Language Points

Language Point 1
While traveling for various speaking appointments, I frequently stay overnight in the home of a family and am assigned to one of the children's bedrooms. In it, I often find so many toys that there's almost no room - even for my small lavatory or toilet kit.

我四处奔波,应约作各种演讲,常在他人家里过夜,被安排在孩子的卧室里。 我经常发现孩子房间里玩具实在太多了,甚至几乎连我小小的梳妆盒也无处可放。

Language Point 2
overnight
ad.&a.
1. during or for the night 一夜(间),过夜
stay overnight at a friend's house 在朋友家过夜
You can stay overnight if you want to. 如果你愿意的话可以住一晚

Language Point 3
assign
vt.
. send to a particular place; name sb. for a task or position. 派, 指派
Did you choose Russia or were you simply assigned there? 你是自己选择去俄罗斯的呢,还是被指派去的?
They've assigned their best man to the job. 他们选派了最得力的人去担负这项工作。

Language Point 4 kit
n.
[C, U] equipment needed for a particular activity, situation or trade 一套工具
a toilet or shaving kit 盥洗用具
I keep a repair kit in the back of my car. 我在汽车后部放了一套修理用具。
a skiing kit (包括服装在内的)一套滑雪用具
a well-stocked first aid kit 备置充分的急救用品
a lavatory kit 盥洗用品

Language Point 5 barely
ad.
only just 仅仅,几乎没有,几乎不
They barely had time to catch the plane. 他们差点误了飞机。
He barely passed the exam. 他勉强通过了考试。
He had barely enough money to buy food. 他仅有刚够买食物的钱。

Language Point 6
make an point
state a point 提出论点
He’s just made an interesting point. 他刚刚提出了一个有趣的论点。
You made an original point in your speech. 你发言中有个新颖的观点。

Language Point 7
I think in far too many families not only do children come to take their parents' generosity for granted, but also the effects of this can actually be somewhat harmful to children.
我不仅认为孩子们把家长的慷慨大方视作理所当然的家庭实在太多了,而且认为这种做法的后果实际上对孩子们来说也是有害的。

Language Point 8
far: ad. much
This word is used to give force to “too many” in the sentence.
These tests are simply taking far too long. 这些实验所用的时间实在是太长了。
It’s far too hot in this room; open the windows. 这个房间太热了,打开窗户吧。

Language Point 9
hold down
keep (a job)for some time 保住(工作)
He couldn't hold down a job after his psychological illness. 他患了心理疾病以后就无法保住工作了。

He is a good worker, and will hold down his job. 他是一个好工人,可以保住他的工作。

Language Point 10
accommodation
n.
[C] convenient arrangement; the settling of a disagreement 和解,调解
mutual accommodation 相互迁就
The two sides failed to agree on every point but came to an accommodation.
双方未能在每一点上都取得一致,但达成了和解。
If labor and management don’t reach an accommodation, there will be a strike. 如果劳资双方不能达成妥协,就会发生罢工。

Language Point 11
along with
in addition to 与……一道
Tobacco is taxed in most countries, along with alcohol. 在大多数国家里,烟和酒一道课税。
He was set free last week along with three other Englishmen. 他上周和其他三个英国人一起被放了出来。

Language Point 12
pine for: want very much, esp. when it is unlikely that one will be able to have
Newcomers are often pining for home within weeks of arriving in their new country. 刚来的人在到达新国家的头几周,常常思恋故乡。
Many people pine for the country life. 很多人渴望乡村生活。

Language Point 13
for fear that: because of anxiety that; because of fear that, in case
Shut the window for fear that it might rain. 关好窗子以防下雨。
I dare not go there for fear that he would see me.
我不敢去那里,因为怕被他看见。

Language Point 14
make fun of
laugh at sb. / sth., usu. unkindly 嘲笑,奚落
People make fun of her because she always speaks foolishly. 人们嘲笑她,因为她常说傻话。
It’s cruel to make fun of people who are ill. 取笑生病的人未免太刻薄了。

 

Language Point 15
stand up to
1. meet or face bravely; be against without fear 勇敢面对,
Why don’t you stand up to your boss when you know you are right! 你明知道自己是对的,为什么不敢当面对你的老板说呢?
2. not be changed or damaged by 经得起,承受得起
Their views won't stand up to detailed criticism. 他们的观点经不起仔细推敲。

