用法学习: 1. have a dog in the/this fight 有既得利益 to be involved in or affected by a situation personally: Donations of money should not be accepted from people who have a dog in the fight. Lawyers could hold a grudge against a particular judge, or vice versa, but jurors do not have a dog in the fight. This is between myself and my insurance company and I don't see that the government has any dog in the fight. We don't have a dog in this fight — we're just here to fix a problem. We have no dog in this fight, but we want a fair outcome for everybody. have no dog in the/this fight 不关切身利益, 没有偏向, 事不关己, 置身事外 To not have any vested interest in or anything to gain by a given situation. A: "Are you going to watch the big game tonight?" B: "Nah, my team's not playing, so I have no dog in the fight." A lot of people think small businesses have no dog in the fight, but these proposed tax changes would have a big impact on them too. She has no dog in the fight—why does she care so much about the outcome of this lawsuit? recidivism [rɪˈsɪdɪvɪz(ə)m] 重犯, 再犯 the tendency of a convicted criminal to reoffend. the act of continuing to commit crimes even after having been punished: This program is aimed at reducing recidivism. Recidivism rates are 25 percent lower for offenders who get structured treatment. "the prison has succeeded in reducing recidivism". recidivist [rɪˈsɪd.ɪ.vɪst] 屡教不改 a criminal who continues to commit crimes even after they have been punished. A recidivist is someone who has committed crimes in the past and has begun to commit crimes again, for example after a period in prison. Six prisoners are still at large along with four dangerous recidivists. Their basic criticism was that prisons do not reduce the crime rate, they cause recidivism. 2. An "empty suit" 银样镴枪头, 空有其表, 虚有其表, 徒有其表, 外强中干, 中看不中用 (derogatory) An ineffective or incompetent person in a place of authority. a term used to describe someone who appears to be competent or powerful, but is actually not very effective. The term is often used to describe executives, managers, or officials. A senator who dresses well but has not accomplished anything. An authority figure who dresses appropriately but is ineffective. A person who avoids accountability and doesn't learn from mistakes. A person who overestimates their abilities because they don't admit to mistakes. an important or wealthy man regarded as lacking substance, personality, or ability. "they're a bunch of Ivy League empty suits". Etymology: Derived from unfavorable observations that ineffective professionals are memorable only for what they wear and not what they accomplish at the workplace. An empty suit is someone who appears powerful, wise, or competent, but is actually not very good at their job. An authority figure who dresses appropriately but is completely ineffective is an empty suit. Imagine a school principal who walks around looking just like a principal should, wearing exactly the right outfits, but is absolutely terrible at the job. This derogatory term empty suit comes from the idea of a person having no real substance beneath the suit they wear. A sharp-dressed senator who has never accomplished anything on Capitol Hill might be criticized as an empty suit. A politician who hasn't made any campaign promises. John Doe is an empty suit running on an anti-populist platform. Peter principle (management) The theory that people in an organization tend to rise (be promoted) to the level of their incompetence. the principle that members of a hierarchy are promoted until they reach the level at which they are no longer competent. the theory that people are promoted (= given more important and difficult jobs) in an organization until they reach a level where they cannot do their job well: It was felt that his promotion was a classic example of the Peter Principle, where managers tend to be promoted beyond their level of competence. His election to high office shows the Peter Principle at work in politics. wiki: The Peter principle is a concept in management developed by Laurence J. Peter which observes that people in a hierarchy tend to rise to "a level of respective incompetence": employees are promoted based on their success in previous jobs until they reach a level at which they are no longer competent, as skills in one job do not necessarily translate to another. stuffed shirt 正儿八经的人 informal disapproving someone who behaves in a very formal and old-fashioned way and thinks that they are very important. a conservative, pompous person. "I just want it to be for fun people, not stuffed shirts". Where does this stuffed shirt get off criticizing everyone based on his warped perception? I'm tired of all that other crowd--the stuffed shirt brigade, you know. His employees think he's a stuffed shirt, too. He didn't go for either stuffed shirts or strong silent men. If you describe someone, especially someone with an important position, as a stuffed shirt, you mean that they are extremely formal and old-fashioned. If you call a man a stuffed shirt, you mean that he is formal and boring. In a pinstriped suit he instantly looked like a stuffed shirt. His seminars work because he speaks like an ordinary, approachable person rather than a stuffed shirt. It's his amusement about the world around him that makes him appealing as a politician, so different from all those stuffed shirts. Note: You can use stuffed-shirt before a noun. I have little patience with the dress rules of stuffed-shirt establishments. Note: This refers to a shirt being displayed on a dummy in a clothing shop. The dummy is hollow and has no use apart from filling the space occupied by the shirt. strong silent type 不说废话的人, 人狠话不多 A man of action who is reserved and masks his feelings. Almost never used for a woman, this expression may be obsolescent (obsolescent [ˌɒb.səˈles.ənt] becoming obsolete: Much of our existing military hardware is obsolescent. If something is obsolescent, it is no longer needed because something better has been invented. ...outmoded, obsolescent equipment. ). A physically strong man of action who is quiet and emotionally reserved. A person, especially a man, who exudes strength by taking action without expressing or worrying about their emotions. I've always been attracted to the strong, silent type, but whenever I'm in a relationship with a guy like that, I find it infuriating that he never tells me what he's thinking or includes me in the decision-making process. Paula always preferred the strong silent type to more extroverted men. note: While the phrase is almost always used in reference to a man, it may, on occasion, be applied to a woman. 3. mercurial [mɜːˈkjʊə.ri.əl] 多变的, 善变的, 阴晴不定的 I. changing suddenly and often. If you describe someone as mercurial, you mean that they frequently change their mind or mood without warning. ...his mercurial temperament. a mercurial temperament. She was entertaining but unpredictable, with mercurial mood swings. II. intelligent, enthusiastic, and quick: a mercurial mind/wit. III. MEDICAL specialized containing or caused by mercury: mercurial drugs. blaster 喷枪 I. a person whose job is to remove or destroy something by exploding it: He did not have a licence to work as a crane operator or a blaster, according to the report. An avalanche blaster must undergo three years of on-the-job training and take written exams. II. a tool or object that can send out water, gas, air, etc. with a lot of force: You can create a water blaster from a plastic tube. They invented a carbon dioxide blaster that doctors can use to separate patients' organs during laparoscopic surgery. III. a weapon in a science fiction story (= one about an imagined future) that can destroy solid objects: The sound is like an asteroid blaster from an old video game. They explored the planet, keeping their blasters ready in their hands. bluster [ˈblʌs.tər] 虚张声势, 色厉内荏, 破口大骂, 骂大街, 泼妇骂街 verb. I. to speak in a loud, angry, or offended way, usually with little effect. If you say that someone is blustering, you mean that they are speaking aggressively but without authority, often because they are angry or offended. 'That's lunacy,' he blustered. He was still blustering, but there was panic in his eyes. ...the bluster of the party's campaign. "You had no right to do it, no right at all," he blustered. II. If the wind blusters, it blows strongly: A gale was blustering around the house. noun. loud, angry, or offended talk, usually with little effect. talk intended to seem important or threatening but which is not taken seriously and has little effect: For all his bluster about his military adventures, McLaughlin was enormously likable. I knew that it was all bluster and he wasn't really angry with me. His tough talk amounts to no more than macho bluster. 