用法学习: 1. quaint [kweɪnt] I. attractive because of being unusual and especially old-fashioned: a quaint old cottage. attractively unusual, esp in an old-fashioned style a quaint village. II. Quaint can also be used to show that you do not approve of something, especially an opinion, belief, or way of behaving, because it is strange or old-fashioned: "What a quaint idea!" she said, laughing at him. odd, peculiar, or inappropriate. a quaint sense of duty. goundswell I. a broad, deep swell or rolling of the sea, due to a distant storm or gale. II. a growth of strong feeling among a large group of people. any surge of support, approval, or enthusiasm, especially among the general public. A sudden gathering of force, as of public opinion. groundswell of: A sudden growth of public feeling or support for something is often called a groundswell 井喷似的. There is undoubtedly a groundswell of support for the idea of a strong central authority. The groundswell of opinion is in favour of a referendum. a groundswell of antiwar sentiment. a groundswell of political support for the governor. There is a groundswell of opinion against the new rules. goat I. a man who is very active sexually, or would like to be and makes it obvious: an old goat. II. a horned animal related to the sheep, which is kept to provide milk, meat, or wool. III. a person who is blamed for causing a failure or defeat, esp. in a team sports competition: Jefferson's three errors made him the goat of last night's game. get someone's goat = get on someone's goat = get on one's nerves irritate someone. to annoy someone very much: That sort of attitude really gets my goat. act/play the goat 别傻傻的了, 别傻了 to behave in a silly way: Stop acting the goat! 2. studied 刻意的, 审慎的, 有意的, 精心安排的, 精心准备的, 事先准备好了的, 事先想好了的, 练过的, 设计好了的 (不是张口就来的) adj. carefully practised, designed, or premeditated. very carefully and intentionally done, made, or considered, rather than in a completely honest or sincere way: After a pause, he gave a studied answer. She listened to his remarks with studied indifference. a studied reply. carefully prepared or considered, esp. to create an effect: He showed a studied disregard for her concerns. Photos released by the court show Kate smiling in brightly colored costumes, her hair slicked back, and her feet and arms in the studied pose of a graceful ballerina. 育儿: Einstein said one of the problems she has encountered through her work is when parents try to shield their children from problems, or do too much for them. "Sheltering 遮风挡雨 is a problem; we don't want to shelter our children. We want them to continue to grow and develop and be capable without us," she said. guile [ɡaɪl] 精明 noun. I. clever but sometimes dishonest behaviour that you use to deceive someone: The president will need to use all her political guile to stay in power. He is a simple man, totally lacking in guile. II. the practice of deceiving people or using other dishonest methods to achieve your aims, or the ability to deceive people for this purpose: He is a simple, honest man, totally lacking in guile. nous UK informal [naʊs] 强干 I. good judgment and practical ability: Anyone with a bit of nous would have known what to do. II. common sense; practical intelligence. "if he had any nous at all, he'd sell the film rights". III. the mind or intellect. 3. logroll [ˈlɒɡˌrəʊl] verb. mainly US to use logrolling in order to procure the passage of (legislation). logrolling 互投赞成票, 互相帮衬, 互助 noun NORTH AMERICAN I. the practice of exchanging favours, especially in politics by reciprocal voting for each other's proposed legislation. the practice of voting for something that someone else wants in return for them voting for something that you want: Logrolling is especially common when the legislators are relatively free of control by their national party leaders. It was part of a logrolling package. "they have gained leverage on Capitol Hill by a talent for political logrolling". II. 互捧. 互相吹捧. the practice of praising someone or their work, in return for them doing the same for you: Attention has been drawn to alleged logrolling by authors in "books of the year" features published by newspapers. I am not saying writers of those comments are engaging in logrolling, but they certainly read a different book to the one I did. III. (= birl verb. ) 水上滚木游戏 a sport in which two contestants stand on a floating log and try to knock each other off by spinning it with their feet. a sport in which two people try to stay standing on a floating log (= a thick piece of a tree trunk or branch), or other long, rounded object, while trying to make the other person fall off: The group's eventual goal is to bring logrolling to the Olympics. Her mum signed her up for a logrolling class at the local pond. note: Logrolling is the trading of favors, or quid pro quo, such as vote trading by legislative members to obtain passage 获得通过 of actions of interest to each legislative member. In organizational analysis, it refers to a practice in which different organizations promote each other's agendas, each in the expectation that the other will reciprocate. In an academic context, the Nuttall Encyclopedia describes logrolling as "mutual praise by authors of each other's work". Where intricate tactics or strategy are involved, the process may be called horse trading. horse-trading 政治交易 I. the buying and selling of horses. II. hard and shrewd bargaining, especially in politics. unofficial discussion in which people make agreements that provide both sides with advantages: political horse trading There's been a lot of political horse trading while the parties try to form a government. "we will win with no horse-trading or electoral pacts". clever, and often difficult, discussions