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）
the race to the bottom 恶性竞争; 竞次
The race to the bottom refers to a competitive state where a company, state or nation attempts to undercut the competition’s prices by sacrificing quality standards or worker safety, defying regulations, or paying low wages
竞次; 意思就是 你的东西烂 , 我的 比你还要烂, 这样才能降低成本， 降低价格, 这是底端产品市场经常有的现象；以竞次手段所获得的所谓竞争力，其内里是一个民族向道德野蛮状态的复归。
The Senate’s confirmation process is nearly broken, and the numbers show it’s a race to the bottom. George W. Bush faced the most procedural hurdles and filibusters to his nominees until Barack Obama was elected and faced historic blockades. Then Trump came along and became the record holder in just part of a term. (Politico)
staff up
verb
To hire new staff; to fill vacancies in a workforce.
聘用新员工;填补劳动力的空缺。
It’s the latest glaring sign of Senate dysfunction, showing just how difficult it has become to staff up an administration. And it’s hard to imagine that Republicans will go easy on Biden if he wins, even as both parties decry the trend. (Politico)
fulminate
verb [ I usually + adv/prep ] formal /ˈfʊl.mə.neɪt/
to criticize strongly
严厉批评；谴责
When President Barack Obama was in office, Republicans fulminated against executive orders and government spending. Now, they’ve learned to stop worrying and embrace both at unprecedented levels. (The budget deficit is projected to be $3.8 trillion this year, more than six times higher than when Obama left office.) The rejection of libertarianism isn’t necessarily a bad thing. What’s worrying is that the Republican Party has become increasingly hostile toward liberal democracy. （Axios）
be in the bag
informal
If something is in the bag, you are certain to get it or to achieve it.
已是囊中之物，十拿九稳
The purveyors of fake news at CNN are convinced, just as they were four years ago, that they have this presidential election in the bag. Donald Trump is done, and Joe Biden is headed for a landslide, just like Hillary Clinton was.
overstretched
adjective /ˌoʊ.vɚˈstretʃt/
not having enough money, people, equipment, etc.
缺少（资金、人力、器材等）的
Doctors Without Borders has again dispatched teams to the U.S., this time to help overstretched local authorities and charities deal with the coronavirus pandemic. (Axios)
severance
noun [ U ]/ˈsev.ɚ.əns/
money paid by an employer to an employee whose job the employer has had to bring to an end
解雇费，遣散费 (Cambridge)
American Airlines outlines severance packages for high-level employees. The airline has started rolling out details of severance packages for high-level employees.
diss
verb [ T ] US slang (also dis) /dɪs/
to speak or behave rudely to someone, or to show someone no respect
无礼对待，冒犯
Don’t diss me, man! 小子，别跟我犯浑
White House claps back after AOC claims Kayleigh McEnany dissed her. The White House clapped back at Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., after the New York Democratic congresswoman claimed press secretary Kayleigh McEnany downplayed her position and inferred it was because she was a “woman of color.”
underserved
adjective /ˌʌndəˈsɜːvd/ us
used to describe a place, market, etc. where fewer goods or services are available than there should be
服务不周到的;服务水平低下的
The humanitarian medical group usually works in conflict zones and impoverished countries affected by endemic disease. But some 50 of its staff are working in the U.S. to ease the stress COVID-19 has put on already underserved communities in New York, Florida, New Mexico, the Navajo Nation and Puerto Rico, spokesperson Nico D’Auterive said.
