pink Flashcards
heiress
a woman who will receive a money, property or a title when the person who owns it dies
ticks
tiny insects which feed on blood
蜱, 壁蝨科昆蟲; 蝨蠅科昆蟲
to pollinate
to enable plants to produce seeds and therefore reproduce. Pollination happens when bees, other insects or the wind carry pollen from one plant to another.
secession
the political separation and independence of one part of a country
usher in
begin something new, welcome a new situation
inaugural
the first in a series of important events or activities
conurbations
large urban areas where different towns have grown and joined together
to pay tribute to
to do something as a mark of respect for someone
the billion dollar question
the question everyone wants to know the answer to
soliciting
asking for
hoarding
buying a large amount more than they need to keep for future use
living quarters
rooms to sleep in
towing
pulling using a vehicle
acclaimed
praised publicly
vowels
sounds represented by the letters a, e, i, o, u and sometimes y in English
phonetic
said the way it is written
wrapped up
folded and arranged neatly
bundles of notes
an amount of paper money tied up together in blocks
battalions
a military unit
dissidents
people who disagree with a political party or government
railed
complained angrily
self-imposed exile
the choice to live away from one’s own country
sanctioned
(here) stopped; 約束力; 認可,同意
shabby
(here) unacceptable; not fair; 寒酸
patriotic
愛國心的
dodge
閃開; 規避
treasure trove
a collection of wonderful, valuable objects
lock, stock and barrel
those are the three parts of an old-fashioned gun. It’s a term that’s used in English to mean everything.
to stand treat
It’s on me. = It’s on my treat. = Let me pay the bill. = Let me foot the bill.
the media coverage
all the information given about a particular situation or event in newspapers, magazines, TV, radio, websites etc
to beef up
to become big and strong
weedy
week
pass up the food chain
pass up the food chain
nigh
near
engenders
causes or equips someone with musical skills
tone-deaf
unable to sing in tune or to recognise different melodies
debunk
to show something is untrue or unimportant
phobia
a fear
a wardrobe
all the clothes that someone owns
a far cry from
very different from
to line their own pockets
to make money for themselves in a selfish way
knee-jerk gimmicks
measures which are not properly thought out and designed to get an immediate positive reaction
usher in
begin something new, welcome a new situation
secession
the political separation and independence of one part of a country
midwives
medical staff who help women through the process of childbirth
go down a storm
My idea for more holidays went down a storm with my colleagues. (informal; it’s massively successful and enjoyable)
perch
a place where a bird rests, such as a branch. Here it is part of an expression “to knock someone off their perch” which means to reduce the status of someone or something
hallow
視為神聖, 極度尊敬 «»hollow 中空的
substantive
meaningful
altruistic
something done for no personal gain
trajectory
a curved path
tug
用力拉, 拖, 拉
Yes, on the nose! It cost £300.
(often money) it is exactly right
forked out for
paid a large amount of money for
to circumvent
to find a way to avoid obeying a rule or law (skirt: to avoid)
clothe, ?, ?
clothe, clad, clad,
movie franchise
a series of films produced by the same company with the same characters
humble
ordinary
a treadmill
a fitness machine used for walking and running; boring/tiring job
It’s not [rocket science], all you have to do is open the tin and heat it up.
that’s not complicated or difficult to understand; used with the negative, informal situation
acronym
字頭縮寫
gratifying
satisfying, pleasing
pawned
temporarily exchanged for money
aquifers
rocks which contain groundwater
boreholes
spaces drilled into the ground in order to extract water, gas or minerals
hospice
療養院, 收容所; 旅店
a one-time pad
a tool or technique for creating unbreakable codes
pharaoh
法老王
aerial
大氣的; 天線
pitch
a presentation designed to persuade an organisation to select a particular project to support or finance
accolades
awards
I take everything he says [with a pinch of salt] because I know he likes to exaggerate
you don’t completely believe it
maize
Indian crop 淡黃色的玉蜀黍
staple
主要產物/食物
to be stranded (somewhere)
to be unable to leave a place
blood transfusions
adding blood to a person’s body
dope
打麻藥, 上癮
handbagging
(colloquial) telling off, punishing
abrasive style
manner that can cause discomfort to others
state papers
official documents
to fetch up to US 160
to reach up to US 160
grand
(slang) one thousand dollars or pounds
status quo
the current situation
change in guard
change in leadership
bilateral trade
exchange of goods or services between two countries
aquatic
水生的, 水產的
a formality
almost certainly guaranteed to happen; formality 俗套,禮節
in at the deep end
starting her job in the middle of a very difficult situation
at the helm
in charge of the organisation
If you ever need someone to fix your computer, ask Bob, he really [knows his onions]!
If someone says you know your onions, it means you are experienced in something or you know a lot about a particular subject. So really, it means you’re clever!
wrestle
fight by grabbing hold of
to coax
to encourage or persuade in a gentle way
a finishing school
a place where young women are taught how to behave in high society
to go down well
to be successful and popular
to hold your head up high
to be confident and proud
taken up the cause
become actively involved in a movement
dear
expensive (eg. labor’s dear)
felled
cut down
a throwback
a situation that is similar to something that existed in the past
speculators
people who buy and sell goods or shares in a company in the hope of making a profit
infringed its patents
used its legally recognised technology without permission (infringed: broken)
outstanding litigation
legal disputes which are not yet settled
broadsheets
serious newspapers with a larger page format
crass
crude and rough (showing no intelligence or sensitivity)
seedier side of life
bad/shabby side of life’
it’s a neat idea
it’s a (colloquial) good idea
tabloids
newspapers of small format giving the news in condensed form, usually with lots of pictures and often providing sensational material
legal tender
currency, such as coins and paper money, that can be lawfully used as payment for goods and services
costs a pretty penny
is very expensive
inauguration
就職典禮
authenticity
reality
mimed
moved lips along to a song without making a sound
belted out
sang very loudly and with a lot of enthusiasm
monarch
君主
Anglicans
members of the Church of England
anthem
聖歌,讚美歌 (national anthem)
forking out
spending a lot of money on something
These people are so childish. They need to [act their age not their shoe size.]
(If someone thinks you’re being childish, immature, too young for your age)
This is lovely food – they’ve really [gone to town.]
Have you seen the admin team? They’re really going to town on that paperwork.