in which people or organizations try to make a business arrangement, and each tries to get something more favourable to them: There was much horse trading as the conference tried to agree targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. At the beginning of term there is horse-trading over timetables. horse-trade to have unofficial discussions in which people make agreements that provide both sides with advantages: She understood that you can't always have everything you want and that you have to horse-trade sometimes. He constantly had to horse trade to get results. wiki: Horse trading, in its literal sense, is the buying and selling of horses, also called "horse dealing". Due to the difficulties in evaluating the merits of a horse offered for sale, the sale of horses offered great opportunities for dishonesty, leading to use of the term horse trading (or horsetrading) as a widespread metaphor for complex bargaining or other transactions, such as political vote trading. It was expected that horse sellers would capitalize on these opportunities and so those who dealt in horses gained a reputation for underhanded business practices. 4. right out of the gate = straight out of the gate = out of the starting gate At or from the very beginning; from the outset; immediately upon starting. Etymology: Analogy from various sports and activities, such as hound racing and bull-riding. "Throw stones in a glass house" is an idiom that means criticizing others for faults that you also have. The saying "people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones" is a warning against judging others for faults that you also have. It advises people to consider their own flaws before criticizing others. If you criticize someone for something you are also guilty of, you will only bring judgment upon yourself. Other related phrases include: "Cast the first stone, "Hypocrisy, and "Pot calling the kettle black 五十步笑百步". cast the first stone 恶人先告状 be the first to make an accusation (used to emphasize that a potential critic is not wholly blameless). to be the first to condemn or blame a wrongdoer; be hasty in one's judgment. To act self-righteously in accusing another person, believing oneself to be blameless. What right has she to cast the first stone? note: Let him who is without sin cast the first stone: According to the Gospel of John , the Pharisees, in an attempt to discredit Jesus, brought a woman charged with adultery before him. Then they reminded Jesus that adultery was punishable by stoning under Mosaic law and challenged him to judge the woman so that they might then accuse him of disobeying the law. Jesus thought for a moment and then replied, "He that is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone at her." The people crowded around him were so touched by their own consciences that they departed. When Jesus found himself alone with the woman, he asked her who were her accusers. She replied, "No man, lord." Jesus then said, "Neither do I condemn thee: go and sin no more." In the passage, Jesus was teaching in the Temple after coming from the Mount of Olives. A group of scribes and Pharisees confronts Jesus, interrupting his teaching. They bring in a woman, accusing her of committing adultery, claiming she was caught in the very act. They tell Jesus that the punishment for someone like her should be stoning, as prescribed by Mosaic Law. Jesus begins to write something on the ground using his finger; when the woman's accusers continue their challenge, he states that the one who is without sin is the one who should cast the first stone at her. The accusers depart, realizing not one of them is without sin either, leaving Jesus alone with the woman. Jesus asks the woman if anyone has condemned her and she answers no. Jesus says that he too does not condemn her and tells her to go and sin no more. 5. Title IX is a landmark federal civil rights law in the United States that was enacted as part (Title IX) of the Education Amendments of 1972. It prohibits sex-based discrimination in any school or any other education program that receives funding from the federal government. What are the main steps in a Title IX investigation? The process typically includes filing a complaint, conducting a preliminary review, notifying involved parties, gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses, and reaching a determination based on the evidence collected. Title IX also covers "claims of discrimination based on gender identity or failure to conform to stereotypical notions of masculinity or femininity." Universities must "investigate and resolve allegations of sexual violence regarding LGBT students using the same procedures and standards. Title IX protects any person from sex-based discrimination, regardless of their real or perceived sex, gender identity, and/or gender expression. Female, male and gender non-conforming students, faculty and staff are protected from any sex-based discrimination, harassment or violence. thread the needle 穿针眼 (idiomatic) I. To manage to find harmony or strike a balance between conflicting forces, interests, etc 小心翼翼地寻求平衡各方势力. II. (skydiving) To fly through a narrow gap; typically using a wingsuit. III. A children's game in which the participants stand in a line and hold hands. The person at the end of the line then ducks under the others' linked arms, pulling the rest of the line along with them. Come on, we're playing thread the needle! Everyone hold hands. IV. To pass, or pass something, through a narrow space between two things. The quarterback really threaded the needle between those two defenders with that pass. the eye of a needle A very narrow opening. Used as part of comparisons indicating