A tough call, 指很难做的选择。参加决赛的两名选手不相上下,"It was a tough call for the judges," 评委很难在二者间做出取舍。"With two great point guards, the coach faces a tough call," 面对两个出色的篮球控卫,教练很难做出选择。"The city council has to make the tough call and decide whether to cut education or tourism budgets," 市政委员会要做出艰难的选择,决定是削减教育系统经费还是削减旅游业的经费。
Get-go, 是开始的意思。"From the get-go," 就是从一开始。"The team controlled the game from the get-go," 这只球队从一开始就控制了比赛的局面。"It was clear from the get-go that the candidate would win," 从一开始就很明显,这个候选人一定会赢。"He was serious about the relationship from the get-go," 他从一开始就对这段感情非常认真。"The proposal was a mistake from the get-go," 这项提案从一开始就是个错误。"He was at a disadvantage from the get-go," 他从一开始就处于劣势。
Root, 做为动词,是为某人打气,捧场的意思。"The whole town is rooting for the local high school football team," 整个小镇都为当地高中橄榄球校队加油。"I always root for the underdog," 我总喜欢为估计会输的一方打气。"Everyone was rooting for the runners at the finish line," 所有人都在终点为参赛选手加油。
今年美国职棒大联盟冠军总决赛是纽约扬基队和费城人队,两个队都是新泽西棒球迷的死敌。"New Jersey baseball fans had to decide which arch-enemy to root for," 新泽西棒球球迷要在两个死敌中间选择为谁助威加油。
Frustration, 意思是气馁。美国H1N1甲流疫苗的供应速度低于预期。"President Obama expressed frustration about the slow pace of production of the vaccine," 美国总统奥巴马对疫苗生产速度的缓慢表示气馁。"The fans showed frustration at the team's consecutive losses," 球迷对球员连续输球感到非常气馁。"In some of the states hit hardest by the recession, frustration among voters is mounting," 在一些受经济衰退打击最严重的州里,选民的气馁情绪越发高涨。
今天我们要学的词是ups and downs。 "Ups and downs," 意思是时好时坏,起伏波折。"The team had its ups and downs during the season," 这个球队整个赛季的表现时好时坏,起伏不定。"The heavyweight champion had his ups and downs in his boxing career," 这个重量级拳击冠军的拳击生涯有高潮,也有低谷。"We have had our ups and downs like all married couples," 跟所有夫妻一样,我们的婚姻生活也是既有美满也有摩擦。
Stump, 意思是游说演说。"President Obama stumped for New Jersey governor Jon Corzine's re-election effort," 美国总统奥巴马为新泽西州长柯赞参选连任站台。"Former President Bill Clinton stumped for Democratic candidate Creigh Deeds in Virginia's governor race," 前总统克林顿为维吉尼亚州民主党州长候选人迪兹站台助选。"Former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani stumped for current mayor Michael Bloomberg, who is attempting to win a third term," 前纽约市长朱利安尼为现任市长布隆伯格参选三度连任市长的努力站台。
Odds, 可能性。"The odds are good," 可能性很大。"The odds are in our favor," 我们获胜的机会更大。"If you are in your 30s, odds are you have not seriously considered your retirement planning," 如果你只有三十几岁的话,你可能还没有认真考虑自己的退休计划。"Our odds of winning are very poor against the championship team," 跟这个冠军队比赛,我们获胜的可能性很小。
美国一家汽车保险公司的研究发现,"The odds for motorists to hit a deer in West Virginia is 1 in 39," 在西维吉尼亚开车,39个司机里就有一个司机会撞到鹿。
Fuel, 做为动词,有刺激的意思。"The basketball player put his house up for sale, fueling speculation that he is being traded," 这个篮球队员正在卖房子,大家因此猜测,他可能要被球队换走。美国驻阿富汗的一位外交官提出辞职,"He believes the war is simply fueling the insurgency," 因为他认为,这场战争反而造成了反叛活动的继续。
联合国警告说,"The smuggling of Afghan opiates is fueling drug use along trafficking routes from Iran to Central Asia," 阿富汗的鸦片走私刺激了从伊朗到中亚地区走私路线沿途的吸毒活动
Freshman, 新生。"The freshman quarterback led the team to victory," 这个大学一年级的四分位带领球队赢得了比赛的胜利。"He was voted the freshman player of the year," 他被评选为年度最佳新生选手。
Freshman, 还可以用来指其它领域的新手,比如说, "a freshman Senator," 指任期第一年的国会参议员。美国国会众议院周末通过了医保改革议案。"Freshman Congressman Anh 'Josep'" Cao was the only Republican who voted in favor of the bill," 第一年担任国会众议员的高光映是唯一投票支持医保改革的共和党人。
A tough call, 指很难做的选择。参加决赛的两名选手不相上下,"It was a tough call for the judges," 评委很难在二者间做出取舍。"With two great point guards, the coach faces a tough call," 面对两个出色的篮球控卫,教练很难做出选择。"The city council has to make the tough call and decide whether to cut education or tourism budgets," 市政委员会要做出艰难的选择,决定是削减教育系统经费还是削减旅游业的经费。