress and restore balance. They are used in herbal medicine to promote homeostasis and stabilize physiological processes. ), which is loosely defined as a compound or product that increases the ability of a person to resist, adapt, or become resilient in nonspecific ways to biological, physical, or chemical stressors 导致压力的事情 ( an event, experience, etc that causes stress. something that causes great worry or emotional difficulty or a negative physical effect on the body: Constant noise can be a stressor. The number one stressor in life is feeling responsible for things we can't control. Temperature fluctuations are a stressor of fish. ). This popular AyurvedicTrusted Source herb has various benefits and may help to improve mental health, sleep qualityTrusted Source, and athletic performance. Ashwagandha may also have a positive impact on male sexual health. While anecdotal evidence suggests it may be beneficial for ED, current scientific research doesn't support these reports. 9. sweepstakes = informal sweeps = UK sweepstake, sweep 抽奖 a type of gambling, often on a horse race, in which people pay a small amount of money and choose a particular horse, team, etc. The person who chooses the winning horse, team, etc. receives all the money paid by everyone else. a competition for a prize, esp. for money, in which those who win are chosen by chance: She won $5000 in a charity sweepstakes. Provided with nothing more than hard biscuits and water, the budding comedian would need to win prizes, like food and clothing, through magazine sweepstakes. Bible-thumping = (US) Bible-bashing informal North American adj. denoting a person who expounds or follows the teachings of the Bible in an aggressively evangelical way. trying in a forceful or enthusiastic way to persuade people to believe in the Christian religion and the Bible, or used to describe a place where people do this: He grew up in the South in a Bible-thumping Pentecostal family. She was born in the Bible-thumping Arkansas town of Lonoke. "a Bible-thumping evangelical Protestant". noun. the action of expounding or following the teachings of the Bible in an aggressively evangelical way. characteristic of an enthusiastic or aggressive exponent of the Bible "all the Bible-thumping in the world doesn't make one a good Christian". bumpkin [ˈbʌm(p)kɪn] 乡巴佬 [disapproval] an unsophisticated or socially awkward person from the countryside. If you refer to someone as a bumpkin, you think they are uneducated and stupid because they come from the countryside. ...unsophisticated country bumpkins. "she thought Tom a bit of a country bumpkin". Beverley: I wanted to thank you for going through all the trouble of planning a second wedding ceremony for me, but unfortunately I cannot attend. Leonard: Well, why? What's wrong? Sheldon: Whuh, are we still doing the dumb thing? Okay, why, what's wrong? Beverley: I just cannot stay here while your father goes out of his way to humiliate me. Sheldon: Oh, golly, however did he humiliate you? Beverley: Stop it, Sheldon. Sheldon: Do I say stop what, or just throw in the towel? Beverley: I don't see why I should have to watch your father parade around with some bible-thumping bumpkin. Sheldon: Oh, excuse me, that is my mother you're talking about, however accurately. Penny: Okay, Beverley, aren't you overreacting a little? All we know is they shared a cab and had a nightcap. Sheldon: And turned their phones off. Leonard: Not helping, buddy. Mother, Penny and I really want you to be part of this. Please stay. Penny: Yeah, plus if you leave, Alfred will know he got under your skin. Beverley: Well, we can't have that. Sheldon: You know, also, if they did have coitus, we'll all be needing a skilled psychiatrist. 10. kismet [kɪzmɪt] 命运, 缘分. (fate 宿命: Neutral or sometimes negative, as it implies a lack of choice or agency. Fate can feel cold or impersonal. destiny 命运: Positive or uplifting, as it implies a meaningful path. Destiny is often inspiring and tied to purpose. kismet 缘分: Romantic, serendipitous, or exotic in tone; frequently associated with chance encounters or divine will. Kismet feels whimsical and romantic. providence 天命, 天意: God's will. Providence is a noun that means the care and guidance of a deity or a non-human force that controls people's lives. It can also refer to the belief that God or a higher power regulates all things for a purpose. He trusts in divine providence 上帝的旨意.) Kismet is the force which some people believe controls the things that happen to you in your life. a force that some people think controls what happens in the future, and is outside human control: It must have been kismet. A few months after accepting the commission, she learned she would be having a baby. Omar and I were meant for each