1、1Unit 2 The Wedding LetterLanguage Points1. sip sip(v.) drink something slowly, taking very small mouthfuls 小口地喝，啜饮e.g. The graceful lady was sitting at the table sipping (at) her tea.We chatted about learning Chinese as we walked and sipped coffee at the same time.I just sipped (at) it suspiciously
2、, not knowing what it was going to taste like. sip(n.) a very small amount of a drink sipped 一小口之量e.g. She took another sip of her tea.Cf: down, lap, sip, suckThey downed their beer and left.The dog was lapping water noisily.He lifted the wine glass to his lips and sipped.The little baby has just le
3、arned to such milk through a straw.2. can/could not help but do sth. = can/could not help doing sth.禁不住做；忍不住做I cannot help but feel sorry for her. I cannot help feeling sorry for her.we cant help thinking he is still alive.我们总是认为他还活着.3. lavishlavish(adj. )a) very generous or wasteful in giving or us
4、ing 过分慷慨的，浪费的，太多的a lavish spender 挥霍无度的人a lavish party 盛大的派对be lavish with/of sth.e.g. She was a bit too lavish with the salt, so the soup didnt taste very nice.We were always lavish with financial aid in times of crisis.b) given, spent or produced in great quantity 过分丰富的，无节制的lavish praise 大肆吹捧expen
5、diture on a lavish scale 庞大的开支be lavish in doingThe manager was lavish in praising the project.赞不绝口 lavish(v. ) to give to or spend on generously or wastefully 慷慨地给予，滥用，挥霍to lavish sth. on sb./sth.e.g. He had lavished most of his fortune on impractical business ventures.She lavishes a lot of attenti
6、on on her friends.lavishly (adv.)e.g. The apartment building was lavishly decorated. 2lavishness (n.U)4. hiccuphiccup(n. )a) often pl. (a sudden sharp sound caused by) a movement in the chest which stops the breath 打嗝（声） ， 呃逆e.g. She laughed so much she got/had hiccups.In the middle of the church se
7、rvice there was a loud hiccup from my son.b) a temporary small delay, interruption, irregularity, error or malfunction 短暂的耽搁/中断/停顿/故障等e.g. A recent sales hiccup is nothing to panic about. There is a slight hiccup in the schedule due to a computer failure. hiccup(vi. ) to have/make hiccups 打嗝e.g. I c
8、ouldnt stop hiccupping.5. frugal(adj.)a) not wasteful, careful in the use of money, food etc.; thrifty; economical; saving 不浪费的，节俭的e.g. frugal habits 节俭的习惯She lives a frugal life.be frugal with sth.Although he has become rich, he is still very frugal with his money.b) small in quantity and cost, mea
9、gre 少量的，不足的e.g. a frugal supper of bread and cheesefrugally(adv.)frugality(n.U)6. meek(adj.) (of people or behavior) gentle and uncomplaining; accepting others actions and opinions without argument ; docile; submissive; obedient温顺的，顺服的e.g. Their boss was always so meek and mild.The workers were too
10、meek to complain.You can be alternately as meek as a lamb or as mad as a hornet.meekly(adv.)e.g. He nodded meekly.He meekly did everything that he was told to.唯命是从meekness( n. U)7. goodie two shoes 好人，自命清高、表现得与众不同的人Also “goody two shoes”, it refers to a person who always does the “right thing”, neve
11、r does anything that theyre “not supposed to do” and acts “perfect” in every single way possible. A goodie two shoes is usually a very peppy and happy person who is a “go-getter”, and is also usually a girl. These people can be very annoying because of these traits.3e.g. Oh my god, that girl is such
12、 a goody two-shoes. I hate the way she acts like the teachers pet.8. interfere(v.)a) intervene or intrude in the affairs of others 干涉Dont interfere in what doesnt concern you. 别管与自己无关的事b)be or create a hindrance or obstacle 妨碍He tries not to let business interfere with his life 他尽量不让工作妨碍他的生活。interfe
13、rence n.interferer n. interfering adj.cf: interfere, intervene, meddle9. she simply was no match(for .)不是对手, 比不过She absolutely was not able to challenge my role in my fathers heart. Here, the phrase “be no match (for somebody or something)” means “be less powerful or effective than something or some
14、one else”.e.g. Health warnings are no match for the addictive power of cigarettes.10. It didnt (doesnt) take a genius to.: It was (is) easy/evident/not difficult to., it took (takes) no effort to. （就算/哪怕）不是天才也能 .；很显然；毫不费力就能.e.g. It doesnt take a genius to read between the lines.I know that it doesnt
15、 take a genius to work out that sleep is important for good health.Paraphrase:It is easy to understand his facial expression.It takes no effort to be wise after the event.It was evident that he was lying.It is not difficult to sort out the materials as long as time permits11. in store: in readiness;
16、 awaiting 储备着，将要发生，就要出现e.g. We must keep some of these in store for next year. There are better days in store for you. The King was, of course, optimistic and excited about what the future has in store.It is an indication of their talent and the bright future that most young men believe is in store.