4. "Come bearing gifts 带着礼物来的" means to arrive with presents or offerings for someone else, often implying a gesture of goodwill or appeasement, but with a cautionary undertone due to the origin of the phrase which is "Beware of Greeks bearing gifts," referring to the Trojan Horse story where the Greeks seemingly offered a gift that was actually a trap; essentially, don't trust someone who brings you a seemingly generous gift, especially if they have ulterior motives. Timeō Danaōs et dōna ferentēs, paraphrased in English as "I fear the Greeks even when bearing gifts", is a Latin phrase from the Aeneid, a Latin epic poem written by Virgil between 29 and 19 BCE. The utterance, spoken by Trojan priest Laocoön, refers to the Trojan Horse constructed by the Greeks during the Trojan War. The literal meaning of the phrase is "I fear the Danaans [Greeks], even those bearing gifts" or "even when they bear gifts". Most printed versions of the text have the variant ferentis instead of ferentes. In modern English, the sentence is used as a proverb to warn against trusting an enemy or adversary, even when they appear to make an enticing offer. beware of Greeks bearing gifts 小心心怀不轨的人 proverb Be skeptical of a present or kindness from an enemy. The phrase refers to the Trojan horse, a gift to the Trojans from which Greek soldiers emerged and conquered Troy. A: "I can't believe the opposing team made us cupcakes before the big game!" B: "Yeah, I'd beware of Greeks bearing gifts if I were you." Any time a stranger is too friendly, I can't help but think, beware of Greeks bearing gifts. You just never know if they have an ulterior motive or not! A: "I asked Alyssa to tell the teacher I was going to be late to class, but she didn't, and now I have a demerit!" B: "Isn't Alyssa your main competition for valedictorian? Come on, beware of Greeks bearing gifts." Prov. Do not trust an opponent who offers to do something nice for you. Jill: I can't believe Melanie brought me cookies today, when we've been fighting for weeks. Jane: Beware of Greeks bearing gifts. She probably has ulterior motives. When the rival company invited all his employees to a Christmas party, Tom's first impulse was to beware of Greeks bearing gifts, but then he upbraided himself for being paranoid. when the tree falls, the monkeys scatter 树倒猢狲散 proverb When someone loses power, their supporters or followers will desert them. The phrase comes from a Chinese proverb. I'm not surprised that so many board members are stepping down now that the CEO has resigned in disgrace. When the tree falls, the monkeys scatter. for want of a nail 顾头不顾屁股, 因小失大, 捡了芝麻丢了西瓜, 猴子掰玉米一样 proverb Due to a minor inconvenience or mishap, (something much worse has happened). The full proverb is "For want of a nail the shoe was lost. For want of a shoe the horse was lost. For want of a horse the rider was lost. For want of a rider the battle was lost. For want of a battle the kingdom was lost. And all for the want of a horseshoe nail ( horseshoe nail a thin pointed nail with heavy flaring head that is used to fix a horseshoe to the hoof.)." If only you'd taken your car in for an oil change when you were supposed to, this emergency trip to the mechanic could have been avoided. Ah, for want of a nail. The entire company ended up folding due to a failure by one of its employees to mail the loan application on time. For want of a nail, as they say. I told him repeatedly to do something about that leaking pipe, but no. And now, for want of a nail, the whole basement is flooded. 5. an elephant never forgets 没齿难忘 One remembers everything. A play on the idea that elephants have great memories. I don't think we can pick up where we were before you betrayed me because an elephant never forgets! I would be hesitant to cross him—he's a dangerous man, and an elephant never forgets. A: "It's like Mom remembers every thing I've ever done wrong in my life!" B: "Oh, an elephant never forgets." have the memory of an elephant 记性好 To have an exceptionally good memory. An allusion to the fact that elephants are known to have great memories. Mom has the memory of an elephant, so she'll be sure to remember Joe's phone number. I swear, that kid has the memory of an elephant. He just reminded me about something I told him three weeks ago! It's wild to hear Grandma talk about her childhood in Russia. She might be 93 years old, but she has the memory of an elephant. spadework 基础工作, 奠基工作, 准备工作 hard or routine preparatory work. hard, sometimes boring work done in preparation for something. Work done in preparation for something else. There's a lot of spadework to be done before the scheme can be implemented. Now that the spadework's all been done, we can start to write the report itself. "there were a few young recruits on hand to help with the spadework". from one day to the next 一天天的, 第二天, 每一天 before each day happens: I never know what I'll be doing from one day to the next. It's so unpredictable - you never know what you're going to find from one day to the next. It's so strange how your feelings about the same situation can change from one day to the next. I have no idea how she'll be from one day to the next. "From one day to day one" means transitioning from a mindset of passively thinking about doing something "one day" in the future, to actively starting and committing to doing it "today" - essentially, moving from procrastination to taking immediate action and beginning a new phase. 6. TBBG: Penny: Okay, I don't think Amy wants a pocket watch. Sheldon: No, but maybe she wants a man with a pocket watch. Penny: Still saying stupid stuff. Ooh, does she like bracelets? Sheldon: Well, she's very fond of her silver one that says allergic to penicillin. Maybe they have a dressier ( dressy I. Dressy clothes are suitable for formal occasions: I need something a bit more dressy for the wedding. II. A dressy occasion is one at which people wear very formal clothes: a dressy affair/occasion. III. 正装的. (of clothing) suitable for formal occasions: I have some dressy shoes that I can wear to the wedding. ) version of that? Assistant: Well, how are we doing this afternoon? Are we looking for anything special? Perhaps a ring for the lady? Penny: (Snorts) Trust me, we are not a couple. Sheldon: Excuse me. I don't see why you get to snort derisively 讥讽的, 不屑的 and point that out. You'd be lucky to land a fella like me. well-aware having knowledge or awareness. having full knowledge of a situation or fact. "they were well aware of the problem". Well aware of the problems. backwash I. an effect that is not the direct result of something. The backwash of an event or situation is an unpleasant situation that exists after it and as a result of it. ...the backwash of the tragedy. The Treasury had been blaming the pound's weakness on the backwash from the falling dollar. The economic and political backwash of the war is still being felt. II. the backward movement of waves, or the backward movement of water caused by something, such as a boat, passing through it: The waterskier was caught in the backwash from a motorboat. III. 唾沫. 残渣. The saliva, spit or food particles that have flowed back into a drink after someone has drunk from it. IV. (economics) The situation where economic growth in one area harms other areas by attracting people and business away from those areas. 7. "The No Child Left Behind Act 一个都不能少 of 2001 (NCLB) was a 2002 U.S. Act of Congress promoted by the presidency of George W. Bush. It reauthorized the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and included Title I provisions applying to disadvantaged students. It mandated standards-based education reform based on the premise that setting high standards and establishing measurable goals could improve individual outcomes in education. To receive federal school funding, states had to create and give assessments to all students at select grade levels. No child left behind" means that every student, regardless of their background or abilities, should have access to a quality education and be given the necessary support to succeed, ensuring that no child is left behind in the learning process; it is often used in the context of education policy to emphasize the goal of achieving equal educational outcomes for all students. buy someone off with sth 收买 to pay someone so that they do not cause you any trouble. to give someone money so that person will help you or let you do something that is not legal: A well-known business executive had bought off government inspectors. They tried to buy the guard at the bank off but he told the police and the gang was arrested. sturdy 不容易坏的, 坚固, 结实耐用 physically strong and solid or thick, and therefore unlikely to break or be hurt. Someone or something that is sturdy looks strong and is unlikely to be easily injured or damaged. She was a short, sturdy woman in her early sixties. The camera was mounted on a sturdy tripod. It was a good table too, sturdily constructed of elm. sturdy walking boots. a sturdy table. sturdy little legs. wang = wanger [wæŋ] slang offensive a rude word for the penis. praise be! 