Words and Expressions

I. Vocabulary

nostalgic (adj.) : looking for something far away or long ago or for former happy circumstance怀旧的

illicit (adj.) : not allowed by law，custom，rule，etc．：unlawful；prohibited违法的，违禁的，非法的

thrill (n.) : tremor of excitement(一阵)激动

speakeasy (n.) : [slang]a place where alcoholic drinks are sold illegally，esp. such a place in the U．S．during Prohibition[俚](美国禁酒期的)非法的酒店

denunciation (n.) : the act of denouncing控告；指责，斥责

amour (n.) : a love affair，esp. of an illicit or secret nature 恋情；(尤指)不正当的男女关系

sedan (n.) : an enclosed automobile with two or four doors．and two wide seats．front and rear(两扇或四扇门、双排座的)轿车

naughty (adj.) : improper，obscene不得体的；猥亵的

jazzy (adj.) : (a party)playing jazz music(舞会)放爵士音乐的

flask—toting (adj.) :always carrying a small flask filled with whisky or other strong liquor身带烈性酒的

sheik (n.) : (Americanism)a masterful man to whom women are supposed to be irresistably attracted[美国语](能使女子倾心的)美男子

vagary (n.) : an odd，eccentric，or unexpected action or bit of conduct古怪行径；难以预测的行为

flapper (n.) : [colloq．](in the 1920’s)a young woman considered bold and unconventional in actions and dress [口](在20世纪20年代被认为)举止与衣着不受传统拘束的年轻女子，轻佻女郎

perspective (n.) : a specific point of view in understanding or judging things or events，esp. one that shows them in their true relations to one another正确理解或判断事物相互关系的能力

jazzmad (adj.) : blindly and foolishly fond of jazz music爵士乐狂

aftermath (n.) : a result or consequence，esp. an unpleasant one结果，后果(尤指令人不愉快的后果)

provincial (adj.) : narrow，limited like that of rural provinces狭窄的；偏狭的；地方性的

gentility (n.) : he quality of being genteel；now，specifically，excessive or affected refinement and elegance有教养，斯文，温文尔雅；(现尤指)假装文雅，假装斯文

aggressiveness (n.) : bold and energetic pursuit of one’s end，enterprise有进取心，进取精神

bustle (v.) : hurry busily or with much fuss and bother繁忙，奔忙

medium (n.) : environment环境

catalytic (adj.) : acting as the stimulus in bringing about or hastening a result起催化作用的；起刺激作用的

precipitate (v.) : throw headlong；cause to happen before expected，needed；bring on猛抛，猛投；突然发生；促使

obsolescent (adj.) : in the process of becoming obsolete即将过时的；逐渐被废弃的

mores (n.) : customs，esp. the fixed or traditional customs of a society，often acquiring the force of law习俗

sophistication (n.) : the state of being artificial，worldly—wise，urbane，etc．老于世故

faddishness (n.) : the following of fads赶时髦，赶时尚

hectic (adj.) : characterized by excitement，rush，confusion，etc．兴奋的；忙乱的；混乱的

gaiety (n.) : cheerfulness；the state of being gay高兴，快乐

perversion (n.) : a perverting or being perverted；corruption走入邪路；堕落；败坏

Prohibition (n.) : the forbidding by law of the manufacture，transportation，and sale of alcoholic liquors for beverage purposes；specifically in the U．S．，the period(1920—1933)of prohibition by Federal law(特指美国20~30年代的)禁酒法令

orgy (n.) : any wild riotous licentious merry—making；debauchery纵酒饮乐；狂欢

spree (n.) : a lively，noisy frolic狂欢，纵乐

reveler (n.) : a person who makes merry or is noisily festive狂欢者，狂宴者

sober (v.) : make or become serious，solemn变清醒；变严肃

prolong (v.) : lengthen or extend in time or space延长；拖长；使持久

stalemate (n.) : any unresolved situation in which further action is impossible or useless；deadlock僵持；困境

insolence (n.) : being boldly disrespectful in speech—or behavior；impudence(言行)无礼，鲁莽；傲慢

belligerent (adj.) : at war；of war处于交战状态的；战争的

adventurousness (n.) : being fond of adventure；willingness to take chances喜欢冒险；大胆

strenuous (adj.) : vigorous，arduous, zealous，etc．奋发的；使劲的

jingoism (n.) : chauvinism characterized by an aggressive。threatening，warlike foreign policy侵略主义，沙文主义

fracas (n.) : a noisy fight 0r loud quarrel；brawl大声吵架；打闹

infantry (n.) : foot soldiers collectively；esp. that branch of an army consisting of soldiers trained and equipped to fight chiefly on foot步兵；(尤指)步兵部队