17、 12. appealappeal(vi.) a) make a serious public request for help, money, information, etc.恳请，强烈呼吁appeal (to sb.) for sth.e.g. Farmers have appealed to the government for help.4The police are appealing to the public for any information about the murder victim.The two countries appealed for a speedy s
18、olution to the hostage crisis.b) to please, attract, or interest 使喜欢，吸引，使感兴趣appeal to sb.对.有吸引力Does the idea of working abroad appeal to you?c) to formally ask a higher law court to change the decision of a lower court（提出）上诉I intend to appeal against this sentence/verdict.The defendant wants to appe
19、al to the High Court.appeal (n.)a) A strong request for help, support, kindness etc.恳求，呼吁an appeal for forgiveness/moneya personal appealb) attraction, power to move the feeling 吸引力Films of that sort have lost their appeal for mec) a formal request to a higher law court to change the decision of a l
20、ower court.上诉the right of appeal 上诉权a court of appeal 上诉法庭appealing adj. 打动人心的，有吸引力的the appealing eyes of a hungry dogThe idea of a free holiday is rather appealing.appealingly adv.13. bail out: a) to remove water from a boat 从船中舀出水The boat will sink unless we bail it out.b) help. out of a difficult
21、 situation 摆脱困境e.g. After many years in the business, his father is baling out.bail out sb./sth.=bail sb./sth. out 帮助.摆脱困境They will discuss how to bail the economy out of its slump.c) to obtain freedom for sb. by paying bail 保释bail sb. out 把某人保释出来His friends bailed him out every time he was jailed.g
22、o/stand bail for sb.缴纳保释金保释某人jump bail 弃保潜逃on bail 交保释金后获释14. over ones/sbs heada)beyond ones ability or scope of understanding 超出某人的能力或理解力I just realized that the job was over my head.b)without asking or discussing with sb.没有和.商量就，越过Mary went over her supervisors head to appropriate the fund.515. t
23、he apple of ones eye: person or thing that is loved more than any other 心爱的人或物，掌上明珠; pupil 瞳孔16. gloat gloat (vi.) to look at or think about something with unpleasant satisfaction 幸灾乐祸地看（想）Dont gloat; the same misfortune may happen to you one day.He kept gloating since he won the game.There is nothi
24、ng to gloat about.to gloat over sth.The opposing team gloated over our bad luck.She gloated over the fact that she received the highest score on the exam.gloat(n.) Im sure hell have a good gloat over this.gloatingly adv.17. for ones sake: in the cause of sb. 为了.起见；为了 .的利益for Gods sakefor old times s
25、ake 看在旧日情分上art for arts sake (proposed by Oscar Wilde)18. disguisedisguise( vt. )a) to change the usual appearance or character of (someone or something), in order to hide the truth 把.假扮起来，把.伪装起来e.g. He escaped by disguising himself as a security guard.She disguised her voice when she phoned the new
26、spaper.The hijackers were heavily disguised. The extremists entered the building disguised as medical workersOpportunity often comes disguised in the form of misfortune, or temporary defeat.b) to hide (the real and usu. unpleasant state of things); cover; conceal；mask掩饰，掩盖，隐瞒e.g. He could not disgui
27、se his disappointment.It is impossible to disguise the fact that business is bad.disguise(n.) something that is worn to hide who one really is.伪装物a clever disguisea blessing in disguiseShe crossed the border in disguise.The thief wore a false beard and glasses as a disguise.19. Be a good sport：to ha