太好了, 太棒了, 谢天谢地: ARCHAIC old-fashioned used as an expression of relief, joy, or gratitude. used when you are very pleased about something that has happened. "'How is your sister?' 'On the mend, praise be'. 8. TBBT: Amy: From a neurobiological standpoint, Leonard, you may be alone because your psychological state is causing an actual pheromone-based stink of desperation. Sheldon: Did you know that, Leonard? Leonard: No. Sheldon: I did. Amy: I understand that some people find mates in social gathering places 社交场合 such as bars or taverns. Have you tried a bar or tavern? Leonard: No, I'm not gonna try to pick up a woman in a bar. Sheldon: Wise decision. You see, Amy, success at a bar is based on classic male attributes ( noun. [ˈatrɪbjuːt] verb. [əˈtrɪbjuːt] )男性特征 such as height, strength, attractiveness, the ability to hold one's liquor and throw darts, separately or together. Leonard has none of these attributes, right, Leonard? Leonard: Right. Amy: That's not true of all bars. Juice bars, for example. Sheldon: Oh! Good point, Amy. Yeah, building on your premise, Leonard could frequent sushi bars, salad bars, oyster bars, the Apple Genius Bar, what are you doing Leonard (exiting the apartment): Keep going. I'm listening. Amy: That was rude. Sheldon: He does it all the time. He's a cornucopia ( cornucopia [ˌkɔːnjʊˈkəʊpɪə] 大量的 I. a container in the shape of an animal's horn, full of fruit and flowers, often used as a symbol in art: Each of the figures bears a cornucopia, which is the usual symbol of plenty. The cloisters are decorated with a riotous mixture of human and animal figures, scallop shells, and cornucopias. II. a large amount or supply of something, or something that provides this: cornucopia of A cornucopia of things is a large number of different things. ...a cornucopia of fruits. ...a table festooned with a cornucopia of fruit. The table held a veritable cornucopia of every kind of food or drink you could want. This book is a cornucopia of facts and folklore about tigers. Our supermarkets are veritable cornucopias. horn of plenty I. a container in the shape of an animal's horn, full of fruit and flowers and often used as a table decoration in American homes on Thanksgiving: For centrepieces, consider placing a horn of plenty on each table, brimming with fruit or flower petals. Overflowing with grapes, pomegranates, and pink roses, this horn of plenty is made from crabapple branches. II. something that provides a large amount or supply of something: The internet is a horn of plenty that has presented new opportunites for similarly minded individuals with unusual interests. These new inventions proved a horn of plenty, making the last decade of the 20th century a golden age for astronomers, astrophysicists, and cosmologists. III. a type of mushroom that you can eat and is shaped like a trumpet (= a brass musical instrument consisting of a metal tube with one narrow end, into which the player blows, and one wide end): The horn of plenty is a dark brown wild mushroom. I picked nearly a kilo of trompettes de la mort - I prefer the French name to the English name "horn of plenty". galore [ɡəˈlɔː] 到处都是, 大量存在 adj. in abundance. in great amounts or numbers. You use galore to emphasize that something you like exists in very large quantities. You'll be able to win prizes galore. ...a popular resort with beaches galore. And to satisfy your sweet tooth, this café has desserts galore. "there were prizes galore for everything". For each category, there can only be one winner. And that means there are snubs galore after tonight’s 97th Academy Awards. ) of social awkwardness. Amy: Cornucopia. What a mellifluous ( mellifluous [mɪˈlɪflʊəs] 悦耳动听的 having a pleasant and flowing sound: a deep mellifluous voice. the mellifluous sound of the cello. A mellifluous voice or piece of music is smooth and gentle and very pleasant to listen to. I grew up around people who had wonderful, mellifluous voices. Soon the room is filled with Bates' mellifluous tones. honeyed tones/words/voice 甜言蜜语 used to describe speech or a person's voice when it is gentle and pleasant to listen to, sometimes in a way that is not sincere. honeyed 抹了蜜的 I. You can describe someone's voice or words as honeyed when they are very pleasant to listen to, especially if you want to suggest that they are insincere. His gentle manner and honeyed tones reassured Andrew. They could not understand how anyone could believe her honeyed words. II. 甜甜的 You can describe something as honeyed when it tastes or smells of honey, or is the pale yellowish colour of honey. I could smell the honeyed ripeness of melons and peaches. ...a warm, honeyed light. dulcet [ˈdʌl.sət] 温柔的声音 I. Dulcet sounds are soft and pleasant to listen to. A dulcet voice is one that is gentle and pleasant to listen to. Quickly, in her dulcet voice, Tamara told him what had happened. someone's dulcet tones humorous People often use the expression dulcet tones to refer to someone's voice. a person's voice: You hear his dulcet tones on the Radio 1 trailers in the morning. I thought I heard your dulcet tones down here. ) word. Sheldon: Let's make that our word of the day. Amy: Agreed. And we'll use mellifluous tomorrow. 9. exfiltrate [ˈɛksfɪltreɪt] I. withdraw (troops or spies) surreptitiously, especially from a dangerous situation. to remove or withdraw (an intelligence agent, soldier, etc) surreptitiously from an enemy-held area. "US special forces agents have all been exfiltrated from Iran". Chang's life – and those of his wife and three children – took a dramatic turn in January 1988, when the CIA exfiltrated them to the US. By then, President Ronald Reagan's administration had amassed sufficient evidence and seized the opportunity created by the death of President Chiang Ching-kuo – Chiang Kai-shek's son – to pressure his reformist successor Lee Teng-hui into cooperation. II. to remove (data) from a computer, network, etc surreptitiously and without permission or unlawfully. consummate verb. [ˈkɒns(j)ʊmeɪt] make (a marriage or relationship) complete by having sexual intercourse. "they did not consummate their marriage until months after it took place". II. complete (a transaction). To consummate an agreement means to complete it. There have been several close calls, but no one has been able to consummate a deal. "the property sale is consummated". adj. [ˈkɒns(j)ʊmət] 技巧娴熟的, 老练的 I. showing great skill and flair. You use consummate to describe someone who is extremely skilful. He acted the part with consummate skill. Those familiar with Sanders call him a consummate politician. The film is a well made, atmospheric, consummately acted piece. "she dressed with consummate elegance". II. perfect, or complete in every way: a life of consummate happiness. He's a consummate athlete/gentleman/liad. Referring to his views on Iran, Leon Wieseltier described Zakaria in 2010 as a "consummate spokesman for the shibboleths of the [Obama] White House and for the smooth new worldliness, the at-the-highest-levels impatience with democracy and human rights as central objectives of our foreign policy, that now characterize advanced liberal thinking about America's role in the world." shibboleth [ˈʃɪb.əl.eθ] 老观念, 过时的观念, 不合时宜的风俗 I. a belief or custom that is not now considered as important and correct as it was in the past: They still cling to many of the old shibboleths of education. If you describe an idea or belief as a shibboleth, you mean that it is thought important by a group of people but may be old-fashioned or wrong. It is time to go beyond the shibboleth that conventional forces cannot deter. a custom, principle, or belief distinguishing a particular class or group of people, especially a long-standing one regarded as outmoded or no longer important. "the majority, under the influence of vague nineteenth-century shibboleths, understood him to be associating himself with the doctrine that every nation has a right to be a sovereign state". II. 暗号, 暗语. 对口令, 对口号. a word, phrase, custom, etc., only known to a particular group of people, that you can use to prove to them that you are a real member of that group. wiki: A shibboleth ([ˈʃɪbəlɛθ, -ɪθ] ) is any custom or tradition, usually a choice of phrasing or single word, that distinguishes one group of people from another. Historically, shibboleths have been used as passwords, ways of self-identification, signals of loyalty and affinity, ways of maintaining traditional segregation, or protection from real or perceived threats. virtuoso [ˌvɜː.tjuˈəʊ.səʊ] 乐手 复数: virtuosos or virtuosi. noun. a person who is extremely skilled at something, especially at playing an instrument or performing: virtuoso on Famous mainly for his wonderful voice, Cole Porter was also a virtuoso on the piano. He was gaining a reputation as a remarkable virtuoso. adj. = virtuosic A virtuoso performance or display shows great skill. extremely skilled and impressive, especially at playing an instrument or performing: virtuoso performance The Times critic described her dancing as "a virtuoso performance of dazzling accomplishment". He was a virtuoso violinist. There were passages of truly virtuoso playing. He was one of the most expressive and virtuosic improvisers in the history of jazz music. Opening the concert, she showed off her virtuosic technical skills and musicality. The solo part was virtuosic, with dazzling cadenzas. Her retelling of The Comedy of Errors is virtuoso. England's football fans were hoping for a virtuoso performance against Cameroon. 