Snowclone
The term "snowclone" describes the practice of transforming cliches, axioms and pop culture catchphrases into modern analogies. For example, the catchphrase, "To be or not to be, that is the question", can be turned into, "To eat or not to eat, that is the question."
“雪克隆”指的是把一些陈词滥调、公理、流行文化名a改编成现代版本的行ؓ(f)。例如，名言“生Q还是死Q这是问题的所在”可以变成“吃Q还是不吃，q就是问题的所在”?/p>
A snowclone can be formed simply by borrowing a timeworn but familiar cliche and injecting the specific topic into its basic syntax. The movie catchphrase in Alien, "In space, no one can hear you scream", for example, can be turned into the business-related snowclone, "In space, no one can hear you negotiate".
雪克隆可借用一些过时但却脍炙h口的陈词滥调Q在其基本句式中加入具体话题。D例来_(d)?sh)?jing)《异形》的名句“在太空中，没有听到你的叫”可以改~成跟商业有关的雪克隆：(x)“在太空中，没有听到你的谈判”?/p>
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]]>Graycation
Graycation is a family vacation that's spent with grandparents to share costs.
同堂假期是和父母一起度假来分担费用的家庭假期?/p>
An estimated 2.7 million families are planning to holiday in the UK this year with children, parents and grandparents all in the same resort, according to a survey. Researchers say that the total number has soared this year, thanks to the rising price of foreign holidays and the opportunities for sharing costs on a graycation.
据调查，英国今年预计?70万个家庭计划和孩子、父母及(qing)父母在同一地方度假。调查者称Q选择同堂度假的h数增多，一斚w是因为境外游的h(hun)g涨，另一斚w是因为可以分担开支?/p>
In addition to the economic benefits of multigenerational vacationing, many of those surveyed said graycations were appealing because they allowed grandparents and grandchildren to spend more time together.
此外Q许多受访者称Q同堂假期这么有吸引力，除了(jin)l济利益斚w的原因，q因U假期让父母和孙子孙女有更多的旉共处?/p>
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]]>一?iPad 商标Q引发了(jin)一场知识权的血战，也引发了(jin)|友的围观。苹果公司在与唯冠科技(深圳)有限公司的商标R权案中一审判册|诉，唯冠甌售令，Ҏ(gu)公司iPad在中国各地的专卖店遭遇下架?/p>
Trademark infringement是指“商标R权”，是指行ؓ(f)人未l商标权可，在相同或cM商品上用与?trademark registration(注册商标)相同或近似的商标Q或者干涉、妨商标权Z用其注册商标Q损宛_标权人legitimate interest(合法权益)的其他行为。行Zh销售明知或应知是counterfeit registered trademark(假冒注册商标)的商? right to exclusive use of trademark(商标专用?被R权的natural person(自然?或者legal entity(法h)在civil affairs(民事)上有权要求R权hcessation of infringement(停止侵害)、eliminate ill effects(消除影响)、redress damage(赔偿损失)?/p>
For example:
The tablets have been confiscated from shelves in many retail shops and electronic stores due to a Chinese company's lawsuit against the Apple Inc over the trademark infringement, in Shijiazhuang, capital of Hebei province.
在河北省省会(x)矛_庄市(jng)Q由于苹果公司商标R权案Q得多处零售商店和?sh)子产品商店中的iPadqx(chng)?sh)脑遭遇下架的命q。唯冠科技(深圳)有限公司是在2011q年初提Z诉，赯Ҏ(gu)公司iPad商标侉|Qƈ开始了(jin)court proceedings(法律诉讼E序)。公司还向北京工商管理部门提出投诉，q向其他三地的法院申L(fng)售o(h)。双方自此陷入了(jin)trademark infringement(商标侉|)的诉讼战(sh)?/p>
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]]>Cog in the machine
I am not an important person in this company. I'm just a lowly cog in the machine.
http://translate.chinadaily.com.cn/?mod=question&action=viewthread&qid=39057
My comments:
Cogs are essential parts of a machine. They're gears that work together to make machinery work their magic. Without cogs, machines and, indeed, the entirety of modern-day industry would grind to a halt. And so it is curious that cogs are considered unimportant. And perhaps it's not so curious. Cogs are considered unimportant because they're commonplace — there are thousands upon thousands of them in an assembly line, for instance.
Hence, people who work jobs that are mundane routines in an organization or business call themselves "cogs".
A lower cog is a lower-ranking staff member. Zhang Xin, who writes a column for Language Tips, has been with China Daily since 1988.
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]]>最q，一个名为“休假式ȝ”的新词在中华大地飘焉临ƈ异军HvQ变成了(jin)2012q年初爆U网l的行语。那么它的英文表达是怎样的呢Q纵观各路媒体，大致的说法有以下几种Q?/p>
1. vacation-style treatment
q是“休假式ȝ”最常规的一U译法，vacation是指“休假，假期”，style是指“样式，风格”，treatment是指“治疗，疗法”?/p>
2. vacation-style therapy
q种译法treatment一词换成了(jin)therapy。therapy和treatment都是“治疗”的意思，区别不大Q经常可以互换用，但是相比之下therapy一词不太用来指“用药物ȝ”?/p>
3. “therapeutic?leave
有媒体直接译作了(jin)take “therapeutic?leave。Therapeutic是therapy的Ş容词形式Q意思是“治疗的Q有疗效的”。另外”take ... leave”也是一U固定用法，我们qx(chng)说“请病假”就是take sick leave?/p>
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]]>中国国家副主席习(fn)q^2月对国q行为期五天的正式访问。一名高U外交官员说Q中国和国之间存在“信任赤字”，希望国家副主席习(fn)q^此次对华盛顿的访问可以有助于增进两国间的互信?/p>
Trust deficit是指“信任赤字”，deficit是指“赤字，不额”，例如fiscal deficit(财政赤字)Qtrade deficit(贸易逆差QN易赤??/p>
For example:
Vice-President Xi Jinping's visit to the United States provides a very important opportunity to enhance bilateral mutual trust, as a "trust deficit" exists that contrasts with booming bilateral ties, a top Chinese diplomat said on Thursday.
中国一名高U外交官员周四说Q中日益兴L(fng)双边关系存在“信任赤字”，国家副主席习(fn)q^q行的美国之访对提升双边互信L(fng)非常重要的作用?/p>
国家副主席习(fn)q^此次访美的主要目的是Z(jin)削减中美之的“trust deficit (信Q赤字)”，增强中美互信、减猜疑，共同怺重、互利共赢的cooperative partnership (合作伙伴关系)达成的共识，q一步推动合作伙伴关pȝ发展?/p>
除此之外Q加强China-invested enterprise (中资企业)对美投资Q也是此行的重点。作Z关pM的重要组成部分，双边lN问题在此ơ访中ؓ(f)重要Q双边市(jng)场开放、trade disputes (贸易争端) 解决、合作空间拓展等成Z要经贸议题。预计未来中利益交融、相互依存的格局进一步加深。在知识产权、新能源、energy saving and environmental protection (节能环保)、医药、smart grid (늽)、航I、engineering contract (工程承包){领域的合作稳步推q?/p>
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]]>Manther
A manther is a middle-aged man who seeks sexual or romantic relationships with significantly younger women.
女猎手是那些dƢ和比自己小很多的女性发生性关pL谈恋q中年男子?/p>
Lee Rangel is a manther, but likes older women as well. The 57-year old is dating a 36-year old. "Usually women that are older are married. They have multiple children and they don't really like to have a lot of fun, the ones that I've met. And women that are younger tend to want to go do things and have fun and enjoy themselves and that’s what I like to do."
李·兰杰尔是一个少女猎手，但也喜欢老女人?7岁的他正在和一?6岁的女hU会(x)。“年龄大一些的女h通常都已l结婚了(jin)。就我认识的那些Q她们都有一大帮孩子要养Q也不是很喜Ƣ尽兴玩乐。年M点的x(chng)则?x)想dҎ(gu)鲜事Q尽情n乐，q也是我所喜欢的。?/p>
Women are often interested in older men because they appear more mature, self-assured, confi dent and the attraction could be the result of an unavailable father. While an age difference doesn’t necessarily mean trouble for a couple, there could be age-related problems.
女h对老男人感兴趣是因Z们看上去更成熟、自信。这U吸引力可能源于女h~Z父爱。尽年龄差距不一定会(x)D情G或夫M间的矛盾Q但是年龄差距过大也?x)生一些问题?/p>
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]]>1. on my back 找我ȝ(ch)Q挑(xi)我毛?/p>
例句QWhenever I come home late my wife is always on my back.
每当我回家晚?jin)，我妻子L我的ȝ(ch)?/p>
2. get off my back 跟我罗?/p>
例句QI had enough with you. Get off my back!
我已l受够你?jin)。别再烦(ch)我了(jin)Q?/p>
3. turn my back on 拒绝帮助
例句QI can’t turn my back on him when he needs help.
在他需要帮助的时候，我不能不?/p>
4. behind my back 在背?/p>
例句QIf I did refuse to help, my supervisor might say bad things about me behind my back.
如果我真的拒l帮忙，我的上司?x)在背后说我坏话?/p>
5. stab in the back 伤h的暗；背叛Q诽?/p>
例句QSuch a vicious lie could be nothing but a stab in the back.
q样的恶毒谎a直是背地里向人捅刀子?/p>
6. pat on the back 鼓励Q表?/p>
例句QSometimes, when I am very productive in my job, my employer gives me a pat on the back.
有时当我工作非常富有成效Ӟ我老板?x)表扬我?/p>
7. I will scratch your back if you will scratch mine C尚往?/p>
例句QI’ll scratch your back if you’ll scratch mine?only works if you will respond with something approaching parity.
只有晓得Ҏ(gu)?x)以接近对等的方式回应，“礼往来”才行得通?/p>
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]]>在“虎妈狼爸”引爆家庭教育之争后Q“鹰爸”又横空Z。近日，|上一D“裸跑弟”的视频Q引发了(jin)|友x(chng)Q除夕清晨，一名来自南京跟随父母到国旅行?岁男童，在纽U?13℃的暴雪中裸跑。孩子的父亲何先生表C儿子是早儿，曾被告知未来可能脑瘫痴呆Q遂制定D酷的“鹰爸”式训练计划让其健康长大?/p>
Eagle dad是指“鹰爸”，其educational ideas(教育理念)是：(x)当幼鹰长到够大的时候，鹰妈妈就?x)狠心(j)地把幼鹰赶下山崖，q鹰往谷底坠下Ӟ拼命地拍打翅膀Q趁此掌握了(jin)基本的本领—飞。与此前出现的“tiger mom(虎妈)”、“wolf dad(狼爸)”近|对“eagle dad(鹰爸)”的教育方式Q社?x)各界也同样是褒贬不一。一调查显C，70%的网友不认同q种q乎“残(hu)L(fng)鹰式教育”。对来趋向于q离严厉的传l教育模式，崇宽松自由国模式的中国家庭教育来_(d)“如g虎”的父母往往让h们嗤之以鼅R?/p>
在home education(家庭教育)?父母也应适度谦抑individual will(个h意志)和personal ideal(个h理想)对孩子的影响Q以便与孩子的选择和兴Ş成合理博弈，而不是将孩子完全变成自n教育理念的实验品?/p>
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]]>Idle car owners are the car owners who rarely get behind the wheel of their vehicles because of rising gasoline, insurance and registration costs. Their cars linger in parking lots or on streets the majority of the time and are used on the weekend or during holidays and vacations.
所谓“捧车族”就是那些因为a(b)贏V保险、登记费用上涨而极开车的有R族。他们大多数旉把R停在停R场和街道上，只有在周末或者节假日才开车出行?/p>
Having a car is convenient for commuting or taking trips. But nowadays, some private car owners are leaving their cars in the garage and driving as infrequently as possible. Surveys show 10 percent of private car owners in Beijing have become "idle car owners."
拥有车确实便于上下班?qing)休闲出行。但是如今，很多U家车主把他们的车留在R库里Q尽量少开车。调查显C，北京10%的私家RL为“捧车族”?/p>
Many factors, such as traffi c, economic status and parking fees, haverestricted people's driving. The deterioration of these conditions has resulted in rising driving costs. Improved public transportation is another factor leading people to drive less.
包括交通、经条件、停车费用等很多因素限制?jin)h们开车。这些条件的恶化D开车成本上升。公׃通改善也是h们少开车的另一个原因?/p>
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]]>春节是一个D家团聚的Ƣ庆(jin)日子。但节日里的q度吃喝玩乐?x)导致一些“节日病”的发生Q如H发?j)脏病、因燃放烟花爆竹受伤、暴饮暴食导致的消化不良、肠胃疾病等{，更有甚者，q(sh)(x)引vM。近日据沈阳?jng)急救中心(j)l计Q刚刚过ȝ春节长假期间Q城?jng)死亡h数达259人?/p>
Holiday excess是指“节日病”，每逢长假，其在中国传l的节日?Spring Festival(春节)QM(x)有许多因狂欢׃q度、crapulent(暴饮暴食)、饮酒过量而出现的各种heart cerebrovascular disease(?j)脑血疾?的?zhn)者和digestive system disease(消化pȝ疄)的?zhn)者出现?/p>
For example:
Ji was not the only one suff ering from the holiday excess. According to a survey by the popular Chinese website Sohu.com, the top three places where people like drinking most are Beijing, Shandong province and Hebei province.
冀先生(?不是唯一一个染上“节日病”的人。根据搜狐网的一调查，Z最嗜好饮酒的三个地区分别ؓ(f)北京、山东、和沛_。春节，本是万家团圆的日子，可却成了(jin)很多人“sweet torment(甜蜜的痛?”，频繁的family gatherings and parties(家庭聚会(x))、休闲娱乐导致h们因q度饮酒、饮食不规律而引发各U春节“holiday excess(节日?”。ؓ(f)此，专家提醒Q春节过后，应及(qing)时调整饮食，快从节日状态中走出来，?rn)下心(j)来安?j)工作?/p>
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]]>q东省首个民间智库组l南Ҏ(gu)间智库咨询服务中?j)日前在q州正式揭牌Q专家称此D是广东管理的又一创新Q也是广东推q社?x)改革的又一ơ突破。Private think tank是指“民间智库”，指的是一U非政府的社?x)组l，可以通过自己的第三方调查、客观中立的报告为政府决{提供很好的参考意见?/p>
For example:
A province in South China has approved the first registered private think tank to help advise officials on key issues, the People’s Daily reported.
据《h民日报》报道，q东省批准注册首个民间智库，以帮助政府在关键事务中咨询决{。广东“南Ҏ(gu)间智库”目前已吸收?jin)来自all walks of life(各行各业)?7名正式智库成员，他们通过|络问政、领D面会(x){^収ͼ为广东党委政府充当brain truster(智囊)Q出谋划{。该智库的正式成员包括知名网友、专家学者、政府及(qing)事业单位研究型h员、自p业者等Q此外还联系着上千名活跃的参与者。从本质上说Qprivate think tank(民间智库)应该游离于体制之外，回归q立于民间Qh民群众才是其力量和智慧的源泉。民间智库要真正发挥作用Q就必须建立一整套U学完整的制度，为民间智库的发展奠定基础。比如设立民间智库的special fund(专项资金)Q民间智库保持必要的独立性，政府可出台必要的supportive policy(扶持政策)Q对民间智库的徏a开通“green channel(l色通道)”，q体现在public policy(公共政策)的制定与落实上?/p>
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]]>中国互联|络信息中心(j)日前在京发布《第29ơ中国互联网l发展状늻计报告》。《报告》显C，截至2011q?2月底Q中国网民规模突?ѝInternet penetration rate是指“互联网普及(qing)率”。目前我国Internet population(|民)已经辑ֈ5.13亿，其中mobile phone Internetuser(手机|络用户)辑ֈ3.56亿h?/p>
For example:
The Internet penetration rate rose to 38.3 percent, up 4 percentage points from the same period in 2010, increasing by 55.8 million Internet users.