(going to a lot of trouble, making it really special.)
going to a lot of trouble, making a special effort
perjurer
作偽證者
gemstone
做飾物的寶石; 寶石用礦石
consignments
quantities of goods which are sent from one place to another
gained ground
had some success
fledgling
new and inexperienced
overt support
help and assistance which is not secret or hidden
spills over
misses its target and lands in other nearby areas
chauffeur
(personal) driver
sober
清醒的; (飲酒, 用藥) 有節制的
institution
something that is strongly linked with a group, e.g. we think of tea as a very British institution really (people link drinking tea with the British)
sobriety
to be sensible and not drink too much alcohol
curator
person in charge of gathering objects for exhibitions in museums or galleries
hardline
very strict and extreme
rhetoric
language which is intended to influence people’s emotions and behaviour
halal
(of an animal or its meat) killed and prepared in a way which is demanded by Islamic law
Shhhhh! Lower your voice! We don’t want [every Tom, Dick and Harry] to hear us.
(informal) lots of unspecified people; Tom is the diminutive of Thomas, Harry is short for Harold, and Dick is short for Richard.
get around
travel around
get on with it
hurry up or do something you might find difficult
clack
撞擊聲; 冗長的談話; 喋喋不休
compact
it’s quite small, but everything that’s needed can still fit into it
open and shut case
crime which can be solved or explained very easily
an accomplice
a person who helps to commit a crime
scouring
searching carefully
grinds
reduces something to smaller pieces by rubbing it against a harder surface
buckled
bent and twisted
a one-off blip
a single bad result which won’t be repeated
diminutive
very small
match-fixing
illegal scheme which involves criminals paying footballers to make sure a game ends in a particular way (e.g. one team loses)
battered
磨損的
convention
acceptable and agreed way to do something
accountability
有責任的,有義務的
stipulated
specified as important and necessary
mounting
increasing
hutches
small structures, used for keeping small animals in, especially rabbits
a molehill
a small mound of earth found in a field, which has been left behind by an animal called a mole.
headwinds
winds which blow in the opposite direction to the way you are moving
high time
an appropriate and right thing to do
to sway
to persuade
My auntie is really sad because she had to close her shop. To be honest, [the writing has been on the wall] for her business for a long time.
something bad is going to happen to something or someone and there isn’t much you can do about it.
adorns
decorates
bloodlust
the enjoyment of and desire to see violence
push ahead with
continue doing something difficult or unpleasant
court martial
(a trial in) a military court which examines accusations against members of the armed forces
to stub out
to put a cigarette out (by pushing the remaining part of the cigarette on to a hard surface like an ash tray)
to stub out
to put a cigarette out (by pushing the remaining part of the cigarette on to a hard surface like an ash tray)
put that in your pipe and smoke it
to accept what you are told, even if you don’t like it
put that in your pipe and smoke it
to accept what you are told, even if you don’t like it
cravings
strong feelings for doing something (eg. smoking)
cravings
strong feelings for doing something (eg. smoking)
to go up in smoke
to be a waste of time
to go up in smoke
to be a waste of time
the tender age of
at an age when you are young and without much experience of the world
orbs
round, ball-shaped objects
tainted
spoiled
foundered
been unsuccessful
If that shop wants to succeed it needs to [take on board] the views of all its customers.
understand or accept some information
read over coffee
read while drinking coffee
compete with the likes of Google and Apple
here, companies such as
trophy
獎牌, 戰利品
the brake on
the drawback or negative aspect of
sacrosanct
considered so important that it cannot be changed
dismantled
taken apart
to tap in to
to become involved in or to make use of
penknife
削皮器
blubber
the thick layer of body fat which keeps sea mammals warm
guinea pig
someone who takes part in a new experiment or test
cleavage
分岔; 乳溝(tight skirts and outfits that
revealed too much cleavage)
conundrum
謎語;難題;機智問答
condiment
(辛辣)調味品;佐料
syrup
糖漿;果汁
misty-eyed
feeling that you might start to cry
a weepy
=a tearjerker, a film that makes you cry
nostalgic
懷舊的,思鄉的
bite size chunks
small pieces or ‘bites’ of information that can be consumed quickly
sound bite culture
where people prefer to listen to a short piece or ‘bite’ about something rather than read about it. (Many politicians speak in ‘sound bites’ or short sentences when giving interviews to the media)
it’s a crying shame
it’s regrettable, unfortunate or unfair
to cry over spilt milk
to waste time worrying about something small or something that cannot be changed
to file past
to move past (something) one by one
subdued
(of colour) not bright; (of sound) not loud
extra-terrestrial
that’s something that’s not from our planet
botanical experts
people with specialist knowledge of flowers, plants and trees
non-proliferation
agreement to limit expansion or development
fanciful
unreal or imagined
Anglophone
English speaking
censorship
deleting parts of books, films, newspapers, etc. that are believed to be unsuitable
heavy-handed
using too much force
to walk a fine line
to be very careful in finding the right balance
I should have travelled the world when I was young. Now I have a family to take care of. I might have[ missed the boat].
it’s too late to take advantage of a good opportunity.
a far cry from
extremely different to
austerity package
government policy to save money, including large spending cuts
dictionary attack
trying an enormous number of words in an effort to discover a password
toxic debt
assets such as mortages or financial products which were once valuable and are now difficult to value or possibly worthless
quantitative easing
when governments put new money into a country’s national money supply to ease pressure on the economy
vuvuzela
musical instrument with a buzzing sound like bees, famous for being played at the FIFA World Cup in South Africa this year
ordeal
experience which causes suffering
shed new light on
find new information about, make clearer
seclude
隱居
papacy
教皇任期
to take on
to challenge
poachers
people who illegally catch or kill animals, birds or fish
tusk
獠牙, 長牙
boomerang
Australian curved toy that comes back to you when you throw it
sling Sb out
ask somebody out of (the home)
calling card
evidence that something has been there
exterminators
people who kill unwanted pests (such as insects)
urban encroachment
the expansion of towns and cities into areas where people do not normally live
antiquities zones
sites where items of historical importance have been dug up
bailout deal
agreement to do something in exchange for a payment
set to rebel
planning to disagree with the proposals
a run on the banks
a rush to take out as much money as possible from the banks
teetering on the brink of
extremely close to, almost
fortuitous
lucky
I know the borough of Milton Keynes well. It’s a charming place… but it [doesn’t/can’t cut the mustard] where tourism is concerned.
it’s not good enough.