10. overrun verb. I. If an army or an armed force overruns a place, area, or country 占据, 占有, it succeeds in occupying it very quickly. A group of rebels overran the port area and most of the northern suburbs. II. If an event or meeting overruns by, for example, ten minutes 超时, it continues for ten minutes longer than it was intended to. Tuesday's lunch overran by three-quarters of an hour. The talks overran their allotted time. III. If costs overrun 超出预算, 费用超标, 预算超标, they are higher than was planned or expected. The US developer took a $163m hit after costs overran at the wind farm. Costs overran the budget by about 30%. He was stunned to discover cost overruns of at least $1 billion. In March 2021, Zakaria criticized the size of the U.S. military budget, saying that "The United States' F-35 fighter jet program, bedeviled by cost overruns and technical problems, will ultimately cost taxpayers $1.7 trillion. China will spend a comparable amount of money on its Belt and Road Initiative...Which is money better spent?". adj. I. If you say that a place is overrun with or by things that you consider undesirable, you mean that there are a large number of them there. The flower beds were overrun with grasses. The Hotel has been ordered to close because it is overrun by mice and rats. Padua and Vicenza are prosperous, well-preserved cities, not overrun by tourists. bedevil verb 陷入, 身陷, 摆脱不掉. If you are bedevilled by something unpleasant, it causes you a lot of problems over a period of time. to confuse, annoy, or cause problems or difficulties for someone or something: Ever since I started playing tennis, I've been bedevilled by back pains. His career was bedevilled by injury. The development has been bedevilled with problems. ...a problem that has bedevilled service industries for decades. 10. The haphazard ( haphazard [hæpˈhæz·ərd] 无组织, 无纪律的. 无计划的, 随心所欲的 lacking order or purpose; not planned: Haphazard record-keeping made it difficult for the agency to keep track of its clients. ) nihilism ( nihilism [ˈnʌɪ(h)ɪlɪz(ə)m] 虚无主义 a belief that all political and religious organizations are bad, or a system of thought that says that there are no principles or beliefs that have any meaning or can be true. the rejection of all religious and moral principles, in the belief that life is meaningless. "they condemned the show for its cynicism and nihilism". ) of America's new Department of Government Efficiency: DOGE's heavy-handed approach is not likely to make the government more efficient. "We won't be perfect. But when we make mistake, we will fix it very quickly," later backtracked Musk, who is running President Donald Trump's effort to eviscerate 削减, 清理内脏 the federal government. "With USAID, one of the things we accidentally canceled very briefly was Ebola, Ebola prevention. I think we all want Ebola prevention. So, we restored the Ebola prevention immediately," he said. This haphazard nihilism is symptomatic of Musk's approach with the de-facto Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE): destroy first, ask questions later. Claims that DOGE has already saved tens of billions of dollars in taxpayer cash are dubious — despite evidence trumpeted by conservative media of frivolous spending. There's nothing wrong with curtailing 削减 ( curtail to stop something before it is finished, or to reduce or limit something: to curtail your holiday/spending. severely curtailed With all the snow, our daily walks have been severely curtailed.) bloated government. When the public thinks its cash is being wasted, governance loses legitimacy. Every state capital has a big federal building — and it's now dawning on some of Trump's cheerleaders that hundreds of thousand of government jobs exist outside the Beltway ( outside the Beltway 政府部门之外 Primarily related to, concerned with, or affecting those who are not involved or associated with the US federal government, especially average citizens. "The Beltway" is a shortening of "The Capital Beltway," a nickname for Interstate 495 华盛顿特区环路 ( = ringroad in UK), which surrounds Washington, DC, as well as parts of Virginia and Maryland. When you've been working as a lobbyist in Washington for your entire career, it can be hard to imagine a life outside of the Beltway. The oil tycoon ran his election campaign on the fact that he came from outside the Beltway, claiming it made him better equipped to represent the concerns of ordinary people. People outside the Beltway are going to be alarmed when they hear about these serious accusations against the Secretary of State. ). A backlash is building as GOP lawmakers get upbraided ( upbraid 指责 verb. to forcefully or angrily tell someone they should not have done a particular thing and criticize them for having done it: In newspaper articles she consistently upbraided those in authority who overstepped their limits. ) by constituents back home. "Things are happening so fast and furiously," Republican Rep. Nicole Malliotakis said. "We need to take a step back and make sure that we're doing things in a way that we are rooting out the waste, the fraud and the abuse and the mismanagement, making programs efficient but not resulting in unintended consequences." Even when government is working, financed and fully staffed, things can go badly wrong — the botched response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and the comically mismanaged Obamacare website come to mind. But when the government is being deliberately desecrated ( desecrate 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. ), disasters are all but guaranteed. 11. "To be carded 检查证件, 查验证件, 检查身份证, 要身份证" means to be asked for identification, such as when entering a bar. "We all got carded". card to ask someone to show you a document, especially an identity card, in order to prove how old they are. He loved to tell the story how he was recently carded at the train station when he asked for the senior citizen rate. If we can move forward to a fully carded work force, that would make a huge difference. carded Asked to show one's ID to prove that they are legally old enough to be in a particular place or doing a specific thing. I'm 30 years old, but I look so young that I get carded all the time. We'll never be able to get into the bar without being carded! I can't get carded with this crappy fake ID—they'll know immediately that it's not legit! carded and proofed 验明正身 mod. [of an ID card] examined to determine whether one has reached the legal drinking age. Dave got carded at the party even though he is thirty and looks it. As soon as we were proofed, we got in and got some brews. misspent youth 浪费的青春: the time when one is young and doing things that are not considered wise or proper. the period when one is young and spend's one's time doing foolish, bad, or frivolous things. someone who had a misspent youth wasted their time or behaved badly when they were young – often used humorously She recalled behaving recklessly during her misspent youth. He enjoys telling stories of his misspent youth. You said you wanted to make up for your misspent youth. narc 缉毒警察, 缉毒人员 (nark 通风报信) A police detective who enforces drug laws is called a narc. Narcs often work in airports with dogs specially trained to smell various illegal drugs. The word narc is slang shorthand for "narcotics agent," a federal agent or police officer who specializes in laws dealing with illegal drugs. Narc is sometimes also used to mean "police informant," someone who secretly gives inside information to the police, informing on others who are engaging in illegal activity. This second meaning is more often spelled "nark." 12. Yellowjackets: The Showtime TV series follows an amateur high school soccer team in the late '90s whose plane crashes into an Ontario forest on their way to a national competition. While sworn to secrecy as suburban adults, flashbacks reveal the horrific and gritty ordeals the characters undertake to ensure their survival — from the extremities of ritual sacrifice to the mundanity of period rags. In episode five, the main characters have finally been in each other's company for long enough that their cycles sync up. While still holding onto hope that they'll be found and rescued, they are forced to get resourceful to pass the time. Makeshift pads are fashioned from torn up, salvaged clothing that survived the wreck. The girls take turns stewing them in pots, stirring the scraps with a stick to sterilise and reuse again, without censoring the deep red hues that bubble in boiling water. "Bloody soldiers on the left, and breakfast on the right, okay? Don't mess them up like Travis did," joked teammate Akilah about one of the three guys who survived the crash with them. The scenes are short but there, and not only add to the realism 真实性 of the situation, but set up vital parts of the plot. Travis accuses his co-hunter Nat of scaring off prey with her menstrual scent, and the naive justifications and banter of the teenage boy star sets the foundation of a long-term relationship between the two. Meanwhile, team leader Jackie groans and pouts when prodded awake in the morning, complaining of cramps as she begrudgingly wriggles off her mattress. A few hours later, her best friend Shauna dips a rag in the blood of a butchered deer to mask her pregnancy from sleeping with Jackie's boyfriend the night before their fateful flight. 