儒琴英语词组选自欧美报刊文章以及英语原文小说。坚持学习英语今日词组，有助于阅读和理解当今欧美主流媒体的新闻时事报道和英语文学作品。
儒琴英语词组（English Phrase of the Day）
third rail
英文解释
A third rail is a metal railway track that is placed on either side of a train track to provide electrical power to trains traveling along the tracks. By allusion in politics, it means ta subject or issue considered by politicians to be too controversial to discuss；a controversial issue usually avoided by politicians. The phrase is sometimes used outside of politics, referring to actions that may be risky.
中文解释
A third rail 是指第三条铁轨道，放置在火车轨道的一边，为在轨道上行驶的火车提供电力，碰到第三条铁轨会触电有生命危险。在政治上引申指：政治家通常回避的有争议的问题; 几乎不能触及的问题。这个短语有时也用于政治之外，指的是可能有风险的行为。
原文举例
Social Security is the third rail of American politics.
社会保障是美国政治家通常想回避有争议的问题。
One of the nation’s most combustible issues, race is a third rail for major corporations, which must appeal to a diverse array of customers.
种族问题是美国最具争议性的问题之一，是大公司不想触及的问题，它们必须吸引各种各样的客户。