that something is futile, impossible, or extremely difficult to accomplish. You'd have an easier time getting a camel through the eye of a needle than getting them to agree on the issue. A: "I can't believe he thinks that he'll get into law school with his poor grades!" B: "I know, he's trying to put a rope to the eye of a needle with that plan." This phrase comes from Matthew 19:24: 'It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God'. like threading a needle 小心翼翼地 I. Passing (or passing something) through some small opening or passage, similar to thread being passed through the eye of a needle. Getting through those hulking defensemen will be like threading a needle. Good luck! An angioplasty is basically like threading a needle—you insert a catheter into the patient's artery and move it through to the blocked blood vessel. II. By extension, requiring delicate care and thoughtfulness. Trying to motivate your students sometimes feels like threading a needle—you need to strike the right balance of tenderness and intensity. 6. "Ride a hog" could refer to riding a Harley-Davidson motorcycle or riding a mechanical pig. Riding a Harley-Davidson. "Hog" is a slang term for a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, especially the larger and heavier models. The nickname "Hogs" originated when a Harley-Davidson team member brought a pet pig named Johnny to victory laps. Journalists joked that Harley was "hogging" victories from competitors. Over time, "hog" became synonymous with Harley-Davidson motorcycles. Riding a mechanical pig. Raj: So, Missy. Have you ever met a man from the exotic subcontinent of India Missy: Well, there's Dr Patel at our church. Raj: Ah yes, Dr Patel, good man. Howard: Do you like motorcycles, 'cos I ride a hog. Raj: A hog? You have a two cylinder scooter with a basket on the front. Howard: You still have to wear a helmet. serve out I. in tennis, to serve in the last game of a set or match and win it: Williams served out, taking the first set in 26 minutes. II. to share an amount of food or drink between people by giving some to each: We began serving out food at 12 and it was all gone by 12:20. Rum was served out among the men. III. to continue to work, hold a position, or stay somewhere for a period of time that has been decided: Should Mr. Murphy simply serve out the rest of his contract? He served out his full five-year sentence 服完刑期 behind bars. I'll retire after serving out my term 任期满, 任满, 完成任期. backslide 开倒车, 退步, 倒退 (intransitive) to lapse into bad habits or vices from a state of virtue, religious faith, etc. to go back to doing something bad when you have been doing something good, especially to stop working hard or to fail to do something that you had agreed to do: My diet was going well, but I've been backsliding a little recently. backsliding in democracy 民主倒退. 7. A leaving exam 结业考试 (exit exam) is an exam taken at the end of secondary school to demonstrate that a student has completed their secondary education requirements. It may also be known as a high school exit exam, senior secondary leaving certificate, or school certificate. An exit examination is a test that students must pass to receive a diploma and graduate from school. Such examinations have been used in a variety of countries. vis-à-vis [ˌviːzɑːˈviː,ˌviːzəˈviː] prep I. in relation to; with regard to. The threat that I worry most about vis-a-vis Europe is not Russia, not China, it's not any other external actor. What I worry about is the threat from within, the retreat of Europe from some of its most fundamental values,” Vance told a stone-faced audience. "many agencies now have a unit to deal with women's needs vis-à-vis employment". II. as compared with; as opposed to. "the advantage for US exports is the value of the dollar vis-à-vis other currencies". III. in a position facing a specified or implied subject. "he was there vis-à-vis with Miss Arundel". noun. I. a person or group occupying a corresponding position to that of another in a different sphere; a counterpart. "his admiration for the US armed services extends to their vis-à-vis, the Russian military". II. a face-to-face meeting. "the dreaded vis-à-vis with his boss". open bar noun a bar at a special function at which the drinks have been paid for by the host or are prepaid through the admission fee. a bar at a reception that serves drinks whose cost has been borne by the host, an admission charge, a sponsor, etc Before the banquet there will be an open bar from 5 to 7 p.m. cash bar a bar at an event such as a wedding or some other big function or party where guests pay for their own drinks. Nibbles will be served and there will be a cash bar. invidious [ɪnˈvɪd.i.əs] I. likely to cause unhappiness or be unpleasant, especially because it is unfair: invidious position Such a difficult choice placed her in an invidious position. It would be invidious to rank one patient as more deserving of help than another. She is keen to avoid invidious comparisons between her new drama and its successful predecessor. II. (of comparisons or distinctions) unfairly or offensively discriminating. We are not going to seek for invidious comparisons between governments. 8. foot soldier I. = infantryman 步兵. a soldier who fights on foot. II. 