13. black-hearted evil, malicious, or wicked In the film, the greedy princes fighting for the throne are only slightly less cunning and black-hearted than their father. dark-hearted Malevolent; cold and cruel. screwball 怪人 I. used to describe a type of film in which there are funny characters and silly situations. Screwball comedy is silly and eccentric in an amusing and harmless way. ...a remake of a '50s classic screwball comedy. a screwball comedy. Anora, a screwball comedy-drama about a sex worker who marries a Russian oligarch’s son, has come away from the 97th annual Academy Awards with the biggest prizes of the night: Best Picture, Best Actress, Best Director, Best Editing and Best Original Screenplay. II. a person who behaves in a strange and funny way. If you say that someone is a screwball, you mean that they do strange or crazy things. rapprochement [rəˈprɒʃmɒ̃] 关系回春, 关系回暖, 交好 I. (especially in international affairs) an establishment or resumption of harmonious relations. "there were signs of a growing rapprochement between the two countries". Waltz's comment underscores the US' position that the war must end no matter what as Trump races toward a rapprochement with Russian President Vladimir Putin after falsely blaming Zelensky for the unprovoked invasion. II. an agreement reached by opposing groups or people: There are signs of (a) rapprochement between the warring factions. calamitous [kəˈlamɪtəs] adj involving calamity; catastrophic or disastrous. causing great damage or suffering: The bank went bust, with calamitous consequences for global markets. a calamitous war. "such calamitous events as fires, hurricanes, and floods". 13. shake someone down 勒索钱财, 敲诈钱财, 要钱, 逼着给钱 to get money from someone by using threats or tricks. to get money from someone by using threats. to force someone to give you money: He was accused of shaking down small business owners in his district. They throw big parties to shake down sponsors. They tried to shake him down for five bucks. shake someone/somewhere down 找遍, 翻遍, 搜遍, 搜身 to search a person or place carefully, usually in order to find things that are stolen or illegal: We can't shake down the whole building - only the suspect's apartment. shake down 正常运转, 稳定下来, 安定下来 to become organized or established after a period of change. if a new system or situation shakes down, it begins to work normally: The new IT network is still causing delays but is expected to shake down by year end. Give the new arrangements time to shake down - I'm sure they'll be OK. to pip someone at the post = pip sb to the post 险胜, 最后时刻被胜过, 最后时刻被打败 I. beat somebody in a race, competition, etc. by only a small amount or at the last moment. If someone is pipped at the post or pipped to the post they are just beaten in a competition or in a race to achieve something. To overcome a prominent competitor, gaining their position, especially by making a smart, sudden move. To defeat or succeed over someone by a very narrow margin or at the final, crucial moment, especially in a race, competition, or athletic event. The favoured runner held the lead for the majority of the race, but a relatively unknown competitor pipped him to the post in the final 100 metres. It appears the young candidate is set to pip his competitor to the post for his seat in parliament, which would make him the youngest candidate from this constituency to do so in nearly 60 years. I didn't want us to be pipped to the post. II. To overcome a strong competitor in a sporting event, especially by gaining a small advantage at the last decisive moment. be left at the post 拉的远远的, 完败, 没有胜的机会, 从一开始就败了, 一败涂地 I. To be beaten from the beginning of a competition or race. To be unlikely to succeed in a competition from the outset. The other girls in my heat were so fast that I was left at the post. I truly thought that candidate would be left at the post. I can't believe she's been doing so well in the polls. I thought my project for the Science Fair was pretty good—until I saw everybody else's. I was left at the post pretty much immediately. II (idiomatic, by extension) To be completely overwhelmed or dominated. note: The image here is of a racehorse that fails to leave the starting post along with its rivals. chipper 精力旺盛的, 活蹦乱跳的, 兴高采烈, 精力充沛的 cheerful and lively. very happy. happy and energetic: You seem mighty chipper this morning - what's up? "Eugene was feeling chipper". Why are you so chipper? Or don't you have a blood sacrifice between your legs like the rest of us. get in someone's pants = get inside someone's pants (idiomatic, colloquial) To have sex with someone, especially for the first time. To have sex with one. (Usually said of the intention or expectation.) I've stopped going to the clubs around town. They're just filled guys trying to get into your pants. You will never get into Jenna's pants, dude. She's way too good for you. Did you finally do it with Bill? I mean, he has been trying to get into your pants for years! 14. magnanimous [mæɡˈnæn.ɪ.məs] 优雅大方的, 谦和的, 谦逊的, 谦虚的, 不摆架子的, 不气势凌人的, 胜不骄败不馁的 very kind and generous towards an enemy or someone you have defeated. generous or forgiving, especially towards a rival or less powerful person. "she should be magnanimous in victory". The team's manager was magnanimous in victory, and praised the losing team. generous and kind, esp. toward a competitor or enemy. If you are magnanimous, you behave kindly and generously towards someone, especially after defeating them or being treated badly by them. I was prepared to be magnanimous, prepared to feel compassion for him. He was a man capable of magnanimous gestures. The Yankees' manager was magnanimous in defeat, praising Seattle for its fine play. up-lifting 提气的, 让人神清气爽的, 提神醒脑的, 振奋精神的 inspiring happiness, optimism, or hope. making someone feel better. positive in a way that encourages the improvement of a person’s mood or spirit: uplifting words/music. For me it was a marvellously uplifting performance. "an uplifting story of triumph over adversity". Nat rummages into the tissue and pulls out a creepy-cute (possibly bird-themed) tabletop AROMA DIFFUSER. It's ylang-ylang... with a hint of gardenia. Subtropical florals are very uplifting. 15. d-bag = DOUCHEBAG noun DEROGATORY INFORMAL an obnoxious or contemptible person (typically used of a man). "that guy was a total d-bag". an obnoxious, offensive, or disgusting person. an unpleasant person: Don't waste your time on that douchebag. So there are benefits to looking through his feed. That's how Taylor, 21, avoided a total d-bag. Well, uh, my contact can access the files, but he's being a bit of a D-bag. Who is this person, exactly? We only know each other by our Citizen Detective chat handles. He's mad at me because I didn't tell him that he was stealing a police file, so now he wants to meet in public to "discuss" the terms of the exchange. Oh, we'll meet all right. conga [ˈkɒŋ.ɡə] I. a Latin American dance in which a chain of people hold each other around the waist and follow the leader around using simple steps and kicks: Ecstatic fans did the conga in celebration. Conga line of Trump's sycophants shows us what weakness looks like. II. a piece of music for the conga (also conga drum) a tall, thin drum that is played with the hands and used in Latin American music: He played conga on Jay and the Americans' "She Cried". A pair of conga drums were among the instruments on display. kitsch [kɪtʃ] 俗艳的东西 showy art or cheap, decorative objects that are attractive to people who are thought to lack any appreciation of style or beauty. art, decorative objects, or design considered by many people to be ugly, without style, or false but enjoyed by other people, often because they are funny: His home's full of 1950s kitsch. She collects all sorts of kitsch, like these ceramic figurines of movie stars.
