City Teacher HO's diary

to have to deal with a difficult or unpleasant situation:

At the age of nine, he had the death of both parents to contend with.

We don't need a computer failure to contend with as well as all our other problems.

unsparing

adjective

/ʌnˈspeə.rɪŋ/ us

/ʌnˈsper.ɪŋ/

unsparing adjective (HIDING NOTHING)

showing no kindness and no wish to hide the unpleasant truth

無情的;不避諱的，不隱藏的

The documentary went through all the graphic details of the operation in unsparing detail.該紀錄片記錄下了手術過程中所有翔實的細節，未經刪節。

unsparing adjective (GENEROUS)

formal

extremely generous with money, time, help, etc.

極其大方的，慷慨的

Last of all, our thanks go to the caterers who have been unsparing in their efforts to make this afternoon such a success.最後，我們要感謝各位酒宴承辦人員，他們不辭辛勞的服務使今天下午的活動大獲成功。

unsparing

/ʌnˈspɛːrɪŋ/

adjective

1.
merciless; severe.
"he is unsparing in his criticism of the arms trade"
Similar:
merciless
pitiless
unpitying
ruthless
relentless
remorseless
Opposite:
2.
given freely and generously.
"she had won her mother's unsparing approval"

kaput

/kəˈpʊt/

adjective

informal

broken and useless; no longer working or effective.
"the water pump's broken, kaput"

blustery

/ˈblʌst(ə)ri/

adjective

(of weather) characterized by strong winds.
"a gusty, blustery day"
(of a wind) blowing in strong gusts.
"a blustery wind was sending flurries of rain against the window"

sham

noun [ C usually singular ]

disapproving

/ʃæm/ us

/ʃæm/

something that is not what it seems to be and is intended to deceive people, or someone who pretends to be something they are not

假像;騙局;假冒者;冒牌貨

It turned out that he wasn't a real doctor at all - he was just a sham.原來他根本就不是個真正的醫生，只是個騙子而已。

They claimed that the election had been fair, but really it was a sham.他們聲稱選舉是公平的，但事實上這是個騙局。

boorish

adjective

/ˈbʊər.ɪʃ/ us

/ˈbʊr.ɪʃ/

rude and not considering other people's feelings

粗野的，粗魯的，不體諒別人感受的

I found him rather boorish and aggressive.我發現他相當粗魯，咄咄逼人。

The boorish behaviour of some tourists is embarrassing.一些遊客的粗魯行爲令人尴尬。

furlough

noun [ C or U ]

/ˈfɜː.ləʊ/ us

/ˈfɝː.loʊ/

mainly US

a period of time that a soldier, worker, or prisoner is allowed to be absent, especially to return temporarily to their own home

（員工或軍人的）休假，探親假

He was an Army Sergeant home on furlough.

It is a crime for a person who has been given a furlough to fail to return to the jail or prison at the required time.

provocateur

noun [ C ]

/prəˌvɒk.əˈtɜːr/ us

/proʊˌvɑː.kəˈtɝː/

a person who intentionally encourages people to do something illegal, usually so that they can be arrested

煽動者

Was she a true progressive, or a provocateur working undercover?

Community leaders worry about far-right provocateurs from anti-immigrant groups.社區領導擔心來自反移民團體的極右翼煽動者。

someone who intentionally causes arguments or discussions, or intentionally makes other people feel angry, offended, or uncomfortable

挑釁者

He is a provocateur not afraid of confronting his own audience.他很愛挑釁，不怕得罪觀衆。

sane

adjective

/seɪn/ us

/seɪn/

having a healthy mind and not mentally ill

心智健全的，神智正常的;頭腦清醒的

In the doctor's opinion he was sane at the time of the murder.按照醫生的看法，他在謀殺時是神志清醒的。

humorous The only thing which keeps me sane after a hard day in the office is jogging!在辦公室辛苦工作一天後，唯一能使我保持頭腦清醒的方法就是慢跑。

showing good judgment and understanding

明智的

It was a sane decision and one we all respected.這是一個明智的決定，也是我們都尊重的決定。

vice

prefix

(also vice-)