跑腿的, 卖命的 a person who carries out important work but does not have a role of authority in an organization or field. a person likened to an infantryman especially in doing active and usually unglamorous work in support of an organization or movement. A rank and file member of an institution, or supporter of a cause. foot soldiers in the war against drugs. "programmers are the foot soldiers of the computer revolution". grunt [ɡrʌnt] verb I. (of an animal, especially a pig) make a low, short guttural sound. "an enormous pig grunted and shuffled in a sty outside". II. (of a person) 闷哼. make a low inarticulate sound, typically to express effort or indicate assent. "the men cursed and grunted as they lassoed the steer". noun. I. a low, short guttural sound made by an animal or a person. "with snorts and grunts the animals were coaxed down the ramp". II. informal North American 低阶士兵. a low-ranking soldier or unskilled worker. He still thinks like a grunt in the trenches. The young grunts defended themselves with all manner of fire. "he went from grunt to senior executive vice president in five years". Now, a collection of grunts, foot soldiers and young officers who carried out rather than planned America’s so-called global war on terror (GWOT) are among Trump's top advisers and officials. Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, national security adviser Mike Waltz, and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard were all low- to mid-ranking soldiers when they deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. Only Waltz, a former Green Beret, is over 50. III. informal British mechanical power, especially in a motor vehicle. power or determination: The vehicle's exhaust hints at far more grunt than there actually is. They lack the forward ferocity and sheer grunt 驱动力 of the French rugby team. "what the big wagon needs is grunt 动力, and the turbo does the business". IV. an edible shoaling fish of tropical coasts and coral reefs, able to make a loud noise by grinding its teeth and amplifying the sound in the swim bladder. V. someone who does an unskilled job, especially a boring job: He said. "If you can't get a 'good' job, go be a construction grunt 小工." Union grunts, wealthy business executives, private companies and three federal agencies joined the legal fray after the company's collapse. 9. 美国政治 A new generation of military veterans takes center stage as Trump remakes US foreign policy: Former veterans in Congress, both Democrats and Republicans, acknowledge that GWOT (global war on terror) veterans can be uniquely powerful messengers for broader social frustrations. "Politically, global war on terror veterans are more skeptical of politics than not (and they) are folks who realize that we were in many instances sent to war on false pretenses and felt like the system that was supposed to provide checks and oversight failed not just once, but over and over again," said Democratic Rep. Jason Crow, a former Army Ranger who served three tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. "The link" with the broader American electorate, Crow said, "is deep frustration of broken promises and being led astray — and whether that is economic frustration, the fact that upward mobility 职位上升, 升职, 阶级跃升, 阶层跃升, 上升 is a historic low right now … or it could be broken promises in being led astray on the war on terror. In both of those instances, it was our institutions and our system letting people down … and so that frustration is real." Veterans of these campaigns have a unique moral authority to 道德制高点, 道德权威 condemn traditional political elites, said Allison Jaslaw, an Iraq veteran who leads a GWOT veterans' awareness organization in Washington, DC. While this generation of veterans has struggled with suicide and PTSD, the politicians "who are responsible … aren't touched by it," said Jaslaw. "We have a position of authority ( in a position of authority 身居高位, 有职权 having official power to make important decisions. No one in a position of authority objected to the plan. ) that puts us in a slightly different place. In Trump's first administration, a series of acting and retired three- and four-star generals — such his first defense secretary, Jim Mattis; Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Mark Milley; or his chief of staff, John Kelly — often frustrated the president with their efforts to temper 节制 his more transactional or isolationist foreign policy instincts. Appointing lower-ranking officers and enlisted soldiers to top positions is both a direct rejection of traditional elites — like four-star generals — and something of an insurance policy for Trump that those officials will do his bidding ( do someone's bidding = do the bidding of someone 唯命是从, 唯马首是瞻, 言听计从 to submit to someone's orders; perform services for someone. to do what one is told or ordered to do especially by one in a position of power or authority He was at the beck and call of powerful interest groups and was always willing to do their bidding. After he was promoted to vice president at the bank, he expected everyone around him to do his bidding. closed bid= closed bidding 不公开招标 a system of choosing the best offer to supply goods or services by asking companies to offer their best price without knowing what the other companies are offering: The supplier was chosen by closed bid. a closed bid auction. sealed-bid in which the amount offered by each person to buy something is not known by any of the other people involved. an offer to buy something at a particular price that is given to the seller in a closed envelope so that it remains secret until all offers are opened together: sealed-bid auction a sealed bid procedure/process. The couple were told they would have to submit a sealed bid for the property with their best offer. One disadvantage of a sealed-bid auction is that people might feel rushed and bid too much. The sale of the land will be a sealed-bid process. open bidding a situation in which people offer to supply goods or services at a particular price or offer to pay a particular price to buy something, and the offers are not kept secret: an open bidding contract/process The contract was awarded through a competitive, open bidding process. ), this person said. "He's looking for people who want to salute and execute," this person said. "These are people who have had to work for a living in the last five to seven years of their jobs, versus retired generals who sat on boards and were spoon-fed things when they were in the thick of it." Deployments varied dramatically across the years in the level of violence seen by service members, and within their own subculture, GWOT veterans are famous for internecine ( internecine [ˌɪntəˈniːsʌɪn] adj. I. 