Week 2 Flashcards
relieve
I keep signaling to my manager, but there’s no one to relieve me. Five, 10, 15 minutes pass. I keep glancing behind at Susan, making apologetic gestures. I can still remember her standing there, holding her one bag of groceries, smiling back at me.
(1) relieve verb (MAKE BETTER)
(A) to make an unpleasant feeling, such as pain or worry, less strong
緩解，減輕，解除（疼痛或擔憂）；使寬心，使寬慰
She was given a shot of morphine to relieve the pain. 醫生給她注射了一針嗎啡來止痛。
She relieved her boredom at home by learning how to type. 她在家學打字來打發無聊的時光。
(B) to improve an unpleasant situation
緩和，緩解（令人不快的局勢）
New toll roads could help relieve congestion on other routes. 新建的收費道路可以幫助緩解其他道路的擁堵情況。
(2) relieve verb (HELP)
(A) to provide relief for a bad situation or for people in need
救濟；救援；救助
emergency food aid to help relieve the famine 為了救濟饑民而提供的緊急食品援助
(B) to take the place of someone and continue doing their job or duties
接替；換…的班；替下
I’m on duty until 2 p.m. and then Peter is coming to relieve me. 我要值班到下午兩點，兩點以後彼得就會來換班。
(C) to free a place that has been surrounded by an enemy army by military force
將（某地從敵人的圍困中）解圍；解救
An armoured battalion was sent to relieve the besieged town. 那個城市被困，一個裝甲營被派去解圍。
apologetic
I keep signaling to my manager, but there’s no one to relieve me. Five, 10, 15 minutes pass. I keep glancing behind at Susan, making apologetic gestures. I can still remember her standing there, holding her one bag of groceries, smiling back at me.
apologetic
adjective
showing that you feel sorry about having caused someone problems or unhappiness
表示歉意的；抱歉的；道歉的
She was so apologetic about forgetting my birthday it was almost embarrassing. 她因忘記我的生日而深感歉疚，這倒讓我有些不好意思了。
I hope he was suitably apologetic for breaking your glasses. 他打破了你的眼鏡，我希望他適當地道過歉了。
lead
I start with my only lead, the one former employer of hers that I know.
(1) lead
noun (WINNING POSITION)
a winning position during a race or other situation where people are competing
領先，佔優
For the first time in the race Harrison is in the lead. 在此次比賽中哈里森第一次領先。
With a final burst of speed she went/moved into the lead. 經過最後衝刺她跑到了最前面。
After last night’s win Johnson has taken (over) the lead in the championship table. 昨晚獲勝後，約翰遜已經登上了冠軍榜的榜首。
By the end of the day’s play Davies had a lead of three points. 經過一天的比賽戴維斯領先三分。
(2) lead
noun (SHOWING WAY)
the act of showing a person or group of people what to do
示範，榜樣
We’ll go through the dance routine again - follow my lead (= do what I do). 我們再走一遍基本舞步——照我的樣子做。
(3) lead
noun (INFORMATION)
a piece of information that allows a discovery to be made or a solution to be found
線索，提示
A lead from an informer enabled the police to make several arrests. 根據告密者提供的線索，警察逮捕了幾個人。
(4) lead
noun (ACTOR)
the lead
the main part or actor in a film or play
主角，主演
(5) lead
noun (ELECTRICAL)
(also wire); (UK also flex); (US also cord)
a wire covered in plastic and used to connect electrical equipment to the electricity supply
引線，導線
(6) lead
noun (FOR ANIMAL)
[ C ] mainly UK
(US usually leash)
a piece of rope, chain, etc. tied to an animal, especially to a dog at its collar when taking it for a walk
（牽狗等動物用的）繩索，鏈子
Please keep your dog on a lead when on the beach. 在海灘上請牽住你的狗。
ring a bell
Yes, it’s ringing a bell, but I can’t place it.
ring a bell
(also ring any bells)
to sound familiar
聽起來耳熟
The name rang a bell but I couldn’t remember where I had heard it before. 這個名字聽著很熟，但是我記不起來以前在哪裡聽到過。
No, I’m sorry, that description doesn’t ring any bells with me. 不！很遺憾，那個說法我聽起來並不耳熟。
Remark:
Only use ‘rang a bell’ if you are telling somebody about an event you experienced.