Yellowjackets: 1. Jackie: You know I love you. And for real--you're kind of turning into a badass out here. Shauna smiles, legitimately flattered. You taught me how to be like this, you know. I was never brave until I met you. But the way you move through the world 一举一动, 行事作风("Move through the world" means to navigate and interact with your surroundings, including people and situations, as you go through life; essentially, it describes how someone lives their life and experiences the world around them, making choices and taking actions within it. move up in the world 地位提升 To elevate or improve one's social, political, and/or financial position in life; to become more successful than one was before. You're only going to truly move up in the world if you make a point of rubbing elbows with those of a higher social standing. It's unsurprising how quickly Sarah has moved up in the world—her tenacity and determination are matched only by her intelligence and talent. The Robinsons really moved up in the world after they won the lottery. )--it was always so... easy. So self-assured 自信的( confident in one's own abilities or character. having confidence in your own abilities: She moves with self-assured grace. The interview showed her as a self-assured and mature student. "a self-assured 16-year-old". ). You make people feel like things are going to be okay, just by showing up and being your dumb hot awesome self. At least you always did that for me. Jackie: Thanks. But I'm still not sticking a knife through that fucking deer knee. 2. SHAUNA: Honey, have you ever heard of mutually assured destruction( Mutually assured destruction (MAD) 互相伤害, 玉石俱焚 is a military strategy that assumes that both sides in a conflict would be destroyed if either side used nuclear weapons. The strategy was developed during the Cold War to deter the use of nuclear weapons. It's a doctrine of military strategy and national security policy which posits that a full-scale use of nuclear weapons by an attacker on a nuclear-armed defender with second-strike capabilities would result in the complete annihilation of both the attacker and the defender. It is based on the theory of rational deterrence, which holds that the threat of using strong weapons against the enemy prevents the enemy's use of those same weapons. The strategy is a form of Nash equilibrium in which, once armed, neither side has any incentive to initiate a conflict or to disarm. The result may be a nuclear peace, in which the presence of nuclear weapons decreases the risk of crisis escalation, since parties will seek to avoid situations that could lead to the use of nuclear weapons. Proponents of nuclear peace theory therefore believe that controlled nuclear proliferation may be beneficial for global stability. Critics argue that nuclear proliferation increases the chance of nuclear war through either deliberate or inadvertent use of nuclear weapons, as well as the likelihood of nuclear material falling into the hands of violent non-state actors. )? CALLIE: I basically invented it. SHAUNA: Good. Then let's chase down exactly what you're proposing. First of all, do you have any idea how much divorce lawyers cost? We're talking, five, six hundred dollars an hour. There's about twelve thousand bucks in your college fund right now, and yes, I do wish that number sounded less pathetic, but regardless--you can kiss it goodbye. Speaking of that curfew you're so eager to be free of, get ready for a different kind of cramp 禁锢 on your weekends, because there is no one lonelier than a recent divorcé. You'll be spending Friday nights at your dad's sorry little apartment, eating cold pizza on the couch you know he cries into. And after a few months of that? Just when you start thinking, "Hey, dad's taking a little better care of himself lately?" Get ready. That's when he'll be coming to you for dating advice. Which I don't doubt you'll be able to give him, since those girls'll be about your age. But hey - I - guess you're the one holding the trump card here. 3. TAISSA: I'm with Natalie. You need to get over here. Travis is dead, and-- now, to Natalie. She says she already knows. NATALIE: What? How? TAISSA: Misty called her. Misty leans in, excited at the mention of her own name. NATALIE: That conniving, poodle-haired little freak. Give me that. On Misty, taking in her teammates' unconcealed contempt (不加掩饰的鄙视蔑视 unconcealed not kept hidden. An unconcealed emotion is one that someone has made no attempt to hide. His message was received with unconcealed anger. ...their unconcealed dislike of each other. He speaks of his children with unconcealed pride at what they have accomplished. "Open carry" refers to the practice of wearing an unconcealed weapon in public. ). Her smile slips away... Her expression turns to a look of dark determination. And we shudder to think what a scorned 被看不起的, 被鄙视的 Misty ( scorn 看不起, 鄙视 a very strong feeling of no respect for someone or something that you think is stupid or has no value. to treat with a great lack of respect, or to refuse something because you think it is wrong or not acceptable: He was scorned by his classmates for his bad behavior. She has nothing but scorn for the new generation of politicians. Why do you always pour/heap scorn on (= criticize severely and unfairly) my suggestions? ) might have in store for her old teammates. 4. séance [ˈseɪ.ɒns] 招魂 a meeting where people try to talk with dead people. a meeting where people try to communicate with the dead, often with the help of someone who claims to have special powers to do this. a meeting at which people attempt to make contact with the dead, especially through the agency of a medium. They're holding a séance this evening. occult [əˈkʌlt] the study of magic or mysterious powers. The magazine is a quarterly (= one that is published four times a year) dedicated to tales of the supernatural, horror, and occult. Jackie: Okay, you guys, I just had a brainstorm. We should have a seance. TAISSA: That's a terrible idea. Also, we're not in middle school. Jackie: But remember how fun this shit used to be? Besides, maybe if we can laugh about this, then it would help. Laura Lee: The occult is no laughing matter 不是用来开玩笑的. Jackie: It's not the occult, Laura Lee. It's a game. Come on, Shauna, tell them. It'll be fun. Shauna: Um... well, I mean, it's not like we have anything better to do. And maybe this dead guy can give us some life advice. cauterize [ˈkɔːtərʌɪz] 火烙, 烤焦, 烙铁烙 verb I. burn the skin or flesh of (a wound) with a heated instrument or caustic substance in order to stop bleeding or to prevent infection. to burn body tissue using heat or a chemical, to stop an injury from bleeding or getting infected, or to remove harmful cells: The quickest solution is to cauterize the wound. He had persistent nose bleeds until he had a blood vessel cauterised. "I'll freeze the hand and cauterize the wound". She saves the life of Ben Scott, the assistant coach, by amputating and cauterizing his mangled 砸烂的, 砸成肉酱的 leg. wiki: Cauterization (or cauterisation, or cautery) is a medical practice or technique of burning a part of a body to remove or close off a part of it. It destroys some tissue in an attempt to mitigate bleeding and damage, remove an undesired growth, or minimize other potential medical harm, such as infections when antibiotics are unavailable. The main forms of cauterization used today are electrocautery and chemical cautery—both are, for example, prevalent in cosmetic removal of warts and stopping nosebleeds. Cautery can also mean the branding of a human ( Human branding or stigmatizing is the process by which a mark, usually a symbol or ornamental pattern, is burned into the skin of a living person, with the intention of the resulting scar making it permanent. This is performed using a hot or very cold branding iron. It therefore uses the physical techniques of livestock branding on a human, either with consent as a form of body modification; or under coercion, as a punishment or to identify an enslaved, oppressed, or otherwise controlled person. It may also be practiced as a "rite of passage", e.g. within a tribe, or to signify membership of or acceptance into an organization. ). II. to stop something from causing someone to feel emotion, especially a negative emotion: Years of silence cauterized their feelings about the war but these wounds have now reopened.
