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CNN經典用語
CNN經典用語
1. a chorus of (something)
o 異口 同聲地
o 說明:chorus 是「合唱;合唱團」的意思,引申為「異口同聲」,比方說 a chorus of criticism 便
指「同聲批評」。其他常見的用法還有 :a chorus of warnings(同聲警告)、a chorus of
praise(同聲讚揚)、a chorus of disapproval(同聲非難)等。
o 例句:
At Disney World, you can hear a chorus of screams from excited roller-coaster
riders.在迪士尼樂園中,可以聽見坐雲霄飛車的人齊聲興奮尖叫。
CNN anchor: Her comments have provoked a chorus of criticism from the Arab
world.
9. at a crossroads
o 面臨 抉擇
o 說明:crossroads 指「十字路;交叉路;岔道」的意思,通常用複數形,因此這句片語字面意
思為「在交叉路口」,引申指「面臨抉擇」 。
o 例句:
Just when she was promoted to manager, Jane realized she was pregnant. She was
at a crossroads.珍才剛獲擢升為經理,就發現自己懷孕了。她面臨了抉擇。
CNN correspondent: The UN report says the planet is now at a crossroads, and that
disaster can still be avoided if nations make critical decisions to balance economic
development with environmental protection.
16. beef up
o 加強 ;增強
o 說明:beef 在較早的英語中,含有「肌肉;力量」的意思,因此 beef up 便指「增強;加強」 。
o 例句:
The government spent billions on beefing up the health-care system.政府花了數十億
元來加強醫療系統。
CNN anchor: Facing the continued threat of terrorism, cities across the country beef
up security.
CNN correspondent: That's why the SEC, which only has civil authority, is urging
state and federal prosecutors to launch their own criminal investigations and offering
up SEC resources in hopes of putting more crooks behind bars.
31. bring it on
o 放馬 過來
o 說明:這裡的 bring it on 意思是「使出來」,常被引申為「有什麼看家本領儘管使出來;放馬過
來」 。
o 例句:
Bill said to his competitor, "Bring it on."比爾對他的競爭對手說:「放馬過來」 。
Dem. pres. candidate: We have three words for him we know he understands: Bring
it on.
37. cash in on
o 利用 某事或 靠某事 賺錢
o 說明:cash 是「現金」,cash in on 則是用來表示商人「利用某事或靠某事賺錢」的意思。
o 例句:
Many investors tried to cash in on the IPO craze.許多投資者試圖利用首度公開發行
股票的風潮賺錢。
CNN correspondent: Sinnreich says that, if the recording industry would cash in on
what it's currently trying to kill, online music subscriptions could be a billion-dollar
industry by 2005.
38. cave in
o 屈服 ;妥協
o 說明:cave 一般當名詞用時是指「洞穴」;當動詞用時也有「下陷;坍塌」的意思,片語 cave
in 則可用來形容向某狀態或困境「屈服;妥協」的意思。
o 例句:
The corporation caved in to pressure from workers.該機構屈服於來自工人的壓力。
CNN correspondent: Dasrath and his attorneys say the airlines have caved in to
hysteria -- taking the easy way out by inconveniencing a few passengers in favor of
many.
39. chalk up
o 得到
o 說明:chalk 是指「粉筆」;早期進行運動競賽時,都是用粉筆把各隊的得分記錄在黑板上;後
來,chalk up 便引申指「取得;贏得」的意思。
o 例句:
Dell chalked up healthy profits in the second quarter.戴爾公司在第二季獲利良好。
CNN correspondent: Japan's J-Phone is chalking up strong sales of its camera
phone, selling more than one hundred thousand handsets a month.
40. chip in
o 湊錢 ;出一 份力
o 說明:chip in 就是大家一起「湊錢」的意思,通常是指每個人都出一點錢,合力購買一件東西
或做某件事,也可以指「出一份力;提供一點幫助」的意思。
o 例句:
Everyone chipped in a few bucks to buy May a wedding gift.大家一起湊錢買了一份
結婚禮物給梅。
CNN correspondent: While some of the costs of this new technology will be picked
up by governments, airlines, and the companies themselves, passengers may also
find they'll be chipping in.
44. copycat
o 抄襲 者;拷 貝貓
o 說明:copycat 這個字較常用於小孩子之間,帶有負面意義,表示「盲目地模仿跟進或抄襲別
人的人」,也可作做動詞及形容詞用。
o 例句:
After the newspapers reported the theft, there were several copycat crimes.報紙報導
了這件竊盜案之後,就出現了好幾宗模仿的案件。
CNNdotCOM host: Two Silicone Valley Gen Xers started the site as a joke, but it's
now receiving as many as ten million page views a day. And it's even spawned
copycats.
49. deep-pocketed
o 資金 雄厚的
o 說明:deep pocket 是一種俚語用法,形容口袋能裝許多錢,引申指「財富眾多;財源豐富」;
而其衍生的形容詞 deep-pocketed 便是用來形容人或公司機構等「財力雄厚;富有多金」 。
o 例句:
Marty's uncle has always been very deep-pocketed; he's a very generous man.馬帝
的叔叔非常有錢;他是個非常康慨的人。
CNN correspondent: The entrance of these deep-pocketed corporate giants has
fueled massive takeover speculation.