谁也捞不到好处, 两败俱伤的. destructive to both sides in a conflict. mutually destructive or ruinous; maiming both or all sides. Internecine strife in Gaza claimed its most senior victim yesterday. "the region's history of savage internecine warfare". II. 自己人互打的. 内部斗争的. 内战的. relating to conflict within a group. Internecine war or fighting happens between members of the same group, religion, or country: internecine war/warfare. "the party shrank from the trauma of more internecine strife". Characterized by struggle within a group, usually applied to an ethnic or familial relationship. The Mongol people were plagued by internecine conflict until Genghis Khan unified them. ) fighting over the legitimacy of other veterans' service. Waltz is seen by many on both sides of the aisle as a relative institutionalist compared to the other three, said Seth Lynn, a retired Marine Corps officer who now runs a nonprofit that helps veterans run for public office. That is particularly true when cast against appointees such as Hegseth and Gabbard, who appear to carry an acute grievance against ( grievance 不公平对待, 不满 I. a complaint or a strong feeling that you have been treated unfairly: A special committee has been appointed to handle prisoners' grievances. Bill still harbours/nurses a grievance against his employers for not promoting him. The small amount of compensation is a source of grievance to the people forced to leave their homes. have/nurse a grievance against sb He has been nursing a grievance against the company for several years. II. an official complaint by an employee that they have been treated unfairly: file/raise a grievance An employee may file a grievance against a manager in accordance with the provisions set forth in their contract. The aim of a grievance procedure is to encourage fairness in the handling of workplace problems. acute I. 非常糟糕的, 非常严重的. If a bad situation is acute, it causes severe problems or damage. very serious, extreme, or severe: The problem is particularly acute for small businesses. an acute conflict/crisis/need. The area has an acute water shortage. She felt acute embarrassment/anxiety/concern at his behaviour. The problem of poverty is particularly acute in rural areas. II. An acute pain or illness is one that quickly becomes very severe. In medicine, acute describes severe conditions, illnesses, or injuries that need immediate care: Not all hospitals can provide acute care. acute abdominal pains. an acute attack of appendicitis. III. 敏锐的(感觉). 灵敏的(嗅觉). 锐利的(眼神) used to describe intelligence, senses, etc. that are very good, accurate, and able to notice very small differences: acute eyesight/hearing. an acute sense of smell. a woman of acute intelligence/judgment. aware of or able to recognize small differences between things, or being accurate in judging something: He has very acute hearing. Used to describe thinking, feeling, hearing, seeing, smelling, or tasting. IV. 锐角. An acute angle is less than 90 degrees. obtuse (ANGLE) specialized. V. a sign that is written above a letter in some languages, showing you how to pronounce the letter: There's an acute accent on the e in "café". ) the institution where they once served: the US Army. 10. contentious [kənˈten.ʃəs] 引起争论的, 有不同意见的 causing , involving, or likely to cause disagreement and argument: a contentious decision/policy/issue/subject. contentious views She has some very contentious views on education. The director had a contentious relationship with the eccentric actor. Contentious refers to something that is likely to cause arguments or disputes. It often describes people who like to argue or topics that provoke heated debates. (Example: "He has a contentious personality and always picks fights."). Controversial refers to something that causes public disagreement or debate, often on a larger scale. It typically applies to issues, topics, or decisions that divide opinions. ("The new law is highly controversial and has sparked protests.") In short, contentious leans more toward being argumentative, while controversial describes something widely debated or disputed. backstop (EMERGENCY PLAN) I. a system that will come into effect if no other arrangement is made. something such as a plan or method that can be used if all other plans or methods fail: Many Americans still don't have a financial backstop in the form of a savings account. The backstop plan would avoid the need for border checks in Northern Ireland if no other deal can be reached. Sir Keir Starmer has said any Ukraine peace deal would require a "US backstop" to deter Russia from attacking its neighbour again. II. a block or catch to prevent excessive backward movement, such as one on the sliding seat of a rowing boat. 11. A high vibration person 正能量的人 radiates positive energy by living in the frequency of love, joy, peace, and gratitude. Most of these people are very sensitive to their feelings and never break the connection with their inner guidance. They are often described as being in tune with their emotions and having a strong connection to their inner guidance. They possess a deep sense of self-awareness and live their lives with purpose and intention.