Language Point 16
fluctuate
vi.
(of an attitude or a state) change continually 变换不定,犹豫不决,动摇
fluctuating opinions 变化不定的见解
His attitude seems to fluctuate between happiness and hopelessness. 他的情绪波动不定,一会儿高兴,一会儿沮丧。

Language Point 17
If they give in, they feel regret and resentment over having been too easy. This kind of variability not only loosens the parents' ability to set limits, it also sours the parent-child relationship to some degree, robbing parents and their children of some of the happiness and mutual respect that is present in healthy families.
如果他们让步了,也会因为太容易让步而感到懊悔和自责。 这样的反复无定不但削弱了父母管教孩子的能力,同时也在某种程度上使父母与子女之间的关系变味 -- 使家长和子女失去存在于健康家庭里的某些幸福和相互尊重。

Language Point 18
loosen
v.
become or make loose or looser 放松,使松,松弛

loosen the government’s control over the newspapers 放松政府对报纸的控制
loosen discipline 放松纪律
A few drinks loosened his tongue. 一两杯酒下肚,他的话匣子便打开了。

Language Point 19
sour
v.
make or become unpleasant or difficult 使变坏,使恶化

Relations between the two governments were soured by boundary fighting. 两国间的关系由于边境冲突而恶化。
Many friendships have soured over borrowed money. 许多人之间的友谊都是因为金钱的借还而恶化的。

Language Point 20
undermine
vt.
weaken gradually 使逐渐削弱,暗中损坏
undermine someone’s name 损害某人的声誉
Smoking undermines health. 吸烟损害健康。
Every mistake that she makes further undermines her authority. 她犯的每一次错误都进一步降低了她的威望。

Language Point 21
conversely
ad.
opposite to sth., on the other hand 相反地,另一面
This newspaper story could do no damage to their name; conversely, it will give them a lot of free speech. 报纸上的这篇报道不可能损坏他们的名声,但从另一方面看,这也给了他们很多的发言权。
You can add the water to the powder or conversely, the powder to the water. 你可以把水加到面粉里,或者反过来,把面粉加到水里。

Language Point 22
on demand
whenever asked for 一经要求
Passengers must show their tickets on demand. 查票时旅客须出示车票。
This will be paid on demand. 索款即付。

Language Point 23
you should try to determine what makes you submit or feel guilty. Then, even if you haven't uncovered the reason, you should begin to make firm decisions and practice responding to your children's requests in a prompt, definite manner.
首先,你应该设法弄清楚是什么东西使你让步、或者让你感到内疚的。 然后,即使没能找出原因,你也该开始作出果断的决定,并试着用迅速、果断的方式对孩子的要求作出反应。

Language Point 24
submit
vi.
accept the control; give in 屈服于,服从,接受... ...的控制

She decided to submit to the new rules. 她决定接受新的规则。
We protested about the changes for a long time, but in the end we had to submit. 我们对这种改变已抗议了很长时间,但最终还是不得不屈服。

Language Point 25
Once you turn over a new leaf, you can't expect to change completely right away. You are bound to fluctuate at times. The key is to be satisfied with gradual improvement, expecting and accepting the occasional slips that come with any change.

一旦你改变了以往的做法,你也不能指望马上有效果。 有时你肯定会摇摆不定的。 关键是你要对逐渐的进步感到满足,要预见到并接受可能伴随这种改变而来的偶尔失误。

Language Point 26
turn over a new leaf
start a new and better way of behaving 悔过自新,洗心革面,重新做人

She decided to turn over a new leaf and give up smoking. 她决定改掉旧习惯,把烟戒掉。
I know the boy behaved very badly on his last visit, but I promise you that he's turned over a new leaf and will be good from now on. 我知道那男孩上次来表现很不好,可是我向你保证,他已经改好了,从现在起会做一个乖孩子的。

Language Point 27
slip
n.
[C] small mistakes caused by carelessness or lack of attention 过失,小错,小疏忽 He makes slips in grammar. 他常常在语法上出点小差错。

Language Point 28 nag v.
scold or criticize (sb.) continuously 唠叨地指责,批评
He nagged at her all day long. 他整天指责她。

My mum's always nagging me to have my hair cut. 我妈妈总在唠叨着要我去理发。