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）
twist yourself into a pretzel
You go to great lengths and you do everything possible
竭尽全力;竭尽所能
“The theory — that a 75-year-old man shoved by police amid protests in Buffalo was a violent antifa foot soldier — is so zany that Republican senators not only find no need to comment on it, but are refusing to physically view the tweet in public. Gone are the days when lawmakers twisted themselves in pretzels to defend the president. Now they just move on, as if he hardly exists at all.” (Playbook)
set-up
a situation in which someone is tricked into doing something or is made to seem guilty of something they did not do
诬陷，栽赃
When drugs were found in her luggage, she claimed it was a set-up. 在她的行李里发现了毒品后，她声称这是被人陷害的。
Said Trump: “Buffalo protester shoved by Police could be an ANTIFA provocateur. 75 year old Martin Gugino was pushed away after appearing to scan police communications in order to black out the equipment… I watched, he fell harder than was pushed. Was aiming scanner. Could be a set up?” (Axios)
provocateur ( or agent provocateur)
noun [ C ] /ˌɑːʒ.ɑ̃ː proʊˌvɑː.kəˈtɝː/
a person who intentionally encourages people to do something illegal so that they can be caught
密探，坐探; 煽动者; 破坏分子; 挑衅者; 奸细; 内奸;
Republican senators on Tuesday largely avoided discussing President Trump’s tweet alleging without evidence that a 75-year-old Buffalo protester, who was seriously injured after being shoved by police, is an “ANTIFA provocateur.” (Axios)
outstanding
adjective
remaining to be paid, done, or dealt with; invoices that have been sent to a client and haven’t been paid and are not past due yet
还没有付费；还未完成；还未处理
All payments remitted to the University will be applied towards any outstanding debt first. Students with outstanding debt will not be permitted to register for future terms. (kings.uwo.ca)
walk a tightrope ( Or walk a fine line)
to be in a difficult situation in which a very small mistake could have very bad results
（尤指因进退两难而）处境危险; 小心翼翼
Republicans walk a tightrope on police reform. Congressional Republicans are walking a fine line as they craft police reforms in response to the public outcry over the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man killed in police custody last month. （ The Hill）