spills the beans
tells or reveals all the secrets
keeps him on his toes
helps to make him behave and speak in the best way possible
a stag night / a stag do
an evening or weekend event for the man who is getting married and his male friends
a hen night / a hen do
an evening or weekend event for the woman who is getting married and her female friends
‘L’ plates
learner drivers have cards with the letter ‘L’ on in red that are placed on the car they drive before they pass their driving test
to get behind the wheel
to start driving a car
like gold dust
an expression used to describe something that is very difficult to get because a lot people want it
nil-all draw
no goals were scored by either team
at bay
under control
anaesthetic
a substance which makes people fall into an extremely deep sleep so that they are unaware of where they are and are unable to feel pain
sporran
(Scottland) 毛布袋
midges / midgies
small flying biting insects that live in large numbers in parts of the Scottish Highlands
down under
an informal expression to refer to Australia
salinity
the level of salt in a liquid
inquisitive
好奇的; 好追究的, 渴望知識的
a long-haul flight
a long distance journey by plane
amaxophobia
a fear of travelling in cars
plaster casts
copies of statues or other objects made from plaster: a mixture of white powder and water that becomes hard when it dries
cot
baby’s bed
noise abatement
reduction in noise
to drown out
to stop something being heard by making a louder noise
cacophony
noisy mix of loud sounds
din
loud, unpleasant noise
You have to [have/keep your finger on the pulse] of consumer trends if you want to succeed in business.
to be familiar with the latest trends and developments
bureaucrats
officials who work for governments or other large organisations and follow rules very strictly
conspiracy
planning to carry out illegal activities
anti-graft laws
regulations preventing powerful people from obtaining money dishonestly
bluntly
honestly or directly
deployed
sent or assigned
bobbing
moving up and down with the currents of the sea
amassed
gathered or collected a large amount
foul
make a dirty mess on
grotesque
very unpleasant or ugly in appearance
grapples with
struggles to deal with
hyped-up
exaggerated to a level that is beyond realistic
to romp (around)
to move and act in an energetic and lively way (Example: The children love playing in the park, they just romp around having a great time.)
gorse bushes and brambles
types of plant that are common in British forests which have sharp parts that can scratch and cause small cuts
harpoon
捕鯨用的魚叉
prospective
possible or suitable
drive up
force to rise or increase
a ground swell
fast growth or shift (of opinion)
had a gutful
had enough of, or become fed up with the situation
unilateral
one-sided, not agreed by everybody involved in a debate
walk this little line
achieve a balance or strike a balance
optogenetics
the use of optics (the study of light) and genetics (the study of how features and behaviour of living things are passed on through genes) to control things that happen in cells
swapped… for ….
gave something in exchange for something else
fascist
法西斯主義者(右翼)
a political football
a political issue that is continually debated but has not yet been resolved
game-changer
something new that is introduced and completely changes the way something is done
to stamp out
to stop / to get rid of
to keep an eye on the ball
to give your attention to what you should be doing …. keep the politics off the pitch.
to get the boot
to be forced to leave your job = the sack(俚)
I’ve paid a lot of money for this posh designer dress that I never use. It is a [white elephant]!
it’s large, costs a lot of money to keep and has no useful purpose.
renovate
修理, 革新
have a makeover, give something a makeover, get a makeover, need a makeover
When you make lots of changes to something so that it looks completely different, fresh, new and much better - you’ve given it a makeover.
amicably
pleasantly and in a friendly way, without arguments
disperses
spreads out across a large area
agar
a thick, clear substance like jelly made from seaweed
credentials
證件; 資格, 適合性; here: qualities which make chocolate healthier
gargle
the noise made when liquid is moved around at the back of the throat
onomatopoeia
(using) words which sound like their meaning
vocal anatomy
the physical structure of the inside of the mouth and throat
lip smacking
making sounds with the lips, tongue and teeth without using the voice
curvaceous
curvy in its shape and pleasing to look at (often used to describe a woman’s body)
to contend with
to cope or deal with
arteries
here, links or connections (arteries are tubes which carry blood from the heart to the rest of a person’s body)
velodrome
sports arena where cyclists compete on a circular track
fault line
a long, deep crack in the Earth’s surface
creepy-crawlies
an informal expression for insects and spiders….A month in a small, ill-equipped hut in the middle of a rainforest with nothing but unfeasibly large creepy-crawlies for company? (BBC Cambridgeshire)
The economy is [on the up] now that the new government is in power. They’ve already helped to create thousands of new jobs!
used to describe something that is improving, or getting better.
porpoises
one kind of dolphine
The [battery] of sanctions
large number
stealthy
moving about in a careful way, trying not to be seen
to get a foot on the property ladder
to buy your first house
room to swing a cat
lots of space
de-clutter
get rid of things you don’t want or need
He’d been [cooking the books] for yearss.
change the numbers in a company’s financial records so one can take some of the money illegally.
frontline
leading, most important
sequenced the genomes
determined the order of genetic material (DNA)
upper abdominals
muscles around your belly or stomach
a clean sweep
here, winning every award it was nominated for (It wasn’t a clean sweep for The King’s Speech, out of 12 nominations it won in four categories, but Oscar glory is bound to boost the film’s takings at the box office.)
looked to have done
seemed as if they had done (though Arsenal looked to have done enough to win…)
a late rally
a late improvement
minutes from time
very close to the end of the match
chance encounter
meeting between two people which is not arranged
billed as
publicised or highlighted as
at its disposal
available to use (try and match it against huge amounts of information it has at its disposal.)
formidable
難以應付的
less well-off
poorer people, who have less money than most
underplay
低估
in line with
matching or according to (statements were being made on the billionaire’s behalf by his family that weren’t in line with his wishes. )
in a frenzy
very excited and possibly out of control (Theories about what’s behind the row have the gossip columnists in a frenzy)
cub
young (animal); novice
culinary
廚房用的, 烹飪的 (culinary pleasure, culinary herbs)
give a lecture in less than royal language
loyal language - usually very formal or polite; suggests that she was angry – perhaps even swearing.
