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）
in a league of one’s own
better than anyone else at doing something
比任何人都做得好
Just as, say, in 1950, we live now in a sort of bipolar system. In terms of economic power, military might, global influence and ability to pollute the planet, two powers – China and the US – clearly stand in a league of their own. (The Guardian)
cordon sanitaire
noun [ C ] plural cordons sanitaires /kɔːrˌdɑ̃ː.sɑː.niˈter/
a guarded area around a place or country that prevents people from entering or leaving it
封锁线；防卫圈
China seems to be seeking to incorporate both countries into its border-in-depth, making them, like Aksai Chin, part of the cordon sanitaire between India and Tibet. （nationalinterest.org）
epiphany
noun [ C or U ] literary /ɪˈpɪf.ən.i/
a moment when you suddenly feel that you understand, or suddenly become conscious of, something that is very important to you
（对重要事物的）顿悟
Daniel Snyder turned what could have been an epiphany into grudging resignation. It is hardly a surprise to anyone that, when Daniel Snyder was finally forced, kicking and screaming, to change the name of his football team, he did it with the complete lack of grace that has come to symbolize his fractious ownership in the past 20 years. (Wasshington Post）
historicize or historicise
(hɪˈstɒrɪˌsaɪz) verb formal
to represent (events) in a historic context
在历史背景中表现(事件）；历史化
Thinking analogically can be, paradoxically, an ahistorical exercise. It almost always trivialises history itself, decontextualising both the past events and those contemporary problems for which we seek “lessons”. If we call the current rivalry and tensions between China and the US a new “cold war”, we lose sight of the historical uniqueness and specificity of their relationship. And we miss the very lesson, possibly the only real one, that the study of the past has to offer: to avoid easy answers, look at the complexity and, invariably, the political opaqueness of a given issue. In other words, to historicise. (The Guardian)
quandary
noun [ C usually singular ] /ˈkwɑːn.dri/
a state of not being able to decide what to do about a situation in which you are involved
窘境；犹豫不决
Angela Merkel‘s quandary is understandable. Trade aside, there are other strong arguments against alienating China. The world needs China’s cooperation on the environment — it’s the world’s biggest carbon emitter, and has been willing to take part in a global effort to fight climate change. Only China can provide the answers to some questions on the coronavirus’ origins, answers that health experts say could help prevent another pandemic. (CNN)