50. die-hard
o 頑固 的;死 忠的
o 說明:die-hard 字面意思是「要死很難」,意即「對……的態度非常執著」;後來引申為「很難改
變他們的觀點;頑固的」意思。
o 例句:
Lindsey is a die-hard Simpsons fan. She has watched every show at least twice.琳
賽是《辛普森家庭》的死忠影迷,她每集至少看過兩次以上。
CNN correspondent: But, as hard as it will be to match the expectations of die-hard
Tolkien fans, it may be equally as challenging to rival the power of Harry Potter.
o 例句:
Our company is now very successful in Taiwan. Maybe it's time we dipped our toes
in the Chinese market.我們公司現在在台灣很成功。或許該是我們試試大陸市場的時
候了。
CNN correspondent: When you surf the Internet, you're not only dipping your toes in
the dot-com ocean, you're also using voice and data networks built by
telecommunications companies.
54. drink in
o 透過 感官盡 情欣賞
o 說明:drink in 有「陶醉於……」的意思,其後常接聲音、景致等詞,例如:drink in sights,
smells, beauty(沈醉於美景、香氣、美麗)等等 。
o 例句:
Look at this place! Just stop for a minute and drink it all in. We may never come
back.看看這個地方!停留一下盡情欣賞這裡的一切吧,我們可能不會再回來這裡了。
CNN Hotspots host: Stop, look around, look up, drink in the sounds, the
atmosphere, and remember the history -- the funerals of Lord Nelson and Winston
Churchill, the wedding of Charles and Diana.
71. gear up
o 卯足 全力準 備
o 說明:gear 可指「裝備;齒輪裝置;汽車的排檔」,gear up 原指「將所需配備穿戴至身上」,有
「全副武裝以迎接挑戰」之意,故 gear up 可引申為「卯足全力準備」 。
o 例句:
The team is gearing up for the big game this weekend.這支隊伍正卯足全力準備迎戰
週末的大賽。
CNN correspondent: Even as Heston exits the political stage, both sides now gear
up for battle in Washington.
81. go up in flames
o 著火 ;付之 一炬
o 說明:此語字面意思是「著火」,而其結果通常是指「完全被焚毀」。此外 ,go up in flames 口語
中也可用來形容某個計畫或某件事「完全泡湯;一敗塗地」 。
o 例句:
The car hit the tree and went up in flames.這輛車撞到樹後燒了起來。
Brian: I can't believe that such a new building could go up in flames so easily.
85. ham it up
o 誇張 過火的 演出; 譁眾取 寵
o 說明:ham 作為名詞表示「火腿」,亦指「表演過火、演技誇張做作、不夠自然的演員」,這裡的
ham 是 hamfat 的縮寫,它是一種廉價的油膏,過去常被二線演員拿來卸妝。二線演員為吸引
觀眾注意,演出的方式常刻意誇大,因而 ham it up 就表示「表演得很賣力但太誇張、做作」,
有「譁眾取寵」的意味。
o 例句:
Jerry loves to ham it up at family gatherings.傑瑞喜歡在家族聚會時耍寶。
CNN correspondent: Plenty of protesters, but that didn't stop Cheney from greeting
tourists during a quick stop at the Pro-Football Hall of Fame and hamming it up in a
classic convertible with his granddaughter.
86. hand-wringing
o 扼腕 ;悲痛
o 說明:此語是從片語 wring one's hands (over something) 轉化而來,意指某人為了某事苦惱、
悲痛,因而不斷地扭絞 (wring) 雙手,因此引申有「扼腕;悲痛」之意。
o 例句:
After the attack, there was much hand-wringing, but little action was taken to assist
the survivors.攻擊過後,許多人覺得悲傷,但卻遲遲不見行動援助災民。
Robert Zoellick, U.S. trade rep.: We're now at that stage where we need to move
from hand-wringing about what didn't happen to a hands-on sense of how we can try
to move the process forward.
98. in light of
o 鑑於
o 說明:這裡的 light 原指「光的照射方式」,引申為「看法;觀點」,所以 in light of 的意思是「從
……來看;鑑於」,亦可寫作 in the light of,類似的用法有 in view of、from the point of view
of。
o 例句:
In light of the recent news, we have decided to close our factories in Argentina.從最
近的新聞來考量,我們決定關閉阿根廷的工廠。
CNN correspondent: That, say Daud Scott and Leila Lake, must change, particularly
in light of the murderous acts committed on September 11 in the name of Islam.
CNN 經典用語
CNN anchor: Well, apart from the fact that they're both on top of their game, they
also have new video games in the pipeline.
