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儒琴英语词汇（English Words and Phrases of the Day）
malfeasance
noun [ U ] /mælˈfiː.zəns/
Meaning (Cambridge)
an example of dishonest and illegal behaviour, especially by a person in authority
（尤指掌权者的）违法乱纪行为，渎职
origin
1690s, from French malfaisance “wrongdoing” ; from malfaisant, from mal- “badly” + faisant, present participle of faire “to do” ; from Latin facere “to do”. Malfeasor “wrong-doer” is attested from early 14c. Related: Malfeasant.
Examples
Several cases of malpractice and malfeasance in the financial world are currently being investigated.
金融界的几起渎职违规案件目前正在调查之中。(Cambridge)
It was meant to be the moment when Democrats started to knit a narrative of presidential malfeasance that many of them hope will trigger impeachment.
But it turned into an iconic Trump-era spectacle that served instead to show how the White House and its acolytes have made a mockery of the checks and balances of the Washington system.
—- Analysis by Stephen Collinson, CNN
Updated September 18, 2019
in the offing
offing /ˈɒf.ɪŋ/ noun
Meaning (Cambridge)
likely to happen soon
即将来临的；即将发生的
Examples
With an election in the offing, the prime minister is keen to maintain his popularity.
选举在即，首相非常注意保持其声望。
The tweet was in reference to drone attacks on Saudi oil fields — and seemed a very clear threat that a military response was in the offing once the culprit became clear. (CNN) Sep 17, 2019
With mercurial partners like Trump in the offing, in what could potentially be the UK’s biggest post-Brexit trade deal, the whole project looks more tarnished by the day. (CNN)
beltway
noun, often attributive
Meaning
A. a highway skirting an urban area
指环绕城市的公路，尤其环绕华盛顿D.C.公路 – The Capital Beltway ： 是一条环绕华盛顿的环形道路（整条道路被正式称为495号州际公路 ）。
B. capitalized : the political and social world of Washington, D.C.,
第一个字母大写，政治俚语，主要指华盛顿的政治利益和政治生态（政客， 政治说客 和政府分包商等）
Origin
Beltway — AKA, “Inside the Beltway”. It refers to anything on the inside of Interstate 495 that circles Washington D.C. and anything of interest to those working and living in that area; namely politicians, lobbyists, and federal contractors.
It was first thought to be used in the New York Times in 1975. And no, it’s not what holds up the pants of a bulbous congressman. （by Daniel Ganninger / medium.com）
Examples
The lobbyists, consultants and pundits inside the Beltway are obsessed with recent data that show Mr. Trump losing to several Democratic challengers. But surveys taken more than a year before Election Day are meaningless. More important, Mr. Trump benefits from incumbency and continued economic recovery, and he’s riding a wave of national populism that has yet to crest.
Apr 18, 2018 – It is mostly waving a wish into reality by Mr. Trump’s Beltway-centric supporters. (wsj.com) April 18, 2018 6:44
The answer is simple: The national media establishment, like many of Trump’s Beltway critics, are seeking a way to disqualify him from holding national office.