other. It was kismet. Fate: A predetermined course of events that are beyond human control. Often implies an adverse outcome. In Western philosophy, fate might be linked to Greek mythology where the Moirai (Fates) control the thread of life. In broader terms, it's about inevitability and the lack of personal control over one's life path. Destiny 命运: I. the things that will happen in the future: destiny of The destiny of our nation depends on this vote! shape someone's destiny She felt that her destiny had been shaped by her gender. control/determine your destiny People want to control/determine their own destinies. the particular state of a person or thing in the future, considered as resulting from earlier events: We all want to determine our own destinies. II. the force that some people think controls what happens in the future, and is outside human control: You can't fight destiny. He is a tragic victim of destiny. A foreordained course of events that suggests a great or noble end. While similar to fate, destiny tends to imply a more personal journey where one's choices might influence or align with a preordained path. It suggests potential and purpose, where individual actions can fulfill or alter one's inherent path. In many cultures, destiny is about achieving one's true potential or fulfilling a specific role in life. It's often seen in a more positive light than fate, emphasizing growth and self-realization. It implies a predetermined outcome, but with a more positive, purposeful, or grand connotation. It's often seen as the fulfillment of one's potential or calling. Kismet: A force or power that controls what happens in the future. Often used to describe something significant that happened by chance. Often used to describe happy romantic pairings. kismet refers to the idea that what happens is determined by fate, but with a sense of acceptance of whatever comes. It often carries a connotation of resignation to one's lot in life. In Islamic culture, kismet is closely related to the concept of predestination (qadar), where everything is part of God's plan. It's about recognizing and accepting one's life events as they are meant to be. mulligan [ˈmʌlɪɡən] I. US and Canadian a stew made from odds and ends 边角料, 零碎 of food 因地制宜的汤, 有什么做什么的汤. a stew made from whatever meat and vegetables are available, cooked slowly together. A stew made of whatever ingredients are handy and appropriate for stew, rather than of specific ingredients: This mulligan stew uses chicken as a base with potatoes, carrots, and parsnips. I was served with a steaming plate of mulligan, a popular dish with the mountain men. II. informal a. golf an opportunity to replay a poorly executed shot without incurring a penalty. An unpenalized chance to re-take a stroke that went awry. If you lose your drive in the water, take a mulligan and try again. b. any opportunity to start again after an initial failure. A second chance. Don't do poorly in your first interview; you won't get a mulligan 人生重来的机会, 重新来过的机会. (mulligan 是一部电影的名字, 讲述一个长期压抑自己同性倾向并结婚生子的中年男人爱上儿子的同学的事情). c. (collectible card games) An opportunity (sometimes penalized) for a player to reshuffle their cards and draw a new initial hand at the beginning of a game. bits and bobs 零工, 零星的工作 UK informal small things or jobs of different types. Bits and bobs are small objects or parts of something. The microscope contains a few hundred dollars-worth of electronic bits and bobs. There's
a handy compartment for keys and gloves and bits and bobs. We've done a
few bits and bobs around the house since we've been here. I've got some
bits and bobs to get done before lunch. I need to pick up one or two
bits and bobs in town. We were just shopping for a few bits and bobs for
the kitchen. odds and ends = UK also odds and sods 鸡零狗碎的东西, 边角料, 零零碎碎的东西, 零碎东西, 零星杂物
Miscellaneous things. various things of different types, usually small
and not important, or of little value. various items of different types,
usually small and unimportant or of little value: We've moved most of the furniture to the new house, but there are still a few odds and ends to bring over. I took most of the big things to the new house, but there are a few odds and ends left to pick up. The garage was filled with a random assortment of odds and ends. odds I. The ratio of the probability of an event happening to that of it not happening. the probability (= how likely it is) that a particular thing will or will not happen: If you drive a car all your life, the odds are that you'll have an accident at some point. There are heavy odds against people succeeding in such a bad economic climate. What are the odds on him being (= do you think he will be) re-elected? The overall odds of winning a lottery prize are 1 in 13. The odds