互联|普?qing)率上升?8.3%Q与2010q同期相比上升了(jin)四个癑ֈ点，新增|民5580万?/p>
2011q_(d)我国group purchasing users(团购用户)数达?465万，q增镉K?44.8%。团购用L(fng)情不减，但group purchasing websites(团购|站)数量却在下半q开始下滑。在大部分网l娱乐类应用的用率l箋(hu)下滑的同Ӟweb TV(|络视频)的用率呈逆势上扬的态势。但《报告》同时指出，׃各大视频|站需要靠聚合数量更多、质量更好的copyright(版权)内容来获取高netfl ow(|络量)Q得网l视频业版权h提高、operation cost(q营成本)大幅攀升，同时视频q告h较低、其他profi t model(盈利模式)无法在短旉内培L熟，因而网l视频行业整体处于亏损状态，q一现状目前q很难改变?/p>
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]]>At times local organizations may drag their heels in the campaign.
有时候地方组l在竞选活动中故意延迟行动?/p>
2. drag somebody into something 使某人卷入某U困境中
Don’t drag me into your plan.
不要我参加你们的计划?/p>
3. drag somebody away 使某Z某事中脱d来{而从事其它事?/p>
Though its time for dinner, it is diffi cult to drag my son away from the wonderful TV program.
虽是吃晚饭的旉?jin)，可很难把儿子从精彩的电(sh)视节目中拉走?/p>
4. a drag 无趣的事?/p>
This fi lm is a drag.
q部?sh)?jing)枯燥乏味?/p>
5. drag in 牉|Q插入讨Z
Please concentrate on the business at hand and don’t drag in irrelevant issues.
请你集中谈这件事Q不要牵扯其他问题?/p>
6. drag on/drag out 拖g
Let’s not drag on/out this discussion. We’ve got to reach a decision.
q场讨论别拖下去?jin)，我们得作个决定?/p>
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]]>Body mass index
著名的饱受争议的q康减肥?Dukan Diet)创始人法国营d家_(ki)?Pierre Dukan)Q日前在其新书中提出Q可以通过l变瘦的孩子增加额外考试成W的方法来解决儿童肥胖问题?/p>
Body mass index (BMI)是指“n体质量指数”，U“体重指数”，mass是指“质量”。BMI是一个calculated value(计算?Q主要用于统计用途，是用体重公斤数除以n高米数^方得出的数字Q是目前国际上常用的衡量Z胖瘦E度以及(qing)是否健康的一个标准?/p>
For example: The plan calls for high school students to be allowed to take a so-called "ideal weight" option in their fi nal year exams, the "baccalaureat", under which they would earn extra points if they kept a body mass index (BMI) of between 18 and 25.
q项计划要求在高?sh)毕业?x)考时Q允许所有高?sh)生增加一Ҏ(gu)谓“标准体重”的选择Q体重指C持在18?5之间的学生会(x)得到额外的分数?/p>
此外Q还可以依照body mass index(体重指数)来判断一个h的physical constitution(体格)。体格泛指n体健康强壮程度，如muscle function(肌肉功能)、cardio-pulmonary function(?j)肺功?{。常用于指一个h的n体是否强健，通常U某Z格很好表C此人physical condition(w体状况)良好?/p>
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(tng)
]]>Notting Hill Complex
Notting Hill Complex refers to the dream that the perfect star or actress can walk into our lives and marry us. Notting Hill Complex is a romantic kind of love.
“诺丁山情结”是指男Z渴望O的爱情故事，渴望梦想中完的x(chng)星或者童话里完美的女主角Q能够走q自q现实生活中，带给他们刻骨铭心(j)的邂逅。他们甚x(chng)想穿着公主鞋的明星最后能够爱上他Qƈ一赯上教堂的U地毯。诺丁山式的O爱情是一U把爱情故事理想化的情结?/p>
Notting Hill Complex is a dream, before coming back down to Earth. We realize that we are ordinary people and should live our lives.
Z山式的爱情故事，应该曾是每个人的梦想。很多h希望自己也可以有ơ浪漫的邂逅，只是一切过后现实让Z都冷?rn)下来，变得实际。我们意识到大多Ch都只是^凡的普通hQh们终I要q属于自qq_生活?/p>
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]]>Alpha-wives vs trophy wife
"Alpha-wives" emerge when women are the primary breadwinners in a household.
如今国过半数的家庭中Q女人才是主要的l济支柱Q这L(fng)女h是“阿?dng)法老婆”?/p>
Sociologist Catherine Bartlett says the alpha-wife has begun to replace the so-called trophy wife. "The trophy wife was wanted for her youth, beauty and body. She earned nothing on her own and truthfully wasn't someone who was sought after for her brains. The alpha-wife is desired for her intelligence and her power as a top money earner. She's independent and savvy. Her looks, though certainly visible, are secondary."
C会(x)学家巴特q_(d)阿尔法老婆已经开始取代所谓的q老婆。“男人想从花瓶老婆那里得到的是青春、美貌和w体。她自己不挣(zhun)钱，说实话男Z不是因ؓ(f)Ҏ(gu)脑子才追求她的。男人想得到阿尔法老婆则是因ؓ(f)她聪慧，而且很能?zhun)钱。她既独立又_明。虽焉?dng)法老婆长相也不差，但相貌ƈ不是男h选择她的首要原因。?/p>
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]]>英国一个非营利l织“理智科学”整理出2011q名Z在全球媒体上宣传的一些“伪U学”言论?/p>
Pseudo-science是指“伪U学”，也可以称为false science、badscience、suspect science。Pseudo是指“冒充的Q假的，伪的”，如pseudo instruction(伪指?虚拟指o(h))、pseudo language(虚拟语言)?/p>
While the review is partly about entertainment, the campaign group stresses it also has a serious aim ?to make sure pseudo-science is not allowed to be accepted as truth.
虽然q期ȝ回顾是半׃的，但该l织也有严肃目的Q就是确保公众不要相信伪U学?/p>
Pseudo-science(伪科?是指把没有scientifi c basis/evidence(U学Ҏ(gu))的non-science(非科?理论或方法宣UCؓ(f)U学或者比U学q要
U学的某U主张，如西方典型的伪科学astrology(占星?、Phrenology(骨相?{。Falsifi ability(可证伪?是区分科学与非科?包括伪科?的标准。“Sense about science (SAS)理智U学”组l希望名Z都能用自q影响力来宣传正确的scientifi c knowledge(U学知识)Q以免误导公众?/p>
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]]>春运Q中国铁道部启动|络售票pȝQ但很多旅客在网上购时遭遇“系l忙”而无法登陆网站。还有多名旅客称|购火R已支付成功Q但到现场取却发现pȝ内没有购记录?/p>
Online booking system是指“网上订系l”，铁道部表C在2011q年底前所有列车都实现online purchasing(|上购票)Q同时在春运前完成system upgrade(pȝ升)Q在全国范围内推行telephone booking(?sh)话订?业务?/p>
The railway system’s online booking system has begun to show its vulnerability ?and at times has been unable to issue tickets that were paid for ?as the massive wave of travelers during Spring Festival approaches.
随着春运客流高峰的到来，铁\|上订票pȝ开始出现漏z，旅客l常遭遇火R已支付Q却不能出票的情c(din)?/p>
此前铁道部已宣布Q?011q?1?0日v所有nonstop trains(直达特快列R)(Z字头)实现Web sales of train tickets(|络售票)Q?2?0日v所有express trains(特快列R)(T字头)实现互联|售。铁道部逐步扩大ID-based ticket booking system(火R实名制)实行范围Q以遏制“ticket scalper(黄牛/贩?”ticket touting/scalping(倒票)?/p>
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]]>1. all year round 一q到头、终q?/p>
例句QWe’ve made certain arrangements so there can be fl owers of different colors all year round.
我们已做?jin)精心(j)的安排Q以使一q四季都有不同颜色的花朵开放?/p>
2. the seven-year itch 七年之痒
例句QIs there the so-called “seven-year itch?between two friends?
朋友之间有没有所谓的“七q之痒”呢Q?/p>
3. put years on 使某?昑־)老些
例句QBeing tired and unhappy put years on him.
׃劳篏和心(j)情不好，他苍老了(jin)很多?/p>
4. be light years away from something 遥不可及(qing)Q或指两个事物截然不
同、差别很?/p>
例句QRighteous punishment is a thousand light years away from revenge.
公正的惩|跟报复可差得十万八千里?/p>
5. ring in the new year 新年前夕喜迎新年
例句QWe ring in the New Year with church bells.
随着教堂的钟壎ͼ我们q来?jin)新q?/p>
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]]>Illegal collection of evidence是指“非法取证”，是指通过extort confessions by torture(刑讯g)和以威胁、引诱、欺骗以?qing)其他非法方法收集的证据?/p>
Chinese lawmakers continued to read a draft amendment to the Criminal Procedural Law, suggesting more detailed stipulations to stem the illegal collection of evidence.
全国人大常委?x)周二再ơ审议刑事诉讼法修正案草案，增加更多L非法取证行ؓ(f)的细节规定?/p>
Ҏ(gu)草案规定Q今后司法机兛_能会(x)对criminal suspects(犯罪嫌疑?的审讯进行录x(chng)录像。对被判life imprisonment(ln监禁)、death sentences(d)和felony charges(重罪指控)嫌疑人的interrogation process(审讯q程)Q必进行录x(chng)录像?/p>
今年8月，全国人大常委?x)首ơ审议a(chn) draft amendment to the Criminal Procedural Law(刑诉法修正案草案)。随后，中国人大|全文公布草案向C会(x)征求意见。同Ӟ全国人大法律委员?sh)(x)、全国h大常委会(x)法制工作委员?sh)(x)还通过座谈、调研等方式听取?jin)各斚w意见。这些意见、徏议被立法机关采纳后Ş成了(jin)修正案草案二ơ审议稿?/p>
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]]>Year-end panic
Year-end panic refers to the self-reproach and overall feeling of panic brought about by the approach of the year’s end, often due to a poor financial year and pressure at work.
“年关焦虑症”指的是q关至而生的自责和恐慌心(j)理，通常由年度收入不佟뀁工作压力过大引赗?/p>
Thinking of New Year’s Day, it involves a lot of spending, entertaining ?often with the boss and colleagues ?personnel assessments, changes, boredom, agitation and panic leading to stomach discomfort, headaches, insomnia and so on.
惛_新年、春节的大量花销Q和同事、老板间的应酬Q各c部门ȝQh事变动，很多人都?x)感到厌烦(ch)、无助、焦虑、恐慌，甚至出现肠胃不适、头疹{失眠等一pd亚健L(fng)状?/p>
The psychological expert suggests that we should avoid increasing the pressure by comparing ourselves with others blindly. The end of the year is an ideal time for strategic review and renewal. Stress is high. But excitement is in the air! Regret lingers about goals left unfulfilled. But resolutions flourish to do better in the New Year!
Ҏ(gu)Q心(j)理专家徏议不应盲目攀比徒增压力。年x(chng)一个回֒展望的好时机。压力是很大Q但新的一q即开始也让h振奋Q也怽q在为没有实现的目标后?zhn)不已Q但是你q是可以下定军_(j)在来q做得更好！
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]]>俚语是指民间非正式、较口语化的语句Q是癑֧在日常生zMȝ出来的通俗易懂口的具有地方色彩的词语。我们生zM的常见词汇，包括水果蔬菜{都能在国俚语中被赋予Ҏ(gu)含义。今天我们要学的俚语是关于“香?banana)”这一大家都非常熟(zhn)和喜欢的水果?/p>
1. bananas 发疯的、神l错q(相当于crazy)
例句QThe noise drives them bananas.
那噪声让他们抓狂?/p>
2. go bananas (= become crazy) 发疯、神l错?/p>
例句QShe went bananas when she found him cheating.
她发Cƺ骗时气得要命?/p>
3. big/top banana 主要人物、大老板、最好的演员或重要的官员
例句QHe’s the top banana in this company.
他是q家公司的大老板?/p>
4. second banana W二选择、次要h物、配?/p>
例句QI always play second banana to her.
我L做她的后补?/p>
5. banana oil 明显夸大的吹?p巧语)
例句QCut out the banana oil; fl attery will get you nowhere!
别花a巧语?jin)，?gu)是不?x)你捞到好处的Q?/p>
6. banana skin 尬事、隐(zhn)?/p>
例句QThe proposed tax changes are likely to prove a banana skin for
the government.
中的E务变动很可能给政府带来无穷后?zhn)?/p>
?To learn more expressions, please log on to http://language.chinadaily.com.cn.
]]>Pre-movie adverts
l荧屏“限qo(h)”叫停电(sh)视剧插播q告之后Q银q上贴片q告的经营权又在岁末被明归属。国家广甉|d日前出台的《关于促(j)q电(sh)影制片发行上映协调发展的指导意见》中明确表示Q脓(chung)片广告的l营权将逐步回归到媄(jing)院，制片方不再经营脓(chung)片广告?/p>
Pre-movie adverts(也叫cinema advertising)Q就是指“脓(chung)片广告”或“随片广告”，是指企业品广告或企业形象q告与媄(jing)片一同拷贝，在电(sh)影放映前播出的广告?/p>
?sh)?jing)中的夹带q告按其表现的方式来_(d)一般分为显性和隐性广告两cRDominant advertising(显性广?主要以电(sh)׃的pre-movie adverts(贴片q告)ZQ而recessive advertisement(隐性广?则以?sh)?jing)中的product placement(植入式广?Z?/p>
For example:
Cinemas in China may be prohibited from screening pre-movie adverts after the fi lm’s start time printed on tickets, according to a draft law on movie promotion.
Ҏ(gu)《电(sh)׃业促(j)q法(征求意见E?》，我国?sh)?jing)院不能在向观众明C的?sh)?jing)放映旉之后放映贴片q告?/p>
对媄(jing)视剧的最大受众咱老百姓来_(d)新政{到底是能把TV Commercial(pq告)数量控制在一个合理的范畴Q还是在强力打压下其变相生长，变本加厉地闯q我们的cultural life(文化生活)Q这才是关键问题?/p>
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]]>Live and let live
We are only passing through, and since this government is a government led by a God-fearing leader who believes in God, why do we not agree, starting with this house, that we should adopt a policy of live and let live?
My comments:
“Live and let live?is the age-old idiom that literally means you should live your own life as you see fi t and let others live theirs as they want to.
There are many ways to interpret this, but, generally speaking, this line of philosophy advocates mutual tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
To elaborate, life off ers a wide variety of pleasures and opportunities, which generates vastly diff erent lifestyles in diff erent countries, societies and sometimes within the same cultures and communities.
