今日英语词汇: show some class, red box, out of the picture, waylay, flout, stand-in, rudderless

儒琴英语词汇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汇,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。

儒琴英语词汇(English Words and Phrases of the Day)

show a little class / show some class
often used when someone does something disrespectful or insulting to another person. so it basically means to be respectful. Being “classy” is holding yourself to a higher standard like wearing more formal clothes and being generally more “sophisticated”
“尊重”: 常用于某人对另一个人做不尊重或侮辱的事,所以它基本上意味着尊重。

He tweeted: “For those sending around vile jokes about the Prime Minister in ICU… please remember the words of The Queen last night: ‘I hope in the years to come everyone will be able to take pride in how they responded to this challenge,'” He added: “Show some class.”

red box 英国大臣用文件箱
in British English noun
(in Britain) a box, typically covered in red leather, used to transport the official documents of a government minister

Both the British prime minister and his officials insisted his symptoms were mild, and that he was still in charge from his bed — talking to his team and keeping up with his red boxes. (Euro Politico)

out of the picture
not important to or not involved in a situation
不重要;未参与
He used to be an important member of the team, but he’s gradually drifted out of the picture. 他以前是队里的成员,但渐渐退出了。(Cambridge)

Of course, the prime minister will not be entirely out of the picture; his views can be represented by his aides, and relayed to the Cabinet by Mark Sedwill, the Cabinet secretary. (Euro Politico)

waylay
verb [ T ] /ˌweɪˈleɪ/ waylaid | waylaid
to wait for and then stop someone, especially either to attack or talk to that person
(尤指为攻击某人或与之谈话而)伏击,拦截
A man on his way to deposit $12,000 in a bank was waylaid by two men who snatched his bag. 一名男子去银行存1.2万美元的现金,路遇两名男子拦截,并被抢走了提包。
I meant to leave earlier but I was waylaid on the way out of a meeting by my manager. 我想早些离开,但在离开会场的路上被经理拦住了 (Cambridge)

The government’s response to the crisis was already hampered by the temporary loss of several ministers and key aides waylaid by the virus and the need to work remotely. (Euro Politico)

flout
verb [ T ] /flaʊt/
to intentionally not obey a rule, law, or custom
公然藐视,无视,违背(规定、法律或习俗)
Many motorcyclists flout the law by not wearing helmets. 许多骑摩托车的人无视法律,不戴头盔。
The orchestra decided to flout convention/tradition, and wear their everyday clothes for the concert. 管弦乐队决定一改传统,在音乐会上穿日常服装。(Cambridge)

Now it has, for a while at least, lost its figurehead — an irrepressibly optimistic leader who repeatedly told the public the U.K. would “beat” the disease. Johnson’s worsening condition could damage public morale, although ministers hold out hope it will help persuade people not to flout the lockdown rules.

stand-in
noun [ C ] /ˈstænd.ɪn/
a person who takes the place or does the job of another person for a short time, for example because the other person is ill or on holiday
(临时的)顶替者,代替者
The lecturer didn’t turn up, so we had to find a stand-in. 演讲者没来,因此我们得找个人临时顶替。(Cambridge)

Raab is a surprise choice to act as a stand-in. When Johnson last year picked him as first secretary of state over Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove, the choice seemed unorthodox. Ultimately MPs believe Johnson has not fully forgiven Gove for “knifing him in the front” during the party’s 2016 leadership contest, when he deserted Johnson’s campaign and ran himself.

rudderless
adjective /ˈrʌd.ɚ.ləs/
(of an organization) without anyone in control and therefore unable to take decisions
(组织)群龙无首的,无人领导的,无人管理的 (Cambridge)

These decisions will be a severe test of the Cabinet’s mettle and discipline. The differing views among its key players is bound to raise fears that Johnson’s enforced absence will leave the government rudderless at a critical time.

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