to give someone a piece of your mind
to tell someone angrily what you think
be steaming with rage
be extremely angry
homily
short speech on a moral or religious subject
martyr
people who suffer or are killed because of their religious beliefs
beatified
(after someone’s death) said by officials in the Catholic Church to be an especially good or holy person
persecuted
treated very badly or unfairly for a long time
imperil
陷入困境, 危殆
daunted by
worried, slightly frightened or intimidated by
devout fans
people who love and support something or someone with a passion that’s almost religious
monarch
here, King
stave off
prevent or delay
precarious
insecure or uncertain
reassurance
advice to make you feel better about something
cockpit
area at the front of a plane where the pilot works
commemorating
remembering
forage
search their surroundings
getting their heads down
going to sleep
hit the sack
go to bed
to turn in
to go to bed
forty winks
a brief and light sleep
tetchy
grumpy, unhappy
beamed
sent out a radio or electrical signal
scalp
頭皮
slushy
partly melted
lifted
(of a law or rule) stopped, ended all for in favour of; agreeing with
binoculars
an instrument with two small lenses, which make things far way away look bigger 雙筒望遠鏡
intricate
intricate: complex
fitness freak, going to the gym [freaks me out]
(informal) fitness fanatic; to make someone feel strong emotions, like panic or fear
to get under your skin
to annoy, irritate or bother you
pet hates
small things that you particularly find annoying
bugbear
something that annoys or irritates you
jargon
words and phrases that only make sense to people doing the same kind of work
a water-cooler moment
a time when work colleagues get together by the water-cooler and discuss trivial matters such as something they saw on television
Thieves outwitted 80 bodyguards, local police and hotel security to [make off with] the $2.5m necklace.
steal
balmy
pleasantly mild weather
wealthier contingent
group of people who earn or have more money
den
獸穴,賊窩
subsidiary companies
smaller businesses in the same group of companies
ember
灰燼,餘火
uranium
鈾
sketch in some of the detail
give a more complete description
antipathy
strong feelings of dislike or hostility
a gimmick
= publicity stunt; something that is not really useful but is intended to get attention and make people interested in something
a spieler
(negative) someone who is good at making salesman-like speeches
articulate
someone who is articulate has a good command of language, he or she can express themselves clearly and effectively
parkour
a sport that mixes running, jumping, climbing and gymnastics
acrobatics
(use body) gymnastics
[I haven’t slept a wink.] It was a really bad idea to move to a flat next to a pub.
(I’ve had so little sleep, your eye didn’t even close once!)
mangroves
trees that grow along coasts or river banks in hot countries (紅樹林)
octogenarian
someone who is between 80 and 89 years old
meditation
deep thought or calm relaxation. A lot of people practise meditation as part of their religion
polygraph
a machine designed to find out if someone is lying
to fly the flag
to show support for your country
hell of a…
an informal phrase that emphasises any quality you’re talking about (hell of a view)
for all intents and purposes
in a practical sense
a tantrum
a period of anger without control
bark
the outer covering of a tree
sap or resin
the thick sweet liquid inside a tree
foliage
the leaves or the green parts of a plant
cones
the hard woody fruits of a pine tree
bomb squad
experts who try to neutralise or stop bombs exploding
booby-trapped
hidden device intended to explode
It could spell the end of …
it can mean the end of…
a bit of a cop out
choosing an easier option that may be disappointing to come
brisk
quick or rapid
canteen
dining hall
clink
(slang) prison
revamp
change or improvement
eleventh hour resignation
quit at the last minute
kept his counsel
has not made any public statements about the situation; has kept his opinions on the subject to himself
proceeds
revenue or income
sludge
thick muddy waste product
creep up
rise slowly, almost as if it was not really noticed
Katie used to have a reputation for gossiping and spreading rumours. I’ve heard she’s changed now, but I don’t trust her: [a leopard can’t change its spots].
a person can’t change their personality, even if they say they have.
to kick your heels
to wait impatiently
to hang around
to spend time somewhere, usually without much purpose
to scrap something
to get rid of or cancel something
serene
calm, tranquil or steady
a pawn
someone who is controlled by someone else (a pawn is the smallest and least valuable piece in a game of chess)
ruled
officially decided (the court ruled that Jerome Kerviel should take sole responsibility for…)
behind bars
in prison (He was sentenced to three years behind bars…)
resounding
significant or substantial
devout
deeply committed or dedicated
constellation
group of stars that form a shape in the sky
bare necessity
basic and essential thing that everyone needs
cuddle
擁抱, 依偎
dram
a Scottish word meaning a small drink, usually of whisky or another strong spirit
haggis
a traditional Scottish dish made from sheep intestines, spices and oats
melding
joining together (television thriller, melding politics with human drama.)
raided
(here referring to police) entered, in order to search for criminals or evidence of crime
intriguingly
interestingly, because of being strange or mysterious
larks & owls
a famously early-rising bird (morning people) & a type of bird that tends to come out at night (evening people)
dawn & dusk
when the sun rises & goes down
A: I heard that Justin Bieber is going to play a gig at our Christmas party!
B: [Don’t make me laugh] - he’s far too famous to come here.
this is something you can say when you think something is not going to happen.
smouldering
smoking
screening calls
checking who is calling before deciding whether to answer
reconciliation
交好 (a symbol of reconciliation is something that shows (the possibility that) two groups with different ideas can agree)
bout
short period
a high water mark
the most important time (watershed: 分水嶺)
to keep/break a resolution
to be successful/unsuccessful in achieving the goals you set yourself
untapped
unused
staked territorial claims
argued that the areas belong to their countries
supply chute
passage for sending essential items
shaft
long narrow passage
nail-biting
tense (22 nail-biting minutes)
reindeer
a type of animal with large horns which pulls Santa’s sleigh
sack
a large bag
sleigh
the vehicle which Santa uses to travel across the skies
rustic
simple or typical of the countryside
cyborg
a being with both human and robot parts (‘cybernetic organism’)
barricade
block (using a temporary structure)
Molotov cocktails
a simple type of bomb made with a bottle filled with petrol
gutting it
destroying the inside
wane
decrease
twitchy
sudden and nervous
gaining ground
becoming stronger or more successful
choked off
prevented from happening
anthem
official song of a particular country or organisation
ambivalence
having positive and negative feelings at the same time
an ode to joy
a song about happiness (also, the title of the European Union anthem)
a diplomatic fig-leaf
a political idea or action that covers up an embarrassing issue (fig-leaf: 遮羞布)
This is the best laptop I’ve ever bought. It is very light and has the best features. It is really [the bee’s knees]!
something or someone is exceptionally good.
blaze
火焰, 火光, 火災; 熊熊燃燒, 勃然大怒
douse
extinguish (a fire)
meteorologists
professionals who analyse weather conditions
amid
surrounded by
value for money
worth what you pay for it (I like value for money from my coffee!)
suspended
delayed (suspended coffee 待用咖啡)
do a good deed
do a kind act
masonry
bricks and stones used to make buildings
cordoned off
placed behind a rope barrier to prevent people from entering
strewn
covered untidily
gale-force winds
very strong movements of air
rally against
come together to show their disapproval of something
rally against
come together to show their disapproval of something
placards
large pieces of card with written messages
coup
violent attempt to overthrow the government
file [lawsuits]
legal challenges
I hate it when people drop litter in the street - it [does my head in] to see so much rubbish everywhere.