108.jaw-dropping
o 令人 目瞪口 呆的
o 說明:此語與中文的「目瞪口呆」有異曲同工之妙,jaw dropping 是形容事物令人驚訝得連下
巴 (jaw) 都合不攏。亦可寫作 one's jaw drops.
o 例句:
The results of the race were jaw-dropping.比賽結果讓人跌破眼鏡。
CNN anchor: Some of the designs at the Toyota Idea competition were quite jaw
dropping. Toyota engineers were not the only ones grinning ear to ear. Their concept
sports car, Mr. Smile, was too.
109.join forces
o 共同 合作
o 說明:此語原為軍事用語,指「會師;整合軍力」以對抗敵人,現已引申為「團結合作、聯合完
成某目標」的意思。提醒讀者,force 需用複數形 forces。
o 例句:
The nations of the world are joining forces to fight terrorism.世界各國共同對抗恐怖主
義。
CNN correspondent: GirlGeeks has joined forces with computer-show giant Comdex
to try to encourage women to consider high-tech careers.
110.jump at the chance
o 迅速 把握機 會
o 說明:jump at 之後可接諸如 chance 、opportunity 等詞,表「迅速把握;欣然接受(某機會)
的意思。類似用語還有 jump at the bait「迅速把握某種良機」 。
o 例句:
The young actress jumped at the chance to be in the big-budget movie.這名年輕女
演員即時把握住機會,在這部大製作電影中演出。
CNN correspondent: Gone are the days when European companies jumped at a
chance to grab the attention of American investors.
113.just shy of
o 只差 ……一 點點; 將近
o 說明:此語在運動項目轉播中也常可聽到,例如 just shy of the world record 只差一點點就破
世界紀錄。
o 例句:
He died just shy of his eightieth birthday.他在將近八十歲時去世。
CNN correspondent: He bought a ticket to ride a Russian Soyuz rocket headed to
the International Space Station in April. The price tag for the ten-day visit? -- just shy
of $20 million.
114.keel over
o 整個 翻覆; 昏倒
o 說明:keel 做名詞用時是指船隻底部的「龍骨」;動詞片語 keel over 字面意義是指船隻「整個
翻覆」,引申為人「昏倒」的意思。
o 例句:
When I told Grandpa he had won the lottery, he almost keeled over from shock.當我
告訴爺爺他中了樂透,他高興得差點昏倒。
CNN correspondent: People are always fainting in movies, but presidential fainting
is relatively rare. Who could forget George Bush Sr., keeling over at a state dinner
given by Japan's prime minister?
115.keep an eye on
o 注意
o 說明:eye 在這裡是名詞「注視」的意思,必須用單數;因此 keep an eye on 即為「注意;留心
之意,亦可說成 keep an eye open/out for。
o 例句:
Joan asked her neighbor to keep an eye on her son while she was running an
errand.瓊安要求鄰居在她出去辦事時,幫她看一下兒子。
Ann Kellan, Science and Technology Week host: But what they don't know is how
life in the ocean will respond over the long haul if carbon dioxide levels keep rising.
In the meantime, they're going to keep an eye on it.
116.kick off
o 開始
o 說明:kick 是「踢」的意思,kick off 原指在足球賽開始時,球員以踢球來開始一場比賽,也就
是「開球」。在美式口語用法中,一場會議、一個事件的「開始」,都可以 用 kick off 來表示。此動
詞片語的名詞用法寫作 kickoff。
o 例句:
The NYSE kicked off 2004 with a 20 percent gain.紐約證交所二○○四年開紅盤,大
漲百分之二十。
CNN anchor: Well, in the United States a popular daytime TV talk-show host was
driven to do something very special for others to kick off her 19th season on the air.
117.kick up a stink
o 引發 爭論
o 說明:stink 有「臭氣」的意思;kick up a stink 引申為「引發爭論」爭論的意思。類似的說法
如 make/create/raise a stink 較為常見。
o 例句:
If the boss doesn't give me a raise this year, I am really going to kick up a stink!老闆
如果今年沒有幫我加薪,那麼我一定要有所動作。
CNN anchor: Experts attending a toilet summit in Singapore have been kicking up a
stink. They're calling for better hygiene standards around the world.
118.kick-ass
o 很屌 的
o 說明:這是個有點鄙俗卻又很常用的的美式俚語,作形容詞用。用 kiss-ass 形容某事物時,是
指這樣東西比其它的都要好,類似中文「很屌的」之意。這個字難登大雅之堂,故說完 kick-ass
之後總是會加上一句 excuse my language。
o 例句:
Wow! They're some kick-ass boots! Are they new?哇!這靴子好炫喔!是新的嗎?
The Rock: The Scorpion King is the most brave... bravest, fiercest, kick-ass --
excuse my language -- warrior that has walked the face of the earth.
119.kiss-and-tell
o 洩漏 祕密
o 說明:在以前保守的年代裡,男生追女生如果能親吻到對方,當然是很令人興奮的事,常會
忍不住跑去跟朋友說:「我親到她了」,結果,事情就這樣子給傳開來了。所以 kiss-and-tell 便
被用來引申表示「洩露祕密」、甚至有「揭瘡疤」的意思 。
o 例句:
Harry is reading the latest kiss-and-tell scandal in the newspaper.哈利正在看報紙的
八卦新聞。
CNN correspondent: Kiss-and-tell is not her style. Now, show-and-tell, that's another
story.