harass (v.) : trouble，worry．or torment，as with cares, debts，repeated questions，etc．使烦恼(或困忧)，折磨

sergeant (n.) : noncommissioned officer of the fifth grade．ranking above a corporal and below a staff sergeant in the U．S．Army and Marine Corps；generally. any of the noncommissioned officers in the U．S．armed forces with sergeant as part of the title of their rank中士；军士

draft (n.) : the choosing or taking of an individual or individuals from a group for some special purpose，esp. for compulsory military service征兵：挑选

carnival (n.) : a reveling or time of revelry；festivity； merrymaking狂欢，尽情作乐

contingent (n.) : a share, proportion，or quota，as of troops．ships。laborers，delegates，etc．小分队，分遣部队

bombast (n.) : talk or writing that sounds grand or important but has little meaning；pompous language词藻华丽而空洞无物的淡话(或文章)；夸大的语言

recession (n.) : a temporary falling off()f business activity during a period when such activity has been generally increasing商业暂时衰退现象；萧条

whip up : rouse，excite激起

outmoded (adj.) : no longer in fashion or accepted；obsolete 旧式的；过时的；废弃了的

sodden (adj.) : dull or stupefied，as from overindulgence in liquor(因沉迷于酒而变得)迟钝的，麻木的

dubious (adj.) : rousing suspicion；feeling doubt；skeptical引起怀疑的；感到怀疑的；怀疑的

flout (n.) : be scornful；show contempt；jeer；scoff轻蔑，藐视；嘲弄；侮辱

conflagration (n.) : a big, destructive fire(毁灭性的)大火．大火灾

fast (adj.) : living in a reckless, wild, dissipated way放汤的，放纵的

pulpit (n.) : preachers collectively教士们

vulgar (adj.) : common to the great mass of people in general：common；popular普通的，一般的；流行的

avid (adj.) : having an intense desire or craving；greedy渴望的，热望的；贪婪的

susceptible (adj.) : easily affected emotionally；having a sensitive nature of feelings易被感动的；易受影响的；敏感的

diatribe (n.) : a bitter，abusive criticism or denunciation 谩骂；讽刺；诽谤

grandiose (adj.) :having grandeur or magnificence imposing; impressive雄伟的;壮观的;庄严的;给人深刻印象的

ally (v.) :come back to normal strength；revive恢复；复元

burden (n.) : central idea；theme主题；重点，要点

adjunct (n.) :a thing added to something else; a person connected with another as a helper or subordinate associate附属物，附加物；帮手，助手

incompetent (n.) :a person who is completely incapable无能力者，不能胜任者

expatriate (v.) : withdraw (oneself) from one’s native land or from allegiance to it(使自己)移居国外，放弃原国籍

denominator (n.) :a shared characteristic共同特性，共性

iconoclastic (adj.) :opposing to the religious use of images or advocating the destruction of such images反对崇拜偶像的

sterile (adj.) : barren；unfruitful贫瘠的，不长庄稼的；无成效的

flay (v.) :criticize or scold mercilessly严厉斥责；怒骂

II.Expressions

drugstore cowboy :  a young man who hangs around drugstores and other public places trying to impress women在杂货店和其他公共场所徘徊试图打动女人的年轻男人

例： You don’t see the old drugstore cowboys around this part of town anymore．在这个镇的这片地方你再也看不到以往那些杂货店牛仔了。

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see sth.in perspective :  view or judge things in a way that show their true relations to one another以联系的观点正确地看待或判断事物

例： We should see these events in perspective．我们应该注意这些事件间的本质联系以正确评价它们。

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precipitate sb／sth  into sth． :  thrust violently into(a condition)使突然陷入某种状态

例： precipitate the country into war使国家突然陷人战争

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sober up : free from drunkenness；become not drunk变清醒

例： Put him t0 bed until he sobers up．送他上床等他清醒过来。

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whip up :  rouse；excite煽动，激起

例： whip up the mob煽动暴民／whip up enthusiasm激起热情

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keep up with the Joneses :  compete with one’s neighbors．etc．(in the purchase 0f articles，e．g．clothes，a car，indicating social status)和琼斯一家人比(在购买物品如衣物、汽车等方面与邻人等相比以示社会地位)，与他人攀比

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common denominator :  a commonly shared theme or trait共同点，共同特色

例： All these accidents have a common denominator that they are related with drunk driving．所有这些事故的共同点是它们都与酒后驾车有关。

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write off :  drop from consideration看不起，认为无价值

例： We’ve written the project off as a nonstarter．我们认为这个项目毫无成功的希望，已经对它不予以考虑了。