I don’t want to invite Sonia to the Christmas party. She gossips all the time. She really [does my head in.]
(slang) it means it is frustrating or annoying.
a wealth of experience
a wide range of or significant experience
complement
enhance or improve
up for grabs
available for anyone to win
distend
(vt) 膨脹
assured
strong or confident (How is he able to produce such an assured debut novel?)
debut
first performance or presentation
mitigation
緩和
Thank you for that mate - you helped so much with the party today. You’re a [legend].
(slang) we say someone is a legend if they do something very helpful, very generous or very successfully
She had to call her boss ‘Mr’. They certainly weren’t [on first name terms].
…
to pin down
to focus on something - if you pin something down, you are able to see it clearly
traumatic
when something causes emotion shock and is upsetting
contraption
machine that looks strange or old-fashioned
chopper
informal word for helicopter
thrown in the towel
given up, admitted defeat
arbitrary
when something is based on chance or without reason
articulate
express something clearly in words
slime
sticky liquid substance, often produced by fish and snails
bulbous
round, looking like a bulb, or like a sphere
badly maimed
literally, seriously injured, deformed or crippled; here, badly presented, not showing their best, not playing to their strengths (maim: 使殘費/損壞)
nanny
a woman whose job is to help take care of someone’s children
nappies
thick pieces of soft cloth or paper fastened between a baby’s legs to catch solid and liquid waste. The American word is diaper.
luddite
someone who is averse or unwilling to adapt to changes in technology, e.g. someone who refuses to learn how to use a computer or mobile phone
antiquarian
special or old (often used when referring to books)
dog-eared
an old, well read book–this means when the pages are all bent and many people have read it
homespun
traditional cloth made at home
When things go wrong for me, they always go badly wrong. [It never rains but it pours!]
That’s something that people say when they think they have very big problems.
You’re just chasing rainbows.
it means you are trying to do something that will never happen
That all sounds like a storm in a teacup to me.
a person is exaggerating their problems and making their problems sound worse than they actually are.
Every cloud has a silver lining!
you can always find something positive, even in a bad situation.
She has a face like thunder.
you are very angry indeed
I’m [after] a pair of formal leather shoes.
you want it, especially in situations like shopping, or when buying things.)
benign
safe
swab
take a small sample from
forsaken
abandoned
comrade
member of a communist political party
tribunal
a special court dealing with particular problems e.g. a war crimes tribunal
convulsed in laughter
to be overcome by uncontrollable laughter (convulse: 抽搐, 因大笑而晃動)
a spate of
a number of similar bad events happening in a short space of time
anesthetic
a substance which make your pain disappear (anesthetic麻醉劑/的; aesthetic審美的)
makes my blood boil
causes me to be very angry
fuming
showing anger
red mist
feeling of extreme anger that stops you thinking clearly (you’re seeing a red mist)
breadcrumbs, saffron
麵包屑, 藏紅花
secreting
releasing (secreting chemicals on their skin.)
swab
take a small sample from
tightening our belts
spending less money than before
going cold turkey
an expression to describe the action of stopping something suddenly and completely, for example smoking or drinking alcohol
dromedary
單峰駱駝
to the tune of
to more or less this amount
waterborne diseases
illnesses that are carried by or through water
cholera
a serious infection of the bowels, passed on through dirty water 霍亂
overhaul of regulation
complete repair or improvement for the markets’ controlling measures
reconciled
brought together or made compatible
Thingamy
unknwon name guy
it’s what’s his face/what’s her face
it’s sb I forgot his/her name
investment arm of the government
department trying to make profit by buying and selling assets
down in the dumps
feeling miserable or unhappy
happy-go-lucky
describes someone who doesn’t worry about the future
hectic
busy, lots of things going on
digging your heels in
strongly resist something despite having a lot of pressure
tolled
rang slowly and repeatedly
well
井
marred
spoilt, made something less good
blown out of proportion
exaggerated, made worse than it actually is
I realised our sales figures are all wrong. Someone has been giving us false information for months…what [a can of worms.]
a whole set of new problems
botched
something that’s been done badly or carelessly
looting the contents
stealing things (usually carried out by large numbers of people during a violent event or protest)
atrocities
extremely violent actions
be held to account
be forced to take responsibility for
mind-blowing
intensely strange and exciting
opus
great work of art or literature
pulp
soft, soggy mass of crushed wood used to make paper
I’ll give you a call/buzz/tinkle/bell later tonight.
I’ll give you a call.
He’s on the dog/phone/blower.
He’s on the phone.
gruelling
tiring
final arbiters
people who have the official, as well as moral right to take a decision in a dispute
snug
舒適的, 安全的(如外面風雨交加,而人在屋內很舒適)
valuables
valuable things/stuff
in active service
while fighting in a war (for an army)
marsupial
animals, often found in Australia, that carry their young in a pocket of skin called a pouch
centenary
(day or year) 100 years after an event
the bloc
the group of countries
treason
the crime of being disloyal to your country
lucid
clear and easy to understand
savouring the moment
enjoying the experience
an epic victory
an impressive win
to take hold
to become established
no contest to…
a legal plea where someone neither admits guilt nor claims innocence of the charges
inpatient rehabilitation programme
a course to help people rejoin society after receiving medical care (rehabilitate: 修復,重建)
a billion plus
over a billion (a billion plus people)
contentious: causing disagreement
grand slam
大滿貫
watered down
diluted, made less strong
ore
礦,礦砂 (iron ore)
quarry
a place where natural resources are dug out of the ground
sidestep
avoid something difficult
coffers
the money that an organisation has in its bank accounts
We went to my sister’s wedding at the weekend. Everyone [had a ball] – it was so much fun.
have a good time
adorning
decorating, making a place or thing look beautiful
to collocate
if two words collocate, they go together naturally, in a way that sounds right to native speakers of the language
a smattering
a very small amount
The salesman went on and on about the computer’s new features till I told him: “[Cut to the chase!] What is the price?”