are stacked against a woman succeeding (= it is not likely that a woman will succeed) in the business. I'd say the odds are strongly in favor of the sun rising tomorrow morning. the odds are against sth At the moment it seems the odds are against a deal. the odds are on sth/in sth's favour They are so evenly matched, the odds are on a draw. the odds are good/strong The odds are good that the country's transformation will proceed smoothly. good/better odds People retiring today have better odds than ever of living a long healthy life. the odds are slim/long Given the poor economic climate, the odds of success are slim. II. The ratio of winnings to stake in betting situations. in gambling (= the activity of risking money guessing the result of something), a probability expressed as a number. how probable something is, expressed as a pair of numbers or a percentage, for example when betting: good/bad odds We think 6 to 2 are good odds. the odds are ... against/in favour of sth In a case like this, the odds are against the defendant. The odds are 100-1 against him getting the job. the odds of sth happening For taxpayers with incomes above $100,000 the odds of being audited in 2006 were 1 in 59. The odds against my horse winning (= that it will not win)/on my horse winning (= that it will win) are a hundred to one. The odds that the US entrant will win the race are ten to one. I looked at the odds given by all bookmakers. III. (chess) An advantage given to a weaker opponent in order to equalize the game when playing casually, usually by removing one of the stronger player's pieces or by giving the weaker player more time. She beat me with knight odds but lost with rook odds. The grandmaster gave his opponents significant time odds, of one minute versus ten minutes. long odds (idiomatic) poor chances; unlikeliness, improbability. reverse implied odds (poker) The odds offered by the amount one stands to lose in future betting when one has the worst hand against the amount one stands to win when one has the best hand. make no odds (colloquial) To make no significant difference; to be all the same. to not be important, or to not change a situation or result: I don't mind whether you come or not - it makes no odds to me. be at odds (with sb/sth) I. to disagree with someone: She and her boss are at odds over the issue of training. On this issue, Britain is at odds with the rest of the EU. II. if two things are at odds, they are very different and cannot both be correct: These findings are at odds with our research. Management's and shareholders' interests seem to be at odds. over the odds UK informal more than something is really worth: They paid way over the odds for their new offices. It's a nice enough car but I'm sure she paid over the odds for it. 11. a tabletop exercise 演练, 模拟练习: A tabletop exercise is a simulation of an unplanned event that helps teams prepare for a crisis. The goal is to improve the team's confidence in their ability to respond to a crisis. A tabletop survey is a feedback form that asks participants for their observations, comments, and input after participating in a tabletop exercise. The purpose of a tabletop survey is to gather feedback that can help improve the nation's preparedness for threats and hazards. In court documents, the state government argues that it didn't intend to sell or transfer the house. Instead, in its submission in court, it says the Office of the Surveyor-General carried out a tabletop survey that included the flats and house on the same land title — seemingly unbeknownst to anyone at the time. A traffic stop 警方拦下, 查酒驾 ( A traffic stop, colloquially referred to as being pulled over 被拦下, is a temporary detention of a driver of a vehicle and its occupants by police to investigate a possible crime or minor violation of law. an instance of police stopping a driver (as for speeding or a broken taillight) She was pulled over for a routine traffic stop. an officer making a traffic stop. Around 4:15 p.m., a Jasper County Sheriff's deputy conducted a traffic stop near the Pulaski County line on S.R. 14. According to ISP, the officer attempted to arrest the suspect, but authorities say the suspect resisted and an altercation took place. ) is when a police officer pulls over a vehicle to check for violations or suspicious behavior. The officer may ask the driver questions, such as where they are going or how fast they were driving. The officer may issue a warning or a citation. A warning means the driver committed an offense but won't be charged or fined. The driver may be asked to identify themselves. Drivers are not legally required to answer questions, except to identify themselves. Drivers should be polite and cooperative, but can decline to answer questions they find accusative. 