Each person has his/her own reasons for, and ideologies about, living they way they do. Hence, to enjoy our lives the way we want to, we should allow others to do the same, even though their lifestyles may appear totally bizarre to us.
Otherwise, there’d be no peace.
Zhang Xin, who writes a column for Language Tips, has been with China Daily since 1988.
?To ask a question about learning English, please go to http://translate.chinadaily.com.cn.
]]>1. apple of one’s eye 掌上明珠、心(j)肝宝?指某人极为珍q人或?
例句QGrandfather always made the most fuss over Gillian. She is the apple of his eye.
父L极其宠爱吉林恩，Ҏ(gu)他的掌上明珠?/p>
2. apples and oranges 风马牛不相及(qing)的事?/p>
例句QMen and women are like apples and oranges.
男h和女人是完全不同的?/p>
3. rotten apple 坏家伙、害之?/p>
例句QHe’s a rotten apple.
他是一个讨厌的家伙?/p>
4. upset the apple cart 搞砸或毁坏某事物
例句QTom really upset the apple cart by telling Mary the truth about Jane.
汤姆把珍妮的真实情况告诉?jin)玛丽，他可真把事情l搞怺(jin)?/p>
5. an apple of discord 争端Q祸?/p>
例句QI sense an apple of discord between you two.
我感觉你们俩不和?/p>
6. dead sea apple 不可靠的成就Qo(h)人失望的事情
例句QThis proposal sounds perfect, but it will be dead sea apple if we
don’t do it exactly right.
q个计划听v来很完美Q但如果我们不切实执行，一切都是一场空?/p>
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]]>A “stress puppy?is a person who thrives on stress but complains about it constantly.
压力狗指的是因为压力而成长，但是又因承受不了(jin)压力l日抱怨，像小狗一样呜呜叫的h?/p>
They are always in a hurry, never have spare time, have anger explosions for the slightest provocation and are, frankly, just miserable people to live with.
他们L匆匆忙忙Q从来都没有I，d的刺Ȁ也会(x)触怒他们，说实在的Q跟他们生活很?zhn)惨?/p>
People with this type of personality need to be conscious of the fact that the underlying reason why they are always stressed has to do with the way that they manage their lives. Stress is not an objective, independent entity but rather is something perceived in the mind of the person who experiences the stress. If someone suffers from stress not caused by dealing with the impact of a major life-changing event, but rather about the day-to-day grind of dealing with life, he needs to learn how to cope with stress and manage it.
q种性格的h要意识到他们的紧张感和他们经营生zȝ方式有关——压力不是一个客观独立的实体Q而是人的?j)理感知。如果压力不是来自重大的生命转折?sh)gQ而只是来自日常生zM的例行事务，那么q个人就要学学如何应对压力了(jin)?/p>
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]]>Swiss cheese
And that means there’s no conditionality. They’re not conditional on receiving technology or fi nancing. There’re no trap doors. There’s no Swiss cheese in that kind of an agreement.
Swiss cheese is a kind of cheese that has large holes in it. Well, not all Swiss cheeses have holes in them, but what Switzerland is famous for in the cheese department is this fi rm pale yellow kind, the kind with large holes.
Hence, the long and short of it is that Swiss cheese gets to stand for, figuratively speaking, holes, or loopholes, as in laws which allow you to avoid doing what you’re supposed to do.
Another media example (Volcker: Rule is no Swiss cheese, Cityam.com, June 22, 2010):
White House economic adviser Paul Volcker has told US lawmakers they should not allow his proposed Volcker rule limiting risky trading by banks to become fi lled with holes.
“He has told several people, including some lawmakers, that he does not want the Volcker rule to look like Swiss cheese.?/p>
Zhang Xin, who writes a column for Language Tips, has been with China Daily since 1988.
?To ask a question about learning English, please go to http://translate.chinadaily.com.cn.
]]>Freemale
A freemale is a woman who opts for a single life, valuing friendships rather than pursuing extended romantic relationships. Some freemales also choose to live childfree, choosing not to have children for a variety of reasons, while others decide to become single mothers.
自由x(chng)选择单n生活Q不q求长期恋爱关系而更重视友谊的女性。有些自由女?x)出于种U原因选择不要孩子Q而有些会(x)选择做单w母二Ӏ?/p>
There are a variety of reasons to choose to live as a single woman, including a desire for an unencumbered lifestyle, the rising divorce rate and an inclination for asexuality. The freemale demographic is very intriguing from a real estate perspective. Single women are putting pressure on housing markets to provide homes that are comfortable for single women living alone.
x(chng)选择单n的原因有很多Q对无羁l生zL式的向往Q越来越高的d率，~Z性欲的們{。房C商们对这U自由女性非常感兴趣。因为需要ؓ(f)单nx(chng)提供单独的舒适住房，房地产市(jng)场的压力也大大增加?/p>
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]]>1. a bag of bones 骨瘦如柴的h
例句QIf you don’t eat more you’ll soon be a bag of bones.
你要再不多吃些，真的要变得骨瘦如柴了(jin)?/p>
2. be as dry as a bone q燥极了(jin)、口渴极?/p>
例句QLet’s stop for a drink. I’m as dry as a bone.
׃停下来喝点什么吧Q我的嗓子干得直冒烟?/p>
3. be bone idle 懒到家了(jin)、懒到极点了(jin)
例句QThe boy has a good enough brain but he’s bone idle and won’t
study.
q个男孩脑子十分好，但就是懒惰成性，不肯学习(fn)?/p>
4. close to the bone q乎下流的、卑鄙的
例句Q?Some of his jokes were a bit close to the bone.
他的有些W话q乎下流?/p>
5. bone of contention 争论的焦?/p>
例句QThe division of their father’s property is their bone of contention.
父亲的胦(ch)产分配问题是他们争吵的原因?/p>
6. feel in your bones 直觉地意识到Q从内心(j)(?感到
例句QShe felt in her bones that she would succeed.
她坚信自p成功?/p>
7. bone up 刻苦用功M
例句QI must bone up on my French before we go to Paris.
在我们去巴黎之前Q我必须刻苦学习(fn)法语?/p>
—To learn more expressions, please log on to http://language.chinadaily.com.cn.
]]>11?8日，q电(sh)d正式下发《〈广播电(sh)视广告播出管理办法〉的补充规定》，传闻已久的“限qo(h)”终于得到证实。《规定》决定，?012q??日vQ全国各?sh)视台播出?sh)视剧Ӟ每集?sh)视剧中间不得再以Q何Ş式插播广告?/p>
Ban on all TV stations airing commercials指的是TV commercials ban(限广?Q这一新规定将?012q??日take into effect(开始实?。全国各TV stations(?sh)视?必须重新调整节目安排Q取消在TV dramas(?sh)视?播放时插播的各种q告Q违规播出机构将受到stern punishment(严肃处理)?/p>
China’s top broadcasting watchdog has ordered a national ban on all TV stations airing commercials during TV dramas.
国家q电(sh)dq日颁布“限qo(h)”，规定在全国各?sh)视台播出?sh)视剧Ӟ止插播q告?/p>
lcutback on TV entertainment(限娱?之后Q广甉|d紧接着又重招_台TV commercials ban(限广?Q对?sh)视行业q行规范和整，W合q大观众的利益和愿望。据调查Q大多数观众都支持这一o(h)Q一些支持者表C，每次看电(sh)视剧时被q告打断Q极大地破坏viewing experience(视觉体验)?/p>
同时QTV commercials ban(限广?不能只限制电(sh)视剧中插播的q告Q更应该寚w些涉嫌违法违规的fake advertising(虚假q告)、sexrelated commercials(色情q告){进行整和规范?/p>
?To learn more hot words, please log on to http://language.chinadaily.com.cn.
]]>Two-pizza teams
“Two-pizza teams?is the concept of keeping a team small enough that it can be fed with two pizzas. That means being small enough for every member to make a noticeable contribution. The team requires interdependence, a common objective and a single criterion of success.
“双比萨团队”，是说让团队保持在两个比萨能让队员吃q规模。团队要到让每个成员都能做出显著的贡献Qƈ且相互依赖，有共同目标，以及(qing)l一的成功标准?/p>
If you’re working in a group of more than 15 people, you’re fighting human nature. The number of group members varies from three to 12 or 15, and is likely optimal at around 10.
如果你在一个大?5人的团队里工作，你就是在和hcL性对抗。团队成员数量可以是3?2或?5个，最佳的成员数量?0个?/p>
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]]>Sit on its hands
The Fed’s extraordinary intervention should impress upon the European Central Bank, as well as its paymasters in Germany, that it is high time it stopped sitting on its hands.
My comments:
Children in kindergarten are sometimes asked to literally sit on their hands while listening to the teacher in class. With their hands thus unable to move, they’re much less likely to play with their hands, let alone fi ht one another.
Hence, to sit on one’s hands suggests fi guratively means someone just sits there, remains idle and does nothing in, say, a time of crisis when he should be taking action.
In the above example, Germany is accused of having been sitting on its hands ?that is, of inaction, when it is clearly expected to have done something to ease the euro crisis.
Zhang Xin, who writes a column for Language Tips, has been with China Daily since 1988.
?To ask a question about learning English, please go to http://translate.chinadaily.com.cn.
]]>Holidates
Holidates is one way of advertising for temporary boyfriends and girlfriends to accompany one during the holidays. The relationships are terminated at the end of the holidays.
节日U会(x)是用q告征(f)时男友或奛_度假q在假日l束时终l关pȝ一U方式?/p>
Two unnamed American women created one ad that read: “We need two guys (preferably two in a bromance to match our womance) to stick around for the holidays. Our love will be fake, but epic. We want to make everyone jealous.?/p>
两位国匿名x(chng)发布了(jin)一个广告：(x)“我们需要两位男?最好是关系特别好的哥们Q可以和我们俩姐妚w?共度节日。我们的爱情是假的，但会(x)像史诗般l烂。我们要让所有h艳M我们。?/p>
If you’re single and too busy for full-time boyfriends, holidates is one way of warding off a nosey mother’s interrogations as to, “Why haven’t you got a boyfriend??/p>
是的Q如果你单nq且忙到没时间找全职男友Q节日约?x)是一U躲避妈妈不休地q问“你Z么还没有h友？”的好方法?/p>
?To learn more buzzwords, please log on to http://language.chinadaily.com.cn.
]]>1. give/lend an ear to someone 們某h的心(j)?常用以表C同?
例句QHe tried to give a sympathetic ear to the patient.
他极力怀着同情?j)們(zhn)者的叙述?/p>
2. fall on deaf ears 未被理睬、未受重?/p>
例句QMy advice always seems to fall on deaf ears.
我的好像L没h听?/p>
3. talk one’s ear off 喋喋不休QQ叨个不停
例句QAll I wanted was a chance to read my book, but my seatmate
talked my ear off .
我巴不得能有Z(x)看书Q但我的同桌却唠唠叨叨地说个不停?/p>
4. make a pig’s ear of 把事情搞得很p糕
例句QHe made a pig’s ear (out) of repairing my car.
他把我的车修得一团糟?/p>
5. have big ears x(chng)、消息灵通；爱打听别人的?/p>
例句QHe can’t help having big ears.
他ȝ打听别h的事?/p>
6. all eyes and ears 聚精?x)?/p>
例句QA detective must be all eyes and all ears.
一个侦探必ȝ观六路，耛_八方?/p>
7. grin from ear to ear 咧着嘴笑、笑逐颜开
例句QWhen he was told he won fi rst prize, he grinned from ear to ear.
当他被告知自己得?jin)一{奖Ӟ他咧开嘴笑?jin)?/p>
8. play it by ear 随机应变、见?/p>
例句QIn dealing with that unpredictable man, you simply can’t follow a
prearranged plan. You have to play it by ear.
和那个捉怸定的人打交道Q你直无法按预定计划行事Q只好随
行应变?/p>
9. ears prick up 竖vx(chng)仔细?/p>
例句QHis ears pricked up when they mentioned the salary.
当他们提到工资时Q他立刻注意h?/p>
?To learn more expressions, please log on to http://language.chinadaily.com.cn.
]]>1. have/got one’s hands full 很忙Q应接不?/p>
Three emergency cases came into the hospital at the same time and the doctors really had their hands full.
三个急诊病h被同旉到医院Q医生们真是应接不暇?/p>
2. be up to one’s neck 忙得不可开?/p>
I can’t possibly come out tonight, I’m up to my neck in work.
今晚我不可能出来Q我的工作忙得不可开交?/p>
3. be as busy as a bee 忙忙碌Q忙dzȝ
He was as busy as a bee trying to put the house in order.
他ؓ(f)?jin)要把家里弄得整整齐齐，忙?jin)好一阵子?/p>
4. busy as a beaver 忙得团团?/p>
He is working so hard that he is as busy as a beaver.
他没日没夜地工作Q看h很忙?/p>
5. be tied up 被占用，很忙
I’ll be tied up for the rest of the week, I am afraid.
q个星期我恐怕都抽不出时间?/p>
6. in the middle of something 正忙于某?/p>
I’m in the middle of something. Could you call back later?
我现在很忙，你能q会(x)l我打电(sh)话吗Q?/p>
7. irons in the fi re 要做的事?/p>
Don’t put too many irons in the fi re.
不要揽事太多?/p>
?To learn more expressions, please log on to http://language.chinadaily.com.cn.
]]>The Ikea eff ect
“The Ikea eff ect?is when people buy and then construct products themselves, then develop an attachment or sense of pride to this object.
The Ikea effect leads people to value things that they assemble, customize or build themselves more than pre-made, fi nished goods.
“宜家效应”指Z自己购买q动手制作品时Q会(x)产生对该产品的依恋感或自豪感。“宜家效应”让Z珍视自己l装、定制或建造的东西多过那些预先做好的成品?/p>
People are making a mistake; they believe they want to avoid labor, but they really like doing it more than they thought than they would. There’s something about imbuing a product with your own labor that makes you come to overvalue it.
Z犯了(jin)一个错误，他们认ؓ(f)自己?x)设法避免劳作，但是实际上h们比自己惌的更喜欢制作东西。把自己的努力灌输到一件品上?x)让人加倍重视这件东ѝ?/p>
?To learn more buzzwords, please log on to http://language.chinadaily.com.cn.
]]>Casing the joint
Had your fill of the summer’s parching rays? If not, perhaps your skin would beg to differ. The reason why aging is so intimidating isn’t because it appears to sneak up on you like a fi rst-rate mugger. In reality, aging is more like a savvy bank robber who’s spent months casing the joint.
My comments:
“Casing the joint?is an American idiom describing the criminal activity of thieves and robbers. Joint is slang for a place, especially a meeting place. The pub on the corner, for instance, is a familiar joint. To case the joint is to look the place over, thoroughly examine it before going ahead with one’s plans to, say, ransack it. A case completely wraps up what’s inside, hence the idea that to “case?the joint is to “thoroughly?examine it, fi nding out every piece of information about the place.
To say that in reality, aging is “more like a savvy bank robber who’s spent months casing the joint?is to say that aging is a slow process.
It doesn’t happen all of a sudden. It is a gradual process. In fact, it is something that has been happening all the time.