/vaɪs/ us

/vaɪs/

used as part of the title of particular positions. The person who holds one of these positions is next below in authority to the person who holds the full position and can act for them

副職的;副的

the vice captain of the team隊伍的副隊長

a vice admiral海軍中將

Fewer examples

She is vice-chair of the local Conservative party.
I was vice captain of the hockey team.
He is vice chairman of the debating society.

vice

noun

/vaɪs/ us

/vaɪs/

vice noun (FAULT)

C2 [ C or U ]

a moral fault or weakness in someone's character

墮落，邪惡;不良習氣，惡習

Greed, pride, envy, and lust are considered to be vices.貪婪、驕傲、妒忌和淫慾都被視為罪惡。

mainly humorous My one real vice (= bad habit) is chocolate.我一個真正的惡習就是愛吃巧克力。

flameout

noun [ C ]

US informal

/ˈfleɪm.aʊt/ us

/ˈfleɪm.aʊt/

a failure that happens in a very sudden and noticeable way, usually after someone or something has been very successful

（尤指成功之後突如其來的）失敗

the spectacular flameout of once high-flying internet stocks一度高漲的網路公司股票的暴跌

fateful

adjective [ before noun ]

/ˈfeɪt.fəl/ us

/ˈfeɪt.fəl/

having an important and usually negative effect on the future

對未來有重大（負面）影響的

the fateful day of President Kennedy's assassination甘迺迪總統遇刺的災難性的一天

He made the fateful decision to send in the troops.他作出了派遣部隊這個影響重大的決定。

totemic

adjective

/təʊˈtem.ɪk/ us

/toʊˈtem.ɪk/

regarded as being symbolic or representative of a particular quality or concept.
"the totemic image of Bogart represents an immutably powerful mystique"

respected by a group of people, especially for religious reasons

圖騰性的; 圖騰式的

The markings and designs have totemic significance.這些標記和設計具有圖騰意義。

The car industry has a totemic status that is out of proportion to its real economic significance.汽車工業的圖騰地位與其實際經濟意義不相稱。

See

triggering

adjective

psychology specialized

/ˈtrɪɡ.ər.ɪŋ/ us

/ˈtrɪɡ.ɚ.ɪŋ/

causing a strong emotional reaction of fear or worry because someone is made to remember something bad that has happened in the past

（尤指因為讓他人回憶起過去發生的可怕事件而）觸發強烈情緒反應的

For people with PTSD, loud noises can be triggering.對於患有創傷後壓力症的人來說，巨大的聲響可能觸發強烈的情緒反應。

a triggering experience一段觸發強烈情緒反應的經歷

rendezvous

noun [ C ]

/ˈrɒn.deɪ.vuː/ us

/ˈrɑːn.deɪ.vuː/

plural rendezvous

an arrangement to meet someone, especially secretly, at a particular place and time, or the place itself

（尤指秘密的）約會，會面

We have a rendezvous for next week, don't we?我們下周有個約會，是不是？

The lovers met at a secret rendezvous in the park.戀人們在公園中偷偷約會。

a place where a particular group of people often go or meet, by arrangement or habit

約會地點;會面地點;經常出沒的場所

This restaurant is a popular rendezvous for local artists.這家飯店是當地藝術家喜歡的聚會地點。

verbatim

adverb

/vɜːˈbeɪ.tɪm/ us

/vɝːˈbeɪ.t̬əm/

in a way that uses exactly the same words as were originally used

一字不差地；逐字地

I don’t think I will read the whole thing verbatim to you.