失败: 0. fizzer [ˈfɪzə] a person or thing that disappoints, fails to succeed, etc. a person or thing that disappoints, fails to succeed, etc. A party or social gathering which turns out to be a disappointment. It's probably for the best you didn't come to the birthday party on Saturday: it was a fizzer. the horse proved to be a fizzer. III. (British Army military slang) A disciplinary charge. The soldier was put on a fizzer for being improperly dressed. 1. fizzle 不如预期 (强调的是逐渐消失, 逐渐失败, 一开始很好后来失败. 票房惨败用flop, tank, bomb). I. mainly US to gradually end. to finish slowly in a way that is disappointing or has become less interesting. to fail or die out, esp after a promising start: I like the way the movie starts but then it fizzles out. Interest in the project fizzled after the funding was withdrawn. A French-led effort by European leaders to present a united front on Ukraine in the face of rising fear over U.S. President Donald Trump's intentions fizzled Monday as they failed to agree on sending troops to police a possible peace deal. To decay or die off to nothing; to burn out; to end less successfully than previously hoped. The entire project fizzled after the founder quit. Olympics a fizzle for British tourism, early numbers say: Trade group reports visitor numbers down as much as 30 percent across Britain, as travelers shied away from Olympics crowds and costs. II. UK to make a weak continuous s sound: The fire fizzled miserably in the rain. III.(military, of a nuclear weapon) To fail to generate the expected yield when exploded during testing. The shot fizzled, generating only 200 tons rather than the 30 kilotons they were aiming for. noun. informal an outright failure; fiasco. fizzle out 悄无声息的没有了 I. Lit. [for a liquid] to lose its effervescence. This seltzer has fizzled out. I need a fresh glass of it. II. 呲呲几声就没有信了. Fig. [for an item in a fireworks display] to fail to operate properly, often producing only a hiss. That last rocket fizzled out. Set off another one. A lot of the fireworks fizzled out because it was raining.
III. Fig. Fail, end weakly, especially after a hopeful beginning. to
fade or become ineffectual gradually. to end in a disappointing way I dated him a for a while, but our so-called romance fizzled out rather quickly. The party began to fizzle out about midnight. The last clerk I hired fizzled out after the first week. flameout a failure that happens in a very sudden and noticeable way, usually after someone or something has been very successful: the spectacular flameout of once high-flying internet stocks. flag I. [intransitive] 浓情转淡, 热情消散, 热情变淡. 激情消失 激情不再 (go off the boil, go through a lull, fizzle out. jaded. fizzle out to gradually end, often in a disappointing or weak way: They went to different universities and their relationship just fizzled out.) to become tired or weak, or to begin to lack enthusiasm. After a long day, his energy flagged. The conversation was flagging until the mention of her name. unflagging [ʌnˈflæɡɪŋ] 永不气馁的, 从不气馁的
not changing or becoming weaker. If you describe something such as
support, effort, or enthusiasm as unflagging, you mean that it does not
stop or get less as time passes. [approval] He
was sustained by the unflagging support of his family. ...unflagging
optimism. The book is not one word too long and its narrative pace is
unflagging. His unflagging enthusiasm was an inspiration for all of us. II. [transitive] to mark something so that you will be able to find it again. I flagged any words I didn't know. 2. come up short
I. 低于预期. 不如预期. 失败. 没有斩获. 一无所获. 没有收获. fail to reach a goal or standard. to
fail to win or achieve something. To disappoint; to fail to meet certain
expectations or goals. I came up short on my sales goal
this month, which is really disappointing. I know I was supposed to run
a full mile. I didn't want to come up short, but I was going to
collapse if I didn't take a break! We've been to the state tournament four times, but we've come up short every time. "we're so close to getting the job done, but we keep coming up short". II. get into trouble. have an accident; get into trouble: Kim
broke her collarbone and Lisa and a couple others also came short.
