variant
Didi is a variant of Uber.
市场上有很多种可乐，都是可口可乐的变种
There are many kinds of cola in the market, they are variants of Coca Cola.
（参考翻译：There are many colas on the market, all variants on the original drink. 或 There are many colas on the market, all variants of the original Coca Cola drink. ）
candidate
“candidate”是名词，意思是“候选人、应试者、求职者、人选”，具体意思要取决于上下文。比如竞选总统的人就叫 presidential candiate；上完了博士阶段的课程，正在写博士论文的学生一般被叫做 doctoral candidate 或 PhD candidate；找工作的也可以叫 candidate。
candidate 是个精确、好用的单词，阅读原版杂志和书籍经常可以碰到这个词。我们来通过几个例句了解、掌握它。
比如前不久美国前副总统 Joe Biden 决定竞选下一届美国总统，我们可以说：
Joe Biden decided to run for prsident in 2020.
我们可以用 candidate 来改写：
Joe Biden recently decided to join others as a presidential candiate.
好几个博士候选人都放弃了博士学位，跑到硅谷去创业：
Quite a few PhD candidates gave up their doctoral degree and moved to Silicon Valley to start start-ups.
目前只有五个人对这个销售职位感兴趣，我们就可以说：
So far only five candidates have shown interest in this sales position.
So far only five candidates have requested this job.
目前只有五个人申请了这份工作
人才市场竞争太激烈，僧多粥少。
In the cut-throat talent market, there are too many candidates and less jobs.
（参考翻译： There are far more candidates than jobs in the competitive job market. 或 In the cut-throat job market, there are too many candidates and not nearly enough jobs.）
“slippery slope”是个习惯表达，它的字面意思是“光滑的斜坡”，常用来表示“滑向深渊的道路”，如果不及时采取措施这种状况就会变得更糟。它是个非常形象、适合用在口语和写作中的精彩表达，当我们想表达“something becomes worse”时就可以用 slippery slope 来替换。
比如我们常说，撒了一个谎，结果需要无数个谎言来弥补，结果就会一步错步步错，就可以用“slippery slope”说成：
Once you start to lie, you are on a slippery slope.
或者
The first fib can put you on a slippery slope to bigger lies.
我们还常说“拆东墙补西墙”，时间久了就会越来越糟糕，债台高筑。这时就可以说：
We've been on a slippery slope of borrowing more money to pay off the debts we already owe.
或者
Over-borrowing will inevitably lead the borrower down a slippery slope.
《经济学人》中也经常用到 slippery slope，比如在报道“协助死亡”（assisted dying）时说：
And evidence from places that have allowed assisted dying suggests that there is no slippery slope towards widespread euthanasia.（这句话是说允许协助死亡并不会导致越来越多的人选择安乐死）
slippery slope 和我们之前学过的 go downhill 差不过，可以借此复习一下 downhill（点击直接跳转）的用法。
Once you get bad habits, you are on a slippery slope.
Bad habits can put you on a slippery slope to failure.
一旦你养成坏习惯，情况会越来越糟。
We have been on a slippery slope of increase anxiousness delivery from internet information.
Anxious information from internet will lead us down a slippery slope.
我们滑向焦虑的深渊
他的傲慢与固执将注定他会走向失败
His arrogance and obstinance will lead him down slippery slope to failure.
slippery slope前要加a
（参考翻译: His arrogance and obstinacy will lead him down a slippery slope to failure. ）
“envy”是可以是动词也可以是名词，意思都是“忌妒”。它作名词时有个常见、好用、地道的用法 the envy of，意思是“另......羡慕、望尘莫及”，of 后面一般接的是同类事物，比如其他国家、其他同类产品等。我们可以使用 the envy of 替换 admire, admirable 等词。比如，法国有令全欧洲羡慕的电影业，我们可能会写成：
France's film industry is admired throughout Europe.
我们也可以用 the envy of 来改写：
France has a film industry that is the envy of Europe.
牙买加在 100 米、200 米、400 米短跑项目上让其他国家望尘莫及，我们就可以说：
Jamaica's sprints are the envy of the world.
Justin 在一篇关于德州扑克的英文随笔中写过这么两句话：
About 350 million people have played on Zynga Poker, the largest poker site in the world. Plus, it boasts millions of daily players, the envy of most apps.
也就是说，很多同类 app 希望能够有 Zynga Poker 这样出色的日活跃用户量。
《经济学人》在 2015 年 3 月 The Economist Explains 专栏中就用到了 the envy of：
Even at its subdued current rate, China's growth is still the envy of most countries.
即便目前中国经济的增长已经放缓了，但经济增长仍另大部分国家羡慕不已。
People have good discipline are the envy of me.
我羡慕有良好自控能力的人
American universities are the envy of the whole world.
美国大学让全世界羡慕不已。
（参考翻译：American universities are the envy of the earth. 或 American universities are the envy of the entire world.）
prompt
prompt”可以做名词、形容词也可以做动词，今天我们学习它的动词用法。prompt 作为动词表示“促使”“推动”“引起”，是个高频词汇，几乎每一期的《经济学人》中都会多次用到它。
比如丑闻曝光导致一家公司的首席执行官立刻辞职，我们就可以说：
The scandal prompted the immediate resignation of the company’s CEO.