12. Pump and dump (P&D) is a form of securities fraud that involves artificially inflating the price of an owned stock through false and misleading positive statements (pump), in order to sell the cheaply purchased stock at a higher price (dump). Once the operators of the scheme "dump" (sell) their overvalued shares, the price falls and investors lose their money. This is most common with small-cap cryptocurrencies and very small corporations/companies, i.e. "microcaps". pump and dump 打一枪换一个地方 ( fuck and chuck, hit it and quit it, smash and dash, one-night stand, wham, bam, thank you ma'am 操完就走 I. slang Hasty sexual activity, especially when rough, unemotional, or unromantic. Hyphenated if used as a modifier before a noun. We only had about half an hour before the kids came home, so it was just wham, bam, thank you, ma'am. I've never enjoyed the wham-bam-thank-you-ma'am kind of sex most other guys in college seem to desire. II. slang Anything done or put together very quickly or without careful planning. Hyphenated if used as a modifier before a noun. The film just felt a bit "wham, bam, thank you, ma'am"—a bunch of explosions and car chases strung together for an hour and a half, and then it was over. A stir fry is a great wham-bam-thank-you-ma'am dinner that you can throw together in a matter of minutes. ): A situation where a person has sex with a partner on a single occasion, without immediate intention of further contact or pursuing a serious relationship. One who purposely fornicates with another, while not intending to see them in the future. Like a conquest. Chad: "Dude, I scored a hot piece of ass last night!" Ken: "What, is she like your girlfriend now or something?" Chad: "Naw man, it was just a pump and dump scenario. I've got a date with Buffy tonight." "Breed and bail" is a slang phrase that essentially means to have a child with someone and then quickly leave the relationship, implying a lack of commitment or responsibility towards the partner and the child they conceived together; "breed" refers to having a child and "bail" means to leave abruptly. 13. make nice (with/to somebody) 裝熟, 对...好点, 好好相处, 友好相处 informal North American be pleasant or polite to someone, typically in a hypocritical way. to behave in a kind, friendly, or polite way towards someone, especially when you are not being sincere. To be friendly or conciliatory towards another, often in the context of maintaining good relations or resolving a conflict with the other person. They need to make nice with each other and get to work. "the seat next him was empty, so he wasn't required to make nice with a stranger". President Trump was greeted warmly by Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom as the commander in chief exited Air Force One upon arrival in Los Angeles Friday — making nice after Trump blasted his management of the crisis. After speaking briefly to TV cameras, Newsom scuttled away as Trump toured the disaster area and met with residents, firefighters and officials, including Mayor Karen Bass and most of the area’s congressional delegation. frenetic [frəˈnet.ɪk] 混乱的, 乱哄哄的, 热闹的 involving a lot of excited movement or activity. involving a lot of movement or activity; extremely active, excited, or uncontrollable. If you describe an activity as frenetic, you mean that it is fast and energetic, but rather uncontrolled. ...the frenetic pace of life in New York. This frenetic activity is the sign of a worried man. Steve and I worked frenetically to ensure that everything would go smoothly. frenetic activity After weeks of frenetic activity, the job was finally finished. There was frenetic trading on the Stock Exchange yesterday. Americans like fast cars, fast-food restaurants, and a frenetic pace of life.
Plants that sticks to your socks: 1. Thistle(They are the bane of my childhood. My dad had me weed the yard regularly and hated these cuz it meant putting on my dads worn out work gloves, which made it hard to grab the root. The bane of someone or the bane of someone's life is something that frequently makes them feel unhappy or annoyed. a person or thing that causes misery or distress. a cause of continuous trouble or unhappiness: Keeping noise levels low is the bane of airport administration. That cat is the bane of my life! bane of one's life. Rain is the bane of holiday-makers. Spots can be the bane of a teenager's life. ) is the common name of a group of flowering plants characterized by leaves with sharp spikes on the margins, mostly in the family Asteraceae. Prickles can also occur all over the plant – on the stem and on the flat parts of the leaves. These prickles protect the plant from herbivores [ˈhəːbɪvɔ] 草食动物. Typically, an involucre with a clasping shape similar to