28、ve the grace to do sth.做个有风度、有雅量、输得起的人6Come on. Be a good sport. You just lost a race. 算了。做个有风度的人。你不过输了场比赛。Be a good sport and give it to me. 爽快些，把它给我吧。Be a good sport and sing us a song. 勇敢些，给我们唱支歌吧。20. bite ones tongue：keep silent or hold ones tongue 不作声，保持沉默e.g. The man was so rude I had to bite
29、my tongue to keep from getting into argument with him. 那人如此无礼, 我只好不作声, 避免同他争辩。21. foot(v. infml) pay for something, especially something expensive that one does not want to pay for 付账He ordered drinks and then left me to foot the bill!We ended up having to foot the bill for a new roof because our in
30、surance didnt cover storm damage.22. shush( v.) tell someone to be very quiet, especially by putting ones fingers against lips or by saying “shush”, “sh” or “hush”使安静下来，使肃静e.g. The little girl started to cry and her mother shushed her.Shush; somebody might hear us.23. tentative(adj.)a) not certain o
31、r fully developed, not firm or complete 不确定的，试验性的，暂定的to reach a tentative agreement 达成初步协议to draw a tentative conclusionweve made tentative plans for a holiday but havent decided anything certain yet.b)done without confidence, hesitant 犹豫的a tentative smile 勉强的微笑tentatively(adv.)I have tentatively ac
32、cepted his advice.我暂时接受了他的建议24. nicety(n. usu. pl.) a) questions and remarks made for the sake of politeness; 礼仪细节By the end of term, girls will have learnt the niceties of dinner party conversation.到学期结束，女生们将完成对晚宴谈话礼仪细节的学习。He wasted no time with social niceties. 他没有在社交礼仪细节上浪费时间。the language of dipl
33、omatic niceties外交礼仪细节语言b)a fine or delicate point or difference, detail 细微之处，细微的区别，细节e.g. Lets answer the question in general; we have no time to consider all the 7niceties.c) the quality of being nice; delicateness; accuracy; precision 微妙，细微to a nicety: exactly 精细入微地，恰到好处地She calculated the amount
34、to a nicety.25.groom groom(v.) a) (of animal) to clean the fur and skin of 给.梳毛Monkeys groom each other.b)to take care of the appearance of (oneself), by dressing neatly, keeping the hair tidy, etc.修饰，打扮（自己）He always looks very well-groomed.c) to prepare (someone )for a special position or occasion
35、培养（某人） ， 使做好准备They were grooming her for stardom.(=to play big parts in plays or films)Shes being groomed to take over the chairmans job when he retires.There is speculation that he is grooming his son to succeed him as president.“Our three founders are working harder than ever and were grooming the
36、 next generation of leaders,” says the spokesman.groom( n.) 马夫，新郎a toast to the bride and groomHis father was a groom.grooming(n.) getting into readiness for a specific objective, preparing 准备，培养26.bothersome: annoying, irritating 令人讨厌的The suffix “some” means “like； causing； having the quality of”像一
37、样的；引起的；有品质的more examples: awesome, loathsome, irksome, troublesome，burdensome，wholesome ，tiresome.27. flippantly(adv.) in the manner of not being serious about something that other people think one should be serious about 轻率地；鲁莽地e.g. He answered the reporters questions flippantly.Do not speak withou
38、t careful consideration, or flippantly make promises.flippant (adj.) disrespectful about serious subjects, esp. when trying to be amusing 轻率的A hospital is scarcely the place for such flippant remarks about death.flippancy. n.UYour flippancy is making it difficult to continue our conversation.28. inh