We've seen a lot of IT companies come short through aggressive expansion. "if you try to trick him you'll come short". III. 不足. 不够. to not go far enough. be insufficient The shot came up short of the target. The state education budget came up short last year. 3. bring/pull someone up short 让...愣住, 让...呆住, 傻住
to make someone suddenly stop doing something or talking, usually
because they are surprised. to surprise or shock someone so that they
stop what they are doing or saying to think for a moment The question brought her up short, but, after a moment's hesitation, she answered it. Her rudeness brought me up short. I was wandering through the exhibit when I was brought up short by a striking photograph. 4. washout I. 失败者, 让人失望者 A total failure or disappointment. A disappointment or total failure; an unsuccessful person. As an actor, he was a complete washout, so he went back to accounting. This summer has been a washout. La Nina weather patterns over the Pacific have been blamed for the cool spell. II. One who fails to measure up to a standard, especially one who fails a course of training or study. 5. bum someone out Sl. to disappoint someone. This menial job really bums me out. The bad movie bummed out the entire audience. bum out Sl. to have a bad experience. (Originally referred to a bad experience with drugs. 6. fall by the wayside 中道崩殂, 中途衰落, 半路失败
If someone falls by the wayside, they fail to finish an activity, and
if something falls by the wayside, people stop doing it, making it, or
using it: So why does one company survive a recession while its competitors fall by the wayside?. To fail or fall behind at something. If you don't do your homework now, it won't be long before you fall by the wayside in this class. Mrs. Spencer is a great teacher, and her door is always open if we ever have any questions or start to fall by the wayside. I fell by the wayside with my schoolwork when I had the flu. II. To be discarded, ignored, rejected, or set aside in favor of other considerations or more urgent matters. With the economy suffering, the president's plan for environmental reform has increasingly fallen by the wayside. My college applications fell by the wayside after my Mom was diagnosed with cancer. Sure, there's a lot of repairs I'd like to do around here, but all that stuff falls by the wayside when a pipe bursts. Barrett and I found each other at the wrong time. We should've met when we were both single, it just... It didn't fall that way. 7. something ends with a whimper 静悄悄的失败, 消失的无声无息 if something ends with a whimper, it ends without success and no one notices or cares much. 8. After a couple misfires ( = dud. 哑弹. (尤指计划)未产生预期效果, 失败. 哑炮), he looked into(寻找调查) a stunt school he found in a Hollywood trade publication and he found his calling. 9. out/down for the count 读秒阶段, 濒死阶段, 失败边缘 boxing
defeated by being knocked to the ground and unable to rise within ten
seconds. unconscious or soundly asleep. having failed in something that
you are doing Without this business, our little town was down for the count. 10. [hit] a lean patch 表现不佳, 表现不好, 状态不好, 失败 A period of failure, decline, or poor performance or results. Almost
every new business experiences a lean patch at some point or another.
Though the team has gone through a lean patch in recent years, they
still have a very devoted fanbase. Ugh, we've lost so many clients this
quarter—talk about a lean patch. purple patch
I. 炫耀表功的片段. A section of writing that is showy and extravagant and
often stands out in contrast to the rest of the writing in a piece. I don't want to see a single purple patch in these research papers, class. Focus on communicating the facts! Works of serious purpose and grand promises often have a purple patch or two stitched on, to shine far and wide. II. 成功. 幸运的时期. A period marked by much success or good luck. After falling behind early, the team hit a purple patch and scored three quick goals to tie the game. We had few lean years, but our business is finally in a purple patch now, thank goodness. 11. failure I. the fact of someone or something not succeeding: complete failure The meeting was a complete failure. total failure Now she finally had to admit that the project had been a total failure. failure at I'm a bit of a failure at making cakes. He said he'd rather be a failure at something he loves than a success at something he hates. I'm a bit of a failure at making (= I cannot make) cakes. fail in I'd be failing in my duty if I didn't tell you about the risks involved in the project. He failed in his attempt to break the record. feel a failure 感觉很失败 I feel such a failure (= so unsuccessful) after losing my job. end in failure Their attempt to climb Everest ended in failure. be doomed to failure = be doomed to fail The whole project was doomed to failure right from the start (= it could never have succeeded). II. the fact of not doing something that you must do or are expected to do: failure to do sth 没有能做某事 a situation in which someone does not do something they should do or are expected to do: The banks' failure to regulate more reckless lending led directly to the financial crisis. His failure to return her phone call made her realize that something was wrong. Failure to keep the chemical at the right temperature could lead to an explosion. III. the fact of something not working, or stopping working as well as it should: heart failure 器官衰竭 He died of heart failure. kidney failure Hypertension can lead to stroke, heart attack, and kidney failure. liver failure Hepatitis A can cause sickness, diarrhoea, jaundice, and even liver failure. The accident was caused by the failure of the reactor's cooling system. business failure The number of business failures rose steeply last year. crop failure 收成不好 After three crop failures in a row, the people face starvation. IV. a situation in which a company has been unsuccessful and has to stop operating: The number and seriousness of the bank failures took economists by surprise. We're finally seeing a slowdown in the rate of business failuree. audit failure. market failure. if all else fails if none of our plans succeed: If all else fails, we can always stay in and watch TV. fail to see/understand used when you do not accept something: fail to see why I fail to see why you can't work on a Saturday. fail noun. I. an unsuccessful result in a course, test, or exam: get a fail John got three passes and four fails in his exams. II. informal something that has been done very badly or gone completely wrong; a failure: epic fail My pancakes were an epic fail (= completely unsuccessful). The software crashes every time I open an email. What a fail. without fail I. If you do something without fail, you always do it: I go to the gym every Monday and Wednesday, without fail. II. used to tell someone that they must do something: Be there at nine o'clock, without fail.
