Words and expressions

I. Vocabulary 

1.★intricate (adj): hard to follow or understand because full of puzzlingparts, details, or relationships

2. ★indulge (in)(v.): to take part in an activity, esp. one that is illegal

3. ★meander(v.): wander aimlessly or idly; ramble

4. conversationalist (n.): a person who converses, esp. one who enjoysand is skilled at conversation

5. anecdote (n.): a short, entertaining account of some happening, usuallypersonal or biographical

6. ★intimate(n.): a close friend or companion

7. delve (into) (v.): investigate for information/ She had started to ~into her father’s distant past.

8. recess (n.): a secluded, withdrawn, or inner place

9. desultorily (adv.): aimlessly; at random

10. alchemy (n.): an early form of chemistry, whose chief aims were tochange baser metals into gold; a method or power of transmutation; esp. theseemingly miraculous change of a thing into something better

11. tart (adj.): (of remarks, etc.) quick and unkind/ a ~ reply

12. ★convict(n.): a person found guilty of a crime and sentenced by a court

13. churl (n.): a farm laborer; peasant

14. ★rift(n.): a serious disagreement between people that stops their relationship fromcontinuing./ The ~ within the party deepened.

15. scamper (v.): run or go hurriedly or quickly

16. intercept (v.): seize or stop on the way, before arrival at theintended place/ Reporters ~ed him as he tried to leave the hotel.

17. ★abuse(v.): use wrongly; use insulting, coarse or bad language, scold harshly

18. ★coin(v.): make up; devise; invent(a new word, phrase, etc.)

19. tussle (v.): fight, struggle, contend, etc. vigorously or vehemently/The children were tussling with one another for the ball.

20. ★pejorative(adj.): disparaging or derogatory

21. facetious (adj.): joking or trying to be jocular, esp. at aninappropriate time/ a ~ comment

22. underling (n.): a person in a subordinate position

23. ★edict(n.): an official public proclamation or order issued by authority; decree

24. ★immune(adj.): not affected by sth./ You’ll eventually become ~ to criticism.

25. ultimatum (n.): a final offer or demand, esp. by one of the partiesengaged in negotiations, the rejection of which usually leads to a break inrelations and unilateral action, the use of force etc. by the party issuing theultimatum

II. Expressions

1. make a point: explain fully what one is proposing充分解释
例： All right, you’ve madeyour point; now keep quiet and let the others say what they think.

好啦，你已经把话说清楚了；那就别说了，让别人谈谈看法。

2. in a flash: suddenly, very quickly转瞬间，立刻
例： Just wait here. I’ll beback in a flash.

就在这儿等我，我马上就回来。

3. on the rocks: (colloq.) in or into a condition of ruin or catastrophe (婚姻)失败的
例： Tim’s marriage is on therocks.

提姆的婚姻亮起了红灯。

4. get out of the bed on the wrong side: to be crossor grouchy早晨起来便心情不好
5. lay down: to assert or declare声明，颁布
  例： The regulations lay down a rigidprocedure for checking safety equipment.

法令规定了一套严格的安检程序。
6. on wings: in flight; continually moving about像飞一样地，飘飘然
  例： The birds are on wings in the sky.

鸟儿在空中展翅高飞。
7. turn up one’s nose at: to sneer at, scorn嘲笑，轻蔑
  例： The children turned up their nosesat my home cooking.

孩子们嘲笑我的厨艺。
8. in the shoes of: in another’s position站在别人的立场上，设身处地
  例： I’m glad I’m not in his shoes withall those debts to pay off.

我庆幸不用像他那样去偿还所有的债务。

9. come into one’s own: to receive what properlybelongs to one, esp. acclaim or recognition得到自己该得的东西，如荣誉或世人的口碑
  例： He wrote successful novels before,but he really come into his own with the latest one.

他从前写过一些成功的小说，但在最近的一部中他才真正充分发挥了自己的特长。

10. sit up: (colloq. ) to become suddenly alert; be surprised or startled吃惊，警觉
例： I called her a damnedhypocrite and that made her sit up.

我骂她惺惺作态，她马上警觉起来。