39、erit(v.)8a)receive money, property, etc., from someone after they have died 继承；成为.的继承人She inherited the land from her grandfather.If he dies without a will, his closest relative will inherit. The government claims it has inherited all its difficulties from the previous administration.Each generation
40、 seems to inherit not only new knowledge but also new ignorance.b) vt. to receive (qualities of mind or body) from ones parents, grandmother or grandfather, etc. 经遗传而得到（性格、身体特质）e.g. an inherited characteristic/ traitHes inherited his fathers nose/bad temper.In most cases identical twins who inherite
41、d almost the same genes have different personalities.inheritance: something that has been inherited 继承物，遗产; the act of inheriting 继承He spent all his inheritance in less than a year.Cf: will, legacy, inheritance, estatewill: a legal statement about how to deal with the property after deathlegacy: mon
42、ey or other belongings left to another person after deathinheritance: receiving property, title from ancestors according to the willestate: Estate includes real estate and personal estate.real estate (动产): land and buildingpersonal estate（不动产）: money, property29. prenuptial: adj. relating to events
43、before a marriage 结婚前的e.g. He was asked whether or not he would sign a prenuptial agreement.synonym: premarital, antenuptialantonym: postnuptial30. So dont fret none So dont worry about anything. Here, “fret” means “worry about something, especially when there is no need”.fretfret(v.)a) to be worrie
44、d or dissatisfied about small and unnecessary things 焦虑，烦恼 Dont fret. Everything will be all right soon.Dont fret away your life.别在烦恼中过日子。Doubts were fretting his mind 疑惑使他烦躁不安。b)wear away by running or biting 磨损，咬坏The sandal strap was fretting to the breaking point due to constant use. fret(n.)e.g.
45、 She gets in a fret whenever we are late.931.stun(vt.) -nn-a) to make unconscious by hitting on the head 击晕，打晕I was momentarily stunned by the fall.b)to shock or surprise very greatly 使大吃一惊，使震惊e.g. The youngest footballer stunned the crowd with a last-minute goal.Most audience were stunned by the fi
46、lms violent and tragic end.He seemed completely stunned by the jurys verdict of guilty.a stunned silence32. preen(v.) a) (of a bird) to clean or smooth (itself or its feathers) with its beak（鸟）用嘴整理（羽毛）Birds rarely preen themselves right in front of your camera. 很少有鸟类会在镜头面前梳理自己的羽毛。b) to spend time ma
47、king oneself look tidier and more attractive；to dress up精心打扮，装扮e.g. She was preening herself in front of the mirror.The study revealed that 50% of men under 35 spend at least 20 minutes preening themselves every morning in the bathroom.preen sb. on/upon sth.因.而洋洋自得；因.而自我夸耀33. smugness(n.) an excessi
48、ve feeling of self-satisfaction 自命不凡，沾沾自喜，洋洋得意e.g. He had the smugness that many lawyers show. Smugness is, as you note, never an attractive trait whether it is justified or not.smug(adj.) too pleased with oneself; complacenta smug smile 得意的微笑Please wipe that smug look off your face.smugly (adv.)34.
49、 bloodcurdling（adj.）extremely frightening; horrifying 令人毛骨悚然的，令人心惊胆战的bloodcurdling cries/sound/storiescurdle v. form into curds 结成凝乳； go bad or sour 变酸The herb has been used to curdle milk.Every now and then we encounter things that curdle our blood in life.35. rant(v.) talk or complain in a loud excited and rather angry way because of feeling strongly about something 大声激昂地谴责；口出狂言e.g. She was still ranting about the unfairness of it all.I suppose my grandfather will rant and rave when he finds out about the b