drape (整面墙的) VS curtain (只遮住窗户的) VS blinds (好多slat组成的百叶窗) VS shade (一块fabric 可以拉起来的): Sometimes people cover windows with "curtains", "blinds", or a window "shade". I'm guessing that is what they are talking about. In that case "the shade is opened" means that the "shade" is not covering the window. Open one's shades" means to open the window blinds or curtains in a room, essentially letting in natural light by raising the covering on a window. raise the curtain = lift the curtain [on sth] I. 揭幕. 揭晓. Make something public, disclose In
an attempt to head off a public relations disaster regarding his
acceptance of donations, the governor decided to raise the curtain at a
press conference. We won't know what the new design is until they lift
the curtain on it. II. Begin or start It's
time to raise the curtain on this new project, everyone, so let's not
waste any time! After a few delays, the construction crew was finally
ready to raise the curtain. It's time to raise the curtain, guys—start
shoveling. 1. A roller shutter (百叶门, 百叶窗), roller door or sectional overhead door is a type of door or window shutter consisting of many horizontal slats (or sometimes bars or web systems) hinged together. The door is raised to open it and lowered to close it. On large doors, the action may be motorized. It provides protection against wind and rain. In shutter form, it is used in front of a window and protects the window from vandalism and burglary attempts. In some parts of the world, roller shutters are subsidized 政府补助, 补贴 by local governments due to the inherent security benefits. In areas that are frequently exposed to inclement weather( inclement I. Unpleasantly cold or wet. Stormy: inclement weather极端天气. II. Showing no clemency; unmerciful. ), roller shutters are used as a method of insulation and can protect windows against hail damage. 2. shutter 快门
I. the part of a camera that opens temporarily to allow light to reach
the film when a photograph is being taken. II. a wooden cover on the
outside of a window that prevents light or heat from going into a room
or heat from leaving it. a hinged doorlike cover, often louvred 百叶窗式的 and usually one of a pair, for closing off a window. Shutters 防晒窗 usually come in pairs and are hung like doors on hinges.
III. 防盗窗. 铁栅栏. 铁栏杆. 金属栏杆. 防护栏. 卷闸. 卷帘门. a metal covering that protects
the windows and entrance of a shop from thieves when it is closed. verb. I. to close the shutters covering a window: People are shuttering their windows and barring their doors. All the houses had their windows shuttered. II. to close down a business or activity: Some
automakers are temporarily shuttering plants in response to falling
demand. I am thinking of shuttering my Facebook account for good. shuttered adj. I. with their shutters (= metal covers that protect windows) closed: Shops
are closed and shuttered on Sundays. Flights were cancelled, factories
shuttered, and millions of people were left without power. II. (of a business or activity) closed permanently: Money from the loan programme could be used to reopen a shuttered 关门歇业的 factory. Residents questioned what the city would do with the shuttered buildings. III. having shutters (= wooden covers on the outside of a window): The shuttered cottages
have four-poster beds and private outdoor hot tubs. narrow, twisting
streets fringed with trees, ivy-draped stone walls and shuttered
farmhouses. put up the shutter 关门, 关店 to close business at the end of the day or permanently. 3. louvre = US louver [ˈluːvə] 百叶窗
I. any of a set of horizontal parallel slats in a door or window,
sloping outwards to throw off rain and admit air. a door or window with
flat sloping pieces of wood, metal, or glass across it to allow light
and air to come in while keeping rain out. II. = louvre boards. the
slats together with the frame supporting them. louvred = US louvered 装了百叶窗的
describing a door or window with flat sloping pieces of wood, metal or
glass across it to allow light and air to come in while keeping rain
out: a louvred door/window. She fiddled with the angle of the louvred blinds. It was a world of open flywire windows, breeze-catching louvres, sweating crowds in pubs, creaky 吱吱呀呀的 ceiling fans, and office workers in short-sleeved shirts and straw fedoras.
Keir Starmer meets Donald Trump: assiduous planning results in deft diplomacy: Nevertheless, as part of the same Q&A, Starmer also took the opportunity to correct Trump's claim that European countries that provided aid to Ukraine "get their money back." NBC News reported: "We don't get the money back," Trump added, before blaming former President Joe Biden for not giving military aid in the form of a loan. "We're not getting all of [our aid back]," Starmer told Trump, adding: "Quite a bit of ours was given, was gifted. There were some loans but mainly it was gifted actually." Observers would be forgiven for feeling a sense of déjà vu. After all, it was earlier this week when Trump, in the same room, sat alongside another foreign leader and peddled eerily similar incorrect claims. The Republican falsely insisted that the United States had spent $350 billion in aid to Ukraine, while Europe had spent only $100 billion, adding that European countries would get their money back. It fell to ( fall to someone 落在...头上 to be or become the duty or job of someone: The worst job fell to me. it falls to you formal it is your duty. If a responsibility, duty, or opportunity falls to someone, it becomes their responsibility, duty, or opportunity. He's been very unlucky that no chances have fallen to him. It fell to me to get rid of them. It falls to me to thank you for all you have done for the association. fall to I. to begin doing something energetically. If someone falls to doing something, they start doing it. When she had departed, they fell to fighting among themselves. There was a lot of work to do, so they fell to immediately. II. to drop to a particular lower level: The average price of these homes fell to £409,000 last month. The unemployment rate fell to 5 percent in September, a level not seen in nearly a year. ) French President Emmanuel Macron to interrupt his American counterpart to explain — in English — that Trump's claims were plainly untrue. The Republican didn't appear to believe the facts as presented, but reality remained unchanged: Trump's claims were false, while Macron's explanation was correct. O'Donnell added that the American president was "humiliated and exposed in a way that no previous president ever could be because no previous president would be pathological ( I. (of a person) unable to control part of their behaviour; unreasonable. (of a person) unreasonable, or unable to control part of his or her behavior: a pathological fear of heights. a pathological liar. I've got a pathological fear of heights. Anthony's a pathological liar. II. involving or relating to pathology (= the scientific study of disease): These pathological findings are in agreement with clinical studies. Dr. Katzman commenced clinical and pathological studies of elderly patients who were exhibiting signs of dementia. III. relating to or caused by a disease: a pathological condition/complaint. ) enough to try to tell a lie like that right in front of the person he's lying about. And no previous president could possibly be stupid enough to try to tell a lie like that." After Trump suffered a similar embarrassment with Starmer, O'Donnell said, "There is a kind of person whose humiliation reflex simply doesn't work." Starmer followed Macron's lead in his visit earlier this week by correcting Trump during his remarks to say that Europe had mainly gifted its financial support to Ukraine and had not given most of the aid in the form of loans. Starmer trumpeted the "special relationship" between the United Kingdom and the US in defense and in business, but also directed some good-natured barbs at current administration officials, wryly commenting on the "buzz" in Washington these days and speaking about a new leader in Washington whom some love and others "love to hate". (He joked that this was the new ambassador, Peter Mandelson, but the oblique reference to Trump was lost on few.) "We share the view that our best days lie ahead. And, you know, taking out a chainsaw isn't quite my style," said Starmer, clearly referring to Elon Musk, who has riled the British establishment by speaking out in favour of the far-right Reform UK party. "But we are stripping away red tape and bureaucracy. We are reforming permitting, getting things built, reducing barriers to investment and growth. And we're open for business." Like Emmanuel Macron, Starmer needs to show the US president that he can stand up to him – and also show his constituency ( 选民 the people in a particular area of a country who are represented by an elected official, or the area: Republican constituencies are mainly in suburban areas. ) that he isn't willing to sacrifice his values in order to make a deal. Macron walked that tightrope earlier this week, but it didn't yield the main prize: the promise of a US backstop to European defense against Russia. Perhaps Starmer will have better luck with a concrete offer on defense spending. In manner, Macron manifested his eight years in office (four of which were already spent with Trump in the White House). Starmer has had a mere eight months. But it was a challenge, judged in its own immediate terms, that the prime minister met. Raising the curtain ( raise the curtain = lift the curtain [on sth] I. 