120.knuckle sandwich
o 正中 嘴巴的 一拳
o 說明:knuckle 在此指的是「拳頭」,那到底什麼是 knuckle sandwich「拳頭三明治」?當你「一
拳正好打中對方的嘴巴」時,對方的兩片嘴唇正好包著你的拳頭,這像不像不就像個三明治呢
o 例句:
Frank gave Jeff a knuckle sandwich, and then kicked him in the head.法蘭克一拳打
進傑夫嘴裡後,又踹了他的頭。
The Rock: Hand-to-hand combat with one sword, and, although it's 3,000 B.C.,
there's head butts, there's a knuckle sandwich, and your occasional head chop
every once in a while.
121.lash out
o 猛烈 抨擊
o 說明:lash 當動詞用時,常指「鞭打;抽打」的動作。lash out 除了可指實際以某物「猛烈攻擊、
傷害」某人外,亦可指在言語上「猛烈抨擊;嚴厲斥責」他人之意。
o 例句:
The annoyed passenger lashed out at the flight attendant for telling him to sit down.
那位被惹惱的乘客因為空服員請他坐好而大發雷霆。
Thomas Crampton, International Herald Tribune: Tourism is a very important part of
the economies in Asia. So they lash out.
126.make a dent
o 產生 影響
o 說明:dent 是「凹痕;凹洞」的意思; make a dent(弄出凹痕)則引申指「產生影響」,常用於
否定句,也常與 even 連用,指「雖然花了很大的力氣,但對方仍絲毫不受影響」 。
o 例句:
I've been busy for hours, but I haven't made a dent in all the work I have to do.我已
經忙了好幾個小時,但要做的事情還是堆積如山。
CNN correspondent: The cell-phone industry's trade group says its members have
really been pushing this kind of recycling program in the last two or three years, but
it's not clear how much of a dent they're making.
127.mark down
o 降價
o 說明:mark down 就是「降價」的意思。許多標榜精緻、走高級路線的精品店不喜歡以「打折」 、
「減價」的用語來形容商品,因此,到季末出清商品時,就會 mark down 卸下當季的價標、為舊
商品「換吊牌」,標上較低的價錢。
o 例句:
This shirt used to be expensive, but it has been marked down to only five dollars!這
件襯衫本來很貴,但降價後只要五美元。
Simon Raggett, Williams de Broe: So there isn't a whole mass of stuff left at the end
of the season which has to be very heavily marked down.
128.material witness
o 重要 證人
o 說明:material witness 在美國法律上就是所謂「重要證人」,即掌握了重要證據、對案情有決定
性影響的人。美國法律允許警方扣押掌握重要證據者,以便其出庭作證。但須先經過繁瑣的申
請程序,並證明被扣押者確實掌握了無法從其它途徑得到的關鍵證據。
o 例句:
Brian was called as a material witness in the case against the thief.布萊恩在那個案
件中以重要證人的身分出庭作證指證該名小偷。
CNN correspondent: According to government sources, approximately two dozen
material witnesses have been taken into custody since September 11, 2001.
129.measure up
o 符合 標準
o 說明:measure 有「評價;評估」的意思,而 measure up 則是「被評定達到、符合……」的意思
常以 someone measures up to something 來表達某人達到某些標準、期望等。
o 例句:
Margaret's idea of a perfect man is one who writes poetry, cooks, and dresses well.
She said Peter just didn't measure up.瑪格麗特心目中完美的男人是:會寫詩、烹飪、
穿著出色。她說彼得根本不符合標準。
CNN correspondent: Bin Laden didn't measure up, says Time magazine managing
editor, Jim Kelly. He made the final decision this year.
130.no-brainer
o 不加 思索即 能解答 的問題
o 說明:no-brainer 是指「不加思索即能解答的問題或做出的決定」,此字易與「欠缺大腦的人」的
涵義混淆。「欠缺大腦、愚笨無知」可以 用 brainless 這個字。
o 例句:
Staying away from dangerous places like Iraq or Afghanistan should be a no-brainer
for travelers.遊客們應該不加思索就會避開伊拉克或阿富汗等危險地區。
John Tkacik, Heritage Foundation: Who's your friend when the going gets rough
politically? And is it going to be Washington or is it going to be Paris? And I think
that's a no-brainer.
134.on tap
o 唾手 可得
o 說明:tap 原指舊時橡木酒桶上的「活栓;龍頭」,以方便汲取。後來 on tap 常被引申用來表示
「可隨時取用;隨時供應」 。
o 例句:
Alan Greenspan has plenty of economic data on tap to make good decisions.艾倫.
葛林斯潘手邊隨時可得到許多經濟數據,以便做出好的決策。
David Stern, NBA commissioner: The game is being enhanced by sixty-five
international players this year, so we've got a really great season on tap.
