1. 这是个什么词？
词：antidote
英英释义：something that helps to improve the effects of something bad or negative
例句：Some people believe that alcohol can offer a quick antidote to depression.
2. 为什么选这个词？
“antidote”的本意是“解毒药”，常被引申为表示“缓解作用”“有效手段”，和我们中文里的“一剂良药”完美对应。如果在写作中恰当使用 antidote，可以显示不凡的词汇水平。
我们常说的“何以解忧，唯有杜康”，说的是很多人认为只有酒才能消除忧虑。这时就可以用英文说：
Some people believe that alcohol can offer a quick antidote to depression.
米歇尔•奥巴马在回忆录 Becoming 中用到了 3 次 antidote，其中一处写到祖父（外号“Southside”）非常喜欢音乐时，她说：
Music seemed to be an antidote to his worries, a way to relax and crowd them out. When Southside had a payday for his carpentry work, he’d sometimes splurge and buy himself a new album.
“Music seemed to be an antidote to his worries”说的就是音乐可以解忧，缓解压力。我们可以根据这个意思用 antidote 造句，比如说音乐的功效时就可以说：
It seems that music serves as a powerful antidote to worries. Music provides the perfect antidote to loneliness and boredom.
经典工作效率提升指南 Getting Things Done 中，开篇也出现了 antidote：
This is the vaccination against day-to-day firefighting and an antidote for the imbalance many people bring upon themselves.
vaccination 是“疫苗”，在这里表示“预防措施”，antidote 是“解药”，在这里表示“矫正方法”。当我们想表示一个工具、方法的有效性时，就可以用到 vaccination 和 antidote 这类词汇。句子中的 firefighting 和 imbalance 写出了上班族的狼狈，vaccination 和 antidote 和它们一一对应，相比“a good way/method”这样的表达，它们更生动、灵活和恰当，建议直接把这段话背下来。
3. 怎样学会使用这个词？
1）使用《牛津英语搭配词典》查“antidote”，了解它作为名词时的常用搭配。
a. [搭配]ADJ.
effective, good, perfect, powerful 有效的/ 好的/ 绝好的/ 高效的矫正方法
b. [搭配]VERB + ANTIDOTE
act as, serve as 作为…的矫正方法；用作…的矫正方法
offer, provide 发挥缓解作用:
The resort offers the perfect antidote to the pressures of modern life. 这个旅游胜地是缓解现代生活压力的好地方。
c. [搭配]PREP.
~ for 消除…的方法/ 良药:
I think that stricter punishment is the best antidote for crime. 我认为更严厉的惩罚是打击犯罪的最佳方法。
~ to 消除…的手段:
Creative activity serves as an effective antidote to depression. 创作活动是消除抑郁的有效手段。
2）翻译下面的句子：
健身是缓解压力的有效方法。
（参考翻译：Working out is a powerful antidote to anxiety. 或者 Regular exercise serves as a potent antidote to alleviate anxiety.）
3）结合自己的生活、学习、工作、兴趣等，想象在什么语境下会用到这个表达。先简要描述这个场景，再造句。
场景1 ：深呼吸可以缓解愤怒。
造句：Deep breath is a good antidote to anger.
场景2： 充分的准备可以缓解考试压力。
造句：Adequate preparation can be an effective antidote to exam stress.
场景3： 有规律的运动和冥想可以缓解抑郁。
造句：Regular exercise and meditation can serve as a powerful antidote to depression.
场景4： 设定小目标和短期任务可以有效缓解拖延症。
造句：Setting short-term goals and tasks offers an effective antidote to procrastination.
例句：Massage is a wonderful antidote to stress.
The book is a refreshing antidote to the usual guides to communication between men and women.
Regular exercise is the best antidote to tiredness and depression.