揭幕. 揭晓. Make something public, disclose In an attempt to head off a public relations disaster regarding his acceptance of donations, the governor decided to raise the curtain at a press conference. We won't know what the new design is until they lift the curtain on it. II. Begin or start It's time to raise the curtain on this new project, everyone, so let's not waste any time! After a few delays, the construction crew was finally ready to raise the curtain. It's time to raise the curtain, guys—start shoveling.), in a highly untypical coup de théâtre, Starmer flourished – as few can – a letter from the King to give to the president, and then effectively forced Trump to read it on camera and agree to the invitation enclosed within. Starmer of course knew he was nudging an open door ( "Nudge an open door" means to try and encourage or influence something that is already happening or readily available, essentially doing something unnecessary because the path is already clear; it implies a pointless action as the outcome is already guaranteed.): much came down to assiduous ( assiduous [əˈsɪdʒuəs] 细致的, 认真的, 勤勤恳恳的, 工作认真细致的 hard-working and thorough. showing hard work, care, and attention to detail. Someone who is assiduous works hard or does things very thoroughly. ...an assiduous student. Podulski had been assiduous in learning his adopted language. They planned their careers and worked assiduously to see them achieved. assiduous research/efforts. an assiduous student. The government has been assiduous in the fight against inflation. sedulous [ˈsedʒələs] constant or persistent in use or attention; assiduous; diligent careful and using a lot of effort. showing continued hard work, effort, and determination. His work is characterized by precision and a sedulous attention to detail. It was agreed that the few students sedulous enough to read the book deserved top marks for diligence. ) preparation. The British Embassy, under a finally confirmed ambassador Peter Mandelson, worked overtime to choreograph and lubricate. Starmer had been wise in contradicting 反驳 Trump only indirectly. Nothing could be gained – as president Zelenskyy already demonstrated – from doing so publicly. So early an offer of a state visit to the UK ran the risk of appearing desperate, but was mitigated by its also being "unprecedented" as the second to be offered to Trump. A word recently worn smooth 磨平了 ( the state of an object that has been used or handled so much over time that its surface becomes very smooth. something has been worn down or flattened by use or exposure to the elements, resulting in a smooth surface. ) by over-use, there was nevertheless another precedent set in the suggestion of a pre-state visit visit between Trump and the king. With this president, more than any other, royal diplomacy is a critical national asset. The actors Trump primarily wishes to galvanise are European leaders, recalcitrants (recalcitrant [rɪˈkælsɪtrənt] 不听话的, 不服从命令的, I. formal refusing to obey orders. If you describe someone or something as recalcitrant, you mean that they are unwilling to obey orders or are difficult to deal with. The danger is that recalcitrant local authorities will reject their responsibilities. He had a knack for coaxing even the most recalcitrant engine to life. ...the government's recalcitrance over introducing even the smallest political reform. a recalcitrant child. II. not operating or acting the way you want and therefore difficult to deal with. a recalcitrant computer. Former party leader Bill Hassell was scathing in his assessment of the party he led in WA in the 1980s, suggesting a dire future without major remedial action. "If the recalcitrants in the Liberal Party are not prepared to get out of the way, or get out, we're going to die as a party, it's as serious as that," Mr Hassell told ABC Radio Perth.) he thinks should do more to keep their own peace. For Macron to have been told that Putin would accept Nato forces policing the peace was scene-changing, but the only witness to the veracity of that news was Trump, who exhales untruths as easily as he breathes. The Russians soon denied it. Thus has passed the most potentially difficult meeting of a prime minister and a president since Suez. Nothing else comes close. Cliche – eggshells, tightropes – proliferated 充斥 in previews. When Starmer was last at the White House, in September, he had asked Biden for a meeting about Ukraine and received it. However unsatisfactory the outcome, public face was maintained 脸面维护住了, 脸面保住了. Trump has the ability – and the form – to have humiliated in a way which would permanently have scarred Starmer. That he did the opposite ought not to distract from the vulnerability of the supplicant ( a person who asks a god or someone who is in a position of power for something in a humble way. A supplicant is a person who prays to God or respectfully asks an important person to help them or to give them something that they want very much. He flung himself down in the flat submissive posture of a mere supplicant. supplicate [ˈsʌp.lɪ.keɪt] 恳求, 祈求, 乞求, 跪求 to ask for something in a humble way: I knew I could not go on supplicating for more. supplication the act of asking a god or someone who is in a position of power for something in a humble way: Inside the temple, worshippers were kneeling in supplication.). Power plays 耍弄权术, 争权夺势 sit ill with Starmer, but he nonetheless ventured two corrections from his armchiar, one to a statement made by the president and another to one made by the vice-president. The subsequent praise for Starmer's negotiating tenacity from Trump, that much-vaunted ( vaunted [ˈvɔːn.tɪd] 赞誉的, 表扬的 praised often in a way that is considered to be more than acceptable or reasonable: His (much) vaunted new plan has been shown to have serious weaknesses. ) artist of the deal, was as priceless – and unfamiliar – as the following morning's front pages. The extraordinary moment underscored the strained dynamics of Monday's talks. While Trump and Macron otherwise appeared convivial ( convivial [kənˈvɪv.i.əl] friendly and making you feel happy and welcome. pleasant and friendly in manner or attitude. Convivial people or occasions are pleasant, friendly, and relaxed. ...looking forward to a convivial evening. The atmosphere was quite convivial. ...the conviviality of the restaurant. The talks ended on a convivial note. a convivial atmosphere/host. conviviality [kənˌvɪv.iˈæl.ə.ti] the quality of being friendly and making people feel happy and welcome: He was known for his conviviality as a host. Eating should take place in an atmosphere of conviviality. ) and willing to engage on the future of Ukraine, the backdrop to the talks has been Trump's sometimes false statements about the war effort. "Just so you understand, Europe is loaning the money to Ukraine. They're getting their money back," Trump began as he was preparing to make the case for a new deal to secure Ukraine's mineral revenues. That is when Macron reached over to grab Trump's arm to interject. "No, in fact, to be frank, we paid. We paid 60 per cent of the total effort. It was like the US: loans, guarantees, grants," he said, as Trump smiled ruefully.