137.on the go
o 忙個 不停
o 說明:on the go 這句話是用來形容「非常忙碌,動個不停的樣子」另一個相關的片語是 on the
fly「匆匆忙忙」 。
o 例句:
I'm exhausted. I've been on the go all day.我累死了,我忙了一整天。
CNN correspondent: A personal digital assistant can be neatly tucked inside a 3G
phone. -- perfect for someone on the go.
143.one of a kind
o 獨一 無二的
o 說明:of a kind 的意思是「同一類的」; one of a kind 是指:某種類的人、事、物在世界上就只
有這麼一個,也就是「獨一無二」、「與眾不同的」的意思 。
o 例句:
Kelly is very unusual; she's really one of a kind.凱莉非常獨特,而且她非常與眾不同。
CNN correspondent: Millie is one of a kind. At twenty-two months old, this orangutan
toddler is believed to be the only one of her kind alive who suffers from cerebral
palsy.
144.out of bounds
o 逾矩
o 說明:bound 意同 boundary,代表「界限」。out of bounds 直譯為「出界」,引申作「逾矩;超越
尺度;不被允許」之意。
o 例句:
No topic is out of bounds in our meetings.在我們的會議中,什麼話題都可以談。
CNN correspondent: On a bed, in the water, on a swing, boy and girl, man and man.
It seems nothing is out of bounds, and sex researcher Alfred Kinsey can take some
of the credit for that.
145.out of hand
o 立即
o 說明:此語常作形容詞用,意思是「無法控制的;無法掌控的」。亦作副詞用,是指不假思索 地
「立即」出手、動作或做出決定等。
o 例句:
My boss rejected the idea out of hand, not even listening to my argument.我的老闆
甚至聽都不聽我辯解,就馬上否決了這個想法。
CNN correspondent: Iraq's renewed offer to more fully cooperate with weapons
inspectors [was] dismissed out of hand.
146.out of step
o 不一 致
o 說明:step 在此是指「步調;步伐」;out of step 除了指實際上的步伐或走向與他人不一致外
亦可引申指和別人在想法、意見或行動上「不一致」 。
o 例句:
The right's antimarijuana views are out of step with the rest of the world.保守派人士
對於禁止大麻的看法與世界上其他人並不一致。
President George W. Bush: "We've recalled our ambassador, which indicates that
the relationship is not moving forward, that Syria is out of step with the progress
being made in the greater Middle East."
148.over-the-top
o 極端 的;過 度的
o 說明:over-the-top 表示「過度而浮誇的」,通常用來描述行為和表演等。
o 例句:
The acting is a little over the top, but it's not a bad movie.除了演員的演技太假之外,
這部電影還算不賴。
CNN anchor: Now classical history isn't normally the stuff of boardroom debate, and
military tactics is slightly over the top when it comes to corporate takeovers.
151.parting shot
o 回馬 槍;下 狠話
o 說明:parting shot 是「離開時補你一槍」,意即「回馬槍」。其源自:古代伊朗北部的帕提雅 帝
國 (Parthia),該國的戰士 (warrior) 在戰場上撤退或假裝退卻時,回身放箭傷人,稱為 parthia
n shaft(回馬箭)。除了可用在戰場上,亦引申指兩方爭執過後,在離去前氣憤地「撂下狠話」。
o 例句:
When Bill broke up with Jan, she took a parting shot, saying, "Have a nice life."比爾
和珍分手時,珍撂下狠話:「祝你過的『好』」 。
CNN correspondent: This is what everyone's desperate to avoid: a repeat of '91,
when, by way of parting shot at the West, Iraq's retreating forces torched Kuwait's oil
fields.
154.pencil pusher
o 內勤 工作者
o 說明:pencil pusher 指辦公室裡不需要動勞力,做「內勤或文書」等靜態工作的人,亦可稱
為 paper pusher。
o 例句:
That policeman doesn't solve crimes or arrest criminals; he's just a pencil pusher.那
名員警不處理犯罪事件或逮捕罪犯。他只是文書人員。
CNN correspondent: Most of us started out as pencil pushers -- yellow ones, stubby
ones, perfect for filling in circles, sticking behind your ear.
155.pick up steam
o 開始 逐漸發 展
o 說明:pick up steam 原指以蒸氣 (steam) 為動力的火車或汽船等逐漸增加蒸氣動力,使行進
速度加快。用來形容事物的「腳步加快;聲勢增加」。相反詞 為 run out of steam「失去動力;精疲
力竭」 。
o 例句:
As the U.S. economy has picked up steam, the unemployment rate has dropped.隨
著美國經濟景氣逐漸回升,失業率已經下滑。
CNN correspondent: The Fed said the struggling U.S. manufacturing sector showed
further signs of life, an indication the economic recovery is picking up steam.
156.pick-me-up
o 提神 飲料; 有興奮 作用的 東西
o 說明:pick-me-up 就是「提神飲料」,通常含有藥物或酒精成份。此外,只要是有助於提振精神
的事物,都可稱為 pick-me-up。
o 例句:
Try this coffee; it's a good pick-me-up.試試這咖啡,它是很好的提神飲料。
CNN correspondent: The telecom biz desperately needs a pick-me-up; the market is
losing momentum as consumers hold off buying new phones. But one gizmo could
change all that.