She told me she came from Venice originally. That rang a bell with me since I had been to Venice about 30 years previously.
I can’t place it
Yes, it’s ringing a bell, but I can’t place it.
place verb (RECOGNIZE)
to recognize someone or remember where you have seen someone and how you know them
確切地回憶起；辨認出
She looks familiar but I can’t place her - did she use to work here? 她很面熟，但我記不起來了——她以前在這裡工作過嗎？
slam
And then I got in the car. And then she slammed the door. And I think we peeled out. And he was sort of standing– you know, he was sort of standing there and trying to reason with her, and we were out of there.
slam
verb
(1) to (cause to) move against a hard surface with force and usually a loud noise
（使）重重撞上，（使）砰地關上
The wind made the door/window slam (shut).
風吹過來門／窗戶砰地關上了。
Close the door carefully, don’t slam it.
小心關門，別使勁關。
He slammed the brakes on (= used them quickly and with force) when a child ran in front of his car.
一個孩子在他車前跑過，他猛地踩下煞車。
I had to stop suddenly, and the car behind me slammed into the back of me.
我不得不猛地停下，結果後面的車砰地撞上了我的車尾巴。
**(2) to criticize
批評，抨擊
**
Although the reviewers slammed the play, the audience loved it.
儘管評論家們猛烈抨擊該劇，觀眾們還是很喜歡。
peel out
And then I got in the car. And then she slammed the door. And I think we peeled out. And he was sort of standing– you know, he was sort of standing there and trying to reason with her, and we were out of there.
peel out
phrasal verb
US, informal
: to speed away from a place in a car, on a motorcycle, etc.
Dirt and gravel flew as he peeled out into the street.
reason with
And then I got in the car. And then she slammed the door. And I think we peeled out. And he was sort of standing– you know, he was sort of standing there and trying to reason with her, and we were out of there.
reason with sb
— phrasal verb with reason verb [ T ]
to try to persuade someone to act in a wise way or to change their behaviour or a decision, by explaining why it is a good idea
與（某人）講道理；說服（某人）；規勸（某人）
[ + to infinitive ] The police reasoned with the hijackers to at least let the children go free. 員警勸說劫持犯，讓他們至少把孩子們放了。
in retrospect
It made me– I think I felt sad for her. This is sort of in retrospect, but I think I had some sort of inkling of this idea at the time. I’m just sort of now realizing it. But I remember thinking that he was one of the few people that she had in her life, and she couldn’t even really depend on him.
in retrospect
thinking now about something in the past
回顧；回想
In retrospect, I think my marriage was doomed from the beginning. 現在回頭看，我覺得我的婚姻從一開始就註定要破裂。
I’m sure my university days seem happier in retrospect than they really were. 我敢說，回顧我的大學時光，看起來肯定要比當時實際生活幸福。
inkling of
It made me– I think I felt sad for her. This is sort of in retrospect, but I think I had some sort of inkling of this idea at the time. I’m just sort of now realizing it. But I remember thinking that he was one of the few people that she had in her life, and she couldn’t even really depend on him.This is sort of in retrospect, but I think I had some sort of inkling of this idea at the time.
inkling
noun [ C usually singular, U ]
a feeling that something is true or likely to happen, although you are not certain
略知；模糊的印象
[ + that ] I didn’t have the slightest inkling that she was unhappy. 我根本不知道她不高興。
He must have had some inkling of what was happening. 他當時對發生的事一定有所了解。
struggler
Yeah. You were probably right. She was a struggler. And you may have been at that point, at that moment, her only friend, you know?
a person who struggles with difficulties
high-powered
My mom didn’t have any idea where I could find Susan, which made things difficult. Because A, Susan Jordan is a very common name, and B, it’s probably not her name anymore. I called the county court records department to find all the Susan Jordans married in Cincinnati. My mom asked a friend who worked for the city to search all the Cincinnati birth records. I contacted high school alumni associations. I asked friends at high-powered newspapers to run background checks.
high-powered
adjective
(1) high-powered
adjective (POWERFUL)
(of machines) very powerful
（機器）功率大的，強而有力的
a high-powered motorbike 大馬力機車
a high-powered computer 高性能電腦
(2) high-powered adjective (IMPORTANT JOB)
(of people) very successful or having a very important job
（人）十分成功的，位高權重的
a high-powered attorney 十分成功的律師
it hit me
I got her number from information. And it wasn’t until I sat down to call her that it hit me. A phone call from someone you babysat 20 years ago might not be a welcome surprise, but in fact strange and creepy. Here I am practicing sounding benign.