a cup or urn subtends each of a thistle's flower heads. The typically feathery pappus of a ripe thistle flower is known as thistle-down. The spininess varies considerably by species. For example, Cirsium heterophyllum has very soft spines while Cirsium spinosissimum is the opposite. Typically, species adapted to dry environments are more spiny. Biennial thistles are particularly noteworthy for their high wildlife value, producing copious floral resources for pollinators, nourishing seeds for birds like the goldfinch, foliage for butterfly larvae, and down for the lining of birds' nests. Economic significance 经济价值: Thistles, even if one restricts the term to members of the Asteraceae, are too varied a group for generalisation. Many are troublesome weeds, including some invasive species of Cirsium, Carduus, Silybum and Onopordum. Typical adverse effects are competition with crops and interference with grazing in pastures, where dense growths of spiny vegetation suppress forage plants and repel grazing animals. Some species, although not intensely poisonous, affect the health of animals that ingest them. The Milk Thistle, also known as silymarin, has been used to treat liver or gallbladder problems. While not confirmed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human services, milk thistle has shown beneficial results in previous studies for people with HCV. It is possible that milk thistle can lower blood sugar levels for type two diabetes. As a dietary supplement, milk thistle is recommended for hepatitis, cirrhosis, jaundice, diabetes, and indigestion. The thistle that most commonly sticks to socks is called a burdock 牛蒡 (Arctium minus), which has small, hooked seeds that readily catch on clothing and fur, essentially acting like "natural Velcro." 2. The spiky plant objects that often stick to socks are commonly known as burrs( A bur (also spelled burr) is a seed or dry fruit or infructescence that has hooks or teeth. The main function of the bur is to spread the seeds of the bur plant, often through epizoochory. The hooks of the bur are used to latch onto fur or fabric, enabling the bur – which contain seeds – to be transported to another location for dispersal. Another use for the spines and hooks are physical protection against herbivores. Their ability to stick to animals and fabrics has shaped their reputation as bothersome. The bur of burdock was the inspiration for hook and loop fastener, also known as Velcro. ). Burrs are seed or fruit structures that have hooked spines or bristles, allowing them to cling to clothing, fur, or other surfaces. They are produced by various plants, including: Burdock (Arctium spp.): Known for its large leaves and purple flowers, burdock burrs are often found in fields and along roadsides. Cocklebur (Xanthium spp.): These have a spiny, hard exterior and are typically found in disturbed areas. Stickyweed (Galium aparine): Also known as cleavers, this plant has small, sticky hooks that cling to clothes. The ability of burrs to attach to fabrics and animals helps with their seed dispersal, allowing them to spread to new areas where they can grow. 3. Bidens pilosa is an annual species of herbaceous flowering plant in the daisy family Asteraceae. Its many common names include hitch hikers, black-jack, beggarticks, farmer's friends and Spanish needle, but most commonly referred to as cobblers pegs. It is native to the Americas but is widely distributed as an introduced species in other regions including Eurasia, Africa, Australia, South America and the Pacific Islands, and is classified as an invasive species ( An invasive species is an introduced species that harms its new environment. Invasive species adversely affect habitats and bioregions, causing ecological, environmental, and/or economic damage. ) in some regions of the world. The plant may flower at any time of the year, but mainly in summer and autumn in temperate regions. The flowers are small heads borne on relatively long peduncles. The heads consist of about four or five broad white ray florets (ligules), surrounding many tubular yellow disc florets without ligules that develop into barbed fruits. The fruits are slightly curved, stiff, rough black rods, tetragonal in cross section, about 1 cm long, typically with two to three stiff, heavily barbed awns at their distal ends. The infructescences form stellate spherical burrs about one to two centimeters in diameter. The barbed spines of the achenes get stuck in the feathers, fur, fleeces, clothing, etc. of people or animals that brush against the plant. It is an effective means of seed dispersal by zoochory, as the fruits are transported by animals. This mechanism has helped the plant become a noxious weed in temperate and tropical regions.
