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    2004 年 7 月 21 日 (No. 171)
     
     
    海珊出庭應訊 面露不屑表情（2004/7/2）
    Saddam puts on a defiant face for court appearance
    美經濟復甦之路遇波折（2004/7/5）
    U.S. economy hits pothole on road to recovery
    美公共熱水池連續爆發多起違反健康規定案例（2004/7/2）
    A rash of health violations plagues U.S. hot tubs
    土星影像令人驚嘆 科學家大為傾倒（2004/7/2）
    Scientists pour over "mind blowing" Saturn images
    中國當局放行 「台灣阿妹」演唱會如期舉行（2004/7/1）
    China authorities clear way for concerts by Taiwan's A-mei
    回歸紀念日 港人動員舉行示威抗議活動 （2004/7/1）
    Hong Kong braces for protests marking handover anniversary
    put on a defiant face 面露不屑、不服之色
    defiant 原意為「不服的；無理的；挑釁的」，而 put on a defiant face 直翻就是「戴上不服、不屑的臉色」，亦即「面露不服、不屑之色」。相似的常見片語還有 put on a brave face，為「面露勇敢、無懼的神情」之意。
    The CEO of the company put on a defiant face when asked about the company's losses.
    當論及公司虧損時，執行長面露不服之色。
     
    hit a pothole 遭遇小小的挫折；遇到一點困難
    pothole 為「坑洞；路面凹洞」之意，而 hit a pothole 就是「撞到坑洞或掉入凹洞」之意，引申為「遭遇小小的挫折；遇到一點困難」。
    The labor-market recovery hit a pothole as the unemployment rate climbed.
    失業率攀升，勞力市場復甦遇挫。
     
    a rash of 一連串的；不停的
    rash 是指在短時間內爆發的一連串事情（通常是指壞事），故 a rash of 即表示「一連串的，不停的」。
    After a rash of complaints, the company withdrew the product.
    在一連串的不滿聲浪後，公司收回該項產品。
     
    mind blowing 令人驚奇的；令人興奮的
    是由片語 blow one's mind 引申而來，是一個非常實用的口語用法，意指「對某件事感到既驚奇又興奮」。
    The special effects at the concert were mind blowing.
    音樂會的特效令人目眩神馳。
     
    clear the way for 排除障礙；為……鋪路
    直翻就是將道路清理乾淨，也就是「排除障礙；為……鋪路」之意。相似用法有 pave the way for。
    A reduction in tariffs cleared the way for imports.
    關稅調降打通進口商品之路。
     
    brace for 作好準備
    brace 有「使振作；使防備；使鍛鍊；鼓起勇氣」之意；而 brace for 則有「作好……準備」之意。
    The CEO told investors to brace for a profit warning.
    執行長告知投資人要對營利將出現警訊一事作好準備。
    		<top>
        The Corum Buckingham Vision Watch 崑崙白金漢翡翠鑽錶 
    Corum, the world-renowned Swiss watchmaker, presents a pair of stunning 18-karat white gold Buckingham Vision watches as part of its 2004 Special Edition Jewelry Collection.
      全球極享盛名的瑞士手錶製造商──崑崙錶，推出了一對令人驚艷、以 18 K 白金材質製作的白金漢翡翠鑽錶，作為其二○○四年的精選珠寶珍藏之一。
    The watches are a combination of Imperial Jadeite, white gold, and princess-cut diamonds designed in such a way that brings together the best elements of Asian art and Swiss watch-making expertise.
    The end result of this painstaking design and craftsmanship are timepieces that extol unsurpassed quality and class.
      這對錶集「帝王玉」、白金及頂級方鑽於一身，在設計上更結合了亞洲藝術中的最佳元素與瑞士製錶的專業技術。崑崙白金漢翡翠鑽錶是精心的設計與手藝的結晶，標榜著無法凌駕的品質及等級。
    A Frederic Piguet movement complements the Corum Buckingham Vision watches' design, providing the owner with a timely reminder that no matter how much technology advances, quality and tradition never go out of style.
      F. Piguet 機蕊的搭載，使得崑崙白金漢翡翠鑽錶的設計更臻完美。F. Piguet 機蕊提醒手錶主人：無論科技如何先進，品質與傳統永遠不會過時。
    stunning 美得令人目瞪口呆的；令人驚艷的
    stun 有「使震驚、目瞪口呆；使昏倒、不省人事」之意，stunning 則除了有實質上「令人震驚」的涵意外，亦常用來形容人或物「美得或好得驚人」。
    I am amazed how beautiful my new colleague is. She is stunning.
    新來的同事令我驚為天人。她實在是美得令人暈眩。
     
    end result 成果；結晶
    end 作形容詞時，為「最後的、最終的」之意，故 end result 字面上即表示「最終的結果」，也就是「成果；結晶」，相當於 outcome。
    The novel is the end result of 10 years of research.
     這本小說是十年研究的成果。
     