157.play hardball
o 採取 強硬做 法
o 說明:原為棒球用語,指使用標準的棒球 (standard ball) 也就是硬球 (hardball) 來進行比賽,
而非稍大、較軟且較容易打的壘球 (softball)。後來常被常引申指「態度強硬;採取強硬手段」 。
o 例句:
Because the reporter would not reveal her source, the judge decided to play
hardball and put her in jail.由於該名記者拒絕透露消息來源,法官決定採取強硬措施
將他送進監獄。
CNN correspondent: Shares of Oracle and PeopleSoft were both under pressure
this session as the two companies continue to play hardball.
159.pop out
o 突然 出現
o 說明:pop 是汽球的爆裂聲或瓶塞拔出時所發出「啪」的一聲;pop out 可當動詞用,比喻某件
事物「突然出現」,引起眾人的矚目。
o 例句:
I didn't see the car coming; it just popped out from nowhere.我沒看到那部車過來,
它不知道是從哪冒出來的。
CNN correspondent: They're sleek, they're hot, and they look like they just popped
out of a science-fiction movie.
160.PR offensive
o 公關 造勢
o 說明:PR 即 public relations(公共關係)的簡稱。 offensive 雖然經常用作形容詞,表示「令
人不悅的;無禮的」或「具攻擊性的」;但此處當名詞使用表示「攻勢;攻擊行動」;a PR
offensive 即為「公關造勢」 。
o 例句:
The company launched a PR offensive after its products were declared unsafe.這間
公司產品遭指稱安全堪慮之後,隨即發動一波公關造勢。
CNN correspondent: A recent PR offensive tried to show the prince in a more
positive light, coaching young rugby players in the UK and caring for AIDS victims in
Africa.
161.pull no punches
o 對… …某事 不會妥 協
o 說明:punch 作名詞為「拳打;穿孔機」之意。not pull punches 表示說話者對於已說出的言論
或已採取的行動相當認真,沒有轉圜的餘地,亦即對於已決定的事情「不會讓步;決不妥協」
的意思。
o 例句:
The police are not pulling any punches with their new crackdown on illegal parking.
警察對於取締違規停車不會妥協。
CNN correspondent: But the United States insists it won't pull any punches to
protect its pilots.
162.pull up stakes
o 遷移 ;收拾 家當離 開
o 說明:美國土地廣闊,建國早期人們都會在自己的 property boundaries(土地邊界)上釘
上 stakes(木樁)作為私人財產的標示,外人不得隨便進入;如果將作為財產標示的木樁拔
起 pull up stakes,則表示他準備「遷移;離開」 。
o 例句:
We're looking forward to pulling up stakes and leaving all this behind.我們期望離開,
並把這裡的一切全留下來。
Mike Chinoy, Senior Asia Correspondent: Now, fed up with Hong Kong, Lai has
pulled up stakes and moved to Taiwan.
163.pump up
o 充滿 熱情; 充滿力 量
o 說明:pump up 有「打氣;充氣」的意思,常用來形容人「充滿熱情;充滿力量的」 。 pumped
up 也可當過去分詞作形容詞用。
o 例句:
Athletes should always get pumped up before a game.運動員在比賽之前應該要為自
己打氣。
CNN Sports Correspondent: They are pumped up down under. After seven years of
waiting, the people of Sydney are ready for the games to begin.
166.raise eyebrows
o 引人 側目
o 說明:raise eyesbrows 此語字面意思是「揚起眉毛」;這裡的眉毛指的是「別人的眉毛」,而非
自己的眉毛,這個動作是常用來表達「引起驚訝、錯愕、懷疑等」的意思。
o 例句:
Sarah and George raised a few eyebrows with their sudden decision to marry.莎拉和
喬治突然決定結婚有點令人訝異。
Karuna Shinsho, Inside Asia Host: She raised eyebrows with the album cover
showing her posing with her violin in a water-drenched, almost see-through outfit.
167.rake in
o 大筆 撈進
o 說明:rake 原指用來耙草或枯枝敗葉的「長柄耙;草耙」,這種長柄耙用來耙枯葉一次可耙到
很多葉子,很快便可將地上清理乾淨。因此,rake in 除了指「迅速大量地耙攏、搜集」外,也常
用來引申指「大筆賺進、撈進」 。
o 例句:
Investors are tired of CEOs who rake in millions of dollars even if the company is
failing.這些執行長即使公司即將倒閉仍可撈進數百萬美元,真是讓投資人受夠了。
CNN correspondent: She needs almost seven thousand bucks. after getting
eighteen dollars from generous people the first week, she got zip weeks two and
three. Others have raked in thousands.
168.reach out to
o 與… …溝通 爭取認 同;搏 感情
o 說明:reach out 是指「表示善意」,如同就好比伸出友誼之手的意思;reach out to 字義為向
某人伸出友誼之手,亦即引申為「與……溝通爭取認同;搏感情」的意思。
o 例句:
Many countries reached out to the disaster victims, sending money and food.許多國
家對災區難民伸出援手紛紛捐出錢與食物。
George W. Bush, U.S. President: I will do all I can do to deserve your trust. A new
term is a new opportunity to reach out to the whole nation.