And, yet, it happens so slowly that people often don’t notice it ?until it’s too late.
Zhang Xin, who writes a column for Language Tips, has been with China Daily since 1988.
?To ask a question about learning English, please go to http://translate.chinadaily.com.cn.
]]>People who have been surfing the Internet for a long time may have dozens of avatars that they’ve created over the years, but more often than not, they say that the fi rst avatar you create is the most like yourself.
It’s also common for people to create an avatar who is the opposite of themselves, a virtual alter ego. Either way, when we create a character instinctually, it reveals enormous amounts about our sensitivities, personality and priorities. That is called avatar personality.
淯|络怹的h们大概都?x)有q十几个头像Q不q有Q你选的W一个头像是最像你自己的。还有h喜欢用跟自己形象完全不同的头像，展现虚拟的另一个自己。不怎么P我们凭着直觉创徏头像Ӟ它就?x)反应出我们的敏感度、个性以?qing)喜好。这是“头像性格”?/p>
A micro blog post that defi nes aura fi elds for diff erent types of avatars has gone viral. It goes like this: A woman with a weak aura field will most likely have an avatar of a mighty female, a woman with a strong aura field will use her own photo as avatar; a man with a strong aura field usually chooses comic fi gures as his avatar, while a weak man’s avatar often is a photo of himself.
一则鉴定微博头像气场的D子被疯狂{发：(x)气场不强的女人，头像往往是个气场很强的洋妞；气场强大的女人，头像一般是真相Q气场强大的男hQ头像一般是动O人物Q气Z强的男hQ头像是真相?/p>
?To learn more buzzwords, please log on to http://language.chinadaily.com.cn.
]]>Wolf dad
萧百佑，香港商hQ自U?ldquo;中国狼爸”Q用“?rdquo;的教育方式，三个孩子送进北大?ldquo;国虎妈”已让西方人大面积质疑Q以“?rdquo;为法宝的“中国狼爸”Q再ơ掀起对中国国教育模式的讨论?/p>
Stick parenting是?ldquo;棒教育”Q这是自UC?ldquo;wolf dad(狼爸)”的香港商百佑所推崇的一U教育理c(din)去q红极一时的国“tiger mom(虎妈)”已经遭到西方C会(x)的普遍质疑，而萧百佑?ldquo;‘wolf dad’ approach(狼爸教育)”引v公众对education techniques(教育方式)的再ơ讨论?/p>
After the roars of a “tiger mom”, a “wolf dad” again stirred controversy on “stick parenting”.
l?ldquo;虎妈”热潮之后Q?ldquo;狼爸”再一ơ激起了(jin)关于“棒教育”的争论?/p>
“Wolf dad(狼爸)”traditional Chinese education(中国传统国学教育)和自ql验相结合，以极其彪(zhn)的教育手法?个儿奛_L品学g?sh)知书达理的好孩子，其中三个孩子相被北京大学录取，创造了(jin)“一门三北大”的奇qV?/p>
Stick parenting(棒教育)引vC会(x)各界的反响和争论Q学者们认ؓ(f)在这U教育方式下考入一大学的孩子可能?x)有某种personality disorders(人格障碍)Q律师警告这U教育方式有可能q反有关domestic violence(家庭暴力)和child abuse(儿童虐待)的法律?/p>
— To learn more hot words, please log on to http://language.chinadaily.com.cn.
]]>Thanksgiving Third Degree
If you’re single, the pressures of going home on Thanksgiving Day can make you sick with anxiety. Because, no matter how much therapy you jammed into your schedule leading up to the big weekend, one can never be prepared for the Thanksgiving Third Degree, probing questions, insolent comments and looks of pity, that invariably come as aside order to the turkey.
如果你单w，那么感恩节回家要面(f)的压力会(x)让你很不安。因为无Zؓ(f)卛_到来的这个长周末准备?jin)多节目，面对家中的“感恩节逼婚”环节，你却永远不知道该如何应对。那些试探性的问题、无理的评h(hun)q有惋惜的表情，像是感恩节桌上火鸡的辅料一栗?/p>
The following are the most frequently asked questions in the Thanksgiving Third Degree:
以下是“感恩节逼婚”环节最帔R到的几个问题Q?/p>
Question 1: Is there a special someone we should know about whom you’re hiding back at home?
是不是有个什么特Dh物你藏着不让我们见啊Q?/p>
Question 2: What are you waiting for? Maybe you’re just being too picky.
你还在等什么呢Q是不是你太?xi)?jin)啊？
Question 3: There must be something wrong. Are you depressed?
肯定是哪儿不对劲Q你是不是抑郁了(jin)啊？
Question 4: Aren’t you worried you’re going to give your parents/grandparents a heart attack?
N你不担心(j)你的爸妈(L(fng)奶奶)?x)因此得心(j)脏病吗Q?/p>
Question 5: Have you considered seeing a professional matchmaker?
有没有考虑q去专业的婚介机构试试呢Q?/p>
?To learn more buzzwords, please log on to http://language.chinadaily.com.cn.
]]>Irish Goodbye
An Irish Goodbye is when a person leaves a bar or party or other gathering surreptitiously, without saying goodbye to anyone.
The Irish Goodbye could be a furtive sneak out the back door, “running out to get something from the car?and not returning, a trip to the bathroom that never ends, and so on. Basically, the Irish Goodbye is when you want to get away without the awkwardness or emotions of an actual goodbye or kiss on the cheek.
偷偷从后门溜走、“去车里取东襎(k)然后一M回，以及(qing)去趟卫生间就消失不见{行为都属于“爱?dng)兰式告别”。基本上Q采用这U告别Ş式是Z(jin)避免尬Q或者不惛_发告别时的情lv伏以?qing)面颊吻别等客套CD?/p>
There’s no definitive explanation of how the Irish Goodbye got its name.
One theory holds that the Irish Goodbye originated during the Potato Famine of 1845-1852, when many Irish fl ed their homeland for the United States. At the time, distance and technology meant that when someone went to America, they were gone forever and it was unlikely they would ever again speak to or see friends or family back home. The departure was sudden and absolute.
关于“爱?dng)兰式告别”这个表辄来源Q倒是没有一个明的说法?/p>
有h说这个短语来源于1845Q?852q爱?dng)兰大饥荒时期，很多爱尔Ch从家乡逃到国。当Ӟ两国的距dU技手段意味着一旦去?jin)美国，他们是永远dQ不?x)再有机会(x)跟家乡的亲人和朋友联络。这U告别是H然又决然的?/p>
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]]>free rein
They seek a new career in which they can give free rein to the desire to manage and dominate others.
http://translate.chinadaily.com.cn/showQuestion. action?qid=1291321247
My comments:
“Rein?refers to the long band of leather fastened around a horse’s head to control it. Hence, to “rein the horse in? you pull the reins to make the horse go slowly.
To have “free rein? therefore, is to have complete freedom to do what you want. To give “free rein to the desire?to manage and dominate others is to be able to freely act on that desire.
Whether or not they can fi nd such a career that satisfi es their “desire to manage and dominate others? however, is quite another matter altogether.
I mean, dominate others? Why do you want to do that?
Zhang Xin, who writes a column for Language Tips, has been with China Daily since 1988.
?To ask a question about learning English, please go to http://translate.chinadaily.com.cn.
]]>Cheapskate
A cheapskate is a stingy person who buys cheap things rather than higher-quality pricier items, even though they can aff ord the more expensive goods. Perhaps they try to not spend much on their friends.
The word isn’t particularly off ensive and is often intended to ridicule in a light-hearted manner.
Cheapskate指手里有钱却仍然攑ּ优质货品转而购买廉L(fng)品的“吝啬鬼”。他们可能没什么恶意，只是不愿意在朋友w上花太多钱Q有时也是一U轻杄自嘲?/p>
The term is of North American origin. Skate began to appear in print in the United States at the end of the 19th century. It has several meanings, including a mean or contemptible person and a second-rate sportsman. Cheap was added later to refer to a person’s tightfi sted nature rather than any of his other perceived inadequacies.
q个词来源于北美。Skateq个说法19世纪末期初现于美国，多指刻薄卑鄙的hQ或者二的q动员。前面加上cheap则表C某人“手紧”的本性，与他后天形成的其他缺Ҏ(gu)兟?/p>
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]]>Costume shot
APEC大家庭一q一ơ的“全家福”合影是C(x)最抢眼的风景，多年来，领导人合影时到底要穿什么样式的衣服Q就成了(jin)?x)前各国新闻媒体所兛_(j)的热炚w题(sh)一。刚刚闭q的2011APEC与会(x)领导人在夏威h摄“全家福”合影，而此ơ拍摄合q领导人ƈ没像往q那栯n着当地特色的传l服饰?/p>
据外甉|道，国ȝ奥巴马表CAPECC(x)上的元首costume shot(“全家福”服装秀)不再成ؓ(f)必需的一内容，costume shot是指a “family photo?in some garb representative of the host country.
US President Barack Obama, as the host this year, packed away for good the two-decade tradition of having the group pose for a “family photo?in some garb representative of the host country.
作ؓ(f)今年APECC(x)的东道主Q美国ȝ奥巴马表C，C(x)打?0q来元首w穿丑֊国当地特色传l服饰拍摄“全家福”的惯例?/p>
奥巴马在Asia- Pacifi c Economic Cooperation (APEC) 19th informal leadership meeting (APECW十?ji)次领导人非正式会(x)?闭幕后召开?/p>
记者会(x)上回{提问时表示Q他希望能打破传l，虽然发给每位领导人Hawaiian shirts(夏威夯衬衫)Q但没有规定他们必须在“family photo?合媄(jing))时穿上?/p>
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]]>teetotaler
Teetotalism refers to either the practice of or the promotion of complete abstinence from alcoholic beverages. A person who practices (and possibly advocates) teetotalism is called a teetotaler or is simply said to be teetotal.
酒M(teetotalism)指践行或推广止饮用酒精饮料的做法，实践(或提?酒M的h叫做teetotaler(滴酒不沾的hQ禁酒h??/p>
Some common reasons for choosing to be a teetotaler are related to religion, health, family, or social and, sometimes, simply a matter of taste or preference. When at drinking establishments, teetotallers either abstain from drinking or consume nonalcoholic beverages, such as tea, coff ee, water, juice, soft drinks and mocktails.
选择做禁酒h士常见的原因多与宗教、健店家庭、肠胃以?qing)社会(x)问题有养I有时也可能只是因为口味的原因选择不喝酒。在一些饮酒的场合Q禁酒h士或者避免参与，或者就选择一些不含酒_饮料Q比如茶、咖啡、白水、果汁、Y饮以?qing)不含酒_鸡尾酒等?/p>
?To learn more buzzwords, please log on to http://language.chinadaily.com.cn.
]]>假面时代
PS generation describes the phenomenon that many people would like to polish their photos to perfection with Photoshop software before uploading them to social networking websites or micro blogs, which may show others a manmade beautiful image but might also become a target of online mocking. And frequent use of Photoshop may also lead to a tendency of pretence in daily life, keeping everything real to oneself and pretending to be someone else all the time.
“假面时代?PS generation)专指多数人将照片用PS软g处理q后才上传到C交|站或微博等|络q_。假面时代除?jin)向人展CZ装后的美丽外表，有时q有可能成ؓ(f)|友恶搞的对象。而习(fn)惯伪装照片的背后Q很多h更开始伪装自qa谈D止，把真实的自己隐藏hQ整天以假面CZh?/p>
?To learn more buzzwords, please log on to http://language.chinadaily.com.cn.
]]>bear the brunt of
I have tried to make this point clear today because you have to work on the front lines, bearing the brunt of all difficulties.
My comments:
“Brunt?is the principal force of an attack or the greater part of a burden.
The point being made “clear today?is that “because you have to work on the front lines?(handling day-to-day tasks), you get to face all the difficulties or “bear the brunt?(the most diffi cult part) of them.
The front lines, of course, are where real battles are fought, where blood is actually shed. In a way, that’s where the brunt of the burden of fighting a war really lies.
Come to think of it, if all warmongers are forced to send their own sons and daughters to the front lines, and better yet, if all politicians who wage wars are themselves forced to fight in the front lines, there’d be no wars. Or many fewer of them at any rate.
Zhang Xin, who writes a column for Language Tips, has been with China Daily since 1988.
?To ask a question about learning English, please go to http://translate.chinadaily.com.cn.
]]>中国伦理学会(x)慈孝专业文化委员?sh)(x)计划用五年旉Q在全国培养百万4?岁的中华孝子，q倡议天下父母要从培d子有孝心(j)Qؓ(f)孩子做孝道榜栗?/p>
Filial piety是“孝道”，由儒家创始h孔子提出Qƈ提倡，filial piety is one of the virtues to be held above all else(癑֖孝ؓ(f)?Q强调the responsibility to care for, respect and obey parents(照顾、尊敬ƈZ父母之责)?/p>
The special committee of fi lial piety under the China National Association for Ethical Studies announced on Sunday that it aims to help 1 million children between the ages of 4 and 6 learn about fi lial piety, which is deeply rooted in China’s traditional culture.
中国伦理学会(x)慈孝专业文化委员?sh)(x)周日宣布将致力于帮?00万年龄在4岁到6岁之间的儿童学习(fn)中国传统文化中的孝道?/p>
q个百万孝子工E计划培d100万名fi lial children(孝子)Q尽original intention(初衷)很好Q但是否真能培养出孝子，׃得而知?jin)?/p>
q年来，中国传统文化日益受到重视和发扬，例如让学生穿上traditional Han costumes(汉服)QD行coming-of-age ceremony(成hC?Q给入学的孩子D行first writing ceremony(开W礼){?/p>
?To learn more hot words, please log on to http://language.chinadaily.com.cn.
]]>Sleep debt is the cumulative eff ect of not getting enough sleep over time. A large sleep debt may lead to mental and physical fatigue.
睡眠负?sleep debt)指长期睡眠不生的影响。睡眠负多可能会(x)D_或n体疲惫?/p>
There are presumed to be two kinds of sleep debt, caused by partialsleep deprivation or total sleep deprivation. Partial sleep deprivation occurs when a person sleeps too little for many days or weeks. Total sleep deprivation means being kept awake for days or weeks.
睡眠负债的来源有两U：(x)部分睡眠不和整体睡眠不뀂前者指一个hq箋(hu)几天或几周每天都睡很短的旉Q后者则指一个hq箋(hu)几天或几周不合眼?/p>
A long-term sleep debt may cause emotional upheaval, compromise work performance, and weaken memory, alertness, attention and judgment. It may also speed up the ageing process and lead to disease.
长期处于睡眠负债的状况中，不但?x)?jing)响情l、工作表现、还?sh)(x)减低记忆力、警觉性、注意力和判断力、ƈ且加速老化Q甚臛_发其它疾病?/p>
?To learn more buzzwords, please log on to http://language.chinadaily.com.cn.
]]>The Mute Age
Talking to a colleague sitting next to you through instant messaging instead of vocal communication; mass texting friends and relatives with downloaded festival greetings instead of calling them in person; e-mailing work reports to your boss without worrying about getting punched in the face and saving printing resources for your company at the same time. Does any of this sound familiar to you? Yes, this is what we are doing every day. We’ve entered the mute age.
