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）
backpedal
verb [I] (CHANGE OPINION)
to change an opinion that you had expressed before, or do something different from what you had said you would do
改变立场；出尔反尔；变卦
How the Trump administration backpedaled on its threats to cut school funding. First they say they want to yank money for schools that won’t reopen, then they say they won’t. The Trump administration’s statements are multiple and evolving on potential funding cuts for schools that won’t fully reopen amid the Covid-19 crisis.
make hay (out) of
in American English
to turn (something) to one’s advantage
使(某事)对某人有利；趁热打铁，勿失良机
Although the outcome seems like a political win for Trump, the congressional subpoenas are being referred for further review. Democrats are trying to make political hay out of the rulings.
trim one’s sails (to the wind)
to change one’s behaviour to deal with a difficult situation; make changes to suit one’s new circumstances.
改变自己的行为以应对困境;做出改变以适应新的环境。
He moves slower than they want, sides with liberals more than they want, and trims his sails in ways they find maddening. But he is still deeply and unmistakably conservative, pulling the law to the right — at his own pace and in his own image. (Axios)
run out the clock
US (also run down the clock)
deliberately use as much time as possible in order to preserve one’s own team’s advantage.
使用所有可用的时间
In the short term, the opinion most likely lets Trump run out the clock. He does not have any viable challenges to the subpoenas. But his lawyers can come up with something and, unless all parts of the courts system are highly motivated, the Manhattan DA will not get these records before the election.
play a long game 长期的策略, 着眼于长线
A long-term strategy or endeavor; a long term plan, long term goals, or doing things now that set you up for the future.
长期的战略或努力;一个长期的计划，长期的目标，或者现在做的事情，为你的未来做准备。
John Roberts plays a long game. He moves slower than they want, sides with liberals more than they want, and trims his sails in ways they find maddening. But he is still deeply and unmistakably conservative, pulling the law to the right — at his own pace and in his own image. (Axios)