我们想说“某事引发热议”时，这里的“引发”除了用常见的 cause, lead to 外，还可以用 prompt，比如：
The mass shooting prompts a heated debate on gun control.
最新一期的《经济学人》中就出现了 4 次 prompt 的这种用法，我们看其中两个句子：
1）The disastrous drought prompted government action to restore the river.
2）An attack by JEM in September 2016 killed 19 Indian soldiers, prompting Mr Modi to send special forces across the line of control.
Reduced exercises prompt the continuous rise in the fat rate.
减少运动导致肥胖率激增
失业率的持续增加可能会引发社会动荡。
The increase of unemployment rate may prompt social unrest.
（参考翻译：The continuous rise in the unemployment rate may prompt social unrest.）
determine 颜值既是正义
what you look like determine how people treat you.
我们很熟悉“determine”常用来表示“下决心”“决定”的用法，今天我们学习它的另一常见地道用法：表示“是…的决定因素”“取决于”。我们可以用 determine 的这个用法在口语和写作中替换 depend on。
《柯林斯高阶英汉双解学习词典》中的 depend on 有这样一个例句：
The cooking time needed depends on the size of the potato. (所需的烹饪时间取决于土豆的大小。)
我们可以用 determine 把它改写为：
The size of the potato will determine the cooking time.
我们常说“颜值就是王道”，说可以说成：
What you look like determines how people treat you.
最后看两个《经济学人》中出现的例句：
1）The scale of the revolt will determine what happens next.
2）For instance, on Air India, the country's state-owned flag carrier, who you know can apparently determine where you sit.
How much time you spend determines how much you get.
付出多少时间决定收获多少
价钱取决于你买多买少。
How many you buy determines the price.
（参考翻译：How much it costs is determined by how much you buy. 或者 The quantity purchased determines the price.）
how many 只能问可数，how much即可问价钱，也可问amount
judging by / from
我们很熟悉“judge”可以作为名词表示“法官”，作为动词表示“评定”“判断”。今天我们学习一个它的常见搭配用法 judging by/from，是一个在写作和口语中都非常实用的表达。judging by/from 表示“根据…判断”，如它的英文释义所示，当我们在阐述为什么有某个观点时，就可以用到它。
注意：judging 后面可以接 by 也可以接 from，两者没有什么区别，更多是个人偏好。
美剧《别对我说谎》（Lie to Me）中，心理学家擅长透过人体的肢体语言，特别是面部的“微表情”来判断对方是否在撒谎。我们想表达“从他的面部表情和肢体语言可以判定他在说谎”，就可说成：
Judging by/from his facial expressions and body language, he’s lying.
我们常常因为看了一部电影的预告片而决定去看这部电影。当我们想说，从预告片来看这部电影值得一看，就可以说：
Judging by/from the trailer, the movie is worth watching/seeing.
最新一期的《经济学人》中就两次用到了 judge 的这个用法：
1) One reviewer called the book “for the 1%”, but that missed the point, and the percentage… Judging from the book’s sales, more than 1% might want that.
2) It shows what appears to be a Buddhist leader, judging by the decor and the kowtowing of his followers.
Judging from the beautiful cover, the book is worth buying.
从精美的封面来看，这本书值得购买
以我多年专业经验判断，她能够胜任这份工作。
Judging from my years of experience, she will be good at this job.
（参考翻译：Judging by/from my professional experience, she will be competent at this job.）
prize
我们很熟悉“prize”作为名词是“奖品”“奖赏”，其实它也常作为动词使用，表示“珍惜”“青睐”。在一些语境中，我们可以用 prize 替换 value, appreciate, hold dear 等词。
比如“我知道你很重视我们之间的友谊”，就可以说成：
I know that you prize our friendship.
最新一期的《经济学人》在语言专栏 Johnson 中就用到了 prize：
It seems that people prize attitude over expertise.（这句话的意思是说，读者读写作指南时，更看重作者对语言的态度而不是专业知识）
prize A over B 也是个常见表达，表示“更重视 A，而不是 B”。比如我们想说和用哪种方式阅读比较而言，我们应该更重视内容，就可以说成：
We should prize content over the means to read it.
prize 表示“珍惜”“青睐”时，也常常使用被动语态 be prized by。比如我们想说如今“海归”回国找工作时没那么“吃香”了，就可以说：
Overseas returnees are no longer highly prized by employers.
Human labour will be replaced by AI, we should prize creativity over skills when we educate our kids.
人力将被ai取代，在教育孩子时应更加重视创造力而非技能
People who can speak English fluently are highly prized by employers.
英语说的流利的人受聘任者重视
许多中国家长非常重视奥数比赛。
Many Chinese parents prize the he International Mathematical Olympiad.
（参考翻译：The International Mathematical Olympiad, a competition for high school students, is much prized by many Chinese parents.）
rival
There is no one can rival his political success any more.
没有人能超越他的政治成就
有些家常菜可以和米其林星级餐厅的佳肴媲美。
Some home cooking can rival those of Michelin-starred restaurants.
（参考翻译：Some home-cooked dishes can rival the cuisine served at a Michelin-starred restaurant.）
难以望其项背
Only a few can rival his success/achievement.
be revailed by= be equal to