跟邻桌同事商量事情不用张口，而用MSN之类的聊天工P逢年q节亲朋好友问候，不再用昂늚镉K电(sh)话，Ҏ(gu)?jin)群发网上下载的福短信Q工作汇报也不必费公司U张油墨、不必担?j)老板脸色Q一邮件统l搞定。以上描q的q些场景你觉得熟(zhn)吗Q对Q这是我们每天都在做的事情。我们已l进入了(jin)“默声”时代?/p>
?To learn more buzzwords, please log on to http://language.chinadaily.com.cn.
]]>cross one’s path
They steal, they rob, they swindle; no one dares to cross their path.
http://translate.chinadaily.com.cn/showQuestion.action?qid=1291322681
My comments:
If you cross the street, you go from one side of it to the other. If you cross someone’s path, hence, you encounter that person and see him face to face while crossing the route along which he is walking.
“They steal, they rob, they swindle”? “They?sound like gangsters or, figuratively speaking, Wall Street bankers. Both are powerful people.
They’re bullies.“No one dares to cross their path??nobody dares to confront them, to stand in their way to stop them or to say what they’re doing is wrong.
Zhang Xin, who writes a column for Language Tips, has been with China Daily since 1988.
]]>Four months ago, my girlfriend and I broke up.
四个月前Q我和我的女朋友分手?jin)?/p>
2. break down _崩溃/毁坏
The machine might break down at this busy hour.
正忙的时候，机器偏偏又坏?jin)?/p>
3. break in 破门而入
Robbers often break in at midnight.
强盗l常在半夜破门而入?/p>
4. break out 出皮?爆发
The baby broke out in a rash.
婴孩全nZ(jin)一片红疏V?/p>
5. break through H破/I过
The sun broke through the clouds.
太阳冲破云层出来?jin)?/p>
6. break the ice 打破僵局/破冰
The host told a joke to his guest to break the ice.
MhZ(jin)打破僵局Q给客h讲了(jin)个笑话?/p>
7. break the bank 太贵
Come on! One evening at the theater won’t break the bank.
得啦! 看一晚上戏不?x)們֮荡的?/p>]]>
Weibo Refutes Rumors是新浪“微博辟谣”频道的英文说法Q也可以UCؓ(f)rumor refutal?/p>
For example:
Sina said it has created a separate channel dubbed “Weibo Refutes Rumors?to spread denials of false information. It announced an e-mail address for users to send reports of possible falsehoods.
新浪|表C已创徏单独的“微博辟谣”频道，告知用户哪些是虚假信息。新还?sh)设了(jin)D报邮，供用户D报疑D假消息。谣a散布体常称为rumor mill(谣言工厂Q流a?。Rumor也可以直接作动词Q比如It is rumored that she has committed suicide.(据传闻，她已自杀w亡?微博(microblog)属于一UWe-Media(自媒?。在微博发展q程中，微博抄袭现象大量存在Q微博版权事仉频出玎ͼq被UCؓ(f)copy culture(复制文化)。微博不仅仅是信息传播的宠儿Q更是“微博问攎(k)的利器。写微博不能过140个字Q而两人在路上偉Q停下来闲聊不超140U就UCؓ(f)microvisit(微访)?/p>]]>
They have also been publicity ornaments used by local offi cials to boost their standing.
My comments:
Tribute is the thing to grasp here. Tribute projects pay tribute to something, i.e. praise something. Or in other words, such projects are meant to be a tribute to something or someone. They make a city or region, or more likely its leader look good.
Or, in Chinese vernacular, “image projects? In other words, a project may cost a lot of money and may not be all that useful or essential to improving the livelihood of the people but it is a big project and, supposedly, will help improve the city’s public image, whatever that is.
More importantly, it supposedly will make city offi cials look good when they talk about it in the newspaper.
And don’t forget the money. Money plays a big role in tribute projects, which are usually funded by the tax payer.
Zhang Xin, who writes a column for Language Tips, has been with China Daily since 1988.
]]>来多的h喜欢在汽车后H张贴各cd释或标语。不同个性的车主Q所展示的显然是不同的姿态，q些标语图案汇集在一起其实就是一U文化，即“后H文化”?/p>
There are diff erent types of posters people like to put on their rear windows. Some warn the vehicles driving behind them, with statements such as “Don’t follow me, I lost my way too? “Baby in car?and “Stop pursuing, I’m married?
后窗标语有很多种。有的属于R距警C类Q如“别跟着我，我也q\?jin)”、“R里有孩”、“别q了(jin)Q本人已婚”等?/p>
Some are just make jokes of themselves, such as “Newbie on road, no threatening please? “Oops, I don’t know which one is the brake pedal? or “After you?
有些则是自我调侃Q如“新手上路，止恐吓”、“脚底哪个板板是刹RQ”、“新手龟速，你走先⋯⋯”等?/p>]]>
The purpose of an exit interview is to gather employees?feedback on the work experience in order to improve working conditions and retain employees. Other uses for exit interviews include improving work productivity, providing an early warning about sexual harassment, workplace violence and discrimination issues and measuring the success of diversity initiatives.
辞职面试的目的是攉员工工作l历的反馈信息，由此改善工作环境q留住员工。其他目的包括：(x)提高工作效率Q对性骚(d)扰、职场暴力以?qing)歧视行为提出预警，衡量各类CD措的成效?/p>
Common questions include reasons for leaving, job satisfaction, frustrations and feedback concerning company policies or procedures.
Questions may relate to the work environment, supervisors, compensation, the work itself and the company culture.
辞职面试中常见的问题有：(x)辞职原因Q工作满意度Q对公司政策或工作流E的不满和反馈等。多与工作环境、上司、补贴、本职工作以?qing)公司文化有兟?/p>]]>
Whatever you think is fi ne with me.
随你怎么惻I我无所谓?/p>
2. give a damn 不在? 不感兴趣(永远用于否定形式)
He couldn’t give a damn whether he passes the exam or not.
他对考试?qing)格与否满不在乎?/p>
3. suit yourself 随你的便Q按自己的意愿行?/p>
You don’t want to join the club? Oh well, suit yourself.
你不愿意参加׃部是? 那好Q随你的便吧?/p>
4. I don’t care 我不在乎
I don’t care what she thinks.
我不她怎么惟?/p>
5. do whatever you want 爱咋咋地
I have no doubt about that. You can always do whatever you want.
我对此毫不怀疑，你想做的事，L能做到?/p>
6. as you wish/if you want 随你?/p>
As for your department’s plan, you can change as you wish.
至于你们部门的计划，你愿意怎么改就怎么改吧?/p>
7. whatever 他?/p>
I totally have no idea how to fi le my tax return, whatever.
我完全不知道该怎么报税Q唉Q随便啦?/p>]]>
Cutback on TV entertainment 是指“限׃o(h)”，也可以用cap the amount of entertainment programs来表q?/p>
For example:
China has issued a cutback on TV entertainment, which will limit the number of entertainment programs, including everything from matchmaking game shows to dance broadcasts.
中国颁布“限׃o(h)”。中国将对包括婚恋交友及(qing)舞林大赛{在内的?sh)视׃节目数量做出限制?/p>
今后Q地方卫视将制作更多的morality-building programming(道dc节?Q宣传traditional virtues(传统道d)和socialist core values(C会(x)M核心(j)价D)?/p>
?sh)视台在制作节目时不能只考虑audience viewing fi gures(收视?。在prime time(黄金时段)的娱乐节目数量大q羃减，其是那些excessive entertainment(q度׃)和low taste(低味)的节目，包括matchmaking programs(婚恋交友c?、talent contests(才艺竞秀c?Qtalk shows(访谈脱口U)和reality shows(真hU){节目?/p>]]>
after 1980.
“穿式聚会(x)”指t入C会(x)多年?0后一代D办的一U新式同学聚?x)?/p>
Participants take a photo showing a “version 1.0?of themselves ?that is, a photo of themselves taken during their school days. Everyone poses for a new photo replicating the old as closely as possible. They will often wear the same clothes, strike the same pose and stand with the same people as in the original. The experience takes them back to the “good old days?
同学聚会(x)上，他们要“与1.0版的自己合媄(jing)”。每带张学生时代的照片到场。穿着与照片中相同的衣服，摆相同的姿势Q或者跟相同的几个h一P聚会(x)现场拿着当年的照片再拍一张。仿?jng)时光穿回C(jin)从前?/p>]]>
off the beaten track
Journalists travel off the beaten track to give news a diff erent perspective.
My comments:
The “beaten track?is the road most people travel by. In the beginning, there is no road. Gradually, people create tracks by beating them into the ground with their feet as they walk ?hence, the term, “the beaten track?
To go off this track is to go sideways, like a train going off the rail. Well, no one wants to see a train go off the rail. But for journalists, this term means they do not copy one another’s work. They look for new angles, do their own investigations and dig out hidden materials and, thus, give news a “diff erent perspective?
In other words, they do not write the same old stories that everyone else has already done. The same old boring stuff , that is.
Zhang Xin, who writes a column for Language Tips, has been with China Daily since 1988.
]]>“午饭恐惧症”是|络盛行的流行词汇之一Q主要“症状”表Cؓ(f)Q不知吃点什么好Q更不知道该跟谁吃?/p>
Many employees have to go out for lunch because their companies don’t have canteens. “Where??and “what??become two of the most spoken words at the time. What’s more, some employees are not as sociable and spend lunchtime alone. For them, lunchtime is not interesting but, rather embarrassing.
很多单位没有食堂Q员工需要在外面解决午饭。于是，“去哪里”和“吃什么”已l成?jin)很多h午饭旉的固定对白。另外，有些员工因ؓ(f)无法融入团体Q只能选择在午饭时间单独用。原本很期待的午休时间不再那么美好，甚至让他们有些尴?/p>]]>
She screwed up and had to do it all over again.
Ҏ(gu)事情搞砸?jin)，只得重新再做?/p>
2. goof up 出大错，把⋯⋯搞?/p>
Don’t goof up.
别出岔子?/p>
3. blow it 搞砸
Why did you blow it?
你怎么搞砸?
4. play the devil with 把⋯⋯搞?/p>
The delay on the track has played the devil with the train timetable.
铁\U上的这ơ误点已严重打ؕ?jin)列车的q行时刻?/p>
5. ruin it 搞砸Q弄?/p>
She poured water all over my painting and ruined it.
Ҏ(gu)水倒在我整q画上，把画全毁?jin)?/p>
6. foul up 搞砸
Our plans were fouled up by the bad weather.
我们的计划被坏天气破坏了(jin)?/p>
7. make a hash of 弄糟
They’ve made a hash of their financial aff airs.
他们把自q财务搞得一团糟?/p>]]>
Civility monitor group字面意思ؓ(f)“文明监督队”，其实是最q北京市(jng)倡导的“市(jng)民劝导队”?/p>
For example:
The “civility monitor group,?unlike law enforcement offi cials, will try to stop uncivilized behavior through reasoning and gentle words.
与执法h员(sh)同的是，“文明监督队?即“市(jng)民劝导队?用善意规劝引导的方式阻止不文明行ؓ(f)?/p>
他们的主要职责是Qasking residents to stop uncivilized behavior(规劝居民停止不文明行?Qpatrolling communities for security(C安全巡?Q?trying to resolve disputes between residents(化解居民矛盾)Qhelping residents in need(居民互助)Q以?promoting laws and rules(宣传法律法规){?/p>
Civility多指“礼仪；客套”，?do business with civility(文明l商)。再看一个例句，W(xu)e exchanged a few civilities.(我们怺寒暄?jin)几句?/p>]]>
Lockout指的是NBA的“停摆”。“NBA停摆”是NBA的特有名词，指的是因为各U原因造成体育联赛暂停的局面?/p>
For example:
The NBA has already canceled its pre-season and the first two weeks of the regular season because of the protracted lockout and the two sides are scheduled to meet with federal mediator George Cohen on Tuesday.
׃停摆旉的g长，NBA已经取消?jin)它的季前赛和头两周的常规赛Q双方定于周二同联邦调停员(sh)?U恩?x)面。这ơ“停摆”的主要原因是labor dispute(劌U纷)。因ơ停摆，NBA已经取消?jin)本赛季的pre-season games(季前?和头两周的regular season games(常规??/p>]]>
Fuel collar refers to those either in the travel industry or who very regularly travel as a part of their job, such as door to door salesmen, field salesmen, airline pilots, etc. They spend the bulk of their time traveling, consuming a lot of fuel.
Fuel collar(沚w)指那些就职于旅游行业或者工作经帔R要出行的人，例如Q入h销员、区域销售员、飞行员{。他们大部分旉都在旅途中度过Q会(x)耗费大量燃a(b)。由此得名ؓ(f)fuel collar?/p>
For example:
Her boyfriend is a fuel collar. He works for an airline company and travels a lot.
她男朋友是个沚w。他在航I公司工作，L出差?/p>]]>
墨西哥徏{师日前设计?jin)一座深入地下达300c的65层“摩地大楼”，令h叹ؓ(f)观止。这座“倒金字塔”位于墨西哥城的?jng)中心(j)，如此设计是?f)?jin)规避墨西哥城新建筑限高的规定?/p>
The subterranean building will have 10 stories for homes, shops and a museum, and 35 more stories for offi ces. The earth-scraper preserves the iconic presence of the city square and the existing hierarchy of the buildings that surround it. It is an inverted pyramid with a central void to allow all habitable spaces to enjoy natural lighting and ventilation.
“摩地大楼”中住宅、商Z?qing)博物馆各?0层，另外35层用作办公楼。“摩地大楼”既保存?sh)(jin)城市(jng)广个地标，又没有破坏广场附q的现有建筑层次。大D计ؓ(f)倒金字塔型，采用中空l构Q所有居住空间都可n受自然照明和通风?/p>]]>
Could you explain, “at the forefront of?
My comments:
At the forefront means to be at the front of or to be leading the way. Fore means front, and so why then does forefront have a diff erent meaning? Fore, as in the phrase, “to the fore? means to move toward the front of. It might have originally come from golf.
When a player tees off (makes the opening shot), he walks forward, leaving behind other players and spectators. So, the phrase “to the fore? metaphorically means that someone steps forward or wants to assert himself.
Zhang Xin, who writes a column for Language Tips, has been with China Daily since 1988
]]>Analysts have long speculated that Dmitry Medvedev is merely a “seatwarmer?while Vladamir Putin serves as Prime Minister.
My comments:
“Seat warmer?is originally a sports term. In many team sports, such as basketball, soccer, volleyball, etc, you see a fi xed number of players playing at any given time during a game. Basketball, for example, is fi ve on fi ve, soccer 11 against 11, while for volleyball, it’s six versus six.
However, teams carry more than those numbers of players, in case of injuries. But more importantly, they carry more players to serve as reserves, (tng) or substitutes, as they’re called in games.
A basketball team, for instance, is allowed to carry 12 players, with only five as starters Q?the rest are reserves, or bench or seat warmers Q?so called because they sit mostly on the team bench as they do not get to play. They seldom leave their seat Q?hence warming the seat up with their body temperature.
Medvedev being merely a seat warmer means, therefore, that he doesn’t run Russia Q?he occupies the seat of the President while Putin serves as Prime Minster.
