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）
sticking point
noun [ C ]
A sticking point in a discussion is a point on which it is not possible to reach an agreement
（讨论的）阻塞点，分歧点；症结
Exactly how the land is to be divided up is the main sticking point of the peace talks. 土地究竟该如何分割是和谈的主要分歧点。（Cambridge）
“A new small business rescue package taking shape on Capitol Hill is expected to include $25 billion to expand coronavirus testing, but how to structure that money emerged as one of the final sticking points on Monday,” the Washington Post reports. (The Washington Post)
scoop
a story or piece of news discovered and published by one newspaper before all the others
抢先报道的新闻；独家新闻
The paper managed to secure a major scoop and broke the scandal to the world. 这家报纸设法抢先报道了一个重要新闻，把这件丑闻公诸于世。(Cambridge)
With speculations about Kim’s condition gaining traction online, Seoul appeared to dismiss the CNN “scoop” as yet another nothing-burger. A South Korean government source, cited by Yonhap, reported that Seoul “has seen no unusual signs” with regard to Kim’s health, noting that the North Korean leader was out and about in public “until recent days.”
nothing burger / nothing-burger
something that is or turns out to be insignificant or lacking in substance.
不重要或缺乏实质内容的东西
Trump lawyer calls NYT report a ‘nothing burger’ amid talk of obstruction. President Donald Trump’s associates on Friday brushed off a New York Times article detailing Trump’s attempted interventions into the Justice Department’s Russia probe as overblown, and rejected claims that it shows Trump tried to obstruct justice.
prodigious
adjective formal /prəˈdɪdʒ.əs/
extremely great in ability, amount, or strength
强大的，巨大的 (Cambridge)
Biden enters the general election at a significant fundraising disadvantage ahead of the Nov. 3 election against Republican President Donald Trump, a prodigious fundraiser who has been raising money for the general election since 2017. (Reuters)
mettle
noun [ U ] /ˈmet̬.əl/
ability and determination when competing or doing something difficult
精神；勇气；才能
The team showed/proved its mettle in the final round. 运动队在最后一轮中展现了他们的拼搏精神。
The real test of her political mettle came in the May elections. 五月份的选举是对她政治才能的真正考验。(Cambridge)
“It’s simply that the Democrats’ initial top prospects have succeeded in proving their fundraising mettle and have taken advantage of Donald Trump’s GOP.”
gin up
The idiom gin something up means to increase something, to get something going, to stir something up, to agitate or perhaps make a little trouble, sometimes through less than honest means. (Grammarist)
这个习语的意思是增加某物，使某物开始，搅动某物，鼓动或制造一点麻烦，有时是通过不诚实的手段。
America truly doesn’t need gossips trying to gin up Trump-Fauci split. As if the world isn’t crazy enough, some extremists want more crazy — namely a falling out between President Trump and Dr. Anthony Fauci. (nypost.com)
unsung
adjective /ˌʌnˈsʌŋ/
not noticed or praised for hard work, courage, or great achievements
（勤奋工作、英勇行为、巨大成就等）被埋没的，未得到赞扬的
an unsung hero/heroine 无名英雄／女英雄
Many of her achievements went unsung until after her death. 她的很多成就直到她死后才被人注意到。(Cambridge)
Trump calls Puerto Rico hurricane effort an ‘unsung success’ – here’s the reality. Donald Trump’s definition of an “unsung success” was immediately questioned on Tuesday when he used those words to describe the federal government’s response to Hurricane Maria. (The Guardian)
incongruous
adjective /ɪnˈkɑːŋ.ɡru.əs/
unusual or different from what is around or from what is generally happening
不协调的；不合适的；不一致的
The new computer looked incongruous in the dark book-filled library. 这台新电脑在放满书的昏暗的图书馆中显得很不协调。
It seems incongruous to have a woman as the editor of a men’s magazine. 让一个女人做男性杂志的编辑似乎不合适。(Cambridge)
As a result, Mr. Trump’s message about Mr. Mueller’s findings has turned increasingly incongruous: When the report says investigators established no conspiracy between Mr. Trump’s campaign and Russia in 2016 and makes no allegation of obstruction of justice by the president, it is right on the money.