Trump's speech to Davos: From now on, he made clear, every US foreign policy act will come with a value calculation gauging how it benefits Americans. Other countries and multinationals don't have to play ball 配合, 合作, but if they choose not to – they will be punished, including with tariffs. Trump revealed his transactional nature 交易本性, 生意人本性 (A transaction is a piece of business, for example an act of buying or selling something. relating to buying and selling: You can download all your transactional information on your credit cards and bank account. transactional charges/costs/fees: Customers must be made aware of the transactional charges associated with their purchases. Transactional nature refers to the characteristics and intent of a transaction, or the process of exchanging something for something else. It can apply to business, personal relationships, or social interactions. ) in his latest salvo ( salvo I. 奇响, 启鸣. 开火. 开枪. 开炮. the action of firing several guns at the same time, either in a war or in a ceremony. a firing of several guns at the same time, either in a war or in a ceremony, or a statement in an exchange of opinions: His opening salvo in the debate sparked a war of words. a salvo of guns/rockets. II. 轰鸣, 雷鸣般的. a sudden loud sound made by many people at the same time: Every joke the comedian made was greeted by a salvo of laughter from the audience. III. the first part of a speech or the first in a series of actions intended to get a particular result: In his opening salvo the speaker fiercely attacked the government's record on healthcare. IV. A salvo of angry words is a lot of them spoken or written at about the same time. His testimony, however, was only one in a salvo of new attacks. ) on NATO. He formalized his demand for members to more than double their defense spending to 5% of GDP. This is a figure that would bankrupt many Western economies or require governments to desecrate ( [desɪkreɪt] If someone desecrates something which is considered to be holy or very special, they deliberately damage or insult it. to damage or show no respect towards something holy or very much respected: The mosque/shrine was desecrated by vandals. It's a crime to desecrate the country's flag. She shouldn't have desecrated the picture of a religious leader. The earth is to be honoured; it is not to be desecrated. The whole area has been shocked by the desecration of the cemetery.) their expensive welfare states endemic to ( I. If a disease or illness is endemic in a place, it is frequently found among the people who live there. Polio was then endemic among children my age. II. If you say that a condition or problem is endemic 普遍的, 常见的, you mean that it is very common and strong, and cannot be dealt with easily. Street crime is virtually endemic in large cities. Ambition often stems from endemic dissatisfaction. III. especially of a disease or a condition, regularly found and very common among a particular group or in a particular area: endemic in Malaria is endemic in many of the hotter regions of the world. endemic among/to The disease is endemic among British sheep/to many British flocks. endemic racism/poverty/violence There is endemic racism/poverty/violence in many of the country's cities. ) the European social democratic ethos, which his Make America Great Again movement has long disdained. There's no chance of Canada — a nation that defines itself against the US – becoming the 51st state. But Trump's threatening language is such a departure 大相反, 大反转, 大相径庭 because it's the antithesis of the principle(antithesis [ænˈtɪθəsɪs] 大相径庭, 正相反, 大相反 the exact opposite of something. The antithesis of something is its exact opposite. The little black dress is the antithesis of fussy dressing. If there is an antithesis between two things, there is a contrast between them. ...the antithesis between instinct and reason. Greta Thunberg's 'antithesis'
emerges in the form of a German teenager. Mr Kenny said German teenage
conservative social media personality, Naomi Seibt, has emerged as the "antithesis" to Swedish environmentalist Greta Thunberg. antithetical [æntɪθetɪkəl] Something that is antithetical to something else is the opposite of it and is unable to exist with it. Their priorities are antithetical to those of environmentalists.) that all nations are sovereign equals that the US enshrined in the United Nations charter. Trump's "America First" philosophy is often described as a return to the kind of isolationism that prevailed 常见 between the two world wars. But that's not quite accurate. He wants to stride the global stage. But he's advocating a foreign policy where America is dominant in its own hemisphere and engages elsewhere selectively. This, along with Trump's belief in great powers acting with primacy(primacy [praɪməsi] 权势, 威权, 威严
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. ) in their spheres of influence 势力范围 and his growing obsession with US territorial expansion, is a rather 19th century concept. As is Trump's determination to use tariffs to boost the American economy to fulfill his campaign promise to raise living standards and lower prices. The president's repeated warnings of impending tariffs are challenging assumptions that he's simply raising the threat as leverage to win concessions in the short term in trade talks with nations like Mexico, Canada and with the EU. His remarks on Thursday, however, suggested this is a more permanent tool. Still, he's not yet acknowledged the concerns of many economic experts who believe that heavy US tariffs will raise prices for Americans and wreck 毁坏, 破坏 the global economy. FDR's (Franklin Roosevelt) cautions offer guidance to Trump critics today. And this is apt, since many of the long-held American principles, from trade to international relations, that the 47th president is seeking to dismantle stem from the foundations of the modern, US-led global order laid down by the 32nd president.