Putin, these analysts suggest, is the one who calls the shots in Russia and he may return to take back the seat of the President someday.
This is democracy, Russian style.
Zhang Xin, who writes a column for Language Tips, has been with China Daily since 1988.
]]>Wealth investment product是指“理财品”，也可以用wealth management product来表C，指由商业银行自行设计q发行，募集到的资金根据品合同约定投入相关金融市(jng)场及(qing)购买相关金融产品Q获取投资收益后Q根据合同约定分配给投资人的一cȝ财品?/p>
For example:
The China Banking Regulatory Commission (CBRC), the nation’s banking regulator, on Oct 9, unveiled new measures to improve regulations over banks?wealth investment products.
中国银行监管机构银监?x)本?日公布了(jin)新措施，来加强银行理财品的监管?/p>]]>
Red bombs(U色炸弹)即wedding invitation card(婚礼h)Q因h为红Ԍ收到h一般都要破费，所以俗U“红色炸弹”?/p>
For example:
The 25-year-old Shanghai native Liu Yiwei has had an exhausting holiday during the past seven days. Rather than traveling or working overtime, she was busy hopping from one wedding to giving out against “red bombs? or piles of cash.
q去的七天假期让25岁的上v人刘?sh)?韌)感到_力竭。她不是L行也没有加班Q而是在各C间奔忙，准备好一叠叠钞票来应对“红色炸弹”?/p>
被红色炸弹“炸”到的hp准备好给新婚夫妇的gift money(C金)Q俗UC子钱。如今随着80后一代纷U到?jin)prime marriage age(适婚q龄)Q一到marriage season(l婚旺季)“红色炸弹”多得让人望而生畏?/p>]]>
Trashion(trash“垃䏀和fashion“时”的合成?指用旧的、废弃的、捡来的或者重新改装的部g制作的艺术品、珠宝，?qing)家居时用品，即“垃圾时”?/p>
Initially trashion was used to describe art-couture costume usually linked to contests or fashion shows. The term is now widely used in creative circles to describe any wearable item or accessory that is constructed using all or part materials that have been recycled, including clothing that has been reconditioned.
起初Q“垃圾时”只用来描述那些与竞赛或者时表演有关的艺术cL装。如今，“垃圾时”这个词在创意界多用来指代全部或部分由再循环材料制成的衣服或饰物Q这其中也包括那些不舍得扔和重新修改q的旧衣服?/p>]]>
椅子其实是你的敌人。就你每天早晨都坚持跑步，或者定期去健n戉K|只要你每天大部分旉都是坐着的，不管是在车里、办公室座椅或者家里的沙发上，你就是在把自己推向肥胖、糖病、心(j)脏病、各cȝ?rn)症以及(qing)早亡的危险?/p>
So what’s the solution if your job requires you to spend a lot of time in front of a computer? Stand- working! Stand-working can help you resolve your back problems. You’ll have more energy and can concentrate better.
那么对于大部分工作时间都需要在?sh)脑前度q的我们来说Q怎么才能解决q一问题呢？{案是站立办公Q站立办公能够解册部酸疼问题，站立的时候你?x)觉得精力更加充沛，而且也更易于集中_?/p>]]>
“Submarine parents?also remain out of sight, yet can pop up in the case of an emergency. “Submarine parents?will lay out a variety of school lunch supplies and encourage their child to pack his/her own lunch. If the child packs only chips and carrot sticks, he/she will be hungry and learn to pack a bigger lunch the next day.
潜水艇通常都待在水下，w在Z的视U之外。遇到紧急情况需要Q出水面的时候，潜水艇就?x)迅速升赗潜水艇父母也是qx(chng)不露面，紧急情冉|才会(x)立即现n。他们会(x)摆出一堆可供选择的午食物鼓励孩子自p盒。如果孩子只往午餐盒里装了(jin)薯片和胡萝卜条，他就?x)挨饿，然后下次装午的时候就?x)多装些吃的了(jin)?/p>
“Submarine parents?are the kind to buy a sturdy and comfortable stroller at a garage sale. As soon as the child starts to walk, the stroller is re-sold at a garage sale and kids get exercise by walking.
潜水艇父母一般会(x)在R库甩卖会(x)上购|一辆结实又舒适的婴儿推RQ等到孩子开始学走\的时候，在车库甩卖?x)上把那车卖了(jin)，然后让孩子自q?fn)走路?/p>]]>
The rule of the jungle
This is the law of ?more precisely, the rule of ?the jungle. Sure, the US is by far and away the biggest cat in that jungle.
My comments:
The jungle refers to the big forest with many large plants growing close and thick together amongst which diverse animals thrive, although some merely try to survive. Here the Darwinian law of “survival of the fittest?applies. The strong prey on the weak Q?beat them and eat them.
In human politics, the rule of the jungle is equivalent to the saying “might is right? In other words, stronger nations can do whatever they want to smaller and weaker nations, moral or immoral.
“Sure, the US is by far and way the biggest cat in the jungle?Q?America,as the single superpower, does just that.
Zhang Xin, who writes a column for Language Tips, has been with China Daily since 1988.
]]>所谓“口袋技能?pocket skills)Q就是无n处哪一行业Q哪些岗位，都能随时拿出来用的技能。例如思维能力Q给你看一份报告，你能否简l地概括其内容，指出存在的缺P提出改进意见。又如沟通能力，当别Z同意你的做法Ӟ或者双方观点发生冲H时Q该如何应付?/p>
Many companies are more concerned about pocket skills such as teamwork than specifi c majors, except for research and development positions.
目前在许多用人单位，除了(jin)研发cd位之外，许多岗位q不强求人才的专业对口，而更看重团队合作{“口袋技能”?/p>]]>
时下火爆荧屏的“穿剧”就是time-travel TV seriesQ穿剧是以人物I越时空为线索的?sh)视剧，许多I越剧都改编自hot online novels(热门|络说)?/p>
For example:
The time-travel series bu bu jing xin, or Startling by Each Step, has been showing on TV since September 10. Ratings for the show rose to nearly 7 percent in the fi rst two days. It was searched on the Internet more than 1 million times in the fi rst three days. Most viewers gave the show high marks.
I越剧《步步惊?j)》于2011q??0日在?sh)视上开播，头两天的收视份额pC(jin)q?%。该剧开播头三天|络搜烦(ch)量就破百万，而且q在不断增加。大部分观众都给该剧打了(jin)高分?/p>
《步步惊?j)》所改编的原著就是Internet writer(|络作家)创作的time-travel novel(I越说)。除?jin)穿剧外，现在最受欢q的?sh)视剧类型还有spy drama(谍战?、courtroom drama / legal thriller(案情?和idol drama(偶像?{?/p>]]>
Super grain是“超U水EZ，指的是在yield(产量)、grain quality(c)、resistance(抗?{主要方面均显著过现有水稻品种的水ER?/p>
For example:
Yuan Longping, China’s leading agricultural scientist, realized one of his 80th birthday wishes recently when his super grain brought yields of 13.9 tons a hectare, setting a new world record for rice output.
中国尖农业U学家袁隆^q日实现?jin)?0岁生日的愿望之一——他的超U水Ed现每公顷产量13.9吨，创造了(jin)水稻产量新的世界记录?/p>]]>
“Smartphone owners are using their phones to get fast access to locationrelevant information on the go,?said Kathryn Zickuhr, co-author of the Pew report.
My comments:
The good thing about English is that virtually every verb can be used as a noun, which is not unlike ancient Chinese, of course, and which is as it should be. “On the go?hence means on the move, while you’re traveling, going from place to place. By extension, “on the go?may also mean when you’re busy and active, when you have something in hand, when you’re not free and idle.
Smartphone owners are using their phones to get fast access to “location-relevant information?on the go? “Location-relevant information?simply means where the place you’re going to is located and how you are supposed to get there.
Suppose you’re going to the zoo. By using one of the many smartphone applications, such as Google Map, you can get to see where it is on your screen.
Zhang Xin, who writes a column for Language Tips, has been with China Daily since 1988.
]]>可口可乐?Coca-colonization)一词是跨国软饮刉商Coca-Cola(可口可乐)和colonization(D民?两个词的合成词，指全球化或文化殖民?/p>
The term is used to imply either the importation of Western (particularly American) goods, or an invasion by Western, especially American cultural (tng) values, which threaten the local culture.
q个词多用来指代西方(其是美?产品的进口，或者是西方?qing)美国文化h(hun)D的入侵，D当地文化受到威胁的状c(din)?/p>
It gained visibility in the European-Americanization debate with the 1994 publication of Reinhold Wagnleitner’s book, Coca-Colonization and the Cold War: The Cultural Mission of the United States in Austria After the World War II. The expression also became a catchphrase of the anti-globalization movement.
该表辑֜1994q初CƧ洲关于国化的辩论中，来自于雷U_d?瓦恩qU一本名为《可口可乐化与冷战：(x)二战后美国在奥地利的文化使命》的书中。后来在反全球化q动中一度成为热门词汇?/p>]]>
It seems you are in a dilemma.
看v来你很纠l?/p>
2. You just can’t get over...
The French soccer fans can’t get over their national team’s defeat in the World Cup 2002.
法国的球q很难从2002q世界杯中的失利的阴׃走出来?/p>
3. dwell on something
We shouldn’t dwell on a person’s past mistakes.
我们不该L住一个h的过M放?/p>
4. take something to heart
Don’t take such small things to heart.
别ؓ(f)q点事想不开?/p>
5. be torn
She was torn between her responsibility to her children and the demands
of her career.
她在家庭和事业之间进退两难?/p>]]>
“改版”就是makeoverQ也可以用revamp来表C?/p>
For example:
Xinwen Lianbo, which runs every night at 7 pm on CCTV 1 and all provincial satellite channels, is expected to get new faces and a new focus in the makeover.
每晚7点在央视一套和各省卫视播出的《新闻联播》将在此ơ改版中启用ChQ加入新的关注点?/p>
此次改版除了(jin)要把opening theme(片头?换掉之外Q还要增加欧阛_丏V郎永柩两位70后news anchors(新闻L)。据(zhn)，Ƨ阳夏丹和郎永柩?1日上午已l录制了(jin)demo(L(fng))?/p>
改版后的《新闻联播》将把in-studio reporting(播音室报?、guest interviews(嘉宾访谈)和on-the-spot reports(现场报道)l合在一赗调查数据显C，《新闻联播》是我国most authoritative news programs(最权威的新闻节?Q拥有数百万loyal viewers(忠实观众)?/p>]]>
在微博这个分享^CQ“复制不转发”的用户们忠实行着“分享”的义务Q如同完成Q务一?Q复制文化”盛行，版权问题频现?/p>
Copy culture是“复制文化”，指的是直接他人的原创微博不v名地q行复制以个人名义发布，属于“标准的抄袭”，涉及(qing)늊copyright(版权/著作?的问题。Copyright本n属于一UIntellectual Property Right(知识产权)?/p>
For example:
When a massive downpour hit Beijing on June 23, it took just a few minutes for a photograph taken by micro-blogger Yang Di to be forwarded thousands of times on the Internet. Yang’s story is just one example of the “copy culture?that is becoming rampant among micro-bloggers.
6?3日北京遭遇强降雨Q杨q?韌)通过微博发布的一张照片在几分钟内被{发数千次。杨先生的故事仅仅是“复制文化”在微博领域日益行的一个例子?/p>
Micro blog(微博)属于一Ume-media(自媒?Q发布微博的人称为micro-blogger(博主)。很多网友不核查消息源，也不注意|名Q盲目点击forward(转发)Q这样会(x)造成谣言的扩散。这里的forward也常用于邮g和短信中?/p>]]>
步行巴士(walking bus)指一孩子在两个以上大h的护送下步行上下学的方式Q被认ؓ(f)是一U健康又环保的出行方式。参与“步行巴士”的安?x)自发组lv来轮?hu)护送孩子们Q一名大Z(x)充当“司机”的角色走在前面带领整个队伍Q另外一名则充当售票员跟在队伍后面。而且Q“步行巴士”和传统的巴士一样也设有车站和接站时刅R?/p>
The walking bus idea originated in the United Kingdom, and the expression has been in general use there since 2004. Walking bus initiatives have proved extremely popular and eff ective in the UK. More recently, walking buses have gained a level of popularity in the United States, Australia and New Zealand.
“步行巴士”这一理念来自于英国，而walking busq个表达?004qv开始广泛用了(jin)。目前，q一做法在英国已很普遍，而且证实卓有成效。近几年Q在国、澳大利亚及(qing)新西兰等国也开始得C定认可?/p>]]>
Savior sibling指生下来是Z(jin)l?zhn)有致命疾病的兄弟姐妹提供器官或细胞(yu)移植的孩Q译为“救命手”。?zhn)病一方一般都需要通过造血q细?yu)移植才能治愈?/p>
The savior sibling is conceived through In Vitro Fertilization. Fertilized zygotes are tested for genetic compatibility, and only zygotes that are compatible with the existing child are implanted. Zygotes are also tested to make sure they are free of the original genetic disease.
救命手多通过试管婴儿生殖技术获得。受_֍?x)先l过基因匚w试验Q只有完全与(zhn)病一方完全匹配的受精卉|?x)被植入。另外，q要通过试验保植入的受_֍不携带基因原本的疄因子?/p>
The term savior sibling is likely to have controversial overtones for some time. Some disagree with the idea on ethical grounds, arguing that the long-term social and emotional eff ects on the donor sibling are unknown.
Savior siblingq个说法一直以来都颇受争议。有Z道d角度对其q行批判Q认为捐献器官的孩子长期受到的社?x)和情感影响是外人无从得知的?/p>]]>
First-year American Idol judge Jennifer Lopez says she’s “on the fence?about returning to Fox’s competition series for a second season.
My comments:
This is a short variation from the idiom “sitting on the fence?
Two neighboring households, say, are engaged in a back-yard shouting match and you have come to help them make peace. Their back yards are separated by a fence. To give the appearance of being neutral, you climb onto the fence and observe the dispute from there.
That’s you sitting on a fence in a good-neighborly dispute. What if it’s a war between too countries? Sitting on the fence in that situation means that you’re not taking sides in their dispute.
Zhang Xin, who writes a column for Language Tips, has been with China Daily since 1988.
]]>我哥哥是个控制狂人?/p>
2. He tries to dictate how everything around him is done.
他什么事儉K要管?/p>
3. He has fi ngers in every pie and works them to the bone in the
process.
他每件事都要插手Q而且q特别投入?/p>
4. His wife is a real bossy boots at home.
他们家的指挥权在他老婆手里?/p>
5. Her children are totally under her thumb.
她的孩子都在她的掌控之中?/p>
6. He really loves to boss people around.
他特别喜Ƣ指使别人?/p>
7. He became demandingly dominant over the years.
q些q_(d)他变得颐指气?/p>]]>
2. It is another rude, crude R-rated comedy with the expected and familiar racial jokes, gay jokes, penis jokes. Nothing new. q部片不q是又一部粗俗的、制作粗p的限制U喜剧，里面的种族笑话、同性恋W话、性笑话都是听q的Q了(jin)无新意?/p>
3. I think Nicolas Cage is great. He’s got character. He can act with a lot of depth. 我觉得尼古拉斯·凯奇很。他很有个性，演得也很有深度?/p>
4. They ruined the movie when they dubbed it into Chinese from English. I would rather have seen it in English with Chinese sub-titles. 那些中文的配韛_乎毁?jin)那部?sh)影。我q是更喜Ƣ听英文原声Q配上中文字q就行了(jin)?/p>
5. Mrs Doubtfi re is very touching. You would have to be a “concrete zombie?to have avoided laughing or crying. 《窈H奶爸》非常感人，如果你看的时候既没笑也没哭那你可真算得上是铁矛_(j)肠了(jin)?/p>]]>
For example:
High temperatures are blamed for the cracking of safety glass in those cases, but experts said the fundamental cause of “glass rain?is the government’s inattention to the safety of glass curtain walls.