to get to the point
for dear life
using all your strength or effort to avoid danger or serious trouble
precarious
dangerous - because not firmly fixed or likely to fall (precarious rescue)
pervasive
noticeable everywhere; becoming widespread
en masse
together as a group
transgression
breaking of the law or moral rules
to pine for something
to miss something very much (I pine for my home)
ex pat communities
groups of people from the same country who live abroad
a crossbow
a weapon which fires arrows, known as bolts, which is used by hunters
a chainsaw
a power tool used for cutting down trees and cutting wood
literally imploded
actually failed suddenly and was completely unable to operate or work together
descended into farce
quickly became a silly or meaningless situation
excruciating
very embarrassing
recriminations
arguments between people who are blaming each other
hinterland
part of the country that’s far away from the major city areas
extortion
using violence or threats against someone to get something
loan-sharking
illegally lending money and charging very high rates of interest
reticence
寡言
stonewalling
refusing to answer questions either by not talking or by giving very limited answers
patchy
補丁,零散
a humiliating drubbing
a very embarrassing defeat or loss
abating
becoming less strong (with the wind and rain abating, the city …)
abating
becoming less strong (with the wind and rain abating, the city …)
My team is bound to lose this weekend now that our best player is [out of the picture]. He broke his leg yesterday.
we don’t count on them anymore. They are no longer involved in a particular situation.
photogenic
上相
terrace; terrine; terrestrial
門廊,陽台; 世俗的; 陸地的
arcade; corridor
拱廊,騎樓 ; 走廊,通道,迴廊
terrace; terrine; terrestrial
門廊,陽台; 世俗的; 陸地的
arcade; corridor
拱廊,騎樓 ; 走廊,通道,迴廊
trial; trail
試驗; 跟蹤,追蹤
hunky-dory
good or going well
to abdicate
to give up power
terracotta
hard, baked clay; often red/brown in colour
patronage
贊助
Well, touch wood, we all have good health. But [touch wood] that my health remains for a long time yet.
(informal) with luck
effectively condoned
in effect given its approval of
plaster cast
石膏模
remnants
small parts of something that are left
pigs’ udders, tripe, trotter
豬乳,肚,腳
pleat
fold (pleated: piece of cloth folded and sewed together)
choreographed
designed dance movements
Mark had a beef with his wife over parking their car. He thought she always parked it very badly.
beef: complaint or disagreement.
let fly a stream of profanities
said a lot of rude words in an angry way
job-hopping
moving from job to job
treading a cautious line
being very careful and trying not to make the situation worse (tread: 踩)
a serious lapse in judgement
making a very bad decision
in tatters
badly damaged or completely spoiled
tied the knot
got married
laureate
(n)a person who has been given a high-level award for their ability or achievements (such as a Nobel Prize); (adj)卓越的
crumbs of comfort
small positive signs
a diplomatic thaw
improving relations between two countries
to have some nosh
(slang) have some food or to have a meal. The word ‘nosh’ literally means (n)’food’ or ‘a meal’ / (v)’eat’.
crumbs of comfort
small positive signs
springs to mind
arrives as a sudden thought (Think of Venice and water probably springs to mind.)
hits the senses
immediately makes you see, hear, smell, taste and feel it. (Here amid the smokey haze of the bush, the heat hits the senses.)
silverware
a large silver cup given as the prize for winning a sporting competition
jittery
nervous
stay put
not move
waistcoat
a sleeveless garment worn on the upper body over a shirt and usually having buttons down the front
glam
short for ‘glamorous’, i.e. dressed and/or made up to be extremely good-looking and very fashionable
Alex, can you tidy up all your [bits and bobs / bits and pieces]?
small things, or many different types of little jobs
cleft lips and palates
唇顎裂
unfurl
unroll, spread out
crackdown
supression
a phasing in period
a period of time when clubs can get ready to follow the rules (though in this time they can choose to follow the rules or not)
benefactors
people who give money to help an organization, society or person
consistently operate outside the parameters: repeatedly do not obey the rules
anonymous ; unanimous
匿名的; 無異議的
grimy
dirty
to thrash out
to work together to come to an agreement
the verdict
the legal decision given by a court
my other half / my better half
couples refer to the other / the husband refers to his wivfe
disposable income
money that is left after paying for everyday things like bills (disposable: 免洗的, 可隨意使用的)
woefully
badly, poorly (woefully inadequate)
ginger quiff
hairstyle, worn usually by men, in which the hair at the front of the head is brushed up. If your hair is ginger, it’s red or orange
a golliwog
an old-fashioned child’s toy made of soft material, in the form of a small man with a black face and stiff black hair. The term ‘golliwog’ is nowadays considered racist when it is used to refer to a black person
This party should really [go with a bang] now that the band is playing.
it’s a success, it’s very exciting.
wispy
一小把的, 細微的
cumulus, stratus, cirrus and nimbus
積雲,層雲,捲雲,雨雲
swamp
an area of wet, soft land
stench
very bad smell, especially of decay (the stench of rotting corpses)
canny investments
cleverly putting money into a business in the hope of making profits in the future
at half-mast
(of a flag) raised only half-way up a flag-pole (rather than being at the very top of the pole as usual) as a mark of respect (The Chinese flag is flying at half-mast across the country)
mastheads
top section on the front page of a newspaper, where the name of the newspaper is printed
I’m [full of beans]
full of energy/enthusiasm
gruelling
extremely tiring and difficult, needing great effort and determination
pureed
mashed into a smooth sauce by crushing
ratified
made (an agreement become) official
parasols
a type of sunshade which looks a bit like an umbrella designed to provide shade from the sun
baste
to grease a piece of meat while it is cooking (塗烤油)
a pariah
someone (or here, a country) who is not accepted by a social group, especially because he, she or it isn’t trusted.
memorabilia
objects that are collected because they are connected with a person or event which is thought to be very interesting
thronging
crowded, full of people
subterranean
under the ground
whisks
takes something somewhere else suddenly and quickly
accede
agree to do what someone else wants
accede
agree to do what someone else wants
their name has been dragged through the mud
their reputation has been insulted by the things someone (here, the writer Lalie Walker) has said about them
The politicians talked for hours but they couldn’t come to an agreement; they were just [going round in circles]
If you do something for a long time without achieving any results and you always come back to the same problem. You don’t make any progress.
crescendoing
getting more powerful
John kept saying he couldn’t run very fast but he still won the race; I think he was just [fishing for compliments]
trying to get someone to say something good about you.