    painstaking 煞費苦心的；苦心孤詣的
    pains 為「費力、勞苦」之意，painstaking 字面上即表示「十分費力或勞苦的」，也就是「煞費苦心的、精心的；不辭勞苦的」。
    The police carried out a painstaking search of the crime scene.
    警方費了一番工夫來搜尋犯罪現場。
     
    unsurpassed 無法凌駕的；無法踰越的
    surpass 是「凌駕、勝過」之意，故 unsurpassed 即表示「無法凌駕的；無法踰越的」。
    The quality of many Japanese cars is unsurpassed.
    許多日本車的品質是無法凌駕的。
     
    movement 機蕊
    movement 的原意為「移動；運轉」，在本篇文章中是一個專業名詞，表示「手錶的機蕊」，機蕊是一種使手錶得以運行的機械裝置。
    Watches with quartz crystal movements never have to be wound.
    裝有石英晶體機蕊的手錶毋需上發條。
    		<top>
     
    preach to the choir 對已有相同看法的人鼓吹同樣的想法
    preach 有「宣講福音；傳教」的意思，也可引申為「積極鼓吹某種說法」的意思；而 choir 則是「（教堂、教會的）唱詩班」，preach to the choir 的字面意思是「向唱詩班的人傳教」，常引申指「和已有相同看法的人鼓吹同樣的想法。同義片語為 preach to the converted。
    You are preaching to the choir by telling us that our products are good. You have to convince potential customers.
    我們都認為我們的產品很好，不必你再來說明。你應該去說服更多的潛在客戶。
    Jerri and Dave are discussing a promotional campaign for their products.
    潔蕊和戴夫正在討論一項為他們的商品所作的促銷活動。
    Jerri: I don't think we should go ahead with Mike's suggestion to offer a 10 percent price reduction. 潔蕊： 我不認為我們應該照麥可所建議的，開始提供九折的減價優惠。
    Dave: All we'll end up doing is selling more, but for less profit. I think it's a bad idea. 戴夫： 這樣做我們雖然可以賣出更多，但利潤卻反倒減少。我認為這是一個壞主意。
    Jerri: Not only that, it sends the wrong signal to consumers. They'll think that our products are low end when we're trying to position them as premium. 潔蕊： 不只是這樣，這樣還會給消費者錯誤的訊息。他們會認為是因為產品品質不佳，所以我們才會削價求售。
    Dave: You're preaching to the choir with that one Jerri. Our problem is to convince Mike. 戴夫： 潔蕊，妳不必說服我，我的想法和妳相同。我們的問題應該是要說服麥可才對。
    Jerri: Well, all I think we can do is tell him our views and be frank with him. Ultimately, it's his call. 潔蕊： 嗯，我認為我們所能做的是坦白告訴他我們的想法。最終還是由他來作決定。
    Dave: OK. My schedule is pretty light this week, when do you want to have a meeting with him? 戴夫： 好的。我這個星期都蠻空閒的，你們什麼時候要和他開會？
    Jerri: How about tomorrow afternoon at two? 潔蕊： 明天下午兩點怎麼樣？
    Dave: That's fine with me. I'll give him a call right now. 戴夫： 我沒問題。我現在就打電話給他。
     
    go ahead 請便；開始或繼續做某事
    go ahead 一般在口語中可指「請便」，也可指「開始或繼續做某事、進行某活動」的意思。名詞寫作 go-ahead。
    I think I will just go ahead and give the customer a refund.
     我想我要繼續讓顧客享受可以退還差價的服務。
     
    frank 坦白；坦誠
    另一個常見的用語為 frankly speaking（坦白說……）
    Bill was not frank with Sarah when he said he had never met Jill; she was his last girlfriend.
     比爾未對莎拉說實話；他說他沒見過吉兒，但事實上吉兒是他的前任女友。
     
    it's someone's call 由某人來決定
    call 在此有「決定」的意思，而 it's someone's call 就是「由某人來發號施令；由某人作最後決定」的意思，亦可寫為 call the shots。
    It's the boss' decision. It's his call.
     這要留待老闆來決定。他說了算。
      Until the company appoints a new president, the V.P. will be calling the shots.
     在公司指派新總裁前，公司將由副總裁來作主。
    		<top>
    True or False
    1.
    		A "frank" reply is an honest reply.
    2.
    		A "mind-blowing" show is impressive.
    3.
    		If a woman is "stunning," she is very beautiful.
    4.
    		If you receive a "rash of" complaints, you receive many complaints.
    5.
    		 If you "brace for" bad news, you like giving bad news.
     
    Choose the best word or phrase to complete each sentence.

    a. go-ahead b. hit a pothole c. end result d. preaching to the choir e. It's your call

    6.
    		You are __________; I totally agree with you.
    7.
    		I got the __________ from my boss to buy a laptop.
    8.
    		It's up to you what you do. __________.
    9.
    		Our plans ________ when our funding was cut.
    10.
    		The documentary is the _________ of thousands of interviews.
     
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