专家认ؓ(f)Q高温致使安全玻璃自爆固然是Dq些事故的原因，但引发“玻璃雨”的Ҏ(gu)原因是政府对ȝq墙安全的忽视?/p>
看似C感十的glass curtain walls(ȝq墙)Q早在上世纪初就被发明，q年来逐渐出现在中国的central business district(CBDQ中央商务区)。然而，q种ȝq墙却存在种Udrawbacks(~点)Q巨大的ȝq墙在太阛_下熠熠闪光，?x)造成严重的light pollution(光污?Q这不仅造成大量的energy consumption(能源消?Q?Ҏ(gu)induce traffic accident(引发交通事?Q还?sh)h产生dizzy (头晕)、anxious(焦虑)、impaired vision(视力下降)Qdepression(情A低落){症状?/p>
q两个月Q国内发生了(jin)多vȝq墙坠落事故。专家称Q造成q些事故的原因是多方面的Q包括engineering design(工程设计)Qmaterial uality(材料质量)Qworkmanship(技术水q?{?/p>]]>
Reader’s question:
This is just a wild guess, but maybe it was all those hours you spent practicing over the past month.
My comments:
A guess is a rough estimation, an attempt to answer a question or make a judgment about something without having all the necessary facts, so that you’re not sure whether you’re correct.
In other words, a conjecture.
Wild guess?
Hence a wild guess sounds even more out of control, crazy, suggesting you’re making a guess without careful consideration of the matter at all.
This is just my wild guess Q?maybe it was the rain. Blame it on rain.
Just kidding.
Zhang Xin, who writes a column for Language Tips, has been with China Daily since 1988.
]]>Spoiler指与?sh)?jing)、书c或者游戏内Ҏ(gu)关的信息Q即我们所说的“剧透”，q类信息?x)大大减初看者了(jin)解剧情或者参与游戏的兴致?/p>
This sense of spoiler has been around since the mid-1990s, and initially referred to pieces of information which reveal elements of the plot of a film or book. Since proper enjoyment of a plot depends on dramatic tension and suspense, prematurely discovering what is going to happen“spoils?the experience that the viewer or reader has when watching or reading for the first time.
Spoiler用作“剧透”之意始于上世纪90q代Q最初指透露?sh)?jing)或书c情节的信息。故事情节的ƣ赏主要有赖于扣人心(j)弦的紧张气氛和?zhn)念，如果提前得知后面的情节发展就会(x)“破坏?spoil)初看者欣赏故事的体验?/p>]]>
Pay as you throw(垃圾按量收费Q羃写ؓ(f)PAYT)制度指每个家庭都要ؓ(f)不可回收垃圾的处理支付费用，而费用的多少则根据垃圄数量和重量来计算。在该制度内Q可回收垃圾的处理是免费的?/p>
Pay-as-you-throw schemes are already operational in many parts of the United States. Payments for refuse collection would not be a fixed fee incorporated into local government taxes, but dealt with separately in what is now being referred to as a (dust) bin tax, calculated for individual households.
垃圾按量收费制度在美国一些地方已l开始实施。垃圑֤理的费用q没有作Z固定收费被归入当地政府的税攉目，而是单独作ؓ(f)一Ҏ(gu)Ҏ(gu)处理Q也是所谓的dustbin tax(垃圾q)Q每个家庭单独计?/p>]]>
所谓的mooncake tax(月饼E?其实不是新鲜事，早在2009q?月，南京地税部门pC，单位发放月饼{in-kind benefi ts(实物利)都应计入工资薪金所得，扣缴individual income tax(个h所得税)?/p>
For example:
The approach of the Mid-Autumn Festival has reignited debate over China’s “mooncake tax?
随着中秋节的临近Q我国关于“月饼税”的争论又热?jin)v来。这ơ月饼税饱受争议Q主要有两点Q第一Q涉嫌double taxation(重复征税)Q当单位购买月饼Ӟ已经被扣除了(jin)consumption tax(消费E?Q发攄员工后就不该再征E。第二，很多为月饼税~Z人情呻I在union of family(家庭团圆)之际Q收C为福利的月饼却被征税Q这让很多h无法接受Q且加重?jin)公众的tax burden(E负)?/p>]]>
子女的监护权包括legal custody(法定监护?和physical custody(生活监护?。在父母d或分居的情况下，一般会(x)判决一方获取子女的监护权，即sole custodyQ而另一方获得则获得visitation(探视??/p>
张柏芝和谢霆锋在2006qtie the knot(喜结q理)?008q的 nude-picture scandal(艳照?一度o(h)媒体UL(fng)猜测两h陷入婚姻危机。今q?月媒体报道张柏芝与陈冠希在飞Zchance encounter (偉)时self-snapshot(自拍)合媄(jing)Q此事曝光后Q有关两人的d传闻愈演愈烈Q直x(chng)l分道扬镟?/p>]]>
Stage-phoning(演戏式通话)指一个h用手机打?sh)话很大壎ͼ故意惌吸引旁边人的x(chng)。这些h打电(sh)话时候的行ؓ(f)好像在表演一P把手机当作道P所以才?x)用stageq个词来表示?
The derived noun stage-phoner has been coined to describe these types, who in American English are sometimes also referred to by the rather derogatory term cell (phone) jerk. We meet stage-phoners at every street corner, waiting room or café.
由此衍生的stage-phoner指q行演戏式通话的hQ在式p中还有一个更兯义的词cell (phone) jerk(手机d)来Ş容这些h。在街角、等候室或者咖啡馆都会(x)有他们的w媄(jing)?
]]>Gap year(I档q?是一个英国词儿，指学生离开学校一D|_(d)l历一些学?fn)以外的事情Q比如外出旅行或者工作。当?dng)q段旉不一定非得是一q。空档年一般选在d中学q入大学之前?
The practice of taking a deferred year developed in the United Kingdom in the 1960s. It has grown very popular among students in the UK, Australia, New Zealand and Canada. A trend for the year out is to participate in international education programs that combine language study, cultural immersion, and independent study.
I档q这U做法于二十世纪六十q代兴v于英国。如今，I档q在英国、澳大利亚、新西兰以及(qing)加拿大的学生当中都已非常行。新q的势是在I档q期间参与国际教育项目，其中包括语言学习(fn)、住家、文化渗透、社区服务以?qing)独立学习(fn)等?/p>]]>
最q“hold住”这个说法在|络上很行。在p中，“hold”有抱、坚持、握住、掌控等意思?/p>
1. The drug has a hold on the minds of those who use it.
毒品对吸毒者的思想影响极大?/p>
2. You can’t hold your drink, that’s your problem. Two beers and you’re
under the table.
你的问题是酒量不行，两杯啤酒下肚你就醉了(jin)?/p>
3. Most of the arguments put forward by our opponents simply do not
hold water.
我们的对手提出的大部分辩解都站不住脚?/p>
4. Sadie held forth on the virtues of home cooking.
莎蒂大谈特谈在家做饭的好处?/p>
5. In our house it was my mother who held the purse strings.
在我Ӟ我妈掌管着金钱财务?/p>]]>
Lavender language
Lavender language functions as a kind of homosexual code, characterized by acronyms, plays on words and double meanings only intended to be understood by the gay community.
Lavender language相当于一U同性恋密码Q以使用~略字、文字游戏以?qing)双兌为特点，主要服务于同性恋人群内的沟通交，所以称为“同性恋语言”?/p>
The color lavender is often used to identify “gay-friendly?environments, hence its use in terminology surrounding gay issues, such as lavender texts, lavender phonology/terminology and the lavender lexicon.
淡?lavender)通常都被认作“同性恋友好”类环境的标志，因此Q与lavender相关的专用术语多与同性恋有关。比如lavender texts(同性恋文本)、lavender phonology(同性恋语音体系)Q以?qing)lavender lexicon(同性恋词汇?{?/p>]]>
Reader’s question
Unfortunately, her unforced error count continued to stifl e her play 30 in total and she lost the fi nal two points of the match.
Could you explain “unforced error?
My comments:
This is generally speaking a tennis term, which means a simple mistake,
one that actually could be avoided. In tennis you win points by striking the ball hard and sharp into, say, the deep corners of the opponent’s court, making it diffi cult for him or her to return the ball back. You do this the best you can in order to force them into making errors.
Unforced errors, though, are those you make inadvertently, either due to carelessness or distraction. Unforced errors are costly, a sign that your concentration level is not there.
Zhang Xin, who writes a column for Language Tips, has been with China Daily since 1988.
]]>Durian clan
Durian clan refers to those ill-tempered co-workers who have been working for many years and are hard to get along with, just like the smelly fruit with thick thorny skin.
榴莲族，是对职场中有一定工作资历，但脾气像榴莲一样又臭又，不好相处的群体的U呼?/p>
Unlike the strawberry clan, who are newcomers in the workplace, people in the durian clan are accustomed to workplace routines, and may be experiencing a kind of job burnout after many years of hard work. As a result, they might easily show their hot temper in the office.
相对初入职场的草莓族来说Q榴莲族已经入职多年Q工作对于他们来_(d)也许早已q?jin)兴爱好，每天只是q着按部搬的日子。如此情况下Q榴莲族们对职业的疲x(chng)?x)越来越深，对h对事Q自然少?jin)些随和Q多?jin)些暴躁?/p>
In addition, people in the durian clan often don’t look so well due to years of overwork and signs of aging. And as old hands in the workplace, they usually have thicker skin than others.
除此之外Q长期熬夜加班再加上岁月的痕q，让榴莲族的脸色不怎么好看Q而且“职a(b)条”的榴莲族们Q往往脸皮都比较厚?/p>]]>
Judicial explanation
8?2日，最高(sh)h民法院发?9条《婚L》司法解释。其中一条规定：(x)明确婚后一方父母出资ؓ(f)子女购买不动产且产权登记在自己子奛_下的应认定ؓ(f)夫妻一方的个h财?/p>
Judicial explanation是“司法解释”，单说来，是由the Supreme Court(最高法?对具体适用法律的问题做出的解释?/p>
For example:
A house bought by parents and registered under their child’s name remains the personal property of the child even after the child gets married, according to a judicial explanation issued by China’s Supreme
People’s Court.
Ҏ(gu)最高(sh)h民法院发布的司法解释Q父母ؓ(f)子女购买房且权登记在自己子女名下的，即在子奛_后仍属于其个(ch)产?/p>
q次的Marriage Law(《婚L?W?9条的司法解释意思是说如果父母ؓ(f)儿子或女儿购C(jin)real estate(房)Q当儿女l婚后，q套房子不算作是夫M的mutual property(共同财)Q而只能算作是购买那一方的personal property(个h财)。而若q套房子是两方父母共同购买的Q而最后双方end in divorce(最后离?Q那么，根据两方父母的?gu)额来分割财Q由此避免房产购买方的loss of family
property(家庭财损失)?/p>
有的在婚前签订prenuptial agreement(婚前协议)Q规定离婚后双方财的归属，但这隑օ?x)伤宛_夫妻双方的感情。而这ơ《婚L》的司法解释Q对很多人来说算是一个welcome relief(可喜的安??/p>]]>
Pyramid scheme
8?1日以来，q西持箋(hu)掀起大规模、全方位、地毯式的打M销专项行动。重拳之下，U有1万多名传销人员?sh)广西撤R?/p>
Pyramid schemex(chng)们通常说的“传销”，或叫pyramid selling。我们知道pyramid是金字塔的意思，思义Q传销是一U由上而下的运作模式，即用顶来比MU，Z上线Q逐上而下ơ第发展?/p>
多下U的销售模式?/p>
For example:
A crackdown on pyramid schemes in the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region is leading to an exodus of scam artists from the area.
q西壮族自治区开展打击非法传销行动后，大批传销人员UL(fng)撤离该地区?/p>
传销集团C(x)员通常都要先缴U一定的membership fee(?x)员?Q怀着获得windfall(意外横胦(ch))的期望，说服更多的h加入q来Q这些h都是他的下家。在我国Q传销?998p止?jin)?/p>
与pyramid scheme相类似的有一个词叫Ponzi schemeQ即庞氏骗局?0世纪初，一个叫庞齐的美国商诺投资者以利润回报Q把新投资者的׃为快速盈利付l最初投资的人，以诱使更多的Z当，7个月居然吸引?万名投资者，一q后q场骗局才被揭穿Q史UPonzi scheme(庞氏骗局)Q在中国是“空手套白狼”?/p>]]>
WAGs
WAGs (or Wags) is an acronym, used particularly by the British tabloid press, to describe the wives and girlfriends of high-profile soccer players, originally the England national soccer team.
WAGs(有时也写作Wags)是一个羃略语Q英国八卦报U多用来指代明星球球员的妻子和x(chng)?wives and girlfriends)Q亦U“太太团”，最初特指英国国家球队队员的妻子和x(chng)友?/p>
The term came into common use during the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
The acronym has since been used by the media in other countries to describe the wives and girlfriends of sportsmen in general.
q个U呼?006q世界杯期间开始广泛用，之后其他国家的媒体多用WAGs来统UC育明星的“太太团”?/p>
During the 2006 World Cup the press gave increasing coverage to the socialising and shopping activities of the English WAGs, who were based in the German town of Baden-Baden.
2006q世界杯期间Q英国球员“太太团”驻扎在德国镇巴登-巴登Q媒体对她们的社交和购物zd做了(jin)大量的报道?/p>
It was frequently suggested that England’s exit from the tournament in the quarterfi nals was a result of such distractions.
后来屡有传言说英格兰队在四分之一册中出局是因ؓ(f)被“太太团”分?jin)?j)?/p>]]>
Status-gap marriage
A “status-gap marriage?is one in which there is a clear gap in income, pedigree, social status, and so on. between the husband and wife. The phrase usually refers to marriages in which a woman marries “beneath herself?
Status-gap marriage(格差?指夫d方在收入、家庭条件、社?x)地位等斚w相差(zhn)殊的婚姻，多指x(chng)“下嫁”的情况?/p>
For example, the marriage between Japanese actress Norika Fujiwara and her husband, the lesser-known comedian Tomonori Jinnai is deemed a status-gap marriage.
比如Q日本女星藤原纪香与不太知名的喜剧演员阵内智则的婚姻p看作是格差婚?/p>
Their marriage ended in divorce in 2009.
两h最l于2009q离婚?/p>]]>
Reader’s question:
Political correctness now debates the worthiness of many words.
Could you explain “political correctness?
Political correctness involves avoiding language or practices that could o end others. It is often a concerted attempt to redress historical injustices relating to race, gender, class or sexual orientation, for example. You can also say someone or something is “politically correct? or you could just say they are “PC?