cuddly
something you want to hug
snuggling up to
moving itself close to another thing for comfort
den
home for (some) animals
sedate
slow or gentle
coalesce
join and grow together (This unity may coalesce around a determination to push South Africa further down the road of non-racialism)
on site
in the same area
disparaging
being critical, scornful, belittling and giving a negative view of (comments disparaging bullfighters)
a matador
a bullfighter, a person who fights and kills bulls to entertain people
My brother doesn’t take anything seriously. He [takes the mickey] out of our parents and teachers all the time.
to laugh at them or make fun of them
mogul
powerful and important person in a particular business
the turf
the area of short, thick grass where people play football
hobbled
walked uncomfortably and in pain
clutching
holding tightly
tendon
肌腱
hitch
problem, difficulty
in lieu of
in place of
erratically
irregularly
hectic
busy, chaotic
acceptance speech
formal talk given usually to a large number of people on a special occasion when you are being awarded something
had to be content
accepted a situation (not winning many prizes) which is not exactly what you wanted or expected (the film-maker James Cameron had to be content with three awards out of nine nominations)
is being blown out of proportion
is being made to seem much more serious than it actually is
lapse in judgement: unexpectedly bad decision
relieved of their duties
had their jobs taken away, are no longer allowed to work
dissent
expression of opinions which are different from the officially accepted ones
draconian
very severe
divisive
causing strong disagreement within a community
a nod to
an acknowledgement of, in recogition of (In a nod to a glitch in the opening ceremony, part of the Olympic cauldron which couldn’t be lit two weeks ago was set alight to kick off the closing.)
a glitch in
a small problem or fault that stops something from working properly
cauldron
very large, round metal pot that is used on fires, here, used to hold the Olympic flame
a vindaloo
a very spicy Indian dish usually made from meat and lots of spices, including chilli peppers and garlic
a poppadom
a thin, light, crispy fried dish made from rice flour and ground lentils, usually eaten as a snack with sauces
a mild korma
a creamy curry made with yoghurt which does not contain much chilli pepper
tarnished…
spoiled, stained, ruined
unscathed
was not affected or damaged (Machu Picchu survived the rains unscathed)
the high street
a typical street in the centre of a town or village, where everyday shops and businesses are located
a knock-down price
an extremely cheap price
footage
piece of film showing a particular event (video footage)
butchered
killed and cut into pieces
chariot
戰車
belches
releases air from the stomach through the mouth noisily
canister
metal container in the shape of a cylinder
scrapped
cancelled, abandoned
to shore up
to support and strengthen something that is weak
to engulf
to overwhelm, to become stronger than
largesse
great kindness and promises to give large amounts of money
vetted
checked or examined something carefully to make sure it is acceptable or suitable. (it is supposed to be vetted by a special commission that will check standards.)
This extremely strange weather has [stumped] all the experts.
it means you’re stuck and don’t know what to say or do.
You’ll have to [stump up] first!
a phrasal verb meaning to pay for something, usually without wanting to.
the mutual recriminations
The situation in which both countries blame each other
perpetrators
people who do harmful, dishonest or illegal activities
a putative date
a date which is believed to be correct
snooping
watching someone secretly without them knowing
impede
make more difficult
no mean feat
a great achievement
to rove freely
to travel easily
tenacious
determined and hard-working
get to the bottom of
find out the truth about (This trial is attempting to get to the bottom of the scheming of the Mafia)
scheming
plotting
magistrate
an official who acts as a judge in a court for small crimes
earmarked
chosen and kept for a particular purpose (usually used about money) (explosives that was earmarked for the job)
staring into the abyss
looking to a future situation which will be difficult (this government is staring into the abyss of a rapidly ageing society)
the highest grossing movie
the film which has taken most money from people going to see it
to be in pole position to do well
to be a strong favourite and most likely to win (He is now considered to be in pole position to do well at the Oscars.)
blockade
when a factory is surrounded by workers to stop goods (here, beer) from going in or out
If you don’t mind, I’ll [take a rain check] on the drinks tonight. Can we make next week?
I won’t do it immediately but I would like to do it at another time.
social death
embarrassing situation
mollycoddling
over protecting or doing too much for someone
to give you the edge in the workplace
to have an advantage in the workplace
harrowing
extremely frightening or upsetting (harrowing 7,500-mile detour)
a tingling sensation
a feeling as if a lot of sharp points are being put quickly and lightly into your body or onto your skin
mauled
injured (used for animals)
the high seas
parts of the sea that are far from land
a nuisance
an annoying thing
makeshift
poor quality, made of whatever material is available
mausoleum
a building in which the bodies of dead people are buried
advocacy groups
groups of people who strongly and publicly support an idea
androgynous
of an undefined sex - neither male nor female
bobsleigh
sleigh = sledge
slalom
a race, in which people move around a series of poles, turning first one way and then the other (usually skiing)
plougher
plough=plow 犁田機, 剷雪機
moguls
piles of snow you jump over when skiing
hurtle
move very quickly without much control
boozing
drinking alcohol (informal)
drinking den
place where people go to drink alcohol
tavern
saloon=pub
bunker
a place that is usually underground and built to protect people from bullets or bombs.
The play got really bad reviews and almost no one came to see it, but the theatre owner said he wouldn’t [pull the plug] on it.
we are going to stop spending time or money on it.
My mother is furious with me. I forgot to do my homework again so I’m [in the doghouse].
someone is in the doghouse’ if they’ve annoyed another person.
I don’t want arguments at the dinner table! Let’s not talk about football or politics – let’s just [chew the fat] about other things.
to talk in a friendly way, socially, without actually exchanging too much serious information. Maybe gossip a bit…
Since my friend’s father died, I don’t know what to say to him: it’s like [treading on eggshells].
you are being careful about what you say.
archipelago
a group of islands
young Hispanic and African-American men [have the odds stacked against] them in US society.
be very unlikely to succeed due to difficult surrounding circumstances.
haggle over fares
attempting to decide a price which is acceptable to both the passenger and the driver
rickety
in bad condition and likely to break (eg. rickety old vehicles)
desecrating
damaging or showing no respect towards something
cemetery
公墓
brasserie
(a French word which is used in English) small restaurant or cafe which sells cheap, simple food
street urinal
public male toilet
My football team was always top of the Premiership, but since Manchester United signed that new player, [the boot’s on the other foot] now.
it means the situation is now the opposite of what it was.