169.riddled with
o 充滿
o 說明:rriddle 作名詞是指「謎」或篩取穀物、泥土、砂石等的「粗篩;格篩」 。riddled with 常被用
來比喻某物「被弄得滿是孔洞」或「充滿令人不悅的事物」 。
o 例句:
My house is riddled with cockroaches.我家到處蟑螂橫行。
CNN Correspondeant: And, in Afghanistan, a country riddled with literally millions of
hidden land mines, they have been used to clear thousands of hectares.
o 例句:
Chris rang in the New Year by throwing a party.克里斯辦了一場派對來迎接新年的到
來。
CNN correspondent: On New Year's Eve, 2001, Michael Dasrath boarded a
Continental Airlines jet bound for Tampa. His intention: to ring in the New Year with
his wife and two sons.
171.road warrior
o 通勤 人口; 馬路戰 士
o 說明:尖峰時間的車潮、人潮眾多,上班族就必須像打仗般「排除障礙」往前移動;road
warrior「馬路戰士」就是用來形容這些在上、下班尖峰時間的「通勤人口」。另外,「常在各地走 動
的人」也可以用這個名詞。
o 例句:
This travel book is for true road warriors. It lists hundreds of hotels and restaurants.
這本旅遊書是專為各地「走透透」的人而寫,書裡列出了許多旅館和餐廳。
CNN anchor: On board the Hong Kong tram, road warriors can commute in comfort
with just enough room to bring out the laptop and begin the hunt for wireless
networks.
175.saber rattling
o 炫耀 軍力
o 說明:saber 指舊時騎兵佩戴的「長劍;軍刀」;rattling 則指「發出聲響」,兩字連用表示用力
搖晃軍刀,使其與刀鞘相互碰撞、發出聲響,目的是在向對手示警,引申為「炫耀軍力;以武
力威脅、恫嚇」的意思。
o 例句:
Despite saber rattling from North Korea, the talks have moved forward.儘管北韓以武
力恫嚇,會談仍舊有所進展。
CNN correspondent: With a twenty-one-gun salute in a driving rain against a
backdrop of saber rattling from Beijing, Taiwan's president, Chen Shui-bian, was
sworn in for a second term and immediately called for an easing of tensions with
China.
176.sail through
o 順利 進行
o 說明:sail through 原指「航行順暢」,在此用來形容事情「進展順利」,如 :sail through
differences「順利化解歧見」 。
o 例句:
The leaders sailed through the talks.領導者們順利地進行會談。
CNN correspondent: As momentum builds among WTO members to admit China,
Beijing is eager to show that China is sailing through trade differences with other
countries.
180.shore up
o 支撐
o 說明:名詞 shore 有兩種解釋:一指湖、海等大水域的「岸;濱」,另一則指「支柱;支撐」。sho
re up 中的動詞 shore ,是一種比喻用法,指「對……予以支撐或強化」 。
o 例句:
The organization shored up food supplies to prepare for the monsoon season.該組
織加強了食物補給,以準備度過這次的雨季。
CNN anchor: Officials are calling on workers to shore up lake and river
embankments in southern China as more rainfall is expected in the already-flood-
soaked area.
183.slippery slope
o 險坡 ;一旦 開始就 停不下 來的災 難
o 說明:此語字面意思是「滑溜的斜坡」,用來比喻事情只要一開始便很難停下來,而且很容易
帶來失敗或災難,就像是從很滑的斜坡上滑下來一樣。
o 例句:
Eating just one piece of chocolate when you are on a diet can be a slippery slope.在
減肥的時候來片巧克力將會造成不可挽救的悔恨。
Richard Shelby, U.S. Senator: A lot of us are interested in biomedical research. We
benefit from it. But to... but there... this is a slippery slope. We'd better be careful.
184.smell a rat
o 事有 蹊蹺
o 說明:此語的字面意思是「聞到老鼠」;源於貓即使看不到老鼠,也能夠嗅得出牠藏身之處的
天性。引申指「覺得事有蹊蹺;發覺有詐;察覺可疑」的意思。
o 例句:
Someone wants to sell you a brand-new car for a thousand dollars? I smell a rat.有
人僅開價一千元就願意把全新的車賣給你?我覺得事有蹊蹺。
CNN correspondent: Though, admittedly, they'll only last ten years and get but four
miles to the gallon. The old Routemasters are going strong after forty-five years and
get twelve miles to the gallon. The public smells a rat.
185.snap up
o 迅速 網羅; 搶購
o 說明:snap up 字面上的意思是「迅速抓住」。若用於人,是指將此人「迅速網羅;極力爭取」 到
自己的公司、團隊;若用於物,則是「搶購」之意。
o 例句:
The producer's first dance track was snapped up by a major record label.這位製作人
的第一支舞曲立刻獲得某大唱片公司採用。
CNN correspondent: Chic geeks will snap up 19 million flat TVs by 2006, according
to research firm DisplaySearch.