Let me give you an example to help you understand. In the past, the native people who lived in parts of Greenland and Canada were referred to as Eskimos. Today, this group is generally called Inuit, a term which literally means “the people?in the local language, as Eskimo is considered to be a derogatory term. You could say Inuit is the “politically correct?or “PC?term for Eskimo.
Sometimes, calling something or someone “politically correct?can be a slur in itself, as some people believe political correctness has gone too far and is at the point where people are overly sensitive to the words and practices of others.
Kim Bowden is a foreign expert at China Daily Website.
]]>Granny chic
Granny chic denotes a fashion style that consists of old-fashioned items worn in a stylish way.
Granny chic(复古风潮)指将旧式衣物I出时尚味道的流行风潮?/p>
Granny style cardigans, tweed mid-length skirts and fl esh colored tights were seen walking down the catwalks of Paris, New York, London and Milan and the trends have now fi ltered down to the high street.
老式的羊毛开衫、斜U呢的中长裙q有肉色紧n裤频频出现在巴黎、纽U、u敦和c_的TC?如今Q这一时尚潮流已经走进?jin)繁华商业街区?/p>
Other granny-chic clothing includes big glasses, quasi-orthopedic shoes and fl oral dresses.
其他复古风潮单品q包括大眼镜、类似矫正鞋的鞋子和p子?/p>
For example:
Granny-chic knitwear plus skinny pants equal a great new silhouette.
复古pȝ针织衫配上紧w裤p打造出一个全新的形象?/p>]]>
Reader’s question:
Many Nigerians hope that the acting president, bolstered by his own team, may gee up Africa’s most populous country (150m-strong) and its biggest oil and gas producer south of the Sahara.
Could you explain “gee up?
My comments:
“Gee up?is originally a command given to horses to hurry them up. “Gee up? “Move along? “Faster? and so forth. Used on a person, “gee up?conveys the same message of encouragement, a rallying call for faster pace or greater eff orts.
Here, Nigerians hope the acting president will lead the country to economic prosperity. In other words, they feel encouraged with the new leadership.
Well, that’s the least they can do Q?hope for the best. Zhang Xin, who writes a column for Language Tips, has been with China Daily since 1988.
]]>Eye-gazing party
Eye-gazing party is a dating trend based on the practice of speed-dating in which participants do not speak to each other but instead, gaze at each other for a set amount of time, before moving on.
Eye-gazing party(对眼怺?是在速配怺基础上发展v来的一U相亲Ş式。参与对眼相亲会(x)的男奛_此之间不用开口说话，而是在限定的旉内盯着Ҏ(gu)看，旉一到就换个人l看?/p>
Some describe the experience as “having a conversation with another person’s face?while others believe eye contact can reveal one’s attraction faster than anything else.
有h这U相亲会(x)描述为“跟另一个h的脸对话”，也有为眼交比M行ؓ(f)都能更快散发一个h的魅力?/p>]]>
Drive
Driveq个词在p中有很多用法Q它可以表示开车、驱赶等很多意思，下面我们通过例子来学?fn)一下一些常用的意思吧Q?/p>
1. All right, sir, you drive a hard bargain. I’ll sell you this car for $12,450.
好吧Q先生，(zhn)可太会(x)砍h(hun)?jin)，qR?2,450元卖给你！
2. These tax forms are driving me nuts.
填这些纳E申报表快让我发疯了(jin)?/p>
3. Let’s drive over to Larry’s place.
我们开车去拉里家吧Q?/p>
4. You are driving me out of my mind with your nagging.
我快被你唠叨疯了(jin)Q?/p>
5. The traffic jam is breaking up, so we can drive on.
拥堵道\开始疏通了(jin)Q我们可以l开车了(jin)?/p>
6. He’ll drive himself into the ground if he doesn’t take some time off .
他再不休息一D|间非得篏垮不可?/p>
7. You have driven me into a corner, so I guess I have to give in.
你让我别无选择Q只能让步啊Q?/p>
8. Your trouble with the police has driven me to the brink/edge! The
next time you are arrested, I will not get you out of jail.
你Lȝ(ch)q警察局Q我快被你弄崩溃?jin)！下次你再被抓q来Q我不会(x)再管你了(jin)Q?/p>
9. She was driven to drink by the problems she had with her teenage
son.
她和奚w十几岁的儿子关系不好Q她快烦(ch)M(jin)?/p>]]>
Reader’s question:
The media-friendly events were sponsored by a host of activist groups.
My comments:
Media-friendly is about cozying up to the media, TV, radio, newspapers and the Internet.
Media-friendly events are therefore events aimed at smoothing relations with the media, so that they stop writing nasty things about the activist groups and, in fact, begin to write nice things about them.
In other words, PR, or public relations. Normally, PR is about hiring PR firms to help improve one’s relation with the public. This time, the saidactivist groups are doing the PR work themselves, treating journalists to meetings, complete with dinners and perhaps sight-seeing in order to improve relations with the media itself.
Obviously, even activist groups need to do a lot of PR today, which essentially involves spinning tales to make one look better. It’s a refl ection on the times we are living in.
Zhang Xin, who writes a column for Language Tips, has been with China Daily since 1988.
]]>U技发展在很大程度上影响?jin)h们的生活Q同时一些科技术语也丰富了(jin)Z的日常用语，我们一h看一下吧Q?/p>
John: I made a plant pot out of an old water bottle!
Sarah: So what? It’s not exactly rocket science, is it?
U翰Q我把一个旧水壶改装成一个花盆了(jin)Q?/p>
莎拉Q那又怎么Pq也不是什么复杂的事嘛Q?/p>
上面例子中的“It’s not rocket science”意思就是“不隑ց或者不隄解”，火箭U学始于上世U?0q代?0q代_(d)但是直至上世U?0q代Q这个词才被引申为“复杂的事”，q而成Z句流行的口头?catch phrase)。下面是一些别的来源于U学术语的英语口?/p>
例子Q?/p>
Our Shanghai operation was a black hole. We poured money into the
business without any tangible results.
我们在上L(fng)生意是个“黑z”，我们投了(jin)大量的资金进去，但是目前q没看到M实质性的回报?/p>
Black hole的本意是“宇宙中包括光线在内的Q何东襉K无法逃逸的强引力区域”，现引申ؓ(f)“Q何只吸入而不攑և物质的东襎(k)，例如Q?/p>
Don’t use my university address in Beijing. It’s a black hole and nothing
sent to me ever seems to arrive!
别把东西寄到我在北京的学校地址Q那个地址是个黑z，通过那个地址寄给我的东西从来没有寄到的?/p>
cM的例子还有：(x)
It will mean a quantum leap for development if we start living on Mars.
如果我们能去火星居住的话Q那真的是一个巨大的H破?/p>
Quantum leap本来是一个物理名词，意ؓ(f)“量子跃q”，现引申ؓ(f)“巨变、飞跃”?/p>]]>
Citizen journalism
当你突发事故现场的见闻发到微博上的时候，或许你还没意识到Q你正在扮演一个公民记者的角色Q而你所发布的微博就是citizenjournalism(公民新闻)?/p>
Citizen journalism是“公民新闠Z，指从新闻的采访，写作Q到最后的~辑发布Q都不假手于专业记者或~辑Q完全由“读者”自己采写的新闻Q而这些读者则被称为citizen journalist(公民记??/p>
For example:
The words tweeted by a passenger on high-speed train D301 on July 23 were clearly a cry for help. But they also initiated a wave of unprecedented “citizen journalism?on China’s Twitter-like micro blogs.
7?3日D301动R上的一名乘客发布的微博是在呼救Q但由此却引发了(jin)微博上前所未有的“公民新闠Z热潮?/p>
全世界第一位citizen journalist当属1998q在其个人博客中对克林顿Zip Gate(拉链?性丑L光的国人d拉吉?/p>
公民新闻相较于传l新ȝ优点在于可以在第一旉在现行real-time reporting(实时报道)。相较mainstream media(L媒体)而言Q也多了(jin)更多的vividness(生动?。在H发事g的报道中Qcitizen journalism正在发挥来重要的作用?/p>]]>
Word of mouse
Word of mouse is an electronic version of the time-tested idea of word
of mouth.
“网l口”其实就是口的|络时代版本?/p>
Numerous advertisers have jumped on the word of mouse bandwagon,
using a variety of innovative techniques to get their message out to
consumers, and businesses all over the world rely on word of mouse to
promote their reputations.
如今很多q告商都跟随潮流Q通过|络口碑来宣传品。他们会(x)?/p>
q各U各L(fng)创新技术来传达信息l消费者，同时他们也依靠网l?/p>
口碑来徏立良好声誉?/p>
Word of mouse can be built up on review sites, which allow users to post
reviews and commentary on businesses, and it can also be generated
on forums, chat rooms, and social networking sites.
公司可以通过评论|站来徏立网l口，用户可以在该cȝ站上?/p>
表对公司的评论。网l口传播的形式q包括论坛、聊天室和社?/p>
|站{?/p>
To learn more buzz words, please log on to http://language.chinadaily.com.cn
]]>SoLoMo
SoLoMo refers to the collision of social, local and mobile media. It is unique to the mobile device.
SoLoMo是社交、本地及(qing)Ud媒体怺l合的体玎ͼ译ؓ(f)“社交本地移动”，是移动设备所独具的一个功能?/p>
Today 42% of people aged 18 to 34 enjoy sharing their purchases on the Internet. Social media, local search and mobile search all collide in today’s online world to off er an ultimate user experience.
如今Q?8岁到34岁的Z?2%的h愿意在网上分享他们的购物体验。社交媒体，本地搜烦(ch)以及(qing)Ud搜烦(ch)在网l世界里互相l合Qƈ提供最l的用户体验?/p>
For example, a user may start their search locally by looking for a business on the Web with Google local, then continue it on the social sphere by following the social networking page and “linking?the business, and fi nally completing their purchase on their mobile by calling or booking with the business. This combination of social media, local and mobile search is called SoLoMo.
比如Q一个用户会(x)先在h本地搜烦(ch)中搜L地的商家信息Q然后在C交|络中跟q搜索，x(chng)商家的社交网，在那里选择“喜Ƣ”该商家的信息，q最l电(sh)话咨询或者预订商家的服务以完成整个消费过E。这U社交媒体、本地及(qing)Ud搜烦(ch)的结合体pUCSoLoMo(C交本地Ud)?/p>]]>
(tng)
“松p”怎么_(d)
Century eggs
国有线?sh)视新闻|?CNN)日前误家网站记者评选他们吃q的最隑的食物，q将l果公布在网站上。中国的松花蛋位列这份全球“十大恶?j)食物”榜单之首。结果公布之后，在中国大陆和台湾都引起了(jin)Ȁ烈的反应?/p>
松花蛋也叫皮蛋，英文叫century eggs。松p和咸鸭蛋(salted duck egg)都属于腌制蛋(preserved egg)。卷入这场“国际争端”的CNN|站记者丹·霍瓦达已发表声明道歉，不过|络热议(Internet buzz)仍然未消?/p>
For example:
“Century eggs are popular among the Chinese as a pungent appetizer,?CNN said in its iReport. “But for others, the idea of feasting on black eggs that have been preserved in clay for months may not be appetizing.?/p>
CNN在它的iReport中如此写道：(x)“松p是一道广受中国hƢ迎的气x(chng)ȝ开胃小菜。不q对于别言Q这U用黏土裹了(jin)好几个月的黑蛋，光是x(chng)可能׃(x)让h胃口全无。?/p>
也许QCNN的这评选也不过是戏?tongue-in-cheek)而已。每个国安有自q特的饮食文化Q我们应该秉持一颗包容尊重的?j)来对待多元文?diversified cultures)?/p>
大肆?jin)?/strong>
Pushing the boat out
在英语中Q这U做法可以用“push the boat out”来表示花钱出去大吃一或者买些东西来?jin)祝?/p>
“Push the boat out”意思就是“慷慨而奢侈地p”，不过它跟“paint the town red”的意思不同，后者意为“狂Ƣ、胡闹”；而前者表C?“虽然出ȝ乐，但ƈ不是以一U不负责ȝ方式”，“花费虽然大Q但是也是必要的”?/p>
例如Q?/p>
Sometimes you have to push the boat out and splurge on a new set of clothes.
有的时候你得挥霍一回，C新衣服来犒劳一下自己?/p>
有的人喜Ƣ安E的生活Q不愿意rock the boat(破坏良好的现?Q但q也意味着他们不会(x)有什么机?x)。和q个短语对应的有个短语叫push the envelopeQ意为“挑(xi)战极限”，q个词组往往被用来谈论科技q步Q表C“h或机构等很有创新力，惛_力超现有的边界”?/p>
例如Q?/p>
My company is really pushing the envelope in terms of design. We are working on a new type of interactive computer game that will revolutionize the market.
在设计方面，我们公司一直都在挑(xi)战极限。目前我们正在开发一ƾ新的hZ互型?sh)脑游戏Q它?yu)彻底改变现在的电(sh)子游戏市(jng)场?/p>
催熟
Chemical ripening
外表UT彤的西红柿，捏v来硬邦邦的，切开后籽是绿的，吃v来像是没长熟Q黄瓜通n绿带刺Q“n李(k)笔_(d)上q有一朵小黄花……这些被催熟的蔬菜在各地菜场随处可见。o(h)人担忧的是，催熟剂的使用处于监控盲区Q其有无宛_仍无权威说法?/p>
“催熟”的英文是chemical ripeningQ也是artificial ripening by using chemicalsQ也可以UCؓ(f)forced ripening。进行催熟的化学制剂是ripener/ripening agent(催熟?。和ripenercMQ之前发生的“西瓜爆炸”是因ؓ(f)使用?jin)swelling agent(膨大?Qagent在这里指的就是化学制剂?/p>
Ripe表示瓜果的成熟，夏天买西瓜，有时买到的只是half-ripe(半生不熟)Q一点儿都不甜。Ripeq可以用来指抽象的“成熟”，比如The time is not yet ripe.(时机未成熟?但ripe old age则指的是“高龄、晚q”?/p>
For example:
Illegal chemical ripening method imperils India’s mango trade.
非法催熟有害印度芒果交易
Expressing concern over the spurt in cases of artificial ripening of fruits using chemicals, the health ministry on Thursday asked the states to take action against those indulging in this hazardous practice.
印度卫生部周四表达了(jin)对用化学制剂h工催熟水果激增的担忧Qƈ要求各邦采取措施Q制止滥用催熟剂的危险行为?/p>
?To learn more expressions, please log on to http://language.chinadaily.com.cn
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Soap grafting
Soap grafting is the act of attaching an almost completely used piece of soap to a new, unused piece because it is now too small to be conveniently used but you also don't want to waste it.
如果你觉得快用完的小片肥皂滑滑得不好拿，但是丢掉又太可惜Q你可以将它粘在一块新的肥皂上l箋(hu)使用Q这个过E就叫soap grafting(肥皂嫁接)?/p>
For example:
My mum always soap grafts because she doesn’t want to waste anything. Soap grafting is good.
我妈妈经常把快用完的肥皂_到新肥皂上用，因ؓ(f)她不x(chng)费Q何东ѝ这U肥皂嫁接是个不错的办法?/p>
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