epic
extremely large, long or complex
multiplex
a large building that contains many separate cinema screens
slur
中傷, 誹謗, 汙辱
to get accredited
to ensure they are allowed to attend
ratified
officially approved
an interim agreement
an agreement that will be valid until a more long-term one can be signed, a temporary agreement
frenetic
狂熱的, 激動的, 數量多的 (frenetic diplomatic activity: a great number of high-level meetings and talks between people who manage relations between the two countries)
pomp
formal, colourful ceremony
auspicious
successful, favourable or important
underground racket
secret and illegal activity that makes money
stark
simple, plain or not containing anything that is not necessary
repercussions
consequences, results (It would also greatly improve life expectancy of HIV patients, with repercussions for families and the workforce.)
defaulting on
being unable to pay off (consequences of defaulting on their personal loans.)
culminated in
ended in, resulted in (her struggle with Sharia law that culminated in her arrest in a Khartoum restaurant for wearing slacks)
slacks
loose trousers
breaching
breaking or not obeying
flog
whip or hit someone severely with something (a piece of leather or stick, for example)
to shore up
here, to increase (literally, if you shore something up, you support it to stop it failing)
If you want to succeed in business, you have to work harder than your competitors. You’ve got to [go the extra mile.]
to make more effort than usual to achieve their objectives.
appalling
嚇人的, 驚駭人的
exasperated
very frustrated……
stump
the roots and the base of the trunk of a fallen tree
astrologers
people who believe that the movement of the stars at our birth and at other times influences how we behave and what happens to us
How old am I? Well, let’s just [brush over] that and say I’m as old as I feel!
to ignore something or miss it out.
plundered
robbed of valuable items
signatory
person, organisation or country that has signed an official document
drum up
to create interest, support or business (to drum up more business)
apartheid
the political system that existed in the past in South Africa, in which only white people had political rights and power
apartheid
the political system that existed in the past in South Africa, in which only white people had political rights and power
menstrual cycle
(MC) the repeated process of changes in which a woman’s body prepares to become pregnant
cardinals
紅衣主教, 深紅色
payroll
list of people employed by an organisation showing how much each one earns (薪資表)
After the new football manager had a few wins [under his belt], he felt more confident.
it means they have a particular experience already - something that might help them in the future.
palaeontologist
person whose job is to study fossils as a way of getting information about the history of life on Earth
facing foreclosure
dealing with the prospect of losing their houses because they
cannot afford to pay back the loan the bank gave them to buy it.
The name will come to me soon, it’s [on the tip of my tongue]… ah yes, his name is Paul.
There is some information you can’t quite remember, but hopefully will soon.
flotilla
large group of boats or small ships
glum
disappointed, unhappy; looking sad
whizzes
moves very fast
meteorite
piece of rock from space that has fallen to Earth
inquisitive
keen to learn and ask questions
her [girl next door image] was shattered in August
someone who is sweet, wholesome, modest and easy-going and seen as very feminine in the traditional way
pleaded for leniency
asked for a less severe punishment; asked to show mercy
breach
缺口
a real nuisance
annoying and/or irritating them a great deal
stamp it out
if you stamp something out, you put an end to it/eradicate it
cast and crew members run amok
the film’s actors and technicians are moving around quickly in a way that seems dangerous or out of control
discernible
able to be seen or noticed
swat
hit with a flat object (especially an insect)
python
蟒蛇
next of kin
your next of kin is your closest relative
eulogies
speeches that praise somebody very highly (especially tributes to somebody who has died)
pecking order
禽鳥的強弱次序 (corporate pecking order: hierarchy of companies=> a hierarchy is a system in society that is not written down as law where someone is considered more or less important than someone else)
cornflakes
玉米片
stew over
think over (I give you Neil a question to stew over)
abstaining
not doing something
intoxicated
drunk; unable to behave normally because you have drunk too much alcohol (some young people in the UK who drink far more than that and get intoxicated)
let my hair down
relax and enjoy myself
binge drinking:
drinking a lot of alcohol in a short space of time (teenagers were known
for binge drinking)
The police have been looking for a local man who doesn’t mind selling mobile phones that [fell off the back of a lorry.]
it was received in suspicious circumstances. It was probably stolen.
pendants and ceramics
special necklaces (which have an object hanging from them) and objects jugs, cups, containers, etc.) made from clay that has been heated
the foetal position
lying curled up (the foetal position describes how an unborn child lies when developing inside its mother while she is pregnant)
of high calibre
with participants who have very good skills and abilities
shenanigans
deceitful, questionable acts
I can’t work in this office. There’s [not enough room to swing a cat]! Where will I put my books and my computer?
a place is much too small.
bouncer
someone who works in a bar or club and stops trouble or violence from happening
proteges
young people who are trained by older (and often famous) people
virulent
dangerous and fast-spreading
One thing is true: your [cold feet] saved you from your hot head.
to lack the confidence or courage to do something.
morbid fascination
an interest in things to do with death and destruction
macabre
unpleasant or shocking because they are related to death
bemused drivers
confused drivers
back down
admit that he is wrong (Mr Catoire is refusing to back down, saying he’ll challenge the decision in court.)
decimated
damaged or destroyed a lot of something
iguana
a large lizard of tropical America
endemic
very common in a particular place
suckers for
people who are particularly fond of something (the word ‘sucker’ can be used to describe people who are easily manipulated and who do not think for themselves)
census
official enquiry to find out the number of people who live in a country and other information about them. A census is carried out by government officials who go to people’s homes and ask questions about the people who live there
choreographed
created a sequence of actions which comprise a performance 舞蹈藝術
parasite
living thing which lives inside other larger living things and uses them for food
ticket touts
people who buy tickets for an event in order to resell them at a higher price
dodgy
dishonest, unreliable, (sometimes) illegal
silver bullet
one simple solution to solve a problem
artisans
craftsmen; workers who are good at producing objects with their hands
we need [blue-sky thinking] and we need to [push the envelope] if we want to succeed in the current market.
having ideas which are very original, even if they’re not practical or realistic; go even further than others and do things that might be new or risky or even dangerous! That’s: push the envelope.
Jane [smelt a rat] when she read a job advert for actresses in the newspaper. It said “no training or experience required”, but they wanted someone “good-looking and open-minded”.
we’re suspicious of someone: we feel there’s something wrong.
pilot scheme
small-scale experiment designed to test a product before it is launched
pristine
very clean; in excellent condition
distilled: made pure
barges
flat-bottomed boats used to transport heavy loads up and down a river or canal
convalescing
resting and recovering after an illness or unpleasant experience (Yevkurov was still convalescing after surviving an assassination attempt in June.)
at the pinnacle
here, the most important people in the industry (Even at the pinnacle, some like airline captain Bob Poster feel the squeeze.)