**hit
verb (TOUCH)
**
(1) to move your hand or an object onto the surface of something so that it touches it, usually with force
擊，打
Teachers are not allowed to hit their pupils. 教師不許打學生。
This type of glass won’t shatter no matter how hard you hit it. 無論你怎麼敲，這種玻璃都不會碎。
She hit her thumb with the hammer. 她用鎚子砸到了自己的拇指。
(2) to touch something with sudden force
碰撞
They were going about 60 kilometres an hour when their car hit the tree. 他們的車撞到樹上時，正以每小時約60公里的車速行駛。
One journalist was hit in the leg by a stray bullet. 一名記者被流彈擊中了腿部。
That new shelf in the bathroom is too low - I just hit my head on it. 浴室裡的那個新架子太低——我的頭剛剛撞到了。
更多範例
hit
verb (EFFECT)
(1) to have an unpleasant or negative effect on a person or thing
產生不良影響；打擊
Production has been badly hit by the strike. 罷工嚴重影響了生產。
Demand for transatlantic flights has been hit by fears of terrorist attacks. 由於人們害怕遭遇恐怖襲擊，飛越大西洋航班的需求受到影響。
(2) If an idea or thought hits you, you suddenly think of it.
忽然意識到
That’s when it hit me that my life would never be the same again. 那一刻我忽然明白我的人生再也不會和過去一樣了。
hit verb (SHOOT)
[ T often passive ]
(1) to shoot at or bomb a place or person, causing damage or injury
射擊；轟炸
Two schools were hit during the air raid. 空襲中有兩所學校遭到轟炸。
He was hit in the neck by a bullet from a sniper. 他被一名狙擊手射出的子彈擊中了頸部。
Try to hit the middle of the target. 要盡量打中靶心。
hit
verb (REACH)
(1) to arrive at a place or position
到達
If we turn left at the next junction, we should hit the main road after five miles or so. 在下一個路口左轉，再走五英里左右，我們就會抵達大馬路。
(2) to succeed in reaching or achieving something
達到，實現
Our profits hit an all-time high of $20 million last year. 去年我們的盈餘達到了2000萬英鎊的最高紀錄。
I just can’t hit (= sing) those high notes like I used to. 我就是不能像過去一樣把那些高音唱上去。
hit verb (SUCCESS)
(1) hit it off
informal
to like someone and become friendly immediately
（與某人）相處得好，合得來
I didn’t really hit it off with his friends. 我和他的朋友們並不怎麼合得來。
Jake and Sue hit it off immediately. 傑克和蘇一見如故。
hit
verb (ATTACK)
(1) to kill someone
殺死
Three drug dealers were hit in the city over the weekend. 週末有三名毒販在該市被擊斃。
benign
I got her number from information. And it wasn’t until I sat down to call her that it hit me. A phone call from someone you babysat 20 years ago might not be a welcome surprise, but in fact strange and creepy. Here I am practicing sounding benign.Here I am practicing sounding benign.
benign
adjective
(1) benign
adjective (PERSON)
pleasant and kind
慈祥的；和善的
a benign old lady 慈祥的老婦人
(2) benign
adjective (DISEASE)
A benigntumour is not likely to cause death.
良性的
a benign tumour 良性腫瘤
comparing notes
Susan and I talked for over three hours on the phone, catching up, comparing notes. She asked about my sister and kids that used to live on the street and our old family dog.
compare notes
idiom
: to talk with another or to one another about something done or experienced in common
The parents compared notes on raising children.
I phoned a coworker after the meeting to compare notes.
