The Economist<经济学人>精读02：Sep30期

地道表达

1.Nationalist hardliners accuse America of exaggerating the North Korean threat to pursue its real goal, namely corralling China.

Nationalist hardliners:民族主义强硬派:hardliner 这个词我也是第一次见,hard(强硬)+line(路线)+r(...er做xxx的人)走强硬路线的人,强硬派,这样作猜想和记忆

namely的用法值得关注,不是字面上的,名义上,而应当译作即,也就是,换句话说 ~ corralling便可译作 也就是控制住

2. Gadgets, by and large, are sold on the basis that they empower people to do what they want.

可谓是黄金表达,b&a,意为大体来说,在一些地道的外刊中经常出现该用法.

3. Or owners of John Deere tractors, who are “recommended” not to tinker with the software that controls them

tinker本意有修修补补之意,+with引申为捣鼓,折腾

4. Some firms found tricks to muscle in on the aftermarket, using warranties, authorized repair shops, and strategies such as selling cheap printers and expensive ink.

muscle in (浑身都是肌肉当然可以为所欲为),该词组表示强行挤入,介入,塞入.

5. If you no longer wanted it, you sold it or chucked it away.

以后除了最基本的throw way或者dispose of,还多了个chuck可用以表达丢弃,抛弃.

6. But now that the law is just around the corner, options are limited.

就在前面的转角处了,代表什么呢?代表近在咫尺

生词词汇

1. herald v.

A flash of lightning heralded torrential rain.一道闪电预示着暴雨即将来临。

2. fraternity

fraternity between nations 国与国之间的情谊

3. Laudable a.

a laudable attempt 值得称道的尝试

4. pervasive a.

the all-pervasive mood of apathy 到处弥漫的冷漠情绪
其相关联动词为pervert 弥漫

5. opacity:

opaque a. 模糊的名词形式

6. subsume

A wide range of offences are usually subsumed under the category of robbery. 很多犯罪行为通常都被归入抢劫罪的范畴
sub(下)+sume(认为),向下认为,往下想,细分,归纳.

7. espouse

He espoused a variety of scientific, social and political cause. 他支持各种科学、社会和政治事业。

8. titular

Queen Elizabeth is the ~ of the UK. 名义上的元首

9. overhaul

A mechanic is coming to overhaul the engine. 一名机修工前来对引擎进行彻底检修 over(overall 总体/over翻阅)+haul(拉)整体翻过来,所以是大修

10. mantle

It is up to Europe to take on the mantle of leadership in environmental issues. 在环境问题上欧洲应该担当起领导责任

11. plodding

plodding research单调乏味的研究
plod做动词表示勤奋刻苦地工作

12. woo

the Party's efforts to woo working class voters 该党争取劳动阶级选民的努力

13. undaunted

Undaunted by the enormity of the task, they began rebuilding the village. 他们不畏任务艰巨，开始重建村庄。
例句里的这个表达也非常出彩,值得记录. daunt本做动词,表示威吓

14. despondency

Gill had been out of work for a year and was getting very despondent. 吉尔失业一年了，变得非常消沉。
des(diss你们都爱用的,表否定的这个词)+pondent(回应,回复)没回应当然令人失望沮丧.

15. guillotines n.

Opposition leaders accused the government of introducing a guillotine motion to stifle debate. 反对党领袖指责政府用规定辩论时限的动议来压制辩论。
政治场合的官话,留个印象