She had an amazing memory and could recall verbatim quite complex conversations.她記憶力驚人，能夠一字不差地回想起很複雜的談話內容。

carve something out (for yourself)

phrasal verb with carve

to successfully create or get something, especially a work position, by working for it

靠努力开创出；努力赢得，谋得（尤指职位）

He hopes to carve out a niche for himself as a leading researcher in his field of study.他希望在自己的研究领域里闯出一个学术带头人的地位。

She carved out a reputation for herself as an aggressive manager.她作为一个咄咄逼人的经理人名声在外。

freak (someone) out

phrasal verb with freak verb [ I or T ] informal

/friːk/ us

/friːk/

to become or cause someone to become extremely emotional

使…極度激動

He freaked out when he heard he'd got the job.他聽到自己得到了那份工作後欣喜若狂。

This song just freaks me out whenever I hear it.這首歌我無論甚麽時候聽到，都會非常激動。

profligacy

noun [ C or U ]

/ˈprɒf.lɪ.ɡə.si/ us

/ˈprɑː.flɪ.ɡə.si/

the act of spending money or using something in a way that wastes it and is not wise

非常浪費，奢侈（的行為）

The profligacy of the West shocked him.西方國家的肆意揮霍使他震驚。

Years of fiscal profligacy have left the country deeply in debt.多年的財政揮霍使國家深陷債務之中。

The party took 12 months to plan and featured the type of profligacies that only the super rich can afford.這個派對花了12個月的時間來策劃，展示了只有超級富豪才能負擔得起的那種揮霍。

bad or morally wrong behaviour

放蕩，荒淫，行為不檢

His profligacy was legendary; he reportedly fathered 43 children.他的荒淫無度是出了名的，據報導他有43個孩子。

They were told to keep quiet about the Governor's profligacies.他們被告知要對總督的不檢行為保持沉默。

Related word

square off

phrasal verb with square verb

/skweər/ us

/skwer/

to prepare to fight, compete, or argue with someone

擺好架勢（準備迎戰）

The two giants in the fast-food industry are squaring off this month with the most aggressive advertising campaigns yet.本月速食業兩大龍頭展開了異常激烈的廣告攻勢，拉開陣勢準備一決高下。

prodigal

adjective

formal

/ˈprɒd.ɪ.ɡəl/ us

/ˈprɑː.dɪ.ɡəl/

spending or using large amounts of money, time, energy, etc., especially in a way that is not very wise

非常浪費的，奢侈的

The prodigal landlord spends the money as fast as he receives it.

There have been rumours that he has been prodigal with company funds.有傳聞說他一直在揮霍公司的資金。

Synonyms

extravagant

blizzard

noun

/ˈblɪz.əd/ us

/ˈblɪz.ɚd/

blizzard noun (SNOW)

[ C ]

a severe snow storm with strong winds

暴風雪;雪暴

We once got stuck in a blizzard for six hours.我們曾被暴風雪困了六個小時之久。

Blizzard conditions made the main roads almost impassable.暴風雪導致主要道路幾乎無法通行。

blizzard noun (LARGE AMOUNT)

[ S ] informal

a large amount of something that arrives or is produced together in a confusing or badly organized way

大量繁亂的事（物）

a blizzard of statistics/handouts繁亂的統計數字／雪片般的傳單

off the charts

idiom informal

at a very high level

處於極高水準的

His blood pressure was off the charts他的血壓高得嚇人。

mainly US

extremely popular or successful

非常受歡迎的，極成功的

The new restaurant is totally off the charts.這間新開的餐館口碑載道。

valet

noun [ C ]

/ˈvæl.eɪ/ us

/ˌvæˈleɪ/

someone in a hotel who cleans clothes

（飯店中）清洗衣物的服務員

someone at a hotel or restaurant who puts your car in a parking space for you

（飯店或餐廳的）代客泊車者

the personal male servant of a rich man, especially in the past

（尤指舊時富人的）貼身男僕

valet

verb [ T ]

/ˈvæl.eɪ/ /ˈvæl.ɪt/ us

/ˈvæl.ɪt/

to clean, especially the inside of, something

清洗（尤指內部）

There's a service which will valet your car for you while it is parked.有一項代客洗車服務是趁車停在那裡時進行的。

Barreling through something means to rush or move at a very quick pace.

"Our deadline was approaching, so we barreled through the project at lightning speed."

round-up

noun [ C ]

/ˈraʊnd.ʌp/ us

/ˈraʊnd.ʌp/

a bringing together of people, animals, things, etc.