186.snow job
o 騙局
o 說明:此語原為二次世界大戰時的軍事用語,指的是隱藏在雪地裡的危險。如今常用來形容人
「以花言巧語勸說、吹噓、哄騙等」,就像雪地裡美麗的雪花一般,讓人沒有提防。
o 例句:
Many critics have called Bush's tax cuts an economic snow job.許多評論者將布希的
減稅方案稱作經濟騙局。
CNN correspondent: Her site was so entertaining, so amusing, we started to have
doubts. Was this a snow job about a breast job?
187.sock away
o 儲蓄 ;存錢
o 說明:以前西方人有把私房錢藏在襪子 (sock) 裡的習慣,因此在口語用法中,sock away 就
是指把錢放在安全的地方,也就是「儲蓄;存錢」的意思。
o 例句:
Tom has been socking away his paychecks in a savings account.湯姆一直把自己的
薪水存在儲蓄帳戶裡面。
CNN correspondent: You have that much, right? Better sock it away kid for a rainy
day.
188.spine chiller
o 恐怖 片
o 說明:此語的字面意義是「讓人背脊發涼的事物」,多半用來指「恐怖片」;恐怖片還有以下幾
種說法:horror movie、scary movie、thriller 等講法。
o 例句:
That new horror movie is a real spine chiller.那部剛上片的恐怖片真是名符其實的驚
悚片。
CNN correspondent: Chinese medicine may not be what American audiences are
used to seeing in a spine chiller, but Hollywood is nevertheless fascinated.
192.stay mum
o 緘默 的;無 言的
o 說明:mum 發音與人抿閉嘴唇所發出的聲音類似,屬口語用法,可作形容詞用,表「緘默的;
無言的」。亦指「不針對某事或狀況發表言論」 。
o 例句:
I keep asking him who told him I liked him, but he's staying mum.我一直問他是誰跟
他說我喜歡他的這件事,可是他一直保持沈默。
CNN correspondent: President Chen, who called the Chinese law a "vicious
aggression bill," stays noticeably mum as he waves to his supporters.
193.staying power
o 耐力 ;持久 力
o 說明:power 是「力量;體力」的意思;staying power 則是讓體力與能量維持在一定的程度,
故用以形容一個的「耐力;持久力」 。
o 例句:
Marathon runners need real staying power, unlike sprinters.馬拉松跑者需要持久的耐
力,不像短跑者。
CNN correspondent: The media coverage of SARS isn't likely to subside soon. As a
virus crossing continents with no known cure, it's a story with staying power.
195.take a plunge
o 跳入 (泳池 或湖裡 等)
o 說明:plunge 作名詞用時,指「跳入;投入」,因此這個片語表示「跳入游泳池、跳入水池」的意
思,不過 take a plunge 這種說法並不常見; 另外有一類似片語 take the plunge 較常用,表
「採取重大步驟、決意冒險一試」的意思。
o 例句:
You go take a plunge; I'll stay here on the beach and watch you.你去游泳吧,我會待
在沙灘上看著你。
Jane Dutton, CNN Hotspots host: Now, the ideal temperature is hot, at ninety
degrees, and to get the full benefits, you're expected to strip off and take a plunge in
the nearest lake.
198.under strain
o 有壓 力
o 說明:strain 這個字有「拉扯;拉傷」的意思,也可指因繃的太緊而產生的「壓力」。 而 under
strain 原意為「處於緊繃狀態」,在此則是「受到壓力」的意思。和 strain 同義的字還有:
stress、tension、pressure 等。
o 例句:
Argentina's banks are under strain from its economic crisis.阿根廷的銀行處於經濟危
機下的壓力。
CNN correspondent: There is no question the seventy-year-old friendship between
Saudi rulers and American presidents is under severe strain.
199.word of mouth
o 口耳 相傳; 口碑效 應
o 說明:word of mouth 就是所謂的「口耳相傳」,也就是藉由使用者或有親身體驗的人的口碑、
好評,來為商品或服務做一種無形的宣傳,亦可稱為「口碑效應」 。
o 例句:
We don't have ads or flyers. We hope our restaurant will become popular by word of
mouth.我們不打廣告或發傳單。我們希望能靠口耳相傳而使本餐廳變得受歡迎。
Dana Dickey, Conde Nast traveler host: We were on the morning shows because
they sort of said, "What are these stuffed animals doing outside our windows?" Then
of course, word of mouth.
200.zone out
o 自心 中抹去
o 說明:zone out 表示「把某事自心中摒除或是暫時排除在外的意思」,zone out of that 就是指
「不去理會那件事」的意思。
o 例句:
Jason was so tired that he zoned out and didn't pay attention to anything.傑森是這麼
的累以致於他什麼都不想,不去注意任何事情。
Chris O'Donnell: And so you were able to kind of zone out of that and focus in on the
scene. But then there were times where you wanted to bring that element of fear
back in.
END