Paradoxes

paradox 似是而非 自相矛盾的話

It was the best of the time and it was the worst of the time. 這是最美好的時代也是最糟糕的時代

Nobody goes to the restaurant. It's too crowded.

First Impressions

impression 印象

lasting impression 深刻的印象

first impression 第一印象

get the wrong impression 錯誤的印象, 會錯意

Humor 的不同用法

humor 幽默可笑滑稽(n) /humorous (adj)

sense of humor 幽默感

see the humor in it 看到其中的幽默

humor 也可以當作"心情, 情緒" = mood
in a good humor
in a bad humor
no humor to do something 沒心情做某件事

椅子以外的 Chair

chair of the computer science department
chairman
chairperson
chairwoman
系主任


chair a meeting
chair(v) . 擔任主席

Parade 的不同定義

parade(v) show off 炫耀; 標榜
parade around the neighborhood in his new car

parade 行列
a parade of people
a parade of books

House 與 Home 的差別

Home 買賣房子會用home而不用house
home owner 房屋擁有者
房屋仲介業者故意用home取代home

retired home
nursing home

這樣的用法叫做euphemism(婉轉說法)
用好聽的字眼掩飾house比較冰冷的感覺

On the Street vs. In the Street

英式英文
in the Street = on the sidewalk(British)


美式英語
on the Street = on the sidewalk(america) 在街上
in the street = 在馬路當中

out on the street
walk on the sidewalk

dictionary

http://www.merriam-webster.com/

http://www.collinslanguage.com/shop/english-cobuild.aspx

Historic 和 Historical 的差別

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Historic : 歷史上有名,有歷史性的 重要的歷史事件人物
ex: The White House is a historic house.


Historical 根據歷史的,有關歷史的
ex : historical novel

其實兩字差別不大,如古老時期兩者皆可用
Historic time
Historical time

Show Someone Around

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Show Someone Around : 帶某人參觀某個地方
盡地主之誼

show someone the ropes : 教某人工作的竅門
learn the ropes : 學會工作的竅門


show someone the door : 委婉地要求人家離開

You Can Say That Again

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You Can Say That Again : 其實是同意,贊同的意思, 重音要放在that


I'll say : 同意的意思, I'll 一定要一起講,不可說I will say


A : I am the most beautiful women ion the library today.
B : I'll say. / You Can Say That Again.

impressive 和印象無關

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impressive ----> amazing (一般口語時就是很棒很好的意思)

twirling the pen 轉筆
twirl (v) 使快速旋轉

Hitting a Place

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Hit 的其他用法

hit 抵達
hit the market : 新產品在市場推出


hit = go to somewhere 前往(idiom,年輕人用的,非正式場合用的)
hit the gym
hit the beach

hit : 中目標
hit the jackpot : 中頭獎

a hit : successful, popular 成功或瘋迷一時的事物

Grand Opening

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grand opening : 開幕典禮

soft opening : 店家試賣階段

Sportsmanship

a good sport : 有運動家風度的人, 也可以指一個人有雅量開得起玩笑
a poor sport : 輸不起的人 (= a sore loser)

Wild Guesses and Accusations

wild : 荒謬的,荒唐的


take a wild guess 隨便猜瞎猜
make a wild Accusations 做不著邊際的指控

Different Scores

scores of ..... : a large number 大量的
scores of people

score : 二十, 二十人, 二十個
ex: four scores and seven years age = 87 年前

Different Kinds of Zoos

theme park 主題公園

aquarium
水族箱
水族館

patting zoo
允許觸摸的兒童農場

Wear as a Noun

wear 當名詞,意思是穿著服飾, 是不可數的集合用法, 指某一類衣服

cowboy western wear

men's wear

women's wear

sleep wear

evening wear 正式晚禮服
evening GOWN 女性穿的晚禮服

night gown 睡袍

Seeing Eye Dog

guide dog or Seeing Eye Dog : 導盲犬


hearing dog : 導聾犬

service dog : 可以做導盲導聾以外 更多幫助disability 的事情

trunk

trunk has many meanings

1.樹幹: tree
The trunk of this tree is four meters thick.

2.軀幹
The athlete has a powerful trunk.

3.象鼻子

4.(汽車後部的)行李箱
trunk [美]行李箱
boot [英]行李箱
Let me put your baggage in the trunk.

5.大型木制的旅行箱