聚攏，聚集

The president ordered the round-up and imprisonment of all opposition politicians.總統命令將所有反對他的政界人士一網打盡，全部投入監獄。

errant

adjective [ before noun ]

formal

/ˈer.ənt/ us

/ˈer.ənt/

behaving wrongly in some way, especially by leaving home

（尤指離家出走而）犯錯的，行爲不當的，出格的

an errant husband出軌的丈夫

errant children犯錯誤的孩子

(Translation of errant from the Cambridge English-Chinese (Traditional) Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

Examples of errant

errant

An errant production of la represented a much larger percentage of the substitution errors in masculine singular and feminine plural contexts than in masculine plural contexts.

And the courts had the complementary effect of exposing the errant husbands' failures to live up to the masculine ideal when their lack of responsibility was publicly exposed.

A number of disagreements are tolerated before change is instigated to a mode that includes the errant note.

Ottawa, however, was not to be so easily reconciled with its errant representative.

What does bounce off ideas mean?

If you bounce something off someone, you tell someone about an idea or plan in order to find out what they think of it: Can I bounce a couple of ideas off you? SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases.

bounce something off someone

phrasal verb with bounce verb

/baʊns/ us

/baʊns/

If you bounce something off someone, you tell someone about an idea or plan in order to find out what they think of it:

Can I bounce a couple of ideas off you?

floor

verb

/flɔːr/ us

/flɔːr/

floor verb (HIT)

[ T ]

to hit someone and cause them to fall:

He was floored with a single punch to the head.

floor verb (SURPRISE/CONFUSE)

[ T often passive ] informal

to surprise or confuse someone so much that they are unable to think what to say or do next:

I didn't know what to say - I was completely floored.

tout¹

/taʊt/

verb

1.
attempt to sell (something), typically by a direct or persistent approach.
"Sanjay was touting his wares"
2.
North American
offer racing tips for a share of any resulting winnings.

noun

1.
British
a person who buys up tickets for an event to resell them at a profit.
Similar:
illegal salesman
ticket tout
scalper
2.
North American
a person who offers racing tips for a share of any resulting winnings.

montage

1 of 2

noun

mon·tage män-ˈtäzh

mōⁿ(n)-

Synonyms of montage

: the production of a rapid succession of images in a movie to illustrate an association of ideas

: a literary, musical, or artistic composite (see composite entry 2 sense 1) of juxtaposed more or less heterogeneous elements

: a composite picture made by combining several separate pictures

: a heterogeneous mixture : jumble

a montage of emotions

a montage of sounds

montage

2 of 2

verb

montaged; montaging

transitive verb

: to combine into or depict in a montage

bravado

/brəˈvɑːdəʊ,brəˈveɪdəʊ/

noun

a bold manner or a show of boldness intended to impress or intimidate.
"he possesses none of the classic wheeler-dealer's casual bravado"

rekindle

/ˌriːˈkɪndl/

verb

past tense: rekindled; past participle: rekindled

relight (a fire).
"Josh set about rekindling the stove"
revive (something lost or lapsed).
"he tried to rekindle their friendship"
persecution
/ˌpəːsɪˈkjuːʃn/
noun
1. hostility and ill-treatment, especially on the basis of ethnicity, religion, or sexual orientation or political beliefs.
  "her family fled religious persecution"
Revanchism (French: revanchisme, from revanche, "revenge") is the political manifestation of the will to reverse the territorial losses which are incurred by a country, frequently after a war or after a social movement. As a term, revanchism originated in 1870s France in the aftermath of the Franco-Prussian War among nationalists who wanted to avenge the French defeat and reclaim the lost territories of Alsace-Lorraine.^[1]

ire

noun [ U ]

formal

/aɪər/ us

/aɪr/

anger

憤怒，怒火

Petty restrictions easily raised/aroused the ire of such a creative artist.種種瑣碎的約束很容易激怒這樣一位如此富有創造力的藝術家。

jamboree

noun [ C ]