Robotic exoskeletons help Chinese tourists climb the country's most punishing mountain: A towering 高耸的 5,000 feet high, with more than 7,000 steps, Mount Tai, in the eastern Chinese province of Shandong, is known for turning legs to jelly for anyone game for scaling to the top. Videos all over Chinese social media, such as TikTok's sister app Douyin, show even the fittest hikers shaking, collapsing or trying to climb downhill on all fours. But tourism officials in Shandong have come up with another idea: robotic legs. On January 29, the first day of Chinese New Year, ten AI-powered exoskeletons(external; from outside. "exodermis".) debuted at Mount Tai (Taishan in Mandarin), attracting over 200 users for a fee of 60 yuan to 80 yuan ($8 - $11 USD) per use during a week-long trial, according to Xinhua News Agency. Co-developed 联合开发 by Taishan Cultural Tourism Group and Kenqing Technology, a Shenzhen-based tech company, this device is designed to wrap around users' waists and thighs and weighs in at just 1.8 kilograms, according to the firm's product introduction. Powered by AI algorithms, it can sense users' movements and provide "synchronized assistance" to ease the burden of legs, according to Kenqing Technology. Each robotic exoskeleton runs on two batteries, lasting for about five hours, according to Wang Houzhe, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of the Taishan Cultural Tourism Group. It generally takes six hours to climb to the top. "It really works!" Li Chengde, a 68-year-old tourist from the capital Jinan, told state-run Xinhua News Agency after trying out the device. "It felt like someone was pulling me uphill!" "This can help more people hike up the mountain 徒步上山 and enjoy the scenery of Mount Tai… without it being too strenuous 高强度的, 强度大的, 消耗体力的, 耗费体力的 ( demanding, hard, tough, exhausting )(needing or using a lot of physical or mental effort or energy: He rarely does anything more strenuous than changing the channels on the television. His doctor advised him not to do any strenuous exercise. Strenuous efforts were made throughout the war to disguise the scale of civilian casualties. needing or using a lot of effort or energy: I think football is much more strenuous than baseball. )," Wang told Chinese state media. Jacky, a content creator from Shangdong who requested a pseudonym for privacy reasons, tested the device last Sunday for half an hour over hundreds of steps. While echoing the general positive feedback as many others, he told CNN there is still room for improvement. "The experience is definitely easier," he said about climbing with the device on. "But once I took it off, I felt a bit clumsy walking (on my own)." The 29-year-old said he felt like a "puppet" with the machine doing all the work but once he got used to not exerting himself, it was "really tiring" after he removed the exoskeleton and went back to climbing of his own power. Jacky added he also found the device inconvenient when he needed to use the bathroom and tie his shoelaces while wearing it. The exoskeleton requires extra hands to put on and take off and fully squatting down could risk breaking the tight straps. He also said that the battery needed more juice. Wang from the Taishan Cultural Tourism Group said the team will extend battery life and set up replacement spots along the hiking trails, according to Chinese state-linked media. Currently in beta testing, the exoskeletons are expected to hit the mass market in early March, according to the local publicity department. Despite a few hiccups, Jacky deems the exoskeleton robots a "good product" and a "true blessing" 大好事 for the elderly, children and mobility-impaired visitors. Half of the hikers who opted to try out the prototype exoskeletons at Mount Tai were senior citizens. In addition to making mountain climbing a whole lot easier, these walking supports have sparked online discussions about their wider applications in a country grappling with a rapidly ageing population. Kenqing Technology, the robotic exoskeletons' co-developer, which was founded in 2015, is eyeing this vast elderly care market. It has rolled out an exoskeleton specifically designed for elderly users, weighing 2.4 kilograms and priced at 17,000 yuan ($2,334 USD) on China's e-commerce giant Taobao. To fully unlock the potential of elderly care robots, industry insiders told Xinhua News Agency that stronger policy support is needed to scale up their production while keeping prices affordable for all.