/ˌdʒæm.bəˈriː/ us

/ˌdʒæm.bəˈriː/

a large organized event that many people go to, or a busy, noisy occasion or period

大型集會；喧鬧的聚會，狂歡活動

The beer festival was a huge open-air jamboree with music, stalls and everyone enjoying themselves.啤酒節是一個大型的露天狂歡活動，有音樂和貨攤，每個人都盡情享樂。

adamant

adjective

/ˈæd.ə.mənt/ us

/ˈæd.ə.mənt/

impossible to persuade, or unwilling to change an opinion or decision

固執的；堅決的，堅定不移的

[ + that ] I've told her she should stay at home and rest but she's adamant that she's coming.我告訴過她應該在家裡休息，可她堅持要來。

ensconce

/ɪnˈskɒns,ɛnˈskɒns/

verb

past tense: ensconced; past participle: ensconced

establish or settle (someone) in a comfortable, safe place.
"Agnes ensconced herself in their bedroom"

quixotic

/kwɪkˈsɒtɪk/

adjective

extremely idealistic; unrealistic and impractical.
"a vast and perhaps quixotic project"

squeamish

/ˈskwiːmɪʃ/

adjective

easily made to feel sick or disgusted.
"I've always been squeamish about bugs"

Anemia is a problem of not having enough healthy red blood cells or hemoglobin to carry oxygen to the body's tissues. Hemoglobin is a protein found in red cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to all other organs in the body. Having anemia can cause tiredness, weakness and shortness of breath.

swear by

phrasal verb of swear

1.
name someone or something to show that one promises to do something or that something is the case.
"I swear by all I hold dear that I had nothing to do with it"
2.
informal
have or express great confidence in the use, value, or effectiveness of something.
"Iris swears by her yoga"

caveat

/ˈkavɪat/

noun

plural noun: caveats

a warning or proviso of specific stipulations, conditions, or limitations.
"there are a number of caveats which concern the validity of the assessment results"

string out

phrasal verb of string

1.
stretch out into a long line.
"the runners string out in a line across the road"
Similar:
spread out
space out
set apart
place at intervals
distribute
extend
2.
prolong something.
"he had strung out the conversation"

brunt

/brʌnt/

noun

the worst part or chief impact of a specified action.
"education will bear the brunt of the cuts"

ferocious

/fɪˈrəʊʃəs/

adjective

adjective: ferocious

savagely fierce, cruel, or violent.
"a ferocious beast"
Similar:
fierce
savage
wild
feral
untamed
predatory
rapacious
Opposite:
informal
very great; extreme.
"a ferocious headache"

snap someone's head off

idiom

to answer someone in an unreasonably angry way:

There's no point trying to discuss anything with him if all he's going to do is snap your head off.

holdover

noun [ C ]

/ˈhəʊld.əʊ.vər/ us

/ˈhoʊld.oʊ.vɚ/

a person or thing that continues from an earlier time, especially a person who continues in an organization after other people have been replaced

留任的…;留下的…

The coach had a pointed message for newcomers to the team and a reminder for the holdovers.教練給了新隊員明確的指令，也對留任隊員發出了提醒。

Freud explained it as a holdover from a childhood problem.佛洛德將之解釋為童年問題的遺留。

retribution

noun [ U ]

formal

/ˌret.rɪˈbjuː.ʃən/ us

/ˌret.rəˈbjuː.ʃən/

deserved and severe punishment

嚴懲;應得的懲罰;報應

They fled because they feared retribution for the genocide.他們逃跑是因為他們害怕會因犯下的種族滅絕罪行而遭到嚴懲。

She was asked whether a civilian government should seek retribution against military officers involved in human rights abuses.她被問及一個平民政府是否應該嚴懲涉及踐踏人權罪行的軍官。

Many saw her death as divine retribution (= punishment by God) for her crimes.很多人看來，她的死罪有應得，是天譴。

evanescent

adjective

formal

/ˌiː.vəˈnes.ənt/ us

/ˌev.əˈnes.ənt/